The Muddled Musings of a Perplexed Preacher

Sheer Silence

2012-01-24T11:15:00.000-06:00

I have spent the last couple of days with Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19. In a nutshell, this story unfolds God's triumph over the idolatrous worship of Baal in the showdown on Mount Carmel, followed by the unrelenting opposition to God and His servant Elijah by Jezebel and those like her, and Elijah's dejected flight into the wilderness. But what I want to comment on is found in 19:11-13,

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him ... " (NRSV)

Those familiar with the King James Version may ask "where is the still small voice"? Those more familiar with the New International may ask "where is the gentle whisper"? In the New Revised Standard Version it is "a sound of sheer silence." I am not a Hebrew scholar. Those more educated than I will have to address which is the best translation. But here is my thought:

A gentle whisper is tender and comforting. After the threats on his life and the flight to the desert we like the picture of God calming Elijah with a still small voice. But the sound of sheer silence is troubling. Silence that deep is powerful, moving, somewhat unnerving. You may have heard the phrase "the silence is deafening." The silence that enfolded Elijah was loud. And he wrapped his face, stood at the entrance to the cave, and God spoke.

Could it be that this phrase is less about how God spoke and more about the situation/condition into which God spoke? The Psalmist wrote, "Be still, and know that I am God!" Maybe the wind, the earthquake, and the fire were visual aids revealing to Elijah the condition of his mind, heart, and spirit. God needed to settle Elijah with sheer silence for Elijah to be able to hear. I'm guessing that is true for you and me as well.

2012-01-12T10:12:00.000-06:00

Our mild winter weather has given way to sub-zero wind chills and drifting snow. I really dislike cold, ice, and snow. I would love to live in a milder climate. But I am trying to remember that the changing seasons are a part of God's creative artistry. I am trying to hear His praises sung on the wind and in the snow. It is tough for me, but not impossible. A friend of mine commented online that the snow brings to mind God's beautiful promise, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

2012-01-09T10:45:00.001-06:00

I am reading "Traveling Mercies" by Anne Lamott for my "Biblical Imagery for Spiritual Formation" class. She tells a story about a young girl who got lost and when picked up by a police officer couldn't tell him her address. The officer drove around the neighborhood for a bit and when the little girl saw her church building she excitedly exclaimed, "You could let me out now. This is my church, and I can always find my way home from here." Lamott then makes this statement, "And that is why I have stayed so close to mine - because no matter how bad I am feeling, how lost or lonely or frightened, when I see the faces of the people at my church, and hear their tawny voices, I can always find my way home."

I love that depiction of the church. It should be a place of warmth, welcome, safety, and security. It should be a place of confidence where we know we will always be pointed in the right direction. Sadly, in my experience at least, it is too often something less. Grumbling, complaining and griping do nothing to shape the church into something that resembles that which is revealed in Scripture. When will we be what Lamott describes? When will we be what Scripture describes? I'm not sure. But I do know I will renew my efforts to make it so. Will you join me?

2011-12-19T09:46:00.002-06:00

One of the names given to Jesus at his birth was Immanuel, meaning "God with us." (Matthew 1:23) To look at Jesus was to see God for he was God in the flesh ("in flesh" being the meaning of the Latin word from which we get "incarnation") Colossians 1:15,19 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ... For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him." Hebrews 1:3a - "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being ..." Jesus put it this way in answer to Philip's request to see the Father, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (see John 14:9)

Now, let me bring the idea of Immanuel into our contemporary context. Jesus is still with us. He promised that he would not leave us as orphans, but would himself come to us. This promise was made in the context of a discussion of the Holy Spirit. (see John 14:15-18) And the Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian. (Acts 2:38, Romans 8:9) The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is the manifestation of Jesus in the world today and Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

Can we say, then, that we, the Church, Christians are Immanuel? I think we can without making too big a stretch. There are songs that declare "we are His hands, we are His feet." I have heard preachers say that "we may be the only Jesus some people ever see." There is no doubt that if Jesus is going to be seen, he is going to be seen in the thoughts, words, and deeds of his people.

Cruciformity

2011-12-01T11:05:00.002-06:00

I recently had the privilege of listening to Dr Sackett speak of "cruciformity" in my Biblical Theology of Spiritual Formation class. That is a word I don't often use. The basic idea is that Jesus' life was cross shaped, cruciform. Therefore, if we are to be conformed to the image of Christ our lives must be cross shaped, cruciform. What that looks like practically is evidenced by a shift from selfishness to selflessness. Will we serve and sacrifice for the sake of others or will we expect others to serve and sacrifice for us?

I don't want to make a general statement that lumps all Christians together and say we either do or don't look cruciform. I know some Christian men and women who do to a remarkable degree. They already look so much like Jesus that there will be only a small change when they stand before Him face-to-face. However, I also know some professed Christians who are yet to even start on the path of self-denying, cross-carrying, Jesus-following discipleship.

The ugly thing to me is that those who are furthest from Christlikeness often think themselves the closest. There is a tremendous amount of pride there. The beautiful thing is that those who are most like Christ are totally unaware of it for His humility permeates their very souls.

Heavenly Father, may your Holy Spirit be about his work of transformation in my life. Make me like Jesus. Make my life cruciform.

Growing Up

2011-11-15T21:59:00.001-06:00

I was fortunate to be raised by a mother who was a woman of faith. I am grateful that my dad was a Christian, though he became one later in life. My mom took me to church every Sunday. I grew up in Sunday School and VBS. I attended church camp a couple of times while young. And youth group was an important part of my junior high and later high school years (I kind of went my own way for a couple of years in the middle there).

I received a wonderful preparation for ministry at Lincoln Christian College and am now, in my 50s, working on a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation at my alma mater. And I have spent more than thirty years preaching, teaching, and pastoring God's people in several different congregations.

And you know what? I'm still growing up, spiritually. The course work for my Masters degree is taking me deeper into the Word of God, but not just for the accumulation of information, but with the goal of life transformation. I am beginning to see God anew, or maybe see Him again, in ways that I once did but have since grown cloudy.

I have worried too much. Sought to minister by my own "wisdom" and "strength" too much. Sought to deal with personal sin by my own determination too much. But, I am learning, slow learner that I am, that if I will humble myself and pray God will restore me. May God continue His good work in me!

2011-11-04T09:59:00.000-05:00

My daughter, Kiersten, is serving a six month internship in Trujillo, Peru. In her brief time there she has witnessed much human heartache and suffering. She has seen greed result in the displacement of dozens of families as their neighborhood barrio was bulldozed. She has seen the ugliness of lust in the red-light district of prostitution and sex-trafficking. She has dealt with her own grief as she mourned alongside a family and community over the death of a five-year-old who had a brick-adobe wall collapse on him.

She has had multiple opportunities to be Jesus to the people in whose midst she lives. I am reminded of my favorite Jesus story. It is found in Mark 1:40-42, "A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said, 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured." (NIV)

Two words jump right off the page when I read those verses: Compassion and Touched. Jesus' heart was moved by the man's plight. He didn't experience a mere distanced pity for him, but was moved to enter the leper's suffering and make a difference. And don't miss this, Jesus touched the man even before he healed him. He touched a leper. To touch someone who was "unclean" was to make oneself "unclean." Jesus could have healed him and then touched him. But, no, he touched a man who had probably not felt the touch of human compassion in a long, long time.

Is it possible for us to be like Jesus? Can we be a people who moved by compassion enter the pain of our own communities and touch the heartbroken? Sure we can! We are filled with the very Spirit of Christ. But there are a few things we will need to do first. We will need to open our eyes to the people around us. We will need to sacrifice our selfishness. We will need to set aside our pride and put on the grace of humility. We will need to be more like Jesus in character in order to live more like Jesus in action.

2011-10-28T11:30:00.001-05:00

I was recently part of a conversation that asked the question, "Why is there so little genuine worship?" The very question assumes there is a problem in our churches and in our lives as disciples of Jesus. I agree with the assumption. The answer that blew me away was, "we have not come to fully comprehend grace." Stop and think about that for a minute.

The image that came to my mind was of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. These men cried out for pity from the Lord Jesus. And Jesus gave them mercy. As they were walking they found their leprosy gone! Amazing! Miraculous! One of them, a despised Samaritan at that, came back, fell at Jesus' feet, and thanked him. Where were the other nine?

Our churches are full of people who are the recipients of Jesus' mercy and grace, but we have not come to fully comprehend it. Do we not understand our previous sinful condition? Do we not grasp the eternal severity of the condemnation we were once under? Are we not moved by the salvation that is now ours? Are we not humbled by the price that was paid for our salvation? Do we not realize that we were once dead in our sins, but God has made us alive with Christ, forgiving us all our sins?

"Grace is favor bestowed when wrath is owed." (Jack Cottrell) One leper returned to give thanks to Jesus. May I ever and always be like him, on my knees and humbly grateful to my Lord for the cleansing of my soul. May my worship be genuine.

2011-10-20T15:10:00.002-05:00

Life is full of ups and downs, mountain tops and valleys. There is no escaping the roller coaster ride of joys and sorrows that accompany being human. As a minister there are times when my heart soars - when I baptize someone into Christ, when I speak with eternal hope at the funeral of a Christian, when I visit new parents in the maternity ward. And, there are times when my heart sinks - when a church member is more concerned with their own glory than with the glory of God, when people leave one congregation for the "greener pastures" of another, when personal opinion trumps Biblical revelation. I also have my personal peaks and valleys - moments of greater understanding, deeper obedience, and renewed hope over against every sin I commit be they of attitude, word, or deed.

I am grateful to my heavenly Father that I am currently riding a wave of joy. I am "up" on the mountain top. Much of that is due to the encouragement I am finding in my Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation classes. The reading, though there is a ton of it, is deep and rich, a great counterbalance to the drivel that dominates the Christian best-seller list. AW Tozer's "The Pursuit of God" was excellent. I am enjoying Richard Foster's "Life With God." And I am looking forward to diving into Eugene Peterson's "Eat This Book." Beginning the week of October 31st my new class will focus on reading the Bible for transformation, not just information. That is an emphasis I have tried to make in my preaching for years. Lectio Divina, or spiritual reading, will be a part of the class practice. I'm excited.

Many Christians who have gone before us have much to teach us. I pray my reading will enrich my faith, empower my preaching, and encourage all those I encounter.

2011-09-24T09:57:00.001-05:00

I love being a minister of the Gospel. I love preaching and teaching. I humbly respect my role at the bedside of the sick and dying. I long to represent Jesus well, recognizing how poorly I do so. Now, with that said, I am tired of dealing with the cranky.

I am saddened by the fact that so many who proudly identify themselves as Christians are so lacking of anything that speaks of Christlikeness. I am saddened by people who insist on the letter of the law because they are so lacking in the Spirit who gives meaning to the law. I am saddened by people who long to wield power and grab for control who ought to be picking up a towel and basin and "washing feet" as Jesus did. I'm tired of people who are downright mean, selfish, and self-deceived presenting themselves as bearers of the image of Christ. I am baffled, befuddled, frustrated, disappointed and even angered by those who have a form of godliness but deny its power. (see 2 Timothy 3:5)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22 NIV) I long to see this precious and beautiful fruit in my life, the lives of those I minister to, and the lives of all who profess the name of Jesus.

2011-09-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Busy. Busy. Busy. I find it ironic that in my Spiritual Formation class yesterday we spoke of "hurry sickness" and the need to slow down. The statement was made that "When we do not hurry we can truly be present to the One who is always present." I like that. I believe that. I want to practice that. But ...

Having enrolled in a Masters program while being a husband, father, and full-time minister of a small church has only contributed to my busyness. I have books and books and more books to read. I have papers to write. I even have spiritual disciplines to practice, but as homework which seems to lose something in the process. All the while I need to write sermons and lessons, visit the ill, counsel the troubled, deal with the cranky, and fulfill other ministerial duties. And I must not neglect my family. A bit of television time, or a bicycle ride, or a video game, or a trip to the mall is all part of being "dad".

I was already struggling with balancing all the things on my plate. Now it is even more difficult. I'm wondering what to say "no" to. I would stop and pray about it, but I don't have time (written tongue in cheek). Lord, teach me how to slow down. Teach me to be still and know that You are God. Teach me what is important and what isn't. And teach me to say "no".

The Lord Provides

2011-08-02T08:17:00.002-05:00

A few months ago I applied for and was accepted into the Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation program at Lincoln Christian University. The thrust of the program is to enable Christian adults to practice the presence of God more deeply in their lives, their work, and their church. My wife and children have been very supportive in my pursuit of this degree. We all agree that it will enrich my own faith and subsequently it will enrich my ministry.

However, I have been sweating the financial requirement. Education isn't cheap. And, this fall, we have three daughters in college at the same time. I was giving serious thought to dropping out before I had even begun.

Yesterday a friend informed me that his family has sent a very generous donation to Lincoln to be applied to my tuition. Tears came to my eyes. I had no words to speak. Even if I had words I don't know that I could have spoken them. I phoned my wife who, through tears, said, "there is your confirmation."

There is still quite a large bill in front of me. But God has reminded me once again that He provides. William Cowper began one of his hymns with these words, "The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform." Indeed He does.

Transformation

2011-07-26T10:48:00.003-05:00

I enjoy science-fiction. Two of my favorite television shows are Stargate SG-1 and Doctor Who. In one Stargate episode Teal'c is infected with a virus that threatens to change him into a rather large flying insect. His very DNA is being transformed. There is something here for Christians to ponder.

In John 3 Jesus introduces Nicodemus to the idea of a new birth. In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul tells us that in Christ we are a new creation. And in Romans 6 Paul teaches of how in dying with Christ in baptism we are also raised with Him to new life. This language is all about transformation. Something in our very DNA, if you will, is changed so that we are enabled, by the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to become like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (NIV)

My struggle right now is with how I have done and am doing ministry. It seems that I am always calling people to obedience - there is more to DO. But shouldn't I be calling people to transformation - there is more to BE? An ever growing list of rules and regulations to be obeyed only leads to frustration for people who can only draw upon their own meager will-power. But, when people are transformed into "his likeness" the very life of Jesus flows from them because it is who they are.

I am excited about what God is revealing to me. I look forward to bringing it to my flock in sermons and lessons and conversations. I look forward to helping people come to BE like Jesus rather than burdening them with things to DO because they are expected of Christians.

May We Hunger for The Book

2011-07-06T16:28:00.002-05:00

Let me tell one story of my life, of how I came to know what this book is worth. It was on the 2nd of March, in 1938. I had been in prison in Berlin for eight months and had been tried. After the trial I had been taken by the Secret State Police and they had put me in a van, and had brought me to a concentration camp north of Berlin. They took my wallet, they took my wrist watch, they took my wedding ring, and they took my pocket Bible, which I had been allowed to have with me during the days and weeks and months in Berlin prison. This first night I shall never forget, because I didn't sleep for one minute. I didn't find any peace. I was quarrelling with God and blaming Him. I had lost my memory during the very strenuous weeks of the trial. I couldn't remember a single verse from the Book by myself. I was dependent on what was printed. I assure you I should gladly have given not only eight oxen but years of my life if only I could have had that Book. Next morning, when the commandant entered, I asked him, 'Let me have my Bible back.' The man wavered. I was the personal prisoner of the Fuehrer. If he treated me too harshly it might be bad; and if he treated me too well that might be bad also. In the end he turned to the orderly and said, 'Go over to my office and bring the book which is on my desk. It is the Bible; you bring it here.' I had not yet been for twelve hours in the concentration camp and the Book had entered - the Holy Bible - the Book that bears witness and testifies to the One to Whom all power belongs in heaven and earth, even in concentration camp. There the Book was, and there He was with all His Strength, with all His comfort, with all I needed." -- Dr Martin Niemoller at a meeting of the National Bible Society, reported October 1959; taken from "The Message of Daniel" by Ronald S Wallace, IVP.

As I sit here at my desk typing these thoughts I can count eighteen Bibles and New Testaments on my shelves, add a Greek NT and a Greek interlinear and even a few Bibles I know are tucked away in a cabinet and I am at no loss for a Bible. There are Christians in lands of less freedom who don't have a single copy of the Book. What they would give, as Niemoller spoke above, for one to teach, guide, console, and provide hope to them. With this abundance of Bibles why am I so slow to pick one up and read it, just to read it, that I might hear the witness and testimony to Jesus? May we all be hungry for the Book!

A Father's Anxiety

2011-06-16T09:26:00.004-05:00

My daughter, Kiersten, leaves for Peru next week. She is going to serve six months with Team Expansion to meet the internship requirement for her bachelor's degree from Lincoln Christian University. I am proud of her, excited for her, and just a wee bit anxious. The anxiety is due to the "dad" in me!

A couple of days ago, while praying with a group of ministers, God reminded me of something. He reminded me that Kiersten is more His daughter than mine, that He loves her more than I do, and that He is far more capable of protecting her than I am. Did all my anxiety evaporate? To be honest, no. But I am more at peace, far more, than I was.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessing each of my children is to me. In this moment I entrust, yet again, Kiersten into your care. Work in and through her over these next six months. Cause her to grow in her faith and use her as a messenger of your gospel to those she will encounter in Peru. Guard my heart, ease my fears, and help me to trust you with this precious young women you entrusted to my wife and I twenty-two years ago. Borrowing John's words and applying them to my family, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 4 ESV)

One Body

2011-06-03T17:26:00.003-05:00

The Church is described in Scripture as a body, as the body of Christ. It has many members, eyes and ears and noses and such, which make up but one body.

I was in Barnes & Noble the other day, browsing the "Christianity" section, which should have been more broadly labeled "religious", and was struck by the diversity of beliefs. What a wide range of beliefs and faith expressions there are! That same day I was listening to the podcast of a sermon which stated there are more than 33,000 denominations or divisions or sects under the broad umbrella of "Christianity."

Today I read a portion of Acts 17 (where Paul addresses the men of Athens) to a young man who says he looks at the religious world and is confused. There are just too many options. Who is right and how is one to know? Paul, in Acts 17, acknowledged the spiritual/religious nature of the Athenians. Then he proceeded to tell them of the God they called "unknown" who had made himself known in the man Jesus Christ. That self revelation being validated in the resurrection.

People are confused. How does one choose from the myriad of religious options? The answer is to be found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of mankind. And, when we who call ourselves Christian look to Jesus maybe we will be a bit more "one", just like he prayed in John 17.

Let Jesus Be Jesus

2011-06-02T09:36:00.002-05:00

I have an outline for a sermon I will never preach. It is a bit too sarcastic for my tastes. But the point is one I think needs to be made. We need to let Jesus be Jesus. So I'll write about it here for the handful of folk who will read it.

I am growing more and more frustrated with the way Christians and churches force Jesus, the Church, Christianity, etc into a mold of their choosing rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work of conforming our lives to the image of Jesus.

We have wound up with a number of very unbiblical and unrecognizable Jesuses:

There is the Dr Phil Jesus - he is deeply concerned with your felt needs. They may not be real needs, they may have no eternal significance, but this Jesus is eager to be your therapist and ease your pain. This Jesus will never confront you with sin and salvation. But at least you will be happy as you tumble head first into hell.

There is the cruise line activity director Jesus - he wants to keep everyone's schedule full, help you enjoy yourselves, make sure you are happy, that is what you paid for you know. Today is bingo, tomorrow is a side trip to an island village, the day after is shuffleboard, and on it goes. Not much here about discipleship, lets not get into that deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me stuff, just lots of fun activity which distracts you from the important stuff.

There is the corporate CEO Jesus - he shows up in suit and tie with briefcase in hand. He has labored over a business plan and lays it out before you in charts and graphs and powerpoint presentations. The towel and basin of John 13, with which the real Jesus washed the disciples' feet, is foreign in congregations who follow this kind of Jesus. Success is measured by nickels and noses in the here and now, not by the "great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."

And then there is the Broadway play director Jesus - he is all about production. Make sure you don't miss your cue, don't forget your lines, be sure to stand in the right place, this is a production you know and we want good reviews. The very word hypocrite comes from the ancient theatre, meaning one who wears a mask, one who puts on a show. Personally, I'm tired of Christians who put on a good show but in whom the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) can't be found.

And then there is Jesus - the real Jesus - the Jesus we meet in the pages of Scripture. He is the Son of God, the firstborn from the dead, the head of the Church. He goes toe-to-toe with the self-righteous and shows compassion to the hurting. He is a friend of sinners and the sacrifice for sin. He brings the Kingdom of God to earth and invites every man, woman, and child to follow him and live as citizens of that Kingdom. And there is so much more. Pick up your Bible. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and then read them again and again. See Jesus, hear Jesus, encounter Jesus, and surrender to Jesus. And don't, don't, don't settle for anything less.

Master's Degree

2011-05-19T09:34:00.002-05:00

It has been some time since I posted anything on my blog. I have had many thoughts, though usually quite muddled. I even wrote one post, but decided to delete it before it ever saw the light of your computer screen. I have updated my "current reading" list in the right hand column. I invite you to read along with me.

Today I am excited about my enrollment in Lincoln Christian University's Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation program. I have read Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" and heard his call for "deeper" people. I have read Ortberg's "The Life You've Always Wanted" and heard the call for Bible reading that leads to "transformation" not just information. And I have read the Bible itself and heard the Spirit's call for us to be new creatures in Christ.

But, after thirty plus years of ministry I find myself struggling with how to help my flock go deeper, be transformed, and be remade in the image of Christ. It seems we are always discussing and debating theological terms, trying to get our doctrine right (which is terribly important!), but falling short on living that which we profess. And that isn't just the case for my flock but for myself as well.

This M.A. focuses on enabling Christian adults to practice the presence of God more deeply in their lives, their work, and their church. I'm looking forward to a deeper, more transformative faith of my own that spills over into the lives of those I minister to.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

2011-04-24T16:57:00.002-05:00

I preached from Luke 24 this morning, from the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I spoke of 1) dejected disciples who, 2) had a divine encounter which, 3) renewed their hope. But this blog isn't about the sermon, rather a unique experience within it.

While preaching my eye was caught by some movement toward the back of the auditorium. A little girl, two or three years old maybe, had eluded her mother's grasp and was running down the aisle. Her mom was chasing her much to her giggling daughter's delight. Next thing I knew this little girl was on the platform with me. I picked her up and handed her to her embarrassed mother.

At that point I took a brief detour from my sermon notes. I paused just long enough to remind the congregation of when some parents brought their children to Jesus for His blessing. The apostles thought their master's work to important to be interrupted by such a request. Jesus in turn rebuked his apostles and made that famous statement, "let the little children come unto me." Now, I'm not Jesus, and this little girl wasn't brought to me for a blessing, but the moment was one of holy beauty. I'm glad she made her way into the pulpit with me.

perseverance

2011-04-12T11:12:00.005-05:00

I recently visited with an old friend from college days. Our conversation was enjoyable. It lifted my spirits. But, at one point we made sad acknowledgement of how many from our era have left the ministry, how many have left the church, and how many have left their spouses. That part of our conversation left me sad and burdened. You have to realize that I attended a Bible College - a ministry training school - where the large majority of students where drawn by a desire to fulfil a calling to vocational ministry. What could lead to such attrition from focus, faith, and family? The reality is that ministry is hard. Yes, it is filled with many joys. But, it is also filled with many sorrows. And sometimes the challenges take their toll. Those of us in ministry seek to lead people into stronger faith and deeper discipleship. Sometimes, quite often actually, people resist. A teaching of Scripture is rejected. A call to repentance is refused. A challenge to surrender is rebelled against. The pride which is so deeply embedded in the hearts of men and women makes it terribly difficult for people, even Christian people, to hear, receive, and act upon those calls to deeper and stronger faith. And so ministry becomes a tedious burden and ministers opt for less stressful careers. The very power of God and the truth of the Word are questioned and ministers abandoned the faith they once proclaimed from the pulpit. And the toll taken upon the lives of men called to ministry spills over into their homes destroying their marriages, wounding their wives and children. It is a heartbreaking picture. And, so, we, I, must learn to persevere. I must feed upon the Word for my own nourishment, not just in preparation for a message. I must spend time before the throne of grace in humble prayer seeking God's aid for my flock, my personal life, my family, my community, my world. I must rely upon the Holy Spirit of God for wisdom and ability that is far beyond myself lest I minister out of a perpetual haze. I must remain true to my calling for I answer to God and not to man, even if it costs me everything this world values. I must remain in Christ and allow Him to remain in me. And I must surround myself with faithful Christian men who will encourage me. My heart aches for friends and classmates and colleagues, many of whom I have not seen in years, whose hearts and souls have been wounded by the harsh realities of ministry. I pray God will comfort them, heal them, and restore them. May the joy of the Lord be their strength and mine. And may the joys of ministry outweigh the sorrows. May we persevere in our calling.

Encouraged

2011-03-17T15:18:00.003-05:00

I was honored and blessed to spend more than three hours today with some ministry colleagues. As of late I have been struggling in my own discipleship and sensing the lack of something unidentifiable in my ministry. But today as I shared with Dennis, Tim, Norman, and Troy I found myself being encouraged. We laughed, we shared the unique struggles of ministry, we prayed, and we ate lunch together. And somewhere in the midst of that God lifted some of the heaviness from my heart.

Being reminded that I need to be mindful of my own soul's nurture, that God is the only one who can change my life or any one else's, and knowing that there are others who understand the unique pressures of Christian ministry may have been just what I needed.

Thanks be to God for my friends named above.

The American Church

2011-03-14T09:25:00.002-05:00

It seems that the "American Church", whatever that is, is the whipping boy of our day. In conversations, in books, and in sermons and lectures I hear the words "the American Church" spit out with disdain and contempt. Won't someone please come to her defence?

I was raised in a Christian Church in midwestern America. I have spent more than thirty years ministering in the cultural context of the American Church. I worship God, love Jesus, rely on the Holy Spirit, trust the Bible, and embrace the faith once for all delivered to the saints because of the ministry, influence, and impact of the American Church.

Am I to repent of some supposed sin because I don't live in a communist or Islamic nation and face daily persecution? Am I somehow guilty because I don't live in an impoverished third world country? Or should I consider it a blessing to be part of a Christian heritage that has sent countless missionaries to the four corners of the world? Is it a bad thing to be part of a Christian community that regularly responds quickly and generously to world tragedies such as those in Haiti and elsewhere? Can we recognize the depth of discipleship in the lives of Christian men and women who live out their faith in a culture that surrounds them with the temptations inherent to licentiousness and affluence?

Is the Church in America perfect? No, not by a long shot. But neither is the Church in any other nation on the face of this earth. Perfection will come with the glory of eternity. But, the church, anywhere and everywhere it is found, is that of which Ephesians 5:25b-27 says "just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (NIV)

I love the Church - in all her expressions - for she is the bride of Christ - bought with His blood.

a prayer

2011-03-01T10:13:00.002-06:00

"O God, Creator of light, shine in our darkness,

Maker of space, give us the freedom to live,
Source and Sustainer of life, Holder of joy,

Bearer of pain,
May we glory in your praise."

("The Message of Genesis 1-11" by David Atkinson, IVP, page 51)

my son

2011-02-16T10:21:00.002-06:00

My children have the distinct privilege of being "preacher's kids". Whatever that might entail they have participated in worship, Bible reading, prayer, youth groups, etc all their lives. And, being home schooled, they have had Bible and/or devotions as part of their curriculum every year. But, even with all that, I must confess I have neglected reading and studying with them personally and privately. We have on occasion tried the "family altar" thing, but never with any success. And I sense a void there.

This past weekend my son, thirteen years old, approached me and asked if we could read and discuss Scripture two or three nights a week before bedtime. I can't describe my emotions. I am overjoyed. I am elated. I am humbled. It took my son asking me to do something that I should have been doing all along. My son is bringing me into a deeper discipleship and I couldn't be happier.

My son likes Christian rap and hip-hop. He is quite into the music of Lecrae. Seems he was listening to a new cd/song and God used it to challenge his faith. He told me "I love God, I go to church, but I need more, I want more." That is cool! And so I thank God for moving upon the heart and soul of my son. I thank Lecrae for producing music that God used to speak to my son.

I pray we all will continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. And may we who are parents be more involved in the spiritual nurture of our children. Who knows how God might touch us through them!

To Do or To Be

2011-02-09T09:28:00.002-06:00

What is the essence of one's faith? Is it to be found in what one does or in who one is? I have been turning that question over in my head the last couple of weeks. Not sure I have an answer, but I do have some thoughts.

The Pharisees of Jesus' day were masters of the "to do" list. They had managed to take the beautiful simplicity of the Ten Commandments and explode them into a monstrous volume of rules and regulations. I wonder if we aren't guilty, at least at times, of doing something similar. I often hear Christianity described in terms of the things we are to do and the things we are to avoid.

Jesus and the apostles were, it seems to me, more concerned with transformation. Effecting a change in who one was/is. So much so that the apostle Paul would write, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

I have known many people who did things seemingly Christian without themselves being Christians. I have known many Christians whose lives did not measure up to the fullness of Christ - oh, wait, that would be all of us until we see Him face-to-face and become like Him. I am far more interested in who one is than in what one does.

And now for the disclaimer. How one lives reflects, ultimately, who one is. Being and Doing must inevitably meet. If I have been transformed by the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and taken possession of by His Holy Spirit then His character will begin to be manifested in me. You can't avoid it. So, what are you? And does your life validate that claim?

pray for the children

2011-01-24T12:26:00.002-06:00

This past Saturday, January 22nd, was the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's lamentable decision on the Roe v Wade case that made abortion a constitutional right. In the years since an estimated 53 million children have been killed. Yes, killed, for that is what abortion does. It takes the life of an unborn child. It kills.

Yesterday our Sunday School class went down the rabbit trail of politics. We were discussing the Christian response to social issues, such as homelessness, hunger, and the like. What I tried to share there, and am trying to share here, is that abortion, homosexuality, health care reform, welfare, etc are not political issues. They are moral, theological, biblical issues. The answers do not lie in the halls of congress or in the platforms of democrats or republicans. The answers lie in Jesus Christ and faithful discipleship to him.

The struggle for us as individuals, and for the church, and for any nation is that when we listen to God we may have to, no, we will have to make some changes. Some things that we consider rights will have to be recognized as sins. And some problems that we think are someone else's may have to become our own.

Today I am mourning the untimely deaths of 53 million children. I pray that we will learn to value life, to cherish every individual, to see the potential in every child, to celebrate the accomplishments of every senior citizen. We, humanity, were created in the image of God. And we are so loved by God that he sent his only Son to restore our relationship with him.

Pray for the children. Pray for all mankind.

In His Own Eyes

2011-01-19T08:30:00.002-06:00

I have recently become painfully aware of the tendency of people, Christians included, to justify their sinfulness. A line in an old Scott Wesley Brown song identifies "fools who march to justify their sin." Judges 17:6 and 21:25 both identify a period in Israel's history when "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The Proverbs also point out the very human tendency to consider one's thoughts, words, and behaviors as being right or pure, though it is God who "weighs the heart." (12:15, 16:2, 21:2, 26:12)

I see people act small and selfish because their feelings were injured. I hear people defend their immorality because "its just the way I am." We presume upon God's grace assuming that where sin increases grace will abound. (see Romans 6:1-2) Enough!

May our hearts be as King David's when he was confronted with his sin:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, . . .

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. . . .

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:1-4a, 7-12, 16-17 (NIV)

The apostle Paul referred to himself as the worst of sinners or the chief among sinners. His hope, his comfort, his joy lay in the fact that Jesus came into this world to save sinners. (see 1 Timothy 1:15-17 and Romans 7:14-25) I sometimes wonder if I don't challenge Paul for the title of the worst of sinners. As David wrote "my sin is always before me." I do not want to accept, rationalize, or justify my sin. I want to be forgiven and cleansed. I want to be free from its guilt and its power. Thanks be to God that is what we receive in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

New Post, New Year

2011-01-03T12:55:00.002-06:00

As 2010 gave way to 2011 I found myself deep in the Gospel of Mark for my devotional reading. (I try to read a portion of Scripture, unrelated to sermon or lesson prep, either first thing when I get to the office or just before going to bed each day. Sometimes both!) January 1st found me reading Mark 12. I was struck by the coincidence (?) that my year began with the Great Commandment, the verses that were my preaching emphasis in 2010.

Having been asked which of the commandments is most important, Jesus answered with these words, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)

Two things come to mind in this. One, loving God and loving people is more than just an academic point to be made over 52 weeks of preaching. It is a life to be lived. A fruit of the Spirit by which we should be utterly consumed. Second, I'm mindful of just how poor a job I do of loving both God and people.

Heavenly Father, may your Holy Spirit produce his fruit in my life. Fruit that consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May I love you as you have first loved me. May I love my neighbor as you have first loved me. Forgive me when I fail to do so. Amen.

Accentuate the Positive

2010-12-18T20:34:00.002-06:00

I want to see the good in people. I want to recognize the potential in men and women created in the image of God. I want to see the working of God's Holy Spirit in his people as he conforms them to the image of Christ.

I love people who are devoted to prayer, who show compassion to the hurting, who share insights from the Bible, who display a servant's heart. But, I am prone to focusing on the sins and weaknesses of people. And that bothers me. I pick up on the judgmental spirit, the whining selfishness, the justifying of sin, the bad attitude. And the latter overshadows the former.

Heavenly Father, help me to see through your eyes. May I not ignore the frailties of the human nature, but see them with a view to transformation. May I see your fingerprints on men and women, forming them into the kind of people you originally created them to be.

Do Something

2010-12-01T09:23:00.002-06:00

God has been softening my heart toward the poor and dispossessed this year. Francis Chan's book, "Crazy Love", was challenging. My church's yearlong emphasis on the Great Commandment - to love God and to love people - has also moved me. But now I find myself on the brink of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the need and am faced with the question of just what can I do. I can't alleviate every need. I can't give to every worthy organization. But I can do something.

My son-in-law and I will be adopting a pastor among the persecuted church in 2011 and sending financial support through Voice of the Martyrs. Others in my family are making donations and purchasing gifts that support various relief organizations dealing with everything from child poverty to human trafficking.

Check out relief organizations like World Vision, Compassion International, Hope4Kids International, and others. Become aware of the plight of the persecuted via Voice of the Martyrs, Christian Freedom International, International Christian Concern, and others. Or do your own research into missions/ministries that work to meet a particular need that burdens your heart.

We may not be able to do everything, but we all can DO SOMETHING!

Which Comes First?

2010-11-15T10:03:00.003-06:00

John 14:15 records these words of Jesus, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (NIV)

I have often taught that obedience is the proof of the pudding that a person loves Jesus. If you obey him, you love him; if you don't, you don't. I have hammered the concept of obedience until I probably sound like the Pharisees of old. But that approach makes obedience the be-all-end-all.

Lately I have begun to wrestle with which comes first, the obedience or the love. And I'm thinking it is time to focus on the love. Maybe Jesus is saying "love me and the obedience will follow." Maybe love should be the be-all-end-all.

It is time to gaze upon Jesus and see the one Colossians 2 describes as the embodiment of the fullness of the Deity, the head over every power and authority, the one who removes our sinful nature as he buries us and raises us in baptism, the one with whom our sins were nailed to the cross, and the one in whose cross victory is won. Gaze upon him and see love, know love. And, having been loved, love him in return. And, when you love him, you will find that obedience follows.

* * * * * * * *
Just finished reading Lucado's "Outlive Your Life". Well worth reading.

More Than Ritual

2010-11-10T08:48:00.004-06:00

One of the local Christian radio stations is advertising a "tour of Israel." Such trips are offered all the time. Tourism must be Israel's number one business. What struck me, though, and bothered me was a line in their commercial: "be baptized in the Jordan River."

Considering that most, if not all, participants in such a tour are already Christians, having therefore already been baptized, what is the point? "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4 NIV)

What troubles me is that too many Christians consider baptism nothing more than ritual. And, since it is mere ritual, why not be dunked one more time in the Jordan River? But baptism is NOT mere ritual. And taking such a tourist approach to baptism robs the event of its God ordained purpose and power. Reread that Romans verse. Read the other texts dealing with baptism. Something happens in the act of being lowered into the water. Something spiritual happens. A person is cleansed, is forgiven, puts off the sinful nature, puts on Christ, and more.

Baptism is far more than ritual. Take a tour of Israel. See the sights. Even take a dip in the Jordan. Just don't call it baptism unless it really, truly, biblically is baptism.

Relevance

2010-11-08T09:48:00.002-06:00

The great questions of humanity are answered in Jesus Christ. Some will disagree, but the fact remains. The problem is that we Christians, and preachers like me, sometimes fail to reveal the answers or to make them clear and relevant to those asking the questions.

In reading "Pax Vobiscum" by Henry Drummond I was challenged, more so, I was struck right between the eyes. He begins, "I once heard a sermon by a distinguished preacher upon 'Rest.' It was full of beautiful thoughts; but when I came to ask myself, 'How does he say I can get Rest?' there was no answer. The sermon was sincerely meant to be practical, yet it contained no experience that seemed to me to be tangible, nor any advice that I could grasp - any advice, that is to say, which could help me to find the thing as I went about the world."

I have been preaching for thirty years, give or a take a year or two. I have preached some sermons that I thought were excellent. I have preached some sermons I am ashamed of to this day! But the question that haunts me is "have I helped my hearers to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?" Have my sermons helped people find the answers to life's grand questions which are found in Jesus Christ? Has my preaching drawn people to the light of Jesus Christ and aided their growth as His disciples?

I'm not bashing myself here, just asking myself some very straight-forward questions. I received a book in the mail a week or two ago: "Applying the Sermon" by Daniel Overdorf. I'm going to begin reading it today. I want always to be found sharpening my homiletic (preaching) skills and more faithfully and effectively proclaiming God's Word to any and all who will listen.

Oh Lord, thank you for the tremendous privilege and overwhelming responsibility of preaching your Word. Teach me your words, fill me with your Spirit, and use me to your glory.

Invitations

2010-10-20T09:37:00.002-05:00

Invitations are all around us. Businesses send invitations to grand openings and tent sales. Children receive invitations to their friends' birthday parties. I belong to a church heritage that expects an "invitation" to be offered at the close of every sermon - inviting people to come to Jesus. A grand idea except for the fact that most of the people listening to the sermon are already Christians.

The invitation to be a friend of God, a disciple of Jesus, a new creation by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit should begin in the arena of human relationships. In other words, it is up to you and me to talk to our friends and family about the gospel of Jesus and invite them to respond to God's invitation.

Acts 10 tells of the spread of the gospel to the Gentile, non-Jewish, races. A devout man named Cornelius is divinely directed by God to send for a man named Peter. Anticipating something from God Cornelius invites those he loves to come and listen. We read such statements as "Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends." and "Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people." and "Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." - Acts 10:24,27,33 NIV

When was the last time you acted like Cornelius by inviting friends and family to hear the Word of God? When did you last invite someone to attend a worship service, or accompany you to a Bible study, or to sit with you and discuss things Biblical and eternal? The time is now. Invite someone today.

I Like Books

2010-10-19T08:52:00.003-05:00

I like books. My office is full of them. My house is full of them. Some I have struggled to get through once and ought to drop off at the used book store (though some really should be recycled). Others I have read time and time again until covers are tattered and pages are falling out.

A couple of weeks ago I purchased an e-reader. Bought the Nook from Barnes and Noble. I tend to be leery of digital electronic products. I would rather hold a picture than look at one on the computer. I would rather listen to an old vinyl album than carry an i-pod. I would rather hold a paperback in my hands than an electronic device. But, with that said, I am enjoying my Nook. I have purchased the works of George MacDonald, my favorite author, the works of GK Chesterton, whom I have always wanted to read, and the works of CH Spurgeon, who has often been recommended to me. Add to that EM Bounds' works on prayer and the biography of Barton W Stone and I have a ton of books in my little, take it anywhere, digital library.

I guess the point is that there is a wonderful world of adventure, enjoyment, and knowledge out there. Pick up a book and read. Granted, some aren't worth the paper they are printed on, but some are wonderful treasures that will enrich your life. Read something today!

Check List Christianity

2010-10-04T14:09:00.002-05:00

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV)

The Great Commandment has been the focus of my preaching this year. Trying to help people grasp the truth that Christianity is about loving God and loving people, not working through some check list of entrance requirements for heaven. Yet I still hear, almost with increased intensity, the ideas of obligation and duty and works righteousness. Are we trying to earn God's favor? Impossible! Are we trying to somehow repay His kindness displayed in the cross of Christ? Impossible!

If I love my wife I spend time with her. I speak with her and listen to her. I do mundane things like take out the trash. I do romantic things like bring her a rose. We do life together. If I love God I spend time with him - prayer, Bible study, worship. I encounter him in the people who surround me - ministering to Jesus in the poor and broken and disenchanted. I meet him in the places he invites me to meet him - the waters of baptism, the hour of prayer, the body of Christ which is the Church, the act of service, the night of solitude.

Do I place a check mark on my list beside the duties I have fulfilled? Attended worship - check. Said my prayers - check. Read my Bible - check. Dropped a ten spot in the offering - check. Volunteered at the soup kitchen - check. Helped out in youth group - check. Went on a mission trip - check. God must be pleased. Or, have I met my loving heavenly Father in the places where he has invited me to meet him? Oh may we learn to love him! May we learn that the law of love is not burdensome! May we come to love God and love people and so fulfill the Law and the Prophets!

Enjoy

2010-09-13T15:27:00.003-05:00

Ate lunch at a restaurant today. As the waitress set my meal before me she said "enjoy". I have had many servers say the same thing before, but today it struck a cord in me. Maybe because part of my morning was spent perusing information from World Vision.

Eating can be an enjoyable experience. God himself created us with five senses. Taste buds savor the flavor. The sense of smell appreciates the aroma. The eyes find the food appealing. Even the fingers, when eating finger food, join in via the sense of touch. And the ears pick up on the crunch when you bite into your food. Add to that mix the environment a restaurant tries to create and you can "enjoy" your meal.

Some people will go to bed hungry tonight. Some people will die from starvation today. Some would love to have anything to eat, regardless of what it looks like, smells like, or tastes like. Me? I sit here typing this note with a full stomach knowing that yet another meal will be set in front of me before the day is done.

I think I will try to "enjoy" my food a bit more from now on, in the sense of appreciating the fact that I even have it to begin with. I think I will complain less about the meals that aren't comprised of my favorite foods. I think I will thank my heavenly Father for the provision of my daily bread.

And, I think I will be a bit more mindful of the many who will go to bed hungry tonight. I may not be able to alleviate world hunger, but I can help a few through organizations like Compassion Intl and World Vision and others.

Enjoy.

A Stirring

2010-09-09T09:47:00.002-05:00

God is persistent. God is relentless. His love is beyond the limits of our imaginations. There is a stirring in my heart, in my soul, lately that is growing stronger. For too long I have been distracted by "life" - concerned about family finances, worried about the decrease in church attendance and giving, finding solace in escape (Doctor Who on TV, playing cards online) rather than in the Word and on my knees. Yet "The God of the universe - the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor" (thank you Francis Chan) loves me, continues to love me always. And He is calling me back to himself. There is a stirring in my heart ...

Be Still ... And Know

2010-09-08T12:47:00.002-05:00

This coming Sunday we will be launching our "Crazy Love" emphasis, drawing on Francis Chan's book by that title. Ten weeks on responding to the crazy, relentless, all-powerful love of God with a crazy love of our own. Oh to fulfill the great commandment to love God with all the heart, with all the soul, with all the mind, and with all the strength ... and to love one's neighbor as oneself.

This Sunday's sermon is titled "Be Still ... And Know" drawn from Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." My heart is actually racing as I prepare this message. How does a finite creature speak of The Infinite Creator? Who am I to describe God to His people? How does one speak of He who is beyond imagination? BE STILL ... AND KNOW!

People want a god. They want a god they can explain and understand. But God cannot be contained that way. If you can explain and understand your god then I guarantee he is not God!

I can't wait for Sunday. I haven't been as excited about a sermon in a long time. I pray God will speak through me. I pray that I will be faithful and true to the Word of the Lord and the Lord of the Word. I pray that I and those I preach to will Be Still And Know, that we will catch a glimpse of the glory of God and never be the same.

I AM

2010-09-04T09:29:00.004-05:00

In 1978 The Wall Brothers Band recorded a song titled "I AM", written by Lance DeMers, copyright 1978 by Dimension Music (SESAC). Every so often I pull out that old vinyl album, blow off the dust, and play it over and over. It reminds me of the awesome glory and majesty of God, the great I AM. If you get a chance to listen to it, do so. For now, here are the lyrics:

Sometimes I will find myself
Living in a world of make believe
Just to find that it's my own heart
that deceives me
Pride's a good way of fallin' down
Makin' hazy what was clear
Then I hear the still small voice
Sweet and strong in my ear.

Could You make the mountains rise?
Could You paint the morning skies?
Were You here when the world began?
Can You make the eagle soar?
Can You make the ocean roar?
Are You able to make humble man?

Sometimes I will find myself
Building sand castles high
When I turn they have fallen down
As the tide comes
Strange how I chose to walk the road
Lonely men have walked in vain
'Til the Light that directs my path
Speaks to me sweet and plain.

Could You make the mountains rise?
Could You paint the morning skies?
Were You here when the world began?
Can You make the eagle soar?
Can You make the ocean roar?
Are You able to make humble man?

I AM

more "books"

2010-08-16T13:05:00.002-05:00

Have been hearing about the writings of Francis Chan - "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God" to be specific. Finally decided to pick them up a week ago. Forgotten God is awesome. A simple approach to Scripture and humility before the Spirit of God combine to make for a very interesting book. Easy to read and hard to put down.

Starting Crazy Love today. We have decided to use it as the text for our fall small group study. I like what it says on the book's back cover: "It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe - the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor - loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you've verbalized it yet or not ... we all know something's wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts - its falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

Pick up a copy and read along with me. Better yet, if you are in the Cedar Rapids area, come and join the discussion in one of our small groups.

Book Recommendation

2010-08-04T14:23:00.003-05:00

Just finished reading "Living A Life On Loan" by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson published by Standard. No longer available from Standard, can't be found at Christian Book Distributors, but there are a few on Amazon. Snatch one up before they are gone!

The authors highlight the fact that our lives are not our own, they belong to God and we have them on loan. The book develops around the word LIFE - life consists of Loves, Intersections, Fortune, and Eternity.

Loves - our passions, purpose, priorities, and values. Are our loves in line with Jesus' great commandment to love God and love people?

Intersections - how and where we connect with other people. Are we aware of the people around us who we might be able to influence with the love and grace of God?

Fortune - using our resources to help others. Do we realize that God may have blessed us materially in order for us to minister to the needs of others?

Eternity - making a difference beyond life here on earth. Are we leaving a legacy that reaches into eternity or just living for today?

It may be time for a little self-evaluation.

Feeling Like A Pharisee

2010-07-20T09:05:00.002-05:00

The Pharisees were rigid teachers of the Law and strict adherents to it. However, they missed the point. Jesus would say of them that "they do not practice what they preach." (Matthew 23:3) Also, in Matthew 23, Jesus would rail against them as "hypocrites", "blind guides", "white washed tombs...beautiful on the outside but...full of dead men's bones."

I'm feeling a bit like a Pharisee. I love the Word and seek to preach it accurately. I ache for the development of faith and discipleship in the lives of the people I minister to. But, at the same time, I question my own discipleship. I find myself taking solace in holding a pure doctrine, in believing the right things, while not necessarily living those things. I am aware of a lack of love for difficult people even though I preach that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I preach about the majesty of a God who deserves our deepest devotion and who invites us into fellowship with Him, but neglect Him as I am distracted by TV reruns and web surfing. I hold high the call to a holy life of obedience to the Lordship of Christ, but struggle in my sins.

Maybe the very fact that I am feeling such conviction indicates that I am not like the Pharisees. If I act upon such conviction surely I am not. If I ignore such conviction ......

From Mike Baker's blog, "The 21st century heresy is that you can call yourself a Christian without being a disciple." My prayer is this - may I be, O Lord, a Christian in the truest, deepest sense of the word, may I be your disciple, apprenticed to you, learning from you, becoming like you.

Faith Informs Everything!

2010-07-12T07:06:00.002-05:00

During the Iowa gubernatorial primaries I endorsed a candidate on my facebook page. I had a "friend" take issue with a "religious leader" trying to influence how people vote. Interesting.

Today and tomorrow I will be attending the Iowa Renewal Project in Des Moines. A gathering of "religious leaders" in a briefing with conservative politicians. I have no doubt that some people would consider this inappropriate. Never let faith and politics mix.

I would suggest, no, I firmly believe, that faith must inform every aspect of the Christian's life - including politics. The moment we divorce our faith from any part of our daily living we have ceased to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Being a Christian isn't about going to church on Sundays. It is about how I live in the home and the workplace, it is about how I conduct myself in private and in public, it is about how I live when at a ballgame or in the polling place, it is about everything.

I'm not here to say you should vote republican or democrat or libertarian or communist or green. I am here to say that when you vote for a candidate who supports abortion you lend your voice to the slaughter of innocent children. When you vote for a candidate who is in bed with the homosexual agenda you lend your voice to a lifestyle that is opposed to biblical teaching. When you vote for a candidate whose policies oppress the poor you lend your voice to injustice.

What a minute. You can't legislate morality. Really? Every law on the books is a legislation of morality. Every law ever passed is a determination of what is right and wrong, of how people are to live in a civilized society, and carry consequences for breaking them. And it is time for Christians to let their faith inform their politics.

Observations

2010-06-24T09:19:00.002-05:00

Following is a hodge-podge of thoughts from the last few days:

Spent some time on the campus of Lincoln Christian University reading, praying, visiting, relaxing. It was good. Read a bit of "The Ragamuffin Gospel" at my daughter's urging. Read "Let Your Life Speak" at Dr Lowery's urging. Read some "Bonhoeffer" at my urging. And read from Mark, Luke, and Genesis at what I perceive to be God's urging.

"May you rise each morning with an awareness that you are His beloved child." That blessing was prayerfully offered over me by my friend Mike. That prayer and the words of Brennan Manning about the breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love were much needed by me. Why do I keep trying to appease God and earn His love when He has already demonstrated His love for me in the sending of His Son? I am loved! So are you!

Watched my son learn a bit about basketball at the LCU basketball camp. He had a wonderful time and wants to try out for the middle school team this fall. There is a joy that wells up in my heart as I watch my kids enjoy who God has made them to be.

Saw a billboard on the interstate for a "gentleman's club" - what a misnomer! How can anything that has to do with the devaluing of women, with their use and abuse, that also dehumanizes men, possibly be referred to as gentlemanly?

Simple Surrender and Obedience

2010-06-14T09:05:00.002-05:00

I wonder if we, if I, don't spend more time debating and discussing matters of Scripture and theology than putting those teachings into practice. I have come to find the endless debates over sovereignty and free will, over Calvinism and Arminianism, over the details of communion, the nuances of baptism, and the manner of church discipline to be distracting. Wouldn't it be better to simply hear the Word of the Lord and live it?

In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Humanly speaking, we could understand and interpret the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience, not interpreting it or applying it, but doing and obeying it. That is the only way to hear his word."

The Ethiopian saw a pool of water and asked Philip, "Here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And so he was. The church in Troas "came together on the first day of the week to break bread." (communion) And so do we. Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them. Do we? James 1:22, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (italics mine)

benevolence

2010-05-17T15:04:00.002-05:00

Jesus said "So when you give to the needy ..." The point of His teaching in Matthew 6 has to do with our motivation for and our manner of giving. The assumption is that we will give. And that makes me uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable for a number of reasons.

I want to help the needy without being taken by the unscrupulous. And I don't know if that is possible. Be giving and you will be taken advantage of. Be reluctant and you will turn away people with honest need.

I once had a woman call stating her need for food. Five kids, all hungry, no food in the cupboard. A lady from church and I went grocery shopping and delivered several bags of groceries to her door. Indeed, upon entering her house we found her cupboards bare. But on the feet of each child were a pair of designer basketball shoes costing upwards of $100 per pair. I thought of the PayLess shoes on my kids' feet.

I once had a homeless man visit my office. Actually, he did so every few weeks. He lived in his car. We helped him a few times, but finally had to say "no." As his anger rose he let slip with a couple interesting bits of information. He suggested he sit and beg with a cardboard sign on the corner as those guys regularly pull in $2000 a week. And, he shared the beggar's mantra with me, "buy what you want, beg what you need." You see, no church will pay for your booze and cigarettes, but neither will a church deny food for your children.

A beggar came to my office today. I turned him away. Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." (Matthew 25:41-45 NIV) I hope I did not turn Jesus away at my door.

The Power of Prayer

2010-04-26T16:27:00.003-05:00

I have been hearing much talk lately about the "power of prayer." Not to nit-pick, but I want to take issue with the phrase. My problem with it is this - the power lies not in the prayer, but in the God addressed in prayer.

Just about every religion known to man has some kind of prayer activity. Unfortunately, most of those prayers are expressions, heart-felt though they may be, made to gods created in the image of man. Prayers offered to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on the other hand are made to the One who created mankind in His image. And that is a huge difference.

My concern is this: if the power lies in the activity of prayer, then it matters not to whom or what you pray. The "power of prayer" in such a case would be inherent in the human being, not in the deity being addressed. However, if the power we are talking about is God's and not man's, then to whom we pray becomes the essential concern. And that makes all the difference.

The Power of Preaching

2010-04-15T09:22:00.002-05:00

The following is a quote from Matt Proctor's "President's Perspective" in the Spring 2010 issue of Ozark Christian College's "Compass".

In that moment as the preacher moves to the pulpit, physical eyes may see only a middle-aged, balding man preparing to monologue for thirty minutes from a two-thousand-year-old book on a sleepy Sunday morning. But as that stubborn college student, struggling teacher, and grieving widow sit waiting, spiritual eyes see something else.

For at that moment, ten thousand angels lean over the balconies of heaven, holding their breath, wondering what might happen this time if these souls really hear. Ten thousand demons glare up through the gates of hell, licking their lips, hoping no one pays attention. The air is charged with supernatural possibilities, because as all heaven and hell know, eternity hangs in the balance.

Look What God Is Doing

2010-04-11T14:17:00.002-05:00

I love ministry. Some days are tough, yes. At times I honestly wonder what I'm doing. But, I love ministry. There are days when I can relate to Moses to whom the children of Israel "grumbled" in the wilderness as my office seems to be labeled "complaint department." But, I love ministry.

Today has been one of those days of great encouragement and blessing. I limited my sermon to only ten minutes. I preached from Matthew 11. John the Baptist sent a messenger to ask Jesus if he was the one to come or if they should look for another. Jesus' didn't answer with a "yes" or a "no." Rather he told John to take note of what he heard and saw - the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the good news is preached. Look what God is doing!

Following this "sermonette" we had forty minutes of congregational sharing as we celebrated what God is doing in our midst. I wish I could remember everything that was shared, but here is a sampling:
*Our LIFE groups provide not only instruction in the Word, but a sense of family.
*E-KLUB and youth groups, Wednesday and Sunday nights, are awesome! One child told an adult leader, "this is the best church I have ever been to." Children and youth are asking insightful, challenging questions about faith and discipleship.
*Many adults are stepping up and filling ministry roles.
*Compassion has been shown to many in times of grief, physical challenge, and economic hardship.
*People fairly new to our fellowship have felt welcomed and wanted.
*Prayer is a priority.
*Missions support is not just an after thought, but a real priority.
*And so much more!

I told the congregation that I wondered if we had a service like this whether we would have to schedule another because there was so much to share or if we would sit there in uncomfortable silence. Looks like we just may have to schedule another because God is moving in our midst. I'm so glad we are able to see it. Why do I love ministry? Just look what God is doing and you will see.

Books, Books, and More Books

2010-04-06T14:32:00.003-05:00

I love books. My book shelves, both at home and at the office, are overflowing. I currently have a stack of ten books I am in the process of reading. I have an entire shelf filled with books I intend to read, but haven't gotten to yet. And the list of books I still want to purchase or borrow grows almost daily.

The reality is that some books aren't worth the paper they are printed on. And that is sad. But other books are worth their weight in gold. And I love finding those precious treasures. Some books, having been read once, are off to the second-hand book store to be sold, or if really bad, tossed in the recycling bin. But other books are worth reading more than once.

Yesterday I began my second reading of Robert Lowery's "Revelation's Rhapsody." Dr Lowery takes a wonderful approach to the book of Revelation, removing it from the Hollywood-esque nature of much modern commentary and returning it to the solid ground of Biblical hermeneutics (the science and art of interpreting and understanding Scripture). It is a little known book worth reading again and again.

Because HE Lives

2010-03-30T16:41:00.003-05:00

Death. It is all around us. This past week I ministered to a family dealing with the death of a precious eighteen month old little girl. Another family from church is out of town for the funeral of the husband's father. The tragic death of a child. The cancer caused death of a grown man. Death. The most natural of unnatural human experiences. Natural because we all die. Unnatural because we were created to live.

The apostle Paul refers to death as an enemy. In 1 Corinthians 15:26 he writes, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (NIV) The author of Hebrews wrote, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (2:14-15 NIV)

This coming Sunday is Easter, or, as we often call it, Resurrection Sunday. It is time to remember that death could not hold its grip on Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death, offering us forgiveness and life. I am not a fan of death. It is indeed an enemy. But the victory has been won. Death has been defeated. May we never forget that because HE lives, we too shall live.

Something New

2010-03-09T07:56:00.002-06:00

I have been thinking about how we in the Church often settle for changes in persons' behavior when what God has offered is changes in persons' very being. Why do we settle for a system of Christianized behavior modification when God longs to make us new? My wife enjoys watching "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition." In every episode I have watched they don't remodel, they remake. The first step is to demolish the old, rotting, dilapidated home and then set about building a new home that will amaze and astonish not only the homeowners but the viewing audience as well.

That is what God does. He demolishes the old, sinful nature and then remakes us after the image of His Son. The end result is astonishing! Hear what Scripture has to say:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." - Romans 6:2-4 (NIV)

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

We in the Church should never settle for mere conformity to a list of rules through behavior modification. We should live in the glory of souls made new in the very image and likeness of Christ through regeneration, through being, by the working of God's Holy Spirit, a new creation!

Preaching/Teaching Convention

2010-02-26T08:23:00.002-06:00

Wow! What a wonderful three days I just experienced. My wife and I, along with a colleague from Iowa City, attended the Preaching/Teaching Convention in Joplin MO at Ozark Christian College. On the drive home Tom commented that "you don't always know how thirsty you are until you take a drink." All three of us agreed, this was a very refreshing event.

Working through the book of Revelation the main speakers unpacked the following topics:
Christ Unveiled
Worship Unveiled
Encouragement Unveiled
Witness Unveiled
The Enemy Unveiled
Victory Unveiled
The Bride Unveiled

The corporate worship was uplifting, the workshops were insightful, and the fellowship was sweet. I have returned home with renewed passion and excitement for the task of preaching. I have been challenged to study more, prepare better, go deeper, and preach with more passion. I have returned home with rekindled "fire in my bones." With Paul I can say, "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV) I have also returned home with my own faith rekindled. What was beginning to cool into mere embers has been fanned back into flame.

Thank you God for your mercies, new every morning. Thank you God for the Preaching/Teaching Convention. Thank you God for the privilege of being your child and the responsibility of proclaiming your gospel. May I glorify you in both!

The Burden of Preaching

2010-01-25T08:35:00.002-06:00

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) The ESV uses "fear" instead of "timidity".

Yesterday I preached from 1 Corinthians 13, what is often referred to as "the love chapter". I presented love as the essential ingredient (vs 1-3), and as the mark of maturity (vs 8-13), and then I defined love from verses 4-8a. This is a beautiful text. It is encouraging and uplifting. So why was I anxious about preaching this particular sermon? Why did the word "fear" race through my mind as I prayed just prior to entering the pulpit? Why was a "spirit of timidity" tempting me to tone it down a bit, to not be bold?

Could it be because in order to call people to something higher you must make them uncomfortable with where they are? Could it be that for us to rise to the lofty heights of love expressed as it is presented in 1 Corinthians 13 we must first understand that we are not there yet? Could it be that as a preacher I have concerns about disturbing the comfortable? Could it be that I fear the reactions and responses of people?

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV), "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel."

2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV), "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."

Tribute

2010-01-06T10:54:00.002-06:00

The following was written by Don Hamilton and posted by a friend on the "Community of Faith Forum". I was so touched by it that I asked for and received permission to post it here. I have three reasons for doing so: to honor the memory of a faithful servant of Christ, to encourage smaller churches in the truth that their efforts do matter, and to say that I hope I will be remembered as fondly when my days draw to a close. Read, enjoy, ponder, pray, serve, follow, live, die, and do all to the glory of God.

Richard Yoder was a devout Christian man. For some 45 years Richard Yoder was a gospel preacher. He was never a big-name preacher, even in the small community of churches where he was known. I doubt he ever ministered in a church of more than 50 people. Though he offered literally thousands of invitations in his ministerial life he never had Billy Graham-like responses where an entire football field is filled with converts. In fact, in the 3+ years I regularly attended the church where he preached so tirelessly I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of conversions that resulted. But there was one that was of particular significance to me: my own.

You see, back in the spring of 1968 I became smitten, as they used to say, by a gorgeous little blue-eyed blond named Rebecca (Becki). She was two years behind me in high school and she was also a preacher’s daughter. She was Richard Yoder’s daughter. Now, sometimes preachers’ kids become notoriously rebellious, but not so with Becki. She was a devoted daughter and a devoted Christian. Me? I was an atheist. As we started “dating” (as much as her dad would allow) Becki never demanded that I convert to Christ or even attend church. However, I did attend because that’s where she was so often.

I wasn’t there to listen, I was there to pass notes and spend time with her. But eventually things started to happen. One was that I began to observe the love within her family and to realize that it was the influence of their–especially the parents’–belief in Christ that made it what every family should be. I also realized that part of what made me love Becki was Jesus in her. I also began to actually pay attention to those sermons her dad kept preaching. After some months had passed I began to realize that what this man was saying made sense. In fact, it made sense of the world, of life itself. Eventually I realized that the gospel of Jesus was true. It had to be; it was the only logical, coherent, rational explanation for what life is all about.

On Sunday, January 5, 1969, Richard Yoder called me over to his study and asked me if I was ready to act upon what I’d been hearing. That evening he baptized me into Christ. On July 7, 1973 he became my father-in-law as I married that wonderful little gal that I’m thrilled to say remains my wife after 36+ years. Richard, along with Becki’s mom, Mary, continued to be wonderful Christian influences, wonderful in-laws, and wonderful grandparents to our sons Paul and Scott.

Richard Yoder was not famous or even a gifted speaker. But he was dearly loved by a great number of people and exuded Jesus in all of his life. While he may not have legions of converts to show for his faithful service, his influence for Christ was deep and far-reaching nonetheless.

And among those he did help bring into the Kingdom of God, there’s me. Richard Yoder was more than my father-in-law, Richard Yoder was my father in the faith. For that I am literally eternally grateful. He passed the baton of salvation to me. My prayer is that I will successfully pass it on as well.

On December 18, 2009, at 90 years of age Richard Yoder went to be with the Lord he had served so faithfully. Thanks, Dad. I shudder to think where I might be had it not been for you.

Your loving son in the faith, Don.

A Child Is Born

2009-12-25T08:06:00.003-06:00

Beautiful Christmas Eve service at Eastview last night.

Joy of family gathered around the Christmas tree this morning. gifts. laughter. Brandon read the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke. homemade cinnamon rolls.

Our traditional Christmas dinner of chicken and dumplings later this afternoon.

Family serving holiday dinner at a local church today for those who are struggling financially this time of year. (looking back - the holiday dinner at St Mark's had more than enough volunteers, we helped for a while but left early. glad so many had the heart to serve. bummed that we really weren't needed)

Today, in the city of David, is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Joy to the world!

love your neighbor as yourself

2009-12-21T10:20:00.002-06:00

When asked which commandment is most important of all Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28b-31 ESV)

Just a brief comment on the "second". "Love your neighbor as yourself." That should be a good thing, a grand thing, but in the case of many it is less than our Lord requires. The love of self for some is no more than the distorted, hideous, perverse human ugliness of selfishness and pride. Others love themselves with the empty self-esteem of pop psychology that sees oneself through rose colored glasses. And some have no sense of self-love at all, embracing rather a self-loathing.

How does one "love your neighbor as yourself?" First see yourself through God's eyes: 1) created in His image, 2) marred by the ugliness of sin, 3) redeemed by His love demonstrated in Jesus Christ crucified and risen. That will give you a clear, true, and proper perspective of who you are eliminating pride, unconcerned with self-esteem, and able to cherish yourself as God does. And then ... you can see your neighbor through God's eyes and love him as you love yourself.

blogosphere sin

2009-12-16T20:58:00.002-06:00

I have been informed that I have committed a sin in the world of blogging. I posted a blog and then deleted it. Oops. Sorry. I posted on how relativism - the denial of absolute truth followed by the constructing by every individual of their own truth - has infiltrated the church. But, when I went back and read the post again and again and again I found that I liked it less and less and less. So, I hit the delete button. That is my confession. If I find I can couple it with repentance I may try to address the topic yet once again. We'll see. But, then, if I don't like it, there is always that delete button, taunting me, tempting me, calling me . . .

Church Growth

2009-12-04T09:18:00.002-06:00

Thirty years of ministry. Two new church plants. Numerous books on evangelism and strategies for church growth. Done it all. Tried it all. Years ago it was all about telemarketing, yep we utilized it. A few years ago it was all about mass mailings, yep we tried it. We're on the tail end of the "seeker sensitive" craze, yep been there. I even remember asking worship leaders to dress like this: two men, one in a suit the other in dockers or jeans; two women, one in a dress the other in slacks. Why? Because everyone who came to our service would see someone they could relate to. It also provided everyone who came to our service the opportunity to see someone they didn't relate to. Hmm?

I'm tired of church growth fads, of marketing strategies, and business models for the church. Some will say I'm just old. I like to think I'm a bit more mature. But the best model for evangelism and church growth is the Biblical model.

In Acts 2 Peter preaches a pointed and convicting sermon about who Jesus is and how the people had rejected him. They were "cut to the heart" and 3000 were baptized that day.

Toward the end of Acts 2 we get a glimpse of the church's daily life - devotion to the Word, to prayer, to one another, and to the breaking of bread (The Lord's Supper). Their love for God and for one another led them to make great sacrifices for each other and the community took notice. "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira both perish under what we might call severe church discipline. But as a result we find that "more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number" even as "no one else dared join them." No game players allowed! This was serious business!

The book of Acts as a whole is the story of how the gospel of Jesus, spoken by men and women divinely empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread throughout the Roman empire. Christians were and are those who take the Word of God to heart, who live it faithfully, and share it with others boldly yet lovingly.

Point? The Church grows when it is true to its Lord, its calling, and itself. The Church grows when it acts like the Church! Maybe we should be a little less impressed with the latest church growth fad and a little more committed to being Jesus' disciples in word and in deed. Then the Church will grow like it did in the book of Acts.

What's Important?

2009-11-25T09:08:00.002-06:00

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18b-20a NIV, italics mine)

Jesus' final command should be our first priority. The making of disciples should be what we, the Church, are all about. But sadly we are so easily distracted. We seem more concerned with the condition of our buildings than with the condition of souls. We worry about budgets and bottom lines more than about the eternal destinies of men and women. We display more passion for our outdated programs and traditions than we do for the lost Jesus came to save. Do we really know what is important? Do we really care?

One of the things I cherish about the National Missionary Convention is how it reminds me of what is truly important. I don't know how many times my eyes welled up with tears this past weekend as missionaries and preachers and speakers reminded me of the eternal need of men and women. A Christless eternity, hell, stands before hundreds, thousands, millions, even billions and we are called to make Christ's love known to them. God loves them, he sent his Son to die for them, and he has sent us into the world not to huddle in our comfortable congregations but to enter the battle for the souls of men and women.

Paraphrasing missionary Charles Studd, Christian singer and songwriter Steve Camp sings, "Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gates of hell." Studd labored faithfully in China, India, and Africa dying at the age of seventy while still working tirelessly in central Africa. May we allow God to define what is important and then give ourselves to it with all our heart and soul.

The Face of the Church

2009-11-23T11:27:00.002-06:00

I spent this past weekend in Peoria IL at the National Missionary Convention. For me it is like a taste of heaven. Awesome worship, powerful preaching, insightful workshops, fascinating conversations, and fellowship with brothers and sisters from around the globe. And all of it done within a context of God's heart for the world. The NMC always brings me back to the point and purpose of ministry and missions - reconciling the world to the God who so loves that he sent his only Son to die.

I plan to return to the above thoughts in another blog to be posted soon, but for today, let me speak to what I call "the face of the Church." I grew up in a small, rural, mid-western town that was 100% white. I attended a small, mid-western Bible College that was predominately white. I have ministered in churches that have been either totally or predominately white. And yet the world, and the Church, is comprised of many colors.

At the NMC I get to listen to, converse with, and rub shoulders with brothers and sisters from all around the world - African, Asian, Latin American, European. And even those distinctions are broken down by ethnicity and tribe. I get to see the face of the church and it is an amazing and beautiful thing! And it provides a taste of heaven:

"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 ESV)

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)

The Church is so diverse, and yet for all its many members it is still One Body. How I pray that we might find, in our local congregations, a breaking down of racial and ethnic barriers, that we might with one heart, one soul, and one voice praise our God!

it's all about ... me ... them ... Him ... who?

2009-11-18T12:49:00.002-06:00

Was reading this morning from "Giving Ourselves To Prayer". Chapter 36 by John Franklin titled "Intimacy With God Through Prayer." He develops a rather challenging, and quite biblical, thought. Intimacy with God is not about my warm fuzzies, rather it is about faithfully partnering with God in His work.

Scripture reveals that "The fuel of His (Jesus') relationship lay in serving the Father by fulfilling His work (see John 4:34, 5:36, 9:4, 17:4, 19:30), not in what the Father did for Him." When we understand that we begin to grasp what Jesus is saying to us in John 14:15,21a, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ... Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me." (ESV)

Haven't we had enough of the rah, rah "I love Jesus, yes I do, I love Jesus, how 'bout you" drivel? Don't you think we could use a bit more rolling up of the sleeves, getting dirty for Jesus, hand to the plow, partnering with Him is His work of reconciling this world to the Father, obedience to His commandments type of loving Him?

When we realize it (Christianity, faith, Scripture, the Church, heaven and hell, everything) is about Him and not about us, whether those inside or outside the Church, we will pleasantly find deeper, richer, truer intimacy with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The Persecuted Church

2009-11-09T14:29:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was The International Day of Prayer For the Persecuted Church. This day of remembrance rolls around once a year, on the second Sunday of November, and goes unnoticed by the vast majority of Christians and churches. Maybe even worse is how some of us who are informed tend to forget as well. Out of sight - out of mind, you know.

Paul shared these words with the Christians in Corinth, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life." (2 Corinthians 2:15-16a ESV) One scent perceived differently by different people. The aroma of Christ which is life, a good and pleasant scent, to those who are being saved. But death, a foul and offensive scent, to those who are perishing.

Those who find this aroma pleasant are drawn to Christ through us. Those who find this aroma offensive oppose Christ in us. And hence there is persecution. As Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. ... Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:18,20a ESV)

Let us remember our persecuted brothers and sisters. Let us prayerfully bring them before our Father's throne of grace. Let us support them through the relief efforts of various ministries. Let us stand with them in any way we can.

Check out the following:
Christian Freedom International at http://www.christianfreedom.org/
International Christian Concern at http://www.persecution.org/
The Voice of the Martyrs at http://www.persecution.com/

Independence

2009-11-02T12:30:00.003-06:00

I have been pondering our independence, in a variety of settings, the past few days. The following thoughts are just that, thoughts. I invite you to ponder with me.

As Americans we cherish our independence. Our founding document is called the Declaration of Independence. We celebrate Independence Day every July 4th. We cherish our right to dissent. We defend our freedoms - including free speech, a free press, and freedom of religion.

My spiritual heritage is in the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ stream of the Restoration Movement. We are often proud, not necessarily a good thing, about our non-denominational status. There is no hierarchy above the local church handing down dictates. Each congregation is autonomous. And that is, in many ways, a good thing. As I watch and listen to the divisive events among the Episcopalians, ELCA, Disciples of Christ, and others I'm grateful that we don't face the same denominational headaches. Yet this independence also gets in the way. Missionaries are burdened with having to raise support from dozens of congregations and individuals. Bible Colleges, church camps, and other para church organizations are equally dependent upon a sometimes awkward and fragile financial support base. Are we so independent that we have forgotten the necessity of interdependence?

Even in our own faith we have had it hammered into our heads for a century that our faith is personal, that it is our own and no body else's. And, there is some truth in that. But there is far more truth in the fact that God created us to live in union with others - in society, in families, and in the Church. And it is here that our independence can present its ugliest side. We don't always work well together. We don't always follow Christ as closely as we should, we don't always respect church leadership as Scripture would enjoin us to, we don't always live in harmony with one another as the apostle Paul encourages us to. Could it be that, especially in the American church, our DNA is dominated by the independent spirit gene that was a necessary catalyst to the founding of a nation, but is a divisive and destructive ingredient in the church?

Challenge - pick up a concordance and your Bible and spend some time studying the "one another" passages. Things like "accept one another," "forgive one another," "encourage one another," "love one another," "bear with one another," "admonish one another," "bear one another's burdens," and many, many more. What we discover is that we aren't so independent. No man is a rock. No man is an island. Rather, we find that while we are many, we are all one Body (the Body of Christ) and "members one of another." We are dependent. And I'm ok with that!

Love, Mercy, Faithfulness

2009-10-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

My thoughts today are less about love, mercy, and faithfulness than they are about the God who is characterized by those qualities. God, our Creator, our heavenly Father, the lover and redeemer of our souls, so often bears the brunt of our frustration and anger. Life gets tough. Money gets tight. Health becomes fragile. And God takes the blame.

An old hymn called for us to "count your blessings, name them one by one." Maybe it would be good to remember that all good gifts come down from above, they come from the Father's hand and flow from His heart. Everything from my daily bread to my eternal salvation comes as a gift from a loving God.

God went so far as to enter our world and share our experiences and take our sins. The incarnation - God became man - His name was Jesus. God has reached into our experiences to bring love and mercy and to display his faithfulness.

When times are tough for me I cling to Jesus. There is a scene in the movie "Luther" in which the young monk is crying out against the devil and to God. He is in deep spiritual conflict and turmoil. His mentor asks him, "Martin, what is it you want?" To which Luther responds, "I want a God of love, a God who loves me and whom I can love." The older monk takes his crucifix, places it in Martin's hand, and tells him "then look to Christ."

All praise to God above - to the three in one - to Father, Spirit, Son. All praise to the God whose faithfulness is great, whose mercies are new every morning, and whose love never ceases.

To the rock I cling

2009-10-12T08:48:00.003-05:00

I preached on Psalm 134 yesterday. Twice the Psalm calls upon us to "bless the Lord" (the NIV translates "bless" as "praise") and ends with a prayer for God's blessing upon us.

Recent conversations with several people colored my approach. So many are struggling through economic hardships. From my congregation I know of some who are unemployed, some who have taken pay reductions, some who have spent their savings and don't know what to do next, some who may have to discontinue their college studies, some who face medical, automotive, or household bills that they can't pay, and much more. My heart is heavy. It is breaking for the people I love and seek to minister to. I told a friend just yesterday that I wish I was independently wealthy and could be a philanthropist. I would help as many as I could as much as I could.

But the point of the Psalm is not financial stability and creature comfort. As Christians we proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come. We seek to bring a glimpse of heaven to earth, but we must remember that we still live on this side of Jordan. Earth is not heaven, nor will it ever be. Until Jesus returns there will be disease and disaster and poverty and sorrow and death. The question becomes "how shall I then live in the midst of hardship as well as in times of plenty?"

The Psalmist makes it plain, "Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!" (Psalm 134:1-2 ESV)

The apostle Paul wrote, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11b-13 ESV)

In the song "How Can I Keep From Singing" Chris Tomlin sings, "And though the storms may come, I am holding on, to the rock I cling" and "I will lift my eyes in the darkest night for I know my Savior lives."

The blessing of God is grace. The response of man is gratitude. While God is the provider of our daily bread even more so is He the provider of our eternal salvation. While I don't want to see anyone suffer foreclosure on a house, or the repossession of a car, or the neglect of medical treatment, or to have too little food, I would gladly forgo all those blessings for the blessing of knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

May God give us this day our daily bread. May God grant each of us peace of mind. May God comfort us when we are distressed. And may God give us His most precious gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Like Paul, may our hearts know contentment whether in abundance or in need. And may we all recognize the grace of God and return unto Him our gratitude.

words

2009-10-06T14:28:00.002-05:00

I make my living with words. I use words to proclaim The Word. I'm not a great orator. I'm even less articulate when using pen or keyboard. But I have a responsibility to accurately and clearly communicate God's written Word, the Scripture, which is the story of God's living Word, Jesus.

But all our words communicate who we are, what we believe, what really matters to each of us. The tender word of comfort to an aching heart conveys compassion. The angry word of irritation conveys selfishness. The passionate word of conviction conveys priorities. The calloused word of judgment conveys disdain.

Scripture calls us to measure our words carefully. Among the many passages that speak to the topic of speech I particularly like Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (ESV)

"Only such as is good for building up." "That it may give grace to those who hear." If we were to practice those principles many people would talk a whole lot less! Or, maybe, instead of talking less, they would simply speak more graciously.

Lord, help us to choose our words carefully. Help us to speak graciously. And, Lord, please begin with me.

Distinctions

2009-09-24T13:06:00.002-05:00

I have been reading from the Orthodox Study Bible for my morning devotions. This week I launched into Galatians and was encouraged by what I read in the introductory notes. "False teaching often separates or isolates two things which God only distinguishes between. In Paul's view, under the Old Covenant, God's promise takes theological precedence over the law, and faith takes precedence over circumcision. In the New Covenant, faith takes precedence over baptism, and love over obedience. But Paul sees these as distinctions between things in union - one cannot exist without the other."

I greatly appreciate the Orthodox approach to Scripture. The Bible is held in high regard. These words are found in the introduction to the Orthodox Study Bible: "The Christian Church is a scriptural Church. ... The Bible is the supreme expression of God's revelation to the human race, and Christians must always be 'People of the Book' ." I hear such sentiment spoken in evangelical circles, my circles, but not often practiced as fervently as professed.

The statement above from the intro to Galatians, "Paul sees these as distinctions between things in union - one cannot exist without the other." allows Galatians 3:26 and 3:27 to stand side-by-side. Too often faith alone is the Protestant battle cry, yet check your concordance for the only verse in which "faith alone" appears and you may be surprised. Sometimes we hear a voice that would make baptism the be-all-end-all. But that doesn't wash (pun intended) well either. But, when we see these as "distinctions between things in union" what harmony arises!

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV)

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV)

"Paul sees these as distinctions between things in union - one cannot exist without the other." Well put!

The Orthodox Study Bible, copyright 1993 by St. Athanasius Orthodox Academy. Special Helps copyright 1997 by Conciliar Press.

the burden of money

2009-09-15T13:38:00.002-05:00

In "Fiddler On the Roof" Tevya sings "If I Were A Rich Man". It is an enjoyable scene which ends with our hero stepping in a pile of, umm, fertilizer. At one point he proclaims that if money is a curse may the Lord smite him with it. Does that sound familiar? Sure sounds like me much of the time.

Paul wrote, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." (1 Timothy 6:10 ESV) Does that sound familiar? Sure seems to characterize our day and age.

Personally, I'm tired of money and the headaches it brings whether you have it or not. I'm tired of the burden of knowing that with my house, cars, full pantry, and luxuries I am richer than the vast majority of this world's population. At the same time I'm tired of living paycheck to paycheck trying to pay for food, clothing, car maintenance, house repairs, children's education, etc, etc, etc! I don't live in Haiti, I live in Iowa, and our cost of living is so very much higher. I may be richer than most of the world's population, but here in the States I'm just getting by. And I am bothered by both sides of that equation.

I have one daughter through college and two currently enrolled. I preach fiscal responsibility from the pulpit. I challenge people to avoid debt and to owe no man anything except the debt of love. Then I speak with financial aid personnel at Christian colleges who have no other suggestion than to take out loan after loan after loan. Young people exit college with a mountain of debt that threatens to destroy them before they even get started. Parents are saddled with PLUS loans that may not be paid off before they die! I really think it is time we rethink the educational system of our country and of our churches. Churches especially should adopt an apprentice system allowing young ministry and missionary candidates to learn theology, hermeneutics, homiletics, Biblical languages, and more in churches or on the mission field. Seems like that is the way Jesus trained his apostles.

That would save students, families, and churches time and money. Might hurt the institutions of higher learning a bit, but if they need money they can go get a loan.

Translations

2009-09-08T10:25:00.002-05:00

My oldest daughter is an interpreter for the deaf. Her job is to convey the words of a university professor to the deaf students in the class and vice-versa. If she decides to "interpret the meaning" of those conversations instead of simply "translating" she runs the risk of distorting the conversation and hindering the students' education.

So it is with Bible translations. "Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21b NIV) But those original writings were penned in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, not in English. The task before Bible translators is to bring the ancient message to a modern audience in our own language. Some translation teams adhere to a "word-for-word" (as much as possible when working between two languages) while others favor a "thought-for-thought" approach.

The former approach offers accuracy, the latter promotes, as its proponents say, clearer understanding. Personally, I prefer the former: word-for-word. Several translations take this approach, most notably the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version.

Why blog on this topic? Because the International Bible Society and Zondervan Publishing are planning a major revision of the popular New International Version of the Bible, to be published in 2011. The revised NIV will utilize the thought-for-thought approach more than they have in previous editions. Why is this a problem? Because it lends itself to cultural concessions and liberal theology rather than to a direct presentation of God's Word. The new NIV is still a couple of years away from release, so I can't review it nor criticise it, but I don't have a good feeling about it either.

I bought my first NIV while a ministry student in the late 70's. I have preached and taught and studied from the NIV for almost thirty years. But I'm ready to make a change. I have begun studying and reading devotionally from the English Standard Version. I am on the verge of preaching and teaching from it as well. Why? Because I want to know what Peter and Paul and Matthew and Mark and Moses and Isaiah and the others wrote as God's Holy Spirit carried them along. I'm not really interested in knowing what translators, who have decided to interpret for us, possibly compromising with cultural ideologies, want the Bible to say. And there is a BIG difference.

My suggestion? Go out today and pick up an ESV or a NASB and dig in!

Nostalgia

2009-08-28T16:59:00.002-05:00

Not everything has to be new. I have been listening to some of my old albums, yep the vinyl variety. Lamb, The Talbot Brothers, Michael Omartian, and Pat Terry so far. The other day it was Dion. Yep, he did record a Christian album or two. The songs that I listened to so long ago still speak to me today.

The seniors in my church appreciate much older music - the hymns of Wesley, Crosby, and others. Even I am still moved by "A Mighty Fortress" or "It Is Well".

Have you ever noticed that amusement parks have to open new rides every year to get the same people back. Once you have puked on last year's roller-coaster why go back unless there is a new one to make you sick! Seems like the church gets caught up in the rush to launch new programs, offer new activities, make change for change's sake. Maybe we should step back once in a while and enjoy what came before. We might find treasure long forgotten.

Highs and Lows

2009-08-26T10:20:00.002-05:00

The apostle Paul wrote that he had "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12 NIV) He also wrote, "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" (2 Corinthians 11:28-29 NIV)

He knew great peace when it came to his own condition, his personal life and needs. Yet he felt the stress, shall we say anxiety, of his apostolic responsibility for the brethren. Some might find a contradiction in Paul's words, I think they are quite compatible. Paul lived for others. His needs were secondary.

After almost thirty years in the ministry I am yet to learn what Paul lived. My anxieties run hottest when life's circumstances are closest to home. When money is tight, when health is fragile, or when work is stressful I have a hard time taking no thought for the morrow. And while I have compassion for the church I find it all too easy to distance myself from the pain that touches my brothers and sisters.

Oh Lord, make me more like your servant Paul, who was himself much like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Random Thoughts

2009-08-19T13:27:00.003-05:00

I had lunch with a good friend today. We went all out and splurged at Cici's Pizza. We had a great chat, but when I pulled the "peel and win" sticker from my beverage cup it read, "Sorry, you're not a winner." Ouch! Glad Jesus thinks otherwise!

Today is my first day back in the office after being gone for a week to drop two daughters off at college. Samantha is beginning her college career at Milligan College in Tennessee. That is a long way from home. Kiersten is now a junior at Lincoln Christian College, just can't bring myself to type Lincoln Christian University, in Illinois. God has richly blessed me in regards to family. I have a wonderful wife who has stuck with me through thick and thin. And we have six great kids. I know we only have them "on loan" for a while from God. He tasks us with raising them to love Him and to love people. And then we let them go into the world to live their lives. But, that doesn't make it any easier leaving them in Tennessee, or Illinois, or for Aaryn a few years ago in Ohio. I'm looking forward to the day when one of my kids attends college close to home! Or maybe when one graduates and then comes back to live close to mom and dad.

Stan Getz is playing in the background. I do enjoy the mellow sounds of smooth jazz. And with that I need to turn my attentions to this weekend's sermon. Having been gone these past few days has put me behind a bit in my prep work. Blessings to all. May you know the mercy and grace of the One True God!

Worry

2009-08-10T09:39:00.002-05:00

I read the Sermon on the Mount and hear Jesus say, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life . . ." I read Paul's letters and hear him say, "Do not be anxious about anything . . ." I turn to Peter's writings and hear "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." And yet I worry.

I tend to worry about the normal stuff - finances, the well-being of my children, the unseen and the unknown. Most people, if not all if we were truly honest, experience anxiety at one time or another over this or that circumstance. And into this common experience God speaks the words written above - "do not worry", "do not be anxious", and "cast all your anxiety on him".

Worry runs contrary to trust/faith. If indeed God "cares for you", as Peter penned, then we need to trust Him. We need to learn to "present our requests to God, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving" as Paul exhorts us.

The other night I was restless with anxiety. Trying to provide transportation and computer equipment for two daughters in college is stretching us. One computer, replacing another with the same problems, wasn't running essential software for a college student's needs. I paused, I prayed, I tried to practice what I preach from the pulpit. It was tough. Into my frustration God sent the hushed voice of my daughter, "daddy, are you awake? the computer is working, just wanted you to know."

Thanks God. Sorry about the worry that plagues my soul. I am learning to trust you, though.

Community

2009-08-03T09:17:00.002-05:00

It thrills me that God's design calls for Christians to live in community. No, not in a commune, but in ongoing relationship one with another. While my personality leans toward being an introvert, I still value the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love.

While reading from "Longing For God" by Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe this morning I was once again struck with the importance of being connected to God's people in a local congregation. Reflecting on the ancient writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the authors emphasized some long neglected truths. They write, "... we cannot grow into a deeper life with God without the guidance and support of the Christian community. We cannot grow in our life with God without a deeper connection through worship." And, "The unfortunate message from many religious leaders is that the spiritual life is an individual quest. They treat our life with God as strictly individual and consider the role of others as an afterthought." And one more, "It helps us see why we cannot live this life of discipleship to Jesus by ourselves. We need the community of faith to be the person we are called to be. And there is a place - a proper function or role - for every one of us within this community."

I need, my soul needs, the interaction with brothers and sisters provided through Sunday school classes and small group Bible studies. Conversations over a shared lunch challenge my thinking, strengthen my faith, and enrich my discipleship. Relaxing moments filled with laughter at a church picnic or an outing to a ballgame strengthen the ties that bind. And when we gather for corporate worship, what a joy, what a wonder to get just a taste, to catch just a faint glimmer of heaven as God's people surround the throne and praise the Ancient of Days!

I rejoice with those who are engaged in the community of believers. I challenge those still on the fringes, or on the outside looking in, to jump in with both feet. You will be glad you did.

Repetition

2009-07-28T09:40:00.002-05:00

I'm currently preaching through the Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120 - 134, taking one Psalm per week. Only four weeks in and people are picking up on the fact that these Psalms, and therefore my messages, are very repetitious.

The Hebrew pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and the Christian disciples on their way to the city of God face many obstacles. There is opposition and persecution from without and temptation and weariness from within. These fifteen Psalms repeatedly remind us to look up, to look to God for his mercy, his grace, and his protection.
"I call on the Lord in my distress and he answers me." (120:1)
"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (121:1-2)
"Our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy." (123:2c)
"Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (124:8)
"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (130:7)

Our tendency though is to look down, or around, or in. We look down for the very weight of life's burdens. It is too taxing to lift our eyes toward heaven. We look around seeking relief from the hand of friends, or family, or government and find that they are facing the same issues we are. We look in believing the lie that we can, and therefore must, pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Only to find that we have not the strength.

Oh Christian, as you travel the pathway of discipleship and face temptations from within and without, as the enemies of the cross seek to block your way and discourage your faith, look up and see the King of glory, the Maker of heaven and earth. Know that he is your help.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at he right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)

Majesty

2009-07-21T08:07:00.003-05:00

Preached on the topic of worship this past Sunday from Psalm 122. Verse one reads, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" (NIV)

I lament the fact that so many who call themselves Christian, whether rightfully so or not, find it so easy to blow off the corporate worship of the Church. Too tired to get out of bed because they stayed up late the night before. Preoccupied with recreational activities from a bike ride to a ball game to a golf outing. Content to stay home with visiting family and friends rather than setting an example by leading them all into the presence of God. I know from my own Ragbrai experience a couple of years ago what a loss it is to peddle on by as God's people gather to worship the Ancient of Days.

What is missing? Why do we take worship for granted? I don't know all the answers to that question, but I do believe we have lost a sense of who God is. In Isaiah 6 the prophet is granted a vision of God in all His heavenly glory. It left Isaiah "lost" (ESV), "ruined" (NIV), "undone" (KJV). His eyes had seen the King, the Lord Almighty. He was overwhelmed by the majesty of God. The apostle John was close to Jesus. He often refers to himself as the "apostle whom Jesus loved." Yet, when he glimpsed the heavenly glory of the resurrected Lord his response was to fall "at his feet as though dead." (Revelation 1:17 NIV) The twenty-four elders of Revelation, whoever they may be, robed in white with golden crowns upon their heads, do not revel in their own glory. Rather, they "fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things . . ." (Revelation 4:10-11 NIV).

God is worthy of all worship, simply because He is God! May we learn to worship Him with every breath of every day. May we commit ourselves to worshipping Him with the community of saints not just occasionally but every chance we get. May we catch a glimpse of His glory and be drawn to worship His majesty.

Conviction

2009-07-13T09:58:00.003-05:00

We have all heard the saying, "Don't shoot the messenger." As a preacher I particularly like the sentiment of that one! A Christian minister, which by the way really refers to every Christian, is called to faithfully preach/teach/share/present God's Word. That is the bottom line. The Word of God, in the hands of God's Holy Spirit, convicts those who hear it of sin, righteousness, and judgment (see John 16:7-11). That conviction leads people to either repentance or rebellion. There is no other choice. But, conviction can be uncomfortable. And uncomfortable people tend to "shoot the messenger." Oh, if only people would allow the Word of God to speak to their situations and accept God's severe mercies instead of grousing about the messenger.

"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:19-20, NIV) Did you catch that? We are Christ's ambassadors. An ambassador has one task - to speak the policy of the administration that appointed him. A Christian minister has one task - to speak God's Words. To do more is presumption, to do less is unfaithfulness. I will do my best to speak God's Words, just don't shoot me!

Professionals?

2009-07-02T17:27:00.004-05:00

We go to a doctor because we are ill and need his expertise. Yes, we may ask for a second opinion, but it is his medical expertise we seek.

We go to a lawyer because we face some legal issue beyond our understanding. We may recoil at some of the implications, but it is the lawyer's training and experience that we seek.

We go to a mechanic because our car is sputtering. We may not like the cost estimate, but it is the mechanic's know-how that seals the deal.

We go to a teacher because some discipline of learning has posed a problem we cannot solve. We may have a twinge of embarrassment, but it is the teacher's knowledge we need.

We go to a preacher because . . . why? Some days this is a very real question in my mind. People ask me for guidance in the Word and will of God, the disciplines I have studied and devoted my life to. But, then, they take issue with what I offer. Some days I wonder why people ask if they really don't want to know. Some days I wonder why I answer when I know they don't want to know.

A Brief Getaway

2009-06-26T19:39:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine from church and I spent the past five days riding our motorcycles on the Natchez Trace Parkway (Nashville TN to Natchez MS and back).

Random thoughts: it sure is hot in the deep south, upper 90s with heat indexes over 100 every day . . . took a detour to the Shiloh National Military Battleground - an amazing battle unfolded there during the Civil War, I want to visit the site again . . . camping can be fun, but I prefer hotels . . . sweet tea with any meal in the south is a delight . . . there really is something to that "southern hospitality" thing, wonderful people . . . if you ever get a chance to travel the "trace", do so!

Overheard on the trip: "I'm a half brick short" . . . "he really is a preacher, at least that is what he tells us".

P.S. As Scott mentions in his comment, the history of the trace is amazing. Imagine walking 450-500 miles through rugged hills, dense forests, bogs, with snakes and other dangers all around. The Natchez Trace Parkway is lined with historical markers and stops of interest. Quite interesting if you take the time to stop once in a while.

Did I Really Say ... ? Part II

2009-06-13T06:51:00.000-05:00

I was privileged to bring the "charge" at my friend David's ordination this past Thursday. The service was awesome, very encouraging and uplifting. So, why in the world would I say "bull" in the middle of my message?

Dave is serving as a health care chaplain. He is wonderfully gifted for this ministry, overflowing with mercy and compassion. Yet chaplaincy is not necessarily a "Christian" ministry, rather it is a "spiritual" one. Chaplains come from every conceivable religious heritage. And, unfortunately, Christian chaplains are finding themselves pressured to leave Jesus at the door and be more ambiguous in offering spiritual comfort.

As I spoke to Dave I stated that our culture will push him to help people "die with dignity", to which I then said "bull". The "death with dignity" mantra is the battle cry of today's culture of death. It cares nothing about the dignity of men and women and children, only with dealing with life and death in the most convenient way possible. I challenged Dave to help people die with HOPE rather than with dignity.

Our culture of death kills children in the womb, euthanizes infants with disabilities (yes, it happens all the time), and denies the value of the elderly and infirm. It has no clue as to the dignity of mankind. Mankind's dignity lies solely in having been created in the image of God and being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

When my friend Dave sits at the bedside of a terminally ill patient he can politely let them slip into the darkness of a Christless eternity or he can compassionately speak to them the name that brings hope - the name of Jesus. He can give them real dignity in death by giving them hope.

Did I Really Say ... ?

2009-06-12T16:07:00.000-05:00

OK, Dan M. this one is for you.

Did I really say "bull" in the charge/sermon for Dave's ordination service? Yep, you bet I did. Why? Well, that is a Bill Holley thing. I approach preaching as being more one soul crying out to another than as the presentation of a speech. While I had my notes before me, which read very simply, "Western culture will tell you to help them die with dignity, but I charge you to help them die with hope!", I slipped in a big build up to and then used "bull" in the middle of the sentence.

Problems with that? Yes, there are a few. People may hear nothing else of the message for having been "shocked". People may critique the messenger rather than hearing the message. And so forth. Positives? Umm, maybe none, except for the honest cry of one soul to another.

Why did it come out in this context? I'll address that in Part II sometime in the next couple of days.

Children

2009-06-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

The Psalmist wrote "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." (Psalm 127:3 ESV)

My wife and I have been blessed with six precious and wonderful children. Each one unique. Each one special. They know, or should know, that each one is loved deeply. I often tell each one that he or she is my favorite and then add their position in the birth order. So, Aaryn becomes my favorite firstborn, Kiersten my favorite second born, and so on.

This past Saturday Jenai, my favorite fourth born, participated in the American Miss pageant in Grinnell. We all cheered for her as she walked across the stage in her formal gown. We waited anxiously as they called the names of the ten finalists. And we were terribly disappointed as she was passed over. But, to this father, there was no more beautiful, talented, intelligent, nor precious child on that stage than mine.

The apostle John wrote that to those who believe in Jesus is given the right to become children of God. The Christian is a son or daughter of the Most High. And I am convinced that God holds each one of us, unique and special, as a favorite in some way. The work of Christ is to lift us up and make us stand before God in the adoption as sons and daughters which makes us very special indeed. I love my children more than words can express. And God loves us so much that he sent His only begotten Son "that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16b ESV) - in other words, to make us his beloved children.

Monday's Musings

2009-06-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

While in college I was often at the center of debates on the role of women in the church. I once told a fellow student that she would repent of her egalitarian theology when she felt the fires of hell licking at her feet. Pretty bold, huh? While I am no where near as harsh in my position now as then, the role of women in the church is still an issue that can't be swept away with the hand of modernism or postmodernism or whatever ism we are under in the early 21st century. I have a daughter who is a far better public speaker than I. She also has more compassion for the lost, the suffering, and the disenfranchised than I do. She is trying to find her place in the Kingdom of God. I wish things were simpler.

Christianity isn't about what I feel, think, or experience. Being a disciple of Christ is about obedience. We must learn what it means to deny oneself, take up our cross daily, and follow him. And, once we have learned it, we must live it.

It is Monday, and it is raining. As Richard and Karen Carpenter sang so long ago, "rainy days and Mondays always get me down." It is Monday, the beginning of a new work week, filled with opportunities. As the Psalmist wrote so long ago, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Practical Theology

2009-05-28T09:03:00.000-05:00

Alexander Campbell was committed to the principle of Scripture alone. If he was to be true to such statements as "where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we're silent" he would have to abandon the practice of infant baptism from his Presbyterian heritage. He determined to do so, until the birth of his first child. Then he had to wrestle long and hard with the practical aspect of theology. Would he have his child christened or not? In the end he declined having his child christened and ultimately was immersed himself by a Baptist minister.

Are we as committed to the authority and teaching of Scripture as Campbell was? I wonder. It seems to me that Christians are quite adept at stating their beliefs until push comes to shove and we are called upon to practice what we preach. Then the rationalizations, justifications, and excuses come out.

Will we live the Scriptures or just talk about them? Will they be words of life that guide our every step or just fodder for our pious Bible studies and sermons? Oh Lord, forgive us, forgive me, of filling our minds with Biblical knowledge while resisting the transformational purposes of Thy Word. May we, may I, hide your Word in our hearts that we might not sin against you. Truly your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Tears

2009-05-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

Tough weekend. Samantha's high school graduation was Saturday. I shed tears of pride. Today is Memorial Day and I remember my father who served as a sailor in the US Navy during WWII in the Pacific. I miss him and shed tears of remembrance. Aaryn, Brandon, and Michaela headed home to New York this morning, so far away. I shed tears of love. Jesus wept. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He wept over the city of Jerusalem. Sometimes tears are called for, sometimes tears are appropriate. I don't cry often, but this weekend, as full of joy as it has been, has been full of tears. And that is ok.

Good Books and THE Good Book

2009-05-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

I love books. I can relate to and understand Erasmus' comment that "when I get a little money I buy books; with what is left I buy food and clothes." I rarely read through one book at a time, but usually have several in process of being read at the same time. My desk currently holds The Fight by John White, A Long Obedience by Eugene Peterson, Longing For God by Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe, Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch, Giving Ourselves to Prayer compiled by Dan Crawford, two theological texts, and two devotional books.

As much as I love books in general, there is one Book that stands above them all - the Bible. Take away the hundreds of books that line my shelves, but please don't take the Word of God from me. It is truly "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". Just like the other books I read I tend to have several Bibles turned to different passages. I just finished Ecclesiastes in the NASB, just finished Job in the NIV, am in the middle of Acts in The Message, and jumped into Luke yesterday in the ESV.

Why such devotion to the Bible? Because within its pages God has chosen to reveal himself. The Bible tells the story of God's intervention in human history for the purpose of redeeming mankind and restoring our fellowship with Him. The Bible testifies of Jesus, that we might come to Him and find eternal life.

I think I'll quit blogging for now and get back to reading. May I suggest that you move beyond the ramblings of lesser authors on the internet and pick up a Bible yourself?

Get Out of the Way

2009-05-10T14:16:00.000-05:00

There are some things I really hate about preachers. I hate when preachers try to be funny or clever and fail miserably. I hate when preachers speak without thinking and obviously should have thought about it. I hate when preachers get in the way of the message. I really hate it when I am that preacher.

I'm excited about my current sermon series. It focuses on Christian unity for the sake of the world, the honor of the Church, and the glory of God. Today's theme was built on the Stone-Campbell Movement slogan "No Creed But Christ." Yes, I know it is Mother's Day, but with respect I avoid preaching to holidays and special days. However, today I got in the way of the message. How? Poorly chosen comments, mostly made off the cuff, that could be offensive to people. Nothing rude or crude, just insensitive. No preacher should ever get in the way of the message. But today I did.

Heavenly Father, I am sorry for my poor preaching. May I learn from today's experience to be more like Paul who wrote, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:1-2, NIV) Lord, help me to get out of the way.

Simplicity

2009-05-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

I tend to be a simple man. In the song "American Pie" Don McLean asked "do you have faith in God above, if the Bible tells you so?" My answer is "yes". Some may call that naive. So be it. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is also the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has revealed His will, His heart, and even Himself in the pages of Holy Writ.

Why do we insist on making matters of faith so complex when God revealed them in such beautiful simplicity? Yesterday I preached on the importance of unity within the Church for the sake of testifying to the world of God's love and the truth of Jesus' incarnation (see John 17:20-23). I painted a portrait of a church - the church in Philippi - that needed a reminder of the necessity of unity within the Body of Christ.
1:27b - "I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." (NIV)
2:1-3 - "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (NIV)
4:2 - "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord." (NIV)

Yet Christians insist on dividing over every conceivable issue. Most often we do so because we make simple truths far more complicated than God intended or Scripture reveals. I really don't care about Calvin or Arminius and the debate that exists to this day between their perspectives. I am not a disciple of either of those men, but of Jesus Christ the Son of God. While I firmly hold to my view of the end times and Jesus' second coming do I really need to divorce myself from Christians who believe differently? Isn't it sad that while Paul states that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" the Church is divided over the purpose, practice, and power of baptism? This is not meant to diminish the importance of theology in any way. Paul told Timothy to "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:16 NIV, italics mine) My point is this, sometimes we need to step back from analyzing Scripture, simply accept what it says, and LIVE it!

We need desperately "to agree with each other in the Lord." Not only do we, the Church, need it, but the world needs it so that they might believe.

Compassion

2009-04-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:40-45 tells the story of Jesus healing a man of leprosy. When the man approached Jesus we are told that "filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man." This in advance of healing him. So much lies beneath the surface of this story. To touch a leper was to make oneself unclean. Jesus didn't seem to mind. The man had probably not felt the compassionate touch of another human being in some time. Jesus' touch renewed his sense of value.

I spent today visiting two people. One recovering from surgery. The other living out her days in a nursing home. One is still in pain with a long road of recovery and a follow up procedure yet to come. The other is saddened by loss - of family, of sight, of purpose. For her life has passed her by. My heart is moved by compassion, but I pray that it will be filled as was Jesus'. I read Scripture, I offered a prayer, I touched a hand, I sought to remind each of how valuable they are in the eyes of God. So valuable in fact, so loved by God, that He sent his one and only Son to die in their (and my) place. I'm amazed and humbled by the depth of God's compassion.

Inconvenience

2009-04-20T13:03:00.000-05:00

It is raining today. A nice spring rain. Much needed here in Eastern Iowa. But, because of the rain I chose to drive the car rather than ride my bicycle or motorcycle to work. Bummer.

I'm one who grumbles about the weather. I don't mind the heat of summer ... too much. But I really dislike the cold, the ice, and the snow of winter. And, while I know we need rain I much prefer a sunny day when the bikes can be ridden and enjoyed.

Here is what I long to do: recognize the hand and blessing of God in nature, His creation. The changing of seasons reveals His artistry. From the brilliant greens of spring, to the summer days filled with sunshine, to the painted landscapes of autumn, and in the blanket of white in winter God sets visual beauty before our eyes. The seasons also serve as conduits of His provision, as each plays its role in the cycle of planting and harvesting. The rain that is falling outside my office window is giving the fertile Iowa soil a good drink to aid the growth of the farmers' crops, the homeowners' lawns, and nature's rolling prairie. The rain may even spur the arrival of mushrooms, which I will enjoy hunting and eating!

Thank you, God, for the rain. The rain which you send as a blessing upon both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Battling Weariness

2009-04-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

"Let us not become weary in doing good ..."

Ministry is filled with "rushes" - those adrenaline filled, heart racing, Holy Spirit inspired moments that elate the soul. There is nothing like seeing the light bulb go on over the head of someone who has just grasped the gospel. There is nothing like lowering someone into the watery grave of baptism. There is nothing like mourning, if that is the right word, the death of a Christian who is surely in the presence of the Lord.

Ministry is filled with misery - those moments of such pain and anguish and frustration and irritation that you can't imagine doing this for another day. What wearies me most is the drain put upon my spirit, not by the unchurched, but by Christians themselves. Why do people who profess allegiance to the Word of the Lord and the Lord of the Word so willingly dismiss what it says? Why do people who are part of the Body of Christ so readily inflict pain upon that very body? Why do people who call Jesus "Lord" insist on continuing in their sin rather than pursuing holiness with every fiber of their being?

I am weary today. This is one of those days when I wonder if the heartache of ministry is worth it. But then God graciously lays His Word before my eyes!
"Consider him (Jesus) who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3 NIV)
"You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name (Jesus), and have not grown weary." (Revelation 2:3 NIV)
"Come to me (Jesus), all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV)
Looks to me like Jesus is the answer to our, to my, weariness. I will listen to his voice in his Word, I will converse with him in prayer, I will exalt him in worship, and I will find my strength, my comfort, and my peace in HIM.

"Let us not become weary in doing good ..."

Reflections On Yesterday

2009-04-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

What a joy Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is. While the Christian lives, or should live, each and every day in light of Jesus' resurrection the focus of Holy Week and Easter serves as a wonderful reminder of all that is of eternal value.

I spent all week wrestling with my sermon, even editing it one last time while sitting at the dining room table before leaving for the church building. I titled it "And Some Doubted", drawing upon Matthew 28:17, "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." I addressed the apostles' failure/refusal to listen to the eye witness accounts of the women at the empty tomb, the two disciples who walked with Jesus to Emmaus, and of one another. (see Mark 16:9-14) But Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, and that makes all the difference. We must grasp that pivotal truth. We must hold it beyond a shadow of a doubt. So my sermon went on to examine the weight of multiple post-resurrection appearances by Jesus to his followers. And yet, even after forty days of such encounters, "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted."

Even Christians wrestle with doubts. We doubt his goodness when times are tough, we doubt his grace when sin triumphs, we doubt his compassion when disease assails. But God is gracious and merciful. God is faithful and true. And the resurrection of Jesus, with the promise that we too shall live, testifies to the goodness and graciousness of God. We need to remember that God is bigger than Wall Street, that he is bigger than international skirmishes, that he is bigger than rebellious children, that he is bigger than a wayward spouse, that he is bigger than cancer or diabetes or heart disease. God is bigger, period. To look into the empty tomb, to gaze into the eyes of the risen Christ, to encounter Jesus is to know that all is well. All doubt is gone, all fears are overcome.

Thomas was hesitant to believe the news his fellow apostles shared, that Jesus was risen. He wanted proof. Jesus supplied it and Thomas fell to his knees proclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" For you and me, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

matters of faith

2009-04-11T12:54:00.000-05:00

Hmm. Bicycle ride with the local club this morning. Invited a fellow rider to tomorrow's breakfast and Easter service. Found out he is a reformed Jew. Invited another rider who explained his journey through religion to atheism. Invited one last rider who said she is "taking a break from Catholicism". Three not quite friends, more like acquaintances, from the bicycle club. Each one loved by God and in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each one content in his/her beliefs. I pray I will be a better communicator of the gospel, both verbally and non verbally.

The Depth of God's Love

2009-04-10T11:48:00.000-05:00

Charles Wesley's hymn, "And Can It Be", is much on my mind today. On this Good Friday, when we consider with special devotion the cross of Christ, I am moved by the depth of God's love. Read and ponder the lyrics of this classic:

"And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above, so free, so infinite His grace.
Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free. For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay. Fast bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray. I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread. Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine.
Bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

(chorus) Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me."

Go with me, if you will, to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 14-19. The apostle writes, "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father ... that ... he may grant you to be strengthened ... so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you ... may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge ..." (ESV) (italics mine)

I wonder if we have lost our sense of wonder. Evangelism techniques of the modern age sidestep sin for fear of offending, call no one to repentance because sin has been deconstructed, and leave converts with a rather vacuous and lifeless faith. No one has been "saved" from anything, rather we have simply added eternal life to our very blessed temporal lives. I pray that we will remember the depths of sin from which we have been rescued. I pray that we will recognize, with Paul, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (ESV, 1 Timothy 1:15) I pray that we will stand in wonder and amazement before the Savior of mankind, Christ Jesus.

"Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me."

Getting Started

2009-04-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

The time has come to try my hand at "blogging". My simple desire is to communicate to as many people as possible, utilizing every means available, the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I much prefer pen and paper to computer keyboard and screen, but this venue opens up avenues totally unavailable to me otherwise. So, tune in each week (my goal is to post every Monday) and consider the Muddled Musings of a Perplexed Preacher.

In thirty years of vocational ministry I have served as a youth minister, a senior citizens' chaplain, a new church planter, and a local church pastor. Many years of experience in a variety of fields. And, yet, I still know so little. What I do know is this, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." (Proverbs 1:7)

As I share my thoughts rest assured that they flow from a heart that fears the Lord. My desire is not to champion Calvin or Arminius or Luther or Wesley or Stone or Campbell, but to share uncomplicated thoughts that flow from a simple life guided by divine Scripture. May God be pleased and may each reader be encouraged. And, if perchance someone finds him/herself stretched and challenged may the Holy Spirit bring about deeper understanding and stronger faith. Blessings to all.