tag:milespikemusic.com,2005:/blogs/mpm-newsletters?p=3MPM Newsletters2022-07-12T14:32:36-05:00Miles Pike Musicfalsetag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70131312022-07-12T14:32:36-05:002024-01-20T09:31:54-06:00A Garden of Souls<p>Over our twelve years of marriage, the two of us have become gardeners. Gardeners in the English sense to be clear, not so much in the Texas sense. I’ll never forget going to England and hearing parents talk with concern about the absolute necessity of helping their children as they moved into their new home. Not help them move in, you understand. Help them “sort out the garden.” Because (apparently) you can live with unpacked boxes in the home, but you cannot live without some plants to tend (I absolutely agree, for the record.). Of course, when we talk about gardening here in Texas, people immediately ask what we grow, expecting to hear broccoli, cabbage, and taters. And, if they ask in June through September, as the Death Star assumes its position directly over our state, they’re asking what we grow as they envision a Texas gardener — the sweat soaked, sun scorched, bent but not broken figure obstinately watering plants, picking hornworms off tomatoes, and suffering the irritation of okra’s antagonistic leaves, while all other people scuttle into whatever air conditioned shelter they can find and complain about how hot it is. </p>
<p>So when we’re asked here in Texas what we grow, and we enthusiastically begin to talk about our petunias and our roses and our chaste trees and our almond verbena that smells so good… well, I’m pretty sure we get downgraded from (G)ardeners to (g)ardeners in the minds of the people we’re talking to. Not that I’m complaining. I ain’t picking any hornworms off anything, and anybody that is deserves a capital G. </p>
<p>I do think though, that the experience of gardening, whether you’re a (G)ardener or a (g)ardener, teaches the same lessons.</p>
<p><strong>1. It’s never going to be perfect. </strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Every little effort counts. </strong></p>
<p><strong>3. A little regular effort reaps far greater rewards than a back breaking twice annual marathon.</strong> </p>
<p>The parallels between raising plants and raising people seem pretty clear to me, as both a parent and a gardener. 1. It’s never going to be perfect. 2. Every little effort counts. 3. A little regular effort reaps great rewards. I think perhaps fathers don’t father their children for the same reason that people don’t garden. “I don’t know what to do and it looks hard.” </p>
<p>Well, unlike gardening, fathering is not optional in God’s eyes (Well… that’s actually arguable, since God is a gardener — see Genesis 2:8 <em>“The Lord God planted a garden in Eden…”</em> — and we are commanded to imitate God… but I won’t push that point too hard.). So since parenting is not optional, here’s the Word on what fathers are supposed to do. (This is a calling for grandfathers too. See Deuteronomy 4:9.) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Fathers, do not exasperate your children to anger; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ephesians 6:4 </em></p>
<p><strong>1. Don’t exasperate your children.</strong> In gardening terms, there are a lot of things I can do to exasperate my plants. And the thing is, each plant is different. One plant is exasperated by too much water. Another plant is exasperated by not living in a swamp. This plant likes compacted soil, likes being walked on. This plant wants loamy, friable (I love the words there are to describe different kinds and qualities of dirt) soil. This one wants sun, but this one prefers shade. This one likes being talked to, but this one is a loner. So the thing is, if you’re not going to provoke your kids, you have to take the time to know what provokes them. Otherwise, you may have the best of intentions, but you’re watering a desert plant. You’re fertilizing a plant that wants a lean soil. </p>
<p><strong>2. Train them in the Lord’s way.</strong> In any garden, no plant exists in a vacuum. There are other plants around to consider, and then there’s the overall garden to consider. My almond verbena dies to the ground every year, and every year, grows back into a 15 foot tall monstrosity that will completely grow over the garden path if it is allowed to do so. Children have to be trained how to behave in a world that does not revolve around them. More than that, they have to be trained how to behave in this world in a way that pleases the Lord. They have to be taught, more than “do no harm to thy neighbor,” to “love thy neighbor.” More than “be nice,” they have to be taught “be kind to one another… honor everyone.” </p>
<p><strong>3. Instruct them in the Lord’s way.</strong> In my personal opinion, this is the most disregarded portion of this passage. It’s also the portion that has no gardening illustration. You can exasperate plants, pets, and people. You can train plants, pets and people. But you can only instruct people. I think maybe fathers fall short here because the other two commands pretty well flow out of just living with your children. Love comes fairly naturally to parents, therefore you, fairly naturally, try not to exasperate your children. You live with them, therefore you, naturally, try to make them pleasant to live with. You train them not to hit or bite. You train them to say “Please” and “Thank you.” These things come naturally to parents. In merely human terms, if you keep from exasperating and if you train them, you’re doing well. But what is it to instruct them in the Lord? How are fathers to do this? This is where the gospel comes in. This is where doctrine comes in. This is the “why” behind the “training in the Lord.” </p>
<p>We’re going to look more in depth at how and what fathers and grandfathers are to instruct their offspring next time. If you would like to read ahead a little, then feel free to listen to these two podcast episodes in which I discuss some of these issues in a more free form way. </p>
<p><a contents="Fireside Talk Radio -&nbsp;Part One&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=Y4udKnivB88YSTK2Exzam-2Bhk0zQ58xiVDRxeUb-2BGC2c3G0JRESzqfd1A7j9bnWJZ8BITRsKqiK1Y4T-2BKqh-2F-2F-2BokBBd61iCslwxg5vi6zxcbGize5OZcGyY-2F8o3n7PKa1j8wKCoG-2BkkhS0-2B93QYJPhBzYGYysgrLOvd22kNz4m2CKtgbb4LXX-2BrXsGeIDFtMgnPoTIVk-2BmJPR2vaM5Tci6m3o4WHGazttuYe4VW3Kwjn0ONFPCmvZJ0ikromTkWd-2FlNDqqjUjJ-2BURXLdPboux6gSMbzLWfBqf-2Fq0c-2BgDzDuBrwT99qrvgsVpV1a6B0bIvjCmCARAekGAGsgaiidbUQrSB-2FRV6cN-2F1M4TEaXEkc7g-3DQxSO_T2hxKBYTOgRdavfyUrZVAYlVxT3UgurVZPXXZGZemC-2B-2B8X-2FAFp19TiJamKFhn8QxxpuH006QL5vcE1Rnsr-2FmiDMWHhfP8pGfoA0jpa5mJBeE1wA-2B3o7NrBf66Q8WoI42CyLTs1N8hjF9sVShXXNHH6Y4bHdNUUHpGK2SdB2ZQqLD8l7zA0QTmBazSJ2xMhpKr0QQ-2B7dIme6ZbMBMT7ctogNjWU8KZ0M9eb-2FSr2AB7jceSrtOyY3scUURLknftCaJNyCwQ19u3gjaoeA23UVeaKT1BLqzIaQO4ODmhJKwGSFuDJTWP8ptuWP7PzHnzqB-2BI6wDwd9jBOcfqriL9kQE9w-3D-3D">Fireside Talk Radio - Part One </a></p>
<p><a contents="Fireside Talk Radio -&nbsp;Part Two&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=Y4udKnivB88YSTK2Exzam-2Bhk0zQ58xiVDRxeUb-2BGC2c3G0JRESzqfd1A7j9bnWJZ8BITRsKqiK1Y4T-2BKqh-2F-2F-2BokBBd61iCslwxg5vi6zxcbGize5OZcGyY-2F8o3n7PKa1j8wKCoG-2BkkhS0-2B93QYJPhBzYGYysgrLOvd22kNz4m2CKtgbb4LXX-2BrXsGeIDFtMgnPoTIVk-2BmJPR2vaM5Tci6m3o4WHGazttuYe4VW3Kwjn0ONFPCmvZJ0ikromTkWd-2FlNDqqjUjJ-2BURXLdPboux6gSMbzLWfBqf-2Fq0c-2BgDzDuAl2h5UH80scn3lCNnMJxgyd1SFwQVVHc7gPJ2TJFnaJt8DoAAs1Idzegg3OVvGPNE-3DQgT9_T2hxKBYTOgRdavfyUrZVAYlVxT3UgurVZPXXZGZemC-2B-2B8X-2FAFp19TiJamKFhn8QxxpuH006QL5vcE1Rnsr-2FmiDMWHhfP8pGfoA0jpa5mJBeE1wA-2B3o7NrBf66Q8WoI42CyLTs1N8hjF9sVShXXNHH6Y4bHdNUUHpGK2SdB2ZQqLD8l7zA0QTmBazSJ2xMhpKr0QQ-2B7dIme6ZbMBMT7ctortywThfjKX6Digl4YcdZqXEGIXEqJ3v8Lm-2FtJruQOaqB2r86doKhIfbnkTGDCXQeyQgLaMxfyiU2lqZgJ5ZJzmN0sNaW-2FqtVMaOYJ4rvsllMyJH8uKEaJhX01-2FVpd4QIA-3D-3D">Fireside Talk Radio - Part Two </a></p>
<p>In the meantime, if you’re a non-gardener looking into an unkempt jungle, start at the beginning. Get to know your plants. Do your homework. Experiment. If you know your plants, but they’re taking over the garden…remember, it’s not going to be perfect. But with God’s blessing, every effort counts. And a little regular effort reaps great rewards. </p>
<p>Keep after it. </p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70131002022-03-14T14:40:00-05:002022-07-12T14:28:23-05:00Storyteller<p>This devotional is based on our thoughts in preparing the synopsis for the Storyteller album. If you didn’t know that we write synopses… synopsises… synopsi?? …for our albums, be sure to read the album covers. </p>
<p>We live in a world in which words are ever more malleable, controversial, shallow, and sordid. So when we, as creatures shaped by this world, read scriptures about God “upholding the universe by the word of his power;” when we hear “in the beginning was the Word;” and when we understand that God is the “author and finisher” of the faith, it comes as a shock to realize that words, narrative, and the culmination of a storyline, far from being merely valuable as entertainment, are actually paramount to understanding not only biblical purposes, but ultimately, life itself. </p>
<p>I think the idea of God as Author is foundational to what the Bible reveals to us about the divine. I mean, what do you call an entity who is outside the narrative and creating every aspect of it? An author. The writer exists even if the story is never penned. While human authors can only dabble with the ink of a pen or the typing on a computer screen to create their worlds, God wrote upon time, space and matter. Speaking effortless words, sparking the flame of life and exploding every molecule into its preordained place, the stage was set and the Narrator began to speak to and through the “holy men of God.” </p>
<p>Now here’s something that takes it from the amazing to the fantastical: the Author, the storyteller of storytellers wrote himself into the plot. The Director made a cameo in the beginning walking with Adam and Eve in the garden. He visited his friend Abraham. He burned in a bush. He guided his people through the wilderness. Joshua bowed before him before a great battle. Hints about him were whispered in prophesies hundreds of times up until the grand unveiling when <strong>“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” </strong>He is not only the poet, but what the poem is about. He is not only the author, but the central plot point. He is not only the song, but the reason for music. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“God comes down, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and draws to himself all of the sin and the shame, the rebellion and the hate, the sickness and the death, and swallows it whole. And he swallows it by letting it swallow him. The Dragon is crushed in the crushing of the Prince of Peace.” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>~ Joe Rigney </em></p>
<p>This is why we should have indefatigable hope. It’s like when you are ten minutes into watching a blockbuster movie and you have already identified the indispensable heroes who will triumph in the end. You know that no matter what happens they will be victorious. There is that Biblical meaning of hope: absolute assurance. But knowing that all will be well does not mean that you do not gasp in horror at the seemingly unbearable circumstances the heroes are put through or cry at the unspeakable heartaches they will bear. The best storytelling works are unpredictably predictable: all will be well in the end, but there's a bunch of cliffhangers before you get there. Frodo will get the Ring to the destructive fires of Mount Doom, but when he’s finally at the peak, he himself falls prey to the Ring’s influence. Who saw that coming? Aslan will be victorious in the fight against the White Witch… but how can he be when he dies in exchange for Edmund’s life? Then you have Bugs Bunny, in the pan, in the oven, with Yosemite Sam fixing to light the match… I could go on.</p>
<p>I think Christian art suffers greatly when we give our characters mundane annoyances and predictable Hallmark channel victories. Jehovah is a writer of the grand sweeping narrative, the perilous odyssey, the grueling battle, the slog through the slough of despond, the arduous quest, the heroic epic, the hazardous conquest and the wounded warrior narrowly escaping death and improbably vanquishing his foes in the last moment. Christ himself did not step into the story as untouchable God, but as a man. Not just a man, but the lowest, the most helpless of the low. He came to a third world, conquered country. He came as a baby, born to impoverished teenagers who would shortly become refugees. Now there's drama for you. </p>
<p>And here we are, written into this epic story. The 139th Psalm tells us that our days have been recorded in a book before we were even born and in Scripture's finale, we read that our names and all our works are written down. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God's <strong>poiema</strong>. His poem. His work of art. His masterpiece. </p>
<p>Just as characters in a story do not comprehend or many times may be completely ignorant of the details that the narrator is speaking to the reader, so we often see our emotional agony, family dramas, disabilities and they all feel bleak and pointless from our limited vantage point. Our hope, our confidence, is that we only know a fraction of the plot points of our own lives. Our hope is that the Author is bringing it together into a coherent and meaningful whole. Praise God, we have the last chapter given to us as inextinguishable fuel for this confidence. </p>
<p>These story song selections are meant to lay bare the experiences of life. Funny and dark; sweet and bitter; sad and hopeful; lost and found. As we face the arrival of virtual worlds, in which people want to retreat into the space between their two ears to avoid the chaos around them, let Christians be the ones who remain active participants in this divine story. May we ever strive, in our supporting roles, to bring notoriety to the lead character and to call the unwitting extras on the global set to join the cast before the credits run. We await with eager expectation the final chapter. No more numbers on the page. No more chapters building to the culmination of all the loose plot lines. The glorious final cut: the red carpet event. Awards will be given and we will lay them at all at the feet of the cause of all causes, the Author Himself. </p>
<p>These songs are not just my story. They’re also your story. And ultimately, all of our stories, are His story. </p>
<p><strong>We are His poiema. </strong></p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70131442021-10-15T15:00:00-05:002022-07-12T15:03:15-05:00Your Worst Nightmare<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Habakkuk 3:17-19 </em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Though the fig tree does not bud </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and there is no fruit on the vines, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though the olive crop fails </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and the fields produce no food, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though the flocks disappear from the pen </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and there are no herds in the stalls, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>yet I will celebrate in the LORD; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The LORD my Lord is my strength; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>He makes my feet like those of a deer </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and enables me to walk on mountain heights! </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>For the choir director on stringed instruments. </em></p>
<p>I read once that if you’re struggling with worry, the best thing to do is to imagine the worst possible scenario of your worry. It’s a pretty good strategy, although I have a very active imagination. In my conversations with people these days, I see this mentality. The mentality of buckling down and preparing for the worst. Habakkuk’s mentality. Or is it? </p>
<p>For a few days I’ve had this passage in mind to write about for this newsletter. Today, the opportune moment came. Babies are napping, the house is quiet. I’m going to write about Habakkuk and about how in the midst of his worst possible scenario, he’s trusting the Lord. It’s not a bad take, but it’s far from the whole picture. I only know this, because I went ahead and read all three chapters of Habakkuk before I started to write. Extreme prep, I know, but like I said, the babies are asleep. The silence goes to my head. </p>
<p>It’s different from how it was in my head, and I’ve read Habakkuk before. Habakkuk starts out with </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“How long, Lord, must I call for help </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and you do not listen </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>or cry out to You about violence </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and You do not save? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Why do You force me to look at injustice? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Oppression and violence are right in front of me. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Strife is ongoing and conflict escalates.” </em></p>
<p>Wow, right? Talk about relevant. This is a prayer I could pray right now, word for word. The amazing thing is that God actually answers Habakkuk and gives the big picture view that Habakkuk is asking for in order to understand. God says: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Look at the nations and observe— </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>be utterly astounded! </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>For I am doing something in your days </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>that you will not believe </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>when you hear about it. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans… </em></p>
<p>I’m pretty sure <strong>this is why the Lord rarely tells us what He is doing.</strong> It’s because we would be scared spitless. In response to Habakkuk’s plea for justice, the Lord says He is raising up the Chaldeans. Great! Good plan! Um... who are the Chaldeans? Habakkuk would most likely have already heard frightening rumors about this fierce new empire spreading its borders ever closer to Judah. The capital city of Chaldea was Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar would be the Chaldean king who would later invade Judah, just as God is telling Habakkuk, and who would destroy Solomon’s temple, lay waste the land, and carry off the vast majority of its inhabitants into slavery (among them Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). </p>
<p>Habakkuk is understandably shaken by this revelation. He asks: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Is he then to keep on emptying his net </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and mercilessly killing nations forever? </em></p>
<p>God, what about the Chaldeans? What about justice for them? Part of the Lord’s answer sounds familiar because it is quoted by Paul in Romans: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Write the vision; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>make it plain on tablets, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>so he may run who reads it. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>For still the vision awaits its appointed time; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>it hastens to the end — it will not lie. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>If it seems slow, wait for it; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>it will surely come; it will not delay. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Behold his (Chaldea’s) soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>but the righteous shall live by his faith. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>… </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Woe to him (Chaldea) who heaps up what is not his own— </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>for how long? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and loads himself with pledges! </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Will not your debtors suddenly arise, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and those awake who will make you tremble? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Then you will be spoil for them. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>… </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>For the earth will be filled </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>as the waters cover the sea. </em></p>
<p>God tells Habakkuk that the fulfillment of the prophecy may seem slow, but it is surely coming. God’s judgement on Judah for her injustice, violence, and wrongdoing, is surely coming. And God’s judgment on the Chaldeans for their viciousness, their cruelty, their idolatry, is surely coming. And in the midst of all this, God’s people are going to live by faith. They’re going to have to trust God’s promise that He is bringing about justice, that He is not slow, that He is not delaying, that He is at work in the movements of the greatest empire on earth at the time. </p>
<p>The third chapter of Habakkuk is his final reply to the Lord. It’s filled with imagery of God working in history and doing mighty deeds. Here’s the conclusion Habakkuk reaches: It’s one thing to read through the Bible and pass from Genesis to Exodus and think “Huh. 400 years of slavery. Interesting.” It’s another to be a brickmaker at the 200 year mark of slavery and trust as you work for the glory of Pharaoh that great-great-great-great uncle Joseph had it right when he said that God would certainly bring your people into the land He swore to give to Abraham. It’s one thing to hear a Sunday school lesson about Moses and the children of Israel having to paint the blood of a lamb over their doors. It’s another to kill the lamb, paint the door, and trust, as you hold your sleeping firstborn son in the blackness of night, that the angel of death will pass over him. It’s one thing to hear about the Red Sea parting. It’s another to wake up in a vast encampment of terrified refugees with the rumble of Pharaoh’s chariots behind you, and an impassable sea ahead of you. Habakkuk is now seeing God work in mighty ways, which before he had only read about. Here's how he feels about it. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>O LORD, I have heard the report of you, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and your work, O LORD, do I fear. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>… </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I hear, and my body trembles; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>my lips quiver at the sound; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>rottenness enters into my bones; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>my legs tremble beneath me. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>to come upon people who invade us. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Though the fig tree should not blossom, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>nor fruit be on the vines, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>the produce of the olive fail, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and the fields yield no food, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>the flock be cut off from the fold, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and there be no herd in the stalls, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>yet I will rejoice in the LORD; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I will take joy in the God of my salvation. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>GOD, the Lord, is my strength; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>He makes my feet like the deer’s; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>He makes me tread on my high places. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. </em></p>
<p>First of all, Habakkuk's response to God's terrifying plan, is to write a worship song. I love thinking about Daniel and his friends singing this song years before their captivity in Babylon. Somehow facing the worst things head on, even singing about them, takes the sting away. <strong>Christ was singing about the cross long before he was making his final trek to Jerusalem.</strong> We can sing about the worst things because if they're part of God's plan, then the worst things will ultimately be redemptive. </p>
<p>If I were to write a song about my worst case scenario, it would be something far less poetic: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though there is no end to Covid’s ramifications </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though the world governments become more power mad </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though the price of everyday necessities go ever up </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>though the battle on the family is lost...</em></p>
<p>Well I guess those who can't write songs... write newsletters. </p>
<p>We were watching Planet Earth the other day with the kids, and there was a section on mountain goats. Nimble is a feeble word to describe how agile they were on cliffs and precipices. That was what brought Habakkuk to mind in the first place because suddenly </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“He makes my feet like the deer’s; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>He makes me tread on my high places” </em></p>
<p>became so much more than just a pretty mental picture. Far from being a reiteration of Psalm 23, Habakkuk is saying <strong>'God makes me able to endure in the harshest circumstances.'</strong> Whatever your worst case scenario song is, even if it comes true down to the jot and the tittle, God’s righteous ones will live by faith. We trust that He is bringing about His ultimate plan of redemption. We trust that He loves us because we keep the cross of Jesus in mind. We trust that even if things worse than our imaginations were to take place, He would make us able to keep our footing in that wasteland. Above all, we trust that though we ourselves deserve His judgment, in Jesus, that judgement is absorbed. </p>
<p>He'll keep us standing, both on the precipices now, and before His throne on that great day. </p>
<p>Keep on your toes, </p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70130972021-06-15T14:00:00-05:002022-07-12T14:25:01-05:00Mine ... But Not Mine<p>I feel like everyone spent last year thinking, well, if we can just get to the summer, if we can just get to the fall, if we can just get to the vaccine in the winter, if we can just get past the election… Well that’s how I have thought at any rate. And here we are, past all of the above. To be brief, we have lost over 270 concerts since shutdown and have only been able to do 31. At the time of this writing I have a total of four churches booked. Most congregations are still running well below pre-Covid numbers and leadership is understandably not willing to schedule things until their numbers get more steady. From my conversations over the course of hundreds of phone calls these last few weeks I regret to say that for the most part churches are going to be very slow coming back and many may never be what they were. There has been a great sifting and many people who were able to do without church for a year without a sigh are perfectly content to continue that way. </p>
<p>Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together is a command just like #4 of the “Big Ten.” Failure to do so is not mitigated by the technological advances of live streaming. God is not taken by surprise that this is now possible. That’s why the word “together” is there. You can technically “assemble” your digital selves online, but you cannot be physically together. God made us physical beings and God made us social beings. It is not good for us to be alone and when we are, everything from bad habits, to loneliness, suicidal thoughts, feelings of meaninglessness, and worse naturally occur. But the child of God who has been uniquely and intricately placed into a part of the local body and the universal Body of Christ is especially dependent on this social experience. </p>
<p>I wait patiently for the “y’all” version of the Bible to come out. There are so many “y’all’s” in Scripture that we can’t see because translators use the plural “you” for a smoother reading experience. But the real word behind that “you” many times is “y’all.” Go read an epistle on yallversion.com for an eye-opening experience. Prime example:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>1 Corinthians 3:16</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Do y’all not know that y’all are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in y’all? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what y’all are. </em></p>
<p>Show of hands — how many thought that verse was saying that you, singular, are the temple of God? </p>
<p>Why does the “y’all” aspect of the Bible matter? Because it is in the common grace observances of the Lord’s table, the witnessing of baptisms, the singing of the saints, and hearing the proclamation of God’s word that the church finds its sustenance. Private Bible study is needful. Family prayer time is a must. Taking advantage of the wealth of podcasts from multiple preachers online is an amazing blessing. However, you are an unrepeatable gear in this machine. No one else can do what you do. Your church is a incomparable and priceless part of Christ’s body. If you judge an item by the price paid, the collective Body of Christ is infinitely, immeasurably, undeniably the most valuable entity in all of creation because it was appraised by God as being worth the life of his perfect eternal and glorious Son. </p>
<p>Being able to go without church for a year and not be greatly distressed is a disturbing diagnostic for anyone who has claimed Christianity. For a professing Christian to be apart from the church with no regrets or longing is at best an indicator that you are in an extremely shallow church that is not feeding you properly or at worst, you are a false convert. </p>
<p>There is a “you” aspect to Christianity. But it exists alongside the “y’all” aspect. Certainly it is right to think of your personal walk with Christ, but that awareness needs to come with the parallel awareness of your church’s walk with Christ... and your walk with your church... and how your walk with your church affects your personal walk with Christ. </p>
<p>Culture today skews heavily toward the individual experience, and that is true of the church as of the culture: it’s my personal walk with Christ, my interpretation of Scripture, my worship experience, my personal sins, my individual temptations, my strengths, my weaknesses, my joy, my grief. Like the other paradoxical truths of Scripture, these things are wrong only in the absence of the opposite and parallel truth. Christ was truly man. But if you stop there and fail to complete the catechism, you’ve fallen into error. Christ was truly man … and truly God. And so, it is my personal spiritual life. But if I can’t see that I exist within the church… that my personal spiritual life is mine, but also not mine, then I’ve fallen into error. </p>
<p> <strong> It’s my personal walk with Christ, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s also the church’s walk with Christ, myself forming a small, but necessary part. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my interpretation of Scripture, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s learning from and submitting to the leadership within the church as they interpret the same Scripture. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my worship experience, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s the church together worshipping while observing the sacraments of communion and baptism, and singing to one another with psalms and hymns, and hearing together the Scripture read and expounded upon. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my personal sin, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s in the context of the church that we can bear each other’s burdens and confess our sins to one another. And it’s my sin that potentially taints and weakens the whole church, my sin that my leadership is in some sense accountable for. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my individual temptation, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s the church that encourages me and exhorts me to see the eternal weight of glory and not settle for Esau’s porridge. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my strength, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s for the purpose of building up the church. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my weakness, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s for the purpose of being built up within the church. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my joy, </strong></p>
<p>but it’s also for the joy of the church. </p>
<p><strong> It’s my grief, </strong></p>
<p>but it is shared and comforted by the church. </p>
<p>In a world that prizes individualism above all else, let’s grow deep roots within the churches in which we’ve been placed. Let’s prize the joy of community, the joy of being one with people that are sometimes utterly foreign to us otherwise. Let’s embrace the truth that we are living stones, carefully placed into the living structure that is being built into a holy temple for the Lord. </p>
<p>Grace be with y’all. </p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70130942021-02-23T14:25:00-06:002022-07-12T14:18:25-05:00O For Grace to Trust Him More<p>Seems like since the beginning of the shutdowns and general craziness, we’ve heard a lot of references to Job, suffering, and the feeling of having lost it all. In the context of Job, I don’t believe I personally have seen anyone during this pandemic lose anything close to what Job did. But at least he didn’t have to wear a mask for his ailment. So I feel like I’m right there with him as far as degree of suffering goes. Yes, there’s a big ole tongue in my cheek as I say that. </p>
<p>You all know Job’s story. In a nutshell, Job lost his wealth, his livelihood, his children, his health, and in a less literal sense, his wife, all in a cosmic stand off between God and Satan. </p>
<p>For this devotional, I’d like to focus in on the lesser known characters in the book of Job — lesser known even though their words take up a large chunk of the book. Job’s friends. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. To their credit, they came, they stayed quiet for seven days, they wept with Job, and when they spoke, they said it to Job and not all over town. </p>
<p>So after they’ve been sitting with Job in silence for a week, Job starts talking. “I wish I had never been born.” Imagine that it’s a friend of yours that is suffering, and this friend tells you he wishes he had never been born. What would you tell him? </p>
<p>Eliphaz tells Job: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Blessed is the one whom God reproves; <br>therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 5:17</em></p>
<p>Doesn’t sound that bad, does it? It’s a spiritual way of telling Job that the bad things that have happened to him *may* have been his fault. Job replies that yes, his words have been rash, but he has ample cause for rash words. He tells them he can see the fear in their eyes — what if this is a punishment from God? What if Job’s misfortune is catching? And this is such a great word from Job when it comes to being with suffering people: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Do you think that you can reprove words, <br>when the speech of a despairing man is wind?” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 6:26</em></p>
<p>Eliphaz is tut-tutting Job’s words when Job is in every kind of agony, rather than doing him the kindness of letting some steam off (let alone the kindness of physically taking care of his friend). This is not where I’m heading, but I think it’s worth pointing out that being a good friend means allowing your friends to be free to say things in the fullness of their hearts that they will perhaps later repent of. Bildad replies to Job next: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“If your children have sinned against him, <br>he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression” (Job 8:4). </em><br>...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, <br>nor take the hand of evildoers” (Job 8:20). </em></p>
<p>He's saying look, your children may have (probably) received what they deserved. God’s not in the business of hurting good people! </p>
<p>Job replies: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“He crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; <br>he will not let me get a breath, but fills me with bitterness. <br>If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! <br>If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? <br>Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; <br>though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. <br>He destroys both the blameless and the wicked. <br>When disaster brings sudden death <br>he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. <br>The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; <br>he covers the faces of its judges — if it is not he, who then is it?” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 9:17-24</em></p>
<p>I love this book! There’s so many things we feel when we’re suffering that are not kosher to say. And here Job is, just laying it all out there. And here God is, putting all Job’s words in a book for us to read and shake our heads in amazement at! “God, you destroy the blameless and the wicked together. You mock the calamity of the innocent. You are crushing me without a cause!” </p>
<p>Here’s Zophar’s response: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“You say, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ <br>But oh, that God would speak and open His lips to you, <br>and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! <br>For he is manifold in understanding. <br>Know then that God exacts less of you than your guilt deserves. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 11:4-6</em></p>
<p>I mean, technically, what’s wrong with this, right? Isn’t it kinda like what we say when we’re asked how we’re doing and we reply “better than I deserve”? If we all deserve hellfire, then what’s wrong with saying that Job’s received less than he deserves? The book goes on like this, with Job continuing to assert that he has done nothing for which God would be just to punish him in such a manner, and with the friends doubling down on their assertions that God is punishing Job justly. At the beginning, they’re hinting around that God may be punishing Job, but as Job continues to tell them he is innocent, they quit with hinting and just say out and out what they were really thinking all along. </p>
<p>Eliphaz: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you <br>and enters into judgment with you? <br>Is not your evil abundant? <br>There is no end to your iniquities. <br>For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing <br>and stripped the naked of their clothing. <br>You have given no water to the weary to drink, <br>and you have withheld bread from the hungry. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 22:4-7</em></p>
<p>Wow, Eliphaz! Don’t hold back, bro! Tell us what you really think! As I read this, I see these friends saying things that are not right about Job, but at the book’s conclusion, God tells the friends that they have not spoken what is right about Him, as Job has. So if that’s the case, I’ve always wondered, what did they say that was wrong about God? </p>
<p>I think, put simply, what the friends are saying is that God is comprehensible, predictable, and formulaic. That God is good, and therefore, God only does what is easily explained as being good. He rewards good people and punishes bad people. Eliphaz told Job in his reply to Job’s first words: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Who that was innocent ever perished? <br>Or where were the upright cut off?” </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 4:7 </em></p>
<p>Which is to say, if you’re innocent, these kinds of things just don’t happen to you! Check off your boxes of sacrificing for sin, cross the “t” of giving to the poor, dot the “i” of living a righteous life. Et voila! You’re bound to be blessed in your finances, family life, and health. Does that sound familiar? TBN preachers? Follow this formula, send me this money, and God will bless your finances. </p>
<p>This is a very easy trap for all of us to fall into, even as Christians who have immeasurably more information about God than these four men would have had at the time of Job’s story. Even as Christians who would die on the hill of “by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.” We say “Your ways are higher than our ways, and your thoughts than our thoughts” but do we think that way? Much of the time we act as if we actually can explain what God is doing. </p>
<p>The problem is, God isn’t an iPhone app with neat buttons and progress bars to tell you what’s going on. Mr Beaver gets it right in the Chronicles of Narnia:<em> “Safe? … Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” </em></p>
<p>Back to Job’s friends. Let’s be fair to them. Were they wrong to think and believe that God punishes wrongdoing? Absolutely not. See Romans 2:6 - “God will repay each person according to his deeds.” Were they wrong to think that God disciplines his children? No. Hebrews 12:6, right? “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” And let’s continue to be fair to them — if you were to have a friend who in one day lost his wealth because fire fell from heaven, lost his business in a vicious one-hour takeover, lost his children in a tornado, and then who broke out in disgusting sores all over his body and whose marriage was suddenly on the rocks? Well, if you don’t think you’d have some questions about where they stood with God, I think you maybe don’t know yourself very well. That’s Sodom and Gomorrah stuff there! Job’s situation did bear the hallmarks of divine judgement. But Job’s friends went wrong when they assumed that just because some suffering bears God's fingerprints, that therefore the reason for that suffering must be sin, as if God is a God of karma, or this world is fair, or Satan does not abuse those that God loves, or God does not bring suffering for his own divine purposes. </p>
<p>Because, let’s be clear, God does sometimes bring suffering for his own divine purposes. “His own divine purposes,” meaning that you may have absolutely no idea what good any of it is doing. It may seem utterly meaningless. Look at the psalms. Sometimes a psalmist suffers as a result of his sin — “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.” (Ps. 41:4) — but often it’s just inexplicable. Listen to this psalmist’s lament: “O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?” (Ps. 88:14). </p>
<p>As a child of God, when bad things happen to me, I’m with Job — “Make me know my transgression and my sin” (Job 13:23). I think we all need the humility in suffering to ask this, to say “is it I, Lord?” But if God does not show us a sin to repent of, we also need the faith to move on from looking at ourselves, to looking at the sovereignty of a loving, yet sometimes inexplicable God </p>
<p>In the middle of the confrontation with his friends Job says this: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Oh that my words were written! <br>Oh that they were inscribed in a book! <br>Oh that with an iron pen and lead <br>they were engraved in the rock forever! <br>For I know that my Redeemer lives, <br>and at the last he will stand upon the earth. <br>And after my skin has been thus destroyed, <br>yet in my flesh I shall see God, <br>whom I shall see for myself, <br>and my eyes shall behold, and not another. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Job 19:23-27</em></p>
<p>Amazing isn’t it? The God Job thought wasn’t listening, was listening. The God Job thought had stopped caring, was putting Job’s tears in a bottle, one by one (Ps 56:8). Job’s words are inscribed in a book, an eternal book, and the Redeemer that Job had only the vaguest notion of has come, has stood on the earth, has shown the kind of love that God has for us, and at the last, he will stand on the earth again. So whatever mess we are going through may, like Job's, be unexplainable, but it is not unloving or purposeless. </p>
<p>Have I been doing a lot of crying out and “woe is I” complaining over the past year? You betcha. But I feel very at home with David, with Moses, with the other psalmists, with Paul, with Jeremiah, and yes, even with Job. After all my calling out and questioning, here I stand with those many witnesses saying with them “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away. I’m going to attempt to stop figuring out the reason for this mess, stop looking at my own weakness and failings, and try to trust the God whose plan is beyond my comprehension. </p>
<p>O for grace to trust Him more! </p>
<p>Miles & Mar</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70130842020-10-02T14:00:00-05:002022-07-12T14:10:11-05:00A Toddler's Mess<p>I would like to relate to you a slightly amusing irony. Needless to say this year has stunk… and the stench has been more potent for people in the arts. Also people in the medical profession… and families with children in school… and people in nursing homes… and older people in general… not to mention people needing elective procedures… people that live in large cities… people that watched the first presidential debate… I’m sure you could fill in my blanks. But I’m in the arts, so that’s my relationship to the upper echelons of stinkage this year. </p>
<p>On top of tediously sitting at home over the last several months, we have been in a seemingly unending kitchen cabinet remodel for going on two months now and looking like it will be at least another month (decade) before it is done, and currently I have quickly come down with some terrible condition. I don’t think it’s Covid, (footnote: this was written right before we went to get tested - it was Covid) but it has my teeth hurting and me completely wiped out. </p>
<p>With me sick we don’t want to spread the joy around to my extended family and so Martha had to run to town for provisions and I was left to keep the babies alive. I thought it was going pretty well until I turned the corner in the library where we have a shelf on which we keep all of our ministry resource books for the product table. There are hundreds of them on all different topics for people to pick up. You can probably see where this is going, but a whole pile of them had been ripped from the well organized location and strewn from hither to yon. The babies, as per usual, were very proud of their productivity. </p>
<p>Feeling as I did at the moment, I thankfully did manage not to think in expletives. Maybe a few asterisks. I may have muttered like Yosemite Sam under my breath as I began to pick the books up. The irony came in when I began to realize that the only pile that had been toppled was the topic, “Does God Control Everything?” </p>
<p>Depending on who is reading this you may have a different take on it, but orthodox Christianity has always held that God is sovereign in all things and so the universal answer of the faithful church has always been “yes.” </p>
<p>This year has seen us slogging through a morass of raw feelings that may or may not be warranted (it’s hard to reason with feelings), along with actual major losses and setbacks. Underneath the swamp, my feet rest on the only thing that keeps me from letting my head go under: a solid bedrock of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and mercy. For the second time in my life Psalm 42 is my anthem: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.</em></p>
<p>Does reading it does it change the situation around me? Nope. But it changes me... </p>
<p>And isn’t that what salvation is all about? Less me, more Christ? </p>
<p>Am I reading a lot into a toddler’s mess? Well, I usually make more of my messes than I should. I’m literally and figuratively the dad with his t-shirt perpetually pulled up over his nose while changing diapers. Was cleaning that mess up a big deal? Naw... took a couple of minutes. Is the mess of this world gonna be a big deal for God to clean up? </p>
<p>Naw... just a final word and all things will be new. </p>
<p>Keep decreasing, </p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70130822020-06-12T14:15:00-05:002022-07-12T14:07:04-05:00The Hope Within<p>Who wants to hear more about coronavirus? Throw your hands in the air! </p>
<p>So how’s your light shining in this swamp, Christian? If you ask me, Peter’s charge to “be ready with an answer when someone asks you for a reason for the hope that is within you” seems a bit over zealous about now. Seriously? We’re supposed to have hope to the point that someone asks about it? In the middle of this mess? These days, if you were to ask for an answer for the heaviness within me, I would be pretty likely to go off like a radio talk show host about my reasons for being discouraged, irritated, outraged, even depressed. </p>
<p>I don’t think that’s necessarily wrong. I don’t think Peter wants us to be unaware of or unaffected by the darkness of the world. The whole point behind people asking for the reason for hope within us is that there’s not an obvious reason. From the outside looking in, there may be every reason for discouragement, irritation, outrage, and even depression. I’m pretty sure Jesus experienced every one of those at some point during his ministry. But the bedrock reality that shaped his outlook was hope. </p>
<p>(Minor side note in this paragraph.) The problem is, when I say “the bedrock reality of hope,” it kinda sounds like saying jumbo shrimp. Airline food. Honest politicians. When we say we “hope” something today, we don’t mean what Peter did. We say “I hope things will go back to normal soon,” or “I hope the chaos in our country will be resolved soon.” But we mean something closer to we “wish” things would go back to normal. We wish the chaos in our country would be resolved. </p>
<p>(Back to the main point about hope in the midst of unhopeful circumstances.) Perfect example of discouragement, irritation, outrage, despair? Jeremiah. Yeah, the prophet who wrote a book of the Bible called Lamentations. Ever wondered why it was named Lamentations? Read it. If five chapters is too much for you, just read chapter 3. Seriously, read it. Sometimes reading someone else’s bad news gives you a fresh perspective on your own. The Cliffs notes version is that Jeremiah says he’s seen affliction, had God’s hand turned against him, been worn down physically, worn down spiritually, been turned against by his own people, had his peace taken away, his future, his home, his hope. Then we get to verse 21. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>for his mercies never end. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>They are new every morning; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>great is your faithfulness! </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I say, “The Lord is my portion, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>therefore I will put my hope in him.</em></p>
<p>Someone write a song! Oh, wait. </p>
<p>Faith and hope are designated throughout the Bible as being rooted in the character of God himself. If he is not faithful and if his promises are not sure, then there is no reason to hope in him. Here’s Peter again (1 Peter 1:21): </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Through Him you believe in God, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and so your faith and hope are in God.</em></p>
<p>The New Testament takes the concept of hope a step further than Jeremiah can. Peter tells us where our hope rests, just as Jeremiah does. Peter can take it to the next level though, and give us the bedrock reasons for our hope: Christ, the Messiah died, has been raised, and is now glorified. Christ’s work is complete, with nothing lacking to restore a right relationship between God and man. So not only do we hope in God’s character, in his goodness and faithfulness, but we hope in that very goodness and faithfulness being extended to us forever, knowing that Christ has completely reconciled us. </p>
<p>You can skip this middle portion if you like, because we’re gonna go a little geeky on you and give you a chunk of Luther to read on the relationship of hope to faith. I needed some major help here to try and come up with the differentials between the two, so I turned to a giant on whose shoulders all protestants stand. Enjoy, and enjoy nonchalantly injecting into random conversations the fact that you’ve been reading Luther. Reading Luther without mentioning it would be such a waste. </p>
<p><strong>FAITH VS HOPE - LUTHER </strong></p>
<p>"There is so great affinity between faith and hope, that the one cannot be separate from the other. Notwithstanding, there is a difference between them, which is gathered of their several offices, diversity of working, and of their ends. <br>1. They differ in respect of their subject, that is, of the ground wherein they rest. For faith resteth in the understanding, hope in the will; but the one is to the other, as the two cherubim on the mercy-seat. <br>2. They differ in respect of their office, i.e. of their working. Faith tells what is to be done, teaches, prescribes, directs; hope stirs up the mind that it may be strong, bold, courageous, that it may suffer and endure adversity, waiting for better things. <br>3. They differ as touching their object, that is, the special matter whereunto they look. Faith has for her object the truth, teaching us to cleave surely thereto, and looking upon the word and promise of the thing that is promised; hope has for her object the goodness of God, and looks upon the thing which is promised in the word, that is, upon such matters as faith teaches us to hope for. <br>4. They differ in order. Faith is the beginning of life, before all tribulation; hope proceeds from tribulation. <br>5. They differ by the diversity of working. Faith is a teacher and a judge, fighting against errors and heresies, judging spirits and doctrines; hope is, as it were, the general or captain of the field, fighting against tribulation, the cross, impatience, heaviness of spirit, weakness, desperation, and blasphemy, and it waits for good things even in the midst of all evils. Therefore, when I am instructed by faith in the Word of God, and lay hold of Christ, believing in Him with my whole heart, then am I righteous by this knowledge. When I am so justified by faith, or by this knowledge, by and by cometh the devil, the father of wiles, and laboureth to extinguish my faith by wiles and subtleties; that is to say, by lies, errors, and heresies. Moreover, because he is a murderer, he goeth about also to oppress it by violence. Here hope wrestling, layeth hold on the thing revealed by faith, and overcometh the devil that warreth against faith; and after this victory followeth peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."</p>
<p>So, there’s some 500 year old wisdom from a church father. Back to ME! <br>A commentary on the Bible is one thing, but a commentary on a commentary is…well, I won’t comment. Might cause a black hole to open up. </p>
<p>Another part of our hope is the looking-forward part that I’ll just mention briefly via our brother Paul (Titus 2:12-13) . </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>It (Scripture) instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. </em></p>
<p>So to sum up - </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>We hope in his character, for he is faithful and true. <br>We hope in his death, for he took our place of punishment on the cross. <br>We hope in his burial, for he descended into hell as a conquerer of the grave. <br>We hope in his resurrection, because God has proclaimed him victor for us. <br>We hope in his ascension, for he is now sitting at the right hand of power interceding for us. <br>We hope in his soon coming, for he will make all things right again. </strong></p>
<p>So, bringing it all together. Is it ok to have a bleak outlook on current events? Yes. In this world we will have troubles. That’s pretty bleak. We gonna have swamps to muck through before it’s all done. We’re not called to deny reality. On the contrary, if you think about it, according to the Bible, the reality of our world is really much, much worse than we could ever imagine. </p>
<p>Here's the other reality: our hope is much more overwhelmingly glorious than we could ever imagine. Christ has won for us, his victory is total, his kingdom has come and will come, and the irrepressible power of his coming will wash away every blemish on this blood-soaked, sin-sick, bad-news-saturated, riot-ravaged, politics-swarmed, prejudice-plagued, injustice-riddled, and mosquito-infested, miserable orb. </p>
<p>Let's be realists - embracing both the reality that we see, and the reality that we do not see. Let's do as Jeremiah did, and remember our hope in the midst of all circumstances. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope and give your answer boldly to the world. </p>
<p>M&M</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/70131402020-02-26T15:00:00-06:002022-07-12T14:48:07-05:00Your Justice Be Done<p>Our devotionals since the twins have been born have reflected our state of life really well — no deep thought required! We’re a little less in survival mode now, but not so much that we didn’t discuss just using something we wrote a few years ago for this particular newsletter. We’re not going to do that, but we are going to use material that we’ve thought much about already. Namely, one of the songs we’ve recorded. Hopefully it goes without saying, but we could talk your ears off about every one of the songs we’ve picked to record. Each of them is about deep and enduring truth, even the fast and fun ones. </p>
<p>However this song isn’t fast or fun. It’s called <strong>“The Reckoning,”</strong> and it was written by Andrew Peterson. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I can see the storm descending on the hill tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Tall trees are bending to your will tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Let the mighty bow down </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>At the thundering sound of your voice </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I can hear the howling wind and feel the rain tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Every drop a prophet in your name tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>And the words that they sing </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>They are washing me clean, but </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long until this curtain is lifted? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long is this the song that we sing? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long until the reckoning? </em></p>
<p><strong>“Every drop a prophet in your name tonight.”</strong> What a great line. Every time there’s a storm, the thunder and lightning that sends Lillie crying to Mommy and Daddy — it’s a foretelling of the judgment that is to come. </p>
<p>This is one of those songs that came home to us as a result of starting a family and having little ones. All of you who have children know that having children changes how you view so many things. Abortion was always evil, but now… we see that the evil is much darker and more terrible than we knew. Sexual predators were always appalling, but now the very thought is nauseous. Broken families were always sad, but now they are heartbreaking. Having helplessness and innocence to guard makes us so very aware of the evil that is present in the world system, in fallen human nature, and in our adversary, Satan, always seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>And I know you hear the cries of every soul tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You see the teardrops as they roll tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Down the faces of the saints </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Who grow weary and faint in your fields </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>And the wicked roam the cities and the streets tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>But when the God of love and thunder speaks tonight </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I believe You will come </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Your justice be done, but how long? </em></p>
<p>Look at that line. <strong>“But when the God of love and thunder speaks tonight / I believe You will come / Your justice be done.”</strong> Thank God for thunder and lightning, for howling wind and storms. Their violence reminds us of the coming judgment, renews our hope that His justice will be done in the end, however long He chooses to wait. </p>
<p>We need those reminders. It’s so hard to grasp what God is doing in the world. Looking around, one of the hardest questions Christianity has to answer is how God can allow evil to continue. He hears the cries of every soul tonight. Sees the teardrops. And yet, the wicked continue to roam the cities and the streets. There’s tension there, even paradox. God’s wrath at evil is to be feared and fled from, yet God is the God of love, full of lovingkindness and mercy, ready to receive all who come to him in penitence. </p>
<p>Thus the bridge of the song: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are holiness and grace </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are fury and rest </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are anger and love </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You curse and you bless </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are mighty and weak </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are silence and song </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>You are plain as the day, </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>But you have hidden your face-- </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>For how long? How long? </em></p>
<p>The poetry in these lyrics is beautiful. Such an economy of words to describe our God, yet with every line I could pull up dozens of scripture references to back it up. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>And I am standing in the stillness of the reckoning </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The storm is past and rest is beckoning </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Mighty God, how I fear you </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How I long to be near you, O Lord </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long until the burden is lifted? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long is this the song that we sing? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>How long until the reckoning? </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>And I know that I don't know what I'm asking </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>But I long to look you full in the face </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I am ready for the reckoning </em></p>
<p>I think it makes people nervous to talk about wanting God’s judgment to come. It sounds a little wild-eyed, a little crazy, a little vengeful. I’ve heard people say that it’s wrong to be wanting Christ to return and make an end — that there’s many people that need saving still. I guess my answer would be that being made in God’s image, we should resonate with the different aspects of His being. While we long for justice to be done, we should also have the part of us that wishes wrath to be put off for the sake of the righteous, for the sake of mercy, for the sake of one more person being born again. The two desires can and should exist in the same heart. </p>
<p>Let us then be praying “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven,” and be confident that we are echoing the heart of God when we long for all evil to be put to an end. And no, we don’t know what we’re asking. We have a few pictures in the Bible of what that justice, that day will be like, but we only have the ability to comprehend a very small bit of that reality. It’s ok, though. The God of holiness and grace, of anger and love, of fury and rest… He is the one who will do justice. He will do it well. And on that day, there will not be a person who feels that justice has gone too far, or that it has not gone far enough. Every one’s innate desire for wrong to be dealt with, will be fully satisfied. </p>
<p>Thanks be to God, we who are in Christ don’t have to have fear about the wrath of God on that day. It is not coming for us. It has been forever settled in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. </p>
<p>Maranatha </p>
<p>M&M</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59655962019-11-19T10:26:50-06:002020-10-02T10:53:45-05:00Providential Graces on the Road<p>If this is your first time receiving our newsletter, you can get up to date by going back and reading the previous newsletter in the “Writings” tab of our website. In short, the twins were born in June. A week later, Martha experienced severe postpartum hemorrhaging, nearly died, and had to have an emergency hysterectomy. </p>
<p>Needless to say, as we were on the cusp of an 18-state, 10,000 mile, 40-concert tour a mere 25 days after Martha got home from the hospital, not to mention the 3 infants we were going to be traveling with, two of them 5 weeks old, and the other 20 months… well, let’s just say we had a long line of people questioning our sanity. We looked at each other and did the same occasionally. In my husbandly defense, I did leave it up to Martha to have the final say of going or not. She was determined to go forward with it as soon as the doctor released her to drive again. </p>
<p>Use your imaginations to conjure up two already emotionally and physically depleted parents, one of them legally blind and susceptible to retinal migraines and vomiting under stress. The other having undergone months of a physically grueling twin pregnancy, two major surgeries and major blood loss days before leaving on the trip. Take these individuals and pile them into a 30-foot box on wheels with a talkative toddler just getting used to massive family changes. Add a newborn who is very sweet when awake, very unhappy in the process of falling asleep, and who has the appetite of a Barbie doll, thus adding pumping and bottle feeding to the mix. Finally, add another newborn who is the exact opposite, ceaselessly hungry, who happily… vigorously… spits up two ounces of milk for every one ounce he drinks. </p>
<p>Pile up on top of that the job of entertaining the babies for 10,000 miles, and the unloading/setup/soundcheck/concert/tear down process - sometimes twice a day. Then there was motorhome maintenance, cleaning, meal prep, limited opportunities for doing laundry… and finally, there were the diapers. In the beginning it was at least 20 diapers a day, some of which had exploded in the car seat. The advice they give parents who are at their wits end is to walk away and take 5 minutes. This is the part where we throw our heads back and laugh. Walk away where? There’s babies in both ends of this thing! People suggested before we left that we get a nanny to take with us, but the local mental institution didn’t have one on parole. Even the baby monitor we bought from Amazon shipped itself back at the thought of being part of the circus. </p>
<p>So. Why are we giving you a rundown of what sounds like an absolutely miserable two months? Just being real here… writing the above paragraphs was hard and we took a week between writing them and writing these. In precious quiet moments between the noise, we’ve talked together about the grace God providentially provided for the moment and the difference between the miraculous and the providential. </p>
<p>During the hardest four months of our lives, we saw the difference in detail, up close and personal. So many times we were at the end of our tether and there would be a special word of encouragement, a home cooked meal delivered to the motorhome with enough leftovers to make an extra meal on the road, a special concert with a super kind audience who would worship and then pray for us, a much needed break from the concerts, a beautiful sunset, the babies waking up just 30 seconds before we pulled into our destination, a Cracker Barrel gift card, and yes, three times we managed to get all three babies asleep at the same time. </p>
<p>Being real again here… just about every day there were points when the stress would get to one or the other of us and there would be a misunderstanding, a sharper word than necessary, hurt feelings. We felt our broken humanity acutely. But there was the grace of God again, changing our hearts, giving us the ability to soften, to ask forgiveness, to give forgiveness, to see the other’s point of view… and giving us the wisdom to grab another cup of coffee. </p>
<p>An even more amazing issue to me is the following. Since I was a teenager (just a little while ago), I have always had to deal with retinal migraines stemming from my congenital eye defects. These were debilitating, lasting at least several hours, making me unable to function for the duration, generally ending in vomiting, and resulting in making my eyes weaker and more susceptible to migraines the days afterward. About half of my annual homecoming concerts, I’ve had one afterwards. On all of our previous long trips, I’ve had to deal with them. The extra stress of travel always gets to my eyes no matter how careful we are. On this trip I had anticipated and dreaded migraines even more, for obvious reasons. I’m truly amazed to report that I did not have one, either on the trip, or in the stress of getting home and settling back in. I have no doubt that it was God’s gracious answer to our need and your prayers, and we greatly appreciate the time that you faithful readers and supporters gave to lift us up. </p>
<p>(We beg you, please don’t stop until these kids are older…like out of the house.) </p>
<p>Was any of that God mounting a white horse and charging into our situation, making mountains move, parting rivers, and burning up our enemies? In other words, was it miraculous? Nope, because we still had plenty of spit up and poop and sleepless nights, and tiredness, and did I mention spit up? A divinely touched bib or two that miraculously stayed dry and clean would have been handy. </p>
<p>No miracles, but God made Himself evident in the everyday workings of our lives and showed that when He didn’t move the mountain, He’d give that extra shove to get us over the hump or give us the tools to tunnel through it. Miracles are great, and God uses them for His glory too, but what amazed us on this trip was how every day, in an innumerable amount of ways - a few that we saw, most that we won’t know until we get to heaven - God orchestrated the little things and the big things, the imperfect and the obtuse things, the mundane and the invisible things to fulfill promises He has made to His children, to us. I’ve seen Him work this way for the past 13 years in this ministry, but His providential grace has never been more evident to me than in those 10 very long weeks. </p>
<p>I never thought we’d be writing a post about the Providence of God in regard to the very regular grueling happenings of a family with infants. I guess it may seem rather simple, even a dull thing for anyone to take the time to praise God for. The thing is, He knows and I’m learning that we are much weaker than we think ourselves to be. In truth, we would not make it out the door of our house without His goodness keeping us. That’s true whether you are mentally taxed to the point of tears, fighting a dreaded disease, dealing with marital woes, or praying for wisdom to talk to a family member about Christ. We are totally dependent on the momentary, providential graces of our eternal God.</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59656102019-07-08T10:35:00-05:002019-11-19T10:36:30-06:00Blessings and a Close Call<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/81eca6e92784bff35d1ae6876ac7081a3b46792b/original/summer-newsletter-2019.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Martha wrote this on Tuesday, July 2. We rejoice to report that we are all home together again, being doted on by family and friends, and enjoying the sweetness of the life that the Lord has given us. Martha is recovering amazingly fast, and the doctors told us that this will likely only put her recover back a week. </p>
<p>~~~ </p>
<p>Yesterday I woke up to a sleeping household. Sleeping all except two scrawny mites trying to outdo each other in convincing Mama that they were near the brink of starvation. Full home, full heart. This morning I’m waking up to an incessant beeping. “Distal occlusion” blinking on a screen. Pain. A styrofoam cup of melted icechips in my hand. Miles sleeping curled up in an 'engineered for optimal discomfort' hospital recliner beside me. </p>
<p>The bleeding started without warning yesterday. Over my protestations that it was unnecessary, Miles handed over babies and brief instructions to grandparents, and got me to the ER. After walking me and Miles through worst case scenarios, they wheeled me in for an exam under anesthesia. </p>
<p>My ears woke up first. It was loud. Bumpy. I could tell we were in a helicopter. Voices: “All I know is her name... hysterectomy...” </p>
<p>My joy in seeing my darling’s face come round the corner in the ICU was profound. I could barely open my eyes but I communicated via blinks. Then when I could move my fingers, via poorly executed sign language letters. He kept me smiling to keep my mind off the choking sensation of intubation and a machine breathing for me. A doctor came in. They’d had to give me three units of RBCs and three of plasma. </p>
<p>I’ve been lying here tonight, in joy and grief. Joy to still be here for my family. Grief at the loss of children we had still hoped to have. In God’s merciful providence, the morning before life shifted, we had struggled through reviewing one of our Bible memory passages. Romans 8. Through the tears this night, I have rejoiced in this: “He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” </p>
<p>My joy behind the joy and the grief of yesterday is that God has given me His Son. Having done this, whatever else He chooses to give or take away from me, I can trust that it is love, love, all love.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/f66c310d5f97464d9297c7aefecb3e84a086c308/original/mar-in-hospital.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59656092019-02-22T10:35:00-06:002019-11-19T10:33:39-06:00Love Thy Neighbor?<p>Martha and I were talking a while back about a conversation she had with a lady in her church when she was a teenager. The conversation had to do with how to practically live out the command to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Taken along with “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” it seems a recipe for misunderstanding, because what I want people to do to me is surely not necessarily the behavior that is going to be recognized as loving to them. This was the point of confusion for the lady Martha had the conversation with years ago. Martha had no ready answer to give, and so the end of the conversation was essentially two pairs of shrugged shoulders. </p>
<p>Years later, we happened to memorize the passage in Leviticus from which Jesus was quoting. As we looked at that passage, we saw a whole new meaning to ‘loving your neighbor as yourself.’ What does it mean in Leviticus? A slew of things in chapter 18 verses 9-18, but in the end of the passage, the part that Jesus quotes, it means not having a secret attitude about someone in my heart that I’ve never given them the chance to set right. It means open rebuke when they are at odds with God, me, or someone else. It means not setting myself up as judge, jury, and executioner of my neighbor. It means not being, literally, the caretaker of a grudge. </p>
<p>You shall not despise your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the members of your community, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. <br>Leviticus 19:17-18 </p>
<p>Honestly, we have both had people love us in this way. We’ve reacted in different ways to it. As a teenager, Miles had someone kindly rebuke him for a joke that wasn’t as thoughtful as it should have been. It wasn’t someone with whom he had a close relationship, and it wasn’t someone he greatly admired for any particular reason. Just an average person in his church. So when this elderly person very kindly, almost tearfully, pulled Miles to the side and told him that an offhand humorous comment had been hurtful to him, Miles was appreciative of the opportunity to make it right, and took the lesson to heart - being more careful in the future. Martha had a similar experience as a teenager. An older woman of the church rebuked her for wearing a shirt not quite long enough when she bent over. It was kindly done, but as a teenager, it didn’t help that the woman in question wore the loosest, drabbest clothes imaginable. So Mar did the whole external “thank you for your input, and I’ll be more careful in the future,” all the while feeling very put-upon and unfairly singled out. But in after-years, she came to appreciate the woman’s effort more. Amazing how those experiences stay with you and tend to change you in one way or another. It may sting for a while, but then the sting wears off and either you realize they are right, or that they are wrong. Or (many times) somewhere in between. </p>
<p>We’ve had people love us the other way too. The way that says “I wouldn’t want someone to confront me, so I won’t confront him.” How does that usually end up? With other people hearing about how peeved they are with one of us, and with what we’ve done, and us being out of the loop, trying to figure out what happened. Sometimes we find out, sometimes we don’t, but usually the relationship becomes tainted and marred and unable to bear any real strain. And then our reputation, such as it is, is marred. And finally, their character is marred and their listeners’ characters, since gossip twists three times, first the person being gossiped about, second the person gossiping, and third, the person hearing the gossip with that certain delight and satisfaction that hearing gossip gives. </p>
<p>These people who confronted us were living out part of what it means to be a peacemaker. Often we think that being a peacemaker means letting people walk over you, being weak or limp-wristed, and shrugging off every insult and imposition. Sometimes being a peacemaker does mean these things. But not as a general rule. Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean making no waves. </p>
<p>What does it look like to be a peacemaker? It means loving your neighbor as yourself — ‘not despising your brother in your heart, but reasoning frankly with your neighbor.’ Honestly, being a peacemaker is hard, dirty, discouraging work. Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker, right? How many times did he have to confront the Pharisees with their blatant hypocrisy and sneakiness? How many times did he have to confront Peter for putting his foot in it? He even had to gently remind his parents about his ultimate mission when they left him in the temple for three days. He made a practice of "reasoning frankly" with whomever he was in contact with. </p>
<p>Matter of fact, Jesus, speaking as the Lord of the church, commanded his disciples to practice this Levitical exhortation when he said in Matthew 18:15-26 </p>
<p>“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” </p>
<p>Knowing this could be an uncomfortable and sometimes easy to ignore, Jesus makes this promise in the very next verse (that is so often taken out of context) to assure us that we have his blessing when we obey this command. </p>
<p>“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” </p>
<p>We as Christians, as fellow brothers and sisters, we as communities, as churches, as families, and as joint heirs of eternity are to love each other in this way. We are to reason frankly with each other and keep things in the open. Is it always obvious what that looks like? No. Is it commonly practiced? No. Is it 100% foolproof? No. Will it always work the way we want it to? No. Are we expected to obey? Yes.</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59656082018-12-19T10:35:00-06:002019-11-19T10:32:35-06:00Christ Our Sabbath Rest<p>Matthew 12:1-8 <br>At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? </p>
<p>Allow me to fill in some gaps: In the story the Pharisees are referencing, David is being chased by Saul who wants to kill him. David’s men come to the tabernacle hungry from being chased, and the only bread available was the bread that was for ceremonial use. This bread was to signify God abiding with his people, and it was not for common use. But the priest gave the bread to David and his men to eat, breaking the ceremonial law in order to keep the moral law of “love your neighbor” given in Leviticus, and God did not condemn him. </p>
<p>Jesus asked them, “Have you not read this story?” Of course they had! Hundreds of times! He goes on, </p>
<p>“I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” </p>
<p>Jesus’ statement here was not lost on the Pharisees like it is on us today. To claim to be Lord of the Sabbath was an undeniable statement of deity. Jesus was proclaiming himself to be God and nothing less. If you don’t think this was how the Pharisees understood him, consider that it says later in the chapter they “conspired to destroy him” because of this. </p>
<p>So, what does it mean to us that Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath?” </p>
<p>Ok, so back to the story about David. Jesus didn’t just arbitrarily mention it to show his greater knowledge of the Old Testament. David, by the ceremonial aspect of the law, should have died for eating that bread, but he and his men did not die, neither did God discipline the priest who allowed them to take it. </p>
<p>Catch this…the rules concerning the Old Testament Sabbath were provisional. Sabbath was a ceremony. It was a picture of something to come. Jesus says “something greater than the temple is here.” Can you see the faces of the Jewish teachers reeling from that statement?? </p>
<p>Their lives revolved around that temple and the Sabbath, but you know what…we don’t meet in a temple today. There is no more temple, there are no more sacrifices, and the veil was ripped in two because something greater than the temple is here! </p>
<p>The Sabbath, a day of rest from the workweek, was always meant to be a picture of the spiritual rest of salvation that God had planned for His people. Look at Hebrews 4: </p>
<p>“While the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest.” … “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” </p>
<p>That will preach. The reason the day we worship doesn’t matter anymore is because Jesus, the fulfillment of the Sabbath, has come! We who have come to Christ can enjoy the fulfillment of Sabbath — rest from trying to work our way into God’s favor. The rest the Jews enjoyed on Sabbath was a picture of the spiritual rest God’s people would enjoy because of Christ! The reason there are no more ceremonial laws required to attend worship services is because the one who fulfilled those laws perfectly has come! The reason there’s not a blood soaked altar at the front of your church is because the perfect Lamb of God has died once and for all! </p>
<p>No more shadows! No more pictures! Just one spotless God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. </p>
<p>Now, we have established that the law is fulfilled, but you know what. Man is still made from dust. We still get tired. We still get weak and testy when we are overwrought. And guess what…we still have the principle in Scripture set before us that we ought to work six days and rest one. Not as a matter of morality anymore, but as a matter of practicality. </p>
<p>So if you have found your spiritual rest in Christ, then not only do you have spiritual rest from the drive to earn salvation, but you can also take a day to rest from your physical labors, knowing that God will care for you and provide all your needs according to his riches in glory. </p>
<p>May you have a wonderfully blessed and restful Christmas season!</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59656072018-08-16T10:35:00-05:002019-11-19T10:31:26-06:00Work III<p>Laboring With Labor Pains - Part 3 - Why Do We Overwork? </p>
<p>The modern world has scrambled things so badly </p>
<p>that today we worship our work, </p>
<p>we work at our play, </p>
<p>and we play at our worship. </p>
<p>~ Os Guinness </p>
<p>Last time we continued a three part devotional about work. If you missed it, you can go back and catch the first part in the “Writings” page on our website. </p>
<p>In a recent ABC news story, “Americans work more than anyone in the industrialized world. And Americans take less vacation, work longer days, and retire later, too.” </p>
<p>I had never thought of this, but do you know what really changed the way we work? The invention of the lightbulb. Ever since, we have begun to take pride in and identify ourselves by how hard and how long we work. Work of all kinds can be done into the wee hours of the morning, every day of the week. In contrast to the "work all the time" mentality, listen to this principle for God’s people in the Old Testament: </p>
<p>Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed. </p>
<p>Exodus 23:12 </p>
<p>Right alongside the commandment to not kill, not commit adultery, and not lie, we are commanded to work AND commanded to rest. Why do I emphasize the "and" in that sentence? Because the reason I tackled this subject was for me and Martha. We did not have a day of rest in our practice. It’s all well and good to refer to Sunday as a day of rest, but if you’re not actually getting some refreshment on Sunday, then you need another day in which to refresh yourself. So we found ourselves being run ragged, working all hours most days, looking forward to driving long distances on road trips to have some time to just be. </p>
<p>Now before some of you start screaming “sabbatarian” and rushing for the door to get away from the legalist, I know that this is the only one of the ten commandments that is not reiterated in the New Testament. This is no longer a law for us, but I intend to present it to you as rather a principle. </p>
<p>Why does God command us to rest? So that we “may be refreshed.” I submit to you that it is just as disobedient to ignore the principle of rest for refreshment as it is to be lazy. Fact is, in this culture, I think we find it easy to listen to someone telling us we ought to work harder. </p>
<p>The principle that is not talked about by the church is to exhort families to practice the Sabbath principles of rest and refreshment. </p>
<p>Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you asked someone how they are doing and you received a response anything like this? </p>
<p>“You know, we are really good. We took a day off and just didn’t go anywhere. We unplugged from social media, stayed at home, had family worship time, played a couple of board games, cooked special meals, and took a nap with the kids. I’ve not felt this refreshed in a long time.” </p>
<p>Ok, so I can tell you that I’ve never, and I mean never, gotten that response. If the person I ask is willing to go beyond the standard, “Doing ok, just busy”, what I’ve always got is more along the lines of… </p>
<p>“Keeping busy. Maggie is working full time now and we just moved. I finally got that promotion at work and it’s kicking my butt so far. The kids are starting back in school and I’m glad because the summer was crazy. Craig is in soccer and baseball, but he wants to start karate too since his friends are. Susan is still in gymnastics and dance, so we are going twelve different directions. We took a week long family vacation this summer, but you know how it is…we need a vacation after our vacation. We are running around like chickens with our heads cut off.” </p>
<p>Looking at the Word, I find three reasons why we overwork: </p>
<p>Love of Security </p>
<p>It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. </p>
<p>Psalms 127:2 </p>
<p>Look at the example. God gives us sleep. There are things you need to do to get sleep. Maybe you need a dark room. Maybe you need to not have caffeine after a certain hour. Maybe you need to put special pajamas on. You need to do your due diligence. But in the end, do you make yourself go to sleep? No. God *gives* you sleep. And the same with the food you eat — you do your due diligence. You work heartily, as to the Lord, but knowing all the while that it is God giving you the food that you eat. God giving you the roof over your head. God giving you the clothes on your back. God is our security, not work. Anxiety about the potential future lack of things is not right. Jesus spoke to this one too — remember? “Fear not little ones, you are of more value than many sparrows.” </p>
<p>Love of Money </p>
<p>The Bible has a lot to say about this one so I’m gonna camp out here for a bit. I’ve had people misquote the Bible and tell me that “money is the root of all evil.” That’s not what it says. </p>
<p>For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. </p>
<p>1 Timothy 6:10 </p>
<p>Now, it is perfectly possible to be rich and be a Christian. Matter of fact, in the NT there are those who are designated as rich complete with large homes, businesses, lots of workers under them, but they are never once commanded to give it all away. The right to property is not a uniquely American idea. They got it from Scripture. However, every Christian, regardless of their economic status, is commanded to be generous and to help those in need. </p>
<p>Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. </p>
<p>James 1:27 </p>
<p>Not only are we to be generous and to help the needy, we are told that we cannot "serve" money and serve God at the same time. The amazing thing is, that even given these Scriptures, you will still hear people, even church people saying things like: "I know money won't make me happy, but I'd just like to give it a chance." The truth is, if you did give money a chance to make you happy, a chance to fulfill your craving for it, you would find that you never had enough and it would never completely satisfy you. The trap with money or any other thing we expect to give satisfaction is that you alway think you need just a little bit more in order to be satisfied, and you end up eternally unsatisfied. </p>
<p>No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. </p>
<p>Matthew 6:24 </p>
<p>Love of Things </p>
<p>The love of things is related to the love of money, but they are two very different things. People who love money find meaning, security, even joy, in a large savings or investment account, but people who love things may have little or nothing put back, but have to own every thing they might desire. </p>
<p>Then Jesus said to them all, “Watch yourselves! Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches.” </p>
<p>Luke 12:15 </p>
<p>So do you love your things? You say, “I don’t know.” Do you find your meaning in them? Are your possessions your life’s scorecard? If you had to sell the boat or that extra truck, would it damage your pride? Do you rack up extra credit card debt or work overtime for things that are desires and not needs; luxuries that make you on par with the neighbors or coworkers or Facebook friends? I know that some people are over a barrel and have to work x amount of hours to make ends meet, but the list of things that are deemed “ends that must meet” by this society seems to be ever expanding. </p>
<p>Don't believe that? Take a moment and let it sink in on you that the iPhone has only been around since 2007. That should blow your mind. But now you must be poor and/or backwards if you don’t have a smartphone for your own personal use, one for your spouse, and one for each child. That's just one thing out of many (internet, TV, Amazon Prime) that could be named. </p>
<p>Now, I own and use an iPhone everyday because of the work I do. I’m preaching sermons off of an iPad for convenience. Martha and I have Amazon Prime. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these things. Matter of fact, they have been amazingly time saving for us and make running the ministry feasible. But the point is how and why do we acquire them? You don’t have to steal them to acquire them wrongly. Going into debt or working without adequate rest to the point that your family and spiritual life suffers in order to own them is wrong. </p>
<p>Recent studies show that the average child age 5 to 16 spends six and a half hours a day in front of a screen. Just let that sink in for a few seconds. Six and a half hours a day on average just looking at a screen. A few hours of church a week is not enough to cleanse their impressionable minds from the indoctrination of our schools and the images and ideas that are seared into their minds through the technology that surrounds them constantly. Now ask yourself why they are there in front of those screens for that amount of time? Where’s Dad? Where’s Mom? </p>
<p>Do you see the picture? How easy is it to be trapped into believing you have to have that promotion or that second job, not because the family is starving or they are gonna cut the lights off, but because we have to measure up to what our peers are able to afford? </p>
<p>This Ray Stevens song sums up my point beautifully: </p>
<p>Itemize the things you covet </p>
<p>As you squander through your life </p>
<p>Bigger cars, bigger houses </p>
<p>Term insurance for your wife </p>
<p>Tuesday evenings with your harlot </p>
<p>And on Wednesdays it's your charlatan analyst </p>
<p>He's high up on your list </p>
<p>You've got air conditioned sinuses </p>
<p>And dark disturbing doubts about religion </p>
<p>And you keep those cards and letters going out </p>
<p>While your secretary's tempting you </p>
<p>Your morals are exempting you from guilt and shame </p>
<p>Heaven knows you're not to blame </p>
<p>You better take care of business, Mr. Businessman </p>
<p>What's your plan? </p>
<p>Get down to business, Mr. Businessman </p>
<p>If you can </p>
<p>Before it's too late and you throw your life away </p>
<p>Did you see your children growing up today </p>
<p>And did you hear the music of their laughter </p>
<p>As they set about to play? </p>
<p>Did you catch the fragrance of those roses in your garden? </p>
<p>Did the morning sunlight warm your soul </p>
<p>Brighten up your day? </p>
<p>Do you qualify to be alive </p>
<p>Or is the limit of your senses so as only to survive? </p>
<p>Spending counterfeit incentive </p>
<p>Wasting precious time and health </p>
<p>Placing value on the worthless </p>
<p>Disregarding priceless wealth </p>
<p>You can wheel and deal the best of them </p>
<p>Steal it from the rest of them </p>
<p>You know the score, their ethics are a bore </p>
<p>Eighty-six proof anesthetic crutches </p>
<p>Prop you to the top </p>
<p>Where the smiles are all synthetic </p>
<p>And the ulcers never stop </p>
<p>When they take that final inventory </p>
<p>Yours will be the same sad story everywhere </p>
<p>No one will really care, no one more lonely than </p>
<p>This rich important man </p>
<p>Let's have your autograph, endorse your epitaph </p>
<p>You better take care of business, Mr. Businessman </p>
<p>Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” </p>
<p>Hebrews 13:5 </p>
<p>I know poor people who are rich because they are content and rich people who are poor because they will never experience contentment. I know people who have massive amounts of stuff, who are always accumulating more, never satisfied with what they have, and I know people who have very few possessions, who are content. I know people who seek security by sacrificing family time to work, to get the promotions, to fill the investment accounts... who are filled with fear that at any moment the economy will crash, or the world will come to an end, or they will lose their job. And I know people who, like the Proverbs 31 woman, laugh at future times, secure in the Lord. </p>
<p>So what's the take-away? Here it is: Don't ignore your need and your family's need for refreshment in order to seek security, wealth, or things. Take your abilities, the chances you have to work, and the opportunities you have to better your position and use them to provide for your family within the confines of a reasonable work week. </p>
<p>When that is done? Dote on your spouse, read a book, pour into your kids, be an active part of Christ’s body, make your favorite meal, serve in the church, take a nap, volunteer at a charity, get together with friends, pray, untether from social media, study God’s Word, invest in your extended family, sit out in a field and marvel at God’s creation. Take a day to deliberately enjoy the life that God has given you.</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/59655982018-05-22T10:30:00-05:002019-11-19T10:29:14-06:00Work II<p>1. Why do we work? </p>
<p>Back in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 2, God plants a garden, puts Adam in it, tells man to keep it, Adam names the animals, tends to the garden. That’s Adam’s job, and Adam is given his job before he eats the forbidden fruit. </p>
<p>The overarching answer is that we were intended to do work all along— even before the fall. (Sidenote: think on this. Why are laziness, idleness, greed, gambling, covetousness, envy, jealousy, embezzlement, and thievery wrong? Answer: they're wrong because our purpose is to be productive and these are ways that man attempts to avoid work.) </p>
<p>So work was intended for humankind from before the fall... but why? I mean, we don't usually think "Garden of Eden" and pair that thought with "good ole sweaty, dirty, honest hard work." My thoughts of Eden run more along the lines of picnics, skinny dipping, and horseback riding through green meadows with the wind blowing gently -- your classic hair conditioner commercial. No sweat or work involved. Back to the subject at hand... why do we work? </p>
<p>In Genesis 2 again, look at verse 2. God finished all the work he had been doing. God is the ultimate worker. He worked in the beginning in creating the world, in Hebrews 1:3 we see Christ still working - upholding the universe, keeping it all going; in John chapter 5 Jesus riles the Pharisees by telling them that both he and God were doing their work on the Sabbath -- "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." God is a worker and we, made in His image, are made to be working too. What, then, is our motivation to be as we work? </p>
<p>We work for the glory of God. </p>
<p>Philippians 2:14-15 </p>
<p>Do all things without grumbling or arguing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast to the word of life. </p>
<p>How many things? ALL things. Your work and how to you interact with your boss and employees should illuminate a dark workplace. God is glorified when His children shine. And I love how practical this passage is. I think of shining for Christ and I think my thoughts get a bit too exalted. As we work, how do we shine as lights in the world? By not grumbling. By not arguing. That hits home for me. </p>
<p>We work to provide for our family </p>
<p>1 Timothy 5:8 </p>
<p>But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. </p>
<p>You would think this would be obvious, but we've all seen people working for power, for recognition, for money, for everything except the joy and responsibility of providing for family. And this is God's heart. God loves providing for his children. Look at Matthew chapter 7: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" </p>
<p>We work so that we may not be a burden to others. </p>
<p>1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 </p>
<p>Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. </p>
<p>It is sinful to be able to work and provide for yourself but instead take advantage of the tenderheartedness of others. </p>
<p>We work so that we are able to give. </p>
<p>Ephesians 4:28 </p>
<p>Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. </p>
<p>Notice there’s more here than just the acknowledgement of the commandment that we are to not steal, but the deeper reason; don’t steal, but rather work so that you can give. </p>
<p>Proverbs 21:25-26 </p>
<p>The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. </p>
<p>All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. </p>
<p>We work because it is profitable </p>
<p>Proverbs 14:23 </p>
<p>In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. </p>
<p>Proverbs 12:11 </p>
<p>Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. </p>
<p>I did not extensively go in all the gems I could have mined from the wisdom books of the Bible, but Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak at length about work vs laziness. It would be well worth your time to take a look for yourself. </p>
<p>We work because of decay </p>
<p>This is why last time I spoke about how the dirt wins. Weeds grow faster than good things. The house is perpetually needing attention. The bathroom needs cleaning regularly. The dishes need doing every day. </p>
<p>Ecclesiastes 10:18 </p>
<p>Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. </p>
<p>I've heard all my life that an empty house goes to ruin. It's not because there's some negative magical property in being empty. It's because there's no one there to pull the weeds, to replace the broken windows, to sweep the porch, to repaint, to get the gunk out of the gutters, etc. It's because there's no one there to do the work. </p>
<p>We work because idle hands provide opportunity for the flesh </p>
<p>2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 </p>
<p>Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. </p>
<p>Believe it or not, in Ezekiel 16:49 God specifies that one of Sodom’s sins was idleness and laziness. That's not what I usually think of when I think of those cities. But there it is. Right up there with their other sins. If we're not busy doing something productive -- something creative or useful or rejuvenating to ourselves or others, we'll likely be doing something the opposite of productive. </p>
<p>So why do we work? We work for the glory of God. We work to provide for family. We work so that we may not be a burden. We work so that we are able to give. We work because it is profitable. We work because of decay. We work because idle hands provide opportunity for the flesh. </p>
<p>2. Who Do We Work For? </p>
<p>I’m assuming that some of you are reading this next point and thinking, “Well that’s pretty obvious.” I know we all know the "right" answer to this question. But sometimes we know the answer, and yet it has no bearing on everyday life. We forget the answer in the way we think and live. </p>
<p>Deuteronomy 8:11-20 </p>
<p>“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. </p>
<p>That is God speaking to Israel, His covenant people about how He provided deliverance and provision for them and brought them into Canaan the land He promised to them. How much more do we need to remember this? Let’s be honest and put things into perspective. Here’s a not so comfortable question from 1 Corinthians 4:7… What do we have that we did not receive? </p>
<p>Did you choose to be born? Did any of you have a choice of family? Country of origin? State? Government you live under? Maybe just the house and neighborhood that you lived in growing up? School? The children you have? Are you going to choose any that you will have? Talents you possess? Abilities? Strength? Genes? Job opportunities? Salary? </p>
<p>We are all products of things that we did not choose. Blessings and opportunities that were afforded us because God is gracious and no other reason. So… when we work for ourselves; for our pride, for our self respect, or to show off our abilities, then we are taking credit for what is not ours to claim. </p>
<p>I found this passage amazing. God is giving instructions to Moses about the building of the tabernacle. Read it carefully. </p>
<p>Exodus 31:1-6 </p>
<p>Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you…” </p>
<p>Guess what. God gifts people to do work for Him. </p>
<p>Remember Deuteronomy...”You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he whogives you power to get wealth.” </p>
<p>Who are we working for? We're ultimately working for the Lord, using the abilities and opportunities He provides. </p>
<p>3. How Should We Work? </p>
<p>Confucius say, “Choose job you love, and never work day in life.” </p>
<p>Did Confucius say that? I have no idea. Is it true? On good days, yeah. But first of all, no matter how much you love your job, some days it will be work. Second of all, not everyone has the choice of choosing a job they love. Sometimes you just take the work you can get until you can do better. </p>
<p>So how do we as Christians approach our jobs on the days when it is work? </p>
<p>Ephesians 6:5-9 </p>
<p>Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive backfrom the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. </p>
<p>In Christ, servants and masters have the same Lord. Servant serves master, master serves servant, both serve God. </p>
<p>“The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples </p>
<p>when men and women do all to the glory of God!” </p>
<p>~ Spurgeon </p>
<p>“Not by way of eye-service” - We have all done it at some point. Eye-service -- working harder when the boss is watching. </p>
<p>“Not as people-pleasers” - If you think about it, you know what this is too. This is trying to earn favor with your supervisors for a promotion or special treatment. In colloquial terms... butt kissing. </p>
<p>“As bondservants of Christ…” “You are serving the Lord Christ.” - Here it is! I love this. Our boss is not, as we might think, the boss we see every day. No, our boss is the Lord Christ. </p>
<p>“knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord,” - In Genesis after God finished His work he said “It’s very good.” We as His children should be able to look at the work of our hands and echo that. We should reflect the excellence and durability of His work. The quality of our work is going to be rewarded, not just by our boss, but by the Lord. </p>
<p>So. How should we work? </p>
<p>Colossians 3:17 </p>
<p>And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. </p>
<p>We should work purposefully, honestly, and thankfully. </p>
<p>Next time…We’re gonna talk about rest. </p>
<p>In Christ,</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/52555692018-03-05T16:45:00-06:002019-11-19T10:27:02-06:00Work I: The Dirt Always Wins<p><span class="font_large">The other day Martha and I had a day scheduled for rest, relaxation, and restoration. Our weekends are usually busy, so if we don’t intentionally take some time now and again, we get worn out. So we were anticipating a day as relaxing as one can be with a 2 month old. And … suddenly we needed to get our septic tanks pumped the next day, and spent the day digging the covers clean and excavating the insanely tenacious clay off our shoes, our shovels, and ourselves. It was a cruel irony, because we had just been talking through this devotional about… you guessed it, work. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So the questions — Why is work so hard? Why do we look forward so much to the weekend or to a vacation or to the end of the day? Why is work wearisome? — are all very fresh in our minds, as is the clay sticking to the underside of our fingernails. Some of you may have answered these questions by saying “people”…like your boss or coworker, but is that really the reason? Working alone is hard as well. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So we have to ask… is work itself a curse? Is it all just a product of the fall? Clay, septic systems, and all? We find our answer in the second chapter of Genesis. </span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>- Genesis 2:15 </em></span></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large">Is this chapter before or after the man and the woman disobeyed? Yep, it’s before. So, no. Work is not a curse. God made us to work and it was part of the “very good” before the curse. It can be fun, fulfilling, gratifying, communal, good experiences for family and friends to have together, and like I tell Lillie, “it builds character.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I love the fact that God is characterized as a worker throughout Scripture. The Lord of the universe is not one to sit back on His throne as the deist would say and simply watch things happen, either gasping or applauding, but rather He is working all things for our good. (Romans 8:28) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Don’t you know that He has the ability to snap His fingers and dispel all evil, suffering, and sin? As the scripture put to song says, “He could have called ten thousand angels.” If He does not have that ability then He is not all-powerful and therefore not God, but rather a subject Himself: subject to circumstances and the whims of fallen men. But no. He is no bystander. This God of creation is working a redeemed people for His own possession. (Titus 2:11-14) This work has not only cost Him blood, sweat, and tears, but He paid for it with His own life. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This quote from Ken Hughes really struck me: </span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">“We meet God the Creator as a worker in Genesis 1:1 – 2:2… The image of God in man means man is to be a worker. The way we work will reveal how much we have allowed the image of God to develop in us.” </span></strong></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large">Think about the fact that God made us to co-labor with Him. To take something and make it better, to take something in “the garden,” something He made and called “good” and make it better. This is the undeniable trait of God’s nature that nothings stays just good, but rather even good things are to be built upon and improved. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So Adam is given a command to continue what God started and then what happens? Well, you know. If you don’t know, read Genesis 3:1-15. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">After those 15 verses, things start to change. </span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">Genesis 3:16-19 </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">To the woman he said, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">in pain you shall bring forth children. </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">but he shall rule over you.” </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">And to Adam he said, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">‘You shall not eat of it,’ </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">cursed is the ground because of you; </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">and you shall eat the plants of the field. </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">till you return to the ground, </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">for out of it you were taken; </span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” </span></em></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large">What happened? We went from “very good” to a curse, pain, sweat, and dust. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I heard Tim Keller give this example: </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Imagine a machine with a bunch of gears, all interlocking and churning together with ease to accomplish the purpose for which the machine was created. Now imagine one of the gears deciding on its own to move somewhere else; it wants to be higher or in a better position. Since that’s not the plan, when it moves not only is there no place for it, but it falls into the rest of the workings and the other gears grind it, crush it, and smoke belches from the machine. While the whole machine is sick, it’s particularly that gear that becomes mangled and deformed. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">In case you didn’t catch it, we are that gear. We are the reason that the machine of creation is running amuck. Work is not a curse…but work is cursed, part of the mangled machinery. That’s why it’s hard. That’s why it seems futile sometimes. That’s why sometimes it’s not rewarding. Look at what Paul says about the results of the Fall. </span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">Romans 8:19-22 </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. </span></em></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large">We are laboring with labor pains, and work is part of that pain. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">George Whitfield said speaking of nature’s curse: </span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_large">“Haven't you ever noticed that when you come near the animals they growl at us, they bark at us, the birds screech at us and fly away? Do you know why? They know that we have a quarrel with their master.”</span></em></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large"> Think of that next time you are chased by the neighbor’s dog or a bird poops on your car. Remember that next time a squirrel barks at you when you get too close to its nest or a deer bolts at the sight of you, or an elusive armadillo digs up your entire yard despite the whole family being on watch around the clock with guns, security lights, and traps. Ok, this is hitting a little too close to home. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The whole creation is suffering through birth pains. Think of it the next time a hurricane or tornado rips through a city or a mudslide carries away a whole family. Recall this passage when fire or flood destroys livelihoods and lives themselves. This is not the way it should be. Cosmic rebellion and disobedience against our Maker have made the machine to run violently. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Do you hear the gears grinding? Can you feel it? And here’s a perfect example: you ladies work from this side of the house to that side of the house and when you go back…guess what…to dust you return. Martha and I are gone for weeks and months at a time and we leave the house clean as can be when we walk out the door, but guess what. It needs cleaning when we get back even if we ain’t there to mess it up! And think of this — Adam and Eve only got clothes after they sinned. That means laundry is a result of the fall. This is something I always knew in my heart, but only now have Scripture to back up. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">In this fallen condition, the dirt wins. <em>“To dust you shall return”</em>…you work your whole life cleaning and tidying up and washing and mopping and sweeping and polishing and taking care of messes, preparing things and guess what…when you are eternally done with this life you know what you get? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">6 feet of dirt piled on top of you. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">And then your remains turn into a pile of it. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The dirt always wins. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Sin leads to decomposition, to corruption of all things, and it permeates everything man touches. Work is not a curse…but work is cursed. Solomon had it right - <em>“And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing–like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud–frustrated, discouraged, and angry.”</em> Ecclesiastes 5:16-17 </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Ever met someone like that? Ever been that person? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">“What a way to end a devotional,” you say. “I thought devotionals were supposed to be encouraging?” Well, as we worked through the clay to our septic tank, it encouraged us to know that in some way, the work we were doing had been tainted by the Fall. It was encouraging to remember that while it was God’s original intent to have us work, it was not part of his design to have that work be frustrating, futile, and painful. We’ll bring more to the table about work next time. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">In the meantime, take note of the grinding of the gears, the snapping of the dogs, the hissing of the cats, the endless tearing up of the yard by the armadillos, the sweat of your brow. Know this is not the endgame. There is another in the background working on your behalf, Christian. Your work is being redeemed from the curse, and in the end, it will be completely redeemed from the curse. No more frustration. In the meantime, it's my turn on armadillo watch.</span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/52555222017-11-10T16:40:00-06:002022-07-12T15:04:12-05:00Thoughts on Ruth for a wedding<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/28f7acd19a0e3dac80178c680fad9a5e38f1961a/original/ruth.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">At the wedding of my brother-in-law recently, it was requested that I speak from the Book of Ruth. Having not read it in a while and not heard many in-depth sermons from it, I went into it thinking that I was going to be hard pressed to find more than just the iconic verse that said something about “where you lodge I will lodge.” Instead I found a wealth of applicable material and had to pare it down substantially. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">For those who may be not be familiar with the story or for those who may have not heard it in a long time, let me give you a quick breakdown. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The estimated time of this writing is approximately 1300-1000 B.C. There was a famine in the land of Israel and Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem, took his wife Naomi and their two sons to Moab while they waited for the drought to pass. While they were there their sons took Moabite wives. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">One of those Moabite wives was Orpah, not to be confused with Oprah…the other one was called Ruth. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So far this may not mean much to us, but take note of who the Moabites were. This people was produced when Lot, the nephew of Abraham back in the book of Genesis, fathered Moab through an incestuous union with his oldest daughter. They were idolatrous, brutal, scheming enemies of Israel for generations. Not a good start and not an honorable history. This marriage of their sons to Moabite women would have left this family shamed in their homeland because they mixed bloodlines with this unclean, Gentile people. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Then the story takes a tragic turn. Naomi’s husband dies, followed shortly by her two sons leaving her not only widowed, but childless. In that day an older woman who had no husband and no sons to provide for her had basically been given a death sentence or at least had to resort to begging and dependance on the pity of strangers. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, having heard that the famine is past, and her two daughter in laws accompany her some distance. Knowing that she can offer the young women nothing, Naomi urges them to return to their own people. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Orpah ultimately decided to return to her own family, but even with Naomi urging Ruth to also return to what would seem to be a more hopeful existence in her own homeland, Ruth clings to her and says these iconic words, </span></p>
<hr><p><strong><span class="font_large">“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” </span></strong></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large">This is another dramatic turn. Rather than returning to her own family, country, culture, and comfort, Ruth now makes a profession of faith in God Jehovah, stays with Naomi, and becomes a proselyte to Judaism. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem in poverty. Ruth began to pick up the scraps of barley from the edges of the field of a wealthy man named Boaz, an unmarried relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. The Bible calls him a worthy man and he showed kindness to Ruth. Beyond the basic charity that God’s law required of him, he offered provision, protection, and partiality to this woman who was an outsider. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I would encourage you to read this story for yourself because of the depth of detail and beauty that I had to leave out, but Boaz, as God would orchestrate it, became Ruth’s "kinsman redeemer." In essence, this meant in their situation that when she came to him for help as her relative, he married her, and in doing so, he rescued her from a life of poverty as a widow and stranger in the land. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I would pass up a great opportunity if I didn’t point out that after their marriage, Boaz was no longer a ruthless man. Ok. Opportunity taken. Moving on... </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">There were five things that really stood out to me as I studied this passage for Dan's wedding. </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">1. God has a plan for Gentiles </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Chances are, if you are reading this, you like me, are not Jewish by birth. Let us stop to be amazed and evermore thankful for the inclusion of Gentiles into the divine plans of God. We are here today as Christians because God’s plan of salvation is open to us! God was able to use and work through people who were from the lineage of the idolatrous Moabites and maybe He can find a place for me too. </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">2. God has a plan for women </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Let us also be amazed at the historical context of the Scriptures as they make much of women. In a culture where women were little more than chattel and so demeaned that their testimony was not even admissible in court, the Bible makes Ruth and even Rahab (Boaz's mother, a redeemed prostitute - check out her story in Joshua 2 and 6) not only fellow heirs of grace, but intricate parts of His plans for the saving of His church. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This progresses even farther in the NT where woman are brought to the forefront and Jesus cares for and features them, and Paul points out that they are equal heirs in Christ. He proclaims in Galatians the unthinkable at that time, <em>”There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”</em> What an amazing contradiction to the wisdom of the world, both in Paul's time, and in our own. </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">3. God has a plan for men </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Boaz is pictured as a type of Christ…a kinsman redeemer. Christ came to rescue us when we could not rescue ourselves. He came to make us pure, to protect us, to guarantee ultimate safety in eternity. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">As men, we are called to give the world an image of this. One of the scariest verses in the entire Bible to me as a husband is in Ephesians chapter 5 <em>“husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.”</em> That order could not be taller. I fall so short of that goal, but the command stands. This love can be beautifully pictured in marriage, but it's also the kind of love that is to characterize the relationships of all Christians. John tells us in 1 John <em>"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." </em></span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">4. God has a plan for marriage </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Ruth is a name that means “friendship.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Wives, you will find your marriage to be easier and more joyful if you find the one you wake up next to every morning to be your best friend. When given the choice, you should desire no other above them to enjoy and lavish the very best you have to offer on. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Boaz’s name means “in him is strength.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Husbands, you are to be strong for your family, "nourishing and cherishing" your spouse. Ephesians 5:28-30 tells us what God's intention for the husband's role in marriage is to be - <em>"In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body." </em></span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">5. God has a plan of salvation </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The only other place Ruth is mentioned outside of the book of Ruth, is in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew. Matthew chapter 1 verse 5 says this: <em>“Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David the king.” </em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">In the NT we see the completion of the line of David in a stable, and we find the culmination of the centuries as a baby is wrapped in swaddling clothes and worshipped by a broad menagerie of the oddest kind. One group of the lowest station of that day, shepherds. Later he was worshipped by a searching group of pagan Gentiles from the east — the wise men. And He was also heralded by a faithful old woman named Anna who was waiting eagerly for the coming Messiah when his parents presented him at the temple. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The bloodline to the manger makes a line to a cross, to a tomb, to a resurrection, and now to a throne in Heaven as we wait ourselves, as Anna did, for this Messiah to come again and fulfill the Scriptures that foretold him thousands of years ago. Those who ask Him to rescue them and become their kinsman redeemer may now have a ‘foretaste of glory divine” as He rules in hearts, in homes, and in His church. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Regardless of your race, age, gender, or station in life, this offer of salvation and safety is made open today because of God’s meticulous, providential planning as He worked through the bereavement, immigration, and marriage of an insignificant Gentile woman named Ruth. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">My desire is that each one of us, like Ruth, will come to Him, surrendering our hope of providing for ourselves spiritually in our own strength, and fall wholly at the feet of the one who, like Boaz, offers us strength for our weakness, riches for our poverty, and love for our loneliness. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Now go read the whole book and see what you find for yourself.</span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/48159162017-08-16T11:06:01-05:002017-08-16T11:06:03-05:00James: Heartcheck<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/cd005d964803cffe30e54f9e821b657a4225b84d/original/fullsizeoutput-e4f.jpeg?1502310168" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Over the last several weeks we’ve been adding a new verse to our roster to memorize: James 4:4-10. It’s a fairly well known passage and I’ve heard it quoted many times, but usually just bits and pieces at a time. In the process of committing it to memory, as with many other verses, we’ve found a different take on it than at our first reading. Let’s have a gander at it… </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>James 4:4-10 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. </strong></p>
<p>So, looking at an overview of the book of James before we attempted to understand this passage further, we found that James’ book is meant to be a test for true love for Christ. James wrote it for the Jewish converts who were scattered after the stoning of Stephen. If you want to know what a Christian should look like and must be like in order to bear the name, read James's letter. </p>
<p>He gives the tests of impartial love, dependence, loyalty, works, patience in trials, prayerfulness, and more. By the time James gets toward the end of his letter in chapter 4, he’s concerned that some of the readers, (including us) may have failed these tests and so the natural thing was to have “an altar call” or an opportunity to rectify the situation. Let’s take it bit by bit and see where we end up. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/55a8f2f139bdb49ae0ebbd6a2fd4e44f15203a20/small/screen-shot-2017-08-09-at-3-32-43-pm.png?1502310797" class="size_s justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>He starts off gently, in the way that every pastor or evangelist is taught to do altar calls in seminary: </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>“You adulterous people!” </strong></span></p>
<p>Wait…you mean your pastor doesn’t do altar calls in this way? </p>
<p>Well, this is obviously not talking to people who have broken the seventh commandment. In the Old Testament God speaking through the prophets often referred to Israel as adulterous in their spiritual lives. They were Jews in name and lineage, but in action their hearts were far from God. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>“Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” </strong></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/01c5d4daae3d070c104825e168dfd9808c6acb21/medium/glory-of-god.jpg?1502309682" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Again, let me play Captain Obvious and point out that “friendship with the world” has nothing to do with your unreligious coworkers with whom you hang out occasionally. Jesus was assuredly “a friend of sinners,” but He was not a friend of the world. God so loved the world that He gave His Son, but don’t doubt, God will ultimately destroy the worldly structures that defy Him. The world system is what John is referring to in 1 John 2:15-16, </p>
<p><em>“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” </em></p>
<p>So John’s question, and James’s question is, “Where is your heart?” Jesus pulls it down to my level even more when He says in Matthew 6 </p>
<p><em>“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and…” </em></p>
<p>Money, right? We all know Jesus says you cannot serve God and money, which is an example that tends to get me uncomfortable every time. But it doesn’t end with money. The point is we can’t divide our affection, our service, or our hearts, between God and anything. That’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Whether I do something for Martha or for myself or for my family or for the people at my concerts, my ultimate goal must be to please God. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. </strong></span></p>
<p>James’ Scripture quotation here is pulling together several OT passages. Basically, God is the creator and He has the right to the creation — you and me. Romans 9 talks about the clay complaining to the potter, meaning that every person belongs to God and is subject to God, whether that is acknowledged or not. I am obliged to obey with willingness and thankfulness the One who is responsible for my very existence and Who extends mercy to creatures such as I. Humility is not so much a virtue in this light, as it is simply facing facts. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. </strong></span></p>
<p>Submit to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to God. Cleanse your hands. Purify your hearts. Be wretched. Mourn. Weep. Humble yourselves. These are the answers to the question “What do I do now? How do I work out my salvation given what you’ve just told me, James?” </p>
<p>First step? Submit to God. In submitting to God, I turn from sin. In submitting to God, I denounce the enemy of God. I change sides, I defect to another master, I begin to fight under a different flag. This is no partial commitment. I am either for Him or against Him. There is no neutral ground. Submitting to God and resisting the devil are really two sides of the same coin. </p>
<p>As I submit to God, I draw near to God with the grace He gives, and He draws near to me with open arms as my loving Father. As He draws near to me and I see the light of His purity on my life, I cleanse my hands from sin by the power of the Spirit, and choose a new way of life. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/fa01cc347b906d35c74b6430f8debfb0501c3150/medium/fullsizeoutput-e4c.jpeg?1502307788" class="size_m justify_right border_" />The last part of verse 8 was really interesting as we studied it. <em>Purify your hearts, you double minded</em>. This isn't the remedy that I would prescribe for double mindedness. Off the top of my head, a visit with a psychologist would be more in order. But as we looked into it, we found James was going back to his initial point, both in his entire letter and in this chapter, about being adulterous in heart. <strong>In our study, we found that double mindedness is what we might call being half hearted. When I’m half hearted, instead of saying ‘whether therefore I eat or drink or whatever I do, I want everything I do to please God,’ I’m saying ‘this part of my life is intended to please God. But this part over here belongs to me.’ </strong>I'm not submitting myself entirely to God. So as I cleanse my hands from sin, I purify my heart from motivations other than “I belong to God. I love God. I want to please God.” </p>
<p>And now we get to the “be wretched, mourn, and weep” bit. <strong>We often hear in churches the phrase, “There’s nothing wrong with having a good time in church.” Less often heard is “There’s nothing wrong with being afflicted, mourning, weeping, and gloomy in church.”</strong> It is true that there’s nothing wrong with laughter and joy. The problem is when I’m laughing and being joyful at the wrong time — like in the middle of a funeral. Or… during a mugging. When Martha fell into a well last week. At the proctologist’s office. I could go on. Obviously, there’s a time for laughter and a time for mourning. Often for me the time for mourning closely follows the time of laughing at the wrong time. </p>
<p><strong>So James is saying that if these things are true of us, if we find ourselves half hearted toward God, then we shouldn’t be having a good time now. </strong>To be brutally honest, my gut reaction when I look at this final verse is to say “ooooookay… but isn’t mourning and gloom overkill? It was just a little bit of half heartedness after all…”. Then I sit back and think about what James just said. That friendship, any amount, with the world’s lusts, desires, and pride, is hostility toward God. Wow. My gut reaction that makes little of hostility toward God indicts me at this point. All I have left is to go to my Father humbly and say “Father, I have sinned. My heart has been divided between You and other things. Purify my heart, and help me to seek to please You in all things.” </p>
<p>How do you measure up to James’ altar call? I’ve already asked myself that question while working through this devotional and my answer is to repent afresh, realign my priorities...again, and once more focus my sights on my Lord. </p>
<p>Until next time, </p>
<p>Miles & Mar</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/48153912017-05-10T20:55:00-05:002024-01-20T09:31:54-06:00Spiritual Diagnostics<p>miles & mar’s devotional - volume xxiv </p>
<p>Ever had to call in to tech support for a computer problem? </p>
<p>Yeah, I thought so. </p>
<p>Probably after a lengthy wait, (I wonder how long I would be on hold if my call wasn’t important to them…) they begin to run a series of test to see where the issue is in order to diagnose the problem and you just pray that it’s something that doesn’t require a complete overhaul. </p>
<p>As I read through 2 Corinthians, I realize that's exactly what Paul is having to do with the 'First Church of Corinth.' Paul loved this church, even called them saints in the first letter, but it was a church that was situated in an extremely dark part of the ancient world full of unrestrained sin and idol worship. All the trade and commerce north, south, east, and west, came through this city. It was a cesspool of immorality, lewdness, and debauchery. Their old habits of pleasing the flesh brought about questions as to which of them were genuinely in the faith and which of them were just putting on a show. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2 Corinthians 12:19 - 13:2 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. </strong></p>
<p>So, here is this church that has been giving Paul great joy and great sorrow. Now he demands that they produce evidence of what they claim. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2 Corinthians 13:5-10 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. </strong></p>
<p>I dare say most modern day church analysts would say that questioning the salvation of people, openly judging what they are doing as sin, promising to remove them from the church if they persist in their sins, and threatening to use severe authority from God to deal with them is NOT the fastest way to build church attendance. </p>
<p>But notice what Paul says it’s for… <em>“for building up and not for tearing down.”</em> Paul is strong in his stance and firm with his approach because he is concerned about this church possessing an authentic faith that is demonstrated by fruit bearing. </p>
<p>You ask your average person on the street if they are a Christian, and many people will answer ‘yes.’ </p>
<p>Why? Because they… <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/b064ab9ecb52a901a1d89de69c1fbab68381716a/medium/hypocrites-everywhere.jpg?1494430172" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p><em>Have Christian principles. </em></p>
<p><em>Attend a church. </em></p>
<p><em>Are members of a religious group. </em></p>
<p><em>Have walked an aisle at some point. </em></p>
<p><em>Repeated a prayer after some preacher. </em></p>
<p><em>Were baptized. </em></p>
<p><em>Think it’s good for community. </em></p>
<p><em>Wanna set a good example for the kids. </em></p>
<p>All these, and a myriad of other flimsy reasons. </p>
<p>But listen to what James says: </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>James 2:19 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? </strong></p>
<p>If belief alone is the measure of salvation then all the demons and Satan himself are saved. This is obviously not true and therefore is not the measure of legitimate, saving faith. </p>
<p>Just before that verse in James 2 he says… </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. </strong></p>
<p>So what are you to ‘examine’ to see if you are in the faith? </p>
<p>Works. </p>
<p>We must be very careful here because it is a cardinal doctrine of all orthodox Christian belief. You are not saved by works. It’s impossible. But after salvation, works are and must be a byproduct. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Titus 2:14 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.</strong> </p>
<p>For further explanation, consult John 15:1-11 </p>
<p>Being able and willing to honestly reevaluate your life periodically as a Christian is a sign of authentic spiritual life. You cannot simply look at an event in the past to evaluate your spiritual condition. What about today? How has it affected you over the years? How do you live differently this month as opposed to last month because of your change of heart? What do you love? What are your priorities? </p>
<p>I’m going to give you five fruits of authentic faith or rather, five works that you can look at. These are not the specific fruits listed in scripture, but are broad categories, meant to help you quickly examine where you are. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>1. Contrition </strong></span></p>
<p>1 John is a litmus test for those who profess Christianity. Right off the bat he gives these tests. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1 John 1:5-10 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. </strong></p>
<p>John identifies three people here: </p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> The one who claims to walk in the light and then bears it out by forsaking the practice of walking in the darkness and thus emulates Christ. Notice that the one who is practicing the things of light is also at home with the Body of Christ -- "fellowship with one another." </p>
<p><strong>2. </strong>The one who claims to be perfect after salvation. Hard to believe that those people exist, but we’ve met them. </p>
<p><strong>3. </strong>The one who claims to have never sinned. Yep, these folks exist too. </p>
<p>It strikes me that neither John or any other writer of the scripture ever assumes a point in the Christian life where we stop repenting, being contrite, being penitent, being remorseful, being aware of our shortcomings, and THEN…doing something about it. It’s easy to get outraged at other people’s sin, but your reaction to your own personal sins are a better barometer of your spiritual condition. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>2. Imitation </strong></span></p>
<p>You will be like what you love. Pretty simple. </p>
<p>When you become a Christian it’s not enough to turn from something, you must turn to someone. What does it mean to be a Christian if it does not mean to be like Christ? </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1 John 2:29 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. </strong></p>
<p>If you are born of Christ and are His child, then you will of necessity exhibit traits of your father. You will not just hate sin, but you will love righteousness. You will love what God loves and hate what God hates. A lot of people dislike certain sins because of the pain it causes or its consequences. Not as many people rejoice when righteousness is done. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>3 John 1:11 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. </strong></p>
<p>As we have seen in this current cultural climate, people can with words claim to be a plethora of things that just may not be based in fact. If you claim Christianity, then prove it by imitation. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>3. Submission </strong></span></p>
<p>Are you willing to lay your will, desires, passions, plans, and pleasures down at the feet of Christ and submit to His desires? Are you willing to chase after His passions? Are you content with whatever His plan is for you? Do you long to do what will please Him? </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Luke 14:25-27 </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.</strong> </p>
<p>We are obviously commanded to love our neighbor, honor our father and mother, to take care of our children, to love our wives as Christ loved the church, but in comparison with Christ…with our love for Him...all other loves fall to the bottom. </p>
<p>It is in our submission to Christ and submission to His authority that he’s placed in his Church, the authority in government, and the authority in the Biblical structure of the home that we prove our willingness to humble ourselves before God. </p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>4. Obedience </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. </strong></p>
<p>God desires obedience more than sacrifice. Just because you give your Sundays to church, donate to the local charity, and tithe doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about your spirituality. Works based religions all over the world have millions and billions of adherents that do the same kind of things. </p>
<p>The real tests of faith come when you must decide whether or not you will obey Christ when it’s hard? When it’s not convenient? When it’s uncomfortable? When it’s not what you feel like doing? When it doesn’t seem to make sense to you? Do you obey or make excuses? </p>
<p><strong>1 John 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. </strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>5. Affection </strong></span></p>
<p>What has your affection? What do you love? </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. </strong></p>
<p>What world are we talking about? Even God ‘so loved the world.’ The ‘world’ in this case doesn’t mean the cosmos, the physical natural universe, but rather the world system. Paul was brokenhearted in 2 Timothy because a close friend proved to love the world more than Christ… </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? </strong></p>
<p>This is a manifestation of the world’s goods owning you instead of you owning them. You love the things of the world more than your fellow man. If the love of Christ does not compel us to part with temporal things when someone else has need of them, then we are trying to serve two masters. </p>
<p>I don’t know where it could be stated more clearly than here… </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. </strong></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large">Where do we stand in light of these tests? </span></p>
<hr><p><strong>Have we really repented and mourned over sin? </strong></p>
<p>Or do we just regret the consequences of sin? </p>
<p><strong>Do we love God’s law and desire to live by it and grieve when we transgress it? </strong></p>
<p>Or do we view it as mere legalism — a weight around our neck and a killjoy? </p>
<p><strong>Do we submit to the authority of Christ and consider what His desires are before we do our own? </strong></p>
<p>Or do we make sure that our wants are fulfilled before we give God any of our time? </p>
<p><strong>Do we obey His word and study it to discover His will for us? </strong></p>
<p>Or does His word not really interest us and given the choice between studying and memorizing the Scriptures or watching TV, we choose the TV? </p>
<p><strong>And do we love those who are in His church? Do we give of ourselves freely to serve others? Have we begun to love our enemies and seek their good? </strong></p>
<p>Or do we love those who love us and give to those who give to us and scratch their back if they scratch ours? </p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>The true convert falls into sin. </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large"><em>The false convert dives into sin. </em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>The true convert sins against his will. </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large"><em>The false convert makes provision for the flesh. </em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>The true convert stumbles. </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large"><em>The false convert is dead. </em></span></strong></p>
<hr><p>Whoever you are, we encourage you to take a moment and run this diagnostic test. We pray with Paul that you will meet the test -- that you will be found to be standing firm in Christ. </p>
<p>In Christ, </p>
<p>M&M</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/44696702016-11-15T10:30:00-06:002016-11-16T10:29:57-06:00The Acts of the Apostates - Part II<p>Ok, so last time we started to tackle the Book of Jude. In this overview we attempted to dissect some basic things about apostasy and apostates. We answered these questions: </p>
<p><strong>1. What is an apostate? </strong>An apostate is someone who appears to sincerely repent and walk with the Lord. In the end, you see a denial of what they once professed, and a turning away from the truth. That’s apostasy. </p>
<p><strong>2. Should we be surprised to see them?</strong> Just from a few selections of Scripture — Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 24:9-28, Acts 20:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:1 — we can clearly see that a sovereign God has foreknown and predicted exactly what would happen. </p>
<p><strong>3. What’s the big deal?</strong> The most dangerous attacks on the church today come not from the outside, but, as in Galatians 1:6-10, from the inside, from those who once claimed Christ, but now have defected from the faith. They may even affirm the authority of Scripture with their lips, but yet in practice and in teaching, they deny it. </p>
<p>Let’s begin this time with… </p>
<p><strong>4. What do they look like? </strong></p>
<p>Jude 8 — <br><em>“These people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme.” </em></p>
<p>Wow. That’s a very brief and yet complete synopsis of what we will see in all of Scripture about these people. </p>
<p>a. <em>“Relying on their dreams”</em> - These people have no qualms about adding to or even contradicting the Scriptures with what they consider to be new revelation as revealed in dreams, visions, prophecies, and other sorts of spiritual experiences. </p>
<p>b. <em>“Defiling the flesh”</em> - This is most evident in reference to so-called Christian leaders and speakers who bring shame to the Church and Christ by soiling His Name with scandal and revelations of their lustful exploits. </p>
<p>c.<em> “Reject authority”</em> - By rejecting the Word of God they reject the authority given to the Church to judge, correct, rebuke, exhort, reproof, etc. Through this denunciation, they ultimately reject God Himself. Rejection of God’s Word takes many shapes. Some reject it outright. Some reject it by not referencing it. Some reject it by not taking the time to see what the entirety of Scripture has to say, but rather cherry picking. </p>
<p>d. <em>“Blaspheme”</em> - Isn’t it incredible that Paul had to tell the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that anyone who says Christ is accursed is not of God? You would think that would be ... obvious? Yet in today’s church I’ve heard many not only question Christ’s deity in their heresy, but claim that on the cross Christ became, not just the sin-bearer, but sinful in his own person. </p>
<p>Now Jude proceeds to give us very rich word pictures starting in verse 12. </p>
<p><strong><em>"These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear…"</em> </strong></p>
<p>Just as we have times of fellowship or potluck where everyone brings something and we share a table, the early church did as well. Jude is saying that these false teachers were being allowed to set at the love feasts and take part in the conversation without being confronted about their heresy. </p>
<p><em>(Also see 1 Timothy 1:18-20) </em></p>
<p>He likens this to hidden reefs which everyone would have understood as something deadly. Even the most sturdy ship can be taken down by these underlying obstructions. </p>
<p><strong><em>"Shepherds feeding themselves..." </em></strong></p>
<p>Their view of ministry is that of becoming fat off of the fold they are shepherding. They not only fleece the sheep, but bring destruction rather than protection, care, and nourishment. </p>
<p><em>(Also see 1 Timothy 6:5) </em></p>
<p><strong><em>"Waterless clouds, swept along by winds..." </em></strong></p>
<p>Being used to dry Texas summers, we are well acquainted with the hopefulness that comes with the sight of dark clouds. These people living in an agricultural society, they would have felt it much more acutely. The sight of rainclouds were literally what their life depended on. </p>
<p><em>(Also see Ephesians 4:11-14) </em></p>
<p>Apostates however, look good, look promising, look like they will provide sustaining rain, and may even rumble with a little thunder, but they only block the light and their ‘gospel’ does nothing to alleviate drought. </p>
<p><strong><em>"Fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted..." </em></strong></p>
<p>Notice that they are ‘twice dead.’ They are dead in root and dead in fruit. They may look like a healthy tree with bright leaves, may bud out, may lend to a certain expectation of good things happening, but true fruit is the proof of a ministry. And true fruit is eternal, not temporal. </p>
<p><em>(Also see Matthew 7:15-20) </em></p>
<p><strong><em>"Wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame..." </em></strong></p>
<p>If you have ever been to the ocean after a storm, then you immediately understand this. These people in spirit are not calm, placid souls. No, they are in a tumult, not satisfied with the things of God, dredging up sludge from the bottom of their own hearts and cast up the stinking refuse on the shore for all to see. </p>
<p><em>(Also see 2 Peter 2:21-22) </em></p>
<p><strong><em>"Wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever..." </em></strong></p>
<p>Stars are to be fixed and steady. They were used for navigation, so if it is a ‘wandering star’ that would indicate a shooting star. They are noticeable, and everyone points and says ‘ahhhhhh’, but they are a fleeting thing. A bright flash that only is showing forth the light of its own destruction. </p>
<p><em>(Also see Matthew 7:21-23) </em></p>
<p>So what do false teachers look like? They rely on their own dreams and visions even against the authority of Scripture. They live lives that are not morally pure. They reject the authority of the Word of God over their lives. They speak things about God that are not true. They are hidden among the church, like a reef waiting for an inexperienced boat to come by. They make themselves rich off the people they are supposed to be shepherding. They don't preach things that are actually useful for the purpose of living lives that please God. They look good but never bear good fruit. They are as peaceless as the waves of the sea, always moving on to the next thing. They promise to give good direction for those who desire to live lives that please God, but are unable to deliver on their promises. </p>
<p>Knowing the answer to the question “what do they look like” is vital to survival in this day of so many differing beliefs and contradicting viewpoints that all claim to be Christianity. Truth by definition is exclusive and we must be able to recognize and smell out error in all its forms. </p>
<p>Until next time keep your guard up and remember that lies are plural, but truth is singular.</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/44696692016-08-05T10:20:00-05:002023-12-10T11:10:00-06:00The Acts of the Apostates - Part I<p>Of all the many important topics that we could choose to address this time, we felt that we could get some big help from a little book of the Bible. If you go by an English word count, the Book of Jude is the fifth smallest member of the canon of Scripture. Despite its diminutive size it has some far reaching and timely words for us today. That being the case, we will be doing a series on the epistle over the next few newsletters. </p>
<p>Here’s the opening of Jude’s letter… </p>
<p><em>Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, <br>To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. </em></p>
<p>The church age began with the book we know as Acts, or “the Acts of the Apostles.” A few decades later, near the end of the Bible, we find the book which we might call the ‘acts of the apostates’ — Jude. </p>
<p><strong>First off, what is an apostate? </strong> </p>
<p>It’s a strange word; a word not commonly used. Truthfully, I didn’t really know its meaning until later in life. Then again, I used to think that the epistles were the apostles wives. </p>
<p>The dictionary defines an apostate as: </p>
<p><em>"a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle." </em></p>
<p><em>synonyms: dissenter, defector, deserter, traitor, backslider, turncoat </em></p>
<p>So in Biblical terms Demas and Judas would both be apostates. We all know Judas, but Dumas is perhaps less well known, so here’s Paul’s summary of Demas’ defection. “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). </p>
<p>Do a word search on Demas in your Bible and you will see the sketch of an apostate life. In the cases of both Judas and Demas, you see a pattern. In the beginning, you see what appears to be a sincere conversion and walk with the Lord. In the end, you see a denial of what they once professed, and a turning away from the truth. That’s apostasy. </p>
<p>There are those that come into the church and profess a love for Christ and then leave as apostates, but the people that Jude is particularly concerned with are those who stop believing the truth, but remain in the church. As teachers or leaders they may profess to be Christians, but through their skewed and twisted presentation of scripture they exert influence over others and draw them away into error. </p>
<p><strong>So I guess the second question would rightly be, should we be surprised to see them? </strong></p>
<p>Has God lost control somewhere along the line? Was this an oversight or loss of foresight on His part? </p>
<p>Here’s just a few things that our Lord Himself said. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/febec124f3e781dd1069310b6980bb59f8c90507/medium/wolf-sheep.jpg?1470355699" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>In the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus tells us to beware of the false prophets, that they will come to us as wolves in sheep’s clothing, that we would know them by their fruits, and that they have the appearance of Christianity but practice lawlessness. Later in the Olivet discourse in Matthew 24:9-28 he stresses that many false prophets will arise and deceive many by great signs and wonders. </p>
<p>God warns us through Paul in Acts 20:29-30 <em>“after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock.” Where does he say they will come from? “From among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.” </em></p>
<p>He goes on to warn this young pastor Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1, <em>“now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” </em></p>
<p>So, just from those few selections we can clearly see that a sovereign God has foreknown and predicted exactly what would happen. We have no need to feel that He is not in ultimate control, and we surely have no reason to be surprised to see these prophecies come true. </p>
<p><strong>The third question is, what’s the big deal? Why should we be concerned? </strong></p>
<p>Apostates are dangerous because they have enough knowledge of the truth to twist it convincingly and so deceive someone who is not grounded in the Scriptures. </p>
<p>Paul’s whole purpose in writing the epistle of Galatians is to defend against apostate teachers who claimed to be Christians. These teachers came after him and contorted the truth Paul had taught the young church that he began in Galatia. If you read Galatians you’ll see that Paul calls out the Galatian false teachers for their legalism. The false teachers in Galatia were going around teaching the Gentiles that in order to be saved, they had to be circumcised. They were twisting Scripture to make it say that salvation was partly Christ’s work, and partly the act of circumcision. So Paul says this: </p>
<p>Galatians 1:6-10 <br><em>I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. </em></p>
<p>These are strong words, especially in this namby-pamby society. When’s the last time you heard a sermon in which the preacher said of a false teacher “Let him be accursed”? And let’s just be honest here — there are a lot of teachers out there teaching a gospel contrary to what Christ and His apostles delivered. So why is Paul so uptight? Can’t he just live and let live? </p>
<p>Paul’s uptight because he knows that believing the wrong thing about the gospel will send you to hell. If you believe that Christ’s work on the cross is not enough, that you have to add something to it, that’s not salvation. Paul realizes that this is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. The whole church in Galatia is at stake here. Listen to him in Galatians 5:2-7 <em>“Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” </em></p>
<p>The most dangerous attacks on the church today come not from the outside, but from the inside, from those who once claimed Christ, but now have defected from the faith. They may even affirm the authority of Scripture with their lips, but yet in practice and in teaching, they deny it. </p>
<p>Next time we will take a more in-depth look at what the Bible says they look like. Until then, keep your mind sharp, your conscience clear, your faith grounded, and your eyes looking up. </p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/41962882016-05-25T11:35:30-05:002017-01-11T07:12:52-06:00The Hopelessness of Sin<p>Recently, Martha and I were discussing a sermon I was preparing for a revival. Sermon topic: sin. It was a rousing conversation, taking the better part of an afternoon. The way these things go, if I were preaching on love, I’d be tempted to be unloving at some point during study time. If I were preaching on patience, we would inevitably have to go to Dallas during rush hour traffic. So this time we were studying sin. Now, we’re in that part of spring/summer where we’re putting off turning the air conditioning on for as long as possible. It doesn’t seem like summer if you can still have the windows open and hear the birds singing. So we were sitting there studying, trying to pretend that it wasn’t just a *bit* warm, and that we weren’t just a *bit* sticky, and that the birds singing were making up for the discomfort we were pretending not to have. Having experienced just a bit of that makes it so much easier to understand how the Civil War started. You raise the temperature just a little bit, and everybody becomes on edge. So having been reading the Bible passages on sin and studying about sin, and thinking about sin all afternoon, we finished up the afternoon with a light skirmish, and both sides retreated, vowing to install the air conditioner pronto. </p>
<p>If you can’t relate to this woeful tale, I both admire you and am a little disgusted by you. The point is driven home to us every day. We want to do right, to be patient, <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/bd38b94e1da0280a7170a1e146f951904a2d078b/large/img-6284.jpg?1463535806" class="size_l justify_right border_" />kind, loving, wise, merciful… and just when it seems we’re making serious headway, the temperature rises a degree or two, and we find ourselves humbled and exasperated by sin. Solomon said “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) Before salvation it’s like sin is the water we swim in — after salvation, the humid air we try to air condition. We’re surrounded by it, outside and inside. </p>
<p>In post-Christian America it’s hard — even for Christians — to adequately and accurately articulate the nature and definition of sin. If you look up “sin” in the dictionary you will find the definition something like this: “An act that is perceived to be a transgression against a divine law.” </p>
<p>To me that definition lacks a lot, but just three main things immediately jump out at me. </p>
<p>1. Sin is not just an act. It’s a desire. Jesus said that sin is “from within, out of the heart of a man…”, that if you look at a woman to lust after her in your heart, or if you hate in your heart, you have become a sinner. </p>
<p>2. The phrase “Perceived to be.” Sin does not have to be perceived. We sin everyday and it may not even cross our minds as having been sin. </p>
<p>3. Also, this is so open ended because it doesn’t look to a specific religion for what constitutes a sin. Buddhists and Muslims have what they consider sin and they can differ greatly and have nothing necessarily to do with truth. </p>
<p>Now here’s a Biblical definition of sin: </p>
<p><strong>1 John 3:4 </strong></p>
<p><em>Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. </em></p>
<p><strong>James 4:17</strong> </p>
<p><em>Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. </em></p>
<p><strong>Romans 14:23 </strong></p>
<p><em>…whatever is not of faith is sin. </em></p>
<p>There’s not much comfort from the Bible when I look for justification for my sin. It was “just” an unkind word… but they weren’t being kind either! “Just” a sigh… that I knew would hurt someone’s feelings. “Just” impatience… because I was tired. But all I see in the Bible is that it was unkind. It was hurtful. It was impatient. It was sin. I knew the right thing to do, and not only failed to do it, but did a wrong thing instead. </p>
<p>Amid all my attempts to justify and downplay my sin, the cross looms up, forever keeping me from taking my sin, any sin, lightly. That selfishly unkind word was the sin for which the perfect, sinless, spotless, second person of the Trinity, the only begotten of the Father, the one who sustains all things by the word of His power, the one who was in the beginning with God… in short, it was the sin the Lord Jesus Christ himself had to die for so that I could be forgiven. My sin offends God, in the same way that a child molester’s sin offends me, or a murderer’s sin offends me, or a terrorist’s sin offends me. I just have a far lower standard for what I see as truly offensive, as compared to God's standard. And just as that child molester could never do anything to make that offense right, I can’t do anything to make my offenses right. </p>
<p><strong>Micah 6:6-7 </strong></p>
<p><em>“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? </em></p>
<p><em>Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? </em></p>
<p><em>Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? </em></p>
<p><em>Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” </em></p>
<p>So, everyone is a sinner, sin is lawlessness, not doing the right thing, not believing God, and no one can atone for himself. If that is not the darkest picture imaginable then we don’t know what a hopeless situation looks like. </p>
<p>And I think that’s where we’ll leave it for now. It’s not exactly a cliffhanger, because likely you know what comes next, but Paul spends 7 chapters in Romans going over exactly how bad off we are before he reaches the glories of Romans 8. And Romans 8 would not be nearly as glorious if we couldn’t look into the bleakness of the previous 7 chapters first. </p>
<p>Thankful to be in Christ, </p>
<p>M&M</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/40441182016-02-16T10:31:03-06:002020-11-10T01:11:51-06:00Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread<p>MILES & MAR'S DEVOTIONAL - VOLUME XIX </p>
<p>Let’s be real y’all. Sometimes writing this devotional is not that easy. There are times we’ve already been thinking on a subject or really diving into a text or passage and the ideas flow pretty freely. All that’s left is editing. </p>
<p>Then there are times like this where we are strung out with 384 things on the to-do list and it’s just another reason to be depressed about how much there is on the to-do list. So I was scrounging around for a subject to write about and three days later had bupkis. Got to stressing about it a little and so Martha suggested that I pray about it. </p>
<p>So…guess what we’re going to talk about. We’re gonna talk about prayer. </p>
<p>This is quite possibly the last subject in the world I’m qualified to talk about. I myself do not feel like any type of “prayer warrior.” I do not wear holes in my jeans and have two knee sized divots in the floor by my side of the bed. I do not make it a point to never miss the prayer meetings and sometimes The National Day of Prayer passes by without me knowing it until someone mentions it the following week. </p>
<p>Matter of fact the times in my life where I fell by the side of my bed in prayer have either been because I was in mental anguish at the end of my rope or I just decided I wanted to earn some spiritual brownie points that week. Then there are those times when I’ve been getting in bed and decide that I sincerely want to bring a petition before the Lord for someone in need whom I love. I begin to pray and I am so happy to be talking with the Lord… then all of a sudden He gets a dial tone on His end and the next thing I know, it’s morning. These are not the brighter moments in my Christian experience. </p>
<p>And while we’re being honest, I have a tendency to think better of myself when I hear other people pray ritualistic or even nonsensical prayers out loud in churches. Ok, so I might have just lost some of you there because I know that none of you do that. “What kind of person is this guy anyway? Judging other people’s prayers!” </p>
<p>Now that I have officially convinced the majority of you that you never need come to this old sinner’s concerts any more, let me just assure you that I do pray. Obviously, I need the Lord’s help badly! However, I have a LONG way to go in developing my prayer life. This study is as much for Martha and myself as it is for anybody. </p>
<p>My prayer life mostly centers around those times when I am in the moment and I don’t have time or ability to take the iconic “kneeling, hands together pointed skywards, <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/3417b3e222f1b33c79383ab2a0d6e537f2e12f3e/medium/img-0644.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />and eyes respectfully closed” pose. Maybe I’m in the middle of some stressful predicament and just have no other recourse, no words, no ideas, and little hope of it ending well — in Dallas rush hour traffic with Martha driving and…(she’s a perfectly wonderful driver, but the other people are psychotic) I don’t need to break out loudly into a prayer in that moment about how God controls all things and something pertaining to how this is working for our good and tribulation worketh patience. Martha would have every right to wreck at that point. </p>
<p>That’s when Paul comes to my rescue: </p>
<p>1 Thessalonians 5:17 <br>Pray without ceasing. </p>
<p>Now that might mean that God wants me to hole up in a monastery somewhere and forsake life as I know it, or maybe that every Christian should be a babbling robot wandering around in society, or just maybe… that we are to maintain a constancy with God where He is our first recourse and not our last when we are in a pinch, or tired, or happy, or sad, or just blah. </p>
<p>There must be more to this than what meets the eye. </p>
<p>I love what happened when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. If I had been there and asked Him that, I would have had a lot of expectations. I mean, seriously, this is the guy who tells me that if I ask God to remove mountains, He will do it for me. So that being the case, I’m expecting Jesus to whip out His brand new book “7 Keys To Living The Miraculous Life” or “Your Best Prayer Life Now” or something. That just proves that I’m human and Jesus is divine. </p>
<p>He begins… </p>
<p>Our Father in heaven - This is the hinge on which prayer turns. If God is not my Father, then I have no confident expectation that God hears my prayer, much less will answer it. If I am not God’s child, I am an enemy of God, not a member of the family. If I am God’s child, I know He hears me, no matter what. </p>
<p>Hallowed be Your name - The underlying desire of prayer is to see God’s name proclaimed holy and vindicated. The proof is in the puddin’, so to speak, so I may call God “Father,” but if I don’t care about His honor and His glory — if I don’t love Him — I’m no child of His, no matter how much I say “Lord, Lord.” </p>
<p>Your kingdom come - Honestly, this is a scary thing to pray. Before I was married, it was “Lord, Your kingdom come, but not before I get married.” When we have children it’ll be “Lord, Your kingdom come, but not before my children are right with You.” Then it’ll be “not before my grandchildren are right with you.” But no, there’s no exceptions. Your kingdom come, and come quickly Lord Jesus. And until that day, rule and reign in all that I have any influence over. It’s not mine. It’s Yours, and I trust You. </p>
<p>Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven - Christ is chipping away at my preconceptions about prayer one by one. It’s not about who I am, it’s about who God is. It’s not about my honor, it’s about God’s honor. It’s not about my kingdom, it’s about God’s kingdom. It’s not about my will, it’s about God’s will. I’m coming to God, filled with my issues and my wants and my hurts, and Christ says “Come, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” But that rest is found in seeing my life through the lens of my relationship with God, His character, and His kingdom. Before Christ ever gets to any sort of personal petition, He’s telling me to lay my will on the line and ask for God’s will to be done, even if God’s will is at cross purposes with my own. </p>
<p>(Now we get to the good stuff — the part where we ask God to work on our behalf and see great and mighty things done. Oh boy! And Christ has told us we can ask anything we want, so this is going to be really juicy. I’ve been waiting for this!) </p>
<p>Here we go: </p>
<p>Give us this day our daily bread - So really, I’m thinking at this point that God doesn’t have much of a vision for the future. I mean, how about give us this day my yearly IRA contribution or give us this day our daily taxes (love this time of the year) or …. fill in the blank. But no. Give me, just for today, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Give me, for today, what I need. I don’t need tomorrow’s need met today. Although… the deadline for taxes will be “today” before we know it, Lord. Just throwing that out there… </p>
<p>And forgive us our debts - I love the line from that old hymn “Come Thou Fount” that says “Oh, to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be.” Because the thing is, I’m asking for not only daily bread, but daily forgiveness and cleansing from sin. And I need the daily cleansing from sin just as much if not more than I need my daily bread. </p>
<p>As we also have forgiven our debtors - This makes the previous part conditional. If I am not willing to forgive when I have been forgiven so much, then I am to expect that my Father will discipline me. Why? Because I am not the sole recipient of my Father’s love. He loves ‘my debtors’ too. And if He loves them, I am to love them. </p>
<p>And lead us not into temptation - Another line from “Come Thou Fount” is “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” How true that is. And we will learn it, either by God leading us into experiences where we learn our weakness, or by us knowing and acknowledging our weakness every day — Lead me not into temptation, Lord, because I am so prone to wander. Keep me from failing You. </p>
<p>The Holy Spirit not only cleanses me from sin, but also helps me identify it and keeps me from it. The closer I get to the Scriptures and the more I hide it in my heart, the more readily I will be kept from it - “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” </p>
<p>But deliver us from evil - I as a Christian am not to fear the work or power of the enemy, but I am to be the first to recognize that I am a new creation in Christ, but still living in a fleshy carcass. I need God’s power and help to overcome evil both inside myself, and outside. </p>
<p>For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever - Everything that is, was, or ever will be is God’s domain, all the power to transport us from sin to righteousness is His work, and in the end there will be no glory attributed to me. It all is His. </p>
<p>Ok, so that’s as far as I’ve gotten with this. Is there more to prayer? A lot more. Do I have a long way to go? All the way until I die. Will I mess up along the way? Probably before this day is over. Does God hear when I pray according to what I know to be true about Him and with the purposes of His Kingdom in mind? </p>
<p>You bet. </p>
<p>Keep praying, </p>
<p>Miles & Mar</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/39586342015-12-11T10:30:00-06:002020-10-02T10:54:45-05:00The Christian's Reaction to a Broken World<p><strong>Miles & Mar’s Devotional - Volume XVIII</strong></p>
<hr><p>With the explosion of violence over the last few weeks with Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino generating massive amounts of headlines, I felt maybe we should look at what the Bible says is the Christian’s reaction in this broken world. </p>
<p>First of all, surprise should not be our reaction. To say that things are just now starting to get worse is to be ignorant of or to ignore history. During the bulk of humanities 6,000 years of history, the majority of the world’s population has lived in oppressive times. To list the number of manmade atrocities like wars, tyrannical governments, and genocides would be nothing less than depressing and far too time consuming. WWI was supposed to be the war to end all wars and yet WW2 claimed 70 million lives. Abortion statistics alone show that since 1980, 1,357,168,881 babies have been murdered in the womb worldwide. Man’s sin has left death, destruction, pillaging and chaos in its wake. So surprise should not be our reaction. Shock? Horror? Grief? Indignation? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. But surprise that the enemy of our souls is making good on his goal to “steal, kill, and destroy”? No. </p>
<p>How, then, should Christians react to mass killings and senseless murder? What is the right response to acts of terror? What is our stance in regard to refugees from countries who are beheading people of other faiths?</p>
<p>I believe there is a duality to our response. We should be compassionate to the victims and feel heaviness for the souls of the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Martha and I have been memorizing Luke 6, in which Jesus tells us “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” While it may be hard sometimes to out of a heartfelt sincerity to truly wish for the welfare of someone who is deserving of all the weight that the penal system can deliver, the fact is that none of those who are in Christ will ever pay for the sinful acts that we have done. Justice has been done, but not upon us. Christ has paid our debt in full. In that light, we should respond with prayer and forgiveness in our hearts toward the perpetrators, and with compassion and shared sorrow with the victims — <em>(Romans 12:15)</em> “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”</p>
<p>The other side of the Christian heart should be a longing and a crying out for God to come and judge justly. I believe the imprecatory Psalms are there to help balance this out. David, seeing the wickedness around him, is infuriated because men are bowing before dead idols, children are being sacrificed to false gods, and the wicked seem to be prospering as they swallow up the weak. He’s praying and longing for the justice of God’s wrath to bring it to an end: <em>(Psalms 7:6)</em> “Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.” In Revelation 6:10, the martyrs in heaven cry out “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”</p>
<p>God has a dual reality in His feelings toward this unrighteous world and it’s system. Read Ezekiel 33:1-20 where God declares that He “has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” Here God is declaring that He does not enjoy meting out judgment, but yet they refuse to turn.</p>
<p>Verses calling for God’s justice and speaking of God’s wrath are often hard to swallow — not because we have trouble understanding them, but because we are living in a world that is losing its moral compass and the concept of sin today has become vague and subjective, even nonexistent. But if God is righteous, He must judge evil in every form and every degree. Holiness requires its day in court. </p>
<p><em>Men have need to beware lest in pity for the sinner they condone the sin,<br>or relax the struggle against evil.</em><br>A. F. Kirkpatrick </p>
<p>We must show unconditional love, exhibit mercy, extend compassion, and demonstrate the gospel of grace with every fiber of our being. However, we must equally desire the demise of sin and evil, the vindication of God's righteousness and justice, and the culmination of all that we are promised at the return of Christ. </p>
<p>May we find the balance and clarity of thought that we need in these times so that we can make a difference for the kingdom of our Lord. May He come in fire and judgment to make all things right <em>(Isaiah 66:15-16)</em>, but while we wait, may we do as Jude says and “save others by snatching them from the fire.”</p>
<p>In Christ,</p>
<p>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/39586312015-09-02T10:30:00-05:002015-12-10T10:27:33-06:00Silence in the face of evil is itself evil...<p><b>MILES & MAR DEVOTIONAL - VOLUME XVII</b></p>
<hr><p>Having finished going through the Beatitudes, Mar and I were debating what to write about next. Then the Planned Parenthood undercover videos came out. We both felt that we had to do whatever we could to actively stand against this organization and the practice of abortion.<br><br>Some may consider this a political subject, but this is a moral subject and morality does not get its power from legislation, but from the Lawgiver. In this case, it is even more connected because the Lawgiver is also the Lifegiver. God has called human life precious, sacred, and gave commandments that reveal His mind on these issues all through Scripture. Just one for instance, if you hit a woman who was pregnant and the baby died, then you were guilty of murder (Exodus 21:22-25). <br><br>My generation came after the abortion question was ‘answered,' so I’ve never known a society without it and was somewhat used to the concept. It's wrong, but people are going to do it, so what do you do? I say this to my shame. Now to hear people say it’s "kinda cool” as they poke at the beating heart of a defenseless human baby -- it sickens me and makes me see the horror of abortion that I had not seen or felt before.</p>
<p><em>Indignation is cheap. Anyone can get bent out of shape. There is no great moral capital in human anger. It comes easy. But the absence of anger (and sorrow) in some cases is a sign of a disordered heart.</em><br>~ John Piper</p>
<p>We are called in Proverbs 24:11–12 to:</p>
<p><em>Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.<br>If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?</em></p>
<p><a contents="Here is a video that really stirred me about this issue." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/YXXRgF1rmBE">Here is a video that really stirred me about this issue.</a> If you watch one linked video in this email, this would be the one.<br><br>Our government is funding Planned Parenthood to the tune of 500 million dollars a year. The media has done a really bad job of covering this story, but there have thus far been six undercover videos about Planned Parenthood selling fetus parts for profit, not fully informing the mothers, and changing procedures to harvest parts intact for sale. Here’s a quick breakdown...<br><br><a contents="1. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s director of medical services, discussing the potential of selling aborted babies’ body parts for profit, while enjoying a salad, “We’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I’m not going to crush that part, I’m going to basically crush below, I’m going to crush above, and I’m going to see if I can get it all intact.”" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxwVuozMnU">1. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s director of medical services, discussing the potential of selling aborted babies’ body parts for profit, while enjoying a salad, “We’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I’m not going to crush that part, I’m going to basically crush below, I’m going to crush above, and I’m going to see if I can get it all intact.”</a><br><br><a contents="2. An abortionist discussing prices for the organ harvesting while joking about wanting a Lamborghini. (Planned Parenthood is not supposed to get any compensation beyond reimbursement for cost from research companies.)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjCs_gvImyw">2. An abortionist discussing prices for the organ harvesting while joking about wanting a Lamborghini. (Planned Parenthood is not supposed to get any compensation beyond reimbursement for cost from research companies.)</a><br><br><a contents="3. An interview with an ex-procurement technician Holly O’Donnell from the company StemExpress detailing retrieving specimens and harvesting organ parts for a percentage." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2xi9mhmuo">3. An interview with an ex-procurement technician Holly O’Donnell from the company StemExpress detailing retrieving specimens and harvesting organ parts for a percentage.</a><br><br><a contents="4. Inside a Planned Parenthood Clinic, this video shows Colorado medical director Dr. Savita Ginde identifying fetal parts in a dish - heart, stomach, arms. At one point, she says, “Another boy!” " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQuZMvcFA8">4. Inside a Planned Parenthood Clinic, this video shows Colorado medical director Dr. Savita Ginde identifying fetal parts in a dish - heart, stomach, arms. At one point, she says, “Another boy!” </a><br><br><a contents="5. Melissa Farrell, director of research for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast discusses altering abortion procedures to meet specific needs and the cost of “intact” fetuses." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egGUEvY7CEg">5. Melissa Farrell, director of research for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast discusses altering abortion procedures to meet specific needs and the cost of “intact” fetuses.</a> <br><br><a contents="6. An interview with former StemExpress technician from video 3, Holly O’Donnell, discussing harvesting the brain from an aborted fetus with its heart still beating." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzFZM73o8M">6. An interview with former StemExpress technician from video 3, Holly O’Donnell, discussing harvesting the brain from an aborted fetus with its heart still beating.</a> <br><br>More videos have been released just this morning and probably more coming.<br><br>Now, if you are still reading by this point, then please don’t stop now because I want this in context. <br><br>In four decades we in America have made legal the deaths of 55 million babies. To help put that into perspective, most of us have been to an event that boasted 1,000 people…now multiply that number of people by another 55,000. Now imagine a nuclear bomb destroying the population of New York City, Dallas, and Houston…you would not even reach half. Think of it as over nine Holocausts or 18,333 9/11s. How is a sacrifice of an unborn baby to the god of "It's my right", or the god of "It's my body" any different from baby sacrifices to pagan gods of old? How can the fact that the baby is still in the womb make it ethical? <br><br>If you were standing on the side of the street and could save someone from being hit by a drunk driver, but you didn’t because you just don’t want to get involved, were on the way to an appointment, or knew it would mean you’d have to make a statement to the cops, then that would mean you are not a very good person. There ya go. May as well say it.<br><br>Here we are at this crossroads in our history where the skeletons are out of the closet and to do nothing would be to indirectly take part in it. Romans says, “though they know the judgment of God that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but give approval to those who do them.” If you desire every human life, and yes, even your life to have value, then do not give approval to this by your lack of action at this time when it is possible to change the laws and reclaim this loss of national conscience.<br><br>Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived in a Nazi German camp until he was martyred by them and he said,</p>
<p><em>“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:<br>God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”</em></p>
<p><a contents="Here is a link that will lead you to your representatives so you can contact them." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials">Here is a link that will lead you to your representatives so you can contact them.</a> Maybe by the time you finish reading this ten minutes have passed…maybe you’ll watch one of the videos I linked and that will take a few minutes. Maybe by the time you contact your representatives you may have spent a total of an hour of your day. In this microwave society, anything that takes more than five minutes tends to lose our attention, myself included, and that is a shame.<br><br>I could go into a long tirade about where this logic will ultimately lead us in regard to post-birth abortions, euthanasia, and how in America those who were considered mentally inadequate in the early 1900s were quarantined and castrated, but I won’t. This is about what IS happening and Martha and I were both strongly convicted about believing what we believe, but yet having said nothing about it publicly until now. May this spur you on as well to stand for truth and make a difference and be salt and light. (Matthew 5)<br><br>In conclusion, as someone who knows people who have had abortions, I am familiar with the pain, shame, and trauma that comes with it which can last for years afterwards. But as a Christian, I also know that God is faithful to forgive us of any sin when we ask with a repentant heart. I have been forgiven more than my share of things that I still regret. There is no hate in me for those who go to abortion clinics or those who callously perform them day by day. There is only pity and an urgency to call them to Christ to meet the giver of life.<br><br>Let’s be the church and pull the helpless ones out from in front of oncoming destruction and call those who are drunk at the wheel to repentance.<br><br>Miles & Mar</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/39586282015-05-30T10:25:00-05:002015-12-10T10:23:19-06:00Blessed Are The Persecuted<p><strong>MILES & MAR DEVOTIONAL - VOLUME XVI</strong></p>
<p>We're in Matthew chapter 5, studying the Beatitudes.</p>
<p><em>Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></p>
<p><em>Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</em></p>
<p>Oh boy! Blessed are, (read: “happy are”) the persecuted. Does that not seem slightly disingenuous to say in this American culture where Christian values have for the past 250 years been the crux of our nation’s moral grounding? To many in the church the idea of “the persecuted” immediately brings to mind the long gone days of lions in the coliseum and Nero burning Christians as lights in his garden. But persecution of God's church is far from dead in this modern age, though it's not very newsworthy according to the media's standards.</p>
<p>There is a logical progression in these eight simple statements, and this is the culmination of all the others. When the kingdom of God is evident within His saints, then the world will respond with some form of persecution. When that starts happening, Jesus says here that you are not only blessed, but that you should rejoice and be glad on top of it, for great is your reward in Heaven! </p>
<p>Here in America, “blessed are the persecuted” is rapidly coming into focus in a new way. All you have to do is pay attention to the news and you can easily see the growing hostility toward those who actively profess their faith. It’s still ok to have faith, but keep it to yourself and don’t dare preach it publicly or you might just find yourself like the elderly Christian couple in Idaho that are facing 180 days in jail + $1,000 fine for every day they refuse to marry a homosexual couple. There are children being prohibited from writing Merry Christmas to the soldiers, senior citizens being banned from praying over their meals in the Senior Center, the VA banning the mention of God in military funerals, numerous attempts to have veterans memorials torn down if they have any religious symbols such as a cross, and I could go on and on and so could you. The developments just over the past decade border on the absurd.</p>
<p>I will soon be thirty and I am seeing things I never thought I’d see in my life in the land of the free and I am certain that many of you that have seen more water go under the bridge are experiencing even greater culture shock. You realize it’s a whole new world when you think that for the entire history of the world it was deemed impossible not to have some level of belief in God... then the Age of Enlightenment and Darwinism made it possible not to believe... and now all of a sudden we are looking at a new majority whose leaders and thinkers deem it impossible for an intelligent person to believe. </p>
<p>So here we are, the church, in the big middle of a nation absorbed with Darwinism, humanism, materialism, Freudianism, hedonism, and every other ism, schism, and heretical movement at odds with the truth claims of Christ and scripture. This truly is a blessed place to be for Christ’s church. America’s congregations have long been rocked to sleep by ease of passage, lulled by a sea of nonspiritual activities, and have squandered their time and efforts attempting to keep the waters calm by becoming culturally relevant and inventing a non offensive message. “Great is your reward in heaven” has been replaced with “Great is your reward here on earth.” “Lay up your treasures in heaven” has been replaced with “Build bigger barns so that you can store up enough to be able to enjoy your life now to the fullest.” And in a reality check for myself, when I see these things happening in my homeland, my gut reaction is not even close to being happy, rejoicing, and being exceedingly glad. It's not an obvious thing, this rejoicing when persecuted. <br><br>I love what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 12,<br><em>"He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”<br>This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." </em><br><br>It's when the world around us shakes that we can best see through it to that which cannot be shaken -- the eternal kingdom that we have received and that we are a part of. Listen to Paul in 2 Corinthians 4 --<br><em>"We do not lose heart -- though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For this momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." </em><br><br>Let us resolve to rejoice as our Lord commanded and be exceedingly glad. Our momentary, light affliction here is preparing for us, and preparing us for, an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. Truly we are blessed beyond all measure.<br><br>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/39586252015-02-23T10:20:00-06:002015-12-10T10:23:55-06:00Blessed are the peacemakers<p><strong>Miles & Mar’s Devotional - Volume XV</strong></p>
<hr><p>Be sure to look <a contents="back to the earlier devotionals" data-link-label="Newsletter Archive" data-link-type="page" href="http://milespikemusic.com/newsletter-archive">back to the earlier devotionals</a> to catch up if you are a new addition. We're in Matthew chapter 5, studying the Beatitudes.<br><br><em>Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:<br><br>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br><br>Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.<br><br>Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.<br><br>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.<br><br>Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.<br><br>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.<br><br><strong>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</strong><br><br>Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br><br>Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</em></p>
<p>Isn’t it funny what the word “peacemaker” brings to mind? A Colt single action army handgun; the Convair B-36 bomber aircraft; an early name for the MX missile. How many wars in the history of the world have been fought for the purpose of making peace? We see attempts on all sides to make peace — peace between genders, peace between races, peace between countries, peace between religions, peace between political parties. In most cases, we could say with Jeremiah, <em>“They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace”</em> (Jeremiah 8:11). </p>
<p>Martha and I started reading through the Bible together with the new year’s beginning and of course reached Cain and Abel on day 2. That account is such an insight into the human condition after the Fall. Just a few short years after God made everything very good, man falls, and in the first pair of brothers — and some say they might have been twins because of the Bible’s wording — in that first pair you find the first murderer and his first victim. Not much has changed in the intervening years. The world cries out for peace, peace! but there is no peace.</p>
<p>Something I used to read through without much attention in order to get to the good stuff is the “howdy” at the beginning of each epistle. Romans 1:7 — <em>“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”</em> All the letters to the churches contain this exact phrase or some rendition of it. Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter says in Acts 10:36 that the good news is peace with God through Jesus Christ. He’s not just talking about a feeling of tranquility within our souls. He’s talking about an actual peace with God through Jesus Christ where once there was war.</p>
<p>Christ Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). There is no other source of peace. Christ accomplished peace, not by putting someone else on the cross, as a human solution would do, but by putting himself on the cross. He did not take up a weapon in his own hand to force peace upon a people violent by nature, but allowed them to take arms against him and murder him, that by his sacrifice, those who were violent could be made into peacemakers themselves. He is our peace. <br><br>The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and as God makes peace, so do His true children. Christ's ultimate goal, as should be ours, was to make possible a peace first between God and man, and then between man and man.</p>
<p>This is so perfectly illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul, one of the very first persecutors of the church. A modern day equivalent would perhaps be a leader of ISIS — one who is radically, violently against Christianity and against Christ. When confronted with his sin, Paul repented and was transformed into a powerful preacher of the Gospel of peace. Listen to his words in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:</p>
<p><i>Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. </i></p>
<p>This is the business of being a peacemaker -- calling others to surrender their flag of rebellion against the King of Heaven. Then, and only then, can they find find peace within their own souls and with mankind in general.<br><br>Peace out,<br><br>Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/35510532014-12-31T10:05:00-06:002015-12-10T10:33:10-06:00Blessed are the pure in heart<span class="font_large"><strong>Blessed Are The Pure In Heart</strong></span>
<hr><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">Be sure to look back to the earlier devotional to catch up if you are a new addition. We're in Matthew chapter 5, studying the Beatitudes.</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">At the halfway point in the Beatitudes, there’s a shift. The first four are inner heart attitudes, all characteristic of those who follow Christ. We realize we are poor in spirit, totally undeserving of God’s mercy and grace. We mourn over our sin and our broken humanity. We stop demanding our rights from God and from others, knowing that God will take care of us. We hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God — to know Him and His ways better. This is where the shift takes place in the Beatitudes — the inner man is being renewed in the first four, and the results of that renewing are shown in the last four. The first result is mercy — coming to the aid of those who are in need, no matter their relationship to us. This time, we’re looking at what Jesus means by <em>“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”</em></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">This idea of purity was nothing new to Jesus’ audience. All their lives, the importance of physical purity in order to be right with God had been drilled into their heads. The idea of purity of the heart is equally emphasized, if not more emphasized in the Old Testament, but the easy thing to do, the human thing to do is to focus on what we can do ourselves — keep hands washed, don’t be in contact with Gentiles, don’t eat pork, etc. Christ, when He came, constantly highlighted the error in this kind of one-sided thinking. <em>“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean”</em> (Matt. 23:27). </span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">In stark contrast to this way of thinking, Jesus says, <em>“Blessed are the pure in heart.”</em> Anybody can make his hands look pure, but like Prov. 20:9 says, <em>“Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?”</em> The truth is that sin has stained each one of us, and the definition of the word Jesus uses here translated pure — “katharos,” means un-stained. Never, ever having been stained in the first place. </span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">Consider David’s prayer in Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba:</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.</i><br><i>Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!</i><br><i>For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.</i><br><i>Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.</i><br><i>Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. </i><br><i>Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.</i><br><i>Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.</i><br><i>Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. </i><br><i>Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">He did not ask God to look at all the good things he had accomplished to weigh against his sin like we so often do. He called on God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy to give him a clean heart knowing he had earned neither. His conscience pricked by the light of God’s perfect law kept his sin ever before him. So when confronted by the prophet Nathan, he does not ask God to withhold chastening, but rather he recognizes that his sin was not ultimately against Bathsheba, her husband, their baby, or Israel, but ultimately against God.</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">This sensitivity to sin is a result of having been given a pure heart. A pure hearted person is ever developing a sensitivity to the sin in their own life because as they mature in the knowledge of the Scripture, the ugliness of their sin is more and more evident. I think where most of us find ourselves on a regular basis is summed up in Psalm 73:</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large"><i>Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.</i><br><i>But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">As the writer of Hebrews says, <em>“we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”</em> (Hebrews 4:14-16). Now, because of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, we can come confidently before the throne of grace to ask for mercy again and again. What a difference from before! And the difference is not that God has become less holy and more approachable. Rather, the difference is in us — in our position in Christ. 1 John 1:7 says, <i>“If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”</i></span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">If your life is characterized by light — striving to live as Christ lived, that is evidence of a pure heart. A clean heart before God through Christ, and a desire for an intimate knowledge of what pleases and hurts the heart of God is proof of sonship.</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">What is the promise for those who have trusted in Christ for their cleansing? “They shall see God.” That is mind blowing! With our current physical eyes we cannot physically view God, but with a pure heart, we can see His workmanship in creation, detect His guidance in our lives, and discern His purposes in the midst of our times of trouble. We can also see Him through glimpses of the church, through whom He expresses His nature, goodness, and love. More than that though, with glorified bodies at the coming of our “great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” we shall see Him physically, face to face. Jude says He will <em>“make you stand blameless in His glorious presence with great joy!”</em> </span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">May we ever strive to increase in our purity and devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in 2015.</span></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">In Christ,<br><br><span class="il">Miles</span> & Martha</span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/35510672014-09-03T10:10:00-05:002015-12-10T10:35:26-06:00Blessed are the merciful<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</em></span></strong></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">What a pleasure it is to once again feed upon God’s Word as we continue our trek through the beatitudes. I hope you have found this study to be a fresh look at this very well known and often very misunderstood section of our Lord’s teaching. Several months ago we started all the way back at “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And here we are now — poor in spirit, repentant, meek, and hungry for God’s righteousness. Those first four beatitudes were inner attitudes. Now the rest of the beatitudes will deal with the outer workings of our salvation. The inner man has been transformed, and the outer man will be an evidence of that transformation. So Jesus first says,<br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">Some would say that this verse is saying that if you are merciful to others, then they will be merciful to you. You show mercy, you receive mercy. Tit for tat. While that may sometimes happen, that cannot be the meaning on this verse and it is certainly not a reason for the child of God to be merciful. Here’s why: Who was the most merciful person to ever walk on the earth? Hands down, Jesus Christ.<br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">This man who could have demonstrated his deity in countless ways by doing mind-blowing feats of wonder like causing mountains to crumble, causing the sun to turn purple, making oceans dry up, or any other unimaginable show of power chose to demonstrate his power through mercy. He used his unlimited power to give families back their dead, give sight to the blind, heal paralytics, free the demon possessed, calm storms, feed hungry crowds, cause the deaf to hear, and the lame to run.<br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Ultimate mercy met ultimate rejection. An entire nation that had witnessed miracles of mercy beyond comprehension was content to see Christ nailed to a criminal’s cross.<br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">But Christ expected this. He said in Luke 6:32-36,</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.</em></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">Jeremiah, that weeping prophet who cried day and night against the sins of Israel and begged them to come back to the God who loved them said in Lamentations 3:22,</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_large">In Jesus Christ, mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:10). We as Christians have been brought into the Kingdom of God by the mercy of Jesus Christ. It is His example that we are commanded to pursue. We are to be merciful, because God has been rich in mercy toward us as Paul so beautifully explains in Ephesians 2. I love 2 Corinthians 3:18 — <em>“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”</em> In our new life we possess the nature of God. Christ is in us, which is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The Spirit is transforming us into the image of Christ, and part of that likeness will be a passion for both truth and mercy. We must preach and stand for the truth of God's Word, but we must also be quick to deal out forgiveness and aid to all, even to those who may not deserve it, but who are in need of it.<span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span>In our own power all of this is impossible, but listen to these words of encouragement from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5: </span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.</strong></em></span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/29796202014-06-04T12:35:00-05:002014-06-04T12:36:08-05:00Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness...<span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:</span>
<p> </p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Here’s a quick recap before we dive into the fourth Beatitude. The Beatitudes are Jesus’ intro to the Sermon on the Mount, right at the beginning of his earthly ministry. The Bible says Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and this sermon, these beatitudes, are the outline of the gospel of the kingdom that he will preach to thousands for the duration of his time on earth. He begins with “blessed are the poor in spirit.” The road to salvation begins here. No one will ever seek God and His righteousness who is self-righteous. First we have to recognize our spiritual poverty. Then, after we recognize how destitute we are apart from God, we mourn because we realize that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In realizing that we are poor in spirit, and subsequently mourning, we become meek — humble and gentle. Rather than praying loudly and proudly in public like the Pharisee in Luke 18, we are like the tax collector who beat his chest and said “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” We become meek because we realize that we have no right to demand anything of God. </span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1em;">At this point, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” This is a logical progression. Having realized that we are poor in spirit — empty spiritually, we see that only God and His righteousness can fill us up and make us spiritually rich. We cannot fill ourselves. So we hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Note Jesus’ usage of the words “hunger” and “thirst.” Hunger and thirst are desires that we must fulfill or else we die. As physical beings, we understand this perfectly. But as spiritual beings, unless we see our need for God’s righteousness and begin to hunger and thirst after it, we cannot live spiritually.</span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">John chapter 6 records the time that Jesus fed 5000 men, along with women and children. Having received a free meal, the crowds followed him, and tried to get him to repeat the miracle. They were only wanting free food, not the words that Jesus spoke to them. But Jesus said this to them in verses 53-59,</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”</i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">After Jesus said these things, the Bible says that many of his disciples turned away and did not follow him any more. They weren’t hungry for spiritual bread. They only wanted a full belly. They were only interested in what Jesus could offer them in physical realm of Here-And-Now.</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1em;">The word Jesus uses in this beatitude translated “righteousness” is dikaiosunē. It means “divine approval” or “what is reckoned right by the Lord.” This is the word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 5 when he says, “<em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the </em></span><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1em;">righteousness</i></em></strong><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1em;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"> of God.</em>” At the moment of salvation, then, the righteousness of Jesus is credited to our account. We become, in him, the righteousness of God. And while salvation does have a one-time aspect — Ephesians 1:13 says that at the moment we believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit — it also has an until-we-meet-the-Lord aspect. Colossians 2:6-7 says, “<em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, <strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">so walk in him</strong>, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.</em>” As we received Christ, so we walk in him. He becomes our daily bread and our daily water. And again, Peter speaks of ‘growing up into salvation’ (1 Peter 1:23-25, 2:1-3), “<em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk of the word, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.</em>” </span></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1em;">Having been born again, having begun to hunger and thirst for righteousness and for the life of Christ, we can never go back to merely hungering and thirsting for physical stuff. At salvation, a massive priority shift begins to take place, and where once we were consumed with this world, with the here and now, with the cares and worries of this life, we now ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.’ What a promise Jesus gives here: “for they shall be satisfied.” Physical things can never truly satisfy. Not only does Christ satisfy our true need, but His supply is limitless. Just as the Israelites received fresh manna from heaven every day, so we receive fresh grace and fresh food from His word without measure. The Lord still calls as he did in Isaiah 55:<br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live."</span></span><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 1.4em;">In Christ,</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="font_regular" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 12px;"><span class="font_large" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">M&M</span></span></span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/28008992014-02-17T12:50:00-06:002021-12-31T06:01:39-06:00"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."<p> </p>
<p class="p3" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:<br><br>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><br><span class="font_large">Back when we first started going through the Beatitudes, we discussed how the first Beatitude speaks of how we in our humanness are poor in spirit — bankrupt of any righteousness with which to please God, and how that realization is the necessary first step for anyone to enter the kingdom of God. Then last time, we went to the next natural step in the progression: after realizing our lost and sinful state, we are brought to our knees in repentance and we receive comfort at the foot of the cross. We now come to the third Beatitude:</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">Meekness is not a word typically seen in your average Facebook status or Twitter post. When people do use this word, they generally mean submissive, easily lead, or impressionable. But the word as used in the Bible is very different from what we relate it to. The literal interpretation is “gentle,” but the Greek offers a much deeper meaning. The picture that this word conjures up is to have great power to do harm, but choosing to suffer insult upon yourself rather than using your power to cause injury.</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">I hope that an immediate picture came to your mind upon reading this description. Christ is the ultimate example of this attitude and it is an attitude that should be characteristic of all Christians. We are to love others in this way because He, who is ultimately the Judge of the whole earth, stood in our place, and took the injury we deserved upon Himself. There is no way to describe meekness more fully than in the condescension of Christ.</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">Jesus, God in flesh, who is the perfect image of God’s holiness, righteousness, and truth, came as a humble servant only to be called a devil when he healed the multitudes, to be betrayed by one close to him and deserted by others, to be spat upon for claiming to be who he had proved himself to be, and to suffer the most agonizing death invented by man, all to bring about good for those who sinned against his law and to make a way of redemption for us. </span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">More incredible still, even after Christ has come and we have killed him, this world keeps turning, sinners keep receiving ‘life and breath and everything’ from his hand, imperfect Christians are living in the protection of his grace and mercy, and the offer is still open for whosoever will come while this world becomes more and more vile with every turn upon its axis. God is still, at every moment, exercising the meekness that causes me to wonder in amazement. (I’m noticing a Pauline streak in me here with the length of my previous sentences. But looking at <a contents="Ephesians 1:3-14" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://biblehub.com/esv/ephesians/1.htm" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(212, 83, 36);">Ephesians 1:3-14</a>, which is just one sentence in the Greek, I think he still has me beat.)</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">As with every Beatitude, this one ends with a promise; “They shall inherit the earth.” We may be meek and gentle here and we may suffer loss and insult, but there is a kingdom coming and we will rule and reign with Christ. Notice that this follows in the footsteps of our Lord. <a contents="Philippians 2:5-11" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://biblehub.com/esv/philippians/2.htm" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(212, 83, 36);">Philippians 2:5-11</a> speaks of Christ’s humility in stepping out of glory into this world to live and die as a man, and that passage ends with </span></p>
<p class="p3" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, </i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, </i><br style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” </i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">Christ suffered more than any man, but the day is coming when He will step out of glory to reclaim that which is His and will put an end to all sin and suffering to set up for Himself a righteous kingdom on this earth which shall have no end. And because of his meekness, we have been made joint heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord to inherit this earth that He will reclaim as His own.</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">But in the here and now, how do we work out this meekness in our everyday lives? Look at <a contents="Titus 3:1-5" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://biblehub.com/esv/titus/3.htm" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(212, 83, 36);">Titus 3:1-5</a> where Paul is speaking to Titus, who is the pastor of the Cretan church. This church was located in a place whose inhabitants had the reputation of being “liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons” (<a contents="Titus 1:12" data-link-label="" data-link-type="" href="http://biblehub.com/titus/1-12.htm" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(212, 83, 36);">Titus 1:12</a>). Here in chapter 3, Paul tells Titus to remind this church to be “subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, to be gentle, and to show every consideration for all men.” It seems to me that all of the things mentioned in this list are symptoms of a meek person. </span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17.27272605895996px;"><span class="font_large">This Beatitude has a life application that hits very close to home in this day and time. This corner of the world is fast becoming hostile, not to religion, but to Christianity. Some, even among the church, would shout that we need to do the opposite of this list — to rebel, to fight back, to stop the tide of hostility with force. But Paul reminds us why we should be meek, taking insult and injury upon ourselves rather than returning evil for evil: “We also were once foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Now, how could someone of that description — foolish, malicious, and hateful — ever live up to the list of exhortations that Paul gave to the church in Crete and to us today? We can do it only through the power of the Spirit of God residing within us, because “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us, not because of good things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Realizing what we once were and would be apart from the kindness of God, brings about the humility from which meekness springs forth.</span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/28008402013-10-16T12:50:00-05:002014-03-24T12:48:58-05:00“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."<b style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Miles & Mar's Devotional, Volume X</b>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.</em></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">With this newsletter, we are going to focus on the second Beatitude in verse four of Matthew 5:</p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; text-align: center;"><em style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."</em></p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;"><a contents="Last time" data-link-label="Newsletter Archive" data-link-type="page" href="http://milespikemusic.com/newsletter-archive" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(74, 30, 30);" target="_blank">Last time</a> we said that those who are 'poor in spirit' are blessed because they have realized the truth that they are not only deplete of any funds with which to barter with God, but, to continue the monetary metaphor, they are massively in debt to Him. And once you realize this truth about who you are without God, the natural progression is to come to a place of mourning over your sin. It's like having believed your whole life long that you are healthy, wealthy, and wise, only to have your eyes opened to find that you are like those in the church at Laodicea: "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." </p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">This mourning is not simply being sorry you were caught in your sin or sorry that you are paying the price for your sin. It is seeing that you are in a condition of abject and total hopelessness apart from God's forgiveness. It is realizing that your eternity, apart from the grace of God, would be justly spent paying for your pride which would not stoop to love the Lord with your whole heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. </p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">And mourning doesn't stop with salvation. In our walk as Christians, all of us will at times have to say with Paul, "O wretched man that I am! (Romans 7:24). 1 John 1:8-10 says, "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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." There are those who preach that you get saved and then you sin no longer, but that is against the truth of Scripture. I find myself daily failing in one way or another. As I grow in Christ, I see more, not fewer, issues in my life that give me reason to mourn. If there is anyone reading this that would freely admit that since you got saved, you've not sinned and had to fall back on the grace of God once again, I would like to meet you, get your autograph…and talk to some eyewitnesses. </p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">This is because after we are saved a battle begins with, as Paul calls it, 'the flesh' -- that part of us that is our humanness; the principle of sin remaining in us; that part of us that still says "I will." While our inner man is as complete and perfect in Christ as it will ever be after redemption, we still have a constant battle from the moment of salvation to the moment we die to keep the flesh in subjection (Romans 8:10-17). The great apostle Paul who wrote half the New Testament, said that he had to 'beat the body and make it his slave' (1 Cor. 9:27). When we were enslaved to the old nature, we had no problem sinning. Sinning was our nature, sin our master. This is outlined in Romans 6-7. But now, to be able to repent and feel sorrowful over our failures is a sign that God is working in us; that we have been regenerated by His Spirit and are able to say 'NO' to those sinful desires (Titus 2:11-12). So continued mourning over sin and turning from it back to God, is a sign of a truly changed life. </p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">Every Beatitude has a promise attached to it, and our promise at the end of this second beatitude speaks of that blessed forgiveness that can be ours whenever we come before the throne of Grace with mourning. We come with tears and leave rejoicing for our sins are no longer counted against us! That my friends, is true comfort.</p>
<p class="p2" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">We'll tackle the next one in the next newsletter. </p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">In Christ,</p>
<p class="p1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">Miles & Martha</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/16217902013-07-16T12:35:00-05:002014-03-24T12:51:13-05:00"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."<p class="p1"><b style="font-size: 12px;">Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume IX</b></p>
<p class="p1">Martha and I decided that, beginning in this newsletter, our devotionals will feature a series we are going to write about one of the most poignant and crucial passages in all of Scripture - the Beatitudes. This passage is what some Bible scholars call "The Manifesto of The King." It has changed the way that we look at the Bible and thus, it has changed our lives. All of our devotionals are posted online in the <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/1athhj/1213704;http://milespikemusic.com/newsletterarchive.cfm"><span class="s1">newsletter archive</span></a> where you can go visit them at any time to catch up. </p>
<p class="p6">To set the stage: Jesus has just arrived on the public scene and made his presence known enough that the crowds are beginning to follow him. This sermon is how he chooses to introduce the principles of his kingdom. Many were looking for an immediate earthly kingdom to be set up by the Messiah. Imagine yourself as part of that crowd, or even as one of his disciples right up close to him -- knowing this man could do miracles like you'd only read about in Scripture; hoping he was the promised Messiah that would reign victoriously over all the nations of the earth. And this is what you hear him say:</p>
<p class="p6"> Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, </p>
<p class="p1"> for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</p>
<p class="p1"> Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil </p>
<p class="p1"> against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, </p>
<p class="p1"> for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</p>
<p class="p1">I remember as a child hearing the Beatitudes and honestly, I didn't until recently really understand them. Being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry, thirsty, and persecuted is hardly anybody's idea of a good time. It's not something you would see on a resort's TV commercial. And yet, Jesus reiterates over and over again that those are the ones who would be "blessed." Another translation of the word "blessed" is literally, "happy and to be envied." Wow! How backwards is that?? </p>
<p class="p1">After studying this passage of scripture, I've realized that the Beatitudes are very simple, yet profound steps that lead you right to the heart of Christianity - the Kingdom of God. The first one is where every person has to start. The Bible teaches over and over again that every person is "poor in spirit." We have nothing in ourselves to offer God: all our goodness is filthy rags before Him. Paul says in Romans 3: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." That is our natural state, apart from the intervention of God. We are naturally poor in spirit.</p>
<p class="p1">So before we may approach God, we must come to the recognition that we are poor in spirit. As long as we continue to believe and hope that we can work our way into God's favor, we are like vagrants without means who claim to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. How absurd is that? But what a wonderful promise follows! "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When we come to that place of realizing our true condition before God, the kingdom of God is ours!</p>
<p class="p1">Being poor in spirit is a requirement for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is also a description of those who are already in the Kingdom. In one sense those who believe in Christ become rich in spirit because we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Him (Ephesians 1:3), but apart from Him, we still have nothing. Paul says, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Romans 7:18). Our flesh -- our unredeemed humanness, or sin principle -- remains in us until the day we die. Once we believe in the work of Christ on our behalf, our spirit becomes alive to God, and we are given the ability to live by the power of the Spirit of God so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16), and we are commanded and given the power to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). In and of ourselves, we are, and will always be, poor in spirit. The song, "Jesus Loves Me" gets it right when it says "Little ones to Him belong: they are weak, but He is strong." In Christ, we become strong. In ourselves, we are always weak. In Christ, we become blessed with every spiritual blessing. In ourselves, we will always be poor in spirit.</p>
<p class="p1">We'll tackle the next Beatitude in our next newsletter.</p>
<p class="p1">In Christ,</p>
<p class="p1">Miles & Mar</p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/16217602013-05-08T12:30:00-05:002013-09-14T12:27:01-05:00Spring 2013<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Hey Everyone! </b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular">What a year it has already been! As we are sitting here writing this during the first week of May, the forecast for tonight is upper 30s -- possible record breaking low temperatures for this time of year in our area. I think Punxsutawney Phil has probably taken his own life by now. We have had a tremendous amount of concerts and travel already and the concert forecast for us the rest of this year will break some records as well, as we go from 110 concerts last year to a projected 130 this year. There's a lot to talk about, so let's get going!</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="font_regular"><b>Quick Links</b></span></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite artists who I featured back at homecoming 2012, Mark Bishop. <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/oih0fo/8368844;http:/www.sgmradio.com/2013/04/03/artist-to-artist-mark-bishop-and-miles-pike/"><span class="s1">Check it out on the SGM Radio blog.</span></a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">Since the last newsletter, I also interviewed a new friend of mine, and very well known name in the Southern and Country Gospel music fields. He and his brother, Greg, wrote the major hit "Midnight Cry." <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/7udf2g/8368844;http:/www.sgmradio.com/2013/02/12/artist-to-artist-with-chuck-day/"><span class="s1">You can read about it on the SGM Radio blog.</span></a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">There are about 200 new entries into the newsletter mailout this time around, <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/lvqtuj/8368844;http:/www.sgmradio.com/2013/02/13/pikes-point-3/"><span class="s1">so here's a link to the devotional that Martha and I wrote for our last newsletter</span></a>. The devotionals we write for our newsletters were picked up by SGM Radio Blog and are titled "Pike's Point."</span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">I had a surprise email a few weeks ago from a gospel music website called <a href="http://breathecast.com/"><span class="s2">BreatheCast.com</span></a>. One of their CD reviewers wanted to review some of my newest work. He started with <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/vjobep/8368844;http:/breathecast.christianpost.com/articles/miles-pike-walk-through-the-pages-album-review-7125/"><span class="s1">"Walk Through The Pages"</span></a> and will be reviewing "Blood Kin" in the next few weeks.</span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">We posted several new video clips from my sixth annual homecoming concert online a few weeks ago. <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/uuycaa/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/videos.cfm"><span class="s1">Here they are, as seen on the video page on my website.</span></a> Three of the videos feature the choir that backed me up. More details about how the event went below.</span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="font_regular">We also had some great shots from the event and we shared them in an <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/a3ile5/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/6thhomecoming.cfm"><span class="s1">online gallery on my website</span></a>.</span></li>
</ul><p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Upcoming Events</b><br>May 12, 6PM - First Baptist Church, Flint, TX<br>May 16, 11:30AM - Friendly Baptist Church, Tyler, TX<br>May 18, 7PM - Cowhorn Creek, Texarkana, TX<br>May 19, 10AM - Rose Hill Church of God in Christ, Texarkana, TX<br>May 20, 3PM - Cornerstone, Texarkana, TX<br>May 21, 7PM - Andover Place, Little Rock, AR<br>May 23, 7PM - Gardens at Arkanshire, Springdale, AR<br>May 24, 1:45PM - Apple Blossom, Rogers, AR<br>May 27-June 14 - Vacation!<br>June 16, 10:30AM - Henderson Church of the Nazarene, Henderson, TX<br>June 16, 6PM - University Christian Church, Tyler, TX<br>June 23, 10:30AM - Maud First United Methodist, Maud, TX<br>June 23, 5PM - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Pittsburg, TX<br>June 30, 10:30AM - Gloryway Church, Dodson, LA<br>July 7, 6PM - Dogwood Hills Baptist Church, Palestine, TX<br>July 12, 6PM - First United Methodist Church, Mineola, TX<br>July 14, 8:30AM - St Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX<br>July 14, 10:30AM - St Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX<br>July 14, 6PM - Martin's Chapel Nazarene Church, Troup, TX<br>July 21, 6PM - Diboll Prison Concert<br>July 25, 6:15PM - Senior Care, Jacksonville, TX<br>July 30, 11AM - Silver Arrow Estates, Broken Arrow, OK<br>July 31, 2PM - The Cambridge, Springfield, MO<br>August 1-3, International Country Gospel Music Association, West Plains, MO<br><br><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/fdkdm6/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/events.cfm"><span class="s1">Check the website periodically</span></a> as events are confirmed and added to our calendar.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>10 Days In Dallas Traffic = Lots Of Prayer Time</b><br>Since the beginning of the year, 45 concerts have already </span><span style="font-size: 1em;">blown past, and our first larger tour of the year took us to the Dallas metroplex for 9 days of concerts. We visited some places we've been to before, and a few new ones as well. It was great to see some familiar friends and new faces. One of our midweek activities took us back to UA Network, where I filmed another segment for Southern Gospel Praise, hosted by Mary Faye Jackson. If you happened to miss it when it aired, keep an eye out via their website, </span><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/kixt8y/8368844;http:/www.uanetwork.tv" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">www.uanetwork.tv</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;">, and I'm sure it will repeat at some point. Martha and I enjoyed a day off in the Dallas area and took in the Dallas Arboretum on White Rock Lake. If you have never been there, we highly recommend it. We went, not quite knowing what to expect, but left with our minds amazed at the vast beauty of God's creation on display. This year's calendar is already full, so we won't be back to the Dallas area this year, but be on the lookout for our Dallas dates in 2014, and </span><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/92txup/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/bookings.cfm" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">let us know if you want us to come sing for your church or venue</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;">, so we can work that in.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Current Radio Single Update</b></span><br><span style="font-size: 1em;">After three months on the charts, my debut radio single, "October Harvest," from my new CD, "Blood Kin," is #21 on the Top 100 Country Gospel charts for the month of June. If you haven't heard it on your local station, call and request it. If they don't have it, I will be glad to get it to them. Contact me at </span><a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">miles@milespikemusic.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;"> for information. As you hear it on the airwaves, I'm happy that my Aunt Sheila and my Mom, Kim, are singing the background vocals to provide that element of family harmony. It is the story of my Aunt Sheila and Uncle Alton, so I'm thrilled to see people responding to this very personal message. If you haven't heard it, </span><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/v3i2uw/8368844;http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKbs8Lu47xw" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">here's a link to a video of me performing it at the homecoming concert in March</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;">.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>2013 Homecoming Recap</b></span><br><span style="font-size: 1em;">After spending a year in preparation for this year's homecoming, it is hard to believe we are already two months past it and in full swing preparing for the 2014 homecoming. My guest this year, Larry Ford, was a huge hit and inspiration to those who attended. I hope to work with him again in coming years. A definite highlight of the evening was the multi-denominational choir that backed up Larry and myself on several songs. The choir suffered a large cutback in numbers due to this year's flu and eperzutis season, but we were still 40 voices strong, and we've heard nothing but wonderful comments about their performance. They made the evening more than memorable. As you may know, this was the first year to move the event from my home town of Jacksonville, TX to Tyler, TX. Last year we outgrew one of the largest venues in Jacksonville with 350 in attendance, and this year we doubled to 700 in attendance. I don't know that I have ever sung to a happier, more worshipful crowd. Special thanks to the church and staff of Colonial Hills Baptist Church for providing such above and beyond support and the use of their beautiful facility.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Mark Your Calendars For March 1, 2014!</b></span><br><span style="font-size: 1em;">I'm very pleased to announce that next year's homecoming guest will be none other than Don Francisco. For those of you not familiar with the name, you will probably be familiar with some of his songs. My Dad was the one that introduced him to me back years ago, and I have been a fan ever since. </span><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/l41gx4/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/specialevents.cfm" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">Here's a link to his full biography</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;">. Also, take a moment to watch </span><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/82voyz/8368844;http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lmv_xR6_q8" style="font-size: 1em;"><span class="s1">this Gaither Homecoming video that features Don singing one of his most well known songs, "He's Alive."</span></a><span style="font-size: 1em;"> Mark your calendars now for my 7th Annual Homecoming at </span><b style="font-size: 1em;">6PM </b><span style="font-size: 1em;">on</span><b style="font-size: 1em;"> Saturday, March 1, 2014, </b><span style="font-size: 1em;">at</span><b style="font-size: 1em;"> Colonial Hills Baptist Church</b><span style="font-size: 1em;">. We'll be posting more information online as it is available.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>New Recording In The Works</b><br>Though still in the planning stages, we will be packing up and heading to Nashville during the first part of October to begin work on another CD project. Many of you have requested another installment to my hymns collection, "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These." Your requests have been duly noted; but to be honest, had no one asked for it, I was going to do it anyways! It was just a matter of when. This hymns CD will step back at least 200 years for almost every song. I have already picked out more songs than I will need, and will have to narrow them down, but if you would like, take a moment and <a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com"><span class="s1">email me your favorite hymns that are 200+ years old</span></a>, and I will add them to the list that I will consider. The new hymns CD, "Timeless Truth: For Times Like These" will be available in early 2014.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Attention All Music Students</b><br>With summer approaching and school out soon, we just wanted to remind all of our students who may wish to take during the summer months to go ahead and get your names on our schedule so you can take advantage of the time that we are home to teach. For more information about our piano and voice lessons, <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/6ca9hi/8368844;http:/milespikemusic.com/musiclessons.cfm"><span class="s1">visit this page</span></a>.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular"><b>Newsworthy</b><br>(To be read with the voice of Ted Koppel.)<br><br>A two year study presented at the National Academy of Sciences has determined it'shard to learn anything if you try to study with the TV on. It would have been a one year study, but they had the TV on.<br><br>The company that makes Teflon coating was found guilty of making environmental hazards and fined $10 million? The people at Teflon are shocked because they thought the charges would never stick.<br><br>This coming Mother's Day, a real dilemma for some people is - do you spend the $100 to </span><span style="font-size: 1em;">get Mom a dozen roses, or do you spend the $100 to fill the car with gas to visit Mom?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular">According to a new survey, 77% of women said they had a good time while on a blind date. The other 23% are missing.<br><br>Japanese scientists have for the first time captured on film a rare and elusive giant squid from the bottom of the ocean, 3,000 feet down. They described the creature as "delicious."</span></p>
<p class="p3"><br><br><b style="font-size: 1em;">Bible Believer's Dictionary</b><br><span style="font-size: 1em;">By James L. Pike</span></p>
<p class="p6"><b style="font-size: 1em;">Family: brothers and sisters joined by a common strain of Blood, </b><span style="font-size: 1em;">(1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14) </span><br><span class="s1" style="font-size: 1em;"><b>And bound together with unbreakable bounds of Love. </b></span><span style="font-size: 1em;">(Colossians 2:2; John 15:9-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; I John 3:11, 14, 16-18, 23)</span><br><b style="font-size: 1em;">All those who one Father claim,</b><br><b style="font-size: 1em;">And who answer when the Father calls their name. </b><span class="s3" style="font-size: 1em;">(1 Samuel 3:10; John 10:27; Acts 2:39)</span></p>
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<p class="p4"><span class="font_regular"><b>Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume VIII</b><br>The overarching theme of my annual homecoming concert this year became unity in the body of Christ. As I stated that night, the event was not trying to start some new movement or trying to make some new thing happen, and it wasn't even trying to revive an old idea. My intent for homecoming this year was to remind us of something that already is and has been, so that we will begin to live accordingly. It was a wonderfully sweet time with 700 believers from dozens of different churches and denominations, all worshipping the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For those there, it was a powerful reminder of the unity and the diversity that the body of Christ shares. A multidenominational choir backed me up on one of my favorite songs from my "Blood Kin" album -- 'His Blood Has Made Us One.' The chorus is, "His blood has made us one; the blood of God's own Son. One in purpose. One in power. His blood has made us one." Here's the link to the <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/l/kve17j/8368844;http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjSB11CP8tk"><span class="s1">"His Blood Has Made Us One" video</span></a> from homecoming. This song is heavily based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, and Martha and I want to share a few thoughts about this passage that have been on our hearts since that time.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="font_regular"><b>1 Corinthians 12:12-14<br>Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.<br>For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.<br>Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.</b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font_regular">The unifying element of the church is the Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of the most undermined and understated doctrines of the Trinity. The Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8-11), therefore He is the instigator of salvation (John 3:5-8). After salvation, He is the indwelling presence of Christ, and enables every believer to live a righteous life. He is the one who seals us to the day of redemption -- the day when all believers will rise by His power and be forever with the Lord. Regardless of where you were saved, what your background is, or what denomination the pastor was that may have led you in a prayer, we have all been saved into one Spirit and into one body, and every Christian lives spiritually by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).<br><br><b>Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,”<br>it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.<br>And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,”<br>it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.</b><br><br>This section of the passage reminds me of conversations I've had through the years with audience members who, after a concert, tell me, "I wish I could do what you do," or "I wish I could sing like that." While I appreciate the compliment, if that is not their gift or their calling, then they are in effect wishing that they were something they are not -- valuing another calling or another gift more highly than the calling and gifts that they have themselves received. I sense sometimes that they feel this way because they are unaware of what their part actually is in the body. But if someone is a 'foot,' and thinks it is unimportant because it is not a 'hand', that does not diminish its importance to the body. The body needs both of its feet! It doesn't need three hands. So there is not a single part of the body that is less important than another. There are internal parts of the body that are vitally important -- way more important to life than, say, the eyes -- but nobody ever sees those parts. If someone does see them, you might want to call 911! Most of the parts of the body that are highly visible are not strictly necessary to live. Some of us have proved that we can live without hair. I'm learning this slowly. You can live without perfect vision. I've never known what most people see. But if you lose your internal organs that are never seen, you die. That's true with the body of Christ too. The unseen and unsung members of the body of Christ are truly more vital than the parts that the whole world sees. The vast majority of the body of Christ are not the up front, public, on TV, book-writing, song-singing Christians that everybody sees. The vast majority of Christians are the inner workings of the body of Christ: those who pray, work, fast, love, witness, serve, give, stand fast, and support. Now, please understand, there is no Christian more 'important' than another, but the internal, unseen members are truly more vital to the survival and health of the body of Christ. If I stop singing, the televangelist stops broadcasting, the Christian DJ stops talking, the theologian stops writing, the church lives and goes on. But without you who are reading this, I have no one to sing to, and no support.<br><br><b>If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?<br>If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?<br>But in fact God has placed the parts in the body,<br>every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.<br>If they were all one part, where would the body be?<br>As it is, there are many parts, but one body.</b><br><br>This is really just too good to pass up. To me, Paul's somewhat sarcastic picture here is one of the comical passages of Scripture. Can you imagine an eyeball, rolling around, trying to win someone to Jesus? Or a leg hopping around trying to proclaim the wonders of God without a mouth? How about a mouth lying on the ground proclaiming the Gospel loudly, but with no way to see, hear, or get to an audience? Maybe it's the kid in me, but I can't help snickering a little at those mind pictures. The idea is, these are all important parts, but without ALL the rest of the body to support, compliment, and work with, it is a pitiful excuse for a witness. The Holy Spirit points out through Paul's wording, "God has placed the parts in the body," and then he adds for emphasis, "every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." It strikes me that this is a past tense statement. If you are saved, you have been placed. You don't sign up later as a volunteer and have God ask you what you would like to do, "Yes, Sir, I would like to be put on a waiting list until the next time you need an eye." God is a wee bit smarter than we are (note the sarcasm) and is much more aware of what he has equipped us for. Don't wish you had another job in the body when you haven't yet recognized the vital nature of the job you have already been commissioned to do. Personally, I don't want everyone to have my call, because it would be kinda awkward with 100 singers on stage and 2 people in the audience. And split that many ways, I don't think the love offering would manage to pay the bills!<br><br><b>The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”<br>And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!"</b><br><br>I love these two comparisons. Paul is now making a gear shift from those that feel inadequate and unimportant in the body, to warning those who would be tempted to have a condescending attitude toward those who are not as visible or as recognized. In this beautiful picture he warns the people with highly visible gifts and callings not to despise or look down upon those whose gifts are not as visible. Hand-eye coordination is part of his first comparison. The hand may say to the eyes "I can do my work without you," but they would just grope around in blindness. The eye might say to the hands, "I can see without you," but though you may see your goal, you will never attain it. His second picture of the head versus the feet takes us to the extreme ends of the human body; the head being the highest point of the body, and the feet the lowest. Here is a scolding against those who would say "I am above you and therefore I am more important." In that day the feet were certainly not the most appealing part of the body. They were the mode of transportation: if lucky, they were sandaled; they were exposed to the elements; they were rough, unappealing, and covered in camel droppings. But even with all the ruggedness of the feet, a head would be hard pressed to roll its way to the needed point of ministry without the unique and important function that God created feet for.<br><br><b>On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.<br>And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.<br>But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.<br>If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.<br>Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.</b><br><br>While we may give no great thought day to day with regard to our inner workings, our hidden parts, our involuntary functions, there's not a day goes by that they aren't of supreme importance to the health and function of our being. If your stomach has food poisoning, is not your whole body aware of it? If you have a migraine, you don't have to force your feet to take you to the bed. Isn't it abundantly obvious if the steady rhythm of your heart starts being erratic? God has put the Church together in such a perfect and meticulous way that Paul points out, if one part is in pain, every part knows about it, and if one part rejoices, the whole body shares in the joy. In Philippians 2 Paul outlines the attitude that the Church should have toward the Church: "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."<br><br>God has placed you where you are, so when you wonder what you are called to do, look first at where you live -- at the people who are in closest proximity to you. If you are a child, you are called to minister to your parents. If you are a husband, you are called to minister to your wife. If you are a wife, you are called to minister to your husband. If you are parents, you are called to raise and minister to your children. Not often looked upon as serious bases of ministry are the workplace, or where you go to school, but wherever you are, you are called to "be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life" (Philippians 2:15). Then you have the laundry list of the callings of those who are the hands and the feet of the church: those who take care of widows and orphans and the poor, those who pray without ceasing, those who give of their money and their time, those who take care of the sick and visit the nursing homes, those who show hospitality, those who vacuum the church, and those who take a pie to a shut in. Can you imagine the church without these? This is the majority of the church. This is the heartbeat of a healthy church. These are all vital callings, and the New Testament is full of instruction as to how to fulfill these callings and in so doing to bring glory to God and edify His Church. I'm sure we are not the only ones who can testify to this, but when the two of us list the people who have most influenced us down through the years, the most notable and memorable were not the televangelist, the megachurch pastor, the Grammy-award winning Gospel recording artist, but were the steadfast, humble, servants of God's people, who thought no job too small and no ministry too insignificant to support. At this point I cannot help thinking of our two sets of parents, who raised both of us up to love Jesus. What an amazing blessing, and what a powerful ministry, we realize more fully now.<br><br>All of these callings are just as intentional on God's part and just as vital in the body of Christ as the calling He gives the full time evangelist, or the pastor, or whatever person you think of when you think "ministry."<br><br>So the next time you get up in the middle of the night and you stub your toe on the coffee table, take special note of how long it takes for your head to know it, and how long it takes for that toe to become one of the most protected and treasured parts of your body.<br><br>See you down the road,<br><br>M&M</span></p>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254282013-01-28T05:25:00-06:002017-01-11T07:12:47-06:00Sixth Annual Homecoming In Tyler!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/b3bd9b01f27840388f8b4dd1e9896a3376b8f860/large/Homecoming-Banner1.jpeg?1376571231" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="" height="317" width="900" /><br>
Hey Everyone!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regardless of how 2012 treated you, 2013 is already well upon us, so let us do as Paul said -- forget those things which are behind and press on to those things which are ahead. Thank you for being a part of this newsletter, and for keeping up with us and praying with us as we go wherever the Lord may lead. Below you will find some updates from the past year and some news for the future. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for a special offer. Now let's get going!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <br></span> <hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Quick Links:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="/files/73835/6thHomecomingFlyer.jpeg" target="_new"> Read the interview by SGM Radio with me and my producer, Tommy Cooper, about my latest CD, "Blood Kin," taking a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the project.Download a printable Homecoming flyer HERE!</a><br><br><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/voting.cfm" target="_new"> I've been nominated again for some awards! If you would like to cast a ballot, click the VOTE button on my homepage.<br></a> <br><a href="http://www.sgmradio.com/2012/10/05/pikes-point/" target="_new"> The devotionals that we write for this newsletter have been picked up by SGM Radio Blog as "Pike's Point."<br></a> <br><a href="http://sgmradio.com" target="_new"> SGM Radio also asked me to write a bimonthly article where I will interview Gospel Music artists on various topics, so go sign up for their feed and keep an eye on all the Gospel music news there!</a><br><br>
Since I have just finished up two projects, is there a song that you'd like to see me record? What's your favorite that I've already recorded? <a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com" target="_new">We'd love to hear your thoughts. </a><br><br>
Would you be willing to be a volunteer worker at Homecoming on March 2? We need a few people to help in some areas. Give us a call if you're interested. </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">903-586-8605<br></span> </b>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br></b></span></div>
<hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You nominated me…</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> We found out January 2, 2013, that I have been nominated for several different awards including "Favorite Male Vocalist," "Favorite Album," and "Favorite Song" in the Country Gospel Music Fan Awards and the Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards. Please take a moment to visit my website and cast your vote. The deadline to vote is January 31.<br></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br></b></span></div>
<hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Homecoming:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> We are so excited about the sixth annual homecoming concert, which is just a month away now! With everything going on in this particular homecoming, I've been run a bit ragged trying to get everything in order for the big night. I am looking forward to it so much, and I know it will be worth the effort. This homecoming will not be in Jacksonville, as it has been for the past four years. This is my hometown, and it was always my intent to keep the homecoming concert in Jacksonville. However, last year saw us outgrow one of the largest venues in Jacksonville, and we were forced to look at other options that would allow for growth. We have moved the event to Tyler, TX, which is just up the road from Jacksonville, but is a much larger town. Colonial Hills Baptist Church will host the sixth annual homecoming on March 2, 2013 at 6PM. The church's address is 7330 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75703. For non-Tyler natives, that is South Tyler, right on Highway 69. <br><br>
I believe this promises to be the most memorable homecoming to date for many reasons. Gaither Homecoming Artist, Larry Ford, will be my special guest. Larry and I will be backed up on select songs by over 80 volunteers representing more than 40 unique churches from all over the East Texas area. This group of volunteers comes together to be a visible representation of the unity of the body of Christ. If you are in driving distance, you do not want to miss this amazing evening of music and worship. We can't wait to see all of you - old friends and new friends - our brothers and sisters in Christ. All are welcome, and a freewill offering will be received. Doors open at 5:00PM, so come early for the best seats.<br><br><a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com" target="_new"> Shoot me a quick email</a> to request some Homecoming flyers if you would like to invite your church, family, or Sunday School class.<br><br></span> <hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Event Schedule:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> January 31 6:00PM Prison Concert Rusk, TX<br>
February 1 6:00PM Prison Concert Rusk, TX<br>
February 9 7:00PM Grace Bible Fellowship - Valentine's Banquet Canton, TX<br>
February 10 10:00AM Grace Bible Fellowship Church Canton, TX<br>
February 10 6:00PM Shady Grove Baptist Church Emory, TX<br>
February 17 8:30AM Colonial Hills Baptist Church Tyler, TX <br>
February 17 11:00AM Colonial Hills Baptist Church Worship Service Tyler, TX<br>
February 17 6:00PM Calvary Baptist Church Jacksonville, TX<br>
February 23 6:00PM Tyler Area Senior Citizen's Association (TASCA) Whitehouse, TX<br>
March 2 12:00PM Homecoming Choir Practice at Colonial Hills Church Tyler, TX<br><b>March 2 6:00PM 6th Annual Homecoming at Colonial Hills Baptist Church Tyler, TX<br></b> March 5 6:00PM First Baptist Church Bullard, TX<br>
March 8 7:00PM Long Lake Baptist Church Palestine, TX<br>
March 10 10:15AM Lakeview Nazarene Church Tyler, TX<br>
March 28 11:00AM Green Acres Baptist Church Tyler, TX<br>
March 31 10:30AM Grace Fellowship Church Ben Wheeler, TX <br>
March 31 6:00PM First Baptist Church Flint, TX <br>
April 5 6:30PM Dove Creek Cafe Roanoke, TX<br>
April 6 7:30PM The Chateau McKinney, TX<br>
April 7 10:30AM Central Baptist Church Lancaster, TX<br>
April 7 11:30AM Central Baptist Church Lancaster, TX<br>
April 8 11:15AM Cottonwood Estates Plano, TX<br>
April 10 11:30AM UA Network TV Recording <br>
April 12 4:00PM Pinewood Hills Flower Mound, TX<br>
April 13 11:30AM The Bentley Dallas, TX<br>
April 14 10:30AM Royal Haven Baptist Church Dallas, TX<br>
April 21 10:30AM Pierces Chapel Assembly of God Special Music Jacksonville, TX<br>
April 21 1:00PM Pierces Chapel Assembly of God Concert Jacksonville, TX<br>
April 21 6:00PM Prison Concert Diboll, TX<br>
April 28 10:30AM Lookout Valley Nazarene Church Jacksonville, TX<br><br></span><a href="./events.cfm" target="_new"><span style="font-size: small;">Complete schedule of events here. <br></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span> <hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Be On The Lookout!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> This next week, my first radio release off of "Blood Kin" will be going out to hundreds of radio stations nationwide. Call your local DJ and request "October Harvest." This is a very personal song for me -- it is the story of my Aunt Sheila and my late Uncle Alton. Fittingly, Aunt Sheila (Ana) and my Mom (Kim), are providing the tight family harmony in the background vocals as they did in my first song, "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me." If you are a DJ and you do not receive Canyon Creek Record's compilation and would like the song sent to you, <a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com" target="_new">contact me with your mailing info</a>.<br></span>
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<hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lighter Moment</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> In view of the gun control debate...<br><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/459492d7deefa001b76c77211a047d53d1de3c6e/medium/Lets-Talk-About-Jesus.jpg?1376571231" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="248" width="300" /></div>
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On a more serious, but still funny note...<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/4acd40c91239cfd74a4c7ded5fd287cc9c2371f0/medium/Twitter.jpg?1376571231" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="272" width="300" /><br><br>
(now for some brazen advertising...) <br>
But you can follow ME on <a href="https://twitter.com/MilesPikeMusic">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miles-Pike/46320006814" target="_new">Facebook</a>! <br></span>
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<hr><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume VII</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> A few years ago, my Dad took pen in hand and wrote a song that I couldn't wait to record. "Blood Kin" was the recording on which it fit so well. The song, "I Made Time For You," is fun and peppy, and it has a great message that Martha and I would like to expound upon for a few moments. The chorus goes like this:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I made time for you to find out who I am;<br>
I made time for you to seek me while you can.<br>
I'm not so far away that I can't be found;<br>
I made time for you when I made the world go round.</i></div>
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Our time here on earth is made up of a string of moments that are opportunities to seek, find, know, and enjoy God here on this earth. Some seek God out of fear of the judgement to come. Some seek out of guilt. Some seek out of extreme need. No matter what the reason that you seek God, He has promised that those who seek will find. He wants to be found, otherwise, no person ever could find him. He wants to be known -- that's why He created in the first place! At all times, in all places, God is revealing Himself, not just to His children, but to all people (Romans 1:19, Acts 14:17).<br><br>
I've heard it said that an atheist can't find God for the same reason that a thief can't find a policeman: "He don't want to." That's the way all of us have been at some point with God. I say that and think, "Yes, back when I was an unbeliever." But even today, after many years of being a Christian, I often find myself in the middle of a pity party, seeing only gloom and doom. I feel myself slipping into my own private little corner, hunting my own personal fig leaf. Finding God, or God finding me, isn't the top of my priority list at that moment. In this modern, super-secular world, physical nakedness is becoming less and less of an issue, but spiritual nakedness is just about as uncomfortable as it ever was. I'm so glad that, like in the Garden of Eden, God still comes seeking after me even when I'm hiding from Him. <br><br>
As children of our Heavenly Father, our relationship with God is similar to any relationship we have on this side of heaven. That which makes a bad relationship on earth, makes a bad relationship with God. That which makes a good relationship on earth, makes a good relationship with the Eternal One. If Martha and I just co-existed in the same house, but lived as though we were single, confining our time together to Sunday morning, frankly put, we would have a crappy marriage! <br><br>
I promised Martha before we got married that I would always honestly tell her anything that she asked. I had no idea what I was in for. I've at times slightly regretted making such a broad agreement. I've had to reveal things that I wasn't exactly proud to be thinking. Before you start wondering about my dirty laundry, just remember you have your own pile. It has been sometimes an uncomfortable blessing to have a spiritually strong person who knows me so well, who will out of love be brutally honest with me and hash out the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sidenote: I'm not talking about nagging or harassment, but a healthy love for one another that desires to skim the dross off the top. C.S. Lewis said, "Love is more sensitive than hatred itself to every blemish in the beloved… Love forgives most, but condones least: Love is pleased with little, but demands all." <br><br>
That's the case in a godly marriage, and that is much more so the case in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Seeking after Him personally, means that He is personally seeking after us (Psalm 27:8), and in the process, will personally sanctify us. God doesn't have a "don't ask, don't tell policy," and He doesn't make appointments with us for when He decides to work on us. With David we can say, "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me" (Psalm 139:5). He is always with us, and is constantly perfecting us in love. <br><br>
His Word is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and it cuts deep into the the core of who we are. Though His wielding of this instrument is sometimes painful, it necessarily and compassionately carves away at the smelly, decaying carcass of our body of sin (Romans 6:6). How often do we find ourselves wondering "Where did this situation come from?" "Why is this person in my life?" or "What am I doing here?" As Christians, we must take the Word of God at its word when it says that God is in control. Whether a circumstance seems good or whether it seems bad, at all times we can say with David, "Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139:10).<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"In every place I look are glimpses of His face;<br>
In all the good and simple things are echoes of His grace."</i></div>
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This second verse of the song is our encouragement to you: Realize that as a child of God, all circumstances in your life are invitations to know God better, and are avenues by which you can see His hand at work. Approach every person and every situation with the full assurance that God will work in the midst of it all to draw you closer. He's not so far away that He can't be found. He loves us as we are, so put down the fig leaf and don't walk; run to Him!<br><br>
As a special gift to you who read this devotional, I want to offer you a free download of the song on which this devotional is based. 'I Made Time For You.' All you have to do is email your name, city, state, and a comment to <a href="mailto:miles@milespikemusic.com">miles@milespikemusic.com</a>.<br><br>
Thanks for reading! Now cancel your plans to watch the evening news and make time for God. I can already tell you the news is gonna be bad anyway.<br><br>
See you on down the road,<br><br>
Miles & Mar
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</span>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254272012-10-23T06:40:00-05:002017-01-11T07:12:47-06:00Partying All Month Long!<b>Hey Everyone!<br></b>Can you believe it's October? I mean, really! Where has 2012 gone? Since last I wrote, we've been busy with concerts, CD production, and much travel. Welcome to all the new members of this newsletter, and there's a lot to cover, so let's get started...<br><br><b><hr>
Thank God For Fans Like YOU!<br></b>The debut of my current radio single at #22 showed me quickly that “Teach Me To Love Like That” is a desire that all Christians share. Further confirming this, for October it is #1 on the Country Gospel Music Chart for Cashbox Magazine and the Christian Voice Magazine. To me, a great song is like a great sermon. It spurs the heart of the believer on to live more Christlike. That is the strength of this song. <br><br><i><b>Even in the end <br>
When they scoffed and they laughed at you <br>
“Father, please forgive them <br>
For they know not what they do”<br>
Teach me to love like that...</b></i><br><br>
I cannot sing this song without thinking of instances in my life in which I could have and should have better expressed the same love and forgiveness that I have been shown. Many thanks to all the DJs who play it, to the listeners who call and request it, to Canyon Creek Records, and to my Lord. Teach me to love like you do. (Would you like "Teach Me To Love Like That" on your iPod? We can do that.) By the time the next newsletter rolls around, I'm sure we'll be ready to announce my next radio release.<br><br><b><hr>
Notable Mentions:<br></b>Check out my SGM radio press release!<br>
Download my 6th Annual Homecoming Concert Flyer.<br>
View "Teach Me To Love Like That" on Cashbox Magazine.<br>
Be on the lookout for our two-page feature in the October '12 issue of the Christian Voice Magazine<br>
Martha and I are honored to be featured artists periodically on the SGM Radio blog. View this month's post of Pike's Point!<br>
We are booking voice and piano students for next year. Visit our music lessons page for details.<br>
Read a review of "Walk Through The Pages".<br><br><b><hr>
72 months, 13 states and 350+ concerts later, here we are!<br></b>Tens of thousands of miles have been put on Miles since I did my first concert in October 2006 at Calvary Baptist Church in Exeter, MO. It's been quite the ride to sit back and watch God open doors and bless in ways that only He can. Had anyone told me six years ago that 100+ concerts a year would be normal for me, I would have had second thoughts about this full time ministry thing. And yet, looking at the concert dates for 2012, by the time we get to our Christmas break in December, we will have done 110 concerts. Looking farther ahead, into 2013, we are nearly halfway booked already, and it's looking like we'll be busier than we have been this year! So prayers are appreciated, as it seems that the Lord has no intention of slowing down. I am blessed beyond measure that my spouse, Martha, for the past two years has been my constant companion to every concert (and my partner in the road, hotel, and car stories we’ve experienced personally). I am so glad that I get to share every day at home and abroad with her in this work. Those familiar with my testimony understand that Martha (and before she came along, my family), is my eyes on the road and in many other tasks. As I have had to explain many times over the years, I see just enough to fool people. I am legally blind from birth, and so over the years have learned to compensate well. It is my desire in the coming years to build up the saints, edify the church, and lead the people of God in worship through my presentations, whether the door opens to sing to the masses or to a small country church. I believe that this must be the purpose and drive behind any minister of music. 4 CD projects, 4 #1 songs, 3 awards, over a dozen Top 5 nominations, 32.7 tons of fast food, and 1 amazing God to thank for all of it (even the fast food).<br><br><b><hr>
It's my anniversary… but YOU get the present! <br></b>For the month of October only, all four of my CD projects are $40 and shipping is FREE. That's a savings of $25! Order online HERE.<br><br><b><hr>
Event Schedule<br></b>10/26 @ 12:30PM: Garrison Nursing Home Annual Fall Festival<br>
10/27 @ 3:30PM: Alto Fall Festival, Alto, TX (this event has been cancelled)<br>
10/28 @ 6:00PM: Grace Fellowship Church, Rusk, TX <br>
11/1: Prison Concert, Rusk, TX <br>
11/2: Prison Concert, Rusk, TX <br>
11/4, 10:45AM: First Congregational Methodist, Rusk, TX <br>
11/4 @ 6:00PM: County Line Baptist Church, Bullard, TX <br>
11/10 @ 2:00PM: Wedding: Jack White & Sheila Paris<br>
11/11 @ 1:00PM: Turner Baptist Church, Wills Point, TX <br>
11/12 @ 3:00PM: Horizon Bay, Bossier City, LA <br>
11/13 @ 2:00PM: Chateau Ridgeland, Ridgeland, MS <br>
11/14 @ 2:00PM: Rocky Ridge, Hoover, AL <br>
11/15 @ 10:30AM: Conyers First Baptist, Conyers, GA <br>
11/17 @ 7:00PM: Buckners Family Restaurant, Jackson, GA <br>
11/18 @ 6:00PM: Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Cumming, GA <br>
11/19 @ 6:30PM: The Lodge At Bridgemill, Canton, GA <br>
11/25 @ 6:30PM: Centennial Baptist Church, Madison, GA <br>
11/30 @ 7:00PM: RU at Victory Baptist Church, Loganville, GA <br>
12/1 @ 7:00PM: Lake Oconee Baptist Chapel, Buckhead, GA <br>
12/2 @ 11:00AM: Lake Oconee Baptist Chapel, Buckhead, GA <br>
12/2 @ 6:00PM: Shiloh Baptist Church, Newborn, GA <br>
12/7 @ 3:00PM: McKendree UMC, Lawrenceville, GA <br>
12/8 @ 11:00AM: First Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA <br>
12/10 @ 2:00PM: The Regency, Decatur, GA <br>
12/11 @ 2:00PM: Laurel Grove, Lawrenceville, GA <br>
12/19: Wedding Anniversary!<br><br><b><hr>
Clock-watching... Nail-biting... Sleepless nights... <br></b>Maybe that's a little melodramatic, but as I dictate (and Mar types) this newsletter, we are both eagerly anticipating hearing the final cuts for my brand new album, "Blood Kin." This 15-track project is my most personal to date, speaking of the family into which I was born, and the family into which I was born again. I recorded this project for the believer; for those redeemed and accepted into the family of God. We are our brother's keeper. We are blood kin. I cannot wait to start sharing these songs in concert. Are you like us and can't wait? Pre-order your copy here.<br><br><b><hr>
Bigger And Better Than Ever!<br></b>This CD will be the focus of my sixth annual homecoming concert on March 2, 2013. As a palpable representation of the heart of this CD, I am introducing an 85-voice homecoming choir. This unique group of volunteers will represent over 35 churches of all denominational backgrounds from all over the East Texas area. They will join me and my special guest, Gaither Homecoming artist, Larry Ford, on a selection of songs at the beautiful Colonial Hills Baptist <br>
Church in Tyler, TX. These annual homecoming concerts have always been near and dear to my heart as a gift back to my community.<br><br>
As such, the doors are open to all, and a free will offering is received. Allow me to extend my personal invitation to you my friends, to join this corporate body of believers for an unforgettable evening of worship. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining the choir and representing your church, visit my website or call 903-586-8605. No cost, and no auditions, but at the time that this is written, the choir is already over seventy. This homecoming promises to be a memorable event, so be sure that either you or someone from your church takes part!<br><br><b><hr>
Church Bulletin Bloopers<br></b>The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. <br><br>
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.<br><br>
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. <br><br>
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. <br><br>
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. <br><br>
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.<br><br>
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. <br><br>
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please use the back door. <br><br>
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.<br><br><b><hr>
May I introduce… the future Sheila White!<br></b>Our family is enjoying a time of celebration as we anticipate my Aunt Sheila's forthcoming marriage to a long time family friend and respected community member, Jack White. Aunt Sheila, or "Ana," as I've always called her, is not just a part of our family, but she is a part of Miles Pike Music, and supports it in a countless number of ways. Her vocal talents can be heard on several of my songs, including my first #1 song, "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me." Jack White is not just a sincere Godly man, but is also a preacher, and the constable in our area. We are proud to welcome him into the family, and look forward to getting to know him better in the years to come. I will have the honor of officiating their wedding this coming November, right before our Georgia tour. We hope that upon our return, their twitterpation has worn off to moderate levels… so Martha and I don't seem like an old married couple next to them. :)<br><br><b><hr>
Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume VI<br></b>In light of the nationwide acceptance of my #1 song for October 2012 - "Teach Me To Love Like That," Martha and I thought we would bare our hearts and write about what the Lord has shown us about this message.<br><br><i><b>They brought you the woman caught in the act<br>
and said they were bound by the law<br>
You never looked up; your words were exact.<br>
Compassion was all that they saw.<br>
When she stood in judgement, afraid and alone,<br>
You said, "He without sin, let him cast the first stone."<br>
Teach me to love like that.</b></i><br><br>
In this verse, Jesus demonstrates love both to the religious and to the sinner. Understand, there is only one source of love, and therefore, it is the same love, but different applications. The love of God shown to people who are merely religious is a love of brutal honesty and shock. All throughout the Gospels and the whole canon of Scripture for that matter, God shows very little tolerance for those who profess a commitment to His laws and statutes, but who are in fact "full of dead men's bones" (Matthew 23:27). It would be worth your time to read Matthew 23 and see if that chapter don't give you a chill up your spine like it did us. This was Jesus' treatment of the outwardly religious. <br>
In modern day churches we don't have the office and title of Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but these men are the very picture of any person in any level of service who professes Christ but who does not "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). <br>
Jesus' assault of truth on the religious leaders of His time was not only because of their wrong motives, religious facades, self-deception, and spiritual blindness. No, the Bible teaches that those who are in positions of spiritual authority over others bear a greater weight of responsibility than others (James 3:1). As Jesus says in Matthew 23, not only do false spiritual authorities keep themselves out of heaven, but they shut the door in the faces of those that follow them, and thus have the greater condemnation.<br><br>
In today's society, the plain speech given here by Jesus would not be taken as one of the "5 love languages!" In fact, Jesus was demonstrating his love toward them in a way that was absolutely necessary and righteous. He knew exactly what they needed, and He gave it to them. This honest and loving approach is a practice that is clearly lacking in the church today.<br><br>
There are two main facts we can see about the woman "caught in the act." One, she is a sinner. She does not profess to be living the life of a good Jew. She was not in attendance to the 'church service' that Jesus was leading. She was 'drug in' by the Pharisees. Thus, point two -- she is a pawn in the Pharisees' religious game. Jesus' actions toward the woman are how we, as Christians, are to treat those outside the church. There is nothing deceitful or hypocritical about a sinner acting like a sinner, unlike the Pharisees who claimed one thing and lived another. In our dealings with those who do not profess to be Christians, we need to be reminded of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called." Jesus said "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." We need to remember that all have sinned, including us, and have fallen short of the glory of God. <br><br>
Lord, teach us to love in such a way that when it comes to the lost, we put down our stones of gossip, judgement, condescension, and dirty looks, and love them enough to say "Go, and sin no more." <br><br><i><b>You sat with the twelve at the Passover feast<br>
Knowing of grave things to come.<br>
"This is my body," you said, "take and eat."<br>
It would be the last supper for some.<br>
And although you knew you would soon be denied,<br>
You stayed and broke bread with them one final time.<br>
Teach me to love like that.</b></i><br><br>
Jesus is sharing this last meal, just as He had done so many other times, with these men into whom He has invested so much. Here, at what He knows is to be His "last supper," He not only shares table with them, but pours out His very heart to them yet again, encouraging them to follow His words, trust His plan, and to love one another. Almost comically, the disciples argue yet again about who is to be the greatest, and our Lord takes on the literal role of a servant, teaching by doing the most base thing -- washing the weathered, filthy feet of these men. He doesn't stop there, but goes on to give us one of our most cherished sacraments that we, the Church, have, and symbolically breaks the bread of His body and gives of the cup of His blood that is to be shared by all. Knowing He was hours away from being crushed by His beloved Father for their sin and ours (Isaiah 53:5,10), He gives of Himself yet again to them, praying for them and for us. <br><br>
Keep in mind, He knew that these are the very men that a few short hours later would fall asleep while their Master wept His most bitter tears. Then when confronted with the arrest of their Teacher, they would all respond in the wrong way: one with violence, and the rest by running in fright. All in all, over the next three days, they would give a shoddy performance by betraying Him, denying Him, not providing their testimony at His mock trial, remaining in hiding, and finally, doubting His resurrection even though He had explicitly told them that He would die and rise again in three days (Luke 9:22), and even though they had seen His works before and had eyewitness testimony from close friends.<br><br>
If this is any indication of how we are to treat our friends who will surely fail us and our brothers and sisters in the church who are surely as flawed as we are; if this is how we are to exhibit 1 Corinthians 13 with the patience, the lack of record-keeping, and the lack of anger in the face of betrayal, then I dare say that the bar has been raised to a daunting height for us all.<br><br><b><i>Even in the end, when they scoffed and they laughed at you,<br>
"Father, please forgive them for they know not what they do."<br>
Teach me to love like that…</i></b><br><br>
What a request to His Father! Asking His Father to extend forgiveness -- the forgiveness that He is paying for with His life -- to the very ones who are not only killing Him, but mocking Him and laughing at Him.<br><br>
This love is extreme. It's unbridled and, humanly speaking, nonsensical. It baffles the logic of this world and our mortal flesh by not just going the extra mile, but by going as far as it possibly can. It convicts the hypocrite, compels the lost, and emboldens the testimony of the saint.<br><br><i><b>Teach me to love like that when it matters most.<br>
I want to live without fear.<br>
Teach me to love like that: keep drawing me close,<br>
Until the only clear voice that I hear<br>
Is something that you'd say.<br>
I want to learn Your way<br>
Teach me to love like that.</b></i><br><br>
May this be the continual prayer and the greatest joy of each child of God as we do that which we were created for -- love.<br><br><br>
Still learning in Christ,<br><br>
Miles & Martha<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/506b9cb8c395a880e4acf0e61b30d3959ffcffdd/original/bwholding-handssignature-footer.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="180" width="900" /><br><br type="_moz">Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254372012-05-24T16:05:00-05:002021-06-03T05:13:25-05:00Take a Walk, Join the Choir, & Get a Challenge<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>Hey Everybody, <br><br type="_moz"></b>
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<a target="_new" href="https://www.facebook.com/MilesPikeMusic"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/3d6ee5d5aab32b97a7535cd95c0a2c8e1b36eb10/original/Facebook-Button.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="31" width="30" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span">Spring has sprung, and although it has been hotter than usual, East Texas hasn't </span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/da95de4a5e49597c9e25ab6c55da0e07a09f242c/medium/Gardening.JPG?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="167" width="250" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span">been nearly as dry as last year, so our garden is perky and productive. Gardening isnot only a great way to help make ends meet and be frugal, but it's an amazing process to watch -- gives us a better understanding of our Creator, first of all, but also of the miracle of new life, regeneration, a dead seed producing a bountiful harvest, and just how much hard work, time, and water has to go into each single plant in order for it to produce. <br>
With nearly 40 concerts behind us this year, we are in full swing and God is blessing. Let's get you caught up on the happenings here at Miles Pike Music.</span><hr>
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<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/a687c9836cfef878f8a51b6aa76edb7f9eaf0611/medium/WalkThruCover.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="150" width="150" /><b>A New CD Just Walked In</b>
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<div style="text-align: left; ">Since the last newsletter, I've been having an amazing time singing the new songs off of "Walk Through The Pages." They are fun, uplifting, and going over wonderfully in concert. Many have already participated in the 12-day song by song devotional that Martha and I prepared to deepen the experience of this musical journey. If you have your copy of the CD but were not aware of the devotional, <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/walklyrics.cfm">click here to view it and start <i>your</i> walk.</a>
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We love to have feedback from listeners and audience members, so please <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/interact.cfm">take a moment to message us</a> and tell us what your favorite song is off the new album. If you don't have your copy yet, click <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/store.cfm"><b>HERE</b></a> to visit our secure online store.</div>
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<b><br></b>2012 is half over and most of our available dates are filled, so we are looking into 2013 already. <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/events.cfm">Click here to contact us</a> and find out how to schedule a concert for your area. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>Amazing Debut!</b>
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<div>The debut radio single from <i>"Walk Through The Pages"</i> is <i>"Teach Me To Love Like That"</i>. The response to this song is very much the response I had when I first heard it. It is a beautiful track, a profound lyric, and a convicting message that kind of gets stuck in your head. For the month of May, the song debuted on the Top 100 Christian Voice Magazine Country Chart at an amazing #22! That is an incredibly strong sign of growth and support from radio stations and fans. If this song does nothing but that, I am thrilled and pleased at what I see God orchestrating. My prayer is that this four-minute musical sermon stirs the hearts of all believers who hear it.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>Voting Update</b>
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<div>I was honestly surprised to find out a few days ago that I'd been voted into the top 10 in two categories in the Diamond Awards -- <i>"Sunrise Award"</i> and <i>"Christian Country Male Artist"</i> This is now the second round of voting, so if you'd like to vote, <a target="_new" href="http://www.sgnscoops.com/2012/05/21/diamond-awards-second-round-of-voting-is-now-open/">just click here</a>. <br><br>
Let me just give you an update on the voting that you all were so kind to do back in March. You nominated me in the Top 5 in 5 categories: "Favorite Male Artist," "Favorite Soloist," "Favorite Album," "Favorite Song," and "Favorite Website." Those 5 nominations were a great blessing considering that there were only 7 categories that I was eligible to be nominated in. Even though I was not the recipient of any awards this year, I am more than appreciative to have been listed alongside the great names that I was. Thank you for your voting and efforts in sharing it with your family and friends.<br><br>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/a83556d05a6f61405cf239cf331d5f99be7f57f7/large/Christian-Singer.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Upcoming Events</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">May 27, 10:30AM, Noonday UMC, Flint, TX<br>
May 28, 7:00PM, Cowhorn Creek, Texarkana, TX<br>
May 30-June 9, AFAB Studio - Recording "Blood Kin", Nashville, TN<br>
June 7, 10:30AM, The Waterford, Nashville, TN<br>
June 9, 2:30PM, Windlands East, Madison, TN<br>
June 22, 11:00AM, First Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA<br>
June 23, 1:00PM, The Scarlet Thread Fundraiser, Loganville, GA<br>
June 24, 10:30AM, Belmont Baptist Church, Conyers, GA<br>
June 24, 6:00PM, Lake Oconee Chapel, Buckhead, GA<br>
June 28, 12:00PM, Cannon Church, Snellville, GA<br>
July 8, 10:00AM, Lake Area Church, Frankston, TX<br>
July 15, 6:00PM, Landmark Baptist Church, Tyler, TX<br>
July 19, 11:30AM, Friendly Baptist Church, Tyler, TX<br>
July 25, all-day, UAN Network, Dallas, TX (TV recording)<br>
July 26, 12:00PM, Royal Haven Baptist Church, Dallas, TX<br>
July 29, 10:30AM, Royal Haven Baptist Church, Dallas, TX<br>
July 30, 2:00PM, Wellington Parke, Oklahoma City, OK<br>
July 31, 2:00PM, Cedar Ridge, Broken Arrow, OK<br><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/events.cfm">Click here for a complete concert schedule and event details.</a><br>
Keep an eye on the website for more events that aren't confirmed yet but will be added soon!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/d920181e30d68588936172efd6f955aebcacda0d/medium/1photo.JPG?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="175" width="175" /><br></b>
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<div style="text-align: left; ">to my parents' miniature horses, Jack and Harley! Jack turned six on April 18th and Harley turned five on May 17th. It was party hats and honeybuns for them. Can't say that <i>I</i> got anything sweet…just them.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>Schedule Your 2012 Summer Music Lessons</b>
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<div>Martha and I will be out of state recording and on tour for the month of June. Come July, summer will be in full swing and many of our summer students will be returning. Click <b><a href="http://milespikemusic.com/musiclessons.cfm">HERE</a></b> for information about scheduling your private voice or piano lesson.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>In The Studio… <i>Again</i></b>
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<div>We're leaving next week to start our June tour, and one of the first stops will be at AFAB Studio in Nashville, TN. We will be recording the vocals on my fourth CD recording, <i>"Blood Kin."</i> This project is slated for a Fall 2012 release. This CD will include 5 songs from the pen of my Dad, James Pike. It will also feature special guest background vocalists: my wife, my Mom, my aunt Sheila, and … brace yourselves… even my Dad. The theme of this CD is near and dear to my heart, and I believe it will resound in the heart of every believer who hears it, regardless of denomination, background, race, color, or upbringing. <br><br>
This CD will be featured at my 6th Annual Homecoming Concert on <b>March 2, 2013</b>, at <b>6PM</b>. To underscore the theme of this CD -- that we as a family of believers are all saved by the same means and going to the same place -- I am introducing my first Homecoming Choir. It will feature almost 100 people from dozens of churches all over the East Texas area who have come together to make a statement of unity and join their voices as one to back me up on some of the new songs from the Blood Kin project. The available spots are already nearly half filled up, so if you are interested in joining this special group, <a href="http://milespikemusic.com/mpmchoir.cfm">click here for details</a> and to commit to join your voice with all the others, not as a representation of any denomination, but as a representation of the body of Christ. <font class="Apple-style-span"><b><br></b></font>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Homecoming 2013</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/51238551be3de9d13c9a80bc34922e707f21863c/medium/Mark-Miles.JPG?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="167" width="250" />The 5th annual homecoming concert this year featured Mark Bishop, and was a huge success. However, we more than outgrew our venue of four years in Jacksonville, TX. In effect, we have outgrown Jacksonville, seeing as how there are not that many venues that can hold an event of this size with room to grow. After a month of prayer and counsel, we have unanimously decided to move the annual homecoming concert to Colonial Hills Baptist Church on South Broadway in Tyler, TX. I am a country boy from Jacksonville, but my mission and my heart is to reach the whole East Texas area. With that in mind, I welcome the move to Tyler for many reasons, a few of which are: </div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">✹ Tyler is a large city, centrally located, which offers exponential growth to the event for many many years. <br>
✹ The church is as close to Jacksonville as possible while still being in Tyler -- located on the south side of the city. <br>
✹ Tyler offers a much larger choice of restaurants and hotels. <br>
✹ Moving the annual event to this location will open up the possibility of a much larger fan attendance from surrounding cities without excluding Jacksonville. <br>
✹ Having ministered at the beautiful facilities of this church and worked with the Godly, professional leadership, I welcome the partnership between our two ministries.</div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">Please mark your calendars in advance, invite a friend, bring the family, and join us for this very special night.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "> <b>Funnies<br></b>
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<div style="text-align: left; ">These need no explanation, but I came across them and thought I would share...</div>
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<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/be08fb9ac4537f63d0bd99ba95a4dfb65dca2622/original/LA-LA-LA.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="839" width="500" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/79e3503fd5d2669b6ccabb9abb15a3ce7b0bda7b/original/Worship-Today.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="667" width="500" /><font class="Apple-style-span"><br></font>
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<div style="text-align: left; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">On that note... let me know what your favorite old hymn of the church is. It has to be over 100 years old, and I'd like to know why it is your favorite. The second installment of the Timeless Songs collection is already in the planning stages. Even though it's a ways down the road, it takes a long time to get projects together, so I'd like your input.</font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">Miles and Mar's Devotional - Vol. III<br></font></font></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">The title cut from the new CD, "Walk Through The Pages," is a song written by my Dad, James Pike. It maps out the entire premise of the CD. I've had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land twice in my life. As a believer, it was an experience that went beyond just what I saw to what I felt. It completely changed the way I read and understand the culture and landscape in which the Bible plays out. Click <a target="_new" href="http://milespikemusic.com/israel2006.cfm"><b>HERE</b></a> to view pictures from my trip. <br><br>
Even though I hadn't recorded a single CD at that time, a dream was birthed in me. I didn't know how or when, but I wanted to record a CD that would make the listener feel and experience a little bit of what I did in the Holy Land. This song is one that I asked my Dad to write years after our trip to Israel, as the key song for the CD that I dreamed of recording.<br></font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>You may never get to walk where the Savior trod<br>
But you don't have to go that far to see the hand of God<br>
For if you'll look back on your life<br>
You'll see what God can do<br>
You'll see that He has walked through the pages with you</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">Because of what Christ did for us during His short time on earth, He no longer dwells in a temple, His works are no longer limited to a short strip of land on the Mediterranean, and He is no longer solely the God of the Jews. The veil of the Temple has been torn, the works of Christ are presently being done through all who believe on Him, and all nations have available to them the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Many of the religious crowd even now still seem to say, "Show us a miracle. Show us the hand of God". But a changed life, a regenerated spirit, a personal walk with the God of the universe, these things are the greatest evidence of God's hand that you will ever witness on either side of heaven.<br></font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span"><b>Through the pages you will see<br>
A loving God and Savior<br>
Our glorious Redeemer<br>
And soon coming King<br>
It's the ongoing story<br>
Of redemption's history<br>
Just take a look through the pages and you'll see</b><br></font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals the past, present, and future history of God's plan of redemption. Just as in the pages of Scripture, so the life of a believer also reveals God's redemptive plan, purpose, and provision. "<i>It's the ongoing story of redemption's history</i>" -- redemption has a past history, but it is still happening today, and it is soon to be completed. "<i>A loving God and Savior</i>" refers to redemption's past. The past story of redemption is that of the Creator who loved his creation and pursued reconciliation through the means of becoming our Savior. That work has been completed. "<i>Our glorious Redeemer</i>" points to the fact that in this present time, the door is wide open to any person who will accept the Savior and be redeemed. The redemptive message of the Gospel is what all Christians profess to believe and need to be earnestly sharing with this world while the door is yet open. "<i>And soon coming King</i>" speaks of the near future which holds the promise of a King who will come again to complete the work He began. He has already defeated evil, but upon His returning, He will destroy it and bring a resounding victory to all those ransomed by His blood.</font></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Jesus walked upon this earth with mortal man<br>
And if He really lives within us He is walking here again<br>
Yes you can walk where Christ is walking<br>
Making history<br>
And when you look through the pages you'll see.</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left; "><font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span">The identifying mark of all Christians is that that our spirits have been made alive and the Spirit of Christ now indwells us all and empowers us to live "self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:11-14). "<i>If He really lives within us, He is walking here again</i>" … wow, that's a hefty thought. Romans 8:9-10 speaks of this very concept. In effect, if you are a Christian, the empowering Spirit of Christ has come in, cleaned house, moved the furniture in, and you are now His permanent residence. So how are we then to live? What does this new owner desire of us and give us the power to do? Ephesians 4 is a 1-chapter explanation of how Christians are to live "a life worthy of the calling we have received" (Eph. 4:1). From verse 25 on to the end of the chapter, we see a simple depiction of how we are to live. Many feel that if they apply these principles to just a few situations per week, they are doing better than the next guy and so their Christian duty is fulfilled. But I challenge you to write down in your own words, a summary of what these few verses are saying. Then, for a week, consciously view every situation around you through the lens of what you've written down. Realize that "<i>He really lives within us</i>," and so therefore, the power to do everything in these verses lives in you. In the words of Yoda "Do or do not. There is no try."<br><br>
Now you know part of what runs through my head when I'm singing on stage. Minus the Star Wars reference. <br><br>
Go and live it! (And go buy the CD!)<br><br>
In Christ,<br><br>
Miles & Mar<br type="_moz"></font></font></div>
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<font class="Apple-style-span"><font class="Apple-style-span"> </font> <br><br><font class="Apple-style-span"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/506b9cb8c395a880e4acf0e61b30d3959ffcffdd/original/bwholding-handssignature-footer.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="108" width="539" /></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span"><br type="_moz"></font>
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Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254292012-02-10T05:20:00-06:002020-11-11T03:49:01-06:00Fifth Annual Homecoming Concert, New CD Project, & New Ride!<div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Hey Everyone!</b></div>
2012 is off to a rip-roaring start. Last year we saw an increase of over a third in the number of our concert bookings, taking us up to 100 concerts. The way things are going so far this year, we're expecting that we'll be even busier this year. We're so exited at the way that God is increasing and blessing Miles Pike Music.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Fifth Annual Homecoming Concert</b></div>
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/8668305c89debb1e9de36eb7952c44d09692b8ca/medium/MPM-5th-Homecoming-Flyer.jpg?1376571229" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="323" width="250" />Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this can possibly be the fifth! Five years ago, I stepped out on faith and no money to speak of, and felt that God wanted me to construct an event for my community. The idea was that the event would be sponsored by MPM, would pull churches together to a common place of worship, and would feature some of my dearest friends and most admired Gospel artists. Since that first concert, I’ve seen this event grow more every year into something that I can be proud of.<br>
Even if you don’t know the name “Mark Bishop”, you will probably know his music. After nearly 30 years in the Gospel music field, he’s had sixteen Top 40 songs, five Top 5 songs, and two #1 songs. But I respect him for more than his voice and songwriting. Mark is one of the few artists that I have regularly had opportunities to see and talk to on-stage as well as off-stage all through my life, and he is always simply “Mark”, a Godly man with no pretense or on-stage persona. That is why I’ve invited him to be my special guest artist this year. Please check out his website, </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><a target="_new" href="http://www.markbishopmusic.com"><span style="font-size: small;">www.MarkBishopMusic.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">, and get a glimpse of what you’re in store for.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; ">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>MARCH 3, 2012 at 6:00PM<br>
The People’s Church in Jacksonville, TX</b><br><i>Click </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><i><b><a target="_new" href="./specialevents.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a></b></i></span>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><i> for details!</i></div>
</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>New CD Soon to be Up and Walking</b></div>
“Walk Through The Pages” is nearly completed! Many years of prayer, study, and hard earned money have gone into making this dream a reality. This album features four original songs from the pen of my Dad, James Pike, and also songs from noted writers such as Phil Cross, Greg Day, Douglas Riley, and Chaz Borsage. Once you hear the project, I believe you will appreciate what God has orchestrated more each time you listen to it. <br><br>
Mar and I were thinking out loud about this project one night, talking about it song by song, and Mar (the secretary) decided to type out what I was saying, starting with the first song and going through to the end. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><b><a target="_new" href="./walklyrics.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">This page</span></a></b><span style="font-size: small;">, only available to you newsletter subscribers, is the result of that conversation and in-depth Bible study. Please take advantage of our footnotes and dive in yourself. Additionally, Mar kept up a blog with pictures and videos during the time that we were in the studio recording this project. You can look through that </span><a target="_new" href="./blog.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HERE</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.<br><br>
I’ll be debuting this project at my Fifth Annual Homecoming Concert listed above! Come on out for this great night of music and fun, with plenty of surprises, as always.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Upcoming Events</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/35b4f6399d8797b39d1aa2670b3301ea454f2289/large/sepiaheaderwithoppositephotos.jpg?1376571229" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="188" width="600" /><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> February 16-17 Prison Revival<br>
February 19, 11AM Spirit Life Worship Center, Lufkin, TX<br>
February 19, 6PM Prison Concert<br>
March 2, 7PM Concert with Mark Bishop, TASCA, Whitehouse, TX<br>
Order tickets at (903) 871-3217 - $12 or $14 at the door.<br></span><span style="font-size: x-small; ">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br></b></span><b><a target="_new" href="./specialevents.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">March 3, 6PM 5th Annual Homecoming Concert, <br>
People’s Church, Jacksonville, TX</span></a></b>
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <br>
March 4, 6PM Mark Bishop Concert, Landmark Baptist, Tyler, TX<br>
March 6, 6PM, First Baptist Church, Bullard, TX<br>
March 18 10:50AM Westwood Baptist Church, Waskom, TX <br>
March 20 5:00PM Senior Care, Jacksonville, TX<br>
March 25 10:45AM First Assembly, Jacksonville, TX<br>
April 1 8:30AM Canton Indoor Marketplace, Canton, TX<br>
April 1 10:45AM Grace Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, Canton, TX<br>
April 15 10:45AM Pierces Chapel Assembly, Jacksonville, TX<br>
April 22 10:50AM Westwood United Methodist Church, Palestine, TX<br>
April 29 1:00PM Long Lake Baptist Church, Palestine, TX<br>
May 6 11:00AM Cove Springs Community Church, Jacksonville, TX<br>
May 20 12:45PM Atoy Baptist Church, Rusk, TX<br>
May 20 6:00PM Prison Concert<br>
May 30-June 9 AFAB Recording Studio Nashville, Tennessee<br>
June 22 11:00AM First United Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>New Radio Single</b></div>
Call your local DJs and request my new radio single, “Teach Me To Love Like That”. Call your local Gospel music station and request it. If they don’t have it, have them contact me and I’ll make sure they get it.<br></span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Our New Tour Bus</b></div>
Back on January 22, we did a concert at The First Congregational Methodist Church in Rusk, TX for their morning service. We went expecting a good time of worship, a love offering, and some CD sales. During the fellowship after the service we got way more than we bargained for when the pastor, Robert Newton, got up and announced that during the service God had been dealing with him about a car that he and his wife, Carol, had been trying to sell for the past few months.<br>
Folks, I was in the process of eating my green beans when he said that God had told him on no uncertain terms to give Miles Pike Music the car at no charge. At that point, I’m pretty sure my mouthful of beans started dribbling out of my now gaping mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh when he said, "Now listen Miles, this is a gift from the Lord... because I wasn't in agreement with Him at first". <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/4d2edf8afeeec1772607062ece615f12be3ae3f9/medium/Car.jpg?1376571229" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" />After the church fellowship, we followed the Newtons to their home where we saw the car for the first time. Needless to say, I was practically speechless the whole way there, and Martha will tell you, that’s not a place I am very often. Then we saw what God had given us to be our new ‘tour bus’. It’s a silver 2002 Mercury Sable with as many posh upgrades as the manufacturer had to offer -- leather, power everything, CD changer, tinted windows, HUGE trunk -- we're still discovering what all it has. This car has 73K miles on it. Our other car had 173K (not counting me). There are other details that I won’t bore you with, but the car couldn’t be more of a Godsend to us. <br>
Before we left the Newton’s home, we did our very best to stammer out a ‘thank you’ for such a perfect gift our Father gave us through them. We prayed with them then and are still praying that God will richly return to them the goodness that they have shown to us in walking by faith and trusting the voice of Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. I know that He won’t let them down, just as He has never failed us.<br>
Pastor Newton is the chaplain over the Skyview/Hodge Prison in Rusk. We have done concerts at this unit and others like it several times a year for years, holding revivals, concerts, and Bible studies. Of course, all these events were done at our own expense. I can’t help but believe that this new vehicle is God’s way of blessing and encouraging me and my family for singing at events that had a great need for the Gospel but no ability to provide an honorarium.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>The Winds of Change</b></div>
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/5696e1fcdc52daf3ee35d089e32bae7b137696b6/medium/GTQ-Collage.jpg?1376571226" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="205" width="300" />After four unforgettable years with some of my best friends, The Gospel Tones, I regret to announce my departure as their tenor. As I mentioned earlier, 2011 saw a spike in my solo dates, and, as I knew it would eventually, it began to hinder the amount of group dates that I was able to commit to. To complicate the issue further, four hours of distance lie between my home base and the rest of the group. Not wanting to hold back the progress of the group, I tendered my resignation in the belief that God will continue to open doors in other areas for myself and my dear friends. I can’t thank the guys enough for the memories, the learning experience, and the sweet harmony on and off stage.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>For Our Northern Fans</b></div>
We have some dear friends from Maine who just moved to Texas this winter, and we have many other friends we’ve met over the years from the North. I felt that I should share a few tips to help my Yankee brothers and sisters in Christ deal with Southern culture shock.<br>
1) Just because you can drive on snow and ice doesn’t mean we can. Stay home the two days of the year that it snows.<br>
2) Remember. “Y’all” is singular. “All y’all” is plural. And “all y’all’s” is plural possessive.<br>
3) Get used to hearing “You ain’t from around here, are ya.” <br>
4) You can ask a Southerner for directions, but unless you already know the positions of key hills, trees, and rocks, you’re better off trying to find it yourself.<br>
5) People walk slower here. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; ">
<div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"> 6) If you hear a Southerner say, “Hey y’all, watch this!”, stay out of his way. These are likely the last words he will e.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/197ea0caf950abd9fdcf4db848eb6fb1d891d7af/large/southernsnow.jpg?1376571229" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="368" width="500" /></span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Miles & Mar’s Devotional</b></div>
Mar and I were having one of our many ‘round table discussions’ the other day, this one regarding ministry concerns. Like so many other people these days, our discussion was specifically in regard to finances. To tell the truth, doing what we do, our income fluctuates greatly depending on whether we get a ‘love offering’ or a ‘like offering’, what gas prices are, how much product we sell, and how many bookings we have in a given month. We could never have appreciated just how much money it takes to not only run a full time ministry on the road, but to maintain a home that we are often away from, while birthing new material through expensive CD production... until... well, here we are! <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/2020c16f41ec18621a00b07c2ee8422ce99a04c0/medium/IMG_0817.jpg?1376571229" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" />Now, I am the ‘big picture schemer’ of the two of us, whereas Mar is the ‘micro-organizer’. It kinda works out great for me, because I get to dream big, but she is the one who tries to figure out how to make the big dreams happen. That being the case, she is more prone to be aware of and worry about all the ... well... the micro.... things and bring them to my attention. This is what led to the round table discussion regarding our finances.<br><br>
We ended up discussing worry, and how worry leads to fear, and fear to inaction. Our conversation then naturally turned from worry and fear to their opposite: faith. I’ve heard preachers say “Faith is a verb”. The truth is, you cannot “do” faith, as if it were a verb. Rather, faith makes you do (James 2:18-26). Mar, always the logical type, said that it’s all well and good to say "Don't worry. Have Faith!", but you can’t just “have faith”, and therefore stop worrying. You’ve got to have faith in some thing. <br><br>
Now we got stumped. What must the specific object of our faith be when we are tempted to indulge worry and fear? God, of course, but specifically, what part of His nature? We combed our Bible verse memories and after a few minutes, the verse “Perfect love casts out fear” came to mind. We had never really understood what this verse meant, practically speaking. We got to talking about it, and realized that the only one with perfect love is God. God loves us perfectly -- absolutely, with nothing held back. Because he loves us perfectly, He has a perfect plan for us, a plan meant for our greatest good. The problem is that “His ways are higher than our ways” -- a perfect plan cannot be understood by imperfect beings. As beloved children of an omniscient Father, we can rest assured that regardless of where we find ourselves, God is active in our pain and in our problems, and will (not "can", or "might", but WILL) bring about our greatest good. <br><br>
Until the day comes when God Himself will take us by the hand and tell us what His plan was and why He allowed what He allowed in our lives, we cannot know all that He is doing. But we need not live in worry and fear because we don’t know exactly what He is doing. We can rest in the knowledge that He loves us with a love that knows no limits and has no dilemmas. He has always been and always will be faithful. Period. How simple is that? <br></span>
<div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b><br>
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. <br>
There is no shadow of turning with Thee. <br>
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. <br>
As Thou has been, Thou forever will be.</b></div>
<br>
See y’all down the road,<br><br></span><span style="font-size: x-small; ">
<div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/506b9cb8c395a880e4acf0e61b30d3959ffcffdd/original/bwholding-handssignature-footer.jpg?1376571230" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="108" width="539" /></span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254302011-10-24T06:00:00-05:002011-10-24T06:00:00-05:00Third Consecutive #1!<div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Hello Everyone!</b></div>
2011 is nearly over! Can you believe it? Just had memorials for the tenth anniversary of 9/11/01…TENTH! Where has the time gone? Time is such a strange thing…really it is. How often do we notice that some irksome things which last only five minutes seem like a half hour of drudgery but the more agreeable things that last thirty minutes only seem like five measly minutes.<br>
In some ways it seems that I've only been married nine days and in other ways nine years, but in reality, only nine months have passed since Mar and I said our vows and shared our first kiss. So many new blessings are ours to share with you, so continue reading below and I'll detail them out for you!<br></span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<div style="text-align: center; "><b>Third Consecutive #1</b></div>
For this month of October, "I'm Going Through, Jesus" is my third #1 song in a row in The Christian Voice Magazine. To be honest, I've decided that God is showing me how little I know and have to do with what He has planned for my life. If you had told me two years ago that I'd have three songs that have achieved the airplay that these have in my LIFETIME, I'd have thought that you needed psychiatric attention, and quick. What makes it even more amazing is that MPM has neither the funds nor the interest in paying for radio promotion. This is primarily because of the cost, but also because we feel that there are better ways to spend our funds in more direct avenues of ministry. Thus, our amazement in the way the Lord has blessed our efforts at ministry with these accomplishments is without measure. We just sit back and watch Him work.<br>
Once again, thank you for your support and thank you to the DJs who choose to send our music out across the airwaves. This honor is a tool that we will use to open doors for ministry and further the Kingdom of our Lord.<br></span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Upcoming Events</b><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> October 10 - Hot Springs, AR - 2:00PM - The Atrium<br>
October 11 - Memphis, TN - 2:00PM - Ave Maria<br>
October 11 - Memphis, TN - 6:00PM - The Parkview<br>
October 12 - Ballwin, MO - 6:30PM - Briarcrest Estates<br>
October 13 - Springfield, IL - 6:00PM - Seasons At Pine Creek<br>
October 14 - Munster, IN - 2:00PM - Hartsfield Village<br>
October 14 - Plymouth, IN - 6:00PM - Wedding Rehearsal<br>
October 15 - Plymouth, IN - 2:00PM - Wedding<br>
October 16 - Paoli, IN - 9:30AM - Paoli Christian Church<br>
October 16 - Bloomfield, IN - 6:30PM - Bloomfield Baptist<br>
October 17 - Padukah, KY - 2:00PM - Morningside<br>
October 17 - Padukah, KY - 6:30PM - Jackson Oaks<br>
October 18 - Jackson, TN - 2:00PM - Regency Retirement Village<br>
October 19 - Hot Springs, AR - 2:00PM - Garrett Manor<br>
October 22 - Whitehouse, TX - 6:00PM - TASCA (with The Hubbard Family)<br>
October 29 - Alexandria, LA - 6:00PM - Riverview Baptist Church (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
October 30 - Ball, LA - 10:30AM - Fellowship Chapel (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
October 30 - Ruby, LA - 6:00PM - Pine Grove Baptist Church (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
November 4-6 - Canton, TX - 11AM-5PM - Canton Marketplace<br>
November 6 - Canton, TX - 8:30AM - Morning Devotionals in the Food Court<br>
November 10-11 - Rusk, TX - Prison Revivals<br>
November 12 - Quitman, TX - 6:30PM - First United Methodist Church<br>
November 13 - Diboll, TX - 6:30PM - Prison Concert<br>
November 20 - Dawsonville, GA - 11:00AM - Hilltop Tabernacle<br>
November 24 - Martha's Birthday - contact her HERE with birthday wishes!<br>
November 27 - Dawsonville, GA - 11:00AM - McKee's Chapel UMC<br>
December 4 - Newborn, GA - 6:00PM - Shiloh Baptist Church<br>
December 14-15 - Nashville, TN - Cutting tracks for new project<br>
December 16-17 - Nashville, TN - Recording initial vocals<br>
December 19 - One-Year Wedding Anniversary! <br>
December 19-January 6 - CHRISTmas Break<br>
Get more details and full list of events </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><a target="_new" href="./events.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HERE</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">!</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gettin' The Ball To Rollin'...</b><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> After our Georgia tour we'll head to Nashville, TN for the annual board meeting of Miles Pike Music and stay there for the following four days to begin the recording process of my new CD, "Walk Through The Pages"! This has been a dream that I have worked on for literally years (I've been planning it for at least three years, maybe four), and I cannot wait for you to hear the end result.<br>
It will feature several songs written by my father, James Pike, plus a long list of other writers whom you will recognize, including: Greg Day, Phil Cross, Jeff Silvey, and Doug Riley. There isn't a weak song in the bunch and I can't wait to present them to you all!</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Last Chance</b><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> The Lord has blessed us in our efforts to have the funds for this next project ready before going into the studio and recording it. We're not all the way there yet, but we have enough set aside that we can go into the studio, cut tracks, and be able to write a check in full for that amount. We hope to finish it early next year, Lord willing, and you can still be a part of this project. We've given y'all this same opportunity in the previous newsletter, but we wanted to make it available one more time. You can donate toward this CD project, "Walk Through The Pages", and here's how:<br><br><b>Bronze Club</b><br>
~ $10 - A free digital download of the album, when it's released.<br>
~ $25 - An advance copy of the CD, weeks before the masses.<br>
~ $50 - An advance copy and a "Thank You" on the CD.~ $100 - All the above, plus autographed copies of all my current projects, and an autographed picture of me that is guaranteed to keep varmints out of your garden<br>
~ $250 - All the above, plus a signed tracking sheet of my past #1 song, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me" and another tracking sheet of your choice when the project is finished. PLUS an optional picture of me kissing your cheek.<br><br><b>Silver Club</b><br>
~ $500 - All of the above, PLUS, I dedicate a song to you on my CD.<br>
~ $750 - Exactly like the previous level, but you give me more money.<br>
~ $1,000 - All of the above and you are mentioned as an executive producer of the album!<br><br><b>Gold Club</b><br>
~ $2,500 - My wife and I come and spend the weekend with you. Cook your meals, make your beds, scrub the toilet, play with the kids, build a chicken coop, sit around the piano and sing, talk politics, or just visit. You have our full attention.<br>
~ $5,000 - I will come and do a concert for you...ANYWHERE. Invite your friends, treat your church to a special event, have me sing on the hearth in your living room to just you, just bring me out and I sing. Period. Theoretically, this level is a smart choice economically. You could charge your guests and make your money back.<br>
~ $10,000 - You get to come and sing on my CD. Don't worry if you can't sing. We'll work it out.<br>
~ $100,000 - You get all of the above, PLUS if you ever need a kidney, you can have the bass singer's from The Gospel Tones.<br>
~ $500,000 - ALL of the above, AND...you get...ME! 8AM-5PM... for a month! My wife wants you to take this one.<br><br>
You can make donations </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><a target="_new" href="./supportus.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HERE</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.<br></span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Booking and Private Lessons and Weddings - Oh my!</b><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Well, let's wrap this part up briefly:<br>
1. Martha & I have been busy taking calls and making calls about concerts into 2012. Our calendar is fuller than I've ever seen so far ahead of time. If you have desire for a concert at your church, contact us soon to get your preferred date set aside. We look forward to many return dates as well as many new venues in the coming year! Click </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><a target="_new" href="./bookings.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HERE</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> for booking info.<br><br>
2. Another thing that is filling up quickly is our private lesson schedule. We currently have students taking private voice and piano lessons from ages 4-68. If you or someone you know would be interested in honing their skills, we would love to work with them. Some may want to be better choir members, church soloists, or be able to play accompaniment for themselves. Whatever your need, we gear our lesson plans toward what you want.<br>
Click </span><a target="_new" href="./musiclessons.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HERE</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> for more information.<br><br>
3. Just a few days ago, we built a brand new page on the website in regard to wedding services. In the last few months, I've had numerous requests to either officiate a wedding service or provide special music. If you are interested in having me take part in your day, please click </span><b><a target="_new" href="./weddings.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> to see that page.</span><hr><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Closing Thoughts</b><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Martha and I were reading in II Samuel the other day. We came to the part in chapter 6 where David is joyfully moving the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. That is, joyful until Uzzah puts his hand on the Ark and God kills him. This is the Old Testament, so it's really not God's act of striking someone dead that made us stop and think. No, it's God striking someone dead who seemed to be doing a good thing, a needful thing, an honorable thing. The knee-jerk reaction for us, like David, was, "That's not fair!". After discussing it, we came to the conclusion that the main issue here was that the Ark of God -- the "Throne" of God, was not to be moved by a manmade cart and pulled by an animal. It was a job designated for four priests, and even those priests were not allowed to touch the Ark itself under penalty of death. (Read about it in Numbers 3,4, and 7 if you're curious like we were.) Not only Uzzah was at fault here. Every good Jew present should have known better than to handle the Ark of God in such a roughshod manner. But that's Old Testament (Old Covenant). Sure, it's interesting to talk about, but because of the grace and mercy we live under, bought by Jesus Christ, we don't much have to live in fear of God striking us dead when we are irreverent to the reality of His Presence. Right? Well... take a look at the New Testament, and you see God striking Ananias and Sapphira dead when they lied to the Spirit of God in Peter (Acts 5). Whether Old Testament or New Testament, Old Covenant or New Covenant, it is dangerous when sacred things become commonplace. <br><br>
Somewhere along the line we've lost sight of the "fear" of God. Fear of God in the Bible is not talking about an evil fear or a spirit of fear ("God has not given us a spirit of fear…"). It's not like a fear of monsters or of evil or of all that is impure or immoral. It is like the fear we have of … electricity. Within our mortal bodies, electricity is immeasurably powerful and has the potential to do us harm. The secret to the fear is reverencing the power while using it in the appropriate way - a manner in which its power is exercised in our lives for good. We can fear God to the point of avoidance ("having the appearance of Godliness but denying its power" 2 Tim 3:5), or we can fear Him with a reverence and an awe that produces Godliness. Part of the awe that we experience as Christians is in the fact that God loves us. It's a thought that most Christians who were raised in church have heard all their lives. Sadly, many seem to become calloused and indifferent to it.<br><br>
Sometimes, it's not an issue of the kind of fear we have for God, but rather, whether we fear Him at all. How many times do we label ourselves as "Christian" -- imitators of God as Ephesians 5 says -- and yet do not seek His guidance in the decisions of our lives? HE is the Lord of all we see; has given us everything we have, has made a way of forgiveness and complete salvation for us, and desires to be in OUR presence, amazing though it is. And yet we often go to church with wrong intentions. By going to church once a week we feel that we can get by the rest of the week without praying or studying the Word or thinking about the presence of God in our everyday activities. And when we do see His presence in some other Christian's life, we act calloused to it -- it doesn't move us and we're not excited for them. Church becomes our weekly "duty" and not an opportunity to worship and fellowship with believers. <br><br>
"Seek ye first", "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel", "Upon this rock I will build MY kingdom" … all the kingdom-building verses don't say "Use your intellect", "Get a committee of the smart people together" and they don't even say "Get some family-friendly, Bible-based programs to start in your church". No, they say "Seek God." "Preach the Gospel." "Follow God's building plan for His church, not a human one." The difference between reverencing God's power -- fearing God -- in your church or not is the difference between using the power of a hand saw or using a chainsaw; using a screwdriver or using a drill; using a hammer or using a jackhammer; the difference in depending on the strength of man or the power of an intelligent designer. This is a very simple analogy but it is not man's power which can breach the gates of Hell with one word, restore an aching body, set a crazed mind at ease, mend a wrecked family, and reign on the throne of peace in a life that's surrounded by turmoil.<br><br>
Look at where you are in your life and in your church. Are you living in the Stone Age, using crude, man-made tools while attempting to accomplish spiritual ends? Or are you working hand-in-hand with the Spirit of God, in His power constructing a formidable Kingdom that the gates of hell cannot prevail against? If your answer is feeble, unsure, and founded on the limitations of your fragile powers, then your contribution to the Kingdom will be minimal at best. I challenge you, as Martha and I were challenged by this Scripture, to fear the Lord, for it is the beginning of Wisdom and gives a truthful sense of our inadequacy before the presence of God. Take into consideration Who He is in contrast to who you are and you will find abundant reason to prostrate yourself and take into account every action of your life. There is no area of life that is not impacted by our fear of God. When we do not fear God, finances are wasted thoughtlessly, marriages are expendable, sermons are malnourishing, relationships are fragile, and ministry is self reliant. When we do view God in His rightful place, finances are sowed bountifully, marriages are durable, sermons are meaty, relationships are built on the Rock, and ministry is undertaken with the assurance that the Lord gives the increase.<br>
(Acts 9:31)<br><br>
Thanks for sharing this devotion with me. I pray it stirred you in your spirit as it did us.<br>
Til next time,<br>
Miles & Martha<br><br>
Send booking requests to </span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><a href="mailto:bookings@milespikemusic.com"><span style="font-size: small;">bookings@milespikemusic.com</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br>
or call 903-586-8605.<br></span> </span><br type="_moz">Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254362011-07-27T11:45:00-05:002017-01-11T07:12:47-06:00MPM Summer 2011 Newsletter<b><span style="font-size: small;"> Hello Friends!<br></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> <br>
It's great to be able to write to you once again with updates about what's been happening! This has been the busiest year yet for Miles Pike Music and it's only filling up more as the phone continues to ring. God is blessing our efforts and there is much to report!<br>
We've had several great opportunities to minister in various places and I'll try to sum up some of the high notes. Back in April I was in concert with Triumphant Quartet and we had a blast with them and our good friends, Laverne & Glenda Grant!<br>
The last part of April into the first part of May, we attended the The Country Gospel Fanfest and The Southern Gospel Fanfair, both held in the majestic Smokey Mountains in Pigeon Forge, TN (more about these events below).<br>
I will also be performing my very first wedding towards the end of July for a friend of mine. It's so nice for my family and I to be able to reach out in so many ways through all the ministries of Miles Pike Music. We are certainly never bored and it works great with my ADD!<br></span><hr><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Hot Off The Presses!<br></b>I just received a call that I've been nominated for Favorite Crossover Artist Of The Year from the ICGMA, (International Country Gospel Music Association)! This is not a fan based voting process and will be determined by members of the organization and the industry. It comes as an unexpected honor to be in the Top Five and I should have the results sometime in August. The Top Five ballot for this year is:<br>
- The Aikens<br>
- Buddy Jewel - Nashville Star Winner<br>
- The Dalton Gang<br>
- Miles Pike<br>
- Psalm 100<br>
ICGMA is the second oldest Gospel music awards show in the United States, only one year younger than its competitor. Thanks to www.ICGMA.org for their trust and friendship!<br></span><hr><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>What Is He Saying???<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/3b14fe9a3f2332293697495205dea11f6fa7d870/medium/IMG_9103.JPG?1376571227" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br></b> <br>
Alright, you guys! Here's the deal! I want your best, funniest, most creative caption for<br>
this picture. I have kinda become notorious around here for being hard to get a good picture of, much less while singing my socks off. The hard part of this contest was to pick just which Kodak moment was slightly more worthy than all the rest. On AUGUST 1, I will select my favorite submission and here's what you get…<br><br>
1. You will receive the VERY FIRST EVER digital copy of one of the songs off of my new project coming out in the next few months!<br><br>
2. Your winning entry will be posted on the homepage of my website!<br><br>
3. Your name will be announced in the next issue of my newsletter!<br><br>
4. You will be known throughout the civilized world for coming up with an explanation to my face!<br><br>
One entry per person and no submissions will be accepted after July 31. Get your entry in today and be original, inspired, and funny!<br></span><span style="font-size: larger; "><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Two Awards, Two Genres<br></b>To some this may be old news, but this happened shortly after I sent out my Spring newsletter. As I mentioned above, I participated in The Country Gospel Fanfest and The Southern Gospel Fanfair earlier this year. It was a great time of meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. During those events, I shared the stage with The Freemans, Tommy Smith, Tony Gore & Majesty, The Nelons, Triumphant Quartet, and many more.<br>
For those of you who voted, I have to extend a hearty "THANK YOU" for your persistence in voting in each round! This being a strictly fanbased voting process it was a tremendous surprise and a humbling experience to receive the "Male Horizon of 2011" award in the Country Gospel Music Fan Awards. The following week, I was honored to be invited to sing on the night of the Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards. I was flabbergasted when they called my name for the "Young Excelling Individual of 2011" award that night.<br>
Being welcomed into both genres so soon, and back to back like that was a blessing beyond words. I regard it as a high honor from you all and also as a pat on the back from my Heavenly Father. I believe we are busy doing His will and this is just a part of all the favor He has bestowed upon MPM.<br>
View the awards </span><a href="./awards.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">!<br></span><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/351ac16c5a08451627245c4642b420699bdc9e31/medium/IMG_0234-copy.jpg?1376571227" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="375" width="250" /><b>My New Booking Agent…<br></b>I am thrilled to announce that MPM has a new, full-time booking agent on staff. For all these years, it's been a stressful and busy load to do what I do AND try to manage an office, booking calls, and road logistics. I've prayed and sought for someone to help me with that and God saw fit to send someone who is not only able to handle it professionally, but does it with a smile as unto the Lord.<br>
I met her five years ago this month and never dreamed that she would be the one to step into the role, but I thank the Good Lord for her every day. I happened to have married her six months ago and she is filling so many holes and making her presence known in this family, this ministry, and in the hearts of all those she works with. I am grateful to my wife, Martha, for doing such a great job with all the affairs that this organizations entails.<br>
You will not only find her on the other end of the phone line when you need something from us, but she is often my transportation, my pianist, the music before the concerts, the smile behind the product table, the altar call accompaniment, an adored piano teacher for many young and some not so young pupils, and she always has my back to be sure that I get everything done that I need.<br>
I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to not just my wife, but my helpmate. Be sure and hug her neck at our concerts and if you need to book a concert, here is all her contact information.<br><br>
Office - 903-586-8605<br>
Cell - 903-393-2484<br>
Email - bookings@milespikemusic.com<br>
Miles Pike Music<br>
3110 County Road 1905<br>
Jacksonville, Texas 75766<br></span><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Upcoming Concerts<br></b>July 17 - Kilgore, TX - 8:30AM & 10:00AM - St. Luke's United Methodist Church<br>
July 24 - Jacksonville, TX - 11:15AM - St. John's United Methodist Church<br>
July 30 - Wedding<br>
July 31 - Tyler, TX - 11:00AM - Landmark Baptist Church<br>
August 7 - Afton Grove, TX - 11:00AM - Afton Grove Baptist Church<br>
August 14 - Diboll, TX - Prison Concert<br>
August 21 - Jacksonville, TX - 10:30AM - The People's Church (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
August 21 - Sacul, TX - 7:00PM - New Faith Church (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
September 2 - Canton, TX - 10:00AM-6:00PM - The Canton Marketplace (indoors)<br>
September 3 - Canton, TX - 10:00AM-6:00PM - The Canton Marketplace (indoors)<br>
September 4 - Canton, TX - 10:00AM-6:00PM - The Canton Marketplace (indoors)<br>
September 16 - , AR - (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
September 17 - , AR - (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
September 18 - , AR - (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
September 18 - , AR - (Gospel Tones Concert)<br>
Click </span><a href="./events.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> for complete details!<br></span><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>"Walk Through The Pages" Update<br></b>Many have asked when we are going to get some of these new songs that I've been doing at concerts on CD! Well, there is no scheduled time to start yet, but there is hope that we will be in full swing in the next few months. I have always maintained that MPM would never go into debt to do what God called us to do. When the funding is there, that will be God's 'go ahead' to us. We do have a promotional package that helps us and that I believe you will throughly enjoy. Through it you can be an integral part of bringing this project to life!<br>
Check it out </span><a href="./cdfundraiser.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">!<br></span><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>"I'm Going Through, Jesus" Goes Up…<br></b>My newest radio single entered the charts at #94 after only being released for a short time and moved up 51 places to #43 for July. It is not common knowledge yet since the magazine is still in print, but I found out recently that it has already moved to #12 for the month of August!<br>
In addition to that, the chart that has been reporting all of my radio releases progress will now be listed on the Cashbox Magazine's website! They will only feature the Top 20, but for those of you who know the classic magazine, it's a great addition to the promotion of Country Gospel Music.<br>
View Cashbox Chart </span><a target="_new" href="http://cashboxmagazine.com/dispmthsing.aspx?id=155&time=67"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">!<br></span><hr>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Voice/Piano Lessons<br></b>I have been blown away by the response to take part in our voice and piano tutoring! Martha and I are both teaching several students every week and imparting knowledge of the arts and what God ask of them. With students being added every week, we are excited to see what God does with this outreach.<br>
We'd love to be able to work with you, your kid, grandkids, or church soloist, regardless of age, experience, or background, we have something for everyone!<br>
Get the details </span><a href="./voicelessons.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">!<br></span><hr></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <b><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/2835dc8d94b68c04b4f049254b5e6ea052df374b/medium/PraiseGod.jpg?1376571227" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" />Signing Off…<br></b>Has anyone noticed that everyone's getting in an uproar over our country raising the debt ceiling? I don't even watch the news and I still hear plenty about it. For the purpose and intent of this newsletter, I'm not going to get political…such a dirty and unpleasant business. Everyone believes something different about the issue and there are many ways to look at it. You can probably guess my outlook on the matter by my beliefs expressed in the "'Walk Through The Pages' Update" above.<br>
However, the debate got me to thinking about the need for me to raise the debt ceiling in my own life. I am so incredibly in debt that I will never get out, and yet the things that I am gaining are still accruing with breakneck speeds. I am more and more indebted to my financier every day. My ceiling HAS to be raised because I'm running out of room.<br>
God has so blessed, not just MPM, but me, myself, mine, I, us, what pertains to my life. I find myself reeling from past blessings and only gain my focus long enough to find another one on its way to slap me upside the head. In love, in friends, in family, in joy, in fulfillment, my holdings are compounding exponentially. If it wasn't for my Heavenly Father managing my affairs, I'm quite sure that I would have lost all that I had to investment long ago. I just don't have a mind for longterm planning like He does. Then I remember how He kept Noah's stock afloat while everyone else was in liquidation (feel free to groan at this point).<br>
I would encourage you all to take stock of what you have in your possession and first of all, be thankful for what you have been lent in this life. It's borrowed, merely given to you to live and to do what you are called to do. If you don't believe me, just read Ecclesiastes. Solomon had a pretty dark outlook on "chasing after the wind" of this world. It really is meaningless as opposed to the riches of grace, mercy, joy, and love that we have been given.<br>
Second of all, I would ask that if, when you evaluate your life, you find it short of some joys or some needs, that you consider letting the Master Financier reinvest your part in a different way. You see, He only works with the entire sum…you have to hand it all over to Him. It's all His anyway.<br><br>
Happy investing!<br>
Miles</span>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254352011-07-27T11:35:00-05:002011-07-27T11:35:00-05:00MPM Spring 2011 Newsletter<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hello Everyone!<br></b> For those of you who have asked; married life is great and we are in the process of settling into our new home. God has been so good to us over the last few months! It's hard to express our deep sense of gratitude and awe at the people that have given of their time and energy to help make our new life more pleasant. There is so much happening here at Miles Pike Music that we are just trying to keep up. Here's just a few things that I want to mention in this Spring edition of our newsletter…<br><br><b>VERY IMPORTANT!<br></b>There are just three days left to vote for me in the Country Gospel Music Fan Awards and the Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards. In this last round of voting, it's more important than ever to make your vote count. If you haven't voted yet, please don't put it off. I've made it as easy as possible on my website. I'm in the Top Five nominations for "Male Horizon", "Favorite Crossover", and "Young Excelling Individual".<br>
Just click </span><a href="./voting.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> and take a moment to cast your vote now!<br><br><b>We're Picking Songs!<br></b>Right now, we are in the process of picking out songs to go on this next CD project, "Walk Through The Pages" and I'll be meeting with my producer, Tommy Cooper, in Nashville in a few weeks to narrow down our selection. It'll be several weeks after that before we can actually get the ball rolling on the recording process, but I'm trying to get it to where when we are ready to go, it's "shovel ready".<br><br>
I promised God, my family, and myself, that I would never go into debt to do what God called me to do. If the money is not there, then it must not be the Lord's time yet. I have always depended on God, through His people to provide the means to carry out His Work. The numbers of doors that we are seeing open is ever increasing and the need for a new CD project is becoming apparent.<br><br>
We got to thinking as we came up to homecoming time that we wanted to give you all the opportunity to have a tangible part in creating this project and so we began to consider how you could do that. After much prayer and thought, this is one way you can contribute to this ministry and help us with this next CD in the process. <br><br><b>Bronze Club<br></b>$10 - A free digital download of the album, when it's released.<br>
$25 - An advance copy of the CD, weeks before the masses.<br>
$50 - An advance copy and a "Thank You" on the CD.<br>
$100 - All the above, plus autographed copies of all my current projects, and an autographed picture of me that is guaranteed to keep varmints out of your garden<br>
$250 - All the above, plus a signed tracking sheet of my past #1 song, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me" and another tracking sheet of your choice when the project is finished. PLUS an optional picture of me kissing your cheek.<br><br><b>Silver Club<br></b>$500 - All of the above, PLUS, I dedicate a song to you on my CD.<br>
$750 - Exactly like the previous level, but you give me more money.<br>
$1,000 - All of the above and you are mentioned as an executive producer of the album!<br><br><b>Gold Club<br></b>$2,500 - My wife and I come and spend the weekend with you. Cook your meals, make your beds, scrub the toilet, play with the kids, build a chicken coop, sit around the piano and sing, talk politics, or just visit. You have our full attention.<br>
$5,000 - I will come and do a concert for you...ANYWHERE. Invite your friends, treat your church to a special event, have me sing on the hearth in your living room to just you, just bring me out and I sing. Period. Theoretically, this level is a smart choice economically. You could charge your guests and make your money back.<br>
$10,000 - You get to come and sing on my CD. Don't worry if you can't sing. We'll work it out.<br>
$100,000 - You get all of the above, PLUS if you ever need a kidney, you can have the bass singer's from The Gospel Tones.<br>
$500,000 - ALL of the above, AND...you get...ME! 8AM-5PM... for a month! My wife wants you to take this one.<br><br>
Obviously, not everyone can afford the "Gold Club", but I believe there is something for everyone that is interested in supporting our endeavors. A great part for many people is that since MPM is a full-time ministry, we supply all those who make donations with a tax receipt.<br><br>
To see how to make your donations quickly, easily, and securely, click </span><a href="./supportus.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">.<br><br><b>Upcoming Concerts<br></b>Complete details </span><a href="./events.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br>
03/27/11 - 6:00PM - Troup, TX - Henry's Chapel Methodist Church<br><br>
04/05/11 - 6:00PM - Bullard, TX - First Baptist Church<br><br>
04/15/11 - 6:00PM - Tyler, TX - Westwood Baptist Church - Concert with Triumphant Quartet<br><br>
04/22/11 - 3:00PM - Tyler, TX - The Hamptons - Good Friday Service<br><br>
04/24/11 - 10:30AM - Palestine, TX - Palestine Church of The Nazarene - Easter Service<br><br>
04/28/11 - 04/30/11 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Smokey Mountain Convention Center - Country Gospel Music Fanfest<br><br>
04/30/11 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Smokey Mountain Convention Center - Country Gospel Music Fan Awards Show<br><br>
05/02/11 - 05/07/11 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Smokey Mountain Convention Center - Southern Gospel Music Fanfair<br><br>
05/05/11 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Smokey Mountain Convention Center - Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards Show<br><br>
05/07/11 - 1:00PM - Pigeon Forge, TN - A Heart Connection - Battle of the Bandz<br><br>
05/14/11 - 7:00PM - Tyler, TX - Landmark Baptist Church - Concert with Terry Davis<br><br>
05/15/11 - Diboll, TX - Prison Concert<br>
Book Miles </span><a href="./bookings.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br><br><b>Homecoming Update...<br></b>We had such a great time with all of God's people that showed up on March 12th! I have a passion for bringing churches and folks from all backgrounds together to worship. It's so important to lay aside the differences that we have and focus on what we have in common. We have Christ in common and that's what matters. Should how much water we use to baptize someone mean that we can't come together in harmony and worship the God who not only saved their soul, but made the water that we are fighting over?<br><br>
The crowd was sincere in their praise and full of smiles as always at this event. More people came out this year than ever before despite other attractions going on in town and even though this year's concert fell on Daylight Savings Time. The Gospel Tones were featured once again and as always, we had a blast harmonizing with friends.<br><br>
I've built a new photo gallery for my annual homecoming concert so you can see what all went on there. There are more pictures that will soon be up, but there are already several that you can go have a look at now right </span><a href="./pictures.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">. Plus, go ahead and mark your calendars since we are holding March 3, 2012 for my Fifth Annual Homecoming! I'll be adding details as I have them.<br><br><b>Third Radio Release<br></b>After God blessed with two #1 songs in 2010, it's a daunting task to come up with which song to follow it up with, but after much prayer and consideration, the first radio single for 2011 will be, "I'm Going Through, Jesus". I feel that there is no song that I currently have recorded that speaks more to the time that we live in.<br><br><br><i>"Many have started to run in this race, but with our Redeemer, they would not keep the pace..."</i><br><br><br>
Most things in the headlines, on the news, and on the lips of the local gossip tell us that we cannot make it and that what we believe and hold to are things of the past. Anti-Christian sentiments pervade the heart of this country, politicians pass laws that are not in the heritage of this country, wars on multiple fronts throughout the world, record breaking earthquakes, the grim rise in the cost of living, and historical, life changing moments shake us to the core.<br><br><i>"And many accepted because it was new, but not very many seemed bound to go through..."<br></i><br>
But I have a hope beyond what I can see and that is what gives me the reason to go on in victory despite the situation of the globe. I know that all of this was prophesied and foreseen by an omnipotent Creator. I know that a nation cannot be Christian, but it's people that are Christian. I know that the hearts of the rulers are in the hands of my King of Kings. I know that there's no power in this earth that can touch me unless He wills it. And I know that come what may, I have never seen the righteous forsaken or God's kids begging for bread.<br><br><i>"I'm going through! I'm going through! I'll pay the price whatever others do. I'll take this way with my Lord's despised few..."</i><br><br>
The Church is always at its best when its facing hard times. Time and again, emperors have tried to destroy it, laws made by evil men have mashed it into the dust, and so many millions have stood against it with all the fury hell could muster, but this Church of the Living God still stands in strength! It's in the flames of persecution that God chooses to call out His brightest and best; those who have not been corrupted by the muck and mire of this present world and have been cleansed, ready for battle and service.<br><br><i>"I've started in Jesus and I'm going through..."<br></i><br>
This song encourages me every night that I sing it to strive to be trustworthy to God and to be a son that He can be proud of; I hope it does the same for you. As you live day to day, prepare to be a blessing. Live your life self sufficient, debt free, relying on God, shedding the past and that which does not matter to eternity.<br><br>
God bless you all and I hope to see you soon at one of my 2011 concerts!<br><br>
In Him,<br>
Miles</span>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254342011-07-27T11:25:00-05:002017-01-11T07:12:47-06:00MPM Winter 2011<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hello Everyone!<br></b> To start off this newsletter I must say, "BRRRRRRRRR!" As I sit here typing this, the wind is howling and I am under a blanket while I listen to reports of coming snow and sleet. I know my friends up north will not think much of that statement, but hopefully they'll enjoy the rest of this composition…<br><br><b>FOURTH ANNUAL HOMECOMING!<br></b>Since my marriage back in December, time has flown! It's hard to believe that we are only 40 days away from my annual homecoming concert! This year promises to be the best yet and I have so much in store for you all. I do hope that you will make an effort to attend and bring someone with you.<br><br>
The whole reason I started this event was to make an effort to give back something to the community and hopefully be a blessing close to home to those who have been kind enough to support me throughout the years. Homecoming has always proven to be a grand time of fun and fellowship while incorporating a great time of worship. This year will be no different, so please mark your calendars now to be in attendance!<br><br>
I have a few surprises in store that are not going to appear on any flyer or invitation, so you'll have to come out and see what's happening. I can tell you that we will have many giveaways, lots of laughs, and THE GOSPEL TONES will be the featured guest artist! As many of you know, I sing tenor with this group of young men and they have been part of homecoming for the last two years. Our time together has tightened harmonies, introduced new songs, and strengthened our bond. These are truly some of my best friends and it will be an honor to stand beside them once again and let the rafters ring with God's praise.<br><br>
Here's the details…<br>
Miles Pike's Fourth Annual Homecoming Concert<br>
March 12, 2011<br>
at<br>
The People's Church<br>
Hwy 79 E.<br>
Jacksonville, Texas 75766<br>
Concert at 6:00pm - doors open at 5:00pm<br>
Love offering basis<br>
Click </span><a href="./events.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> for more details and don't miss it!<br><br><br>
Click </span><a href="./media.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> to download your own flyer to share!<br><br><b>Please Vote!<br></b><br>
In my last newsletter I mentioned receiving an award from the International Association of Independent Recording Artists (IAIRA) for my song, "I'll See You In The Rapture", having reached #77 in the world. Several more award opportunities are in the works since then and I need your help. I need you to take a few minutes to vote for me. Just being nominated for some of these awards would help open doors for more ministry opportunities.<br>
I've made it as easy as possible to access the voting on the different award websites below, and I've noted the categories that I am eligible for on each website. Voting ends on the 28th of this month. Get your family and friends to vote as well!<br><br>
Agape Fest Awards - I am eligible for: Album of 2010 - "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These", Song of 2010 - "I'll See You In The Rapture", Male Soloist, New Artist, Country Male Artist, <br>
Songwriter (James Pike), and Artist Website of 2010 - www.MilesPikeMusic.com<br><br>
Country Gospel Music Fan Awards - I am eligible for: Favorite Soloist, Male Horizon, Favorite Male Vocalist, Favorite Crossover, Favorite Songwriter (James Pike), Album "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These", and Website - www.MilesPikeMusic.com<br><br>
Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards - I am eligible for: Soloist, Male Vocalist, Song - "I'll See You In The Rapture", Album - "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These", Young Excelling Individual, and New Excelling Artist<br><br>
2011 Diamond Awards - I am eligible for: Album of 2010 - "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These", Song of 2010 - "I'll See You In The Rapture", Male Soloist, New Artist, Country Male Artist, Songwriter (James Pike), and Artist Website of 2010 - www.MilesPikeMusic.com<br><br><br><br><b>Upcoming Events…<br></b><br>
Please take note of some of these very special events listed below!<br>
February 5-10, 2011 - Jacksonville, Florida - Singing on a cruise to The Bahamas<br>
February 20, 2011 - Diboll, Texas - Prison Concert<br>
March 4, 2011 - Jacksonville, Texas - First Baptist Church - Concert with THE NELONS!<br>
March 12, 2011 - 6:00PM - Jacksonville, Texas - Fourth Annual Homecoming Concert<br>
March 27, 2011 - 6:00PM - Troup, Texas - Henry's Chapel Methodist Church<br>
April 5, 2011 - 6:00PM - Bullard, Texas - First Baptist Church<br>
April 15, 2011 - 6:00PM - Tyler, Texas - Westwood Baptist Church - Concert with TRIUMPHANT QT!<br>
April 28-30, 2011 - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Smokey Mountain Convention Center - Country Gospel Music Fanfest<br>
May 2-7, 2011 - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Smokey Mountain Convention Center <br>
- Southern Gospel Music Fanfair<br>
May 15, 2011 - Diboll, Texas - Prison Concert<br><br><b>Catching up…<br></b>Thanks to all of you for your support during 2010! God did awesome things and I thank you for your part in it. I had both my debut radio release and the one following it hit #1 last year! If that isn't good enough, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me" stayed in the Top Ten for six months, and "I'll See You In The Rapture" also stayed in the Top Ten for six months and the Top Three for four of those months!<br>
Please be on the lookout for my upcoming radio release, "I'm Going Through, Jesus"! It'll be the first thing I send out in 2011 and I believe that God has even greater things in store for Miles Pike Music as we continue to serve Him with all we have.<br><br><b>Also…<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/5c3753a115271a1d8ccf0450a840b1bdc3571f62/medium/M-M-Wedding122.JPG?1376571227" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /></b><br>
Yep, as I said, I am married and life is great! In the last newsletter I announced our engagement and many have wanted to meet her. She'll be at all my upcoming concertsand we would love to meet you there. She is becoming a greater asset to this ministry more and more every day as God blesses us with more wisdom and experience together. When you call the office for product or to book a concert, you might just get her on the phone!<br>
I've added several pictures to my photo galleries lately, including wedding pictures, so feel free to go have a look at my beautiful bride and the wonderful day we had! Take a moment to write in the guestbook or drop us an email to say hello to Mrs. Martha Pike.<br><br>
Click </span><a href="./martha.cfm"><span style="font-size: small;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> to visit the gallery!<br><br><b>Final Thoughts…<br></b>I have been raised in a farming family for all my life and so I know what difficult work it can be. My family would have literally tens of thousands of plants, mainly tomatoes, over the vast acres that they farmed. People came from all over to get some of their produce because it was like no other.<br>
Just like most things in life, you could look at what they did and think that the hardest work was the harvest, but I believe that they would answer that the hardest part was the waiting, watching, and longing for the harvest. No matter how many thousand plants they had, or what variety, by the time they cared for each one on a regular basis, they knew them, recognized them, and knew what fruit they had on them yesterday. Now the proud owner of a small garden with my wife, I can somewhat appreciate not just the work, but the longing to see what I have put my hand to produce something good; not just for me, but for my family.<br>
How much more do we need to invest and strive to see the benefits of a life changed because of what we poured into it? People are fields, their hearts the soil, God's Word the seed, our kindness the water, and the fruit is to God's Glory, for only HE can give an increase for our labors. Be sure that everyday you are tending to those around you and planting good seed out of your life into theirs. People are far more precious than plants, vegetables, flowers, and all the other things that we invest so much time and effort into.<br>
I pray that you all will go forward with the purpose in your hearts and minds to intentionally sow good into the fields around you. That's what we will continue to strive to do in 2011 and beyond...<br><br>
Be blessed and be a blessing,<br><br>
Miles<br>
1 Corinthians 3</span>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254332011-07-27T11:24:09-05:002011-07-27T11:24:09-05:00MPM Fall 2010 Newsletter Hello Everyone!<br><br>
Wow! What a time it’s been since my last newsletter! Many terrific things have been happening here in the last few weeks and I can’t wait to fill you in on them...<br><br><b>Engagement</b><br><br>
First of all, I am thrilled to announce my engagement to my best friend, first love, and the prettiest woman on earth, Martha Blake of Atlanta, GA. You may ask how this Texas boy ended up with this Georgia peach and the answer is Stamps-Baxter School of Music in TN. God had our paths cross there back in 2006 and our friendship has grown ever since.<br><br>
I proposed back on September 13th and we will wed in Jacksonville, Texas on December 19, 2010. She has already blessed my life beyond words and it will be all the richer with her presence in this ministry. I know there is no one better to come alongside me in this Godly work and I look forward to introducing her to you at future concerts.<br>
View pictures HERE<br><br>
Rapture Rises...<br><br>
Back in March of this year I was blown away to find that my debut radio release, “Jesus Savior, Pilot Me” went to the top of the charts in The Christian Voice Magazine and spent six months in the top ten. Now to follow up that honor, I’ve been informed that my newest radio song, “I’ll See You In The Rapture” is now sitting at the #1 position for the month of November! Your support and God’s blessings are beyond belief and I thank the Lord for you. Please continue to call your local DJs and request my music.<br><br>
Check out the Christian Voice Magazine’s ads HERE<br><br>
IAIRA #77<br><br>
The news above is humbling all by itself, but I also received news that The International Association of Independent Recording Artists, www.IAIRA.com, has awarded me the honor of a free membership. IAIRA is an organization that monitors songs from all genres of music worldwide that are recorded by independent artists such as myself. According to their organization, “I’ll See You In The Rapture” reached #77 in the world when weighed in all genres of music on an international scale. View the award HERE.<br><br>
If you are a DJ and have not yet received my radio single, please contact me HERE.<br><br>
Stimulus Packages...<br><br>
Have you been waiting on yours? Santa Claus has done gone and brought some stimulus packages! This package deal makes the perfect gift for the Gospel music lover on your list.<br>
10 CDs for $100!<br>
Buy one of these package deals now and you not only have taken care of ten people on your shopping list, but they are great witnessing tools! Many people will never darken the door of a church or come to a concert, but they will pop in a CD.<br><br>
This offer is only good through December 18th, so place your orders today!<br>
Buy 10 CDs for $100 NOW and you Save $50!<br>
You don’t think it can get any better??<br>
FREE SHIPPING!<br>
Click HERE to visit the secure PayPal online store.<br><br>
Cruise!<br><br><br>
For more information about the Gospel Music Cruise to The Bahamas that I’m singing on February 5-10, 2011, CALL 865-278-3681.<br>
Six day & five nights, starting at $549, everything included.<br><br><br>
Homecoming Date Announced!<br><br>
Mark your calendars early and hold March 12, 2011 for my Fourth Annual Homecoming Concert. It will feature myself, The Gospel Tones, and many more surprises, so don’t miss it! I’ll send more information in the MPM Spring 2011 Newsletter.<br><br>
Congrats to Dad!<br><br>
After nearly thirty years of public service and laying his life on the line, I’m proud to say that my Dad, James Pike, has been promoted to Assistant Chief of The Tyler Fire Department. I’ve always been proud of my Father and his commitment to his job and to his men. The excellence he strives for in his work is clearly seen.<br><br>
If you’ve been to any of my concerts, you’ve probably seen my Dad helping set up equipment, running the product table, and taking part in the service sharing what’s on his heart. With my visual impairment, I could not accomplish my calling without the support of my parents and family and I am so proud and thankful for them all.<br><br>
New Picture Galleries<br><br>
I have added hundreds of new photos, several new galleries and updated bunches of albums over the last few weeks. If you want to see what all happens on and off the road, visit my photo galleries HERE!<br><br><br>
Upcoming Concerts:<br><br>
November 18, 2010 - Daisy’s - 5:00-8:00PM - Tyler, Texas<br>
November 21, 2010 - People's Church, Pastoral Installation - 6:00PM - Jacksonville, Texas - Special guest speaker, David Dykes from Green Acres Baptist Church<br>
December 16, 2010 - Central Baptist Church - 6:00PM - Jacksonville, Texas<br>
December 19, 2010 - Wedding Day!!!<br>
January 6-7, 2011 - Prison Revival<br>
January 8, 2011 - Gospel Tones Concert - Texas<br>
January 9, 2011 - Gospel Tones Concert - Texas<br>
January 9, 2011 - New Faith Church - 7:00PM - Sacul, Texas - Gospel Tones Concert<br>
February 5-10, 2011 - Bahamas Cruise<br>
February 11, 2011 - TBA - Florida<br>
February 12, 2011 - TBA - Florida<br>
February 13, 2011 - TBA - Florida<br>
February 13, 2011 - TBA - Florida<br>
February 20, 2011 - Prison Concert<br>
March 12, 2011 - MPM Fourth Annual Homecoming Concert, People's Church - 6:00PM - Jacksonville, Texas<br><br>
I am already blocking off weekends well into 2011, so contact me HERE for booking information now.<br><br>
Signing off...<br><br>
So many blessings and not enough words to express God’s goodness in 2010! With everything shaking around us, I firmly believe that we all must remain centered in God’s Hand to survive the storms that are on the horizon. As wise stewards, we must prepare as though we’ll live a hundred years and live as though we’ll face eternity in the next second.<br><br>
I pray that you choose to find time to be thankful at this time of year for all that you have been entrusted with and invest into something eternal. What echoes in eternity is all that matters. Prepare. If the Church is down, out, and caught napping, then what hope is there in this old world? Prepare to be a blessing. In times of trouble lives will need healing and people will run to the house of God once again for sustenance. Be there waiting with arms wide open and be on the surest footing you can find so that you may be a shelter.<br><br>
As we move forward into 2011, I thank God for your part in my life and for your prayers that I will be an encouragement wherever I go.<br><br>
May God continue to bless you this Thanksgiving and may we all bless God.<br>
Sincerely,<br>
MilesMiles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254322011-07-27T11:19:41-05:002011-07-27T11:19:41-05:00MPM Summer 2010 Newsletter Hello Everyone!<br><br>
I don't know about you, but it's been one more crazy year thus far! It's been a good kind of crazy though. God has really blessed MPM with more than twice the number of concerts this year than 2009 already and I'm still booking concerts all the way into 2011. By the way, I have a few more weekends left in 2010, so if you have a desire for me to come to your area, click HERE to contact me about reserving your date now.<br>
Here's what's been going on since the last update...<br><br>
Latest Radio Single<br><br>
As most of you know, my debut radio single, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me" went to #1 in The Christian Voice Magazine for the month of March and stayed in the Top Ten for six months in a row! God absolutely knocked my socks off with the response to my arrangement of this classic song. Many thanks to you DJs for playing it and to the listeners, like you, for requesting it.<br>
My follow up single is "I'll See You In The Rapture" and is quickly meeting equal success. After only three months on the chart, it's already soared to #3 for the month of September! Again, thanks for your continued support and if you've not heard it yet, please call your local station to make your request.<br>
If you are a DJ and have not yet received the compilation, please contact me HERE to secure your copy today!<br><br>
Come Cruising!<br><br>
I've never been on a cruise before, but my first experience on one will be standing beside some of the best Gospel artist in the business and I want you to join me for this unforgettable event!<br>
Come cruise the high seas for 6 days and 5 nights in luxury to the fabled Bahamas aboard Carnival's Fascination with some of the best Gospel Music around! You'll never cruise this long, with as much exquisite food, with such plush accommodations, to such a fine location, or experience this much family entertainment for a better price!<br>
$100 deposit *NOW* - Half of balance before Sept. 15th - Final payment before Nov. 15th<br>
CALL 865-278-3681 for reservations by phone. Get your deposit in now!<br>
Category 4B - DECK 4 & 5 Inside $549.00<br>
Category 4C - DECK 5 & 6 Inside $599.00<br>
Category 4D - DECK 6 & 7 Inside $629.00<br>
Category 6B - DECK 4 & 5 Oceanview $649.00<br>
Category 6C - DECK 5 & 6 Oceanview $699.00<br>
Category 6D - DECK 6 & 7 Oceanview $749.00<br>
Suites are also available. All prices are per person. Third and fourth person in cabin is $399 per person. Cruise leaves from Jacksonville, FL on February 5, 2011. Click HERE to get complete details!<br>
Don’t miss the boat!<br><br>
Absolutely Free!<br><br>
I've been updating the website a bunch lately with several little tweaks to make your visit easier and more interactive. I have created an updated Forum, an updated About section, and an easy to use Interact section where I can hear from you about what you want to see from MPM in 2011! Also, I'm offering voice lessons for anyone interested in further their vocal abilities. Click HERE for details and information.<br>
For you newcomers to this website, there are TWO FREE downloads for joining the email list! These are special mixes that are not available on CD or anywhere else; they are just for you. To redeemed those exclusive cuts, just click HERE and simply download the "Member Versions" in the "Digital Store".<br>
For the social networking types, I invite you to join and follow me on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and iLike! There's a brand new page to make it simple to locate me and connect. Click HERE for the easy to find links.<br><br>
Upcoming Concerts<br>
For the month of August I'll be joining my best buds, The Gospel Tones Quartet for a series of concerts in the East Texas area. Every event we do is quiet the treat as our four solo ministries come together for one big, unique sound!<br>
August 22 - Diboll Maximum Security Prison - solo concert<br>
August 28 - Cornerstone Church - Tyler, Texas - 6:00pm<br>
August 29 - Pierces Chapel Assembly of God-Jacksonville, Texas - 10:30am<br>
August 29 - Grace Fellowship - Ben Wheeler, Texas - 6:30pm<br>
Click HERE for directions and further details. Check back often since dates are being added on a regular basis.<br><br>
Signing Off...<br>
Thanks for taking the time to read this update. I know you don't have to and I thank you for your support. If you'd be interested in making a tax deductible contribution to "Miles Pike Music", please click HERE for details about how to do so. There is no greater pleasure in my life than to be able to find fulfillment in sharing the Gospel with the lost and sharing a word of hope with the Church.<br>
I find so many discouraged people as I travel the road these days. In this ever changing world we dwell in, it's no wonder that we can find so many things to fret over. One of the greatest joys of my life is to see a face walk in, contorted by grief and worry, sit in the audience and then watch that cold countenance melt into a blessed grin. God is still on the throne and He is still faithful!<br>
I hope to be with your church or in your area sometime soon. Come out and see me then!<br>
God bless you all and I covet your prayers more than ever,<br>
MilesMiles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254312011-07-27T11:18:05-05:002011-07-27T11:18:05-05:00MPM Spring 2010 Newsletter Hello Everyone!<br><br>
It has been awhile since I've updated, but much has been happening! Let's see if I can fill you in...<br><br>
CGM Fanfest<br>
I had a fabulous time in Pigeon Forge, TN with the good people of The Christian Voice Magazine as they hosted The Country Gospel Music Fanfest at The Smokey Mountain Convention Center. It was so nice to meet so many new friends. God truly blessed and I look forward to seeing you there next year!<br>
Click HERE for information about attending next year's event, April 28-30, 2011!<br><br>
GTQ Update<br>
As most of you know, I sing in The Gospel Tones Quartet as often as time allows. It's a thrill to be able to travel and harmonize with some of my best friends. Since my last email, we have had say goodbye to one of our members, John Simmons. When we started singing we were not sure just how God would see fit to bless us, but in just the first few months, it became clear that we were going to be pressed to make more time than we had anticipated to fill all the dates that were requested of us.<br><br>
With all the dates being added, a rigorous college schedule, and the pressures of being a music minister at his church, John's calendar just couldn't take the extra weight. John is a fine singer and we wish him the very best in what God has called him to. We will surely remain friends for time to come...<br><br>
We could not have asked for a better man to step forward and fill his shoes! Nick Bergeron has filled in on several occasions and already a dear friend of ours. He treats his part like glue and it holds us tightly together. Please take a moment to greet him at our upcoming concerts.<br><br>
Here's a few places that we'll be in the near future...<br>
May 27th @ 6PM - in Athens, TX with GOLD CITY<br>
May 28th @ 7PM - in Chappell Hill, TX<br>
May 29th @ 6PM - in Anderson, TX<br>
Check out the updated wwwGospelTonesQuartet.com for complete concerts listings and for booking information, send an email HERE.<br><br>
SGM Article<br>
I was blown away to be featured in an article by Lorraine Walker of Southern Gospel Music Radio this passed month. She interviewed me a while back and did a fabulous job conveying my heart to the readers in, "A New Face, A Timeless Sound". I appreciate her time and effort and am so humbled by the response. Please take a moment to read it for yourself HERE.<br><br>
Upcoming Solo Dates<br>
Time is going to be scarces in the next several weeks. I hope to be able to see you at one of my concerts. Here are a few of them to plan on attending...<br><br>
June 16 - 6:00 pm - Lockwood United Methodist Church, Lockwood, MO<br>
June 19 - 6:00 pm - Round Grove Baptist Church, Miller, MO - Bud Roger's & Stamps-Baxter Friends<br>
June 20 - 6:00 pm - TBA - MO<br>
June 23 - 25 - 10th Annual Agape Fest, Celebration Hall, Granbury, TX<br>
June 26 - 6:00 pm - Texas Gospel Music Hall, Athens, TX - with Triumphant Quartet - click HERE to order tickets<br>
June 27 - 6:00 pm - Pierces Chapel Assembly of God, Jacksonville, TX<br><br>
New Radio Single!<br>
Call your local Gospel station and request Miles' latest release, "I'll See You In The Rapture"! It will be hitting the charts of The Christian Voice Magazine shortly. It is being hailed as a very timely song with an uniting message for the Church.<br>
If you are a DJ and have not received it yet, click HERE.<br>
After hitting #1 in March, "Jesus Savior Pilot Me" continues to dominate the Country Gospel charts by staying in the Top Ten for the months of February-July! Words cannot express my gratitude for your constant support of my music.<br><br>
Plan Ahead...<br>
Coming up in February 2011, I will be taking part in a 6 day Gospel music cruise to The Bahamas! It will be leaving from Jacksonville, FL on the fifth and there will be many other artist in attendance. Come join me, along with hundreds of other Southern Gospel music fans for the trip of a lifetime aboard one of Carnival's best liners. More information will be posted as available, but mark your calendars now!<br><br>
Many thanks for taking time and interest in this ministry. I, along with the board members of Miles Pike Music, take great pride and care in making sure that I do all that God allows with a heart of servanthood and wisdom. If you would be interested in booking an event in your church or venue, don't hesitate in securing your date now. Click HERE to contact us for more information.<br><br>
God bless and may we meet again soon,<br><br>
MilesMiles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254262009-12-03T16:10:00-06:002017-01-11T07:12:47-06:00MPM Fall 2009 Newsletter Hello Everyone!<br>
I trust that you had a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday. It was quite hectic for us amidst preparing to eat, eating, then eating some more, plus having concerts all that weekend. Both were with The Gospel Tones Quartet in Louisiana. We had a great response and were invited back next year. To see photos from those events, click <a href="./pictures.cfm">HERE</a>.<br>
Also, Gospel Tones is very excited to unveil our brand new website, <a target="_new" href="http://www.GospelTonesQuartet.com">www.GospelTonesQuartet.com</a>! It's still under construction and more will be added soon, so check back to keep up with where we're going to be in concert. Let me know what you think about GTQ's home on the web.<br>
Earlier this month we also had an incredible prison revival along with Ben Waites, the lead singer for Gospel Tones. He's a dear friend and it was great to have him along side me when ministering to these guys in search of an answer. We had an average of 350 inmates in attendance and had dozens commit their lives to Christ, many for the first time! All praise be to Jesus Christ!<br>
That same weekend we had the opportunity to share with the people of Palestine Church of The Nazarene for their annual homecoming celebration. I sang a morning concert and then GTQ handled the music in the evening, which was hard to do since we had eaten some good homecooking just an hour before. Click <a href="./111509.cfm">HERE</a> for the photo gallery.<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/MilesPike/images/content/Tree-125.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="125" width="90" /><br><br>
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!<br>
Let Miles play Santa and assist you this Christmas holiday! This package deal makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the Gospel Music lover on your Christmas list. It's also a great witnessing tool. 10 CDs for $100! This offer is only good through December 18th, so place your order today and you SAVE $50! Click <a href="./music.cfm">HERE</a> to order now.<br>
Upcoming Concerts:<br>
12/05/09 - The People Church with Broken Vessels @ 7:00pm<br>
12/06/09 - Pierces Chapel Assembly of God @ 11:00am<br>
12/06/09 - Diboll Maximum Security Prison with Broken Vessels<br>
Christmas Break<br>
01/09/09 - TBA<br>
01/31/09 - Neches First Baptist @ 6:00pm<br>
For the complete concert schedule, visit www.MilesPikeMusic.com or www.GospelTonesQuartet.com.<br><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/MilesPike/images/content/get-attachment.aspx-300.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="233" width="175" /><br>
During this festive time of the year, I thought I might share some fond moments of myself applying the final touches to the Christms lights. Who knew the one time they called for frost, it would actually happen?<br>
This being Christmas, I can’t help but imagine, fifty or sixty years ago, when the children of this family and thousands of others, would receive things under the Christmas tree that most children today would throw back. When money was scarce, you’d receive things you needed at Christmas, like clothes, shoes, or something like a sack of fruit.<br>
Today, it has become a competition to see who can outspend the other, who can raise the bar higher and make the biggest impression. Thus the season is lost in the stress of high expectations and the rest of the year is often complicated by debt accumulated over the short holiday.<br>
As most of us are blessed beyond the wildest dreams of people outside of the United States of America, I can’t help but imagine how God must feel. He prepared a gift and it was laid before mankind; sadly most declined. It was not a pleasant thing to look upon and man was content to remain as he was, lost in self and bound to the curse of forever searching and never obtaining.<br>
Still, the gift was laid in a manger and opened on Calvary and the blood that we did not think we wanted, but the blood that we needed was placed at the foot of the tree. Little did we know that such an act of brutality, of merciless inhumanity, would be the key to open the very gates of Heaven for us!<br>
As we go through the pile of presents, wrapped so beautifully under our Christmas trees, let us never forget the gift that we didn’t think we wanted, that was at the foot of the first Christmas tree. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Although we celebrate the birth of the Christ, he was born to die and so Christmas led to the cross, and the cross led to the opportunity of salvation for all! That is why we celebrate peace coming to earth and joy that can be obtained by everyone who ask.<br>
From my family to your's, may you have a truly blessed holiday season with family and friends close by. God has been so gracious to Miles Pike Music so far this year and next year is showing to be even bigger. Thanks for your love, prayers, and financial support of this ministry. If you would be interested in making a tax-deductable contribution to MPM, please <a href="./supportus.cfm">CLICK</a> for all the details.<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Miles<br><br>
P.S. - Mark your calendars early for March 13th, 2010! It will be Miles Pike Music's Third Annual Homecoming Concert with Allison Durham Speer and The Gospel Tones Quartet! More details will be in the next newsletter.Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254252009-07-05T17:12:57-05:002017-01-11T07:12:46-06:00MPM Summer 2009 Newsletter<b><span style="font-size: medium">Hello Everyone!</span></b><span style="font-size: medium"><br>
It's time again for an update and there is much to catch up on. A lot has been happening and more to come, so take a moment and I'll quickly fill you in...<br><br><b><u>Cruise with Miles!<a href="./specialevents.cfm"><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/MilesPike/images/content/Cruise-2010-300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="128" width="100" /></a></u></b><br>
How can you take a five day trip on a 4.5 star Carnival luxury liner, with unlimited food, fellowship, Gospel music, preaching, exotic locations, and do it all for under $100 a day?<br><a href="./specialevents.cfm">CLICK HERE</a> for more information!<br>
I am so excited about this event and it's so easy to be a part of it. Come on aboard The ECSTACY with some of the best in Gospel Music to hear music, worship, and fine preaching.<br>
All proceeds go to fund Philippines missions.<br><br><u><b>Off To School</b></u><br>
July means it's time to head to Tennessee for another summer at Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music. It's always such a joy to reunite with friends from all over the country and the world to learn how to better serve God in Gospel Music. I'll have new photo galleries posted when I get back.<br><a href="./stamps2008.cfm">CLICK HERE</a> to view passed photos from Stamps-Baxter.<br><br>
Upcoming Concerts<br>
July 4 @ 7:00pm - The People's Church with The Stutzman Family in Jacksonville, Texas<br>
July 18 @ 6:00pm - River of Life in Smyrna, Tennessee: Stamps-Baxter Benefit Concert<br>
July 19 @ 10:30 am - Grace Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee: Stamps-Baxter Choir<br>
July 24 @ 6:00pm - MTSU in Mufreesburo, Tennessee: Stamps-Baxter Live Video Taping<br>
July 26 @ 10:30am - First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Indiana<br>
July 26 @ 3:00pm - First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, Indiana: Full Concert<br>
August 1 @ 7:00pm - The People's Church with The Hubbard Family in Jacksonville, Texas<br>
For more information & the complete schedule, <a href="./events.cfm">CLICK HERE</a><br><br><b><u>Brand New Videos</u></b><br>
Last month, I added three new videos to my website from recent concerts. There's a brand new page so you can find them all in one spot for easy viewing. <a href="./videos.cfm">CLICK HERE</a> to visit that site.<br>
Since the last update, I've also added <a href="./pictures.cfm">NEW PHOTO GALLERIES</a><br><br>
One last thing I want to mention before I go...<img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/MilesPike/images/content/AllisonandMiles-300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="83" width="125" /><br>
I have just found out that my <b>Third Annual Homecoming Concert</b> on <b>March 13, 2010</b> will feature The Gospel Tones, and none other than Gaither Homecoming Artist, <a target="_new" href="http://www.allisondurhamspeer.com">Allison Durham Speer</a>! What a thrill to be able to have not just one of the best female vocalist on the road, but she's also one of the members of the Miles Pike Music advisory board and a dear friend and mentor. Please mark your calendars early to attend this very special evening.<br><br><img src="//content.bandzoogle.com/users/MilesPike/images/content/CDCoverTimeless-300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="100" width="100" />In closing, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful response to my new CD, "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These". For those of you who don't know, I have two <a href="./digitalstore.cfm">FREE DOWNLOADS</a> in the digital store from this project. They are only available to members of my website and are not even available for purchase on CD. They are special mixes of a couple of the songs you'll recognize.<br>
If you haven't heard the new project, just visit my <a href="./home.cfm">Homepage</a> and a demo will begin playing for you. The newest single will hit radio stations soon. I will keep you updated on the progress.<br><br>
May God bless you on this Independance Day weekend as we celebrate the freedom so hard won for us by our troops and founding fathers. We should never forget and never turn loose of the liberties that come with an obligation to continue to fight for them, even today.<br>
Thanks again and I hope to see you soon,<br>
Miles<br>
P.S. - Don't forget to check out the <a href="./specialevents.cfm">CRUISE</a>! The deadline for a small deposit is August 4th.</span>Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254222008-12-22T14:40:00-06:002017-01-11T07:12:46-06:00MPM Winter 2008 NewsletterGreetings Everyone!<a href="./texassnowday.cfm"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/64015/1ee96999fe8425063df56f749391ecc84f981037/medium/Snow.jpg?1376571224" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="113" width="150" /></a><br>
This year has flown by faster than any I have known! It doesn’t even register in my brain that 2009 will be here in just a few days. God has been so good through it all and has blessed me to meet so many wonderful people. I have also had the chance to spend more time with some friends and get to know them better. Thanks you all for lifting up my Mom in prayer as she is recovering from surgery. She is quickly getting back on her feet and preparing to hit the road again.<br>
As most of you know, my uncle passed away this September and obviously, it has shaken the family. He was one of those ‘characters’ you hear about from the country; laid back, hilarious, and generous to a fault. He told me so many stories about when he was a kid and the differences between then and now.<br>
It truly is a different world than what he grew up in. This being Christmas, I can’t help but imagine, fifty or sixty years ago, when the children of this family and thousands of others, would receive things under the Christmas tree that most children today would throw back. When money was scarce, you’d receive things you needed at Christmas, like clothes, shoes, or something like a sack of fruit.<br>
Today, it has become a competition to see who can outspend the other, who can raise the bar higher and make the biggest impression. Thus the season is lost in the stress of high expectations and the rest of the year is often complicated by debt accumulated over the short holiday.<br>
As most of us are blessed beyond the wildest dreams of people outside of the United States of America, I can’t help but imagine how God must feel. He prepared a gift and it was laid before mankind, sadly most declined. It was not a pleasant thing to look upon and man was content to remain as he was, lost in self and bound to curse of forever searching and never obtaining.<br>
Still, the gift was laid in a manger and opened on Calvary and the blood that we did not think we wanted, but the blood that we needed was placed at the foot of the tree. Little did we know that such an act of brutality, of merciless inhumanity, would be the key to open the very gates of Heaven for us!<br>
As we go through the pile of presents, wrapped so beautifully under our Christmas trees, let us never forget the gift that we didn’t think we wanted, that was at the foot of the first Christmas tree. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Although we celebrate the birth of the Christ, he was born to die and so Christmas led to the cross, and the cross led to salvation for all! That is why we celebrate peace coming to earth and joy that can be obtained by everyone who ask.<br>
Merry CHRISTmas and a blessed New Year!Miles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254232008-10-06T18:25:00-05:002008-10-06T18:25:00-05:00MPM Fall 2008 NewsletterWell Folks,<br>
It's been a while since I have written and a lot has been going on...<br><br>
We have been in prison again since I wrote you last. For those of you new to receiving the newsletter, I do concerts in prisons, so there was no crime involved. Two more prison concerts are on the schedule before the year is up, so please be in prayer for my parents and I, as we minister the Love of Jesus.<br><br>
Coming up this month, I will be going to the great state of Missouri once again. We go so much, because I've heard that "Missouri loves company". (just think about it) This time around, we'll be celebrating two years of traveling and singing full-time! Back on October 15, 2006, I did my first, full concert at Calvary Baptist Church in Exeter, MO and we are returning there for the second anniversary. We're looking forward to a great time in the Lord.<br><br>
Right after that, I am heading up to The Elijah Conference in Smyrna, TN. I am so looking forward to this learning experience with some of Gospel Music's best teachers. Among them are, Allison Durham Speer, Johnny Minick and his son Aaron, Mike Allen, and many more.<br><br>
On Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm I'll be at The Texas Gospel Music Hall with Melody Boys Quartet, along with First Voice Quartet. The music hall is located at 6513 Hwy 19 South, Athens, TX. I will sing and emcee the concert. It would be wise to order tickets in advance, especially if you want Artist Circle Seats. Tickets may be ordered by calling 903-677-2492, 903-675-5217, or 903-477-8084. Artists Circle Reserved Seats available. Doors open at 5:00pm.<br><br>
Last, but certainly not least, the Second Annual Homecoming Concert is in the works! There are going to be a whole bunch of surprises and we are thrilled at the artist lineup. Keep your eyes open and mark the date on your calendar, so you can plan ahead to attend. There'll be door prizes, fun, fellowship, and a awesome time of worship!<br>
Til next time, may God bless you and thanks for your prayers and support,<br>
Miles <br>
www.MilesPikeMusic.comMiles Pike Musictag:milespikemusic.com,2005:Post/254242008-08-03T19:45:00-05:002008-08-03T19:45:00-05:00MPM Summer 2008 NewsletterHello Everyone!<br>
It has been a busy month, but there have been blessing around every corner. Even as busy as I may be, I never want to forget to thank God for His goodness. There are always plenty of stresses to contend with, but He is there through it all and His Grace is sufficient for me.<br><br>
Of course, a highlight of my whole year is when mid-July rolls around and I get to return to Nashville, TN for Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music. We had such a wonderful time there. It's always extremely fast paced, but the Spirit of the Lord was so sweet in the times of worship and the feeling of family was stronger than ever. I have added a selection of photos from those two weeks to the gallery page.<br><br>
Last year we had a concert to raise money for the scholarship fund and it went very well, so this year we did the same, except we had it at a different venue. It was at River of Life Church in Smyrna, TN and it is pastored by Johnny Minick. It was a privilege to share the stage with many of my friends once again. It was very successful and we are hoping for bigger and better things next year.<br><br>
One of the things that the school had the opportunity to do this year was to go and sing at Grace Church of The Nazarene in Nashville on the middle weekend. The church really went out of their way to accommodate everyone and we had a great time of praise. It was a day full of surprises to say the least.<br><br>
After we wrapped up thing in Nashville, it was time to head to Indiana and do a couple of concerts before going home. We returned to Bloomfield First Baptist Church for the second year in a row and were met with true Hoosier hospitality. Special thanks to Bill and Deborah Hudson for opening that door to come back and worship with them.<br><br>
We are glad to finally make it home, but it is sad to leave old friends and the new ones behind til next year. Altogether we logged about 2350+ miles. We're enjoying settling back into our familiar zone, but looking forward to where God sends us next.<br>
One more thing to mention...I have added a page to the website that gives details about private voice lessons. I have had this one my heart for some time now and I am excited to start passing on these skills to other believers who are called to sing the Gospel. If you have any questions, just contact me at miles@milespikemusic.com or call 903-721-4044.<br><br>
Until next time, may God bless you as you serve Him. I covet your prayers and support and hope to see you soon in concert.<br>
Miles<br><br>
For more information on Miles Pike Music click here.<br><a href="http://www.MilesPikeMusic.com">www.MilesPikeMusic.com</a>Miles Pike Music