Joel Beeke explains in this video that the Bible is clear that man is to be fruitful and multiply. It is repeated to Noah, Abraham, and other patriarchs. This command still stands today. Accordingly, children are not to be viewed as an obstacle or detriment. Rather, they should be seen as a gift from God. Ultimately, God is to be the lord of your entire life, including the size of your family.

Psalm 127:3 (NKJV) - "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."

“Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭148:8

“For this reason, compulsory cowpox vaccination should be out of the question. Our physicians may be mistaken and government may never stamp a particular medical opinion as orthodox and therefore binding. Moreover, compulsion can never be justified until the illness manifests itself and may therefore never be prescribed as a preventative. A third reason is that government should keep its hands off our bodies. Fourthly, government must respect conscientious objections. In the fifth place, it is one or the other: either it does not itself believe in vaccination, or if it does, it will do redundant work by proceeding to protect once more those already safeguarded against an evil that will no longer have a hold on them anyway. 

Vaccination certificates will therefore have to go – and will be gone at least from our free schools. The form of tyranny hidden in these vaccination certificates is just as real a threat to the nations spiritual resources as a smallpox epidemic itself.”

Abraham Kuiper, Our Program – A Christian Political Manifesto, P248-248, 2015.

Each week we will be sharing short pieces as a preview of the Fearless Father-Daughter Retreat, October 22-24. We hope you will consider joining us in Ridgecrest – to reserve your spot or find more information, please click here. 

Both Peter and Paul wrote that the adornments of a holy woman are not of a fragile, puffed-up nature; instead, they are enduring traits of a woman who has tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

She has a gentle and quiet spirit (I Peter 3), and a mind that is sober and reverent (Titus 2: 3). The law of kindness on her lips (Proverbs 31:26), and her eyes behold God as faithful (Hebrews 11:11). She is wrapped in garments of salvation and covered in the robes of Christ’s righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), strength and honor are her clothing (Proverbs 31:25); her hands diligently to help the needy (Proverbs 31:20, I Timothy 5:10), and her feet are beautified by bringing the gospel (Isaiah 52:7).

When our view of God is big, our lives change and begin to resemble these precious characteristics. Please consider joining us in October for our 2021 Father-Daughter Retreat in Ridgecrest, NC, where we will be studying what it means to be fearless, to journey out of fear and into faith in an unchanging God.

“Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭11:32-34‬

Four Faith-Full Women in Jesus’s Genealogy

At this year’s father-daughter retreat, we are focusing on being fearless; in the Christian life, the opposite of fear is not bravado or even courage, it is being filled with faith. As these women show us, being faithful does not mean being perfect, never struggling with fear, or a life without risk. Jesus’s genealogy is redemption documented, God claiming sinful men and women as His own, and using them to bring our great Kinsman-Redeemer into the world. Here are four women in Jesus’s genealogy whose faithfulness is memorialized in Scripture:

Sarah

In their younger years, Sarai and Abram followed God out of their home country, away from friends, family, and establishment, and ventured into the unknown. Together, they received new names and outrageous promises from God – and despite all their doubts, fearfulness, and at times disobedience, God kept His word. After giving birth to Isaac, Sarah wondered at the works of God’s hand, saying, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me … Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have born him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21: 6-7) She is remembered in Hebrews:

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11)

And also in I Peter: 

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” (I Peter 3:3-6) 

Rahab 

Before the fall of Jericho, Rahab sheltered spies Israel sent to scope out the city. She did so at the risk of her own wellbeing and that of her family; her own words in Joshua 2 make it clear that she knew she was dealing with the Living God, and acted accordingly – both under a moment of immense pressure and for the rest of her life, as she dwelt in Israel. 

“[Rahab said] And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token…” (Joshua 2:11-12)

“And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” (Joshua 6:25)

“By faith, the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11: 31)

Ruth

After the death of her husband, Ruth also left her home country to join the people of Israel, at the potential cost of financial stability, the settled future of married life, and the comforts of her own culture. She would not be dissuaded from joining the Lord’s people. In a particularly sweet act of providence, Ruth eventually married Boaz, son of Rahab (another adopted daughter of Israel).

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Mary 

Last but not least, we have Jesus’s own mother. When she received word that she would become pregnant and give birth to the Messiah, she must have understood the near-term consequences: Her community would assume that this pregnancy was out of wedlock, a shame to bear rather than a gift. Still, she responds remarkably:  

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) 

While pregnant, she speaks this doxology to her relative, Elizabeth:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1: 46-55)

Mary’s faith continued to the foot of the cross, closer than many disciples dared to venture (John 19: 25-27, Mark 15:40-41).  

Conclusion

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Each week we will be sharing short pieces as a preview of the Fearless Father-Daughter Retreat, October 22-24. We hope you will consider joining us in Ridgecrest – to reserve your spot or find more information, please click here.

While we believe that it is crucial to carve out time to gather around Scripture, we also know that some of the most important relationship building and discipleship happens on the go. We hope to provide time for you and your daughters to think, learn, and worship together; we want to encourage you to go beyond sessions and out into the Asheville area. If you decide to extend your trip to the North Carolina mountains by a couple of hours or even a day or two, here are some fun excursions you can take together (all within an hour of the conference home base).

The Biltmore Estate
No field trip list is complete without Asheville’s signature mansion/museum. Tour the place the Vanderbilts called home, mazes of ornate rooms packed with art and stories and echoes from the gilded age. (20 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission to the house and grounds with audio tour: $76-$106.)

Dobrá Tea
Sample from an adventurous tea menu at Dobrá Tea. This tea house also offers baked treats and lunch items, as well as an occasional class on teas from different cultures. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest.)

Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center
Learn about the history, culture, and natural life of the region in a repurposed 1921 firehouse. This museum is at the edge of downtown Black Mountain (within easy walking distance to locally owned shops and restaurants), and also hosts guided hikes in the area. (8 minutes from Ridgecrest. Recommended donation: $5)

Linville Cavern
Step into unfamiliar surroundings and learn about the science, history, and wildlife (yes, wildlife!) inside a mountain. On your tour of the cavern, you will get to peer into deep subterranean water, see the sooty remains of a deserter’s bonfire, hear the harrowing story of two boys who got lost in the cavern for days, and experience a few seconds of true cavernous dark. (50 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for children.)

French Broad Chocolate
Venture in to downtown Asheville for world class chocolate, crafted with care “from bean to bar”. French Broad Chocolate has a wide menu of treats, from the classic chocolate bar to custards, cookies, and bonbons. They also offer 45 minute tours of the chocolate factory where visitors can learn about the art of chocolate making. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest. Tour tickets: $12 for adults, $8 for children.)

The Asheville Museum of Science
A good option for those with younger girls, the Asheville Science Museum has a broad array of exhibits on the natural world. From fossils to outer space, gemstones to hurricanes, there’s plenty to learn! (30 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission $8 for adults, $7 for children.)

Take A Hike
For those interested in a picnic or a relatively easy – just under a mile – walk and beautiful mountain views, we recommend Craggy Gardens (45 minutes from Ridgecrest, path open from 10-5).

For a little more of a challenge, try the Catawba Falls Trail (17 minutes away from Ridgecrest, 2.7 mile trail), or more experienced hikers can enjoy the Old Mitchell Trail (about an hour away from Ridgecrest, 2.2 miles to the summit, not recommended to first time or very young adventurers).

Bonus Suggestion: The Smith-McDowell House
Tour the oldest mansion in Asheville, and hear the stories of the generations who lived, worked, loved, fretted, gained wealth and lost it again, all within four walls. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission: $10 per adult, $5 per youth. Children 6 and under are admitted for free.)

Click here to reserve your spot at this year’s father-daughter retreat, hosted at Ridgecrest on October 22-24.

"It is your choice if you wish to draw medicine from another dispensary or weapons from another armory. However, the thoughts and strategies of men are vanity and the flesh avails nothing (John 6:63). Only those weapons that are given to us in the Scriptures are "mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:4-5)."

The Essential Means of Grace by Paul Washer, page 70.

Here are the past podcasts chapter by chapter of the book:

What kind of Government is the Most Biblical? - Chapter 1
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/222503

Christians the Best Subjects - Chapter 2
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/223094

Warning about Insurrection and Rebellion - Chapters 3-4
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/222531

Honoring Authority Over Us - Chapter 5
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/223248

When Magistrates Misbehave - Chapter 6
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/223249

When the Government Shuts Down your Church - Chapter 7
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/222538

When Obedience to the State is a Cloak for Compromise - Chapter 8
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/222850

Should We Overthrow The Government? - Chapter 9
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/223250

How the Meek will Vanquish Wolves - Chapter 10
https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/223251

V18, “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. 

V19, Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? 

V22, Also with the lute I will praise You— And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. 

V23, My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. V24, My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:18-19, 22-24‬ 

Here is a mid-year ministry report. We are thankful for your support of Church and Family Life and we wanted you to know how we are spending our energies.

What are you supposed to do in crazy times? The answer is, Build, Dwell, Plant (Jer. 29:5, Isa. 65:21). Keep doing the simple things. Scripture is sufficient.

It is the simple things that make families like yours rare in our land. Keep nourishing your marriages, tending your flocks, and feeding your sheep. It matters what you do. Make your home a fountain of living water. Fathers, be happy shepherds like Christ is (Heb 1:9). Wives, be the cheerful mothers as was Lemuel’s - smiling on the future (Prov. 31:25). The world needs holy homes more than ever. Build churches with the culture of heaven. Give your whole heart to the local church. Beautify her with your presence, obedience, prayers and productive service. Tell people that Jesus is the only Savior and the only good shepherd. These are the simple things that you can do no matter what the world is doing.

Deborah and I are really enjoying these summer days. Deborah is hard at work on our farm milking cows, and we are taking time with our 23 grandchildren. All of them are under the age of 14. This is a fun season. We are swimming and reading, and memorizing scripture together. This means that our kayak and paddleboard quivers are expanding.

One of the great encouragements of recent days is my involvement in marriage ceremonies that are taking place around the country in the churches in the Church and Family Life Network. Many of the young people who grew up in these churches and at our conferences, and our local church are getting married. But that's not all. Two things are happening that I pray will fuel the spread of the Gospel. They have established patterns of family worship, and they are dedicated to the local church. And, at least in the churches I know, they are staying in the churches and not wanting to find something different.

At the same time, we are watching a culture in a state of free fall. The children of the world are not being raised to understand who they are and how they ought to act. This is a terrible tragedy. 

The great movements of the day are tearing at the fabric of our homes.

• LGBTQ movement - the destruction of morality
• Social justice - the end of love
• Socialism - the loss of freedom
• Environmentalism - the death of God
• Abortion – the death of the next generation

What should we do about these things? It is simple: Build God-centered biblically ordered churches and families. These two institutions are the only ones capable of standing against the tides of apostasy. It is here that the younger generation is brought up in the training and admonition of the Lord. It is here that love is preserved in the world through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Charles Spurgeon understood this, "It is a dreadful thing when a man does not cultivate the field of his own family… What is the use of zeal abroad if there is neglect at home? How sad to say, "My own vineyard have I not kept…." May fathers and mothers set such an example of cheerful piety that sons and daughters shall say, "Let us tread in our father's footsteps, for he was a happy and a holy man. Let us follow our mother's ways, for she was sweetness itself." If piety does not rule in your house, when we pass by your home we shall see disorder, disobedience, pride of dress, folly, and the beginnings of vice. Let not your home be a sluggard's field, or you will have to rue it in years to come." - FARM SERMONS

But you have probably not been living that way. You have set your hearts to bring the Word of God to your homes, "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when your rise up." (Deut. 6:7). 

Update on our work at Church and Family Life

We've just completed the first half of 2021. We've been working hard to strengthen churches and families. We know of no better way to do this than proclaim the sufficiency of scripture for church and family life. 

Conferences

We had strong attendance at our National Conference, "Theology of the Family," and sold out of our first singles conference, "Holiness to the Lord." In February, we conducted a marriage retreat in my house. Then another one in June targeting young married couples, who have been married less than 10 years, "Getting the Picture Right." 

Podcasts

In the first half of this year, we continued our podcast, speaking to church and family jurisdictions. We've been producing podcasts, discussing our new books, "When to Disobey" and "The Family at Church," as well as other related subjects. Did you get a chance to hear the life stories of Paul Washer, Anthony Mathenia, Josh Buice, Tom Ascol, Steve Hopkins, and others? These are powerful testimonies that show the power of the Gospel.

What's ahead in 2021?

On Aug 5-7, We are conducting a conference in Paoli, IN called, Build, Dwell, Plant - In Praise of God's Design for Church and Family Life. God instructed His people how to thrive during the Babylonian Captivity, "Build houses and dwell in them, plant gardens, and eat their fruit." (Jer. 29:5).

I will be in Texas at the FORGE Conference, "Awake My Soul," on September 2-4

Please consider coming to our Father-Daughter Retreat, "Fearless," on October 22-24. Our objective is to "Build a Legacy of Power, Love, and Sound Mind."  We need daughters like Sarah who were not frightened by any fear (1 Pet 3:6). We need fathers who fear no man (Prov 25:29). All around us, people are fearful. What is the solution? What are fathers and daughters supposed to do to address this problem? We are praying that we can cast a biblical vision for the fearless father and daughter. Our purpose: call a generation of fathers and daughters out of fear and into fearlessness. Come join us for a journey out of fear and into faith.

In December, Deborah and I are traveling to Washington State for a Marriage Retreat December 11-12. We are also planning a leader's meeting just before the retreat.

Would you help us? 

Would you pray with us for a rising generation dedicated to filling their homes up with the knowledge of God and having lots of children? 

Would you help us gather the younger generation at our conferences? 

Would you pray the younger generation would devote themselves to the local church as the most important thing they can do? 

Would you help us connect with young marrieds and singles? We plan to do several young married conferences over the upcoming months. 

Would you send your singles to our conferences? We are planning another singles conference next year at Ridgecrest again.

Help us speak the Word of God to the rising generation, "A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this,  Ps 22:30-31

"We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." Ps 78:4, 

"Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation," Joel 1:3

Will our children keep the faith? Help us deliver the word of truth to the generation to come! 

And, if you believe in our message or have been blessed by it, please consider helping us financially. We are a non-profit which exists almost entirely on donations from churches and families like yours.

Sincerely,


Scott Brown
Church and Family Life

Our brother in Chesapeake is taking his church through “The Family at Church.” Here he tells us what he is discovering and responding to the things in the book.

Taken from, “Our New Edens, by J.R. Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaE9l6LX7Q

Americans' trust in all big institutions has cratered, but look at the massive gap in who we do trust: 

• New Gallup polling finds a 45-point split in trust of police — 76% of Republicans vs. 31% of Democrats. 
• Confidence in the church or organized religion — twice as many Rs as Ds, 51% to 26%. 

So who do Democrats trust instead? 

• With President Biden in the White House, 62% of Ds said they trust the presidency vs. 13% of Rs. That's a 49-point delta — the biggest in the survey. 
• No surprise here: Blue America trusts the media by double digits more than red America does. 
• But this is interesting: Twice as many Democrats trust public schools as do Republicans, 43% to 20%. 

The big picture: Overall trust in key U.S. institutions has dropped 10 points in the past decade, according to Gallup, which began tracking the question during the Watergate year of 1973. 

• The police (51%) are one of just three institutions in which a majority of Americans express confidence. The others — small business (70%) and the military (69%) — have consistently led the list.
• At the other end of the spectrum, Gallup reports, are Congress, TV news, big business, the criminal justice system and newspapers — each with a confidence rating at or below 21%. Congress (12%) and big business (18%) have ranked at the bottom of the list since 2007.

https://www.axios.com/massive-trust-gap-splits-america-2f628dd3-9f14-41a2-a64f-ae2b1fdc5541.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

¹⁰The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

¹¹The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of His heart to all generations.

(Ps 33:10–11).

1. They truly believe Scripture is sufficient for defining the nature and practices of church and family life.

2. They are preaching a gospel consistent with a reformed soteriology: that salvation is by grace alone, apart from works, and that true salvation expresses itself in works of righteousness and changed lives.

3. They are engaged in the expository preaching of the Word of God, believing that Scripture is the voice of God in the church.

4. The majority have adopted a historic confession of faith, like the: Westminster Confession of Faith, the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, and the Augsburg Confession.

5. They have embraced the regulative principle of worship, which argues that only God has authority to govern church life and the inventions of man are idolatry.

They have embraced the doctrine of the Christian Sabbath, and they take a whole day to delight in the Lord. They believe there are ten commandments not nine.

6. They have embraced the principle of biblical church government, and the two offices of elder and deacon.

7. They are age-integrated in worship and discipleship, and as a result, the church is not divided into separate cultures.

8. The wives are not working outside the home, rather they are helping their husbands and raising their children at home.

9. The fathers believe they are the primary spiritual leaders of their families, and they are aware of their role to engage in regular family worship.

10. They are having as many children as the Lord provides.

11. They are adopting children.

12. Almost everyone in these churches has taken their children out of the public school system, and are now homeschooling.

13. There is a commitment to practice church discipline to the best of their understanding.

14. They place a high value on hospitality during the week.

15. They are relational churches where people know one another and care for one another. Most of these churches eat together on Sunday after their church services.

16. There are a high number who are engaged in street preaching.

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

²For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

³If the foundations are destroyed,

What can the righteous do?

⁴The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord’s throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold,

His eyelids test the sons of men.

⁵The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

⁶Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind

Shall be the portion of their cup.

⁷For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.

(Ps 11:1–7).

“The Lord is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭10:16

“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished. But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:1-2, 5-9‬

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America!

God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country love And mercy more than life! America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Oh beautiful for halcyon skies For amber waves of grain

For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrims foot and knee!

Oh beautiful for glory-tale

Of liberating strife,

When once and twice for man’s avail Men lavished precious life! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

Till selfish gain no longer strain The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!

by Katherine Lee Bates; (1859-1929) Inspired by a trip to Pikes Peak in 1893, Katherine Lee Bates wrote the poem America the Beautiful. Her poem first appeared in print on July 4, 1895 in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913. 

"Half of Southern Baptists in Gallup's 2013-2021 sample say same-sex relations between consenting adults should be legal, below the 71% for non-Southern Baptists, but certainly not reflecting universal disapprobation. Over one-third of Southern Baptists favor legal marriage between same-sex couples, much lower than non-Southern Baptists -- but again, an indication of significant diversity of opinion on the issue."

https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/350987/look-southern-baptists-today.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

What is interesting is that in 1997 around 27percent of the general population supported sodomite marriage... Now 1/3 Southern Baptists feel the same.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/350486/record-high-support-same-sex-marriage.aspx

"... you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, ¹⁶ who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

(Ac 14:15–18).

From 2010 article on Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tgc-asks-don-carson-when-has-a-preacher-crossed-the-line-into-plagiarism-in/

⁸“Look, I go forward, but He is not there,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

⁹When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;

When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

¹⁰But He knows the way that I take;

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

¹¹My foot has held fast to His steps;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

¹²I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth

More than my necessary food. (Job 23:8–12)

"One of the most offensive things the Bible says about racism is that it’s another form of partiality. According to God, you and I are guilty of the same sin racists are guilty of. You are not better than racists. And I am not better than racists either. In fact, racists who hate people like me are no different than people like me who hate racists.

When racists hate black people like me, they are refusing to obey what God commands of them. And when I hate racists, I am refusing to obey what God commands of me. Racists refuse to love people like me as themselves—and if I hate racists, I am refusing to love them as myself.

Read the whole article here:

https://slowtowrite.com/you-are-not-better-than-racists/

LGBTQ movement - the death of morality

Social justice - the death of love

Socialism - the death of freedom

Environmentalism - the death of God

[F]irst, remember, remember, remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart, and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.

They show how true faith, is a faith that works for change. True faith inspires the heart to change and engages a people who rise up – no longer neglecting the things of God.

The wider context of this covenant signing event is the record that we find in Ezra and Nehemiah shows how God’s people started over again. They returned from seventy years of captivity to rebuild their lives.

This chapter speaks to a people living in a secular, pluralistic society, which has walked away from God and His commandments. How do you live, how do you survive in a culture like this?

God stirs them up and gives them a passion for the things that demonstrate that God is doing a work.

1. Separating from ungodly ways

2. Separating themselves to God and His Word

3. Reforming marriage

4. Reforming time and resources

They shifted their use of their resources of time and property as they returned to Sabbath Rest one day a week and returned to the seventh day Sabbath.

5. Reforming their relationship with the church and the worship of God by supporting the church with their money and their time. 

 As a result they entered into a covenant to document their desire to follow the Lord together.

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy," Acts 2:17

There is nothing more wonderful to me than to hear my children "prophesy," in the sense of declaring the Word, and applying the Word of God and clinging to the Word of God for the moment they are in. The Bible's use of the word "prophesy," is much broader than predictive prophecy. Most of the time it refers to declaring the truth of God for a particular situation. It is forth-telling, not foretelling that the Lord is referring to here in Acts 2:17. What a blessing it is when your children speak the Word of God.

“The wisdom of God is seen in making the most desperate evils turn to the good of His children. As several poison ingredients, wisely tempered by the skill of the artist make a sovereign medicine, so God makes the most deadly afflictions co-operate for the good of His children. He purifies them, and prepares them for heaven (II Cor. 4:17). These hard frosts hasten the spring flowers of glory. The wise God, by a divine chemistry, turns afflictions into cordials. He makes His people gainers by losses, and turns their crosses into blessings.” Thomas Watson, From “A Body of Divinity.” 

Here is the whole story from 1 Kings 22:

¹⁹ Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. ²⁰ And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. ²¹ Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ ²² The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ ²³ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

(1 Ki 22:19–23).

Here is the explanation from the following commentaries:

Geneva Bible, "He sang songs to God's glory, and so stirred up the prophets heart to prophecy."

Adam Clarke: "A person who played on the harp. The rabbins, and many Christians, suppose that Elisha's mind was considerably irritated and grieved by the bad behavior of the young men at Beth-el, and their tragical end, and by the presence of the idolatrous king of Israel; and therefore called for Divine psalmody, that it might calm his spirits, and render him more susceptible of the prophetic influence. To be able to discern the voice of God, and the operation of his hand, it is necessary that the mind be calm, and the passions all in harmony, under the direction of reason; that reason may be under the influence of the Divine Spirit."

John Gill: A piper, a man that knows how to play upon the harp, as the Targum; according to Procopius Gazaeus, this was one of the Levites he ordered to be fetched, who was used to the spiritual melody of David, and could play on musical instruments as he directed. This he did to allay his passion, and compose his spirits, ruffled at the sight of Jehoram, and to fit him to receive prophetic inspiration, which sometimes came upon the Lord's prophets when thus employed..."

Jamison Fausett and Brown, "The effect of music in soothing the mind is much regarded in the East; and it appears that the ancient prophets, before entering their work, commonly resorted to it, as a preparative, by praise and prayer, to their receiving the prophetic afflatus."

Matthew Poole: one that can sing and play upon a musical instrument. This he requires, that his mind, which had been disturbed and inflamed with holy anger at the sight of wicked Jehoram, might be composed, and cheered, and united within itself, and that he might be excited to the more fervent prayer to God, and joyfully praising him; whereby he was prepared to receive the prophetical inspiration. For although prophecy be the gift of God, yet men might do something either to hinder or further the reception of it; for which cause Paul bids Christians study to get the gift of prophecy, 1 Corinthians 14:1. And for this very end the colleges of the prophets were erected, wherein the sons of the prophets did use divers means to procure this gift, which also they did sometimes receive, as we see 2 Kings 2:3,5; and, amongst other means, they used instruments of music to exhilarate their spirits, &c., 1 Samuel 10:5. Of the great power of music upon the affections, See Poole "1 Samuel 16:16".

https://churchandfamilylife.com/products/223048

¹⁹ Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” ²⁰ But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; ²¹ and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. ²² So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son."

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Come to Burnings in the Soul. At this luncheon, some of our speakers will share what is burning in their souls. These are powerful short messages. 

Here is the change: Previously this has been a men's luncheon, but this year everyone is welcome to attend. 

When? Thursday, May 20th, from 12-3 PM, just prior to the Theology of the Family conference. 

Here are some important details regarding Burnings:

 If you registered for the Holiness to the Lord - Single's Conference, this luncheon is included in your registration. However, it is not included in the Theology of the Family registration. 

If you are not registered for the singles conference, you will need to register separately here

We will begin our time together with a delicious lunch at noon before hearing from various speakers from the Theology of the Family conference.

Please accept our invitation to a time of fellowship and encouragement 

We hope to see you at Burnings in the Soul!

Scott Brown
Church and Family Life

1. What does this law reveal about the heart, character and nature of God. 

2. What kind of law is it? Moral, ceremonial or civil

3. Who is given the responsibility to carry it out? Individual, family, state

4. How is it fulfilled in Christ?

5. How does it explain love? 

6. How does it reveal sin in mankind? 

7. What is the applicability of the law?

8. What happens when this law is ignored in the family, the church and in the government and in society?

9. How will this be used of the Lord to transform me into the image of Christ?

Here is the announcement from our friends at Grace Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama - the sponsor of this conference.

We would love for you to join us at the 2021 GBC Annual Family Conference on March 26 and March 27, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Montgomery and Church and Family Life (NCFIC).

Conference Location

Young Meadows Presbyterian Church

5780 Vaughn Rd

Montgomery, AL 36116

 Conference Schedule

 Friday, March 27

4:00  Session 1 

5:00  Dinner Provided at YMPC

6:00  Session 2 

7:00  Session 3 

8:00  Ice Cream Social

 Saturday, March 28

10:30 Session 4 

11:30 Session 5 

12:30 Lunch provided at YMPC

1:30   Session 6

2:30   Session 7 

3:30   Session 8 

4:30   Q&A

 Conference Fee and Registration

The conference price is $15.00 per person (max $75.00 per family). Make checks payable to Grace Baptist Church and bring it with you.

 To register for the conference, send an email to 

cilla4d.gbc@gmail.com with the number of people coming, names and contact information. Also use this email if you have any questions. Please register by Wednesday, March 25th.

 Please note that you are welcome to attend a few of the sessions if you are unable to attend the full conference at no charge.

 *Limited Space - invitation only. 

**No childcare provided. 

***Sessions can be heard in a relief area for parents and their younger children if needed.

****If you have dietary restrictions, you are welcome to bring your own food.

*****If you are sick, please join us next year.

To get to know John Snyder, watch this video about the story of his life and conversion:

https://churchandfamilylife.com/podcasts/221363

Do you long to be holy? Consider signing up for our pre-conference, "Holiness to the Lord." We will strive to help you consider matters of the Gospel's centrality and personal holiness as they correspond with singleness. We will address how you should focus your life for the most significant advantage for the kingdom of God. We will examine various doctrines for guidance as well as how unmarried saints of the past operated. Paul Washer, Jeff Pollard, Joel Beeke, and his wife Mary and my wife Deborah and I will be teaching.

We plan to grapple with how you should function at home, in the church, and in the community as you serve God in an unmarried state. 

How do you wisely invest your time, talents, and spiritual gifts in light of your biblically defined roles as males and females? What about single women working outside the home? We plan to address the matter of authority. How does parents' authority work when you are in your late twenties and thirties and unmarried?

Who is invited to this? Everyone. Feel free to bring siblings or parents. Single people of all ages are signing up for this event.

Burnings in the Soul Luncheon: We conclude the singles conference with this luncheon. If you are familiar with our National Conference, you may know about this gather. In the past, this has been a men's only event, but not this year. This will be a wonderful time of fellowship and challenge. We have each speaker give a short message of what is burning in their souls. You won't want to miss it. Over the years, these messages have been very significant - even spellbinding.

We will be increasing the price on April 11th to $85, so please register soon to take advantage of the lower rate.

You need to come to this conference. I'm not aware of anyone who has conducted a conference on the Biblical Theology of the Family. And, to my knowledge, there are no books on the subject. Yet, it is vital to understand the unfolding revelation of God on the purpose and functionality of the family and its relation to the spread of the Gospel.

At this conference, we will begin in Revelation, and work our way through the entire written revelation of God. We will begin in Genesis and visit each phase of God’s unfolding revelation.

This will not only be a glorious journey. It will be a view of the family that you’ve probably never seen quite like this one.



Singing has been a part of the biblically-regulated worship of God from the very beginning. Yet so much of contemporary Christian “worship” is self-focused, or is more conducive to a soloist performance that inhibits the congregation from joining in with full voice in the worship of their Savior. More importantly, these songs are often watered down, repeat the same lines over and over (perhaps leaving some to wonder if the songwriters ran out of anything additional to say), are strangely silent on subjects such as God’s wrath which are so prevalent in Scripture, or are lacking theologically sound or Christ-centered lyrics. Missing are the depths of richness and beauty of the great hymns of the past: hymns that carried the church in times of persecution and reformation, trial and revival. What type of song will actually support the persecuted church in years to come? A song such as “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing...”? or in comparison the most popular Christian song of 2020, with lyrics that begin like this - “I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough, every single lie that tells me I will never measure up...” ?

Recognizing this dire need, Douglas Bond has taken up his pen and, after prayerfully studying the Scriptures, is crafting many sound, biblically-based hymns.  Yet hymns are meant to be sung. Most recently, Kinslea Rae has begun composing tunes to his lyrics with prayerful consideration of the words and spirit of worship in which they are written. These hymns, Lord willing, will be easy to learn, will draw out the hearts of Christ’s worshipers, and will compel the congregation to sing with full voice.

Lyric videos continue to be uploaded to YouTube to help enable the hymns to be more easily learned for the singing in homes or in the corporate worship of God. The desire of Douglas Bond and Kinslea Rae is for churches to use these New Reformation Hymns for the glory and worship and praise of King Jesus. 

The hymn videos can be found here: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK7d5qzSuxEvcAn9vrGyTpw8eRGL_PVuM.

Sheet music for these hymns are available for free at bondbooks.net/hymns.

The Battle of Iwo Jima, a World War II battle between Japan and the United States, began on February 19, 1944. My father, Bill Brown, fought in this battle, flew a P-51 Mustang on bombing raids, and was ultimately shot down in enemy waters on May 29, 1945. Many brave young men sacrificed much and exemplified unheard-of bravery in the midst of intense fighting.   

In light of the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, we are excited to offer a special 40% discount on three books, today only! 

Looking for more resources? Here is a free collection of audio messages on the topic of biblical manhood here. You may also enjoy listening to an audio version of Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions or George Washington’s Rules of Civility. 

I pray that these resources will be a blessing to you and your family and that your sons will be equipped to fight the battles which are upon us now. 

Finally! We are delighted to announce that we are moving full steam ahead and hosting our National Conference �� IN PERSON �� scheduled on May 19-22 in Ridgecrest, NC. We are very excited about being able to bring people together for these conferences.

The church must preserve the Biblical doctrine and functionality of the family. We plan to examine it in detail and seek its recovery. 

At this conference, you will see that God, who is the designer of family life, answers all of these questions in the Bible. The Theology of the Family Conference will give you reliable answers to these questions from Genesis to Revelation - the only sure foundation from which to understand and build your family.

If you have not already registered for the pre-conference for the singles - Holiness to the Lord - May 19-20, please consider joining me and Paul Washer, Joel Beeke, and Jeff Pollard, Mary Beeke, and my wife, Deborah Brown.

Regarding COVID restrictions, We are delighted for Ridgecrest to allow us to gather according to our consciences. According to conscience, our group will be free to meet as we wish to gather together in meetings and around the conference center grounds. Ridgecrest has requested that we be sensitive to wear masks when around their staff and other guests not part of our group, especially at the front desk, dining room, and other outlets. It is important to remember that almost all of Ridgecrest's volunteers are senior citizens, putting them in a higher risk category.

Please help us promote this conference. The need is greater than ever. Please spread the word among your friends and announce this on your social media outlets. 

If you have not signed up yet, click here.

We hope to see you in Ridgecrest! 

Scott Brown
Church and Family Life

"The ministerial work must be carried on purely for God and the salvation of souls, not for any private ends of our own. A wrong end makes all the work bad as from us, how good soever it may be in its own natures. it is not serving God, but ourselves, if we do it not for God, but for ourselves." Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, p38

"These totalitarians want to be able to do contact tracing of all Christians who are worshiping God, and this will be totally fine and nothing will go wrong because they are merely concerned about the virus."

https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/aphorisms-for-a-tedious-week.html

"Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

²⁵ Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

The point is, Jesus did not avoid the sick and neither should true Christians. He did what the apostles commanded the elders of churches to do - anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14-15). He says that a mark of discipleship is, "I was sick and you visited me" (Matt. 25:36). (See also Matt. 10:1; Mk 1:34; Lk 4:40; 7:21; 9:1; Ac. 19:12). It is very clear from scripture, (our surpreme authority for all things) that Jesus and His disciples did not avoid the sick.

D. Martyn Lloyd Jones speaks of a similar trend in his day toward listening to sermons on TV and reading books as the main spiritual experience. He says, “this is a wrong approach because it is too individualistic. The man sits on his own reading his book. This is too purely too intellectual in its approach…” The man himself is in control of the situation… the whole approach lacks the vital element of the Church.” Then he says,

“It is therefore most important that people should come together and listen in companies in the realm of the church. This has an impact in and of itself.”

“The very presence of a body of people in itself is a part of the preaching and these influences begin ot act immediately upon anyone who comes into a service. These influences, I suggest, are very often more potent in a spiritual sense than purely intellectual argumentation.”

He then writes that Christianity is not simply embracing a theory. Rather it is an encounter with the people of God. He says, “It is not a mere gathering of people: Christ is present. This is the great mystery of the church. Thee is something I the very atmosphere of Christian people meeting together to worship God and to listen to the preaching of the Gospel.”

He then tells the story of a spiritist who came to church one day who became a Christian. This was a professional spiritist He says that she came in and immediately recognized a power in the room. She said it was like the spiritual power she was involved with but it was different. It was “a clean power.”

This is what happens when people gather together to behold the glory of God, to sing to one another, to pray together, to fellowship with one another and speak to one another in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual songs making melody with their hearts to the Lord.

The Lloyd Jones quotes are from P 52-54 in Preaching and Preachers

"And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:9-12‬

Lloyd "Fuzzy" Lauer, 86, of Bismarck, formerly of McClusky, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at a Bismarck care center.

On Nov. 16, after 35 weeks of being imprisoned in a long term care facility under the pretense of "keeping him safe," Lloyd contracted the very thing they were supposed to be keeping him safe from - facility acquired COVID-19. He battled through another two weeks of fear, isolation, and illness before his body finally surrendered and released his soul to go be with his Jesus. This process stole his freedom, his dignity, and his health, but it was unable to steal his beautiful spirit and his handsome smile which he hung unto until the very end. As a society, what we have allowed to happen to Lloyd and all those in long term care is despicable. It robs the residents and their families of the most fundamental of needs-freedom, love, and affection-and makes the working conditions for their caregivers unbearable. If anyone thinks we are doing the right thing, they have not lived our nightmare of a journey for the past nine months. And, if you think this doesn't affect you, you are wrong-it just hasn't affected you yet.

“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18:2-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! We have deeply discounted our resources during this season. If you place your order by the end of day Friday (December 18), you will have your packages before Christmas. Order now!

We are offering 50% off the items below and 25% off everything else on the Church and Family Life site! Order before Friday end of the day and select "Priority Shipping" to receive before Christmas! Browse all products here.

Journey through the Bible 50% Off

Journey Through the Bible came about from our family worship times as we read the Bible together as a family. As our children were growing up, our family made it our practice to read the Bible from cover to cover. We did this for many years. Some of our children learned to read by reading progressively more words as we read the Bible together. This book is a compilation of these notes as well as notes I collected as I studied these books on my own and as I preached through them over the years.

Counterfeit Worship 50% Off
This book is divided into three sections. In the first section, Scott Brown explains the historical importance of Knox's voice today. In the second section, Kevin Reed describes the riveting, unfolding drama of Knox's message and the day's personalities and institutions. Then, in the final section, John Knox famously thunders against idolatry in worship.

Second London Baptist Confession 1689 50% Off
	The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 (SLBC) is a historic, time-tested confession written to establish sound doctrine for the young and old in churches and families to diminish spiritual-ignorance. Every family should consider using this beautiful summary of the Christian Faith.

Building a God-Centered Family 50% Off

As an English non-conformist pastor, Henry carried his passion for family discipleship into the pulpit. On April 16, 1704, he preached an abundantly practical sermon entitled, A Church in the House: A Sermon Concerning Family-Religion, as an encouragement to fathers to develop their families' spiritual lives in their homes. Henry urged that "every house should be a little church". His point was not that the home should replace the church, but that the home should become a fountain of blessing for both the local church and the community at large.

Feminine By Design 50% Off
	This book is designed to give a happy vision of life and build up a generation of Gospel-centered, biblically directed daughters. Brown hopes to fulfill the appeal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Women are assaulted with so many lies. What they need more than anything is the truth of Scripture.

Theology of the Family 50% Off

This book presents a perspective on the family largely forgotten by the modern church. There are fifty-six authors featured in this volume; authors such as: John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Gill, William Gouge, Matthew Henry, Martin Luther, A.W. Pink, J. C. Ryle, R. C. Sproul, Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Watson. Each of them give a powerful testimony that the twenty-first century church needs to be reminded of what she used to believe about family life. These authors bring a measure of the correction and the balm necessary to heal our amnesia and return us to biblical order.

Browse Other Products

Scott Brown
Church & Family Life

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

2020! What a Year! An important year for the sufficiency of Scripture.

The ink barely dried on our 2020 New Year's resolutions when - Wham! Everything changed. The year revealed just how vital the sufficiency of Scripture is for both church and family life. Holding fast to the Word of God is the only reliable way to make your way through the social earthquakes. Since March, the government has attempted to usurp God's authority over these two great institutions' functionality. For the first time in our lives, the government told the church when it could meet and how many could meet. We have been told we must stay six feet from one another. They ordered us to stop singing, playing instruments and observing the Lord's Supper. They required us to wear masks.

At Church and Family Life, we ramped up our communication more than ever – even though almost all our conferences were canceled. We did hold our annual marriage retreat in February, and what a joy it was. We did not realize it would be our last in-person conference of the year.

That was it, no other in-person events for the rest of the year. But our video studio started bustling.

We launched Biblical Thinking on COVID-19 to help folks think correctly about what was happening, with sessions on “pandemic”, “quarantine”, and many other timely subjects.

We gathered pastors from all over the world to discuss what was happening. We were processing the issues in real-time, trying to understand how we should respond biblically. We had six online discussions with pastors to grapple with what was happening in their states and how to shepherd our flocks. We discussed things like: Is it loving to social distance?, How a Plague Brought Times of Refreshing, When to Disobey the Government, Dying & Death: All you need to know to speak the truth, Advice for Families, A Christian's Response to this Unfolding Crisis, and Issues and Opportunities.

In general, the churches that stuck with the biblical patterns commanded in the Bible have prospered. The churches that allowed the government and the surrounding culture to define their gatherings together suffered painful reversals.

Since Ridgecrest Christian Conference center canceled our National Conference, we rescheduled Theology of the Family for May 20-22, 2021. We will also have a singles conference right before that on May 19-20 called Holiness to the Lord.

Instead of altogether canceling our national conference, we conducted an online conference, Jurisdictions Under Fire – Church, and Family in the Balance.

The BIG NEWS in 2020 was our name change. We love the new name because it communicates our mission much better. It hits to the heart of what we've always been about, Church and Family Life – Proclaiming the Sufficiency of Scripture. Establishing Jesus Christ as the Lord of the church and family zeroes in on society's most significant vulnerabilities. We believe more than ever that preserving these two jurisdictions according to the Word of God is the most important thing we can do at this juncture in history. We believe that the central conflicts for the soul of Christianity will be fought on the battleground of church and family life.

We also sent two NEW BOOKS to the publisher. They will be in our hands in January. They are, The Family at Church – How Parents are Tour-guides for Joy and When to Disobey, Case Studies in Tyranny, Insurrection & Obedience to God.

It was a year of responding to previously unimaginable forces upon us. It was an exciting year - and it's not over yet. This we know: Scripture is sufficient for church and family life, and we have lots of work to do to continue to explain what this means.

Please consider helping us strengthen churches and families. We hope to expand our reach significantly in 2021 by expanding Regional Facilitators, publishing and personnel to reach more churches and families.

Scott Brown
President - Church & Family Life

Revelation Orientation: In place of the Sunday afternoon teaching, we will read, out loud, the first section of Revelation, Chapters 1-11. Various men will be appointed to do the reading. On the following Sunday, Dec 13, we will read the final Chapters 12-22 in the afternoon session. 

Stay Tuned!

https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-amy-coney-barrett-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-john-roberts-d0de27dbb3e16f49d1e73718bd56448d

WASHINGTON (AP) — As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide the Supreme Court late Wednesday barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.

The justices split 5-4 with new Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the majority. It was the conservative’s first publicly discernible vote as a justice. The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.

Scott Brown

Here is the recording that we clipped out of the play. There was not a dry eye in the place when it came to his part. Here is the three-minute segment:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y2QL0O7NKcdnAk3Y7fdB_VtR106NJcsk/view

He was reading, "Providence and the Pilgrim," By William Bradford (1590–1657)  [Certain verses left by the honored William Bradford, Esq., Governor of the jurisdiction of Plymouth, penned by his own hand, declaring the gracious dispensations of God’s providence towards him in the time of his life, and his preparation and fittedness for death.] From my years young in days of youth, God did make known to me his truth. And call’d me from my native place to enjoy the means of grace. In wilderness he did me guide, And in strange lands for me provide. In fears and wants, through weal and woe, A pilgrim passed I to and fro Oft left of them whom I did trust; How vain it is to rest on dust!  A man of sorrows I have been, And many changes I have seen. Wars, wants, peace, plenty, have I known; And some advanc’d, others thrown down. The humble poor, cheerful and glad; Rich, discontent, sower and sad: When fears and sorrows have been mixt, Consolations came betwixt. Faint not, poor soul, in God, still trust, Fear not the things thou suffer must; For, whom he loves he doth chastise, And then all tears wipes from their eyes. Farewell, dear children, whom I love, Your better Father is above: When I am gone, he can supply; To him I leave you when I die. Fear him in truth, walk in his ways, And he will bless you all your days. My days are spent, old age is come, My strength it fails, my glass near run. Now I will wait, when work is done, Until my happy change shall come, When from my labors I shall rest, With Christ above for to be blest.

If you would like to view the entire play as part of your Thanksgiving Celebrations and Commemorations, here it is:

On the other hand, Millions have left their churches that are not meeting to go to churches that are meeting. These people want to worship God the way they always have. The churches which have not shut down, who have not social distanced, who have not masked up, who have not become state sanctioned, are receiving these covid refugees.

Lifeway research documented this a few weeks ago:

https://lifewayresearch.com/2020/10/20/few-churches-back-to-pre-covid-attendance-levels/

"By faith, Rahab defied her civil authorities. She received, his and sent away the Hebrew spies, “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way.” James 2:25

"By faith, rahab defied her civil authorities. She received, his and sent away the Hebrew spies, “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way.” James 2:25

"Many of the liturgies we establish in our homes are deliberate—we  want our kids to be polite, so we tell them to do it over and over; we want them to be safe, so we remind them again and again to not talk to strangers. We want to form our children in certain ways, and we instinctively know that along with faithful teaching, we just have to make them do things repeatedly. But liturgies are all around us, and some of them—including some in our homes—may actually be deforming our children’s hearts. Many times, this is the nature of sinful behaviors. Sometimes children sin deliberately and willfully; but often sinful action is the result of in- grained habits, and those habits have been formed through worldly liturgies. 

The habit-forming routines of the world are shaping the inclinations of our children (and ours, by the way) maybe more than we might realize. These are routines and habits that are part of the cultural environment all around us. And because they are regular liturgies, people have a very difficult time both recognizing how they are being shaped and even considering living with- out them. If we wish to make disciples of our children—if we wish to teach our children to ob- serve all the Christ has commanded them—then we must do something to counteract the effects of the worldly liturgies that are affecting them each and every day. Part of what will counteract their effects is biblical teaching, but again, it will require more than transmission of information. 

From, "Let the Little Children Come: Family Worship on Sunday (and the Other Six Days, Too)" by Scott Aniol, to be released by Free Grace Press in the Spring of 2021. To see more from Scott Aniol go to Religious Affections Ministries

https://religiousaffections.org/

On Friday, Nov 4 at 10:00 am, we buried my father on our farm in NC. My son David and I built his pine box casket and lowered it in the ground. My father's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were at the graveside to shovel the dirt into the grave. Dad was an inspiration to all, and a very sweet man, leaving us with wonderful memories and no burdens.

Here is a recording of my eulogy,

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1hkg1eozgfedbiz/Dads%20funeral.m4a?dl=0