"The Bible ends with a flourish..." begins Eugene Peterson's introduction to the book of Revelation, and boy, is he right. Heroes and villians, death and resurrection, sinners and saints, dragons and horses and creatures covered with eyes- all are present in the last book of the Bible. And what we see, in the end, is that everyone is worshipping the one true sovereign God.
When I read about angels and elders and creatures that are indescribeable and completely frightening, and they are all worshipping Him, it gives me a great feeling that I'm doing the right thing by starting worshipping Him now. But the best part of the book of Revelation (not Revelations, by the way) is this: in the end, Love Wins. God's love for His people defeats the hatred of this world, good triumphs over evil just like any good Western or Sci-Fi or Hollywood script. Only this one is real- a foretaste of what's to come. It truly is the best ending ever.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Happy Boxing Day!
Well, it's December 26 and I'm back at work. Boxing Day is the official name of the holiday today, and I always wondered where it came from.
Did it have something to do with the Boxer rebellion? Is it a traditional day on which to hold a WBA title fight?
Actually, it was originally a day where the wealthy would give gifts to the less fortunate- perhaps after they were visited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future? Or, maybe after they get what they want for Christmas and give their hand-me-downs to the poor.
In our house, there's no doubt what Boxing day is. That's the day my wife takes all of our Christmas ornaments and puts them in boxes to haul to the basement, so that after the 6 weeks of Christmas in our house, the furniture can find it's rightful place in the living room again. In fact, I assume by the time I get home this afternoon, the only remnants of Christmas in our house will be a few pine needles, the stacks of boxes and bags to go to Goodwill, and the two Christmas candles on the bookshelf she overlooked. We'll see.
Did it have something to do with the Boxer rebellion? Is it a traditional day on which to hold a WBA title fight?
Actually, it was originally a day where the wealthy would give gifts to the less fortunate- perhaps after they were visited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future? Or, maybe after they get what they want for Christmas and give their hand-me-downs to the poor.
In our house, there's no doubt what Boxing day is. That's the day my wife takes all of our Christmas ornaments and puts them in boxes to haul to the basement, so that after the 6 weeks of Christmas in our house, the furniture can find it's rightful place in the living room again. In fact, I assume by the time I get home this afternoon, the only remnants of Christmas in our house will be a few pine needles, the stacks of boxes and bags to go to Goodwill, and the two Christmas candles on the bookshelf she overlooked. We'll see.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Where our salvation began
It could have happened anywhere. It could have happened anytime. But God chose to have it happen here. In the small town of Bethlehem. In a stable. With animals and stench and filth.
It was here that God became Man. The Word became flesh. Heaven came to earth. Divinity placed itself in a young girl’s womb.
In an instant, the all-powerful became powerless. The creator of everyone became dependent upon someone for survival. He who provided for all was now seeking nourishment from a Jewish girl. God was with us.
He had come not as a flash of light, not as a mighty king, but as an infant born to a peasant girl and a young carpenter. One day, his face would be covered in glory. In this moment, God’s face was beet red and wrinkled like a prune. Soon, his teaching would be heard by all; tonight, his sharp cries pierced the chilled night sky, helpless and far from home.
Had this happened today, in 2008, it could very well have been announced on the front page of the newspaper, or on The Daily Show, or World Net Daily. Instead, it was announced with a simple star-- a star that attracted the curiosity of many who saw it, including some shepherds. Told also of his arrival by an angel of the Lord, it was pure mercy on them that their savior had come. Of all God’s people, the shepherds would have had the hardest time obeying the Levitical laws. Part of their job was handling dead animals, a practice that made them ritually unclean by the standards of the priest. And they couldn’t just leave their animals in the field to go perform one of the complicated hand-washing ceremonies required by the religious teachers of the day. So, they must have been just as excited when they got the news as they were puzzled when they ran into town and saw a shriveled, wet baby boy lying in they hay, surrounded by donkeys and sheep. A king among livestock.
Kings were revered in these days, too. Listen to this proclamation made over 2000 years ago:
“The providence which has ordered the whole of our life, showing concern and zeal, has ordained the most perfect consummation for human life … by filling him with virtue for doing the work of a benefactor among men, and by sending in him, as it were, a savior for us and those who come after us, to make war to cease, to create order everywhere… ; the birthday of the god was the beginning for the world of the glad tidings that have come to men through him…”
Listen to the words used here. Virtue. Benefactor. Savior. Make war cease. Create order everywhere. This was said, of course, about the birth of the man who would become Caesar Augustus, the next Roman Emperor. So, a king over the whole world should be even greater than the king of Rome, right?
But, what a strange palace for a king. The only gold is the straw. The only light from a flickering lamp in the corner. No gem encrusted throne. No intricate eastern tapestries covering the windows. In fact, no windows. No royal scepters or flowing robes. Just a baby in a cradle, two scared teenagers, and a bunch of sleepy animals.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And it all happened here. In a manger. In a small town. In perhaps the most unlikely of all places, on one silent night, God loved us and wanted us to be with him so much, that he came to be with us. Where this story endedis where our salvation began.
It was here that God became Man. The Word became flesh. Heaven came to earth. Divinity placed itself in a young girl’s womb.
In an instant, the all-powerful became powerless. The creator of everyone became dependent upon someone for survival. He who provided for all was now seeking nourishment from a Jewish girl. God was with us.
He had come not as a flash of light, not as a mighty king, but as an infant born to a peasant girl and a young carpenter. One day, his face would be covered in glory. In this moment, God’s face was beet red and wrinkled like a prune. Soon, his teaching would be heard by all; tonight, his sharp cries pierced the chilled night sky, helpless and far from home.
Had this happened today, in 2008, it could very well have been announced on the front page of the newspaper, or on The Daily Show, or World Net Daily. Instead, it was announced with a simple star-- a star that attracted the curiosity of many who saw it, including some shepherds. Told also of his arrival by an angel of the Lord, it was pure mercy on them that their savior had come. Of all God’s people, the shepherds would have had the hardest time obeying the Levitical laws. Part of their job was handling dead animals, a practice that made them ritually unclean by the standards of the priest. And they couldn’t just leave their animals in the field to go perform one of the complicated hand-washing ceremonies required by the religious teachers of the day. So, they must have been just as excited when they got the news as they were puzzled when they ran into town and saw a shriveled, wet baby boy lying in they hay, surrounded by donkeys and sheep. A king among livestock.
Kings were revered in these days, too. Listen to this proclamation made over 2000 years ago:
“The providence which has ordered the whole of our life, showing concern and zeal, has ordained the most perfect consummation for human life … by filling him with virtue for doing the work of a benefactor among men, and by sending in him, as it were, a savior for us and those who come after us, to make war to cease, to create order everywhere… ; the birthday of the god was the beginning for the world of the glad tidings that have come to men through him…”
Listen to the words used here. Virtue. Benefactor. Savior. Make war cease. Create order everywhere. This was said, of course, about the birth of the man who would become Caesar Augustus, the next Roman Emperor. So, a king over the whole world should be even greater than the king of Rome, right?
But, what a strange palace for a king. The only gold is the straw. The only light from a flickering lamp in the corner. No gem encrusted throne. No intricate eastern tapestries covering the windows. In fact, no windows. No royal scepters or flowing robes. Just a baby in a cradle, two scared teenagers, and a bunch of sleepy animals.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And it all happened here. In a manger. In a small town. In perhaps the most unlikely of all places, on one silent night, God loved us and wanted us to be with him so much, that he came to be with us. Where this story endedis where our salvation began.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wanna Dance?
So, I was at a Christmas party in Mexico last week. As I watched some of the locals spin and twirl in their colorful garb across the tiled dance floor, it occured to me that following Christ is a lot like dancing. Here's how:
1) Some people are excited to get up and get moving, while others would rather sit on the sidelines. I watched man after man get rejected by some shy woman who would rather sit than dance. As he walked away, dejected, I started to wonder if God feels the same way when we're not willing to serve him.
2) Some that are dancing are joyous and excited, and others are just going through the motions. I saw people- both women and men- full of life, really engaged and smiling and laughing. I also saw people who were obviously there out of obligation and/or guilt. The Kingdom has both.
3) When everyone is moving together to the same sheet of music, it is beautiful to watch. Truly.
1) Some people are excited to get up and get moving, while others would rather sit on the sidelines. I watched man after man get rejected by some shy woman who would rather sit than dance. As he walked away, dejected, I started to wonder if God feels the same way when we're not willing to serve him.
2) Some that are dancing are joyous and excited, and others are just going through the motions. I saw people- both women and men- full of life, really engaged and smiling and laughing. I also saw people who were obviously there out of obligation and/or guilt. The Kingdom has both.
3) When everyone is moving together to the same sheet of music, it is beautiful to watch. Truly.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
There's no escaping God's Grace
"God is good,
a hiding place in tough times.
He recognizes and welcomes
anyone looking for help,
No matter how desperate the trouble.
But cozy islands of escape
He wipes right off the map.
No one gets away from God."- Nahum 1:7-8 (The Message)
Do the Christmas holidays bring out the worst in you? I was talking to a friend today and asked if he was all ready for Christmas. "I'm never ready for Christmas," he grumbled. "It seems like everywhere I go people are pushing and shoving and no one remembers this is supposed to be a happy time."
I think lots of people are like that. It seems to me that for every person who sees Christmas as a joyful, happy time, there is one for whom it is a time of sadness, anger, or depression. Even the happy ones can get hung up in guilt- we haven't gotten our Christmas cards finished yet, or we haven't made cookies for our neighbors, or we forgot to send a gift to so-and-so, and on and on.
Well, here's a novel idea this Christmas- come back to God. This verse from Nahum says that God is the perfect hiding place- that He recognizes anyone looking for help. Chances are, if you're reading this, you already know that, but maybe you have neglected to seek Him out during this stressful time. Here's a thought- spend more time in your bible this month. Spend more time in prayer. Go off by yourself and read and pray. Or, spend time with other believers, building them up and getting yourself built up in the process. This passage also says "No one gets away from God." So- Christians- quit trying to hide this Christmas season. You know, intellectually, that His grace is abundant and sufficient for everyone. You just need to remember that this includes YOU. Even at Christmas.
Peace to you.
a hiding place in tough times.
He recognizes and welcomes
anyone looking for help,
No matter how desperate the trouble.
But cozy islands of escape
He wipes right off the map.
No one gets away from God."- Nahum 1:7-8 (The Message)
Do the Christmas holidays bring out the worst in you? I was talking to a friend today and asked if he was all ready for Christmas. "I'm never ready for Christmas," he grumbled. "It seems like everywhere I go people are pushing and shoving and no one remembers this is supposed to be a happy time."
I think lots of people are like that. It seems to me that for every person who sees Christmas as a joyful, happy time, there is one for whom it is a time of sadness, anger, or depression. Even the happy ones can get hung up in guilt- we haven't gotten our Christmas cards finished yet, or we haven't made cookies for our neighbors, or we forgot to send a gift to so-and-so, and on and on.
Well, here's a novel idea this Christmas- come back to God. This verse from Nahum says that God is the perfect hiding place- that He recognizes anyone looking for help. Chances are, if you're reading this, you already know that, but maybe you have neglected to seek Him out during this stressful time. Here's a thought- spend more time in your bible this month. Spend more time in prayer. Go off by yourself and read and pray. Or, spend time with other believers, building them up and getting yourself built up in the process. This passage also says "No one gets away from God." So- Christians- quit trying to hide this Christmas season. You know, intellectually, that His grace is abundant and sufficient for everyone. You just need to remember that this includes YOU. Even at Christmas.
Peace to you.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Leaders who honor God
So, I'm going through a transition in my life right now. I think it will be a good one, but it's scary nonetheless.
Sometime in the next few weeks, I will move from Director of Operations, with about 350 people reporting to me, to Director of Human Resources, with all of 4 reports. That doesn't bother me so much... I think I've arrived at a place where I understand that the HR department can have a huge affect on a company.
I also am not scared about the big things... I think we'll hire well, I think we'll fire well (yes, you can do that) and I think we'll continue to uphold our unique culture. What I'm most afraid of is that we will miss something- filing some important legal document, or enforcing some important-but-obscure federal standard.
But I take hope from this verse in Obadiah - and I think this may be the only reason Obadiah is in the bible.
"The remnant of the saved in Mount Zion
will go into the mountains of Esau
And rule justly and fairly,
a rule that honors God's kingdom." -Obadiah 1:21 (The Message)
In other words, in the end, only leaders who honor God will remain. So, no matter what I do, what I learn, how much I don't know about my new challenge, I think I just need to honor God and I will persevere. Maybe I'm taking this verse too far out of context, but it's comfort for me today.
Sometime in the next few weeks, I will move from Director of Operations, with about 350 people reporting to me, to Director of Human Resources, with all of 4 reports. That doesn't bother me so much... I think I've arrived at a place where I understand that the HR department can have a huge affect on a company.
I also am not scared about the big things... I think we'll hire well, I think we'll fire well (yes, you can do that) and I think we'll continue to uphold our unique culture. What I'm most afraid of is that we will miss something- filing some important legal document, or enforcing some important-but-obscure federal standard.
But I take hope from this verse in Obadiah - and I think this may be the only reason Obadiah is in the bible.
"The remnant of the saved in Mount Zion
will go into the mountains of Esau
And rule justly and fairly,
a rule that honors God's kingdom." -Obadiah 1:21 (The Message)
In other words, in the end, only leaders who honor God will remain. So, no matter what I do, what I learn, how much I don't know about my new challenge, I think I just need to honor God and I will persevere. Maybe I'm taking this verse too far out of context, but it's comfort for me today.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My very first poll- Church Dramas
There is currently a debate brewing. You may be party to that debate, but I won't tell you which side I'm on.
One side says dramas are going the way of the flannel graph and overhead projector. The other says dramas can be a useful tool to reach people. Now's your chance, America. Tell me what you think.
One side says dramas are going the way of the flannel graph and overhead projector. The other says dramas can be a useful tool to reach people. Now's your chance, America. Tell me what you think.
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Festivus Miracle
"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to." 1 John 3:1 (The Message)
I don't know about other Christians out there, but I often get frustrated when the world doesn't understand me. Like, when I tell a friend, "I'll pray for you," and they stutter and stammer, "uh, yeah, um, thanks. I can use all the good thoughts I can get."
Last night, I attended a Winter Chorale Concert at a local high school. Great music, good production, overall well done. There is no doubt if you only listened to the music, that this was a Christmas production- not a Winter production, a Christmas production. Silent Night was sung. Christmas trees were everywhere (as opposed to Festivus poles). And as the choir belted out the "Halleluja" chorus from Handel's Messiah, more than half the crowd stood in reverence and worship. But, here's the thing. Why not call it a Christmas Concert? What's the harm? Why wouldn't one of the teachers mention, even in passing, that Christmas was coming? Would it really be out of place given that the 180 students on stage were singing "King of Kings - Lord of Lords" at the top of their High School Musical lungs?
Some people are too politically correct for Christmas. Some people are constrained by their environment. But, the truth is, my real annoyance comes when people I talk to don't immediately see the benefits of following Christ like I try to follow Him. I just want to point to my family and how He's blessed me and say, "Don't you see what it's like to follow Christ? Don't you see how you can be blessed?"
But the truth is, and John wrote it, they don't. The world doesn't understand because they don't know what He's up to. And as long as the world doesn't understand Christ, they won't be on board with Christmas. And that has to be okay with me.
I don't know about other Christians out there, but I often get frustrated when the world doesn't understand me. Like, when I tell a friend, "I'll pray for you," and they stutter and stammer, "uh, yeah, um, thanks. I can use all the good thoughts I can get."
Last night, I attended a Winter Chorale Concert at a local high school. Great music, good production, overall well done. There is no doubt if you only listened to the music, that this was a Christmas production- not a Winter production, a Christmas production. Silent Night was sung. Christmas trees were everywhere (as opposed to Festivus poles). And as the choir belted out the "Halleluja" chorus from Handel's Messiah, more than half the crowd stood in reverence and worship. But, here's the thing. Why not call it a Christmas Concert? What's the harm? Why wouldn't one of the teachers mention, even in passing, that Christmas was coming? Would it really be out of place given that the 180 students on stage were singing "King of Kings - Lord of Lords" at the top of their High School Musical lungs?
Some people are too politically correct for Christmas. Some people are constrained by their environment. But, the truth is, my real annoyance comes when people I talk to don't immediately see the benefits of following Christ like I try to follow Him. I just want to point to my family and how He's blessed me and say, "Don't you see what it's like to follow Christ? Don't you see how you can be blessed?"
But the truth is, and John wrote it, they don't. The world doesn't understand because they don't know what He's up to. And as long as the world doesn't understand Christ, they won't be on board with Christmas. And that has to be okay with me.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Should everyone read the whole bible?
This question first entered my mind last week when, in a meeting, someone compared being wishy-washy at work to what Jesus says in Revelation about the church at Laodicea: "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." -Revelation 3:16. Now, this is an important verse, and is instructinoal to followers of Christ. But, it may not be useful to bring up in a room full of people who don't know Christ.
Then, last night during my devotional time, I read this:
"I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 1:1 (The Message)
This got me thinking- Peter wrote this letter to believers. Should we encourage non-believers to read it? If they do, will they get it? Should non-believers read Leviticus before they understand how it relates to the grace offered through the life and death of Jesus Christ? Would it be helpful or hurtful?
Don't get me wrong- I know "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." But is all scripture useful to all people at all points on their faith journey? As Christ followers/ teachers/ shepherds, is part of our responsibility to point people to the right parts of scripture for their level of understanding and belief?
Just something I've struggled with lately. Feel free to weigh in.
Then, last night during my devotional time, I read this:
"I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 1:1 (The Message)
This got me thinking- Peter wrote this letter to believers. Should we encourage non-believers to read it? If they do, will they get it? Should non-believers read Leviticus before they understand how it relates to the grace offered through the life and death of Jesus Christ? Would it be helpful or hurtful?
Don't get me wrong- I know "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." But is all scripture useful to all people at all points on their faith journey? As Christ followers/ teachers/ shepherds, is part of our responsibility to point people to the right parts of scripture for their level of understanding and belief?
Just something I've struggled with lately. Feel free to weigh in.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I don't get grace
Grace is God's ultimate gift to us. It is unmerited favor from God given to people who don't deserve it. It is often described in Christianese with the backronym "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." It is by His grace, we are saved. So I get that part.
So here's what I don't get... why me and not someone else? Certainly there are people who have done more good and/or less bad that don't know His grace. Why did I win the "eternity lottery" and others won't? Most of all, why did God (in all His righteousness) decide to save even one of us (in all our wretchedness)? Ephesians 4:7 says, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift."
The measure of Christ's gift... think about that. Christ's gift was God Himself, creator of all things, leaving heaven and coming to earth, living life as a human (and showing us how it's done, in the process) then submitting to the authority of this world and dying a horrible, painful, wicked death- being tortured and teased and left hanging on a tree. That is the measure of Christ's gift, and the bible says that each of us received grace according to the measure of that gift. I don't get it.
As a teacher in the church, I seem to think often that my greatest goal should be life change for the people in our church. But it's not. See, for me to change someone's life, I need to teach that grace is not enough. You need to have grace and give your tithe. You need grace and to serve. You need grace plus a good life. But, grace plus anything denigrates the measure of Christ's gift. Christ's body was broken for you. His blood was spilled for you. As he hung on the cross, your picture went through His mind. That plus nothing is enough for anyone.
So here's what I don't get... why me and not someone else? Certainly there are people who have done more good and/or less bad that don't know His grace. Why did I win the "eternity lottery" and others won't? Most of all, why did God (in all His righteousness) decide to save even one of us (in all our wretchedness)? Ephesians 4:7 says, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift."
The measure of Christ's gift... think about that. Christ's gift was God Himself, creator of all things, leaving heaven and coming to earth, living life as a human (and showing us how it's done, in the process) then submitting to the authority of this world and dying a horrible, painful, wicked death- being tortured and teased and left hanging on a tree. That is the measure of Christ's gift, and the bible says that each of us received grace according to the measure of that gift. I don't get it.
As a teacher in the church, I seem to think often that my greatest goal should be life change for the people in our church. But it's not. See, for me to change someone's life, I need to teach that grace is not enough. You need to have grace and give your tithe. You need grace and to serve. You need grace plus a good life. But, grace plus anything denigrates the measure of Christ's gift. Christ's body was broken for you. His blood was spilled for you. As he hung on the cross, your picture went through His mind. That plus nothing is enough for anyone.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A true reason for Thanksgiving
On this, the eve of Thanksgiving, we have a lot to be thankful for. That's a cliche, I know. It's also grammatically incorrect.
We also have some things that make us long for days of old, when this (still great) country held fast to the principals on which it was founded - a spirit of independence, a staunch belief in personal responsibility, and a deep, abiding faith in God. As a reminder of those times, take a look at President Abraham Lincoln's original proclamation of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Abraham Lincoln
By the President:
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Happy Thanksgiving. May God bless you and keep you.
We also have some things that make us long for days of old, when this (still great) country held fast to the principals on which it was founded - a spirit of independence, a staunch belief in personal responsibility, and a deep, abiding faith in God. As a reminder of those times, take a look at President Abraham Lincoln's original proclamation of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Abraham Lincoln
By the President:
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Happy Thanksgiving. May God bless you and keep you.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The future president's church life
I was a little disturbed today when I read that Barak Obama, who was pretty upfront about his relationship with God during the campaign, announced that he hasn't attended church since the election. Instead, the Wunderkind is working on his figure at the gym Sunday mornings. It makes cynical little me wonder... was it all for show? Surely one wouldn't attend church every Sunday for months on end, in front of the TV cameras, just for the purposes of campainging, would one?
Mr. Obama claims he doesn't want to cause a distraction or disturbance at a church that wasn't prepared for him. And that's a good point. After all, the purpose of a church service is to worship The One True God, and anything that forces a distraction from that would not be good. I respect his decision to keep other worshippers in mind as he struggles with this question.
On the other hand, you can't believe his presence in churches didn't cause distractions during the campaign. And, he's not been afraid to attract a crowd at Sunday services before, see here and here. And it just seems pretty convenient to come up with an excuse to stop doing something that isn't really who you are.
Mr. Obama clearly thinks faith has an important place in politics... he said so himself. And Christian author/blogger Donald Miller claimed that his biggest reason for supporting Mr. Obama for president was his relationship with God.
Now, I don't pretend to know the real reason for Mr. Obama's about face. 2 Chronicles 6:30 says only God knows a man's heart. Therefore, I want to believe that Mr. Obama's reasoning is the whole truth. But, I hope the future president keeps this in mind... God is there in good times and in bad. I know people whose lives have gotten so bad, they try to shut God out thinking he's not going to help anyway. But, if we're not careful, we can shut Him out when life is good, too, thinking that we've got it all under control. I hope that doesn't happen to the future leader of the free world.
When president Obama is leading this country, I desperately desire for the lines of communication with his maker to be wide open. To that end, I beg him to find a church home for his family and fast.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with the president-elect's reasoning? What would you do?
Mr. Obama claims he doesn't want to cause a distraction or disturbance at a church that wasn't prepared for him. And that's a good point. After all, the purpose of a church service is to worship The One True God, and anything that forces a distraction from that would not be good. I respect his decision to keep other worshippers in mind as he struggles with this question.
On the other hand, you can't believe his presence in churches didn't cause distractions during the campaign. And, he's not been afraid to attract a crowd at Sunday services before, see here and here. And it just seems pretty convenient to come up with an excuse to stop doing something that isn't really who you are.
Mr. Obama clearly thinks faith has an important place in politics... he said so himself. And Christian author/blogger Donald Miller claimed that his biggest reason for supporting Mr. Obama for president was his relationship with God.
Now, I don't pretend to know the real reason for Mr. Obama's about face. 2 Chronicles 6:30 says only God knows a man's heart. Therefore, I want to believe that Mr. Obama's reasoning is the whole truth. But, I hope the future president keeps this in mind... God is there in good times and in bad. I know people whose lives have gotten so bad, they try to shut God out thinking he's not going to help anyway. But, if we're not careful, we can shut Him out when life is good, too, thinking that we've got it all under control. I hope that doesn't happen to the future leader of the free world.
When president Obama is leading this country, I desperately desire for the lines of communication with his maker to be wide open. To that end, I beg him to find a church home for his family and fast.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with the president-elect's reasoning? What would you do?
Friday, November 21, 2008
The fine art of self-denial
"Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.- Joel 2:12-13
Why don't we fast more? I mean, I talk/write/complain a lot about how I want to be more like Him and less like me. So, why am I not willing to set my needs aside and focus on the needs of others? Why is it that I'm so obsessed with feeding my appetite, that nothing gets in the way? Not prayer, not tragedy, not sorrow... nothing.
Fasting yesterday, I learned again that (1) It's surprisingly easy, and (2) It really does change my focus from my desires to His desires. Since I've told you all I was fasting, I know my reward for it won't be in heaven. But, it was important enough for me to put this thought out to challenge you to try it, and to hold myself accountable.
Next time you're struggling... really struggling and seeking God's will, try denying yourself for a while. He'll show up.
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.- Joel 2:12-13
Why don't we fast more? I mean, I talk/write/complain a lot about how I want to be more like Him and less like me. So, why am I not willing to set my needs aside and focus on the needs of others? Why is it that I'm so obsessed with feeding my appetite, that nothing gets in the way? Not prayer, not tragedy, not sorrow... nothing.
Fasting yesterday, I learned again that (1) It's surprisingly easy, and (2) It really does change my focus from my desires to His desires. Since I've told you all I was fasting, I know my reward for it won't be in heaven. But, it was important enough for me to put this thought out to challenge you to try it, and to hold myself accountable.
Next time you're struggling... really struggling and seeking God's will, try denying yourself for a while. He'll show up.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A sheer gift?
Today is going to be hard. Maybe one of my hardest days as an adult. So, here is the verse I cling to today:
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." -James 1:2-4 (The Message)
I don't always face challenges well, let alone consider them a gift. I usually consider them a curse. My prayer for today is that I will truly see tests and challenges as a gift from God, designed to grow my faith and stretch me in a way that I would never stretch myself.
If you're so inclined, please pray with me.
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." -James 1:2-4 (The Message)
I don't always face challenges well, let alone consider them a gift. I usually consider them a curse. My prayer for today is that I will truly see tests and challenges as a gift from God, designed to grow my faith and stretch me in a way that I would never stretch myself.
If you're so inclined, please pray with me.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Runners in the news
Why is it that whenever runners are in the news, it's that they (a) found a dead body, (b) got run over by a car, or (c) were attacked by some wild animal? Obviously as runners, we don't always consider all the dangers inherent in our sport.
Take, for instance, the story of this woman, who was attacked by a rabid fox while running and ran a mile with the fox clamped on her arm. When she reached the trailhead, she wrapped up the fox, threw him in her trunk, and drove to the hospital.
On the flip side, it did land her the feature spot on Letterman...
Take, for instance, the story of this woman, who was attacked by a rabid fox while running and ran a mile with the fox clamped on her arm. When she reached the trailhead, she wrapped up the fox, threw him in her trunk, and drove to the hospital.
On the flip side, it did land her the feature spot on Letterman...
How to deal with stuff...
Man, there is some stuff going on right now. Stuff in the economy. Stuff in people's families and lives. This world is full of sickness and despair and depression and uncertainty. How do you deal with all this stuff? Here is a suggestion from the writer of Hebrews:
"...strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." -Hebrews 12:1-2 (The Message)
Jesus knows pain. Jesus knows betrayal and heartache and doubt and temptation. Maybe you've never been through what you're going through, but Jesus has. God incarnate, He knows what it means to be a human and to live in this world full of all this stuff. Keep your eyes upon him, review the list of what he's done for us. He will be your refuge, your rest, your dwelling place. Your comforter.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." -Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
"...strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." -Hebrews 12:1-2 (The Message)
Jesus knows pain. Jesus knows betrayal and heartache and doubt and temptation. Maybe you've never been through what you're going through, but Jesus has. God incarnate, He knows what it means to be a human and to live in this world full of all this stuff. Keep your eyes upon him, review the list of what he's done for us. He will be your refuge, your rest, your dwelling place. Your comforter.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." -Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Success before commitment
We don't like commitment. As humans, we'd normally rather be non-comittal. Companies don't like to commit- they need to stay flexible. Congregants don't like to commit to giving or serving- we'd rather "check out the church" for awhile, and see if we "like the style." We'd like to live together for a while before we think about getting married. A week before the recent presidential election, most polls showed nearly 10% still undecided who to vote for. That means 1 in 10 Americans are like the proverbial squirrel squashed in the road because he didn't know which way to go when the car came. Let's hope these undecideds were waiting to see who would give them the bigger payday.
We don't like to commit. Which is why this sentence, in Seth Godin's latest book, Tribes, sent chills up my spine:
If your organization requires success before commitment, you will never have either.
Wow. If you have to trust your gut and commit to something without first having a win, you won't win. If you have to follow God and trust he'll take care of your needs before you give, you'll never give. You have to commit to a new product/service/ministry/organizational structure even though it may not deliver immediate results if you want it to succeed.
Do you have the patience to succeed?
We don't like to commit. Which is why this sentence, in Seth Godin's latest book, Tribes, sent chills up my spine:
If your organization requires success before commitment, you will never have either.
Wow. If you have to trust your gut and commit to something without first having a win, you won't win. If you have to follow God and trust he'll take care of your needs before you give, you'll never give. You have to commit to a new product/service/ministry/organizational structure even though it may not deliver immediate results if you want it to succeed.
Do you have the patience to succeed?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Beautiful Bride
"Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.
The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." - Revelation 19:6-10 (NLT)
This scripture describes the church as the bride of Christ. To help figure out what that means,I just want to put some images in your head of what a bride looks like. Think about the weddings you’ve been to. All the guests describe the bride... she’s lovely, she’s beautiful. When everyone at the wedding is gathered in the church and the bridal march turns uptempo, the whole congregation stands and turns around just to watch her enter the room in all her splendor. And, she’s so stunning that the mothers cry and her sisters cry and her friends cry, and the groom gets weak in the knees, because it is at this time he first realizes, he’s marrying way out of his league. She is the most gorgeous woman in the room, and, at that moment, she’s the most beautiful woman alive. But, she doesn’t get there alone. Preparations for the wedding start months- often years before. Little girls buy hope chests and fill them with pieces of china and and pictures clipped from magazines, boys give promise rings, and young ladies visit other weddings and cut clippings of great hairstyles from celebrity magazines- until by the time she reaches adulthood, the wedding is foremost on a young woman’s mind. Often, in fact, the only missing piece in a young lady’s life is a groom. Minor detail.
So, when that day comes, parents, friends, relatives all work to make her look as gorgeous as she possibly can. Her best friends give up their entire week or month even, and wear the most hideous hot pink and teal dresses with big poofy skirts and unflattering sleeves just to make her look even more beautiful. And on that day, everyone is taking pictures of the bride and the wedding scrapbook even years later will have three pictures of the groom (including one with the groomsmen lifting him on their shoulders while he looks very afraid), seven pictures of the flower girl, and 126 pictures of the bride. And whenever they look back at the scrapbook, all anyone ever talks about is how beautiful the bride is.
In our case, the church is the bride. Our job as believers in the church is to make her beautiful. Beautiful so that all who encounter her will remember her beauty. Beautiful so she is ready to do the work she has to do. Beautiful so that more people want to come to the wedding party. And most of all, beautiful for her groom. Let's gather round and serve her, let's organize and make her as beautiful as Jesus intended.
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.
The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." - Revelation 19:6-10 (NLT)
This scripture describes the church as the bride of Christ. To help figure out what that means,I just want to put some images in your head of what a bride looks like. Think about the weddings you’ve been to. All the guests describe the bride... she’s lovely, she’s beautiful. When everyone at the wedding is gathered in the church and the bridal march turns uptempo, the whole congregation stands and turns around just to watch her enter the room in all her splendor. And, she’s so stunning that the mothers cry and her sisters cry and her friends cry, and the groom gets weak in the knees, because it is at this time he first realizes, he’s marrying way out of his league. She is the most gorgeous woman in the room, and, at that moment, she’s the most beautiful woman alive. But, she doesn’t get there alone. Preparations for the wedding start months- often years before. Little girls buy hope chests and fill them with pieces of china and and pictures clipped from magazines, boys give promise rings, and young ladies visit other weddings and cut clippings of great hairstyles from celebrity magazines- until by the time she reaches adulthood, the wedding is foremost on a young woman’s mind. Often, in fact, the only missing piece in a young lady’s life is a groom. Minor detail.
So, when that day comes, parents, friends, relatives all work to make her look as gorgeous as she possibly can. Her best friends give up their entire week or month even, and wear the most hideous hot pink and teal dresses with big poofy skirts and unflattering sleeves just to make her look even more beautiful. And on that day, everyone is taking pictures of the bride and the wedding scrapbook even years later will have three pictures of the groom (including one with the groomsmen lifting him on their shoulders while he looks very afraid), seven pictures of the flower girl, and 126 pictures of the bride. And whenever they look back at the scrapbook, all anyone ever talks about is how beautiful the bride is.
In our case, the church is the bride. Our job as believers in the church is to make her beautiful. Beautiful so that all who encounter her will remember her beauty. Beautiful so she is ready to do the work she has to do. Beautiful so that more people want to come to the wedding party. And most of all, beautiful for her groom. Let's gather round and serve her, let's organize and make her as beautiful as Jesus intended.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I hope you hate my message
"As for you, son of man, you've become quite the talk of the town. Your people meet on street corners and in front of their houses and say, 'Let's go hear the latest news from God.' They show up, as people tend to do, and sit in your company. They listen to you speak, but don't do a thing you say. They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead. To them you're merely entertainment—a country singer of sad love songs, playing a guitar. They love to hear you talk, but nothing comes of it. -Ezekiel 33:30-32
These are the words of God given to the prophet Ezekiel around the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. Though they weren't said directly to me, I think I can understand how Ezekiel must have felt.
Though I'm not a prophet of God, I do listen to him intently before I write or speak. And, often enough, people have come up after a service and told me how they enjoyed my message, or they really liked it or thought it was "really good." And, I have to admit, sometimes I like that. But, sometimes, I don't. Sometimes, I just get this overwhelming urge to say, "that's too bad. I really wanted you to hate it."
Sometime when I write or speak, I have a desire to convict people with words or, more precisely, to have God convict people through me. It sometimes works for me even when I speak- God uses the process of writing and preaching to change me. But, I want to be used to change peoples' lives. Yes, I want people to know the endless, undying love of a God that created them. But, sometimes I want them to know that what they're doing is just not right. I want them to avoid eye contact after a message because they're struggling with something I said. I want them to send hate mail to the church because they vehemently disagree that what I called sin is a sin. I want to have a heated discussion, right there in front of the stage after a service because someone in the audience hated what God said through me. Then, I will feel like God is truly using me to make people more like Him.
I don't want to be a country singer of sad love songs. I'd rather be a tool of the Most High God.
These are the words of God given to the prophet Ezekiel around the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. Though they weren't said directly to me, I think I can understand how Ezekiel must have felt.
Though I'm not a prophet of God, I do listen to him intently before I write or speak. And, often enough, people have come up after a service and told me how they enjoyed my message, or they really liked it or thought it was "really good." And, I have to admit, sometimes I like that. But, sometimes, I don't. Sometimes, I just get this overwhelming urge to say, "that's too bad. I really wanted you to hate it."
Sometime when I write or speak, I have a desire to convict people with words or, more precisely, to have God convict people through me. It sometimes works for me even when I speak- God uses the process of writing and preaching to change me. But, I want to be used to change peoples' lives. Yes, I want people to know the endless, undying love of a God that created them. But, sometimes I want them to know that what they're doing is just not right. I want them to avoid eye contact after a message because they're struggling with something I said. I want them to send hate mail to the church because they vehemently disagree that what I called sin is a sin. I want to have a heated discussion, right there in front of the stage after a service because someone in the audience hated what God said through me. Then, I will feel like God is truly using me to make people more like Him.
I don't want to be a country singer of sad love songs. I'd rather be a tool of the Most High God.
Friday, November 7, 2008
God's thoughts on the election?
Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice. - Proverbs 29:26 (The Message)
but only God will give us justice. - Proverbs 29:26 (The Message)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Making little trees out of big ones
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”- Ezekiel 17:22-24
It is God, not I, that makes things grow. But in order to do this, he will sometimes kill something off. This is a concept I struggle with in my life from time to time.
Right now, it seems like there are some things in my life that are dying. Stuff at work, and other things that just seem to be withering away. Fortunately, the important things are still strong. But this verse spoke to me today. Maybe what God is doing is killing some things off in my life so that something else can grow better. Maybe He has to cut down a majestic tree that has stopped growing, and plant a part of that in some soil somewhere else, so that it may grow and flourish and become majestic again.
How about you? Do things in your life seem gloomy? Is there something that is dying and you don't understand why? Is there something that you need to kill so that something else can grow stronger? Think about it.
Most of us trust God when he's growing the little trees in our lives. How many of us trust Him when he's cutting down the big ones?
It is God, not I, that makes things grow. But in order to do this, he will sometimes kill something off. This is a concept I struggle with in my life from time to time.
Right now, it seems like there are some things in my life that are dying. Stuff at work, and other things that just seem to be withering away. Fortunately, the important things are still strong. But this verse spoke to me today. Maybe what God is doing is killing some things off in my life so that something else can grow better. Maybe He has to cut down a majestic tree that has stopped growing, and plant a part of that in some soil somewhere else, so that it may grow and flourish and become majestic again.
How about you? Do things in your life seem gloomy? Is there something that is dying and you don't understand why? Is there something that you need to kill so that something else can grow stronger? Think about it.
Most of us trust God when he's growing the little trees in our lives. How many of us trust Him when he's cutting down the big ones?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
How great your faithfulness!
Lamentations. The very word just makes even the strong in constitution think of greiving and sorrow. So, why is there so much hope in those five short chapters? Not much to write today, I just wanted to share these few verses from the book of Lamentations.
Background: Israel is in ruin. The town of Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Babylonians. Her people are scattered everywhere. Surely God has deserted her. But, out of the sorrow comes this:
He ground my face into the gravel.
He pounded me into the mud.
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the good life is like.
I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished.
God is a lost cause."
It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Stomping down hard
on luckless prisoners,
Refusing justice to victims
in the court of High God,
Tampering with evidence—
the Master does not approve of such things.
-Lamentations 3:16-36 (The Message)
Background: Israel is in ruin. The town of Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Babylonians. Her people are scattered everywhere. Surely God has deserted her. But, out of the sorrow comes this:
He ground my face into the gravel.
He pounded me into the mud.
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the good life is like.
I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished.
God is a lost cause."
It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Stomping down hard
on luckless prisoners,
Refusing justice to victims
in the court of High God,
Tampering with evidence—
the Master does not approve of such things.
-Lamentations 3:16-36 (The Message)
Friday, October 31, 2008
I always thought Jeremiah was a bullfrog...
Yesterday, I finished the book of Jeremiah- first time, all the way through. I always thought Jeremiah would be encouraging, uplifting because the only verse I knew by heart was this one...
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.- Jeremiah 29:11
Unfortunately, what I realized is that Jeremiah is full of warnings and, at the end, disaster for the Jewish people. After reflecting for a day or two, I did get a couple of lessons out of it.
(1) It is not always easy to hear from God. Jeremiah knew what would happen and tried to warn the people, but he was often ignored and persecuted. God often tells us things we don't want to hear. If we're not careful, we can use that as an excuse not to listen. But, God's ways are always perfect, so we shouldn't let the fear of bad news, or things unknown, stop us from asking and listening.
(2) We can't change anyone's life. Oh, we can beg and plead and warn and spew hellfire and brimstone. But we can't change anyone. Only God can. No matter what we know or what we hear, it's up to God to change someone's heart. Does this mean we shouldn't teach what is right? No, we are absolutely commanded to teach God's ways. It does mean, though, that we need to be aware that sometimes His teachings will be accepted and understood, and sometimes they will fall on deaf ears.
These two lessons were helpful for me. I hope they are for you.
Peace.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.- Jeremiah 29:11
Unfortunately, what I realized is that Jeremiah is full of warnings and, at the end, disaster for the Jewish people. After reflecting for a day or two, I did get a couple of lessons out of it.
(1) It is not always easy to hear from God. Jeremiah knew what would happen and tried to warn the people, but he was often ignored and persecuted. God often tells us things we don't want to hear. If we're not careful, we can use that as an excuse not to listen. But, God's ways are always perfect, so we shouldn't let the fear of bad news, or things unknown, stop us from asking and listening.
(2) We can't change anyone's life. Oh, we can beg and plead and warn and spew hellfire and brimstone. But we can't change anyone. Only God can. No matter what we know or what we hear, it's up to God to change someone's heart. Does this mean we shouldn't teach what is right? No, we are absolutely commanded to teach God's ways. It does mean, though, that we need to be aware that sometimes His teachings will be accepted and understood, and sometimes they will fall on deaf ears.
These two lessons were helpful for me. I hope they are for you.
Peace.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
About the election...
I didn't write this, Kelly did. But I wish I had.
"The Church has traded its birthright as the hope of the world for a steaming bowl of legislation and patriotism. We have sold our mission of good news for the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and sight for the blind to the world of policy and pundits. We gave up believing in the transformational power of the gospel and transferred our hope to enforcing spirituality through the Supreme Court."
She goes on...
"...why (do) Christians give more money, passion and energy to electing Obama or McCain than they do to loving God and their neighbor. According to Jesus, that's something He cares about a whole lot more."
Wow. Something to think about on Tuesday.
"The Church has traded its birthright as the hope of the world for a steaming bowl of legislation and patriotism. We have sold our mission of good news for the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and sight for the blind to the world of policy and pundits. We gave up believing in the transformational power of the gospel and transferred our hope to enforcing spirituality through the Supreme Court."
She goes on...
"...why (do) Christians give more money, passion and energy to electing Obama or McCain than they do to loving God and their neighbor. According to Jesus, that's something He cares about a whole lot more."
Wow. Something to think about on Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
What is your church's 'Market Statement?'
In the business world, companies are adamant about shaping their 'market statement.' In other words, what does the company stand for, how are they perceived in the market. In the church world, though, we ignore that. We sometimes think it's our mission statement, which is too broad (and often too harmless) to really say who we are. This weekend, I attended a church whose mission statment was "Love God, Love Others." Great mission, but tells nothing about who they are or who they are trying to reach.
A great market statement should tell the following:
- What is our church's laser focus (evangelism, discipleship, mission work)
- Who is our target audience ('People' is not good enough, nor is 'lost people.' specifics are important here- families in their 20's and 30's with young kids, for example)
- What do we do well
- What do we not do well
Most churches, like most businesses, tend to try to do too much. This often works in the short term, because trying to be all things to all people allows you to attract people. But, in the long term, this incomplete structure will collapse on itself. As author Jim Collins says, most organizations are more likely to gorge themselves to death than starve themselves to death. There is no lack of opportunity. But people can quickly see when something (a company or a church) is not what it's advertised to be.
It's better that the leadership understand who they are up front, rather than fooling themselves and trying to pick up the pieces later. Having a market statement helps them focus on only what they can do well. This doesn't mean we leave lost people lost, it means we try to reach the ones we're good at reaching.
A great market statement should tell the following:
- What is our church's laser focus (evangelism, discipleship, mission work)
- Who is our target audience ('People' is not good enough, nor is 'lost people.' specifics are important here- families in their 20's and 30's with young kids, for example)
- What do we do well
- What do we not do well
Most churches, like most businesses, tend to try to do too much. This often works in the short term, because trying to be all things to all people allows you to attract people. But, in the long term, this incomplete structure will collapse on itself. As author Jim Collins says, most organizations are more likely to gorge themselves to death than starve themselves to death. There is no lack of opportunity. But people can quickly see when something (a company or a church) is not what it's advertised to be.
It's better that the leadership understand who they are up front, rather than fooling themselves and trying to pick up the pieces later. Having a market statement helps them focus on only what they can do well. This doesn't mean we leave lost people lost, it means we try to reach the ones we're good at reaching.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Finding God in the fire
What is it about fire that brings us together? Last night, we had 21 friends at our house, and at some point we were all gathered around a large campfire/ small bonfire in my back yard. The air was crisp and cool in a way that surprises you when you first walk out the door, but in which most people won't linger too long without being bundled up. Yet, with a fire going, people are engaged- talking, laughing, singing in a way that wouldn't happen in our living room. Even though it's a very comfortable 68 degrees.
After everyone left last night, I sat around the fire for a while- gazing at the orange embers, stroking the silky cat on my lap, watching the reflection of the dancing toungues of flame reflect off the bright yellow leaves still clinging to the trees, and feeling the deep warmth of the fire coming from the remaining logs. And I thought, the depth of this warmth really represents the way God makes us feel. We're out in the relative cold, and we all gather around this thing- this one thing that is central to our lives and common to all of us, and it defines who we are at that moment. In the back yard, the fire is the one place we can go and warm ourselves, feed ourselves, and find the community we're looking for. In Christ, we have the same ability to do that.
Many of my friends have tried to find community by moving into master-planned neighborhoods with intentionally-scheduled outings, or by joining social clubs, or going to gatherings at bars after work. All of those things are fine and fun, but when the party is over and the bar closes and everyone goes home, you're alone again. But, when the community centers around Christ, the feeling lingers, the embers continue to burn, and you're left with this warm, reassuring feeling that even after the people leave, the community is still there.
I drifted off to sleep last night thinking about how lucky I am to have the friends I have. Smelling of wood smoke.
After everyone left last night, I sat around the fire for a while- gazing at the orange embers, stroking the silky cat on my lap, watching the reflection of the dancing toungues of flame reflect off the bright yellow leaves still clinging to the trees, and feeling the deep warmth of the fire coming from the remaining logs. And I thought, the depth of this warmth really represents the way God makes us feel. We're out in the relative cold, and we all gather around this thing- this one thing that is central to our lives and common to all of us, and it defines who we are at that moment. In the back yard, the fire is the one place we can go and warm ourselves, feed ourselves, and find the community we're looking for. In Christ, we have the same ability to do that.
Many of my friends have tried to find community by moving into master-planned neighborhoods with intentionally-scheduled outings, or by joining social clubs, or going to gatherings at bars after work. All of those things are fine and fun, but when the party is over and the bar closes and everyone goes home, you're alone again. But, when the community centers around Christ, the feeling lingers, the embers continue to burn, and you're left with this warm, reassuring feeling that even after the people leave, the community is still there.
I drifted off to sleep last night thinking about how lucky I am to have the friends I have. Smelling of wood smoke.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
My sister on the news
Take a look at this video about my sister, who's really turned her life around. I'm very proud of her!
The insistence on giving
Yesterday, I wrote about the secret of giving - that God calls us to give in secret. It may have made more sense to start with today's post- that God insists on giving.
These thoughts stem from a series we're in at Genesis Church on giving. My thoughts are based on the scripture from Matthew 6:1-4, where Jesus lays this out:
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
The one word that continually stands out to me in this passage is a small one: "When."
Jesus doesn’t say IF you give, or on the rare occasion we decide to give, he says when you give. Jesus just assumes that anyone inside the kingdom of God will be a willing participant in funding it. He assumes that anyone who has been outside the Kingdom, walking in the dark, and who comes into the light of Christ will be so undone and overwhelmed by the grace of God that to give back a small part of their income would be natural. But, it’s not always like that.
Life gets in the way and our daily living expenses get in the way and we’re so caught up in it that giving back to God takes a back seat.
But, Jesus continues: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."- Matthew 6:19-21.
See, this is the reason for giving. Not because God needs your money, because he doesn’t. Anything he wants to do he can do without money. But because he knows that, for many of us, money has a grip on our hearts. And God wants your heart, and he wants my heart, and he knows that wherever our treasure is, our hearts will be also.
Many of us cling tightly to our money, because it is visible, or at least the things we can buy with it are visible. But, think of your giving as an investment, and you get a whole different view. Look at the change in your life or in the lives of those around you this church has made. Look at other churches or organizations that are built solely or mostly on contributions, and look at how they change the landscape in which they operate. If you think about sowing generously to a cause you believe in, and you think about the change that can bring about, you are more likely to want to give.
When you give, do not announce it with trumpets, do not let your left hand know what the right one is doing. But when you give, give in secret. Then your father, who knows what is done in secret, will reward you.
These thoughts stem from a series we're in at Genesis Church on giving. My thoughts are based on the scripture from Matthew 6:1-4, where Jesus lays this out:
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
The one word that continually stands out to me in this passage is a small one: "When."
Jesus doesn’t say IF you give, or on the rare occasion we decide to give, he says when you give. Jesus just assumes that anyone inside the kingdom of God will be a willing participant in funding it. He assumes that anyone who has been outside the Kingdom, walking in the dark, and who comes into the light of Christ will be so undone and overwhelmed by the grace of God that to give back a small part of their income would be natural. But, it’s not always like that.
Life gets in the way and our daily living expenses get in the way and we’re so caught up in it that giving back to God takes a back seat.
But, Jesus continues: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."- Matthew 6:19-21.
See, this is the reason for giving. Not because God needs your money, because he doesn’t. Anything he wants to do he can do without money. But because he knows that, for many of us, money has a grip on our hearts. And God wants your heart, and he wants my heart, and he knows that wherever our treasure is, our hearts will be also.
Many of us cling tightly to our money, because it is visible, or at least the things we can buy with it are visible. But, think of your giving as an investment, and you get a whole different view. Look at the change in your life or in the lives of those around you this church has made. Look at other churches or organizations that are built solely or mostly on contributions, and look at how they change the landscape in which they operate. If you think about sowing generously to a cause you believe in, and you think about the change that can bring about, you are more likely to want to give.
When you give, do not announce it with trumpets, do not let your left hand know what the right one is doing. But when you give, give in secret. Then your father, who knows what is done in secret, will reward you.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The secret of giving
This weekend at Genesis, Paul Mumaw outlined the biblical tenets on giving, and I thought he did a great job. I wanted to take the next couple of days and outline some other thoughts I've had on giving.
These come from the passage in Matthew 6:1-4, if you want the text.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit one of my Alma Maters, Purdue University. I love going back to see old friends and visit the places I used to hang out. But the campus has changed quite a bit, even in just the last few years.
I was part of the last class to use the old Krannert Management building. The new management students have a new gleaming monstrosity of steel, stone, and glass called Jerry S. Rawls hall. Rawls hall is really a beautiful building situated right on the Southeast end of campus that announces to visitors “You are now at Purdue.” It is solid glass on the front and opens into a sunlit three-story lobby and the name Jerry S. Rawls Hall is proudly displayed in stone on the corner near the main entrance.
During my last visit, I decided to visit Rawls hall and take the tour. I strode proudly through the three-story lobby knowing that my tuition had done it’s little share to help build this monument to higher education. Off to one side of the lobby, near the main entrance, was a giant portrait of The Man himself, Jerry S. Rawls, with his countenance cast into metal, his lips forever frozen between a smile and a grimace. Now, it turns out that Mr. Rawls is the CEO of a networking company located in silicon valley, and he paid a mere $10 million to have his name carved in stone on the building and his gigantic half-smiling face hanging in the lobby. But it turns out, he’s not alone.
When I was at Purdue as an undergrad, all the classes were held in the Physics Building, or the Mechanical Engineering Building, or the EE building, or the Chemistry Building, or the temporary creative arts huts that had been temporary since 1950. By the way, they just tore those temporary huts down last year, and do you know what they’re replacing them with? The Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Some of the newer buildings on Purdue’s campus are the Arthur G. Hansen Life Sciences Research Building, the Holleman-Niswonger Simulator Center, the Michael Golden Engineering Laboratories, the Clayton W. DeMent Fire Station, and the Melvin Ollman Golfcart barn. All of these people, so generous in their giving, yet so public. But Jesus suggests we should “Give your Gifts in Secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)
So, one of the more important parts of giving is to do so in secret, for otherwise, "...you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)
More on giving tomorrow.
These come from the passage in Matthew 6:1-4, if you want the text.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit one of my Alma Maters, Purdue University. I love going back to see old friends and visit the places I used to hang out. But the campus has changed quite a bit, even in just the last few years.
I was part of the last class to use the old Krannert Management building. The new management students have a new gleaming monstrosity of steel, stone, and glass called Jerry S. Rawls hall. Rawls hall is really a beautiful building situated right on the Southeast end of campus that announces to visitors “You are now at Purdue.” It is solid glass on the front and opens into a sunlit three-story lobby and the name Jerry S. Rawls Hall is proudly displayed in stone on the corner near the main entrance.
During my last visit, I decided to visit Rawls hall and take the tour. I strode proudly through the three-story lobby knowing that my tuition had done it’s little share to help build this monument to higher education. Off to one side of the lobby, near the main entrance, was a giant portrait of The Man himself, Jerry S. Rawls, with his countenance cast into metal, his lips forever frozen between a smile and a grimace. Now, it turns out that Mr. Rawls is the CEO of a networking company located in silicon valley, and he paid a mere $10 million to have his name carved in stone on the building and his gigantic half-smiling face hanging in the lobby. But it turns out, he’s not alone.
When I was at Purdue as an undergrad, all the classes were held in the Physics Building, or the Mechanical Engineering Building, or the EE building, or the Chemistry Building, or the temporary creative arts huts that had been temporary since 1950. By the way, they just tore those temporary huts down last year, and do you know what they’re replacing them with? The Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Some of the newer buildings on Purdue’s campus are the Arthur G. Hansen Life Sciences Research Building, the Holleman-Niswonger Simulator Center, the Michael Golden Engineering Laboratories, the Clayton W. DeMent Fire Station, and the Melvin Ollman Golfcart barn. All of these people, so generous in their giving, yet so public. But Jesus suggests we should “Give your Gifts in Secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)
So, one of the more important parts of giving is to do so in secret, for otherwise, "...you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)
More on giving tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
SafeGuard Flex Seat featured on WTHR 13
Last night, WTHR did a story about seat belts on school buses, and did a great job emphasizing how the SafeGuard Flex Seat solves the capacity issue for school buses. The video is below:
Monday, October 13, 2008
Catalyst Conference 2008- Day 2
Here are the highlights, as I saw them, for day 2:
Session 6- Dave Ramsey
Dave is a personal finance expert, best-selling author, and national radio talk show host. He spoke at Catalyst last year about money management, but this was his first talk on leadership. He spoke specifically about unity in an organization. The 5 enemies to unity are:
- Poor communication
- Gossip
- Unresolved disagreements
- Lack of shared purpose
- Sanctioned incompetence
Team members will become demotivated when someone on the team can’t or won’t do their job and the leader fails to act. For the sake of unity on a team, the leader must do battle early and often with any of these enemies of unity.
Specifically, as it applies to Christian businesses, I loved this comment from Dave: “If you’re going to put a fish on the back of that thing, you’d better drive it right.”
Session 7- Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham accepted a lifetime achievement award for his father. But, he spoke with conviction about the power of the gospel message. We can’t control it, we can’t manage it, but there is power in the gospel of Jesus.
Session 8- Matt Chandler
This may have been the best session at the conference, so I’m glad we stayed to watch it. Chandler is the lead pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village (Dallas), Texas. Chandler taught at length from 1 Timothy 4 and said there are a lot of people who know about Jesus, but don’t really know Jesus. Having the right answers and saying the right things doesn’t make you right with God- it’s about your relationship with Christ. His heart breaks for the people in church every week who don’t know Jesus.
Session 9- Andy Stanley
Here are the 5 things Andy Stanley is thinking about now:
1. To reach people no one else is reaching, we need to do things no one else is doing. – Craig Groeschel
It’s not good enough to do the same thing louder or better or differently. To reach people outside the church, we need to go outside the church. Stanley says we need to become preoccupied with those we haven’t reached as opposed to those we are trying to keep.
2. The next Generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.- Al Reis
If you’re over 45, you need to accept that your ideas to reach the next generation will not be effective. You need to lend your expertise to deciding which ideas are good ones instead of trying to come up with good ideas. Be a student, not a critic.
3. What do I believe is impossible to do in my field... but if it could be done, it would fundamentally change my business? - Joel Barker
Pay attention to those who are breaking the rules- they are almost always the ones that solve the problems
4. If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what we he do? Why shouldn’t we walk out the door, come back in, and do it ourselves? – Andy Grove
Acknowledge what’s not working, and own up to why you are unwilling to do anything about it.
No pain = no change. Change is always painful, but almost always worth it.
5. When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. – Michael Hammer
Don’t let success overshadow your vision.
Summary
The Catalyst Conference was really great this year. I left out comments from a few speakers (Tim Sanders, Brenda Salter McNeil, Andy Crouch) that I didn’t get much from, but the sessions were almost universally good. (Sorry, I love Tim Sanders, but I didn't get much. He's great though. Really. Read Love is the Killer App.)
Session 6- Dave Ramsey
Dave is a personal finance expert, best-selling author, and national radio talk show host. He spoke at Catalyst last year about money management, but this was his first talk on leadership. He spoke specifically about unity in an organization. The 5 enemies to unity are:
- Poor communication
- Gossip
- Unresolved disagreements
- Lack of shared purpose
- Sanctioned incompetence
Team members will become demotivated when someone on the team can’t or won’t do their job and the leader fails to act. For the sake of unity on a team, the leader must do battle early and often with any of these enemies of unity.
Specifically, as it applies to Christian businesses, I loved this comment from Dave: “If you’re going to put a fish on the back of that thing, you’d better drive it right.”
Session 7- Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham accepted a lifetime achievement award for his father. But, he spoke with conviction about the power of the gospel message. We can’t control it, we can’t manage it, but there is power in the gospel of Jesus.
Session 8- Matt Chandler
This may have been the best session at the conference, so I’m glad we stayed to watch it. Chandler is the lead pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village (Dallas), Texas. Chandler taught at length from 1 Timothy 4 and said there are a lot of people who know about Jesus, but don’t really know Jesus. Having the right answers and saying the right things doesn’t make you right with God- it’s about your relationship with Christ. His heart breaks for the people in church every week who don’t know Jesus.
Session 9- Andy Stanley
Here are the 5 things Andy Stanley is thinking about now:
1. To reach people no one else is reaching, we need to do things no one else is doing. – Craig Groeschel
It’s not good enough to do the same thing louder or better or differently. To reach people outside the church, we need to go outside the church. Stanley says we need to become preoccupied with those we haven’t reached as opposed to those we are trying to keep.
2. The next Generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.- Al Reis
If you’re over 45, you need to accept that your ideas to reach the next generation will not be effective. You need to lend your expertise to deciding which ideas are good ones instead of trying to come up with good ideas. Be a student, not a critic.
3. What do I believe is impossible to do in my field... but if it could be done, it would fundamentally change my business? - Joel Barker
Pay attention to those who are breaking the rules- they are almost always the ones that solve the problems
4. If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what we he do? Why shouldn’t we walk out the door, come back in, and do it ourselves? – Andy Grove
Acknowledge what’s not working, and own up to why you are unwilling to do anything about it.
No pain = no change. Change is always painful, but almost always worth it.
5. When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. – Michael Hammer
Don’t let success overshadow your vision.
Summary
The Catalyst Conference was really great this year. I left out comments from a few speakers (Tim Sanders, Brenda Salter McNeil, Andy Crouch) that I didn’t get much from, but the sessions were almost universally good. (Sorry, I love Tim Sanders, but I didn't get much. He's great though. Really. Read Love is the Killer App.)
Catalyst Conference 2008 - Day 1
I thought I should post an update on Catalyst this year. Here are the highlights as I see them:
Session 1- Andy Stanley
Stanley talked about moral authority in leadership. People won’t necessarily follow us because they believe what we say we believe, but they absolutely must know that WE believe what we say we believe. That is moral authority- basically, that the walk matches the talk. He specifically said the church needs moral authority in three areas:
- Forgiveness- we can’t teach forgiveness from a heart that hasn’t forgiven
- Family – we can’t effectively teach the importance of family when we don’t put family first
- Finances – our checkbook shows our priorities.
He used the story of Nehemiah to reinforce this point: when he confronted the Jews on their lending money with high interest to other Jews, they immediately gave in because he had moral authority- Nehemiah had never accepted what he rightfully had coming to him (Nehemiah 5:6-18)
Session 2- William Paul Young / Jim Collins
William Paul Young is the author of the bestseller The Shack. This was an interesting interview. Young wrote the book for his kids with no intent of publishing it, but there was so much demand for the story that it became a bestseller. The moral: create what the people around you need or want, and it may be what many people need or want.
Jim Collins is also a bestselling author, most notably of the book Good to Great. Collins said that the main difference between good organizations and great ones is not the circumstances they find themselves in: “We are not imprisoned by our circumstances, we are freed by our choices and our discipline.” Instead, he said, one of the major differences between good and great is a culture of discipline. We need to have discipline to keep doing what we need to do. Each step is a tiny turn on a huge flywheel, but once it gets going, it has great momentum. He also said that organizations are far more likely to gorge themselves than starve to death- the great more often fall by overreaching than by having too little opportunity.
Session 3- Steven Furtick
Steven Furtick is the lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. He talked about the fact that between the promise and the payoff is a process- when God makes us a promise, we can sometimes give up on it if we can’t see the payoff coming. He used the scripture from 1 Kings 18 to encourage people that God is faithful in his promises- when Elijah promised the people of Israel that rain was coming, the text says there was a cloud forming that was the size of a man’s hand. God is preparing you for what He is preparing for you.
Session 4- Seth Godin
Godin is the author of such books as Purple Cow and The Dip. At this session, he talked about his new book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. He says that people (consumers or congregation members) are asking these questions of marketing organizations: Who else is going to be there? Who will lead us?
Godin says a crowd is not the same as a tribe. A tribe is self-selected and has a common purpose or mission. Moving forward, our job is to find out what characteristics people share – who is our tribe? He also said the idea that everyone wants to join your tribe is naive. Find the commonalities that your customers have and emphasize those in your marketing efforts.
Session 5 – Craig Groeschel
Groeschel is the senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of the book Confessions of a Pastor. He was the first to really capitalize on the power of the Internet to leverage the power of the church.
Groeschel talked about Finding IT when you’ve lost IT. This was a very powerful session. We don’t know what IT is, but we know some things about IT:
- God makes IT happen
- We cannot create IT
- IT is not a model
- IT has an upside (lives are changed forever)
- IT has a downside (IT attracts critics)
- IT happens, but not always
- If you have IT, you can lose IT
- If you don’t have IT, you can get IT
Above all, for your church to have IT, you must have IT. If you lose IT, you need to do something drastic. You should pray:
- God, stretch me (take me outside my comfort zone)
- God, heal me (fix the things in my life I can’t fix)
- God, ruin me (maybe have to start all over with God)
Session 1- Andy Stanley
Stanley talked about moral authority in leadership. People won’t necessarily follow us because they believe what we say we believe, but they absolutely must know that WE believe what we say we believe. That is moral authority- basically, that the walk matches the talk. He specifically said the church needs moral authority in three areas:
- Forgiveness- we can’t teach forgiveness from a heart that hasn’t forgiven
- Family – we can’t effectively teach the importance of family when we don’t put family first
- Finances – our checkbook shows our priorities.
He used the story of Nehemiah to reinforce this point: when he confronted the Jews on their lending money with high interest to other Jews, they immediately gave in because he had moral authority- Nehemiah had never accepted what he rightfully had coming to him (Nehemiah 5:6-18)
Session 2- William Paul Young / Jim Collins
William Paul Young is the author of the bestseller The Shack. This was an interesting interview. Young wrote the book for his kids with no intent of publishing it, but there was so much demand for the story that it became a bestseller. The moral: create what the people around you need or want, and it may be what many people need or want.
Jim Collins is also a bestselling author, most notably of the book Good to Great. Collins said that the main difference between good organizations and great ones is not the circumstances they find themselves in: “We are not imprisoned by our circumstances, we are freed by our choices and our discipline.” Instead, he said, one of the major differences between good and great is a culture of discipline. We need to have discipline to keep doing what we need to do. Each step is a tiny turn on a huge flywheel, but once it gets going, it has great momentum. He also said that organizations are far more likely to gorge themselves than starve to death- the great more often fall by overreaching than by having too little opportunity.
Session 3- Steven Furtick
Steven Furtick is the lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. He talked about the fact that between the promise and the payoff is a process- when God makes us a promise, we can sometimes give up on it if we can’t see the payoff coming. He used the scripture from 1 Kings 18 to encourage people that God is faithful in his promises- when Elijah promised the people of Israel that rain was coming, the text says there was a cloud forming that was the size of a man’s hand. God is preparing you for what He is preparing for you.
Session 4- Seth Godin
Godin is the author of such books as Purple Cow and The Dip. At this session, he talked about his new book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. He says that people (consumers or congregation members) are asking these questions of marketing organizations: Who else is going to be there? Who will lead us?
Godin says a crowd is not the same as a tribe. A tribe is self-selected and has a common purpose or mission. Moving forward, our job is to find out what characteristics people share – who is our tribe? He also said the idea that everyone wants to join your tribe is naive. Find the commonalities that your customers have and emphasize those in your marketing efforts.
Session 5 – Craig Groeschel
Groeschel is the senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of the book Confessions of a Pastor. He was the first to really capitalize on the power of the Internet to leverage the power of the church.
Groeschel talked about Finding IT when you’ve lost IT. This was a very powerful session. We don’t know what IT is, but we know some things about IT:
- God makes IT happen
- We cannot create IT
- IT is not a model
- IT has an upside (lives are changed forever)
- IT has a downside (IT attracts critics)
- IT happens, but not always
- If you have IT, you can lose IT
- If you don’t have IT, you can get IT
Above all, for your church to have IT, you must have IT. If you lose IT, you need to do something drastic. You should pray:
- God, stretch me (take me outside my comfort zone)
- God, heal me (fix the things in my life I can’t fix)
- God, ruin me (maybe have to start all over with God)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Off to Catalyst...
Well, the boys and I are headed to the Catalyst Conference in the morning. Very excited to hear what God is going to say through Andy Stanley, Dave Ramsey, Craig Groeschel, and others. Even more excited to see what He is going to do with it at Genesis Church when we get back.
I'll try to post updates if I can find a PC in the nether regions of north suburban Atlanta.
Peace!
I'll try to post updates if I can find a PC in the nether regions of north suburban Atlanta.
Peace!
Monday, October 6, 2008
How do you know how to serve?
This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. -Ephesians 3:7-8 (the Message)
I love the humility in Paul's words here - "I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians." But more than that, I love the power and compassion and humor of God to take someone who's unqualified, call him to ministry, then qualify him. Can I suggest that this goes completely counter to how we often do things in ministry. So often, we look for what we're good at, then decide to serve in an area that requires someone with our strengths.
What if, though- what if we instead decided to listen to God's call for our lives, then turned ourselves off so that God could work in us and qualify us for the ministry he's called us to? In other words, what if we were so obedient to His voice that we followed Him no matter where He led us, and allowed Him to gift us with the abilities required to fulfill His calling?
How powerful could the church be for Christ if everyone's primary objective were to listen to God?
I love the humility in Paul's words here - "I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians." But more than that, I love the power and compassion and humor of God to take someone who's unqualified, call him to ministry, then qualify him. Can I suggest that this goes completely counter to how we often do things in ministry. So often, we look for what we're good at, then decide to serve in an area that requires someone with our strengths.
What if, though- what if we instead decided to listen to God's call for our lives, then turned ourselves off so that God could work in us and qualify us for the ministry he's called us to? In other words, what if we were so obedient to His voice that we followed Him no matter where He led us, and allowed Him to gift us with the abilities required to fulfill His calling?
How powerful could the church be for Christ if everyone's primary objective were to listen to God?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
What does it mean to be a leader in the church?
I happened upon this great article from Jon Tyson, the lead pastor of Origins Church in New York City. At it's heart is what it means to lead in the church. It doesn't matter if you are an elder, deacon, pastor, lay leader, or a volunteer who serves once a month, Tyson says there is one characteristic that is required of leaders.
Charisma? Leadership skills? Teaching gifts? Nah. See, leadership in the church is about making The Church beautiful, like the Bride of Christ she is called to be. So what is the required characteristic?
"Leadership in the church is more than just matching gifts with passion, or desire with opportunity. Leadership in the church is about nobility. In other words, it takes that which is noble to produce that which is beautiful."
Please go here to read the whole article. I promise, it's five minutes you won't regret.
Peace.
Charisma? Leadership skills? Teaching gifts? Nah. See, leadership in the church is about making The Church beautiful, like the Bride of Christ she is called to be. So what is the required characteristic?
"Leadership in the church is more than just matching gifts with passion, or desire with opportunity. Leadership in the church is about nobility. In other words, it takes that which is noble to produce that which is beautiful."
Please go here to read the whole article. I promise, it's five minutes you won't regret.
Peace.
The church as a force or a field?
Check out this video from Granger Community Church pastor Mark Beeson about two different philosophies of the church. Which do you think Christ's bride should be?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Ever feel like God is silent?
Currently, at Genesis Church, we are in a series called "Mind Games." The series is about faith, and the first message this week was I feel abandoned by God.
I have to admit that there are very few times I feel abandoned by God (although I used to, a lot). But there are times when I feel God is silent in my life (apologies to JV- I know He's not silent.) Why is it when I pray and I serve and I try hard to follow God, I dont' always hear Him? Then, in my daily reading, I came across this in The Message:
This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' -Isaiah 58:6-9
Wow. This is really convicting to me, especially the part about being avaialable to your own family. See, it's easy for me to give money to a cause, but harder to give time and effort to it. It's natural for me to want to help people I know and like, but harder for me to want to help my extended family. In fact, I'd rather give money to someone I don't know very well, but I know is trying to follow God than to give money to members of my family who need it. And as far as having time to talk to my family? Well, besides my mom, I can't remember the last time I picked up the phone to call them and just see how they're doing.
But, that's what God wants from me. Feed the poor. Invite in the homeless. Clothe the ill-clad. Be available for my family. That's harder than praying and reading the bible and serving others. That is giving up your life.
Peace to you.
I have to admit that there are very few times I feel abandoned by God (although I used to, a lot). But there are times when I feel God is silent in my life (apologies to JV- I know He's not silent.) Why is it when I pray and I serve and I try hard to follow God, I dont' always hear Him? Then, in my daily reading, I came across this in The Message:
This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' -Isaiah 58:6-9
Wow. This is really convicting to me, especially the part about being avaialable to your own family. See, it's easy for me to give money to a cause, but harder to give time and effort to it. It's natural for me to want to help people I know and like, but harder for me to want to help my extended family. In fact, I'd rather give money to someone I don't know very well, but I know is trying to follow God than to give money to members of my family who need it. And as far as having time to talk to my family? Well, besides my mom, I can't remember the last time I picked up the phone to call them and just see how they're doing.
But, that's what God wants from me. Feed the poor. Invite in the homeless. Clothe the ill-clad. Be available for my family. That's harder than praying and reading the bible and serving others. That is giving up your life.
Peace to you.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bailout or sinking fund?
I know all this talk about a bailout can be confusing for non-financial types, so I'd like to try to put it in layman's terms. Last night, President Bush said that under the proposed bailout plan, "...the federal government would put up to $700 billion taxpayer dollars on the line to purchase troubled assets that are clogging the financial system. In the short term, this will free up banks to resume the flow of credit to American families and businesses, and this will help our economy grow."
All this can be quite confusing, I know. So, here it is in terms we can all understand:
The US Government (which doesn't have any money, which is why we're nearly $10 trillion in debt) is going to borrow more money so it can lend it to banks (who don't have any money, which is why so many are going bankrupt) so that they can loan it to consumers (who don't have any money, which is why mortgage forclosures are at an all-time high). That way, consumers (still no money) can go deeper into debt to the banks (who've now loaned all the money out again) and the government is caught holding the bag. Actually, not, because the government doesn't have any money... it all comes from us. And our kids.
So, to simplify further: Our kids are loaning money to the government to loan it to the banks to loan it to us so we can buy flat screens and Volvos.
Hopefully, this makes the matter simpler to understand.
All this can be quite confusing, I know. So, here it is in terms we can all understand:
The US Government (which doesn't have any money, which is why we're nearly $10 trillion in debt) is going to borrow more money so it can lend it to banks (who don't have any money, which is why so many are going bankrupt) so that they can loan it to consumers (who don't have any money, which is why mortgage forclosures are at an all-time high). That way, consumers (still no money) can go deeper into debt to the banks (who've now loaned all the money out again) and the government is caught holding the bag. Actually, not, because the government doesn't have any money... it all comes from us. And our kids.
So, to simplify further: Our kids are loaning money to the government to loan it to the banks to loan it to us so we can buy flat screens and Volvos.
Hopefully, this makes the matter simpler to understand.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
God's plan to save the world
In the recent days and weeks, if you watch the news, it can be easy to get caught up in the Chicken Little stories. Serious-looking news people tell us how tight the presidential race is and how important it is to get the "right" person in power. At the same time, disheveled financial types yell at us that the economic sky is falling and the world is coming to an end. And in the midst of all this, a rumor is swirling that Brad and Angelina have broken up. It's almost enough to make you wonder if God's still on His throne.
But the truth is written in scripture that God has a plan to save the world. We know that Jesus "...did not come to judge the world, but to save it." (John 12:47) But, Jesus is gone, at least physically, so how does that work now? In the midst of all the trouble and turmoil, what is God's plan to save the world?
It's written here:
God's Message,
the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies,
laid out the earth and all that grows from it,
Who breathes life into earth's people,
makes them alive with his own life:
"I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
opening blind eyes,
releasing prisoners from dungeons,
emptying the dark prisons. - Isaiah 42:5-7 (The Message)
Right there. Did you see it? God is talking about bringing people into light, opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners. And how? Through his secret plan. Read it again:
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light...
See that? God's plan to save the world? It's YOU. You have been called to bind His people to Him. You have been called to start bringing people into the light, release people from the prisons. You are called to spread the message. How, you wonder, can you save the world? You can't- but God can, and will, through you. Through telling your friends, through giving your time and money, and through serving in His kingdom, you (and I) can work to bring heaven to earth. Giving a little of ourselves will help bring up there to down here.
But the truth is written in scripture that God has a plan to save the world. We know that Jesus "...did not come to judge the world, but to save it." (John 12:47) But, Jesus is gone, at least physically, so how does that work now? In the midst of all the trouble and turmoil, what is God's plan to save the world?
It's written here:
God's Message,
the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies,
laid out the earth and all that grows from it,
Who breathes life into earth's people,
makes them alive with his own life:
"I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
opening blind eyes,
releasing prisoners from dungeons,
emptying the dark prisons. - Isaiah 42:5-7 (The Message)
Right there. Did you see it? God is talking about bringing people into light, opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners. And how? Through his secret plan. Read it again:
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light...
See that? God's plan to save the world? It's YOU. You have been called to bind His people to Him. You have been called to start bringing people into the light, release people from the prisons. You are called to spread the message. How, you wonder, can you save the world? You can't- but God can, and will, through you. Through telling your friends, through giving your time and money, and through serving in His kingdom, you (and I) can work to bring heaven to earth. Giving a little of ourselves will help bring up there to down here.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On becoming less and less
God, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on me—
The very thing
you've been unwilling to do.- Isaiah 30:15 (The Message)
Maybe you're like me and sometimes forget that we can't save ourselves. I try so hard to live right and do good and, while those are good things, they can't save me. Only by turning to God and relying totally and completely on Him can I be saved.
I work really hard to prove I'm better than others. I often want to tell my boss that I made this happen, or I carried someone else's water in some case, just to prove how strong I am. But, I read this verse, and I really do want my strength to come from settling down in complete dependence on God. This means I can't make myself strong by:
- Building a bigger bank account
- Learning more things
- Impressing more people
- Even serving more people
See, I work really hard to make myself appear like I'm more than I am. But, only when I make myself less can I allow Him to become more- and that is where I become strong.
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.- Psalm 121:1-2
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on me—
The very thing
you've been unwilling to do.- Isaiah 30:15 (The Message)
Maybe you're like me and sometimes forget that we can't save ourselves. I try so hard to live right and do good and, while those are good things, they can't save me. Only by turning to God and relying totally and completely on Him can I be saved.
I work really hard to prove I'm better than others. I often want to tell my boss that I made this happen, or I carried someone else's water in some case, just to prove how strong I am. But, I read this verse, and I really do want my strength to come from settling down in complete dependence on God. This means I can't make myself strong by:
- Building a bigger bank account
- Learning more things
- Impressing more people
- Even serving more people
See, I work really hard to make myself appear like I'm more than I am. But, only when I make myself less can I allow Him to become more- and that is where I become strong.
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.- Psalm 121:1-2
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Seriously, what is the appeal?
Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans,
so full of themselves, so full of hot air!
Can't you see there's nothing to them? - Isaiah 2:22 (The Message)
I read this verse while on a plane coming home from England, and it got me thinking about celebrity worship. If you live in America and rarely leave, you may not believe this, but the Brits are far more into celebs and gossip that we are. In fact, most drug stores/ book stores/ airport shops had one magazine rack devoted to celebrity gossip- a single shelf printed with more neon than Nicky Hayden's Repsol Honda.
These magazines told, in hot pink or glowing orange print, what "Megan" was wearing this week, or how "Minnie" lost 24 pounds after her baby or what guy "Rose" was last seen with (apparently, last names are taboo in celebspeak).
So, I was profoundly affected by this verse, standing all alone at the end of one of Isaiah's visions. Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans.... After all, don't most of us have people we're "just dying" to meet? Wouldn't we drop our lunch and jump up to go meet Oprah or Barack or Sarah or Rob? (That's Bell, for me...) How much time and attention do we focus on mere humans and let God stand by himself, waiting patiently, for just a chance to enter our thoughts and our hearts? How often do we put The One who saved us on the back burner just for a chance to watch Big Brother or Biggest Loser or read about Brangelina's latest child?
What is the appeal anyway? Shouldn't everything we do be for God's glory, not for ours? Not for other people's?
Yes, they may play basketball well, or really convince you they're crying on the big screen, or they may have eye-melting beauty (or handsomeness). But, they're mere humans. I'm afraid that one day we'll wake up to find there really is nothing to them.
so full of themselves, so full of hot air!
Can't you see there's nothing to them? - Isaiah 2:22 (The Message)
I read this verse while on a plane coming home from England, and it got me thinking about celebrity worship. If you live in America and rarely leave, you may not believe this, but the Brits are far more into celebs and gossip that we are. In fact, most drug stores/ book stores/ airport shops had one magazine rack devoted to celebrity gossip- a single shelf printed with more neon than Nicky Hayden's Repsol Honda.
These magazines told, in hot pink or glowing orange print, what "Megan" was wearing this week, or how "Minnie" lost 24 pounds after her baby or what guy "Rose" was last seen with (apparently, last names are taboo in celebspeak).
So, I was profoundly affected by this verse, standing all alone at the end of one of Isaiah's visions. Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans.... After all, don't most of us have people we're "just dying" to meet? Wouldn't we drop our lunch and jump up to go meet Oprah or Barack or Sarah or Rob? (That's Bell, for me...) How much time and attention do we focus on mere humans and let God stand by himself, waiting patiently, for just a chance to enter our thoughts and our hearts? How often do we put The One who saved us on the back burner just for a chance to watch Big Brother or Biggest Loser or read about Brangelina's latest child?
What is the appeal anyway? Shouldn't everything we do be for God's glory, not for ours? Not for other people's?
Yes, they may play basketball well, or really convince you they're crying on the big screen, or they may have eye-melting beauty (or handsomeness). But, they're mere humans. I'm afraid that one day we'll wake up to find there really is nothing to them.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lessons from The Shack
I write this from the North of England, and on the airplane over here I finished the book The Shack. I have to tell you, I got several lessons out of the book:
- I got a great explanation of the role tragedy plays in our lives
- I found a unique perspective on the Trinity
- I got an even greater appreciation of what God must have gone through to allow Jesus to go to the cross
I have to admit I didn't want to finish the book. The first few chapters were hard because of a tragic event that happens (no, you'll have to read it for yourself!) But, I'm really glad I stayed with it. It is one of those great works of fiction that really helps you gain perspective on your life and Life in General. Besides that, it's wonderfully written with vivid descriptions and it's highly entertaining.
If you're not familiar with the book, you should go here.
- I got a great explanation of the role tragedy plays in our lives
- I found a unique perspective on the Trinity
- I got an even greater appreciation of what God must have gone through to allow Jesus to go to the cross
I have to admit I didn't want to finish the book. The first few chapters were hard because of a tragic event that happens (no, you'll have to read it for yourself!) But, I'm really glad I stayed with it. It is one of those great works of fiction that really helps you gain perspective on your life and Life in General. Besides that, it's wonderfully written with vivid descriptions and it's highly entertaining.
If you're not familiar with the book, you should go here.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Is your wife more spiritual than you are?
Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening, asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God's Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking. Do you—both women and men—imagine that you're a sacred oracle determining what's right and wrong? Do you think everything revolves around you? - 1 Corinthians 14:34-36
This is yet another indication of how men are called to be the spiritual leaders of their families. Granted, this passage goes against our modern ways of thinking about home life and church, but Paul is emphatic that husbands should be able to answer the spiritual questions from their wives.
Men often neglect the study of scripture as too ethereal, too time consuming, too boring, or just not football-y enough. But, if we don't read and study and spend time in God's word, how can we really be what we're called to be - spiritual leaders of our households?
In Spanish, there are two words for "read." The word "recitar" (to read) means to read in a way you can repeat, or "recite" the text. The word "estudiar" also means read, but to read deeply, to study. I need to estudio mas and recito menor.
My wife gets up early to read her bible. My wife goes to a bible study with other women, as well as our small group study. My wife prays daily, and not just before meals (I KNOW!) I need to do a better job of being a spiritual head of my family. How about you?
This is yet another indication of how men are called to be the spiritual leaders of their families. Granted, this passage goes against our modern ways of thinking about home life and church, but Paul is emphatic that husbands should be able to answer the spiritual questions from their wives.
Men often neglect the study of scripture as too ethereal, too time consuming, too boring, or just not football-y enough. But, if we don't read and study and spend time in God's word, how can we really be what we're called to be - spiritual leaders of our households?
In Spanish, there are two words for "read." The word "recitar" (to read) means to read in a way you can repeat, or "recite" the text. The word "estudiar" also means read, but to read deeply, to study. I need to estudio mas and recito menor.
My wife gets up early to read her bible. My wife goes to a bible study with other women, as well as our small group study. My wife prays daily, and not just before meals (I KNOW!) I need to do a better job of being a spiritual head of my family. How about you?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
More on the evangelical church
I received a comment from friend on my post entitled "What Kind of Church do you Want?". My friend was lamenting the statistics Pastor Stevens was so pumped up about, and was concerned that (1) I endorsed this line of thinking, and (2) That the church assembly would even be thought of as an evangelical tool. The comment was well thought-out and scriptural, and here is an excerpt:
In this issue, starting in Ephesians 4:
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
You see the job of the pastor/elder and teacher is train the saints for the work of the ministry. What is the work of the ministry if it is not evangelism and discipleship? The believers are to be soul winners not the pastors. If the pastor of an assembly is focused on evangelism, he has missed the point....
What the modern church (mainline, evangelical you name it) has done is create a body of consumers of spirituality rather than members of the body of Christ. Do you know that Barna has done research and found that 9 out of 10 professing evangelicals have NEVER shared their faith? If that is our primary mission what is wrong here?
By the way, my friend also has a great blog that you should check out. I responded to him via e-mail, but I wanted to post it here, too.
First of all, thanks so much for reading and contributing. I'd love for my blog to be the kind of place people can go and have this dialogue.
Second, I want to make it clear that I didn't agree with Stevens on my blog (or disagree), but I linked his post because I thought it was an interesting take on what could be some disturbing statistics. If I were to do the survey, I would want to see some further statistics... for instance, is there a correlation between how long someone has attended Granger and what they believe? In other words, by attending the church, are people being edified? If 10 year people have the same beliefs as one-year people, then I think the church is failing to make disciples and "teach them to obey my commands."
However, I don't totally agree with your point that the church shouldn't be about evangelism. If we look at the church in Acts chapter 2, we see people being intrigued and attracted by what goes on in the church assembly. On the day of Pentacost, when the Holy Spirit invaded the church, people (non-believers) came running from everywhere to see what was going on. What did Peter do? He didn't say, "Go away if you don't believe what we do." He didn't start speaking to believers. Instead, he immediately used what was going on at that moment (the "culture" if you will) to preach to non-believers. (Acts 2:14-41). This is the first picture we have of a church assembly after Christ's ascendancy, and it's the disciples use it to evangelize.
I also think that there are two reasons few believers share their faith. (1) If you grew up in the church I grew up in, you wouldn't want anyone to know. I think there are a lot of churches like that. (2) People aren't taught how to share their faith. And, how better to learn how than by a church that believes in sharing its faith?
That being said, I do think you can make a mistake and make the church assembly ALL about evangelism and not about making disciples. That's the balance we try to strike at Genesis. It's why we try to emphasize small groups for people who want to dig deeper (Yes, I know there are issues with the small group model, too, but it's close to the Acts 2 model of the church where people met in homes, broke bread together and worshipped). It's also why we tend to constantly rotate from series about horizontal relationships (man to man) and vertical relationship (man to God). We also try to mix series that are evangelical in nature with those that are edifying in nature. I know with Paul at the helm, we will do an even better job of this.
Finally, you should know that I don't think I have the right answer. This is a line of thinking that continues to evolve the more I pray about it and study scripture. I rest in the fact that I have the few important things figured out, and the rest we'll find out in heaven.
What do you think? Join the discussion by posting a comment...
In this issue, starting in Ephesians 4:
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
You see the job of the pastor/elder and teacher is train the saints for the work of the ministry. What is the work of the ministry if it is not evangelism and discipleship? The believers are to be soul winners not the pastors. If the pastor of an assembly is focused on evangelism, he has missed the point....
What the modern church (mainline, evangelical you name it) has done is create a body of consumers of spirituality rather than members of the body of Christ. Do you know that Barna has done research and found that 9 out of 10 professing evangelicals have NEVER shared their faith? If that is our primary mission what is wrong here?
By the way, my friend also has a great blog that you should check out. I responded to him via e-mail, but I wanted to post it here, too.
First of all, thanks so much for reading and contributing. I'd love for my blog to be the kind of place people can go and have this dialogue.
Second, I want to make it clear that I didn't agree with Stevens on my blog (or disagree), but I linked his post because I thought it was an interesting take on what could be some disturbing statistics. If I were to do the survey, I would want to see some further statistics... for instance, is there a correlation between how long someone has attended Granger and what they believe? In other words, by attending the church, are people being edified? If 10 year people have the same beliefs as one-year people, then I think the church is failing to make disciples and "teach them to obey my commands."
However, I don't totally agree with your point that the church shouldn't be about evangelism. If we look at the church in Acts chapter 2, we see people being intrigued and attracted by what goes on in the church assembly. On the day of Pentacost, when the Holy Spirit invaded the church, people (non-believers) came running from everywhere to see what was going on. What did Peter do? He didn't say, "Go away if you don't believe what we do." He didn't start speaking to believers. Instead, he immediately used what was going on at that moment (the "culture" if you will) to preach to non-believers. (Acts 2:14-41). This is the first picture we have of a church assembly after Christ's ascendancy, and it's the disciples use it to evangelize.
I also think that there are two reasons few believers share their faith. (1) If you grew up in the church I grew up in, you wouldn't want anyone to know. I think there are a lot of churches like that. (2) People aren't taught how to share their faith. And, how better to learn how than by a church that believes in sharing its faith?
That being said, I do think you can make a mistake and make the church assembly ALL about evangelism and not about making disciples. That's the balance we try to strike at Genesis. It's why we try to emphasize small groups for people who want to dig deeper (Yes, I know there are issues with the small group model, too, but it's close to the Acts 2 model of the church where people met in homes, broke bread together and worshipped). It's also why we tend to constantly rotate from series about horizontal relationships (man to man) and vertical relationship (man to God). We also try to mix series that are evangelical in nature with those that are edifying in nature. I know with Paul at the helm, we will do an even better job of this.
Finally, you should know that I don't think I have the right answer. This is a line of thinking that continues to evolve the more I pray about it and study scripture. I rest in the fact that I have the few important things figured out, and the rest we'll find out in heaven.
What do you think? Join the discussion by posting a comment...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Public apology to a flight attendant
So, to our flight attendant Larraine, I just want to say, "I'm sorry." No, I didn't yell and scream at her, as I'm sure some have done. I didn't insult her or act like a child or do anything to make her job more difficult. In fact, she probably doesn't even realize I feel like I owe her an apology.
Let me tell this story. On the flight from Houston to Brownsville Monday, Larraine was working her wings off to get pretzels and drinks to about 60 passengers crammed into a flying sardine can far from home. The flight is only 47 minutes, so she already had her work cut out for her when we started. Then, she experienced a beverage cart malfunction. Specifically, the cart's brakes failed and whenever she would park at a row to take drink orders, the cart would begin migrating toward the back of the aircraft like it had to use the john. Fortunately, she got to my row and served me before this happened. Then, she realized that holding the cart with one hand while pouring drinks with the other wasn't working. The obviously flustered attendant then had to come over the PA System, announce what had happened, apologize to the whole of the cabin, and turn into a waitress, taking drink orders on a notepad.
This is where the thought entered my mind- "Get up and help her." Really, how hard can it be? If you read this occasionally, you know I sometimes pray, "God, if it pleases you, send me someone to serve today." Well, this was my chance. He delivered unto me, not just a young flight attendant to serve, but the back half of an angry airplane. But all of a sudden, my water got tastier, my book got more interesting, the seat belt sign gleamed more brightly, and my rear stayed glued to my seat. I tried not to look up so I'd have to witness the obvious torment this experience was putting her through. Of course, she eventually had to give up and apologize to the last five rows of the plane or so, and all because I was too stubborn/proud/embarassed to serve.
So, for that, I'm sorry, Larraine. Though, maybe she's not the one to whom I should be apologizing.
Let me tell this story. On the flight from Houston to Brownsville Monday, Larraine was working her wings off to get pretzels and drinks to about 60 passengers crammed into a flying sardine can far from home. The flight is only 47 minutes, so she already had her work cut out for her when we started. Then, she experienced a beverage cart malfunction. Specifically, the cart's brakes failed and whenever she would park at a row to take drink orders, the cart would begin migrating toward the back of the aircraft like it had to use the john. Fortunately, she got to my row and served me before this happened. Then, she realized that holding the cart with one hand while pouring drinks with the other wasn't working. The obviously flustered attendant then had to come over the PA System, announce what had happened, apologize to the whole of the cabin, and turn into a waitress, taking drink orders on a notepad.
This is where the thought entered my mind- "Get up and help her." Really, how hard can it be? If you read this occasionally, you know I sometimes pray, "God, if it pleases you, send me someone to serve today." Well, this was my chance. He delivered unto me, not just a young flight attendant to serve, but the back half of an angry airplane. But all of a sudden, my water got tastier, my book got more interesting, the seat belt sign gleamed more brightly, and my rear stayed glued to my seat. I tried not to look up so I'd have to witness the obvious torment this experience was putting her through. Of course, she eventually had to give up and apologize to the last five rows of the plane or so, and all because I was too stubborn/proud/embarassed to serve.
So, for that, I'm sorry, Larraine. Though, maybe she's not the one to whom I should be apologizing.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
We're all from the same clay
Look, you and I both belong to God.
I, too, was formed from clay.- Job 33:6
I write this from a hotel room in Brownsville, Texas. I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time on the south side of the border today, and this thought- this verse- kept coming to me. As I watched young mothers, walk their young kids to school, some of them not long out of school themselves. As I saw disfigured and disabled men selling hats on the bridge over the Rio Grande. As I saw busloads of production workers shuttled in and out of the industrial parks, I thought about how similar we all are. But our life circumstances aren't the same. And this got me thinking.
I'm quick to admit that some people are dealt a bad lot in life. In Job's case, he was really a good man, a man who pursued after God. Yet, a lot of bad happened in a short period of time. It would be hard for anyone to say he didn't have a bad break. In the same way, many of the people in Mexico (far from the poorest country in the world) won't have nearly the opportunity that my kids will. But, as easy as it is for us to admit some people are born in a worse situation than we are, it's very hard to admit that we just might have gotten a good break. Just the parents we have or the home into which we were born or even our country- that maybe good fortune played a role in how far we've come in life.
Seeing the people in Mexico, I'm always amazed by their sheer joy. I love seeing their smiles in the face of worse circumstances than I'd want to face. And, more than anything, I recently realize we're all made from the same clay. Really, what is it about their lives that make them less valuable than mine? Why should I save to have a secure retirement and a nice house when others who are just as hardworking, just as faithful, just as God-breathed, have so little?
I feel very fortunate to have been born when I was and where I was. It was not an accident. God put me in the situation I'm in so I can make a difference. I just need to think about how.
I, too, was formed from clay.- Job 33:6
I write this from a hotel room in Brownsville, Texas. I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time on the south side of the border today, and this thought- this verse- kept coming to me. As I watched young mothers, walk their young kids to school, some of them not long out of school themselves. As I saw disfigured and disabled men selling hats on the bridge over the Rio Grande. As I saw busloads of production workers shuttled in and out of the industrial parks, I thought about how similar we all are. But our life circumstances aren't the same. And this got me thinking.
I'm quick to admit that some people are dealt a bad lot in life. In Job's case, he was really a good man, a man who pursued after God. Yet, a lot of bad happened in a short period of time. It would be hard for anyone to say he didn't have a bad break. In the same way, many of the people in Mexico (far from the poorest country in the world) won't have nearly the opportunity that my kids will. But, as easy as it is for us to admit some people are born in a worse situation than we are, it's very hard to admit that we just might have gotten a good break. Just the parents we have or the home into which we were born or even our country- that maybe good fortune played a role in how far we've come in life.
Seeing the people in Mexico, I'm always amazed by their sheer joy. I love seeing their smiles in the face of worse circumstances than I'd want to face. And, more than anything, I recently realize we're all made from the same clay. Really, what is it about their lives that make them less valuable than mine? Why should I save to have a secure retirement and a nice house when others who are just as hardworking, just as faithful, just as God-breathed, have so little?
I feel very fortunate to have been born when I was and where I was. It was not an accident. God put me in the situation I'm in so I can make a difference. I just need to think about how.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
What kind of church do you want?
Are you frustrated that everyone in your church doesn't believe the same things you do? Do you ever think that it would be much better, easier, or less icky if we all just agreed on some things? Take a look at this perspective from Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor at Granger Community Church.
You can read the whole post if you want, but I'll give you the highlights:
- 57% of those who attend Granger don't believe the authority of the bible
- 56% don't believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life
- 47% don't believe in salvation by grace
- Stevens kind of likes these stats
Find out why here.
You can read the whole post if you want, but I'll give you the highlights:
- 57% of those who attend Granger don't believe the authority of the bible
- 56% don't believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life
- 47% don't believe in salvation by grace
- Stevens kind of likes these stats
Find out why here.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
What should we pray?
From time to time, I have an opportunity to get together with friends and pray. Recently, it struck me that maybe we're not spending this time in the most effective way.
As I was thinking about the things we were praying for, I noticed a serious lack of substance- good weather for a particular event, that suitcases wouldn't get lost during travel, for a missionary to find a good deal on a car. Really? We're praying for cars and suitcases now?
Don't get me wrong- I know God wants to hear the desires of our hearts. I know that what's important to us is important to him. But most of us don't spend the entire day in prayer, even if we should. Shouldn't we be using this time for a greater purpose? What about praying for people who are far from God - our hearts should break for them. What about people who are hopelessly lost in addictions or abuse? What about praying for the poor and marginalized, and seeking wisdom on how to help them? Have we really gotten so self-absorbed that we're praying for suitcases?
Somebody help me.
As I was thinking about the things we were praying for, I noticed a serious lack of substance- good weather for a particular event, that suitcases wouldn't get lost during travel, for a missionary to find a good deal on a car. Really? We're praying for cars and suitcases now?
Don't get me wrong- I know God wants to hear the desires of our hearts. I know that what's important to us is important to him. But most of us don't spend the entire day in prayer, even if we should. Shouldn't we be using this time for a greater purpose? What about praying for people who are far from God - our hearts should break for them. What about people who are hopelessly lost in addictions or abuse? What about praying for the poor and marginalized, and seeking wisdom on how to help them? Have we really gotten so self-absorbed that we're praying for suitcases?
Somebody help me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What is your king?
Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect....When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. - Esther 3:1-2,5-6
Mordecai became hated because he refused to bow to Haman. As a result, his entire race was endangered. Mordecai had decided before this moment ONLY to bow to his God. It would have been so much easier for him just to bow to Haman, but his principles wouldn't allow it.
In America, we bow to a lot of things. We bow to celebrities, whether they're on the big screen, small screen, or playing field. We bow to the clothes they wear and the cars they drive and the houses they (and we) live in. We bow to booze and to sex and some of us to drugs, and anything that makes it easier or less painful to get through the day. We have a lot of kings.
But those things, no matter how innocuous they seem, get in the way of our relationship with God. I know it's hard to connect how watching the Olympics interferes with our relationship with God, but it can. I was watching beach volleyball last night with my bible in front of me, and I frequently stopped reading the Word to watch Misty May destroy the Brazilians. So, who was my king in that moment?
It's the same with all of us. I don't know what your thing is, and it doesn't really matter to me. If you bow to it, if you allow yourself to be consumed by it, then your thing is really your king. You are hostage to it.
But God sent His son to set the hostages free. Bow to Him and you will be free.
Mordecai became hated because he refused to bow to Haman. As a result, his entire race was endangered. Mordecai had decided before this moment ONLY to bow to his God. It would have been so much easier for him just to bow to Haman, but his principles wouldn't allow it.
In America, we bow to a lot of things. We bow to celebrities, whether they're on the big screen, small screen, or playing field. We bow to the clothes they wear and the cars they drive and the houses they (and we) live in. We bow to booze and to sex and some of us to drugs, and anything that makes it easier or less painful to get through the day. We have a lot of kings.
But those things, no matter how innocuous they seem, get in the way of our relationship with God. I know it's hard to connect how watching the Olympics interferes with our relationship with God, but it can. I was watching beach volleyball last night with my bible in front of me, and I frequently stopped reading the Word to watch Misty May destroy the Brazilians. So, who was my king in that moment?
It's the same with all of us. I don't know what your thing is, and it doesn't really matter to me. If you bow to it, if you allow yourself to be consumed by it, then your thing is really your king. You are hostage to it.
But God sent His son to set the hostages free. Bow to Him and you will be free.
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