A Liturgical Life

Someone asked me the other day about teaching kids to pray. It can be mechanical at times, and my favorite book on prayer (which I obviously highly recommend) A Praying Life, doesn't exactly endorse it, but I've not found anything more helpful in thinking through prayer than the A.C.T.S. acronym. Of course the Lord's prayer is the best, but I think the A.C.T.S. roughly follows that outline.

Anyhow, you start out with Adoration, which is simply praise, then move toward Confession, then Thanksgiving, and then Supplication or requests. 

But since prayer is a relationship with the living God, this liturgy (a directed order of prayer/worship) is apropos for our relationships as well. For instance, take Adoration. This is the opportunity we have to simply pause and consider the beauty of Christ, the transcendence of God, His power, His justice, His Mystery, His wrath, His Love, etc...Sometimes, or actually almost always, we skip this part and simply jump into "Thank you Lord for forgiving me, delivering me, or providing for me." These are all good, but our love for God can't simply be built upon what He does, but also who He is. 

Now if you want to go really deep, they can't be separated (His actions are an extension of His character, and He always act according to His character) but clearly we see Psalms of Praise  for God's eternal nature (90), as well as Psalms of Thanksgiving for deliverance (40). 

Break it down to a personal level now. If all you did was thank your wife for what she did for you, how she serves great meals, picks up the kids, great bedroom activity, pays bills on time, etc...., then you basically love her for what she has done for you, and not for who she is. Don't you need to also praise her for her beauty, personality, kindness toward others (not you), character, discipline, perseverance, etc...?

The same thing goes with friendships. When friendships are devoid of praise, and simply exist on thanksgiving, then we're getting dangerously close to the childhood "friends" we used or were used by. Remember those friends growing up who we used, and were used by them, because they or we had great toys, a cool pool or pool table, or a happening house. A friendship without praise is not much different.

Sometimes when we're on cruise control in the busyness of our schedules, we thank God and thank our wives, and friends, but we don't praise God, our wives, or our friends. So I think this ACTS liturgy for prayer has huge ramifications not just for our prayer lives but our relationships as well.

Obama's thoughts on FoxNews: Are they accurate?

Here's a rare political post by me. However, this take is more on a practical/philosophical level than a political leve.

In an 8,000 word interview, Rolling Stone magazine, Obama complains of an anti-democrat slant in the Fox News media:

"You had folks like Hearst who used their newspapers very intentionally to promote their viewpoints. I think Fox is part of that tradition – it is part of the tradition that has a very clear, undeniable point of view," Obama told the magazine..... Fox News pushes "a point of view that I disagree with. It's a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world," Obama said.

Here's a few of my takes on this. 

1.) Obama is right that there is a slant to Fox News. It is biased. I don't see how it can advertise itself as "fair and balanced." There is a reason why those on the political right tend to watch Fox News.

2.) But I think Obama also needs to realize that while Fox News isn't "fair and balanced," neither is CNN or MSNBC. News streams are not impartial. They cannot report 100% of what happens. They have to edit stuff. Guess which stuff they are going to include? The stuff which is consistent with their ideologies and worldview. Nietzsche, and later Foucault, expressed such sentiments and I think they are exactly right. CNN is just as biased as Fox News.

3.) I would imagine that Rolling Stone wasn't the only magazine which requested such an interview. One can probably take a wild guess at who its audience is probably going to side with. So Obama, it appears, wisely chose the right media to push his agenda through such an interview. It was a medium that is going to appeal to those sympathizing with the left. The door swings both ways.

4.) I'm not suggesting there is such a bias that we cannot know anything, or that CNN or FOXNEWS are tantamount to communistic yellow journalism. I am simply saying that we ought to at least be aware of our own biases, AND the biases of our preferred news media in our quest to apply the gospel to all of our lives: even politics.

5.) FOXNEWS folks shouldn't be appalled that he believes the news station is detrimental to the success of this country. He simply believes that the democratic ideology is helpful and the republican ideology is hurtful. Anyone confident Republican would say similar things. 

Resisting the Devil with Josh Hamilton

I'm reading through James in my personal devotion time, and I came across this verse the other day: "resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)." How we apply this verse might look different for different people in different settings. It might mean that you are actively counter-punching the lies of Satan with the truth of the gospel. But resisting Satan's attacks and his concomitant "leave-the-scene" promise of this verse doesn't negate the need for actively leaving places of temptation. 

Here's an example where Satan fled from Texas Ranger's outfielder Josh Hamilton, who is clearly an alcoholic and former drug user (and Christian). Of course Hamilton's resistance took the form of his intentionally leaving the celebration of beer and champagne spraying after his team clinched a post season spot. In place of this celebration, which would be fine for most people, he volunteered to speak about his faith at some sort of big rally. It might on the surface appear that Josh was the one who fled; but that is far from the truth. In the end, we know who resisted and who retreated.

Truly Reformed?

Here's some helpful thoughts on what it means to be "truly Reformed." Now normally that title "Truly Reformed" is a pejorative expression for people who are Reformed and not very fun to be around. But this article, describes the danger of such an attitude, and what it looks like to be different. The church and the world don't need any more angry Reformed folk, who in the end, aren't much different than the Judaizers Paul blasts in the book of Galatians (that's the premise of this article). I've often thought the same thing, but this guy, Ray Ortlund, beat me to it and articulated it better than I would have.

Morning after

Thanks for following our pregnancy, if you did, via the blog or facebook. Amy is doing well and Cade seems to be doing well as well. Cade had a good night last night, and took the bottle pretty well. We're waiting for the doctor to come and check him out. He was supposed to come this morning. Maybe at noon he'll be here...That is the plan, but the doctors have been a little behind schedule, so who knows. Still its a praise that his breathing is better and he's eating. We're just ready to have him in our room and for Amy to start breast feeding. Thanks for caring and praying!

Baby Cade

‎6 lbs and 6 oz. Not bad for being 3 weeks early. They've taken Cade to the nursery to check him out b/c he's a little "younger" than he normally should be. Amy's had wicked bad shakes the past half hour, so we're hoping those will end soon. She is finally slowing down a bit, and listening to some Indelible Grace, Pilgrim Days on the Ipod.

 

Thanks ya'll for praying and we'll trust that Cade will get a good check-up at the nursery.

 

Here's a few pics if you're not a facebook friend.

More drugs

4 CM dialated, and the pain and contractions have increased a bit. Since I was just told, "Don't talk to me," I think any pictures are out of the question! More narcotics have just arrived so we should probably be able to resume watching Arrested Development fairly soon.

Epidural and Contractions

I was expecting to go on a men's fishing retreat some lads at the church and I have been planning and working towards for the last few 5 months. Obviously the Lord had different plans this morning, and we're now at the hospital, as Amy is being induced.  The amniotic fluids were too low for Cade's liking.

Amy has had the epidural and is not in any pain. She's having some contractions, so they've lowered the Petosin. Her Blood Pressure is getting lower and causing some light headedness, but they're monitoring everything closely. 

If you are a betting person, the doctor has set the "Over-Under" at 10 pm. I'm praying for the "under" right now, but its hard to tell what will happen.  Vegas called me and they're taking Cade plus the points. But who knows?

Just please remember to be praying for Momma and Baby. Thanks!

BTW: In case you think this blogging is insensitive or invasive or voyeuristic, please know that Amy is in favor and it gives you, our friends a chance to partner with us in prayer, as well as to share our joy.

Blessings

One of main theological emphases-I would say probably my Top 3-is that we are blessed SO THAT we can be a blessing to others. We're not blessed so that we can simply revel in the blessing, contra the American mindset. Now I'm not an ESV "homer," as some definitely are, but there is one very clear difference with Gen 12:1-3. This more recent translation than the NIV accurately takes into account the Hebrew purpose clause, connecting the blessing with the purpose of that blessing: "so that you will be a blessing. in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Regardless of translation, the purpose of our blessing is clear. Richard Pratt, a former seminary professor of mine, recently preached a sermon called "How to be the Unfrozen Chosen." I highly recommend checking this one out. It's well illustrated, short, challenging, practical, and appropriate for the American, not just Presbyterian. Here's the link for the church website, just look under the sermon title. The date is 8/29/10

http://www.orangewood.org/share/sermons/

When I started this blog post, I didn't realize we would be having the blessing of a son today (obviously Lord willing). So I'll be updating the blog with birth updates ASAP.

Is it ever right to be a consumer?

I just preached my first sermon in a series on Philippians this past Sunday. Our lovely assistant Scott was able to get it up on-line through a file sharing program called dropbox, even though he's in Alabama waiting on his granddaughter to be born! File-sharing makes life so much easier and this free program helps me in everything from updating nursery contacts to sharing family pictures. 

Anyhow, I preached on the joy of gospel partnership against the lack of joy which springs from a consumer/spectator mentality. It's one of my shorter ones b/c we had communion and a baptism, and that's probably good for me.

There is a question that I ended up raising for myself: While the consumer/spectator "just come to church and never talk about it or serve or connect or plug in," isn't biblical, don't you have to be a consumer at some point?

Yes, I think you do at some point. I know I certainly was when I interviewed at churches. Based upon my previous 3 churches, there were certain things that I was looking for, and couldn't be part of it. I don't think its possible to decide on a church without some sense of being a consumer ever, at all. Is the Word being preached clearly and relevantly? Is the church Reformed? Is the worship honoring to Christ and at the same time something you can engage with (not necessarily prefer)? Sometimes people want to find a church based upon fellowship, and I don't think that's wrong.

The problem is that the consumerism which may draw us to a church usually goes unnoticed and untamed, and so it usually keeps us from connecting and serving and submitting. It keeps us from using our gifts to fill in the holes and needs of the church. 

Why Join a church? Part III: Commitment of partnership

This is probably (but just like I never leave the house without forgetting something, who knows?) the final posting in the "Why Join a church series?" It's not because I don't think there are a plethora of reasons, but because I just don't feel like discussing more reasons like discipline (protecting you, your family, your church family from YOUR sins, or protecting you, your family, or your church family from YOUR FAMILY's sins), or some opportunities to serve as teachers and lead which only come with membership.

When you join a church, you are agreeing that you are on the same page with the direction of the church. It does not however, mean that you agree with every decision the elders make (remember, they are elected by the people so its important that you elect ones according to I Tim 3 and Titus ), but the general direction of the church. The specifics just need to fall under the general direction. Now as a caveat, when the general direction isn't agreed upon by the elders, that makes it difficult if not impossible to uphold your membership commitments.

 And it is possible that the church could change and be wrong. But it is equally possible, and perhaps more likely, if you have good elders with a common vision, that your specific opinion could be wrong. 

So you are committing to support that general direction without griping or complaining, or maintaining a grumbling spirit, like the Israelites did before they made it to the Promised Land. Our senior pastor Barret once said that he doesn't expect from members "to complain about the music, I might expect that from visitors, and perhaps regular attenders." We do have music at Redeemer which incorporates old and reworked hymnody, as well as older/newer praise songs. One reason that we can do so without griping (and I know the worship style is not to everyone's taste-for some its too traditional and for others too contemporary), for the most part, is because we have had it that way from the beginning. And I can't prove this exhaustively, but from the newer folks I've spoken with who do have different preferences, I can tell many have embraced their membership commitments.

In addition, when you join a church, you are agreeing to "support the church in its worship and work." Supporting includes tithing as part of your partnership. The work "koinonia," from which we get the words "partnership" and "fellowship" also can mean "giving." This is one way to partner. But the "Treasure," aspect of the pithy, but helpful, "Time, Talent, Treasure" alliteration also includes your property. 

I think using your house, or boat, or land to bless others is also part of this commitment which you make when you join. In my last church, one man never had anyone over to his house for hospitality, but he regularly used his land for monthly paintball. That was part of his membership commitment, which he joyfully did.

Many of us have Time or Talent that is often unused in gospel partnership. When you join, you are publicly committing to use your gifts and passions, or perhaps simply time, to serve where is needed.

Anyhow this is my "take" on the public commitment you make regarding church support. You can do many of these things without joining, but its hard to deny that making the public commitment doesn't means something.

Why Join a church? Part II: "Membership type" relationship

This is the 2nd post on why I think you should give serious consideration to joining a church. When ideas or words aren't mentioned in the bible, sometimes there's a reason they're not mentioned.  But other times, just because something is not mentioned specifically, or verbatim, does not mean that its not a good idea. In fact, it might be something quite biblical. Such I think is the case with church membership; the concept is quite biblical.

While there is nowhere in the bible that says, "You need to join a church," I think there is a reason for it. It is assumed that the individual believer already has or is commanded to have such a "membership-type" relationship with a local church.

Here are some passages describing this relationship:

• The elders are commanded to watch over the individual as a shepherd, willingly, not selfishly out for gain or power (I Peter). 
•  The individual and family if applicable is to "respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work (I Thess 5:12-13)"
• Hebrews 13:7 has to say about this relationship: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Whether these people "joined a church" by going through a membership class or not is irrelevant. They were instructed to have this type of relationship with the elders of a local church. And the elders, were to have this type of relationship with them.

So you really can't play the "its not in the bible card." It's not healthy to fail to be in submission to elders. If you are going to wander away from the truth, the faith, or live in sin, harm your spouse, who is going to come after you? Yourself? To think you're incapable of this is rooted in pride, not to mention ludicrosity. 

Now I know there are some elders who are yahoos. And I know there are elders that probably aren't even believers; we have them in our denomination too, unfortunately. And you may have been burned by some church leaders and are justifiably slow to pull the trigger. And  I hate this for you.

But if they are acting legalistically or unbiblically, you don't have to follow that command. And they will be judged harshly for doing so. That's quite sobering, and something our lead pastor reminds the elders. But the failure of one party, doesn't preclude the responsibility and blessing for the other party to be faithful. Same thing with government (Rom 13) and marriage (Eph 5). We submit as to the Lord.

In conclusion, does the bible promote church membership? It promotes these type of lovingly, respectful, submissive relationships where leaders serve the needs of the sheep. That's what people affirm when they join a PCA church, and a number of other different Reformed churches. 

"Do you promise to submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and to study its purity and peace?"

Why Join a church? Part I: I was once a non-joiner

At Redeemer, we've been starting to get a stream of folks wanting to join. But of course mingled in with those folks who want to join, there are, and will inevitably be, folks who simply won't join this or any church. I'm going to do a min-series (though I know summer is usually the time for mini-series') on why I think you should and should want to join a church.

I want to start it off by saying that I once lived in the "why join a church camp," especially when I'm regularly attending and participating (not just showing up) in worship, tithing, connecting, and even serving an existing ministry.

For 3 years as a youth director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, I did not join. My reasoning was that I didn't really agree with the traditional-ignore-your neighbor-but-send-missionaries-overseas mentality (as I saw it). I also had disagreements which stemmed from philosophy of ministry differences (simply what church ministry should look like). And I hated the organ and thought it was the church's main idol, though I might not have been wrong.

Looking back on my years from age 22-25 (not my best years), I can say there were several factors which led me to leave for seminary without even being a church member for the previous three years. That doesn't look good on an application!

1.) HENDER"SIN" One of the sins of the Henderson's which runs pretty deep over the generations is an automatic suspicion of authority. Perhaps it goes back to the Scottish roots, for when the Scots weren't fighting the Brits, they were simply fighting each other. Whatever it is, authority in general is not something to be respected (contra Romans 13) and people in authority are not to be trusted (contra I Thess 5:12). Fortunately God's redeeming work deals with our specific sins, and my grandfather (when alive), father, brother and I, are currently members of specific churches.

2.) I was just plain dumb and immature. As a youth director I made many mistakes, like the live mouse toss for our Fear Factor Outreach (yep the first mouse bit a kid and ended those shenanigans quick, fast, and in a hurry) and I'm OK to admit that. I put not joining the church up there with the mouse toss. I'm not saying you're dumb if you don't join a church, but I certainly was. The gospel gives me, and all of us who believe in it, the opportunity to say, "I was dumb, and I realize that, but Jesus loves this dumb sinner." I realized my folly and joined University Presbyterian Church in Orlando the spring of my first year.

3.) The senior pastor was not like the previous three I've with whom I have labored. He was gracious and helpful while I struggled with depression, but did not really challenge the notion of why I wouldn't join. It was a non-issue. But it really shouldn't have been. There were, as I already mentioned, some subtle, but underlying sinful issues.

Anyhow, if you're a hesitant joiner, or just an anti-joiner, I wanted to share a little of my past so you know that I once walked in your shoes even while serving as a paid staff. I'll get into why I think you should consider joining a church in the next few posts.

Political Friday

A good friend of mine and I hit up a conference today put on by the Family Policy Council of West Virginia. The conference featured keynote speaker Wayne Grudem, who discussed his new book Politics According to the Bible. Although I registered Republican, I'm fairly, or perhaps, extremely a-political. However I don't think that's a great stance to take-and neither does Grudem for that matter-so in addition to some good fellowship time, I figured it was worth hearing another voice on this issue.

In the end, he summed up some wrong ways to view religio-political (my words not his) involvement, like politics promoting/enforcing religion, politics are the realm of the devil, do evangelism not politics, etc, and presented what he thought was the correct view.

It gave me something to think about. And he did remind us that the body of Christ is made up of parts and there will be those who go deeper into politics than others. We should respect those who may feel called to a more active political involvement without blasting others who feel called in different directions. And vice versa. Still, I'm thinking through such involvement more so now than before.

The most moving speaker was a lad speaking on behalf of International Justice Mission, which seeks redemption and justice in the international slave trade. There were numbers of heart-breaking but redemptive stories of rehabilitation for victims and justice for traffickers. My friend and I were blown away. I'm going to look into this one further. Here's a helpful website mentioned in the talk called the Polaris Project involved with stopping the lucrative slave trade industry.

Unfortunately West Virginia is one of the "dirty dozen" states which has failed to keep up with proper recognition and legislation against this prevalent evil. You can check that out by going to the above link as well.

The conference concluded with some lad who continued to appeal to the founding fathers and the need to speak up for the right to assemble in worship. The right to assemble was being threatened, so somehow the church doors were threatening to close. He was my least favorite, mainly because freedom to assemble has NEVER stopped the spread of the church. Rome and China seem to come to mind. I felt he might have been a bit alarmist, even though he was a lawyer working cases relating to religious freedom. He was a little too "founding fathers," morality centered, and Religious Right for my taste.

In the end, the conference proved helpful to think through how my faith should drive my politics and political involvement. I think the I.J.M. seems like the best place for me to explore.

Asking for God's wisdom: Part III

This is the third part of the Asking for God's Wisdom trilogy. Of course if I think of some more things to say, I'll probably just make some "prequels," and then this would end up being the 6th part, like in Star Wars. 

Anyway, I'll proceed to share what I think is the third way we ask for and receive God's wisdom: listening to other Christians. There are two specific ways I've learned to ask and receive God's wisdom from others.

1.) Listening to sermons or lectures (that sounds academic but can include any topic). We are the most resourced nation in the world when it comes to opportunities to grow in our faith and receive wisdom. Most countries drool over the opportunities that we have, and yet most of us, including myself, don't take enough advantage of what we have. God does speak through His word, even when His word is preached at another church and you can only access it by the internet.

In addition to other sermons, we have tons of free seminary resources. Here are some free seminary and sermon resources: R.T.S., Covenant Seminary, Tim Keller, Jean Larroux.  If you're not a reader, then take 30 minutes of car riding time, or mowing the lawn, or just relaxing and learn something new. You'll be glad you did.

2.) Listening to others. The most under-tapped resource I think Christians often overlook is each other. While I don't believe that anyone can offer wisdom and say, "Thus says the Lord" (and actually speak with prophetic authority), all of your brothers and sisters in the faith have the Holy Spirit inside them. As a result, they can actually be conduits of wisdom from above to help assist you in everything from developing convictions, to job changes to purchasing a house or a spouse (sorry, it rhymed, though in some places in the world, this is still pretty accurate). Do yourself a favor and seek wisdom from above by asking God and finding wisdom in several mature Christians. 

Sometimes God may not confirm in your heart what you should do in certain situations because He wants to use others. He likes that kind of thing! While others can't say "Thus says the Lord," neither can we. Our hearts are deceptive and will often choose what we want, under the guise of wisdom from above. Asking and seeking wisdom from others can help us know the difference between subjectivity and Holy Spirit confirmation.

Asking for God's wisdom: Part II

This is the 2nd post on James regarding the wisdom that God grants to us when we ask for it in faith. What does asking and receiving that "wisdom from heaven," actually look like today? 

Sometimes it comes directly to our hearts through prayer, as I mentioned in my last post. Sometimes there is a delay, so that the Lord may teach us something we didn't think we needed to know. Both of those I dealt with here in Part I.

But another way that wisdom comes to us when we ask in faith is through reading. Let me suggest two ways God has answered my prayer for wisdom through reading.

1.) His Word. This is so obvious that it often gets forgotten. Protestants, more so than traditional Catholics (though I've met numbers of Catholics who can espouse grace by faith and read the bible for themselves), have traditionally fought for the freedom they have in Christ to read the bible for themselves. Many other evangelical traditions will fight to the death about the bible's infallibility, but rarely touch the good book during the week. Do you see the irony here of what such actions are actually saying: "It's God's Word, without error, true on all it claims to be true, and is relevant even today, but I'm not going to actually read it." Hmmm.....It's worth defending, and even more so, it's worth reading.

Yet so much of the wisdom we need today for parenting, honoring Christ at work, living among our neighbors is found in God's Word. Sometimes you can use a reference bible and look up particular verses on particular issues you feel more pressing. But for the most part, regular reading, just simply reading through books of the bible, and asking God's blessing through His Spirit (we call that "illumination"), is a normal way in which God answers this prayer for wisdom.

2.) Books, articles, etc... 

Some folks may go overboard and become "biblio-philes" (lover of books) and only rely on books for knowledge, and skip prayer and simply reading God's Word. However, many folks can also fail to receive God's Wisdom because they fail to read other books or articles. Whether its early church fathers, Reformers, Puritans, or writers of today, there is a plethora of wisdom out there if we'd ask God to show it to us through His People. I recommend keeping a rotation of books/articles which graciously (not angrily or legalistically-I just wonder if such writers are really writing with the Spirit of Christ) covers all areas of wisdom: the "Head" (theology), the "Heart" (personal devotional wisdom), and "Hands" (how to live that wisdom out in life). 

The book of James emphasizes the latter component of wisdom, as does Proverbs.

In summary, there's lots of wisdom out there. Just ask God, pray, read, and believe. One thing that Proverbs teaches us is that while we ask for wisdom, we must seek it out, and reading is a great way.

Law and Order more than just entertainment for Grant

CNN.com has been featuring some pretty good articles lately. I actually like going to that site better some times because foxnews.com usually has some pretty sketchy celebrity pictures near the bottom of the page.

Anyhow, I came across this one the other day, discussing Christian singer Natalie Grant's involvement in ministering to sex trade victims. The most fascinating part of the article was HOW she got involved with it in the first place: by watching Law and Order. I love that show and regularly watch all 3 of them.

And its also nice to see, that for its sometimes suspect ideologies on religion, homosexuality, and the like (though there is always a fair pro-life vs pro-choice tension among its characters), something quite good has come out of it. All it took was one episode featuring the reality of this oft overlooked, or at least under-realized, present day malfeasance.

Asking for God's wisdom: Part 1

During my personal devotions in James last week, I came across this verse: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (1:5)."

I'm always interested in what that actually looks like in life. Here's a few thoughts from my experience the past week of how the Lord provides wisdom.

Ask and Act

Someone asked me for advice this past week, and I didn't have a clue how to answer them. In my heart, I asked the Lord for some wisdom, thought about it for a 10-15 minutes, and then the solution came to me. I was encouraged directly by this person for the wisdom I offered. I relied on the Lord and He gave me some good counsel to share. I asked, received, and then  acted.

Ask and Wait

Another opportunity availed itself where someone asked me how to break the proverbial evangelistic ice with a young parent. How should this person begin to discuss spiritual things with someone who definitely doesn't have it on his/her radar?

This time I asked, and acted, and pretty much got the opposite response: "That's really not any help at all." You have to love honesty! I asked the Lord what should I say, and pretty much got nothing. But the wisdom I soon realized was, "Geoff, you're out of touch with evangelism, and need to start seeking more opportunities, and taking advantage of those opportunities when I give them to you." Now this wasn't audible, but after I waited, and waited for some good counsel to give, this is the counsel I feel the Lord gave to me. 

I still need to answer the person's question, but I also need to ask more and wait more. It was good to not get an answer right away. Tom Petty, who's lyrics seem to always pop into my head for sermons and blog entries (which is strange b/c I don't think he's really known for his clever lyrics, at least on paper), sang, "The waiting is the hardest part...you take it by faith, and take it to the heart, the waiting is the hardest part." Asking and Waiting can be hard hard, and times you may not look wise at the moment, but asking and waiting will indeed make you wiser with, as James writes, "the wisdom that comes down from heaven (James 3)."

Instead of making one long post-since I don't read any long posts myself-I'll break this up into several posts.

Texting Safety

When I watch Connar chase balls down our driveway, I'm impressed with the "angles" he takes to position himself so the ball doesn't roll past him. If only Sabby Piscitelli, the Buc's starting strong safety last year would have taken such angles, he may still have a starting job. But recently he was demoted, and he didn't take kindly to it. 

For him it was not only that he didn't deserve the demotion (yet its hard to argue that he wasn't the the worst player on a terrible defense), but how he received news of it: via text message.

I guess some things are best said in person. It is so much easier to send a text or an email than actually talking man-to-man or woman-to-woman. But here is another good reminder that doing what is efficient and safe, doesn't equate to doing what is right.