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A Weekend at a Barn

Sunday, August 29, 2010 Posted by Pastor Fred Wolfe

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A prodigious speckled rock appeared on our left with words chiseled giving glory to God. It perked our road weary interest as we rounded a corner announcing the entrance to your farm. A serpentine path matched our treads as it weaved around placid ponds and grey herons stealing your fish. We arrived after a time at what we thought might be your home, but could also have been your barn. Turns out it was both.

The iced tea made us feel at home while the fifty foot rope swing in your living room made our kids wish it was. We sat and spoke of God's ability and love and grace. Wisdom danced across the brick floor where a waiting couple scooped it and placed it in a safe place.

We gathered at your table and sang a hymn as foreigners still becoming acclimated to such unfamiliar inclusion. A brisk after-dinner walk along the granite lined path to the edge of your drive made flapping noises with my inappropriate footwear. I tasted what it was like to "walk along the way", and silently decided to do this with my sons and daughters.

We read Deuteronomy 27 that night, how the Israelites built an altar of stone and then wrote the law of God upon it for all to see. I glanced over to see the stone fireplace you mortered together with your son, an altar of sorts, with a heart shaped stone afixed in the center as an expression of the greatest law, and one like it.

Early that morning as my children slept around me and the only sounds I heard were their breathing in our lofty bedroom, I reached out to the beams of wood that held us up, marveling at the legacy you were leaving behind; faithfilled decendants that would march on long after those logs would rot away and be forgotten.

The next day was a restful flurry celebrating the faithfulness of God. Indiscriminate hospitality was shown to us without strings. The Lord lead me through green pastures and quiet waters. He was restoring my soul-though I feared the shadow of death. He spoke through you... "You are going to be OK." I knew, but it was nice to hear someone say it.

As we left with a shout and a sound like a trumpet, we praised God for having been so lavishly blessed by God.

Thank you to our hosts, and soli deo gloria!
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Pray and Be Alone With God

Friday, August 27, 2010 Posted by Pastor Fred Wolfe

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The past few nights the Lord has kept me awake into the early hours. I have used the time to pray and meditate on the word. It has made a huge difference in the focus on my days. Tomorrow I will begin a weekend of fellowship with one of my mentors, Scott Brown of the NCFIC. I have a feeling that I have been kept awake in prayer and meditation to prepare me for this time. I know God is preparing to do something radical in my life, and I am trusting that He will fill up what I lack in courage and conviction. Please pray for me as I am at a crossroads in my life-and much will be determined in the next few days.



Prayer is so important, not as a part of our Christian faith, but as our lifeblood. It ought to drive us to our knees when we have big decisions ahead. It ought to drive us to our knees when we don't know which way to go. And when we are answered by God, it should be a natural succession to continue with our constant communion with God. Listen to Paul Washer admonish us in the subject of prayer:





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Called to Contend for Christ...

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Posted by Pastor Fred Wolfe

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CJ Mahaney preaches a dynamic sermon on the book of Jude. Highly recommended.

Called to Contend for Christ from Grace Community Church





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Syllogism Explaining Family Integrated Church

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 Posted by Pastor Fred Wolfe

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I would like to give a little caveat to this before it is read. I know that this is not the popular version of church, and I know many Godly people who are not on the same page with me. I am writing this for those who are really wondering how I have come to such a staunch belief in Family Integrated Church. I am also open to criticism of this belief, I only ask that the criticism is Biblical, and not for the sake of pragmatism, which I have already addressed below. God Bless!





1. God his given a sufficient and authoritative source prescribing how He should be worshiped.

2. That source is the Holy Scriptures, and the scriptures alone. (2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1 Tim 3:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

3. If man worships God in a manner prescribed by scripture, he forms that worship in the image of God.

4. If man worships God in a manner outside of scripture it is of his own invention.

5. If man worships according to his own invention, he forms that worship in the image of man. (Matthew 15:3,8,9; 2 Kings 16:10-18)

6. Worshiping God in the image of man is unacceptable to Christians .

7. The scripture specifically prescribes men leading their families, and for wives and children to be subject to them in everything, including worship ((Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7, 1 Cor 11:7-9).

8. The scripture specifically prescribes men to teach the scriptures in such a way that their children and grandchildren will fear the Lord. (Deut. 6:2; Lk.1:50).

9. The scriptures specifically prescribe when and how men should teach their children the scriptures, including in multi generational sacred gatherings,(so as to fulfill #8)(Deut. 16:9-14; Josh. 8:34-35; Ezra 10:1; 2 Chr.20:13; Nehemiah 12:43; Joel 2:15-16; Luke 12:42-47; Col 4:14; Acts 20:7; Eph. 6:1-4).

10. The scriptures do not at any time describe, nor prescribe age segregated worship gatherings.

11. Therefore, multi-generational gatherings are the intention of God in our worship, and age-segregated worship gatherings are formed in the image of man and are unacceptable to Christians.


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True Repentance

Monday, August 23, 2010 Posted by Pastor Fred Wolfe

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Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." --John 8:31-32

First, we must consider the person who becomes a disciple of Christ on impulse. This is likely to be the person who came in on a wave of enthusiasm, and I am a little bit suspicious of anyone who is too easily converted. I have a feeling that if he or she can be easily converted to Christ, he or she may be very easily flipped back the other way. I am concerned about the person who just yields, who has no resistance at all....

Actually, I go along with the man or woman who is thoughtful enough about this decision to say truthfully: "I want a day to think this over," or "I want a week to read the Bible and to meditate on what this decision means."

I have never considered it a very great compliment to the Christian church that we can generate enthusiasm on such short notice. The less there is in the kettle, the quicker it begins to boil. There are some who get converted on enthusiasm and backslide on principle! AW Tozer, "Faith Beyond Reason", pp. 55-57

"Lord, this is contrary to our carnal thinking. We're aware of the urgency of the hour, of the need to repent and obey Christ, for the days are evil. Thank You, Lord, for this perspective on true repentance rather than flippant acquiescence. Amen."

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