I'm a low-res kinda guy. Low on resolutions - New Year's resolutions - that is. I'm just not into making them. If people make them and keep them, great! I just don't do so well in making commitments just because it's a new year.
I think of King Solomon - the son of David who succeeded him on the throne, the one who asked God for, and received, fantastic wisdom. As we learn in Ecclesiastes, Solomon was accomplished in just about every area of life (in the world's eyes). He was king over a nation during a golden period. He was fabulously wealthy. He had a stellar education. He tried every experience a man could try. He had hundreds of women at his disposal. He had monumental wisdom (which he clearly had failed to use often later in life). He had it all.
In other words, Solomon had every human advantage to make and keep resolutions. He had the world at his disposal to keep whatever New Year's resolution you could think of. And he tried ... repeatedly. And he failed ... repeatedly.
Solomon was looking for more than just some weight loss or quitting cigarettes. He was looking for meaning, and he resolved all kinds of things in order to find it. Isn't that what we really want resolutions to bring us - more meaning, more satisfaction, more joy? But - even though Solomon had every resource available to him - he failed. His resolutions failed.
If the one who had the world's best resources for successfully keeping resolutions failed to find one ounce of meaning in those resolutions, I figure I need a better approach. Eventually, Solomon concluded the same thing.
I don't need to turn over a new leaf, I need new life. I don't need to do better at life, I need a better life. Rather than trying harder, Jesus offers us to replace worldly ways with godly ways. The more we abandon our hearts to Him, the more of this life He gives us. And it has meaning.
To me, New Year's resolutions are designed for us to try harder. Submitting to God is not about trying harder - it's about releasing yourself to the full control of the Holy Spirit more and more every day.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
The E Word
"Evangelism? AUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!"
How many of us respond that way to the topic of evangelism? We know that it is something that we should do, but as long as no one brings it up, then we can quietly tip-toe forward without actually doing much about it. And then WHAM!! Someone brings it up, and we have to deal with not doing very much evangelism all over again, get into the guilt, get through the guilt, then get past the guilt into tip-toeing around it again. Until the next time someone brings it up.
We'll even boldly discuss all the reasons we don't evangelize as we prepare to continue not evangelizing: I don't know how, I'm afraid, I might say the wrong thing, I can't get the conversation going in a spiritual direction, and so on. We feel that if we list the reasons why we don't do it, we've made progress (without actually having to do it!).
Part of our problem is lack of being equipped - we don't because we're not prepared to. Part of it is a matter of our will - we don't because we don't want to. Part of it is fear - we don't because we fear disobedience less than we fear rejection. And yet, hammering ourselves with these truths rarely, if ever, produces the kind of evangelism we should engage in.
One big part of our problem is that Hell isn't real enough to us, yet. We don't get how hell-ish Hell is, and so we don't feel an urgency to offer rescue to those around us.
But another big part of our problem is that we have a weak idea of what "evangelism" actually is. We too often think of evangelism in a particular, narrow, uncreative way. We think of coming up to strangers with little booklets or trying to force fit our conversations with friends to spiritual topics (deathly afraid that we'll actually succeed in steering the conversation to spiritual topics!). If we can get a better idea of what "evangelism" is, perhaps it won't seem so foreign to who we are.
The goal of any act of "evangelism" is not necessarily to "close the deal" - to bring someone to the point of praying to receive Christ. That's right - a majority of evangelism is not for the immediate goal of having someone "pray the prayer." That's always the ultimate goal of evangelism - make no mistake about it - but in a single instance of evangelism, more often than not, bringing someone to the point of decision is not the goal.
One of our big hang-ups about evangelism is freaking out over the responsibility to bring someone to that point. But if we can get it into our heads that "doing evangelism" is not so narrowly defined, I think we'll be more likely to "do evangelism."
This article is too short to spell it all out - my goal here is to spark your curiosity for future discussions. But let me hear from you. I want to know from you how your idea of "doing evangelism" would change if I said that evangelism is really about helping someone be more positive about Christ than he or she was before. What do you think? How would that change your reaction to the word "evangelism"? Let me know!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A What Kinda Christmas?
I am going to make this fantastic, large, delicious meal for you. It will take a lot of work in the kitchen, but I really want you to dine well. It's my specialty, and there's no one who can make it like I do. And ... it's free!!!
The main course is roast beef. Slow-cooked with hickory, it's so tender it cuts with a butter knife. It's not dry at all - the natural juices flavor every bite. Just a hint of fresh black pepper. But, while you're eating, be sure to remember the true meaning of roast beef.
The mashed potatoes are so rich, you don't need butter or gravy (because there's already a couple of sticks of butter mixed in - plus just enough sour cream). I leave the skins on the potatoes for a little texture. Piping hot, you plop them on your plate and they're so thick, they don't ooze into the roast beef. But, remember that dinner is the purpose for the potatoes.
The green beans are steamed, so that they are still crisp. Sprinkled with bacon bits and little fried onions, they are a medley unto themselves. They aren't waxy or soggy - just right. But, remember to put "green" back into "green beans."
The best part is dessert - pumpkin cheesecake. It has sprinkles of cinnamon in it, and it lies on a graham-cracker crust made by hand. It melts in your mouth, and makes you happier and happier with each bite, from your tongue to your tummy. But remember, the real present is just having you at my dinner table.
Now, if you remembered all four of these things for only a second, but then just simply gorged yourself to satisfy your own appetite, stuffing yourself until you were nearly sick, "remembering" these things doesn't mean a thing at all. Just thinking about these things for a few seconds, but then spending the meal primarily on yourself, isn't really thinking about those things. All you're really thinking about is your own appetite. The meal is about you, not the gift of the meal.
We have Christmas phrases: Remember the true meaning of Christmas, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, put "Christ" back in "Christmas," and remember that the real present of Christmas is Jesus. We say these things to remind ourselves while the world is busy telling us Christmas is about something else. We should say these things.
But if we just say them for a moment, and then spend the bulk of Christmas gorging ourselves on presents, trying to satisfy our own appetites, we haven't really thought about these things very much. It becomes about us, not the gift of Jesus.
I encourage you at Christmas to refuse to let Christmas be about you, about gifts, or even about giving. Insist that Christmas be about Christ, or let there be no Christmas at all.
# # #
Please remember to join us Saturday for the Bread of Life outreach. I will be driving back from Dallas, so I pray that I'll get back in time to join you.
# # #
The next time someone wishes you "Happy Holidays," ask them, "Which holiday do you want me to have a happy one of?" Then listen, without a judgmental ear. Find out what's important to them, then share what's important to you - "The holiday I want you to have a happy one of is Christmas."
The main course is roast beef. Slow-cooked with hickory, it's so tender it cuts with a butter knife. It's not dry at all - the natural juices flavor every bite. Just a hint of fresh black pepper. But, while you're eating, be sure to remember the true meaning of roast beef.
The mashed potatoes are so rich, you don't need butter or gravy (because there's already a couple of sticks of butter mixed in - plus just enough sour cream). I leave the skins on the potatoes for a little texture. Piping hot, you plop them on your plate and they're so thick, they don't ooze into the roast beef. But, remember that dinner is the purpose for the potatoes.
The green beans are steamed, so that they are still crisp. Sprinkled with bacon bits and little fried onions, they are a medley unto themselves. They aren't waxy or soggy - just right. But, remember to put "green" back into "green beans."
The best part is dessert - pumpkin cheesecake. It has sprinkles of cinnamon in it, and it lies on a graham-cracker crust made by hand. It melts in your mouth, and makes you happier and happier with each bite, from your tongue to your tummy. But remember, the real present is just having you at my dinner table.
Now, if you remembered all four of these things for only a second, but then just simply gorged yourself to satisfy your own appetite, stuffing yourself until you were nearly sick, "remembering" these things doesn't mean a thing at all. Just thinking about these things for a few seconds, but then spending the meal primarily on yourself, isn't really thinking about those things. All you're really thinking about is your own appetite. The meal is about you, not the gift of the meal.
We have Christmas phrases: Remember the true meaning of Christmas, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, put "Christ" back in "Christmas," and remember that the real present of Christmas is Jesus. We say these things to remind ourselves while the world is busy telling us Christmas is about something else. We should say these things.
But if we just say them for a moment, and then spend the bulk of Christmas gorging ourselves on presents, trying to satisfy our own appetites, we haven't really thought about these things very much. It becomes about us, not the gift of Jesus.
I encourage you at Christmas to refuse to let Christmas be about you, about gifts, or even about giving. Insist that Christmas be about Christ, or let there be no Christmas at all.
# # #
Please remember to join us Saturday for the Bread of Life outreach. I will be driving back from Dallas, so I pray that I'll get back in time to join you.
# # #
The next time someone wishes you "Happy Holidays," ask them, "Which holiday do you want me to have a happy one of?" Then listen, without a judgmental ear. Find out what's important to them, then share what's important to you - "The holiday I want you to have a happy one of is Christmas."
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Reading Through Chronologically
I propose that we take on a church project together. I propose that we challenge one another to read through the entire Bible together in 2011. Whether you've done it before or not, it's a great habit to get into, and one of the best ways to stay on it is to read through as a group.
In your bulletins for the next two weeks, we will distribute a reading plan that we can follow together. If you have your own plan, that's fine, too. This plan has the unique features that first, it arranges the readings according the order in which the books were written (according to some scholars). So, it will not exactly follow the order that is in your Bible. Second, it is arranged by weeks, not days. A daily schedule can become counterproductive, because if you fall behind, it can get intimidating to try to catch back up. A weekly schedule gives you some built-in flexibility when you do your readings.
We benefit by reading the Bible through in a year in several ways. It keeps God's Word fresh. It takes us through passages we might not read otherwise. It keeps us in both testaments. It helps us to see the big picture, since there's not as much time to dwell on details. It helps us to see how the parts fit into the overall story of salvation history. And many other benefits.
One of the hurdles when reading the Bible through is when we get bogged down in detailed descriptions of the Law or a long series of "begats." Guess what? It's OK to skim! Skimming is better than not reading at all, and skimming can help you focus on the big picture. So, don't feel guilty if you brush through some parts faster than others.
We'll try to remind you on occasion and encourage you. I suggest that your small group or ministry team spur one another on. Read with your kids. Read to one another. Or, get the Bible on CD or MP3 and listen as you drive and stay on schedule with the rest of us. Any way at all to keep us all together in reading through God's Word is a plus.
In your bulletins for the next two weeks, we will distribute a reading plan that we can follow together. If you have your own plan, that's fine, too. This plan has the unique features that first, it arranges the readings according the order in which the books were written (according to some scholars). So, it will not exactly follow the order that is in your Bible. Second, it is arranged by weeks, not days. A daily schedule can become counterproductive, because if you fall behind, it can get intimidating to try to catch back up. A weekly schedule gives you some built-in flexibility when you do your readings.
We benefit by reading the Bible through in a year in several ways. It keeps God's Word fresh. It takes us through passages we might not read otherwise. It keeps us in both testaments. It helps us to see the big picture, since there's not as much time to dwell on details. It helps us to see how the parts fit into the overall story of salvation history. And many other benefits.
One of the hurdles when reading the Bible through is when we get bogged down in detailed descriptions of the Law or a long series of "begats." Guess what? It's OK to skim! Skimming is better than not reading at all, and skimming can help you focus on the big picture. So, don't feel guilty if you brush through some parts faster than others.
We'll try to remind you on occasion and encourage you. I suggest that your small group or ministry team spur one another on. Read with your kids. Read to one another. Or, get the Bible on CD or MP3 and listen as you drive and stay on schedule with the rest of us. Any way at all to keep us all together in reading through God's Word is a plus.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Don't Buy Me Any Gifts This Year
I'd rather not receive any gifts this year. Seriously.
God has provided everything we need, and work to cover future needs. For now, we have no unmet material needs. That might not always be true, but this year, it is. And we're grateful.
For this year, I would rather my friends and relatives bought some rice. Or maybe a soccer ball. Or little shoes. Or just some ugali. What would thrill me more than a gift-wrapped box is donation to hungry4HIM Ministry (http://hungry4him.com), which supports the Friends of Christ orphanage in Ahero, Kenya. There are almost 300 orphans at FoC, and little donations go a long way. For example:
If you would like to provide a Christmas gift in this way, just write a check to "Hungry4Him", put "Christmas fund" in the memo line, and send it to:
Hungry4Him Ministry
427 Airport Road
Dublin, GA 31021
Hungry4Him is in process of putting together a Christmas "catalog" to promote this kind of giving, but I'm just getting the word out early.
Or, there are many other ministries that have the same kind of fundraiser - giving gifts to their ministries in lieu of giving one another gifts (often times, gifts we really don't need anyway). I encourage everyone to think about this as a gift-giving idea, for whoever you would buy gifts for.
I would love it if this practice eclipsed "Black Friday" in the amount of money raised.
God has provided everything we need, and work to cover future needs. For now, we have no unmet material needs. That might not always be true, but this year, it is. And we're grateful.
For this year, I would rather my friends and relatives bought some rice. Or maybe a soccer ball. Or little shoes. Or just some ugali. What would thrill me more than a gift-wrapped box is donation to hungry4HIM Ministry (http://hungry4him.com), which supports the Friends of Christ orphanage in Ahero, Kenya. There are almost 300 orphans at FoC, and little donations go a long way. For example:
- You can provide a 5 lb. bag of rice or beans for about $3.
- You can provide a 5 lb. bag of maize for about $5 (20 lbs. would feed the entire school for one meal).
- You can provide a chicken for $5 or a fish for $3.
- 6 pair of socks cost about $2, and a blanket for $6.
- Toiletries? 15 bars of soap for $3 or 10 toothbrushes for $5.
If you would like to provide a Christmas gift in this way, just write a check to "Hungry4Him", put "Christmas fund" in the memo line, and send it to:
Hungry4Him Ministry
427 Airport Road
Dublin, GA 31021
Hungry4Him is in process of putting together a Christmas "catalog" to promote this kind of giving, but I'm just getting the word out early.
Or, there are many other ministries that have the same kind of fundraiser - giving gifts to their ministries in lieu of giving one another gifts (often times, gifts we really don't need anyway). I encourage everyone to think about this as a gift-giving idea, for whoever you would buy gifts for.
I would love it if this practice eclipsed "Black Friday" in the amount of money raised.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thanksgiving
I love all the ways that we try to rethink Thanksgiving. Every year, we try ways to make sure that the Thanksgiving holiday is about something more than food and football (as if there was something more than food and football...). We make sure we ask, "What are you thankful for?", remind one another to "Count your blessings," and sometimes, we even ask, "To whom are you so thankful?"
I was recently at an event where I thought someone might ask me to say something about Thanksgiving. Wanting to not be caught speechless (like I too often am), I thought through these kinds of ideas again, but didn't want to sound trite. So, a new question popped into my head - one that I'm trying trying to figure out how to answer.
Given that we are in fact thankful to God for what He's done for us, in this Thanksgiving week my question is this: "How do we express that thanksgiving to God?" If we're aware of our blessings enough to be thankful, how is it exactly that we are to express that gratitude to the One who has blessed us?
Certainly, we can say, "Thanks." And we certainly should. We can verbally, or in quiet prayer, tell God that we are in fact thankful. We can list the things He's done that we're thankful for, and then tell Him we're thankful. Many psalms do exactly that (e.g. Psalm 50).
But is that the extent of it? Is that all that we can do to express our thanksgiving?
We can work on our "attitude of gratitude" - intentionally checking our attitude and make sure that we replace bitterness and demandingness with gratitude. That's certainly a good thing that God must surely appreciate - thankful attitudes among His people. Certainly, a bunch of whiners is less pleasing to Him.
What I really want to explore, though, is how to remember the things that I'm thankful for and give God my thanksgiving by using those things for His purpose and His glory. Take that list that we generate when we count our blessings, and then for each item on the list, be thankful by using that item for God.
Thankful for your health? How will you use that health you're thankful for to serve Him? Thankful for your job? How will you use that job for His glory? Thankful for your family? How will you offer up your family to Him as an act of thanksgiving? Thankful for a car to get you around? How will you use that car to advance God's Kingdom? Thankful for your salvation? How will you use the new life you have in Christ to glorify Him?
The idea is this: We have so much to be thankful for (yes, even the material things). To be deeply thankful for the things God has done for us and given to us, use them for His glory as an act of thanksgiving. Not only to express your thanksgiving, but as an actual act of thankfulness - appreciating God's blessings by the very act of using them for Him.
That, to me, is becoming the idea of Thanksgiving. Yes, we should tell Him we're thankful. Yes, we should have a thankful attitude. I think we show the ultimate gratitude by refusing to hoard God's blessings, but rather use them for His sake.
I was recently at an event where I thought someone might ask me to say something about Thanksgiving. Wanting to not be caught speechless (like I too often am), I thought through these kinds of ideas again, but didn't want to sound trite. So, a new question popped into my head - one that I'm trying trying to figure out how to answer.
Given that we are in fact thankful to God for what He's done for us, in this Thanksgiving week my question is this: "How do we express that thanksgiving to God?" If we're aware of our blessings enough to be thankful, how is it exactly that we are to express that gratitude to the One who has blessed us?
Certainly, we can say, "Thanks." And we certainly should. We can verbally, or in quiet prayer, tell God that we are in fact thankful. We can list the things He's done that we're thankful for, and then tell Him we're thankful. Many psalms do exactly that (e.g. Psalm 50).
But is that the extent of it? Is that all that we can do to express our thanksgiving?
We can work on our "attitude of gratitude" - intentionally checking our attitude and make sure that we replace bitterness and demandingness with gratitude. That's certainly a good thing that God must surely appreciate - thankful attitudes among His people. Certainly, a bunch of whiners is less pleasing to Him.
What I really want to explore, though, is how to remember the things that I'm thankful for and give God my thanksgiving by using those things for His purpose and His glory. Take that list that we generate when we count our blessings, and then for each item on the list, be thankful by using that item for God.
Thankful for your health? How will you use that health you're thankful for to serve Him? Thankful for your job? How will you use that job for His glory? Thankful for your family? How will you offer up your family to Him as an act of thanksgiving? Thankful for a car to get you around? How will you use that car to advance God's Kingdom? Thankful for your salvation? How will you use the new life you have in Christ to glorify Him?
The idea is this: We have so much to be thankful for (yes, even the material things). To be deeply thankful for the things God has done for us and given to us, use them for His glory as an act of thanksgiving. Not only to express your thanksgiving, but as an actual act of thankfulness - appreciating God's blessings by the very act of using them for Him.
That, to me, is becoming the idea of Thanksgiving. Yes, we should tell Him we're thankful. Yes, we should have a thankful attitude. I think we show the ultimate gratitude by refusing to hoard God's blessings, but rather use them for His sake.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
How to Get Involved
The feedback from Pastor Benard's visit with us has been thrilling. I'm pleased to see such interest in ministry to Kenya. If you missed the luncheon after church, you missed Pastor Benard sharing what God has been doing 5000 miles from here, and answering a lot of good questions.
Some of you may want to find out what you can do to help out. Here's a quick list:
Sponsor: You can sponsor an orphan for $15 / month to provide that child with two meals a day, school supplies, and a new school uniform every year. See http://hungry4him.com to find out more and to sign up.
Read: There is a book about Pastor Benard's life - an amazing story of his own salvation, plus God building in him a vision for an orphan ministry. See http://benardsvision.com or just drop by the church office to get a copy. Every penny or your $15 (or more) donation goes straight into the orphanage.
Build: We have a "Brick by Brick" campaign to raise money for new buildings - more classrooms, dormitories, and so on. You can "sponsor" as many bricks as you want at $2 a piece, which pays for a brick and the related materials and labor. Again, the information is found at http://hungry4him.com .
Multiply: Contribute to the funds to support orphanage teachers and Bible college students. As we support these workers and students, we multiply the effect, since they each are able to touch so many more people. Contact me personally if you'd like to find out more.
Go: Lord willing, I plan on going to Kenya next summer. If you're interested in joining me, let me know as soon as you can. What we do will depend on who goes and what skills we have, but possibilities include: construction, children's ministry, youth ministry, prayer, visitation, and evangelism - the list is fairly endless.
Pray: Add to your prayer list: Pastor Benard and his family, the Friends of Christ orphanages (one in Ahero, one in Wachara), the teachers and pastors of the orphanages, and the Ahero Evangelical School of Theology and its students.
Please let me know how I can help you get more involved.
Some of you may want to find out what you can do to help out. Here's a quick list:
Sponsor: You can sponsor an orphan for $15 / month to provide that child with two meals a day, school supplies, and a new school uniform every year. See http://hungry4him.com to find out more and to sign up.
Read: There is a book about Pastor Benard's life - an amazing story of his own salvation, plus God building in him a vision for an orphan ministry. See http://benardsvision.com or just drop by the church office to get a copy. Every penny or your $15 (or more) donation goes straight into the orphanage.
Build: We have a "Brick by Brick" campaign to raise money for new buildings - more classrooms, dormitories, and so on. You can "sponsor" as many bricks as you want at $2 a piece, which pays for a brick and the related materials and labor. Again, the information is found at http://hungry4him.com .
Multiply: Contribute to the funds to support orphanage teachers and Bible college students. As we support these workers and students, we multiply the effect, since they each are able to touch so many more people. Contact me personally if you'd like to find out more.
Go: Lord willing, I plan on going to Kenya next summer. If you're interested in joining me, let me know as soon as you can. What we do will depend on who goes and what skills we have, but possibilities include: construction, children's ministry, youth ministry, prayer, visitation, and evangelism - the list is fairly endless.
Pray: Add to your prayer list: Pastor Benard and his family, the Friends of Christ orphanages (one in Ahero, one in Wachara), the teachers and pastors of the orphanages, and the Ahero Evangelical School of Theology and its students.
Please let me know how I can help you get more involved.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Gratitude
I'm thankful for Bob. Bob worked hard so that men could take a rest.
I'm thankful for Jack. Jack turned an idea into a weekend.
I'm thankful for Bill. Bill makes time for me every month to ask me tough questions.
I'm thankful for Benard. Benard has given his life for the least of the least of the brethren, and invites others to join him.
I'm thankful for Jim and Linda. They enable an army of others to teach and love children.
I'm thankful for a couple of Susans. One of them volunteers so hard it hurts. The other adds creativity on a daily basis.
I'm thankful for Christina. Christina helps others think I'm organized.
I'm thankful for Bruce and Jon and Bob and Jill and Gregg. They do stuff that only gets noticed if it's not getting done ... stuff that rarely gets noticed, by the way.
I'm thankful for Ryan. Ryan writes encouraging emails several times a week.
I'm thankful for Nancy and John. They made a meal appear out of thin air.
I'm thankful for Doris. Doris is a shepherdess for several nations.
I'm thankful for Cliff and his cohorts. They flexed without breaking for who we will be three years from now.
I'm thankful for Dan. Dan keeps leadership fun. And serious.
I'm thankful for Lynne. Lynne traded sleep for removing ink stains from Kenyan shirts.
I'm thankful for the body. They received a friend of mine as a friend of theirs.
And that's just in the last week.
I'm thankful for Jack. Jack turned an idea into a weekend.
I'm thankful for Bill. Bill makes time for me every month to ask me tough questions.
I'm thankful for Benard. Benard has given his life for the least of the least of the brethren, and invites others to join him.
I'm thankful for Jim and Linda. They enable an army of others to teach and love children.
I'm thankful for a couple of Susans. One of them volunteers so hard it hurts. The other adds creativity on a daily basis.
I'm thankful for Christina. Christina helps others think I'm organized.
I'm thankful for Bruce and Jon and Bob and Jill and Gregg. They do stuff that only gets noticed if it's not getting done ... stuff that rarely gets noticed, by the way.
I'm thankful for Ryan. Ryan writes encouraging emails several times a week.
I'm thankful for Nancy and John. They made a meal appear out of thin air.
I'm thankful for Doris. Doris is a shepherdess for several nations.
I'm thankful for Cliff and his cohorts. They flexed without breaking for who we will be three years from now.
I'm thankful for Dan. Dan keeps leadership fun. And serious.
I'm thankful for Lynne. Lynne traded sleep for removing ink stains from Kenyan shirts.
I'm thankful for the body. They received a friend of mine as a friend of theirs.
And that's just in the last week.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Real Men Don't Retreat
It's been a few years, but the men of Grace are having a retreat. In this case, real men do retreat. We have paintball on Friday afternoon, dinner and a team competition Friday night, plus some time to just hang out and talk. On Saturday: breakfast, more teaching, more food, and some unscheduled time. After lunch, we'll have time for straight talk about what men's ministries needs next.
Great thanks to Bob Simmons for all his work on getting the logistics together. Clearly, this is a far better retreat because he did this and not me. If I had done it, we'll be eating PB&J off of paper plates and sleeping on the porch. Thanks, Bob, for bringing your skills.
Also thanks to Jack Finley for getting this whole idea off the ground. He got the right people in place, got us pointed in the right direction, and sorted out big picture decisions. Again, if it had been left up to me, I would have announced the idea just three days before it was supposed to happen.
Our teaching will not consume the entire retreat. The main feature is not the teaching, but the fellowship. We want this retreat to be mostly about the men of Grace building stronger friendships ... and shooting each other with paintball guns. Somehow, those are supposed to go together. Manly men make friends by shooting each other ... something like that.
Ladies, thanks for making it possible for us to peel away. I pray that your investment will reap dividends. Would you support us even more by setting aside time to pray for the retreat?
And at the retreat, I'll explain what this picture means:
Great thanks to Bob Simmons for all his work on getting the logistics together. Clearly, this is a far better retreat because he did this and not me. If I had done it, we'll be eating PB&J off of paper plates and sleeping on the porch. Thanks, Bob, for bringing your skills.
Also thanks to Jack Finley for getting this whole idea off the ground. He got the right people in place, got us pointed in the right direction, and sorted out big picture decisions. Again, if it had been left up to me, I would have announced the idea just three days before it was supposed to happen.
Our teaching will not consume the entire retreat. The main feature is not the teaching, but the fellowship. We want this retreat to be mostly about the men of Grace building stronger friendships ... and shooting each other with paintball guns. Somehow, those are supposed to go together. Manly men make friends by shooting each other ... something like that.
Ladies, thanks for making it possible for us to peel away. I pray that your investment will reap dividends. Would you support us even more by setting aside time to pray for the retreat?
And at the retreat, I'll explain what this picture means:
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Karibu!
I am excited about a special guest coming to visit us in less than two weeks. Pastor Benard Ondiek from Kenya will be with us to share about his ministry in Kenya. Pastor Benard is the man I work with when I have traveled to Kenya in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Pastor Benard is a good friend and a man of inspiring faith.
Pastor Benard has started two Christian orphanages among the Luo people to help meet the dire need that exists in Kenya today - the "Friends of Christ" orphanages. Because of malaria, AIDS, and a variety of other health issues, there are orphans literally every where you turn. Almost every adult we know in Kenya has at least one orphan in their home. One orphanage is in Ahero, with about 300 orphans. The other is in Wachara, with around 50 or so.
Pastor Benard has also started a Bible school to train pastors, elders, and Sunday school teachers, called the Ahero Evangelical School of Theology (AEST). When I travel to Kenya, I spend my time at AEST. This ministry is strategic, because it multiplies. Most pastors are pastoring several churches at once, which spreads them too thin. AEST helps put more trained pastors and elders in these churches.
When Pastor Benard is here Oct 24, he will speak to the children's Sunday schools, share from the pulpit, and then on Sunday evening at 6pm, we'll have a potluck dinner to get to know him better, show some pictures and video from the orphanages in Kenya, and have a question-and-answer session.
There is a book about Pastor Benard's life called Benard's Vision. We will have copies available for you - we ask a minimum $15 donation per copy. Every penny of the donation goes straight into the operation of the orphanage. See also http://benardsvision.com for more about the book.
The organization I'm a part of is called "Hungry4Him" (http://hungry4him.com). We are responsible for finding sponsors for orphans. Just $15 per month provides all the school supplies and school uniform that a child needs, plus two nutritious meals per day. I'll be sharing more about this when Pastor Benard is here.
Also, I'm praying that the Lord would raise up a team of people that I can take on a short-term mission trip to Kenya next summer to work with the orphans, the teachers, the Bible school students, and the villagers. We'll talk about this when Pastor Benard is here, too.
If you would like to provide a meal (in a restaurant or in your home) to get to know Pastor Benard more fully, he would love to meet you. He will also be available to speak to your Bible study or group, any time from Oct 24 through the morning of Oct 27.
I'm anxious to get to share with you something that's been so important to us.
Karibu! (That means "welcome" in Swahili.)
Pastor Benard has started two Christian orphanages among the Luo people to help meet the dire need that exists in Kenya today - the "Friends of Christ" orphanages. Because of malaria, AIDS, and a variety of other health issues, there are orphans literally every where you turn. Almost every adult we know in Kenya has at least one orphan in their home. One orphanage is in Ahero, with about 300 orphans. The other is in Wachara, with around 50 or so.
Pastor Benard has also started a Bible school to train pastors, elders, and Sunday school teachers, called the Ahero Evangelical School of Theology (AEST). When I travel to Kenya, I spend my time at AEST. This ministry is strategic, because it multiplies. Most pastors are pastoring several churches at once, which spreads them too thin. AEST helps put more trained pastors and elders in these churches.
When Pastor Benard is here Oct 24, he will speak to the children's Sunday schools, share from the pulpit, and then on Sunday evening at 6pm, we'll have a potluck dinner to get to know him better, show some pictures and video from the orphanages in Kenya, and have a question-and-answer session.
There is a book about Pastor Benard's life called Benard's Vision. We will have copies available for you - we ask a minimum $15 donation per copy. Every penny of the donation goes straight into the operation of the orphanage. See also http://benardsvision.com for more about the book.
The organization I'm a part of is called "Hungry4Him" (http://hungry4him.com). We are responsible for finding sponsors for orphans. Just $15 per month provides all the school supplies and school uniform that a child needs, plus two nutritious meals per day. I'll be sharing more about this when Pastor Benard is here.
Also, I'm praying that the Lord would raise up a team of people that I can take on a short-term mission trip to Kenya next summer to work with the orphans, the teachers, the Bible school students, and the villagers. We'll talk about this when Pastor Benard is here, too.
If you would like to provide a meal (in a restaurant or in your home) to get to know Pastor Benard more fully, he would love to meet you. He will also be available to speak to your Bible study or group, any time from Oct 24 through the morning of Oct 27.
I'm anxious to get to share with you something that's been so important to us.
Karibu! (That means "welcome" in Swahili.)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Easiest Voters' Guide
The elections are coming up quickly, which always raises the question of what I should say. The law allows me to say some things, but not others (and generally speaking, these are guidelines that I think are pretty good). It would be inappropriate and unethical (more than just illegal) for me to use my privileged position to unduly influence the process.
I can endorse causes and principles. I can inform on particular issues. I cannot endorse particular candidates. Nor do I want to.
But I like to take a different angle on the issue of elections. (Why should I start being normal now?)
Ecclesiastes has a lot to say about wisdom and politics. In 7:19, the "Teacher" (1:1) says that "Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city." In 9:13-16, he shows how wisdom in a ruler is better than power. And in 10:16-17, he compares a land that has a foolish ruler with a land that has a wise and noble leader - the difference between "woe" and "blessed."
The blessing for the land comes through wise rulers. Biblical wisdom is the most important quality in a political leader, in my opinion. I have personal opinions about left v. right politics, but I am more interested in having a wise ruler than a ruler who shares my political views. "Wisdom," of course, in terms of God's wisdom, not worldly wisdom. When I choose between candidates, my first thought is not on which letter is in parentheses after their names on the ballot. My first thought is, "Who do I think will display more of God's wisdom?"
Instead of voting along party lines, I want to vote along wisdom lines. I believe it will fair far better for our land if our rulers are wise by God's definition.
Some of you may say, "Well, if they are really wise in God's eyes, then they will be from the XYZ political party - since that's what is wise!" I can easily point to exceptions to this rule from any party you want to pick. Whether or not one party is more or less likely to produce a biblically wise person is not my point - I simply want to consider biblical wisdom when choosing for whom to vote, and to make sure that all other factors are less important in my decision process.
I would say, however, that choosing not to vote is unwise more often than not. Please exercise this rare privilege. And imagine what would happen to our land if more and more of our leaders displayed biblical wisdom.
(Congratulations to our new American citizen, Julie, who will be able to vote for the first time!)
I can endorse causes and principles. I can inform on particular issues. I cannot endorse particular candidates. Nor do I want to.
But I like to take a different angle on the issue of elections. (Why should I start being normal now?)
Ecclesiastes has a lot to say about wisdom and politics. In 7:19, the "Teacher" (1:1) says that "Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city." In 9:13-16, he shows how wisdom in a ruler is better than power. And in 10:16-17, he compares a land that has a foolish ruler with a land that has a wise and noble leader - the difference between "woe" and "blessed."
The blessing for the land comes through wise rulers. Biblical wisdom is the most important quality in a political leader, in my opinion. I have personal opinions about left v. right politics, but I am more interested in having a wise ruler than a ruler who shares my political views. "Wisdom," of course, in terms of God's wisdom, not worldly wisdom. When I choose between candidates, my first thought is not on which letter is in parentheses after their names on the ballot. My first thought is, "Who do I think will display more of God's wisdom?"
Instead of voting along party lines, I want to vote along wisdom lines. I believe it will fair far better for our land if our rulers are wise by God's definition.
Some of you may say, "Well, if they are really wise in God's eyes, then they will be from the XYZ political party - since that's what is wise!" I can easily point to exceptions to this rule from any party you want to pick. Whether or not one party is more or less likely to produce a biblically wise person is not my point - I simply want to consider biblical wisdom when choosing for whom to vote, and to make sure that all other factors are less important in my decision process.
I would say, however, that choosing not to vote is unwise more often than not. Please exercise this rare privilege. And imagine what would happen to our land if more and more of our leaders displayed biblical wisdom.
(Congratulations to our new American citizen, Julie, who will be able to vote for the first time!)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Last Supper = First Meal
We have decided to celebrate the Lord's Supper once a month in our worship service. I've been to churches that celebrate it every week, and to churches that celebrate it quarterly. There are pluses and minuses to every option, and I don't hold that there is one "right" schedule. As long as the practice is frequently before us without becoming empty habit, I think you've got a good thing going.
There is one habit that I'd like to recommend you try on occasion. I heard it from some friends, and on certain occasions have done the same. The idea is simple - practice a fast leading up to the Lord's Supper. Some choose to simply skip breakfast so that the Lord's Supper is their first "meal" of that day. Other choose to fast for 24 hours leading up to the Lord's Supper (do this only if you know you're in the right health for that).
Two of the benefits from this fast is that it helps you focus in prayer, and it makes the Lord's Supper a little more special, being the food that finishes your fast. Fasting often aids us in being more focused in prayer, for whatever reasons. Some of my best, extended times of prayer have come while fasting. It's no magic formula for awesome prayer - I've had times of fasting with absolutely nothing special going on in prayer. It's just an aid.
But there's also that sense of letting the Lord's Supper be the thing that breaks the fast. You don't have eggs and bacon on your breath, already pretty full from other food. You're hungry, but you're seeking satisfaction more from Christ (and the symbol of Christ) than from food. There's not the lingering memory of breakfast to make the Lord's Supper seem like common food. The symbolic significance of the Lord's Supper can be heightened if we set it apart from other food.
If your health allows, consider a short or medium fast before this Sunday's celebration. If it doesn't help, feel no need to try it again. If it does help, great - even if it is of benefit only one time.
There is one habit that I'd like to recommend you try on occasion. I heard it from some friends, and on certain occasions have done the same. The idea is simple - practice a fast leading up to the Lord's Supper. Some choose to simply skip breakfast so that the Lord's Supper is their first "meal" of that day. Other choose to fast for 24 hours leading up to the Lord's Supper (do this only if you know you're in the right health for that).
Two of the benefits from this fast is that it helps you focus in prayer, and it makes the Lord's Supper a little more special, being the food that finishes your fast. Fasting often aids us in being more focused in prayer, for whatever reasons. Some of my best, extended times of prayer have come while fasting. It's no magic formula for awesome prayer - I've had times of fasting with absolutely nothing special going on in prayer. It's just an aid.
But there's also that sense of letting the Lord's Supper be the thing that breaks the fast. You don't have eggs and bacon on your breath, already pretty full from other food. You're hungry, but you're seeking satisfaction more from Christ (and the symbol of Christ) than from food. There's not the lingering memory of breakfast to make the Lord's Supper seem like common food. The symbolic significance of the Lord's Supper can be heightened if we set it apart from other food.
If your health allows, consider a short or medium fast before this Sunday's celebration. If it doesn't help, feel no need to try it again. If it does help, great - even if it is of benefit only one time.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Pullin' weeds
Every time I pull weeds, I can't help but think of the spiritual lessons I'm holding in my dirt-encrusted hands, thinking about the "weeds" of the spiritual life.
- It's easier to pull weeds when they are small, rather than letting them grow talk, thick, and strong. Letting spiritual problems grow stronger only makes it harder to remove them later.
- Rather than bypass the thorny weeds, wear gloves. Some spiritual problems are painful to deal with. Rather than ignore them, letting the thorns get thornier, bring in the right equipment to handle the job - such as a wise counselor, a good book, a change in lifestyle, giving up something in order to remove the weed, and so on.
- Some weeds are insidious because they drop new roots every few feet, making them harder to remove - killing one section doesn't kill the next section. Spiritual problems can foster other spiritual problems, which then take root all by themselves. Better to remove the weed early before it drops new roots a few feet across the lawn.
- You gotta get the root, or the weed comes right back. It's tempting to deal only with the surface of spiritual issues, rather than getting to the root of the problem. Just masking a spiritual problem to look good in front of the neighbors only allows the roots to grow stronger and pop up new surface issues harder to remove than before.
- Sometimes you gotta dig to get at the root. Sometimes, you need people who are trained in counseling to really figure out what the root problems are. But you must get to them to get rid of the weed.
- The neighbors have weeds, too. Rather than worrying about how my lawn compares to the neighbor's lawn, I need to tend to my lawn, and to have empathy for the weeds in his lawn. We're both trying to grow healthy lawns, so comparing doesn't help anyone.
- Weeding is never finished. Tending to your spiritual life takes constant, life-long effort.
- The best way to keep weeds out is to have a thick lawn with healthy roots. The best way to keep spiritual weeds out is to be as healthy as possible in my spiritual life, disciplines, and practices.
- If I do nothing, the weeds will take over. If you do little to maintain your spiritual life, you won't just stay in the same state - weeds will take over, and your spiritual life will decline.
I'm sure you could come up with several of your own analogies. Usually after weeding, I'm motivated again to clear some weeds out of my life, too. I like how the lawn is healthier without all those weeds in it.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Less is More
I was in John 3 this which, which includes John's statement in response to some of his disciples leaving him to follow Jesus, "He must increase; I must decrease." I generally get what John's statement means for an individual, but then I wondered what it means for a church. Is there a sense where a church says, "He must increase; we must decrease"?
In a sense, yes. Of course we want every local church to grow (increase), which means that Christ is increasing. But like John, we also want "our" disciples to "leave" us and follow Jesus directly - meaning that they become less disciples of Grace Fellowship (and her elders) and more disciples of Jesus directly. They leaders become less - the people become less dependent on the leaders, who become less of their connection to Him. Instead of a church that builds a following of the leaders, we want to "lose" our following like John did. Just the image of disciples leaving the tutelage of John specifically to go follow Jesus directly is a clear picture in my head of our task - to "lose" disciples to Jesus. This can happen while we grow in numbers - we still "decrease."
As one of the leaders, I want to eventually become less important in your life as a leader (but more important as a friend!).
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Vision
The all-church survey is in, and we're sifting through the results. Great feedback from not a few responders, so thanks to all of you for putting your thoughts into words and sharing them with us. The elders had a meeting earlier this week to discuss the results, and will spend this Friday and Saturday combing through it all, collecting ideas from personal interviews I have conducted, taking in the various elders discussions throughout the year and prayerfully considering where to set our sights for 2011.
Developing "vision" is a common practice for organizations, religious or secular, to focus limited resources in the face of unlimited possibilities. There are so many good things we could do - the question is what should we do at this time? A vision statement brings that focus. Even from looking only at your comments in the survey, there are far more good ideas that we could do than we have time and resource for. Some good ideas are good ideas for us now, some good ideas are good ideas for us at a later time, and some good ideas are good ideas for someone else. (And, of course we could come up with any number of bad ideas!)
Our "vision" statement will be a statement that helps us focus the energies of each ministry toward a common, single, clear purpose. It is a statement that should be unique to Grace Fellowship, in the sense that it is what we should focus on, without any suggestion that other churches should focus on. Our vision is what our church's unique contribution should be in the Kingdom of God.
Our "mission" statement, however, is not the same thing as our vision statement. A mission statement is bigger than a vision statement. A vision statement is usually good for a period of time, whereas a mission statement remains constant throughout the organization's lifespan. I believe that every church in the world has the same mission - it was a mission that Jesus gave us, called the Great Commission:
Our "vision" statement is the unique proclamation that says how this particular church intends to add to the overall mission that we share.
Please pray for your elders as they prayerfully develop a vision for our church.
Developing "vision" is a common practice for organizations, religious or secular, to focus limited resources in the face of unlimited possibilities. There are so many good things we could do - the question is what should we do at this time? A vision statement brings that focus. Even from looking only at your comments in the survey, there are far more good ideas that we could do than we have time and resource for. Some good ideas are good ideas for us now, some good ideas are good ideas for us at a later time, and some good ideas are good ideas for someone else. (And, of course we could come up with any number of bad ideas!)
Our "vision" statement will be a statement that helps us focus the energies of each ministry toward a common, single, clear purpose. It is a statement that should be unique to Grace Fellowship, in the sense that it is what we should focus on, without any suggestion that other churches should focus on. Our vision is what our church's unique contribution should be in the Kingdom of God.
Our "mission" statement, however, is not the same thing as our vision statement. A mission statement is bigger than a vision statement. A vision statement is usually good for a period of time, whereas a mission statement remains constant throughout the organization's lifespan. I believe that every church in the world has the same mission - it was a mission that Jesus gave us, called the Great Commission:
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 28:20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Every church has the same mission, and therefore the same mission statement. We should all be working toward this mission of making disciples of all nations, under the authority of Christ.
Our "vision" statement is the unique proclamation that says how this particular church intends to add to the overall mission that we share.
Please pray for your elders as they prayerfully develop a vision for our church.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Decision-making
OK, so I'm going to solve the problem of how to make decisions in 300 words or less. OK, so ... maybe not.
The process of making decisions compresses thousands of years of theology into a single moment. In making a decision, you bring in the theology of God's sovereignty, the theology of man's freedom to choose, the theology of the role of the Holy Spirit, the theology of the wisdom of the Bible, and several other theologies all into the practical, daily activity to choosing A instead of B. Whew!
So, how do we do this well? Do we wait on major decisions until we believe the Spirit reveals His will to us? Do we just go with our best guess and ask the Lord to bless it? Do we make minor decisions one way, but major decisions another way? If we make a wrong decision, are we outside of God's will? And if so, how do we get back "in"?
First, I recommend a book co-authored by a friend of mine called Decision-Making and the Will of God (found on Amazon here). The authors take the approach that 1) if God has a specific thing He wants you to do, He will not encrypt it into a puzzle that you have to be clever enough to decipher by reading events like tea leaves, and 2) the wealth of wisdom literature in the Bible is there for a reason - when He does not have one single specific thing He wants, He gives us wisdom to make one of many possible God-pleasing choices.
Second, our own personal experience has taught us a few things along the way. When making a decision, of course we do all the things we know to do: pray over many days or weeks (and listen!), seek out several wise counselors, read His Word for guidance, discuss together, praying some more, patiently weigh our options using wisdom to evaluate everything, and praying yet some more. On several occasions, we have eventually come to the point where the choice we should make becomes clearer and clearer. The question for us changes at that point from "What should we do?" to "Do we have the courage to actually make this decision?" The question goes from wanting information to a matter of the will and of trust.
But, there are times that even through all this process, the best decision was still not clear to us. What do we do then? If we have earnestly pursued all these avenues with openness and patience, and still we're not sure, we have on several occasions tried an approach that has been very helpful to us.
We eventually conclude that we need to make our best-effort decision. And then we pray, "Lord, we're not sure what to do, but this is our best decision we can make. We're going to take a step forward in faith. If we're on the wrong path, please stop us." Then we take a step forward on faith. Then we pray again, "OK, Lord, here we go ... stop us if we're going in the wrong direction." And then we observe.
What we have found on several occasions is that after taking that step of faith and checking back with the Lord, He will then either affirm the decision or show us it's not a good step. It seems that He does not, however, affirm or contradict our decision until after we take the step of faith. If we don't step out, we don't get any more clarity. If we do, He has often at that point let us know His will.
At times, it means we need to retreat and try something else. Other times, He has clearly affirmed the choice, and it become even clearer that it is a direction that He enjoys for us to take.
It's important to remember, though, to hold your decisions with an open hand and earnestly ask Him if you're walking in the best direction, allowing Him to redirect you. If you're not really willing to be redirected, then asking anyway just makes a sham of it. That willingness to accept whatever He wants is crucial!
I believe that doing all you can to make the right decision, checking before and after with the Lord, and especially by taking a step of faith, we have discovered His will for our lives on particular decisions. It's important not to leave out any aspect of this practice.
I would love to hear from others who approach decisions this way and how that has resulted for you.
The process of making decisions compresses thousands of years of theology into a single moment. In making a decision, you bring in the theology of God's sovereignty, the theology of man's freedom to choose, the theology of the role of the Holy Spirit, the theology of the wisdom of the Bible, and several other theologies all into the practical, daily activity to choosing A instead of B. Whew!
So, how do we do this well? Do we wait on major decisions until we believe the Spirit reveals His will to us? Do we just go with our best guess and ask the Lord to bless it? Do we make minor decisions one way, but major decisions another way? If we make a wrong decision, are we outside of God's will? And if so, how do we get back "in"?
First, I recommend a book co-authored by a friend of mine called Decision-Making and the Will of God (found on Amazon here). The authors take the approach that 1) if God has a specific thing He wants you to do, He will not encrypt it into a puzzle that you have to be clever enough to decipher by reading events like tea leaves, and 2) the wealth of wisdom literature in the Bible is there for a reason - when He does not have one single specific thing He wants, He gives us wisdom to make one of many possible God-pleasing choices.
Second, our own personal experience has taught us a few things along the way. When making a decision, of course we do all the things we know to do: pray over many days or weeks (and listen!), seek out several wise counselors, read His Word for guidance, discuss together, praying some more, patiently weigh our options using wisdom to evaluate everything, and praying yet some more. On several occasions, we have eventually come to the point where the choice we should make becomes clearer and clearer. The question for us changes at that point from "What should we do?" to "Do we have the courage to actually make this decision?" The question goes from wanting information to a matter of the will and of trust.
But, there are times that even through all this process, the best decision was still not clear to us. What do we do then? If we have earnestly pursued all these avenues with openness and patience, and still we're not sure, we have on several occasions tried an approach that has been very helpful to us.
We eventually conclude that we need to make our best-effort decision. And then we pray, "Lord, we're not sure what to do, but this is our best decision we can make. We're going to take a step forward in faith. If we're on the wrong path, please stop us." Then we take a step forward on faith. Then we pray again, "OK, Lord, here we go ... stop us if we're going in the wrong direction." And then we observe.
What we have found on several occasions is that after taking that step of faith and checking back with the Lord, He will then either affirm the decision or show us it's not a good step. It seems that He does not, however, affirm or contradict our decision until after we take the step of faith. If we don't step out, we don't get any more clarity. If we do, He has often at that point let us know His will.
At times, it means we need to retreat and try something else. Other times, He has clearly affirmed the choice, and it become even clearer that it is a direction that He enjoys for us to take.
It's important to remember, though, to hold your decisions with an open hand and earnestly ask Him if you're walking in the best direction, allowing Him to redirect you. If you're not really willing to be redirected, then asking anyway just makes a sham of it. That willingness to accept whatever He wants is crucial!
I believe that doing all you can to make the right decision, checking before and after with the Lord, and especially by taking a step of faith, we have discovered His will for our lives on particular decisions. It's important not to leave out any aspect of this practice.
I would love to hear from others who approach decisions this way and how that has resulted for you.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The NET Bible
I like to use several different translations of the Bible, depending on my purpose. I like the New American Standard Bible (NASB, Update 1995) and the English Standard Version (ESV) for study, although I sometimes use others. I like the New English Translation (NET) for personal reading, and sometimes for study. Some translations are more word-for-word ("literal", such as NASB, ESV, NKJV, NRSV), and some are more thought-for-thought ("dynamic equivalent", such as NET, CET, NIV).
The difficulty with translating is that a strict word-for-word translation often comes out very difficult to understand in English. For example, a very literal translation of Romans 5:8 is "But demonstrates his own love into us God that yet sinners being we, Christ for us died"! We get the point, but you wouldn't want to read an entire Bible like that! Every translation makes it more readable in English than this, but some go further than others to smooth out the language. But, the further one goes to smooth out the language, the further from the original it gets.
There are several websites that have many translations available for reading, comparison, and study. I particularly like Logos, YouVersion, and Biblos. They allow you to compare translations, make personal notes, even share your notes with others, and investigate the original language versions (Greek and Hebrew). There are many others: The Unbound Bible, StudyLight, BibleGateway, and so on. Many versions have their own on-line versions, like the ESV.
One of my hands-down favorites is the website for the NET. The NET is a translation that's meant to be a little easier to read (it's more of a dynamic equivalent than a literal), but it stock-full of thousands and thousands of footnotes. But the footnotes in the NET are different than in most Bibles, giving you the best of both worlds in translation.
Most footnotes are commentary about the text or something about the ancient copies of Scripture. The footnotes in the NET, however, are mostly about the translation choices made by the translators. In other words, most of the extra comments are about why the translator translated the passage as he or she did, what other options were available, and so on. If the NET chooses a phrase that is more clear in English, there's often a footnote telling you what the Greek or Hebrew phrase is literally. So you get the best of both words - a very readable translation, but also information about what the original language says quite literally.
The NET website also has tons of other study tools: You can get to the Greek and Hebrew easily. There are commentaries, lists of hymns and artwork that go with the passage you're reading, and a way to compare several translations at once. And of course, you can search for just about anything - and it will find what you're looking for in not just the NET translation, but in any of the 10 translations it supports.
Give the NET a spin. Just click here. And if you want to really have fun, the main website that hosts the NET Bible is called Bible.org, which has online articles, audio, video, self-study courses in theology, and so on. (And for super Bible nerds, my newest favorite website is BibleArc.com, which is a great tool for analyzing the structure of a passage - watch the helpful instructional videos to watch how it's done.)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wise Investments
Thanks to all who helped with the Carnival last weekend! We had well over 500 guests, more than double last year - which is why we ran out of prizes, frisbees, pucker powder, sno-cones, and so on. Because of you investing your time, we all had a blast. The weather was as good as we could expect for mid-August, and a lots of kids (and parents) had a great time.
And a super "thank you" to Susan and Susan! They did the lion's share of the work - it was far easier for us because of them. Thank you, ladies.
My friend Jim took pictures, which you can view here.
Please pray that the informational packets we sent out would intrigue those who don't already attend church to consider attending a good church, whether it's ours our not.
Take a breath. A quick one.
AWANA starts this Monday! Jim has an impressive crew of volunteers, and already I'm extending my thanks to all of you (including those who have committed to pray consistently for AWANA throughout the year). AWANA boils down to a great excuse for adults to talk to kids about Jesus, and to model His character before them. All the games, lessons, Scripture memory - the most important feature of AWANA is adults investing into kids.
The AWANA leadership material is clear as it coaches each volunteer how to execute their part of the big picture. Jim still needs a handful of volunteers to round out the teams. We've adults for every group, but a few need one more person. Would you please pray a simple prayer: "Lord, do you want me to help AWANA this year?" That's it. Pray that prayer sincerely, listen, and if the answer is "Yes," please contact Jim.
Investing in kids has a much better ROI than investing in the stock market or 401k's - I give it a maximum "5-star" rating. There are other things you could do on a Monday night. There are few things you could do that are better investments.
And a super "thank you" to Susan and Susan! They did the lion's share of the work - it was far easier for us because of them. Thank you, ladies.
My friend Jim took pictures, which you can view here.
Please pray that the informational packets we sent out would intrigue those who don't already attend church to consider attending a good church, whether it's ours our not.
Take a breath. A quick one.
AWANA starts this Monday! Jim has an impressive crew of volunteers, and already I'm extending my thanks to all of you (including those who have committed to pray consistently for AWANA throughout the year). AWANA boils down to a great excuse for adults to talk to kids about Jesus, and to model His character before them. All the games, lessons, Scripture memory - the most important feature of AWANA is adults investing into kids.
The AWANA leadership material is clear as it coaches each volunteer how to execute their part of the big picture. Jim still needs a handful of volunteers to round out the teams. We've adults for every group, but a few need one more person. Would you please pray a simple prayer: "Lord, do you want me to help AWANA this year?" That's it. Pray that prayer sincerely, listen, and if the answer is "Yes," please contact Jim.
Investing in kids has a much better ROI than investing in the stock market or 401k's - I give it a maximum "5-star" rating. There are other things you could do on a Monday night. There are few things you could do that are better investments.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thanks for an easy start
Moves are exciting, exhausting, stressful, and refreshing ... all at the same time. Our move to KC had all these attributes with far more intensity that any of our previous moves. And we're not exactly sure why.
But through all of the ups and downs of moving, one thing has been consistently positive about the whole ordeal. You.
You have welcomed us in, helped us to move, helped us get oriented, checked on us to make sure we're OK, invited us to share a meal, prayed for us, given us grace, allowed us to make novice mistakes (I hope to soon to be making veteran mistakes!), and listened to our crazy ideas with patience. You have given us verbal encouragement, written encouragement, and even the encouragement of just being able to laugh together. You have treated us more like people than like a pastor and a pastor's wife - we so much need to be more than my title with you.
So ... thank you.
We love being here. We're beginning to see the size of the task ahead, and we are anxious to be moving forward with you. We will have bumps and challenges and differences of opinions. We will have joys, hard work, and celebrations.
There are still some of you that we have not been able to connect with as personally as we would like. It's only been 10 weeks, but we feel a little behind on spending more individual time with each of you. We're working on it, but we invite you to not be shy. If you would like to get some more "face time" with us, too, then you should know that we love coffee!
In all seriousness, in the coming months, we would relish the opportunity to spend time with each family, somewhere, somehow. I don't know if it's even possible, but we're willing to fail trying!
But through all of the ups and downs of moving, one thing has been consistently positive about the whole ordeal. You.
You have welcomed us in, helped us to move, helped us get oriented, checked on us to make sure we're OK, invited us to share a meal, prayed for us, given us grace, allowed us to make novice mistakes (I hope to soon to be making veteran mistakes!), and listened to our crazy ideas with patience. You have given us verbal encouragement, written encouragement, and even the encouragement of just being able to laugh together. You have treated us more like people than like a pastor and a pastor's wife - we so much need to be more than my title with you.
So ... thank you.
We love being here. We're beginning to see the size of the task ahead, and we are anxious to be moving forward with you. We will have bumps and challenges and differences of opinions. We will have joys, hard work, and celebrations.
There are still some of you that we have not been able to connect with as personally as we would like. It's only been 10 weeks, but we feel a little behind on spending more individual time with each of you. We're working on it, but we invite you to not be shy. If you would like to get some more "face time" with us, too, then you should know that we love coffee!
In all seriousness, in the coming months, we would relish the opportunity to spend time with each family, somewhere, somehow. I don't know if it's even possible, but we're willing to fail trying!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Men and Women of God
I am in the home stretch of pursuing my thesis. As part of that thesis, we are offering a class on gender issues starting August 22. This is a controversial issue, but after having taught this material before, I have found that we have a lot of ideas in this course that many Christians have never been taught before.
Are there unique roles in Christ based on gender, and if so, what are they? Under the Christian umbrella, the entire spectrum is presently being taught – from a strict hierarchical view to a total egalitarian view, and everything in between. And each end of the spectrum claims to be teaching merely what the Bible teaches. How do we navigate through all the noise? Our course charts a somewhat unique path through Scripture, finding a clear, consistent model that challenges both the traditional and modern teachings.
One of the most common criticisms of the evangelical church is that they teach the suppression of women. In some cases, that charge is sadly correct. In other cases, the church doesn’t know how to articulate their view in a convincing way to those outside the church, which only leads to misunderstandings. The Bible does not teach the suppression of women – and yet it does teach some differences in our roles based on gender. How do we understand the differences without suppressing anyone? How can we articulate to a skeptical world that the church is the place for women who have many strengths without jettisoning Biblical teachings? This course should help us formulate this ideas clearly.
What do we teach women about their godly responsibilities in those cases when the man is not fulfilling his? Do we take the small-minded view and tell her to “submit anyway?” Do we find a escape clause for her that’s not found anywhere in Scripture? Do we declare the Bible out-of-date and tell her to ignore what “used to be taught” in the church? The Bible gives us simpler answers than these.
What do we teach men about their role in those areas where their wives are better gifted than they are? Do we enforce headship anyway? Do we abdicate headship in those areas? Again, the Bible has better answers than these.
The gender issues are clearly pertinent for those who are (or soon will be) married. But what about singles? Are there gender-specific teachings in Scripture for single people, too? Yes!
Please plan on joining us in starting August 22 for this twelve-week course. The class will be taught during the Sunday School hour, and then repeated at a second venue during the week (to be determined) - pick either one. If you have a preference on which night to have the second venue, please get your votes to me.
I'm asking to have at least 12 couples sign up to take the survey (twice) and answer a few direct questions in order to gather the data I need to finish my thesis. Please prayerfully consider participating in this survey data as well.
Are there unique roles in Christ based on gender, and if so, what are they? Under the Christian umbrella, the entire spectrum is presently being taught – from a strict hierarchical view to a total egalitarian view, and everything in between. And each end of the spectrum claims to be teaching merely what the Bible teaches. How do we navigate through all the noise? Our course charts a somewhat unique path through Scripture, finding a clear, consistent model that challenges both the traditional and modern teachings.
One of the most common criticisms of the evangelical church is that they teach the suppression of women. In some cases, that charge is sadly correct. In other cases, the church doesn’t know how to articulate their view in a convincing way to those outside the church, which only leads to misunderstandings. The Bible does not teach the suppression of women – and yet it does teach some differences in our roles based on gender. How do we understand the differences without suppressing anyone? How can we articulate to a skeptical world that the church is the place for women who have many strengths without jettisoning Biblical teachings? This course should help us formulate this ideas clearly.
What do we teach women about their godly responsibilities in those cases when the man is not fulfilling his? Do we take the small-minded view and tell her to “submit anyway?” Do we find a escape clause for her that’s not found anywhere in Scripture? Do we declare the Bible out-of-date and tell her to ignore what “used to be taught” in the church? The Bible gives us simpler answers than these.
What do we teach men about their role in those areas where their wives are better gifted than they are? Do we enforce headship anyway? Do we abdicate headship in those areas? Again, the Bible has better answers than these.
The gender issues are clearly pertinent for those who are (or soon will be) married. But what about singles? Are there gender-specific teachings in Scripture for single people, too? Yes!
Please plan on joining us in starting August 22 for this twelve-week course. The class will be taught during the Sunday School hour, and then repeated at a second venue during the week (to be determined) - pick either one. If you have a preference on which night to have the second venue, please get your votes to me.
I'm asking to have at least 12 couples sign up to take the survey (twice) and answer a few direct questions in order to gather the data I need to finish my thesis. Please prayerfully consider participating in this survey data as well.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Colbiwiki: How Do We Know We Have the Original Gospel?
Colbiwiki: How Do We Know We Have the Original Gospel?: "A comment question I hear among skeptics (and among believers!) is, 'How do we know that we have the original Gospel?' Often, that question ..."
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Gospel from 35,000 Feet
The most common way that we look at the Gospel is from the ground up. Man is a sinner, sinners are unfit for the presence of God, Jesus came to earth to pay for our sin, and we can have his eternal righteousness and fellowship by faith. It's not a bad way to look at the Gospel - it's clear, accurate, and something we easily identify with. But ... I was wondering today what the Gospel looks like from the top-down. There are many ways to answer that, but one way that struck me as curious centers on the idea of the image of God.
In the beginning, God created man (man and woman, but "man" to refer to the whole lot of us). God had created many other things already - angels, stars, planets, plants, and critters. But He created man to be different that the rest. He created man in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Man is the "image bearer" - he uniquely has this thing called "God's image" imprinted on his being. That image is a reflection of God's glory.
Then, man sinned. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's design and God's clear word. When this occurred, that image of God was not lost, but it was "vandalized." We still bear God's image, but that image in us has been severely distorted, mangled, and disfigured. It can become so distorted that it becomes very difficult to recognize that image at all in someone. This, of course, is grievous to God - not only for our loss, but also for what has happened to a reflection of His own glory! He had image bearers that reflected His great glory, but now after the vandalization, instead of a glorious reflection, it is a tarnished, blasphemous semblance of His glory.
The Old Testament teaches us the futility of man trying to restore that image on his own. How can an inglorious reflection repair itself? It's not possible.
Then Jesus came. Jesus was unique in that first, He bore the image of God perfectly. That's something no one had done since Adam and Eve before the Fall. Second, He is the God whose image we bear! He's both fully God (the glorious One) and fully man (the perfect image bearer). He alone bore the image perfectly on behalf of the entire human race.
When He died on the cross and rose again on the third day, he defeated sin and death - the very things that marred the image of God in man. In other words, the mission of Jesus was to restore the image of God in us. That image can be perfected in us. It begins with salvation (putting our faith in Christ). It continues through sanctification (the process of becoming more like Christ). It is complete in glorification (when Jesus returns and completes the image of God in us).
The Gospel from 35,000 feet is that Jesus came to make us perfect image bearers again, fully glorifying God as we were intended. We can become perfect image bearers only by faith in Jesus Christ, the glorious One and perfect image bearer.
Scripture shows the Gospel from 35,000 feet in a couple of places:
Romans 8:29: Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.
1 John 3:2: Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.
Perhaps this can be a fresh way for you to share the Gospel with others who do not respond to the Gospel from the ground up.
In the beginning, God created man (man and woman, but "man" to refer to the whole lot of us). God had created many other things already - angels, stars, planets, plants, and critters. But He created man to be different that the rest. He created man in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Man is the "image bearer" - he uniquely has this thing called "God's image" imprinted on his being. That image is a reflection of God's glory.
Then, man sinned. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's design and God's clear word. When this occurred, that image of God was not lost, but it was "vandalized." We still bear God's image, but that image in us has been severely distorted, mangled, and disfigured. It can become so distorted that it becomes very difficult to recognize that image at all in someone. This, of course, is grievous to God - not only for our loss, but also for what has happened to a reflection of His own glory! He had image bearers that reflected His great glory, but now after the vandalization, instead of a glorious reflection, it is a tarnished, blasphemous semblance of His glory.
The Old Testament teaches us the futility of man trying to restore that image on his own. How can an inglorious reflection repair itself? It's not possible.
Then Jesus came. Jesus was unique in that first, He bore the image of God perfectly. That's something no one had done since Adam and Eve before the Fall. Second, He is the God whose image we bear! He's both fully God (the glorious One) and fully man (the perfect image bearer). He alone bore the image perfectly on behalf of the entire human race.
When He died on the cross and rose again on the third day, he defeated sin and death - the very things that marred the image of God in man. In other words, the mission of Jesus was to restore the image of God in us. That image can be perfected in us. It begins with salvation (putting our faith in Christ). It continues through sanctification (the process of becoming more like Christ). It is complete in glorification (when Jesus returns and completes the image of God in us).
The Gospel from 35,000 feet is that Jesus came to make us perfect image bearers again, fully glorifying God as we were intended. We can become perfect image bearers only by faith in Jesus Christ, the glorious One and perfect image bearer.
Scripture shows the Gospel from 35,000 feet in a couple of places:
Romans 8:29: Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.
1 John 3:2: Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.
Perhaps this can be a fresh way for you to share the Gospel with others who do not respond to the Gospel from the ground up.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Clown Days have Changed
Please remember to pray for our kids who are at Camp Quaker Haven. Pray for them to learn, to grow, and to be safe.
This week, I had an opportunity to drive by the house in Independence where I grew up. It's amazing to me how much smaller the house looks, and how that great hill we used to sled down looks rather flat and short - somehow I don't think the hill is what has changed over time. Perspectives have changed.
I also went through the drive-through of the McDonald's that we used to go to when I was a kid. There was only one in town at the time, and it was a bit of a drive, but what a great treat it was for us kids. This week, however, while waiting in line I watched a drug deal go down - as brazen as could be. Like I said, perspectives have changed.
Seeing how the innocence of my own childhood has been erased by age and crime, let me urge you again to pray for our children at Camp Quaker Haven. This world conspires against their innocence. The constant forces of gravity never pull them up. They are pulled up only by God, by His Truth, by the example of disciples, and by our prayers. Everything else is a constant pull downward. Just as my childhood home decays over time, so do our souls, without an intentional effort on our part to foster God's work within us.
Pray for our kids. Pray for our children's Sunday School. Pray for AWANA. Pray for Children's Church and Junior Church. Pray for our Youth Group. And pray for all those who volunteer their time and talents to invest their lives into our young people.
Pray for our kids constantly as if the rest of their lives depended on it.
This week, I had an opportunity to drive by the house in Independence where I grew up. It's amazing to me how much smaller the house looks, and how that great hill we used to sled down looks rather flat and short - somehow I don't think the hill is what has changed over time. Perspectives have changed.
I also went through the drive-through of the McDonald's that we used to go to when I was a kid. There was only one in town at the time, and it was a bit of a drive, but what a great treat it was for us kids. This week, however, while waiting in line I watched a drug deal go down - as brazen as could be. Like I said, perspectives have changed.
Seeing how the innocence of my own childhood has been erased by age and crime, let me urge you again to pray for our children at Camp Quaker Haven. This world conspires against their innocence. The constant forces of gravity never pull them up. They are pulled up only by God, by His Truth, by the example of disciples, and by our prayers. Everything else is a constant pull downward. Just as my childhood home decays over time, so do our souls, without an intentional effort on our part to foster God's work within us.
Pray for our kids. Pray for our children's Sunday School. Pray for AWANA. Pray for Children's Church and Junior Church. Pray for our Youth Group. And pray for all those who volunteer their time and talents to invest their lives into our young people.
Pray for our kids constantly as if the rest of their lives depended on it.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
How Do We Know We Have the Original Gospel?
A comment question I hear among skeptics (and among believers!) is, "How do we know that we have the original Gospel?" Often, that question is not worded in such open, kind, inquisitive terms - and more often it is a negative statement instead of a question. But the question is still there.
The answer to the question requires at least a book-length answer, but let me give you a few things to consider in response:
The answer to the question requires at least a book-length answer, but let me give you a few things to consider in response:
- We have extremely early evidence that the Gospel we preach is what the apostles preached. For example, 1 Cor 15:1-5 explains the same basic core of what the Gospel is as what we believe - atonement for sin in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 1 Corinthians is easily shown to be one of the earliest Christian documents, evidence that what we believe to be the core of the Gospel has been the core since very early in church history (before A.D. 50). But also consider that 1 Cor 15:1-5 appears to be quoting a common saying. If that's true, then the core of the Gospel shows up even earlier than 1 Corinthians. It takes a while for common sayings to become common!
- There is terrific evidence that every book of the New Testament was written in the 1st Century, and they all agree on what the Gospel is. The book of Acts is particular good about boiling the Gospel down to it's primary content.
- There is no other 1st Century evidence of any other gospel. (There are "other gospels" that appear in the 3rd Century, but nothing from the first.) So, the only evidence we have from the 1st Century is consistent on what the core of the Gospel is. Anyone who believes we don't have the original Gospel has to explain why all the 1st Century evidence points only in one direction. I've heard theories, but they require more faith and speculation than what we're accused of.
- There are Roman and Jewish documents from the 1st Century that are hostile against Christianity, and yet they confirm that the main doctrine of Christians is that they believe in the resurrection of Christ. They don't agree with that belief, but they affirm that this is what Christians believed. These documents by no means want to promote Christianity - even hostile primary sources affirm the content of the Gospel!
- The apostles preferred death over denying the resurrection of Christ. That's how core this belief has been from the beginning.
- Jesus wasn't killed for being a controversial religious figure, or for being a controversial teacher, or for being a political activist. He was killed for claiming to be equal to God. The very reason for killing Him (from the human perspective) affirms that His claims to divinity were core to His message. If He didn't claim to be equal to God, He likely would have lived to a ripe, old age.
The list goes on, but this gives you a taste of why we have a strong defense against any charge that we do not possess the original Gospel. Be emboldened by the facts - they are always on the side of Truth. In my experience, the more we dig, the more reasons we have to believe, not less.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Prayer Meeting
Prayer is a mysteriously important lifeline for the Christian. We don't fully understand it, and we're even told we don't know how to do it as we should (Rom 8:26), and yet, it is something we are told to do without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). Like love itself, we need it, but we can't explain it. We have set aside Wednesday evenings to be a time for the people of Grace Fellowship to gather specifically for the purpose of prayer.
We gather in my office at 7pm, complete our list of requests that the people of Grace have, and then enter into a casual time of prayer. Some of us pray out loud, some silently. Some of us pray short prayers, some longer. Some of us stumble to find the right words, some have the gift of words that just seem to flow. Some of us experience prayer with some measure of emotion, some of us see prayer as a privileged conversation with God. Some of us come every week, some whenever possible. But all of us pray, and all of us pray in the ways that we can - and that's what matters.
We don't expect everyone to pray out loud, to pray eloquently, to "feel" something in particular when they pray, or to even be comfortable praying in a group. Our desire is for the body of believers to be a praying people, whether it's in our particular group or not. We believe prayer is essential for our church to grow in the ways God wants us to grow. We believe prayer is too often a lost and forgotten art, something that can frighten us when it should be the most inviting activity God allows us to have. We want to pray, and we want to encourage you to pray. We believe we pray more fervently when we gather together for the sole purpose of praying as one.
In the future, we would like to occasionally take the prayer group "on the road" - that if there is a particular need, that we pull up our stakes, take the prayer team to where the need is, and pray with you on the spot. Also, some nights we will focus our prayers on a particular area of need, such as children's ministries, our marriages, missionaries, and so on. We will announce in advance when we have a particular focus so that you can make a point of joining us for those issues closest to your heart.
Please submit your prayer requests to the church office for inclusion in the prayer list. If it is confidential, just let the administrative assistant know that. Also, if you submit a prayer request in the Friendship Folders that are passed around during the worship service, the Elders receive those requests and pray for them on Sunday mornings before Sunday School.
Prayer is a privilege. We want to share that privilege with you. We want all of us to help one another become more of a praying people.
We gather in my office at 7pm, complete our list of requests that the people of Grace have, and then enter into a casual time of prayer. Some of us pray out loud, some silently. Some of us pray short prayers, some longer. Some of us stumble to find the right words, some have the gift of words that just seem to flow. Some of us experience prayer with some measure of emotion, some of us see prayer as a privileged conversation with God. Some of us come every week, some whenever possible. But all of us pray, and all of us pray in the ways that we can - and that's what matters.
We don't expect everyone to pray out loud, to pray eloquently, to "feel" something in particular when they pray, or to even be comfortable praying in a group. Our desire is for the body of believers to be a praying people, whether it's in our particular group or not. We believe prayer is essential for our church to grow in the ways God wants us to grow. We believe prayer is too often a lost and forgotten art, something that can frighten us when it should be the most inviting activity God allows us to have. We want to pray, and we want to encourage you to pray. We believe we pray more fervently when we gather together for the sole purpose of praying as one.
In the future, we would like to occasionally take the prayer group "on the road" - that if there is a particular need, that we pull up our stakes, take the prayer team to where the need is, and pray with you on the spot. Also, some nights we will focus our prayers on a particular area of need, such as children's ministries, our marriages, missionaries, and so on. We will announce in advance when we have a particular focus so that you can make a point of joining us for those issues closest to your heart.
Please submit your prayer requests to the church office for inclusion in the prayer list. If it is confidential, just let the administrative assistant know that. Also, if you submit a prayer request in the Friendship Folders that are passed around during the worship service, the Elders receive those requests and pray for them on Sunday mornings before Sunday School.
Prayer is a privilege. We want to share that privilege with you. We want all of us to help one another become more of a praying people.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Comfort Zone
We've received great reports from youth group who are at Challenge this week! Good attitudes, good outreach projects, openness to letting the Word make a real difference in their lives. I'm looking forward to hearing stories from the full week after they return.
One of the events that our youth participated in was offering to pray with people who passed by them on the street. Apparently, it was a great experience - even though the thought of it must have been nerve-wracking at first. But, they jumped in, and saw God move in the lives of people. They were taken beyond their "comfort zone" - that space in which we feel comfortable and safe.
You've heard dozens of times "go beyond your comfort zone," whether in church, in business, or in school. It's a challenge to venture beyond that boundary between safe and risky, between comfortable and unsure. Jesus continually challenged people to step out of their comfort zones. You cannot come to Christ in faith without leaving your comfort zone, and you cannot serve the mission He has for you without passing that border.
But I prefer a different phrase than "go beyond your comfort zone." I would rather challenge you to "expand your comfort zone." Not only go beyond the borders, but then extend those borders! Bust through them as Jesus challenges us to, but then change them. Once you do something like praying with a total stranger, rather than retreat back into your same ol' comfort zone, redraw the boundaries to now include things like praying with total strangers.
Call it "gerrymandering for Christ"! Change your borders to include more and more of the things Christ wants us to do in your new, improved comfort zone. Stretch, but don't forget to then grow!
One of the events that our youth participated in was offering to pray with people who passed by them on the street. Apparently, it was a great experience - even though the thought of it must have been nerve-wracking at first. But, they jumped in, and saw God move in the lives of people. They were taken beyond their "comfort zone" - that space in which we feel comfortable and safe.
You've heard dozens of times "go beyond your comfort zone," whether in church, in business, or in school. It's a challenge to venture beyond that boundary between safe and risky, between comfortable and unsure. Jesus continually challenged people to step out of their comfort zones. You cannot come to Christ in faith without leaving your comfort zone, and you cannot serve the mission He has for you without passing that border.
But I prefer a different phrase than "go beyond your comfort zone." I would rather challenge you to "expand your comfort zone." Not only go beyond the borders, but then extend those borders! Bust through them as Jesus challenges us to, but then change them. Once you do something like praying with a total stranger, rather than retreat back into your same ol' comfort zone, redraw the boundaries to now include things like praying with total strangers.
Call it "gerrymandering for Christ"! Change your borders to include more and more of the things Christ wants us to do in your new, improved comfort zone. Stretch, but don't forget to then grow!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Challenge, Colorado, and Shalom
Challenge: This Sunday, 15 students and 3 (very brave) adults are heading off for Challenge, the EFCA conference for youth. I have heard tremendous reports from our youth about previous Challenge trips, including several coming to Christ. So, I "challenge" you to pray for our group as they travel. Please pray for God to bear much fruit, for safety, and for unity.
Colorado: Lynne and I will miss you this weekend. I have had a long-standing commitment to perform the renewal of wedding vows for friends of ours to celebrate their 30th anniversary. It is their desire for their renewal to be a strong witness of God's faithfulness to their non-Christian loved ones who will be attending, so please pray for us to put together a Christ-honoring service. We got to know this couple in Texas, we reconnected with them after we all had moved to California, and the celebration will be in Colorado - quite a nomadic friendship.
Shalom: This week, I attended an informative presentation at the Jewish Community Center near the Sprint complex. Several professors from their Jewish adult education program gave previews of what they teach in their classes. It was interesting to see how they approach Scripture and the rabbinic writings from centuries past. I was also interested in some of their comments about how the Jewish writings from the 3rd and 4th centuries were written in response to the rise of Christianity. They were quite welcoming to have a Gentile pastor attend, and I did pretty well not to verbally object to anything that was said. They are not coming from the direction of conservative Jewish scholarship, so I hold more to the traditional view of the Hebrew Scriptures than many of them do!
In order for us to be able to engage people with the claims of Christ, we must understand at least some of where they are coming from. To fail to do so shows that we don't really care about where they are, just where we think they should be. Only when we understand where someone is can we show them specifically how Christ speaks to them specifically.
Serve well.
Colorado: Lynne and I will miss you this weekend. I have had a long-standing commitment to perform the renewal of wedding vows for friends of ours to celebrate their 30th anniversary. It is their desire for their renewal to be a strong witness of God's faithfulness to their non-Christian loved ones who will be attending, so please pray for us to put together a Christ-honoring service. We got to know this couple in Texas, we reconnected with them after we all had moved to California, and the celebration will be in Colorado - quite a nomadic friendship.
Shalom: This week, I attended an informative presentation at the Jewish Community Center near the Sprint complex. Several professors from their Jewish adult education program gave previews of what they teach in their classes. It was interesting to see how they approach Scripture and the rabbinic writings from centuries past. I was also interested in some of their comments about how the Jewish writings from the 3rd and 4th centuries were written in response to the rise of Christianity. They were quite welcoming to have a Gentile pastor attend, and I did pretty well not to verbally object to anything that was said. They are not coming from the direction of conservative Jewish scholarship, so I hold more to the traditional view of the Hebrew Scriptures than many of them do!
In order for us to be able to engage people with the claims of Christ, we must understand at least some of where they are coming from. To fail to do so shows that we don't really care about where they are, just where we think they should be. Only when we understand where someone is can we show them specifically how Christ speaks to them specifically.
Serve well.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Hallmark Holidays
This coming Sunday is Fathers' Day - one of those days I call a "Hallmark Holiday." Not because there's anything wrong with them, or anything wrong with Hallmark (our sister-in-law works there), but just as a fun name for "holidays" that are not "holy days." These are "holidays" created by society, not biblical events or decrees. Again, there's nothing wrong with them.
Fathers' Day was started in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, by the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her dad like people honored mothers on Mothers' Day. Mothers' Day has it's roots in some pagan deity rituals, which the church eventually redefined to be the day to honor your "Mother Church," the church you were baptized in. Then in the 1600's, the church in England expanded the day to include celebrating biological mothers, too. It wasn't until 1870 that Mothers' Day became part of the American tradition, when Julia Ward Howe (who wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic) called for a day to commemorate mothers, and the idea caught on.
I think celebrating moms and dads is a good thing. And we might as well pick a day on the calendar to make sure that we're honoring them as we should. Whether it's my mom and dad, my in-laws, or just moms and dads in general, they are worth honoring.
On the other hand, you will find that I'm rather low key about building my preaching calendar around these "Hallmark Holidays." My preaching calendar is based on Christian holidays and whichever books of the Bible or biblical topics we're studying. Perhaps I'll choose a topic to address some current events, if appropriate. But I'm not in the habit of always preaching a Mothers' Day sermon on Mothers' Day, or a Fathers' Day sermon on Fathers' Day. On occasion, perhaps. But not every year. Part of my motive is to make sure society isn't dictating our church calendar, especially our preaching calendar - even though there's nothing wrong with days like Fathers' Day.
But ... you'll notice ... I am writing a Fathers' Day article! Hmmmm .... how do I squirm out of this conundrum????
How about this way: I love you, Dad!
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