In the New Covenant, love for Christ and love for the brethren are inseparable. It is impossible to separate love for Christ from love for the brethren. But more than that: how much we love Christ can be measured by how much we love and serve other believers. How committed we are to serving Christ can be accurately gauged by how much we are committed to serving other believers in His Name.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Acts 9:4b ...Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Matt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
1 John 4:20-21 If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
- Kevin Williams
Sunday, May 16, 2010
When David was Hurting- Part 1
How often and how deeply David was hurting, almost constantly in varying degrees and through various circumstances. At times it was because of enemies in fast pursuit, breathing down his neck to kill him. At other times, his hurt was from the rage of guilt and misery of conscience hounding him because of grievous sins. His hurting at times was the result of betrayal from either a son, a trusted solider or betrayal from his own heart, which produced the deepest emotional sorrow imaginable.
At the heart of his hurts, one thing set David apart from most of us--he was remarkable in his response to the hurts in his life, remarkable specifically in how much he would become transparent before God in specifically telling the Lord what he was feeling and what he was thinking. He did not hold it inside, letting it boil under the surface, only to explode later. He did not generally let it fester and build like an infected boil that finally has to be lanced. He did not keep it penned up quietly withheld like a damn holding back water, only for the damn to finally break.
No, David let it out. He let it out through the means of expression in prayer. He told God how he felt truly. He told the Lord how he felt fully. The Psalms are often expressions of this particularly. David expressed just exactly how he was hurting. It is amazing just to read each Psalm in search of what David exactly said to God about what he felt when he was really needy. Just a few examples:
I have many enemies- Ps. 3:1
I cried aloud 3:4
I was in distress 4:1
Consider my groaning 5:1
I am languishing 6:2
My bones are troubled 6:2
Soul is greatly troubled 6:3
I’m weary from my groaning 6:6
I flood my bed with tears 6:6
See my affliction 9:13
There's sorrow in my heart all day 13:2
I find no rest 22:2
I am lonely and afflicted 25:16
The troubles of my heart are enlarged 25:17
I cried to you for help 30:2
I plead for mercy 30:8
Rescue me speedily 31:2
You have seen my affliction 31:7
You have seen the distress of my soul 31:7
Look at the openness of expression and the extent of blatant, honest verbal communication there. As it dawns on me how blatantly honest David is with God about how he feels, it reveals a big gap between David and me. I ask myself, "Do I express to the Lord in prayer what I am feeling to the degree David did?" The answer is usually "no, I don't." I wonder why? Why do I not get as transparent and expressively free to be as open as he did?
I then realize that, to the degree that I become like David in this area, to that degree will I make headway in prayer, in freedom, in intimacy with God, and in knowing the joy of the Lord. When I am hurting, do I do what David did? I ought to go there, but only religious inhibitions or unbelief will hinder me from doing so. I must make myself, force myself out of my comfort zone of carnal personality and do this. It's a spiritual discipline. I must grow into doing what David did when hurting, if I too want to become more of a man after God's own heart. That IS how he became a man after God's own heart.
Like William Wallace in Brave Heart, when I am on the torture table of life feeling my own agonies, can I bring myself to scream to Him, "Freedom! Freedom!"
There was another one who later came in the lineage of David, one of whom it was written, "Who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to Him, who was able to save him through death." Jesus, our sympathizing Man, also did what his forefather David did--He cried out with all his might when he was hurting.
Oh, to be like David, oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer.
- Mack Tomlinson
At the heart of his hurts, one thing set David apart from most of us--he was remarkable in his response to the hurts in his life, remarkable specifically in how much he would become transparent before God in specifically telling the Lord what he was feeling and what he was thinking. He did not hold it inside, letting it boil under the surface, only to explode later. He did not generally let it fester and build like an infected boil that finally has to be lanced. He did not keep it penned up quietly withheld like a damn holding back water, only for the damn to finally break.
No, David let it out. He let it out through the means of expression in prayer. He told God how he felt truly. He told the Lord how he felt fully. The Psalms are often expressions of this particularly. David expressed just exactly how he was hurting. It is amazing just to read each Psalm in search of what David exactly said to God about what he felt when he was really needy. Just a few examples:
I have many enemies- Ps. 3:1
I cried aloud 3:4
I was in distress 4:1
Consider my groaning 5:1
I am languishing 6:2
My bones are troubled 6:2
Soul is greatly troubled 6:3
I’m weary from my groaning 6:6
I flood my bed with tears 6:6
See my affliction 9:13
There's sorrow in my heart all day 13:2
I find no rest 22:2
I am lonely and afflicted 25:16
The troubles of my heart are enlarged 25:17
I cried to you for help 30:2
I plead for mercy 30:8
Rescue me speedily 31:2
You have seen my affliction 31:7
You have seen the distress of my soul 31:7
Look at the openness of expression and the extent of blatant, honest verbal communication there. As it dawns on me how blatantly honest David is with God about how he feels, it reveals a big gap between David and me. I ask myself, "Do I express to the Lord in prayer what I am feeling to the degree David did?" The answer is usually "no, I don't." I wonder why? Why do I not get as transparent and expressively free to be as open as he did?
I then realize that, to the degree that I become like David in this area, to that degree will I make headway in prayer, in freedom, in intimacy with God, and in knowing the joy of the Lord. When I am hurting, do I do what David did? I ought to go there, but only religious inhibitions or unbelief will hinder me from doing so. I must make myself, force myself out of my comfort zone of carnal personality and do this. It's a spiritual discipline. I must grow into doing what David did when hurting, if I too want to become more of a man after God's own heart. That IS how he became a man after God's own heart.
Like William Wallace in Brave Heart, when I am on the torture table of life feeling my own agonies, can I bring myself to scream to Him, "Freedom! Freedom!"
There was another one who later came in the lineage of David, one of whom it was written, "Who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to Him, who was able to save him through death." Jesus, our sympathizing Man, also did what his forefather David did--He cried out with all his might when he was hurting.
Oh, to be like David, oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer.
- Mack Tomlinson
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Man's Conscience
"They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing or excusing them." Romans 2:15
The principal means which God uses in conversion is that of our conscience; and indeed without this, all the rest are in vain. Outward afflictions are of service only as they tend to awaken the conscience from its lethargy to a faithful discharge of its duty. It is conscience which makes the sinner sensible of his misery and scourges him. The lashes of a guilty conscience are intolerable and some under them have chosen suicide rather than life.
Conscience is a serpent in the sinner's breast, which bites and gnaws his heart and he can no more avoid it than he can fly from himself!
If a person has never been tortured with its remorse, they not congratulate themselves or think it good, for they are not innocent! Their conscience will not always sleep! It will not always lie torpid and inactive, like a snake benumbed with cold in their breast!
It will awaken them either to their conversion or condemnation!
Either the fire of God's wrath flaming from His law will enliven the conscience in this world to sting the unconverted person with medicinal anguish; or the unquenchable fire of His vengeance in the lake of fire and brimstone will thaw it into life and then it will horribly rage in their breast, and diffuse its tormenting poison through their whole frame! And then it will become a never-dying worm, and prey upon their hearts forever!
- Samuel Davies
The principal means which God uses in conversion is that of our conscience; and indeed without this, all the rest are in vain. Outward afflictions are of service only as they tend to awaken the conscience from its lethargy to a faithful discharge of its duty. It is conscience which makes the sinner sensible of his misery and scourges him. The lashes of a guilty conscience are intolerable and some under them have chosen suicide rather than life.
Conscience is a serpent in the sinner's breast, which bites and gnaws his heart and he can no more avoid it than he can fly from himself!
If a person has never been tortured with its remorse, they not congratulate themselves or think it good, for they are not innocent! Their conscience will not always sleep! It will not always lie torpid and inactive, like a snake benumbed with cold in their breast!
It will awaken them either to their conversion or condemnation!
Either the fire of God's wrath flaming from His law will enliven the conscience in this world to sting the unconverted person with medicinal anguish; or the unquenchable fire of His vengeance in the lake of fire and brimstone will thaw it into life and then it will horribly rage in their breast, and diffuse its tormenting poison through their whole frame! And then it will become a never-dying worm, and prey upon their hearts forever!
- Samuel Davies
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Being a Christian
"The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch." Acts 11:26
We call ourselves Christians, but do we really understand the meaning and sacred import of that name? Do we really know what it is to be Christians indeed? Are we in reality what we are in name? Certainly it is time for us to consider the matter!
What is it to be a Christian?
To be a Christian, in the popular and fashionable sense, is no really difficult or excellent thing. It is to be baptized, to profess the Christian faith; to believe, like our neighbors, that Christ is the Messiah, and to attend church once a week. In this sense, a man may be a 'Christian' and yet be habitually careless about eternal things. He may be a 'Christian' and yet fall short of the morality of many of the heathen. He may be a 'Christian' and yet a drunkard, a swearer, or a slave to some vice or other. He may be a 'Christian' and yet a willful, impenitent offender against God and man.
But is this to be a 'real Christian' in the original and proper sense of the word? No! that is something of a very different and superior kind.
To be a Christian indeed is to be like to Christ, from whom the name is taken!
To be a Christian indeed is to be a follower and imitator of Christ!
To be a Christian indeed is to have Christ's spirit and temper; and to live as He lived in the world!
In short, to be a Christian is to have our sentiments, our character and our practice, formed upon the sacred model of the gospel.
- Samuel Davies
We call ourselves Christians, but do we really understand the meaning and sacred import of that name? Do we really know what it is to be Christians indeed? Are we in reality what we are in name? Certainly it is time for us to consider the matter!
What is it to be a Christian?
To be a Christian, in the popular and fashionable sense, is no really difficult or excellent thing. It is to be baptized, to profess the Christian faith; to believe, like our neighbors, that Christ is the Messiah, and to attend church once a week. In this sense, a man may be a 'Christian' and yet be habitually careless about eternal things. He may be a 'Christian' and yet fall short of the morality of many of the heathen. He may be a 'Christian' and yet a drunkard, a swearer, or a slave to some vice or other. He may be a 'Christian' and yet a willful, impenitent offender against God and man.
But is this to be a 'real Christian' in the original and proper sense of the word? No! that is something of a very different and superior kind.
To be a Christian indeed is to be like to Christ, from whom the name is taken!
To be a Christian indeed is to be a follower and imitator of Christ!
To be a Christian indeed is to have Christ's spirit and temper; and to live as He lived in the world!
In short, to be a Christian is to have our sentiments, our character and our practice, formed upon the sacred model of the gospel.
- Samuel Davies
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Missions in Western Zambia: A Report from one of the Heartcry Missionaries
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. . .He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9)
Dear family and friends,
Can you believe it? Last week we celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Africa! It has been a year full of lessons in faith, humility, endurance, unconditional love, and team unity. I am convinced that this past year was mostly about God working in His missionaries so that He could someday work through His missionaries. Now here's my greatest act of faith - to look back on all my pride, selfishness, unbelief, failure, weakness, whining, and apparent lack of "progress" in the work over the past year, and truly believe that God is smiling. He is. I have a perfect High Priest who intercedes for me, and the Father does not look past His Son to frown at me. Isn't that great? Excuse me while I jump up and down and shout for joy! And if the Father is pleased with this pathetic missionary, guess how He feels about you?
By grace, I can testify to evidence of Christ's work in us. We just returned from another trip to the bush - a guy's trip to put the finishing touches on a functional water system for our land. The trip was full of unpleasant surprises, difficult challenges, and disappointment. When compared with one year ago, however, I can see in us an increased experience of peace, joy, and trust. We have pleaded with God that we not just grow numb to the difficulties of life in Africa, but instead, that we would endure with genuine joy. I believe that He will continue doing that supernatural work in us.
In the past month, we have seen some historic achievements in our construction work. In imitation of the Patriarchs, who dug wells in the land that God had promised them, we have pressed on to bring water from the river to our camp structure. God has sent some remarkable and perfectly timed help for the last two steps.
First was a visit from 2 dear South African friends from Cape Town, Pieterfrancois and Frans. Both men had a unique role to play. Frans is an electrician, and when he planned the trip to come see us, he had no idea that we would be wiring the solar panels and water pump. In two days, we had the solar array assembled and set in concrete, panels mounted and wired, pump placed in the river and wired, and water line run to the hilltop. When water came out of that pipe on top of the hill, our shouts of joy startled some poor children walking down the road hundreds of yards away!
As a side note, because of receding flood waters, we've had to wade chest-deep into the Zambezi 3 times to move the pump. The pump cannot be permanently placed until the low-flow period of September. Since most of the small islands in the river are covered by flood waters, the crocs are pushed to the river banks, making this the most dangerous time of year to be wading overflow areas near the river's edge. Praise the Lord for His protection! We really are trying not to cross the line into testing the Lord our God.
Back to the visit from Cape Town. . .we also watched Christ do the unexpected through Pieterfrancois. Pieter has been friends with Dominic for many years, and he came to Zambia with a strong passion to pursue his friend. He was perfectly gifted to play the role of mediator, and I am happy to report that there has been sweet reconciliation in our relationship with Dominic. Please pray that the Lord will work more than remorse and good intentions in Dom, but bring about genuine repentance and the obedience of faith. The Spirit has also gifted Pieter with brilliant insights into the church, and he graciously mixed penetrating questions with helpful ideas.
The next step in our water system was the placement of two 5000 liter water tanks on top of our hill. Each tank is over 6 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. Without a trailer, we were faced with the perplexing problem of transporting them to the bush. A man in our church in Livingstone has a large flatbed truck and is currently out of work. He volunteered his truck and drove the tanks to our land. Six men carried each tank to the hilltop, and the job was finished far more easily than we had feared. In 2 more days, the tanks were connected to the line from the river and the line to the camp pavilion. There were more shouts of rejoicing when we turned on the outside tap at the pavilion and water flowed. I think our Lozi crew was even more excited than we were. Vincent said, "Praise to God! No more trips to the river to fill buckets. The crocs will see us no more!"
Our first build team from the U.S. arrives Wednesday, and within the next 2 weeks we hope to have working toilets and showers in the pavilion. Then at last it will be adequate for extended stays in the bush while we finish the bathrooms and kitchens. Maybe we'll complete our 3-month construction project in 10 months. I wonder how long the houses will take . . . .
In my last update, I expressed sorrow over the lack of comprehension of the Gospel in our study group. This month I have a glimmer of hope to report. Our last stay in Livingstone caused us to miss two Sundays in the village. We assigned Vincent and Joseph to teach on the stories of the Passover and the bronze serpent. Their assignment was to show how the stories pointed to Christ. On the first Sunday, a woman was killed by a croc in a neighboring village, and Bible study was canceled to search for the body and comfort the grieving husband. (This woman had probably attended our preaching visits to that village, tho I don't know for sure. The husband always attended. Another sober reminder of the uncertainty of this life, the finality of eternity, and the urgency of our ministry.)
The next Sunday, Vincent taught on the bronze serpent. Without any coaching, he asked the group what the story reminded them of. Vincent's sister answered, "It reminds me of Jesus dying for our sins." Then Vincent, without our help, actually made the connection with John 3, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness . . ."! Finally, there are signs that some are "getting it." Oh, how I long for the day when we can live with them and be the body of Christ among them, day in and day out. If occasional teaching yields a little fruit, what will a consistent daily example produce?
Please pray for us....
...that we will never forget the lessons of this past year.
...that the Lord will prosper our construction efforts.
...that the Lord will provide a reliable and skilled interpreter for our teaching ministry.
...that the Lord would be pleased to call many sons and daughters to glory from Western Zambia.
By His grace and power,
Sean
- Sean Reece
HeartCry Missionary Society
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9)
Dear family and friends,
Can you believe it? Last week we celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Africa! It has been a year full of lessons in faith, humility, endurance, unconditional love, and team unity. I am convinced that this past year was mostly about God working in His missionaries so that He could someday work through His missionaries. Now here's my greatest act of faith - to look back on all my pride, selfishness, unbelief, failure, weakness, whining, and apparent lack of "progress" in the work over the past year, and truly believe that God is smiling. He is. I have a perfect High Priest who intercedes for me, and the Father does not look past His Son to frown at me. Isn't that great? Excuse me while I jump up and down and shout for joy! And if the Father is pleased with this pathetic missionary, guess how He feels about you?
By grace, I can testify to evidence of Christ's work in us. We just returned from another trip to the bush - a guy's trip to put the finishing touches on a functional water system for our land. The trip was full of unpleasant surprises, difficult challenges, and disappointment. When compared with one year ago, however, I can see in us an increased experience of peace, joy, and trust. We have pleaded with God that we not just grow numb to the difficulties of life in Africa, but instead, that we would endure with genuine joy. I believe that He will continue doing that supernatural work in us.
In the past month, we have seen some historic achievements in our construction work. In imitation of the Patriarchs, who dug wells in the land that God had promised them, we have pressed on to bring water from the river to our camp structure. God has sent some remarkable and perfectly timed help for the last two steps.
First was a visit from 2 dear South African friends from Cape Town, Pieterfrancois and Frans. Both men had a unique role to play. Frans is an electrician, and when he planned the trip to come see us, he had no idea that we would be wiring the solar panels and water pump. In two days, we had the solar array assembled and set in concrete, panels mounted and wired, pump placed in the river and wired, and water line run to the hilltop. When water came out of that pipe on top of the hill, our shouts of joy startled some poor children walking down the road hundreds of yards away!
As a side note, because of receding flood waters, we've had to wade chest-deep into the Zambezi 3 times to move the pump. The pump cannot be permanently placed until the low-flow period of September. Since most of the small islands in the river are covered by flood waters, the crocs are pushed to the river banks, making this the most dangerous time of year to be wading overflow areas near the river's edge. Praise the Lord for His protection! We really are trying not to cross the line into testing the Lord our God.
Back to the visit from Cape Town. . .we also watched Christ do the unexpected through Pieterfrancois. Pieter has been friends with Dominic for many years, and he came to Zambia with a strong passion to pursue his friend. He was perfectly gifted to play the role of mediator, and I am happy to report that there has been sweet reconciliation in our relationship with Dominic. Please pray that the Lord will work more than remorse and good intentions in Dom, but bring about genuine repentance and the obedience of faith. The Spirit has also gifted Pieter with brilliant insights into the church, and he graciously mixed penetrating questions with helpful ideas.
The next step in our water system was the placement of two 5000 liter water tanks on top of our hill. Each tank is over 6 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. Without a trailer, we were faced with the perplexing problem of transporting them to the bush. A man in our church in Livingstone has a large flatbed truck and is currently out of work. He volunteered his truck and drove the tanks to our land. Six men carried each tank to the hilltop, and the job was finished far more easily than we had feared. In 2 more days, the tanks were connected to the line from the river and the line to the camp pavilion. There were more shouts of rejoicing when we turned on the outside tap at the pavilion and water flowed. I think our Lozi crew was even more excited than we were. Vincent said, "Praise to God! No more trips to the river to fill buckets. The crocs will see us no more!"
Our first build team from the U.S. arrives Wednesday, and within the next 2 weeks we hope to have working toilets and showers in the pavilion. Then at last it will be adequate for extended stays in the bush while we finish the bathrooms and kitchens. Maybe we'll complete our 3-month construction project in 10 months. I wonder how long the houses will take . . . .
In my last update, I expressed sorrow over the lack of comprehension of the Gospel in our study group. This month I have a glimmer of hope to report. Our last stay in Livingstone caused us to miss two Sundays in the village. We assigned Vincent and Joseph to teach on the stories of the Passover and the bronze serpent. Their assignment was to show how the stories pointed to Christ. On the first Sunday, a woman was killed by a croc in a neighboring village, and Bible study was canceled to search for the body and comfort the grieving husband. (This woman had probably attended our preaching visits to that village, tho I don't know for sure. The husband always attended. Another sober reminder of the uncertainty of this life, the finality of eternity, and the urgency of our ministry.)
The next Sunday, Vincent taught on the bronze serpent. Without any coaching, he asked the group what the story reminded them of. Vincent's sister answered, "It reminds me of Jesus dying for our sins." Then Vincent, without our help, actually made the connection with John 3, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness . . ."! Finally, there are signs that some are "getting it." Oh, how I long for the day when we can live with them and be the body of Christ among them, day in and day out. If occasional teaching yields a little fruit, what will a consistent daily example produce?
Please pray for us....
...that we will never forget the lessons of this past year.
...that the Lord will prosper our construction efforts.
...that the Lord will provide a reliable and skilled interpreter for our teaching ministry.
...that the Lord would be pleased to call many sons and daughters to glory from Western Zambia.
By His grace and power,
Sean
- Sean Reece
HeartCry Missionary Society
Sunday, May 9, 2010
From Wales to America- Part 2
Edward Jones: A Tireless Worker
Edward Jones was a Welshman who laid the foundations of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Ohio in the 1830's and 40's. He had been licensed to preach before leaving Wales for America, but had not been ordained, according to their church custom. After immigrating to America, he was ordained on June 12, 1833, to labor among the Calvinistic Methodists in Ohio. A very well educated man, he founded a private school in Cincinnati and taught for many years, as well as organizing a number of churches in the area in those years.
Jones had strong gifts and creativity which included inventing a shorthand writing system, which he then taught to students.
Jones made long and extensive trips throughout Ohio between 1832 and 1840, traveling hundreds and hundreds of miles, much of the time on foot, to help organize churches, and to strengthen the work of Zion across the state among the Calvinistic Methodists.
On one such trip, he walked from Cincinnati to Palmyra in Portage County, in the northeast part of the state, to organize and give leadership to the Palmyra church. It was on this trip that he faced severe difficulties. A severe thunder storm came upon him, with both rain and strong winds. With no homes in sight, he had nowhere to take shelter. The road was hardly more than a small path through the woods. Jones had to remove his shoes, for fear of losing them in the mud and wet clay. He walked onward barefoot through the dark hours of evening in the heavy rains, his only light being the flashes of lightning that would give him direction.
After walking several hours, he saw a light from a house, where he was graciously received and welcomed for the night. Exhausted with bleeding feet, he fell into bed for the night. It was not until three days later that he could wear his shoes and continue on his trip in the interests of the establishment of the churches and the advance of the gospel in Ohio.
On one trip in March, 1836, Jones, traveling with Edward Blunt, took a boat from Cincinnati to Portsmouth, and then walked through the woods to the Centerville area in Gallia County. Darkness came upon them and they were lost in a wilderness area. "Mr. Jones, we'll be devoured before morning," Blunt told Jones; "Oh, no," said Jones, "God can keep us in the forest, just as He did Daniel and the three lads in Babylon; if He has work for us to do, we'll be protected."
The morning dawned, and they continued on safely. About nine o'clock that morning, they reached the house of Tom Alban, the first Welsh home that they came to. Then they proceeded to visit another Welsh immigrant and a believer, Daniel Edwards. Upon arriving, they discovered a prayer meeting had been planned for ten o'clock. Because of the arrival of Jones and and Blunt, the prayer meeting was changed to a preaching service also. Jones had been there before, in November of the previous year, and was there for two Sundays. On that trip, he had walked at least 300 miles in the work of the gospel.
Edward Jones was the pastor of the Cincinnati church for eighteen years, from 1832 until 1850. One of the features of the Calvinistic Methodists during these years were their practice of the gymanva, which were preaching festivals where churches would come together for several days of preaching, communion, and fellowship. Jones worked diligently to organize the gymanvas widely. It was a commitment to the preaching of the gospel and the truth, to the need of true Christian fellowship among all those who held to the truth in sincerity, and to maintaining and increasing a spreading witness of the gospel all over Ohio.
As a result, there were gospel churches planted and the truth of Jesus Christ spread widely in Ohio in the mid-nineteenth century, largely as the result of God blessing the labors and diligent work of Edward Jones. He was probably never known outside of his own circles during his life, but he was known to the Lord of the Harvest as a faithful and persevering servant of Christ.
- Mack Tomlinson
Edward Jones was a Welshman who laid the foundations of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Ohio in the 1830's and 40's. He had been licensed to preach before leaving Wales for America, but had not been ordained, according to their church custom. After immigrating to America, he was ordained on June 12, 1833, to labor among the Calvinistic Methodists in Ohio. A very well educated man, he founded a private school in Cincinnati and taught for many years, as well as organizing a number of churches in the area in those years.
Jones had strong gifts and creativity which included inventing a shorthand writing system, which he then taught to students.
Jones made long and extensive trips throughout Ohio between 1832 and 1840, traveling hundreds and hundreds of miles, much of the time on foot, to help organize churches, and to strengthen the work of Zion across the state among the Calvinistic Methodists.
On one such trip, he walked from Cincinnati to Palmyra in Portage County, in the northeast part of the state, to organize and give leadership to the Palmyra church. It was on this trip that he faced severe difficulties. A severe thunder storm came upon him, with both rain and strong winds. With no homes in sight, he had nowhere to take shelter. The road was hardly more than a small path through the woods. Jones had to remove his shoes, for fear of losing them in the mud and wet clay. He walked onward barefoot through the dark hours of evening in the heavy rains, his only light being the flashes of lightning that would give him direction.
After walking several hours, he saw a light from a house, where he was graciously received and welcomed for the night. Exhausted with bleeding feet, he fell into bed for the night. It was not until three days later that he could wear his shoes and continue on his trip in the interests of the establishment of the churches and the advance of the gospel in Ohio.
On one trip in March, 1836, Jones, traveling with Edward Blunt, took a boat from Cincinnati to Portsmouth, and then walked through the woods to the Centerville area in Gallia County. Darkness came upon them and they were lost in a wilderness area. "Mr. Jones, we'll be devoured before morning," Blunt told Jones; "Oh, no," said Jones, "God can keep us in the forest, just as He did Daniel and the three lads in Babylon; if He has work for us to do, we'll be protected."
The morning dawned, and they continued on safely. About nine o'clock that morning, they reached the house of Tom Alban, the first Welsh home that they came to. Then they proceeded to visit another Welsh immigrant and a believer, Daniel Edwards. Upon arriving, they discovered a prayer meeting had been planned for ten o'clock. Because of the arrival of Jones and and Blunt, the prayer meeting was changed to a preaching service also. Jones had been there before, in November of the previous year, and was there for two Sundays. On that trip, he had walked at least 300 miles in the work of the gospel.
Edward Jones was the pastor of the Cincinnati church for eighteen years, from 1832 until 1850. One of the features of the Calvinistic Methodists during these years were their practice of the gymanva, which were preaching festivals where churches would come together for several days of preaching, communion, and fellowship. Jones worked diligently to organize the gymanvas widely. It was a commitment to the preaching of the gospel and the truth, to the need of true Christian fellowship among all those who held to the truth in sincerity, and to maintaining and increasing a spreading witness of the gospel all over Ohio.
As a result, there were gospel churches planted and the truth of Jesus Christ spread widely in Ohio in the mid-nineteenth century, largely as the result of God blessing the labors and diligent work of Edward Jones. He was probably never known outside of his own circles during his life, but he was known to the Lord of the Harvest as a faithful and persevering servant of Christ.
- Mack Tomlinson
The Only Needed Book
"I have put my hope in Your Word." - Psalm 119:81
So long as there are tears and sorrows, broken hearts and crushed hopes, human failures and lives burdened and bowed down, and spirits sad and despairing-- just that long will the Bible be a needed book. It is full of inspiration, light, help and strength for earth's weary ones.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."
Psalm 19:7-11
- J. R. Miller
So long as there are tears and sorrows, broken hearts and crushed hopes, human failures and lives burdened and bowed down, and spirits sad and despairing-- just that long will the Bible be a needed book. It is full of inspiration, light, help and strength for earth's weary ones.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."
Psalm 19:7-11
- J. R. Miller
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