God has providentially partnered our church with Pastor Odanis Joseph who oversees 13 churches planted under his leadership.  Each of these churches have orphan schools and provide food, water, and education for these children with no help or family support outside the church.  This indigenous network of churches has not benefited from outside support and managed to survive in spite of the devastating earthquake of 2010. However, these churches were hit with another challenge with the outbreak of cholera, leading to more deaths and more orphaned children in their churches.

Though we have been able to provide food for the orphans this past year, we realized that the rising number of orphans along with the additional need for clean drinking water and education led us to a manner through which we could package these three essential needs together with one goal–to bless and care for orphans in Haiti.

For the next 40 days, we are asking God for $65,000 in order to provide food, water, and education to 1,572 orphans in the 13 churches that make up our network in Haiti.  That comes down to $5,000 per church for the year 2012 or $.10 per orphan per day.  God has given us an incredible opportunity to meet this great need, and I am that God will supply these needs through the generosity of His people.

If you would like to give directly to the cause, you can do so with a major credit card or PayPal account by clicking the link below.  To read more about Libere 2012, check out The Haiti Collective, especially in the coming weeks.

For more info:

» The Backstory
» The 40 Day Challenge
» 1,572 Reasons to Join
» The Churches

Old Ada’s Food Store at 1242 Pine Island Road Southwest

SAME MEETING TIMES:

Sunday 9AM, 10:30AM, 6PM

God has done exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ask or think as He has guided us the last 5 months! During that time He has provided a buyer for our old facilities, enabled us to purchase new facilities and has provided us with an interim meeting space in ways that will allow us to continue our worship, study and prayer gatherings without missing a beat. God is definitely doing a new thing among us. It is an incredible story.

On September 26, we closed on the sell of our property to Crosspoint Church, an evangelical fellowship that has been meeting in Mariner High School the last several years. Pastor Jeff Swearingen and their staff have been great to work with and have become real friends in the process of working this deal out. We had prayed that our facilities would continue to be used to spread the gospel in our city and we are very grateful that the Lord has done that through providing a permanent location for our friends at Crosspoint.

Future Home of GBC

Four days later, September 30, we closed on the purchase of the Mid-Cape Racquet & Health Club. This property will need to be retrofitted but after it is complete, we expect that it will serve our purposes very well for years to come. One of our great concerns when negotiating for this property is the welfare of the current club members. Through the kindness of God we have been enabled to provide an opportunity for the fitness members to relocate their membership to a new fitness center opening in the Chiquita Plaza on November 1. We have also negotiated an agreement to keep the 10 beautiful, clay tennis courts open and available to the members and the public. As you can imagine, working out these kinds of deals is challenging under the best of circumstances. But when dealing with foreclosed properties, thousands of fitness contracts, a management company, staff and club members–all on a tight schedule–the challenges multiply. In ways that have clearly displayed His grace and power the Lord has guided through each step so that we now own that building and are far along in the designs for remodeling it to suit our needs.

Temporary Location

Selling our facilities and then purchasing a new building that will not be ready for several months means that we needed interim meeting space. God astounded us again by giving us the old Ada’s Organic and Natural Food Store on Pine Island Road (in the Chiquita Plaza) to meet in for the next 6 months. This is a great location and will allow us to continue meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:00AM for Bible Study & Sunday School (for all ages) & 10:30AM & 6PM for worship (nursery provided).

And…God has enabled us to do all of this debt-free!

Join us as we meet together to praise God for the great things He has done and the greater things He will do among His people!

In Sunday School this summer we have been studying The Pilgrim’s Progress using a new DVD series by Cross TV. In this allegory John Bunyan portrays the joys and trials of the Christian life as God rescues us from Destruction, takes us to the Cross, and brings us safely home to heaven, the Celestial City.

I want to conclude our study by sharing with you a Hymn based on Part 1 of Pilgrim’s Progress.

The hymn is prayer of intercession for those who are at different stages and places in the Christian journey. I pray it encourages you as you continue to pray for one another as we press on together by faith.

This refuge is the Village of Morality. The Village of Morality represents that great host of people who seek to avoid the appearance of evil and practice good apart from any fear of God or judgment. They hope by being good people and doing good things that all will turn out right in the end. They keep the law outwardly in the eyes of men and can say along with the rich young ruler, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:20) The World’s advise to Christian is essentially be a good person and all will be well.

The citizens of Morality look to Mr. Legality to ease their consciences. They cling to an outward keeping of the law, a works righteousness that continually seeks to outweigh any bad with the good. And if Legality is not home, then Civility will do. Simply try to get along with people, act in a decent and benevolent way towards your fellow man and again all will be well. Bunyan describes his own stay in this Village:

“Wherefore I fell to some outward reformation, both in my words and life, and did set the commandments before me for my way to heaven; which commandments I also did strive to keep, and, as I thought, did keep them pretty well sometimes, and then I should have comfort; yet now and then should break one, and so afflict my conscience; but then I should repent, and say I was sorry for it, and promise God to do better next time, and there get help again, for then I thought I pleased God as well as any man in England.”

This town, however is in even greater danger than the City of Destruction. In Destruction the danger was manifest; the wickedness and enmity against God was apparent. In this city, however, burdens are removed. Guilt is smothered and silenced. Its citizens are deceived into believing all is well. They say peace, peace! When there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14).

So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality’s house for help; but, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still and did not know what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burned. Here, therefore, he sweat and did quake for fear.

Swayed by the counsel of Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Christian strays from the Way. As he travels toward the Village of Morality, it is not long before he begins to realize his foolishness. The closer he gets to the Hill, the more he fears it will fall on his head and crush him. He has forsaken the Way of the cross and is now pursuing a works-righteousness salvation. He soon learns that his attempts to please God by an outward form of morality are as filthy rags before God. His works can never measure up to the perfect standard of God’s Law. Christian finds himself in great fear, not knowing what to do or which way to turn. The Lord is merciful, however, and sends His servant Evangelist once again to warn and comfort Christian. Evangelist is faithful to his King and comes to find and warn his brother. As Evangelist once again points Christian to the Light of the Gospel, Christian shows the fruits of repentance and is encouraged to be not faithless, but believing.

Then, said Evangelist, stand still a little, that I may show you the words of God. So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist, See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven. He said, moreover, the just shall live by faith: but if any one draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. He also made this application: You are the man who is running into this misery; who has begun to reject the counsel of the Most High, and to draw back your foot from the way of peace, even almost to the hazarding of your destruction.

Then Christian fell down at his feet as a dead man, crying, Woe is me, for I am undone! When Evangelist saw this, he caught him by the right hand, and said, All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men. Do not be faithless, but believing. Then Christian began to revive a little, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist.

Let’s look more closely at this encounter between Christian and Evangelist, and consider three important factors: the King’s mercy, Evangelist’s faithfulness, and Christian’s response.

I. The King’s Mercy

Notice first, the mercy of the King, who sends His servant Evangelist to warn Christian of his error. Evangelist is representative in the allegory of a pastor, a shepherd, a watchman — one who serves the Kingdom of God by caring for and instructing the people of God. God Himself promised: “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). God has also promised that He will not leave those whom He loves in error. He will come and bring correction. We are told in Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”

Notice that this error does not take God by surprise. He is prepared for our stumbling and wandering. God knows the heart of man. He tells us in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” He has searched the soul of man and pronounced His conclusion:  “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10-18).

It is significant that throughout the allegory in all the times Christian stumbles, falls or strays from the path, the King is always prepared to find him and bring him back. When Christian was in the field reading his Book, convicted of sin and not knowing which way to go, God sent Evangelist to warn him to flee the wrath to come and flee to the Gate, to Jesus Christ and His Gospel. When Christian fell into the Slough, mired by his sin wondering if God could ever save one as wicked as he, Help was nearby to come and pull him out. And now, when Christian forsakes the right path and strays from the Way, Evangelist is sent again to warn and instruct Christian.

II. Evangelist’s Faithfulness

Second, consider the faithfulness of Evangelist to serve His King as a faithful shepherd. He is not afraid to confront Christian with his sin and warn him of its consequences. He tells him plainly “You are out of the Way.” Ezekiel 33:1-6 reveals the grave importance of confronting men with their sin and proclaiming the Gospel:

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

The watchman knows the weight of his responsibility before God. He understands the reality of hell and the coming judgment and wrath of God. This knowledge burns in his heart to warn and plead with men to flee Destruction and seek the Narrow Gate. But notice what the watchman is to say. He is not, as Worldly Wiseman, told to offer his own opinions and counsel. Instead, the watchman must preach God’s Word.  “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me” (Ezekiel 33:7). We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16 that God’s Word is profitable for doctrine (teaching us truth concerning God, us and the world in which we live), for reproof (confronting us when we sin and fall into error), for correction (showing how to get back to the Way), and for instruction in righteousness (teaching us how to remain in the Way). Here Christian is in need of all that Scripture can offer and Evangelist tells him “Stand still a little that I may show you the words of God.”

But notice also, that while Evangelist does not slight the heinousness of Christian’s sin, he speaks the truth to Christian in love. His stern warning is mixed with a heart of compassion, comfort and tenderness. Upon hearing his sin exposed Christian falls down at Evangelist’s feet as dead. As the fruits of repentance are manifest, Evangelist is quick to bring the balm of the Gospel. He tells him. “All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men. Do not be faithless, but believing.” He takes Christian by the hand and helps him to stand.

III. Christian’s Response

Notice finally, Christian’s response to the warning he was given. He accepted it humbly. When the watchman sounded the trumpet, Christian heeded the call and repented of his sin. Jeremiah 6, speaking of the Fall of Judah, presents an example of the grave consequences of rejecting God’s Word and not heeding His watchmen. Here we are told: “I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it” (Jeremiah 6:17-19). We must accept the correction God brings to us from His Word. Proverbs 15:10 reveals what the result would have been had Christian not considered the warning of Evangelist: “There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die” (Proverbs 15:10).

We must be thankful for those watchmen God has given to care for us. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Paul encourages us to recognize “those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). Later in the story, when Christian is with Faithful, he will encounter Evangelist again, as Evangelist comes to warn and instruct them. Consider the way the pilgrims esteem their shepherd in love. God’s ministers are an important means in our sanctification. We must pray for them and appreciate them for they warn and comfort us as those who must give an account.

—Pastor Ken Puls

Obst. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?

Chr. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be bestowed, at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book.

Obst. Tush! said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back with us or no?

Chr. No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the plough.

Obst. Come, then, neighbor Pliable, let us turn again, and go home without him; there is a company of these crazy−headed coxcombs, that, when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in their own eyes than seven men that can render a reason.

Pli. Then said Pliable, Don’t revile; if what the good Christian says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours: my heart inclines to go with my neighbor.

As Christian begins his discussion with Obstinate and Pliable, he wastes no time in warning them of their danger. They desire him to return to the ways of the world, but Christian, being warned in his Book and by the words of Evangelist of the coming destruction, does not heed their counsel. The comforts and friendship of the world cannot compare to the blessings promised in Scripture.  Christian is determined to escape the wrath to come and find eternal life; and he attempts to persuade the two worldlings to go with him in his journey.

In his appeal, Christian continually uses the Bible as his defense.  He tells them: “Read it so, if you will, in my Book” and “if you believe not me, read here in the Book.” He does not try to persuade them with his opinions or by force, rather his appeal is to God’s Word. Paul tells us in Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Bunyan highlights this truth by placing the Bible in the center of his allegory.

As the conversation unfolds, there appears to be two distinct responses to the Gospel.  To Obstinate the Gospel is foolishness and he will have nothing to do with it.  He reviles Christian saying, “away with your Book.”  Pliable, however, has become enamored with the joys and rewards promised in Christian’s Book. He is moved and swayed by Christian’s zeal and steadfastness in the pursuit of eternal life. As Christian and Obstinate vie for his company, Pliable makes an outward profession: “I intend to go along with this good man and cast in my Lot with him.” As Pliable continues on with Christian, Obstinate leaves them, saying, “I will be no companion of such misled, fantastical fellows.”

After the departure of Obstinate back to his Destruction, Pliable finds himself at the high point of his brief pilgrimage with Christian.  The path is easy. The conversation is pleasant. Pliable has “tasted of the heavenly gift” as Christian reads the rewards of the Gospel from his Book.  For a time he appears eager as though he is advancing in the faith.  Seeing the two travelers on the road from a distance one might presume that it is Pliable who is the “more spiritual.”  He is zealous, ready to race to heaven’s gates, bidding Christian to tell him more, exhorting him with the words, “come on, let us mend our pace.”

Pliable, however, lacks some important distinctions. He is ravished with the “hearing”, but not the “doing.” He is concerned over the talk of a coming destruction, and is delighted with the promises written in Christian’s book; but he is also unwilling to face the suffering, obedience, and struggle that must come before glory.

While Christian’s heart appears tender and concerned, Pliable’s is hard. Their conversation begins with Christian speaking of the Powers and Terrors he feels because he has been warned of the coming destruction. Pliable, however, brushes the comment aside and asks Christian to explain the way to enjoyment. Christian can hardly speak it in his condition of conviction, but he begins to read in his Book. Soon Pliable is a zealous follower. But though the Gospel may appear to spring up and flourish for this brief moment upon the way, it does not take root and is destined to wither and fade at the first sign of trouble.

Pliable also lacks the distinction that has set Christian apart from others in the allegory since its beginning; he has no burden. He has not been confronted with his sin or faced his guilt. He feels light as air, ready to run straight way to the gates of heaven. Christian, however is under conviction. He feels the weight of his burden. He knows he is guilty and unfit for heaven. This knowledge slows him, while Pliable is urging him forward.

But Pliable’s shallow commitment to seeking Zion is soon to be tested. His fall waits only for the first sign of difficulty along the way. For it is not enough to fear death and the terrors of hell. Salvation requires repentance from the sin that merits death and hell. It is not enough to want the comforts and joy of heaven. Salvation requires faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and points the way first to the cross.

As Christian’s thoughts turn from promised rewards to contemplating his unfitness and guilt, doubts and despair begin to rise in his heart. It is here Christian faces the first great difficulty of his pilgrimage as the two travelers fall unaware into the Slough of Despond.

The Slough represents the uncleanness and shame felt by Christian because of his sin. He feels dirty and wicked in light of the beauty of heaven. He begins to sink, despairing that God would save one such as him.

But Christian is not alone.  His despondency is so great, his companion falls in with him. But confronted with the vileness of sin, Pliable wants no part of its unpleasantness. He becomes offended that Christian would lead him into such a place, and with no burden to drag him down, he soon pulls himself from the mire and departs.

Pliable is later seen again, still in the Destruction in which he was born. But now he is in a worse state than before. His heart has hardened further as he joins the others to ridicule Christian. He himself becomes the object of scorn. He had started down the way toward eternal life and then turned back. Believers lament his shallow profession and lack of perseverance in the face of difficulty. The world mocks him for even venturing out at the beginning. He is called Fool and Coward and is treated as a hypocrite. For a time he loses his confidence and sits “sneaking among them.” This is the sad and fruitless pilgrimage of a false professor: at first flourishing and zealous; but headed for a certain shameful fall.

—Ken Puls

The neighbors also came out to see him run; and, as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and, among those that did so, there were two that resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of the one was Obstinate and the name of the other Pliable. Now, by this time, the man was got a good distance from them; but, however, they were resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbors, wherefore are ye come? They said, To persuade you to go back with us. But he said, That can by no means be; you dwell, said he, in the City of Destruction, the place also where I was born: I see it to be so; and, dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good neighbors, and go along with me.

Obst. What! said Obstinate, and leave our friends and our comforts behind us? Chr. Yes, said Christian, for that was his name, because that ALL which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of that which I am seeking to enjoy; and, if you will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for there, where I go, is enough and to spare. Come away, and prove my words.

No sooner had Christian taken leave of Evangelist to pursue eternal life than his actions were noticed by the world. He was forsaking the pleasures and ways of the world to find “an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away.” Not willing to lose one of its own so easily, the world pursued him, to mock and ridicule, and if possible “fetch him back by force.”

Christian was soon overtaken by two citizens of the City of Destruction: Obstinate, a stubborn, close-minded man who would have nothing to do with the Gospel; and Pliable, a man easily swayed and led by those of a stronger character. These two engaged Christian in a conversation to make sport of him and his religion. Though having only a little light and instruction, and in fact, not even yet converted at the cross, Christian gladly and earnestly spoke with them. Having heard the truth from Evangelist, he now becomes an evangelist to spread the warning of coming judgment and the hope of the Gospel.

Herein we can find hope and encouragement. Often we think of an evangelist as one with a special gift and calling who devotes his life and ministry to the spread of the Gospel across the world. But, in fact, all Christians can and should be evangelists. Christian took the scorn of the world and seized upon it as an opportunity to share the light he had been given. He did not run from the world, afraid that he would be laughed at or fearing he knew too little doctrine to face the world’s opposition. Instead he invited Obstinate and Pliable to “go along with me” and tells them “Come away, and prove my words.”

We must pray for the same love that Christian had for his neighbors. They lived on the brink of destruction and Christian had received warning and hope of the way to escape. Like Christian, how could we possibly not speak when God brings the lost across our path?

—Ken Puls

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now, he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life! Life! Eternal life! So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain.

After Christian received instruction and encouragement from Evangelist, he wasted no time in pursuing eternal life. Even the cries of family and friends could not persuade him to go back. He had seen the hope of the Gospel. Evangelist had pointed him to Jesus Christ. Christian had discovered the pearl of great price and was willing to give up all he had to obtain it.

Our Lord has said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” We must be willing to sacrifice all to follow Christ. Nothing is as important as our love and commitment to God. Paul said, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

But leaving all to follow Christ is not often simple. The world is not easily laid aside. It cries and beckons us to turn back. When a thief enters a strongman’s house to plunder his goods, the strongman is bound to object. Satan does not easily give up on those he has blinded and bound. He may seek to fetch them back, even by force, until he is defeated and bound by One who is stronger. The love Christ has for His bride and the sacrifice He was willing to make for her sake is no match for the devil and the world. It is Christ’s love for us that compels us to forsake all and pursue the riches and abundance found in knowing Him.

— Pastor Ken

Now I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was (as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, “What shall I do to be saved?”

I saw also that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and he asked, “Wherefore dost thou cry?”

After many days of suffering, distress, and prayer Christian is seen walking in the fields, reading his Book. He is alone and cries out asking the most important question a man can face: “What shall I do to be saved?” The Scriptures describe Christian’s dilemma in this way: “How shall they hear without a preacher?” As Christian ponders what to do next, God is faithful to send Evangelist. He does not leave Christian to himself, but sends His servant to teach and give direction, as He did when He sent Phillip to teach the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26. Evangelist is an important means of God’s grace in helping Christian in his journey. He appears often with encouragement, rebuke, instruction, and correction. But who is this Evangelist? In Bunyan’s own pilgrimage it was the faithful minister of a group of believers in Bedford, John Gifford. According to Bunyan’s testimony in Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, it was Gifford who “took occasion to talk with me, …invited me into his house, where I should hear him confer with others, about the dealings of God with the soul…”

Ephesians 4:11-12 states: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” God knows and understands the needs of His people. He is faithful to provide. We can rejoice that God has so gifted His church that we might find help and instruction along the way.

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” While this command is especially heavy on pastors and teachers, all believers have a ministry “teaching and admonishing one another.” Pray to the Father and ask Him to make you sensitive to His providence, that you might find opportunity and rich blessing in pointing pilgrims to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ken

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and, as he read, he wept, and trembled; and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, What shall I do?

In this plight, therefore, he went home and refrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: O my dear wife, said he, and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in myself undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am for certain informed that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered.

Since it was first published in 1678, John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress, has encouraged believers and pointed them to the Scriptures. C.H. Spurgeon said of this work: “Next to the Bible, the book that I value most is John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress.’ I believe I have read it through at least a hundred times. It is a volume of which I never seem to tire; and the secret of its freshness is that it is so largely compiled from the Scriptures. It is really Biblical teaching put into the form of a simple yet very striking allegory.”

Bunyan wrote his allegory during the time he spent in the Bedford jail, referred to in his day as “the den.” After the Restoration in 1660, Bunyan was arrested for preaching the gospel in a non-conformist church and spent most of the next twelve years in prison. During this imprisonment Bunyan wrote an autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, which told how God had graciously brought him from death unto life. He then began to shape his experiences of coming to faith in Christ and suffering for the gospel into an allegory which he entitled The Pilgrim’s Progress.

In 1672 Charles II granted a Declaration of Indulgence for Dissenters and Bunyan was released. He began pastoring a group of believers meeting in Bedford. His freedom did not last long, however. In 1675 the king was pressured to recant his declaration. Bunyan was again arrested and thrown in the “den” where he was able to complete his book. The Pilgrim’s Progress was finally published in 1678 after Bunyan was again released.

During our family Sunday School at Grace Baptist Church this summer, we will be reading Part 1 of Bunyan’s book together and gleaning from its many biblical insights. Our study will include portions of a DVD series on The Pilgrim’s Progress by Cross TV. I will be posting comments and commentary here on the Grace Blog through the summer so check back for updates.

Pastor Ken

Having said that, I think it is necessary to ask some important questions about ourselves in relation to our usage of Facebook.  One particular question I regularly examine myself is: “Am I interacting with a fellow member of my church family on Facebook but not in real life?” In other words, there is a real danger in think that Facebook community is real community. It is not.  But we can make it a substitution for flesh and blood community where life is shared.

Along these lines, Tim Challies has written an important article related to online community and the local church.  In it, he explains how Facebook is making us miserable.  Here’s an excerpt:

We log on to Facebook, look through the photographs and status messages our friends post, and believe that everyone is happier and more successful than we are. And when I have spoken to friends and family members who have considered giving up Facebook, this is exactly the reasoning they have given. They look at other people and feel miserable in comparison.

What an interesting phenomenon. It seems clear that Facebook is exposing something, some ugly little corner of the human heart. Facebook is all about making life seem joyful—we “like” one another’s happy status updates, not the sad ones; we post photos of our parties, not our funerals; we use it to celebrate births and marriages and new relationships, not to mourn deaths or remember break-ups. Facebook is meant to be a happy place for happy people. But it doesn’t seem to work out so well. We all think everyone else is happy, but we don’t feel the joy.

I encourage you to read the whole thing.  As believers, we should think deeply about our employments (or to use the old school word “deportment”) in everyday life, including (or especially) Facebook.