2007 in Review

"I am afraid to trust him, consequently it makes it hard to seek him." 

In June, when I started my pilgrimage toward spiritual renewal, those were my words. That was my greatest difficulty. That is what caused me to waiver and step off the path. Where am I today? That's a good question.

If I were to summarize the past five and half months, I would put it in these terms. Cautiously optimistic. Not so much about my faith per se, but about how I flesh that out. I am more analytical than I was in my former days. I am more cautious and quick to question what I see, hear, and read. However, in all of that I am still moving forward.

Examining things is not a bad thing. I think someone should know why the believe what they believe and understand its foundation. Some of the most profitable times during these past few months have been sitting and talking with my wife about some of the basic issues of "the faith".  There is also my friend Jon who has been a great example and encourager. Since I see him and talk to him often, or can call him with thoughts or ideas, he has been a valuable "resource".

There have been others in my circle; Jerry, Todd, CW, Nurmi, all of which have been praying for me and encouraging me with phone calls and e-mails.

Bottom line, I am still walking and talking. I am still growing. Part of me wants to run to the deep end, climb up the high board and plunge in. The other part of me - the stable part - says, "Take your time and do things right."

What God has in store, I do not know.  How I fit into His long-term universal plan is yet to be seen.

So right now I will continue doing what I am doing watching for the  time to push it to the next level.

Thanks to all who have participated directly or indirectly in this process. Whether it's reading this blog and commenting, or just being there when it has been necessary.  I thank you!

Happy New Year!!!

Thus Says the LORD

Discernment was a concept I mentioned in an earlier post. It is a difficult concept to grasp and a hard principle to employ. Some would say it is a selective gift given only to a few. That may be true for a special kind of discernment.  However, when you see passages like the one noted below one tends to think otherwise.

"Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. 'For who has known the mind of the LORD so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."  (1Cor. 2:14-16)

"...But be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good, acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:2b)

In the mid chapters of Jeremiah there is a constant "struggle" between those prophets who say "thus says the LORD" and get it wrong and Jeremiah who says "thus says the LORD" and apparently gets it right.  All the while there is this tension between what God wants and what the people perceive to be His will.

A good example is God's instruction for them to be at home in Babylon. To take wives, give their sons and daughters in marriage, build houses and plant gardens, etc.  This would seem so contradictory to what God seemed to want earlier. Times when they were to annihilate the foreigners and not participate in their culture in any form. Not only that, those who did not participate in the exile would be annihilated themselves. (Jeremiah 27-29)

Israel will be in captivity seventy years. Hard to imagine that they would accept that when someone else is offering them two as a result of "thus says the LORD". (Chapter 28) So it is easy to see how they might convince themselves that what this prophet is saying is better than what that other prophet is saying.

Discerning "God's will" and the truth of scripture is not an easy thing. It is not an attribute that comes naturally. There have been multiple times in my life when I have discerned incorrectly. Times when I wanted a certain course of action so desperately I convinced myself that my responses were a result of "thus says the LORD". Then when things did not work out like I thought, it was easy to say apparently this is what "thus says the LORD" meant.

Some people I know provide simple solutions for discerning God's will. Does it comply with scripture, does it violate God's character, does it lead you to do something that is morally questionable, WWJD, etc. All are nice and helpful I am sure, but it is still my opinion that discerning God's will is the most difficult aspect of the Christian life. We don't get much "thus says the LORD" anymore other than through scripture. There are many preachers who may think they intercede for that, but I suspect that they will get theirs soon enough.

In this new year, I am hoping to be within the scope and will of God. I am not certain I will know that is happening other than by walking the path I see before me one step at a time.  If I am successful doing that, then I believe God will be satisfied.  Perhaps I will see you on the journey.

Happy New Year!

Uhm???

I am not usually in the habit of posting BS except my own, but this has to top even that. A transcript from al-Qaida regarding the recent assassination in Pakistan.

If any one believes that, than I have a bridge to sell in N.Y.

Our God

I think about God a great deal. Whether that makes me godly or just one who has bizarre thoughts, I am not certain. Nevertheless, I think of Him often.  How often do you think about God?

There seems to be a lack of godly thinking these days. It seems that most people just take what they are given, or blindly read what they read without any attempt to dissect what they hear or read. That is not a good thing. Even Jeremiah talks about good prophets and bad prophets. Those who say "thus says the LORD" and those who say, "thus says me." If we are not astute enough to determine the difference it can lead to a great deal of confusion.

Discernment is not something that is talked about a lot these days. However, it is something that is necessary. Whether it is reading the daily paper or reading the latest novel, discerning truth from error is critical. It is critical to enhancing our worldview or slowly destroying it.

Some of the teaching I have heard lately has caused me to sharpen my discerning tools. It has prompted me to think outside the box as they say. Knowing that two people can look at the same scripture and have different interpretations is confusing if not alarming. Without discernment, it would be easy to get seduced into either loose interpretations or down right heresy.

Did I mention I think about God a great deal? Well I do. It is not because I am godly, it is merely because I want to know Him. To know what He might be like in order to properly worship Him. To understand "salvation" and what my responsibilities are within the scope of that experience.

Christmas seems like a good time to ratchet that thought process up a notch or two because it is the season of the incarnation. Yes, I know that Jesus was most likely not born this time of year. That is not the point. The point is - God incarnate.  Is it God's last resort or His ultimate gift?

Happy New Year!

In the Saddle Again

Well we are back. I thought perhaps I could keep things going during the Christmas break, but our family did not have a computer that worked properly, so I just let things ride and soaked up the benefits of family.

It is nice to spend time with those you love and simply spend time talking and sharing - kids included. I think I spent a total of zero minutes watching actual TV. We did watch The Bourne Ultimatum, which was a gift, but other than that, I stayed away from the TV and read, talked, played with Eli, or just sat and enjoyed the company of family. It was rather nice.

We attended a Christmas eve service at a nearby church - Keith and Audrey have not landed on a church home yet - and it was rather unusual.

As part of their service they were doing the Lord's Supper. That struck me as odd since the chances of having a great number of visitors was pretty high.  That part of the service had a "common cup" and large loaves of bread. You would go down, tear off some bread and dip it in the cup. It was probably very close to what Jesus and the Apostles did, but it was a procedure I had not done before. I don't think I liked the process but cannot say for certain.

I also managed to get several chapters read in Jeremiah. It is a hard book. Not so much regarding content, although that is difficult at times, but rather keeping things straight since his ministry covered such a large period of time and the book may not be in chronological order.  One thing I did note is that God has done some serious "relenting" so far. Not only that, the people of God make some rather bizarre choices when confronted with options.

Making bizarre choices may be something we all do. For apparently no serious rationale, we make choices to our detriment rather than for our good. I suppose some of it has to do with temporary pleasure to the sacrifice of long-term good. A sort of "it feels good now" mentality with a willingness to endure the consequences later thinking "they can't be that bad." When in reality the consequences are severe. However, once we discover that it is too late to retract our earlier choice. Some of us do not even learn from those who have gone before us and attempt to point out our error.

With the New Year approaching, many of us will make some "resolutions" that have to do with critical choices in our life. Certainly some of them will be just like the year before, unfulfilled, but that will not deter us from making new ones. And a few weeks in or a few months in to the new year, we will abandon our efforts. We will do that primarily because the "old way" is more comfortable. The new way is awkward and often difficult. The consequence is we do the same thing with the same results.

I believe I will be a bit more cautious about my "choices" this year. I would like to have different results in some areas of my life.

What Kind of Gifts

Each year there is a mind struggle that my wife and I engage in called "what to get you".  She wonders what gift to get me and I wonder what gifts to get her.  There have been times when we have had certain hobbies like cycling, running, or the Vette, where gifts related to those things were easy to determine.  But that is not the case right now. So we struggled, until...

We decided that we would give in a broader range this year. Now this is not to thump our chest or pat ourselves on the back, it is just an awareness thing. It was our decision to give outside ourselves this year. So we made extra donations to some ministries we support, gave foodstuff to the local food drive and made a significant donation to the Salvation Army.  That all seemed much more appropriate to the season then simply giving ourselves more things we did not need.

Of course that did not negate our gifts to our kids or other family members. We still purchased gifts for them, but not to the extent that we normally might have. (I hope they don't mind.)

I am not sure why we turn inward so much during this time of year and become consumed with "what shall I get..." I expect the advertisers and marketing companies have a hand in that. Consequently a new Lexus becomes a "gift" or diamond jewelry that the wife/woman friend would not wear but maybe once a year - usually the annual office Christmas party. Or kids "want" I-Pods, XBoxes, and flat screen TVs.

Do not get me wrong. I'm not having a Scrooge attack. I am simply reflecting how perhaps my age and "worldview" have changed my outlook on such things.   If I had kiddos in the house, I might think much differently. 

Nevertheless, if nothing else, pausing and realizing that there are those living around me who may simply wish that their husband or wife would come home safe from Iraq; that there are those who have no one to gift them; there are those who have lost a job - it all makes my mind want to evaluate this stuff.  So I did - we did.

Merry Christmas! 

Do You See What I See

In spite of the title on this blog, it does not necessarily have a Christmas theme. Although one could make application to the carol of the season.

I am not sure when it was exactly when I first began to loose my normal vision. It was definitely in the 90s after I had finished my graduate work. I blamed it on reading one to two thousand pages a week during seminary, sometimes more. That kind of toil could take its toll on the best of eyes.  Nevertheless, I found I needed glasses. Like many, I started with bifocals and then my vision slowly degenerated to the point where I now wear trifocal lenses.  I still do not like it and wish it were different.

The thing about wearing glasses is a small phenomenon of grime. If you wear glasses you can identify with this. Over a period of time the lenses become filthy. Yet, somehow, I continue to look through them as though they were clean. It is not until I take them off and hold them to the light that I become appalled at how dirty they had become.  Once I clean them, I realize how nice clean lenses can be.

When reading Jeremiah, it seems that in the beginning chapters this can be an analogy of what the people called Israel had become.  They were so accustomed to their rebellion toward God and their chasing after idols, that they failed to realize how dirty their vision had become. They had not only turned their face away from Yahweh, they had turned their back to Him in whoring after other gods. (2:27)

In their lack of clear vision, they apparently wanted to contend with God that things were really not as bad as they appeared. In spite of how dirty their vision had become, they said, "I am innocent, surely his anger has turned from me." (2:35) However, we know that that is not the case at all.

I get the same way with sin in my life. I am so used to seeing it or living with it that I can no longer perceive its danger or its ultimate penalty.  It is only when I clean the spectacles of my heart, that I see how dirty it has become.

Do you see what I see? Perhaps not. Nevertheless, you might find if you hold your lenses up to the light of God's Word, you could be surprised.

Jesus said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness." (Matthew 6:22-23 ESV)

Do you see what I see?

Father, let me keep my lenses clean. I want to see clearly what it is that keeps me from enjoying full fellowship with You.

Fear The People

It is an interesting experience to read about the death and resurrection of Christ during the season that we celebrate his birth. Nevertheless, that is the portion of my reading today as I finished the Gospel of Luke.

There are a great many things I saw in the final chapters of Luke which had not captured my attention before. But those notes are for another time. What is of interest, during this season, is the stealth of the chief priests and scribes.

Luke tells us in 22:2 that the chief priests and scribes began their plot to kill the Christ in secret. Why? Because according to Luke's notes, "they feared the people."  They feared the people. They had no sense of the fear of God, simply the fear of what the people would think or do. Even their binding together did not give them courage.

All too often I find myself fearing what people will think or do should they be approached with the gospel, or even with the true meaning of Christmas. For the past few years the on-going controversy between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays is hoisted upon businesses by Christians. Yet, how often do we follow that "protest" with a testimony to what Christmas truly means to us and to the world?

My wife and I have a tradition where we hand out candy canes to clerks and other people that we contact while out and about during this season. You would be amazed at how a simple little candy cane and a "Merry Christmas" touches people's lives.  Seldom do we have the opportunity to follow up with any meaningful conversation. Nevertheless, simply taking time to look into their eyes, give them a simple gift, and wish them a heartfelt greeting evokes some amazing reactions . We have even seen tears as a result of that simple gesture.

Does that make us courageous and bold in our witness - of course not. But it may be a seed planted which someone else may harvest. Nevertheless, we have no fear as we carry out this little tradition. 

"They feared the people." Thank God that we are not to a point yet in our society where we must fear our testimony to the Christ child.  Nor should there ever be a time when we fear men over the Messiah.  However, it won't be long before we are faced with that choice.

Merry Christmas!

His Words

There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs when a person takes a serious look at the Gospels. We see several times where Jesus is "teaching" or "preaching" regarding the Kingdom of God, yet we get very little detail of what the content was. Then there are the parables, which by their very nature are word pictures of the message Jesus intends to convey. Messages designed to be hidden to some and obvious to others.

What I find compelling is what Jesus does not say, more than what he does say. However, when it comes to his actual content we see that the people who were hearing it "were hanging on his words." (Luke 19:48 ESV)

When Jesus was finishing his earthly ministry, he told his disciples to spread his message - to make disciples of every nation, "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20) In other words, tell people what I told you. Therefore, as ear-witnesses to his content, their obligation is now to propagate that message.

The message they heard is of course reflected in much of what they write in the narratives of the Gospels. However, it is intriguing that not one of the Gospel writers seem to give us insight into what Jesus was teaching in those "private" moments with them, or even sometimes to the multitudes.  That is, unless, we see it reflected in their recounting Christ's ministry.

Discounting all of that, at least for the moment, the fact that those who heard the Christ hung on his every word is somewhat indicting. I find myself much too often just reading to be reading my Lord's words. The only "hanging" I do is hanging on to one chapter in order to make it to the next.

Is what Jesus said important? Is what the gospel writers pen for us significantly reflective of our Lord's teaching to them? (Luke is the exception here.) Then perhaps I should strengthen my grip and learn to do more "hanging on his words."

Lord, I am not sure why I often tend to pass through your words rather than pause on your every word.  If I am to be more like you, than it is imperative that I "learn of you".  Teach me to strengthen my grip on the Gospels.

What Measure?

It will be next year and I will have been a "Christian" for forty years. That does not mean the I have the maturity of a disciple that has been in line that long, it simply is a chronological measure.  However, I have been a fairly consistent student of scripture for most of that time.

What bothers me is that my mind does not work like it use to work. I don't hold on to things like I once did. Perhaps it is because I don't have active dialogue with others regarding what I read. Then again, it could simply be my mind is dulled by years difficulty and  countless medications. Nevertheless, I plug away.

In our recent quest to understand a different theological base, that of Calvinism, I have done copious amounts of reading both in and out of scripture. I keep coming to the same conclusion in spite of a clear teaching by the pastor at the local PCA. My conclusion is fairly simple. There is no rational - I did not say logical - reason to find that theology in the NT unless you bring it with you.  Every time I read the proof text for the positions of Calvin, I find if one continues to read the context, the proof text falls apart.

Now I know there are great minds on the side of Calvin. There are great minds on opposite side as well. I do not count myself among the "great minds" of either side, simply a student of scripture.  In reality that is all any of us can be - students of scripture and we must let the text speak for itself. There is great danger in re-defining words in order to make something fit a belief system. 

Besides, if "great minds" are our measure there are great minds that believe in Mormonism, great minds that are atheists, great minds that believe in Darwin's theory of evolution.  If were merely basing something on the measure of who is whose side, then we have an even bigger issue.

It could be that I don't understand because I am not part of their elect.   It could be that I do not understand because I am not capable. It could be that I do not understand simply because I do not have that bent. Or it could be that I do not understand merely because the TULIP theory is not a sound position. 

How can I say that? Because, as I indicated, we are all students of scripture and capable of understanding the text as it stands. Archeological and biblical scholars have spent years interpreting the text and providing a clear and complete translation of what is there. There is little need for men like me to parse it differently. It can stand on its own.  Therefore we should let it stand on its own.

If we are disciples of the Christ, we must be students of his teaching not just is "personality".  And we must be students of his "theology" not just his warm and fuzzy sayings.  Christ and his teaching should be our first measure for building a belief system. It is unlikely that we will error when we have that as our foundation.

God bless the reading of His Word!

'Tis the season, so Merry Christmas!

Just Imagine

Some of us suffer certain conditions of health, both body and mind, that prevent us from functioning fully. Whether it is privately or in "society" at large, those impairments or handicaps minimize our ability to interact with life and enjoy its benefits.

Such was the Gerasene demoniac mentioned in Luke's gospel. This man, naked and living among the dead, was subject to and tormented by demons. Whether they were in his mind as a part of his imagination or haunting is very being as a part of his reality, he was declared not fit to be among society. At least, that is what those around him felt.

Just imagine - no, we cannot even begin to imagine what that kind of existence could be like, unless of course, you have been there.  Nor would any of us, save for a select few, dare to identify with this man in such a manner that we would be in his presence. But Jesus had no fear of him. He knew what was troubling the man and exactly what to do about it. He knew that the chains that confined that man in his own coffin-of-the-mind, could be broken by the love of God. And indeed, it was love that set him free.

When the man was made new, clothed and in his right mind, those who had bound and secluded him marveled at his transformation! Actually they did not. They were more fearful of what Jesus had done, then the man they had bound.  So much so that they asked Jesus to leave.

Jesus obliged their request, but before doing so he told the "new man" to go and tell. Even though this man so desperately wanted to follow the Christ who had made him whole, Jesus said no; Go and "declare how much God has done for you." (Luke. 8:39)

Just imagine - no, we could not. Those people who had isolated you from society have now become your audience for the testimony of what God had done. 

The people wanted no part of this Jesus who could do such miracles. Yet now, on a daily basis they would be reminded of his power by a man who was once powerless in his mind. How ironic.

I wonder, would they have thought the man who was now dressed and in his right mind, was crazy about this Christ and chain him up again? Did the man himself have doubts about his own mind?

Just imagine...

Flip the Switch

Apparently New Jersey is the first state to do away with the death penalty. What will be interesting is how many states follow their lead.

This is an unfortunate move and one that sends a clear signal to those who commit violent and heinous crimes. That does not necessarily mean that the death penalty, as carried out here in the US, discourages that kind of behavior. It just means that now we have the luxury of supporting violent criminals for the balance of their natural lives should they be convicted in that state.

I am not sure where you stand on the issue, but it is fairly clear that scripture supports the death penalty for "murder". Not only that but Jesus seemed to indicate that he had no problem with the practice, nor did Paul.

There are a variety of arguments, no doubt. Instead of me rehashing them, I will point anyone who is interested to a couple different articles on the subject.  Here is one -- and here is another.  Each are interesting reads and provide some interesting points as well as scriptural support.

Of course, since Christians are to love and forgive, we often cringe at the issue of killing people who kill people. However, the government's role is a different matter. 

Of course those Calvinists out there would have no problem since God already chooses to condemn people based on random selection anyway. We would just be hurry the inevitable along.  :)

All in all, it will be interesting to see how our government, locally and nationally handles this issue and whether or not any action is taken at the national level.  Until then, NJ can be one of those "cities of refuge" for those who choose to do the unspeakable.

275 Million

Think about it, we have millions homeless, probably millions more go hungry every day not to mention, those without any type of medical care. But somehow, some way a human being who plays baseball thinks his skill is worth 27.5 million dollars a year for the next ten years, plus bonuses.

If that does not say something pathetic about the sports industry in this country what does?

Who, anywhere, anytime is worth that kind of money to run around bases, throw and catch a baseball and walk up to the plate three or four times in a game?

Does A Rod have no shame? No sense of self esteem? Regardless of how much he might give away, there is no justification for this kind of money.  Does Baseball have no sense of shame?

What is even more embarrassing is that people will pay 50, 75, 100 dollars or more to sit and watch this game and fund his lifestyle. 

Give me Little League any time. At least until they start doing steroids and asking for more ice cream and pizza at the end of a game!

Miracles

I received an e-mail from a friend regarding someone they know who has cancer and is scheduled for chemotherapy.  The request in the e-mail was to pray for a miracle.  Here is some of what she said

We believe God works miracles. We are not kooky, foolish people. We just believe God's Word is for today, for our lives, and works to help meet our needs. Is anything too hard for the God of all creation?

While I read the patient's blog and their comments, I began to think about this whole miracle thing. Not that I do not believe in miracles today, it's just that often times we pray for miracles when in actuality our prayers should be for God's will to be done. After all, isn't that what will happen anyway?

If we pray for a miracle, what we are really praying for is that God would change His mind regarding this person's condition. They have cancer, it is terminal even with chemotherapy, so is it God's sovereign will that she die now. That her "time is up", as they say. If nature ran it's course the answer is obviously yes. So praying for a miracle is praying to change the mind of God and postpone things until a later time.

Now I have no idea what is going to happen. I certainly have no idea of the mind of God. His plan may be to bring people together in a sense of unity and love - take away the woman's cancer, which was His will in the first place - and teach others of His sovereignty - His eternal power over life and death.  Then again, in spite of all the prayers and all the petitions to God, the woman dies.

If she dies, does that then mean that God does not do miracles? That He chose to ignore the prayer's of His children? That He would not and could not change His mind? That miracles are for "then" not "now"? That the people praying did not have enough faith?

This is hard. There is nothing easy about it? Would the victory be in the "miracle" or is the victory and real testimony in how the woman faces her death? It is a mystery indeed.

If you are interested in following the story, you can do so here.

"Oh give thanks to the LORD for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"  (Psalm 107:1)

Sometimes Ya Just gotta!!

I know it's not polite to be one-uppity, but hey, when it's 75 degrees on December 10th, ya gotta brag somewhere to someone!

Imagine, full sunshine, calm breeze and temps in the high 70's. If I didn't know better I would think I was in the tropics.  Of course, we'll probably "pay" for all of this down the line, and I would LOVE to see some rain. But overall, no complaints!

Calvin and Arminius

It seems that we are in the middle of this discussion with some consternation. Not that I chose it necessarily, but because the church we are attending is a reformed PCA church and we happen to be attending a LEAD class on Sunday mornings.  This class is originally intended to indoctrinate their prospective leaders and teachers - those who will be elders or deacons, or who may be in some form of leadership in the future. But it was open to all.

Alice and I took the class for a couple of reasons. One, we wanted a deeper understanding of the PCA belief system. And two, we thought, if we could hang in there, we might be able to do some "service" down the road.

We are learning about Calvinism and the particular method that PCA has for interpreting scripture. Which is intriguing in itself. But I must say, I have not experienced anything similar to this in all my almost 40 years of being a Christian. I must have been sleeping during my school studies when we went over all of this, because much of it is "new" in the sense that, "gee, I didn't know you could interpret that verse that way!"

I understand that there are some really smart scholars on both sides of these two belief systems. Nevertheless, up to this point, here is my evaluation. If someone were to approach scripture without having been influenced by either of these "five points", it is highly unlikely, almost impossible, that one could emerge a Calvinist. 

I say that because, after almost 20 some hours reading their support text, it seems apparent that you need help in interpreting the scripture a certain way, if that help is not there, than the text speaks for itself and there is very little of the text of scripture that could support Calvinism.

Does that mean Arminius was 100% right. Absolutely not. But it does mean the biblical text seems to support a majority of his positions.

These kind of "discussions" are fun and exciting. Of course, history says there will be no final answer, at least in this class we are taking. But talking and learning about it all is a great joy.

Speaking of JOY - it is the Christmas season. So, JOY TO THE WORLD and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Rise Again

Coming to the end of Matthew's gospel is somewhat of a relief. Not that I don't enjoy reading it, it is just that Matthew does not seem to have the same writing skills as the other three gospel writers. His agenda seems to always interfere. At least it seems to me that is the case.

Nevertheless, as with the other gospels, the end of Matthew deals with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ. Now Matthew includes a few one-of-a- kind comments in his Gospel that intrigue me. However, none like we find in Matthew 27:51-54 where at the moment of Jesus death, not only is there an upheaval in the earth and the temple curtain torn in two, but apparently something more significant is about to happen. Somewhere, or in many places around the city, the text says that, "The tombs were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised..."  (28:52)

Now Jesus was chided about a lot of things during his trial and crucifixion. During his crucifixion, they even mocked him and said, "...Let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him." (Matt. 27:42)  That would have been something!  No doubt Jesus would have gotten their attention at that point. Yet, that is not what happened.

What did happen is apparently there was a mini-resurrection of some type, other than Jesus', that took place after Jesus' resurrection and those who came out of their tombs "went into the holy city and appeared to many." (v.53)  That has to be the next best thing to Jesus coming down off the cross that night, but apparently, it goes relatively unnoticed. Matthew comments on it, but none of the other gospel writers mention it. I wonder why you would ignore such an eye-opening event!

After the resurrection, Jesus visits the twelve and the women, these other saints go into the city. Since we have no other evidence, apparently they said a "hello" to their family and friends. Then what? Did they die again and go back into the tomb. Or were they translated into the heavenly kingdom of God.

One must admit this is a rather significant event in the scheme of things. After all, resurrections from the dead are not a daily occurrence. However, apparently this event goes somewhat unnoticed and unrecorded as to its effect.  Then again, you can understand why, imagine showing up at the family meal after Synagogue with Phineas in tow, knowing that someone is going to say, "What the heck! Didn't he die last year in a camel accident?"

Scripture is not always easy to understand when you see events like this occurring in isolation. Especially when they seem to be such a significant event. I suppose when we get to heaven we can ask Matthew why he chose to put this there - or Luke, Mark and John, why they chose to leave it out.  Or another option, maybe it just didn't happen they way Matthew thought it did or wanted it to happen. I don't know.

Does that impact how I look at the rest of his story. Not at all. Does that change the veracity of scripture, not at all. It could very well be that everyone was rightly focused on Jesus and the rest of these folks, now no longer at "rest", simply took a back seat.

Does that mean keeping your eyes on Jesus may cause you to miss "significant events" going on around you? Perhaps, but then maybe they are not that significant after all.

Merry Christmas!

In The Holiday Spirit

My office is cleaned up and rearranged. I live in an area where 60 degree temps in December are not that unusual. I have a wife who loves me unconditionally and a dog that thinks I am wonderful. Plus, Santa Claus is coming to town. How could I be anything other than in the Holiday Spirit?

This month I am reading the Gospels again. I am just about finished with Matthew. Of course, I am having new insight on passages that may have slipped by me in previous readings. So it is fun.

My wife and I were talking the other night about some of what I have been reading and we began discussing the disciples. Their selection (not election) was a rather odd experience. Jesus simply saw them and said, "Come and follow me," and they basically dropped everything to follow him. Of course, there may have been something that transpired before Jesus spoke those words, but not one of the Gospel writers gives us a hint of that. Jesus said, "come" and they came.

Naturally, it took quite some time for the disciples to settle in their minds that they were indeed following the Messiah. That being the case, what in the world prompted them to drop everything and follow this unknown man. If you or I did that today, or a friend of ours, it would be viewed as an act of an unstable mind. In fact, if one of our children were to do something similar, we would call it "cultish".

Different culture and a different time, I suppose is the primary answer. We have no other indication. Not even Matthew, one of the twelve, tells us he was "lead by the spirit" or a "voice from heaven spoke to him saying 'follow this man' you won't be disappointed."

During the Christmas Season, I wonder how many people will encounter the Christ and hear him say, "Come, follow me." Then, without any question or delay, simply say, "yes!"

Would we make them go back and walk down the "Roman road" to make sure they did it the right way?  Would we ask them if they said anything other than "yes" - since it is a fact one must include the "sinner's prayer" in order for salvation to be effective. Or will we simply say - "Great! Welcome to the family." Then begin to nurture them in their new faith relationship.

What a wonderful time Christmas is. What a wonderful gift we have in Christ.

Merry Christmas!

The Message of Scripture

When I was cruzin' the streets of the Tri-Cities, WA there was this song which was a big hit in the summertime of the late 60's. It was by the Lovin' Spoonful called "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind". Here is the first stanza:

Did you ever have to make up your mind
Pick up on one and leave the other behind
It's not often easy and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind

I thought about that song as I finished my morning scripture reading and found myself wanting to pray for a clear understanding of what I was reading. I was thinking - "I have got to make up my mind about some things."

Then I caught myself and thought - "Why do I need to pray for a clear understanding? Isn't there this idea of perspicuity - that scripture is plain in what it teaches and has no intent to deceive or mislead?" Of course it does. (The Blue Letter Bible has a nice discussion on it.)

My wife and I are currently attending a PCA church. This is a first for me and a repeat for her - at least from her younger days. I have never been totally familiar with the PCA so it's been a real learning experience for me. The big plus is that we are right now taking a "LEAD" class - a leadership class that is going over the major doctrines and teachings of the PCA. The class is intended for future deacons, elders, teachers, etc. However, it was a class that was open to anyone, so we decided to go and learn. And what a learning experience it has been!

The second week in, we dealt with this concept of perspicuity. Of course nothing could be further from the truth if you look at it realistically. If people truly believed that idea, then Calvin would have been dismissed years ago as well as Arminius, I suppose. Nevertheless, those two men continue to influence the "doctrine of salvation and justification" to this day.

In the Westminster Confession, here is what it says about perspicuity:

II. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:[15] yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.  (Section 1 VII)

It seems, at least to me, that this idea is rather narrowly focused only to "salvation" and not to a clear understanding of scripture as a whole. Which is an accurate description for the PCA since they are rather convoluted when it comes to other areas of scripture, predestination and the elect being just a couple.

Nevertheless, I have entered the study of these things with a fairly open mind. But I must say, when I read the text - the whole text of scripture simply for what it says, I find it very difficult to see how they devise the things they devise in terms of their understanding. But they must do a good job of it, since greater minds than I will ever have subscribe to their doctrine and theology and millions of people are apparently in the elect and many others are simply doomed by GOD to eternal destruction, no questions asked.

Well, I suppose I could ask one question, but then their trump card of sovereignty goes on the table and their eyes glaze over.

Update

This is a follow up and frankly probably not of real interest to many, but it is of interest to me. It has to do with the "virgin text" I spoke of a month or so back. I had purchased a new Bible, an English Standard Version, and was attempting to read it without marking in it. I have a tendency to do a great deal of underlining, note taking, marking in my Bibles.

It is time to confess. I did pick up a pencil after a few weeks and start making tick marks here and there. Then I started underlining words, not sentences mind you, just a word or two here and there. And I made an occasional " < " in the margin to signify something important.  To satisfy my deeper need to take notes, I read with a steno-pad beside me and make notes there.

What I would like to "note" is this...it is actually quite revealing to read a clean text of scripture. I am seeing things that I had not seen before and I am able to retain my focus on the text and not the markings to think about why I may have made that mark or note in previous readings. It really is fun and quite rewarding.  In fact it is reshaping my theology it a great degree.

We all come to the text with certain preconceived notions of what we believe about certain doctrines or theologies. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if we force those beliefs on the text that is wrong. On the other hand, if we let the text kick those beliefs around a bit and reshape them into more accurate truths, then that is a good thing. At least, I believe that is a good thing.  Let me give you a rather innocuous example.

In Matthew 12:38-42 Jesus is having a discussion with the scribes and Pharisees about signs. They "wish to see a sign from (him)". Of course Jesus said no sign will be given except the "sign of Jonah". He goes on to say two things about two OT figures, "something greater than Jonah is here" and "something greater than Solomon is here." 

What caught my attention is the "something". Why didn't Jesus say someone? He is obviously referring to the persons. However his greater reference is to the event of judgement. Now your study Bible or a commentary may point you in that direction, but it is much more fun when the text does it!

Well, it obviously doesn't take much to excite me. So I reckon I'll just move along and keep this to myself from now on. Unless of course, there is a revelation from God that just must be shared.

Oh yes....

Merry Christmas!!!

Miracle Birth

Each child emerging from the womb of their mother is, in some sense a miracle.

That human beings can recreate themselves at all truly is miraculous when you think about it. Mere cells, eventually dividing and developing into a fully developed replication of their donors.  Wow!

Now, if you throw a birth into the mix that makes no sense according to the rules of nature - a woman conceiving without the benefit of a donor male - well there you have something extra ordinary. A virgin birth.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I have a tendency to just take that notion in stride. As though it were a common everyday occurrence. Or perhaps, it is so unbelievable and so other-worldly, that I write it off and simply go with it because to try and make sense of it makes no sense.

At the Christmas season I sing O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel, Away in a Manger, etc., and give the words very little thought. That is because I have sung the songs for years and heard countless renditions. They are what they are - unless of course you get wowed by a really good choir. Then - well then, it can really come alive. But that is more "how" it's done, not necessarily the song's content that moves me - anyway.

Pondering the virgin birth takes a great deal of discipline. I suppose we could just accept it and move on. But it really is a one-of-a-kind miracle. Not that other miracles are that ordinary. But this one is special. It is hard to duplicate this one - even harder to make sense of it, let alone explain it to someone else. In one regard, everything hinges on this miracle.

Oh my....at times I can't decide whether to have a bagel or cereal for breakfast. What in the world am I doing pondering the virgin birth?

Truth

What is it that makes truth, truth? In John 8:32, Jesus said that we would know the the "truth" that it would make us free.  Part of the idea of truth is conforming to fact, being accurate and well, being truthful. Yet, what I am finding is that, at least, the pursuit of truth is anything but freeing. It can be quite cumbersome and binding in many respects. At least for me.

In my discipleship journey, I am having occasion to stop at many different venues to explore methodologies and curriculum used in discipling people. I am also putting in to practice some of these principles myself. Consequently, I am learning things that are quite interesting. One is primarily that of Bible study.

When it comes to the study of scripture and doctrines related to scripture, or the "church" for that matter, often discipleship programs script the curriculum. The goal is to actually teach people what they should believe, not so much how how to study the scripture for themselves - how to discover truth for themselves. This of course does two things; it perpetuates the internal "faith" and it prevents people from asking too many questions.

I am watching this in action at the church we are attending now. It's a PCA church. Not that PCA is a bad thing. However, in the discipleship class, which is also a leadership class, it is pretty well a "this is what you shall believe" class. I may be the only vocal decenter in the group. That does not mean I do not agree with what is being taught, it just means I have serious questions and there are other options. Options that may be "true".

Nevertheless, our teacher is like everyone else, when you hear something long enough, loud enough, and spoken by people you trust, you believe it and pass it along as truth.  All disciplines do it. We see it in government with welfare or healthcare issues; in our schools with the perpetuation of the Darwin myth; in science with misinformation about global warming, etc.  All have elements of truth, but none may be true. And yes, the church is the same way.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (Jn. 14:6) And God desires "all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." (1Tim. 2:4) So, without stealing Pilate's thunder, "what is truth?"

What Do YOU Say?

Here's the Internet headline....

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

Now of course there are two immediate observations about this whole fiasco. One, if this kind of thing took place in the U.S. with an American teacher in an American school the press would be having a field day, demonstrations would be many, and most would be screaming for a public apology and asking for the teacher's resignation. In Sudan, they have a simple solution - kill her.  Well, the "radicals" that is. Everyone else of common sense says the Sudanese court has overreacted and this whole thing has been blown out of proportion.

However, if you look at the Pentateuch and how they dealt with idolatry, or someone who defamed the name of God. Once it was determined that the charge was accurate, that the person really did name the bear "Yahweh", they would take them out and stone them to death. "So shall you purge the evil from your midst." (Deut. 13) Of course God has changed his approach since then and we have become much more civilized and morally conscientious. We do not stone people and we do not get very indignant when people impugn the name of God, any god really.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. After all, I am sure it is just a big misunderstanding. How could anyone - especially a teacher -- think that, being in an Islamic country, teaching Islamic children, in a country steeped in the Muslim faith, naming a teddy bear after their god would offend anyone?

Go figure?!

A Poem to Share

This poem is one from a writers forum. It was a winning poem in a recent "contest" for a theme on preaching. I thought folks might enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Alvin Josiah MacRaney III
was in ministry up to his eyes.
He gave to the needy, encouraged the weak,
and responded to many souls' cries.

MacRaney was part of a family of preachers;
the pulpit was part of their lore.
He learned the importance of loving the brethren
from his father and grandpa before.

Dear Alvin was praised by his plentiful flock
for the blessings he oft gave away.
They often sat speechless, in bounteous thanks
for the many he'd lift when he'd pray.

But MacRaney's great passion - and his congregants', too
was his preaching of God's holy Word.
His pastoral fervor and "gift of the gab"
were obvious to all those who heard.

"Repent! The Lord loves you," was his pulpit refrain.
"Each person's a great big fat sinner.
If you do your part and let Christ in your heart,
then God will see you as a winner."

He'd flip through his bible, taking copious notes
(that no one but Alvin could read),
extracting the wisdom he'd share with the folks
whose souls he was aiming to feed.

He shared the Word boldly with those of his flock
and closed with a rousing "Amen."
He then put his congregants back in the toy box
and napped until "church time" again.

A Poem by Joanne Sher  Copyright 2007

The God of the Old Testament

For most of my Christian life the Old Testament has been my favorite portion of the Bible. I am not certain whether it is because it is the section most neglected by others, or because early on in my education I became fascinated with the Hebrew language and it was a logical connection. I don't recall much of my Hebrew anymore but I cling to my interest in the OT.

Currently I am reading through the Bible again and I am in the "Law" section, in the book of Deuteronomy. At the same time I am working on an article regarding the immutability of God. It has been my contention for some time that God does indeed change His mind. That does not necessarily mean His character changes, it simply means He makes a new decision regarding some one or some thing. A majority of people really get uncomfortable with that.

This is not the venue for the detail of the article, or for a discussion of the issue necessarily, although I welcome your comments. Suffice it to say, there is one particular issue which presents a rather strong case in favor of flexibility in God's immutability.

The issue is moral development. If mankind's moral conscience changes so that things that were right during biblical times are now deemed reprehensible by today's moral standards and Christian principles,  who or what changed?  *******

Getting back to the OT. It really is a wonderful 'book". So rich in language and word pictures. Alive with God's interaction with His people in ways we do not see in the NT. There are times when I regret that people often make the Old Testament merely a springboard to the New, although I understand the thinking. Nevertheless, it is so much more.

God bless the reading of His word and the thought we give to what we read.

The Puzzle

Life is lived in tension. There is the "what is" and the "what will be". The known and the unknown. The now and the then. Not always opposites, but often complimentary components sometimes pulling us, sometimes pushing us, but always stretching us. Occasionally seasoned by the past, but most often stilted by it.

It is like a giant puzzle. We know all the pieces are there but we do not have the cover of the box so we have no idea what the final picture should look like. Consequently, we struggle to see in our mind's eye what, for all intents and purposes, cannot be seen except one piece at a time. So often we find ourselves frantically looking for the next piece, knowing that if we find it, it will get us that much  closer to the next, and the next and the next.

The Bible is God's puzzle. Unlike our life, we have the cover of the box for this one. We know what the "final picture" looks like. So in many ways we can piece together a fairly cohesive picture of things, like the character of God for example. Many, who have come before us, have done so in a variety of ways and use a variety of terms to describe Him; omniscient, omnipresent, loving, patient, merciful, immutable, invisible, sovereign, etc.

What strikes me as unusual, is that most descriptions will seldom include any attributes that might be considered negative characteristics. For example: jealous, vengeful, flexible, impatient.  Consequently, there is a rather distorted picture of God. One that is not fully functional or fully formed. It certainly fits with what many people want Him to look like or act like, but it does not necessarily fit with how the Bible describes Him. Which is uncomfortable for some. I am not sure why, since we have the cover of the box and know what the final picture looks like, but it does.

As I continue to think about this, it could explain why so many people avoid the Old Testament. It may not be because that they do not like the genealogies, dietary instructions and laws, it may simply be, they do not like what they read about God. 

I guess half a box top is better than no box top at all when it comes to puzzles.

Thanksgiving

Another one has come and gone. But the spirit of "thanksgiving" is something that in all actuality might be best expressed on a  daily basis. At least for some of us.

My wife and I enjoy watching "The Great American Race" on television Sunday evenings. Most recent episodes have been located in Africa. Whether by design or not, the contestants have been in some of the poorest areas in the country - not the worst - but the poorest. Watching their reactions and gauging my own, has reminded me that I have a great deal to be thankful for.

I do not have to select my food from an open market and swat the flies away before selecting my fish. I do not have to walk through open sewers or garbage in the streets to get to my home or the neighbors home, if you would call those shanties "homes".  I don't have to barter goats or chickens, or travel by bicycle or squeeze my way onto a broken down bus, or cook on an open fire, or worry about the roof leaking when it rains, or....

Yes, I have a great deal to be thankful for. But where or to whom, do I direct my thanks?

• Is it because my ancestors made it to America and theirs did not
• Is it because my government is better than theirs
• My "job" more profitable than theirs
• Our economy more prosperous
• I am blessed and they are cursed - (they are the ones that always seem to be smiling)

Of course, they are on one continent and I am on another, so some of this whole thing is a result of pure circumstance and indeed ancestry. Nevertheless, when I look at their circumstances and I look at mine, I want to say "thank you". 

As a theist, I can say "thank you" and my you is directed to God. But if it were an agnostic or an atheist, who or what do they thank. Perhaps their "you" is directed toward Darwin or some great thinker of the past.  Perhaps it is directed inward. Perhaps their thanksgiving is a thanks to the forces of random chance. Or do they simply say "thanks" and let it go at that? 

"Thanks" is a word that cries out for a noun or a pronoun. Whether we voice it or simply think it, I suspect everyone assigns something to it.  Nevertheless, I give thanks.

Things I've Learned

It has been several days since my last entry. One reason is a need to do some pondering on things I've been reading and thinking. I don't think we, as Americans, do much pondering any more. We just take things as they come for the most part and have very little critical thinking. The other reason was because we were out of town and I did not have Internet access. Imagine that, being some place in the US, not in isolation, where there is no Internet access. I suppose my mother and father in law should really get with the times, but then, they really don't need access to the Internet.

Did I miss the Internet? Not really. I thought I would, but I really did not. There was a time or two when I was reading that I thought, "gee, I would like to look that up!" When I realized I could not, the thought vanished and I was fine until a later time.

What I learned while I was away was this:

• I can get by without access to the world through the Internet
• Most of the email I receive has little value or consequence to my personal life
• When I'm stuck in a house with dozens of relatives, I can find a quiet place to read and find it quite productive
• There are seminaries that grant MDiv. degrees that do not require students to learn the original languages of the Bible
• You can have 20-30 adults in one place over a period of two days and only hear one brief conversation about God
• I have far away friends who care enough about me to call me on Thanksgiving
• That religious zealots killing whole tribes of people - men, women, and children, could really prove to be intolerant behavior for other people looking on
• My dog learns better than some people
• That my sister was surprised and pleased when I called her to say "happy Thanksgiving"

There was much more, but by now I'm sure what you've learned is that you can only take so much of what I've learned. So that should be sufficient.  Oh yes, one more thing. Reading scripture for the pure joy of reading scripture is actually a delight.

Ain't life grand?

Who Cares?

There was a time when that question was similar to the "what's up?" or "go figure" type of sayings. I remember a pastor where I once served as music and youth director used it almost every other sentence.  I am beginning to wonder whether or not it ought to come back in vogue?  After all, when you look at some of the questions and issues that are being discussed these days, "who cares?"

Those who do not live in the Charlotte, NC area may not be aware of the recent decision by the NC Baptist Convention to boot one of the Charlotte churches out of their association because that particular church willingly accepts homosexuals. Now that does not mean they accept sinners with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. It means they accept homosexuals, accept their lifestyle, allow them to maintain it and permit them in positions of leadership in the church.

Of course the general population, including the editor of the Charlotte Observer, who happens to be a member of that church, objects to the association's action as though they were being judgmental and taking an adverse position to scripture.

Naturally, when the dust settles, no one will care about anyone's position other than the fact that the "church" is intolerant toward gays and that we are not showing the love of Christ. So "who cares?"

You could quote scripture until the cows come home and most would say that was then, this is now. We don't live in those times any more. Or homosexuality is something you are born with and if God creates people that way, how could He condemn them when He created them that way? 

I think sociologists and philosophers would call much of that ethical or moral relativism. Of course, they may be right. I learned this morning that the civil and ceremonial laws of the OT were no longer valid and only the moral laws apply in the "new covenant" era.  So that sheds a whole new light on things. The further we move away from home port the less clear things seem to become.  But then "who cares?"

Oh well, I have several days to mull this over and perhaps emerge with a whole new perspective on things.

What's Next

My wife is a "glass half full" kind of woman. She is just a joy to be around. Not the over-the-top giddy type of positive, but an even, keep things in perspective, type of positive. It's a good balance for me, since I'm the typical glass half empty kind of guy.

I used to be a "half fuller". In fact, I was more than that, I was an over the top, full to overflowing kind. There are still moments when I have spurts of that type of behavior - usually it is when I am around other half empty folks, I see it as my job to be the half full person in the group. After all, there always needs to be balance.

At this point in my journey, I don't know that the issue is half full or half empty anymore. Sometimes it is all I can do to hang on to the glass. Perhaps that is because there is too much thinking and not enough action. Or too many questions and not enough answers. Or too many tomorrows and not enough hope. I am not certain. Nor am I certain that it matters. 

I have noticed that some people touch the lives of hundreds over their lifetime and negate every moment of it as though it did not matter. Others long to do the same and would cherish the idea that what they do mattered as much.  What kind of irony is that.

As I was mowing the grass yesterday I thought - "does a drowning man drown because he stops struggling or does he stop struggling because he drowns?" What an odd thought.  But that thought lead to this one, "what's next?"

Where did I leave my glass?

PS.  We did get rain!  :)

Let's Talk About Rain

In some parts of the world rain is not a problem. They have plenty. In other parts, such as the southeastern United States they have very little. In fact, the drought situation in the Carolinas and Georgia has gone beyond serious. It is so bad, that even on last night's news they covered a special prayer session where folks were gathered to pray for rain. 

Here's the problem. Of course it will rain eventually, so in some sense the prayer will be answered. However, when you have news coverage of a prayer vigil for rain, some folks are going to wonder why it doesn't rain the next day. Then they begin to question why God doesn't answer prayer. Seems to me we have enough of our own folks doing that without adding to the problem.

The other side of the coin is this. Perhaps God does not want it to rain. Then of course, there is the obvious. In His sovereignty, He set the forces of nature in motion and it will do what it will do. If we expected God to "interfere" every time things did not go right, then we would never get to blame Mother Nature for anything. 

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!  For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth..."  (Psalm 97:1,9a)

One other note. What happens in my little corner of the world, invariably impacts some one else's corner of the world. Therefore, my drought may result in someone else's much needed "something". As a result, maybe I should keep my perspective and just use less water until circumstances change.

just wondering

Those who follow this blog with any regularity know that I often have more questions than answers.  Which for some is uncomfortable and for others is not intimidating in the least. After all, if Socrates was right, "The unexamined life is not worth living," what should we say about an unexamined faith?

There is a question I keep pondering regarding Discipleship. It stems from a class I am auditing at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Our instructor, has said, on more than one occasion, that what we are teaching people when we disciple them in the complete Christian life, is the "ideal". It is not something we can attain, but it is something worthy of striving for.

Now in some sense that is true. We will never be "complete" until we are complete in Glory. However, is there not the potential for fulfilling Christ's command to be "perfect" this side of heaven? If not, then what was the purpose of the God-Man and his example of living a life without sin? Simply to be a perfect sacrifice. If so, why hold him up as an example as being tempted in all areas like we are, yet without sinning, if it is not within our grasp?

Yes, I can hear it now, our goal is not to be sinless, but to sin less. Which is cute. But it does not address the issue. Can I bring my mind and my body under the authority of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to such a degree, that I am walking - for lack of a better term - in harmony with God?

Who Would Dare!

There are sections of scripture which sometimes confuse me. Not that they are ridiculous or ludicrous, simply that - given the context they seem unwarranted. An example would be in Numbers.

Regarding the Tabernacle, in 3:10  we read that "If any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death." A rather stern and matter-of-fact warning, repeated in verse 38.  Later, in that same chapter, verses 27-37  we read that specific clans are assigned to guard the Tabernacle and the items inside.

This leads to the obvious question, why would you need guards? Who would dare come near the Tabernacle or even attempt to pilfer it, knowing, based on previous demonstrations of God's "judgements", that death was a fair certainty?

Pondering that question for a while, I thought about an article I had read earlier this weekend about why we hang on to "pet sins". The author of the article was rather blunt in his analysis . We hang on to those types of sins because we prefer the sin more than we prefer a healthy relationship with Christ. Now who would dare admit to that? But I believe he may be right.

The sin may not, indeed is not heinous, but it does infringe on my relationship to God. Yet, I choose to practice it, rather than practice God's grace in overcoming it. How insulting is that to God?

Now, who would dare admit they have that type of sin in their life let alone admit that type of behavior?  Uhm...guess I have some work to do.

I suppose it is not that big of a stretch after all to imagine someone wanting to approach, even pilfer the Tabernacle, they may think the risk is worth the reward. Go figure.

A Virgin Text

Many times when I read scripture, it is hard for me to see through my own clutter. After so many years of using the same Bible there are so many underlines, margin scribbles, and tick marks here and there, that I am easily distracted from the main text.

Recently, I purchased a new Bible, not that I needed one. I have several Bibles and a couple of them would be considered "new". But this one was on sale and it was "The Reformation Study Bible" in the English Standard Version. A combination I could not pass up. So now I have decided to do much of my Bible reading in this virgin text. I am also trying to keep my hands in my lap and away from pencils and pens so that I avoid making any notes or underlines, at least for now.

It is amazing what I am "seeing" and "hearing" without all that clutter distracting me. There is a real sense of refreshment about this kind of reading. Admittedly, I'll sneak a peak at the notes from time to time to see what these reformers are thinking about a particular text, but other than that, I am focused strictly on the text itself.  It is rather fun.

Often times we are influenced in our reading by what we already think about a given text. Other times it may be by what someone else thinks either by a side note, a "color" or segment marking.  That does not make it wrong or improper, it may just make it limited and put blinders on our mind and keep us from seeing something new and exciting.

Anyway, I'm enjoying this virgin text. I'm not certain how long I'll resist the temptation to keep it unmarked. However, that is not the point, as long as the scripture continues to leave its mark on me.

Blessings!

Why Think?

Why think indeed!

The lead in to an ad for a Doctor of Ministry program from Talbot Seminary in California has that question "WHY THINK?" Of course it continues by answering the question. "Because you know how powerful thoughts are...that a single idea can redraw the map of the world."

Give me a break! If we are at a point in the world of Christendom where we have to remind our pastors why they should be thinking then God help us. Shouldn't they have been thinking all along? And thinking about ideas other than just biblical ideas?

I'm a thinker. Some would consider me a stinker-thinker because I tend to think outside the box and challenge things, often it may appear needlessly, or at times, with malice. But isn't that what thinking is all about? Stirring up ideas. Prompting dialog.  Digging deeper, peeling away layers and getting to the truth of the matter. Or does it not matter?

Maybe that is why we need to remind folks to think. They've been fed their ideas for so long that they don't know how to think for themselves any more.

I remember not that long ago, when I did my graduate work we had good discussions, spirited discussions. This was in a class of twenty to thirty students. Yet we never seemed to get behind. Now, I sit in a class of eight and we get power point presentation after power point presentation for three hours with perhaps a combined 10 minutes of discussion. What's up with that? I don't need to think to do that. Shoot fire, email me the power point slides and the pictures of the other students, I'll just pretend I'm being educated.

Why think? Because God calls us to think! We don't check our minds at the door of faith when we open it. If any thing, we kick it up a notch. As Paul said, "...Be transformed by the renewing of you MIND, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good an acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2 ESV)

Maybe I should think about this before posting it --- nah!!!!

Wild Hair

You may know people like me, we are wild hair folks. I'm not certain of the origin of that "phrase". I have done some research and there is not a great deal of information out there. What is available tends to speak to what you would think, an outlandish idea, a "chasing rabbits" syndrome, or moving off a designated task to go after an un-designated task (a more sophisticated approach).

I get wild hairs on a regular basis. In fact, you could say my life has been one big "wild hair". Is that bad? I don't think so. Has it driven other people a bit wild? Most likely. Do I have anything to show for it? I suppose that depends on what you mean? I have a catalog of experiences I would never have had otherwise. I have done things, gone places, met people I would have never encountered any other way. Nevertheless, I have come to realize something.

A few days ago, I was writing a short story and some of the details of that story were from my past. When I began to ponder those specific pieces, I could see facets of my life that I had not seen before. "Wild hairs" can possibly move you out of the will of God without you knowing it. You get so caught up in the excitement of the new idea, dream, or vision that it can cloud your perspective on what is real - what is now.  In reality, the wild hair may be a means of running "from", not running "to", something.

That revelation stunned me. It opened up a full journal of circumstances, spanning almost forty years, that suddenly came under scrutiny. It was intimidating, to say the least.

Now let's kick in our theological engines. I can wrestle with the question, "Did I step out of God's will while chasing any of those wild hairs"? Or, I can simply rest and not wrestle, knowing that each action put me exactly where I was meant to be. 

Oops, there goes another wild hair!

"Forced Opinions"

I'm not sure how adults form their basic philosophy of life. I am neither a psychologist or sociologist, although I have studied both disciplines. However, it seems to me that many of us carry a great deal of "baggage" that certainly influences our philosophy of life.

The other day I was batting e-mails back and forth with a dear friend and we were talking about one of his children's moral development. Discussing how that young person was at a point in her life where she was forming values and morals that would shape much of her life experience. The question was, who or what would be the influence on the "content" of those values and morals?

My friends reply was basically his daughter was doing a good job of shaping her own values and moral principles without the influence of "forced opinions".  I have thought about that response for several days now and it seems to me to be rather shallow and naive. However, I suspect what the person meant was either his father, mother, or some other authority figure had "forced their opinions" on him and since he did not like that, he has chosen not to do the same to his children.

Of course, the obvious consequences of that logic are flawed and really have no merit. I suspect were his daughter to come to him when she is 13 and say, "Dad, based on my own values and moral principles, I have decided to start having sex."  I believe my friend would indeed have a forced opinion to share with his daughter at that point.

Does anyone really think that morals or values can be shaped without the influence of "forced opinions"? Whether it is the public school system, the government, peer groups, even churches inundate us with "forced opinions".  We don't just reject them wholesale because we don't like "them", the message, or the way they couched the message. Often, many of those "opinions" are well intentioned.

I was not a real good parent. So I don't have a strong platform to stand on. However, what I have observed from those who are, it seems to me if more parents had "forced opinions" kids would not be killing kids. Children would not be carrying guns to school, assaulting teachers, phoning in bomb threats, committing suicide at alarming rates or needing hand outs of contraceptives.

It is true, parents should be an example to their children. That is the best "opinion" of all. That does not mean the kids will follow, it just puts the odds in the parent's favor when it comes to all the other "forced opinions" competing for their children's attention.

There are two sides to the parenting contract....

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.  (Col. 3:20-21)

Then I am a Liar!

This past week I received an email from a friend with a forward from a newsletter by a Wycliffe translator. If you are not familiar with Wycliffe, they translate the Bible in to different languages for missionary work around the world. Anyway, the article was entitled The 81 Percent Life  you can read it in its entirety at the author's, Jack Popjes, web site. In the article there is this piece:

An internationally know Orthodox Jewish rabbi once said, "Any Christian who tells me he is a disciple of the Rabbi Yeshua (Jesus) and who does not read the four gospels at least once a month is a liar. How are you going to know your Rabbi if you don't spend time reading what he did and what he said?"

Now you know why I have the title, "I am a liar". I certainly do not read the four gospels once a month. I have read them in the last six months and am starting them again, as a result of this quote, but I don't read them regularly. However the rabbi is right. We talk about the one we desire to be "like". Yet, we often spend minimal time studying his life in order to imitate it.

The author of the article goes on to say, that less than 20% of the gospels are consumed with the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The remaining 81% is focused on his life and ministry. Hence that ought to be our focus as followers of Christ.

I dare say, were I to simply narrow it down and focus on the Sermon on the Mount and nothing more - if that was my "daily bread", I would never hunger. The challenges there would be sufficient to keep me focused until eternity calls me home.

"Bread of heaven, feed me 'til I want no more..."

Blaming God

Technorati Tags: Blame, God's Will

 

I thought for sure it was a concept that had died with a certain level of Christian maturity. But apparently not. It became obvious in two events this past weekend. One was at a meeting I attended where we were discussing the craft of writing. One of the persons there used the phrase "God gave you that story", so the implication was, it must be written and shared. The other was at a Bluegrass and Gospel Festival where one group leader was saying that "God gave" one of their members a particular song.

Now, I am not here to say God does or does not "give" these kind of things. I am just saying that once that phrase gets deposited, there is no room for argument. How do you say to someone, that's nice, but it's a lousy song, after they have said "God gave me this song."  Of course, God has never claimed to be in the songwriting business, so indeed it could be a lousy song. But who is going to be the first to say it? He is after all, in the gifting business, and songwriting, liking good writing in general, is undoubtedly a gift.

Perhaps many of us have either said or heard it said, "God is leading me...."; that could be to make a move, open a business, change jobs, start a new church, etc., etc. Then when things do not seem to work out the next thing that is heard is "apparently it was not God's time or God's will." 

Uhm.....

We can be so certain one minute, then be so uncertain the next. Is it because of a lack of trust? A shortfall in the area of patience?  A matter of not listening in the first place? Can we attribute it to our culture's expectation that things should happen "now", not later? Do we try to force the issue and then "blame God" when things don't work out?  Or quit simply because things do not "fall into place" or "doors don't open." I am not certain I know the answer to any of those questions, although I've asked most of them myself.

What I do know is that God's purpose will not be short-circuited. He will get done what He wants to get done, with or without me. I just hope I'm in the right place at the right time - writing the right book, singing the right song, hammering the right nail, driving the right bus, or doing the right whatever. I want to praise Him, not blame Him.

Cats and Dogs

There are some things in my daily existence that always present themselves as a mystery. One of them is the relationship between our dog and the neighbor's cats.

It is no secret cats and dogs are not always the best of friends. I'm not certain whether that is a learned response or a natural one. Nevertheless, our dog loves to bark at our neighbor's cats. Prior to installing the Invisible Fence, he delighted in chasing them.

Once we installed the Invisible fence, it took the cats all of five minutes to figure out this dog could only go so far and that was it. Now, they just casually walk wherever they like in full view of our dog, while he barks like crazy. Of course, to no avail. He has not figured out, they don't care and have no fear! They will even be so bold as to come right up to the "fence line" and lay down and nap!

Normally our dog is very smart. But this one seems to elude him. Then again, I reckon he is no different then me. I can waste three or four hours watching sports or some other mundane show on TV and afterwards wonder why I wasted my time doing that. Then turn around the next day and do the very same thing.

Talk about barking to no avail!

"Again"

"Again" is an interesting word in the English language. We use the word in a variety of ways: To describe something restored to a former condition such as, flowers blooming again in springtime;   actions that are repeated, such as painting the room again; and, as a way to remind people of things, such as, "Again, I did not inhale."

What I find intriguing is that the word has a place in the vocabulary of God. That within the mind of the Almighty there is room for the concept of "again." Regardless of how you parse it, the idea implies that something once was, is not now, but will be again. Or, something that was will or will not be repeated. Either way, there is the strong sense that God is "making a new decision".  Similar to what we find in Genesis, "I will never again curse the ground....nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done." (Gen. 8:21)

(It was right about this time, in my first "draft" that my computer went dead. Many of you, more spiritual than I, would have taken that as a sign to change topics. I'm not that smart!)

Many are uncomfortable with the thought that God could change His mind, if I might use that phrase. However, in Genesis 18 when Abraham and God negotiate over Sodom there is the clear sense that God is willing to make a new decision based on certain criteria. The same with Jonah and others. The problem is it flies in the face of our understanding of God's complete knowledge. Therefore we find it difficult to reconcile the two concepts. But it is not a foreign concept in the Bible. (Jer. 18:8, 26:13; Psalm 110:4; Jonah 3:9)

That does not necessarily mean God was/is "wrong", it just means repentance works.  God again, chooses to say YES. Just as Israel found itself in seemingly relentless rebellion against the Almighty, as they repented God could say, "My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem." (Zech. 1:17)

Again -- "again" is often a good thing. It should not be something we shy away from or try to ignore when it comes to our understanding of God. It is merely something we need to keep in context.

"Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God."   (Psalm 42:11b)

Loss of Innocence

Those who know some of my journey realize that I came to know Christ at 18. It was shortly after that when I responded to a call to the ministry. I went to college and to seminary; did evangelistic rallies for several years; was in youth ministry for several years and was a pastor in two churches over a period of several years.

During that time I was receptive to most anything people of "church" authority told me. There were some things I questioned, but not many.

When life began to kick me around some and I faltered and "left" the ministry, there was a real loss of innocence. You might say I grew up and began to see things from a different perspective.  Some of that has been good, some of it has handicapped me at times. Nevertheless, it has been better overall. I believe it was Socrates who said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."  He is right.

On my other blog, there is a "page two" that contains some poems and essays. The first essay posted is entitled "Perplexed". It gives a sense of where I am going with all of this. So suffice it to say here, that I look at things differently now, than I did then.

In my reading through Revelation, I got started this morning and could not stop. It really is a great piece of literature, not to mention a challenging piece of prophecy. However, one cannot help but notice how it ends. At least five times "I am coming soon" or "the time is near" is noted. Now I don't know about you, but that catches my attention. I want to have some understanding of what is meant by "soon" or "near".

Of course, the standard responses are a day is as a thousand years to the Lord; we must leave it to the authors interpretation of what "soon" means; there is a sense of immediacy but we cannot take that literally, etc., etc..  All of which seem rather weak.  Is there more to it than that?

Many people are uncomfortable with these kinds of questions. I find them fascinating. God gave me a mind, He expects me to use it. Blind faith might be wonderful as an answer for the ultimate question of God, but it is a pitiful answer when it comes to explaining the Word of God.  Prophecy may be a genre with a certain element of mystery, but it is not one without predefined rules as set in scripture. (Deut. 18:20-22) Therefore I suspect there is a "now" answer for the readers then, and a "soon" answer for those in the future.

Loss of innocence is sometimes seen as coming of age. That may or may not be true. Nevertheless, as a student of scripture, I owe myself more than just reading with my mind disengaged.  Having full faculties on the "alert", as I read, is what makes the Bible come alive and speak to my heart AND my mind. It stretches me, causes me to reach farther and learn more. It is also what makes a growing disciple.

God Bless the reading of His Word!

Now is the time...

My daughter posted a little quiz on their blog about some products that are common to both England and the United States but have totally different names.  For example "plasters" are what we call band-aids; "dripping" is what we would call lard; and "fromage frais" is what we know as yogurt.  Needless to say, I did not do well on the quiz.

While reading the book of Revelation, it strikes me that "worship" is going to be similar in many respects. There will be several that will recognize it immediately for what it is - worship. The praise and adoration of God Almighty. But.....

There may be another group that will take a step back and say, "Wait, I think that looks familiar, but usually we call it the power hour and we do it this way! May we offer a suggestion?"

Then there may be another group that says, "Okay, this is great. While we lift our hearts in prayer and everyone has their eyes closed - What do you mean we don't close our eyes!!! How are we going to move the angels to one side and shift the incense bowls to the center? How will the  living creatures sneak off the stage? And what about those who need another cup of coffee? How are we supposed to get all that done with everyone looking?"

The truth is, most of us are not very good at praise and worship. We don't understand the concept, study it as described and practiced in scripture, nor see it demonstrated very well on Sunday morning.

I know I struggle with it. At times my mind wanders and I loose my focus. Other times I am reticent to open myself up to God and let my heart be exposed and my spirit be vulnerable.  Often times I am guarded and self conscious.  This is something I can change.

When it comes time to praise and worship God in total freedom before His throne, I may find myself looking around and thinking - "Wow - so this is what it's like!" Perhaps someone will come alongside and mentor me.

To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"  (Rev. 5:13b)

Royal Crown

It is hard to imagine that Royal Crown Cola can still survive against the likes of Coke and Pepsi, but somehow they do. I remember as a kid Royal Crown Cola and Diet Rite were the drinks. In fact, I believe, Diet Rite, may have been the first diet soda on the market. If you've ever had one you know it has a taste like no other cola drink. Nevertheless, it found its niche and has survived.

The idea of "crowns" in the New Testament continues to survive as well. In fact, it was part of a recent on line discussion I had with a few friends of mine. The focus was primarily on the idea of five different crowns being noted in the New Testament: crown of righteousness (2Tim 4:8), crown of life (James 1:12), crown of glory (1Peter 5:4), crown of rejoicing (1Thes. 2:19), and the incorruptible crown (1Cor. 9:25). My question to my friends, both pastors and PhD's, was whether or not these were five separate crowns for five different references to the same crown.

Well, as you might imagine, there was not a definitive consensus but the trend was toward five different references to the same crown. Which seems most appropriate to Scripture and to the vision that John has in Revelation, since the twenty-four elders are said to simply have "golden crowns" (4:4). Not several crowns. In addition, they don't seem to be wearing them anyway, but casting them before the throne of God (4:10), twenty-four seven. So it really becomes irrelevant in many respects.

Now - what I find interesting about this crown business, is that it would capture my attention. We all like "rewards" or recognition whether it is in the form of an "atta-boy" or a tangible reward such as a crown. I am no different. Some folks are collectors of rewards, they display them on their walls, around their necks, in their driveways, etc. So the idea of multiple crowns is appealing. The more the better. But our goal as Christians is not "How can I get more crowns than you". Our goal is "how can I serve you?"

If there were a "crown of servanthood" in that list of crowns, then I might say, yes we are talking about separate crowns. But there is not. Being a servant for the cause of Christ is sometimes like being the Royal Crown Cola of the soft drink industry, it's not very glamorous. It is not everyone's first choice. But it is the one  "royal crown" of every true disciple of Christ.  Perhaps that should be our focus.

Prayer - Is it Necessary?

Before you seek to hang me from the highest tree, hear me out. This came up in our discipleship class when we were discussing teaching new Christians the importance of praying out loud and public prayer.

It was a timely discussion. That very morning I had a head-against-the-wall experience when it dawned on me the futility of my own prayers.

I approach my personal prayer time in one of several ways; I will write out my prayers in a journal, different from this one; I will voice my prayers; I will simply journal my prayer as an entry on this blog in prose; or I will simply sit and let my heart do the talking.

The particular morning in reference, I was verbalizing my prayer and it suddenly dawned on me that my words where not at all synchronized with my heart. What I was saying had nothing to do with what I was thinking or feeling. It was as though I was trying to cover up my true thoughts and feelings with my rhetoric. Thinking perhaps God would not realize what I was doing.

There is little doubt, because of my own demented mind, that I am alone in this particular phenomenon, so I will share with you what I did. I merely shut up and let my heart do the talking. For some of what I was thinking was too shameful for me to speak and too painful for me to form into words.

In Psalm 19:14, the Psalmist said

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

Is there a chance that he was undergoing the same type of masquerade? Then realizing that perhaps there were tawdry thoughts or submerged faults (v.12-13) and he best harmonize his words with what was going on in his heart? I tend to think so.

Speaking for no one but myself, this experience has both intimidated me and transformed me. It has opened me up to a whole new awareness of what it means to pray.  I suspect my words will never be loud enough to drowned out the voice of my heart, that does not mean I will not try from time to time. It simply means I know how futile it will be.

Prayer as we often practice it, may not be necessary. Prayer as God hears it, needs no practice.

I Can Do This!

You are three hundred feet in the air. The roof of the building you are standing on is level with the one directly across the street stretching below. There is a steel beam; not a rope or a wire, but a steel beam 24" wide that stretches between the buildings. All you need to do is walk the one hundred and fifty feet from one side to the other. No safety net, no harness, just you, the beam, a slight breeze and the cool blue sky.  Could you?

I have never been a big fan of heights. There were times when I worked certain jobs that dealing with heights was necessary.  I didn't like it, but I did it anyway. Does that mean I conquered my fear? No, it just means I managed it for that situation. I still get nervous climbing my extension ladder more than ten feet off the ground.

To conquer something means you have done more than convince yourself, "I can do this!" There is a deeper sense where your entire being is committed to such a degree that "failure is not an option." It is similar to what Jesus said regarding putting our hand to the plow and not looking back.

Conquering is never easy. For those who think it is, they are mistaking the term conceding as being equal. It is not.

In the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, each one ends with the exhortation to "conquer".  Whatever their unique situation was - whatever they were struggling with, individually or corporately, Christ is exhorting them to be conquerors!

To conquer, subdue, or prevail over something, someone, or a particular situation involves a process over time. If not, Jesus would have exhorted us to be "all-of-a-suddeners".

Conquering requires the three D's:

• Dedication to the task
• Desire to see it to completion
• Discipline necessary to reach the goal

Hence the letters to the churches. Christ was encouraging them to remember their dedication, rekindle their desire, and renew themselves to the discipline necessary to fulfill their calling.

I struggle with the three D's. More often with "desire" than the other two, because that one is more emotional - And I am sometimes driven by emotion. However, my intention is to keep the big picture in view and know that today is just today.  Nevertheless, whether it is a day or a thousand days...

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)

More Tense Than Others

Over the past few days, I have spent some time talking about "words" and their value. Something else that is important when it comes to understanding Scripture, or communication in general, is grammar.

Grammar was never one of my favorite subjects. I would always get confused between participles, prepositions, pronouns, past tense, present tense, etc., etc. There seemed to be so many rules and even more exceptions to the rules, especially in the English language. Nevertheless, grammar has its rightful place in the toolbox of any good student of Scripture.

A good example of how grammar presents itself is Revelation 1:5b

"To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood..."

Here are two terrific truths that can serve to transform how we think about what Christ has done for us. Grammatically, both "love" and "freed" are participles. Participles are tricky little critters because they can have the characteristics of both a verb (action) and an adjective (modifier).

Moving one step further, there is the tense of each word, which shows the "time" of each action.  That is, when did it, or does it, take place? In this verse, "love" is present tense - as in on-going.  "Freed" is what is known as aorist tense. Most often, aorist tense is used to denote a summary action or an action that occurred at a point in time not to be repeated.

Therefore, what John is telling us in this verse is that Jesus Christ loves us now and forever and has freed us once for all.  We are forever in his love and never again to be slaves to sin.  How marvelous is that?

"Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing his mercy and his grace..."