Be Thou My Vision

Figuring out what to study next

2012-01-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

When I was in high school, I didn't have many choices on what classes to take. I liked it. When in college, I had some more flexibility, but much of the guess work was taken out: take 3 classes, 2 classes, and then 3 classes each tri-mester and I would graduate.

When it comes to teaching or leading a small group, choosing what to teach next can be difficult. Here are some guidelines that help me think through what to teach next. They are not from Mt. Sinai, nor are they ordered in any sense of primacy. But cumulatively they can be helpful to make sure that you are teaching on a variety of different, relative subjects, moving those under your care towards maturity in Christ (Col 1:28-29).

Some churches have designated key areas, and leaders can choose a book from each key subject area. One of my churches I served at had 10 separate keys that would take place over 3 years. Then you repeat. This method is thoughtful and ensures that you cover a variety of issues-some of which you or your group wouldn't choose but nevertheless needs to discuss. While this plan makes sense, I don't know if it is absolutely necessary. That church tried this method, but not for long. Systematically going through topics is grand, but I just don't think you can cross subject matters off the list and then move on. That's why I prefer something a little more flexible.

1.) Bible. In college, I remember a bible study that I went to once. They challenged everyone to take seriously, very seriously, what we would be studying for the next semester. Like we could end up studying the wrong bible book. I thought, well, if its the bible, that's probably good. They didn't think that, but I still do. I've never studied through a book of the bible and as a group discerned, "This really wasn't relevant. I think we should have studied a Pauline epistle instead of James...." Never. The Good Book Company and Matthias Media has all kinds of great bible study guides.

2.) Have a frame-work. While I don't think you necessarily need to be locked down into a systematic grid for what to study over the period of 5 years, I still like having a framework. We should have in mind issues and topics to consider for our next study or discussion. If you don't have any framework in mind, you may tend to skip over some issues you could have ignored. The framework I think through is the Head-Heart-Hands Model. Is there anything that our group would benefit from knowing more about God (Head)? Maybe we need to spend some time on Christology because people don't understand who Jesus really is (Head)? Are there any Heart issues, like materialism, worship of family, which could be best tackled through a specific book or study? Is it best to continue to lay a gospel foundation, which people may not really grasp (Heart)? Are there any practical (Hands) issues like how to parent, do finances, how to study bible, how to share your faith, how to show mercy, etc...? I tend to reserve the latter two for small group and the former for Christian Ed/Sunday School. If you tend to study practical issues in books, then its probably wise to take a break and simply study the bible, books, or studies particularly plumbing the depths of the gospel. If you've never gone theologically deep (Head), but focus primarily on the practical and outreach/mercy (Hands), then it might be wise to balance. A framework can help that.

3.) Freedom: Those who oversee certain ministries have the final say on what gets studied. That's their "job." I prefer to give leaders lots of freedom because they are at ground level, hearing what is being discussed. They hear the answers. They know if the group lacks knowledge (Head), the application of the gospel to life (Heart), or if the group knows anything about tithing, showing mercy, reaching out, whether they are serving their church. So as a leader, you just want to have these things in mind. You are a student of your group, as much as they are a student of your teaching, leading, shepherding.

If you are attentive, you will begin to discern heart issues, growth areas, application blind spots, areas of scripture (all of the aforementioned you may have too!) that you'll want to keep in mind for the next, as well as the current study material.

Some questions that can helpful to think through are as follows:

a.) What keeps them up at night? What scares them? In other words, what are their idols? Respect, work, love from spouse/family/friends, family? Anything that if taken away, would leave them with no reason to get out of bed.

b.) How well do they know simple truths of the gospel? Are they ready to move deeper (not advance beyond)?

c.) Does any theological question keep coming up? Is there any section of the bible which they seem to deficient or interested in knowing more?

d.) Are they interpreting and applying the bible in a Christ-centered way or simply as instruction manual?

Some things may be more pertinent or pressing to study than others, so that's why I like to get input from leaders.

4.) Asking: Much of the time you can get what you need to study by thinking ahead of time where you want the group to go, and then tweaking that plan if need be, by your attentiveness to their needs. However, another way to supplement (not replace) is by asking them. It can be helpful to ask if there any issues or sections of the bible which you feel you need to study? This can sometimes be quite helpful. Or you can ask something like this, "Would you be interested in studying a book by so and so?" I did this and it let me know NOT to go through a particular book because they wouldn't have time to read it. I'm glad I asked and I appreciated their honesty!

However, you also need to be aware that sometimes people will pick something that he/she wants to study but the individual, or the group as a whole might need to study something else. For instance, someone might want to study "end times" or "prophesy" when in reality, he/she doesn't know his spiritual gifts, or is shacking up with his girlfriend or boyfriend.

5.) Sermon discussion/application: I've never done this in a small group bible study, but many churches do. My last church did this off and on in Sunday School, which took place after worship. Many enjoyed and benefited from it. The Mars Hill churches have this as a regular component of their community groups as do a number of other larger churches as well as thriving church plants. The idea here is to focus not primarily on what has been said, but to believe the truth that has been preached, and apply what has been preached. This of course requires that your group is regular in worship and the leader takes notes and asks good application questions.

The most important thing you do as a CD/Small/Community group leader is to shepherd the people in your group. Picking material is part of that shepherding process, but it is only part. Praying for, teaching, following up with, loving on, and pointing them toward Jesus are the bigger parts. Be faithful in those, and then pick the material that you feel is the best (of course have it approved!), and you can't go wrong.

On Kyle Williams and Manning-up/Womanning Up

2012-01-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

There were some great football games this past weekend for the divisional championship round games (winner goes to Super Bowl). Unfortunately for both losing teams, their losses are mired in the mystery and misery of mistake ridden final moments.

The 49ers lost to the giants in OT because kick-returner Kyle Williams fumbled the ball on his team's side of the field. As a result, the Giants kicked the game winning field goal. Unfortunately for him, he actually received death threats via twitter (unfortunately its not just soccer where that happens).

The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Patriots due to a missed field goal in the final moments which would have sent the game into OT.

Two games. Two goats.

But each responded a little differently. 49ers Kick Returner Kyle Williams owned his own mistake. Ravens kicker seemed to do just that. But then he began blaming the New England scoreboard for not putting the correct down causing him and his teammates to rush. Given New England's penchant for cheating, I'm sure that it was intentional.

However, two games, two goats. Two different responses. As Jim Rome said on his radio show today, "One guy manned up, and owned it. That's macho."

I'm always interested in what folks consider masculine, or in other words, what "real men do," because even "Christian" masculinity seems to be cut and pasted from respected cultural norms. Then you can just throw a verse or two on top of it and canonize it.

But because man is made in the image of God, we shouldn't expect everything held high in our culture to be completely devoid of biblical truth. Rome is on to something here. In part.

Right: It is "manly" to confess when you screw up. Men often run from their problems. We blame. Adam did it. But redeemed manhood does confess. And this can be hard because men are designed to lead and saying you screwed up seems to get in the way of leading. But part of leadership is being able to say, "I screwed up. I own it. It's not YOUR fault. It's mine." People like that. Kyle Williams' teammates did too. Of course this really can only be accomplished by a deep belief in the gospel that says, "I screwed up, but God loves me the same as He did before I screwed up. I don't lose my opportunity to lead, but have the opportunity to recognize my need for grace. Ideally others will also see their need for grace too."

Perhaps not as Right: While it is "manly" to confess when you screwed up, I don't know that is is uniquely manly. Men do need to take the lead in this because, well, they are to lead. So maybe there is a primacy...Yet you could also just as truthfully deem this quality "womanly," or feminine. You could just as easily say, "Woman up, own this, and move forward." Adam blamed Eve. Then Eve followed his example and blamed the serpent. Just like the natural man, the natural woman, is prone to blame shift. But the redeemed woman, can also believe the gospel, and "woman-up," and display this "manly" or "womanly" quality.

Owning your mistakes and shortcomings is both masculine and feminine, if you have to put it in those terms. But truthfully it is simply living out the gospel. It is Christ-centered more than anything.

The fact that some people appreciate this characteristic is but another example of the ways man/woman still images God. While I don't know that this is SPECIFICALLY masculine, it is still part of godly masculinity. And it's great to see this quality praised as opposed to what passes as "macho" in beer commercials. Maybe folks like Jim Rome will take the next step and say, "I screwed up because that's what I do. I'm a screw-up. But Jesus loves screw-ups who recognize their need of His grace."

Reflections on Winter Jam

2012-01-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago, because I thought that we needed more adults, I attended the Winter Jam concert in Charleston with the Redeemer youth. We had a great time hearing from a variety of different Christian bands-some of which I had actually seen in high school and college. So that part was a stroll down memory lane for me. I had a blast with those and really enjoyed the craziness of the hard rock band Skillet.

Let me give you my synopsis of the highs and lows of the concert...

Highs:

High parent to student ratio. Really high. That is a good thing. Kids need adults in their lives. Lots of them.

The place was absolutely packed. It was encouraging to see the number of folks in WV (and some from farther away) who came out to hear bands that they most likely listen to during the week. Because most youth haven't developed a very strong filter yet, I"m glad that they are listening to Christian music.

In addition, I was encouraged by bands trying to reach kids I can't, and give them something to listen to that is different that what they are normally offered. I was also encouraged how deft they were at contextualizing the Christian faith into the world of these students. You don't have to wear skinny jeans and be hip to be a Christian. However, you can be. I'll not be wearing skinny jeans. Ever. But when youth see clean cut, khaki pants/jeans wearing pastors and parents, we need to make sure that they don't have to look like us either.

The bands honored Jesus. The last band, a hard rock band called Skillet, talked a good bit about Jesus. Now when they sang, I couldn't really tell what they were singing. But when the lead singer talked, he did talk about Jesus. That was refreshing.

Lows:

While I appreciated that there was a gospel presentation, and I appreciated that there was a call to repentance and faith, I didn't so much subscribe to the methodology of having everyone say the magic "sinner's prayer." We were ALL instructed to close our eyes and say after him the magic prayer-no matter how many times we'd already said it (and he even hinted that he'd "come forward" a few times, though those trips didn't mean anything-which should tell us something!). Then by virtue of everyone saying that prayer, we should expect a few conversions or re-dedications or something. Kind of weird. Weird but consistent with evangelicalism.

There really isn't a magic sinners prayer that you can say, where you are "spiritually tasered," and then transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Col 1:12-13).

One band talked about having "church" together without actually going to church. I can understand that it may be hard to attend worship regularly when you are hitting up so many cities in so short a time. And if you can't gather together with an assembly of believers, then getting together is the next best thing. But it is not "having church." Hanging out with your buddies and the bible is not really the picture of church we see in the bible.

Many Christians don't have a very good picture of the church and so think they can just as equally worship God by going surfing, sleeping, skiing, or doing family time. Sometimes these venues (though I don't think this one did) can become "church" for that week. It takes an effort to express that while this concert IS good, it is NOT a good replacement for regular corporate worship. I'm very thankful for bands like Casting Crowns that clearly stated this when I saw them.

Finally, it was a bit weird-though not inherently wrong-to take up an offering. They "passed the hat" around and people were asked give to this ministry. Since the concert was only 10 dollars, it didn't covered all of the production costs, of which Skillet's pyro-technicians had to have received 95%.

I would have more happily paid 15 dollars and not seen the hat. Again, just a bit different and weird-not wrong. I think more people are reached by church planting then concerts, so that's who's next in line for my money.

All in all, a good experience though and am glad I went. While I don't listen to contemporary Christian music, live music is tough to beat.

A Dolphin Tale: Should we save Dolphins? part II

2012-01-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

This is a continuation of a post on my previous post on why or why should we not take the time to save wounded dolphins.

1.) We are called to have dominion over creation. This doesn't mean that we rule over it in the sense of ruthlessly destroying creation the way much of humanity has done when they decimate fish and animal stocks. Instead we are to cultivate the creation, and included in that creation, are God's creatures. I remember when my buddy threw a rock at a crab after I prompted him to do so when on foreign study in Israel (at En Gedi-where David hid from Saul). Someone came up afterwards and said to him, "S$#$% you and your dominion-over-creation thinking." That really isn't true dominion type thinking. Neither he nor I were actually acting consistently with our belief and worldview.

2.) From a Darwinistic worldview, it does not make sense to me why you should help sick animals. Even cute ones like baby dolphins. The healthy ones are supposed to survive and produce stronger offspring. Helping sick animals only stops that process that made the dolphins what they are. Yet I would imagine many of these marine biologists are complete Darwinists, so to me, that seems a bit on the irrational side. Again, this is just how I see it from that worldview, but would welcome thoughts from someone who fully lives according to that worldview.

3.) God does seem to genuinely care about animals, aside from the general verses which speak of him providing food for ravens (Luke 12:24). In the book of Jonah, God "reasons" with Job and rhetorically asks him, "Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" Should I destroy the animals too? It is possible that we learn something of God's concern for animals-though I wouldn't build a theology around it!

4.) Difference between man/animals. I'm actually not a big dolphin fan because they have eaten way too many snook and redfish in front of me and ruined some quality fishing opportunities. But I do appreciate them and enjoy pointing them out to folks who have not grown up with them in the way that I have. There is a creator-creature distinction between us and God. Yet creation is further divided between man/woman, and under us are creatures (Psalm 8). People are more important than animals. Many people don't believe this, and that is consistent with a Darwinist worldview.

But the Christian worldview does not allow such equality. Sometimes our love of animals (and I do love them) can literally cross the line where animals are elevated above people. Love your dolphins, cats, and dogs, but be very careful that a good thing can become a bad thing when it replaces the ultimate command-loving God and loving other PEOPLE. If you love your pets more than you love your neighbors, then you are not having dominion over creation; in fact the reverse has become true.

Winning and Losing: God's help and God's involvement

2012-01-17T10:48:00.000-05:00

This Sunday I preached on Philippians 4:10-23 which includes the famous or in-famous Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." The major theme of this passage is thankfulness, but the "sandwiched" truth in the middle is that we CAN be content in all situations: from bad houses to bad spouses, from losing to bad weather. Now I'm not saying I always believe that; I often don't. But I think its more scriptural to say I CAN THROUGH CHRIST honor God and find contentment in specific situations than it is to say "I just can't...." (which we all say from time to time, right?) and become angry, gripe, or run. The sermon can be found here.

I pulled for Tebow and the Broncos vs. the Patriots (I pull for anyone vs. the Patriots) but pretty much saw on the TV Saturday what I thought I might see: a clubbing.

But I'm very thankful for how far the Broncos went this season and the opportunities for Jesus to be talked about by secular sports talk show hosts that probably don't even know or usually care too much for Him. Because of Tebow, pastors and theologians have also been given a platform as well. One such article, that I think is incredibly apropos for all sports fans, is the Atlantic Journal's "Does God care if Tim Tebow wins on Saturday." How cool is it that The Atlantic Journal, read by all kinds of different folks from all kinds of different beliefs, has given those folks a chance to read about God's Sovereignty, Providence, Secondary Causes, Calvin, etc..., and of course Jesus. Check it out, as it will be helpful not just as an athlete, fan, or parent, but simply as a person navigating this world with the hope of a Transcendent as well as Immanent Lord.

Whether winning or losing, we see a growing Christ-centered contentment in Tebow (as opposed to his crying after loss at FL), as well as the opportunities God has afforded many others through his faith, passion, service, and play on the field.

A Dolphin Tale: Should we save dolphins?

2012-01-11T13:56:00.000-05:00

After the hit movie "Dolphin Tale," the little Clearwater Marine Aquarium has instantly become a smash hit of a tourist destination. You can actually see a webcam of Winter the dolphin-though I don't think you can facetime or skype her yet. If you haven't seen the movie, and I've only seen about half, it is the story of a dolphin washing up on shore, disabled and entangled in the rope of a crab trap. It's tail is gangrenous and falls off (in the movie its amputated), but the animal learns to swim without it. Then they grant it a prosthetic tail which is used for training purpose (I think in the movie its a permanent appendage).

Everyone from my 3 year old to 6th grade nephews have seen the movie and wanted to visit "Winter." Everyone. It was packed when I visited the place with my family and in-laws over the Xmas break. Packed but well worth the visit.

Our visit left me with a few thoughts, but one which my wife reminded me today: what place does animal rescue, particularly of dolphins-but more generally of sea creatures-play in a Christian worldview? Is it inconsistent with a Christian worldview, or is it inconsistent with a non-Christian worldview? Or inconsistent with both?

Only about one beached/trapped/injured dolphin in a 1000 actually survives being transferred from the wild to aquarium. And when they do, it's a lot of work. I watched an amazing video, not of Winter, but of another dolphin called Hope. They have to actually give these baby dolphins baby formula (Winter was found as a baby, not like you see in the movie-we still can't time travel unfortunately so you can understand that one..), blend it with herring, and teach them to drink it. They spend all hours of the day. There was footage of the workers feeding dolphins on Xmas Eve. Just 50 yards away, we could see the fruit of their effort as Hope did tricks and frolicked and jumped in his tank. And splashed my son. He still talks about it.

The story of Winter is heartwarming and inspiring for many vets who've paid dearly for their service in the war. So, I want to pose the question in a more general way, are such efforts to save and rehabilitate animals consistent with a Christian, or non-Christian, worldview?

In order for this post to not get too long, and to spend a little more time thinking about the question, I'll try to break it up a bit.

Sometimes answering questions by asking other similar questions can help be of great service. Can a person be a scientist for the glory of God? Can they study physics, marine biology, astronomy? Of course. In a Reformed Christian worldview, as espoused in the Protestant Reformation, there is no distinction between secular and spiritual work.

For instance, I'm a pastor. You can be a scientist. And we can both honor Christ. One is called to be spend more time studying, preaching, teaching God's Word. The other is called to spend more time studying God's World. His Word points us to Jesus, and His World can point us to Jesus too. Just ask the Magi-they followed stars.

So if scientists can study God's World and learn how God's World operates-and teach us who are not scientists-then why would it be outside that worldview to think they can learn and study how the world operates in order to save dolphins and other sea creatures. They are applying what they know of God's World to help preserve God's creatures. If I believe it is good to be a scientist for God's glory, then I think its more than consistent-but a logical next step-to use that knowledge to preserve His creatures.

Even though that's only one reason, I'll stop here and try to get to a few more reasons why I think (with a few parameters) such a dolphin rescue is consistent with a Reformed Christian Worldview.

Parenthood and family idolatry

2012-01-10T15:06:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite shows these days is Parenthood. I think its fairly popular in this area, largely due to the fact that the family unit is so popular in this area. And that's a good thing. It's just not the ultimate thing-which is Jesus. And as Tim Keller reminds us so well that when a good thing becomes the ultimate thing, that is an idol. It blocks the gaze of our Savior (not His gaze of us, but ours of His). And we all say yeah, yeah, I know Jesus is more important than our families-at least that's what we're supposed to say if we read and follow the bible (Luke 14:26). But we are all vulnerable to saying one thing, and living something else-which is consequently a more accurate depiction of how well we believe.

I've seen episodes that actually challenge the idol of the family and demonstrate some positive ways to lead a family. But last week's episode-which was not without commendable material-ended up leaving me fairly saddened and frustrated.

Grandfather Craig T. Nelson tries to assemble ALL his family and ALL their children to go visit his mother for her birthday. Because his daughter-in-law is skipping out on the adventure, he goes nuts. After acting like a neurotic jerk who later tells his kids, "You all suck" he seems to come to the point where he is almost repentant. And then his true savior, who has let him down (as all min-saviors do) is expressed verbally: "All there is in life, when it all comes down to it, is family."

Before his family arrives, the daughter-in-law praises the overbearing father-in-law for "creating" this family. Idol affirmed. Now this man is not without worthy qualities, though over all, he makes me thankful that my father and father-in-law are NOTHING like him.

Then his family shows up, and of course, they seem apologetic and everyone seems OK.

Here are a few thoughts.

1.) An idol will always let you down. And when your idol is being threatened, you will bite, claw, kick, and fight to preserve that idol. That's what he did the whole show. We all do this. When you idol is removed, you feel there is nothing else to live for. All is lost. If you want to locate your idols, look at your attitudes and actions. Its foolish to think that our families don't become our idols. When kids or parents don't behave or fulfill us they way we demand of them, we get nasty. So we need to be careful that the idol of family is not just a non-Christian problem...Its ours as well.

2.) Is life only about family? What about those who have crappy families? Are they then doomed? At the end of the day it is not about how much money you make, how nice of a car or house you have. Most people can eventually get past those things when housing market crashes or when they have cancer. But most folks still miss Jesus because, in the end, its all about family. However, in the end, its all about being included in His family. I remember a lass in my college days telling me this when her father had been in a terrible accident. Such a blessing when you're family lets you down and vice versa. Or when you move, or have to move, etc....

3) At the end of the show, Craig T Nelson finally got what he had so eagerly sought: his mother's approval. His whole life, he had loved his kids and told them that he loved them. And though his character is overbearing, and clearly at times "needs" more than love his kids/grand-kids, he does care. And he expresses that care verbally with an "I love you." But his whole life he worked for her approval and it didn't come. Until this episode.

It shows the importance of expressing the words, "I love you" to our families. But some people will never hear that from their deadbeat fathers or mothers. They really won't. While that verbal affirmation is important, it is not essential for the child to break free from the bondage of parental failure. I know folks who have. And its beautiful. It demonstrates that while they may not have heard it from a father or a mother, they face each day with the promise of "I love you and I love who you are becoming" from their Heavenly Father. That promise is something we inherit from our elder brother Jesus. The joy and delight God has over His son (Matt 3:17) is now shared with us as part of our inheritance. And the fact that he didn't spare His son, but gave him up for us all (Rom 8:32), is not just a spoken "I love you," but truly sacrificial "I love you" still evidenced by his scars (John 20:27).

Why I need CD groups

2012-01-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

In our C.D. group (community/discipleship) last week we discussed some "gospel transitions" for how to make the "leap" without making a leap from the normal shared experiences or opinions to the gospel: such as war, politics, family, injustice, etc....These are quite helpful, so I encourage you to check them out here.

Studying those gospel connections in community allowed all of us to share our own experiences, struggles, fears, failures, and future opportunities that individually we would have missed.

However one of the greatest confirmations for why I and YOU need to be in some sort of regularly gathering group was confirmed to me without any bit of teaching. Amy was home with a sick kid, and I was still lamenting the fact that I would be spending MORE money on my property in FL (little did I know the upcoming expenses for my house in WV just days later!), as well as a few other things.

Then during our prayer time I soon became not only convicted but encouraged. I wasn't alone. Actually folks had much rougher things going on. A small group is like Vegas, so I don't share any personal details with those outside the groups. But suffice it to say that I began to hear of other struggles and suddenly I didn't feel alone. I didn't feel so frustrated. I felt what was actually true: I'm not a pilgrim on a solo trek, but part of a caravan of struggling pilgrims.

Even if we didn't have an encouraging study-which we did-just the mere gathering for prayer in someone's home made my problems seem much smaller. We all had problems. Some were worse, some the same. But problems shared in the home and fellowship of others are far less daunting than when they never leave your heart or your house.

Don't cry for me Argentina or Jerusalem

2012-01-05T15:27:00.003-05:00

In reading through Zechariah 7 for my devotions (you'll never hear me use the word "quiet time," b/c that's what my 3 year has to do when he doesn't take a nap), I came across a challenging passage.

It sounds innocent enough.

2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD, 3 saying to the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

But there really is something missing. It is like someone saying, "Lord, should I try to be sad and go through the outward emotions of looking like I'm sad because of my sins and the sins of my nation? Because I really am just bummed about missing my favorite restaurant and hangout places back home. Should I keep going through the motions of repentance without real repentance?"

Because that's what was happening. Keep in mind, many of the same things that caused Israel to 'get the boot,' continued to happen. That's why these lofty promises of a restoration of the temple (the rebuilt Temple was NOT nearly as cool as before) and the kingship never go anywhere. We don't hear much about this new potential king Zerubbabel until Jesus' genealogy.

5 When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?

The Lord says that they were not fasting and weeping because of their sins. Some were probably bummed about the consequences of their sin: living in foreign land. Some of them had actually become quite comfortable there and enjoyed the foreign food and ladies.

It's a good reminder to all of us that we can be sad over the consequences of our sin, without ever demonstrating true repentance: sadness over the fact that we've chosen death over life, empty wells (Jer 2:32) over the spring of living water (John 4:10-11). For instance we can be sad over the relational consequences of yelling at our kids, kicking our dogs, belittling our spouses, not loving neighbors: loneliness, lack of intimacy, divorce, people not being there when we need them. But being sad about the consequences is not the same as truly grieving the sin.

What's the difference? God says, "was it for me that you fasted these 70 years?" In other words, their idolatry and injustice was an affront to God Himself in addition to an oppressing His people. As David reminds us in Psalm 51, any sin done against another person made in the image of God is first and foremost a sin against God. It was He whom they had sinned, and it was to Him whom they were to first repent. But they hadn't as evidenced by continuing in the pattern of injustice (Zech 7:9-10).

In regards to parenting, some things hit me then and now: do I grieve my sins against my kids and wife as though I've sinned against God? And when my kids disrespect me, do I grieve the fact that they've disrespected me only? Or do I grieve, concern myself, pray for the fact that they're really disrespecting God as a Father? If I can grieve the sin as against God first and foremost, I don't have to take it as personally. Instead of responding quickly or harshly, I then have the opportunity to bring the gospel to bear on the heart. After all, our sins are an affront against a Holy, but also LOVING Heavenly Father. It is out of respect and love for Him that I hope my kids will respect me, and not the other way around. Particularly when I'm hard to respect.

Anyhow, just some thoughts I had while reading Zechariah.

NFL Live, Authenticiy, and Tebow

2012-01-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

The Denver Broncos, the team that my three year old sometimes calls the "Tebows," backed into the play-offs this year by losing three straight games. Fortunately for them, the other teams in their division also lost. As a result they will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Their QB Tim Tebow has played very poorly lately. He's not shown the 4th quarter magic we've become used to the last month or two. I would imagine that as quickly as people have jumped on that Tebow bandwagon, they will jump off when/if the Broncos start losing again.

However, not all will jump off. The crew (Trey Wingo, Marcellus Wiley, Mark Shlereth) from NFL Live absolutely sang his praises several weeks ago, but it wasn't because of his play; it was his personality. The word that they continued to come back to was "authentic." They piled on with the usual expressions: what you see is what you get; he doesn't change to fit some mold; he is who he is. And he doesn't apologize for his personality, which is of course, largely shaped by his faith in Christ.

Authentic is perhaps the most over-used word in our post-modern world. Nevertheless, it is obviously still culturally apropos and it is a word-or at least a sentiment-that people cherish.

Authenticity is really only cherished nowadays because of post-modernity. So this vague post-modernness (still pretty hard to define) is not all bad, but the ever-cherished post-modern term brings both challenges and opportunities.

Challenges:

Some of these guys probably don't share the same faith as Tebow. They may not-though I can't assume one way or another-enjoy Tebow calling them to faith and repentance. But that is irrelevant. The content of his faith, or the fact that his faith shapes his personality is not important. So that can present a challenge when we share our faith. There is gospel content which needs to be embraced for one to be saved. Yet what is important to many is simply whether or not someone is authentic. If that faith makes you authentic, good. That's the goal.

Authenticity is valued more than love. This shouldn't surprise us at all. So Tebow can be authentic as well as love and respect others, while someone else can be authentic but say F*&$ you to anyone who anyone who threatens to constrain their autonomy. They are both authentic.

In addition, it is in the name of authenticity, that folks feel the need to be true to themselves and so they justify divorce just as quickly as sending back cold food at Applebees.

Opportunities:

Still, I think the opportunities that the ever popular "authenticity" brings far outweigh the challenges. For instance, here is a guy who is unashamed to mention Jesus' name any chance he gets, and one of these lads actually uses the picture of he and Tebow as his twitter avatar.

Authenticity will often give you a chance to at least be heard. Even though what people want is the authenticity more than the Christ who alone can free us to be authentic AND other-centered at the same time, the conversation can begin. The freedom to be who we are called to be, will often give us a platform. You don't have to be a good quarterback. People listen to authentic people as well as crave to be authentic themselves. It is in Christ that we can speak of a freedom that is truly free but not autonomous and self-centered.

Authenticity appreciates brokenness over moral perfection. There are obvious blatantly hypocritical Christians who will not be heard by anyone. But these lads are not lauding Tebow's moral perfection. They really aren't. They aren't saying he's flawless. They like the fact that he is free to be who he really is. So if they see Tebow sin, it doesn't destroy his witness to them. Authenticity admiring folks don't need to see perfection. They need to see repentance. They actually give Christians more of an opportunity to fail. And that's good. We can sin before others.

Steve Brown recounts a story in his book Scandalous Freedom where a Christian woman slept with her boss and eventually repented before him, explained why it was so heinous, and led that man to Jesus. I think that kind of thing probably happens more in an authenticity craving culture.

So postmodern catch words, or at least postmodern influence on culture, has shaped even NFL analysts. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. In the end, I it really does bring more opportunities than challenges.

Redemption and missing field goals

2012-01-03T11:28:00.002-05:00

Just got back from sunny FL to arrive in time for the snow in WV. Maybe we should have planned a 9 day vacation.....Anyhow, eager to get back to the blogging world.

Many of Jan 2nd's bowl games lived up to the hype. The last game of the day, the Fiesta Bowl, featuring Stanford and Oklahoma St, certainly did. As Stanford drove the ball down the field for a last second field goal, the game seemed to be over. 35 yards is but a "chip shot." Unfortunately for this poor kicker, he hooked it mightily to the left. Then came over-time where he had the opportunity to redeem himself. Only this time he missed another, slightly longer field goal. The Oklahoma St kicker didn't return the "favor," and went on to become the hero. Or at least, get a high five or pat on the butt or something like it.

Camera men always focus on kickers when they miss. I guess they want to catch them cussing or crying. You could see the look of dejection in this young baby faced kid. It made me glad I wasn't his parent. I would much rather have my kid be a punter, since punters rarely lose games.

I also thought of other kickers who have missed memorable kicks. Boise St.'s kicker missed one last year that cost them a chance to play for the national championship. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that kicker had opportunities to redeem himself and blew those as well.

I can personally empathize with kickers. Not because I've ever been a field goal kicker, but because I've messed things up before with my own sin. I've tried to redeem myself, and it just seems like I mess up again.

This morning I was reading the book of Zechariah and going through the Good Book Company's good book guide Zechariah: God's big plan fir struggling Christians. It posed an application question: What would it be like to live in light of the fact that Jesus has offered the perfect sacrifice and then sat down on the right hand of the Father?

I don't have to redeem myself. I don't have that pressure of redeeming myself, and then screwing it up again as I always seem to do. Freedom to follow Jesus, without fear of failure is a beautiful thing. Kickers choke, and sinners sin, but Jesus loves them both. Losers and sinners. There's more to life than football, and there's more to life than sin. The Savior gets the final say when we embrace him through our imperfect faith. We don't need to worry about the impossibility of redeeming ourselves. That's for Someone else. Our job is to repent of replaying the "missed kick" over and over in our heads, and to instead continue looking at Jesus: the one didn't back out, sin, or "choke" our redemption away.

Annual Bono Christmas Eve reflection

2011-12-24T10:49:00.000-05:00

One of my, or at least my blog's Christmas traditions, is to post and reflect on this quote from U2 frontman Bono. It never gets old. Just like the Christmas story. Every part of it seems counter-intuitive to me: God in flesh, the use of shepherds (sketchy fellows), magi (also sketchy), that Jesus was laid in a manger. How crazy is that? Where dirty animals feed. The king of the universe laid where animals feed. I hope we never fail to realize how crazy that is. Blaise Paschal hit it on the nose in his Pensees when he said it is not that God has hidden this message so high so that folks can't understand it, but so low, as many will look over it.

This reflection on Christmas occurred after Bono had just returned home, to Dublin, from a long tour with U2. On Christmas Eve Bono went to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was dean. Apparently he was given a really poor seat, one obstructed by a pillar, making it even more difficult for him to keep his eyes open…but it was there that Christmas story struck him like never before. He writes:

Here's Bono's quote:

“The idea that God, if there is a force of Logic and Love in the universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born in straw poverty, in s#@% and straw…a child… I just thought: “Wow!” Just the poetry … Unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable. There it was. I was sitting there, and it’s not that it hadn’t struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face, and I saw the genius of this, utter genius of picking a particular point in time and deciding to turn on this.”

Excerpt taken from Bono: in conversation (New York: Riverhead Books, 2005), 124-5.

Make Jesus big and Santa small

2011-12-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

Recently, as is custom this time of year, my three year old Connar is being accosted by a plethora of folks asking if he's excited by what Santa will bring him this year.

In response to his pre-school teacher the other day who told him, "5 more days till Santa comes," he changed the subject with, "One more day till I get to go Xmas caroling!" How cool.

Here are some of my takes-which may not be super popular in Suburbia-on Jesus and Santa.

Of course his, like mine and like your motivations, are far from perfect. But the truth of the matter is that kids can and do get just as-if not more-excited about Jesus during the Christmas season than they do Santa Claus. We just often don't afford them such opportunity. As parents, and as a covenant community, and larger body of Christ (I'm surprised at how many Christians talk up Santa to my kid!), we often try to "save room" for Santa. You see signs that say "Keep Christ in Christmas." But what I've noticed is many Christians live out the opposite: "Keep Santa in Xmas."

Suburban Xmas is often more culturally syncretistic than distinctly Christian. And that is sad.

First of all, I do want to say, I'm not anti-Santa. Christians have a right to include Santa in Xmas. I'm not arguing against the inclusion of Santa in any form. I'm arguing against a culturally conformed, unrestrained, non-prayerful inclusion of Santa.

I remember reading a Sinclair Ferguson book where he seemed quite proud of his job as a parent when his kid didn't even know who Santa was or what he looked like. That's more of a separatist mentality that I cannot embrace.

We have Santa hats. We actually have a dancing Santa figure, who sadly only dances now instead of sings. Connar watched The Polar Express the other day with some friends who brought it over. The underlying purpose of that movie is to preach Santa to his skeptics.

But we try to focus on Jesus so much that Santa naturally gets pushed to the side. Where he belongs. There is only so much room. We do a kids Advent book called Beginning with God at Christmas. Solid. We listen to carols, sing them, sing them to others, try to talk about them (though just a bit). Xmas is a busy time. It's so busy, we don't have much time for Santa. We rarely ever even speak of him. What if your Xmas was so busy you didn't have much time for Santa?

Growing up my parents had a figurine of Santa bowing in worship to Jesus in the manger. So simple, yet so profound. That's really the model I like best, but one that seems missing to me so often in the lives of Christians. There are only so many times a child can be told about getting excited for Santa before he will only get excited for Santa and not for Jesus.

My kid is excitable. I'm excitable, so he can't help it. But he gets so much joy out of celebrating all things Jesus during this time, that I honestly don't feel the need to make Santa big. I tend to think other kids can get just as excited.

Connar can sit in Santa's lap, and I can take (not pay for) a picture if I feel like it. I just think we do our children a disservice by assuming that Santa is NEEDED during Xmas time for their enjoyment of the season. That's just a lie. He can be used and included, but he is not needed.

People say Christmas and Santa are for kids. That's really not accurate. It's for parents. The perpetuation of the Santa myth is done primarily for the sake of the parents. I've heard of folks say, "Don't steal my joy by telling them the truth about Santa." I think a good part of the perpetuation of the Santa myth is fueled by parents who aren't very excited about Jesus. They want to be excited and feel joy. But if you already have a joy so great as the shepherds, Mary, the Magi had at Jesus' coming, would it be that hard to make Santa less? Do you "need" Santa in the same way if you already have joy?

Many want to see kids get excited primarily in order for them to get excited. It's more selfishness than love.

I think that's why its so hard for many to build up Jesus and move Santa down on the priority list. When we get angry, its often that an idol is being threatened. They usually don't come down easy. Family members will get offended when Jesus is made much of and Santa made less of. Of that you can be certain. But there is a greater cost. We will lose out on joy. I think many forfeit a greater joy this season when we make Santa bigger than Jesus.

Christians are free to include Santa in their Xmas celebration. Just because the Henderson presents come from the Henderson's, doesn't mean that I think your kids presents have to come from you.

But I do think that you owe it to your self and your kids to talk Jesus up MORE than you do Santa. Try to see how often you mention Jesus and how often you mention Santa. Who gets mentioned more? I do think talking more about Jesus is a non-negotiable (of course this goes throughout the year!).

I'm not fearful of others trying to re-introduce Santa to my three year old. My incredibly awesome Uncle even apologized for it! I'm not worried when people mention it to him. I already see that he has a framework for thinking of Santa. He's a fun, fat, old dude who comes out around Xmas time each year. But he's no Jesus.

On shepherds and ladies

2011-12-19T14:25:00.001-05:00

I was going through my advent devotional for today, available here, and stumbled over the shepherds. I guess you could say I've been picking up on the cues from scriptures lately that God really writes His story in a way that is altogether different from what we consider normal, respectable, upper class, or even pragmatic.

The shepherds were the first witnesses to Jesus' birth. They could confirm this birth account. But ironically-or maybe not so ironically at all if we thought God's thoughts after Him-shepherds didn't get a vote in court because of their reputation of "confusing" their sheep with others sheep. Yet they are the first witnesses.

And consider the first witnesses at Jesus resurrection: ladies. They also couldn't testify in a court of law. Yet they are God's first witnesses, testifying to the veracity and fulfillment of Jesus' claims.

It just shows us God thinks quite differently than we do. And He wouldn't have it any other way. The birth narrative, the resurrection narrative, as well as the narrative of Jesus' life, just isn't written the way a middle class suburban deity would write it. His reputation and fame probably "took a hit" because He used shepherds and ladies as to testify. But he was cool with that, and still is.

Let's be reminded that God's identification with these shepherds (handpicked to be Jesus' first eye-witnesses) gives us hope that He is still pleased to identify with such witnesses as us. Fortunately the one who ultimately wrote the birth narrative is still writing such a story, and still using such people.

Hard work?

2011-12-17T09:37:00.000-05:00

This year's Heisman (giving to nation's top/most influential football player) trophy winner was Robert Griffin III. I didn't watch the Heisman award ceremony, but heard just a snippet of his speech. But I think the snippet spoke volumes. So did ESPN.

He took a few long strides up to the stage and let out a laugh when he got there, making a joke about the Superman socks -- complete with capes on the back -- he was wearing before going into his acceptance speech.

"This is unbelievably believable," he said. "It's unbelievable because in the moment we're all amazed when great things happen. But it's believable because great things don't happen without hard work."

What I did notice was an emphasis on the role of hard work and how it enabled him to achieve this goal. Here are my takes on how Griffin's acceptance speech differed vastly from Tebow's.

1.) Praise. One praised His God for the drive, opportunity, skill, and ability to put in the hard work necessary. The other praised himself for his hard work, and his teammates' for their hard work in enabling him to win the award. It is interesting to me how it is more offensive to give credit to someone's God than to take credit and praise oneself. Usually in life, we call people who praise themselves arrogant, self-absorbed, or sometimes narcissistic. Yet most people were clearly more offended by Tebow's humility and deflection of praise.

2.) Credit where credit is due. The Heisman trophy winner is about perception. Again I didn't hear the whole speech, so he might have credited the media who threw its support behind Griffin the final few weeks. I tend to doubt that though. Most athletes don't recognize the media for giving them their fame but only for the media's not granting them fame or coverage. Without much of the media's coverage and backing, a QB from Baylor does not win out over a big name quarterback or running back at a big name school like Stanford or Alabama.

3.) Hard work? Whatever we do, whether playing football or operating a toll booth (that seems like one of the harder jobs), we are to work at it with all of our hearts; for in such cases, as in all cases, we are ultimately serving the Lord (Col 3:23-24). Are those who win necessarily those who work the hardest? Did Griffin work harder than others with known 'work ethics'? Despite hard work, let's remember this is football. Each game can bring out a career or season ending injury. Peyton Manning, known for being one of the hardest working quarterbacks in the NFL, couldn't outwork God's providence. He didn't play a down this year because of neck surgery. Providence can always trump hard work when someone hits you below the knees like someone did to the seemingly untouchable, hard working, Patriots QB Tom Brady several years ago.

4.) Opportunity knocks. No matter the amount of hard work, there still comes a time where the opportunity, or lack thereof, will more often than not, trump hard work. For instance, if you had been born in some small village in India, undernourished, and lived in poverty, you would not be playing QB for the NFL. You would be fortunate to work hard and hope to eat and feed your family. Last time I checked, we didn't have a say on who our mothers and fathers would be. We didn't have a say on where or when we were born. We didn't have a say on our DNA make up. We didn't have a say on how athletic we would be, or how much IQ we would possess. If you have risen to the top of your profession-whether it be mother, athlete, real estate, medicine-hard work obviously played a part. But it only played A part. Your station of life, what you have to work with, plays A part as well. Whether it's an acceptance speech, or simply a prayer each night before you God to bed, don't forget the God who grants you the plethora of opportunities that allow your hard work to pay off.

I like my women a little on the trashy side

2011-12-12T15:35:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I preached a sermon called "A Scandalous Christmas." The title change was a last minute change from my previous title: "I like mine a little on the trashy side." I had three people very close to me encourage in me that direction. Since I figured I could have been wrong to unnecessarily offend folks, I willingly, though somewhat begrudgingly, changed it.

And I'm glad I did. But what ended up being more controversial than the song-I still referenced the song "The Trashy Side"-was the fact that I attributed it to George Straight instead of Confederate Railroad. That might be the last country song reference I make. If I do, I will be sure to google its origin!

I first heard this passage preached-actually the only time I've heard it preached at mega-church Northland in Orlando, FL. I was in seminary at that time, perhaps 7 or 8 years ago. I couldn't believe how scandalous the genealogy really was. God didn't shy away from the scandalous and would use people such as I in His plan of redemption.

Then I forgot about the message. I don't think I necessarily ignored or forgot the truth altogether. But in some sense it didn't seem to resonate as much. I've had plenty of opportunities to preach during the advent season and even on Xmas Eve (this Xmas will be my first time preaching on Xmas Sunday), but never even thought about the passage again.

I don't think this is all that abnormal. While its not abnormal to forget such a passage as this, it is terrible.

Let me explain. We realize that our lives are messed up and sinful. Some of us look worse than others on the outside-though we're all in the same boat in reality. Then God says, "I can forgive your past, present, future, and offer you my righteousness in place of your sin and trash." And we're declared righteous and holy.

Then our life changes a bit, and we think we really ARE righteous and holy. We forget that we are DECLARED righteous and holy NOW, but that one day we will BE righteous and holy. But not now.

Someone told me that he preached this passage for Mother's Day and got quite an uproar from the church. Perhaps it wasn't the best timing on Mother's Day? But people get really offended when you talk about God's love for trashy people. And its God's people who seem to get most offended.

They forget how trashy they really are. Jesus is just as offensive to religious people as he is to irreligious people. As much as it might make us uncomfortable, we have to talk about God's love for those who are, according to the world's as well as the church's eyes, trashy. If we never talk about such people (and thus keep everyone feeling good and comfortable), we will never believe the truth that by faith God STILL washes such people. Prostitutes, adulterous, murderous people do by faith enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (I Cor 6:9-11). If we never talk about such folks, we will very quickly forget this truth.

When we're offended by the mention of God's love for prostitutes, adulterers, murderers, all of which he clearly displays in the scripture, then we can rest assured it's not out of an elevated concern for God's Holiness, but an idolatrous celebration of our own.

God doesn't stop showing love for trashy people even though His people, including myself, often have. But this Xmas, remember your Savior entered the trash to save-and continue to save-trashy people. And his character doesn't change.

God does like His women and men a little on the trashy side.

Carols sung and Carols believed

2011-12-07T16:30:00.001-05:00

I'm a huge fan of Christmas carols. I'm also a huge fan of the folks who take the standard Christmas carols and tweak them a bit. I mean, how many, "O come, O come Emmanuel's," can one hear before it seems like his Ipod is on "repeat?" So I'm thankful for the many good albums I've collected over the years, particularly for those free on noisetrade.com. Recently I've been really digging all of Joel Rake's Christmas music and some of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbor's Xmas album.

What amazes me with many of the Christmas carols is their rich lyrics. Aside from "Away in a Manger's" apocryphal description of Jesus not crying (hate that one), I'm blown away by almost all of them. I mean look at these:

Joy to the World:

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing:

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

What amazes me the most are unbelievers who sing these songs, but simply don't believe that Jesus is who He says He is. To sing of something so sublime, but to think of it as little more than a fairy tale, is to me surprising at best, and disingenuous at worst.

Nevertheless it reminds me of the times when I, as well as many other brothers and sisters in the Lord, sing such great truths in our carols and hymns but don't actively believe what we're singing. For instance, when I sing, "My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee," how much of that do I believe? If I hold my tongue when I need to say something hard but remain quiet due to fear of man, have I really believed the truth that the gospel sets me free? If I refuse to love an enemy, have I really "bought in" to the saving and transforming power of the gospel? Thinking and feeling the lyrics are a great first step. But actually believing, and then living out the implications of the truth found in such great carols is something even harder. I think that only comes as we bring the carols with us throughout the week. They're too good to only think, feel, believe on Sunday.

The unbelief of a Christian is of a different variety altogether, but it should still shock us just as much. I think the church singing "Silent Night" is different than Faster Pussycat (an 80's hair band) singing "Silent Night" on Monster Ballad's Christmas album. Nevertheless, the unbelief of the "musical artist" (and I realize that is getting a little loose with the language), can still remind us of our unbelief and the disconnect between the gospel we sing and the gospel we live out.

Why churches and Christians should worship on Xmas Day

2011-12-06T14:48:00.001-05:00

I guess it happens every so and so (maybe 7) number of years that Xmas Day falls on a Sunday. If you have a problem with me writing "Xmas," and plenty of Christians do (including several on a search committee I interviewed with a few years ago), let R.C. Sproul straighten things out for you.

Anyhow, many churches wonder what to do when with Christmas falls on a Sunday? Some see great opportunity. Some see great difficulty because numbers will be down. Some wonder whether or not to move or cancel services.

According to Ed Stetzer, it does appear that many churches have elected to have corporate worship on this Christmas.

A recent LifeWay Research study of 1,000 Protestant pastors shows that 91 percent of Protestant pastors plan to have services on Christmas Day while 69 percent said they plan to host Christmas Eve services.

Here's why I think its a good idea to have worship this Sunday Dec 25th.

1.) If you believe that worship should be held on the first day of the week, as seems to the implied pattern in scripture (John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; I Cor 16:2) , as well as the practice of most churches not called "Seventh-Day Adventist," then you probably should continue corporate worship that day.

2.) Our actions always teach something. Now of course those actions are always subject to interpretation unless one is given in conjunction. In other words, you can't simply assume what your actions teach. But let's consider what a service cancellation most likely teaches. What would be the main reason why people wouldn't want to come to church on Xmas Sunday morning? Family traditions. Presents. Family. That's what Xmas is often "about." If not Santa and presents, then it soon becomes about family. So by canceling a worship service because of, or so that, people can spend time with family, it seems to me that you're teaching "family first, Jesus second." According to Jesus, the order is actually reversed (Luke 14:26). What suburbanite doesn't need to not only hear this, but to practice this? Our families are often our idols. I know from experience: MY OWN!

3.) In looking at some of the comments on Ed Stetzer's blog post, I noticed that some folks believed they were loving their pastors well by giving them Xmas Day off to spend time with family. My family and I (well at least Amy, but I can't imagine my 3 year old not being excited because he wants to be at church every day) are excited to be in church. Part of it is that we don't have family here. But part of it is that worship is our favorite time of the week. I don't say this because I think I'm holier or better than you if you don't. I'm just saying I WANT to be there. Last week my wife talked to a mother who said, "I'm so excited that Xmas falls on a Sunday. I can't wait!" We're not alone.

4.) What better way to elevate Jesus above presents, even above your family or family traditions, than by setting those aside in order to worship Jesus with your brothers and sisters in the faith? It gives you an opportunity to teach your children why you worship. It gives you a chance to declare before your extended family, that Jesus is your King. You will follow Him first even when it conflicts with family "obligations."

5.) Many Christians literally risk life and limb to come to worship. We don't need to feel guilty that we don't, but isn't our tendency only to worship when it doesn't involve risk or cost to us?

Just some of my thoughts on why church's should have worship on Xmas Day, and why I think Christians should seriously consider doing family stuff before or after worship.

Here are some unhealthy motivations (we probably all need to repent from) for going to worship on Sunday Dec 25th

1.) You think your church is better than others. God will soon prove that He thinks the same way too.

2.) You just want to teach your kids that Xmas isn't about Santa or gifts, but don't consider the importance, need, desire for you to be there as well

3.) You are jealous and angry of the others getting a head start on the sticky-buns and sausage balls and the real fun.

Advent Devotions Week #2

2011-12-05T10:47:00.001-05:00

If you would like Redeemer's Week 2 advent devotions, you can download them here. This week's content centers around Jesus' work as a fully divine and human Redeemer. The applications focus on our Redeemer's love for us and then our loving response to Him.

Tell people you are praying for them

2011-12-01T09:35:00.001-05:00

The other day I had the opportunity to talk with another pastor I hadn't talked to in a long time. In fact, I don't really ever remember meeting him. He said he met me, so I just agreed. I could be, and often am, wrong.

He recounted, "I remembered you speaking before presbytery and explaining that Hope Presbyterian couldn't afford to keep you on any longer. And so I spent some time in the back by myself praying for you. To see where you are is an answer to my prayers!"

I remember that day very well. It was kind of a sad day. But the Lord soon turned sadness into joy as I very soon received a call from Redeemer.

This conversation taught, or at least reinforced to me a few things about prayer.

1.) Prayer is a way to play a part in someone's life
For him to hear that I was enjoying my call and experience at Redeemer was a blessing to his soul. Somehow he played a part. Even though I didn't know him at all, he still played a part. How cool is prayer? It allows us to partner with other people whom we may not know well or at all.

2.) You should tell people you're praying for them. You really should. When I heard that this lad broke away from the "business" of the meeting and personally prayed for me, I was astounded. I was moved. Someone really took the time to do this for me? Wow. It showed love and really encouraged me. I like to know that people are praying for me. I'm probably not alone in this.

Sometimes I think we're afraid to tell people we're praying for them because we would rather remain anonymous. Sometimes me might be afraid because we don't want to come off as prideful. If that's the case, then confess the pride, but don't let that stop you from encouraging your brother and sister in the faith who may really need encouragement that day. Be aware of false humility that keeps us from encouraging others and receiving encouragement.

We have ample scriptural warrant to tell others we are praying. Paul regularly tells his churches that HE (Col 1:3, Phil 1:3) and OTHERS (Col 4:12) are praying. Don't worry about "sounding" prideful. He didn't.

When you're praying for someone, do yourself and them a favor: tell them. You and they will be glad you did.

When people in your church move away....

2011-11-29T03:27:00.000-05:00

Several of the families that my wife and I consider close friends are being transferred out of state. That means we won't be seeing them much anymore. And that is sad for us. And it is sad for our church not only because we loved them for who they were, but because they brought their gifts and passions to Redeemer. We'll miss them personally, as well as their gifts.

Two nights ago I pondered this "exodus" for a bit. Is it worth getting close to people who may very well move in a year or two? Should we protect ourselves from this potential heartache? Should we be careful to befriend those who are more likely to stay in the area for a while?

Here are some thoughts

1.) Love vs. Self Protection: Much of what passes for love these days is nothing but self-protection. In other words, we say, "Yes" to some people and "No" to others to protect ourselves from their displeasure. But if love keeps no record of wrongs (I Cor 13), it always opens itself to being wronged or hurt. Sometimes this hurt is not caused by any intentional or even unintentional sin (though this is often the case). Sometimes its caused by a job transfer. And if we let the "well this person could move and then I'd be hurt" mentality to creep in, we've protected ourselves but not loved. And love that Christians have for another ought to appear unique before the world: by this all men will know we are His disciples, if we love one another (John 13:35).

2.) God's love moves toward people. That has to be our definition of love. This quote from Ed Welch's When People are Big, God is Small, offers much to the challenge of befriending people who may move away from us.

In light of Hosea, such a strategy (never allowing oneself to get hurt by someone who could leave) is no longer an option for the Christian. God's love is a costly love. It never takes the easy path away from relationships. Instead, it plots how to move toward other people. It thinks creatively of ways to surprise them with love.

3.) Losing people? I hate "losing" people whom I love and who love me, and support and serve the local church. I've "lost" friends time and time again due to moves (I still keep in touch with some, but its obviously a different relationship). But I have to remember that they are not MY sheep. They're not yours either. They're Jesus' sheep. I'm just an "under-shepherd"(I Peter 5). So if He sees fit to shuffle sheep by moving them out of state, He has that right. I don't have to like it, and I can be frustrated and saddened, but I do have to recognize His right. And He seems to know more than I do, so that really helps too.

4.) A mindset of sending, as opposed to hoarding. Naturally we tend to hoard our blessings instead of sharing them, whether it be a good dessert, friends, family, or finances. Pastors and parishioners alike can be guilty of this when it comes to people in the church. But hoarding products or people is really contrary to the purpose of blessing (Gen 12:1-3). After a season of being blessed with good relationships and fellow laborers in the gospel, do we even consider that God may want us to bless others by sending our dear friends out or releasing them? Are we really quick, or even open, to send out families we love to serve as missionaries, or plant churches, or to move?

When people are "sent" in the traditional way missionaries are sent, that's one thing. We have a category for that. Yet often God sends people to serve in different places via a job change. They are still sent, as God determines the exact places where we live (Acts 17:26). And that's how the gospel really went out in the beginning: some were commissioned to go, but others were "sent" or "scattered" by persecution (Acts 8:1-4).

5.) It is always better to have loved/been loved and "lost" than not to have loved/been loved at all. When people love us and we love them, we and they are always better for it. One lad told me the other day that he had a "mini-revival" while at Redeemer. I'm glad for HIS SAKE that he was here. And I'm glad for MY SAKE that somehow I, and the rest of the church family, played a part in that. Despite the sad departure, loving them and being loved by them was worth it. It always is and always will be.

Just some things to think about when friends leave your church family. Simply writing these down has helped me look at people leaving in a different way.

Advent: Week 1 devotion

2011-11-28T15:15:00.001-05:00

There's nothing greater to me than the Christmas season. I love it. I know that some folks have a hard time with Christmas because of the number of bad experiences with previous Christmases. For instance, one of my idols Steve Brown, has a rough time because of an alcoholic father. Others experience the loss of loved ones for the first time, and I can only imagine how hard that is.

I guess that's why I appreciate advent so much. It's more than just Christmas.

Advent is a celebration and thanksgiving for what Jesus has already done, and yet a longing for him to finish the work He started. It's a time of thankfulness. It's a time of hopeful petition: the very nature of petitions is that you need something!

Advent marks a mixture of celebration, the kind of which John the Baptist experienced in the womb of Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). And its a time of longing, like John must have experienced in prison, when he wondered, "What's the deal with this Messiah?"(Matthew 11:2-3). Jesus responded to him, "I've done enough now that you can wait and trust me to finish it later.

Advent helps us capture and couch our emotions and center them around Christ. I hope our joy would be more robust and grounded, while our longings bust forth more honest and hopeful. Can you tell I'm a advent fan?

Here is a link to week 1's devotions. It comes with 6 daily devotions and one family devotion. Hope you enjoy them.

Thankful for a different kind of present (amended)

2011-11-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

A Sunday or two ago I preached a sermon on anxiety (since I'm well qualified to speak about the subject!) from Phil 4:6-7 called "I got a peacful easy feeling." In it I referenced the book A Praying Life by Paul Miller. If you haven't read this book, it's definitely worth checking out. CBD Reformed has it on sale Black Friday for 5 dollars. It is the only book that I've seen on prayer which has really connected prayer to life. That and its one of the better devotional books I've ever read. Check it out. No one has ever returned my recommendation with anything less than praise to God for it.

The book is so honest and real, just like our prayers should be. Our prayers are not detached from life. In fact, even when we are invited to lay our requests before the Lord (activity), we do this with thanksgiving (lifestyle). I tend to think the command in Phil 4 means more than just saying "thanks" the way we make our kids say "thanks" when the bakery gives them a cookie. It means a regularly thankful heart.

Paul Miller does a fine job of explaining the connection between thanksgiving, asking, and the experience of peace in the life of a believer. I would include a snippet if I could find it in the book-but believe me, it is not for lack of trying. He reminds us that a thankful heart is a life constantly on the lookout for God's hand in the story.

And sometimes the things we should be thankful for are those which we are not usually thankful for. It's not too hard to be thankful for friends, family, food, or football on Thanksgiving. In seminary, one my professors encouraged us to be on the lookout for people who would be hard to deal with, and who may possibly drain or annoy us. He said, "You need those people as well. Look at them as a present from the Lord giftwrapped with a bow on top." He instructed us to consider them presents, not problems, because God would use them to teach us more about our need to grow in grace. God could use them to develop us in special ways where "easier" types of folks would not "grant" us the opportunity.

Unfortunately, he didn't necessarily take his own advice in one particularly important instance. However, that truth is nevertheless still true and timeless. I'm thankful for his challenge, although I've not done the best job of heeding his council.

We can be on the lookout not just for those obviously thank-able things, but for those "presents" which at first glance don't seem very much like presents. God loves us too much to leave us where we are. He loves us too much to not reveal more of our need for His Son Jesus. Knowing more of Jesus is just too great a gift for Him to withhold from us (Phil 3:8). When we see God really does love us so much he won't deny us such presents, we may find ourselves less burdened and more receptive to what God is teaching us through them. We've then opened the door to real thanksgiving and ultimately a greater experience of a Christ-centered peace.

This thanksgiving season, try not to overlook such "presents," remembering to be thankful for more than family, food, friends, and football on Turkey Day.

Gospel-centered social media

2011-11-22T09:56:00.001-05:00

This post is intended to be a recap of what we've been doing in Redeemer's Jr High youth group. However, it is quite applicable to all of us insecure generations living in the age of social media.

Social media like Facebook can be very helpful to stay in touch with people that you don't regularly see. The youth were quick to pick up some positives about things like texting/social media, but a little slower to see some of the negatives. However, most of the kids eventually either pointed out or agreed with the fact facebook/texting provides a "great" place to hide from people. Folks will often post or text "bold" words that they will not say in person.

So we considered the simple question: Why?

Genesis 3 gives us a pretty good picture of why this happens. As soon as sin entered into the world, Adam and Eve tried in vain to cover themselves and their shame. They hid behind leaves. That's why we have a tendency to hide behind a computer or cell phone screen.

So when we text message or do facebook posts that we would never say in person, it goes back to the fact that we really are not believing the gospel as much as we think. Since our sin is rooted in disbelief-as it always has from the beginning-we need to recognize that hiding behind a screen is tantamount to not believing the gospel: what Jesus has already accomplished.

Romans 8:31-35 says that we are not condemned and no one can bring a charge against God's chosen ones. The more we believe that, the less we'll hide behind a screen. We can say things that people need to hear even if they don't want to hear them. We can then not write things that we should say in person. We can then not text things we shouldn't say at all. The more we believe the free we are to love each other.

The following Sunday we considered how to actually use facebook/texting in a positive way. Ephesians 4:25-32 lays out some commands for verbal communication. But since much of our communication is now not verbal (for better or worse-probably latter), but written, the same thing applies to texting and facebook. Things like speaking truth in love, as opposed to responding hastily in anger or with slander, seemed to resonate with the youth.

We instructed them to NOT EVER respond by facebook or texting while angry. I promised them, they will NEVER say, "I really wish I would have responded right away, because I would have had such great gospel centered things to say to that person that ticked me off." They will always be glad they waited. But few of us ever take the time to not respond right away. It's hard, but not impossible.

Of course the only way to do this behavior, is to go back to the gospel. Ephesians 4:32 reminds us that we forgive others as God in Christ has forgiven us. Regardless of whether the other party has repented or not, we can have compassion because God has first shown us compassion. And when we screw up on facebook and texting, and don't believe the gospel as deeply as we need, we can be rest assured that Jesus never hid behind fig leaves or a computer screen. He never slandered though he was slandered. He did it for us so that need not fear God's retribution.

In the end, that's really the only way we become motivated to encourage one another through our text messages and facebook posts. We could have spent 30 minutes telling the youth to NOT post/text mean things, but instead TO post nice things. That would have been practical. However, that would have been no different than if they were being taught in a synagogue or a mosque. The gospel is what sets our message apart from the rest, providing forgiveness as well as power. After going back to the gospel, we then discussed some practical implications which stem from belief in it.

If you made it this far, and God bless you if you did, you've probably realized this post is just as applicable for you as it is for youth.

Money and Ministry: the lack of one doesn't necessarily hurt the other

2011-11-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

Most churches, church members, pastors would prefer larger budgets, because larger budgets can mean more ministry to others inside and outside the church. Ministry does cost something. It costs time, commitment, and money. So churches need to take in tithes, which in turn fund budgets; a budget is just a bunch of numbers unless there is actually money in the bank. And this article in World Magazine explains that tithing is at its lowest in 41 years. This study was done with mainline churches, which already seem on the decline-so obviously tithing will be declining. Yet as I hear from other evangelical churches, the tithing tragedy probably affects many churches in America. I don't want to get into the "why," but how churches, can do more with less.

First of all, instead of an alarmist "sky is falling b/c the church has less money" mentality, we probably need a bit of perspective. As above stated, larger budgets can mean more ministry. They can, but they don't necessarily mean more ministry is actually being done. Like a parent who gives his/her youth 20 dollars for fast food on a one day retreat-and doesn't ask for the change back-we know that money that can be spent, will be often be spent. Because it can.

But when money is tighter, we have the option to examine what needs to be spent, versus what can be spent. Sometimes it can mean that we are better stewards of God's money. Sometimes it can mean we truly do more with less.

For instance, you might have 500 budgeted dollars for a fellowship event. With that money, you could cater bbq. It would be tasty. Or let's say you had 50 dollars, or even nothing. You could just have the church go potluck. This way, you save money, and the food is probably nearly as good. Plus you involve the congregation. You can involve your family in preparation, and teach them about fellowship and giving to others that which is good and precious to you (its kind of hard for me to share good food). I would say more ministry has just happened because you had less money.

Don't equate budgeted/spent money with an illusion that more ministry is actually happening or the opposite as well: less money=less ministry.

Much ministry doesn't cost much money.

Think of C.D. groups (community/discipleship) or whatever you call them (small groups, Life Groups, community groups), how much do those things cost? The price of electricity, water/sewer, and a dessert. Not much. Yet I've seen first hand people come to faith, grow in the faith, begin to serve the church, and want to bring those outside the church in. Real life-changing ministry often happens on the cheap. In relationships. In community.

Most of us do like to pay for ministry more than do ministry ourselves. That way we don't have to enter into the mess, and get messy. But for the price of a cup of a coffee, you can meet with and minister to someone who is going through a tough marriage, dealing with a tough child, a tough illness, has a tough question, tough sin struggle, etc....For the price of a cup of coffee, or a donut (that's what I do every Wed morning) you can meet with and disciple someone who is younger in the faith than you. And then THEY can start ministering to others. Good things happen. Relationships are costly in terms of time and emotion, but they are also cheap in terms of money. And yet the yield is tenfold.

Ministry still does cost some money.

I don't have a budget for our CD group to purchase materials. So we (my co-leader and I) just buy the materials ourselves. A novel thought-things we can buy, we should buy. I think 10 dollars every 3-4 months is probably not that big of an investment. Other groups do the same thing, and we're seeing the fruit. Ministry doesn't stop when the tithing drops.

Instead of a traditional VBS (which had nothing really to do with lack of funding), I wanted to try something more outward focused. So we did a "Kids Club" at a local income restricted apartment complex. People were HAPPY to donate to this. We spent very little, and yet were able to share the gospel with a more kids than came to our VBS. Then we turned around and did 2 "Bible Clubs" for kids in our church and neighborhood friends. Some members donated stuff and we spent little. But some folks spent little or nothing, because other folks donated and spent some money, and were glad to do it.

A neighborhood Xmas party, small group Xmas party where you invite unchurched friends to doesn't cost much more than a normal Xmas party you might already throw. I've done several of these out of my house and seen youth step up and lead well. It doesn't show up in the church budget, but it is ministry. And it does cost you some. It cost several involved families money, but I think they were happy to spend some. Isn't the ministry opportunity an eternal investment?

Something that Amy and I will be doing is buying the Jesus Storybook Bible for some of our unchurched friends-who still, thankfully, think Jesus is cool. Lifeway is selling them for 5 dollars on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Tim Challies is updating all of the deals on his website. Just scroll down to find the apropos post. This will cost you some money, but it will be worth it. If you don't have one for your toddler-Kindergartener, get it. You'll be hooked and handing them out to neighbors. We already have, and will be doing it some more this Xmas.

Ministry does cost. Sending missionaries cost money. Sunday School material costs money. When someone calls and legitimately needs money, that, obviously costs money. So I hope that people tithe and give generously to the local church, to missions, church planting, and other personal/group ministry opportunities. Ministry cost some money, but it costs more time than money. It costs YOU. If you find yourself lamenting that your particular church can't do as much as you'd like it to do, consider all of the many cheap (and costly) that are waiting for you. You might have missed them if your budget/tithing was bigger. And in the end, Jesus said we find our life by giving it away (Matthew 10:39).

Calling without "altar calling"

2011-11-17T10:10:00.001-05:00

No one has asked me why I don't do altar calls. However, my step-grandmother (for a few months) several years back, did say she wanted me to speak at her funeral and "do an altar call." I can't remember how I responded, and I'm not sure that she has even remembered that request. But I think that we should at least have a robust reason why we do or don't do them.

I grew up in an evangelical P.C.U.S.A. church which has a tradition of not doing altar calls. Yet I came forward to trust Christ at a revival-although I think they called it a "renewal" we had at that church. I think it was at this time when I was truly "born again." But uncertain of my salvation, I came forward another time at a Methodist church altar call during a youth day camp. These are the first, but not last, "altar call" moments I can remember.

I've also "come forward" for different times of "re-dedication" or commitment to do certain things like commit to missions. I've never noticed any difference in my life after these times.

Ironically-or maybe not ironically-I felt guilty for not raising my hand "to be counted" among those who made decisions at a college retreat. Yet that was the time when my life most changed.

At the Gospel Coalition, they welcome folks to ask them all kinds of questions. This altar call question came up, and here is their response. All I've written is from an experiential perspective, and perhaps from a pragmatic perspective-(it doesn't seem to "work"). There are other reasons why I feel uncomfortable with doing an altar call. But these folks say it just about as well as I could myself. So check it out here.

It's a gracious response (a lot of Christians can be jerks when they disagree), not attacking those who do altar calls, but simply why it can be good or better NOT to do them, and what we can do in their place. Certainly when we preach or teach at any level, we have to continually call people to respond to the gospel, whether it be for the first time or the thousandth. I don't do a very good job at calling people to respond for the first time-to become as a Christians-as well as I do calling Christians to come back to the gospel. Articles like these challenge me to not just say No to the practical application (altar call), but to recognize the correct heart behind it (to call non-Christians to repent and believe). Even though I disagree with this 18th-19th century invention, I am still challenged to intentionally and deliberately call unbelievers to repentance and faith.

Here's on of the articles practical applications from a Baptistic point of view I think is worth thinking about.

Invite people throughout your sermon to "repent and be baptized" like Peter did in Jerusalem (Acts 2:38). But when you do, don't just stand there waiting with emotionally charged music playing, staring them down until they relent. Rather, make several suggestions about how and where to discuss the matter further.

Check the rest out here.

Another untraditional QB

2011-11-15T15:33:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I commented on how I think God has lifted Tebow up, but has done it in such a way as only God can receive the glory-and then Tebow can bask in that. The polarization of Tebow stems partially from his outspoken Christianity.

But some of his larger critics are in fact professing Christians. Former Buc's QB, Trent Dilfer is certainly one of them. I'm not surprised that "the Dilf" has taken issue with Tebow because he is a fellow brother in the Lord. I'm surprised that "the Dilf" has taken issue with Tebow because "the Dilf" was not a traditional quarterback either. Or at least not a "traditionally" good QB. You don't typically win a Super Bowl and then get cut by your team soon afterwards if you are a good QB. Yet he did. Then he went on to Seattle, to Cleveland, to San Francisco. Traditionally good QB's don't pack their bags that often.

Yet "the Dilf" won a super bowl with the Ravens when his replacement couldn't win games. The replacement the following year just didn't work, and they didn't enjoy the same success as they had with "the Dilf."

"The Dilf" was far from a traditional QB because he wasn't asked to win the game. He was told "to manage" the game. That's it. Don't lose it, just manage it. He was a "non-traditional" QB, who temporarily was lifted up despite his lack of "traditional" QB skills.

He was lifted up, winning the highest honor a QB can have: a super bowl victory. Yet he couldn't boast in how well he played because the defense was clearly the ones who would receive the most glory. Lifted up and then humbly cut just months later.

So that is why its so surprising that "the Dilf" has become such a Tebow "hater." They are not only brothers in the Lord; they are brothers in the "non-traditional" QB family.

When we forget that we've been lifted up ONLY because of Jesus' good pleasure (even the good things we do are ultimately produced through His power-Phil 2:11-12), we will not only be prone to arrogance, but prone to disdain the grace and joy of others who've been humbly lifted up as well.

Tebow, Israel, and when God "humbly lifts us up"

2011-11-14T09:40:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a crazy football day. Not because the Bucs lost, again, which I think I should be getting used to by now (false hope is terrible!), but because Tim Tebow and his Bronco's won again. He's now 3-1 as a starter. The guy who most analysts pull against because he is not a "traditional" quarterback, is now 3-1 and his team is still in a play-off race. But only because of the weak division that is the AFC West.

He actually completed 2 passes yesterday. He was 0-4 in the first half and eventually finished 2 for 8. Yet his team one again.

I really don't think God cares that much about football. We see certain places in the scriptures that seem to suggest God does have a "special place in his heart" for widows, orphans, and the oppressed (Psalm 68:5). But it is also true he has a special place in His heart for His children the way any good father does. And he cares about their sanctification even more than their "success" (Romans 8:28). So that includes Tebow, as it does any Christian in the world or in the NFL for that matter.

And isn't it funny how God shows love, how he both lifts up and humbles at the same time? You can't get much worse than 2 for 8. Yet his team won. God lifted Tebow up, but he did it in such a way as he couldn't rest upon his individual stats. God lifted him up in such a way that Tebow would know it wasn't his efforts. And I think today Tebow is just fine with it.

God has been doing this for some time. He lifted up Israel, and made sure they knew that they were chosen not because of anything IN them, but simply because, well, He chose to love them (Deuteronomy 7:5-7).

So he lifted up Israel, but not in the "traditional" way that He did for opposing nations-by sheer might and power. Remember, he had them shout down the walls of Jericho after marching around it 6 times. How untraditional? Frankly it would have been a quite humbling victory if they were thinking about "individual stats." Shouting? A battering ram would have been much cooler to me.

God lifted them up in victory and at the same time humbled them.

From what we can tell, Israel actually rose to power because there was a power vacuum in the Ancient Near East-similar to the AFC West division. It wasn't Israel's might and power that did it. And I would argue that was by design.

The goal of God lifting us up is never simply so that we can be lifted up. It's always His glory. And so when you are lifted up, keep looking in that same direction. There's a reason that God lifts people up, and doesn't allow them to have great "stats." You can then freely bask in God's glory instead of your own.

Jerry West and the burden of being thought a hero

2011-11-10T15:46:00.001-05:00

You've probably heard about how Penn State hero Joe Paterno has tripped over the wake of destroyed lives of which he has had a large part to play. No longer is he the hero. He's the goat. And a sadder more perverse thing I cannot dream of happening in college sports. I'm truly "speechless" from my computer.

I would guess one of the more currently heroic West Virginia natives would have to be former NBA star Jerry West. Pretty soon it could be Andrew Luck, the Stanford QB, and probable number 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next spring. But for right now, the man who IS the NBA logo (or rather the logo is him), probably takes the cake.

I listened to a rare impressive local interview with Jerry a month or so ago. Then this article came out a few weeks ago regarding Jerry West and his depression.

Some people like to be heroes until they are eventually, like Joe Pa, dethroned. Many others simply realize that they are not heroes. Role models for sure, but heroes is much tougher. That's a burden that's quite a bit too heavy to carry.

Jerry West's new book West by West: My Charmed Tormented Life apparently reveals the darker side of Jerry and his struggle through depression.

Most people writing memoirs/autobiography want more money. But probably part of the memoir/biography craze is a desire to be known. For people to know the truth about them, that there is more going on inside of them than what everyone else sees. It's hard to be a hero because we weren't meant to be heroes. We were meant to be have dominion over the earth and be "vice-kings/queens" but not heroes (Gen 1:27-28).

There is one hero to the story and his name is Jesus.

Deep down inside people will suppress that truth, but they can only suppress it so far. The burden becomes too heavy and out comes the junk. I think that's why people like Steve Jobbs can give the OK on books which make them look less than "heroic."It's why I would want my depression story in any biography of me (not quite sure that would sell though...)

Any book written about you or I would eventually paint us in less "heroic" colors than much of the outside world sees. And that's OK. It doesn't mean we necessarily think less of the person, but instead that we realize that they still need Jesus. A lot. Whoever they are, wherever they are, they still need Jesus.

The burden of perfect and outwardly respectable performance for the Christian need not be ours to carry. Even though I think we do bear more of the burden than we let on (by refusing to recognize our weaknesses and sins), Jesus regularly speaks to us through His word and says, "Enough is enough. Let ME carry that burden (Matt 11:28-30)."

You can let others know your mess and how much you need Jesus because you don't need to be a hero. You don't need people to think more of you. In fact, in the end, we find it far more enjoyable for people to think less of us and more of Jesus. Deep down inside, even though I don't where West stands with Jesus, I think that's what his heart ultimately wants.

In the end, Jerry West and Tina Turner have a lot in common. One sings, and another one says, "We don't need another hero."

Sensitivity training?

2011-11-09T16:36:00.001-05:00

While I'm still not comfortable enough to place myself solely within ONE Christian counseling "camp," I've recently been encouraged and become more and more impressed by the work of the CCEF folks.

Here is an audio clip of Dr. David Powlison and Andrew Ray from their "Help and Hope." It's only 9 minutes long and an easy listen-not to be confused with "easy listening" music of course. You'll have to get past their very quite, soft, and gentle voices that remind me of the ladies from the S.N.L. sketch "Delicious Dish."

These two lads tackle an incredibly practical question from a listener to their show: "How can I stop being over-sensitive?"

Wouldn't that be nice? I think I can be over-sensitive at times and under-sensitive at others. In this short discussion, you can see that the answer is not to become more "thick skinned," as Jon Gruden told his former player Keyshawn Johnson even though he was being "thin skinned" in his retort. Nor is the answer to let over-sensitivity rule the day and ignore the fact that sensitivity turned inward neglects Jesus. It is the best answer I've heard to date regarding this question.

I told someone the other day that I'm good at diagnosing problems, but not as good at providing the solution. I actually said it in connection to this very question. Now at least I feel more prepared at redeeming and embracing a gospel centered sensitivity.

Here are a few notes I jotted down while listening to this helpful resource. I hope they will whet your appetite for a 9 minute dinner.

sensitivity is one of God's greatest gifts
sensitivity turned inward takes God out of the picture and we're left with you and me and what you think of me
thick skinned is basically the same as being callous; not a good goal to shoot for
Jesus is the High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weakness
We can turn sympathy tables around; because we are so loved, we don't focus our sensitivity inward
The goal is to be safer in Christ and more thin skinned toward FOR others

No Christian Friends!

2011-11-08T15:55:00.001-05:00

Every Christian who has kids wants his/her kids to have Christian friends. That's pretty much a gimme. But I think if we take seriously the fact that our families ARE NOT ends in and of themselves (Gen 12:1-3), we will also pray that they have non-Christian friends who will come to know Jesus through our children and their activities.

Now how that is applied for each family will differ. Some may need to put strict limits and boundaries and decide how much his/her child is ready to seriously be a friend to others outside Christ. Some may just not be ready yet. But at the very least, we can regularly be praying for our kids' unchurched friends. I do this each night with my 3 year old, praying for several of his pre-school friends to come to church with us.

And still, there is always some parental anxiety that bad behaviors will rub off. Of course, if we are honest, we would recognize that bad behaviors are more than just learned from others; they are produced from within our and our children's sinful hearts. It's not Spongebob's fault. At the same time, Connar my three year old is probably too young to actually filter Spongebob through a Christian grid, so that, including disrespect, is a potential risk when he plays with his unbelieving neighbors.

One family unknowingly helped me and several other folks think through this issue.

We had a missionary family come visit the church a few weeks ago. They are going back to Germany in a year to begin tilling the soil for another church plant in Berlin. We asked them, "Who do your kids play with?" Their kids have NO Christian friends. In fact some families don't let their kids play with these missionary kids because they are Christians. How reversed is that?

Ultimately you just have to trust that Jesus is bigger than your kids lack of Christian friends. They can still grow up to know Jesus, rest on Him, and tell others about Him. If He that is in us, is greater than he who is in the world, then we need not fear.

Is that not challenging to us in America? Will my kid have good influences? Enough Christian friends? How often should I let Jimmy the Pagan come over to play? These are questions church-going suburbanites ask. But I think we need to be reminded of the Christian community overseas, particularly those of missionaries. Perhaps we need a bit more faith in God and less faith in "seemingly" controllable areas.

When these fears or "controls" come up, consider your brothers and sisters in the faith whose kids have NO Christian friends. God is good. He is faithful to us and to our children. He can make up for our lack of faithfulness as parents as well as our kids' lack of Christian friends.

Gospel Centered Risk

2011-11-07T14:53:00.000-05:00

I've had a heart for church planting for some time now. I can't point to a time or day, but over time I felt convinced of the need for it, that it is the best way for the gospel to go forth and change a city. If you worship at Redeemer, you can't help but recognize the need for church planting. At one point, not too long ago, there was no PCA, or even Reformed work in Teays Valley. Now there is. And there wouldn't have been if God hadn't called a man and his family to come up here. And take that risk. By default, you recognize the need for more gospel centered churches.

Church planting is a risk. Sometimes God calls us into risks that we don't understand. Sometimes those risks work out the way we pray. Sometimes not. But we don't receive a special wisdom from heaven that means we can figure out how to follow Jesus so things just "fall into place."

We have to take risks. We don't have to take risks because God won't like us if we don't take risks. We have to take risks, because if we don't, we really don't believe the gospel all that much. For instance, we really are free to fail-not have the desired outcome from a certain risk. We can try things that may or may not "work." For instance, we can introduce a new ministry opportunity, and experience the frustration of no one or only a few showing up, and still wake up the next day with a smile on our face. We can be thankful for the none or the few. We can present the gospel sloppily, love someone much older/younger, ask a girl out who will possibly say, "No," try our hand at teaching a class we don't feel qualified, lead with some uncomfortable uncertainty when our leadership is needed, because the gospel reminds us that God's love for us doesn't fail us. Ever. Even when we sin.

When we don't take risks, it says, "I believe I can fail, but I'm just not willing to find out if that's actually true." It reveals an underlying disbelief in the gospel. And to really love a people, a community, a church is ALWAYS a risk. Always. You don't know how your moving toward them will end for you. But taking risks is part of God's design.

We can't follow God without taking risks. And I'm not talking about stock market risk. Gospel-centered risk. Risking something for God's glory that is so great, that without Him blessing it, it will fail. Here's a story of great risk which one family took for the spread of the gospel by means of church planting in New York City. And it didn't "work." It "failed" in the sense that the desired outcome was different than the actual outcome. The church closed. It's sad. But it didn't really fail. The risk takers who partnered through their prayers, pocketbooks, and presence, didn't really fail.

The true story, as written by a friend and former seminary buddy, is amazing. It is a story of a pastor who loved, who took the risk of planting, pastoring, and then having to move on.

Read the story. It will do your soul good. Here's an excerpt.

But even as we move forward I don't want to forget Flatbush and I’m grateful that my experience there will make it hard to do that. I’m most grateful that John and Kathy were willing to take the risk. I wouldn’t have done it. But then again I wouldn’t have so eagerly given up a kidney to a fellow parishioner. But John did. I wouldn’t have so easily jumped out of bed at 1 AM to drive the streets of Brooklyn looking for a kid from my church. But John did. I wouldn’t have joyfully tackled the endless laundry list of responsibilities that come with being a solo pastor of a church plant in an urban neighborhood. But John did. And so now maybe I will.

Why God allowed such a church to close, when he allows others to remain on life support because one or two wealthy folks go there, I don't know. But this story challenges me. How much do I believe the gospel? A lack of risk-taking in life reveals a lack of not just faith in WHAT GOD WILL DO, but faith in WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE in the gospel. We can take risks if we are confident in what Jesus has done for us. We can "fail," and yet not fail at the same time.

When to tell someone, "This may not be the right church for you."

2011-11-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

I really appreciate my "facebook friend" (he might not be able to pick me out in a line-up of former Buccaneer quarterbacks Brad Johnson-I've been told I look like him-Rob Johnson and Josh Johnson) Ed Stetzer. Yet I could be wrong, because he is one my few followers on Twitter! Anyhow, he works for Lifeway Research as well as writes, speaks, and promotes church planting. Some church leaders involved in leading church planting efforts like Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll do so from their senior pastor platforms, by writing, speaking, and forming church planting networks. Stetzer frequently speaks at the church planting networks, but is also personally assisting in planting a church now. So he has a special place in my heart, and has had such a place since I met him in a breakout session at the National Outreach Conference in San Diego 2008.

When it comes to planting a church-and I think this applies to most established churches as well but not to same level of necessity-leaders and committed core group members have to be on their guard for what he calls "Issue Christians." Someone camp up to Ed after the service the other day and wondered why more churches don't speak about "prophesy" in the way that John Haggee and Jack Van Impe do. Immediately the "issue" radar went off. Here is a pastoral response that really makes sense to me, and is probably more loving for both the "issue Christian" and the church.

Honestly, if this person were unchurched and told me they thought highly of Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer, I would have sought a point of contact and encouraged further discussion. I probably would have tried to get together-- if they were open-- to see what the Bible says about the kinds of things that Wayne Dyer talks about. I would have used the bridge to talk about Jesus. However, in this case, I simply said something like, "We are not one of those churches that you would think talks about prophecy enough-- this would not be the right church for you, but I do hope your search for a church home goes well."

You see, I don't spend a lot of time with "issue Christians." It's not just the issue of prophecy either. I've had similar conversations with "issue Calvinists," "issue political Christians," "issue charismatics," "issue homeschoolers," and many others. These are often good people and those are important issues, but when these are the primary defining issues in the first (and every other) conversation, the correct response is help them move on and do so quickly.

You can read more of his justification for such response here. But this is just one that stuck out.

3. Some "issue Christians" drift from church to church looking for willing ears--you do not need to let that in your church.

"Issue Christians" love to debate and display their knowledge. It is not good stewardship of your time to have these debates and you are not being a good steward of your church to let them loose inside.

Sensitivity to individuals needs is extremely important. When Jesus describes the people who are invited to his Great Banquet, he describes people in unflattering terms (Luke 14:21). We're spiritually disheveled and dilapidated and desperately still in need of Jesus. As a result we welcome folks who are spiritually and/or physically in a similar condition.

However when a church comprises folks who expect to come and have their particular issue coddled, preached about, encouraged, or enforced, it will not go well. Division will be next in line and all parties will end up bitter and the focus will be taken off of Christ and His mission. Thankful for the many pastors who care about Jesus' mission so much, that they will boldly love and protect their flock and their mission field.

The Sing-Off and the Judges who hear it all

2011-11-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

My wife Amy and I love The Sing Off. My three year old Connar does also does as we found out when he couldn't go to sleep on Monday night. If you've not seen it, The Sing Off, now in its third season, is an a-capella competition. The winner gets some sort of recording contract.

I guess the judges know what they are talking about, or at least act like they do, because the things they say I can't necessarily follow. Sometimes I don't agree with them. Sometimes I don't agree, probably, because I don't understand what they are talking about when they say things I don't understand. Make sense?

Anyhow, one of the things that impresses me with these judges, which include Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman, and Sara Bareilles, is their ability to hear individual singers who I simply can't hear. Each judge has a list of names, and they will regularly heap praises on lads or lasses that I had no idea were doing what the judges said they were doing.

I can hear the lead singers, and the collective sound, but I can't pick out what EVERY individual is doing. I see the person in front, and then the group as a whole. I can't hear the minor changes, the specific b-box, or tenor, or whatever.

It reminded me of how easy it is for us to see the church like this: a pastor and then everyone else doing their collective thing. Perhaps churches promote this by placing their pastor's name on the church marquee? Not sure, but maybe something to think about?

Regardless, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26, each plays a part. Some parts are more "up front," and noticeable. Some parts are more behind the scenes and blend in with others. But isn't it good to know that your Judge hears all the voices. He notices all the parts.

He notices the nursery worker, the Sunday School teacher, the greeter, the person inviting people to church without much "success," the sound set-up guy, the lad who sets up the stage in the movie theater and is tired of doing it, etc.....

And when the church collectively serves together, the sound is beautiful. He is your audience, and because of Jesus and his work in you, he likes what He hears.

If individuals stop doing what they're doing because they don't think they are being heard, we'll have problems. But when the pleasure of the judge clapping and celebrating over you is your focus, you won't feel ignored, passed over, or useless.

Rake-A-Thon

2011-11-02T15:00:00.001-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, youth from our church gathered together for the 87th (that joke NEVER gets old-at least to me) annual Teays Valley Rake-a-Thon. We had previously solicited any folks interested to sign up or to let us know of needs in our community. Some folks took us up on the offer and we actually had a few ladies outside the church, as well as several folks from our congregation.

When I gathered the yutes together, I explained that what we were doing that day was actually just as "spiritual" as having a bible study. We gathered together to do this in order to apply what the bible actually says. I quoted them James 1:27 where "true religion" involves such things as this. I told them we would be visiting widows, or folks in distress, though we might not be seeing any orphans.

The Lord blessed with us absolutely gorgeous weather, and a nice crowd to where we could actually split up into 5 teams. But perhaps even better were the attitudes before and after. Some youth were actually posting on facebook that they were looking forward to it. Crazy.

After we got back and looked at before/after pics to determine the winner, good feedback soon trickled in. One lady, tickled pink someone would come rake her yard, was blown away by the youth response: "thanks for letting us rake your yard!"

Another lady currently experienced a very serious traumatic event and was blown away that people she didn't know would show such love. Jesus was in this for sure.

Below I've listed some reasons why I think these things are so important

1.) Unless you're a Methodist church, your church may not be as good at mercy as you think. That's a caricature of course. But many churches are heading in what I consider the right direction. Our church formed a women's ministry called "Kindness in Action." It's just some ladies showing kindness and mercy to those in and outside the church. How cool is that?

2.) You learn and teach not simply by "classroom" type study, but by actually doing. We want to teach our youth and families that God is honored with such activity by actually doing those things. As Presbyterians, I think we undervalue the role of "doing" in our teaching. Doing does teach. When you regularly choose to skip church because of sports or sleep or busyness or activities, you ARE teaching something. Equally important in Christian Education is this "doing" component. Even more, Tim Keller points out that as we serve our communities with our "hands," we can really "work the gospel" deeper into our "hearts." As we serve those in need, we begin to grasp the gospel even more.

3.) Regular religious instruction in this area has to start early. Our aim is not simply to keep the kids off the streets but to prepare them to leave the home. The goal in regularly doing things like this is to make service a regular part of their Christian lives from here on out. I can remember how a young Methodist girl involved with our campus ministry at Furman and help us better apply the gospel with our "hands" from the very get-go. As a freshmen she organized a service event for all. Connar and Jude, our 3 and 4 year old workers will only know (ideally) a Christian faith that seeks the good of others, not just a personal experience with God detached from community.

4.) When one's Christian life actually makes a difference in the lives of others, he/she will becomes less burdened with the unscriptural mantra which destroys marriages, friendships, and other commitments: "God ultimately wants me to be happy." Somehow, the whole, "Love God and Love others thing seems to get replaced with a God who promotes love of self and personal fulfillment. Somehow in this new Oprah-esque paradigm, God actually excuses sin because he simply wants us to be happy. Yet the ironic thing is that if we enter into suffering and don't center our lives around self-fulfillment, you'll find more joy. Most don't get past the suffering part because God exists to make them happy and thus forfeit real joy.

5.) Community makes things more fun. I don't have a scripture reference for this; but I don't need one. We know this is true. Community can make a mundane job like raking leaves for others quite fun and fulfilling. Do the same thing in your yard, by yourself, well, not so much fun. Particularly when they are 100% your neighbor's leaves.....

Luther and Hero worship

2011-11-01T14:43:00.001-04:00

Hope that everyone had a good Halloween/Reformation Day. We had some great opportunities to connect with neighbors and find out exactly where those folks we see walking actually live. Everyone was outside so that mad it quite easy.

October 31st, as most folks know, is also the day that that much of the Protestant Reformation got kick-started (however there were pre-cursors to Luther like Jan Huss who actually paid the ultimate sacrifice) and so many rightfully celebrated and still celebrate that fact. We should celebrate that God used folks to "just say no" (not sure that they used that Nancy Reagan-esque slogan though) to Rome and its corruption, and the need to Reform the Church.

And we should not stop celebrating the fact that God used feeble folks-and still does fortunately-to do just that. In turn, we should also not forget that such men were feeble and probably do not want us putting them up on a pedestal.

One of my favorite Shakespeare quotes comes from Marc Antony's (the original, not the dude freshly divorced from J-Lo) soliloquy after some lads killed Julius Caesar: "the evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones..." In other words, people forget the good stuff you do, and remember the bad. We've all experienced that.

The bible has in essence one hero: Jesus. The rest of the characters aren't heroes, and that's why their flaws are presented to us. We do tend to moralize them. We do that with current "celebrity pastors" and speakers. And Reformed folks tend to that with Puritans and Reformers.

Let me speak regarding the latter.

Martin Luther had a boldness few of us have ever seen. He had a love of Jesus many of us don't regularly see. But he also, like the rest of us, had plenty of flaws. We do both Jesus and Luther a disservice-since he so well has pointed us to our need for Jesus lo these many years-when we ignore his flaws.

Here are some things we can learn from the mistakes of Martin Luther from scholar Dr. Frank James, formerly at R.T.S., but now with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

1.) Demonizing. Luther was confident in the gospel, but he may have placed confidence in other areas so much so, that he demonized his opponents who were ultimately in the same fight with only subtle nuances. In fact he writes positively about Ulrich Zwingli's death in battle, as though it were a just and good thing.

2.) Anti-Semitic. In Luther's On the Jews and Their Lies. We were read an excerpt in seminary. Pretty rough stuff.

3) Unwillingness to recognize blind spots. There's a reason that Lutherans don't exactly hold to a Lutheran understanding of justification and pre-destination. Philip Melancthon was his golden boy, and didn't hold Luther's view on either. Unfortunately Luther failed to see it. As a result, at least in part, Presbyterians, some Baptists, and several others take Luther's theology more seriously than Lutherans. Kind of ironic.

In the end, Luther was and is a saint like you and I. His theology, his life can teach us a lot. And we should learn all we can from this lad. But his theology at times, incorrectly applied or not applied in certain areas, can also teach us we too can be quite inconsistent in applying theology to our lives. The hero of the story is not us, not them, it's Jesus. We can't forget that. I can't forget that, particularly with my pastoral idolatry. And Luther wouldn't want us to forget that, I'm sure.

We learned very little about John Calvin's "dirt," much to my dismay. So I've got nothing on him. But both he and Luther are now, not just declared righteous, they actually are righteous. So that's why I think neither of them would be upset that I'm writing this.

The good news is that God uses flawed people to build His Kingdom. So you're in good company when you enlist-or rather "get drafted."

Yearly Halloween thoughts (amended)

2011-10-31T14:08:00.002-04:00

Someone just asked me today if our church did some sort of Halloween alternative activity. I let him know that we don't have a building, so that makes it harder (though not impossible by any means). But I also let him know that I didn't feel there would have been that much interest anyway-as I perceive it.

As I've noticed over the years, Christians in different areas of the nation have different "taboo's": convictions that have been elevated so high that for many they are just understood. I really can't figure it out, but I'm as intrigued as I'm perplexed about it.

I dropped Connar off to his pre-school today in his fireman costume. Most kids dressed up for this "Harvest Party." They'll get candy. Amy is going in today to do some pumpkin activity. This is a Baptist church. Another fairly, or very legalistic church in the valley where women have to wear dresses, say nothing against Halloween and has no Halloween alternative. It's just not taboo in this area.

But in South Carolina, and in parts of Florida, scores of churches had Halloween alternatives. It was understood that Halloween celebration outside the church was not kosher. Or at least that's the vibe I got.

Yet in FL, alcohol consumption in moderation is not taboo. But in my area, for many churches and Christian schools in the area, it is. Although somehow cigarettes and chewing tobacco for some reason isn't.....Other areas Christians consider cussing as "a" or THE sign that you are an unbeliever, while in some parts, it can be appropriate in private conversation.

Christians should have convictions and not just respond as oysters (filter feeders who suck everything in) to the culture. If there are holidays or just any day, where they our communities say, "Let's get naked and go to bath houses," then stay home and keep the lights on. Early Christians were insulted because they didn't go get naked with their neighbors. They really did get insulted for this.

However, we also shouldn't simply respond to the "taboo" mentality of local or state "church culture."And if you do choose to celebrate, and people think you're wrong, it doesn't matter. You don't have to prove that "you're right" and "they're wrong." I just preached on that yesterday. We often have opinions that we hold on too tightly, and by doing so, let real cultural values contrary to the gospel, quietly seep into the church. I wonder if Satan really does like Halloween as much as some folks say, but for different reasons: division, pride, and self-righteousness on BOTH SIDES of the issue.

I'm much more concerned about playing sports on Sundays, and how quickly people culturally cave to whatever the community event it is when it coincides with worship.

If you choose to celebrate Halloween, and trick-or-treat with your kids, I'm pretty sure no one is going to come up to you and say, "Hey, you're a pagan like me. Awesome, can we talk Druid stuff, or whatever the perceived origins (I stopped counting how many different "authorities" claimed THEY knew the true origin) and how we both are bringing mother nature, or Satan, or someone other than God glory tonight?" You can read about folks like that here. If they do, consider it a blessing to have the conversation and one that is pretty easy to steer that one toward Jesus.

If you do celebrate Halloween, and you haven't yet-our area is incredibly unique (some neighborhoods have already had their trick-or-treat night)- here are some good ways to "bring Jesus" with you as you go to and fro.

If you choose not to "celebrate" it, that's fine too. You can still care about your neighbors, serve and bless them on other nights. In my opinion, you miss one opportunity; but it is not the ONLY opportunity.

Inconsistency and Insecurity from Keyshawn and Gruden

2011-10-27T21:34:00.001-04:00

As a huge Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan, I'm always listening to what comes out of former Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden. And even more so now that he's currently out of coaching (and no doubt somewhat muzzled because he is still receiving a check from the Bucs), yet involved with ESPN. Gruden took the Bucs to the Super Bowl, but after that, never won a play-off game. In fact the year after the Super Bowl, he actually told former Buccaneer Keyshawn Johnson NOT to come to practice anymore, ever. That was probably 8 years ago, and yet Keyshawn, aka "MEshawn" still talks about Gruden messing with his head.

“When your psyche is messed with, and you don’t want to be around the organization or team, you just want to do whatever you can to get out of there,” Johnson said. “And that was the situation when I was under Coach Gruden in Tampa.”

Then, as men with egos always do, Gruden fired back.

“I had a guy on SportsCenter say he couldn’t get along with me the other day on TV,” Gruden said. “So I know how it feels. You’ve got to have some thick skin, and you’ve got to know when things get tough there are going to be some negative things said.”

The commentary from this article is priceless:

If Gruden’s skin were really thick, wouldn’t he just let it go?

How true is that? Does Jon Gruden really have thick skin? Not nearly as thick as one would, or should think, for a coach. Just another example of how our actions are always a better indicator of what we believe than our words. Whenever we see such inconsistencies with things we say, and then how we live, Christians have a place to run for forgiveness and change: the cross. It's a place for the inconsistent to find the ONLY one who was/is/will be consistent. And it is a place where we can begin to change the belief, which will lead to changed actions and words (Colossians 2:6-7).

And regarding MEshawn Johnson, who actually wrote a book called Just Give Me the Damn Ball (I still can't believe that-but at 22.95, not sure how many he's actually sold), he's a bit more fragile than advertised as well. It's a good reminder that those who seem so outwardly confident, cocky, obnoxious, are probably just as insecure as the rest.

This is incredibly helpful to realize in ministry and in life. If we can see this insecure person, as opposed to only seeing the Just Give Me The Damn Ball person, we'll find loving them much easier.

A potential Trinitarian example

2011-10-26T13:19:00.000-04:00

There is no concept harder to explain to a toddler, a youth, or even an adult than the Trinity. We explained to my three year old Connar the other day that Jesus lives in heaven, but now He doesn't believe that Jesus lives in Florida. That's a fun one.

The ontological, or essential unity and yet distinction within the Trinity is described in by the Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 6

WSC Q 6: How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and in glory.

You can actually hear it sung by an accomplished musician here. In fact I just used this music to verify the correct wording now that my bibleworks program doesn't work any longer with my new Apple operating system.

There really isn't an illustration or example that is technically accurate when describing the essential unity and yet distinction in the Trinity. Pretty much all of the examples teachers tend to use (and not deviously mind you) are actually heretical forms of what is called "modalism" or Sabellianism (where God appears at one time Son, another time Spirit, another time Father but not all at once). And so we're kind of limited to holding tight to the scriptures, and to the language passed down to us from church history.

However, I don't think we're necessarily limited on illustrations describing the functional subordination (where each member honors and points to the next person) relationship within the Trinity. What I mean is that the Spirit points to the Son, the Son points to the Father, the Father points to the Son. A little bit of that can be seen in John 16:12-15.

We've been trying to get my one year old son Cade to talk, but he's only got the "da-da" sound down. He can probably say that word because my wife Amy, who obviously spends the most time with him, always pointed him toward "Da-da." She is incredibly important in Cade's life, but she wanted to point him toward someone else equally as important. When I'm with Cade, I try to get him to say "Ma-ma." I also try to get Cade to say Connar's name "Ca-ca" (he did ONCE and that was it.) I don't need to hear him say my name; I desire him to say the names of his mother and brother. I want to honor them. And they want to honor me. Neither of us is essentially more important (though you could obviously argue she gets the nod from me), but we each sense the need to bring honor to the other.

Maybe this helps. Maybe it doesn't. Like any analogy it has limits, but it makes sense to me.

Review for The Quest For Comfort

2011-10-25T11:56:00.001-04:00

When you hear catechism, what words come to your mind? Honestly? Seriously, if I had to do a word association with catechism, I think I'd hear, or maybe say (I confess) words like "rigid," "heady," "for pastors," "for a different kind of Christian." You may have had experiences with those who embrace different catechisms, and think, "Well those aren't my kind of guys or gals." Or you may think that a catechism is something you memorize as a kid, or have as a resource as adult, to make you smarter. Regardless, catechism and comfort don't regularly find their way together in the same sentence. They should.

You will see comfort and catechism collide in William Boekestein's The Quest for Comfort. This is the 2nd book of his I've had the opportunity to read and review: Faithfulness Under Fire was my first. Through vivid illustrations, and simple language, he uniquely connects the quest for true godly comfort with the devotional riches found in the Heidelberg catechism.

This book is a children's book. It is designed for children, and illustrated for children, but it is just as devotional to parents. As a P.C.A minister, I'm fairly well versed in the history surrounding the Westminster Confession of Faith. However, I found myself woefully ignorant of the events which fortunately forged the Heidelberg Catechism.

Just as the events surrounding the hymn "It Is Well With Soul" make it that much more comforting-that God could provide comfort after such a tragedy-so do these events add to the rich experience of the Heidelberg Catechism. In fact, not long after finishing The Quest for Comfort, I "went out" and purchased the Heidelberg Catechism for my kindle.

Boekestein draws the reader into the timeless struggle of trying to understand and apply the scriptures amidst a culture and human heart which naturally rejects it. While the whole story makes for a fun and quick read, there are three reasons why I WANT to read the Heidelberg catechism, and this book again for that matter.

The Need for such a catechism. We hear of a deacon and preacher actually get in a fist fight over doctrinal questions. How crazy is that! Reminds me of Robert Duval's character in The Apostle when Billy Bob Thornton's character tries to stir up trouble and experiences quite a "beat-down." Tension makes for a great story. But more than making for a great story, it reminds us how helpful a tool a catechism can be in understanding and applying the bible today. We have folks who can help us understand and apply it today, even though they lived a long time ago.

Comfort of a catechism. Like the title suggests, Boekestein frames this catechism not just historically, but existentially. While folks at the time had access to the Belgic Confession, Frederick III wanted, "something simpler, more personal, more peaceful. He wanted a book that showed the heart of the gospel to men, women, boys, and girls who needed the comfort that only God can give." The goal was not to exhaustively cover every biblical topic but to provide some objective truth which comforts the heart and set the hands and feet in motion to service. We should seek comfort in the gospel and this is a great place to find and experience it.

Restore adventure to the Christian life. As adults we can sometimes lose that sense of adventure as we live in a place of religious freedom. But what a time to rekindle that passion. We don't need to pretend we live in the same time period, or same "place" (many Christians do now though), or feel guilty we don't. However, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), we should take encouragement that God worked in them, and He'll work in us. One can almost hear them encouraging us, "You guys have opportunities and challenges we didn't face. Look to Jesus and He'll take not only take care of you, but He'll take you on an adventure."

I commend this short book to you. It will do your soul, and the soul of your little one's some good. And if you're at all like me, you'll go out and get your hands on the Heidelberg catechism.

Spiritual Constipation and the Gospel

2011-10-24T12:16:00.000-04:00

This past week I had a wonderful opportunity to sit down with someone who I had hoped would help out with an existing ministry at Redeemer. But first I wanted to hear his story, how God had worked in the past, and what the Lord was doing now. He was connected to one of our C.D. (community/discipleship) groups now, and had been involved in a previous bible study for a few years. So after I had discerned the desire to grow, and to continue to grow in his faith, I laid out an opportunity before him. He gobbled it up like Pacman.

But how he responded brought me more joy than simply his response. I've been feeding and getting fed for a while now, and I've been ready to serve for a while. I've been getting fed and now its time to feed others. I can't hold this stuff in. It's uncomfortable to continue being fed and not feeding others.

He had been experiencing what I call "spiritual constipation." That is, that he'd been feeding and drinking deeply on the gospel through our bible studies and CD groups and felt spiritually bloated. He was stopped up. I know that's somewhat graphic language, but this is a reality for many. We're not designed to experience the blessings of the gospel only to hold them in. We'll get backed up. We'll be uncomfortable, or at least forfeit some of the joy of following Jesus and fellowshipping with Him. In the end, if we are truly growing in grace, we'll desire to serve and bless others.

In Genesis 12:1-3, we see that Abraham is blessed SO THAT he would be a blessing to others. God has never in the scriptures blessed anyone so that he/she could simply revel in that blessing and keep it for themselves. And we now know that it is through Jesus, that we inherit the blessing promised to Abraham (Galatians 3:29), which is ultimately "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3)." With these blessings, and "every" sounds like a pretty large number to me, YOU do have something to offer.

If you are the lad or the lass who believes it is important to go to a bible study each day of the week, and yet you are not serving in the local church, I would like to encourage you to consider that this MAY not be God's design for you. He designed you to be a conduit of gospel blessings, not to be a storage container for them to remain stagnant. My hope is that you would begin to feel spiritually bloated and uncomfortable, because it is not God's design for you to be "spiritually" constipated.

Now of course there are caveats if you simply need a break, or you've been burned out, or if you have to wait to join to serve, or if you can't say no to anyone who asks you to do something. But consider that you serving the church with your gifts, and reaching out to those outside the church is not only to benefit others. It's for you as well.

I hope that you can find a spiritual comfort that comes with being a conduit for the gospel instead of keeping all the good stuff to yourself. Yes you'll enter into suffering at times, but you won't regret being used by God to bless others with the blessing secured to you by Jesus.

Godly Masculinity in Parenthood

2011-10-20T11:57:00.000-04:00

Last night my wife and I watched the most recent Parenthood episode, and as usual, thoroughly enjoyed it. One scene near the end stuck out as particularly powerful, and a great example of how a man can lead his family.

If you're unfamiliar with the show, "Coach" Craig T Nelson is the patriarch and somewhat overbearing grandfather. He has four grown kids, two boys and two girls, who also have children. One of his daughters decides she wants to support her alcoholic ex-husband through rehab. He expresses extreme disapproval. His other daughter and son-in-law express their intentions to adopt a co-worker's baby. And that is also met with such disapproval that the daughter begins to re-think the whole process. Then at the dinner table, it comes out that his oldest daughter has requested money from his younger daughter and son-in-law to pay for her ex-husband's rehab. "Coach" just loses it.

Then the son-in-law, who is normally behind the scenes, steps up to intercede for his wife and sister-in-law. He's not normally "manly" in the sense we tend to think of men. While he's good with his hands, he is not the primary breadwinner. He is better with their daughter, and can regularly be seen packing her lunch and making dinner.

Yet, despite the cultural masculine image he doesn't portray, he nevertheless acts, and leads like a man (Eph 5:25), sacrificing his own comfort, reputation, approval to defend his wife and sister-in-law at the hands of this overbearing patriarch.

He commends his sister-in-law's willingness to be hurt and disappointed (which could happen in rehab with such a perennial loser ex-husband) and is happy to support such a cause. Then he explains that HE and HIS wife will adopt who ever they want, "And you need to be okay with that Zeke."

Out of nowhere. This passive lad decides it is time to lead. It was time to love. Absolutely beautiful. The patriarch cannot make decisions anymore for his daughters. There's a new sheriff in town: the husband.

Everyone seems to have a picture of masculinity they purport to be truly masculine. Miler Lite does this with humorous commercials of men acting like women and being called out. On the other end, some Christian folks have tried to redefine masculinity (as though that were one of Jesus' goals) and end up just creating an image of man based upon themselves, their personalities, and their picture of Jesus (which is never big enough when you hyper-emphasize one part of his character-like godly anger to the neglect of his gentleness and compassion). Jesus is more of a "punch you in the gut" kind of guy, a well respected leader claims.

Yet I just don't know that Jesus would promote such a picture of masculinity. But I can say with confidence, that this scene, depicts a laid back-not in your face kind of guy-acting like a godly man.

I think people get lost in "Am I acting like a man?" and forget about simply following Jesus wherever He puts you. In this case, the husband chose to defend his wife at the risk of being rejected by his father-in-law. And this is hard. Family is a functional god in many areas of the country, particularly my part. We often care about their approval more than Jesus' approval. Still Jesus essentially says, "You need to love me and follow me, even when it goes against your family's or in-law's wishes." (Luke 14:26). And so he does.

Yet this guy follows Jesus not by force, banging his fist, or even raising his voice; he respects his father in law. "You're going to need to be okay with this, Zeke" He doesn't say, "You can kiss my grits." But he draws a line in the sand, defends himself and his wife, and commends his sister-in-law. There is no doubt who is calling the shots-not Grandpa, or P-Pa, or Gramps, etc....

If more men would lead like this, more women would want to follow them. When fear of God replaces fear of man in the home, good things will be happening there. That's the kind of masculine expression I think Jesus cares about. Far more than who makes more money or more dinners.

Gay, Proud, and Presbyterian

2011-10-19T14:36:00.000-04:00

Last week or so, the Presbyterian denomination P.C.U.S.A., ordained the first openly gay minister. You can watch the interview here. Its pretty sad, because I have family members, in-laws, and friends in PCUSA churches as members and ministers. Those churches don't feel this same way, but perhaps the day is coming when they must recognize that they can't have real fellowship with those in their own denomination. Crazy.

If the bible is "silent" on homosexuality, on what issues is it "loud?" Or if there are different ways of interpreting the bible (called a "hermenuetic"), which allow us to pick and choose what we follow, then I'd keep the homosexual part in play but throw out the whole love your enemies part. That's one I don't like all that much. It's hard. But I don't get a vote, and I'm glad.

Anyhow, here are a few takes from this video

1.) What is Liberalism? A friend of mine, when being accused of being a "liberal," was asked, "What is the difference between you and liberal mainline Christianity?" He answered, "I stand UNDER God's Word as the final authority." A typical liberal mainline minister will stand OVER God's Word to critique it.

2.) At what point is a church no longer a church? The Reformers gave three marks of a church: Preaching of Word, Administration of Sacraments, and Church Discipline. When the word is preached in such a way that is not the final authority, then it would be tough to argue that is being preached at all. How many liberal churches are truly churches? I don't know, but something to consider.

Of course in my denomination, we have to ask that question as well. Just because a group of people have a building, that says, "Church" on it, is that gathering legitimately a church? Is it a church when there are 6 people, 20 people? Is there a cut-off? Should we consider it a bible study that meets Sunday mornings? So we have that question as well, but it becomes more difficult when theological fidelity is present, and perhaps the Holy Spirit absent. Again I don't have answers, but just want to point out that theological orthodoxy does not in and of itself make or maintain a church.

3.) Language games. It is not hard to say the correct theological terms and mean something completely different. A plethora of German scholars in the late 1700's-1800's had one foot in a "conservative camp" with their words, but in their meanings, they paved the way for a severe lingering suspicion of the scriptures. They would say things like, "Jesus is my Savior," but mean that Jesus was important to them. You can also say things like "God's Word is my authority, but I just don't think the bible speaks against homosexuality." Again, a language game.

4.) What's the difference? When a church is so identifiable with the cultural stance or perhaps even a political one, can it then turn around and say anything true about the gospel or people's need for it? How is it different than a social club worshiping a deity that it finds palatable? I'm actually kind of curious to visit such a church, but on the four Sundays I have off each year, I'd rather hear God's Word preached faithfully.

5.) Many Christians literally struggle with same sex attraction. While some folks have pronounced victory in this fight, there are other Christians who affirm homosexual sex is contrary to God's will, and as a result fight each day to live faithful to the Lord who has bought them with the price of His blood. This book, Washed and Waiting, is one of the best books I've read this year. In it you'll hear of a normal dude struggling in this area, yet trusting in Christ to forgive and empower him. I felt for this brother in Christ. How must he feel when other "Christians" choose to ignore God's commands and good design and profess to be saved by and follow the same Savior? And then celebrate their "victory."

The evangelical church probably still has a ways to go. To condemn and affirm sin is one thing, but to not welcome, not affirm the dignity, to provide blanket assumptions for why folks are gay, and to not befriend and get to know other fellow sinners (but ones yet to experience grace) misses Jesus as well.

Corn Maze, Youth and Adults, and Now and Later

2011-10-18T11:16:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday afternoon, Redeemer, went to the Corn Maze at Cooper Farms in beautiful historic Milton, WV. We combined both Sr. High and Jr. High youth groups and allowed families to bring their children. As a result we had over 40 human beings who came together to fellowship and find their way out of the maze. For the 2nd year in a row, my group was last. Whoever said, "Teach the children, and let them lead the way...(I know it was Whitney Houston)" definitely didn't have the Corn Maze in mind. After we finally made it out, someone snapped this picture, which shows most of the folks involved. Again, because we were so late, some folks had already headed home or to Pizza Hut to save seats.

It was one of those days, outside of us getting so lost (although that was what the young girls in our group actually wanted!), where things just seemed to click. The weather was gorgeous, conditions were "brochure" and we had all portions of our congregation represented.

The latter encouraged me just as much as the warm day and cool breeze.

It is vital that youth do not ONLY separate and do their thing AWAY from everyone else. While they do need to develop and deepen their faith in community of folks their age-they spend most of their days with people at school their own age-they can't ONLY spend time with people their age. Age specific youth groups and Sunday School, or Christian Ed (that sounds so much cooler, doesn't it?) correctly supplement the gospel which is to be fleshed out and talked about at home. But youth need more than regular youth group and parents. They need community. They need to be immersed in a community of brothers and sisters, as well as fathers and mothers in the faith.

One of the reasons why MANY youth leave the church when they are older is that they have NO relationships with adults. According to Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer, one common denominator with young adults who never left the church was multiple adult relationships. A YoungLife friend of mine echoed the same sentiments. They need godly adults in their lives. The more the merrier. Not just a youth leader or two (those are important-they really are), but a number of adults.

I believe youth need to have THEIR time. But if we only give them THEIR time, and take them away from the rest of US who are no longer youth, then we will ultimately be doing them a disservice.

Simply isolating them from the rest of the church may help them "beat the streets" for a season. But will they return if there is no connection outside of youth group? I don't think we need a study to see that. They'll find new friends who don't go to church. They'll find entertainment somewhere else. If they go to church as a college student, and are simply looking for a youth group type experience, they won't find it.

Some college basketball coaches experience a zero% graduation rate. I won't name names. It's not that big of a deal for them, as they figure at least it keeps them off the streets. I'm OK with that. But when it comes to the church, our goal in discipleship is someone maturing in Christ (Col 1:28-29). It's not simply to keep them off drugs for a while. Our goal is bigger because our Savior is bigger and offers bigger things for us. Our goal in youth ministry is that they walk with Jesus NOW, and LATER when they leave the home and connect to a local church. Now and Later.

I'm not diminishing the need for peer relationships. I think some folks really do. I don't. Those relationships are extremely important. But I don't want to see Redeemer diminish the need for adult-youth relationships. That's why I appreciated the Corn Maze so much. Maybe next year I'll go with a different group and not get so lost. But I guess that's part of why you pay 6 dollars to get in....

When coaches attack

2011-10-17T10:53:00.001-04:00

One of the highlights of the NFL, besides the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upsetting the New Orleans Sinners, or rather Saints, 26-20, was the questionable display of sportsmanship and concomitant retaliation for that questionable display. You can view the video here.

Yesterday, the San Francisco 49er's coach Jim Harbough shook losing Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz's hand. Then he "patted" or pushed, Schwart'z back. Problem. I guess you just have to stick with the hand shake because Schwartz took issue, and felt like he was pushing him out of the way. Then as Harbough tried to flee the scene and get to the locker room, Schwartz chased him down, bumped into him, and had to be separated.

The NFL will will probably be handing out a few fines to both coaches sometime this week.

But the interviews and commentary after the incident intrigued me.

Interviews

Jim Harbough claimed, "It was on me. I just came in to shake his hand TOO hard." I appreciated his admission of guilt. However, I have a feeling that a football coach doesn't take offense a hard handshake. Confession is great and can restore relationships. However, if that which we confess, isn't exactly what offended the other party, it will go nowhere. Harbough appeared to be the humble one and take the high road, but in the end, his confession probably only increased the gulf betwixt these coaches. Now he may call Schwartz and they may later have a cup of tea, or pint of beer, or whatever they drink. But I'm simply responding to the interview. What you apologize for is as important as how you apologize.

Schwartz claimed Harbough's "sportsmanship," comprised profanity among other things, including the "push" as more than a pat. He on the other hand, was unapologetic. He ignored the "chase down." While what offended him was left unaddressed by Harbough, he completely ignored his part: chasing down a coach and having to be physically separated. Often times folks do us wrong. It's often more than a subtle (in my opinion) "push-pat" confusion. But our response to sin doesn't have to be some form of blatant or subtle (cold shoulder, gossip, bitterness) retalliation. We can instead explain that such and such a move was either "busch-league" or whether it really was clearly sin.

This is hard. I'd rather snub someone, than tell them they hurt me. Sometimes retaliation is blatant. Sometimes it's the subtle response we need to repent from. And I hate it for myself, and you-as we often want to vicariously get people back through other people. But I don't get a vote, and you don't either.

Commentary

The commentary was solid. Coach Dungy recognized that even though someone wrongs you, you can't retaliate. Of course this only makes sense with a Christian worldview, where Christ ended the need for the "I got you last game," with his once for all death for sins. As a result, we don't NEED to get people back because Jesus took care of our sins. He is the peace offering, who has made the two groups who believe-Gentile and Jew, 49'ers and Lions, offender and offended-one in Christ (Eph 2:14).

Finally, Rodney Harrison, who regularly was voted the league's dirtiest player, and handed down multiple fines for his illegal hits had this to say: "What will you tell you kids?" I found that a bit close to ironic. But maybe there is an on-field ethic distinct from an off-field (when game has ended) ethic. Having not played the game, I can't make a call. Still, Harrison brings a great challenge to all those in leadership. Your teachings have to apply to you. For instance, you can't tell your kids, "Its important to go to church," and then go to church when its convenient for you. Believe me, somehow it will not be convenient for them when in college, or any time after that.

What Jon Stewart and Archibald Alexander have in common

2011-10-13T21:13:00.000-04:00

I purchased a mini-subscription to the magazine Rolling Stone a few months ago for 5 dollars. I then received about 6 or 8 different issues. Some of the stuff in Rolling Stone magazine is a bit over-the-top vulgar (as I found out), but I figured the articles might help me better understand a culture who reads Rolling Stone. As it so happens, no such culture exists where I live. So it obviously didn't help, and I was quite turned off by much of the content anyway. I didn't renew the mini subscription.

However, the final issue I received had a fairly telling article with "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart. I figured this was worth a read for a number of reasons. Many college students and young adults (and at times older adults) get their news from "The Daily Show." Jon Stewart is viewed as an honest and reliable authority, so I finally figured I'd get my 5 dollars worth.

I think I would have, had I been able to finish the article. My three year old Connar, decided to pee all over the bathroom one day and thoroughly saturated the magazine. So needless to say, I didn't get to finish. But I did get half way through the article, feeling as though I at least got my $ 2.50 worth.

Stewart actually posited some information that would be helpful for the church to hear.

I would like to use exact quotes, but since I don't have online access to the article, and the urine soaked magazine was thrown away before I had a chance to read a potentially "sun-dried" version with gloves on (my wife tossed it), I'll have to speak with italics instead of quotes.

I try to stay away from demonizing my opponents. I mean, I realize that not everyone who is against gay marriage is homophobic.

What a breath of fresh air! Just because someone may vote against gay marriage, does not mean that they hate gay people. Obviously. But its great to hear someone who has such a voice use it, at least this time, so correctly.

Christians have a hard time following Stewart's example. We tend to demonize the other side, whether it be with other Christians whom we disagree, or those of opposing political parties, religions, etc....

Tim Keller offers some helpful and godly ways to disagree and debate, that if followed, may allow you to actually be heard by your opponent. That should be our goal, not just hearing ourselves speak. In other words, we need to be careful to love our opponents, whether they be a brother/sister in Christ, a colleague outside of Christ, or a flat out enemy.

It looks as though Jon Stewart already read the article and has applied "Alexander's Rule."

1. Carson's Rule - You don't have to follow Matthew 18 before publishing polemics...

In short, if someone is publicly presenting theological views that are opposed to sound doctrine, and you are not in the same ecclesiastical body with this person (that is, there is no body of elders over you both, as when, for example, both of you are ministers in the same denomination,) then you may indeed publicly oppose those without going privately to the author of them...

2. Murray's Rule - You must take full responsibility for even unwitting misrepresentation of someone's views...

In other words, to misrepresent reality to others is always wrong. He grants, of course, that there is a great difference between a deliberate lie and unintentionally passing on erroneous information...

3. Alexander's Rule - Never attribute an opinion to your opponent that he himself does not own...

In other words, we must not argue in such a way that it hardens opponents in their views...

The rest of the article can be found here.

Young Adults, Sex with "strings," and later marriage: Part II

2011-10-12T14:32:00.000-04:00

This is another response to the article from my last post on Christian young adults not connecting sex with marriage, and living no differently than their non-Christian peers.

The article, as previously mentioned, close with some questions:

So what should a Christian parent or youth pastor do? How do they convince more young Christians to wait until marriage, or should they stop even trying?

First of all I do like these questions. I especially like the order of parents, and then youth pastors. I look back on my youth ministry days (and I'm still obviously involved in it now), and it does seem that one of the common denominators with those youth who walk with Jesus when they are young adults (and I've seen PLENTY who aren't walking with Jesus now), is that they had Christians parents investing in them. They didn't "farm" out the discipleship to the youth pastor. Instead they partnered together as a team.

And in this case, I think parents have a great opportunity to help shape a biblical sexuality. More than they think. So talking with kids about sex and sexuality is a good thing. A thing that shouldn't be abdicated. Even the parents on the show Parenthood try do it, even though the daughter is reticent.

Pastors and other leaders in the church have a part to play as well. Last year we went through a book in a series of Little Black Books called Sex. It was well written, "down with the times," Reformed, and helpful to produce some discussion in our 9th-12th graders. I think parents could go through such a book as well. It's important that neither the church nor the parents run away from this issue. Silence and assumption don't produce mature disciples. Neither does giving youth and young adults "Nike" messages: JUST DO IT! Jesus, and our laboring relentlessly with His energy produces mature disciples (Col 1:28-29). Particularly in this area.

Should we try to convince young adults to wait or stop trying? I think its a fair question to ask. Some things youth do are not necessarily sinful. Instead those things aren't helpful. Texting 24-7 might be one of those things. But instead of saying NO, we might try to redirect, or instruct, or limit, or whatever you as a parent feel convicted. It does have an affect on their relationships, but its not something that we necessarily need to draw a line in the sand over.

But sex outside marriage is clearly outside God's design. So we should make a go at "convincing," them to wait. Here are some thoughts.

1.) If the marrying age is increasing now, then should it be that much of a stretch to think that the "acceptable" dating age should probably also increase? Again, dating ages are ultimately parents decisions. But instead of taking cues from culture, why not consider delaying dating since marriage is being delayed? Many folks, even those in their church, date vicariously though their kids. Obviously parents have to nip this in the bud. If that's the case, then I think the goal of delaying dating a bit, is certainly feasible.

2.) Earlier marriage? Some have made a move towards getting married younger so that they don't "burn with passion" (I Cor 7). I guess the jury is still out on whether or not these marriages will really make it. Paul said it was better to marry than burn with passion, but I'm not sure that he was trying to nudge us to necessarily marry early. I wouldn't want to have put Amy through my prolonged serious depression years (she still got to experience some-she's a real trooper), so age 26 seemed to be good for us. However, if couples are ready to actually leave and cleave, then go for it. But on the flip side, while it is better to marry then burn with passion, it is worse to marry and then divorce.

3.) Is later marriage a good thing? While it benefited us to marry at 26 (almost 27), I think our general delaying of marriage as a culture does fuel the pre-marital sex epidemic. Getting married in college, or before, may not be ideal. But waiting until everyone is financially independent, and then waiting to have kids once you are financially ready, is a recipe for disaster. Watch the movie Idiocracy for a possible result to that!

4.) Pre-marital sex does leave scars that you will deal with in your marriage. People will compare experiences. People will bring past physical and emotional experiences into their marriage beds. Youth need to learn this stuff NOW if they will escape this alarming trend when they are young adults. There are consequences to pre-marital sex which go far beyond STD's that will bring harm into your marriage. Christ's righteousness means that we have a Christ covered slate, not just a blank slate. But Christ's righteousness does not level all consequences. God's grace can curb the consequences of sexual infidelity, and redeem sexually broken folks (which is really all of us if you want to be honest), but there is reason why He says "Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live...(Deut 30:19)." Sin is death.

5.) Church is a place of sexual brokenness. If you mess up sexually, even though you may experience consequences, you can experience grace. If the church expresses grace to sexually active Christians, then there is hope for change. If sexually active young adults don't feel the church is a place for those struggling sexually, then they won't be showing up on Sunday. And then there will be no hope for them. They need to hear Jesus preached and applied each week and surround themselves with fellowship. Even if young folks are not broken by their sin, if they are connected to the means of grace (word, prayer, fellowship, sacraments), brokenness is possible. But if they sense a "if you screw up, you're out," then those will be the last words we hear.

6.) Sexual infidelity is not THE sin. It's bad. It's highlighted here as being a sin against our body (I Cor 6:18). Yet just before it is also counted among swindling, idolatry, greed, drunkenness, and stealing as precluding Kingdom inheritance (I Cor 6:10). Of course Paul is writing to people who are struggling with these sins. He is telling them that their lives WERE dominated by such slavery. Now they are washed free and waiting. And struggling. So we should be frustrated at the sins of others. But we must not elevate or ignore other sins in ourselves and other folks.

7.) Only grace will produce sexual healing and fidelity. Steve Brown includes a great illustration in his book Scandalous Freedom of Abraham Lincoln redeeming a slave. The slave girls says, "I'm free to leave?" Lincoln tells her, "Yes you are." In the end, the slave wants to go with Lincoln. Experiencing grace makes you want to follow Jesus. Grace motivates and empowers you to follow God's commands in all areas of life.

These are just some thoughts which I hope will help us think through, instead of run from, or give up, on this important issue.

Young adults, sex with "strings," and later marriage

2011-10-11T14:31:00.000-04:00

Here is a fairly disturbing article explaining that fewer Christians are actually saving sex for marriage. In some cases, it looks like evangelical Christians and those who don't profess Jesus at all, often have a similar sexual ethic. And it is reminiscent of the Nike command: "Just do it."

Several reasons are given for the numbers of young adults engaging in pre-marital sex nowadays. From the "everyone else is doing it," to the oversexualized culture we live in. However the article concludes with one major reason.

Scot McKnight, author of “The Jesus Creed,” and "One.Faith: Jesus Calls, We Follow," acknowledges that young, single Christians face temptations that their counterparts in the biblical age didn’t face. He tells Relevant: Sociologically speaking, the one big difference – and it’s monstrous – between the biblical teaching and our culture is the arranged marriages of very young people. If you get married when you’re 13, you don’t have 15 years of temptation.

Is that point relevant? Does it matter that the scriptures were given to a culture when in actuality, it wasn't AS hard to follow? I mean, I can remember being a 13 year old, and I can't say that my temptation for pre-marital sex was even on my top 5 sins radar list. I'd have rather gone fishing than have a girlfriend. At 16, I actually had a girlfriend, but still, I can't say that it was as hard as when I was 25 years old.

So how should we think of the now increasing marrying age discrepancy?

We need definitely don't need a simple answer if we're going to apply the gospel to a very serious, and hard problem. So here are some of my thoughts.

First of all, Jesus actually raises the bar when it comes to sexual fidelity. He says that if we look lustfully upon a lad or lass, that we are actually committing adultery in the heart. His standards are incredibly high. Even lusting is off limits. Wow.

As a result we need Jesus more than we think we do. Fortunately Jesus didn't remove himself from female company, yet he walked without lusting among them-even though, he was fully human. He would have done the same for our culture today where women shower, shave, and smell better, and tend to dress a little more, shall we say, "progressively." He did this for us, and now he empowers us to live as citizens of heaven while here on Earth. While the culture says, "Just do it" in relation to sex; the church can't say, (and its primarily those who are married saying it-which sometimes makes it harder to hear) "Just do it," in relation to remaining faithful until marriage.

In order to be faithful to the scriptures AND gracious with those dealing with this struggle, we do need to lay all cards on the table and be honest with some new difficulties present in our world.

The article ends with a few questions and no answers.

So what should a Christian parent or youth pastor do? How do they convince more young Christians to wait until marriage, or should they stop even trying?

Let me simply continue the discussion-not attempting to "solve" the problem (that won't happen till Jesus returns) but try to honestly reflect on this difficult trend.

Honesty with the difficulty, without being quixotic

People do get married later these days. It is true. Therefore that can present some problems. Obviously. I think we need to recognize and be honest that the struggle is going to be hard. Will it be harder than in previous times? I think in some ways, yes. Simple math tells us that. 13-15 is different than 26.

Nevertheless, if you say, "well people got married earlier then," it doesn't change the situation. Sex did not ever come with "no strings attached" but within the confines of the committed covenantal relationship. No matter what age it is regularly experienced, sex always comes with "strings." For Christians, those "strings" are called a covenant.

But do 13-15 year olds really want to get married? Are they ready for jobs, to be responsible for family? They can't even drive yet. We can lament the age difference, but even with hormones raging, do guys and gals really want to get married in their teens?

Still, you can argue the command to wait until marriage may in some ways be more difficult today, but that doesn't nullify the command-or the reason for the command. And, some commands were probably harder then than they are now. Whether you like Obama or not, he's a lot easier to honor than Nero, or Trajan, or any other awful emperor that Romans 13 refers to.

There wasn't some golden age to live in, where sexuality was something easy to live out. It certainly wasn't that way with the bible. We need to recognize that it may be harder in some ways to live chastely before marriage now, but in some ways it could have been just as hard then.

Is our Culture worse?

The culture of Jesus' times was no less sexualized than today. I've seen the artwork on pottery when on foreign study in Italy; it's literally pornographic. I saw a mural in Pompeii where a lad was weighing his oversized penis. Seriously. Sex was all around them, just as it is all around us.

Biblical commands have always been counter-cultural. They continue to be today. We still have to affirm God's good design for sexuality. And we still have to affirm God's sufficient grace for our forgiveness (when we fail or have failed) and for our sanctification. I'll try to get to some more thoughts on the latter later.

What your car says about you?

2011-10-10T11:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I peached a sermon called "Walk Like an Egyptian" on Phil 3:13-21, focusing on what it looks like to walk as an enemy of the cross of Christ, and how we are to walk as Christians: like imperfect citizens of heaven. Since Paul explains in this passage that people's "walks" display something about what they truly believe (even if they wouldn't profess something unorthodox about the cross), I chose to intro with a few examples of "what your car says about you." I only had time for a few, so if you would like to see the ones that "didn't make the cut," here they are.
My personal favorite is probably the Lincoln Town Car: "I live for bingo and the potluck suppers." This list is probably 15 years old, so keep that in mind.

If you want to listen to the sermon, here it is.

Modnik Update: Compassion and Application

2011-10-06T16:58:00.000-04:00

Here is the final update from our Jr. High youth retreat. The other one's are here, here, and here. The final talk Sunday morning centered around some motivations and applications of how to actually go about changing or influencing the culture.

Compassion: How do the kids look upon people who don't know Jesus and "do the things" they do? Are they judgmental and angry at kids who simply are doing what non-Christians do (not following Jesus)? The correct response should be compassion. When Jesus looked upon the crowds, he didn't see a bunch of idiots, or yahoos, or even simply a bunch of sinners, he saw people who were helpless and harassed, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9). He had compassion upon them.

One heart at a time: There is no need to assume that youth will necessarily see people come to Christ en masse and whole middle schools will be changed instantly. The challenge that he left them with was to think through one or two of their friends who need Jesus. Instead of judging them, spend time loving them, serve them, and begin to communicate the gospel message. Instead of having nothing to do with non-Christians, begin to pray compassionately for them, move towards them, and live out their faith before them. Darkness needs light. That which is stale and bland needs salt. Compassion motivated, not guilt, or results motivated.

My thoughts:

I liked David's approach once again.

The storm hell with water guns, rah-rah approach just doesn't seem to jive with anyone anymore. I also appreciated his non-triumphalism, as though we'll have this whole Satan influencing culture thing down pat in a few years. Unless you are a post-millenialist, you realize that the church will advance and have some effect on the surrounding culture while at the same time Satan will see major advances. I don't know who will be in the "lead" when Jesus comes back. I also don't care, as its really none of my business. Jesus thinks the same (Mark 13:32).

Nevertheless, one heart at a time, does really make a difference. When God calls us out of the kingdom of darkness, he brings us into His glorious Kingdom (Col 1:13). People can see that. Some will like us even if they don't like what we stand for. They will like us for our love. When people like you, they usually will at the very least listen to you. So the opportunity for impact is fairly large even with one heart at a time.

Ultimately, David's cultural approach can be summed up (as I see it) by "live out your faith among your Christian and non-Christian friends and let your faith make a difference in your schools, sports teams, neighborhoods, and families as much as the Lord sees fit. In the music, art, business you make/create or take in, let Jesus be Lord. Even just a few people who are Christians in a college religion class, where God's Word is the subject of ridicule, does make a difference. I know from experience. The same is true for middle schoolers.

Some final thoughts on applying this

1.) Are middle schoolers ready to live out their faith among the world? That's got to be entered into carefully and prayerfully. Maybe yours is not. Maybe yours is. Parents have to make that decision, but don't assume that youth are necessarily too young to influence their friends for Christ.

2.) Middle-schoolers, like all Christians, need fellowship. They can't ONLY be around non-Christians. Youth groups are key. So is church worship. So are other fellowship opportunities. So are godly families. If you and your youth are ready to be used in reaching out to others, they need to grounded in solid fellowship. And the flip is also true: if they are grounded in good fellowship, then they can probably can step out in faith and make a difference without being overwhelmed.

3.) Take advantage of outreaching opportunities. Invite unchurched youth into your fellowship. They don't need to go on secret one-on-one missions, but instead can reach out with their fellowship.

Hospitality: Simply having one of your kid's friends over to your house, and living out your faith before them, is a good place to start. Have them over to eat, or come to spend the night, and go to church the next day. You can control, to a degree, the environment this way.

Wyldlife: Christian kids can have an impact in their culture simply by inviting their friends to Wyldlife, the middle school version of YoungLife. Their friendships can play a part in leaving people to Jesus, and then to the church. All it take is a friendship and invitation. You need not fear the environment-though it can get a little messy on certain occasions!

Youth Group: This is an untapped resource that I really challenged the kids to think about. Invite friends to youth group and they will get to hear the gospel as well as see what fellowship looks like. The early Christians seemed to do lots of fellowshiping, but obviously didn't neglect evangelism. I think fellowship and evangelism probably happened in the same place.

Church: While I don't think this is the only outreach attempt we should make, we should still be open to inviting folks to church. Youth will often come if invited. Particularly if they spend the night.

In the end, God can use Middle Schoolers in a bigger way than we might have assumed. As families, you can be a part of something bigger than just hoping they good good grades and do well in sports. You have the opportunity to be involved in something big. Huge. Don't waste or wish away the middle school years, because God can redeem.

Modgnik Recap: Dating and Relationships

2011-10-05T16:09:00.000-04:00

This is the 3rd post relating to our Jr High Modgnik Retreat. The previous ones are here and here. On the Saturday evening session, we discussed one of the most prominent cultural battlegrounds for middle schoolers: dating and relationships. This was probably the most blatantly challenging topic for the kids in general, although my discussion with our lads didn't reveal what other groups no doubt experienced. Here are some notes I took.

Students didn't create romance; God did.

Most of you aren't ready for marriage. As a result, our kids don't need to resort to the standard way of announcing a deep and meaningful relationship which will last all of 3 weeks (on the long end) by facebook. David Grant called it making it "Facebook Official." I will always comment with something clever when I see this announcement.

Consider the fact that there is a better way to do Romantic Relationships

Yes, but not Yet; don't give heart away till marriage. Guard the heart.

Song of Solomon-2:7; 3:5; 8:4 "don't stir up or awaken love until it pleases." In other words, wait to till you're truly ready.

Resisting Exclusive Relationship

Beware of the "Our love/relationship with my boyfriend/girlfriend is better than all other relationships" thinking
Don't exclusively date

Remember there is strength in numbers

Dating or hanging out in groups limits physical temptation
Friends can speak into relationships when you are around friends and not when you exclusively isolate yourself with your "lover."
Intimacy slows in groups, and the heart can be protected

Your Heart belongs to Jesus and only He completes you

My takes.

I thought this talk was a much need alternative to the standard model of "facebook" official dating our kids are so into these days. I really appreciated the fact that he presented the principles of the talk from the scriptures, common sense, and experience. In the end, he encouraged one main application: don't exclusively date people now because physically and emotionally middle schoolers are just not ready.

So he resisted the pharisaical stance, "You can't date now and if you do, you are clearly in sin." The bible just doesn't say that, and so David wisely didn't approach it from that route. I appreciated that. Not only is it gospel centered, but such an approach encourages honest dialog instead of a fight where one person is forced to defend THE (albeit unclear) biblical position.

What he did was let the youth know that it is not wise to exclusive date now. While dating as a middle schooler is not sin per se, it does open the door to sins. For instance, exclusive dating run amuck will isolate you from other important same-sex relationships that you need. It obviously can eventually lead to sex before marriage, which is now just as common in professing Christians as it is in those who aren't. Finally, since 99 out of 100 middle school relationships do not end in marriage (I confess I made that up, but I doubt I'm off by too much), and those that end may not end amicably, kids are having to deal with serious heartbreak before they're ready.

In David's opinion, and its one that I share, exclusive dating at the middle school age is not a great idea. You may disagree personally, but I would encourage you to at least consider some of his counsel. He's been involved in youth ministry for many years, and has 5 kids, only one of which is still youth age. So it probably deserves some thought before reactively rejecting all he said.

One more talk to go, then I'll be back to blogging my normal stuff, whatever "normal" is for me.

Modnik Recap-Cultural Diagnostic questions

2011-10-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

This is the 2nd part of my update for our recent youth retreat on Kingdom and Culture. The first can be found here. Since these principles seemed too good to not share with parents, or much less anyone of any age, I felt compelled to put them on the blog.

In our Saturday morning session, David Grant gave us some helpful diagnostic questions to ask while watching TV, movies, or listening to music. I appreciated the fact that he did not say, "You should watch this show and shouldn't watch that show." He exclaimed, "What you watch is between you and your parents." David instead challenged the youth how to watch shows. Provided they are faithful to ask these questions, as are the parents, it should open the door to stop watching certain shows which may be negatively transformational.

Here are his five questions, and my thoughts (which may be the same as his) are in italics. He reminded the youth that they are being taught something. Movies and TV shows and music have SOMETHING to say. Figure it out or you'll end up being taught without realizing it.

1.) Did you enjoy it? Why did you like it or not? This is a great question for parents to ask to find out why people connect to certain shows or movies. There is a reason why so many young girls like Twilight. Consider the why if you want to begin thinking critically.

2.) What did it say about Authority? How were authority figures depicted? Parents, police, government, bosses, etc.....

3.) What did it say about Morality? What kind of morality was being promoted? Immorality? Legalism? Amorality?

4.) What did it say about God? God may or may not by name be mentioned. But you can discern the worldview, and how God does or doesn't fit into the characters dialog or directors arrangement.

5.) Where can you see the "finger prints" of God? If you look hard, you can see aspects of God's "finger prints" in movies and TV shows. Because we are all made in the image of God, we should be able to see something commendable in all movies. Sometimes it can be very clear as in the gospel illustration at the end of Gran Torino or the beautiful love a parent places on her child immediately upon birth in The Waitress.

My take on parent possibilities:

Parents have the responsibility to determine what each child can correctly and biblically filter. That filter needs developing in all of us. Middle Schoolers don't need to watch Jersey Shore. Of course, no one probably does, but that is of course, my own opinion.

Nevertheless since parents are ultimately responsible for training their children, watching movies and TV shows with them NOW-even ones that might not be faith based-might be the best way to train them to watch movies and TV shows when they leave your house THEN. If your kids are watching movies, watch them WITH them. At the very least, you need to be asking questions of the movies and TV shows. They won't always have you telling them "you can or can't watch this or that," but if you've helped them develop some sort of diagnostic filter, they can turn movies, TV, and music into devotional and teaching moments for themselves and their friends. And many times, because they have such working filters, they may decide beforehand, "This movie or show isn't worth my time."

In some ways, the movies both reflect and shape culture. But as Christians, we can through these same movies begin to be shapers of culture, instead of simply reflectors and consumers. One person at a time.

Modnik Recap-Cultural Models

2011-10-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

Just got back from our Jr High Modgnik Retreat at Young Life retreat center called Rockbridge yesterday afternoon. I think it was the first youth retreat I've ever been on when I didn't hear one, even miniscule, bit of whining. Of course, if you whine at this retreat center, you've got serious issues. This place is the Greenbrier (for those in WV) or the cadillac (for everyone else) of retreat centers. Hardwood floors, all you can eat delectable food, engaging speaker, rocking electric praise band, ropes course, rock climbing walls, ziplines, wiffleball/kickball field, game room, frisbee course, soccer field, picturesque stream leading to lake, etc.....Yeah, there should be no whining.

Since what we learned was so helpful, something Jr Higher's should consider themselves "lucky" for being able to hear, I'd like to pass it on.

The Modgnik Retreat (Kingdom backwards) is put on by the P.C.A.'s Blue Ridge Presbytery (but open to all churches-we had PCUSA, Non-denom, Nazarene, etc...) and intends to teach youth how to live out their faith in light of Jesus' Kingdom having come. The specific aim of this retreat centered around how to impact their culture.

Talk #1 Definition of Culture and Cultural Models

Culture: a reflection of group of people, what they consider important and value. This can include things as obvious as following particular college sports teams to preferences for regional specific styles of barbecue. However we know that Satan is also at work to influence the culture and need to think critically about that. The hope is that Jesus is also at work in the culture and can use youth to change the youth culture and culture in general.

Different Models:

1.) Monastery-retreat and hide away from culture so that we can't be influenced by any of the negative aspects. We discussed afterwards as a cabin that our enemies are the world (negative cultural influences), flesh (our OWN tendency to sin) and the devil. Hiding is not an option because even locking yourself in the closet will not deal with your own flesh and Satan's advances.

2.) Camouflage-you can try to blend in with the culture and adopt all cultural beliefs and activities as though Satan doesn't exist or that he's lazy. As a a result you accept without critical thinking or interaction such cultural values that may be quite contrary to Jesus. Many times this can be quite subtle, as we begin to adopt commonplace views of money, family, sex that are idolatrous and detrimental not only to our influencing culture but to our relationship with Christ.

3.) The Boat-he told a story about going on a date and forgetting to put the drain plug in the boat. Boat in the water is good. Water in the boat is not good. This model encourages us not to retreat, nor adopt, but to live out our faith among those who don't believe. The scripture passage he used was from John 17:14-19

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Some questions for parents to consider-these are just my reflections.

1.) Can my kid really live out his/her faith in the world without adopting unhealthy cultural values? Yes, it happens all the time. For the most part, the church expects very little from its youth. We're content if they simply come to church without griping, and don't cuss, drink, or chew or go with girls/gals who do. But such youth can play a part in the work of redemption. They really can. I have a friend who traces back his spiritual journey to a middle school friend inviting him to church and youth group. He's one of thousands.

2.) How do I know if my kid is really ready to make an impact? Obviously not all middle schoolers are mature enough to make any sort of "dent" in the culture. Here are some diagnostic questions that may be helpful for you to think through. Can he/she articulate the gospel to you or others? Would he/she come to church if you didn't? Does he/she recognize that many of their classmates are probably not Christians? Can they detect a difference in lifestyles betwixt Christians and non-Christians outside of "not cussing?" That's the default mode of middle-schooler's I've noticed. Does he/she simply try to blend in with whoever is around them? If you feel uneasy about any of these answers, then God may open up some different doors, like be-friending and welcoming visitors to youth group and church, as opposed to gathering, investing, and inviting. If you interact and ask them questions, you'll be able to tell.

3.) Do you believe that Jesus is greater than he who is at work negatively in the culture? Jesus as The Great High priest, prayed for your kids. He will hold them in his hand, and no one can take them out of His hands (John 10:28). Sometimes I wonder how much we really believe this is true, as though they will walk with Jesus only if we shelter them enough. Of course there are times when we will need to say, "No, you can't go there with so and so." But we also need to realize that if Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, He is also their author and their finisher.

Our speaker David Grant of Irving Bible Church in Texas, (a cross between Brad Pitt and the lead Russian bad guy from the movie AirForce One-just click the link) has 5 kids, so he's lived this truth out as a family. That certainly carried some weight with me.

Anyhow, the next post will present some diagnostic questions to help them as they watch movies, TV shows, and listen to music. Hope it helps.

A Rays Celebration of Redemption

2011-09-29T11:59:00.000-04:00

Last night I witnessed perhaps the most improbable comeback in baseball history (well, if I'm recording it). The Tampa Bay Rays, down 7-0 in the bottom of the 8th inning, came back with 6 runs, then a 1 run homer in the 9th with two outs and two strikes to a hitter only batting .120. Dan Johnson had one homer in April, then stunk so bad they sent him down to the minors. Then, after a shaky 12th inning, where the Rays allowed runners to reach 1st and 3rd with no outs, the Yankees followed with three consecutive outs. Finally, Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria closed out the game with one of the shortest home runs Tropicana Field has ever seen. Sportswriters sum up the game here and you can watch highlights if my vivid writing falls flat to you. A home run that was only a home run because they shortened the height of the wall a few years ago.

To top that all off, only 3 minutes earlier, the Red Sox had blown a 3-2 lead with 2 outs and 2 strikes on the batter. Crazy. The script could not have been written any better. What I thought was so fascinating is that the Rays won in such a way as they could celebrate freely, yet humbly. They were remarkably humble, but that only added to the celebration. Here's why.

1.) They played like garbage against a rookie pitcher making his first start and continued to play like garbage for 7 straight innings. They couldn't boast in their play.

2.) While Longoria did come through with some clutch homers, it would have all been for naught if Dan Johnson, the unlikely hero-who had no plans of even getting into the game-didn't hit his home run in the bottom of the ninth. With 2 outs and 2 strikes. Their star pitcher David Price gave up a grand slam. In the end, it took an unlikely hero. For the most part, the stars could not boast.

3.) The Yankees, either sensing that the Rays couldn't come back from 7-0, or that they just didn't care, didn't use their stars. They couldn't simply boast that they beat the best team in baseball. They beat the bench of the best team in baseball.

4.) It took several more innings, and a rookie base running mistake by the Yankees, for the Rays to finally capitalize. They couldn't boast in someone else's mistakes.

Now none of these things took anything away from the celebration. In fact, I happen to think they added to it. The celebration comprised a bunch of unlikely victors who depended upon a ton of factors which were out of their control. They were 9 games out of first place when September started. Even if they played well, the Red Sox had to play poorly. Impecuniously-if I may say-poorly. And they had to lose that night as well.

So in the end, it wasn't simply a celebration of how good they were, but a celebration of a number of fortunate events like guys who aren't very good making great plays, and timely decisions/guesses. That kind of celebration is much more special than simply winning the division because of your skill, then and resting players. I think that celebration would probably have been less special because it was a celebration of self achievement.

I don't know how Yankee fan felt after they clinched the division. But I doubt the celebration was as great. And I don't think its simply b/c they just want to win it all. Celebration in your own goodness pales in comparison to the celebration that comes with needing someone else to be good for you.

In God's story of Redemption, he uses the Dan Johnson's, the dependence upon factors we can't control, and the goodness of the Redeemer. We can't boast in anything except in Him. And as a result, the rejoicing in heaven is that much greater. And it should be just as crazy down here on Earth. Don't ever forget to pop open a bottle of the bubbly when you think of the gospel. The celebration starts now, but remember this is just the beginning.

A rare helpful Barna article

2011-09-28T15:57:00.000-04:00

It's not really any "news" that many younger folks leave the church during college years, but eventually come back when they have kids. Of course some don't. Probably many, but I don't know percentages. I could make one up that might be just as accurate if pressed....

Here's a new article by the Barna Group. Normally those words make me cringe. Barna's ecclesiology leaves something to be desired. Very desired. I heard an interview with him once where he said "I don't go to church." Not only that but the Barna Group's research methods have been at times deemed questionable at best, according to some. Nevertheless, I actually liked this article because it didn't provide alarmist statistics to cause panic.

Instead of yelling "fire," this article discusses 6 reasons why young adults leave the church, and even includes some possible solutions to the problems. So even though percentages are thrown your way, they seem to take more of a back seat.

Again, you can read the article here. If you've gotten this far into this post, I don't doubt that at all. So I'll just comment on two of the reasons. And apologize for the weird formatting that follows-I tried 3-4 times to "pretty" it up. No luck.

Exclusivity

One of the reasons include the exclusivity of the gospel message amidst a pluralistic culture. You can't do a whole about that "problem." Now you can not be arrogant and not demonize those who don't love Jesus. That's called loving your neighbor or your enemy. But you can't include them as part of God's family when John 1:12 tells us that those who believe in Jesus have been given the right to become children of God. Jesus gives that right. No one else does.

Unfriendly to Doubters

Perhaps the reason that gave me most "hope" to work with was number 6.

Reason #6 – The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt.
Young adults with Christian experience say the church is not a place that allows them to express doubts. They do not feel safe admitting that sometimes Christianity does not make sense. In addition, many feel that the church’s response to doubt is trivial. Some of the perceptions in this regard include not being able “to ask my most pressing life questions in church” (36%) and having “significant intellectual doubts about my faith” (23%). In a related theme of how churches struggle to help young adults who feel marginalized, about one out of every six young adults with a Christian background said their faith “does not help with depression or other emotional problems” they experience (18%).

Is the church really unfriendly to those who doubt? Well that depends upon the church. Certainly many are, and certainly many have ignored Jude's warning (although most people probably ignore that book altogether) "have mercy upon those who doubt (vs 22)."

Sometimes the problem lies with a perception of unfriendliness. It's not that those who doubt (and we all do in some way) can't ask the questions to those in the church. It's often that those who have such questions, want to answer them isolation of the church. That way they can be objective with their struggles. But to go in isolation, and listen to voices outside the church (which are far from objective), or to try to discern what the bible "really says"by yourself outside the church, only increases your subjectivity. That's a problem I see in young folk today.

But on the other hand, do we offer times or promote a culture where kids in the church can really ask questions? Questions that we can affirm as legitimate questions? We've tried to do that with our youth here at Redeemer. In Sunday School, the Sr High are going through The Reason For God video series. In it, hard questions have been raised. I reminded the teacher to welcome such questions, and feel free to say, "I don't know," instead of cringing, freaking out, or being flustered at such (not that she was-she's a great teacher). The youth are asking them to the church, in front of their friends in the church. Hopefully when they have faith crises in college, they'll know the church can be a safe place to doubt.

We've also tried to make the church a safe place to doubt by doing a whole Jr High semester series on THEIR questions during our youth group time. I solicited the questions from THEM. Hopefully Redeemer, and whatever church they go to when they leave this place, will be safe. But just as importantly, I hope that they don't ASSUME their next church isn't.

Finally, in the home, we can avoid such hard questions (and assume we know how our kids would answer), or we can welcome such questions. Or even raise ones we know are out there. But this is obviously hard, and it scares me to think about. I don't want Connar to say, "Dad, I don't think I believe in the bible." But if he doesn't have the freedom to express this doubt now, he will eventually live out those doubts like many (you don't need a study to tell you that) who leave for college.

The God who grieves

2011-09-27T13:21:00.001-04:00

This is my final thought, for now, on God's Sovereignty over all things, even our suffering. To say that God is Sovereign and plans all things to happen does not mean that he doesn't also grieve for things He has ordained. Take Jesus, for instance. He doesn't cry at his own death, but he cries over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11). Now typically we use this verse to show the human nature of Jesus. But if we also get our Christology from Colossians (1:15-17), we understand that Jesus was involved in creating and is involved in sustaining the world. So the same person who created the world also cried at the experience of losing a loved one. The God who ordains all that comes to pass also grieved at what he ordained with Lazarus.

I was reading Psalm 116 today and heard the "voice of Jesus" in verse 15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." He cares when people die even though He numbers their days (Psalm 139:16). He also doesn't delight in the death of the wicked (Ezek 33:11). He cares. Even in martyrdom, we can't say that God isn't grieved. He hates sin and hates the affects of sin. That's why He came to redeem not only people, but all things (Col 1). One day there will be no tears. And in that day, God will rejoice with us, just as in some way, he mourns with us even now.

If you want another example of how God can ordain something and yet grieve over that something, check out the cross. I know God ordained that cosmic display of justice, wrath, and infinite love; and I'm pretty sure God the Father was saddened by forsaking God the Son.

The Christian can boast of a God who both ordains and grieves. I'm thankful for both.

"Let Go, Let Man" isn't good either

2011-09-26T11:01:00.000-04:00

The downside of truly believing that God is Sovereign over everything, as the Psalmist purports in Psalm 135:6: "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps," is that you can become quite angry with God. I get that. That's why most folks don't want God to ever have ordained anything we would deem bad. And I do understand that. I really do. I just don't get a vote.

The upside of believing that God isn't in control of all things and does not ordain anything-or at least most things-is that you will, or should not, ever become angry with Him. For instance, when calamity strikes, it is merely the result of God letting people have their free wills. Since he doesn't "step on any toes" in regard to free will, you as a result, don't ever become angry at Him.

Now at first glance, that sounds pretty darn practical, doesn't it? Rabbi Kushner reflecting on the death of his son When Bad Things Happen to Good People, concluded God is ultimately powerless to stop the evil. God had no part to play, so we can't get mad at him. And I can see how that is comforting when confronted with a crisis such as that. For a time....Here are some thoughts on trading God's Sovereignty for "Let Go, Let Man" viewpoint.

1.) Most of the Psalms involve a Psalmist crying out to God to do something. Do something in him. Do something in or with His situation and enemies. While Psalmists struggle with anger, doubts, and questions, they bring the aforementioned to God. He seems to be pretty cool with that kind of thing, you know? You take away the belief God is in control, you take away a pretty large book of the bible.

2.) The Psalms aren't simply existential meanderings recorded to help us cope with tragedy. They point us to Christ and how to respond and pray for God to actually DO something (and trust Him b/c He has already DONE something in Jesus). A Sovereign God DOES. We need him to DO away with the presence of sin.

3.) If you trade Sovereignty for a "Let Go, Let Man," attitude you really limit the scope of prayers. For instance, if you believe in complete autonomous free will, you really can't pray for protection when you drive your car. There are millions of little decisions, distractions, that happen on the road, from singing to texting to the internal struggles of "I hate my boss" on the way to work or school. God can't protect, because He's got His hands tied with that whole, "I can't interfere with their decisions" stuff. If someone is coming to hurt me, I want (or rather need) a God who can override their decisions. I need a God who can step on toes and shut their mouths, change their minds, etc...Don't you?

Yet when people pray, they pray for judge's decisions, for the salvation of their neighbor, for their kids to listen and be nice to their friends in school. I don't know how prayers can truly be effectual without God's ability to override individual autonomy. I really don't.

While trading God's Sovereignty over disasters may be comforting on the short end when tragedy strikes, there are practical long term issues that will keep you from finding comfort in the greatest good God our Father could give us: His Son Jesus.

None of this is intended to be counsel for those currently suffering. It's only designed to build the framework and lay the foundation for responding to regular trials of which we shouldn't be surprised (I Peter 4:12).

A God in Hurricane season

2011-09-22T14:05:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, this article on the CNN belief blog came out, claiming that even "religious" people don't necessarily look to God to explain why such storms happen. The conclusion was that for the most part, people understand such storms happen because of a variety of atmospheric conditions, and happen NOT as a result of the hand of God. Here's a snippet:

Today, the overwhelming majority of Americans—including the overwhelming majority of American Christians—believe that when God has something to say He speaks in less dramatic ways, including the still small voices in our hearts and the slightly louder voices of the preachers in our pulpits. When it comes to earthquakes and hurricanes, however, our authorities are geologists and meteorologists. Most of us interpret these events not through the rumblings of the biblical prophet Jeremiah or the poetry of the Book of Revelation but through the scientific truths of air pressure and tectonic plates. As a result of this sort of secularization, we are much better at predicting the course of hurricanes......

So we are better prepared, thank science. Our stories are far less dramatic, however. The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God. But their God no longer acts out his fury as in Bible days. Our storms have not yet been tamed. But our God has.

When we believe in some sort of "clockmaker" Enlightenment-esque type God, who winds the world up, and then lets it go, we will obviously interpret things differently through this lens. Here are some thoughts.

1.) People don't regularly blame God for Hurricanes. Hurricanes aren't de facto judgments (not saying that they can't be-we just don't have access to that info and shouldn't ASSUME) on sinful cities. That is positive I guess. Because we obviously don't need "prophets" telling us this storm was for that reason because they don't know. Instead we react to disasters like Jesus told us: not with judgment on others but as opportunities to repent ourselves (Luke 13:5).

2.) But if Hurricanes and Tornadoes have only a natural origin and God plays no part in it, then that's obviously not only unbiblical (Gen 50:20), but it makes God irrelevant to any level of suffering. A God that plans and ordains all things is the God who can do something with the mess of the storms and with the mess of our lives. We need a God who doesn't have to say, "Oh crud, now what can I do to help these people out, now that this has happened?" I write this now as theological truth, not as counsel to someone in the wake of tornadic activities.

I had to think a bit after reading this article. Does a secular world-view really help prepare us for hurricanes whereas a biblical worldview hinders? What part does God really play in storms? Should our science and knowledge of how storms arise and go forward really put God into a different part of our world in a sort of Descartesian duelism (science in physical realm; God fits into the personal/moral realm)?

A skeptic could say (and I have skepticism within me-I think most of us do at some level), the reason that storms are ascribed to God by the ancients is because they had no other explanation. So now we can observe wind patterns, sea currents, barometric pressure and such; we're beyond that biblical point of view.

But the cool thing is that the bible doesn't only ascribe to God unexplainable phenomenon (at the time), but also very the very observable. For instance, even morally evil things like vicious unjust wars.

The Babylonians were an instrument of judgment upon Judah, just as the Assyrians were instruments of judgment upon Israel. Both empires were quite evil and both chose to attack, and go "too far" in their wartime atrocities. Yet God declares that he raised up the Babylonians to come and open up a can of, well, judgment, upon His people (Habakkuk 1).

Why did these people come and invade Jerusalem? On one level, they wanted to do so because they liked killing and conquering (secondary cause). But on another level, God ordained them to do it (primary cause) as part of His plan. The same thing goes with tornadic (probably not a word, but I like it) activity and hurricanes. The weather systems, barometric pressures, ocean temperatures and currents, all have a part to play. But these mere observations don't tell the whole story, just as observing war time atrocities in 586 BC didn't tell the whole story. There is still a primary cause: God.

God still speaks through His Word today. He still speaks through His creation and our consciences as they are consistent with His Word. We don't need him to speak clearly (as specific judgments we can understand) through Hurricanes, I'll grant this lad that. Scripture is sufficient. But we cannot afford to assume that He has nothing to do with Him. We will miss the redemption and restoration which come from both figurative and literal storms in our lives if we ignore the one who is Lord even over storms (Mark 4:41).

The Calvinist "Likes-to-fight" guy

2011-09-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

I find myself persuaded most by people who are gracious, gentle, and loving. I want to like what I would become if I believed more like them. I think most people are probably like that. When folks are angry because they feel they are divinely defending the truth (and sometimes a situation calls for righteous anger-I just think probably less than we think, though I can't prove that) like a Martin Luther had to do, many either tune them out or choose the opposite side. The anger of the messenger stalls the propagation of the message. Now of course some folks like that angry-get-in-your-face-guy and they follow him. Then they become him. They become Calvinist "likes to fight guy." Not good.

Unfortunately there are many "Calvinistic" folks who are just flat out angry at others. They defend their positions with as much vociferation and defiance as say a Martin Luther did, while claiming the same amount of scriptural clarity to the issue. While I'll always hold to the "doctrines of grace" (part of Calvinistic understanding of salvation) because I believe it makes most scriptural sense to me and gives God the most glory (I think scriptures put that higher on God's priority list than our autonomous choice), I never want to be an angry Calvinist drawing a sword to pridefully attack other legitimate branches of Christianity.

There are too many such folks out there. Many are Presbyterians. But that's why my seminary, R.T.S . coined the phrase "Winsomely Reformed."It's a nice way of saying, "There are too many jerks out there calling themselves Calvinists; the doctrines of grace should make people like you more, not less!"

Here's an interview exchange with Baptist church planting guru and Lifeway researcher Ed Stetzer (I don't think he's Calvinistic but does run in such "circles") and Joe Horn on the problem of Angry "fake" Calvinists. Pretty cool.

You wonder if God would ever say, "You know more people would have believed the doctrines of grace if you weren't such a jerk." Now for a Calvinist this is clearly a hypothetical scenario only. Nevertheless, its probably a good exercise to think through while on Earth.

If you've run into angry Calvinists, and are turned off by them, then please realize that there are many not like that. If that term is something vilely offensive to you, then it might be worth re-examining some of the scriptures with a winsome Calvinist. Because people have the power to turn me off, even to things that I already like or promote, it's very clear that the messenger of God's grace has to be shaped by God's grace before many will believe in such "doctrines of grace."

And if you find that it is scripture itself, and not just some angry Calvinists who are very hard to love, (nor YOUR notions of what God should be like), which prevents your from landing in this "camp," then God bless you, and keep on keeping on. And reading on I hope! I'm glad and proud to call you brother or sister or father or mother in the faith. Hope the reverse is also true.

"What's love got to do with it?"-by Pat Robertson

2011-09-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

You may have heard of Pat Robertson's outlandish and ridiculously un-biblical comments stating that it was OK to divorce a spouse dying of Alzheimer's Disease. If you haven't, you can see them here.

I don't think it takes a whole lot of biblical knowledge to know that this is not what God really says on the matter. Outside of sexual infidelity or abuse (some folks file this under "abandonment"), God just does not give us the green light (Matt 19; I Cor 7).

Instead of refuting a ludicrous claim, I'll just let this lad speak for me. Never heard of him, but he does a great job of graciously refuting Robertson's claim and couches the "until death due us part" in the context of sacrificial covenantal love.

But I do have one take on a question raised in this interview: whether or not "until death due us part" is actually in the bible. That specific wording is not, but that is irrelevant given the nature of covenantal love and vows.

We're not to make ridiculous vows such as Judge Jepthah's whopper, "The next thing who walks out of the house to greet me when I return from battle I will sacrifice (Judges 11)." Bad idea jeans. We're also told it is better not to make a vow then to make a vow and not fulfill it (Eccl 5:5).

But when you do vow, and it's not bad to vow-it can be part of your worship to God-you should take it seriously. God does.

Regardless whether or not some verbiage is in the bible, like "until death due us part" (it is nevertheless assumed in context of covenant and Ephesians 5), it is still a vow that needs to be honored.

I know most people don't take their vows all that seriously, sometimes we see this in vows of church membership. But regardless, if you vow something before God, then you are accountable to that vow, regardless of whether you can find it in the bible. For instance, if I vowed, which I did, to make known any major changes in my theological convictions to the presbytery, then I'm responsible to do that. There is no verse needed to support that. I vowed it.

This is only really part of the issue, but I found it worth thinking about. The main part is the nature of covenantal love. What's love got to do with it? Everything.