follow the light...

what's your MacGuffin?

2010-07-21T08:09:00.013-04:00

So this morning I was checking out my ol' Twitterfeed and noticed an article by one of my favorite magazines Paste, and everyday they post a List of the Day - basically "best ofs" on various topics. On this particular day they listed the best MacGuffins in cinematic history. For those who don't know or are not planning on reading the article - a MacGuffin (a term coined by Alfred Hitchcock) is the element of the film around which all the characters are focused... As the list points out - the one ring in The Lord of the Rings trilogy for example. It is the driving force behind the plot, the reason the movie exists in the first place.

Well, it got me thinking about personal MacGuffins - please no jokes - as I tend to spiritualize things... Everyone has a reason for existing, everyone has something for which they are living. Everyone lives for one thing or another. The most successful people I know, or can think of are very conscious of that one thing, and so they intentionally center their lives around it... But the vast majority of people are living for an unconscious drive or an unrecognized desire. Their lives have no intentionality, and they can fool themselves into thinking their lives have no purpose - simply because they don't see it.

These people are living to run from the demons of their past or failures in the present- struggles from childhood, mistakes they have made as adults, feelings of inadequacy. And so they live - whether they know it or not - to exorcise those demons. They can't move forward because the MacGuffin of their lives has got them chained and they don't even know it.

Jesus said to "seek first the kingdom of God..." and really the entire Bible is about this move toward that kingdom... But in order for any of us to make that the real focus of our personal lives we have to really recognize what we are actually seeking first. What are we actually living for? What defines us? And then we have to be willing to give those things up and place our trust in the Creator of the world, and the Giver of our lives. That's easier said than done for sure. It takes a lot of work and personal responsibility and help from people who genuinely love you, but in the end it's the difference between living a life without focus and meaning and centering yourself on that which matters most.

what it means to relax...

2010-07-19T11:49:00.004-04:00

So, as Jules and I have journeyed through this thing called pregnancy we have come to the time where Julie is having to sit back and "try" to relax. Now, this has been easier said than done, because she is an incredibly driven and active person. She loves to do projects around the house and clean and work in the yard. So for her to stay off her feet has been somewhat of a challenge. I, on the other hand, have no problem relaxing... in fact, I'm quite good at it. I'd go so far as to say, I am a genius at relaxing because no one needs to force me to lay down and take it easy. Some people may call that laziness... I call it having an unusual talent for resting...

Whether you find it easy to kick back or not, even the best relaxers can become overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, and worry. I can be awakened from an otherwise sound sleep with my mind racing with the thoughts of the approaching day. It's easy to be jolted back to reality from an all-out veg fest with the worry of tasks undone, or relationships that have faltered, or the uncertainty of major life events or decisions. So, how do we cope?

I remember as a kid going through major periods of anxiety. I mean, seriously worried about going to school or doing homework... and I would get a little panicky. Then one day a simple question entered my mind... "What's the worst thing that could happen?" I started to think about the reasonable consequences of a given situation and asked, "What's the worst thing that could happen?" Now, that tactic works well for a child. I mean a child probably won't be thrown out on the street if he doesn't do well on a test. A child probably won't have his electricity shut off if he forgets to do an assignment... Sometimes the ramifications of adult decisions or mistakes are pretty serious.

But, yesterday our pastor referenced a Scripture that has really stuck with me and reminded me that the eternal consequences of life don't have to depend on my past mistakes or actions... they are entirely up to God.

Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

You know, our worlds may fall apart. But the Lord is a God of compassion and his love does endure and his peace can reign in the face of anything... if we but lean into him.

the comfort of organization...

2010-06-25T12:12:00.010-04:00

Julie is now in her 32nd week of pregnancy and of all the things that we have prepared for one thing I didn't really see coming was nesting. Over the last 4 months or so, Jules has been organizing and reorganizing and prepping the house for our incoming little buddle of joy, and it has been an interesting sort of dance to witness and participate in. One area, she decided to get straight was my record collection, which over the past year has grown to 60 volumes. Her solution was to get two crate-like boxes and make alphabet tabs to help me keep them in their right place, and to be honest... I love it! It's such a great comfort to know exactly where everything from The Black Keys to The Rigtheous Brothers is located and to be able to put my hands on them easily.

This comfort reminded me of a passage in 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul is giving prescriptions for worship, and he says in verse 33 that "God is nota god of disorder but of peace..." and in verse 40 he tells us that everything should be done "decently and in order." Now, Paul uses something of God's very nature to make comments about worship, but I think we could take his line of thinking and apply it to all areas of our faith. Too often people try to exercise faith and develop with no real plan on how to do it. It's the willy-nilly approach to Christianity. But there's a problem with that... it doesn't work. I'm saying this from experience. If you really want to get good at anything, and that includes developing a deep and abiding faith, you need to get organized a develop some sort of plan. Why? Because when you falter, as we all do, you can go back to the plan and start again. There's comfort in organization... And God is not a god of disorder. (caveat - this is meant for those who understand they can't earn salvation, but want to grow in the salvation that God has graciously given through Christ Jesus.)

Helpful places to start your plan.

Bible reading and prayer - the two go hand-in-hand and serve to focus your day on serving the God who made you, regardless of your profession.

Community building - church attendance and groups is vital for accountability and encouragement and learning - because the Bible is not always so easy to understand

Service - make active Christian service a part of your routine. This helps keep a godly "don't think of yourself more highly than you ought..." perspective

copy cats...

2010-05-28T10:01:00.000-04:00

It seems to me like there are a lot of shows out there that have tried to pony off the success of other shows of the same Ilk. You know the ones I'm talking about of course. American Idol begets America's Got Talent. Jon & Kate Plus Eight begets 18 (or 19) Kids and Counting. Even a show like Little People, Big World has seen a surge of others follow it that recount the lives of "little" people out in different parts of society. And you can come up with dozens of other shows that exist only because another show came before it and had some modicum of success. Some of the "copy cat" shows are better than the originals, others - not so much.

The whole thing kind of irritates me though... I mean, I don't understand the total lack of originality. And do the networks honestly think we, the audience, don't see the similarities? Maybe not... Maybe people can't see when they are being given a derivative and often inferior product as the real thing.

I think about how the Israelites reacted after they had been brought out of the land of Egypt and were waiting for Moses to come down from Sinai with the Law. They got impatient, they got bored, and so they called Aaron to make them a golden calf. And once he is done he says something very interesting..."These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!"

Aaron is actually giving credit for the Israelites' freedom to this golden calf and the people buy it! Kinda unbelievable... They had seen the Lord bring them out of Egypt with a "mighty hand and outstretched arm" yet they set up this idol based on the success God had granted them. It's derivative and in this case counterfeit.

Lest we be too judgmental of the Israelites, we do the exact same thing today. We accept something as being of ultimate importance, as being the source of all happiness - though at it most it is really just a derivative of the real source of happiness and joy. God is the originator of all things and so anything good and pure and true comes from him, but too often we look to friends, family, jobs, gadgets (a personal weakness), hobbies, sports, and a thousand other things to replace God on the throne of our lives.

And just like the producers of those second-hand shows, we hope that the second things will be better than the original. Sometimes the shows are better than the originals, for us though creations can never fit the role of the Creator. The Originator is always better the the derivative.

previously on LOST...

2010-05-24T11:18:00.007-04:00

Spoiler warning: if you haven't seen last night's finale yet you probably want to hold off on reading this...

So, last night's finale of Lost has left many with a sense of awe, being cheated, triumph, or defeat... I fall somewhere in between these emotions and thoughts, and ultimately as I tweeted last night... It's just a television show. But a friend of mine posted a blog earlier today that made the very true statement that human beings are hard-wired for story and so that makes Lost and its story so important... Also because of the nature of Lost's philosophical and religious overtones I felt a particular nudging to comment.

For 2:20 I was riveted and felt like Lost would end well... The survivors would be happy, people would have lived and died for a purpose, etc etc... I realized about an hour into the finale we wouldn't get any substantive answers about the origins of the island or Jacob's mom, or why some people were on the lists in the first season but not the "candidates"... I realized that and was still okay... Felt like that was why the show was so great, because we would always have questions.

But then they throw this self-made purgatory scenario into the mix to explain the mysterious flashes sideways... Those weren't flashes sideways but flashes to a place where all the characters got to work out their psychological daddy issues, got to do right what they had done wrong, feel exonerated, or whatever... It wasn't a purgatory where the characters do penance, but where they work things out until they are "ready to move on".

Sure there were syncretistic images of major religions, and that bothered me a bit... But what do I expect from a show that, while it has spent more time focusing on Christian themes than other faiths, has mixed philosophy and religion without exploring their actual compatibility? What really bothered me was that for a show that claimed to be far different than the Hollywood norm, which it has been, it ended with the same ol' humanistic relativism that has defined the philosophy of Tinsel Town for decades... It ended with a cliche. The supernatural forces on the island didn't matter in the end. True good and true evil didn't matter. It was all about how they treated each other, because the most important thing is that they were together in the end... I didn't need nor expect a gospel presentation nor was I looking for anything really Christian, but the redemption the characters sought and received turned out to be cheap and easy.

True redemption comes at a far greater price than merely working through our issues...

a picture is worth a thousand words...

2010-04-28T09:19:00.007-04:00

For everyone that knows us or follows me on Facebook or Twitter you know that Jules and I are expecting our first child, and I really can't imagine that we could be more excited! We're almost in the home stretch of the pregnancy, and it is amazing how life changes so quickly. Suddenly your life is about researching the best brand of diapers or baby lotion. Constantly googling how the baby might be growing during this week of pregnancy or that week of pregnancy. Your life revolves around the monthly doctor's visits and prenatal vitamins... it is a total change from where Julie and I were a year ago.

And it really does feel like an adventure to us.

The biggest adventure in this process has been the trips to the ultrasound room at our doctor's office. When you go in there is this moment of anxiety and anticipation that is like a 6-year-old waiting for his first "big boy" bike the night before Christmas... on steroids. And it strikes you that you are going to meet your child for the first time. This little person, who you will be connected to in a way that no one else on the planet will share in exactly the same way, is right there in black and white and moving all around. You can see and hear his little heart beating, and then the tech begins to take you on what amounts to a tour of your baby - showing you the lungs, the chambers of the heart, the legs, arms, liver, and all his tiny parts. It's nothing short of mesmerizing! Jules and I joked that it is like the best reality television show ever... at least from our point of view.

And the thing is every time I look at the copies of the pictures that we have, all I can say is "Praise God!" I have a literally thousands of thoughts and emotions, but all that I can really articulate is those two simple yet powerful words. Somehow that's enough.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. Romans 1:19-20

new hats, new responsibilities, new blessings...

2010-04-07T21:47:00.008-04:00

What hats do you wear? I'm sure even as you think about that question there are probably a hundred different answers that you could give... for some you may think of your jobs or careers - you might wear the hat of an insurance adjuster, or a lawyer, or maybe a teacher, or administrator of some kind... you might work for a television company or church or elementary school or medical supply company or hospital. Maybe you think first of what you do for fun - you're wear the runner's hat, or the climber's, a weekend warrior-type, or an avid reader or a someone who crotchets things. Some of you might not think of your jobs or hobbies at all because... well, you could careless... You might think more about your families and you wear the hat of a husband or wife or brother or sister or mother or father... all of us wear the hats of sons or daughters.

More than likely though you are like me and think of all of those types of things all at once. You are a your own virtual milliner - always taking on new roles and responsibilities - both big and small, familial and professional...

This idea of roles and responsibilities and wearing new hats has become particularly significant to me over the last few months as I prepare to put on one of the most important hats of my life - the Daddy Hat. In about 4 months I will be a father, and yes... I'm aware of how heavy a hat that is... even as I type those words I am filled with an exuberance that I can actually taste, and in the same moment I'm nearly overcome with the need to protect and defend the child that has yet to see the light of day... There is an actual weight to that word "father."

It also has me exploring the whole concept of the Divine Fatherhood of God in a new way as well - in a way that is immediately applicable to how I will be as a dad. For God as our Father is a provider of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He shows us his love in the middle of our deepest need as he reached down to us - offering salvation through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ for our sins (Romans 5:8). In fact, it is only through his eternal Son, and his sacrifice, that we can be called sons and daughters of God. We are adopted (Ephesians 1:4). You see as our Father, God adopted us at a great cost - sacrificially loving us... Sacrificial love - means giving up something very great in order that your love is demonstrated.

Love, real love is something that we struggle with all too often. We think of love more as a matter of getting rather than giving, and I have even seen too many fathers and mothers try to get things from their own kids calling it love. They try to gain a sense of meaning, or reliving their own youth. They use their children as sounding boards for their own failures and mistakes, or they take out the frustrations of their days on them. Their kind of parental "love" is more about what they get from their kids than what they give... but that is far from the biblical, divine paradigm.

Now, I'm not a parent, yet... but I think the hat of true fatherhood is worn by those men who would live out a God-like, sacrificial example for their children. It's a difficult but joyful kind of love that calls dads (and moms) to put themselves aside for the good of their sons and daughters. Looking to the needs of the child before their own. As I look to the example of my Heavenly Father, I pray I can wear the hat well, and ask him that when I fail he would cover me with his "Abba" grace that goes far beyond what I deserve.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

2010-01-10T21:55:00.005-05:00

So, this was an odd weekend in Central Florida, for in many places it actually snowed! Of course, there were no drifts, only elf-sized snowmen, and try as people might there wasn't any real opportunity for sledding or skiing... It was gone faster than it had come, but still in Florida any snow is a significant amount of snow.

Snow is a funny thing. It's just tiny flakes of frozen water that are harmless when experienced individually, but when you get billions and trillions of those tiny flakes put together they can be at once mesmerizing and in the next moment wreak havoc on cities, states, and regions of a country. Those miniscule bits of water that are so innocuous on their own can combine into a storm, a blizzard that literally takes over the lives of everyone it touches. It really is quite amazing when you consider how small and fragile those little flakes are.

I think about the way the early church got started, and I am equally amazed. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of how truly ordinary individuals combined in the name of Jesus Christ and under the power of the Holy Spirit to do remarkable things. They faced down an empire, took on the standing religious (both Jewish and pagan) and cultural authorities in several cities, and crossed ethnic boundaries that defied all conventional wisdom... and in the middle of it all they established the single most powerful institution the world has ever known - all according to the plan of God and for His glory. They understood how delicate and perishing their lives were, but by faith they took every opportunity to stand up for the gospel. Acts 5:40-42

But what would those men and women's lives been like had they not followed the movement of God's Spirit, if they had not had the courage to stand for the name of Jesus, if they had not gotten caught up in the spiritual storm that surrounded them and followed even in the scary moments?

Too often, modern Christians are more interested in being left alone, maintaining the status quo, not rocking the western-American cultural boat, not joining in the spiritual storm with the generation of believes that have gone before us. We fear what might happen. We don't want to get too committed. We don't want to take a stand, because we fear no one will stand with us. We're too busy being worried about our children's little league schedules or school projects to take account of their souls. We are too worried about our bottom line to look at our eternal state. We are a people of convenience and non-committance. Our feelings get hurt and so we go elsewhere. We want a "fresh" take on our faith so we join another church.

So, what comes of our lives? The fragility of our own existence exposes the frailty of our faith rather than solidifying it... as it did with the early church. We refuse to join the Spirit for the long-haul and so we live, at best, pleasant but rather fruitless lives.

It's interesting that when the writer of Hebrews seeks to motivate his audience to lives of active faith he calls out the stories of ordinary men who lived extraordinary lives because they believed in the promises of God, and really lived by them. Hebrews 11 recounts those stories and then in Hebrews 12 we read -

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

He ends with Jesus. What would happen if we really took this passage to heart? What risks might we take for Christ? How committed to his church would we be? How reliant on His Spirit would we have to be? And would our lives really look the way they do now?

We all say, at least to some degree, that we want our lives to matter for something more, but few of us take the chance to actually do it. Only in Christ Jesus do our lives have any hope of eternal significance, but we must have the courage to take the step to truly live for Him.

Sucker for a Christmas word...

2009-12-21T13:05:00.006-05:00

It has been nearly a month since I have posted something, which is highly unusual since I am such a sucker for the Christmas season. If you don't believe me take a moment to check out my past holiday musings here and here. Now, I'm in as much in the Christmas mood as I normally am... heck, maybe even more so... but I have been more contemplative about the nature of the joy, more thoughtful about the glee.

You see, it has been a particularly rough year. It has been a year of hospital rooms. It has been a year of funerals. It has been a year conflict. A year internal and external turmoil. But all this has put me even more on the edge of anticipation for the holiday that we are merely days from celebrating. As I have thought about that anticipation, I wonder, just what am I anticipating? It's not the gifts... I really don't have a real want. It may be the family time, but even as I think about it - there's something else.

Contrary to the popular notion of Christmas, it is not a season all about peace and goodwill toward all people... though the coming of Jesus is to be a joy for all people. No, as I have visited the Christmas story in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, I see God working through a story of violence and hardship. There's a pregnant teenage girl and working class man traveling a great distance to sleep in a barn... a murderous king that kills every male child under the age of two... and the appearance of angels, which may seem like a cool idea, but think about how frightening that would be... Yet, through it all their lies Emmanuel - God with us... There is hope out of turmoil. Life out of murder.

The hope I find in this season is that God is still in the business of redemption... still in the business of using the ugly and seemingly useless times in our lives and using them for his own glory. Merry Christmas to you all, and I hope you look to the star of Bethlehem and find the cross of Calvary.

Giving thanks in the valley...

2009-11-24T21:29:00.003-05:00

Psalm 23 is amazing. I know that is a pretty obvious statement... and an under-statement. I mean, really all of God's special revelation is amazing... but what is so uniquely amazing about the 23rd Psalm is that it is so broadly recognized as a passage of comfort and peace... even to people that deny the truthfulness of the Bible itself. It is memorized by children, memorialized on plates and plaques and tea cozies. It is a passage of Scripture that, at least culturally, transcends its connection to the faith to which it harkens.

I have always wondered why this is the case. Of the 150 Psalms, why is the 23rd so elevated in people's minds? Well, I am sure there are countless reasons, but one of the things I find most compelling about it is the way David is able to raise a voice of thanksgiving and praise in the middle of seemingly difficult circumstances. As you read it below, notice how he talks about the "presence of his enemies", and "the valley of the shadow of death" and yet doesn't fear, doesn't have a want, and recognizes the tremendous blessing in the simplicity of his life... the restoration of the soul, the ability to follow God's path of righteousness.

These are a profound statements for all of us right now. The economy is in the tank. Unemployment is reaching new heights. Our country is still at war on multiple fronts. And if we look up at just the right moment we may even see the sky falling... I have had my share of hardship and heartache in the past year. And to be honest, I have wanted to reserve my praise and adoration to God until after I see how things pan out. But David isn't doing that... He is able to give thanks as he looks at his enemies, he his able to praise God in the midst of the darkness.

So, what would it take for us to echo the words, thoughts, and actions of David? What would it take to praise when we feel like doing anything but? What would it take for us to give thanks as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death?

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

a little wisdom from my boy Fenelon...

2009-11-20T09:08:00.004-05:00

Francois de Salignac de La Mothe Fenelon (or as I like to call him... my boy Fenelon) was the Archbishop of Cambrai in the 17th century. He became a spiritual advisor to a host of people in France including Louis XIV. As such he penned a great many letters of spiritual advice, some of which have been collected, translated, and abridged by the Whitaker House publishing company into a book entitled Let Go... Anyway, back in seminary I read through these letters for a devotion class, but admittedly I didn't appreciate the quiet wisdom these letters held. Since, then I have rediscovered them (in the back of my car), and recently this little book has helped center my thoughts and prayers.

I want to share a portion of one letter that has been a challenge to me this past week. It comes from letter 17, entitled "Quietness in God Our True Resource"... in it Fenelon writes,

When it comes to accomplishing things for God, you will find that high aspirations, enthusastic feelings, careful planning and being able to express yourself well are not worth very much. The important thing is absolute surrender to God. You can do anything He wants you to do if you are walking in the light of full surrender.

Living in this blessed way involves a continual death which is known to very few, but it is in this position that you can really be effective for God. A single word spoken to another person from this restful, abandoned position will do more to change circumstances than all our most eager and carefully planned schemes. You see, when you speak from this position of abandonment to God, it is the Spirit of God who is then speaking, and the word you speak out of context loses none of its force or authority. Only one word perhaps - but it enlightens, persuades, blesses, and moves to action. We have accomplished everything, and have scarcely said anything. On the other hand, if the old self gets the way, we end up talking forever. We discuss a thousand different possibilities. We are constantly afraid of not saying or doing enough. We get angry, excited, exhausted, distracted, and finally make no headway at all.

I can be a bit vociferous... for some reason I feel the need to talk, and talk, and talk, and talk to get my point across in a lot of different situations... especially when I am passionate about something. But, what Fenelon rightly points out is that all the talking in the world, all the action in the world won't accomplish a darn thing if we don't surrender our will to the Father. More and more I do find it to be true: quiet is a spiritual exercise... it's a scary one, but important. Because it is in the quiet that our deepest longings, fears, joys, and triumphs come bubbling to the surface, unimpedded by the noise of life. And then we can give them over to the Lord and let his will rule in our lives.

Thanks Fenelon for that reminder.

broken glass and the devil...

2009-11-11T13:49:00.008-05:00

I hate cleaning up broken glass. I mean, really who likes it. Broken glass means something is... well... broken. And more than that, broken class is a pain to clean because it's difficult to be sure you have gotten it all up. There have been times when I have had to try and sweep or vacuum up a broken vase or pitcher thinking I have gotten it all only to step on a tiny, seemingly insignificant piece months later. And those tiny shards of glass can be a real bear, because you're not even sure they are there. They hurt, but it may take a while before you can identify the problem causing more pain and risking infection in the process.

Recently, I had to deal with a fair amount of broken glass, and while the big pieces seemed the most dangerous, I was meticulous about trying to get all the little pieces up so they wouldn't surprise me later. That got me thinking about the schemes of Satan, and how so often we can trick ourselves into thinking that the most dangerous temptations we face are the ones that we can see. But really, the dangerous temptations are the ones that are out-of-sight, the temptations to sin that seem like good things.

Let's take the way we look at the idea of truth for example. My generation has grown up in a culture that is so confused about the concept of "truth" that we question if it actually exists. In the name of open-mindedness we are told that we must acknowledge the validity of every idea regardless of its absurdity, and for the Christian we can go so far as to deny the very foundation of our faith: the Word of God. Now, tolerance is a good thing. Being open-minded is a good thing. But the danger of sin and temptation is that in the name of a "good thing" we deny what God has revealed to be true. Sin and temptation of this sort are difficult to see and yet can work its way into our hearts, minds, and souls and do some real damage to faith.

In The Screwtape Letters CS Lewis paints a vivid, albeit fictitious, picture of how Satan tempts Christians, and in the very first letter Screwtape tells Wormwood that the one of the most powerful weapons in his arsenal is that of incompatible ideas. "Your man has been accustomed, ever since he was a boy, to have a dozen incompatible philosophies dancing about together inside his head. He doesn't think of doctrines as primarily 'true' or 'false', but as 'academic' or 'practical', 'outworn' or 'contemporary', 'conventional' or 'ruthless'. Jargon, not argument is your best ally in keeping him from the Church." So many people believe they can be a Christian and yet can hold views that are incompatible or contrary to the Bible. They can promote Jesus with their lips, but deny him by how they live and by what they truly believe. The degradation of our understanding of right and wrong is a subtle slip from righteousness, but it is one that keeps us from embracing the full truth of the gospel.

And it should not surprise us that the most dangerous temptations are the ones that don't seem like temptations at all. Paul had to deal with false teachers in the Corinthian church, and what they were teaching may have seemed like truth, but it contradicted the truth of Jesus Christ. And so he writes in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15,

13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

If Satan masquerades as an angel of light, he does so to implant little shards of sin into our souls. He does so to tempt us with things that appear good, that appear true, and are easy to believe, but are totally incompatible with the truth of God's Word.

May we be as meticulous with our hearts and minds and souls as we are when cleaning up broken glass.

the conversations we can't have, part II...

2009-10-16T08:04:00.005-04:00

So, a couple of posts ago I mentioned the fact that, from a cultural standpoint, Christians can't really stand up and present the Jesus of the Bible without the potential of being ostracized and blasted for being intolerant or bigots or whatever. We can talk about Jesus as a loving, kind, "friend of sinners", but not as the one who challenged people to "repent for the kingdom of God is near".

Last night, I watched a popular television show that illustrated this point perfectly. During the show (I'll let you guess which one) a character's father was trying to approach her about a given topic by using Scripture to demonstrate the nature of sin, and she proceeded to fire back with the words of Jesus in order to defend herself. In the end, the father was eating crow and the daughter felt vindicated.

There are a couple of points to be made. First, the words of Jesus quoted in Scripture do not in any way contradict or diminish the other words of Scripture. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV (emphasis mine). In Matthew 5 (portions of which were used in the aforementioned television show) Jesus himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-20, ESV. So, to quote Jesus incorrectly is to misunderstand the entirety of the Bible. Jesus did preach a gospel of grace and forgiveness, but he also preached in equal measure a gospel of justice and repentance.

Second, the quickest and most effective way to justify sin to yourself (by that I mean make yourself feel better about doing what is in itself wrong) is by looking to Scripture to back yourself up. Satan, in fact, will try to use the Bible to tempt us. In Matthew 4, Satan quotes Psalm 91 to try to get Jesus to obey him. I think it's important that we understand that merely quoting the Bible doesn't put you in the right, and one passage taken out of context can be used more to trip you up than to help.

Last thing, Jesus was a friend of sinners, but he was never a friend of their sin. A lot of times people who don't want to be held accountable for their actions will quote Jesus' words to the accusers of the prostitute in John 8, where he says, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." They'll make the argument that Jesus didn't want us to judge sin so neither should we. But they forget what Jesus says to the woman at the very end of the passage, "Go and from now on sin no more." Or some translations say "Leave your life of sin." Jesus was not a friend of sin, and as I read recently, "We need Jesus because he called sin sin and chased it to the cross to pay for it and take the damning curse from those who trust in him."

bloom where you are planted...

2009-10-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

Recently, Jules and I have taken a particular interest in getting flowers to grow along the path that leads to our front door. And after a couple of attempts and some pretty solid rain here in Central Florida we have this nice border of purple flowers. They are healthy and thriving, which is pretty nice I have to admit.

Not too far in our bush/flower bed we have a conglomeration of flower types and colors. Now, I know as little as any person about types of flowers, but one type that we have is the marigold. They grow fairly easily and they have this cute (yes, I said cute) little yellow flower that buds. We have planted probably a half dozen marigolds in the flower bed, and every once in a while we pluck the dead/dying buds and throw them in our yard. Well, apparently, and I did not know this... the planted buds can actually grow a new flower plant. So, one of these buds that we thought was dying and tossed - ended up in our row of purple flowers and began to grow an entirely new plant. We didn't do anything to help this little guy grow, in fact, we hadn't intended for it to be planted at all, and yet there he was. (For some reason I have decided this marigold is a guy...)

I started to think about how so many of us are so unhappy with the state of our lives. In fact, it seems like one of the defining characteristics of society is to complain about where we are and what we do and even who we become. We blame people and situations for everything. People blame parents, the government, global warming, traffic.

But, I have heard a saying that goes, "Bloom where you are planted."

You know there's something to be said for that. The fact is God controls every aspect of our lives. Where we were born, who our parents are, where we were raised, and he puts us exactly where he wants for a reason. Now, we may have no idea what that reason is, and a lot of times that reason isn't even remotely clear to us. And sometimes even when it is we choose to try to ignore it.

The Bible is full of people that chose to "bloom" where they were planted. David, Moses, Abraham, Ruth, Nehemiah, Joseph, Job. They all followed the situations God gave them and did (with some exceptions) the best they could to be faithful to his purpose... even when they weren't sure what that purpose was.

Jonah... on the other hand... did his best to avoid the situation God was calling him to. And one of the things I remember in my Hebrew study of Jonah was that his name meant "dove," which was a symbol of folly and foolishness to the Hebrews. His running from God's plan and purpose was foolish, and ultimately flawed because there is no running from God. Even when he was forced to submit and do what the Lord called him to do he grumbled and complained about it. God called him to prophesy judgment on Ninevah, and when they repented and turned to God, Jonah was angry that God showed mercy. How many preachers today would love to have that kind of revival and see God work in that way? Yet, Jonah was not.

There are some people who will always shake their fists at their circumstances. Some people will always find a reason to be angry and hate life. And others will take advantage of even the smallest of opportunities. Others will see the gifts God has given them, instead of the gifts God has not given them. As my Pastor says, some people see their lives and become bitter and others will become better.

Which one will we be?

through the valley...

2009-10-05T08:58:00.006-04:00

A lot of my friends, family members, and people in my congregation have been going through some really difficult times lately. For some it's the death of a loved one, for others it's struggling with serious illness in their families. Some are struggling to find work, feed their kids, pay their bills. My heart has broken for all these dear people this past week, and in my prayers I do lift them up. But I'll admit that it's a constant struggle not to be angry with God on their behalf. What I notice is that in the middle of grief, and giving supplication for those dealing with grief, prayer divorced from a devotion to God's Word can leave me feeling somehow more detached and distant from the Lord.

With that I leave Psalm 23 here... it may seem to be a cliche Scripture, but the powerful message it gives us should never be considered cliche... the Lord is with us, even when we find ourselves in the darkest of valleys. I hope it helps you as it has helped me. I love you all.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever. - Psalm 23, NLT

the conversations we can't have...

2009-09-28T08:42:00.015-04:00

There are some things that people just don't like to talk about. I think it goes something like this... in polite conversation you are not allowed to talk about politics or religion... of course that is a very old adage and for the most part it has fallen by the wayside. Because politics is THE topic of the day nearly every day, and rightly so. The actions of the President and Congress and especially our local city or county commissioners effects all of our lives. I mean, whenever there is a new bill about to be proposed we all ask, "How is this going to effect me or my family?"

Now as for religion, the conversations get a little trickier. You can talk about religion. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, vague far-eastern religions with names you can't pronounce... you can talk about those. You can talk about God. You can talk about your "sense of spirituality" heck, you can even talk about Jesus, and people won't typically care. Even Deepak Chopra has book on Jesus... but the conversations we have about Jesus have to framed in just the right sort of way.

We can believe in and talk about Jesus as a great teacher, philosopher, challenger of the status quo, spiritual guru... even the whole saving-people-from-their-sins part is okay as long as you demystify it and take God's wrath out of the equation so it becomes more of "self-help" tactic than actual salvation. We can talk about what Jesus means to me, how he has given me hope and light, how he comforted children, and told people to be generous. We can put Jesus into our little socially-defined boxes and be just fine in conversation. You can invent your own views about Jesus, outlandish and unsubstantiated as they may be while casting dispersions on 2,000 years of historical tradition, and you will be excepted in academic and social circles and even admired as tolerant and innovative.

But try to talk about the Jesus of the Bible, and you may see some uncomfortable looks and people squirming in their seats. Start quoting passages like "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Or "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:30). Or any passage that speaks about Christ as the Son of God or that speak about him in exclusive terms or that speak about judgment... speak about the actual Jesus and those are conversations our culture won't let us have.

So, what are we to do? Slink back into the corner? Shut our eyes and ears to the world around us, all the while ignoring the fact that we live in a country that supposedly stands for religious tolerance?

The Church has got to be louder. It has got to be bolder. Christians must refuse to allow for the sanitized, personalized image of Jesus to prevail when we know the truth. For it is "the truth [that] will set you free." Not the lie, not the acceptable version of the truth. But the truth, that Jesus, the biblical, actual Jesus, is the only way... whether we like it or not. The problem is that it is difficult for us to do. It's difficult for Christians to get hyped up about something that with surely ostracize us.

It's not that Christians won't get excited or stand up for against things. Christians have loud and boisterous opinions about the new healthcare package. Christians get excited about the next Joel Olsteen or Tim Lehaye or Chris Tomlin. Most Christians, especially in the southeastern US, have a favorite college of professional football team they will defend tooth and nail against their bitter rivals. And believe me, I'm not speaking self-righteously here... I get jacked up about all those things too. And there is nothing wrong about having passionate opinions about those sorts of things.

But who will defend Jesus against the attacks of syncretism? Who will stand up and say, "that's not the Jesus of the Bible"? "That's not who Jesus was or is." Of course, actions speak louder than words, but silence in the face of lies speaks even louder and it's time for the Church to stand up and be counted... not merely against those religions that we can see, but also against those that would seek to replace the one true faith with a lie.

eyes wide open...

2009-09-23T08:19:00.007-04:00

This past weekend Jules and I were in Tampa for a marriage conference, and during the conference there was an opportunity for us to go on a "date night". We were both looking forward to it, so we went to Channelside... a spot in Tampa with several restaurants, a movie theater, and kind of a party atmosphere. So, we went down there for a little dinner and decided to catch a movie, and it was awesome being with my beautiful wife, talking about things, and just sharing each other's company.

But there was something that both of us found very, very unsettling... All around Channelside were these girls dressed WAY too provocatively in short black dresses... and by short I mean they would be considered long-shirts by most people's standards... and by girls I mean some may have been 12 or 13 years-old. And as you might expect where there are girls dressed that way there are drooling, sweaty boys following far too closely. It was sad to see the looks on these kids' faces. So unsure. So nervous. But trying to hide it with false bravado and posturing. All of them sure desperate to find significance by looking and acting just like everyone else. I felt depressed, and old.

I know there were probably times in my early adolescents where I put out the same sort of false security in my black shirt, or having the right shoes, or because I was just like everyone else and yet spouting off things about wanting to be different. But now I see just how foolish that was.

Something else was going on at Channelside that night which stood out in such a sharp contrast to all that was going on around as to seem like a small but brilliant gem in an otherwise rocky environment. There, in the very middle of the plaza, was an artist who had set himself up a little street studio. Right there on small 18"x18" canvases he dreamed and created beautiful landscapes which he only saw in his own mind. Some were of beaches and mountains, others were landscapes that only George Lucas might fully understand. This artist dreamed with spray paint and a pillow under his knees and as the crowds watched him he could not have cared less if anyone else like what he did, because after each world was created he put it out front and looked up smiling. What he had created was good.

In Genesis, we read that God created men and women, male and female, he created them in HIS image and that he breathed into them the breath of life (ruach in the Hebrew also meaning spirit as used in Genesis 1:2), and you know I have never really had a problem with that, until I really think about it. It means that something in each and every person that has ever lived or will ever live reflects something of the glory of God... something in every single human being has the Spirit of God in them. Now, that's easy for me to accept when I think of the people I know... my friends, my family. And it's easy for me to see that worked out when I think of that artist creating worlds on canvas, but what about those kids? I admit it's difficult. What about convicts in the local jail? What about terrorists in the Middle East? For me, it's downright impossible to comprehend that God made them at all.

So, what does that tell me? It tells me something strange about how I am supposed to respond to situations with other people. It tells me that as God looks on all people and sees the effect that sin has had on the image he has put in us, it must break his heart. Thus the need for a Savior. See Jesus though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8). He was the perfect image of God, without sin, without corruption, and yet he gave that up so that through him we, and those kids at Channelside, and the artist, might be covered with Christ's perfection and restore the image of God that has been corrupted by our sin.

It also tells me something else... I am no better than those kids. I still feel lost at times... broken, full of self-doubt, looking around nervously for acceptance. But I know that my worth is not dependent on even my own feelings of worth. It is entirely dependent on my acceptance by God which I can not earn or add to. God has already accepted me because of the life, and ministry, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that is something everyone needs to hear.

Things I have never believed in...

2009-09-03T11:06:00.003-04:00

So, I began to think about friends of mine, maybe some family members, and people I used to know (and because of the beauty of Facebook still keep in some contact with), and I wondered what it is they believed in. I began to think about things they don't believe in and things they used to believe but now don't for one reason or another. Then I began to think about myself, and ask those same questions... what do I believe, what don't I believe, what have I never believed?

It's interesting that I spend a great deal of time thinking about what I believe, but almost no time about the things I don't. The things I don't believe, I just don't... I dismiss them and they are out of my mind nearly as quickly as they entered. There are exceptions of course, but I think that is the way many things are for us.

For example, I have never believed in Santa Claus... Now, I know there was an actual St. Nicolas (I've been to his tomb in fact), but as far as believing there was a fat, jolly man living at the North Pole riding on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer... No, never believed it. My parents never perpetuated the story with me, and to be honest I am no worse for the wear. In fact, I love Christmas (ask my wife if I don't get into the holiday seriously), and I am not one of those who is anti-Santa Claus and elves... but believing that has never been part of it for me. Some, if not most of you don't share that experience...

I have never believed in the Tooth-Fairy, Easter Bunny, Great Pumpkin (for all you Charlie Brown fans)... but those are easy ones.

I have also never believed the old adage: "You can do anything you set your mind to." You've probably heard that statement as a child, and probably followed a conversation where you said, "I can't..." You may believe that statement, but it needs some serious qualification, because it just isn't true.

Think about it for a moment before you totally write me off... Think about anything that you want to do, anything you want to be, any place you want to go, and right now set your mind to it, walk out the door and do it... see what happens. Take me for example, I love basketball. I play off and on, and still to this day, when I pick up a ball I think about what it would be like to play professionally. But I'm knocking on the door of 30, I'm vertically-challenged, haven't seriously played in years, and have little to no jumping ability left. I could set my mind to it, walk out the door, try-out for some pro or semi-pro team, and do the very best I could, and what would happen? I wouldn't make it. No question. And That's okay.

Now, what's my point? My point is our motivation is all wrong. When we tell kids things like that what we're trying to do is get them not quit simply when things get difficult or tough, and that's a good thing. We should all, even in adulthood, try new things, and we shouldn't quit simply when things don't go well the first time. But to say that on our own we can do ANYTHING, sets us up for false expectations that are impossible to achieve.

See, even the Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." But we tend to focus on "I can do all things" part and forget the qualifier they must be done in God's strength. With God in control, there are things that he will and things he will not allow us to do. And even the things he allows us to do may not turn out the way we expect. But those things are always for his greater glory and for our ultimate good.

I think Paul gives us a better motto to live by in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." That will keep us trying hard, trying new things, but keep us humble in the process... realizing we have nothing on our own, and that it all comes from God.

a little too close for comfort...

2009-08-19T23:01:00.001-04:00

So, I was out running on a sidewalk along a somewhat busy street in Lakeland, FL the other day when a very disturbing thought entered my head... the only thing between me and the traffic whizzing by at 45+ mph is a piece of 6-inch raised concrete. I mean, that's all a sidewalk really is... it's really just a speed bump. Because let's be honest, we've all nicked a sidewalk or two and some of us may have even run up on one, and if someone really wanted to they could just start taking people out. That was a freaky thought. I mean, what is it that keeps people in cars on the street and not taking people out as they walk or run along? For that matter what keeps us from not doing what we know we should not do?

Well, several hundred years ago several philosophers and political theorists including Thomas Hobbes and John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau put a name to this sort of thinking - the "social contract". Basically this theory goes something like this... everyone gives up certain autonomy to a governing body so as to maintain social order. In my little running scenario that means the drivers on the street acknowledge that a governing body has set up the sidewalk as a safe haven for walkers, that driving on the sidewalks is dangerous and therefore against the law... so they don't do it.

Of course, most people don't even think like this. Hitting a sidewalk is terrible for your car, and people in general don't want to hurt those on the sidewalk, or in any case most people are just too busy to care and they are trying to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. You and I don't think about things like social contracts... we just don't want to ruin our day. But when someone does do something like that... like running up on a sidewalk to take out unsuspecting runners... we think it's tragic, and in a sense we become a little more fearful because someone has broken the unspoken agreement.

CS Lewis took this a step further... he said that sense of right and wrong... that sense of a "social contract"... really originated with God himself. In Mere Christianity, he states that every person (meaning those in their 'right mind') has an instinct to abide by what he calls the "moral law". And this instinct cannot be explained apart from God. For if we try to argue that people do good for their own good, then we might look at people who steal from others and get away with it and say they did bad for their own good... But if the moral law is for a person's own good then even the theft might be considered good... so that fails. Well, then what about doing good for the good of society... well there again we might question, which society? Lewis cited Hilter and the Nazis and the abomination of the Holocaust... in their society at that time they believed they were doing what was good for their society. But no one (in their right mind) would say the Holocaust was anything less than one of the most evil acts perpetrated on humanity. So again, the argument that morality is defined by society fails...

There are many other arguments about the origin of the moral law (or the lack of any moral law), or what causes people to act according to generally the same rules, but ultimately there has to be something outside humanity that determines the rightness and wrongness of things... for we all at some point say, "That is wrong" or "That is right." There has to be something that determines that statement outside of ourselves, because relativistic arguments just don't hold up.

Paul, writing to the Romans explains our confusion with right and wrong pretty well I think... (this is The Message paraphrase)

The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. Romans 1:19-23

We often don't acknowledge that God has revealed all this to us, we don't give him the credit he is due, and Paul says, we act as though God's input on things like right and wrong don't matter... we trivialize him and so we trivialize right and wrong itself.

The question is where will it end up? When we, who are imperfect, think we can define the standard for right and wrong... where will we end up? Just exactly where we are... People want to know why we can't get a handle on the state of our world, I think it's because we continue to refuse to acknowledge God as God... and that his is the ultimate standard.

breaking the silence...

2009-08-11T13:35:00.004-04:00

It's interesting how different people deal with things differently...

Because of recent events, I haven't wanted to write. I haven't really wanted to talk. I haven't really related to people in the way that I normally do...

The fact is that I haven't related to myself in the way I normally would... times have been tough, and as they say "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going..." Now, that statement can be taken a number of different ways, but the way it is typically taken is that when bad things happen, the tough people work harder, they bear down, they work things out... It could also mean that when bad things happen, the tough just leave... That seems ridiculous and contradictory, but really the first explanation is equally ridiculous.

You see, when the bad strikes... when tragedy hits too close to home... we can't just bear down and "soldier on" or "power through" or whatever other ridiculous thing we are told to do. You see, I believe (though admittedly I have hated this fact recently) God is in the business of using tragedy and pain for a greater good; our greater good and his greater good. If we just run rough-shot through the problems and the tragedies and the pain we fail to take the time to ask, "What is God doing here? What does he want me to learn? How does he want me to grow and respond?"

Those are easier questions to write here, than to actually live out, I realize... but difficulty doesn't make something less true. Believe me, I have not wanted to ask these questions, because quite frankly I have not been in the mood to hear what God thinks about my current situation. I have been pretty upset with God. And that is in large part because I know that God is in control.

And yet, at the same time I see things everyday that remind me that his goodness and presence in my life are also tied to his authority, and that ultimately his plan includes the end of the bad and the pain... if we, if I can but wait upon him.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Revelation 21:1-5

"life will never be the same..."

2009-07-11T23:10:00.006-04:00

Last week Jules and I broke the big news that we are having our first child, and the outpouring of congratulations has been overwhelming. From family and friends, to people at our church, to high school and college friends I haven’t seen in years - everyone has been so happy for us.

After the congratulations, of course, comes the sage words of wisdom from people that have gone before us - people who have braved the world of parenthood and lived to tell about it... and while everyone has been helpful, and I really do appreciate the advice... most of it boils down to one thing: “Your life will NEVER be the same…” (insert deep ominous music here). People then usually add something like, “Oh but it’s great!” That got me thinking about just what that means “your life will never be the same…” The same from what?

Before I got married I had never lived with a girl before, and anyone who is married will tell you your life is never the same after that. Jules and I bought our first home a little over three years ago and, at least from a stress vantage point, that is very different than living in a rented apartment with a maintenance staff on-call - again our lives were never the same. When I went from high school to college I had never lived away from home, had to buy my own food, pay my own electric and phone bills, and basically been responsible for myself, and my life has never been the same… And all those things happened just in the last 10 years.

Now, I know what you parents are thinking, “Oh Zac, but you don’t know… this is way different.” I have no doubt that it is... I mean God has allowed Julie and I to partner with him in creating a human life... I know this is major. But the question I have is - should that really surprise us? I mean, God is a God of change and adjustments. Now, God himself does not change, but he has set up the world so that it is in a state of flux constantly.

The seasons - spring, summer, fall, winter - are all radically different (unless of course you live in Florida where it never drops below 50). The same human being at age 8 looks and acts vastly different than they do at 80, though it is the same person. Mountains rise and fall because of the movement of the Earth itself. God is a God who has ordered life so that we are accustomed to change. All of it, though, has its proper place and time.

The Byrds recorded that famous song Turn, Turn, Turn based on Ecclesiastes 3 which says,

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

God has designed everything to have its place, he has designed everything to be in a state of change for a season. But the great news is that God prepares us, and in the fullness of time he makes us ready for those moments when "life will never be the same."

nature shows... and the start to a good day...

2009-07-01T07:17:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I often wonder about is, just exactly what makes a good day a good day? I mean, when I think about the course of my 29 years I have had over 10,650 days... what made the good ones good, and the bad ones bad? Is it how things start? Is it how the day ends? Does it matter who you are with? Does it matter what you do? Does it matter if you eat, exercise, sleep enough? Is there a formula that can separate the good days from the bad ones?

Well, I don't really think there is a formula, but there is a key... at least in my experience that helps keep bad days from becoming bad days... perspective.

Of all the things that I find relaxing there is one thing that really helps me start the day in a relaxed frame of mind: nature shows. There is one that comes on the Discovery HD Theater that I particularly love called, "Sunrise Earth." Now, for those of you that find nature shows boring, this one is a sure-fire tranquilizer dart, because the entire show consists of scenes and sounds of sunrises from a given location. No music. No commentary. Nothing but nature. I love this show when I am getting ready in the morning because it reminds of the beauty and grace of the natural world... the world God created. It helps me have some perspective about what is going on around me.

God knows we have a tendency to forget the greatness of who He is and what he has done... Certainly Job had had a series of extremely bad days, but when Job questions God about all that he had gone through what does God remind him of? That he is God...

1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.[b]
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger? Job 38

Here's the thing, I don't always get to have mornings where I start my day like that - remembering the creativity of God. I mean, there are times I have to rush, there are times I don't eat breakfast, there are times I forget things going out the door, there are times where the most important thing to me as I head out the door is the thing I am trying to get to. That's the opposite of having perspective. I, too question God's goodness, his wisdom, his justice... the questions aren't the problem unless I forget the answer he gives himself in Job 38.

Good days or bad, God is God and my only control in life is what I do with the day he has given me and how I approach him in the face of circumstances.

nothing new under the sun...

2009-06-22T09:15:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid I used to listen to records... actual records. You know, big black discs with grooves in them. My parents had a ton and I listened to them all. My dad had Beatles' records, my mom had the Lettermen, Simon and Garfunkel, and Motown, my older sister had Michael Jackson... Rachael and I had Disney records featuring a very young Molly Ringwald singing "This is My Country", I kid you not. Anyway, I remember listening to those records and just being mesmerized by the bigness of the sound and the art work on the covers and the smell of the vinyl.

Of course, you know the story: records gave way briefly to 8-tracks but ultimately to cassettes, and then to CDs, and now to digital music. Now, let's be honest I love digital music... the ease of it, the compact size and portability, but records still hold a place in my heart. I'm one of those kind of guys who likely has two iPods and two record players just in case... Recently, I have gotten back into vinyl (for the second time) and all those early memories of my parents' and sisters' vinyl came rushing back, and even the nostalgia of my very own Fisher Price record player sits with me as I listen to new and old music on LPs. Personally, I think a resurgence in the actual production and distribution of vinyl could really boost the sagging music industry, but that's not my point... My point here is that what was old can be made new again.

God's mission throughout history has been to restore, to redeem, to make new... Genesis 3 - Man and woman mess up, and God has the right to destroy them right there, but instead while he punishes them he still shows them grace, he clothes them, and then promises a Redeemer in Genesis 3:15 who would "crush the head" of the serpent. And in Revelation 21 we see all this come to fruition...

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:1-5a

There are a lot times when I feel too broken to do any good. Too obsolete to matter. I feel that my past, or even my present aren't good enough to be of any use to God, or his people, but then I remember that God is in the business of redeeming lost things. He is in the business of taking weak and ugly things and making them beautiful and strong - so that they may shine in the light of his glory.

I know some of you out there feel too messed up to matter, but thankfully for all of us God does not see us that way. Through Jesus Christ, the Great Redeemer, our past does not have to decide our future and our worth does not have to be measured by the sum of our actions. Let God bring you back to life and fully rely on Him.

Oh btw, if you are interested in getting vinyl locally check out these shops (if you have other suggestions, put it in the comments)... Park Ave CDs (Winter Park, FL) and Rock n' Roll Heaven (Orlando, FL)

finding the balance in the middle of transition...

2009-06-14T14:20:00.005-04:00

As of now I have been a seminary grad for a little more than three weeks, and the very thing that I was warned would happen is happening: there is this lingering discontent as I have set the hard rigors of studying aside and stepped into a full-time ministerial role. Now, don't get me wrong I love my church and I love the role that I am in. I do not miss the hour and a half drive to and from school, nor do I miss the pressure of three or four papers being due at once.

Of course, I am setting some personal study goals for myself... to read books I haven't had time for, or to reread books I used in seminary to gain more insight and clarity... but let's be honest it isn't the same. The "have to" is not there and sometimes that is the most intriguing motivation. The blessing for me is that as the Director of Discipleship continued studies are part of my job to some extent, but even that motivation is different.

It reminds me so much of how the disciples changed in the early church. Peter, for example, went from constantly sticking his foot in his mouth to preaching to thousands in only a few short weeks. The church itself went from a band of pseudo-outcasts plagued with dissension and self-doubt to a strong body of believers who held everything in common and supported each other. What was the difference? Well, obviously Christ's gift of the Holy Spirit was the driving force behind the apostles' work - but I also think the Spirit used the motivation of necessity to give them a push. Now, I maybe wrong, but the apostles had spent three years with Christ but in his resurrection they realized that if the gospel was to be preached they would have to do it. I cannot imagine what that mental, emotional, and spiritual transition must have been like, but it makes sense that they would need the Holy Spirit in the face of their mission.

As I am seeking to find the balance between personal study and practical ministry, I am asking God for his Holy Spirit to tell me when and where and how much. That is the prayer we all need to pray, because without him all our efforts will be for naught.

be prepared to be surprised...

2009-06-09T16:02:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite musicians of late has been Sondre Lerche... don't worry I had trouble pronouncing that name too. Anyway, he has written a couple of great songs including "Two-Way Monologue" and "Say it All" but one of my favorites is from the soundtrack for Dan in Real Life (a really good movie by the way) called "To Be Surprised". So, I was listening to that song and thinking how little we tend to be prepared to be surprised. I mean, yes, we buy insurance so we are prepared to be surprised in case of a natural disaster, we put on seat belts to be prepared to be surprised by an on-coming car... but what about the good things?

In some ways, it seems like an oxymoron, preparing indicates that we know something is coming, and to know something is coming is to NOT be surprised. So, what does it mean?

Coming at this from a Christian standpoint, we should always be prepared to be surprised by what God is trying to do in our lives. James talks about those who ask from God, yet aren't prepared for him to answer - in this case he is talking specifically about wisdom...

5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

Jesus specifically talks about asking for needs according to his will...

22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-25

Too often it goes like this: we pray, we don't believe, and we don't receive. So of course prayer doesn't work. Of course, then, you are not really praying.

Now, I am not saying that God gives us a blank check to pray for anything and everything I want and if I am just ready to receive it then it will be. That's not what Jesus is saying, and that is not what James is saying. Preparation to be surprised by God means we must ask for things that will honor him and glorify him. Sometimes that means we glory in the good things he offers us... life, health, good jobs, plenty of food, etc. Other times he gets glory by sustaining us through the bad times. Jesus himself asked in the Garden that the cup of God's wrath might not be poured out on him, "But not my will, but your will be done..." Jesus said. God's glory was made great in Christ suffering... and then his resurrection.

You see, for us, sometimes we ask for things and God says, "Yes" other times God says, "No or Later". But the surprise comes in what God does with what he does and does not give us. Sometimes we get what we want and are surprised by the abundance. And other times we suffer and then are surprised at how we become better, stronger, wiser, and yes, happier people.

Being prepared to be surprised means leaning into God's wisdom and grace no matter what the circumstances.

it is finished...

2009-05-19T10:17:00.005-04:00

After a long hiatus, I am back to posting... Most of you know why I have been out of the blogosphere for the last few months, but for those that don't, I have been running toward the finish line of my M.Div. degree at Reformed Theological Seminary. This is a degree that I have been pursuing for the better part of four years, some as a part-time student but over the last year as a full-time student... and this semester I have been an ultra-full-time student. What that means is that over the last 3 months I have had to complete 22 hours of post-graduate work in order to graduate, and that has been insane!

Now, I have been supremely blessed in this journey. I have a great church that has been so supportive and flexible with my work schedule, a wonderful family that is constantly encouraging and cheering me on, and most significantly a loving wife who has done everything from running through flash cards with me, to making pots and pots of coffee, to knowing when I need 8-10 hours of quiet, to consistently telling me how proud she is of me, to succeeding and thriving at her job while I worked part time... I'm extremely supported.

While I have been trying to process this oddly unsettling thing called graduation, that has been the consistent theme: I have been supported and loved the entire time, and at no point have I been left out on my own. But even though this is a time of celebration and relief... it is a time for me to reflect as well.

I know I have had people around me the entire time, and yet there have been times I complained, moaned, felt like throwing things against the wall, felt like giving up and flippin' burgers at McDonald's. What a pansy! I mean, this is just school, right? That's not to belittle things, but I haven't done this alone, I haven't been unprepared, and yet I have been a baby at times.

I think about Christ and all that he endured, and wonder just how alone he must have felt at times. This is the Son of God, eternally proceeding from the Father, who saw the foundations of all the world laid down, who understood the weight of his task from the beginning... talk about feeling like no one gets it! Yet he continued on, relying on the Father, praying, and being led to the point of his own death where he drank the cup of God's wrath for all humanity until finally he said, "It is finished."

[Christ] though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6

My goal and prayer is that this phase of my life would be marked by the servant heart of Christ, not believing or acting as though I am owed anything, but relying on the power of God through the Holy Spirit that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

wounded victor...

2009-02-06T16:06:00.003-05:00

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.

28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon. Genesis 32:22-32

Struggling is not something that most American Christians like to discuss. Far too often we are more interested in a therapeutic faith that seeks to anesthetize pain and shrug off any need to persevere and “hold onto” the Lord. Much more than that though, we forget that God uses problems and sufferings to correct our course and teach us that reliance on Him is more important than even our life or health.

This passage of Scripture is so helpful in understanding this concept. Jacob is the chosen one over Esau, and yet he is marked for much of his life with that name Jacob which means “deceiver” and so that is the way that he survives and indeed thrives. He is far from perfect, and yet there are times where his faith is evident. He has encounters with the God of his fathers, still his life is filled with struggle even from the womb, through his rivalry with Esau, his dealings with Laban, and now with the God-man. But it is this final struggle that allows him to realize the fuller blessing of God’s promise. For Christians today, we should look to Jesus Christ who struggled against men and with the Father and prevailed. We need to be willing to also struggle against the world (Romans 12:2) and cling to God for His blessing. That doesn’t mean we should expect to come out of our struggles unscathed; in fact we may limp our whole lives as Jacob did. God will, however, renew our identity in Him and we will be marked and redeemed by His grace in the middle of the struggle.

No, "we can't"...

2009-01-20T13:10:00.005-05:00

So, today we have a new president. Before I get into this, let me say that it is pretty unbelievable that we can have a total overhaul of our government without the nation breaking out into civil war and with the old government and the new government on the same stage... And it is a huge step in our nation's history that race is no longer the kind of barrier it used to be. For these reasons, today was a good day for our country...

That said, there is a problem as we head into this next administration... this idea that "WE CAN..." This has been the rallying cry of the new administration and a point around which people stand, cheer, and find hope. It's this idea that if we pull ourselves up by the boot straps and put our arms around each other, we can solve the ills of the world. It's a nice thought, and makes for a great slogan, but in the grand scheme of things it is false.

Now, if you are still reading this, then you are either highly confused, ticked off, or just waiting to see what I mean... So, I'll explain...

There are a lot of things that you and I as human beings can do. We can create things, we can destroy things, we can love, we can hate, we can make breakfast tomorrow morning, we can run marathons, climb mountains, open up people's hearts, and administer medical knowledge in ways that prolong life or take life... in fact, this list of things we CAN do is quite long... but it's limited. There are things we can't do. We can't yet leave the orbit of Earth and return back. We have yet to eliminate all disease. We can't yet run marathons faster than 2 hours. We can't read people's minds. Nor divert hurricanes or tornadoes. And this list is far longer... And even the things we can do have limits. While we can make breakfast tomorrow there is no guarantee that you won't burn it, or that you won't spill your cereal, and so on...

What I am saying is that you and I can do a lot of things, but not everything, and even what we can do, we can't do all the time... no matter how well we prepare or how much we believe we can do this or that. So, what?

This idea that "we can" do whatever we set our minds to fails at one particular point: God is in control of it all. Too often we say we have the power, and we have the ability to do whatever we like without realizing that we are not even promised our next breathe.

And ultimately the main problem in the world is sin... The reason the housing market has tanked, the reason there are wars, the reason families fall a part, why terrorism exists, why there is a ecological problem... all of it has to do with sin. And the bottom line is that you and I can't do a darn thing about this fallen state. Nothing. We can't. But through Jesus Christ we have a hope, and not the kind of hope we have in a politician that maybe things will get a little better over the course of the next four years... but a hope that is sure and firm that what God has promised He WILL accomplish.

Now, I'm not trying to be pessimistic, nor anti-progressive, but if we want to understand our place, and latch onto power that really matters we have to recognize that we are creatures... special and blessed creatures, but still creatures. Our only hope lies in our reliance on the Creator. A Creator that has also taken

As we head into a new phase in our country's history we should hold a very humble attitude and be ready to say "No we can't... BUT HE CAN!"

New Year, new posts...

2009-01-05T21:16:00.004-05:00

So, I have never been too jacked up about New Year's. I mean, it's just a day, right? I mean, I never actually feel different from December 31st to January 1st, so what's the big deal?

But this year, I do feel different. This year I understand that a new year is symbolic of new possibilities and new opportunities and most importantly a clean slate. This year I do see a difference between December 31st and January 1st and even though it's already the 5th I am still praying for that Happy New Year.

No matter what the circumstances though I have to admit that God is in control and He has ordained everything that has happened will happen.

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

No matter how this year turns out there is something oddly comforting that God has already got it mapped out. And as this chapter continues in Ecclesiastes I know that He has "made all things beautiful in His time..."

I can't, He must. And He will.

the waiting is the hardest part...

2008-12-30T12:24:00.003-05:00

I have heard it said that patience is a virtue... I have also heard it said that if you pray for patience that God will put you in situations that force you to be patient. Now, I don't know if either of those things is actually true because neither of those statements is in the Bible, but I'll tell you one thing: waiting sucks... especially if you are waiting on news... Even as I type this I am sitting in a waiting room to hear how the surgery of a loved one has gone, and while I am not anticipating any negative news still the waiting is the hardest part...

Looking to Scripture for comfort, one of the most intriguing things I find is the description of God in the Old Testament. Check out how God names Himself when He speaks to Moses

5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:5-7a

This happens right after Moses goes back up to get the second copy of the 10 commandments, after the Israelites have built the golden calf, and Moses destroys the first copy. It's really poignant to me that even though the Israelites have shown themselves to be utter failures and totally disobedient, and even when Moses loses his patience, God is right there to demonstrate His.

Right now, I need that kind of God to be the Lord in my life and be patient for me, when I can't be.

The "Christ" in Christmas...

2008-12-04T11:45:00.003-05:00

So, it's Christmas time once again, and I am faced with a conundrum... Should Christians "boycott" retailers that don't use the term "Merry Christmas" but instead "Happy Holidays" or some other neutral phrase? Check the link here for an article related to the most recent movement in that direction. "Christians Urged to Boycott Retailers..."

On the one hand, I see the point of many Christian leaders that I respect immensely... the elimination of the word "Christ" in any public arena represents a decline in the acceptability of our faith at all. Now, not to seem alarmist, but it's a short step from that little verbal removal to outright persecution, segregation and worse. That is and should be huge concern to all Christians.

On the other hand, is boycotting a company really the Christian thing to do? Are we allowing these stores to not only take the "Christmas" out of Christmas, but also the Christians out of Christmas? Jesus calls us, in the gospel of Matthew, to be the light in the world... but how can we do that if we refuse to go into the entire marketplace?

My dad had a saying that always stuck with me. He would say, "You don't shine the light by cursing the darkness, but by being the light..." It seems pretty obvious. I mean, when you go into a room you don't yell at the lamp to come on (unless you have a fancy noise-activated lamp) and then get rid of it when it doesn't turn on. You have to go over to the lamp and put some of your own power into it.

As Christians, we can't expect the dark world to act like the light, unless we infuse it with our witness of Jesus first. If we are rejected, than that is a different story. But we have to be the light in the world and not keep our lights separate, segregating ourselves and further pushing our faith to the fringes. We must be so attractive that the world will "see our good works and praise our Father in heaven."

What does that mean for us? It means that when we go into the marketplace, we clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ. We say, "Merry Christmas" not in a way that is militant or rude, but in a way that points toward the grace and love of Jesus Himself. We must be the "Merry Christmas" before we become overly concerned about saying the words.

Now, you may disagree. You might think that I am spiritualizing an excuse for consumerism. That's okay, feel free to tell me so. What's your take on this?

oh, the things to be thankful for...

2008-11-18T10:20:00.008-05:00

So, in case you haven't heard... which I don't know how that is possible... gas prices have dropped below $2/gal. for the first time in over three years! HOORAY and pass the pump! Well, maybe not pass the gas pump, but as we head into the holiday season it's definitely something to be thankful for.

The crazy thing is that 10 years ago that would have been ridiculous. When I graduated from high school gas was right around $1/gal. and very few people thought about filling up the ol' car. Sure, my parents remember paying a lot more for gas in the 70s and early 80s and when I lived in Europe as an early adolescent I remember Mom and Dad talking about it, but more or less I think we took it for granted that in the US gas prices would be cheap. Sure, getting good MPGs was a selling point for buying a car, but it wasn't a make or break. Americans bought outlandishly huge SUVs whether they needed them or not... remember the first Hummer that got like 6 mpg... funny.

Things have certainly changed, because I don't know about you, but when I get around that turkey this week and begin thinking about what I am thankful for one of the things I will be praising God for is that gas prices are falling.

Now, is that weird? I don't know. I mean, I'm certainly not more thankful for the low gas prices than I am for my loving wife or my family, or the fact that I am relatively healthy and I have a job or am a part of a good church or a nice home or the thousand other things that are more important. But, I gotta tell you... when you drive as much as I do and have to fill up a car as much as I do seeing the ticker only go hint $25 as opposed to $45 is not insignificant. It's something to be thankful for. And, yes, I thank God. Now, that may be the weird thing for some of you... What does God have to do with it?

I believe that God is absolutely 100% in control of everything, and while that can create some discomfort for me intellectually and emotionally at times, it is a tremendous comfort all the time. Because when things are good I know that God is in control, and when things are not good I know He is still in control. I'm not really dependent upon anyone person or any one thing. I'm just dependent upon a God who does not change.

Times change. Families change. Jobs change. Gas prices change. Churches change. Governments change. Health changes. God does not. And that is something to be thankful for. Because whether I know it or not, I know that Romans 8:28 is true...

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

and from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10...

[Jesus said], 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

you are in the Cash Cab...

2008-11-04T18:40:00.009-05:00

"It's a TV game show that takes place right here in my taxi!"

Alright, so if you're not familiar with this great Discovery Channel show, you are probably pretty confused. So, I'll fill you in...

Basically, there's this cab in New York City driven by our host, Ben Bailey. The passengers are asked questions ranging in prize money and difficulty until they reach their destination. There are "RED LIGHT CHALLLENGES!!!!!", three strikes and you're out, and at the end the passengers have the option of doubling their money with a video bonus question. That's about it. Simple.

The cool thing about the show is that it totally catches the contestants/passengers off-guard. It doesn't make sense to them at first. They get into the cab expecting on thing and then their expectations are totally up-ended. And at the very least the people get a free cab ride.

So, often we have expectations for our lives. We have plans. And then things happen. Life happens and our expectations change and they shift. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but whatever the case maybe it catches us off-guard.

The one person that is never caught off-guard, though is our Lord. He knows the good, the bad, and the in-between and nothing is a surprise. But He does surprise us. He surprises us in that He takes the bad and the ugly... the problems and the pain... and brings us to places that we never thought we could be.

People who overcome major illnesses are able to help others who may be facing the same thing. People who have faced financial difficulties can sympathize with others who have problems in similar areas. We become more compassionate by going through the fires of life. We become more generous by needing generosity ourselves. We become better people by the discipline that comes from the hard times.

It's unexpected. Good coming out of the bad. Loveliness coming out of ugliness. But that is the entire story of the Bible. God making great things come out of horrible things. Pick up the Bible and take nearly any story, and that's what you will find. This is a great passage that points to that very thing.

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. - Job 36:15

How does God deliver people? By their pain. How do people hear Him? When they are in pain. God makes beautiful come out of the ugly... the great come out of the small.

The sweetest things...

2008-10-19T22:24:00.011-04:00

So, I have a confession to make... I can seriously put away some snack food. No joke. If there is anything remotely munchie-like in the house I'll devour it. Chips. Small candies. Cookies. Brownies. And especially cereal. We cannot have cereal of any kind in the house lest I gain massive amounts of weight courtesy of my friends at General Mills. Of course, you know what happens... you get what I call "a-hankering" for something... that's "southern" for craving, jonesing, etc... and you cannot stop thinking about it until you've gotten a taste.

That is exactly what happened to me a couple of days ago. I got a massive hankering for Lucky Charms... OOOOOOHHHHHH Yeah! That sugary, marshmellowy, "turn the milk in your bowl an odd shade of grey" goodness... fortified with vitamins and minerals... Now, I haven't had Lucky Charms in years, but for some reason, I was just like ravenous for some Lucky Charms. So, that's what I got... and six bowls later and several dozen handfuls and that box was gone... it didn't even last a day. (Unfortunately, now that I am talking about them, I want them again...)

Here's the thing with cereals, especially those like Lucky Charms: they're great for a while, but really bad for you if you eat them all the time as your only source of nutrition... even with all those vitamins and minerals. As kids, we learn to eat breakfast and so we start with things like Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Honey Smacks, and the like, but as we grow our parents point us to more nutritious things like fruit, and whole grain bagels, and other things for breakfast. Those things are good for you and the taste is pretty good, but come on, they are no Lucky Charms.

Now, as a adults a couple of things might happen: either we never let ourselves have the taste of those sugary cereals and we only eat whole wheat mush, or we reject the more healthy foods all-together, sticking with the all-fat breakfast... or of course there are those people that don't eat breakfast at all...

Spiritually, we can allow ourselves to fall into a rut. As I observe Christians I know, they typically fall into similar categories when it comes to their Bible intake. 1) They only stick to the promises and the passages that talk about God's love and forgiveness, they keep to the warm, feel-good passages... they typically ignore the parts where God is a judge or a warrior. 2) There are also people who are always wanting a kick in the pants from the Bible. To these people, the justice of God is the main thing... Hell, fire and brimstone are the passages that get their spiritual juices flowing. When they do talk about God's forgiveness and love, it is usually followed by a, "yeah, but... God is a righteous and holy judge..." 3) And this is the worst... there are those "Christians" who don't get into the Bible at all, fearing they might be challenged or disappointed or their preconceived ideas about God might be blown up.

I can totally understand all three of these reactions because the fact is the Bible is challenging, and our minds are small. Even the brightest of people run up against things they can't wrap their brains around. So, what are we to do? Quit? Stick to only one topic and that be our personal version of God?

The Scripture makes it pretty clear that we need all these things, whether we get it our not. The writer of Hebrews says it pretty clearly

...you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12b-14

But then Peter says...

2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

So, what can we say? Every once in a while we need the Lucky Charms of the Bible. The sweet stuff, the stuff that shows us that in order to enter the Kingdom of God we have to do so as a little child. But at the same time, we can't stay there. We need the meat. The roughage. The stuff that maybe a bit tough to swallow, but once it's there it is so good for the soul.

What's the lesson in all this? Eat your Lucky Charms, eat your non-fat yogurt with whole wheat bagels. Eat your pancakes and bananas... Read the Psalms, read Leviticus, read Revelation and John.

Read the whole Bible. Ultimately, it's all good.

and the winner is...

2008-10-12T19:43:00.001-04:00

For those keeping score... the winner of the weird band name poll is...

Chumbawumba!

Thanks for playing...

a rose by any other name...

2008-10-06T10:42:00.008-04:00

So, I love music... I love all sorts of music (and yes, I have an appreciation for old country and rap), and I have been really blessed to be in a couple of different bands over the years. One of the most fun and difficult things about starting a band is figuring out what you are going to call yourselves as a collective... what will be your identity as a band? How will people know the group as a group? And it can be fun...

But bands can come up with some seriously messed up names.

As I thought about this I took a look through the old iTunes library to see some of the bands I have on file, and then I browsed through the iTunes music store to find the kings and queens of the ridiculous band names (actually 'Kings and Queens of the Ridiculous' is not a bad band name)... Anyway, so here are ten that I found in no particular order that I think are kinda crazy from different genres (though the rock/alt genre gets more play from me) and different decades. And, because there are literally billions of unsigned, unpublished musicians out there with crazy names, I am limiting to those that have produced a record on some sort of label. (editor's note: Because this is a faith-based blog I have to say that just because these bands are on the list does not mean I endorse them, their message, or their music)

1. ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
The ellipsis is actually part of the band name, and no, they are not a thrash, death metal band, which makes the name all the more quirky.

2. Panic! At the Disco
I give credit to any band that puts punctuation in the name.

3. Blue Oyster Cult
Classic. Maybe one of the definitively great band names of this decade.

4. Three Dog Night
Again. Classic. Mama Told Me Not to Come is great!

5. Kajagoogoo and Limahl
80s greatness. I'm not sure if this name is actually related to the band members' names, but it's on the list because Kajagoogoo is funny to say!

6. Hootie and the Blowfish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Goo Goo Dolls
Because there are so many, kinda weird, but not quite "out there" band names from the 90s I'm combining these together.

7. Chumbawamba
I rest my case.

8. Strawberry Alarm Clock
Psychedelic band from the 60s with great songs like Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow.

9. Death Cab for Cutie
Indie rock for the kids.

10. Fat Boy Slim
Praise You is a great song, and great for running really fast.

So, what is with these names seriously? I mean, even the normal band names aren't really that normal... Coldplay, U2, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones... Now, some of them have interesting back stories, some come from nights of inebriation, others are really just three or four randomly selected words that happen to fit together like a game of Mad Libs. I have been in bands that have had very strange names, and if you ask nicely I'll tell you, but I'm not going to totally throw myself under the comedy bus... but trust me, it's good.

No matter what the reason a band name gets chosen, the fact is that the mention of a band name alone can bring up memories of songs, high school dances, long drives, family struggles, and on and on to those that are fans. The identity of the band is so strongly tied to its name.

For us, even though technically our parent's give us our names, God understands how names can tie in closely with our identities. For me, my name is Zachary, and it comes from the Hebrew word which means "God remembers," and that has always stuck with me, whether I felt close to the Lord or not. My wife's name is Julia, which means "youthful spirit". If you know Jules then you know that fits her bright personality well.

I understand that in our modern day, we don't name our children based on meaning and that's okay. We name based on family names, names we like the sound of, names of our favorite authors, names of our favorite television characters, etc.

Regardless of our given names God already has us named. Throughout the Bible God renames people to tell the story of His actions in that person's life... Abram to Abraham, Joshua to Israel, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul... Jesus was given his name specifically and for a real purpose. And for us, God has done and will do the same things.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. - Revelation 2:17

But the question is: what is the big deal about getting a new name?

In God's economy our names are tied directly to our identities, and He is in the business of restoring our identities. Many of you probably don't feel good about yourselves. Maybe you feel like going by the name of Failure, Unloved, or Unlovable. Maybe you feel like your name should be Ugly, Dirty, Tired, and so far from God that He can't possibly hear you.

But the truth, is that is not your actual identity in Christ. In Jesus Christ, we have the name Loved, Forgiven, Free, Righteous, Child, Friend, and the list goes on and on. The Bible is full of promises to us that seek to show us how God actually sees us. The way we see ourselves it comes straight from Satan who lies to us to keep us in our guilt and sin.

We simply can't live the way God longs for us to live unless we understand that in Him and through Him we have the power to overcome our current condition, and in Him and through Him we are loved beyond any measure we can hope for. And here's the beauty part, God has taken the initiative to write that new name for us, and notice in Revelation that name is written on stone, not paper, not even in a computer, but on something that is substantial and permanent, something that cannot be lost.

on the subject of band names... if you know the back story of any of these band names, or have a seriously weird band name, post it here...

that has nothing to do with it...

2008-09-30T14:53:00.005-04:00

Gas prices are high. That is one of the most obvious statements that can be made today. I mean it is true, and it has been true for the last half-decade... but what is not so obvious is how certain companies are using high gas prices to actually sell stuff... Now, I can understand how high gases prices can be used to sell hybrid vehicles, bicycles, walking or running shoes, but not so much with other things.

Two examples that have really bothered me are the use of high gases prices to sell pools, and to sell LCD/plasma TVs... yes that's right pools and plasma televisions. I should explain that these are radio ads that I hear while listening to sports talk radio on my way into school or work... so basically the spots go something like this... (insert your own radio announcer voice here)...

"Are you tired of high gas prices? Can't get to the beach? Well, bring the water to you with a new (company name) designed pool..."

"Hey, we all know gas prices are expensive, so instead of packing up the kids and driving to the big game save that money and buy a new flat panel TV from (company name)..."

Now, maybe it's just me but that's just ridiculous... I mean, do people seriously spend so much money on driving to the beach that they would actually save money by purchasing a $8,000 pool. Or do people spend so much on gas driving to football games that a plasma screen TV would be a savings. I might be wrong but, those seem like luxury items to me and really don't relate at all to the point of high gas prices.

When it comes to faith we often times can get caught up doing things in the name of Christ that really aren't related to Him at all. For example, every Sunday people all of the country get dressed-up in coats and ties (me included) and Sunday dresses to go to church. Now, why? Well, I think most people would tell you that they do it to bring God their best, but I think that more than a few people get dressed up to try and impress other people.

For me personally, I find the major struggle being that I try to do so much for God, that I don't do anything with God, and that can be especially dangerous. Isaiah 64:6-7 tells us just how dangerous it can be...

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

7 No one calls on your name
or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have given us over to our sins.

It says, that our righteous acts become like filthy rags unless we first strive after the Lord. As believers, we can get so mixed up doing so much in our churches or in charities that we believe that is our faith, but our faith consists not so much in what we do, but in who we are in Christ.

I think, that is why God sometimes disrupts our lives with problems and pains and disappointments so that we understand that a true relationship with our Lord is one that rests in Him, one that is quiet in Him, and one in which our actions are governed by a life of faithfully guided by His power.

something old, something new...

2008-09-28T22:13:00.005-04:00

There is real power in change and discomfort. I never used to really believe that, but lately I have had no choice but to submit to changing times and uncomfortable situations.

As most of you know I am a worship leader, and one of my responsibilities is to organize and plan the worship of a contemporary service. Recently, we lost a pretty important band member... nothing tragic, he just moved on to take an internship out-of-state... and replacing him has been difficult. At around the same time our drummer's other employer has been forcing him to take on Sunday hours and essentially taking him out of the mix for a couple of weeks. At this same time, we found that our pastor was diagnosed with cancer. It seemed to me that God was slowly but progressively taking our church and me into some fairly uncomfortable waters. Now, of all these things certainly the most serious of issues is the last, but all contribute to a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty.

I have led worship in some capacity for nearly 9 years whether as a support instrumentalist or the lead guy, and it is always easier and more comforting when you have the noise of a full band, and the trusted leadership of a pastor at the helm. And in the last several weeks, it seems as though God has been allowing those security blankets to be taken away, whether actually or just in my head.

At times, I'll admit that I have have panicked a bit internally. I have questioned the actual sanity of God. I have asked the question repeatedly, "Alright now, Lord, what the heck is going on here? Why all this now?" And then I realized that the quality of our worship before the Lord and the stability of His church does not rest on me or a band or even the pastor. The foundation of a true church does not sit upon the standard operating procedure of a worship service, or even on the well-being of a good staff.

It rests on God alone.

This is where being a good Calvinist is such a comfort to me, because I know God has absolutely everything under His control and at His command and that not only can He, but He will work all things together for the good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not only that, I know that because it is His church ultimately in cannot fail.

This Sunday, we had no drummer, no electric guitars, but we set our eyes upon the light of Jesus in a literal way. We earnestly prayed. We shouted together that "It's gonna BE ALRIGHT!"

I'll admit, it wasn't comfortable for me, and that's probably just how God wanted it.

in the tumult...

2008-09-22T11:31:00.003-04:00

If you look at the blog that Julie and I update on a regular basis, you know that we have had some pretty heavy news in our family. Julie's dad, and our consequently our pastor, was diagnosed with colon cancer. This is the kind of news that can shake your core and make you question everything, but there have been some amazing signs that God is working and ministering to us even in this time.

Tom (Julie's dad) said that he has found an even deeper faith through this because in moments of sleepless nights and anxiety, God gives him a verse or a song or hymn that comforts him and points him back to his faith in God. I have found those times myself in the past 10 days or so.

Just a quick example... Last week, I got ready to teach our weekly Bible study... the first since Julie and I found out about Tom's cancer... and of course, I am teaching on Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4... you know the story... There's a huge storm while the disciples and Jesus are in boat, the disciples are freaking out, and Jesus thinks this is a great time to catch a nap. The disciples wake him up and ask if he cares that they will die. Jesus gets up. Rebukes the storm. Things calm down. And he asks, "Do you still have no faith?"

I asked the question, "What would Jesus have considered faith?" I mean, didn't the disciples run to him? Isn't that what they were supposed to do? Isn't that faith?

I think Jesus wanted his disciples to understand something; that faith isn't faith until it has ridden out the storm. Sometimes we gain faith when we see miracles, but true faith comes not by seeing but by believing in spite of the circumstances.

Jesus said to Thomas after he showed himself, "...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

This is easier said than done for sure. Right now, I am struggling between riding out the storm with God in control and just being in a constant state of asking 'why'. Now, faith doesn't mean you don't have questions... in fact, faith is faith when the questions consistently go unanswered.

When I look at the disciples actions... what would Jesus have had the disciples do? I think, faith would have meant the disciples laying down and taking a nap with Jesus. I may be wrong, but if Christ is the supreme example for our faith than what option do we have? To face things as he did. To lay down with him. To follow him regardless of storms, fires, sacrifices or cancer.

The great thing about this story in Mark 4 is that, even though Jesus seems disappointed in the disciples' actions, he still calms the storm. He didn't wake up and preach them a sermon on faith at this point. He didn't chastise them and leave them in a panic. Jesus understood his disciples and understood what their faith could bear. He gave them only up to what they could bear, but not more.

God is a God of grace, and even though the situations of life might test us with God for us nothing can be against us. It may not always feel that way, it may not always seem that way.

But it is that way, and right now I'm having to learn how that works.

very excitable...

2008-09-10T15:15:00.004-04:00

So, yesterday there was a pretty cool little Apple event introducing a revamped line of iPod products and some software updates for said products. Being a total Mac guy (though admittedly I am posting this on a Dell right now) I watched as three separate blogs posted real-time updates of the event. Now, I know what some of you are thinking, "seriously?" Yes, seriously. Oh, but it gets worse.

Later that evening after the event was over, I plopped down on the ol' couch and watched the event on my laptop. And, wonderful wife that she is, Julie watched along too. As she was watching she said, "It's weird to me that this isn't a Christian thing." The way she said it, I knew what she meant. She meant that, with the stage, the lighting, the touting of the exploits of "the greatest portable music device in the world", and even the music at the end provided by Jack Johnson, it seemed very much like a worship service. I'll admit too that I wait for these sorts of events, and watched in technological wonderment as the new features are described in glorious detail. It makes you want to jump up and sing!

So scary, right?

Here's the thing: there is a line between healthy admiration and idol worship. And if we are honest, we all skirt the line and sometimes we even jump over it.

When I look at a pretty famous example of idol worship in the Bible I think of the golden calf story... you know when Moses goes up the mountain to get the 10 commandments, the people get bored, so Aaron (Moses' brother) makes a statue of a cow for the people to have a party around. This is a weird story in a lot of respects for Western audience to get, but the weirdest thing that happens is when Aaron finishes making the calf he says, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

Now, we all sit back say, "Wait a minute. That cow didn't bring you out of Egypt, God did!"

You see, the Israelites idol worship was terrible because they were giving credit to a stupid cow for something God had done. They were putting their hope and trust and getting excited about something that hadn't done anything for them.

For all of us I think the line is similar. When we put so much faith that this thing or that thing will bring us contentedness, we worship an idol. When we put so much emphasis on a person or job that we can't see past them, we worship an idol. When our hope for the future rests on a given outcome rather than on provision of God, we worship an idol. When things don't go our way and we blame or even curse God, we worship an idol. When things do go our way and we get excited to everyone else but fail to praise God, we worship an idol. When our sleep becomes more important than coming together with God's people, we worship an idol. When we read book and magazine or watch as much TV as possible but don't make the time to sit down and get into God's Word, we worship an idol.

It's a sneaky thing... idol worship.

I'm guilty of this in more ways than just wanting techno-geeky stuff (though that certainly becomes an idol for me), and I'm sure you are to. Look at your life and really ask the questions: Where is my hope? Where is my trust? Where do I run to when I want to rejoice? Who or what do I blame when things go wrong? Where are my priorities? What do I worry about more than anything?

Find your idols and then give them right back to the Lord.

the rebar of faith...

2008-08-20T10:51:00.004-04:00

I'm not a construction guy... I don't build a lot things, I don't really work with my hands, I don't understand the physics or science of construction all that well, but one thing I know: Rebar is tough stuff... Rebar or reinforcing bar is that carbon steel bar placed in concrete structures to give it strength and stability. It's somewhat bendable but incredibly strong and is used in everything from foundations to walls to keep structures together.

Now, I always though concrete was pretty strong simply on its own, and it is, but it is made that much stronger by rebar. When really crazy elements come up against a building it is the rebar that keeps the concrete together. If a construction company neglects the rebar their can be disastrous results.

You know, often I forget that my faith needs that same sort of reinforcing bar. It needs that same material to keep it strong and to maintain its security when the elements of the daily grind start to where on it. But what is the rebar of faith?

When I thought about that I had to take into consideration that this thing has to be stable, it has to be consistent, it is not something that tests faith (though those sorts of things strengthen faith as well), but it is the foundation where faith rests. That led me to think of one thing: prayer.

I know what you're thinking... "My prayer life isn't always that consistent or stable. How can that be the rebar?"

Well, that's one key point. Just like the neglect of the reinforcing bar can have disastrous results on the integrity of a building, so can the neglect of prayer have a seriously negative impact on the integrity of one's faith.

1 Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
2 Sing about the glory of his name!
Tell the world how glorious he is.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
4 Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs.”Interlude

5 Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people!
6 He made a dry path through the Red Sea,
and his people went across on foot.
There we rejoiced in him.
7 For by his great power he rules forever.
He watches every movement of the nations;
let no rebel rise in defiance. Interlude

8 Let the whole world bless our God
and loudly sing his praises.
9 Our lives are in his hands,
and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
10 You have tested us, O God;
you have purified us like silver.
11 You captured us in your net
and laid the burden of slavery on our backs.
12 Then you put a leader over us.
We went through fire and flood,
but you brought us to a place of great abundance.

13 Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings
to fulfill the vows I made to you—
14 yes, the sacred vows that I made
when I was in deep trouble.
15 That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you—
the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma,
and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats. Interlude

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he did for me.
17 For I cried out to him for help,
praising him as I spoke.
18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalm 66 (NLT)

Now, anyone reading this that remembers their Sunday School can probably pick up that this was written by Moses shortly after he and all of Israel ran from Pharaoh and Egypt... note the Red Sea reference... What's interesting is that this is a Psalm praising God, but also a Psalm that shows life isn't easy. Where does the joy of faith come from for Moses? Prayer. (see vs. 20).

Unlike some Christians, I don't believe your life is supposed to be easy or fun or somehow happier just because you are a Christian. In fact, the mark of God's people is suffering (but that's a post for another day). The strength of Christianity is that we have direct access to our God. He is a personal God who cares deeply for His children. So that when we pray, something extraordinary happens... God actually listens. And our sincere prayers of faith can actually have an impact on what God does.

21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22 (NIV)

How does that work exactly? To be honest... I don't know. But I know that faith and prayer go hand-in-hand, and there is something supernatural that happens when a faithful person prays to the Creator of All Things... He listens.

day 8...

2008-08-16T14:04:00.006-04:00

It's been 8 days since the opening ceremonies of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (I have learned since my last post that this is, in fact, the proper way to write this), and what a fantastic week of competition... and, no, I'm not talking about that Phelps guy's 1/100th of a second victory to tie Mark Spitz's record for 7 gold medals in one Olympics, I'm not talking about Nastia Lukin and her gymnastic artistry or the fact that she had to compete against the pre-adolescent Chinese team, I'm not referring to the return to dominance of the US Men's basketball team (dubbed the Redeem Team... appropriate since this is a Christian blog), and I'm not even talking about my favorite sport, track and field with Bernard Legat, Lopez Lomong, Deena Kastor, Ryan Hall, and the all the rest... no, for me the highlights of these Olympic games has come in the absolute ruling of the South Korean squad in archery and the rousing sets of women's doubles table tennis between Japan and Hong Kong... I told you I'm an Olympics junkie...

Now, the question you are asking yourself right now: "Really? Is he serious?"

Well, maybe not entirely... but I have watched more archery than swimming so far in these games, and even as I type this I am watching a table tennis match (in Mandarin Chinese, no less)... The question that will get you is: why? Why do I care so much about these "lesser" events?

Well, that's just it... they aren't "lesser" events... at least not as far as the spirit of the Olympics is concerned.

To me the Olympics represents such a perfect metaphor for our equality in God's economy, because while, Michael Phelps or Shawn Johnson might be more popular or famous to the viewing audience in terms of the Olympics they are the same as the archers from South Korea or the rowers from Great Britain... they are Olympians, plain and simple. And the cool thing is that a gold medal is a gold medal is a gold medal. I think that is so cool! I mean, all the gold medals look the same. They all have the same ribbon. And they are all awarded in the same way. Every gold medalist hears their country's national anthem played in their honor. The only difference is the event that is inscribed on the medals.

26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

In this passage, Paul is reassuring his readers that their standing before God is not based on their merit, or their social standing, or even their gender, it is based on the cross of Jesus. As a result, anyone who truly believes (and exactly what that means is a topic for another post) has the right to be called a child of God.

Far too often, we place pastors or worship leaders or those in public ministry on this pedestal as though that sort of service is the kind that everyone should attain to. We believe that those in public ministry will be sitting closer to the Lord when we get to heaven. But that is simply not the case. Just look at who Jesus honored. Fishermen, tax collectors, repentant prostitutes, poor widows, lepers, and the list goes on and on.

Now, don't get me wrong. Pastors, and teachers, and worship leaders are doing what God has called them to do. But God doesn't honor them because of the public aspect of that service. God honors anyone who puts their whole trust in Him and seeks to serve Him with the gifts, talents, and time they have.

Not every Olympian can be Michael Phelps. But every Olympian is an Olympian, and the gain that not because of the event in which they compete but by a heart and life that has been devoted to training and competition above others.

Those who put their trust in the Lord and devote their lives to Him are equal in His sight.

(The Japanese just staged a great comeback in women's doubles table tennis against Hong Kong by the way...)

the pomp and circumstance...

2008-08-09T10:39:00.004-04:00

The Games of the 29th Olympiad began yesterday in Beijing, China with a spectacle of light and drama and technology unmatched by any opening games. There were presidents, prime ministers, athletes, and other dignitaries in attendance to witness the affair live, while those of us more than half a world away watched in taped delay. As I watched the preliminary coverage of the Olympics leading up to yesterday, I was struck by how little respect the games are garnering from the national media. They are a blip on the radar screen. Allegations of doping by athletes, the political strife surrounding China's government, the pollution, all have overshadowed the coverage leading to the opening ceremonies...

But for me the Olympics are special... no because of the international political implications... not because of the harmony they supposedly produce... no for me it reminds me the importance of competition for the sake of competition.

The first Olympics I have any memory of was the '88 Games in Seoul. Then '92 in Barcelona, '96 in Atlanta, and on and on... I remember names like Kerri Strug, Michael Johnson, the Dream Team, and the other celebrities that were born from those games... but I also remember watching the truly obscure sports... badminton, judo, beach volleyball, field hockey, rhythmic gymnastics... and the list goes on and on... I mean, these are sports I didn't know existed outside the Olympic games. Before I watched the Olympics I thought ping pong was little more than an adolescent basement game, but in the Olympics I found it was table tennis.

I have the sports that I really love to keep track of... track and field, basketball, soccer, gymnastics... but even now, at 28 I still find myself watching the weirdest things, simply because it is the Olympics. This morning, I found myself watching, now get this... women's team handball Angola v. France... seriously... It's the competition I love.

It may not seem like a very Christian thing to admire... sports and competition, but Paul saw Christian ministry very much in terms of competition...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This always begs the question for me: who are we competing against? Certainly not against other Christians... or other churches... and certainly not against God. The purest form of competition is the competition one feels against the self. I think that is what Paul is talking about here. We work, in the power of Christ, so that we will be qualified for the prize that Christ has already gained for us. Not to earn something, but to work for the glory of the one who had already earned it all on our behalf.

I heard a statistic during the opening ceremonies that really struck me. Something like 87% of all the countries that compete in the Olympics have never won an Olympic medal. Never. Now, I don't know where that statistic came from, and I can't back it up for myself, but even if it is only partially accurate then that means that the majority of the athletes that go all the way to China have little chance of standing on a podium... and even fewer of hearing their national anthems played for them. So, why do they go? Because they have trained and beat their bodies to gain a prize that comes from competing against themselves.

How much do we train ourselves for our Christian lives and ministry? Do we feel like we will gain the spiritual maturity we hope for just by falling into it? We have to foster a sense of competition in ourselves to build up our faith, so that when life comes at us with both fists we will be ready.

In you... in you... I find my strength...

2008-07-09T09:46:00.004-04:00

Alright... alright... so this turned into a three part series on this passage from Mark 12, but I think it's really important stuff. I mean, God made us in His image to reflect that image out in the world, but we don't know how to do that. So, read the previous two posts, and then pick it up here to get the rest of the story.

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. Mark 12:13-17

When we understand that we have the image and likeness of God on us we understatnd that Jesus is telling us to render ourselves to Him. Rendering ourselves to God means that we must be motivated to please God and rendering our allegiance to His Word and truth above all else. But when we truly render ourselves to Him we have to remember that we’ll come up against resistance, and so the third insight we gain from this passage is that rendering our lives to God means we must render our strength to Him so we can stand firm against resistance.

We can see that fleshed out in this Scripture, and the really interesting thing about this passage in Mark 12 is that it is a part of series of three challenges Jesus faced against leaders of His day. Here He faces the challenges of the Herodians and Pharisees over taxation, in verses 18-27 He answers the Sadducees, who didn’t believe in resurrection, about resurrection, and in verses 28-40 He challenges the scribes about their interpretation of Scripture.

Jesus didn’t back down from resistance, He knew it would come, and He faced it. He looked at every point of resistance, every point of hostility as an opportunity to expound His mission in the world to glorify the Father through the redemption of all of creation.

Admittedly, my reaction to resistance is somewhat different than Jesus'. I’m not a biologist or zoologist or anything like that, but of the things I remember from my high school and college science classes one of the things that really stuck with me is the “fight or flight” instinct that all animals have. For those that can’t remember the “frog-slicing” days of junior biology, the fight or flight instinct basically means that when an animal feels threatened it does one of two things: it fights back or it runs. And for animals this is purely instinctual.

But the sad things is that most Christians tend to do the same thing when we come up against those that don’t share our faith. We either get indignant and express, what I like to call, “combat apologetics” or “combat evangelism”... mowing people down with quick Scripture references and razor-sharp logic leaving no unbeliever unpunished for their lack of faith... Or we run and hide in our little Christian bubble, hanging out with our little Christian clique, listening to our little Christian music, and living little Christian lives.

Jesus did neither of those. He was out in the world. Touching people’s lives. He was not closed off, and He did not fear people like the Herodians or Pharisees or the Roman officials. But He also wasn’t violent with those that confronted Him. In fact, as Isaiah 53:7 states He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, when the final resistance came.

The great news of the gospel is that the same Spirit that gave Jesus the strength to face His detractors, and the same Spirit that gave Him the strength to go to the cross, is the same Spirit He promises for our help. As Paul exhorts Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Rendering ourselves to God, bearing His image in the world means that when things come against us that attempt to rob that image, we have to rely on the power of Christ and the strength that can only be found in the Holy Spirit.

Do we rely on the Lord in the face of difficulty and opposition, or do we latch onto our “fight or flight” mentality? Do we beat people over the head with our knowledge and doctrinal truth, or do we demonstrate the love and patience of Christ in the face of opposition? When resistance comes, do we run and hide in our Christian world and cut ourselves off from anything that might challenge us, or do we live in the strength of the Lord and face challenges to our faith head on?

I don’t know you necessarily, but right now, there may be people in your life that are challenging your convictions as a Christian, and you don’t know what to do. Or there may be people that are alienating or even actively trying to discredit you because of your faith. That may be happening to you, and you are wondering: "just how do I stand in the face of all this?"

I have to tell you that you can’t stand in the face of it. But instead you have to kneel at the throne of Jesus and be in a constant state of prayer to ask for the Spirit’s guidance and direction. That's rendering our strength to Him.

I pledge...

2008-07-01T13:41:00.003-04:00

In the last post I talked about what gives us our identity... and more specifically... how we live lives that are rendered to God. I mean, we ARE created in the image of God, but how do we live like we are? That brought me to this passage in Mark... well, there is more to say about it so... in case you missed it... here's that passage again.

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. Mark 12:13-17

It's pretty obvious that if we are created in the image of God, with His image and likeness on us, than we are supposed to render ourselves to Him. As I asked in last post: how do we do that? First, I said rendering our lives means rendering our motivations, but rendering our lives to God also means rendering our allegiance to Him.

Now what is allegiance exactly? When I hear that word I immediately think of the Pledge of Allegiance... you know, that thing you had to recite so often when you were a kid. I still remember mornings in the schools I attended... the principal would come over the intercom and give the announcements of the day, and then the whole school would stand up, put our hands over our hearts, and with once voice would say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Now, admit it... before reading this you had probably forgotten the words...

When you’re a kid though, it’s just what you do... it's a way to instill patriotism without actually explaining patriotism, because they never get down to what “allegiance” is. They never explain that you are giving your loyalty and commitment to the flag and to the nation above everything else. They just want you to get up and say it.

But what about the allegiances of the major players in our scene here? Well, the Herodians had built themselves a nice little niche with the ruling Roman government and so they were intensely loyal to maintaining the status quo with Rome. They wanted the people to pay their taxes and do their part to be good Roman citizens. So, it’s likely they saw Jesus as an inciter that threatened a government revolution. For them, Jesus had to go.

For the Pharisees, they bore their allegiance to the traditions of the Jewish faith and their authority hinged on maintaining the religious status quo. They wanted people to obey them as their leaders, make their sacrifices to God, celebrate the appropriate festivals and look to God to reestablish Israel against Roman rule as a physical kingdom. Jesus was an obvious threat to that. He called Himself the Son of God, the Messiah, and challenged the traditions that kept the Pharisees in control. Again, Jesus had to go.

The great thing we have to remember about our Lord is that at any moment Jesus could have called armies of angels from heaven and had the power and authority to strike down all those that came against Him, but His allegiance was to the will of God, and it was that allegiance that took Him to the cross. As Philippians 2:6-8 states

[Jesus] though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ’s allegiance was to the will of the Father, and it was His obedience that makes it so we can be redeemed, saved, and transformed into the image God intended for us.

In our day, it can be difficult to understand that kind of allegiance... but the truth is we make decisions everyday that demonstrate who we are committed to, where our loyalties are, and where our allegiances lie.

When we choose to spend unnecessary hours at our jobs rather than developing strong spiritual foundations in our families, we are demonstrating our allegiance. When we get in that early round of golf on Sunday morning rather than making weekly corporate worship a priority, we demonstrate our allegiance. When we would rather spend our money padding our comfortable, cushy lives more than advancing the mission of God’s church, we demonstrate our allegiance.

Now, I'm not trying to guilt trip anybody here... the fact is, often where I say I pledge my allegiance and where I actually live out that allegiance is totally different. But that fact is that God did create us in His image, to reflect His glory in the world, and a big part of doing that is aligning ourselves with His will and purpose first and foremost.

where do you sit in the cafeteria...

2008-06-24T08:40:00.006-04:00

Yeah, it has been a while since I updated this little blog, but it has been a crazy few weeks, and to be perfectly honest... I've been kinda dry in the writing department. However, I have had to write a couple of things for some of my summer classes, so I'm gonna be posting a few things here to give you some mid-week snacks... so here we go...

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. Mark 12:13-17

Growing up, I had to move… a lot. My dad’s job as an Air Force chaplain and Methodist pastor meant that we moved nearly a dozen times before I graduated high school. I moved all over. From Texas to Italy from the North to the South, and for the most part it was great… You can really see how diverse the world is when you travel at such a young age, but you can also see how it’s the same. For instance, I have a lot of experience being the “new kid” in school and survival rule #1 in a new school is “Learn where you need to sit in the lunch room.” It’s the same everywhere, because kids identify themselves by where they sit in the cafeteria. Jocks sit with jocks. Nerds sit with nerds. Band geeks sit with band geeks. And moving around as much as I did I tried them all… never being quite sure where I fit in or who I wanted to be identified with.

When I have looked at this passage of Scripture in the past, often I got hung up on the politics and governmental aspects of it all. Is Jesus telling us we should pay our taxes? Is He giving us a guide to holding to civil authorities? If it was, it wouldn’t be inconsistent with other places in the Bible. I mean, Peter said in 1 Peter 2 that we should “Submit [ourselves] for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men…” and Paul said in Romans 13 that “there is no authority except that which God has established…”

But is that the point Jesus is making here? Maybe on one level, but I think what He is dealing with is a far deeper and far more important point that we all need to learn.

I think, Jesus is asking the Pharisees and Herodians and us the same question, “Whose image and whose likeness is on us?” Where do we gain our deepest identity? To what or to whom do we render our lives?

One of the great truths of the Bible is that we don’t have to wonder where we should gain our identity. Genesis 1:26-27 tells us straight out that God created man in HIS image so my identity is secure in Him. God is our Creator and we our His special creation, unique in that there is something in us that reflects His glory out in the world. His likeness is on us.

Because that is true, we should render every part of ourselves to Him.

But there’s a problem. Sin has infected us so deeply that we get caught up in looking for other things to define us. That old “high school cafeteria syndrome” still gets at us, and we want to know what group are we going to be identified with. For Christians we struggle between reflecting the image of our Creator and worshipping Him with our lives and living for ourselves and just serving our own purposes. Paul calls this sin problem the “two laws” in Romans 7, saying, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” But Praise God because Jesus Christ, through His life, work, and sacrifice on the cross makes it so the divine image the Father placed on us can be redeemed and we can know how to truly render our lives to him. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, we were bought at a price, so we have been redeemed, purchased, rescued to live the way we were supposed to live… as God’s children.

But how do we do it? How do we live a life in the identity God created us to? How do we render ourselves to Him?

We if look at this passage of Scripture and pay attention to the contrast between the interrogators and Jesus Himself we gain some key insights into what it means to live a life marked by God.

Rendering our lives to God means we must first render our motivations Him. You see, we can’t live a life that honors and reflects God if we don’t have motivations that conform to His will.

As we look at this Scripture, I think it’s important to know who the major players are. We get two groups mentioned coming at Jesus: the Herodians and the Pharisees.

The Herodians were a particularly interesting group because they were part of the Jewish community that, at least in part, supported the interest of the Roman authorities that occupied Israel. As their name indicates they were friends of the regional king, Herod. The Pharisees on the other hand were more strict teachers of the Jewish law who, on some level, resisted Roman rule.

So it’s interesting and more than a little shady that these two groups are coming together. I mean, when they ask the question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?” It’s obvious something weird is going on. The Herodians would have been fine if Jesus had said, “yes” while the Pharisees thought it was idolatry to use money with Caesar’s face on it. But if Jesus had said “No,” then He would have been seen as inciting a riot. So, the Herodians and the Pharisees had one motivation here as it says in vs. 13, “to trap Him” or as some translations put it, “to ensnare Him.”

These guys had one motivation: to put the good of their group ahead of everything else. They couldn’t care less about God’s will or purposes, they cared about their place, their position, and trapping Jesus in His words.

But it begs the question: what motivates us?

You know, I’m an avid runner... I love doing it. I love talking about it. And I love reading about it. I was reading a story in Runner’s World magazine about Alicia Shay who is getting ready to run in the US Olympic Trials this next weekend in the 10,000 meters. Like nearly every other runner that steps to the line, she has stories of injuries, over-training, bad races, and good races, but something is different about Alicia’s story and it has to do with her motivation. Some of you may have heard about a runner who died at the men’s Olympic marathon trials this past November. For those of us in the running community it was shocking and more than a little scary. I mean, this was a guy who was incredibly fit, in the prime of his career trying to run for his country on the world’s biggest stage, and then he was gone. When Alicia Shay steps to the line for the Olympic trials she’ll also be running for the memory of that marathoner… her husband of only three months, Ryan Shay. She said in that article that she wanted to give up after Ryan died, but that he always saw so much potential in her that she needs to do this now for him.

Motivation is a powerful thing. And so it’s important for us to remember that if we want to truly render our lives to God, we have to render our motivation first and foremost. It means that when we get out of bed we don’t live for that first cup of coffee (like I often do)… it means we live to make God look good. We work hard, not to earn a good pay check, or climb that corporate ladder, but we work hard because people will see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven. It means steering clear of things like gossip or lying or being greedy because God has called us to be holy. It means making time for Him, getting in His word, making weekly worship a priority, so those are the things that drive the trains of our lives.

It doesn’t mean trying to be perfect for the sake of looking good. It means relying on the Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need for each new day and living in gratitude for the blessing God has given us.

can anybody say "knock off"...

2008-05-12T22:42:00.004-04:00

First things first... compare these two videos...

Alright... so... any questions?

Well, I have to admit something first: I am a Mac guy. I love my old school Powerbook, I have more iPods than I care to admit, and darn it, Macs are just cooler. Now, all you PC people out there, don't be haters... that's not my point, just a little self-disclosure. The point is, that when I first saw the very first iPhone commercial I was blown away... not by the phone itself (I already knew a ton about the iPhone before the commercials started running), but by the sheer simplicity of the commercials. Solid black. Single hand. Product demonstration.

When I saw the Palm Centro commercial, I was also blown away... by the blatant ripping off of an idea. I guess it is a bit different. I mean, the background is blue, not black, and the screen of the phone is smaller. And the song is not identical... (insert sarcastic tone and look here) I suppose. Just to be clear, I am not knocking the Palm Centro phone per se. It's cool. But the commercial is an obvious rip-off.

But the thing about rip-offs is that you can only tell something is phony compared to the real thing. If I had never seen the iPhone commercial I would have no frame of reference to know the Centro one was a knock-off version. That's the same sort of thing we have to watch out for in our Christian walks... false teachings are everywhere, and if we are not ready to compare them to the real thing, we are bound to get sucked in. In Paul's ministry, he was constantly dealing with churches that were being duped by something other than the real thing. He warns the Ephesians like this...

we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This theme is prevalent over and over in Paul's letters... he says, "Grow up and quit messing around with things that just aren't true!"

The question always comes up though, "How do I know if something is false?" Well, in the context of Ephesians, Paul gives his readers some pretty practical advice. If you want to know if something is false or not get yourself in a community of Christian believers you trust, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Those communities are called churches. The real problem comes into play in identifying which churches are really churches... The unfortunate thing is there are a lot of groups out there that call themselves Christians but they're the knock-off version, but the true, ancient church had a way to identify real believers from false ones. The way was the creed. The oldest of these is the Apostles' Creed and it is just a statement of what Christians ought to believe.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

There are other creeds, of course, but for nearly 2000 years this has been the an anchor to help Christians of every age determine real churches and real Christians from the knock-off. Remember, even Jesus said not everyone who says they're a believer really is one.

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)

where everybody knows your name...

2008-05-02T16:56:00.008-04:00

One of the things I have never been is "a regular." No... not regular... A regular... You know what I mean. I mean like you go into a restaurant and the waitress says, "He's one of our regulars." The cool thing about regulars is they are known. They have their "usual" and can often times get their own drinks because they know where everything is, and the people that work in the restaurant know them and trust them, and it's okay. Sadly, I have never been "a regular," but my wife is.

Julie often times goes to the same two or three places for lunch everyday, and orders the same things from each place that she goes. For those that have ever eaten lunch with her you know what those meals are and where, but most importantly the servers and staff at these places know her. They'll have her tea ready when they see her, and all they have to do is ask what sort of day she's having to know whether it is sweet or unsweet. They know what she orders, and don't even have to ask. The odd thing that happens with regulars and the people at the restaurant is that there is this cool relationship that is formed. Sort of a friendship, really. There is a trust. There is a knowledge. There is a comfort to going to a place where everybody knows your name... as the great sitcom once said.

I think about our churches and our Christian relationships, and feel like on some level we ought to remember what it means to be "a regular." There are people at my church with whom I have built real relationships. I know their strengths and weaknesses. I know where they need prayer. I know when I can rely on them and when I shouldn't expect to.

But we can't expect to be a regular where we don't put in the time. Imagine going to a brand new restaurant and telling the waiter, "I'll have the usual." He'll look at you, kinda puzzled, and bring you a big plate of nothing, because that's your usual there. Quite often Christians that go to church once every couple of months expect to be treated the same as those who make weekly worship a priority for their lives. Often they wonder why they don't get asked to be a leader in things. They wonder why their opinions aren't listened to with the same force as others' opinions are. But why is there such confusion?

Even some of the best Christians I know I have a hard time being a "regular" with their church attendance. I know I'm speaking from the cheap seats. I work at a church. I can count on one hand how many Sundays I have missed in the last three years. So, maybe I am being unfair.

But think of the percentage of days you miss of your job. Think of the percentage of days you don't show up for your boss. Out of 100 days of your job, how often do you miss? Five, Ten... less, more? Now, what about your worship? Are you a once-a-monther, twice a month... more, less? How do the two compare?

The writer of Hebrews gets that perseverance in doing what is right is difficult, but sometimes we forget that even our meeting together is a part of that call...

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT

God has put us in this great relationship with the church, not just for our benefit, but also because being together with each other is part of being together with Christ. It is part of being a Christian.

So, where are are we "regulars"? And what does that say about our priorities?

three stick...

2008-04-30T09:52:00.008-04:00

So, I am by far and away not a golf expert. In fact, aside from my only PE credit in college and the occasional round of putt-putt (at which I am a total disaster) I've never played the game. It's not that I don't like the game of golf. I actually do. I've been know to watch whole tournaments on television... something even die hard golfers won't necessarily do... it's just it takes a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of patience... none of which I have.

But one thing I have learned about golf is that of all the dozens of clubs in a golfer's bag, they can get by as long as they just three: a putter, a wedge, and some sort of middle iron. When I found this out, I was dumbfounded! I mean they why do you have all those clubs, that expensive bag, and that guy that carries all that around for you... yes, I know he's called a caddy. But, as the Florida Southern golf coach told us on the first day of our PE class, "You can learn and master all the fundamentals of golf with just three sticks." He later explained that the other clubs were for nuance, and specialization, and to add to the fundamentals.

So, I was running through Lake Ashton, a golfing community (in Florida they have whole villages and towns built around the sport, and no I am not kidding...) watching men and women out on the course with their carts, and all-leather golf bags... some of them were decent golfers, others... not so much, but the lousy ones still had a bag full of sticks. Anyway, I was running and watching, and I got to thinking about fundamentals and our Christian walk. What are the three sticks of Christianity? I mean, what are the base things that we need to get straight before we can expect any real Christian fruit? Well, I know every teacher or preacher will give you lists of three things or five things or 1 thing or 50 things depending on his or her lesson that week, but I know one Scripture that is pretty clear about the progression of Christian growth.

3 By his [God's] divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

Here Peter tells us that we have everything we need through God's power to live a godly life, and he tells us the very first stick to the Christian life is "coming to know him" or faith itself. It is a fundamental, non-negotiable. Without faith, moral excellence is just looking good without being good. Without faith, knowledge is just intellectualism without understanding. Without faith, self-control is just asceticism without direction... and on and on. Faith in Christ is the first and most important fundamental. But here's the caveat: faith isn't really faith unless it produces the rest. If you say, "I have faith" but are a pretty shady business person or unfair to your kids or don't make time for the Lord or family, then guess what... it ain't faith. The cool thing here in this passage is that it shows the Christian life for what it is: a progression toward godliness that takes time.

There are two problems that crop up though, with golfers and with Christians. First, some spend all their time on the fundamentals and never try to take the next steps. For golfers all they do is go to the putting greens or driving ranges to work on their skills but never hit the course to see how those skills work on an actual hole. For Christians, some spend all their time going to worship services, reading their Bibles, or in prayer developing their faith but don't do anything to express that faith in action. They aren't necessarily good, because they use faith just to feel better or think better but nothing else. On the other side, some golfers never work on the fundamentals. They never practice putting, chipping, or driving a ball; they just hit the course. The result is often disaster. I've seen the same thing with Christians. They don't make the fundamentals a priority, but instead avoid worship services, studying the Bible, time in prayer and just want to serve. Their desire is to serve or go on mission trips and just "do their faith" without "developing their faith". And the results? Often disaster.

Success in golf and in the Christian life is knowing how to balance both. The fundamentals are important but that is not all there is to playing the game. Develop faith. Then add to that faith.

FearBUSTERS... from the pulpit...

2008-04-18T21:40:00.003-04:00

Gotta watch this first... this is the extended youtube edition...

Enjoy...

the biggest problem... part 2

2008-04-09T20:16:00.004-04:00

So, I told you I had more to say about the problem of pain, because it is a universal problem. No one escapes it... but I left a few things undone... and, of course, I can't do that...

When you meet a person for the first time one of the first questions you will likely ask is, "So, where are you from?" It may not be worded like that exactly, but usually in order to get to know a person you need to know where they are from. So it is with pain. A lot of non-Christians get hung up on the origin of pain, and why God allowed it to enter into the world? Pain is a by product of evil and evil enters the world through sin. But it is important to remember that evil is not something created. It is more like a state of things. Just like good isn't concrete... you can't point to good... you can point to a good chair or a good person or a good movie, but not to good by itself. The same is true of evil. And the state of evil is a byproduct of disobedience, rebellion, etc. against God.

In the Garden in Genesis 3, Satan tempted Eve and Adam with the idea that they could "be like God" by eating the fruit of the tree. Some people think that the mistake that Adam and Eve made was that they ate the fruit, but really it is deeper. It comes down to the fact that they wanted to replace God and be God for themselves. Their choice to try their hand at being God resulted in the status of evil entering into the world. Now, a lot of people will say, "Well, Satan is there so evil is there already, it doesn't have anything to do with human sin." In one sense, that is true. Satan is there already, and so is the possibility that Adam and Eve will mess up. (Side note, I'm not going to launch into an origin of Satan discussion since only a couple of passages in the Bible may or may not deal with it but you can check out this article for more details on that http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=389)... But as we see from Genesis 2 God gave them that free will. But... whoa... wait a minute... does that mean God created sin? NO! God created human beings, and human beings have to have free will in order to be human beings and not merely animals or robots. You see, God created us in his own image. Something about how we are made, and something about the content of our being reflects something of our Creator. God has choices and thus so do we. Without the option to not choose God we wouldn't be what we are created to be.

So, sin allows evil to come into the world, and sin brings pain, toil, hardships and so on. But the good news is that God always, always, always knew that was going to happen, and always, always, always had a plan to redeem what he created, and it would be even better than if he had never created anything in the first place. God, even in Genesis 3, tells Adam and Eve that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the seed of the serpent pointing to the redemption of Christ. Paul explains it best in Romans 5.

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore, the problem of evil and pain points us to the solution... Jesus Christ. And his sacrifice of his perfect life more than accounts for all the evil and sinfulness in the world, and that can be accessed by anyone who chooses to quit making the mistake of Adam and Eve, quit trying to be God, and put faith in Christ and his Lordship.

the biggest problem... part 1

2008-04-02T11:40:00.010-04:00

It's funny what can occupy a person's attention. People who should be concerned with driving their cars often pay more attention to a phone conversation... okay that's the pot calling kettle whatever... People who should be concerned for their child's character are more preoccupied with if their kid is a good athlete or musician. And the list goes on and on. It's the whole smoke and mirrors routine your typical magician uses. They make some big spectacle during a trick, or move a hand one way, or do some dramatic gesture to keep you from seeing how they pull off the astonishment that is the trick... here's a "good" example from a favorite television show...

Satan has done that to so many of us when it comes to belief in a loving and perfect God. The old story goes if God were really so loving then He wouldn't allow people to go through pain. If God were really so powerful then He'd be able to do what he wants. So either God doesn't care, or He really isn't an all-powerful God. This is essentially the crux of the argument for most atheists, and C.S. Lewis outlined this problem in his book, The Problem of Pain. The fact is that even for most Christians this is where our faith hits a road block... and even full-time professional Christians, like yours truly can stumble on this topic. But let's take a minute or two and think about it, should this really be seen as a problem for us as Christians?

The first thing we need to understand is that evil is not something created, not something tangible, not something God could have made because God made all things good. Look at Genesis 1, after everything God did he called it "good". And from John 1, we see that every created thing has its ultimate origin in God. Second, we need to differentiate evil from pain. A lot of times we get hung up because we think that anything that causes pain is evil, and anything that doesn't make us happy has some level of pain associated with it. But think about that garbage for a second. When I go out and run 6 or 7 miles, there is certainly pain there, but it is far from evil... in fact it is actually good. When a doctor prescribes medication or physical therapy there is a level of pain, or at least unhappiness, but the treatment is good. Even emotionally, a lot of times we watch heart-wrenching movies or read terribly sad books, which may cause us pain, but the result is cathartic. On the flip side of that is the fact that not everything that causes happiness is necessarily good. I can think of a number of examples such as drug use, skipping work to relax, going to the beach without sunscreen, eating McDonald's french fries every day (it's lunch time sorry)... all those things may cause happiness in the short term but they are not good because the long term effect is bad.

That's one of the things that we need to understand with this problem of pain and evil... God is always in control, and He does work out all things for the good (Romans 8:28), but it may be that the good is not totally revealed to us except in the long term. And by long term, I mean God's eternal long term, not our finite long term. But over and over again, throughout the Bible, God is taking what is evil, painful, and even sinful and using it for His greater good. From Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery thousands of people are fed during a time of famine (Genesis 37-50). From David's murderous affair with Bathsheba the next king of Israel is born with Solomon, and he leads directly to Jesus Christ (2 Samuel 11-12, Matthew 1). One of the most heinous persecutors of the church, Saul/Paul, became the first and greatest church planter and writer of the majority of the New Testament. Sometimes we do see the purpose of a given painful situation, other times we don't. But that doesn't mean God's greater purpose isn't working.

I have more to say about this, but I want to get to a bottom line... Pain does exist in the world, and whether you're an atheist or a Christian you cannot escape bad things from happening. But with God there is hope. With God pain is not merely pain, and evil not merely evil. With God those things don't have the final word. With God there is purpose beyond the problem.

a brief reflection on the week...

2008-03-17T13:55:00.009-04:00

For those that are familiar with the Christian calendar, this week is Holy Week. It is the week that we commemorate the Passion... the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Right now, I am studying for a mid-term exam for my class on Acts and the Pauline Epistles and even as I type this I am listening to a lecture on Paul's letter to the Romans and this passage just jumped out at me in relationship to this week.

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25 (NIV)

Now, I understand this is not a traditional Passion Scripture, but it strikes me as so profound how deep our need for Christ's sacrifice. I really echo what Paul says here... as I am sure we all do. In my heart of hearts, I know what is right, I know the good path, but I just can't do it. Even my best individual effort is tainted. The fact is I am corrupt in my nature. Paul quotes earlier in Romans 3 that we are all sinners, all short of God's glory, all in desperate need, but the need has been filled in Christ. We have been justified, sanctified, changed, moved, transformed by something outside of ourselves... something divine, but it took a death so that our sinful nature might also be put to death. Then and only then are we able to do what is right. Unfortunately, most people never understand that need fully, or else they see the problem but not the solution: Christ.

This isn't as light-hearted a post as you are used to here, but it is important for all of us to understand the depth of our need so that we can grab hold of the liberty, and freedom, and joy, and glory of Easter. It's not just about the bunny rabbit and those great Cadbury Eggs, it's about trading in the slavery of sin and death and fault for the joy of service to God.

The bottom line is that we don't have a choice whether we have a god or not. Even atheists serve something, but it is a matter of what kind of god we'll worship. Dylan said it best,

You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Holy Week gives us the option... not whether we serve or not, because we will serve something... but whom or what we will serve. Without the Passion of Christ, without the history of this week, we would be lost. But the good news is that Christ did walk the road to the cross and allowed himself to die and then was raised so we might have the opportunity for eternal life.

know when to say when...

2008-03-11T10:05:00.006-04:00

So, as I type this I am sitting in Panera Bread in Orlando, FL trying to get some studying done, doing some research online, enjoying a Hazelnut coffee and one of their egg/sausage soufflé things, when I am totally overwhelmed by the smell of perfume. Not a little perfume, I mean it is like one of those mall kiosks is planted right behind me and suddenly I'm having trouble breathing and concentrating and it is looking hopeless. What do I do? Say something... No... get up and leave... what about my egg/sausage soufflé thingy? I can't leave that. Then I stop. What possesses a person to put on that much perfume? I love cologne, personally. But I am always fearful that I put on too much or not enough. So I ask Julie what she thinks... she's very honest about that sort thing, which I appreciate... so why does this woman feel the need to clear the area with her chosen scent?

It got me thinking about too much of a good thing, and the old beer commercial adage to "know when to say when"... to what does that apply and are there situations where we can just throw that out? Obviously you can have on too much perfume or cologne, you can drink too much, you can stay up too late, eat too much, spend too much time exercising or conversely spend too much time relaxing. The funny thing about the "too much" principle is that usually when you go over the limit with those things the opposite effect of the desired result occurs. Let's take this poor woman sitting behind me as an example. Perfume is used to make a person smell better and to be somewhat more attractive to people. However, the opposite has happened. It's not pleasant... in fact... it hurts.

From a spiritual standpoint we can get into a bit of trouble. Because a lot of people will say, "You can never volunteer too much, you can never give too much, you can never work too hard for the Lord..." It's true we are called to give, we are called to work, we are called to sacrifice, but can there be too much. The Bible also makes it clear that husbands are to be devoted to their wives, and parents to their children (Ephesians 5-6). In that case can we work too hard or give too much? Absolutely. We are called to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) but does that mean we need to shut ourselves off from the world and sit in silence and prayer? Some monks practice that very thing. Should we? Of course not, and that is not even what it means to pray continually. The point is that God calls to live a life that is wholly devoted to Him, which means that in all areas we must balance our actions to glorify Him. When your service to a ministry hinders your ability to be a good parent or spouse then you're not glorifying God, you're just working too hard. When your prayer life is prayer alone and doesn't prompt you to service then you're not acting in a godly way. When you fail to study the Scriptures because you are so devoted to working with kids you're not truly fulfilling what God has called you to be. Now don't get me wrong... we should give, and serve, pray, we should do all those things but in proper proportion... not all at once, and not to the neglect of the other things.

The key is balance... right, Daniel San?

much too much...

2008-03-06T13:41:00.002-05:00

Wow...so I am all for choices and innovation, but I am a little over the whole, "how many different flavors can you fit into a bottle of soda" movement of the last several years. Yes, I know way back in the day a "soda jerk" could put just about whatever flavor you wanted into a soda, but that was back when mixing soda was an art form, and you had your local guy that would mix it exactly how you wanted it. Now, it just sounds ridiculous on commercials to hear something like "Diet Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Dr. Whatever now with a splash of Lime". I mean seriously...seriously. I was going to call out a particular brand of soda, but when walk down the aisle at the local Publix I realize every company is in on this thing. The fact is if you want a chocolate, cherry, vanilla, lime-flavored drink the last thing you ought to do is buy a pre-farbricated drink that tells you that's what is in it because in the end you can't taste any of it. You ought to grab some chocalte and pour it in your favorite can of carbonated beverage. Or get some vanilla concentrate or actual cherries. Get what you want and throw it in there.

One of the big problems I see in churches today is that we try to say everything to everybody all the time and it just gets confusing. I'm guilty of this too. I try to say things in such a way that everyone will understand. I try to tie in the entire Bible into every lesson I teach. I try to tell people about the healing nature of Christ and how He convicts of sin in the same breath. Now, its good and right to teach the whole Bible. It's fitting to talk about the love and the justice of God. But we, as Christians, can't say it all in every moment that we say it.

My boy Paul was brilliant with this...

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (NLT)

Paul did say it all, but just not all at once, and he always presented the gospel differently to different people. The same gospel different ways of presenting it. Compare how he talks to the Jews in Acts 13:16-41 and what he does with the Greeks in Acts 17:16-31. I mean he's brilliant at saying exactly what needs to be said how it needs to be said to whom it needs to be said. It's precise. It's powerful. It makes sense to those listening.

When children are 3 or 4 years old we tell them, "Don't ever cross street alone." When they are teenagers we tell them "Be careful crossing the street." When they become adults we don't say anything, though we think, "I hope they are safe." Has the message changed? The words may have but the message hasn't. The bottomline is "be safe no matter what" but a 3 or 4 year old doesn't think the same way as a teenager or and a teenager doesn't think the same way as a full grown adult. Paul understood that when it comes to understanding the message of Christ people get it differently.

The question is: are our churches becoming "Diet Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Dr. Soda with Lime" churches? Or do we know how to communicate the great Good News to all people in unique ways?

smacked by reality...

2008-03-05T13:27:00.006-05:00

I was driving by a little lake near my neighborhood the other day when I look over and see one of the craziest things I have ever seen...in real life. A bird just hits the water full force and then pops out less than a second later with a fish in its mouth! It literally flew head first into this lake/retention pond thing to catch a fish! Now, remember I'm driving...so when I see this bird hit the water I nearly wreck because I'm like, "What the heck! Did I just see a bird have a stroke?!!" Of course, I knew birds like this existed. I mean I watch my share of the Discovery Chanel and Animal Planet, so I know things like that are out there, but come on! I've never actually seen that before in reality. I have seen flying fish (also kinda crazy) I have swam with manatees in the Banana River (again, crazy) but this was a first for me. It has seriously altered my view of that little lake and the birds that fly over it.

Right now, my small group is looking at the life of Paul, and this story got me thinking about how his view of God radically changed. In Acts 8 Paul (called Saul at that point) is pretty intent on arresting and killing everyone having to do with Christianity (called the Way in this chapter). In Phillippians 3 he describes himself at this point in his life...

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. (NIV)

But then he walks down the road to Damascus and BOOM! flash of light and voice from heaven calling his name...It's Jesus, and he is ticked. "Why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4) And then Jesus tells Paul (Saul) to go and spread the good news to those who had not heard it.

Now, the thing about Paul is that he knew all about God before this incident. He knew the Old Testament (the Law, the Prophets, etc) he had heard of Abraham having visions of God, Jacob wrestling the Lord at Peniel, Moses and the burning bush, Daniel, and Isaiah, and on and on and on... all having encounters with the God, the Creator of the universe...but it is not until Paul has one of those moments himself that he understands who God really is.

Often, we want that. We want to see for ourselves. We want the burning bush, the Damascus road, the flaming tongues of fire, but we don't think we get it. Or do we? Romans 1:20 says it like this...

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (NLT)

So when I see the world I can see the glory, the power, the care of God. Now not in its fullness, but enough to know he is there. The problem is that we really don't live in a world where seeing is believing. We live in a world where seeing is a matter of opinion, and facts are debated. We get complacent and forget all the things that God has done and is doing for us. We forget that we have been smacked in the face with the reality that God really is great.

Because God who he says he is, and because it is pretty obvious, then our response should be just like Paul's later in Philippians 3...

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (NIV)

What is your response?

Can you say "obsessive"...

2008-02-27T12:52:00.004-05:00

Alright, so when I started today I had an idea about a topic for a post here, but that is not what you're going to get... Let me explain. This morning I decided to find a new place to run as I had kind of a long one scheduled, and I'm getting a bit bored with running around my neighborhood. So, I jumped in my car and headed to Fort Fraser Trail in Lakeland. It's only about a 15 min drive so not bad, and it is a relatively new trail. Anyway, the trail is beautiful: asphalt paved over a gently rolling path. There was plenty of scenery to keep me occupied on a 7 mile run, and to top it off there were inspirational quotes posted in large electrical poles with banners attached along the way. This is where my previous idea for the post comes in.

One of the quotes is the sports favorite:

"Quitters never win, and winners never quit."

Great quote used by stage mothers and little league baseball coaches for years. The funny thing is that on the trail this quote is attributed to none other than Emily Dickinson! Ok, so I thought, "Wow, how ironic that someone who pretty much lived in seclusion and rarely ventured outside her home would be the author of such a positive and 'go-getting' sentiment!" So, I had this whole idea for a post that was built on the premise of that irony.

But, being a journalism major in college, I always back up my source. So, when I get to work I set about the business of making sure that attribution is correct...no luck... I try every Google search I can think of. I ask people around me. No luck... then I get desperate... I call the City of Lakeland Public Works Department... no, I am not kidding. Well, they don't know but they hired a city works consultant out of Orlando for the job, and they give me the company's phone number. Now, before I go any further, I want to admit, that I think most sane people would have stopped the search at this point. I mean calling the public works department isn't that bad, but to go any further would be crazy. Well...note the title of this post... So, I call the consulting company. I have the name of the lead consultant, but he is out of the office until March 3rd. Probably on vacation. But they ask, "Would you like his email? He is checking it." (I pause briefly to consider how much of a jerk I would be to email a guy on vacation about a pretty silly question...briefly.) "Sure", I say. And as I write, this poor guy is getting an email from me asking how he and his come came to attribute the aforementioned quote to Emily Dickinson.

Now, what's point here? Why did I waste my time, and now your time on this little project? I mean, don't I have anything better to do? Well, yes. But the point is that I acted on something that has consumed my thoughts all day long.

What is that consumes your thoughts? Your job? Your kids? Your spouse? Bills? Some hobby? The joys of the weekend?

In the book of Proverbs chapter 23, it warns not to eat with a stingy person because they will be as stingy with you as they are with themselves. But what is significant is verse 7 in the Amplified version it says,

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

What we are obsessed with, we act on. For me... today it was that Dickinson quote. Normally, it's with my family and our future, my service to God in His church, and its future, or really just the future. I ask myself, "Will it all be okay?" "Am I doing right by God and my wife?" "Are the plans Julie and I are making, good ones, godly ones?" "How will they be accomplished?" Now, understand, I'm not worried about those things necessarily...though sometimes I do...but those are the questions that drive my life's actions.

What are the questions that drive your life?

so they say it's your birthday...

2008-02-20T15:43:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I have never been one to really get into my birthday per se. I mean I am totally glad I was born...obviously...but I'm not one to really get into a big celebration and party and all that. I don't know...I get self-conscious...and truth be told I am really an introvert at heart and so big parties that focus on me don't float my boat. Now, I love making a big deal of other people's birthdays. Ask my wife. She doesn't get a birthday, she gets a birthweek...and she loves it. She really embraces it. She enjoys the hoopla, the cake, the presents...and fortunately for her I love doing that for her, much to the chagrin of our budget some years.

The thing is my wife really loves my birthday as well. When I got home last night, late from a meeting, the whole house was decorated with balloons and streamers and just for me. Not for a party or anything, just for me. Now, that is sweet by any standard, but something about that hit me right. It has set today up to be the kind of birthday that suits me.

I have also been overwhelmed by the little things people have done for me today. I have had little gifts left on my desk, gotten a cake from the office staff here, received more mail in my inbox than I know what to do with, had phone calls and voicemail messages from friends to wish their best, and had lunch with my Mom. For all of you that have sent birthday wishes...I really appreciate it! You have no idea!

Now this is not a plea for those that haven't done anything to say, "Oh crap, I forgot!" and to frantically fill my inbox with e-cards...that's not my point...but if you want to send money out of guilt that would be ok, I guess. Just kidding.

No, my point is that normally I would be feeling pretty self-conscious most years at this point, and frankly I would kinda turn into a jerk...again, ask my wife. I don't really know what has changed in me this year as opposed to past birthdays, but I have sorta turned over a new leaf about celebrations (see previous posts about Christmas). I mean, Ecclesiastes says,

1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

The thing with me is that I tend to listen to the "time to cry" passages more than the "time to laugh" ones. And I grab onto the "time to grieve" statements more than the "time to dance" ones...I don't dance. At some point in the past year I decided I just cannot live like that anymore. I have to live with the "joy of the Lord as my strength" and to really embrace the true and genuine times of celebration...like birthdays and Christmas.

So, I say bring on the cake, the cheesy song, and the candles. Happy Birthday to me!

I'm a major nerd...

2008-02-12T23:09:00.006-05:00

Flying into space... and falling back again

When I get fascinated by something I really get fascinated. When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut, not like for a day or month or year but from the time I was 5 until I was 11 it was all I really wanted to do. I had books, posters, even a very rare astronaut Cabbage Patch Kid. (no its not a doll its a collectible!) It didn't hurt that I lived on the Space Coast of Florida and got to see quite a few launches as a kid. Anyway...even though the desire to strap myself to a rocket and travel around the Earth at over 17,000 miles an hour has past, the fascination with space science and its technology hasn't. I mean I love to watch the launches and search for random videos pertaining to the space shuttle. I keep up with what the crew is doing and any developments NASA is working on. The reason that I am so fascinated now by space and the sciences is because to me they demonstrate how truly great our God is and how much He must love us. Check this out from Psalm 8-

1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

There are alot of really cool things about this Psalm (which might be my favorite by the way). First, when you look at creation... the stars, moon, the clouds, the animals...you experience the greatness of God. Even Romans 1:19-20 says that God is obvious by what He has made. Now there are quite a lot of atheists out there who look at creation and say they don't see God but merely impersonal forces acting upon one another in randomly selected ways that evolved over time to create life. But when it comes down to it they cannot account for even a fraction of all of the millions of trillions of things that had to randomly come together perfectly to maintain and sustain life on this planet. For instance, the Earth is the perfect distance from the sun to gain all the light and heat that it needs to sustain plant animal life. If it were closer everything would be scorched, if further away permanent winter. A lot of Christians say that we should ignore scientific developments because they only serve to challenge our faith. But in actuality science does more to confirm our faith than deny precisely because God created it all anyway. There has been no scientific development that has conclusively disproven Christian/Biblical claims about God. And the ones that cast doubt for some people means they have misunderstood what they have observed. I could go on and on and bore you to tears with details, but I simply want to say that when I see the views on television that the astronauts beam back to Earth all I can say is "O Lord, You are pretty flipping awesome!"

The second thing we see in Psalm 8 is that God has a very special place for human beings. Initially, we seem tiny, insignificant, totally irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I mean, everyday we find that the universe is far bigger than we expected, and every time we think we have discovered the smallest of all the building blocks of matter (like the atom) we find something more basic and smaller (like protons, neutrons, etc). It's easy for us to feel like just one small cog in a very vast machine, but the beauty of this Psalm is that in the midst of all the greatness and massiveness and hugeness that is God we have a special place. In Genesis 2 we are created in the image of God. No other creature is given that distinction. And the proof of that is space travel. You don't see giraffes, or lemurs, or dogs building rockets and heading to the edge of Earth's orbit and just cruising around. Because we have attributes that are like God in many ways He has given us the ability to explore, and create, and have a purpose and meaning in life beyond mere existence.

The caveat is what we do with those great abilities. Do we use what God has given each one of us to demonstrate how great we are? Or do we use them to demonstrate how awesome He is?

lullaby and goodnight...

2008-02-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

Have you ever known anyone who was a sleepwalker? Or sleeptalker? Okay, now admit it... Have you ever done anything weird in your sleep? It's okay, just about all of us have... Embrace it. Own it. The question I have always had is why? I mean, why all the freaky behavior when we shut our eyes? Alot of websites attribute the causes of somniloquy (sleeptalking) or somniambulism (sleepwalking) to stress or even genetics but the bottomline is that when we are asleep, we are reacting to the reality we are faced with in our dreams. We are unconscious and don't know what we are doing. We act irrationally as it appears to those who are awake but to the person sleeping...in that moment, whether they know it or not, they believe they are being perfectly normal. For those that are around others that are sleepwalking or talking it can be very frustrating. I know...I've had roommates who talked in their sleep and admittedly I've done my share of walking and talking. What happens when you try to wake them up? They can lash out at you or ignore you or get scared or scare you... In any case, it isn't fun.

Often times I get really frustrated watching television or reading magazines or listening to people on the radio who have no idea about the reality of God and what he has done and is doing. They misunderstand life itself and act irrationally, but of course, from their perspective they are acting totally sane. Romans 1 says that all people have a knowledge of God (whether consciously or unconsciously) but that most people exchange the truth of God for a lie. People are sleeping. And if we are honest, even those of us that know God as a friend often find ourselves falling asleep. But the truth, the truth of God is that he is a real and personal God who is in control of all things. He created all things and all things belong to him. He has called his people to himself and because of the sacrifice of his Son Jesus our sins are forgiven...we have been given a new heart that is capable of doing good work, and have the hope of a future spent with our Lord in the new heavens and new earth. As such, God deserves our faith, obedience, and worship. That's a tough wake up call for those that are sleeping, but it is one that needs to be made.

Yet, those of us that are awake often fear giving that kind of wake up call to people. We are afraid of being ignored or lashed out at or considered intolerant. But when you're dealing with someone who is actually sleepwalking and they are about to trip over something or hit something, we wouldn't hesitate to stop him/her regardless of the consequences. The fact is if we really believe in God then we know the consequences for spiritual sleepwalking are much more serious. But do we really trust what God has said or are we falling asleep too?

rooting for the underdog...

2008-02-04T08:07:00.000-05:00

Okay so last night was the Super Bowl... and even though I live in Florida and had really no interest in the teams playing per se... I was definitely rooting for one team over the other... the New York Football Giants... Now, I know what you're thinking... "of course you were now that they have won you can say you were rooting for them!" But understand I never really thought they were going to win and to be honest I wasn't so much hoping the Giants would win as much as I was hoping the Patriots would lose. That does sound incredibly harsh, but there is something in me that almost always pulls for the underdog to win especially win it comes against a team that has put up unimaginable offensive numbers, hasn't lost, a game, is led by a pretty-boy Hollywood quarterback with a supermodel girlfriend, and who EVERYBODY is picking to destroy the other team by 2+ touchdowns. Some people like to see perfection... not me... at least not in football.

But what is it about me that pulls for the unlikely candidate? What is it that roots for the Giants or casts a vote for Mike Huckabee or loves the movie "Napoleon Dynamite"? Why the underdog? Well, there is probably some deep-seeded psychological thing where I identify myself personally with those that are considered underdogs and a victory for them is perceived as a victory for myself... but let's not go there... instead I like to think there is a more spiritual reason behind it.

Over the past several weeks in church our pastor has been going over the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. It's been an interesting study and as a result I have read that passage of Scripture over and over again, and it occurred to me this morning that God is rooting for the underdog... check it out...

3Blessed (happy, to be envied, and [b]spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

4Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

5Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

6Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

7Blessed (happy, to be envied, and [k]spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

8Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and [n]spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

9Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

10Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

11Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

12Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.The Amplified Bible

I love the Amplified Translation here because it points out something about the word "blessed" it means (in the Greek) someone who possesses enviable happiness! Why is that? It's because while those that mourn, or who are poor in spirit are the under dogs here they have a guaranteed victory beyond this earth. Even the Son of God came from an unlikely place. Even his own disciples initially thought where he came from was questionable (John 1:43-46) and the people he grew up with were sure he was merely a carpenter's son. God values those that most people don't, and He calls us to look past cleanliness, and self-confidence, and a well-spoken manner to look at the values of the heart.

So, if you feel like an under dog... as most of do from time-to-time... don't worry. We have the greatest of advocates and the best of champions in our corner.

self-deprecating is my middle name...

2008-01-24T09:18:00.000-05:00

Alright, I have to admit something totally embarrassing... it's embarrassing because I don't think most people would peg me for being this kind of a guy... but here goes... I really dig the show Project Runway... there I've said it... I should note that there is a pretty major writer's strike going on in Hollywood, so the stock pile of quality television is at a minimum right now, and since I don't like Donald Trump and American Gladiators sounds a bit too... well, dumb... Project Runway it is. I also want to make it clear that I'm not obsessed with the show nor do I dive into it the way I do, say Lost... but it is great fun to watch on a Wednesday night. I like the challenges, the design elements, and yes the eliminations... it's just fun to watch people being creative and enjoying that process. But the bottom line is I'm a red-blooded, American, heterosexual male and Project Runway is about fashion... it's almost a paradox that could disrupt the space/time continuum...

It's funny how much our actions are dictated by the "rules" of society. If a guy likes to shop or watch fashion programs he's considered effeminate. If a women likes to work on cars and drink beer she's considered hyper-masculine. (Note: I am intentionally using politically correct language, because much harsher things are said in these situations.) A person who likes computer technology is considered somewhat of a "nerd". Someone who spends much of their time reading is considered intellectual. Someone who wears oversized sweats in public is a "fashion victim" (that's the Project Runway talking). Someone is passionate about a cause is a radical. Someone who abstains from politics all together is apathetic... and we could go on and on and on... Ultimately, the vast majority of people are after one thing: normalcy. And normalcy equals right down the middle average. Or as Goldilocks puts it, "Not too hot, not too cold... but just right."

There are a growing number of people, however, to whom normal will not cut. Normal is death, to these people. They want to do what they want to do regardless of "social norms" and to an extent I applaud these people. To an extent. Different for the sake of different is of no use. But different with a purpose is powerful. Christ modeled that philosophy throughout His ministry. He railed against the "social norms" that had crippled the culture He was living in and called people to more radical devotion to the God they claimed to serve (Matthew 5-7). He never minced words with those that sought to keep the people in their place, but challenged the authorities of His day. People accused Him of being a drunk and a glutton (Matthew 11:19). He was highly misunderstood, and people were constantly abandoning Him because He was just too passionate and too out-there in His approach (John 6:60-70). But His difference was always with a purpose. He wanted people to not rely on their customs or traditions but to rely on God and to look to Him as their source of comfort. He saw the motivations of many of the leaders and challenged their selfishness. He was willing to be thought of as abnormal in order to demonstrate love to the drunks, and the prostitutes.

Too many people live their lives just trying to be normal. Too many people live their lives trying NOT to be normal. But both can be equally pointless. God calls us to live lives that are set a part... that are different, but with a purpose. Romans 12:1-2,

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. The Message.

We should look around us. Have we so bought into being an American that we forget what it means to be called by God? Do we try to be so different that we'll try anything that we lose sight of the really differences we should try to make? Cultural influence can have both effects, but our goal should be to allow Christ's influence to rule our lives.

U-N-I-T-Y...

2008-01-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that I am a runner, and I have been a runner for quite some time. One of the things people outside the running community don't know is the importance of teams to the success of individual runners. It seems very odd that a sport that is built on the achievements of individuals has much use for the concept of a team, but in reality the team mentality is extremely important to runners. When I was in high school I ran on a highly state ranked cross country team in Citrus County, FL. We were good and consistently ranked number one in Florida. If you don't know how it works, cross country scoring is pretty simple: you have seven varsity runners, the top five that cross the finish line are added together for a team score, the lowest score wins. For example the best possible score in cross country is 15...1+2+3+4+5... that's if all five runners on a team crossing the line in succession. I've been on teams that have hit that mark. My senior year of high school, our team really was a team. We built each other up, we encouraged each other, we kept each other in line so we'd be eligible to run, we were a team. When the first runner finished a race he would come back and encourage the guys behind. Even though we each had to perform individually we were all there for the others. When one runner wasn't doing well, a slower runner would run harder to make up for it. In a lot of ways that team transcended what high school boys are really capable of. So contrary to popular belief running is a team sport.

The same is true of our Christianity. It is a team activity. It cannot be done in isolation, and the faith and actions of one can affect the mentality of the whole. The Bible consistently tells people to preserve the unity of the church (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 1:10ff, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:3, Philippians 1:27, 1 Peter 3:8, etc.), and Jesus even prays that all Christians be one as He and the Father are one (John 10:16). The question is: how? I mean we are all so different, and let's face it most of us are pretty much just looking out for ourselves. How do we work towards unity when we are all living individually? Well, I don't have a magic position or perfect solution, but I think it comes down to a couple of things.

Philippians 2:3-4 gives a pretty good way to conduct ourselves,

"3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."

If we have any hope of being unified, whether in our small groups, our local churches, or as Christians universally, we have to put this into practice. I'm not saying we accept sin or "lifestyles" or anything like this, but we have to remember that God is calling us to love our neighbors as ourselves and in so doing we exhibit our love for Him. In a similar vein, Paul in Romans 15:1-2 gives those of us who are more experienced Christians some pretty good advice as it relates to unity.

"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, 'How can I help?'" (The Message)

. People who are new to the faith still have a great deal to learn, they are still dealing with understanding the Bible, being faithfully committed to worship and prayer. Why to people that have been Christians for 10, 15, or 50 years expect people who have just converted to act or even understand the faith in the same way as they do? Unity starts with the maturity of those that have been around the Christian block a few times to help encourage and guide those that are new to this whole thing.

Most of all it is important to remember that Christianity is not an individual sport. It can't be done in isolation from the church, and so there will inevitably be disagreements, misunderstandings, and the effects of sin, because we are all human. No one has it all together, no one has all the answers, and so we must be extremely humble when dealing with other believers. They have faults but so do you... and so do I. But if we all do the best we can to seek God's glory first and look at each other with humility and pray for the Holy Spirit to teach us to care for one another then the impossible can be accomplished.

Unity.

previously on LOST...

2008-01-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

Alright, I have to say it... I love this show, I do, and for some you just tooned out or are about to surf on to another website, but hold on... this is not a post about Lost per se. I mean the reason I love the show is the very reason some people don't like it. It's too mysterious, too symbolic, just too much. That's the very thing that is most brilliant about the show. Everything has meaning... the numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42... you have to watch the show to undestand), the references to literature (Carrie, Alice in Wonderland, and many many others), colors (black, white, red), character's names that reference philosophers (John Locke, Desmond "David Hume", hello?), and about a thousand other things that would take pages to mention... they even have an entire wikipedia site called lostpedia to catalogue all the stuff... and no I am not joking check the link to the right. If you can't tell I am getting pretty pumped about the new season. I have even been watching the entire series on DVD just to get ready. But why am I so fascinated by things like this? I don't really like mystery... The story's good... the characters are believable... but so are a lot of shows. I think it is that everything ties together, everything coincides, everything points to something. And while I believe that anyone, can get into the show and enjoy it without getting into all the mystery and symbolism, there is another level to it.

Christianity is the exact same way. Sure there are some real mysteries to it. I mean it will explode your brain to try and wrap your head around the Trinity, how Christ is 100% God and 100% human, the coorespondence between God's power and sovereignty and our human responsiblity, predestination and free will, and tons of other stuff. For a lot of people these mysteries are just too much. They can't come up with answers and so they jump ship. But think about this: if it were easy to understand or even possible to understand every mystery that God has given us in the Bible what kind of God would He be? The very nature of God implies that He is beyond our total and complete understanding. But He has given us levels where we can all understand. The Westminster Confession of Faith says it pretty well when it says, "All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: 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." I know it's in kind of old English, but go with me here. Basically, it says, "Yeah there are some pretty difficult things to understand in Scripture, but the things that are necessary for faith in Christ are right there, plain as day, easy to understand."

So what are we saying? Mysteries are okay for my entertainment, but not for really important, eternal-type things? God has given us the basics, but He does want us to fill our lives learning and asking the tough questions, and living in the tension between mystery and faith. That faith transforms lives. That faith goes beyond human logic and reason, and lives in ways that might seem strange and mysterious. I mean Jesus said to love our enemies and to pray for those that hate you. Jesus said those that wish to be first must first be last. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the least here on earth. I don't know about you but that kind of living sounds more exciting, more fulfilling than the mundane and predictable existance that only calls us to live as we are expected to and is totally void of mystery.

if I had to guess...

2008-01-12T23:12:00.000-05:00

I think sometimes people like being victims...no-not like in a real, I want to get shot or mugged or something truly heinous sort of way...but in that people just do not want to take responsibility for certain things in their lives. They want to blame other things, people, circumstances for just about everything. For instance, I have had a series of car troubles recently...not really a series but a couple of things...and one of them cost a bit of money. The thing is if I am being honest it would not have cost so much if I had gotten it taken care of sooner. But what do I do? I try to blame something else.

A lot of people blame luck, like, "I'm unlucky in love" or "I have terrible luck driving." Maybe those people should drive better and take a long look in the mirror and not a crystal ball as to why their relationships fail. Christians on the other hand...well we attribute every bad thing that happens to the devil. We say things like, "Satan is attacking me with my car" or "The devil is really hammering me with household repairs" or "Satan is really getting to me at (and you fill in the blank)." Now, don't get me wrong...Satan is very much at work in the world, and he is for sure trying to bring people down, but the way that happens is that sometimes he just lets us trip ourselves up. Maybe Satan was attacking me with car problems, maybe he was the one that kept me from getting that noise checked out for more than a year...maybe he was using my own tendency to procrastinate against me. That is a real possiblity but don't I bare the responsiblity for the procrastination.

What I am saying is that, while there are definitely demonic forces in the world trying to undermine faith and hope, we shouldn't look to blame them in the hope of letting ourselves off the hook. 1 John 4:4 says it pretty plainly, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you [Christ] is greater than the one [Satan, demonic forces] who is in the world." We don't have an excuse. We have to turn every situation over to God, and if we have a responsibility in the problems of our lives we should own up to them.

Playing the victim is so cliche, but taking responsiblity for our lives and asking God to actually transform us that takes discipline and work...two things that most of would rather do without.

sweet simplicity...

2008-01-12T14:36:00.000-05:00

Some of the things I absolutely love in life are the simple things...I love hanging out and watching television, listening to music, playing with my cats...you know raindrops on roses and warm winter mittens...The best thing about my life is the fact that I am married to someone who also loves very simple things. Julie and I just celebrated our five year anniversary! That's a big one, and what is so amazing is we just did simple things to celebrate...went out to dinner, had sparking grape juice (Jules doesn't do the whole wine/champagne thing), and went to our favorite theme park Cypress Gardens...right in our own backyard. Simple things.

Now, don't judge us...we are not boring...the fact is that life in general is so terribly complicated...so complicated that it is sometimes impossible to understand the true essence of the life we are trying to lead. What do we run around for? Why do we put ourselves through jobs, school, paying bills, keeping house, and the cycle of entertainment at the expense of missing the point? I do understand that it is the American way to do all those things, and I am not saying those things are bad or stupid, but is it worth it when we forget the beauty of the simple things? That's what Jules and I are celebrating with our life together...the sweetness of putting on pajamas and snuggling up together...the wonder of a good pizza and movie...the craziness of being a team that knows each other...the simple things. I think that we sometimes lose our way in our relationships when we forget the simplicity of true fellowship and how truly satisfying it is to just be.

We get the same way when trying to develop spiritually. Spiritual development is the development with that divine relationship, which is the most basic relationship we have. It is the relationship between the Creator and the creation, and sometimes the creation (us) tries to add too much to the relationship with the Creator. We think we have to put on a certain sort of righteousness, have to add some sort of holiness, have to say the right words, and on and on and on. We feel guilty about not being perfect and so we cut off that relationship. We fight the fights of life, flailing around, feeling empty, and useless, and deep down...whether you claim to be a Christian or not...we know there is something more basic. We know life is not supposed to be as difficult as it has become. We know that it is supposed to be more simple.

As the Israelites were running from the Egyptians in the book of Exodus the reached a dead end...the Red Sea. They had been slaves and were kind of a weak and complaining people, and when they saw the obstacle in front of them they were sure it was all over. But then Moses says something interesting. "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'" God is longing for us to be still. Be simple. The fights we fight, the daily battles mean very little if we forget the most basic things in life.

If we forget the beauty of love for each other, the beauty of love for our God, the beauty of just living...then our lives will be little more than a series of repetitive acts that end in the grave.

what would you do...

2008-01-10T08:52:00.001-05:00

Several years ago...and I know that is relative...but several years ago there were commercials for a delicious chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream treat called Klondike Bars. Apparently, there are new versions of these commercials, but unfortunately the one here is the only one I have seen. Now, this is in no way an endorsement of that product or its affiliates, but... man are those things good! Anyway, the commercials went something like this: the narrator would find someone "on the street" and ask the question, "What would you do for a Klondike Bar?" And then put some sort of crazy challenge in front of them and they would inevitably do whatever was asked. Now, of course everyone accepted the challenges because they were actors, but the commercials were especially catchy because of the song, and they were effective. I love those little ice cream treats. But the point of the commercial came down to passion for something. The underlying question was always, "What would you NOT do?"

These days passion for anything is in short supply. When we want something, we don't usually have to work terribly hard for it. I mean, yes, we work, and yes we work hard, but not by comparison to what some throughout history have had to endure. In other ages before the 20th century the primary goal in life...for most people...was not to thrive or accrue things, it was to survive. To merely survive was a feat. The infant death toll was high, life expectancy was short, and even finding ways to eat were a challenge. Of course there have always been rich and prosperous people, but that number was not always as large as it is today. Today...at least in the US... survival is easy. The poorest of poor can survive, and the fact is the vast majority of people are not among the poorest of poor. Our goals are higher, loftier...they are to not only survive but to thrive. To live in relative comfort and ease. Now, before I come across as some sort of martyr, I should point out that I am writing this on a Apple laptop computer in an air conditioned room with a wifi connection having just enjoyed a somewhat overpriced beverage from my favorite little coffee mega company (I have a gift card). It's not somehow wrong to work in order to thrive, but the fact is what we work for is not as necessary for survival.

As we look a little deeper at ourselves, can the same thing be said for our spiritual lives? I mean are we working to survive, working to thrive, or are we working at all? Do we live with a passion for the Lord? Jesus said something kind of disturbing for our eyes to read in the book of Mark. "Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, 'Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who 'have it all' to enter God's kingdom?' The disciples couldn't believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: 'You can't imagine how difficult. I'd say it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom.'" I always wondered why. Then I looked at my own life. It is so easy for me to get stuff that I forget that the one thing I can't get without work is developed spiritual life. I know that my salvation has nothing to do with my work, but if I want to enjoy a full life in Christ, I have to work at it. This goes beyond going to church, reading my Bible, spending time in prayer, tithing, personal worship, and so on and so on...these are important things for sure, but these things can become just a check list of dos and don'ts. So where does the real work come in? What would you do for your spiritual health? I think the real work comes in the daily and weekly and monthly difficulties of life. Right now, I am going through a period of two or three really difficult days. I've been sick, had a series of car troubles that have left me stranded once, had to attend 6-hour lectures on church government, and have just not been feeling up to par. So what do I do? My gut is to curse, throw things, give up, lash out at people, and even blame God. But discipline requires prayer and faith. This is not necessarily calm and emotionless, but to see each and every day as an opportunity to rely on God to supply what He knows I need. The Lord knows I am not perfect at this, but in these moments I have to ask myself, "What would you do for your spiritual health?" Is it worth fighting against my instinct to give up, or lash out? Is it worth putting my church involvment up as a major priority in my life? Is it worth me spending time with my Lord who promises to supply my needs and to give me rest?

It is certainly a process, and not an easy one, but it is worth it.

here's to the new year...

2008-01-04T13:02:00.001-05:00

I can't get too far along in the new year without commenting at least a bit on it... For those that have taken the poll about resolutions you might guess that I have a slight affinity for the things. Last year I made one of the few new year's resolutions that I can remember, and I actually kept it. I made a resolution to start running again after a 6 year lay-off and to run a race. Both of which I did. I was pretty amazed with myself... not to be too cocky or anything, I mean resolutions are made to be broken right? Or maybe it's rules... Anyway, I did and now I have decided to make one or two for 2008.

But the question is, what is it that makes some resolutions attainable and others seemingly out of reach? What is it that causes one person to lose the weight or quit smoking or take up exercising and another person to fail? I don't think it's rocket science, but it is not as easy as tapping into sheer willpower or employing a zen-like outlook on the problem.

I think one of the best things to do is to set a goal that has an end point that isn't too far off. This might seem like cheating but who cares, I mean it's your resolution. When I set out to start running again I had a race in mind that I wanted to run in March, not the end of the year... that way I had a sense of accomplishing a goal before I had fulfilled my resolution. Once I did that I knew I could keep running the rest of the year. Another thing I did was I told people what I planned on doing... I mean a lot of people... Last year I did a sermon on New Year's Eve and revealed to the whole audience my resolution to start running again. There were probably 500 people. As soon as it was over I knew I had to accomplish it.

Look, I don't mean to come across as a pompous, holier-than-thou, look-at-me-and-what-I-did type of person, but I know that everyone has something they want to improve, and that's a good thing. Jesus said, "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." Matthew 5:48-The Message. The only difference between 2007 and 2008 is the number you write unless you decide to grow. For me 2007 is the year I started to run again. What will 2008 be for you?

So, in the spirit of what I wrote... what is my resolution for this year? Well... gulp... I want to run a marathon this year, and second, I want to blog at least twice a week... So now you know and and can keep me to it.

Resolution to Eternity

because I said so...

2007-12-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

The above four words have to be the most hated of any other by children. It's irritating when parents, who can't come up with any better reason for what they're asking use the reply "because I said so..." Fortunately, my parents were usually pretty good about giving us reasons for doing or asking the things they did... not always... but mostly. When they gave that response though... OH MY GOSH, did I want to hit the fan. I mean if they didn't have a good reason for telling me to close the door, pick up my room, vacuum the floors, not eat that second cookie, or whatever... then why tell me in the first place? Because they said so!

But what was the problem exactly? I mean, why was it such a problem for me that my parent's used the "because I said so" reasoning. Ultimately, I think it has to do with control and being in charge. No matter if I was 5 or 15, I wanted to be able to decide for myself that a given request was reasonable, and then maybe I would comply. My parents on the other hand wanted to establish that they were in charge and whether I liked it, understood it, or wanted it, they were the bosses. Like I said before, with my parents this was the exception and not the rule.

The Christian walk is not too dissimilar. The Bible is full of commands, and promises. Responsibilities and blessings. More often than not when we come upon a command or rule in Scripture there is some sort of reasoning behind it. But there are times when we have to accept things simply because God said so. For a lot of people that simply will not cut it. People want to do things on their own, make decisions for themselves, they don't want to be ruled but to rule... and so they need reasons. The result is that people try to discredit the Bible, they try to cast doubt on the authenticity, they deny there is a God altogether, and finally place the crown of deity on their own heads.

We end up looking like spoiled children, not ready to accept the truth but exchange it for a lie (Romans 1:25). And what is the truth. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16). Because God is God it should be enough that "He said so". If we fail to see that then we fail to live as God created us to live and will be end up spending more time trying to justify our lives then actually living them.

ok last Christmas one...

2007-12-23T11:32:00.000-05:00

Alright, alright... I know I have done a few Christmas-themed blogs and you are all probably really tired of them, but bear with me for a moment.

Christmas music is really weird... I mean, I love it... but it is weird. Think about the lyrics of some of your favorites, and they are just plain strange. "So bring us some figgy pudding, bring us some figgy pudding, bring us some figgy pudding, bring some right now!" ... crickets... A little demanding are we... Don't get me started on "Frosty the Snowman"... I mean it's a snowMAN that runs around with little kids before he melts in the heat of the sun...ok, so I got started... The point is that with a lot of Christmas music there really is no point but the fun. And the fun is great, but we are not talking about real high poetry or anything.

The exceptions, of course, tend to be in the Christmas hymns. They are beautifully written, poetic, moving, and typically paint wonderful pictures of what that first Christmas must have been like. "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where he lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay." I could rattle off lists of Christmas hymns that have moving metaphors and deep powerful music. They lift the spirits and elevate the mind, and if you let them... they take you to a very foreign place in a very foreign time.

Now, I love both types of Christmas music. There are only maybe one or two Christmas songs that I don't like... but I think the majority of people get sick of Christmas music at this time of year because they spend more time listening to the sugary, sweet Frosty the Red-Nosed Santa Claus type of stuff and not enough with the truly moving and glorious.

So hit up a Christmas Eve service tomorrow at your local church... if you are in the area come by mine (FPC Haines City, 5:30, 7:30, 11:00)... and take in the heart and soul of Christmas music.

Christmastime is here... lot's of joy and cheer...

2007-12-11T16:32:00.000-05:00

What is it that makes this time of year inherently stressful? Is it the parties... the lights... the egg nog? Maybe it's because we are in the fourth quarter of the year and every company in the world is trying to hit the year-end numbers. Maybe it's the insane lines at every major department store, mall, or gas station in America. Maybe it's the bargain-induced craze of search for that perfect "hard-to-find" present for that "hard-to-shop-for" relative. I'm not quite sure, but I do know that for nearly everyone I know, in nearly every line of work, in nearly every type of family, this is a stressful time of year.

Now, in my last post I kind of gave some advice on how to beat the stress, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder... why is it so stressful?

Last, year I was doing some studying on a sermon I was getting ready to give at our church's Christmas Eve service and something struck me... this time has always been stressful. It is in inherent to the very nature of Christmas. Far from being a time of joy and thanksgiving to all the involved players, Christmas was... at least for the original players... a time of mixed emotions, hard travel, and smelly farm animals. I mean let's take a little journey to that little town of Bethlehem some 2,007 years ago.

Basically, you have a pregnant, out-of-wedlock teenaged girl... on a donkey... with her 30-something fiance who is not quite sure about the situation in which he finds himself... desperately trying to find a warm bed and a roof. Neither of which they find. Now, stop for a moment. Put yourself in Mary's place. Imagine going to old Mom and Dad and saying, "Mom, Dad... I'm pregnant. I know I'm not married yet, but before you take me out back to stone me, I have to tell you, the baby's daddy is God." [crickets...] Now, Joseph. It's pretty obvious from the Bible what Joseph was thinking. It even says in Matthew that he wanted to divorce her. He wanted out. Looking at these two, I can imagine what the ride to Bethlehem must have been like, and what the reaction to the news that "there was no room for them in the inn" must have been... well... I know what it would have been like for me and my wife... not good...

Anyway, we could back up further and even look at the shepherds "keeping watch of their flocks by night." These guys were not high men on the corporate ladder by any stretch of the imagination. They were poor. Dirty. Socially nothing. And here they are minding their own business when BAM! Fireworks... choirs of angels... and in the words of Luke "they were terrified."

All in all a pretty stressful night by any definition of the word. So, why should it surprise us that it is stressful for us?

The thing is stress can lead to something good. On the other side of stress is relief and joy, and that is also the picture we get from the Christmas story. The shepherds ended up running to town shouting and singing about all they had seen. Mary "treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart." Even with cows, donkeys, and other assorted farm animals... even in the midst of hay and in the cold... Mary took the stress of the evening into account and saw the beauty of the end result.

I know our lives don't always echo with songs of "Glory to God in the Highest" but we should look for those moments that we can ponder in our hearts. Times where we can sit back and just breathe. Stress will come, but so will your next breath. Take a deep one.

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

2007-12-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

Is the schmaltz just a little too much?

You know, I am a born cynic, somewhat sarcastic, and a bit of a grouch at times, so you would think I would not get into Christmas. You would think that I would be totally against the glitz, the holly, the "sleigh rides"... oh wait I live in Florida... no sleigh rides... but you would think the sight of fat guys in red suits with white beards and patent-leather boots would cause me to hurl. And because I'm a Christian I would have the excuse that the holiday is way too commercial, and we have forgotten the "Reason for the Season".

But the fact is, I'm not like that at all. I love Christmas, I love the cheesy music, the schmaltzy TV movies, the huge huge Christmas sales, the lights, the decorations, you name it... I'm all over it. Ask my wife it is quite true.

I'll admit it can be a bit overwhelming, and the season is undoubtedly stressful, but maybe the corny, over-the-top stuff is just what we need. Here's what I mean. We... and by that I mean adults... give this holiday to the kids. We think that all the parades, flash and pizzazz of Christmas is just a winter diversion for them, but what if we embraced it too? What if we let ourselves be children about the holiday? I'm not alone in my cynical, sarcastic attitude toward life... that's our culture. To be honest, it's negative, and that's not really godly. So, what would it be if we put aside our attitudes, our anticipation of the stress, and just enjoyed this time for what it is?

Jesus said, if you don't enter the kingdom of God like a little child you can't enter it. I think we can see that children don't have a problem enjoying the "commercial" aspects of Christmas and the understanding that Christmas is about Christ. They get excited about the Charlie Brown Christmas Special (as do I) and the Nativity reenactment because they get that it is all a giant celebration.

Do some people miss place their joy onto the gifts and the stuff more than they should? Sure. But that doesn't mean we have to.

So, here's my advice... be a kid for a change. As the song says, "to kids from 1 to 92" Embrace the schmaltz, take sometime to listen to cheesy Christmas music, drink pepperminty drinks with lots of chocolate... see what happens.

becoming what you are committed to...

2007-11-30T09:22:00.001-05:00

When I was 5 or 6 years old I really wanted to be an astronaut. I mean really really wanted to become an astronaut. I had the space sheets, watched all the shuttle launches on television, and even had an astronaut Cabbage Patch doll (yes, I had a doll!). Anyway, I really wanted it, and when my family moved to the Space Coast of Florida, literally 10 minutes from the shuttle launch pad, I thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately, there are a lot of requirements to being an astronaut. You have to be good at science, and math, or a military pilot, and the training is pretty intense. I just wanted to float around in space... I didn't want to have to do all that work just to float around. Astronauts have a commitment to something more than just the "coolness" of being in space. They have a commitment to research and development, to discovery, to adventure, and to a lot more. Well, my outlook changed quickly, and I wantd to be something else. Wanting to be something and actually being something are two very different things.

Christians are like that quite often... or I should say people that want to be Christians are like that. They want the assurance of heaven, and the feeling of not being guilty, but not the commitment to the tough things. Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39. And again, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24. Those are some tough phrases. Is Jesus really saying to love him more than our families? Is Jesus saying the Christian life is not one where we will simply live easy and wait for heaven?

The fact is people want to be Christians without actually being like Christ. Christ denied himself, he denied those that were closest to him for the sake of God, he prioritized his life to glorify the Father. But we think we are making some huge sacrifice if we go to church one or two Sundays a month. We think it is some huge cross to bear to give of our income back to God for use in his church. We think it is being Christlike to bless our food at dinner but curse the guy driving next to us.

I'm not leaving myself out of this little diatribe... there are too many things that I don't prioritize around glorifying God, but it is a call to all of us to look to him first and foremost. It is a call to get out bed a little earlier on Sunday morning to worship him, and make that your top priority. It is a call for us to schedule our lives, and the lives of our children, in such a way that we develop our relationship with him above all else. It is a call for us to rearrange our attitudes and, yes, our personalities to be a light for people to see him. This may mean saying absolutely no to somethings. This may mean saying absolutely yes to other things. This may mean sacrificing times of sleep and relaxation. This may mean sacrificing times of busyness and hurry. This may mean smiling and engaging in conversation with people when you would rather keep your head down. This may mean spending time really listening to people when they seem to be hurting. This may mean challenging the Christians around you to deepen their commitment to the Lord.

This definitely means challenging yourself...

clean, clean, clean...

2007-11-15T10:53:00.001-05:00

I think most married couples have this, but my wife and I have two different perspectives when it comes to judging whether our house is clean. Before I go too much further I should say, that our house remains clean by most people's standards, but everyone has times where they "get things clean." For me, our house is clean when all the clutter is picked up... when the clothes are put away, the dishes are in their spots, and generally the eye line of a room is clear. My wife on the other hand is the "deep cleaner" (that sounds like a line from a commercial)... To her, things are clean when they are scrubbed, mopped, disinfected, anti-bacterialized, etc., etc. My wife and I make a good team when it comes to the household chores, because both are important... I mean you can't disinfect a floor you can't get to...but you certainly do want those things disinfected.

In the Christian life, we know that we are forgiven of our sins by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, and so we are free from death and damnation and all that... but a lot believers make one of two mistakes 1) they believe they are incapable of sinning or 2) they believe it doesn't matter if they go on sinning. Both are false. 1 John 1:8-9 assures us that even Christians do sin, and Romans 6:1-2 says that we should not live by that sinful nature because we are part of Christ's body.

So, what does that mean for our lives? It means that by faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit we can begin to clean our lives. First, the clutter... the junk... the things that keep us from seeing God clearly (though all sin distorts our view) and being a good representation for Him. For that began with my language. I mean I used to curse and swear like you would not believe, but after coming to Christ I prayed that God would empower me with His Spirit to clean that up. I'm am by no means a perfect person in that way, but that was a piece of clutter that was obstructing my witness and view of Christ. For some Christians, this is where their Christian progression ends... with the obvious stuff, the public stuff... but they never get down to the nitty-gritty of asking God to disinfect the real tough stuff in the corners of our lives that no one sees. The heart that lives and dies by their respect level in in the office. The person that just can't totally commit to church because they want to keep his/her Sunday mornings free. Someone who holds onto money in such a way that it controls his/her thoughts and actions where they can't be generous. It's the mouth that won't curse in public, but still does in traffic.

Proverbs says, "as a man (or woman) thinks in his heart, so is he..." The clutter is important to clean up, but only if it makes room for God to work on the deep cleaning. If we resist, then we are not living in the freedom of the Spirit and the hope of Christ. For more read Galatians 5:16-26.

when cool isn't cool...or the day I learned what 'cool' was...

2007-11-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

I remember (maybe you do too) when I finally learned what it meant to be 'cool'. Of course a kid's life is totally consummed with the pursuit of 'cool,' and let's be honest it doesn't change all that much when you become an adult. We all still want to be respected, esteemed, thought well-of, live like someone to be emulated... right? That's basically what kids are after, at least in my estimation. But the question is, how does one become 'cool'? As it turns out being 'cool' is somewhat paradoxical... The harder you TRY to be cool the less you often are, and the less you TRY to be cool the more you tend to be cool. So it seems like being cool has more to do with NOT doing than doing. I remember when I finally figured that out I was like, "What an absolute kick in the pants! Is that really it?" Now, some maybe sitting at their computers thinking, "What about having good style, a sense of humor, the right car/friends/stuff... doesn't that play a part?" Well, no... not really.

A quick example might be helpful... when I was in high school, we had the typical group of 'cool' kids... you know the jocks, cheerleaders, those sorts. There middle of the roaders, and then there were... well, geeks, nerds, what have you... (I don't make the designations, I just report them)... In my senior year something happened. A friend of mine, who was not a jock or considered terribly popular, decided to go out for all the "cool/popular kid" things like student government, homecoming court, prom king, etc. I should explain he was a skinny white kid with big, bushy hair, shopped at the thrift store (this was before it was popular to do so), and drove a soccer-mom van. There was nothing explicitly cool about him, except his attitude. He just was who he was and didn't change. He met people as himself and put himself out there... By the end of the year he was elected to the student government, was the MC for homecoming, was the prom king, and was voted Best All Around. He broke a mold, and taught me exactly what it meant to be cool. (For those in the class of '98 at Citrus High you know I am not making this up).

So, what? What does this have to do with anything? This reminded me of Christ in a lot of ways. He was who he was, unapologetically and without putting himself into any mold. His disciples wanted him to be a great military leader who would kick out the Romans and bring the nation of Israel to prominence. The religious leaders wanted him to be a meek rabbi who would bolster the system of traditions upon which their power was based. Jesus wanted to do what he was sent to do. He was and is the Son of God who came to earth as a servant and laid down his life as payment for our shortcomings, our sins. Like the idea of 'cool' Jesus' life is paradoxical. In him is all the power of the divine, yet he came as a servant. In him was all the authority the religious leaders wanted to exercise, but he did not use it as they would have. Even Jesus' teaching is paradoxical. "If anyone wants to be first in the kingdom of heaven, he must make himself a last." And "Love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you." And there are others.

The point is, that we should always be careful what kind of box we put our Christianity into. To understand how we should live and how to honor God with our lives, we need to put in careful study, and a lot of prayer, and not TRY to be holy as though we could earn our salvation. But instead we should live like Christ as a way to show our devotion to him.

what we take for granted...

2007-11-03T23:26:00.000-04:00

Today, something very tragic happened in the world of sports... a runner died. Being a runner who has thoughts and dreams of running half-marathons, and marathons those three words are particularly tragic. What is most amazing is that this runner was no ordinary runner... he was an American marathoning champion, an Olympic hopeful, an elite athlete, and a newlywed. Ryan Shay died today just 30 minutes into the Olympic marathon trials in New York City. He was 28. Of all the people going to bed tonight the ones having the most difficult time with this are his family and new wife Alicia, but be sure those of us that run have been shaken too. Shaken because we have lost a great athlete, and because it shatters an unspoken assumption in many runners: these things don't happen to us. We don't have heart attacks, strokes, cholesterol problems, or hypertension we are in great shape... The thing is false assumptions are dangerous if you live by them. I don't know what Ryan Shay's situation was. In the days to come more details will come out, but I know this... when he lined up this morning he had no idea it would be for the last time.

As a runner I have to ask myself, "Will this change me?" I'm training right now for a half-marathon in December, my first one. I have been training, and demanding more from my body than I have in a while. I'm not elite, but I have goals in mind. They are not earth-shattering, they are personal goals, but important to me. I want to run a marathon in 2008, and try to qualify for Boston in 2009. But after hearing the news of Shay, I had a brief moment of pause... is this really something I want to do? It was a brief pause. I love to run, and this is want I feel God wanting me to do right now. In about 6 hours I'll get up and run my longest workout since I started back last year. God willing it will be cool and calm, but in the back of my mind I'll think about Ryan Shay and his family. They had assumptions to.

Just as in running assumptions can be dangerous, they are equally dangerous in the Christian life. Too many people believe the idea that life in relationship to the Father will be easy and struggle-free. Some assume temptations won't be temptations at all for the Christian. Still others believe that Christians will always relate to each other in the most loving and self-sacrificing way possible. There are literally thousands of assumptions just like that upon which people live their lives. When one of them is shattered, a person may be tempted to question their faith, or the Christian faith as a whole. Sure in the Bible Jesus says, "I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly" and He commands us to "love our neighbor as ourselves" and elsewhere it is written "resis the devil and he will flee from you". All those things are true, but none of them claims an easy life, or a life that is pain-free. In fact, Christianity may even be hazardous to your health. Literally millions of Christians have died over the past 2000 years, and thousands die each year even now as martyrs, or as though standing up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

What assumptions did those people live under? Just one... that they were meant to glorify God. That is a vague statement, but it is true. Martyrs know that their only goal is to glorify God whether in life or in death. They lived by that principle and they died by it. Jesus said "if anyone wants to follow me he must take up his cross..."

Now, if you are not a Christian or are pretty new to this whole thing, this may sound like the worse advertisement in the world of the faith, but there is more. Christianity is not about suffering, it is about living for something that has value beyond this life. It is about living for something for greater value. That is where the abundance comes in... it is not in material prosperity (though there is nothing inherently wrong about that)... it is in a life that echos throughout all of human history. Each life lived to the glory of God does just that. It has eternal effect.

So, the question is: what false assumptions are you living under? Do you believe life is about the here and now only? Do you believe there is more? Do you live as though God owes you something? Or do you live as though you owe Him?

a week that lasts a lifetime...

2007-10-23T13:23:00.000-04:00

There are certainly experiences in each person's life that has significant and long standing impact. Some of those we see coming like a wedding or the birth of a child... others we don't like a car accident or a significant windfall of money or a week in intense circumstances. Going into last week, I knew God was about to do something special, but I wasn't entirely prepared for the significance of what He wanted to do.

I just got back from Jamaica, and no not from a vacation, though no vacation has done more to reinvigorate my soul... I got back with a group of 11 people from my church that did missionary work there. We held babies that never get held. We took children outside that rarely see the beauty of their Jamaican surroundings or feel the tender roughness of grass. We were spit-up on, peed on, climbed on, and tackled. We mixed concrete in the middle of a library. We hauled rocks, sad, block, and just about anything else that was lying around up two flights of stares to build a church in which we will never worship. We ran a Vacation Bible School, made princes and princesses out of little children, sang "Jesus Loves Me" an uncountable number of times, and played "Ring Around the Rosie" until we couldn't fall down anymore. We laughed together. We sang together. We prayed together. We ate together. We juggled together... yes juggled. And we cried together.

The work was hard but good. We came back each night tired, but in the way that you know tomorrow you want to do it all again.

I say "we" in all those statements, but truly the significance of this past week, is that "we" didn't do any of those things... but it was God that used our hands, feet, mouths, hearts, minds, and voices as His instruments. If we had done any of it I wouldn't have the sense of the divine that I do right now. If the Holy Spirit had not made Himself known through the lives of 11 people I would not be so discontented with the world that I occupy each and every other day and long for more of that divine touch.

There is something funny about that number 11. Just as I am writing this I am reminded that only 11 of the original 12 disciples carried on. It was from those 11 that the church was planted in the book of Acts, and the Holy Spirit used them to turn the world upside down. I have been on other mission trips before, but never before I have felt that God using 11 people could turn me upside down.

I have heard it said that the family that prays together stays together, and that is true... but I believe God builds spiritual families on sweating brows and the aching backs. I say this because those 11 people became family, and I saw God work in them all.

the ripple effect...

2007-10-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

In the early part of this century Marion Jones burst onto the track and field scene shooting for five Olympic gold medals in Australia. She was charismatic, charming, and immensely talented... and now as we all know using performance-enhancing drugs. Most Americans are not like I am. I love to watch runnning events, I DVR events that are on television, I watch streaming video from the IAAF, but most Americans could not care less about track and field. During the Olympics it is different. Suddenly, runners who have had huge careers overseas, but have been virtually unknown in the US, suddenly become household names. It was no different in 2000 in Sydney. Jones became a media sensation, and the hopes of a nation were on her sholders. While she didn't win five gold medals, she did win three golds, and two bronze medals, and walked a way from Sydney as somewhat of a hero.

That's all changed now. She cheated, used drugs, and never won any of those medals legitimately. In fact, in the eyes of the record books she wasn't even there. But mistakes go much deeper than that, because Jones is not the only person that will be punished. There will be innocent people punished as well. The women who competed in the relay races with her are now being asked to return their medals. Those who competed alongside her but fell short of the medal podium were robbed of their moment of victory, and even if they receive the medals they deserve... where is their podium stand? When do they get to hear their national anthems played? Of all these people the people I feel most sorry for are the clean athletes of today getting ready to compete in Beijing in 2008. The Allison Felixes, the Asafa Powells, the Tyson Gays... people you have probably not heard of yet, but will, now they have to contend with the speculation of their legitimacy as athletes... because of something that happened more than seven years ago.

Lest you feel like this has suddenly become a blog that was ripped off the Sports Illustrated editorial pages instead of one discussing spiritual realities, there is definitely a spiritual focus in view. One of my biggest struggles in understanding the Bible has been passages that talk about punishment for the sins of the father being visited upon the children and further generations. Cf. Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:6-7, Deuteronomy 5:9, and others. I was always conflicted about those passages. They're unfair, unjust, and they don't seem like they keep with the nature of God. But what I have found is that it is reality.

Let me explain. Sins are not independent. They don't just effect the person commiting them, but have reprocussions that ripple out. For instance, a person whose father or mother was an angery alcoholic has to deal with the emotional, and sometimes physical scars of that sin. Even if that child determines not to drink as he/she will have to deal with the issues wrought by the sins of the parent, and if that child isn't careful it will pass on certain sinful quailities to their children and so on. The Marion Jones situation illustrates that same principle. Jones wasn't thinking about all the people that were being effected when she used the performance-enhancing drugs, she was only thinking of herself. But the ripple effect of that sin goes far beyond the individual.

The good news is that while sin's effects can have rippling consequences here on earth, God promises to deliver those who run to him from eternal consequence and even to use the worst parts of people's past...our own sin, the sins of our parents, and the hurts that have been done to us... to his glory-Romans 8:28-39. The key is we have to turn away from dealing with life our way, let him be the Lord of all of us.

ode to the self-aware...

2007-10-03T21:26:00.000-04:00

One of my all-time biggest pet peeves has to be people blocking the aisle in the grocery store for no other reason than that they are totally unaware that they are blocking anything. I say that partially because grocery stores might be one of my least favorite places to spend any amount of serious time, so that when I am there I am almost always in a hurry. So blocking an aisle is a cardinal sin to me.

Of course the other day I found myself in my local Wal-mart Supercenter tryin to decide which type of oatmeal is the best oatmeal when I noticed that I was on one side of the aisle and my cart was on the other... thus blocking the entire aisle! Oh the shame of it all when I heard those words I have said myself a thousand times: "Excuse me. Can I get by? Thanks." The person was perfectly nice but I know what they were thinking, "Why does that guy have to block the whole aisle?" The fact is I didn't have to block it-I did because I wasn't aware of what was going on around me and I wasn't aware of where I was in relation to everything else.

Alot of philosophies promote the idea of self-knowledge. In fact in some that is all that matters. But in Christianity we often overlook the importance of knowing who we are as individuals. We talk about knowing Christ, knowing our neighbors, knowing the Bible, and on and on. But we talk very little about knowing ourselves. The problem is that Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." But we tend to forget that while we should do those things they don't happen easily if we don't know ourselves. I mean, how can you love your neighbor as yourself if you don't know who you are.

But that begs the question, "What does it mean to 'know' yourself?" Well, there is a sense in which it is different for everyone, but that is only part of it. God created each of us uniquely and differently, but we are all still created by God and so to know ourselves means we need to look at who we are in relationship to him. For some there is no relationship and so there is a feeling of incompleteness. For others the relationship has begun and is progressing. And others have been in a relationship for years along with all the ups and downs that entails. The fact is that every person in the world can define themselves in this relationship with the Creator.

Whether you have never understood a relationship with our Father through Christ or you cannot remember a time where Christ has not been your Lord, this type of self-awareness is the most important type there is.

So where are you? Is somthing blocking the aisle?

good to be home...

2007-10-01T14:59:00.000-04:00

Well, I just got back from a very productive and illuminating trip in Chicago. And you know it really was a good trip, but I cannot tell you how happy I am to be home! It's funny though how things change. When I was a kid I travelled all over the place... We lived in DC, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Italy, & visited a ton of other places, so growing up I thought I would be an antsy person who would always want to travel and move.

Now that I have a house and a family though I don't feel like that at all. Don't get me wrong I need a little vacation now and then, but I cannot be gone for more than four days because I just miss being home. It's comfortable and warm. My friends and family are close by. I have a great church home, which I love. And most importantly everything reminds me of the life my wife and I have built together. While that is a good thing, I have to be careful.

God calls to love Him above all else and to deny our own lives and interests for him. I'll admit that is a hard command and teaching to live by. Comfort can be a very good thing but discomfort leads to growth. I have to ask myself, "Am I too comfortable to follow God anywhere?"

What about you? Where are you most comfortable and does it help draw you toward God or has it become a replacement for God?

from the pulpit...

2007-09-18T16:37:00.000-04:00

Another couple of sermons from this past year... thanks to Tom Beck for hosting this...

The Road to Hope Through Genuine Belief from April 15, 2007

Avoiding the Fall of You from May 20, 2007

more to come soon.

some motivation, please...

2007-09-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

What is it that really gets you going? Your kids? Your job? A past time you enjoy? Paying the bills? Stress? The odd thing about motivation is that it is so often task-oriented... I mean you are motivated to do certain things but not other things. Motivated to participate in certain activities but not others. For example, I am not really a "staying up late" kind of a person. I used to be, but now I have to get up early and go to work and study, so I am tired. But the other day when the Alabama Crimson Tide were in a real nail-biter of a game against Arkansas I was up and wired! Roll Tide! I was more motivated and thus stayed awake.

The great thing about a relationship with Jesus Christ is that when you are really taped into the Holy Spirit, all your efforts are motivated by Him. Romans 14:8 says, "If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." The motivation for ALL of life is honor the Lord. So whether at work, playing with children, at church, or in the supermarket we live for Him alone. So motivation for the Christian is not task-oriented it is oriented in a person, Jesus Christ.

The question is, how are we at demonstrating that motivation? Would those around us say we are glorifying God in our offices? Would our neighbors believe we were glorifying God by the way we care for our houses? Does our church attendence and willingness to serve represent Christ well? Or are we motivated by something else?

advancing and growing...

2007-09-08T01:07:00.000-04:00

For those of you that missed it, here is my most recent message from the pulpit... it's called "Advancing a Spiritual Grade Level"

Enjoy!

all you need is love... love is all you need...

2007-08-20T10:31:00.000-04:00

A lot is made about the Scripture that says, "God is love"... in fact it happens twice in the 1 John, once at 4:8 and again at 4:16. But it got me thinking about what that really means. I mean, Christians should be aware that there is more to God than love, right? There's holiness, rightousness, justice, omnipotence, mercy, grace, majesty, and a host of other things that would take paragraphs to write and still wouldn't scratch the surface of completion.

So why this special designation about love? Well, if you ask the Beatles, "Love is all ya need..." and in some respects I think that is kinda sorta what God is saying here... before people accuse me of something let me explain.

Many of God's traits can be tied directly to his love... i.e. mercy, grace, etc. But even when God demonstrates his justice or holiness, he does so out of love. Now here's the trick: sometimes God acts out of love for his own glory and own name... in fact, if you read John Piper and the majority of stuff he has written, he points out that is the sole reason God does anything: to demonstrate his glory. While that is a huge topic unto itself, the fact that God always acts in love is really something to consider. That may mean that we have to shift around our definition of love, but not all that much. Think about this: when a parent disciplines their children they do it out of love (Proverbs 13:24). Does the child understand that kind of love? Of course not, but that doesn't make it any less love. When a family member lays down an ultimatum to an alcoholic relative they do so out of love... sometimes out of love for that person and sometimes out of a self-protecting love... but still love. The fact is God IS perfect and infinite and we are sinful and finite, so we may not understand the ways by which God demonstrates love, but John says it... God is love.

looking to the future

2007-08-16T10:05:00.000-04:00

You always hear the saying, "The future is bright!" In fact, what was that song in the 80's "Future's so bright I gotta wear shades..." (thanks to Timbuk Three) Okay... really cheesy, but the fact is that when you hear people talk about the future with one another it is almost always in a positive light. Maybe that is a good thing, but is it really true? More often than not, in my experience, the future can best be described as... well... scary. Even with the best prospects before us, the future is uncertain, and so scary. But there is a hope, and that is our Father God, and our relationship to him through Jesus Christ.

I remember when I was a kid I would have terrible anxiety attacks... I mean really bad ones. There would be times where I would not sleep for literally days... as a THIRD GRADER! But then one day, I began to realize something; no amount of worrying, or stressing, or not sleeping was going to change things, and really what is the worse thing that can happen! Back then the worse thing that could happen was I would get in trouble with my parents or at school, or something like that, but was that something I couldn't survive?

These days worries can be bigger, consequences more severe, but that is why a relationship to something immovable is so vital. Jesus said, "Cast all your cares upon me and I will give you rest." He also challenges us to look at the fields and see how the Father cares for the birds and the flowers, and to ask will God not care for his children all the more. That doesn't mean there will not be difficulty, but it does mean that, quite literally, our future is bright, and we have nothing to fear in our Father's arms.

I may not always feel like that is the case. But sometimes I need my head to inform my heart that feelings can be deceiving, but the promises of God are not.

oh those crazy fads.

2007-07-03T08:15:00.000-04:00

I am the type of person that can get fixated on something pretty easily. I mean really fixated. For example, a couple of weeks ago at my small group one of the members brought all the "fixins" to make smoothies... you know bananas, strawberries, yogurt, crushed ice, fruit juice... to be honest I had never really like smoothies before, but they looked really refreshing so I jumped in and had one. Ever since then I have been a bit obsessed with them. I pulled out my old blender, got the same "fixins" and began "smoothing"... I began stopping at places like Tropical Smoothie, Planet Smoothie, and any other establishment that advertised the cool, summer drink. They're delicious! And right now, I can't get enough of them.

Is this just a phase with me? A periodic fad in my life? Only time will tell... I mean I started drinking cappaccinos over a year ago, and that hasn't slowed down.

Working at church I see people using faith in that same way. They start coming to church and get really excited. They buy all the books, join all the classes, volunteer for everything. But then after a while something changes. For some people, the excitement wanes, but they keep at their faith with some level of commitment. They settle in and exercises in faith becomes a regular part of life. For others, things drop-off a little bit at a time. First, they stop volunteering for things, their Bible reading and prayer time are things of the past, they stop attending Bible studies, and their church attendance goes for consistent to non-existent.

When you first become a Christian it is natural to become extremely excited and then over time see that excitement wane a bit. The test is what happens next... Does your faith in Christ change from an anamoly to the regular focus of your life, or does it get filed into the fad category with hoolahoops and rollerblades?

In Luke 8, Jesus told one of my favorite parables about a farmer who goes out to sow seeds. In this parable there are four different types of seeds: One that fell along a path and was trampled or eaten by birds, a second that fell in rocky soil and began to grow at first but was unable to take strong root, still others fell among thorns and weeds and though the grew for a time eventually they were chocked, and a final type of seed that fell on good soil that was able to take root and grow. Alot of people that treat faith as a fad are like the seeds that either fall on the rock or among the thorns. Those on the rock hear the Word of God and get pumped and excited and volunteer and do all the things that "good" Christians do, but they don't take to the time to let God take real and lasting root. So, they burn out and fall away. Or they may be like those among the thorns that start strong, but financial worries, or family obligations, or work pressures, or hobbies cloud their view and they fall away.

Think about your life and those around you... where does your faith rank? Do you know people who have put their faith to the side and treat it more as a phase than a lifestyle? What is the remedy?

when the end doesn't feel like the end

2007-06-05T08:43:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been in a place where you thought, "If I just reach this goal, or this milestone, or get past this date-in-time things will get back to normal. Then I'll get to relax"? What happens when you get there? Sometimes it happens. Sometimes the finishline is really a finishline. But what happens when those times are not what you had hope for?

Recently, I have had that experience... I came off a period of exams, and papers, and personal projects, and thought, "when all this is over, everything will be easier, I'll be able to relax and focus and regain my strength..." The problem is that it didn't happen as I thought it would. I had to get right back in the game and get ready for another intensive class and start working on other projects. It was kind of overwhelming and daunting. And really disappointing.

There have been times where I have had "push" periods (as I call them) and then rest periods. That is the regular cycle of work, and rest, and during moments of intense stress you have something to which you can look forward. But about when there isn't something like that.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul reminds me that even if we find rest here on earth it is temporary, and we should not expect anything to last, he says instead, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." The crazy thing here is that the "light and momentary troubles" that Paul was talking about was much more intense persecution, and stress, and suffering than probably any of us will face. So, what are my stresses to God?

This is not to diminsh our problems, because God knows even the number of the hairs on my head, so he cares about flat tires, tests, and work projects... But that is the point. If we look to Christ, look to God and the blessings that He has already given to us, then we might find we have more energy, and refreshing than we think.

In my own case, I am so blessed to have the opportunity to go to school. I am so blessed that I have a wonderful job and family that I care about and that cares about me... so much so that I stress about them. Even as I write this I realize that I should be and really am energized by the power that God has already demonstrated in my life such that my present "trouble" or stress does seem temporary.

why, oh why, oh why

2007-05-13T11:43:00.000-04:00

I ran my third road race yesterday since tying on the old running shoes again and heading to the roads, and for the most part it was a great race. Good atmosphere, tons of people, tough course. But I made the same tragic mistake I have made the last two races I have been in... I started too far back in the pack. The faster runners usually head to the front, and the middle runners are in the middle, and the slower runners/walkers are in the back.

When I was younger, in high school and college... I never hesitated to start up front. I knew I was fast, and I had proof. I was on the top cross country team in the state heading to college to run there. Now, it's different. Each race I set a goal and I tell myself to start toward the front, but each time I get in the pack and start to question my abilities. As a result I spend the first 1/4-1/2 mile struggling to get around much slower people... sprinting, stopping, starting, dodging, weaving... and overall my time is slower than it should I am capable of.

There are two problems here: One with the people around me, the other with me. I start the race and people block the way. They may be starting too far up in the pack, thinking they are better runners than they are. On the other hand I do not have the confidence to start with people that may be better than I am. Even though I know I will run faster, better, and stronger, if I am not held back.

Spiritually, we tend to do the same sorts of things. We allow people who are not even running the race to stand in front of us and block us from where God wants to go. We allow work, our children, unbelieving friends and family to dictate how we will grow spiritually instead of running the race God has given us.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangels, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us."

This verse is packed with stuff but two things are important. Who do we run with? Hebrews says we are surrounded by witnesses to Jesus Christ. To run strong this faith race, we must run with strong runners and not get behind people that will hold us back.

The second thing is that we must throw off everything that hinders. What does that include? Well... everything. If something is holding you back from growing in Christ, or running the race God has for you, you must throw it off. Here the writer says specifically sin, but that is an example of something that can hold you back. He says "and the sin" that means there must be things that aren't sin that can hold us back too. This is harsh but true. Our spouses can do a alot to help us run the race of faith, and they can do alot to hinder us in the race. My wife has always been such a great helper in my spiritual run. She challenges me to fight the good fight and keeps me commited to God's Word and work. As much as my spouse has been a help to me, I know others are not so blessed. That doesn't mean you cast them aside, but we have to make it clear to those we love the most that our relationships with Jesus Christ trumps even our relationships with our husbands and wives. This same principle extends to our children, our past times, our jobs, everything.

So, are you starting too far back in the pack of your faith race? Move forward.

just childishness

2007-05-11T15:02:00.000-04:00

I love to run. In my humble opinion, it is the purest of all sports because it is just an individual against him or herself and the elements. No matter the terrain or the weather, the basic activity of running is the same.

I can remember the first time I ever went out on a run strictly for the sake of running. I mean to say that I went out not to run as a part of another activity but just to run. I was 11 years-old, and I lived on a military base in Italy. Growing up I always remember my dad coming in from eight, nine, or ten mile runs, and I thought that was the greatest thing, but I didn't think I would ever be able to do that. So, I even surprised myself when I asked my dad, if I could run with him. He picked a day when he wasn't going to go very far... only three miles, a managable distance he thought. So we went out, and I can remember trying to emulate his motions and movements so I would be able to go the distance.

Up to that point I ran like all kids run... you know flailing arms and legs, just flying. If you have ever seen the "Friends" episode where Phoebe runs you know what I am talking about... Most of the time I would run playing tag, or soccer, or something else so it was a means to an end, and I didn't care about form or perserving energy or anything. But now with my dad running was different. Running became the end unto itself.

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." That got me to thinking about the difference between the way kids run and the way adults run. They're free, fast, flying, flailing. They have terrible form. If they ran like that long enough they would get hurt. But there is enthusiasm. Jesus said this Matthew to demonstrate how we are to think and feel and approach God... with enthusiasm, with all of who we are.

But does that mean, we stay like children in our faith, only going after the "fun" of it? Only satisfied with the high energy, undignified, exciting expressions of our adoration of him? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

So which is it? Well, it's both. As I read these two Scriptures I can see that there is a difference between childlikeness and childishness. When we approach God after first becoming a Christian it is new and different, and there are new emotions and thoughts and it is exciting, but after a while that fades. Sometimes it fades when we read tough passages of the Bible to understand... like the book of Job or Leviticus. For some people it just happens because of time. Some Christians always seek that excitement and don't want to hear anything about the justice of God, or the punishment of the lost, or talk about the necessity of sacrifice. They believe Christianity is all the time happiness and as a result they seek the childishness of faith. But God calls us to be childlike, but not childish.

I look at how I run now... to train for races, or to stay in shape... and compare it to how I did when I was a child, and I realize it is really two sides of the same coin. When I get up in the morning and run, I feel just as free, just as enthusiastic as I did when I was a kid running around my neighborhood. The difference is I have added to it. Discipline, form, thought, nutrition. Some days it hurts, some days it is tough, but I keep running.

That is what God calls us to in our faith. Tap into that childlike enthusiasm, but do not be afraid of discipline and growth. To put the flailing behind you, but to not stop running.

Out with my dad on that first REAL run, I ran the entire three miles in a bit over 30 minutes, and my even though my dad was much faster than me then, he stayed with me, checking on me, keeping me going...

don't mean to boast... but I lost!

2007-05-09T15:10:00.000-04:00

Weakness is not something I like to admit… not to strangers, not to friends or family, not even to myself. Admitting weakness is like admitting failure, admitting that I am not as good as I could or should be. I am not sure that I would consider myself overly macho or tough, but admitting failure, weakness… come on, I mean it’s almost un-American, right?

The thing is that in a world that is consistently trying to find the commonality of all people one that we never want to focus on is our innate weakness and frailty. What really does bind all of us together are the statments, "Nobody's perfect" and "Everybody has it rough". Every human being on the face of the planet since the dawn of time has problems, flaws, tragedies. While Jesus never sinned and was morally perfect, even he faced hardships and moments of emotional and physical weakness. While it may seem antithetical to everything that we have been taught, it is in our weakness that we can approach each other and understand everyone.

One of my biggest weaknesses is that I don’t tend to make very deep friendships (probably because I have a hard time admitting my weaknesses…) and really it comes from a kind of intimidation that I feel around other people. This might surprise a few of you, but I get really self-conscious and have trouble approaching people on anything more than a superficial level. My wife pointed out to me that the people I was intimidated to approach were probably just as intimidated to approach me. It hit me that my weakness, my shortcoming might be the same as those around me, and if it wasn’t at the very least the people around me had some weaknesses. We were really not all that different.

What does that mean? Well, Paul writes about an experience he had in struggling with his weaknesses and his desire to overcome them. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13, “7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is one of my favorite sections of Scripture because if you look before and after this passage, all Paul talks about his is weaknesses and how the power of God is revealed most fully in our weakness. The reason this is so important for us is that God wants to reveal himself to everyone and through everyone… that is why we ALL have huge weaknesses. Our frailties are designed to point us to a loving and abiding God whose glory and strength are complete enough for everyone. Trying to hide our weaknesses or compensate for them by throwing our accomplishments in people’s faces only distracts from seeing the power of God.

If we are truly looking and truly open… then we will find that God’s power comes not in spite of our weaknesses, not to destroy our frailties, not to alleviate hardships or difficulties. God’s power is revealed right in the middle of our weakness, it is revealed because of our weakness. We need only not to hide.

The reason and the sounds...

2007-05-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

I am sure you all know what internal dialogue is (some may call this an internal monologue, but for me it can often be a two sided affair). It is the running conversation that you have with yourself throughout the day. It is the way you interact with situations and information in your head. Often times, the internal dialogue has little visible bearing to other people, but it is always there. For those of you thinking that is just crazy, the thought that you had as you read the previous statements was your internal dialogue. Essentially, internal dialogue is the way we see the world. Throughout my day my internal dialogue can shift radically from inner grumblings over traffic, to my "to do" list at work, to thoughts about life and the world in general.

Proverbs 21:2 says, "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart" and that got me thinking about my internal dialogue. I have always kind of been under the assumption that my internal dialogue was just my own, it had little bearing on my life and work and how I was perceived... but then I thought about how Proverbs describes actions and the heart. In a lot of ways, I see the use of the word "heart" as a person's internal dialogue. Many times, I feel as though my actions, or what everyone sees is pretty okay even if I am burning angry or really want to curse somebody out in traffic, but the fact is God is really interested in that internal dialogue.

A professor of mine at RTS once posed the question to student if he was a murderer? Of course this seemed like a very shocking and abrupt question for 8 AM on a Wednesday and if the desired effect was to get everyone to wake up... it worked. Now, if you know the story of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 then maybe you are a step ahead of where I was in the class. In it Jesus says, 21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' (an Aramaic term of contempt) is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

So what? Is Jesus actually calling us all murderers? Maybe. But I think more important than that is the fact that our actions outside should reflect our thoughts and feelings inside. That is not to say we should act on every impulse... there are whole psychological and sociological movements based on that premise... but more to the point, our thoughts and feelings should be made held to our beliefs. If that is the case, then genuine Christian action will follow. The point Jesus and the writer of Proverbs is that God cares about our internal dialogue.

As a Christian my internal dialogue should be constantly running through a filter: the filter of Jesus Christ and His Word, and I would say that for the most part it does, but before I come off as being far holier than I am, I have to say that I do not always act in accord with my Christian filter, and sometimes I downright ignore it altogether. But the fact remains that the filter is there. The filter is the Holy Spirit, sometimes gently other times forcibly, pulling at me to think and act on the same principles I claim with my mouth.

My prayer for myself is that if someone looks into my heart at a given moment they will see my longing for Christ and his righteousness. Again, I am not perfect, but Jesus Christ is, and it is his love and mercy that I cling to.