More Than Overdraft Protection

This is a copy of our bulletin article for this week.

Those first days of having a bank account are filled with little life lessons. Many learn the hard way that just because you have a checkbook or a bank card doesn’t mean you have money. Banks offer a service for just such a person, it’s called overdraft protection.

Unfortunately, I think we often think of God’s grace and forgiveness like overdraft protection. We sin and God gives us some grace to cover that sin. We sin again and we get a little more grace to cover this new round of sin. The picture of God’s forgiveness isn’t that. You see, all overdraft protection does is bring us back to zero.

God has done so much more than zero our account. He has imputed the righteousness of Christ to our account. Unlimited, perfect righteousness is now available. He hasn’t just fixed our puny accounts, it is more like handing us the account number for a treasure that is better than FDIC insured. This treasure was secured by the sacrifice of Jesus and is guaranteed by God Himself (2 Cor 5.21).

Some will say if we have such forgiveness already secured by grace, then why bother with holiness and obedience? Why not just continue in sin? Paul anticipates and blasts this response to God’s grace. Romans 6.1 and 6.15 respond in the same manner: “May it never be!” In the original language, this is the strongest possible way of saying, “No Way!” If being forgiven and having Christ’s righteousness doesn’t stir your heart and create a desire for purity, you are either seriously deceived as to your standing with the Lord or you have allowed sin to cloud your thinking.

Allow your mind to mediate on the gospel again today. Don’t become cold and indifferent to the precious treasure that has been given to those who believe. Be reminded of your sin, then remind yourself quickly of His grace.

Isaiah 43.25 “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.

Coffee for Karis

As most of you know, Mindy and I are in the process of adopting a little girl from China. We were matched about a month ago and just received our official clearance from immigration yesterday. That means, according to the US Government, we are clear to adopt. Our paperwork is in process and will be going to China soon. Then we'll wait on an approval letter from China and we'll receive travel plans. I'll translate all that for you, we expect to be heading east in 3-5 months to adopt our newest family member, Karis.

One of the questions that we are continually asked is "how much does it costs to adopt?" My answer: a lot. We have been blessed by gifts from family and friends who want to share in this process with us. We don't deserve anyone's gifts. It's an extraordinarily humbling experience to be given a gift. Honestly, I'd rather give stuff away.

So how is this working? There are some organizations out there that help families adopt. With grants, zero percent loans, and a healthy federal tax credit, this mountain isn't quite as impossible as it may appear at first. Add to that the fact that the Lord isn't broke and that should equal no worry on our part.

In the first weekend of October, we attended a conference called Together for Adoption. This was a great conference and I'd encourage you to check out some of the audio. One of the exhibitors was Just Love Coffee. I walked by their booth and being the coffee person that I am, I thought, sure, I'll try a cup. I'm a coffee snob. I was shocked at the quality and ended up buying a bag.

Recently, the website went live and we (the Cagles) now have a "store" set up through them. If you order through our storefront, here, part of the costs of the coffee goes directly to us to be used for our adoption. (I highly recommend the Sumatra).

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please pray for us that we would be Christlike in all things and that we would learn to trust Him more. Please also pray for Karis. We are praying for a speedy adjustment to our family. Also, she has a condition called hip dysplasia. We are not certain yet what type of treatment has or has not been done.

Just Love Coffee Storefront

Thoughts on Work

Someone sent this to me today. I thought it was extremely helpful in keeping perspective on work. God has created each of us to work. If you have a job, read these thoughts and be grateful.

This is taken from "Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Readings," , a new book from Banner of Truth.

My God will supply every need of yours.
Philippians 4:19


The ways of God's providence direct us into the calling and employment that is ordered for us in this world. To have an honest, lawful employment in which you do not dishonour God is no small mercy. If it is suited also to your genius and strength, this is a double mercy. If you have less toil than others and more time for heavenly exercises, ascribe this benefit to the special care of providence for you. How strangely are things wheeled about by providence! David followed the sheep and likely never raised his thoughts to higher things, but God made him the royal shepherd. Some have work, but not enough strength. Others have strength, but no employment. If God blesses your labour and gives you and yours necessary support and comfort in the world, it is a choice providence and should be acknowledged with all thankfulness. If you find yourself scarcely able to provide for the necessities of life, consider: though you have a small portion of the world, if you are godly, he has promised never to forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Provdence has ordered the condition that is really best for your eternal good. If you had more of the world you might not be able to mnage it to your advantage. We are directed to be content with food and clothing, and the little that the righteous has is better than the riches of many wicked (Psa. 37:16). If providence has so disposed you that you cannot only eat your own bread but have enough for works of mercy upon others, and all this is brought to pass in a way you did not expect, let God be honoured in this providence. Remember that the success of your callings and earthly employments is by divine blessing and not human diligence alone. Be well satisfied in the station and employment where you have been placed. God is wise and seeks your eternal good.


John Flavel, Works, IV:387-391

some resources on Santa

Here are a few links on Santa that I thought were interesting.

Sinclair Ferguson writes about 'Santa Christ'

Piper delivers with unmistakable Piper Passion - Bad News: Santa is Coming to Town

Knowing is half the battle

I've heard rumors of a cow that resides in Louisiana that is just downright scary. The story I hear is there is a hole in the side of the cow that allows viewers to observe how food is processed. The inner workings are exposed for the purpose of research. Allegedly this is done through a research program at LSU. Though I'm sure a quick google search could clear up lots of things for me on this, I'll stay in my state of 'wonder if it's true.' Regardless of veracity, Mr. Window Cow gives us a great picture (no pun intended).

While I personally want no part of an investigation into the inward parts of a cow, I get it. The more you can know about how the process works, the better you can be with disease treatment, nutrition, and maybe we can even up the quality of a good Ribeye. Knowing how it functions is a massive part of the battle.

Temptation and sin are similar. We are given a window into one of our own organs in the Bible. The thought of peering down into a functioning digestive tract seems a bit nasty. So does looking into our own hearts. Believers battle with sin. If you've been saved more than about 90 seconds, you know this is true. The Bible tells us why this is. Though there is a New Man who is alive to God through Christ, the flesh is still active. James 1 gives us insight into how sin is produced. The truth about this is not pleasant - You sin because you listen to your fleshly desires (ie - your heart's dirty).

James is adamant on this point. James 1.14 tells us that we sin when we give in to our own lust. Later in the book James gives some helpful and practical wisdom on defining the source of our relational conflict - it's from our own desires (Jas 4.1-4). Paul tells us that sin is active in us (Rom 7.17). We can all move to a monastery, but the reality is we take the idol factory with us, our hearts.

I think it's important to distinguish between sin and temptation. You are tempted all the time. Your temptation is common (normal - see I Cor 10.13) and even Jesus was tempted just like we are (Heb 2.17-18; 4.15). When someone really "makes" you angry, remember they didn't make you anything. They simply gave your heart the enticement it needed. Someone cutting you off on the road isn't why you got angry, it is where. Thinking in this way helps us to arrest the process at it's actual starting point, the initial desire. We must be careful to examine and guard our hearts (Prov 4.23).

Understanding the process of sin also helps drive us to the gospel. We all have a tinge of self-righteousness in us. We think that just a little more effort, more time in the spiritual disciplines, a few more verses memorized, or just limiting our exposure to TV, radio, or internet will fix the problem. These things can be helpful. But will they eliminate the problem, or to ask another way, can these things make us holy? Of course not. You need the gospel. You need Christ righteousness, because your effort stinks. Your heart and your effort is no place to turn for holiness, that comes through God's power. Yes, we gladly put ourselves in the way of grace by doing all the above mentioned things, but at the end of the day, we must cry out to God with the same sense of dependence as when we first recognized our sin and God's holiness.

Why we love Santa Clause and why he doesn’t actually come to our house.

Santa Clause. Just the name gets a reaction. To most, he stands for a what is left that’s ‘right’ in the world. A big jolly fella giving freely with no expectation or debtors ethic. What’s not to like? There’s a happy man, encouraging obedience to mom and dad, and giving gifts to those who haven’t earned it. In Santa’s economy, it seems all you can do is lose your gifts, not earn them.

Then we have Christians. I hear things in the Christian subculture like “santa idols,” or some tirade about how Santa is taking Christ out of Christmas (assuming he was at some point there, which is another discussion).

I tipped my hand in the title. We don’t do Santa in our house, at least not in the same sort of way. I don’t have a problem with Santa as a story. Just like Jack in the Beanstalk (doesn’t he eat children?), Snow White, Mickey Mouse or the Chronicles of Narnia. In the hands of a parent, Santa can be a pretty cool launch point to talk about grace, accountability, sin and generosity. I like the Santa story, for these reasons. Plus he just looks so stinking happy, and I generally like happy people, unless it’s prior to 7AM.

That said, here are some reasons why we don’t have Santa visit on Dec 25:

1. We don’t assign divine attributes to men other than Jesus. I have a real problem with Santa being omniscient and therefore the divine accountability partner for my 3 year old. That’s not healthy. Again, see above point, I don’t have a problem with the Santa story anymore than I have a problem with any other kids story. It doesn’t bother me that Mary Poppins can fly. It doesn’t bother me that Qunicy, Leo and team can free rocket from the evil czar by finding the magic feather (you people should watch the Little Einsteins). But if my children are convinced they need a magic umbrella to fly across the street, I’m going to help them understand what is reality and what is pretend. We need to encourage our children to learn to divide reality from unreality. For my family, supernatural powers are reserved in reality for God. Stories are fun; they are not reality.

I sat with my daughter a few nights ago and we watched the Rudolph story. The old school one. It was awesome. She was concerned for the little toys on misfit island, mortified by the abominable snow man, and really glad when Rudolph saved Christmas. I was too, I always get nervous when I see that eleventh-hour whiteout. It’s a far cry to go from enjoying a fun story to “believe or you won’t receive” or worse yet, “be good because Santa’s watching.” Our children get enough humanistic bad theology and philosophy.

2. I want to engender gratefulness in my children. I remember well after one Christmas I said to my mom, “Christmas was smaller this year.” She gave me ‘the look’ and said, “You better not let your dad her you say that.” I didn’t say anything as I knew from the tone, it was be quiet time. But in my little heart, I couldn't figure out why that bothered my mom, it was Santa who brought the presents. I want my children to know that Dad and Mom love them and bought them a present. They need to learn gratitude. A flying man in a red suit is hard to look in the eye and offer sincere gratitude.

3. I don’t want to lie to my children. I know there’s all types of pretending that we do with our kids. Isn’t that lying? You put a pillow case over your head and become the tickle monster. Is that lying? No, that’s absurd, right? But why? Children are gullible and are hard wired to believe big people, especially their parents. So if you really wanted to convince your 3 year old that you were a Martian, you probably could. This is a trust given to parents to help teach their children truth. At some point, it’s going to become extremely obvious that the smurfs or talking trains don’t actually exist. I’m not going to try to convince my children they actually do. I will not treat Santa any differently. It’s a fun story. I can enjoy the story, use it to point our thoughts back to God, but I’m not going to try to convince them something is ‘for reals’ when it doesn’t exist in reality.

Though most kids come out of it just fine, it seems the possibility exists to undermine the trust a child would have in their parents.

But they’re just kids. Do you really want your children to be the one that ruins it for everyone else in the class? I don’t want to ruin anything for anyone. But my concern isn’t primarily for what 5 year old Susie and her parents talk about. I have to raise my children. I want them to be respectful and courteous of what other people think, but the reality is, I’m sure this will happen, probably sooner rather than later. My simple response would be, we love the Santa story in our house. Mom and Dad love giving their children gifts just like God loves giving His children gifts (Mt 7.7-12). We choose to keep those things separate.

Guitars and Trials

This is a copy of our bulletin article I just finished up for Sunday. If you go to CF, you can get a double dose.

Whether you’re a musician or not, you would probably have to agree that there are few things worse than hearing someone play a stringed instrument that is severely out of tune. My parents love to remind me of a time when I was in kindergarten and I “led” music for my class with my guitar. I’m sure that was the first and only time I ever did such a thing. That little guitar that I had and cluelessly strummed was far from in tune. Yet my teacher and parents were gracious and let me have my day of glory. The process of tuning a guitar is simple in theory, but takes a musician with a decent ear (or a tuner for the rest of us) to get just the right amount of tension on the string so it produces the proper sound.

I think sometimes when we are going through trials, we need to remember the analogy of the guitar. Many times our perspective when a difficult circumstance comes is, “Lord, what do you want me to learn through this.” The unspoken next line of that thought is, “Because I’m ready to learn it and get this situation over with!” Yes, God does teach us lessons through trials. Yes, sometimes we learn and the difficulty ends quickly. But many times, if not most of the time, trials provide the necessary amount of tension on your life to make you useful for the kingdom. You shortchange God’s plan when you only ask, “Can this please end now?” The answer may be “no” and the Lord has good reason for that in His wise and benevolent plan.

The letter of 2 Corinthians gives us a picture of this lesson. In chapter 12, Paul is being tormented by a “thorn in the flesh.” Paul asks for this affliction to be removed and God denies this request. We are told why in 2 Cor 12.7. Paul was used mightily by God to deliver His Word. Because of this God found it necessary to give him this affliction to keep him from “exalting himself.” It is shortly after that we find the promise in verse 9 that we can cling to as well during a trial, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Don’t waste your affliction. Consider the difficulties that life brings to be tools designed to make you more like Christ (Jas 1.2; Rom 8.28). Remember God’s grace is always sufficient (2 Cor 12.9) and he’ll never put more on you than he gives you grace to handle (I Cor 10.13)!