Into all the world. . .

Weak but Strong

2010-10-29T09:43:00.002-05:00

We live in a culture that deplores weakness. “That was a weak effort.” “Don’t show people your weaknesses; only show your strengths!” “Your argument is weak; weren’t you paying attention? Do you really want to fail?” “This coffee is too weak!”

Weakness is something to be avoided. Imagine going on a job interview and giving more weaknesses than strengths to describe your role in the desired position. Think you will still get the job? We don’t delight in weakness. As Saul Bloom, one of my favorite characters in Oceans 11, says, “I don’t do weakness… it costs too much!” Our weakness reveals our need for someone or something more. Our weaknesses reveal that we CAN’T do it by ourselves, that we must have help.

While we don’t value weakness, the apostle Paul saw weakness as a strength: “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” For Paul, weakness allowed God’s strength to shine through. He acknowledged that we can’t do it on our own, but with God we are stronger than we ever could be. So, dear brothers and sisters, let’s attempt to reveal our weaknesses this week, so that Christ can shine through!

Viral Christianity

2010-10-26T10:57:00.003-05:00

I am amazed by viral videos. How many of us haven't seen such great YouTube classics as The Nooma-Nooma guy, Double Rainbow, the Bed Intruder Song, and so many others? What makes these videos popular? Why do they gain so much momentum? Are they really that funny or entertaining? (Not always). Are they always unique? (Not really). Are they a good use of our time? (Hardly ever).

So what makes them so popular?

I think it's momentum. The video starts small, a few people see it, nothing major. But then people begin to share it. They use their social media networks to spread the video's appeal. They post it on Facebook, refer to it in twitter, link to it on their blogs. And suddenly it is off. People have to watch things that are shared. They feel they must respond. They might think it is stupid in the end; they might find it a waste of time; they might totally buy in and begin posting it for all of THEIR friends to see... But they rarely ever simply ignore it.

Oh, that Christianity would be the same! In fact, at one time it was. People couldn't help but share the good news of Jesus. They wanted others to know what they knew. It started off small: 12 here, 500 there, 3,000 on Pentecost... But then the movement was off! They couldn't make it stop. It was like the mustard seed: starts off small, but eventually provides shelter for all the animals.

What can we do to make Christianity viral again? What can we do to make it appealing to those around us? How can we make them interested enough to take notice, not just writing us off as stupid or irrelevant?

That is the discussion we will be following for the next four days. Stay tuned, and learn how to become viral!

May Our Love Be Contageous

2010-10-21T08:45:00.003-05:00

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love… We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:7-8, 19-21)

John’s commandment to the churches echoes Jesus’ commandment to his disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus combines his commandment of loving your brothers and sisters in Christ with the idea of loving others as well.

Love is the mark of a true disciple. If God is love, and we are letting God reign in our lives, then how is this love overflowing from us into the lives of other people? How are we making a difference in our community? Are we taking care of the poor, the destitute, the disabled, and the broken?

When we are truly loving people, we begin to make a difference in our world. That could be people outside of the church, or people inside of it. Think about it: how many of us have treated someone in our church family poorly? Maybe you spoke behind their back, or argued in anger, or lusted over them, or cursed them... Maybe it is simply excluding others from our group. You aren't like us, so we wouldn't be hurt if you just went away... Oh, we'll never tell you to your face, but we sure won't do anything to make you feel welcome, either.

As Christians, we cannot act like the world. We are called to love and unity because of our faith in Christ Jesus. We must put behind the things of the world (jealousy, backbiting, arrogance, hatred) and focus instead on building one another up in love. I am not sure when we get to heaven if God is going to be concerned as much about our complete doctrinal understanding as much as he is with the answer to this question: "How well did you love your brothers and sisters, and how well did you love and serve the world in my name?"

When we are truly loving people, if we are truly making a difference in the lives of people, then others will begin to take notice. They won't be able to help it. It will be infectious, a viral movement spreading to people all around us.

Much like what we see in this video. It starts out small, but by the time others join in and we are working together in perfect unity and harmony, others begin to want to join in. May our love be infectious, and may we always be "viral" in our world!

Missing Sorority Girl -- Your Help is Needed to Find Her!

2010-10-20T11:13:00.002-05:00

Thousands Of Girls Match Description Of Missing Sorority Sister

I am sorry for the inappropriate language, but as someone who works with college students every day I found this too funny to pass up!

God Came Near

2010-10-19T09:51:00.002-05:00

How do you see God?

According to a recent study released by researchers at Baylor University, Americans have four different views of God. Approximately 28% of Americans view God as “authoritative,” meaning that God will punish evildoers and hold us accountable for our actions, both in the hereafter and also in our present lives. 22% of Americans see God as benevolent, wanting to bless their lives and for them to bless others in return. 21% see God as critical, arguing that God will set all things right at the end of time; those who are poor will be made rich, the righteous will be rewarded, etc. God doesn’t intervene much in this world, but he keeps account and delivers justice in the next. Finally, 24% see God as distant and detached; he set the world in motion, yet he has very little to do with it since.

So, how do you understand God? How do you see and perceive God’s actions? Is God authoritative, benevolent, critical, or distant?

I think it is ok to argue that God is a combination of some of the above. Sometimes God is authoritative, and we are held accountable in our own lifetimes for our actions. We bear the burden of the consequences of our sins. God is also critical; sometimes good people suffer while evil people prosper, and justice won’t be fully realized until the end of time. God is benevolent, calling us to make a difference for his Kingdom here on earth. We are called to continue Christ’s good works here in the world, to make a difference in the lives of people.

However, I don’t think we can argue that God is detached. Sometimes he might FEEL distant, but the truth of the matter is that God came near. God didn’t just set the world in motion like a cosmic science project. He is intimately involved with our world. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us…” “For while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly…” The Bible is the story of God’s interaction with our world. God cares, and so God came near.

Hungry? Why Wait?

2010-10-14T08:25:00.002-05:00

“Hungry? Why wait?”

The Snickers ad campaign proclaims to the “hungry” masses of our world that there is no need to hunger and no need to delay our gratification. If you are even remotely hungry, grab a Snickers. You shouldn’t have to deprive yourself.

Sadly, we don’t know what real hunger is. Few, if any, of us ever have to go to bed hungry. We have enough food not only to sustain ourselves but to gorge ourselves. Really, our hunger pains are simply “You know, I haven’t had any food in three hours” pains. Few of us know what it means to truly need food.

The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it this way: “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7). In his time of temptation by the Devil, Jesus hasn’t eaten for forty days. The Devil tempts Jesus to make the stones turn into bread and fulfill his own needs. Jesus answers, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt. 4:4).

Too often we try to fill our own hunger, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, with food that doesn’t satisfy. We often try to fill gaps in our life with stopgaps, something to simply get us through. The hunger always returns, the pain always resurfaces, and the longing is never filled. We need something to fill us up, something more than a spiritual Snickers bar.

As Jesus is talking to his disciples he delivers this message: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35).

Hungry? Why wait? Grab ahold of Jesus, who will fill all your needs.

Taylor Mali, "Speak with Conviction"

2010-10-08T09:12:00.001-05:00

Be careful little tongue what you speak...

2010-09-28T10:52:00.002-05:00

I am a pretty sweet, mild-mannered guy, but I also have a temper. It rarely rears its ugly head, but when it does it isn't pretty... It's the Irish blood in me. It really only comes out for three reasons:
(1) Driving (and trust me, it often happens when I am driving)
(2) Stupid people (in many different aspects of life; we aren't just talking mental acumen, but rather people who don't think before they speak, people who prejudge others, those who think that people who disagree with them are instantly wrong without listening to their point of view, etc)
(3) Injustice

Sadly, I have a hard time controlling my temper when those things occur. Now, being angry about injustice isn't a bad thing, but I do need to watch my temper. I often think or say some mean things about people, things I probably wouldn't say if they were right in front of me.

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees who disagreed with him and his ministry in Matthew 12, and he says these words:
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Ouch! Those words cut to the heart of my problem. Is my temper part of the "bad" that is inside of me? How will I account for some of the things I have carelessly said?

Now, I know that this isn't meant to be universal; Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the evil words they have spoken about him. BUT... listen to what James says in James 3:
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be..."

Ouch! Once again, James cuts to the heart of my problem. I cannot proclaim God with my lips and then say mean things about the driver in front of me. I cannot worship God with my mouth and also think mean things about those I disagree with in my heart.

Taming the tongue is an impossible feat! Who, then, can be saved? Without God, nothing is possible, but with God, even the impossible is made possible.

So, LORD, tame my tongue. Help me to think before I speak, and forgive me when I don't. help me to check my temper and be positive, and forgive me when I fall short.

A Modern Parable

2010-09-21T11:36:00.003-05:00

One day Jesus was seated quietly in the marketplace when he is approached by a young marketing executive from a large advertising firm.

The young man struck up a conversation with Jesus: "I've always admired you and your work," the young man told Jesus. He talked about his character, his power, his rants against the religious establishment, his miracles, and his works of social justice. "I've always admired your stance on women's roles in society. I love your work with the poor and the disadvantaged. And that thing you did with the lepers, and the man born blind! That was amazing? How did you do that!?!? I love your teachings, and the way you stick it to the Pharisees! And raising Jairus' daughter, Lazarus, and that widow's son from the dead? Priceless! You do good work!"

"Umm, thank you," Jesus replies hesitantly.

"But," the executive continued, "I think you are missing a golden opportunity to market yourself better! I mean, all this talk about denying yourself and taking up your cross? The world rejecting you? Pain and loss for your followers? All of that talk is bad for business! You know you would get a lot more attention if you would make your message user friendly! Health and wealth, that kind of thing."

"Besides," the young man rushed on, not allowing Jesus time to interject; he was on a roll! "Besides... there's a lot of marketing potential here! Bracelets and books, jewelry and music, programs and seminars... We could make a gold mine on this Christian Living thing. It is its own market! We could market Christianity to the masses! Christianity for the single life, Christianity for better marriages, the Christian way of raising our children. 40 Days to a Better You. your Best Life Right Here Right Now. The Christian Secrets of Business Success... We could even turn around the whole meaning of the cross and make them out of gold, put them on a chain, and make them a sort of status symbol or a brand!"

"Think of it," he continued, "just think of all the possibilities! Church would be like a great mixture of Kiwanis and Country Club! Beautiful buildings on every corner, shining the light of Christian prosperity to a lost and dying world! A place for hurting people to look at and realize just how bad their lives are! Maybe by seeing our beautiful churches they will turn back to God and leave their lives of sin. Think about it... Church will be a great place for people to try out their A game. It will be a place where they act better than they do throughout the week! It is calling them to a higher standard of life and living. While you are here, you WILL blend in! Our pastors and ministers will be put on pedestals and held up as role models, even if they are a little broken or rough around the edges in private."

"Jesus, just think about the possibilities! Think about the power and prestige that will go with being a Christian! We can use our faith to punish those who disagree. We can pour billions into political interest groups and parachurch political organizations. We can start our own radio stations, For Us and By Us, and create our own TV networks. We can make our own films and movies, create our own little subculture. Think of all of the possibilities! Just imagine what could happen with a little marketing savvy and initiative!"

"So, let's make this Christianity thing a little easier to follow. Can we boil it down into a pithy saying or some trite comment people can remember? Can we make church and ministry about us so that it will attract more people? I think we are sitting on a gold mine here, Jesus. What do you think?"

So, what do you think Jesus would say? What Would Jesus Do? (Yes, all puns intended!)

Maybe Jesus would answer...
"One thing you lack. Go and sell all you own, all you treasure, give away your heart's greatest desire, and then come and follow me."

OR, "Seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness..."

OR, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

OR, "How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Or maybe just, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!"

What is the heart of the Gospel? Is it health and wealth? Is it success? Is it corporate driven Christianity? Is it about making money with catchy gimmicks, having the biggest church, or the prettiest building? Is it about programs and ministries, youth groups and coffee shops, marriage seminars and Christian movies?

A wise minister once told me, "Whatever you win them with you win them to..." I think it is true. Over time, as Christianity become more polished and marketed, we began to ignore some of Jesus' teachings. Oh, we like the stuff about heaven, but we often ignore things like "Blessed are the poor... Woe to those who are rich..." We live in favor of Jesus' miracles, but ignore Jesus' calling to true discipleship and cross-bearing. It leads non-Christians to despise marketed Christianity, and called Ghandi to say, "I like Christ, but I don't like Christians! I would be a Christian, if it weren't for Christians..."

What kind of Christianity are you bought into? Does it change who you are, or just gloss over your rough edges? Do you look good on the outside with all of the t-shirts buttons and jewelry but are dead or dying inside, or are you truly being transformed? Christianity is not about gimmicks, programs, or marketing initiatives, building programs or church growth.

Instead, Christianity is about following Christ, God in the flesh, who died for you but had the audacity to not stay dead! It is death, burial, and resurrection, and our following Christ in death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.

Christianity is meant for more than cheap tricks and failed gimmicks. Let us never take the easy road of corporate marketing. Instead, let's take up our crosses and begin to follow him, wherever he leads.

Literary Masterpieces

2010-07-01T10:18:00.002-05:00

The Bulwer-Lytton award has been handed out by San Diego State University for the worst opening lines to fake novels submitted each year. Here are some of my favorites:

Through the verdant plains of North Umbria walked Waylon Ogglethorpe and, as he walked, the clouds whispered his name, the birds of the air sang his praises, and the beasts of the fields from smallest to greatest said, "There goes the most noble among men" -- in other words, a typical stroll for a schizophrenic ventriloquist with delusions of grandeur.
- Tom Wallace

Detective Pierson mentally reviewed the group of suspects milling around the recent crime scene-two young siblings eating gingerbread, a young girl in a red hoodie, a beautiful girl with narcolepsy, and seven little people with the profession of miners-then gave his statement of "It's a grim tale" to the press.
- Shannon Gray

Towards the dragon's lair the fellowship marched -- a noble human prince, a fair elf, a surly dwarf, and a disheveled copyright attorney who was frantically trying to find a way to differentiate this story from "Lord of the Rings."
- Andrew Manoske

On a fine summer morning during the days of the Puritans, the prison door in the small New England town of B----n opened to release a convicted adulteress, the Scarlet Letter A embroidered on her dress, along with the Scarlet Letters B through J, a veritable McGuffey's Reader of Scarlet Letters, one for each little tyke waiting for her at the gate.
- Joseph Aspler

Their relationship hit a bump in the road, not the low, graceful kind of bump, reminiscent of a child's choo choo train-themed roller coaster, rather the kind of tall, narrow speed-bump that, if a school bus ran over it, would cause even a fat kid to fly up and bang his head on the ceiling.
- Michael Reade

She walked into my office wearing a body that would make a man write bad checks, but in this paperless age you would first have to obtain her ABA Routing Transit Number and Account Number and then disable your own Overdraft Protection in order to do so.
- Steve Lynch

The wood nymph fairies blissfully pranced in the morning light past the glistening dewdrops on the meadow thistles by the Old Mill, ignorant of the daily slaughter that occurred just behind its lichen-encrusted walls, twin 20-ton mill stones savagely ripping apart the husks of wheat seed, gleefully smearing the starchy entrails across their dower granite faces in unspeakable botanical horror and carnage – but that’s not our story; ours is about fairies!
- Rick Cheeseman

If only they'd finish the actual books...

Larry King is retiring...

2010-07-01T09:47:00.003-05:00

After more than 25 years, 50,000 interviews, and the same shirt with suspenders, Larry King will be calling it quits sometime this fall.

I was recently reading an interview with Larry King, found here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/29/larry.king.steps.down/index.html?hpt=C2

In it, Larry is asked who he would most like to interview: "God," he said. Larry King is Jewish, by the way. He shared his first and most important question: "And my first question would be, 'Do you have a son? Because there's a lot riding on the answer.'"

God heals all wounds...

2010-06-30T10:54:00.000-05:00

Growing up, my best friend was Ben. We did everything together. We played army men, had sleepovers, fought Nerf wars, and played in the same band. We were inseparable. I even got to play a part in his baptism, studying with him over two years before he came to faith. As time went on, however, we grew more distant. We went to separate colleges, led separate lives, and began to believe separate things. While I held on to my faith, Ben lost his. Now we simply agree to disagree; he secretly thinks my career is a waste of time, and I think his life is missing something very important. As a result, we rarely talk anymore, and each of us has gone our separate way.

I believe most of us have similar stories at some point in our lives. Each of us has had a friend we were close to, only to grow more distant as time goes along. Sometimes it is a sharp disagreement; other times it is a gradual moving away as our lives and priorities change.

In Acts 15, we have a similar story in the life of Paul. Paul and Barnabas have been friends for many years. In fact, Barnabas is the one who encouraged Paul to enter ministry in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). They had been friends for years, even going on their first missionary journey together. At the beginning of their second journey, however, everything came unglued. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin, John Mark; Paul had very little trust in him since he had abandoned them on the field. The disagreement was so sharp that they parted company, unable to work together. What we find, however, is that their friendship was renewed over time. Paul mentions Barnabas and his hard work in ministry in 1 Cor. 9:6. Paul also comes to love and value John Mark, even asking for him to come see him in his final days (2 Tim. 4:11).

Often those closest to us can hurt us the most. Careless words, thoughtless comments, hurtful remarks can wound deeply. Sharp disagreements can cause seemingly irreparable rifts. But God can heal broken relationships. God can take a discouraging situation and bring hope and life. There is no wound that cannot be healed. Yes, we have been hurt or hurt one another, but let us bear with one another in love. God can heal all wounds.

Love One Another

2010-06-03T10:09:00.002-05:00

The church gets a bad rap. Too often she gets beat up, not just by non-Christians but by Christians too!

“The church is full of hypocrites. Oh they claim to believe it, but they don’t practice what they preach…”

“Church is out of touch. They don’t have a clue what is going on in the REAL world…”

“Church is boring. They don’t sing the songs I like, the preacher is too long-winded, everyone is off-key. Seriously…”

And often those criticisms are based in fact. All of us can be hypocritical. Sometimes we are out of touch with culture and the world. Sometimes church can be a little boring. Sometimes we sing off-key. Sure, those criticisms are sometimes based in fact.

But here’s my definition of church: Church is the perfect place for imperfect people. We believe in the God who was, is, and is to come, and he is at work on each of us making us what he means for us to be. As Christians, we are under construction. As the church, we are a place where people come to be built up. Sometimes we function as a hospital, working on those who need healing. Sometimes we function as a therapy session, helping those who are hurt and broken. Sometimes we are a family dinner, a place where joys are shared and accomplishments are rejoiced over.

Ultimately, the church makes the biggest impact when we love one another. The Christian community, when it is loving one another, makes a huge impact on the world. Look at Acts 2 and Acts 4: these are people who are making a difference! This is why Jesus tells his disciples to love one another. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). So church, get to loving! Check up on one another. Encourage one another. Say more than hello to someone as you leave. Love can change the world, and it starts here with us

Honest discussion on science and religion for 100, Alex.

2010-06-01T14:49:00.004-05:00

The gulf between the religious and non-religious is growing. Don't believe me? Listen to the name-calling and angry ranting that BOTH sides do when they get the chance.

"Religious people are nothing more than closed-, small-minded idiots who aren't smart enough to know their head from their..."

"Evolutionists are too stupid to see the glory of God in the world around them! They have their noses turned up so high they miss the obvious!"

And on and on and on the discussion goes. We rarely stop to listen to one another.

I recently was reading a blog about this topic, and this was my response to the discussion that was ongoing. (I will list it below.) The discussion does what discussions on science/religion normally do: They bog down in semantics, argue that they are right, and never actually say anything to prove or disprove their points. They simply argue about the idiocy of the other side.

How do we discuss topics of science, sociology, and religion openly and honestly without getting our feelings hurt or hurting the feelings of another? Can we do that? How can we have honest discussion with those we don't agree with?

-----

From what I have read today in this post, we have the same problem that Scot was alluding to: we aren't listening to one another. The discussion going back and forth has gotten bogged down in semantics, which is what usually happens.

Hrafn, the honest religious person would make the statement, "I don't have it all figured out, because God is so much greater and more mysterious than I can imagine." (Yes, that is religious from Judeo-Christian perspective, but it is my heritage and worldview so bear with me.) Honest religious people (can I just say Christians) have a fundamental belief in the God who is. Some argue for literal 6-day creationism; others leave room for creative evolution or see God's hand in the evolutionary process. The honest Christian is always seeking and searching for Truth, for the unexamined faith is not worth having.

The honest scientist would also make the statement, "I don't have it all figured out" also. Scientific certainty exists until someone comes along and dismantles it with the latest theory to explain how things work. Scientists are always looking for new ways to understand what they see; the honest scientist will tell you they are still growing and searching.

Can science and faith coexist? Absolutely yes. Is it always easy? Absolutely not. Are we sometimes at odds? Sure.

The most important thing we can do is first LISTEN to one another openly. Too often we listen to the other's point of view while simply building up our arguments in our mind, so we never actually actively hear what the other person is saying. We simply argue out our points: "Evolution is fact!" "NO! Evolution is theory!" Yet we never actually say much of anything worthwhile. We don't even defend our positions well, we just dig deeper trenches. (Don't worry, we do the same thing in politics, too.)

Sorry if I rambled, but I just wish we could have deeper discussions on the differences and similarities between science and religion, looking to where we can coexist and peacefully deciding where we might agree to disagree. Will it ever be 100% harmonious? No, but I think it could be a lot better.

Change is closer than you think...

2010-05-13T10:27:00.001-05:00

“Do you want to get well?”

It really is an important question. Do you want to get well? Do you want your circumstances to change? Do you want to be different, or are you content in your brokenness? Your sickness? Your despair?

Too many of us are defined by what is “wrong” with us. We believe we can’t change, and our identity becomes wrapped up in our brokenness. We wear little, “Hi, My Name Is _______” badges around with our characteristics on them. “Hi, my name is…” Alcoholic. Porn Addict. Gossip. The Fat Kid. Abused. Neglected. Friendless. Worthless. We believe that we cannot change, that this is the way it will always be. Do we want to get well?

Jesus stands at the pool of Bethesda, looking out over the scene. One man had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. We know very little else about this man, except that he was waiting by the pool hoping to get well. He wasn’t seeking help. He wasn’t trying to sit any closer to the edge. He wasn’t making deals with others so he could be cleansed. No, he was just waiting. Until Jesus showed up. “Do you want to be well?”

The question is important, because it is possible that he doesn’t! He has been invalid for thirty-eight years. It defines him. He probably makes his living begging. This is who he is. Does he really want it to change? And we find that instead of shouting out, “Yes! I want to walk!” he instead answers with an excuse. “I have no one to help me into the pool…”

What excuses are we making? Do you believe you can’t change? Do you believe that you won’t ever be different? If so, you are saying that God is smaller than your alcoholism, than your porn addiction, than the abuses that have happened to you in the past. God doesn’t want our past to define us; he calls us to be more than our pasts. We can change because God allows us to change. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!” God wants to change us, he wants to redefine us, he wants to give us a new name. All we have to do is ask. “Yes, I want to get well.”

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 minutes

2010-04-07T13:38:00.001-05:00

Sowing the Seed

2010-03-12T09:42:00.001-06:00

I often wonder about the parable of the Sower. The story we get seems really condensed. Now, I know I’m not a farmer, so this story doesn’t hit me as hard as it did Jesus’ audience. But, bear with me a second.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable about the farmer out sowing seed. Some seed fell on the path, others fell in rocky soil, and still others fell among the thorns. None of those seeds bore any lasting results. But, the seed sometimes fell on good soil, and there is produced a huge crop of abundance. Jesus later goes on to explain that the seed is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the farmers are us. Although it isn’t stated, each of us has been given the task of sharing the Good News with every person that we meet. That doesn’t necessarily have to be overt; sometimes it is just a smile, a nod, or a kind word. But each of us is called to scatter seed.

However, I have often wondered about this parable… Each time I share the Gospel with someone, it is immensely personal. It usually develops out of relationship, as we begin to share the most important parts of our lives with one another. Sometimes the Gospel takes root and multiplies in that person’s life; but sometimes it is like the three other types of soil, being choked out or stolen away or trampled on. Each time I see the person not respond, it hurts and sometimes feels a little personal. Maybe if I had only done better, or said something in a different way, or didn’t push at this instance, or maybe if I’d just pushed a little harder… Jesus seems to gloss over the personal nature of evangelism, comparing it simply to a farmer out tossing seeds around.

Yet maybe it is a good analogy. The farmer’s livelihood depends on the productivity of that seed, and he works them and makes them grow. His life and his hope are wrapped up in the seeds’ response. Yet it is God who causes the seed to grow. We aren’t always called to bring in the harvest; we can’t make the seed take root and grow. We are simply called to sow and cultivate seed. Maybe the seed will stay dormant for many years, suddenly springing up and thriving. Maybe it will be carried away, only to be dropped into good soil when the moment is right. We aren’t called to be successful, just to be faithful. So, keep on sowing the seed, Farmers for the LORD. You never know what harvest God will provide.

Millennials and Religion

2010-02-26T11:37:00.002-06:00

One of the things I hear the most is that millennials are giving up on faith and walking away from church.

And the statistics do seem to point that out. In my fellowship, the Churches of Christ, we lose 40% of our children when they graduate from high school. Some of those move on to other denominational groups, but some simply walk away from church. By the time they graduate from college, we have lost 65%. And most groups have the same phenomenon taking place. There is a "woe-is-us" group taht argues that Christianity, as a whole, is simply losing ground.

But does reality support these statistics? The argument's answer is... maybe. A recent study published shows that millennials attend church as regularly as their Gen X and Baby-booker predecessors. However, the claim to have a deeper level of faith that goes beyond basic church attendance. The number of "unaffiliated" millennials is much higher than any other level. They find themselves being more spiritual, without ever stepping into a church building. For them, faith has become very personalized, between them and God. They are looking for a GROUP that feels the same way. There is a strong draw towards matters of faith and spirituality, but it doesn't necessarily lead to "church."

In the recent Newsweek article, “Why Harvard’s Crisis of Faith,” there was a discussion about integrating religion into the curriculum at Harvard. The president of Harvard wants every student to have to take a “Faith and Reason” course. This could include anything from philosophy to theology to Buddhist studies. But he argues that faith has become vital in all realms of life, from politics to international studies to English. Others in the Harvard faculty rebelled against this idea. One professor, Dr. Steven Pinker of the psychology department, argued that the primary goal of a Harvard education is the pursuit of truth through rational inquiry, and that religion has no place in that. "Faith," he said, "is believing in something without good reasons to do so. It has no place in anything but a religious institution, and our society has no shortage of these.” The president decided to back down for now and wait till a later date to renew the conversation.

The article goes on to state in a sidebar that Harvard has one of the most secular faculties in the world, with 33% of the faculty disbelieving in a higher power. That statistic hit me hard, and I began to get down about what I was reading. But then I realized… that means that 66% of Harvard’s faculty DOES believe in a higher power! The statistics seem to slant our views that everyone doesn’t believe in God, but instead we find that the vast majority do! Also, there is a growing number of Christians at Harvard. Jay Harris, the dean of the General Studies program at Harvard, states, “Harvard students are increasingly churchgoing, Bible-studying, and believing. We have a very strong evangelical community…”

I think many of us get caught up in the idea that many of the people around us do not share our beliefs or our ideals. We feel like we are a minority as believers in Lawrence and at KU. But instead we have to realize that believers are still the largest demographic in America. Don’t lose heart, and don’t think all is lost.

As Paul looked around at the city of Corinth he had a similar thought. He felt as if he was in a losing battle, and a minority. “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” (Acts 18:9-11) Take heart, my friends, because God is doing great things in this city!

So, all this to say... maybe the landscape isn't as bleak as we once imagined.

Best Shot of the Year

2010-02-19T10:56:00.001-06:00

Kelly Ripa

2010-02-11T22:13:00.001-06:00

I saw this live on Regis and Kelly over a year ago, but I thought it was HILARIOUS! So, enjoy!

The Anti-Religious Jesus

2010-02-09T11:00:00.003-06:00

“But don’t worry… I’m not religious.”

Those words characterize a number of the conversations I have had with KU students over the past two years. So many people on campus are afraid of being religious. Indeed, it has become something of a taboo. “Thou shalt not be religious!” seems to be the mantra of many young people I meet. I recently passed by a car with the bumper sticker: “The Religious Right is Neither.” People think being religious is a bad thing.

Is it? Is being religious necessarily bad? Well, the answer seems to be both yes and no. “Religion” teaches us what God requires of us; it calls us to live by a certain standard and a moral code. It calls us to the recognition of something greater than ourselves.

Yet Jesus called us to more than just religion. In fact, Jesus did not get along well with religious people! (Or at least those who thought of themselves as attaining their own salvation through their works.) In Matthew 23, Jesus confronts the VERY religious Pharisees on their own self-righteousness. He lovingly refers to them as “snakes” and “broods of vipers.” “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are” (Mt. 23:15).

Jesus calls his disciples to a higher calling than just being religious. Religion is about what we do to attain salvation. Christianity is about the God who has already provided salvation for those of us who believe and obey. Jesus doesn’t call us to be religious; he calls us to be a part of The Way. Christianity isn’t just a religion; it is a way of life that calls us beyond rules and regulations and closer to the heart of God.

So go out and don’t be religious. Instead, live by The Way of God, loving people and showing them through your lives the God who loves them too.

Cultural Lenses, Part 2

2010-02-03T11:33:00.003-06:00

I want to post a response to a blog Scot McKnight wrote yesterday. This was my thought on this idea:

I think Wright is right on point about our culture affecting our reading/understanding of Scripture. Almost everyone we read in seminary is a dead white guy, whose understanding of Scripture has been influenced by Tubingen, Calvin, Barth, Luther, etc. But the interesting thing is what happens when we expand our cultural worldview.

First of all, the Bible is primarily written from a Semitic, middle-eastern worldview. As Christian we extrapolate our understanding from what we hear and read, but the understandings gleaned by present-day Bedouins on parables is probably closer to the real meaning than what we hear on Sunday mornings.

I think one of the things we must do is move beyond our Western understanding of Scripture. There are valuable insights to be gained from our African, Asian, and South American brothers and sisters as they attempt to wrestle with Scripture and God's revelation. To simply say that dead white guys have it figured out is, quite frankly, and insult to the Bible, which has truth to teach to all mankind, regardless of their culture.

I think the moment that we neglect to understand that the Bible was not written to us, but we try to understand God in light of our own cultural understandings, we immediately limit our understanding of God and his mission.

What do you guys think? Am I wrong?

Cultural Lenses and Biblical Worldviews

2010-02-02T10:59:00.006-06:00

Our understanding of the world is shaped by where we grew up. Missionary children are never quite "the same" as heir American peers. Regardless of where they grew up, whether it was England or Mauritania, they have a different view of the world than Americans do. The same is said for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. They usually have a different understanding of life, values, and faith than we do. The things that are important to us simply aren't important to them, and vice-versa.

One of the questions I want to pose today is this: How does our worldview shape our understanding of Scripture?

In the video below, Anglican bishop and scholar N. T. Wright discusses how our worldview shapes our understanding:

What are your thoughts? How is our understanding of Scripture shaped by our culture, values, patriotism, etc?

Hayek vs. Keynes

2010-01-26T10:23:00.003-06:00

Although I know absolutely nothing about economics, I found this video absolutely hilarious! Hope you enjoy.

(Michael Mount told me about it last night, and I saw Jeff Proctor post it on Facebook... The word is out!)

Faith, Doubt, and Wrestling

2010-01-25T14:07:00.002-06:00

I recently answered a blog about this on "The Jesus Creed," Scot McKnight's blog on beliefnet. But I was wondering your thoughts.

The blog concerned a letter from "Jacob," a 23-year-old struggling with his faith. Although he has been a Christian for 8 years, he finds himself questioning the very tenets of his belief. (You can find this blog here.)

How do you understand doubt? I think most of us would argue that doubt is not the absence of faith, but rather the necessary by-product of faith growing and changing. When we encounter something new or questionable, it must cause us to examine our faith. For instance...

The earthquake in Haiti leaves us with questions of theodicy. If God is good, then why do people suffer? Pat Robertson argues that the earthquake was the result of God's judgment on the Haitian people (and their 18th century pact with the devil.) But are the answers so easy? Maybe it is judgment; maybe it is just the way the world works. Chaos won't be reigned in until God returns and sets things right. (By the way, look to tomorrow's blog for more information on Haiti.)
The suffering of children
Miracles in the Bible vs. a Scientific Worldview
Building friendships with those of other religions
Etc.

If we aren't honestly willing to wrestle with these questions (and countless others), then we will always remain children in our faith.

Socrates argued "The unexamined life isn't worth living." I would argue that unexamined faith isn't worth having. Paul puts it this way: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face." (1 Cor. 13:9-12).

Indeed, the people of Israel constantly had to wrestle with these questions (and others.) The very name, Israel, denotes "One who wrestles with God." Our lives should be the same.

So, the question remains: How do you understand doubt? Is doubt a bad thing? How does doubt help you grow?

Fellas of HFC

2009-12-18T20:11:00.000-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The First Christmas Post

2009-12-18T11:36:00.003-06:00

Something to get you in the Christmas spirit. These guys are AWESOME! I hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas! (And Happy Hannukah and Merry Kwanza, if that's what you celebrate...)

Merry Christmas! God bless you!

Wow...

2009-12-01T14:01:00.001-06:00

Politics and Football

2009-11-23T13:28:00.003-06:00

There is a lot of information coming to light about the interaction of REAL football and international relations. By real football, I mean soccer, as us Americans call it. Only in America can we turn the ole' pigskin game that is played with the hands into "football," which doesn't actually use the feet at all. (Yes, I know they kick field goals and punt, but the kicker is also the least respected guy on the team. They slap his helmet, but secretly think he is a wuss for not suiting up on the line...)

But here I am talking about real football. The one actually played with feet, involving dribbling, crossing over, crossing the ball, fake shots and step overs... Players who can literally dance with the ball over 100 yrds down the field. Not 300 lb linemen bashing each other's skulls in, or running backs cutting the knees out from under a charging linebacker. Not even basketball, which does involve more skill than American "football." No, I am talking about the jurga bonito, the beautiful game, played by BILLIONS around the world. The game that causes billions of people to stop whatever they are doing and watch their favorite, famous (or infamous) players take the field and battle for 90 full minutes at a full sprint. That, folks, is the beautiful game!

But I digress... Football and politics...

There are a number of great books coming out discussing our topic: Soccernomics, How Soccer Changed the World, etc. They argue that soccer has a greater impact on the world than we Americans would believe.

For instance:
How many of you know about the difficulties being encountered by FIFA over the Ireland/France World Cup Qualifying game a week ago? Thiery Henry, (Tea-airy On-Ree, for those you you who might need a more phoenetic spelling), played the ball with his hands on the goal line, played the ball back across the face of the goal, allowing another French player to score and keep the Irish squad from qualifying for the World Cup. Henry has apologized and admitted to handling the ball, but the referee's discretion wins the day. (Now even the refs have admitted it was handling, but you cannot overturn a game decision. It is a part of the Laws of the Game...)

OR...

How many of you know about the basketball refereee who was accused of fixing NBA games? Well, FIFA is currently arresting DOZENS of referees around the world for the exact same offense. (Much of this has taken place in Europe, although it is a problem around the world...) FIFA is distressed by the scandal and level of cheating taking place, and wants to make a change.

OR...

How many of you know that the Arab/Israeli conflict extends to football? Even in places that aren't Israel or Arab states. For instance... Amr Zaki is a top striker who plays for Wigan. He has been courted by the larger club Portsmouth for a few years. Portsmouth is owned by another Arab, Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who would love to have Zaki on his team. Zaki, an Egyptian national, refuses to consider signing, stating that he refuses to play on a team that has any Israelis in their employ. These two Israelis, defender Tal Ben Haim and Avram Grant, the director of football operations. Zaki refuses to consider having ANYTHING to do with a Jew. "I refused their offen before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me... After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player and hired an Israeli football director a possible move was ruled out." Racism at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. And Egypt was the first Arab nation to diplomatically recognize Israel!

Zaki has also refused to sign because there is also an Algerian player on the squad, and Egypt and Algeria recently came to blows on the soccer pitch. (Algeria recently defeated Egypt, the "African soccer champion," in a tie-breaker played in Sudan last Wednesday. Riots have taken place in Cairo which involve the burning of the Algerian flag and the beating of Algerian citizens. Granted, lots of problems have taken place recently between the two countries. Rioters attacked Algerians with rocks in Cairo, injuring four. Algerians burned Egyptian businesses to the ground in Algeria in retaliation...) Currently, the Egyptian government is discussing cutting ALL diplomatic ties with Algeria.

This makes Oakland Raiders fans look pretty tame in comparison!

The Flag and the Cross

2009-11-10T10:11:00.002-06:00

Last night I was watching ABC News with Charlie Gibson. They were interviewing a soldier in who had known Major Hassan in the Army and worked with him in the past.

In his interview, the soldier said something that rubbed me the wrong way. "I always had a problem with him. He always said he was a Muslim first and an American second. But I didn't think that was right. If you took an oath to defend your country and the Constitution, that should come first. Anything else is simply wrong."

In our nation, where radical faith of any kind is looked down on or questioned, it seems like his statements make sense. He wants to attack radical Islam and make sure that it cannot rear its ugly head again.

But here is my problem. I have always considered myself a Christian first and an American second. My allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, and always will be so. I have no problem with patriotism and loving one's country, and even dying for one's country in order to defend rights and freedoms. But as a Christian, regardless of how much I love my country, I simply cannot drink all of its Kool-Aid.

As a Christian I cannot just ignore some of the legal things that I think are unethical. I must always view my political leanings as an outlet of my faith. Now, this says nothing about being a Democrat or a Republican. Both are fine places to sit, and neither is a Christian position. Rather, I approach every issue in life in light of my faith. My belief in God MUST color my thoughts about abortion, capital punishment, unjust war, taxes, health care, etc. As Paul tells me "'Everything is permissible,' but not everything is beneficial..."

I am a Christian first and an American second. It simply isn't going to change, regardless of what the government or the military tells me. My allegiance to the flag does not trump my allegiance to the cross; when one stands in stark contrast to the other, I must take notice.

Does this make sense? What are your thoughts?

The Gospel of Beautiful Music

2009-11-03T10:32:00.003-06:00

I often imagine that my Christian walk is a symphony. As a Christian I am simply asked to play my instrument (use my gift) for the greater glory. As a musician in an orchestra I may have a huge role. I could get a solo, my name in print, a chance to be on the billboard or stand and take a bow. Or, I could be a third french horn or the triangle player. Their part isn't nearly as big, yet without them the symphony wouldn't be the same. Each of us has a part to play to make the greater whole bigger and better than it would be without us. So use your gifts.

One of the amazing things about music is that it is universal. Now, the sounds may differ, the notes may be different, but every culture has some musical form. The technique and theory are the same, but the manifestation might be very different from Brazil to inner city Memphis to Appalachia to France. Music flows out of the soul and expresses our deepest needs and desires; it gives life to ideas that we don't have words for. It cries out our deepest longings that we might not even realize that we have.

I think this is a new way of looking at the Gospel, the Gospel of Beautiful Music. The gospel is the same across the world, yet it's manifestations might be different. Christianity in Brazil doesn't exactly look like Christianity in inner city Memphis, or in suburban Fairfax Virginia, or in France, Ghana, China, Afghanistan, etc. Yet the Truth is still the same. As Christians, each of us has a part to play in the continuation of the music. Each of us has been given gifts to use for the Kingdom, and we are called to do that faithfully. We can choose not to, and the music will continue on, yet something will be missing. So, brothers and sisters, let's use our gifts to God's glory, to allow the beautiful music to continue.

I saw this video a few months ago, but never got the chance to post it. I think it echoes the idea that music is universal. I hope you enjoy!

New Articles

2009-10-26T12:12:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since my last blog post, and I apologize. I wanted to share my articles for this upcoming week's bulletin with you. I hope you enjoy them.
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Good morning, saint! Did you know that’s what you are? You are a saint. When we hear the word saint, we often think about the Catholic versions, drawn on an icon or worn around the neck. We think about pious individuals, men and women, known for their faith, devotion, and help. This men and women displayed amazing faith, and they were rewarded and remembered by being beatified.

Yet that is not how the word is used in the New Testament at all! Rather, anyone who has put on Christ is called a saint. The term ‘αγιος (hagios) is the word that Paul uses when he writes to the various churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus,the faithfulin Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 1:1)

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God… to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 1:1)

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons…” (Philippians 1:1)

A saint isn’t some perfect, pious, holy individual acknowledged for their miracles and good works; a saint is anyone who has put on Christ in baptism and is being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Today is All Saints Day, a day to remember the saints. So look around you, and see all of the saints. Pray for them, encourage them, remember them throughout this week. We are the Hagioi, the saints of God, and we are being transformed and sanctified every day. God bless you, saint of God!

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What matters most to you on this earth? What is your most prized possession? I know, I know, many of you are thinking that you aren’t that attached to your stuff, that they are just earthly possessions that fade away. But let’s be honest; each of us feels attached to something. Maybe it is your car; you spend a lot of time shining it and taking care of it, and you would be devastated if it was damaged. Maybe it is your family; you put a lot of time into your relationships and caring for one another. Maybe it is your home; you spend every Saturday getting it just right, mopping the floors, cutting the grass, straightening the house. Maybe it is your time; you value your little bit of free time each week, away from the stresses of work and the demands of your daily schedule… Each of us has something that we are attached to, that it would be hard for us to give up.

What is the Kingdom of God worth to you? Is it worth giving up your most prized possessions? Is it worth giving up some relationships? Is it worth giving up your life?

As Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, he describes it as the most valuable possession available to humanity. He calls it a “hidden treasure” and a “pearl of great price.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

It is more precious than the treasures of the world, and it is more wonderful than silver or gold. It costs us everything, and yet leaves us fulfilled and satisfied. It might even cost us our relationships with our family and our friends. When Jesus tells his disciples about counting the cost for following him, he tells them, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” In a similar circumstance, Luke tells them that if they do not consider Christ before their own families, they cannot be his disciples.

What is the Kingdom of God worth to you? Is it worth your time, your fortune, your relationships, your possessions? What are you willing to give up for the Kingdom of God? It costs you everything, yet promises everything in return.

Crosses and Public Land

2009-10-08T10:12:00.002-05:00

On the outskirts of the Mojave National Preserve sits a 5ft tall cross, originally erected in 1943 to honor fallen WWII soldiers on private land. The land was acquired from the landowner earlier this decade, and now sits at the forefront of a national debate.

A recent USA Today article argued that any form of religious expression on public government property should be expressly forbidden. He argued that Thomas Jefferson meant for the total separation of church and state, and this cross is defiant of that divide. The real issue in the Supreme Court case, argued earlier this week, is that a Forest Services worker was denied the opportunity to erect a Buddhist shrine next to the cross. He argued that it was religious discrimination, and thus must be removed.

As I read the responses to the article in this morning's paper, I was struck by many of the comments. There were a number of arguments that "Religion is a mythological premise that has absolutely no basis in reality." Another commentator argued that religion and state should be separate, arguing that there was a law in Colonial America that allowed the death penalty after three Sunday absences from church. Thus, church and state should be separate. (No matter how hard I look, I cannot find that law on the books. People were jailed for missing church, but I cannot find anyone who was actually killed. If you know of an instance, please let me know.)

I think the argument is intriguing. No one argues that Arlington National Cemetery is a religious institution. Thousands of soldiers are buried under white crosses at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France, and yet no one is up in arms about "religious persecution." Scripture from Isaiah is written on the side of the United Nations building, yet Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and secular nations still send their delegates there as representatives.

This case is not about religious persecution, discrimination, or proselytizing. It is about the desecration of a war memorial that honors the fallen soldiers of WWII. What if I decided that the Korean War or Vietnam War memorials were offensive because of their offensive references to Asians of Korean or Vietnamese decent? What if I deemed the Iwo Jima Memorial that overlooks the Potomac as sexist, because of only the presence of men on the bronze statue (ignoring the OBVIOUS phallic symbol that is present!)

We get totally bent out of shape over the simplest things. Should he have been permitted to erect a Buddhist shrine on public land? Well, possibly. Does the cross function as a religious worship focal point? If so, then yes. If not, then get over it.

Backwards World

2009-09-30T11:13:00.002-05:00

I have come to a conclusion: We live in a backwards world.

I recently was sitting in a local bookstore when I overheard this phrase from the mouth of a teenager walking past me with her boyfriend: "I would rather go to hell! It sounds like more fun..."

Wow! What a depressing statement! This just proves to us that the hellfire and damnation idea won't fly any more; people would rather go to hell than heaven! We live in a world that often values the opposite of what we value. I believe our world is backwards now. Up has become down and down has become up, and we live a a world of confusion invented by the Cheshire Cat.

Think of it this way: What was once right has now become wrong, while what was once wrong has now been accepted as right.

Sex before marriage used tobe shameful; now "kids will be kids." As Bristol Palin reminded us, "You can't expect teens to not have sex! They are gonna do it..."
Christianity and Christians were seen in respect. Even if people didn't agree with us they at least respected our moral code. Now we are seen as hateful, intolerant, and evil.
Liberals can push for their agenda, but when conservatives do the same thing it is seen as hate-mongering.
When I was young we had a moment of silence each day in school. You could pray, think, zone out, whatever, but it was there. Now it is "unconstitutional," and a violation of First Amendment rights.
According to our society, there is no such thing as absolute truth. (Well, don't ask a scientist or accountant...) Truth is relative. For the first time in Western history and thought, nothing can be determined or believed to be true. It is all subjective

Can you see now why we are backwards? What was once regarded as truth is now regarded as evil. What was once right is now wrong, and what was once respected is now held in disdain.

Welcome to the Rabbit Hole.

Truth and truth

2009-09-29T10:12:00.002-05:00

I want to continue a thought I began a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to get back to it, but things have been HECTIC with all the various things that have come up.

I think we are happy settling for little-t truth these days. As we are constantly bombarded and reminded by our culture, all truth is relative. Your truth may not be my truth, and vice versa. Yet a problem seems to exist within these mantras: universal truth does seem to exist.

For example:
1. Every culture in the world believes that murder is wrong. Now, the interpretation of murder is different in each culture, but every culture agrees that murder is wrong. In some states in the United States, we execute a person for the vicious murder of another person. We call this justifiable execution. War against enemy combatants is called "the elimination of a target or threat." In many African tribes, murder is reserved for people of one's own tribe. If you kill someone outside of the tribe that isn't murder, because that individual isn't a real person.

2. Child rape is wrong. Every culture in the world values their children and wants no harm to come to them. Each culture has a moral rule against child rape. Some cultures tend to ignore their own rules (tribes of the Trobriand islands, some Afghan tribes, etc.) But most people believe that taking the innocence of a child is wrong.

Morality isn't subjective or totally culturally driven. There are universal standards that exist. Thus, not all truth can be relative; some things are universal.

Some would point to the inconsistencies between the two aforementioned rules as proof that morality is relative. Each culture calls things differently and has their own inherent rules... Thus, isn't it all relative to their experience.

I would argue that they are making a little-t truth out of a Big-T Truth. God said, "Do not murder." Yet it seems to be the second sin committed by mankind. Cain tried to justify his actions, just as cultures try to justify their own thinking. The Truth gets ignored for the truth. (Yes, the words and capitalization are intentional...) Just because we distort Truth doesn't mean that that Truth doesn't exist.

Truth is universal, applying across time and space. Yet there is a place for interpretation within our own cultural contexts. "Do not commit adultery" can now apply to internet pornography. Jesus' appeal to turn the other cheek can apply to nuclear proliferation or economic recessions. These Truths are universal, and yet we are called to apply them in our own circumstances.

Little-t truth should be the application of Big-T Truth; yet so often we allow it instead to replace it.

What Is Truth?

2009-09-01T10:57:00.004-05:00

In John 18, Jesus stands in judgment before Pilate and speaks these words: “My kingdom is not of this world…You are right in saying that I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate’s response is pretty telling: “What is truth?”

I want to start there tonight, because the idea of truth is the foundation for everything that we are going to do.

So… What is truth? And how do we know?

Postmodern thought tells us that there’s no such thing as objective truth. It simply doesn’t exist. How many of you have ever heard the phrase, “Well, they may be true for you but it isn’t necessarily true for me”? Postmodern thought has made truth relative. Truth is no longer based on the objective study of facts and information; instead, truth is about what makes us happy. What is true for one person isn’t necessarily true for anyone else.

In 2005, Stephen Colbert introduced a new word to the American populace: truthiness. His argument is that truthiness is anything we want to be true, regardless of the facts. Truthiness is something we know from our gut, by feelings of intuition, without the backing of facts and opinions. Colbert states: “It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that's not the case anymore. Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It's certainty.” He goes on to say, “So, what is important? What you want to be true, or what is true? Truthiness is 'What I say is right, and [nothing] anyone else says could possibly be true.'

It's not only that I feel it to be true, but that I feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there's a selfish quality.”

Colbert also created another word: Wikiality. Reality that is edited by the masses. “Any user can edit any entry, and if enough people believe it then it becomes true.” He encouraged his readers to log onto Wikipedia and edit the Elephant entry to contain the erroneous fact, “Elephants are reproducing at a three times greater rate than they did before.” And people believed it!

We live in a world that likes truthiness more than truth. We prefer Wikiality to reality. As long as we want to believe it, than it really is that way. But there’s one small problem. Wikiality is based on group consensus, not on fact. Group consensus told us that blacks were not real human beings and, thus, could be enslaved. Group consensus told us that it was a good idea to put Japanese Americans into containment camps during WWII, and Arab Americans into internment camps in 2001. Groupthink is not reality; it is Wikiality. The difference between truth and truthiness is facts.

So, what is truth? How do we know? Is it what people tell us? Is it what we instinctively feel? Do we find it in our textbooks, professors, or friends? What is truth, and how do we discern TRUTH from FALSEHOOD?

It is a question of epistemology: “How do we know what we know?”

The problem isn’t just in determining between truth and lies; it is bigger. Sometimes we have to determine between truth and Truth.

Let me see if I can explain. When I was growing up and taking science class, we were taught that the smallest complete particle was the atom. Although it was made up of different parts, the atom was the smallest complete particle that couldn’t be divided down any more. But now we know about the existence of neutrons (complete particles), quarks, etc. Was my science teacher lying to me?

Or compare it to the way life came into existence. My biology textbook told me that scientists had recreated the exact conditions of the earth at the beginning and were able to create amino acids from goop. What they never bothered to tell me was that the earth has now been proven to NOT consist of the very atmospheric conditions that they postulated; yet the ideas were still thought of as fact.

Now I am not saying that these things aren’t true. They do seem to be truth, at least when they taught them to me. But these truths are changing and modifying based on new information we are learning and receiving. This truth is open to debate and change. We are constantly changing our truth.

But I believe that there is a greater Truth out there. Let’s call it Big-T Truth. This is truth that is never changing; it is non-negotiable. Things like: I exist; I think and feel; I need community to achieve my potential. These are Big-T Truths that even the secular, or pagan, world would agree with.

But I think there are greater Big-T Truths out there. Things like,

God exists.
God created.
God’s love for you is limitless.
God’s love for you is never-ending.
Jesus lived.
Jesus died for your sins
Jesus is resurrected and will return.
You have a chance at eternal life; you can’t earn it, but you can receive it.

These are the Big-T Truths that never end. They won’t change. God will ALWAYS love you, regardless of how bad you screw up. God created the universe by his power. Jesus lives and is returning. These things will never change!

How do we discern this big-T Truth? Can we trust that these things are, indeed, true? Well, through both a priori truth and a posteriori truth. We know it through reason, through our understanding of the world. Also through the knowledge of others who came before us, and our understanding of their thoughts, And we understand it because of our own experience, our interaction with these thoughts and realities.

What are more of these Big-T Truths? (Please give me feedback.)

More tomorrow!

New Chris Tomlin video

2009-08-07T18:40:00.001-05:00

I had never heard this one before, but I really loved it. I hope you enjoy!

Wedding Slideshow

2009-07-30T15:43:00.004-05:00

Hey guys, this is a video I made for our wedding. As many of you know, I married my best friend on July 18th. This video was shown at our wedding reception, and I hope that you guys enjoy it here. (Sorry about the nudity... It's just a baby butt, after all.)

I hope everyone is doing well. Starting Monday the posts will become frequent again!

A Theology of Worship

2009-07-07T11:52:00.003-05:00

In Luke 5, Jesus sees Peter cleaning his nets and asks him to put his boat into the water. Through this encounter with Jesus, Peter hauls in an enormous catch of fish. But Peter’s response is what is most important in this story. When he realizes the power and glory of Jesus, he begins to worship: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Jesus reaffirms his faith, and then gives him a new purpose: fishing for men.

At its core, Luke 5 demonstrates true worship. Often we are too tired from work, too preoccupied with other things, or too wrapped up in our own problems to truly encounter God. Yet he has a fundamental way of showing us his glory in the midst of these difficulties. As we encounter the glory and the presence of God we become aware of our own insufficiencies and our unworthiness. When confronted with Jesus, Peter cries out because of his sin. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is ushered into the throne room of God, where he beholds God’s glory and might. Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!” (Isaiah 6:5) Through worship we encounter the glory and presence of God, and we are reminded of our smallness and our unworthiness when confronted by his awesomeness.

What amazes me most about these stories, however, is God’s response. In Luke 5, Jesus redefines Peter’s direction and gives him a mission, calling him to be a disciple and a “fisher of men.” In Isaiah 6, God cleanses Isaiah’s sin and gives him a new calling. Isaiah’s life is transformed, and he emerges from this experience as a prophet for the LORD. Our encounters with God should fundamentally transform us, reminding us of our sin and yet reminding us of the grace that God has bestowed upon us sinners. And through this encounter our lives should be fundamentally changed, and we should come away with a new purpose or a redefined vision for our lives. Worship had the power to transform us, to define us, and to shape us into the image of Christ.

We lose sight of what worship is, however, if we simply confine it to the Sunday experience. Worship is not a one day, once-a-week affair; rather, it is a way of life. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds them, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, emphasis mine). This passage follows Paul’s admonition to live in harmony with one another and to worship God with gratitude and thanksgiving. He then reminds them that every aspect of their lives can be worship to God.

Worship is not just about what happens in the corporate assembly. Instead, worship becomes a way of life that defines who we are. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1). Worship is a lifestyle. Through spiritual disciplines (praying, fasting, reading, celebrating, etc.), our hearts are aligned closer to the heart of God. We worship the God who created and sustains us, and we begin to listen to God’s prompting in our lives. These disciplines then prepare us for the corporate assembly, where we worship God together and encourage others to do the same.

The danger in worship is that it often becomes selfish. We must always remember one thing: Worship is not about us! Worship is given to God, because he is the only one worthy of praise. Worship is not about our preferences or our desires. Instead, worship is about praising the LORD of Hosts! We must lay aside our own personal preferences in order to worship God, because it isn’t about the songs we like or the length of the prayers. Through worship, we praise God for who he is and what he has done. And through corporate worship we encourage one another in our spiritual journeys. Our own desires rank below these other two facets of worship. Worship brings us into communion with God and fellowship with one another. Worship allows us to fulfill God’s mission in the world, to be with his people.

God’s ultimate desire is to be in relationship with his people. Through their sin, Adam and Eve removed the perfect communion we experienced with God. The rest of the Bible is the story of God restoring that perfect communion through Israel, through Jesus, through his Spirit and through the church, his Body. Worship, whether corporate or individual, gives us a glimpse of this perfect communion. No matter how great the singing or the impact that worship has on us, it is nothing more than a glimpse in a dim mirror. Rather, it reminds us that a time is coming when we will experience the full glory of God. The time is coming when we will gather with the whole heavenly host to worship God in word and song, to partake in the final banquet, and to live in perfect communion with God.

Our worship today exalts God and humbles us. Through our worship, and through our individual spiritual disciplines, we are reminded of the greatness of God and our own sinfulness. Yet we also are given hope, because God has cleansed us and made us his own. And our worship empowers us with a vision and a mission to reach the world for His glory.

*** Please do not use without the express consent of the author.***

African Rain Storm

2009-07-06T12:30:00.001-05:00

I just thought this was really cool! I hope you enjoy it!

~Daniel

Death of the King

2009-07-02T15:10:00.003-05:00

For those of you who didn’t know, Michael Jackson passed away last week. “The King of Pop” and his music touched millions of people around the world, from every nation and language. He had the ability to inspire and drive people, and his songs have defined culture and music for decades. His legacy changed the world of music, and people have never been the same.

Millions have mourned his passing, and the news media is filled with stories about the King. It is estimated that his funeral procession will stretch over 100 miles from Neverland Ranch to Los Angeles. As I listened to one news interview last night, I heard a young woman exclaim through her tears, “Michael Jackson will live on, because he will live on inside of our hearts… The music will keep his memory alive!” The word mourns the loss of the King of Pop.

Two thousand years ago another King died. His teaching had the ability to inspire and drive people, and his words have defined culture and life for millennia. His life and his ministry personally touched the life of thousands, but his legacy has changed the history of the world.

News media didn’t cover his death; it was just another crucifixion in a backwater province of

the Empire. His death was attended by many, but his funeral was conducted by two. His crucifixion was mourned by some and mocked by many. They nailed a sign above his head stating, “The King of the Jews,” but through his death he became the King of Kings. He doesn’t just live on in our hearts; he was resurrected and he lives at the right hand of God. And he lives in our hearts through his teachings and through his Spirit.

Remember this audacious thought: We believe in a Savior who died but wouldn't stay dead! God raised him from death so that we, too, might have eternal life. His death has brought me life, and so I must live for him!

2009-06-06T17:16:00.003-05:00

Hey guys! I have a lot of things to share about LST after we get back. But for now I want to share two things.
First, check out the team blog at hawksforchrist.blogspot.com

Second, we went to Ica yesterday, which is a town 4 hours south of Lima. Just outside of Ica re huge sand dunes that are a part of the local desert. We went sandboarding while we were there. Check out this video!

The Kingdom of God

2009-05-18T12:56:00.003-05:00

Last night I had a discussion with my FriendSpeak reader on the Kingdom of God. For those of you who don't know, FriendSpeak uses the story of Luke in English to both teach people how to speak Ebglish better and to introduce them to the Bible. My FriendSpeak reader is a visiting professor from Korea doing post-doctoral work at the University of Kansas. His English skills are amazing, and I am awed by his love for God. He loves pursuing new knowledge.

Yesterday's conversation lasted 35+ minutes as we discussed the coming of the Kingdom of God. He wanted to know what the Bible said about the Kingdom. Here is what I wrote this morning. I would love your insight. What did I say right? Did I get any of it wrong? Please, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

__________

The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is an enigma. Throughout the New Testament we are told various things about the Kingdom. It seems to be both a present reality and a future orientation. The Kingdom of God is better translated as “the reign of God,” where God’s rule is established.[1] This takes place in the present, in our own lives, as we seek to follow the way of Jesus Christ and live by his example and his teaching. As we become more like Christ, the reign of God becomes better established in our own lives. This is also a future reality: God’s reign will not ultimately triumph until the end of time, “when every knee will bow on earth and under the earth, and ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

Theologian Stanley Grenz puts it this way. “The kingdom of God is that order of perfect peace, righteousness, justice, and love that God gives to the world. This gift is eschatological (“at the end of time”), for it comes in an ultimate way only at the renewal of the world consummated at Jesus’ return. But the power of the kingdom is already at work, for it breaks into the present from the future. Therefore, we experience the kingdom in a partial yet vital manner en route to the great future day.”[2] In essence, the coming of the Kingdom of God creates a new way of life for us today. Because our lives are ruled by our belief in Jesus Christ, we begin to influence and change the world because of our faith. We put the Great Commission into action: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28). Our hope is to help others becomes citizens in the Kingdom of God.

In Mark 1, Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15).[3] This takes place after the temptation of Jesus in the desert.

Luke, however, goes a slightly different direction. Luke makes Jesus’ first discussion about Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:18-21). Lulke seems to equate the Kingdom of God with people’s physical and spiritual lives being healed. When God reigns, things are made right and people are made whole.

Jesus has a bunch of different parables about the Kingdom of God:

The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-, Matt. 13:1-15; Luke 8:4-10): The Kingdom of God grows as a man sows the “seed” (the Gospel).

The Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-34; Mt. 13; Luke 13): The Kingdom is like a mustard seed; it starts out small, then grows big.

The Parable of the Yeast (Luke 13:20-21)

The Parable of the Priceless Pearl and the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46): The Kingdom is worth everything you own; you must be willing to part with everything in order to receive the kingdom.

The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-52): The Kingdom of Heaven will gather everyone together, and then will weed through the good fish and the bad fish. Jesus tells us that the final fulfillment of the Kingdom will come at the end of time, when the Son of Man returns.

There seems to be both a present aspect of the Kingdom and a future aspect of the Kingdom:

Luke 17:20 – “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is withinyou.”

- The Kingdom of God is tied to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 gives us a clear example. The Holy Spirit is our seal, our marker that guarantees us a place in the final Kingdom (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30)

- This begins on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and continues on through believers today.

We are also told that the Kingdom of God has already been brought about:

Luke 9:27 – “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 21:31-32 – “Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

In summary, the Kingdom has both a present and a future orientation. God’s rule exists in our lives because we have given our lives over to him. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us and guides/counsels us on how to live. By teaching others about God and Christ, we help spread the Kingdom in the world, because others will accept him and receive the Spirit as well. However, the Kingdom will not become a full reality until Jesus returns and the world sees the glory of God.

I hope this helps. I have enjoyed writing it for you. I would love to discuss it with you more!

In Christ,
Daniel

[1] This seems to be the best use of the Greek term basileia (βασιλεια).

[2] Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, Eerdmans: 1994, p. 22.

[3] Matthew makes a similar statement from Jesus in Matthew 4:17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. Matthew equates heaven to the place where God rules as sovereign.

How Church of Christ Are You?

2009-05-15T11:27:00.003-05:00

"How many Church of Christ members does it take to change a lightbulb?"
Answer: "CHANGE! We don't do that, because we are always right!"

Well, I just took the "How Church of Christ Are You?" Quiz on Facebook, and I wanted to share my results:

Apostate Change Agent
You have forsaken your first love and God has removed your candlestick. Your itching ears have turned you against sound doctrine and you have given up true worship. It would have been better for a millstone to be tied around your neck and cast into the sea then for you to lead others astray with your false teaching. You just can't figure out why the Church of Christ across town shuns your congregation and you often find your church talked about in brotherhood papers and websites. You read books by Max Lucado and your favorite preachers are Rubel Shelley, Mike Cope, and Jeff Walling. When people ask what church you attend you wince and say "Church of Christ - but it's not like what you are thinking". Yes, you have fun at church with your small groups, hand clapping, praise teams, and Christmas musicals but you won't be smiling and clapping in HELL.

Wow! I had no idea I was so liberal. Go me!

A couple of points of discussion:
1. Now, I read a little Max Lucado when I need mind-numbing Christian fodder. I think Ruebel Shelly is just fine (but they misspelled his name); Mike Cope is no longer preaching; and Jeff Walling and I have had dinner together.

2. Yes, I was a part of a praise team. I even lead one for a while. They help people hear the parts, expecially on new songs. Plus, really well-done worship can be a HUGE benefit to the entire congregation, many of whom AREN'T SINGING ANYWAY!

3. I don't mind clapping, but I am not a huge fan beacuse most people don't know how to do it. I love small group house churches; the first century church did, so I might as well also.

4. I think I got this category because (a) I am not concerned with the name on the outside of the building; (b) I think women have a bigger role than we have given them; not preaching, but also not reserved for craddle roll only; (c) I am not concerned with typical C-of-C issues like food in the building, one/many cups, FULL immersion (where the hand floats up), clapping, big C or little c in our name, or even instrumental music. (Yes, that makes me an Apostate!) I am concerned, however, with people actually living out their faith Monday through Saturday rather than simply paying it lip-service on Sundays with things like, "All ___________ (fill in the blank with any other denomination) are goin to hell," or "Church of Christ is the only right way." That is what matters to me!

So, think of it this way. Am I an apostate change agent? Absolutely, if this is what it means. We need change in order to reach our culture. If we don't change, we become just as relevant to our world as the Amish. They are distinctive, they live out their faith, they make nice quilts... No one really wants to become Amish.

Now, I am not advocating complete and total rejection of who we are and what makes us distinctive. I like a capella music; I love our adherence to the Lord's Supper; I like that the Bible is our only authority. But come on people, let's figure out what matters and what doesn't. Our churches would be much better, and more relevant, places.

Rockappella

2009-05-14T15:00:00.001-05:00

How many of you remember these guys? From their singing on "Carmen San Diego" to this commercial, let's throw it back to the early '90's!

Weak and Strong

2009-05-13T10:42:00.003-05:00

Last week I taught a class about the weak and the strong from Romans 14-15.

In Romans 14, Paul is talking about the difference between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. This has really been the backdrop of the entire book. The Jewish Christians had formed the foundation of the Romans church throughout its history. We find Jews from Rome present on the day of Pentecost, cluing us in that maybe God used them to originally found the church. (Sorry to all of the Catholics who think Peter did it; you are wrong.)

In 49 AD, however, the Roman Emperor Claudius expelled all of the Jews from Rome. Seutonius tells us that there were fights concerning the teachings of "Chrestus," which caused such an uproar that the Emperor just decided to sack them all. [“He expelled all of the Jews from Rome over the instigation of Chrestus…” (Claudius 25.4)] This edict applied to both Jews and Jewish Christians; there was no difference at the time. Acts tells us that Priscilla and Aquila came to Corinth because they had been kicked out of Rome (Acts 18). When Claudius dies in 54 AD, his edict is null and void. Thus, the Jews begin to return home. But when they returned to church they found it vastly different than how they had left it. Gentiles had moved into positions of power. They were not celebrating the Passover, adhering to the Sabbath, or doing any of the other Jewish practices that had been a part of the Roman church before.

The Jewish Christians are at odds with the Gentile Christians over what is necessary. They feel that certain days should be considered holy. They refuse to eat food that has been sacrificed to idols (really the only butcher shops in the city of Rome were attached to the temples). Thus, the Agape feasts were broken, hollow affairs in which the two groups did not associate. It was into this Sitz im Lieben that Paul writes about the "Weak" and the "Strong."

The Jewish Christians were decidedly Jewish: they still kept the Sabbath; they celebrated Jewish feast days; they kept the kosher laws; they circumcised their children. The Gentile Christians were decidedly Gentile: they did NOT keep the Jewish laws; they did not worry about circumcision; they ate whatever they wanted. Both groups thought that they were the stronger Christians.

Here is what Paul tells us: "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

Paul argues that the Jewish Christians are the "weaker" group. Paul, the "Jew of Jews, the Pharisee of Pharisees," argues that the Gentile Christians are the stronger. Yet he also says this:
"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Although they were the "Stronger" Christians, they were supposed to do whatever was necessary for those whose faith was "weaker." That is what it means to be a "Strong" Christian!

Who are the stronger Christians among us? The truth is, we all believe that we are the stronger Christians. Each of us believes that we are right. Our way of doing things is best, our traditions are the correct ones, our church is THE CHURCH and all of the others are wrong. It's what we believe!

So what does this mean for us today? What are your thoughts?

100 and Still Going Strong

2009-05-13T10:40:00.001-05:00

One hundredth post! What a milestone! I have been on Blogger since April of 2008, so I guess that means that I post, on average, about once every 3.7 days. Go me!

Just wanted to share a milestone with you. Here's another one: wedding in 66 days! Whoo hoo!

Anticipation

2009-05-01T11:46:00.001-05:00

As a young child, my life was full of anticipation. I couldn’t wait for Christmas to come or for my birthday to roll around. I remember being eager to see my dad at the end of the day when he came home from work. I remember I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could have a job, drive, and do anything I wanted to do. Everything seemed like a new adventure, and every day had something to look forward to. I lived my life anticipating what lay in the future.

Many of us anticipate things in our lives today. We cannot wait for summer to come. We cannot wait to graduate college. We can’t wait to start our new career, buy a new house, or drive a new car. I know that I cannot wait to get married this summer. Our lives are full of anticipation. We are eagerly awaiting the day when we will achieve all that we have wanted to achieve.

How many of us feel that way about heaven? Can you eagerly wait to get there? Is it something you look forward to with anticipation?

I have heard that as you get older you begin to anticipate heaven more. Life is like a vacation: as it begins you love every minute of it, but as it goes on you can’t wait to get back home. So don’t feel bad if you don’t anticipate heaven right now. But we do need to be ready for when it comes. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five of them, however, did not anticipate his coming and forgot to bring oil. They are eventually left out of the party. We must anticipate that God could return any moment, and live our lives in such a way that we are eagerly awaiting his coming.

I look forward to the day when heaven becomes a reality because of John’s vision in Revelation:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

What an amazing thought! Let’s live in anticipation for the day that God will make all things new.

What Does God Have In Store?

2009-04-29T10:38:00.002-05:00

Many of you know that I have been wrestling, trying to figure out what God has in store for my future. Over the last year I have dealt with incredible ups and downs: becoming engaged to the most wonderful woman (MAJOR up), and being discouraged in my work (major down). I keep wrestling, trying to figure out what God has in store for my future. Here's what I have figured out thus far:

I love leading worship. I get such joy out of praising God through song and helpipng others do the same. I find energy in helping people draw close to God through words, music, art, visuals, etc. It is something that I have grown to love, and something that I would love to do in the future.
I enjoy preaching and teaching. I love God's word, and I love helping others come to understand it better. I enjoy imparting God's word by sharing the things that I have discovered.
I want to reach people who have either (a) never heard the good news of Jesus, or (b) written him off because of the example of his followers. I am not sure if that means international mission work or church planting, but I do think it means NOT being a traditional pulpit minister (at least for a while.)
I don't do a good enough job reaching the lost. I have only had a few Bible studies with people who aren't "good church folk." I want to be challenged and challenged them. I long to hear people ask the REALLY important questions of life. I am just not sure how to reach those people at times.
I am easily frustrated. I don't want to be, but I get really frustrated by people who don't see things the way I do. Well, let me rephrase that. I get frustrated by people who have no vision. As long as you have a vision you are working to achieve, I won't be AS frustrated at you because you are moving with purpose towards a goal. However, I get insanely frustrated by those who are simply doing what they are doing because (a) they have always done it that way, (b) they are going through the motions because "it makes them feel better," or (c) it's the only "right way." In essence, I think God's people suffer from a lack of vision. We have gone blind because we don't care where we are going.
Relationships sustain me. I am so thankful for my friends who constantly support me, encourage me, challenge me. I am thankful for Megan, who loves me unconditionally and I strive to be a better man for her. I am thankful for a God who does the same: loves me unconditionally, but loves me to much to leave me how he found me.
I am not sure how long I can work/live/function/minister without a vision. Or when visions don't align.

Some of those things are positive, some negative, some neutral. It is simply what I am learning. I think God is constantly teaching us and guiding us through his Spirit. What are some of the things that God is teaching you?

What;s Your Illustration?

2009-04-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

If people were to look at your life today, what would they see? What would they think were the most important things in your life, the things that you believe or stand for? How is your illustration?

One of the things we are learning in our Let’s Start Talking training is that our lives serve as the illustration of God’s word. We bring the Word of God to life. Our words, our attitude, our actions… all serve as tools to illustrate the word of God. As followers of Christ our lives are to reflect his. As Peter tells us, we are called to walk in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). If we are following Christ, other people should see God’s glory in and through us.

Paul refers to this as our reflection of the glory of God: “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:16-18). Our goal is that our faces (and our lives) should reflect the beautiful glory of God.

Peter takes this one step further. We are called to reflect God’s glory so that the world will know the power and majesty of God. Our lives are called to be fundamentally different from the world around us. We are “aliens and strangers” to the world, people who look, act, and live differently than those we are living among. “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

We aren’t just called to be weird; we are called to be different so that the world will know the God whom we serve. So, what’s your illustration?

Question

2009-04-23T11:09:00.001-05:00

If you stopped talking about Jesus today, would anybody know the difference?

Cardboard Testimonies

2009-04-21T11:43:00.001-05:00

Isn't it amazing what God can do? What would your sign say?

From One Atheist Scuba Diver to Another: "I need some Ehrman!" (Think about it...)

2009-04-16T00:11:00.004-05:00

Steven Colbert has interviewed Bart Ehrman twice on his books. Enjoy these; I'd love to hear what you think of their discussions.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bart Ehrman

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bart Ehrman

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

The Red Sox and Angels are seeing red...

2009-04-15T11:28:00.003-05:00

The Boston Red Sox started the 2009 baseball season with high hopes and eager expectation. They have the second highest salary in baseball, a great group of starting pitchers, and a depth of talent. (Indeed, their bench players have higher salaries than most of the starting players with the KC Royals!)

Yet the Sox are a dismal 2-4 in the first six games of the season. The city of Boston is already in a meltdown, wondering if it is all just another wasted year. To top it all off, pitcher Josh Beckett has been suspended for six games by Major League Baseball for throwing the ball at the LA Angels' Bobby Abreu.

Abreu called for a time-out after Beckett wasted close to forty seconds on the mound (trying to scare the runner on second.) Beckett then threw the ball at Abreu's head. He claims it was an accident. However, when you watch the play Beckett immediately steps off the mound and begins to talk crap to Abreu 9who is being restrained by the umpire.) The benches clear as the Sox and the Angels get into a shouting/shoving match.

When the dust settled the game continued on. Beckett is outraged at his suspension, however, because he claims it was unintentional, and the worst punishment should go to the one who caused the biggest problem.

Want to know who called the biggest problem? Beckett! Here's why:
1) Don't throw the ball at a player's head. If you want a retaliation hit, hit them in the back or the side. Giving a player a concusion (or a brain hemorrhage, orblindness, etc) is NEVER a good idea. Any pitcher who intentionally hits another in the head out to be put in front of a firing squad of pitching machines. WITHOUT a helmet...

2) If you break Rule #1, never, never, NEVER walk towards the player you just tried to kill.

3) If you subsequently break Rule #1 AND Rule #2, you better be saying nothing but sweet things and apologies to the player you just tried to send to Lake Concussion. Never ever try to talk crap to the guy you just tried to bean. Seriously... the guy is carrying a huge club!

4) If the pitcher breaks Rule #1, then makes the mistake of breaking Rule #2, then decides he wants to start something, I believe we should nip this behavior in the bud. The umpire should get out of the way and allow the batter to beat the MESS out of the pitcher. Seriously, those guys are jerks and weanies anyway. AL pitchers don't even bat in the lineup! (They are afraid the opposing pitcher would retaliate, plus they all bat like 7 year old nails-just-painted whiny girls.) They deserve to have the crap beat out of them.

So Beckett, shut up and serve your suspension. In the weird world of baseball it means you are only missing one start. Get over it and grow up. If you are man enough to throw the ball at a fellow player you are man enough to take your punishment.

Acts 11-13

2009-04-14T16:16:00.003-05:00

This post is copied from the Hawks for Christ blog. Hope you enjoy it!
____________________

Hey guys, sorry it has been so long. I am posting 11-13 here, and 14 and 15 tomorrow, then we will be caught up. Again, sorry about the delay. Hope you are keeping up with your reading.

Acts 11:
I love the story of Barnabas, "The Son of Encouragement." Barnabas seems to have the gift of discernment and encouragement; he always seems to know those who have the best hearts and those who are truly seeking to follow God. Here's what we know about him: "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord." What an amazing thought! Barnabas was the one who spoke up for Paul before the disciples; he was the one sent to Antioch to encourage the new Christians and to teach them in their faith. And he was the one who brought Paul to Antioch to minister to the people there.

I hope I can be a Barnabas in the lives of other people.

Acts 12:
During this time we begin to see the church being truly persecuted. Herod gets in on the action, having the apostle James killed for his faith and jailing Peter. He surrounded him with soldiers, and yet God STILL managed to pull of a miraculous escape.

One of the things that always sticks out to me about this story is the actions of the church. Luke tells us that the church is gathered together praying for Peter's release. Yet when Peter shows up they are sure that he had died! Rather than believing their prayers worked, they instead think that the worst has happened!

Don't we sometimes pray like that too? I know I do. I pray that God will act, but then I try to explain it away when he actually does. It seems like I could have been an integral part of this church's ministry!

Acts 13:
How do you make decisions in your own life? How did you decide to go to KU? How did you decide what to major in? How do you know what God wants you to do in your life?

These are important questions to consider.

In Acts 13 we find the church in Antioch engaged in worship and fasting. It seems like this is a typical part of their practice. In the midst of their worship the Holy Spirit told them to send Paul and Barnabas out on a trip to spread the Gospel.

It doesn't seem like Paul and Barnabas are looking to leave; it doesn't even seem like the church is looking to send people out as missionaries. However, when the Holy Spirit speaks, they listen!

What do they do next? They continue to do what they were doing before! They continued to fast and pray about the Lord's decision, then they decided to obey. They blessed Paul and Barnabas and then sent them out to do the Lord's work.

I sometimes think that I refuse to listen to God's leading in my life. Sometimes I spend all of my time praying about the future and forget to listen for God to lead me!

Ultimately, however, I think God's guidance comes from a life of worship, fasting, and prayer. These practices don't seem to be new for the church; rather, they seem to be a part of their system of worship. I believe that our hearts become attuned to the heart of God as we worship him and seek to honor and glorify him.

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

2009-04-11T14:22:00.000-05:00

We follow a Savior who died but wouldn’t stay dead!

Have you ever thought about how amazing the resurrection is? It is shocking, crazy, and hard to believe. But it is true! Think about how Jesus’ followers felt. They watched him die, they buried him in the tomb, and when they went to take care of his body it was GONE! Mark tells us the women ran away scared! Matthew describes the scene:
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
Those who experienced the resurrection were frightened, amazed, struck with awe, dumbfounded, scared witless, worshipful… Actually, all of the above all at once! But I think we have grown so used to the story that it has stopped truly shocking us.

I have had the opportunity to see people hear the Gospel message for the first time. I was teaching in Papua New Guinea and told the basic Gospel story: God sent his Son, Jesus, to teach us how to live to honor God, but people didn’t like his message so they had him killed. I watched the sadness in the crowd as we talked about the death of Jesus and his burial. I needed to stop to get a drink of water when one of the listeners spoke up: “NO! That can’t be the end! I know you didn’t come all this way to tell us a story about how a man died.” So I was able to tell them the REST of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say.) As I told them about the resurrection they began to smile and clap, and two or three started crying out of joy. The entire group was moved by the story of the resurrection.

It is powerful. It is amazing. It is ridiculous. It is the hinge of history. It is an act of God. Think about it: We follow a Savior who died but wouldn’t stay dead! That is the message of hope that the world needs to hear. And that is the wonderful event that we are celebrating today.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Easter (Part 1)

2009-04-09T12:15:00.002-05:00

Worship

2009-04-08T11:44:00.009-05:00

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise...

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands.

you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air and the fish of the sea,
all that swim in the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Acts in April

2009-04-07T13:18:00.003-05:00

Happy Holy Week! May God bless you in your journey towards his kingdom.

I am sorry that it was been so long since my last post. I apologize for not being more forthcoming in my blog postings.

Recently, Hawks for Christ has been reading through the book of Acts together. Our event, entitled "Acts in April," is a chance to read through the founding of the early church and discover our purpose and mission in the Kingdom. Each day we read one chapter from the book of Acts and discuss it in a blog setting. We have had a great discussion over our readings so far; to read more see the blog.

I wanted to bring over today's post and put it here for you to read. I hope you enjoy it. Please fill me in with any thoughts you might have.

God's blessings on you today!
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One man is hauled in front of the Sanhedrin on trumped up charges. He is accused of blasphemy and wanting to destroy the Temple of the LORD. The religious leaders are afraid that he (and the movement he is a part of) will overthrow their power and bring about a new religious revolution.

Sound familiar? This sounds a lot like the story of Jesus, which played out this week two thousand years ago. Jesus is hauled up in front of the religious leaders, who have been looking for a way to kill him for years. They accuse him of blasphemy, present false witnesses (a breaking of the Ten Commandments), and then arrange to have him murdered (yet another break with the 10 Commandments.)

And the exact same thing happens to Stephen. Stephen is a man full of the Holy Spirit who serves the church in Jerusalem. The religious leaders are afraid of the miracles he is doing in the name of Christ, and they arrange to have him killed.

Stephen sums up the story of the Old Testament in his sermon. As he traces the history of the people of Israel, he talks about all of the times they were "hard-hearted," turning their backs on the LORD and his messengers.

What really riles them up, however, is the fact that he downplays the Temple. "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?' says the LORD. 'Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?'"

This totally ticks off the religious elite, who are holding Stephen based on his blasphemy of the Temple. Then Stephen attacks their stubbornness, and reminds them that the Jews killed most of their prophets, and now they've killed the Son of God. At this point, they have him killed.

One of the things that stands out to me in this passage, however, is who was there. Saul (later known as Paul) is standing there giving his approval. After his conversion, Paul comes to the city of Athens and looks up at the Parthenon, a temple to Athena (and the other gods of Greece.) As he speaks to the Areopagus in the shadow of the Parthenon, he tells them: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." Wow, that sounds a lot like Stephen's statements in Acts 7. Isn't it amazing to think that Paul, the man who holds their coats while they stone Stephen, takes Stephen's words to heart in Acts 17 and uses them in a sermon of his own?

Isn't God good, that he can use tragic events to bring about amazing consequences?

Ambassadors for Christ

2009-03-20T15:13:00.005-05:00

In all of the foreign countries I have lived or worked in, I have always loved getting to learn new things, eat new foods, and experience new traditions and cultures. But, let’s face it: when you are on your own and away from home, sometimes you simply get homesick. You long for the taste of a real American hamburger or to hear someone speaking English properly. I still remember the day I was feeling very homesick (and slightly lost) in Berlin, Germany, when I came across the American embassy. It was great to see the Stars and Stripes flying overhead, to see American Marines, and to know that that there was a little beacon of hope for me in a big, confusing place. It offers us a little piece of comfort and home.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul calls each of us an “ambassador for Christ.” He reminds us that our goal is to offer comfort, safety, and witness for Christ all around the world.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us…”

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to spread God’s agenda and initiative throughout the world. We are called to be his presence, his shelter in the storms of life. We stand as a beacon of hope and home for those who feel lost in the world.

Why are we Christ’s ambassadors? Well, if Christ has changed our lives and made us new creations, then we should want the same for other people. Our mission is to share the saving grace that we have received through Jesus to everyone we meet. Our job is to make God’s appeal to their hearts, to draw all men to himself. What an amazing task we have been given!

So, Ambassadors, get out there and make a difference! God would have us do no less...

Church: What's the point?

2009-03-17T14:37:00.007-05:00

Why does the church exist?

Now, how many of you think I am off my rocker for even posing this question? You can be honest, it won’t hurt my feelings. The question is important, because we live in an age where people are giving up on “organized religion” for personal spirituality or spiritual growth. Many people are simply walking away from the church. Why does this group exist at all? Why did Jesus and his disciples set up a church to continue on his tradition after he had left?

Many people simply write off church as non-essential. It is too hypocritical, too long, too boring. (Important: These are not my feelings, they are the ones statisticians report.) They see church as simply being one more thing to add to their already-too-large list of activities; something’s gotta give, and it often becomes church. So we are left to wonder, Why does the church exist in the first place? Is it even necessary?

I think Luke clues us in to the answer. Acts covers the foundation of the church and its actions for the Kingdom of God. Luke begins the book of Acts with this thought: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up into heaven…” (Acts 1:1-2). Luke’s choice of words is very important. Listen to them again: “… I wrote about all the Jesus had begun to do and to teach…” The rest of Acts is the continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth.

It’s no wonder that Paul picks up on this idea in his own writings. Paul refers to the church as the Soma Christou, the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 3-5; Col. 3). We are all called to be part of the body of Christ. A hand cannot grasp, an ear cannot hear, and feet cannot walk on their own; these actions are worthless without a body to make them whole. Body parts are just that: parts of the Body. They have no use outside of that function. So too are Christians: we need to be connected to a body of believers in order to grow and live our full potential.

Why is the church important? Because we carry on the work of Jesus in the world. Is being part of a church easy? Rarely. Is it worth it? Usually. Is it what Christ would have us do? Absolutely.

Faith and Doubt

2009-03-06T12:26:00.002-06:00

Can we have doubt and still have faith? The question has plagued many a good Christian for years. If I have doubts, do I still have faith? Does God understand and still love me even when I wonder about his existence, his goodness, his mercy?

In essence, is it ok to doubt?

One of the people I admire most is Mother Teresa. She spent her lifetime caring for the sick, destitute, and distraught in the slums of Calcutta, India. We admire her for her beautiful faith and her adherence to Christ. Yet here's what's amazing: Mother Teresa lived in a sea of doubt.

She penned these words to Christ at the request of her confessor:

Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love — and now become as the most hated one — the one — You have thrown away as unwanted — unloved. I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone ... Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony.
So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them — because of the blasphemy — If there be God — please forgive me — When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me — and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart.

Imagine how she must have felt. She was surrounded by abject poverty and debilitating disease. She lived in the midst of incredible pain. As she viewed the world, she was forced to wonder if God existed. Yet she never wavered, never gave up hope. She lived out Paul's admonition: hardpressed but not crushed, beat down but not in despair...

Can we have doubt and still be a Christian? Absolutely!

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Mark 9. In Mark 9 a man brings his demon possessed son to the disciples. He is at the end of his rope; his son has been this way since he was born. He has no hope because nothing else has ever worked. And even Jesus' disciples can't drive out the demon.

The father comes to Jesus as his last hope. Maybe, just maybe, he will be able to do something. He asks if Jesus can, will he heal his son. Jesus replies, "If you can? Everything is possible to he who believes!"

The father's reply is my favorite: "I do believe! But help me in my unbelief." How amazing is his response?!? The father feels exactly as many of us feel. We believe, we have faith, we know God is God. Yet we still have these nagging doubts, these back-of-the-mind fears. We aren't quite sure we believe like we say we believe.

Can I tell you a secret? THAT'S OK! Pray the father's prayer: "I do believe, but help me in my unbelief." As we wrestle with our doubts and fears, we come to realize that doubt is part of the process of faith. As theologian Paul Tillich tells us, " Doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith."

The greatest heroes of faith lived with doubt. God called Abraham at age 75 and told him he would give him a son; however, Isaac didn't arrive on the scene until Abraham was 100. You can't tell me that Abraham didn't doubt. Read the story with doubt in mind: Abraham is always trying to fulfill God's promise in his own way. He makes Lot his heir, then his manservant, then has a child with Hagar... Abraham might have had faith in God, but he surely had doubt as well.

Faith isn’t about simply accepting things because it is what is expected of you or because it is what you have always been told. Faith isn’t blind acceptance; however, it does involve a level of blindness because we cannot see the One we have faith in. Instead, faith is about a daily wrestling with the facts of life and the Truth of God.

What are your thoughts?

Cutting budget by spending more money? Are you kidding me?!?!?

2009-03-02T17:09:00.003-06:00

Congratulations, Gov. Sibelius, for your new appointment as the new secretary of health under Obama's administration. I have enjoyed having you as a Governor (for all of 8 months). But, honestly, I still know nothing about Kansas politics so I am not sure if you were a good governor or not.

Now, here's the newest news from Washington. Obama made an announcement today that he was asking Congress for an additional $610 billion dollars spread out over the next ten years for healthcare reform. Part of President Obama's platform has been reforming healthcare in America, and it was one of the things that made his candidacy so popular. Now, honestly, America's healthcare system needs to be reformed. My last trip to the doctorcost me $1100, and it still grows. I just got a bill from the doctor $11 my insurance didn't pay. Should my trip to the doctor have cost this much? Absolutely not. It's insane.

But will spending more governmental money bring us reform? Maybe (probably not), but it is FULL of problems.

Problem #1: Regardless of what Michael Moore's Sicko told you, socialized medicine sucks! There is only one place in the world that it seems to work: Cuba. And, let's be honest. How many of us really would want to live there?!? If you ask anyone who has lived in Great Britain, Canada, France, etc, they will tell you that government subsidized medicine produces only two results: long wait times on important medical procedures and an 18% tax rate. Show me how that helps me!

Problem #2: Obama stated today that he wanted to spend $610 billion in healthcare reform in order to slash the Federal budget in half over the next four years. Someone please tell me how spending EVEN MORE MONEY will slash the budget. I am no economist, but that sounds like bad Fiscal Policy. I can't balance MY PERSONAL BUDGET by spending more money.

Once again, the policy of trying to spend more money to fix our economy simply doesn't work. We have given billions to automakers, who are still laying off workers and closing plants and building sucky cars. We are putting more money into government spending that yield no results for the average American.

So someone please tell me how our Public Servants keep trying to screw us over? I am tired of the Federal government telling me that we are in a recession and we need to be given tax cuts, stimulus checks, governmental handouts, tax breaks (oh wait, we aren't going to get a tax break after all!) Congress has already passed a $748 billion dollar economic stimulus plan. Obama just asked for another $410 billion to bail out more banks. Now $610 billion for healthcare reform? Give me a break! (Preferrably a break involving my taxes or HUGE mounting governmental debt to China...)

2009-02-28T23:56:00.001-06:00

God is good. Just thought you oughta know...

God bless!!!

Bearing Fruit...

2009-02-24T11:02:00.001-06:00

One of my mentors in college asked me a very difficult question one time: “If you stopped living for Christ today, would anyone know the difference?”

How do people know we are Christians? Can they tell? As we live our daily lives, living among our friends, our co-workers, our fellow students, can they tell that there is something different about us? How do people know we are Christians?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples how to live their lives. Jesus’ request is that they live in such a way that they bear good fruit.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-19)

Our fruit is what identifies us. The actions people see, the words that we speak, the things that we stand for… this is the fruit that people see. We are called to be fruit bearers in our daily lives. But what fruit are we supposed to bear? If we are recognized by our fruit, then what are we supposed to bear out in our lives? I think Paul gives us a glimpse in Galatians 5, when he discusses the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… These are the qualities that we are called to display in our own lives. By this fruit we will be recognized.

How would our world be different if each of us determined that we would try to live out the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives? But, let’s be honest: we can’t force ourselves to bear fruit. We can’t grit our teeth, bear down, and force ourselves to display this spiritual fruit. Notice Paul’s statement: the fruit of the Spirit. This is the fruit that the Holy Spirit brings into our life. We can no more gain Godly patience on our own than we can make an apple sprout from our head. Rather, the Spirit is what brings the fruit. We are simply called to draw closer to God. If we draw closer to God in our hearts through prayer, worship, reading, etc, then this fruit will naturally begin to appear in our lives as well.

As Jesus reminds us, by the fruit the tree will be known. May we always bear good fruit in our lives in order to bless the lives of others. And when YOU are asked, “If you stopped living for Christ today, would anyone know the difference?”, may those around you be able to say, “Yes!”

He who is without sin throw out the first pitch...

2009-02-18T10:33:00.004-06:00

For those of you who don't already know, Alex Rodriguez took steroids from 2001-2003. He admitted as much two weeks ago after he was outed by a friend. Yesterday he held a press conference verifying his steroid use and apologizing for his behavior. I am proud of the way A-Rod approached this head on. But two questions always arise in the back of my mind. 1) If he hadn't been caught, when A-Rod have ever fessed up to his steroid use? 2) Does it really matter?

The answer to question number one is, "Absolutely not." Yesterday, when asked by a reporter whether or not he thought of himself as a cheater, A-Rod replied, "I don't know. That's not for me to decide." First of all, yes you were cheating. It was the easiest question on the list. A-Rod showed no penitence, so remorse for his decision. The closest thing he has said to remorse was that he was sorry he had shamed the game. There's not much in there about personal culpability or personal responsibility. If he hadn't been caught he never would have shared his steroid use.

Does it matter? Absolutely not. Do steroids provide an advantage in the game of baseball? Yes. Do steroid users have an unfair advantage? Absolutely: steroids present an unfair advantage for the steroid user, as they are bigger and stronger than the non-steroid users that they face. (Their balls are also smaller and their voices higher, but that is beside the point.) Most guys in baseball AREN'T using steroids. However, many of the big names in baseball DID use steroids at some point in their career: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Mark McGuire, Miguel Tijada... The biggest names in baseball were doing it. A-Rod simply joined the list. Plus, there are just as many pitchers doing steroids as batters. The bigger you get, the harder and faster you can fling the ball. A-Rod was blasting out steroid fueled pitches with his steroid propelled bat; maybe he was just leveling the playing field.

The real question in my mind is this: Why is Congress poking their nose into baseball at all? Aren't there bigger fish to fry? Our economy is in shambles, we just passed a MASSIVE (impotent) stimulus package, more investors on Wall Street are crooks, we are sending 17000 more troops to Afghanistan... Honestly, does the baseball controversy really matter at all?

According to President Obama it does. The Rodriguez controversy was mentioned in his first prime-time address of the American people. With so many other things to wrestle with it's amazing that we are focused on steroids in baseball.

Here's what I would really love to do: Walk into the Congressional hearing with a rock and place it on the arbitrator's desk. I would love to tell the Congressmen on the panel, "If any of you have never cheated to get to where you are, go ahead and throw the stone. But let's be honest... you took money for your campaign from shady investors looking for kickbacks and government contracts. You shamelessly add pork for pet projects into bills to fund education. You lie, cheat, and steal because it is "good" government. So shut the heck up about baseball players! If one of them goes to jail for lying, ALL OF YOU SHOULD GO TO. Bunch of stupid hypocrites."

Did A-Rod cheat? Absolutely. Did A-Rod cheat anymore than the executives on Wall Street, the petroleum profiteers who drove up the prices, the housing execs who sold houses for more than they were worth to people buying outside of their means? Did he cheat more than the Congressmen who are putting other baseball players on trial? Absolutely not. So... let's get down to some real work and leave sports alone.

Don't Worry? Man, I am anxious about that!!!

2009-02-17T14:06:00.001-06:00

What do you worry about?

Let’s face it, we all worry. We worry about the future, we worry about the present, and we worry about the past. We worry about finances and not having enough. We worry about our health and the health of our loved ones. We worry about what people think about us. We watch the news and worry about the things that we hear, or we pick up the newspaper and worry about the headlines.

We are a worried people. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety disorders are the leading mental health diagnosis in America. An estimated 40 million people live with anxiety problems. But the truth is, 100% of us worry about something.

As Jesus is speaking to his followers on a mountainside, he spends a significant portion of his time talking about worry: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…” (Matthew 6:25) Jesus tells his disciples to stop worrying about the things of this world: food, clothes, possessions. Jesus wants his disciples to put their anxieties aside in order to live a happier, more productive, more God-filled life.

But let’s be honest: this seems almost IMPOSSIBLE for us. After we got done discussing this passage at Refresh the other night, one of my students told me that she had already broken her resolution and had begun to worry about school. How can we follow Jesus’ teachings? How can we move beyond our anxious thoughts?

I think Jesus gives us the secret in the passages that come before this. Jesus begins his discussion of worry with the word “Therefore.” Thus, we have to figure out what it is there for. Jesus’ immediate words talk about not being able to serve two masters; serve God only (Mt 6:24). Jesus discusses storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Mt. 6:19-21). Jesus tells his disciples to fast; he calls them to intentionally abstain from the things of the world (mt. 6:16). These three admonitions teach us that God is more important than the things of this world.

But I think the real secret comes in the passage right before. Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done… Give us this day our daily bread…” (Mt. 6:9-11, emphasis mine). Did you catch the secret? Did you hear how we can begin to overcome our worries? It doesn’t just start with prayer; it starts with how we pray! We must pray that God’s will may overcome our own, that we will seek his kingdom. And we are called to pray for our daily bread; it doesn’t talk about storing up bread for the future, but simply worrying about today, for “each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I pray that each of us may learn how to trust God with our future, because he knows (and provides for) all of our needs.

In a galaxy far, far away...

2009-02-12T23:00:00.002-06:00

Enjoy the video!

This guy must be Church of Christ.

The Gift of Hope

2009-02-03T10:24:00.000-06:00

The Gainesville State Tornados ripped through a huge banner with their team name on it as the charged onto the football field. The Gainesville athletes ran through a tunnel of 300 cheering fans as they heard people cheering their names, calling our their numbers, cheering them on as they played against Grapevine Faith Christian School. They played their hearts out, it turned out to be the best game of their season: they lost 33-14. But the most amazing part of the story? These athletes are from the Juvenile Corrections Center, and their “fans” were parents of the Grapevine team.

Grapevine coach Kris Hogan wanted to do something special for these players. Hogan saw a team that the world had given up on, a team that had no hope. They were in the system for assault, drugs, robbery, and the world had simply written them off. Hogan took matters into his own hands: he asked half of their fans to cheer for the opposing team and go out of their way to help the Gainesville players have hope. The Grapevine players (and their parents) were confused; “Why would we cheer for the other team?” But Hogan responded, “Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you." Imagine what a difference it could make! And the fans responded: they painted posters, memorized rosters, recruited cheerleaders. The Tornados responded by playing better than they had all year, doubling their touchdown total. As they walked off the field, heads held high while under guard, they were handed sacks of burgers, fries, and a Bible with an encouraging letter inside. The Gainesville players returned to their life in prison.

After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us." Hogan told reporters he was glad their heads were bowed so no one could see his tears.

Isn’t the power of hope amazing? Isn’t it amazing to see how lives can change when someone starts believing in you? When one person gives you hope and a chance to succeed? This is the power of the Gospel! As Jesus talks about his true followers, he tells them that when we visit those in prison (or do other good deeds), we did them for him. When we serve the “least of these,” we are serving Jesus.

As Christians we are called to show the world that there is hope. We are called to make a difference by touching the lives of those that the world has written off. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bless the less fortunate, to cheer on the brokenhearted, to encourage the downtrodden… We are called to be messengers of hope to the world. Let’s get out there and cheer them on in the name of Jesus; I’m sure people will respond.

(Excerpts taken from Rick Reilly, ESPN)

Christianity and the Internet

2009-01-29T12:13:00.005-06:00

How can churches interact with our culture? The Southern Hills Church of Christ has decided to start producing YouTube videos to reach a mass audience. What are your thoughts? Is this an effective way to reach the world?

It got them on Nightline!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Update

2009-01-28T11:37:00.002-06:00

I have tons I am thinking about, but I decided I wanted to take a different track. I just wanted to give you a couple of quick updates on my life:

- Megan and I are still plugging away at our wedding plans. We have picked a cake, food, colors, flowers, bridal party people, invitations, registry items, and we are setting up our showers with those hosting them. Megan has a dress, and they have picked out bridesmaid dresses. All we have left (for now) is music and tuxes. Go us!

- Life is good at KU, just trying to figure out how to stay on top of things. I am working hard, on our ministry search committee, doing things almost every night of the week... I write three lessons a week, I am in the office, I spend three days a week on campus, I am planning weekend activities and retreats, mission trips and service projects, Bible studies, ministry search committee problems, etc. I rarely ever get to stop and simply have time to myself. But, as someone recently told me, I really only work two days a week for an hour each time. What an easy job I have. Gotta love my life!

- I am going to participate in my first Civil War Reenactment in February. I am excited to go and spend time in the field with these guys. Yes, I know that makes me a dork. I don't care.

- I am missing school like crazy. I miss learning each day and having to expand my knowledge. I miss walking in with an open mind and being challenged to read Scripture differently. I can't wait to do more school. I know, I am weird.

- I am trying to learn Spanish right now. Well, I just started yesterday. Pray that it goes well!

I am sure there is more going on, but that is it for now. Be blessed!

Calling Us Out of Comfort...

2009-01-25T21:46:00.003-06:00

I want you to imagine these circumstances:

You live a comfortable life. You have worked for years to get a nice big house with a comfortable yard. You are 75, and are just settling into the comfortable years of your life. You are content and satisfied and are ready to take up fishing, whittling, or some other hobby. Suddenly, your whole world is thrown for a loop. God speaks to you, and he calls you to leave everything you’ve ever known behind: your house, your community, your extended family. Pack up and move, but don’t worry about where. Just go and I will lead you where I want you to go.

Sounds crazy, right? What would you say? Is God serious? Does he really want me to give up my comfort just to follow his crazy plan? How do you think you would react?

As crazy as it sounds, it is EXACTLY what God asked Abraham to do. The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen. 12:1-3) The next thing we are told is that Abraham went; but I have a feeling that Abraham felt exactly as we would. What exactly is God thinking?

Yet God did something amazing through this ordeal. He leads Abraham from Mesopotamia to Egypt and then back to Canaan. He makes Abraham wealthy, gives him a child, and eventually fulfills his promise to change the world. God uses Abraham’s faithfulness to raise up a nation to raise up a Messiah. God’s mission is to change the world, and he puts his plan into motion through the faithfulness of one man. Isn’t it amazing, that God chooses to partner with us to pursue his mission in the world?

Man, I’m glad God has never called me to anything like he called Abraham. Or maybe he has. Maybe God has called us to give up comfort and “safety,” step out on a limb and bless the life of someone else. Maybe God wants to change the world through you, whether in small of large ways. Maybe God wants you to step out on faith and invite that coworker to church. Maybe he wants you to volunteer for FriendSpeak or World Bible School, ministering to people from another culture. Maybe he is calling you to go on a mission trip to some far away place, where God will change both your life and the lives of those you work with. Who knows? But I think God is still calling each of us to have some part in his mission to reach and change the world. The question is, will we listen to his gentle prodding or will we choose to be comfortable?

Each of us has a place in the mission of God. Will we choose to accept it? None of us are too old or too young, too set in our ways. We all have excuses, but God has solutions. So let’s get out there and change the world!

Restaurant Guide

2009-01-23T11:13:00.003-06:00

I promise to return to the realm of Christian dialogue, but I am wanting to venture off into another direction today. Tomorrow's... back to the Kingdom.

But for today, I thought I would include a story about a favorite restaurant. Now, I want to confess: I am not a culinary critic. I will eat at Wendy's or McDonald's and be very happy. That being said, sometimes you need REALLY good food. When that need is there, I have two or three restaurants I love to go to.

Megan is really into sushi. She loves it, and she would eat it three times a week if I would let her (and if either of us could afford it!) I... well, I tolerate it. I don't think it is bad, and I even enjoy it on occasion. I guess the correct term is "on occasion." But it makes her happy, so we go.

We have found a sushi restaurant that both of us love. If you are ever in KC you need to go to the Legends and try out Stix. The staff is amazing and the chefs create the most mouthwatering Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Their sushi is the highest rated in KC. The food is the same at lunch and dinner (Just smaller portions, but not MUCH smaller), but the prices rise for dinner. So... I suggest going there before 3.

Suggested Meal:
Wonton Soup (For two) - $5.95
Spicy Szhechuan Beef - $9.95

If you are a sushi lover, definitely try out the Volcano Roll and the Las Vegas roll; you will be in raw fish heaven.

I love Asian culture and Asian cuisine. This restaurant is amazing. Give them a shot.

http://www.stixkc.com/

A New Day Dawning?

2009-01-21T10:07:00.005-06:00

Congratulations to President Obama, Michelle, and his two daughters. You guys have been in my thoughts and prayers over the last few months, and you will continue to be as you enter into your new job. I am proud to have you as my new President and I am excited to see what the future might hold. That being said, I don't consider you my Messiah or my Savior. You have a job to do, and people better let you step down off of their pedestal and get to it. God bless you as you start your new work.

One of the things that has been goading me are the comments about this being the dawning of a bright new era, a new world order. In some ways it is. Sixty-five years ago Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Yesterday, Barack Obama stood just opposite of that Memorial and proclaimed his oath of office, accepting the Presidency of the United States. It IS the dawning of a new day, a new order of things, a new time of hope. Finally, after years of segregation and prejudice, African-Americans have attained an equal place at the political table. Although it is a long time coming, and I am glad to see that it has finally happened.

In college my US Government professor laid out a series of "qualifications" that of our Presidents have usually met: White male; property owner (usually rich); well educated, but not too well-educated; Protestant; etc. I hated, HATED, hearing him say those things in class (and being tested over them as well.) It seemed ignorant, arguing that someone from a middle-class background couldn't become President. And he completely negated the idea that a black man could become President. I am glad to see that my professor's qualifications no longer fit the position. Is it the end of racism? No. But it is definitely a big step in the right direction!

Yet so many people are seeing this as more than it is. One lady in our newspaper had this to say. "This [Obama's election] is proof that we can still hope for humanity." Over and over again all I heard yesterday was that Obama was going to provide salvation for America. A new day is dawning, and Obama is the rising sun that will bring light and hope to the world. First of all, I think President Obama himself would be the first to tell them to get a grip. He isn't a savior; he's a man with a job to do. Allow President Obama to start work, and give him grace when he messes up or takes longer than we would want him to. He has a job that all of us THINK we could do but very few people could actually do.

Second, Obama is not God. I am distraught over the statements I have been reading. "Finally, we have hope!" If you put your hope in human beings it will surely fail. All of us mess up, all of us fall short. Each of us will inevitably make a mistake. If our only hope is in Obama, then the world is surely a sad place. What we need is to find hope in the One who never fails. I believe the author of Psalm 20 said it best: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." If we look for our salvation in the things of this world then we will surely lose hope. Obama will make some great decisions; he will also make some really poor ones. That is the nature of the job. But we have a God who provides for all of our needs, and because of that we have hope.

Intriguingly, the rest of Psalm 20 has a lot to say for where we find ourselves on January 21, 2009:
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. (Selah)
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!

So... pray for President Obama. Pray for his family. Pray for the difficult job ahead of him. Cut him some slack when he falls short, or takes too long, or doesn't do what you think he ought to do. And place your hope in someone else, someone who will meet all your needs. I have a feeling President Obama would encourage you to do the same.

Father, we thank you for the way you are constantly working in our world. We thank you for giving us hope. We thank you for accepting us where we are, and calling us to be better than when you found us. Father, we pray that our world will find hope in you, because you are the hope for humanity. We thank you for the ways you have been working in ending racism in America; we still have a ways to go but we know that the good work will continue. Father, be with President Obama. Give him wisdom in his decisions. Help him to trust in you and your guidance. Give him a heart to serve people the best way that he can. Help us to find our hope not in the things of this world but in the One who created it and sustains it. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Singlehood and the Body

2009-01-13T14:20:00.003-06:00

I want to continue our conversation on how we create community and cause our church to function as the people of Christ.

One of the questions that Duin brings up in her book (Quitting Church) is the question of relevance. She argues that many of the buster/Gen Y generations see church as simply irrelevant to their lives. One of the stats that she discusses is the place of Singles within Christianity.

As many of you know this is a big topic for me. Having worked with Singles' ministry in the past (and having been a single minister) I am conscious of the problem: singles simply have very little place in the church. We argue that they DO have a place and a function, but let's be honest: how many sermons do you hear on the joys of singleness? How many of our sermons are devoted to having a great marriage, a great home, being great parents? These are some of the things that singles do not experience. They are told that singleness is a gift from God, but they also get the subtle hint that no one else really wants this gift. If singleness is a gift, they are wondering where they can exchange it!

The problems are infinite: They are struggling with feelings of loneliness, lack of intimacy, sexual desires, and they feel like the church is the LAST place they can turn. Many of them want to be married, yet they aren't quite sure where to go to meet people. It doesn't seem to be at church. They want to connect with God and with others, but most feel like second-class citizens.

No one wants to talk about Paul's dedication to singleness from Corinthians, or the fact that Jesus himself was single. We dedicate so few resources to this age group, yet they are a significant percentage of our society and our churches. Households with only one person (or single-parent households) are the largest percentage in America: 50.2% of America's population is in this category. Yet how much of our emphasis in church is directed to this age group? It's no wonder that singles are the largest percentage of people missing from church. (That 18-25 category.)

How do we go about giving singles a place in our communities of faith? How can we conscientiously provide a place for singles that is nurturing and caring? How can we be the Family that God has called us to be? What are your thoughts?

Creating Community

2009-01-09T09:57:00.003-06:00

Thanks for your comments on community in church. I am going to be posting more about Christ, culture, community, and church over the next few weeks. But here is some food for thought...

One of the ways that we can add community back into our corporate worship is to restore the Lord's Supper to its rightful place. The Lord's Supper was used as a communal meal by the early church.
- Acts 2: 42, 46-47: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

- Acts 20:7: "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread..."

I think the most telling argument is found in 1 Cor. 11:17-34. We find Paul telling the Christians in Corinth to wait for one another before they eat their meal and take the Lord's Supper together. For Paul, the community aspect of the Supper was the most important. It was a time for ALL of the believers to gather together to eat, fellowship, and rejoice in their Savior.

I think the Lord's Supper holds a key ingredient for our need for community. It is a ready made time for our community with one another and with God. As Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper he did so in the setting of a meal (the Passover) surrounded by his friends. "Do this in remembrance of me..." The dicsiples' carried on this meal tradition throughout their history. However, we have often now made it a time of silent reflection, a time when people are to sit still as a stone and think about their sins and their Savior. OR we completely sing over the whole time period, barely taking time to reflect on the importance of what we are doing. We rarely speak to anyone else during the Lord's Supper (except to say "Here" or MAYBE to say thank you as the tray is passed.)

What if, instead, we spent some time focused on the communal aspect of what we are doing. We, the Body of Christ, are partaking of the body of Christ. How can we do this in a way that both glorifies God AND creates a sense of community among our brothers/sisters?

This application is not foreign to the Restoration Movement. In an article written by Alexander Campbell, he describes the perfect worship service: it involved singing, praying, and standing around a table and having a communal meal as people talked together. They would discuss what God had done for them, their faith, their understanding, etc. For Campbell, worship was a gathering of the community to worship God and to edify one another.

What are your thoughts? Can this work? Have you ever seen this done? What are some ideas you have?

A Church Like Cheers

2009-01-06T14:06:00.008-06:00

I have been pretty discouraged today. I think it has something to do with the last book I am reading for my Book Review for the Christian Chronicle (due to be published in March.) I am working through the book Quiting Church, written by Julia Duin, the religion editor for the Washington Post, and I am becoming discouraged with the state of the church in America.

Although the Barna Group estimates that church attendance has remained the same for over 40 years (around 43% of the population), recent polls have shown that this number is grossly inflated. Realistically only 18-22% attend church regularly (with regularly being defined as once a month!) Statistics also show that only 4% of today's teenagers will be involved in a Bible-based church
by the time they have their own families. The vast majority of people are simply dropping out of church for various reasons: scandals in church leadership, lack of authenticity, lack of leadership/pastoring, etc. Many former church attendees simply see worship and "church" as irrelevant to their daily lives. It doesn't touch on the issues that affect us the most: emotional issues, sexuality, social justice, etc.

One of the issues that is most common is the lack of community within churches today. Intriguingly, there are stats that point to us creating our own problems. There are over 331,000 churches in America. However, 80% of the American church population attend 10% of those churches (33,000). The mega-church is in mega-boom. (At least, theoretically.) Thus, most churches are small but most people attend large churches. They want to be a part of a place where there are dozens of ministries available for every age group, social demographic, and personal preference. They want to lose themselves in the crowd to feel uplifted. Yet the very thing they crave often is the most damaging: they trade in authentic community to be surrounded by a community. They want to feel cared for, and they long to be an integral part of a community of believers, yet we often do nothing about it except quietly walk out the back door, forsaking church altogether.

What is the solution? What is the best way to go about bringing these Christians back into a community with one another?

An obvious choice is planting churches. New churches grow faster than older churches. It is simply the life cycle of the church, and this isn't a negative thing. Church planting isn't a disparaging of the established church. Think of it this way: whatever church you attend was once a church plant. Someone had in mind to reach a new group with the Gospel. (Unless you are a part of a church split, then the divisions get tougher!) Yet if we plant churches that look exactly like EVERY OTHER CHURCH then I think we have missed the point. We need to be a place where authentic community takes place. And as our unchurched population is telling us, that obviously doesn't seem to be happening in the vast majority of churches in America. So how can we reach this unchurched population? How can we encourage them to become a part of an authentic community with God? How can we help them not forsake the community of believers?

I believe we need to approach this problem with missional eyes. People are struggling to understand God in the midst of their situation. They long to feel connected with God, and they need the encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ to spur them on. They need AUTHENTIC community. Essentially, we need a church like Cheers!

Many of you remember this early '80's sitcom. I love the theme song that introduced the show:
"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go...
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name."

Now, granted, I am not advocating changing the Lord's Supper from crackers/juice into beer/peanuts. But we need to be realistic: there is more authentic community at the local bar than in our church gatherings. We need a church where people are always glad you came and everybody wants to know your name.

How do we go about doing that? How can we create authentic community? I think it is the most important question that we, in our endeavors, can attempt to answer. So, what are your thoughts? Mine will be coming soon.

The Secret of Contentment

2009-01-05T14:21:00.005-06:00

This Christmas I was talking to a seven year old who is a friend of our family, and I asked him about his Christmas. He told me that it was just ok. When I pushed him to explain, he told me that Christmas was ok, but he didn't get everything he had wanted so he wasn't sure if he was happy. His mom prompted gave him a lecture on the real meaning of Christmas. We all chuckle at the honesty of that 7 year old, but let's be honest with ourselves: How many of us secretly feel the same way? How many of us get the things we want but find that they never totally fulfill our desires? How much is enough? When will we be content?

As Americans, we always seem to want more. We will go to any lengths not just to keep up with the Jones' but to surpass them. We want to have the coolest car, the newest gadgets, the best house that we can (or can't) afford... Our lives are consumed by consumerism! We live in a world of plenty but always want to have more. Contentment simply isn't an American virtue!

But we forget just how truly blessed we are. Think about it this way. I want you to keep a mental checklist that we are running through. See how many of these things apply to you:
1. Do you have indoor plumbing?
2. Do you have a television?
3. Do you have a car?
4. Do you have more than three rooms in your house?
5. Can you choose what you want to eat today? Do you have access to three square meals if you want them?
If you answered "Yes" to four of those five questions, you are in the top 10% in the world. If you answered "Yes" to all five of those questions, you are in the top 2% of the world's wealth. We really are a blessed people.

We are left to question, "When is enough enough?"

If you lost everything tomorrow, could you still be happy? Could you, like Job, proclaim: “The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD”?

Paul's comments in Philippians 4:10ff must be REALLY astounding to an American audience. Paul tells the Christians in Philippi:

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:10-12)

Paul tells us that he is content no matter what is going on in his life. This is a pretty bold statement, considering that he is sitting in house arrest in Rome awaiting trial at the hands of Nero. And he is writing to a people who are on the outskirts of their society as followers of a "subversive superstition."

Paul calls for them to find contentment in spite of their circumstances. I think the secret is found in the next verse: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13) It is surprisingly simple, yet difficult and seemingly impossible. We find contentment because God is still God, whether we are hungry or well fed, whether we are free or in prison, whether we have plenty or live in want. We can make it through because God is still God, and he gives us the freedom not only to persevere but to thrive!

What are your thoughts? I will be writing more tomorrow.

If you are at all interested in listening to a sermon on this topic, go to: The Secret of Contentment

That's My King

2008-12-30T12:03:00.003-06:00

Sorry I have been off and on about posting. I have had a lot of things going these last two weeks, so something had to give. God bless you guys; I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I will be posting regularly again on January 1st.

This is one of my favorite videos (and speeches), and I wanted to share it with you guys here:

I love it: "Death couldn't handle him and the grave couldn't hold him!" Isn't it amazing. Think about it: We serve a God who died but wouldn't stay dead! Praise God!

The Christmas Story

2008-12-24T10:43:00.004-06:00

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,even as he said to our fathers."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife...

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[e] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Biblical History (Part 2)

2008-12-16T11:07:00.003-06:00

What is the Bible, exactly? I believe that this is the question that MUST be answered before we ever attempt to tackle the problem of "historical reflection."

In all of my discussions I try to help people understand that the Bible is the story of God's interaction with humanity, starting with the first humans, moving through Israel, and then the whole world. My understanding of the Bible is this: "The Bible is the story of the lengths that God is willing to go to in order to redeem his people." Pretty simple, yet so complex.

The Bible really serves three functions:
1. History
2. Literature
3. Theology

The Bible always works from those perspectives, BUT not all three have to be present at any given time. The section being read could be literature and theology, but not history. (Song of Solomon, anyone?) The story can be historical and theological, but not very literary. (The first few chapters of Numbers or the book of Ezra comes to mind.) The important thing to remember is this: No matter what the story concerns, its ultimate goal is to present a theology of Go.

The Bible finds various individuals wrestling to come to grips with a God they don't understand and cannot control. The Bible simply outlines the best they can do. Habakkuk's discussion/prophecy is a good example of this. Habakkuk is a prophet, wrestling to understand a message that he doesn't like. He calls God on the carpet and tells him to answer his questions, because the world doesn't seem fair and nothing seems to be going the way it should. The ultimate message is this: you cannot always understand my ways, you simply have to trust that it will all work out in the end.

The Bible deals primarily with theology: Who is God? What is he doing? What is he calling us to do/be? Can we trust in his ways? The Bible displays raw emotion in this search.

Theology is the primary function of the Bible. History and literature form the secondary functions of the Bible. Thus, the Bible is NOT written as history for history's sake. The Bible can even deviate from history in small ways in order to make its point. (For example, many of the narratives in the Gospels are taken in different sequential orders; i.e. the anointing of Jesus before the Triumphal Entry in John vs. the anointing AFTER the Triumphal Entry in the Synoptics.)

I think the problems we encounter in academia is when we try to make the Bible something it isn't. Those of us in the Western world approach the Bible from our own cultural understanding, not realizing (or caring) that the Gospels are written from a different time and place. No matter how hard we try, we will always be saddled with our Western contextual understandings. Thus, we always approach the Bible with some bias, even an unintentional one, and it colors the way we see the text.

The Bible was never meant to be a science book, so toss that understanding out the window completely. It wasn't even written to be a history book, at least not history from our understanding. Rather, it is the history of Israel's (and the world's) interaction with God. This is the purpose that it serves. It teaches us who God is and what he has done so that we can realize what God can (and will) do in our lives.

What are your thoughts?