tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27119509098067466632024-03-13T06:38:16.631-04:00Be Thou My Vision"The way you lose the gospel is not by denying it but by assuming it" -D.A. CarsonGeoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.comBlogger1129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-29819177271183355092013-09-23T11:57:00.002-04:002013-09-23T11:57:46.337-04:00New Blog Site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj1Nq_oaVkc/UkBkqeMImzI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/mDaQckGWSTo/s1600/jeffersons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj1Nq_oaVkc/UkBkqeMImzI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/mDaQckGWSTo/s320/jeffersons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thanks for all of those who've followed and read my blog. Like the Jefferson's, I'm moving on up. Not sure if its to the East side of the cyberworld or not. Regardless of the direction, I've switched my blog over to a new wordpress site. It now called "In the Key of H," and the address is simply inthekeyofh.com. I'll be blogging there from now on. You can <a href="http://inthekeyofh.com/">click here to be redirected</a>. Hope you make the switch and follow me there. </span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-56184225274264295392013-09-17T10:46:00.000-04:002013-09-17T10:46:32.847-04:00Walter White's Worldly Sorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Breaking Bad</i> season 5, the final season, is soon to be over. I've said before that I've never appreciated a show as much as this one, and the final season hasn't disappointed. If you're playing catch-up, there is no spoiler alert here, just a common theme: Walt's worldly sorrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Throughout the show, despite the continual hardening of his heart toward anything "good," he never stops displaying emotion. He's not a sociopath. He does have feelings. Yes at times he does things unthinkable, but there are other episodes where we see real tears running down his face. Even in this last season, despite his malfeasance and machinations, he still cries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While Paul wouldn't deny there are different types of tears, he classifies two major types of "sad tears."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text 2Cor-7-9" id="en-ESV-28909">As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.</span><span class="text 2Cor-7-10" id="en-ESV-28910"><sup> </sup>For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (II Cor 7:9-10)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We see Walt shed many a tear over what he has done: lives he's either altered for worse or destroyed. But not long after those tears, we see him get right back after it. Nothing changes. There is sadness for a time, and perhaps even for a season, but this sorrow only leads to death: the ultimate separation from God. But we see glimpses of this descent into death through alienation with his family, extended family, his conscience, and his partner-in-crime Jesse. In the book of Jonah, every step he takes away from God's commands is a step toward the place of death and separation, known as "Sheol." Every step away from God is a step away from life. This is "worldly sorrow."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When you see Walt's tears, you think you see a glimmer of hope. And then you remember the name of the show is <i>Breaking Bad</i>. Just about everyone gets worse. People left to themselves will often show some signs of remorse, but will only display worldly sorrow. And we are reminded in this scripture passage, this type of sorrow only leads to death. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you are a Christian, you are not a Walt. You have <i>definitively</i> passed from death to life and that life starts now. While sanctification is <i>definitive</i>, it is also <i>progressive</i> (please don't think Flo). The life you enter into is never devoid of struggle with the old Walt in us (or Adam to be theologically correct) who will inevitably seek to selfishly cry as a form of show, penance, or shallow regret. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What's the difference? If death is alienation from God, salvation is relationship with God first, His people next, and then what He's doing in the world today. When Paul speaks of "salvation without regret," he is speaking in terms of reconciliation. People have shown a sorrow that leads to repenting instead of running from God <i>and</i> His people. They have repented from their sins against God and Paul, and are now "back on good terms" with the latter. This type of godly sorrow moves you to deeper relationship with God <i>and</i> His people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Repentance always has a destination, and that first stop is God. Then His people. Then becoming involved with how God in Christ (gospel preached through the gathered/scattered church) is undoing what the first Walt, or rather Adam, did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Watching Walt's worldly sorrow should lead me to a examine my sorrow to make sure it is truly leading me to repentance, which ultimately points me to the deepest experience of life.</span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-60027498822434712612013-09-10T11:11:00.002-04:002013-09-10T11:12:05.011-04:00How much ya bench? Struggle spotting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8b_hfhzM4sg/Ui82gsvt3RI/AAAAAAAAGJY/uUO2ccNszHg/s1600/how+much.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8b_hfhzM4sg/Ui82gsvt3RI/AAAAAAAAGJY/uUO2ccNszHg/s1600/how+much.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After some time away from the gym, I've finally started getting back into the swing of things. It's been a struggle but I think that I have found a time that works. Until the baby gets here and things, schedules, sleep, (life in general) changes yet again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Regardless, my favorite exercise is the bench press. It is the most easily quantifiable, measurable, transferable exercise. I can tell, care, compare how strong I am, particularly in relation to others around me. Or in the NFL....Remember the SNL skit, "How much ya bench?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I haven't asked anyone to "spot me" yet, which is necessary if I'm ever going to actually get much stronger (not just back to what I could do in West Virginia). But I often hesitate even in asking people, because I don't like having to tell people exactly how I want it done. Particularly when I don't know them well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sometimes when people "spot" you, they see you struggle and <i>immediately</i> put their hands under the bar. It then rises up very quickly. It goes from really hard to really easy. You don't need to be a trainer to realize that muscles grow best when they are exhausted. They grow best when and only when there is a struggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So when I get a "spotter" I have to tell him, "Let me struggle. Only help at the moment I absolutely need it. And then barely help it up." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When someone spots you and keeps you from struggling, it feels like you've just wasted your time. It's easy, but you just won't ever get much stronger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've heard the "faith is like a muscle" comparisons my whole life. But I've never really through the fact I actually seek such a spotter in the weight room. Such a spotter is loving. Such a spotter cares about me getting stronger more than he cares about easy lifting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yet such a spotter is there for a reason. I need him. I trust him. I have confidence he'll let me struggle, but I also have confidence he won't let me get pinned (that's not much fun-there is no more helpless feeling in the world!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Church planting is not easy. But neither is life for most people who aren't church planting. Marriage, parenting, work, etc....Jesus is the spotter who seeks us out, but he does so because of His great love. I'm <i>learning</i> to see Jesus as a spotter and not get so mad at him when he lets me struggle. It's not that he's not there, but much the opposite. After all, that struggle is the best thing for me: conforming me to His image. That's what He cares about most in the end anyway. When I begin to line up <i>His</i> vision for me with <i>my</i> vision for me, I'll begin to appreciate his style of spotting a lot more.</span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-43642686470701262452013-09-04T08:58:00.000-04:002013-09-04T08:58:26.086-04:00Cade, Goliath, and a Giant Penguin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ32lWI4ssA/Uictn7Zw6vI/AAAAAAAAGI4/Sc4ZsXU0oI8/s1600/billy-madison-05_510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ32lWI4ssA/Uictn7Zw6vI/AAAAAAAAGI4/Sc4ZsXU0oI8/s320/billy-madison-05_510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have two boys who love the bible stories. I have one who <i>really</i> loves one bible story more than any others. My almost three year old Cade can't get enough of David vs Goliath. Most of the time, it's the <i>only</i> one he wants to hear. He rehashes the story over and over. Of course, he pretends to be David (I guess that's better on a number of levels than pretending to be Goliath). And I can see why. He's a little guy for his age, and he, like all of us, wants to be the winner of the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last night Cade set up a giant stuffed animal penguin (though not quite as big as the penguin in <i>Billy Madison</i>), and pretended it was Goliath. He of course struck him down down dead. Thankfully he didn't decapitate it, because that could have been costly as well as messy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cade's impersonation is cute. Once again, he's a little guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But when he gets older, would it be good to let him continue to think of himself as David? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't think so, and its not just because I'm an anal pastor type concerned primarily with theological precision. The reality is that most people exegete the passage the same way my three year old does. Most people find themselves to be David in this cosmic good/underdog vs evil/overdog saga of life. And its natural that we see ourselves as such. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But let's consider what's really going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In Cade's <i>Toddler Bible</i> he has begun to notice certain people. <i>Who are those guys Daddy?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Those are the God's people, scared to death.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">No one can face this giant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That picture tells much of the story. God's army is on one side, the Phillistines are on the other side. One representative is needed. <i>The Jesus Storybook Bible</i> (the dialog of which Cade has basically memorized and recites when playing with his toys-its really pretty cute if I can say that) depicts Goliath looking to fight a representative of the people. If that representative will fight and beat him, the Phillistines will become subject to slavery. If that representative loses, the opposite will become true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The point of the story is not that you or I can rise up and be that brave person and beat our own personal demons, Goliath's, or El Guapo's in our lives for that matter. The point is that God HAD to send a representative, who would become King, who would do battle <i>for</i> us. If we are on this brave King's side, then we are on the right side. That was the message to those who first read the story. Get on David's side (Davidic line of kings). But of course, the story doesn't end there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jesus, the brave King, also born in Bethlehem, said "I will fight" for God's people in order to deliver them. I will be their representative. I will not let this cup pass from me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our representative had his shot and blew it in the Garden (Romans 5). Yet Jesus does exactly what David did, but this time on a cosmic scale. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If we would begin to find ourselves as the army which was too scared and faithless to fight, we would begin to see Jesus more clearly in our lives. He is the one who fought for us while we were not only scared and faithless, but while we were yet enemies (Romans 5:8). Instead of trying to muster up the courage we may never have, it's much more freeing to see how Jesus points us to David. And if that is so, we don't stand up and lead a bunch of other people who simply can't get their stuff together. We humbly get in line behind a conquering Savior and point people to Him. There's plenty of adventure in following Jesus (a la Steven Curtis Chapman) because we can't see the end of the story except through faith. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If Cade wants to dress up like David for Halloween, I'm OK with that. After all, my five year old already has some sense that David did "big sins" and Jesus is the real hero of the story. So it may not be too long....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But in the end, let's not forget those scared Israelites waiting for someone to "step up" and deliver them. That's us. Not a very glamorous start but the end sure is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's a video of Cade Vs the Goliath Penguin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/T4R2dMalJ-Q" width="420"></iframe> </span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-88253499983652439402013-08-27T14:29:00.002-04:002013-08-27T14:29:48.546-04:00Meeting church plant needs behind the scenes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu5zSkyFWDg/UhzulLdqlGI/AAAAAAAAGH8/GIDpzReZ9ZI/s1600/BEHIND_THE_SCENES_AUSTRIATITLE01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu5zSkyFWDg/UhzulLdqlGI/AAAAAAAAGH8/GIDpzReZ9ZI/s320/BEHIND_THE_SCENES_AUSTRIATITLE01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the things I already knew, but has been confirmed to me over my short church planting life so far, is that you need a ton of people to plant a church. You really do. You need to have a number of folks praying for you. That much is clear and we looked at Jesus reminder to pray to the "Lord of the Harvest" for Him to send out workers during our first core group meeting (Matt 9:36-39). If you want to follow our updates and pray for us, <a href="http://eepurl.com/AaVVr">click here</a>. We also need to have a number of folks financially supporting our work; currently we have 30 individuals and 2 churches. If interested in giving, <a href="https://processor.pcanet.org/MNA/DONATIONSII/DONATION.CFM?CHURCHPLANTERID=861">go here</a>. Most obviously, we need to have people actually get involved in the core group meetings who will invite new faces. I already realized all of that stuff before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I was definitely ignorant of many of the roles I needed people to play. Here are a few:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Folks outside our core group connecting us to others:</b> A dear friend of ours, who for the time being lives in Bradenton but will clearly never <i>personally</i> be involved in our church plant, has helped us connect with several young families. Who knows what will become of those relationships, but that is how this church is going to grow. I can't meet enough people on my own through my neighborhood, fishing, gym, Tee-ball, Starbucks, etc. I try and I have met some folks from the aforementioned places, but I've realized how much help I really needed. And received.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Folks outside our area connecting us to others:</b> I've had several pastors point me to contacts who live in the area. Neither of them live here, but they have sent me emails and phone numbers of people to call. Both of them are directing traffic from afar, and behind the scenes. Yet both have been playing a part that I just hadn't really thought much about. I needed, still need, and have received such help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Neighbors:</b> I had a neighbor knock on my door on Sunday morning and let me know I could have people park cars in the neighboring driveway because no one would be home for several months (snowbirds). In addition, he told me he would ask about any possible meeting space in one of the rooms at his Catholic church. And after our core group meeting, one of my neighbors took a look at my on-again-off-again air conditioner. And is still doing so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So in addition to giving, praying, meeting, there are many ways of participating in a church plant. While ignorant of such need right off the bat, I am no longer so! And I feel there are many needs, and people to meet them, whom I've yet to discover. </span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-7249400592665839552013-08-26T11:19:00.001-04:002013-08-26T11:19:18.876-04:00Prayer: Are you talking to me?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9D4ptEHbY/Uhtw_JM3WfI/AAAAAAAAGHs/3eAiVROPrdU/s1600/250px-Cedric-Bob.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9D4ptEHbY/Uhtw_JM3WfI/AAAAAAAAGHs/3eAiVROPrdU/s1600/250px-Cedric-Bob.PNG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A
week ago, while worshiping at Cornerstone, I heard a succinct sermon on
prayer from the Sermon on the Mount. It was quite a helpful little
sermon that pointed out a few practical oft overlooked mechanics of
prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Length</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prayers
in public don't have to long. This is hard for Reformed folks. I think
it might be hard for Charismatic folks as well. I think. Have you ever
had a moment when you felt really "unspiritual?" Or I guess a better
term might be simply "spiritually immature." I've had a ton of them, so
it wouldn't be a great idea to rank them: not a great use of my time.
But one in which would probably slide into my top 10 occurred after
Sinclair Ferguson opened up his systematic theology class at 8 am with a
10 minute prayer. One guy came up to me and said, "Wow, how about that
prayer. So...?" I filled in the blank with the obvious, "So <i>long</i>!" He replied, "No, so <i>rich</i>!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
felt pretty low then. And perhaps I should have followed along better.
But is longer necessarily better? The pastor indicated he thinks Jesus
didn't think so. When people have a lot to pray about, it's hard to pack
a ton in a public prayer. But remember longer isn't better. Something
to consider when praying with your kids or at your church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Which brings me to the next point he brought out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"You talking to me?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To
whom are you talking in prayer? Or better yet, who do you want to hear
you? Sometimes prayers can really be more like talking to people, as
though they are your primary audience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the ways you can know if you consider prayer as though you're talking more <i>to</i> people, rather than <i>to</i>
God, is how scared you are to pray in public. By public, I don't mean
20 or more people. I'm talking groups of 3-4 folks. If prayer is talking
to God, then it doesn't matter how silly you sound to others. After
all, prayer from God's saints (all Christians) is like a redolent
fragrance. Like corporate singing, it is not the <i>sound</i> of the words, but from whence the words come: the contrite, yet joyful heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many
of us at various times have forgotten who our primary audience really
is. I did too when in seminary, as I rarely volunteered to pray in front
of a large number of future pastors. We've all forgotten this timely
truth from time to time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But when we are praying in a group, is it really <i>only</i> talking to
God, as though it doesn't matter if people around you are listening? I
mean, if it is only talking to God, others might as well just cover
their ears or play on their phones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's
an illustration I've been thinking about lately. Have you ever waited
in line for some event, or to check out of a department or grocery
store, and had someone talk to you just a little bit louder than needed?
Or maybe you've heard someone talking to his spouse or son or friend,
and they are clearly intending for you to "overhear" the conversation.
The person has a primary audience, but he also has a secondary audience.
It is clear, due to his volume, word choice, that he wants to bring you
into the conversation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now
often this can be quite annoying because you don't want to be brought
in or you don't want others to be brought in. Or it can be annoying
because the person might be talking to you, but their primary audience
is actually another person or group "over-hearing." You can tell this
because you've already heard what he has said before. The secondary
audience has become the primary. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But
if the speaker truly is engaged with his primary audience (spouse, son,
friend), he can honestly "over-speak" to others he doesn't know,
drawing them into the conversation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
think this is what can happen in group prayer settings. God is our
primary audience and so how eloquently we speak is inconsequential. But
how we speak still matters. We speak loudly, intentionally, and with
words our secondary audience can understand. They "over-hear" our
conversation with God, and thus are intentionally brought into that
conversation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Considering our audiences frees us from the fear of sounding silly, and in addition, it frees us to love and lead people well. </span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-85709698124017184562013-08-20T21:07:00.000-04:002013-08-20T21:07:47.977-04:00A-Roid, Vigilante Justice, and the need for a Judge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other day Alex Rodriguez aka A-Rod or A-Roid, faced Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster. After several clear inside pitches designed to hit A-Roid, one finally hit the mark. Immediately benches were warned, but Dempster stayed in the game. Afterwards, Red Sox manager belied ignorance of any seeming intent on behalf of his less than star pitcher. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As an avid Rays fan, I'm partial to both the Sox and the Yankees, always hoping against hope that both can lose. But since baseball is not soccer, that's just not really an option. Regardless of the fact that hit batter fueled a Yankees rally which proved the difference in their victory, the real discussion afterwards lay in the ethics of such a pitch, not in pragmatics (how un-American of us to push the pragmatic to the side). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who was right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A-Roid is facing more than a 200 game suspension for his alleged involvement in steroids, which he admitted to using before. MLB has somewhat of smoking gun, so after his appeal is heard, A-Roid will be A-Bored for a season and a half. On top of that, A-Rod might be the most unlike-able baseball player on one of the more polarizing teams. Despite his individual and team success, he plays himself up to be the victim. Some of these players have been lying their whole lives, that they actually believe the lies they tell. Perhaps that, or an extreme narcissism, or both is at the root to why A-Roid won't simply admit he did wrong? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So pitchers have every "reason" to hate A-Rod. The rest of the 10+ players suspended by MLB have taken their suspensions, but not A-Rod. That's why Dempster beaned him, even though it took him 4 pitches to do so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So who is right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Should pitchers be able to hit the "cheater" (allegedly)? Or is A-Rod right, for according to the letter of the law, he has the right to appeal-which will allow him to play the rest of the season? In that case, he shouldn't be "targeted" (again, allegedly because no one admits to hitting someone) by pitchers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who's side should one take?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's probably important to look at something more than the arm that through the baseball. What's really being <i>said</i> by that pitch? <i>You cheat, we don't, and we will punish you the best way we can for cheating. </i>It's the position of the legalist. The one who says I follow the law, you don't, so I will punish you the best way I can. Perhaps shunning, running or gunning. Many folks fall into this category even though they would never admit to this. <i>You judge, we don't judge, so we will judge you for judging. We will do something about it, and not leave it to the legal process. </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You don't have to be a Westboro Baptist member to fall into this line of work. You don't have to vote Republican. Behind the pitch, there is an unrealized self-righteousness which produces anger. Whether it comes out in a subtle form as with labels, racism, or blatant insults and violence, the heart behind it is the same. Self-righteousness always pops its ugly head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Is it possible to take another route? Is it possible to believe that A-Rod shouldn't be allowed to play yet not personally take matters into your own hands? Can you disagree with someone's behavior, believe it a sin, and yet not judge them? Can you <i>not</i> make someone pay by shunning, gunning, or running, but instead leave it to another Judge?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/maddon-on-dempstera-rod-no-place-for-vigilantism/2137454"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That is the position the Rays will take when A-Roid and his company play the Tampa Bay Rays in a week.</span></a><br />
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<i>"You know what, vigilante justice and unilateral decisions, I'm not into
that stuff,'' Maddon said. "There's rules in place. There's a board
assigned to make those kind of decisions. I believe in players'
controlling the game itself in regards to what's happening in that game,
and we always talk about policing that. But that is totally separate
from the unwritten rules of baseball. So I do not agree with that at
all. And, again, I don't believe in rogue unilateral decisions or
players meting out discipline, whereas this is something entirely
different.''<br /><br />Asked if the Rays pitchers would act similarly,
Maddon said: "There's no reason to. There's absolutely zero reason to do
that for me. That's what I believe. I believe let the mechanism in
place work and everybody do their jobs. ... Don't attempt to be judge
and jury and just let everybody do their jobs.''</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">MLB, led by Bud Selig is probably not much more than a joke. The man who promoted the Roided out long-ball era now wants to be known by cleaning it up? Yet there is another judge to whom we can leave things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Without a Judge, on whom you can never pull a fast one, we are forced to take matters into our own hands. Without such a Judge, we only have the options of retaliating <i>or</i> overlooking. We only have the options of becoming an angry self-righteous legalist <i>or</i> driven by indifference at what we know to be wrong. A legalist <i>or</i> one with license to do whatever fulfills us at the moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The irony behind removing God's wrath or judgment from our picture of Him is that we become more wrathful and judgmental. Or we become a completely self absorbed relativist caring about self before family and community. Neither seem all that good to me. </span><br />
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<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-13191788468606842222013-08-13T15:17:00.002-04:002013-08-13T15:17:39.136-04:00If I ever lose my faith in you....? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of my neighbors told me that he trusted that the closing of his property would take place even though he had moved out and the buyers were about to move in. All of this before the closing date. My realtor shared with me some horror stories and so didn't advise any sort of "early tenancy" for us. This guy didn't receive such counsel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I asked him if he really thought that was a good idea, he mentioned, "If you don't have faith in people, what do you have?' Or to put it in terms that Sting once sang about, "If I ever lose my faith in you...." What then?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think that is definitely something to think about. Here are some random thoughts based upon a biblical anthropology. Should you have faith in people? No and Yes, yes and no, with some qualifiers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Created in image of God and so reflect something about God</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When you have found a trustworthy friend, pastor, teacher, parent, you have found a beautiful-or I guess rather handsome in some cases, thing or person. To be able to trust someone is huge, helpful, and brings great joy and relaxation. It is great to have some faith in people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Created in image of God, but marred by sin and so naturally selfish</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I personally didn't want to give early occupancy because I suspected some kind of spiritual conspiracy plan in the works (3 contracts and 80 days from last contract to closing). But even without that fiasco of selling my house, I wouldn't have granted folks I didn't know very well an early occupancy. Part of it is because I don't have a simple faith in people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Created in image of God, but not God; not to mention man is sinful </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Generally trustworthy is one thing, but 100% trustworthy, meaning that he/she will never let you down, is another. Expecting and demanding someone to be something that only Someone else can be is dangerously idolatrous and practically demoralizing. If you totally place your "faith" in anyone, even a spouse, pastor, teacher, brother/sister, or fellow church member, best friend, they will disappoint you. And if you are expecting them to never disappoint you, and then they disappoint you, simply by virtue of them not being Jesus, you will simply move on to the next disappointment. The little and natural disappointments over time can lead to serious division, anger, and divorce. Now I'm not excusing any time anyone lets you down, particularly when they sin against you. I'm simply saying there is a healthy expectation we can have that people will let us down. So don't make faith in people, general or specific, your foundation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Disappointed person is also sinful </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The person who has no faith in people in any sense, (aka cynical) has in some ways forgotten about his own sin. If everyone else is a sinful idiot, then what about you? To say you have no faith in people doing anything because they are all sinful idiots, is perhaps pridefully ignorant, as oxy-moronic as that may sound. One can hold to the doctrine of total depravity (sin affects every faculty of the person-though not to the nth degree) for other people, but consider himself to be unaffected by it. Theology is good only when it is actually applied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Can't love if can't open self to disappointment</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To have "no faith in people" is a great way to protect yourselves from being hurt. But you also protect yourself from loving and being loved. That is one of the recurring themes in <i>Call the Midwife</i>. A safe way to live, but it is also being less than human to live in such a way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Can't delegate with no faith in people </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To have "no faith" in people means you do everything yourself. You never delegate. Not good for a church plant. Not good for a family. Not good for a lot of things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the end, the question of "what do you have" is not based upon how much or how little faith you have in people. Our ultimate object of faith is a Sovereign God who calls us into relationships with Himself (infallible), with His church (fallible yet redeemed) and His world (fallible but still bearing his His image). We have varying levels of "faith" in people that may vary as God works in them over time. <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-5052721078694932922013-08-08T13:57:00.001-04:002013-08-08T13:57:06.749-04:00Shark Week 2013 Gospel Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year towards the end of summer, I have one thing on my mind: <i>Shark Week</i>. Well, that's not totally true, particularly now that we're starting this church plant (somewhat thought consuming!), but you probably get the point. For many <i>Shark Week</i> marks not simply the close of summer, but also perhaps its zenith.<br />
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And for those who do actually anticipate the new week, they can almost always be confronted with the disappointment of re-runs and less than spectacular material. While this year kicked off with a mock-u-mentary (that wasn't even subtlely revealed to be fake until the end of it) on the pre-historic Megalodon, it seems to have let me down far less than other recent <i>Shark Week's</i>.<br />
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I love to hear the stories of shark attack survivors. Those are always my favorites. I'm not there to see the un-cut material, but I really do think Discovery does a good job with letting people mention God or Jesus. There is almost always a snippet of a survivor giving praise to God the Father or the Son (still waiting for a Holy Spirit "shout out" but that may come...). In a previous season, one story actually ended with Romans 8:28 being quoted after the wife had been killed by a Tiger Shark. This year was no different.<br />
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One South African lad of only 15 years experienced the wrath of two Great White Sharks attacking him and his surfboard. <a href="http://youtu.be/xkFdDVkxGuU">Here is Animal Planet's version</a>. Unfortunately everyone abandoned the scene, so he was left to fend for himself. In his words, "Jesus, I need some help here....." Suddenly a big wave came and carried the lad in.<br />
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Jesus' "saving wave" was actually quite formative, for several years later, someone else surfing near him was attacked. Knowing what it was like to be left alone (and knowing what it was like to have been saved by a "third party"), he paddled over to rescue the other lad instead of swimming the other way. <br />
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What a great picture of how the gospel frees us from bitterness. That's a natural reaction when folks let us down, or for this lad, when people leave you in the water to die at the teeth of two not so friendly White Sharks. We become especially bitter when people scatter at pivotal times in life. Instead of only giving us a new life freed from bitterness, the gospel grants us a new mission, and a new motivation to move forward in that mission. No longer bound by what people <i>did/didn't</i> do for us (if they abandoned us) nor what people <i>may do</i> for us (praise or curse), we have a much fresher and lasting motivation. Freed <u>from</u> bitterness, and set free <u>to</u> serve.<br />
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Our bitter experiences can be redeemed and open the door for mission <i>if</i> we remember the truth of the gospel message:<br />
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<i><span class="text 2Tim-4-16" id="en-ESV-29870">At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!</span><span class="text 2Tim-4-17" id="en-ESV-29871"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.</span> <span class="text 2Tim-4-18" id="en-ESV-29872">The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.</span></i><span class="text 2Tim-4-18" id="en-ESV-29872"><i> II Tim 4:16-18</i></span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-6109331532930143922013-08-06T16:10:00.000-04:002013-08-06T16:10:43.678-04:00Disappointment: It's not as bad as I thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a church planter you have to ask for things. Lots of things. Now everyone should ask for lots of things, but I've found myself doing that more these days because I have less in some sense. Though much was already committed before I was even "signed," I still do have to ask for money. That's kind of hard. But I also have to ask for people. And you can't really ask people for themselves, at least not at first. Because of that I'm at the mercy of people returning phone calls, meeting me and meeting with me, showing interest in me, the church, or the gospel (preferably all three, but one out of three isn't bad). Since I cannot provide that interest, I have to ask God for it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And while scary, it can also be kind of fun. It can result in great excitement and praise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For instance, I prayed for several neighbors that I had made contact with a while ago, yet hadn't been able to connect with. I prayed specifically for two of them to return a phone call. Just 15 minutes after praying, I saw a name pop up on my I-phone. It was one of the two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For a very short 5 seconds, I praised God out loud before answering the phone. There was talking, but it wasn't to me. He had "butt-called" me. If you're not familiar with that term, we'll just say he accidentally called me without knowing it or realizing I had actually answered the phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From the heights of praise to the depths of disappointment. In 4.5 seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">James 4 reminds us that we don't have because we don't ask. So we should definitely ask. But the problem when you do ask-and I've already mentioned that I have to ask for a number of things I haven't asked for before-is that you set yourself up for disappointment. You really do. I think we need to honestly count the cost of asking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of course there is a reason that God says, "No, or not right now." Just like when parents tell there kids, which is always a good reminder. Why should I expect my kids to take it so easy, when it's hard for me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With much asking comes much disappointment. Of course with much asking, comes much thanksgiving. But instead of basing my confidence in prayer or spiritual well being on how many times God said, "Yes" that week vs. how many times he said, "No" or "Not at the moment," I've had to reconsider how I view disappointment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Psalms are full of highs and lows. Full of disappointment and full of thanksgiving. You might think the persons writing them were a bit unstable. But I think that's just a healthy vibrant spiritual life. If you aren't disappointed, you probably don't care all that much. And if you are disappointed, remember, that is so much better than being apathetic. Or even being dry. Going back and forth between disappointment and thanksgiving is far more healthy than a "stable" dry time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Disappointment is not a dark desert highway on the way to the Hotel California, but an experience of a real relationship with a Heavenly Father, who out of love, may say, "No" or "Not yet." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've been dry. I've been on spiritual auto-pilot before. I'm learning that temporary disappointing periods are actually much better. It means there is a real Father-son relationship taking place, just like the one which takes place in my house each day. Highs and lows, but it is real, not robotic. I'm learning to see disappointment in a new light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-35599865204705186792013-08-01T16:31:00.000-04:002013-08-01T16:31:58.936-04:00Riley, Repentance, and Redemption? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After several months of "Rome-less" radio down in Bradenton, my wife let me know that Jim Rome was actually available on FM. That was music (ironically we're talking about 'sports talk radio') to my ears. Rome discussed the whole Riley Cooper racist tirade caught on video while at a Kenny Chesney concert (his first mistake). The "N" word was dropped like a set of dumb-bells by a meat head in a weight room. Only this meathead wasn't big enough to scare people after the racist ranting video went viral. Tebow's former teammate, and roommate, is in some serious trouble. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While the NFL doesn't seem likely to suspend him right now, it is tough to rebound from such a debacle. Remember Michael Richards who played Kramer on <i>Seinfeld</i> after his tirade? While he certainly has a career to think about, Cooper has to come to realization very quickly, that what he said (and probably thought-though seeing into the heart of another is impossible) was terrible and the consequences of said words could be around to stay long after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Marcus Vick, who has done nothing good, well ever, has never been a great spokesperson for his older brother Mike. Getting kicked off Va Tech's football team opened the door to playing for the Miami Dolphins. For a pre-season. But with the help of a famous brothers name, and twitter account, you can always make enough noise to be heard by a number of folks. He actually put out a "bounty" (a la Greg Williams and the Saints, allegedly) of a 1,000 for a safety to take out Cooper in a game. Not sure where he gets that kind of cash, but that's for another day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/31/jason-avant-says-it-will-take-some-teammates-a-while-to-forgive-riley-cooper/">For today, I want to look at Vick's response. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>“I know what type of person he is,” Vick said of Cooper. “That’s what makes it hard to understand but easy to forgive him.”</i><i>Mike Vick also disagrees with his brother’s remarks about Cooper,
saying that Marcus should “not show a level of ignorance himself.”</i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Receiver <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3612/jason-avant">Jason Avant</a> also forgave Cooper. “I just know him,” Avant said. “He’s not racist.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wonder if there's also something else going on. Most people are centering their forgiveness around the words. But what about the thoughts? Could that be forgiven? If so, by who?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">By someone who had been forgiven of something really big. Really stupid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mike Vick did jail time for his role in dog fighting. It was bad. It was stupid. It was evil. But I wonder if that plays into his quickness to be able to forgive. Grace begets grace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In Jesus parable in Luke 7:36-50, which he tells to some self righteous religious folks, he poses the question which person would be more thankful, someone with a small debt cancelled or bigger debt cancelled? The answer is obvious. Then he expostulates: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Luke-7-47" id="en-ESV-25234"><span class="woj">47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Luke-7-47" id="en-ESV-25234"><span class="woj"> </span></span><span class="text Luke-7-47" id="en-ESV-25234"><span class="woj"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-7-47" id="en-ESV-25234"><span class="woj">Whoever has forgiven Vick, or whomever he feels forgiven by-whether God, teammates, owner, friends, fans-it probably plays into his take on forgiveness. He has loved Cooper much because he has been forgiven much. For those unwilling to forgive such racist remarks, or racism in general, it reveals how small a debt they had cancelled. Of course it does take time, and it seems as though it may take time for other teammates to come around. But if there is belief in the gospel, even racism, not just words, but beliefs, can be both called out as evil, while the forgiveness process (provided there is repentance) can begin. </span></span><span class="text Luke-7-47" id="en-ESV-25234"><span class="woj"></span></span></span> Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-64979703061627240582013-07-29T14:31:00.001-04:002013-07-29T14:31:17.488-04:00Deeper than Weezer: Opening up a redemptive Pandora's box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of my prayer requests for the "core group" of our church plant (obviously including me) is for a deeper personal conviction of sin. What I mean is that we would be aware of, and regularly repent of our particular sins. Not just that we engaged in sin like gossip, lust, jealousy, envy, selfishness, self-righteousness, or didn't engage in what we were called to (sins of omission), but why we did the things we did. Why chose to gossip (to tear down instead of considering how Christ builds us up) to lust (failure to see Christ as worthy of our gaze) or selfishness (failure to heed Jesus promise that there is more joy in giving life away). Why would a pastor pray for something like this for himself and Christ's sheep?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If that seems like a strange request, I promise you it is a prayer that will bring praise to Christ, joy to the believer, and blessing/opportunity to neighbors/co-workers/friends. To repent of particular sins and recognize personal sin in general opens up the opposite of pandora's box: the deep treasures of the gospel to you and others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>1.) For your neighbors benefit</b>: The more you are aware of your own personal sin, the less self-righteous you become. You become the biggest sinner you know. You don't look down upon someone else for doing _____. Instead you look sideways, seeing them as a fellow sinner, also in need of grace. The difference is...you have received grace, not that you're a "better" person. Often you'll find you aren't! You become a better neighbor when you realize God doesn't need your good works but your neighbor does (a la Martin Luther).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>2.) For your benefit.</b> Obviously you have to turn to Jesus, but if you have a constant
recognition of your own sin, then you have a constant rest, appreciation, and joy that God's love for you is grounded not in your performance but in the person and work of Christ. That is freeing and makes you want to make a joyful noise to
Jesus. The flip side is also true: if you have little understanding of your own sin, you have little need for Jesus. <i>Maybe you needed him back a few years ago, but now, not so much. </i>What happens? You'll find yourself becoming more and more self-righteous, angry, and bitter. Remember the "other prodigal son?" If not, check out how his self-righteousness made him and angry SOB (Luke 15:11-32). We miss out on joy and become more self-righteous by ignoring our sin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We don't repent from personal sin regularly <i>so that</i> God will give us more stuff (health and wealth gospel), but so that God will give us more of Himself. On the other side of the cross there was joy for Jesus so that on the other side of repentance, which is faith, joy will abound to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>3.) For the sake of the Commission.</b> A deeper understanding of sin led Isaiah into volunteering for a mission done got himself killed (Isaiah 6). And he volunteered for it! In the presence of God's Holy throne he came undone (no it wasn't because someone pulled the thread of his sweater as he walked away a la Weezer) because of a deep recognition of his own sins of the tongue. Once God cleansed and symbolically atoned for his sin, he said, "Here I am, send me." His own sin, and the forgiveness by God, moved him toward mission. It moved him to sacrifice even his life for his neighbors. It move us to sacrifice comfort and convenience when we recognized that Christ has atoned the sins of our tongues (among a plethora of other sins). In contrast, a lack of personal sin is what led Jonah to self-righteously and unwillingly preach the gospel, and then actually, angrily hope for the worst (Jonah 4). Notice the difference?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>4.) For the sake of Christ. </b>One of the reasons we have been saved is so that we would praise God for the glorious riches offered to us in the in person of God the Son, with those promises sealed to us by God the Holy Spirit (Eph 1). Instead of morbid introspection where we spend time thinking how bad we are, we quickly turn from looking at our personal sin for the day or sin in general, and immediately cast our gaze upon Him who is already looking down from Heaven with a smile. When our countenance meets His, we burst forth in song, praise, and possibly dance (depending upon denomination or skill level). Regular, albeit brief glances at our sin leads to a panoramic view of Christ and His work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The TV show <i>Breaking Bad</i>, probably better than any other show I've seen, reveals the cosmic affects of personal sin. But the gospel message and power invite us to live within a different narrative. Personal sin has/has had cosmic consequences, but personal gospel dynamics also have a cosmic redemptive affect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you've read this and think of someone else who needs to take sin more seriously, you've missed the point. If you've read this and think I'm writing this about YOU in particular, well there's a Carly Simon song you might remember called "Your So Vain-I bet you think this post is about you." But if you read this and have begun to recognize how messed up you really are, and then how perfect, righteous, gracious, satisfying, loving, merciful, powerful, holy, giving Jesus is, and that he offers all He demands, then you'll have read this post correctly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you begin with your goodness, you'll love Jesus and your neighbors a whole lot less. On the contrary if you begin with your sin, Jesus will be honored and your neighbors blessed. They may just thank you-even if they don't understand exactly how such sacrificial love was kindled. </span><br />
Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-38348675115750611702013-07-26T17:18:00.000-04:002013-07-26T17:19:19.891-04:00Atheism, de-conversion, and The Puppy Who Lost His Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This Sunday I'll be preaching for St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church for the third time. I'll be wrapping up a series on faith and doubt. Thanks to a facebook friend, who actually happens to be a real life friend of mine-though now separated by 900 miles-<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/07/15/the-atheist-daughter-of-a-notable-christian-apologist-shares-her-story/">I came across this article of an Atheistic de-conversion</a>. It is the journey from faith to doubt to disbelief (although if you read the article it does seem that doubt preceded disbelief for only a very short period of time). I love reading articles about conversion,<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/07/18/from-mad-marxist-to-compassionate-conservative/"> particularly someone coming from a hostile atheist background to saving faith in Christ.</a> But I think these articles of de-conversion are also helpful, even though they can be quite discouraging. We can still usually learn something from them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are some things I took away from the article, aside from simply being saddened by this dark descent into disbelief.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1.) <i>The relationship with one's father is often key.</i>While this gal couches her disbelief in science and rationality, I think there is much more going on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.evangelizetoday.info/our-staff">According to one pastor who started an outreach ministry</a>, asking a friend or neighbor about his/her father opens the door to understanding barriers to a relationship with God. For instance, people often reject faith because their father rejected faith. It is of course no tit-for-tat, but there does seem to some connectedness. Understanding <i>that</i> relationship can help you minister to <i>that</i> person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I read in this article that this gal ran away from home and has no relationship with her father, I cannot assume that had nothing to do with it. Yes her mother is a Christian, but how much of her rejecting God is her rejecting her father? I wonder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bad relationships with fathers seem to be incubators for doubt. But, according to this pastors experience in ministry, they can also be open doors to faith based discussions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2.) <i>I don't think anyone makes a decision to follow or un-follow, believe or disbelieve in God or specifically His plan of salvation through His Son from an entirely rational basis. </i>I've heard atheists on a discussion panel explain that they got into Atheism because their friends were such. This story of de-conversion is not a treatise on a pure quest for rationalism. Now I think she advertises it as such, but there is too much baggage she is so quick to leave behind. And I don't blame her for some of this seems pretty sad. But there is an emotional experience she is quick to leave behind, and I don't think it is simply because "the bible lied to me."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3.) <i>What question is the person really asking?</i> In general the post-modern mantra is "does it work or help" (pragmatism) more so than "is it true" (modernity/rationalism)? This gal seems to fit into the modernist quest. I just read Andy Stanley's <i>Deep and Wide</i>, and he argues that most people simply want to know "does this work." But I find very rarely does someone fit into a purely rational or purely pragmatic category. Where I live now, and when I lived in Bradenton, I found skeptics to fit into more the modernist rational variety. Many people do ask the question, "Would I like what I would become?" So we have to make sure to present the gospel in such a way as to respond to these "defeater" beliefs (what Tim Keller refers to as the barriers we have to deal with before we can actually get to the gospel). For the Jews, Paul discerned it as "power" for the Greeks it was "wisdom." (I Cor 1). What is it for your friends? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>4.) Where was the gospel?</i> This gal was allegedly raised in a grace-less home. One always needs to consider the source (an estranged daughter), but it is hard to misinterpret 10-15 beatings based upon a child not obediently responding the first time. Regardless, from her perspective, there was plenty of law but not a lot of gospel or good news. And regardless of whether or not the dad felt like he was showing grace, the message perceived (which is still important, for if someone doesn't feel like we're showing grace, maybe we're not!) was I'm proud of your <i>performance.</i> Not a delight in the person but a delight in the performance of your child. That's not grace. As a parent, that's something I never want my kid to think. I was only proud of how well he did and not simply that I loved him simply because he was my son.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Would a gal be so quick to "jump ship" if she had at least had an experience of grace, where she could honestly struggle and question? I would like to think so. But in the end, I think what this gal is rejecting is more than just a belief in God; she is rejecting a form of moralistic behavioral performance based Christianity that has at the very least been perceived as Christless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5.) <i>Don't be so quick to jump ship.</i> Doubting is not a bad exercise. But doubts are best done within the community of faith. If you try to discern whether or not God exists, and you posed certain question, and you don't get satisfactory answers, then it might be good to look a little bit harder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>...This changed one day during a conversation with my friend Alex. I had a habit of bouncing theological questions off him, and one particular day, I asked him this: If God was absolutely moral, because morality was absolute, and if the nature of “right” and “wrong” surpassed space, time, and existence, and if it was as much a fundamental property of reality as math, then why were some things a sin in the Old Testament but not a sin in the New Testament?<br /> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Alex had no answer — and I realized I didn’t either. Everyone had always explained this problem away using the principle that Jesus’ sacrifice meant we wouldn’t have to follow those ancient laws. But that wasn’t an answer. In fact, by the very nature of the problem, there was no possible answer that would align with Christianity. <br /> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I still remember sitting there in my dorm room bunk bed, staring at the cheap plywood desk, and feeling something horrible shift inside me, a vast chasm opening up beneath my identity, and I could only sit there and watch it fall away into darkness. The Bible is not infallible, logic whispered from the depths, and I had no defense against it. If it’s not infallible, you’ve been basing your life’s beliefs on the oral traditions of a Middle Eastern tribe. The Bible lied to you.<br /> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Everything I was, everything I knew, the structure of my reality, my society, and my sense of self suddenly crumbled away, and I was left naked. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's not a big question of mine. I have them. Plenty of questions, but they are more of the "why did this happen variety" (which ultimately reveals a latent belief anyway but that is for another post) than of the philosophical variety like this. But as <i>Billy Madison</i> so eloquently argued in reference to the book <i>The Puppy Who Lost His Way, "</i>You can't give up looking for your dog after half an hour, you have to put up some signs, and get your butt out there and find your bleeping dog!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I
know this gal had grown up believing the bible, but according to her
own words, she disbelieved very quickly and in isolation from real
gospel centered community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If answers aren't satisfactory, we have to spend time and be willing to spend time with doubters. There are people smarter than us who have asked harder questions and have found intellectually satisfying answers. CS Lewis anyone? Please don't be like the boy in <i>The Puppy Who Lost His Way </i>and give up after half an hour. Don't let doubt grow into disbelief in the matter of minutes, hours, or even days. Let's put up some posters and find, or help others find, that bleeping dog.</span><br />
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<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-27615712746000637342013-07-24T11:12:00.001-04:002013-07-24T11:13:13.746-04:00The freeing affect of a father's non-frown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have two boys right now. One five, and one almost three. Even though my five year old has been around a few years longer, my two year old has broken far more things in his shorter life. Lamps, glasses, dishes, radio attenanae on mini-van, and missing Roku controller-I can't prove he discarded it somewhere but I'm pretty sure he did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other day while working in my first office (Atlanta Bread Co is office number 2), I heard a loud crash. Cade knocked over the lamp, again, but this time it landed on tile instead of carpet. That ended its 5 year period of providing light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I didn't get all that frustrated to come down and see the cracked lamp. Better it land on the tile than his little frame. And I don't get too attached to lamps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't know how much money Cade has cost me in broken items over the years, but I would guess it doesn't add up to all that much. Whenever I become frustrated when one of my kids break things, I remember back to all of my father's stuff <i>I've</i> broken over the years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For some reason, in middle school, I worked on my baseball swing in the garage and dented the Porsche. In high school, I crashed a boat into our dock one afternoon because I had neglected to take the weeds out of the jet in the jet boat on the previous trip. After college, I left the boat lift on, went inside, and came back outside after I realized my mistake. Too late. The beautiful ski boat's windshield was completely shattered against the roof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'll never forget my father's face. Instead of anger at what was one of the most expensive, avoidable, and stupid mistakes I've made, he said, "Hmmmm.......well......" Or something like that. I screwed up big time and my father's face, instead of being filled with anger, was instead filled with compassion. He moved toward me, not away. He knew that I knew I had screwed up, and how bad and embarrassed I felt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've broken way more than my son will ever be able to break. So how angry should I get when he breaks things? Even more so, when I remember my father's reaction, not angry at me for destroying his otherwise flawless boat, how can I become angry at my son? Believing in grace makes you a better parent. I need to believe more. Much more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If my dad had become vehemently angry with me, I would then be scared to mess up in the future. I would follow the best I could out of fear. That wouldn't be the last thing I would break. I flew a remote controlled helicopter into a ceiling fan a few years ago. While I didn't want to break it, fear wasn't my motivator. I thought I would break it, and I even told him I would probably break it, and yet I wasn't afraid to break it. And I did. But I desired not to break it out of love, not fear. You see, that's one mark of a son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fear of failure may work for a job, but it doesn't motivate sanctification. Jean Larroux, one of my favorite preachers, posed a question in a sermon, "Describe God's face toward you now? A smile? OK, well what does His face look like after you sin? A frown?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Does God look down upon you with a a Jon Gruden-like scowl when you sin, but then smiles over you when you do something good? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't believe we lose that smile when we screw up. And I don't believe we can put that smile back on His face when we don't screw up. We're just not that good, and our faith isn't all that much better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If our Heavenly Father's face doesn't turn to a dark scowl when we screw up, doesn't that motivate you to follow after Him with all of your heart? I didn't cost Him a boat, but a Son. That's steep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My dad could afford to pay for another boat. My Father already paid for all the "boats" I could break. Doesn't this make me care about sin more than those who don't know about grace? Doesn't this make me want to honor a God like this in all that I do? If not, then we're probably not really "getting" it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm reminded of the old Hymn: "What Wondrous Love is This?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I sinking down, beneath God's righteous frown, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Christ laid aside his crown, for my soul, for my soul,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Christ laid aside his crown for my soul</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The righteous frown for the Christian is over. We follow Him now in freedom, not in fear. </span><br />
<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-79669430511691116442013-07-17T11:15:00.000-04:002013-07-17T11:15:52.612-04:00Method to his Maddonness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My previous post considered the danger of having a "sales-report" type mentality when it comes to your relationship with God. Now I want to consider another fairly unique management style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If know anything about the Tampa Bay Rays, you'll know that they have to be one of the loosest teams in baseball. When they travel, they have themes: they all dress in some sort of themed attire. All of this flows from laid back manager Joe Maddon. After one of their losses against a struggling Toronto Blue Jays team, when the Rays <i>almost </i>came from behind to win, Maddon irritated a local sports talk by posing the question, "Aren't you just so proud of our guys today?" <i>They lost. "</i>Aren't you proud?" <i>Really?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, that is Joe Maddon, often known for his calm demeanor as "Merlow Joe."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Joe's relaxed ways haven't been without results. In fact, after mired in myriad losing seasons, Joe's Rays teams have been to the world series once and playoffs two other times, just missing out last year by a game or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But of course, it is the players who ultimately have to perform. And when they get to Tampa Bay (or rather St. Pete to be precise), perform they do. In fact, player after player comes to Tampa after previously under-preforming with other teams-which is actually why the Rays can afford them. And then something clicks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Previous let-downs become All Stars. Fernando Rodney, who bounced around with several teams, had the best season <i>ever</i> for a closer last year. This has happened with relief pitchers on a yearly basis, but the same rings true for position players like James Loney. This 1st baseman should have been an all star and is now batting .318 after only posting a .230 mark last year. This happens over and over. It is not coincidence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is something to Maddon's madness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He told Loney, "Don't worry about hitting home runs." In other words, relax and just hit it where you hit it. Just be yourself out there. So Loney hits it wherever the pitch dictates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This year Fernando Rodney started off very poorly. He gave up runs. He blew saves. He blew opportunities when he was up by several several runs, several different times. I was done with him. Maddon wasn't, and much to many fan's frustration.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Luke Scott, who under-performed last year as well, was again under-performing this year. I was done with him. Maddon wasn't, much to the dismay of many media. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now the two are playing fantastic and making a huge difference. They actually are performing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But they had the freedom to fail. They had the freedom to not be obsessed with how they were performing. They weren't afraid to get benched, sent down to the minors, or released. And it has made a huge difference. It does every year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Maddon shows patience with struggling players, and it shows. They blow it sometimes. But they don't fear losing their position on the team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It drives me nuts sometimes as a fan, but Maddon gets more out of these players than anyone else does. In fact, when they go elsewhere to make more money, they usually once again, under-perform. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now I'm not going to argue that God is laid back and loose with sin. He is Holy, Holy, Holy. But because He has paid the punishment of sin HIMSELF, we can now approach him and no longer fear about "under-performing" for Him. When that fear is taken away, what happens? We do end up "performing." We do end up changing, loving, pursuing holiness. What happens when God is patient with us? We love him more and don't use our freedom for selfish gain but instead to serve others (Gal 5:13). His kindness moves us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If it doesn't, then you probably don't understand His kindness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don't think these Rays players don't want to perform. But Joe knows in order for that to happen, they have to know that even if they don't, they're not going anywhere. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think such is the case with our sanctification. As Steve Brown put it once, "The only ones who really get any 'better' are the ones who know if they never do, God will love them just as much."</span><br />
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<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-20045050987215221812013-07-15T16:17:00.002-04:002013-07-15T16:17:16.251-04:00Taking the wind out of sales?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDE0Pm_cg7A/UeRU-Gdz7HI/AAAAAAAAGEU/9txLFO7RMKA/s1600/number.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDE0Pm_cg7A/UeRU-Gdz7HI/AAAAAAAAGEU/9txLFO7RMKA/s320/number.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm sitting in my 2nd office (Atlanta Bread Company) and overhearing bits and pieces of a medical sales meeting. Numbers are being scrutinized and folks are being told that they are doing well <i>or</i> that they are below the national or state average. A computer screen is pointed to and a man says,"You are <i>here</i>, but should be more over....<i>here.</i>" Fortunately neither of the two subordinates have numbers that are going to get themselves fired today. That's a good thing. But there's no real assurance that such meetings will continue in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm reminded of a few things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>1.) I'm thankful that I'm not in sales.</i> I'm not sure that I would be good at it. Maybe I would, but I never did well selling chocolates door-to-door in high school, even when I embellished where the money actually went. Not condoning this by the way, just showing how poorly I performed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>2.) I'm thankful that God doesn't do this with me.</i> I'm thankful that I'm not evaluated each week and compared with other people. With other pastors. Other church planters. How freeing is that? Don't ever get tired of hearing this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>3.) In some ways, regardless of whether or not we are in sales, I think the "sales review" mentality is still part of us.</i> There are plenty of ways in which we are evaluated by others. How do your house, spouse, kids look? What is in the bank account or in your back yard? How many friends or "friends" do you have? You may be evaluated by many people, but that's okay (for us, not for those evaluating). It really shouldn't bother Christians all that much. What if there were only One with a computer whose evaluation really counted? After all, in the end, there really is only One with a computer. So probably a good idea for us to start thinking like that now.But that's only part of the story.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What if the One with a computer said, "You are HERE, and you need to be THERE, but relax, I'm going to count Jesus' performance for you. He's over THERE, and His are the only numbers you need to be concerned with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If that's the case, let the haters hate, judges judge, and performers perform. If Jesus' performance counts as ours, then we will judge less and be less concerned when others judge us. Far from taking the wind out of my "sales," it moves me to want to be a better parent, pastor, friend, neighbor, without fear or over-frustration when I fail. Now I'm off to pound this into my head...</span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-76158395951716378882013-07-10T10:30:00.000-04:002013-07-10T10:30:37.646-04:00And that is why we are here......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFnacfXDtI0/Udx4EvqFYUI/AAAAAAAAGD4/8_6xijilBNE/s1600/Call+the+Midwife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFnacfXDtI0/Udx4EvqFYUI/AAAAAAAAGD4/8_6xijilBNE/s320/Call+the+Midwife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After having been slightly let down by the first few episodes of <i>Arrested Development</i>, Amy and I were in the "market" for a new show. Since we've always been interested in midwifery, particularly during the 1950's in England, we thought <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_the_Midwife">Call the Midwife</a></i> would be a perfect fit. Obviously I joke, but I was in fact the one who questioned why there were no male duolas (I called them dude-las) in the field while going through our first birthing classes. Strangely enough the question wasn't taken too seriously. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We're only one episode into the series, but I was impressed from the start. It depicted a privileged and unsuspecting midwife graduate taking her first job in a rough section of England. And to her surprise, and dismay, she gets saddled with a bunch of nuns. Nothing against nuns, of course. The main character is blown away by the rough conditions in the apartments, particularly after one of her patients has a huge syphyllus sore that she just "hadn't gotten around" to checking out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She opens up to one of the "veteran" nuns, "I can't believe people live like this."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The nun immediately responds, "But they do live like this. And that is <i>why</i> we are here."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What a beautiful scene! What is a local church to do with the sin, shame, and at times syphyllus in its surroundings? Should we be surprised? Should we bring more shame upon shame by distant judgments and telling people to simply change? Should we vacate the area and head for "higher" ground? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since we are all sinners, we certainly have common ground with non-Christians. Lots of it. I sure do. And my theology reminds me that I shouldn't be surprised at any condition people live in; should I expect people who have not tasted the gospel to live as though they have tasted grace (regularly repenting from sin/self righteousness and resting in Christ's performance for and approval of me)?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now "living like this" may look like gross personal sin: syphyllus and shancre sores. Or it may look like poverty, crime, disease, and other affects compounded by personal and communal sin. Or it may look like good old-fashioned self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, and idolatry. Regardless, people everywhere, all over, "do live like that" and are in great need of the gospel (as are Christians too by the way-so we have that in common as well!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead of running from them, a church and its people have an opportunity to run toward them. Shouldn't we say, "That <i>is why</i> we are here?" That <i>is</i> why our church plant is here. "Living like this" is a result of disbelieving the gospel, and doesn't that give us and others hope? Our answer to the surrounding world isn't "live like us" or "live like Jesus" but turn and rest in Jesus. I suspect that many people who have rejected Christianity as a whole, reject moralism or self-helpism without really understanding the actual gospel message. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why is this church here? To bring the gospel to both the needs of believers and unbelievers, for it is robust enough to provide rest for both types of sinners. On Sundays and in between.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-47164463542406273892013-07-08T12:25:00.001-04:002013-07-08T12:25:51.218-04:00Privileges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU78V9I6eSA/UdrlygW1OyI/AAAAAAAAGDo/ZYRg1dNvDP4/s1600/GotPriv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU78V9I6eSA/UdrlygW1OyI/AAAAAAAAGDo/ZYRg1dNvDP4/s320/GotPriv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is a follow up from my last post on reflections on I Peter from our church plant bible study. Someone posed a few good questions to me in response to the post: are there any times where Christians demand their rights, and shouldn't we stand up for our rights?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is hard to qualify what exactly counts as a right (as opposed to a privilege) today since most people-and it is usually divided politically-rarely agree on what comprises a list of rights. Owning a machine gun, welfare check, government provided health care, gay marriage, etc....But in general, most people are probably in agreement that there are some rights that you should never touch. However, finding agreement on which rights those are might prove more difficult since the same person who may hold to freedom of religion could at the same time, be limiting his neighbors' freedom if his neighbor is forced to accept certain government mandates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So the lines are probably more blurry than fine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Are there times when the bible advocates not standing up for your rights? Yes. Paul actually tells Christians not to take other Christians to court. He tells them not to defend themselves in a court setting because doing so would present a bad witness to the community. But that's not fair is it? Well, sometimes it's better to take one for the team (that's what Jesus did, right?). Yet, for the sake of the gospel, Paul reminds them, "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" (I Cor 6:5-7). This is a hard one for believers to follow. I've even seen pastors bring law suits and that has always astounded me. So yes, some Christians have demanded their rights, when in fact, they should just rather have been wronged. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am thankful for people who feel called to stand up for the rights of Christians. Some use political clout to hold sway. Some are called to lobby. Some are called to study, and others to be aware of infringements on free expression of religion. And I'm thankful for such people, because my calling puts me in different places. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm called to plant a church that makes disciples who will then be salt and light to its community. Each Christian has different gifts and callings, and the freedom, power, and hopefully training to pursue justice and mercy in their jobs, and neighborhoods throughout the county. Ideally their hearts are on the rights, or privileges, or simply welfare of others before their own interests (Phil 2:4, James 1:27).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If I had to re-word my original post I would probably have used the words "preferences" or "privileges." The church which I hope to plant will be one in which its members are willing to sacrifice personal preferences and privileges, without sacrificing the distinctiveness of the gospel, so that more lives would be reached. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And simply leaving an established church, to head out into the "glorious unknown" (cue Stephen Curtis Chapmans' "Great Adventure") is a step in the direction of sacrificing the privilege and preferences. You exchange a building for rented facility, familiarity for a vision, known identity for uncertain status, security for insecurity. But for those whom God calls to leave, a blessing of His promised presence awaits and is worth every penny. At least it has been for me so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-88190002291483536722013-07-02T16:37:00.000-04:002013-07-03T11:16:54.043-04:00Zorilla, Suffering, and the Sober mind-ammended<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13hQOrCVQxQ/UdM28n2MKbI/AAAAAAAAGDY/tS4ZKNeti9c/s665/Bzob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13hQOrCVQxQ/UdM28n2MKbI/AAAAAAAAGDY/tS4ZKNeti9c/s320/Bzob.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The bible study presently known as the West Bradenton Project core
group (we'll get a better name before the summer is out), is going
through the book of I Peter. I've really enjoyed going through the book
personally in my devotional time as well as in community. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God
speaks through his apostle Peter reminding us about the need to be
"sober minded." I love it. This is the same guy who chopped off a
servant's ear (the dude wasn't even the ones with hands on Jesus) when
Jesus was absconded from the garden (John 18:10). We don't have any
proof that Peter was for sure a zealot (the party of Jews that believed
the Kingdom of God would come by military force), but he was probably
influenced by them. Many were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And even before this
happened, he told Jesus that he was wrong (not a good idea) when Jesus
said that Peter would betray him thrice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't associate those things with sober-mindedness. And Peter himself wouldn't have as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But
I think that's what makes the call to sober-mindedness that much more
powerful. It comes from a dude who his not naturally sober-minded. In
other words, we're not talking about someone who is naturally laid back,
from California, telling people to "chill" in the face of suffering.
This doesn't come naturally to Peter. It doesn't come naturally to me
either. It only comes <i>supernaturally.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cue the
gospel. Some of us are more laid back than others. I'm not. But in the
end, none of us can't rest in our personalities when it comes to being
sober minded in all situations. We have to rest in what Jesus has done <i>for</i> us, instead of simply his example <i>before</i> us, if we want to see our lives slowly conformed to that example. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We
discussed sober-mindedness in the face of suffering, and how that
becomes even harder. But it becomes even more important when starting a
new church. We have to be willing to suffer, and not knee-jerk react,
demanding our rights, demanding our voice be the first to be heard.
Later in the book of Peter, he reminds us that this kind of attitude
will eventually lead to many gospel opportunities. I think if you look
at the first few centuries of the church growth you'll see he's right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Finally,
we considered what it might look like to be sober-minded. The best
example which came to my mind was Ben Zobrist, aka "Zorilla," the Tampa Bay Rays (2nd
baseman/outfielder). He was unjustly hit in the hands by a fastball,
which was clearly an intentional payback from the night before when the
Rays reliever brushed back the present day "Barry Bonds" of baseball
Miguel Cabrera. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ben was hit intentionally, and nothing
happened. Nothing. A simple warning to both sides? Ben smiled at the
pitcher, and walked to the base. He didn't charge the mound or, say
things he would regret. He told the umpire that he should do something
about it and let things fall out as they would. Instead of becoming a judge himself, Zobrist<span class="text 1Pet-2-23" id="en-NIV-30423"> "entrusted himself to him who judges justly (I Peter 2:23)." </span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As of yesterday afternoon-after I originally wrote this-M.L.B. has officially suspended the pitcher who thew the ball at Zobrist for 6 games. Some semblance of justice I guess...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Regardless, of what justice happens in this life, we see an example of what a sober-mind looks like.Not a knee-jerk reaction or retaliation, but a calm explanation and willingness to press on independent of fairness or lack thereof. He, and the Rays, just kept playing ball.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If
a local church is going to make an impact in its community, it has to
be sober-minded and willing to suffer. It has to take one "in on the
hands," get up, and walk to first base. It can't <i>only</i> be concerned about what is fair (to itself). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm
not a fan of what's happening at a government level. But when Peter
wrote this, people had far fewer rights than we do now, and the church
flourished. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Take heart. I do think the church as a whole and individual Christians have some great
opportunities ahead of us for evangelism if we would embrace a sober-mind in the
face of suffering. Remember Peter, remember Ben, but thank Jesus who is the ultimate sober-minded one on our behalf.</span><br />
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Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-40371347388632559702013-07-01T10:27:00.001-04:002013-07-01T10:28:17.608-04:00Joe Delaney vs. Aaron Hernandez: Giving life as opposed to wasting life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Js5tzeSZc8/UdGISqYCpqI/AAAAAAAAGC0/JuEaOht2dNY/s211/joe_delaney_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Js5tzeSZc8/UdGISqYCpqI/AAAAAAAAGC0/JuEaOht2dNY/s211/joe_delaney_medium.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the more intriguing summer "happenings" has been former Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez's quick fall after his alleged involvement in the murder of his fiancee's sisters's boyfriend Odin Lloyd. It is yet another example of a complete waste of talent and opportunity from a professional athlete. One of the up and coming multi-talented stars, who had the slim possibility of playing with his former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, will now watch football from a jail cell. Not sure if he'll be able to Direct-TV or not. Who knows, if Tebow ever gets out of his mind that Tight End might present a better opportunity, Hernandez might have actually given up his position to Tebow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Regardless, you can't get a better example of throwing away your life, talent, and finances then Aaron Hernandez.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't make this point by way of comparison of me to him, and that I could never have done what he did. Pastors do similar stuff, and throw it all away too for murder or adultery (David wasn't beyond that). And this particular pastor is not beyond that either. We could all go the way of Hernandez, in some way or another. There but the grace of God go I. And you. But that's not what this post is about.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead I want to compare throwing one's life away versus giving one's life away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/29/remembering-a-hero-30-years-after-his-death/">I came across this amazing story of Joe Delaney, a perfect illustration of the latter.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Thirty years ago today, Chiefs running back Joe Delaney noticed that a
trio of young boys had waded into a man-made water hole. It contained
an unknown deep end, and they quickly were in trouble.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>As Frank Deford, then of Sports Illustrated, later explained
it, “There were all sorts of people around, but only Joe dashed to the
pond. There was a little boy there. ‘Can you swim?’ he asked Joe.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>“‘<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121456/1/index.htm">I can’t swim good</a>,’ Joe said, ‘but I’ve got to save those kids. If I don’t come up, get somebody.’ And he rushed into the water.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Delaney saved one of the boys. Two drowned. So did Delaney.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Joe Delaney, who had played only two NFL seasons, was 24. He left behind a wife and three young girls.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>As a rookie in 1981, Delaney rushed for 1,121 yards. But he
willingly sacrificed a bright future to help save three young strangers.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Joe Delaney didn't waste his life, he gave it. I don't know what motivated him as opposed to what <i>didn't</i> motivate the other standers-by, who may have been able to swim much better. Perhaps it was Jesus? I don't know. But he certainly followed in the footsteps of Jesus' love, who reminded his disciples that, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Except, these weren't friends; these were strangers. Pretty amazing, eh? How many people would do this 30 years later? This story is powerful and moving in and of itself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But don't stop with this story, because there is a reason why we find such a story so moving. According to Jesus this is the quintessence of love. Now think about the fact that Jesus modeled his own teaching, going above and beyond, laying down his life for enemies (Romans 5:8). Inspired by Jesus' sacrificial love for His friends-who at the time were rather enemies-we have all the motivation in the world to give our lives instead of waste our lives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If we're not giving our lives away, sacrificing for others, Jesus actually makes the bold statement that we are wasting them (Luke 17:33)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead of trying to be like Joe or trying not to be like Hernandez, we can live as the drowning victim who was saved by Joe, at the cost of His own life. And if we regularly remember that we were ransomed not by gold but His precious blood (I Peter 1:18-19), the choice of giving instead of wasting will make sense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jim Eliot, martyred by Indians, thought it just made sense to give his life for others: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."</span><br />
<br />
Oh for grace to believe this more.Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-78670930607382828092013-06-19T14:39:00.001-04:002013-06-19T14:39:08.521-04:00Pulling for Tebow, but not Patriots?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8S24oqb36g/UcHxiLwD82I/AAAAAAAAGCc/Hn1y_dMZblE/s1600/mcdaniels-tebow-pats-broncos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8S24oqb36g/UcHxiLwD82I/AAAAAAAAGCc/Hn1y_dMZblE/s320/mcdaniels-tebow-pats-broncos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have to admit I was somewhat saddened by the news that Tim Tebow had been signed by the Patriots. I have no love for the Boston sports market. I support a church planter bringing the gospel to this un-churched area, but outside that, along with my prayers, is all the love this area will get from me. Honestly, I've just grown a distaste for Boston's sports teams, but its not like a Jonah-Nineveh type deal. I've got no beef with the people, just the sports teams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Besides Bellicheat, we may have a new reason to dislike the Pats with the murder investigation involving one of its star <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/19/report-hernandez-not-ruled-out-as-suspect-in-murder-case/">tight ends Aaron Hernandez, who currently has not been ruled out as a suspect. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I digress, as usual.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm happy Tim Tebow was able to find a team wiling to take a risk on his services (although he does have as many play-off wins as Falcons QB Matt Ryan). I'm not convinced he will make the 53 man roster, but I hope he does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And therein lies my dilemma. What if he plays and plays well-unlikely as it may be? I couldn't pull for the Patriots. Perhaps I'll pull for Tebow to get some touchdowns and for the defense to play like the Buccaneers of 2012 (less than 30 yards away from worst pass defense ever).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wonder if other folks do that? Pull for a player they admired in college, but pull against his particular NFL team. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then I thought, I wonder if Tebow might be offended. Not that he reads this blog, or that I'll run into him or whatever. But could that possibly be offensive to him? I think he might have a right to be offended. He's a team player. It's not about stats (his are always terrible), but about the team winning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Would he be flattered-or rather honored-to have a fan who will pull for <i>him</i> to succeed yet for his <i>team</i> to fail? Or would Tebow say, "You can't follow me, and hate what I care most about. You can't like me, but hate and pull against my friends. Those people are like my brothers. You can't follow me but hate what I came to do with and for these guys. You can't separate me as a person from my work on this team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If Tebow would be offended, then how much more so would Jesus be offended by those who say, "I love Jesus, but I hate the church."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Can you love Jesus but want nothing to do with those whom he has declared to be his friends (John 15:14), his brothers (Hebrews 2:11)?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Can you love him but hate his bride (Rev 21:2)? That's almost like saying, "I love you Geoff, and I'd love to hang out sometime, but don't bring that dirty tramp of a wife you married. I cant stand her. No offense though."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hmmm.....Yep that would offend me. And I would say that you can't love me and hate the one I love more than anyone else in the world. Well you could, but I don't think that would constitute a very healthy relationship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Can you love Jesus but hate the team he played for (meaning on their behalf)? Can you love Jesus but hate his wife, as though that is not offensive to Him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't think Tebow would be down with that, and I know Jesus <i>isn't</i> down with it. As hard as the local church is to love (and those in local churches can be very hard; I know, I'm one of them), these are still Jesus' little brothers, bride, servants, friends, and I guess you could say "teammates," when they are fulfilling his mission.</span><br />
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<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-62224010096039252712013-06-17T16:10:00.000-04:002013-06-17T16:10:12.623-04:00Tebow v Barkeley?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBsflL3IK_o/Ub9r-bHdbZI/AAAAAAAAGCI/6SK5yzGgKh0/s1600/barkley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBsflL3IK_o/Ub9r-bHdbZI/AAAAAAAAGCI/6SK5yzGgKh0/s1600/barkley.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A little while ago, I came across <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/06/barkley-has-strong-faith-wont-wear-it-on-his-sleeve/">this article on profootballtalk.com </a>regarding Philadelphia Eagles (formerly USC) quarterback Matt Barkeley. In it, Mike Florio compares him to Tim Tebow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>But <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7421/matt-barkley">Matt Barkley</a>, a former USC quarterback, is a devout Christian. He won’t, however, be vocal or demonstrative about it.</i><i> Barkley tells Methuselah (a/k/a Larry King) in a Hulu.com sit down that the former Trojan shares the religious views of <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5096/tim-tebow">Tim Tebow</a>.</i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>“We have similar beliefs, and <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/497540#i0,p0,d1">I’m very passionate about my faith</a>,”
Barkley said. “Maybe not as outspoken as Tim is, he’s a passionate
guy. Maybe different in how I approach that. But I’m very faithful in
multiple ways, both to my team now that I’m in Philadelphia and to my
God and Jesus Christ.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This particular writer, and I gather he's probably not in the minority actually prefers Barkeley's more less "demonstrative" approach to football and faith. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>From time to time, we (or at least I) have criticized athletes who
fly their flag of faith a little too aggressively and zealously and
openly. And of course I end up being accused of hating Christians, even
though I am one.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The many mixed signals in the thousands-year-old book to which we
look for life guidance extend to the manner in which we should outwardly
project our inner beliefs. On one hand, we’re supposed to try to
persuade others to believe the same things we do. On the other hand,
we’re not supposed to pray or engage in charitable works for attention
or credit.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>It’s a fine line, and I personally prefer Barkley’s approach. Anyone
who opts to make a strong and clear and public demonstration of faith
needs to understand that some Christians will be skeptical and
suspicious, in part because the thousands-year-old book in one specific
portion advises us to be.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I appreciate Florio's candor and exegesis of scripture in his expression, "we're supposed to try to persuade others to believe the same things we do." If by "the same things," he means, "repentance and faith in Christ alone," we're on the same page. Obviously many Christians have many differences in minor matters of the faith-and for those I won't waste time "persuading." Often times those differences can be helpful since it allows us to reach different people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Florio also refers to Jesus' command to serve and pray in private. I'm feeling a Tebow shot here, and if so, that's a bit unfair since I don't think Tebow tries to draw attention to himself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't know exactly what Florio means when he says Barkeley won't be "demonstrative" about his faith. I think we're all demonstrating faith in something at all times. But perhaps he is referring to the Jesus soundbytes?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Regardless, just because Florio says, "I personally prefer Barkeley's approach," that doesn't mean Barkely is selling out. The takeaway for me is that both Tebow and Barkeley have a common Savior. How they serve that Savior in the NFL, in some ways, is the same: do all for the glory of God and work as they are serving Jesus (I Cor 10:31; Col 3:23). But in some ways, their methods are quite different. Barkeley may not say "Jesus" every time he gets a microphone. Tebow probably will. But who knows what is going on behind the scenes in their relationships with teammates? I have no reason to think that both are being anything less than faithful in following their Savior.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some Christians, by virtue or platform or personality, will live out their faith and it will look differently. And that's not a bad thing. Both people may have an effective witness to their football teams, families, neighborhoods, friends, co-workers and draw widely different audiences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Once again, as the "thousands year old book" reminds us, the heart is the heart of the matter. Does the heart seek to bring honor to Jesus and see others honor Him? <i>How</i> it looks to be burdened by that call is not the point, but rather <i>that</i> we are burdened-or rather freed-by the call is what matters. Two different approaches but the same Jesus.</span><br />
<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-67056908728071427242013-06-12T14:06:00.000-04:002013-06-12T14:06:03.080-04:00Lessons from Lost Tarpon: What happens when they actually bite?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcdygirpPjY/UbiyJ9xFyNI/AAAAAAAAGB0/9OItr4H91EA/s1600/Tarpon1011149_10200568526712907_2063536377_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcdygirpPjY/UbiyJ9xFyNI/AAAAAAAAGB0/9OItr4H91EA/s320/Tarpon1011149_10200568526712907_2063536377_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today a good friend of mine took me fishing off the beach for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarpon">tarpon.</a> If you're not familiar with the tarpon, it is a large fish regularly exceeding lengths of 6 feet and weights of over 100 lbs. They are quite difficult to catch and to make things even more challenging, my friend uses a fly rod and I throw a lure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had only fished for tarpon off the beach in kayak once, previously with my same friend last summer. But during that excursion, he provided the rod, reel, leader, and lure. He even provided the kayak!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But since I actually live in Bradenton again, there is no reason why I couldn't bring the kayak, and the gear needed to tackle such a foe. While I had the kayaks, which had been spent the previous three and a half years in hibernation, I did not have all of the "pieces" in place. And I knew it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had some of the pieces. I had a rod which could possibly handle a tarpon, at least for a few minutes (25 min is minimum to bring one in). I had the same kind of lure I had caught tarpon on when growing up fishing Tampa Bay. But tarpon have very rough mouths and so one needs at least 3-4 feet of 60-80 lb test leader line tied directly to the lure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The only thing I had in my tackle box was 30 lb line, useful for snook. So I went with several feet of that. Why not? I didn't expect to catch anything. I expected to see my friend catch one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After we spotted some fish, my friend said, "You cast on these fish. I don't have as good an angle." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I did, guessing where they would be heading since we had seen them roll at the surface a minute prior. Then the unthinkable happened. As I was bringing in my lure, one of these fish hit and immediately broke the line. I saw the bath tub sized swirl on top of the water and that was it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Your goal, or at least your first goal, is to see them jump. After that, everything is a plus. I didn't even get to feel the rod bend because the line was broken before that even happened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The culprit: 30 lb line. My buddy thinks the lure was tied on wrong. Perhaps he was right-though I don't think so! Regardless, I wasn't prepared for success. I honestly thought I needed live bait to get a bite (that's a confession and first sign of repentance from a fishing lure "purist.")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why this fishing story? Because as soon as I lost that fish today, I immediately thought about this church plant. I had not expected to get a fish, but rather to see my friend "jump" a fish. That would have been almost as fun. But because I hadn't expected to catch a tarpon, I didn't go to the store and simply buy some 60-80 lb leader. Nor did I ask my friend, who actually had some with him. As I write this, I'm quite saddened I didn't ask him for some. Who knows I may still be hooked up on the same fish?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What happens if this church plant actually "works?" I mean, what if people come to it (since that's what we're praying for)? I don't want to be caught using 30 lb line when there's a possibility of a 100 lb tarpon. If people do come, and come quickly, then it is important to have things in place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How will we disciple people and move them toward spiritual maturity? What does a growing disciple look like? Why will we worship the way we do? How can someone get plugged in to the church? What areas can they serve in the church and in the community? Will there be enough community group bible studies in which to plug them in? What's the next step after someone, or rather a number of someone's come? What's the step after that? What happens if the proverbial tarpon actually hits?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">People sometimes ask, "When will you start your church?" I tell them we don't even have a building yet to meet (though I have had an offer and a good idea where we'll meet). And that's a fine question. An established church meets weekly to worship. But there is much preparation that takes place in order to make sure the church is "ready to launch." We will start it, but like tarpon fishing in a kayak, we need to be prepared for the event that we actually "catch" one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So in the mean time, we'll gather people this summer who have any interest in this church, get to know each other, study God's word, lay down some principles, specifics, and a vision of a gospel driven, maturing, missional, multiplying, worshiping community that blesses the West Bradenton area. I can't wait. But just as there is joy the night before rigging rods, checking knots, lures (at least for me), there is joy in the preparation and in the dreaming stages too (perhaps why I never sleep well before a 6am fishing trip).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't know that you can ever be completely ready for a church to start more than you can truly be ready for a 100 lb fish to strike your lure and just about rip the rod out of your hands. But you can be prepared. And I'll/we'll do our best to be prepared for both. </span><br />
<br />Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-20348025102904078392013-06-10T16:25:00.000-04:002013-06-10T16:25:14.962-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks and a gospel-centered draft pick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXocO5V11GA/UbY1_fsagPI/AAAAAAAAGBk/CLW0gXPk8q8/s1600/asu_crop_north_crop_north.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXocO5V11GA/UbY1_fsagPI/AAAAAAAAGBk/CLW0gXPk8q8/s320/asu_crop_north_crop_north.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All drafts, whether military or athletic, are about "what you bring to the team." Now a military draft, as far as I understand, is somewhat arbitrary-but you are still expecting to find quality soldiers to help your cause. Of course the same thing occurs with the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB drafts. You pick a player not because of what you can do for them but because of what they can do for you. That's fairly obvious. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Of course the other day, the Arizona Diamondbacks decided to draft someone would you never bring the tangibles of good hitting, pitching, or fielding to their ball club. He's paralyzed. <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1666706-arizona-diamondbacks-draft-paralyzed-arizona-state-player-cory-hahn?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t3">Check out the story here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now this was the 34th round. This was not a high pick. How many 34th rounders really make a huge impact in the majors? I'm sure some do, but I'm not about to research it. Yet still, to see a team pick someone not because of what the player could do for them, but because of what they could do for the player is pretty unique. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There was a cost, albeit arguably a marginal price. You may remember <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/02/buccaneers-sign-paralyzed-rutgers-player-eric-legrand/">the Bucs signed free agent Eric Legrand, a paralyzed player out of Rutgers, but they didn't have to spend a coveted draft pick on him. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While this was a unique display of love from the Arizona Diamondbacks, it is not one completely without precedent. All good stories, or at least ones which really connect with people, have some sort of connection to the overall story of the gospel. You might be able to say the same applies to such memorable draft picks. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God "drafts" not according to ability but because of our disability. The reason this story is so touching is because it simply borrows from the story of the gospel: God saving people not because they have something to offer Him but giving Himself to those who have nothing offer. What is love, you, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haddaway">Haddaway</a> might ask? That is. </span><br />
One could make the case that Arizona went in a "gospel-centered direction with their 34th round pick."Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711950909806746663.post-50415437820673294012013-06-07T09:26:00.001-04:002013-06-07T09:26:25.266-04:00Rethinking U.N.I.T.Y. at Atlanta Bread Company <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7AAGebKWEI/UbHfP-INERI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/a_wkUrGqpkk/s1600/queen-latifah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7AAGebKWEI/UbHfP-INERI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/a_wkUrGqpkk/s320/queen-latifah2.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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After a morning men's bible study led by one of our core group folks, I headed over to Atlanta Bread Company. While trying to have a morning devotion, I overheard some encouraging conversation a few tables over. I don't want to unthinkingly baptize nosiness in Christian terms, but I think there is a place of "holy eavesdropping." Paul walked through the towns and looked, and was distressed. I'm pretty sure he also overheard conversations where he wasn't immediately involved. Since I don't have "spidey-sense" and can't look into people's hearts like Jesus, this is all I have. I guess it probably depends upon the intent of the eavesdropping. Is it for selfish gain or to discern how best to minister?<br />
<br />Regardless, I overheard some encouraging conversations today. Now I was across the room, but I clearly heard the words "pastor" and "message" and "discipleship." Some good words to hear. From all appearances, it seemed as though an older dude was mentoring a younger lad.<br />
<br />
That's a good thing.<br />
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Whether it be a discipling/mentoring relationship or an informal bible study from whence I came just 15 minutes prior, we were experiencing unity. Even before Queen Latifah sang, "U.N.I.T.Y." Jesus prayed for unity. Since I started writing this post I took a break and introduced myself. The younger lad happened to be the local mega-church campus pastor. Even if we hadn't connected personally, we were in some ways truly expressing the unity Christ prayed for in John 17. Now perhaps not to the extent that Christ prayed, but this is a big deal. I would much rather be unified in that we are both using local breakfast establishments to move people toward maturity in Christ than I would come together for a big rah-rah meeting. I'm not arguing against these meetings, but I think folks reduce unity to different denominations getting together.<br />
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But is that necessarily the unity Jesus wants? Wouldn't he rather His people be unified across denominations in making disciples than a bunch of denominations getting together for the purpose of unity? Now I think we need to get together cross denominationally in order to learn how to better make disciples. I have much to learn from different denominations. I really enjoyed learning from different folks at the <a href="http://www.gca.cc/">G.C.A. church planting conference</a> and will probably take advantage of more such conferences next year. <br />
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Yet I don't feel unified with those same 30 or so denominations represented because we met together and sang some great songs and heard some moving messages. That's good. But personally I feel more unified with them because we are going out to a hostile world and starting new gospel centered churches. I feel more unified when we are across the street-or even better, at the same restraunt-making disciples than getting together for "unity meetings."<br />
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I'm not arguing there is no place for such, nor am I arguing that unity in mission is the only unity we should ever seek. But I do think we need to recognize unity in mission as substantial, legitimate, encouraging, and part of what it means to really have fellowship as we participate in the Great Commission with folks who look way different than each other. If we are encouraged to see discipleship happening in our area, then Christ's prayer "that they may be one" is being answered. If we are jealous of someone else "on our turf," then we know unity is lacking, regardless how many "unity" meetings we attend. Geoffsnookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899329492445595648noreply@blogger.com0