God Bless You This Christmas!!!

May you and your loved ones enjoy a blessed Christmas and a joy-filled New Year!

(I'll be offline until January 7, 2008)

Christmas 2007 (Part 4)

This post is the fourth in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

As we’ve seen in parts 1-3 of this series, if we’re going to listen to God this Christmas, we must listen to the words of Scripture. We must remember that God has spoken in the past. One of the main reasons the author emphasizes God’s past revelation, however, is to highlight His present revelation. We must not simply remember God’s voice from the past, but we must also realize that God is speaking now!

Verse 2 states that “in these last days, [God] has spoken to us by His Son.” The “last days” are right now for us just as they were for the original readers. God not only speaks now, but he also speaks “to us.” How many times do we hear a good sermon and think, “That’s a good word! So and so needs to hear that, I wish she were here.” We are so quick to pick up on the message that God needs to get across to everyone but us. We need to hear and heed God’s word to us!

God speaks now, God speaks to us, and God speaks through His final word, Who is His Son. This is a singular revelation as opposed to many ways of revelation in the OT…

Remember the guy that missed all the different ways God was trying to speak and help him escape from the flood? Well, there was another man who was hiking in the mountains when he tripped and fell over the edge of a 100 foot high cliff. After falling about 10 feet he miraculously grabbed hold of a root which halted his fall. Hanging on for dear life, he called out, “Help! Is anybody out there?” A voice answered him saying, “Yes, I am here.” The man was a bit spooked and called out, “Who are you?” The voice responded, “I am God. Let go of the root and I will catch you.” The man paused to think for a few moments, his fingers slowly sliding from the root, before desperately screaming, “Anybody else out there?”

The answer given by the book of Hebrews to the man’s final question is an emphatic “No!” Jesus is God’s final word. Even the OT revelation is now to be interpreted in light of who Christ is and what He has done.

That Jesus is our final and authoritative place to listen for God’s word is the message of Hebrews. To an audience facing persecution and the temptation to abandon the distinctives of the Christian faith, the author cries, “Listen to Jesus! Look at who He is! Look at what He’s done!” As we struggle to grasp the true meaning of Christmas, we need to hear the same message!

So who is Jesus according to this passage?

• Jesus is heir of all things (v.2b)
• Jesus is the One through whom God created the world (v.2c)
• Jesus is the radiance (or brightness) of God’s glory (v.3a)
• Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature (v.3a)
• Jesus is the One who upholds the entire universe (from atoms to galaxies) by the word of His power (v.3b)
• Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (v.3d)
• Jesus is greater than the angels (v.4)

WOW! Jesus is qualified to guide and direct our lives!

What has Jesus done? In verse 3, it’s almost easy to miss, but it’s really the center of attention for this part of the verse…Jesus has “made purification for our sins.” This is a statement foreshadowing the author’s development of Jesus as our great High Priest and Sacrifice.

Only Jesus came from heaven, offering himself up as a flawless sacrifice for our sins and tearing the curtain of the temple in two, forever making it possible for us to know God. Without the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross, it is impossible for us to know God and it’s impossible for us to understand the meaning of the baby in the manger whom we celebrate at Christmas. We can’t get to heaven any other way because “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

Who has the authority to speak in your life? Who are you listening to this Christmas season? Which voice out of the crowd claims your primary attention when you are facing some of life’s toughest choices?

Who do you listen to?

· Who do you listen to when you have to decide whether to work late to get ahead or spend some much needed time with your family?

· Who do you listen to when you can either be “cool” or you can be obedient to Jesus?

· Who do you listen to when you’re frustration tempts you to raise your voice in anger to your spouse or your children or your friends?

· Who do you listen to when you have to decide whether to be harsh or gentle with your tongue?

· Who do you listen to when you’re alone, on the Internet “surfing the Web,” and you know that there’s a virtually limitless supply of pornography just three clicks away?

· Who do you listen to when someone asks you to listen to damaging gossip about someone in our church or in your workplace without confronting that person first?

Who do you listen to?

Pray that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the ear of your life will be focused solely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is supremely qualified to give us all the loving help and guidance we need in life! He is God’s last and final Word sent to the world as a baby laid in a manger. We can hear him speaking through the pages of Scripture. O that we would grasp the intense love of our qualified intercessor and Lord. What each of us needs this Christmas is a word from God, born in a manger so long ago! May we hear Him...and listen!

Christmas 2007 (Part 3)

This post is the third in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1, Part 2

Here are a few more thoughts relating to the importance of God’s Word for our lives and witness…

Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The older I get, the more the Lord has been challenging me, asking me if I really believe that the Word is living and powerful. Do I really believe that the Word is what pierces the soul? God has been saying, “Do you really trust My Word to speak to the questions and needs of people around you or do you feel like you have to rely on your intellect, or your ability to ‘connect’?”

For example, I’ve been teaching a discipleship class on Wednesday nights for the youth at our church (International, English-speaking). They ask some incredibly insightful questions. They also ask some that are just plain hard! I’ve at least thought about most of the issues they raise, and I usually know something of what evangelical Christians in general believe about the issue. I also have my own ideas and opinions on the issues. The challenge and question for me though concerns where my foundation lies for the views I hold and the things I teach…

As the truth of this verse becomes more real to me, I grow even more confident in the sufficiency of the Word to address every issue that could ever come up! When I am faced with a question from one of the youth, I strive to only give an answer that is grounded in the Word of God. If I don’t know precisely how the Bible speaks to the question, I will find out and then give an answer.

As we obey the command of 1 Peter 3:15 to “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]”; what are we trusting as our authority. If someone asks us a question about our faith, are we prepared to answer them with the confidence that comes from a solid grounding in Scripture? If we find ourselves in a situation where we are not completely confident of the Bible’s teaching, are we humble enough to admit we don’t know and committed enough to find a biblical answer? Or are we content simply to relate our opinions, whatever their origins?

This Christmas, if we are celebrating with true and intense focus on Christ, we will get questions from family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and classmates. When we answer, I pray we will answer with words of truth that are consciously grounded in Scripture.

Go to Part 4

Christmas 2007 (Part 2)

This post is the second in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1

In this passage, God is speaking to us through the author of Hebrews. No one is quite sure exactly who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we know that he was likely a leader or pastor writing to a small house church or group of house churches in Rome. The church was probably made up of mostly Jewish people who had become Christians. We do know, because we find this letter in our Bibles that the author speaks the very words of God. God is teaching us, even exhorting us about our need to listen to His voice. This passage contains valuable instruction on how to listen to God so we can hear Him amidst all of the confusion and conflicting messages that come from society, even at Christmastime.

My prayer this Christmas is for us be captured by the amazing reality that God is speaking to us! I pray that He will build in us an earnest longing to hear and obey His voice. If we don’t hear from God this Christmas, all festivities are meaningless.

The first thing we have to do if we’re going to hear God speaking is to remember that God has spoken in the past.

It’s kind of like the man whose house was being threatened by rising flood waters. The waters were rising and the city issued evacuation orders. The man refused to go, claiming that He was trusting God to save him. The waters rose and filled the first floor of his house. He was standing at a second story window when a police boat came and told him to get in and be saved. Again he refused, claiming faith in God’s provision. The rising waters finally forced him to the roof of his house. As the waters were about 3 feet from the peak of his house, a rescue helicopter flew in, dropped a rope ladder and urged him to climb up to safety. Again the man refused because he was convinced God would rescue him. The waters finally rose above the man’s house, and swept him away to his death. When he found himself in heaven, facing God almighty, he asked God, “Why didn’t you rescue me when I had so much trust in you?” God answered saying, “Well I sent you an evacuation order, a boat, and a helicopter! What more do you want?”

This man was waiting on a word from God and he died without realizing it had already come. Not only had God’s word of rescue already come, but it had come in many different ways! Verse one serves two similar functions for the author of Hebrews. It is a reminder to his 1st Century Jewish Christian congregation not to neglect God’s word spoken in the Scriptures, what we refer to as the Old Testament. It also emphasizes the fact that God has spoken in many ways as recorded in the Old Testament.

We too must realize the richness of God’s revelation in the Bible. God has spoken to us in many different ways throughout the pages of Scripture, giving us instructions and stories of people living in real-life. These instructions and stories always tell us something about who God is!

• Who can read the account of God’s creation in Genesis 1 and 2 without being amazed at God’s power and majesty?
• How can we tell the story of the exodus, when God delivered His people from the hands of Pharoah, without getting excited about a God who saves and delivers His people?
• Can anyone miss the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God towards the faithless people of Israel as pictured in the attitude of the prophet Hosea toward his wayward wife Gomer?

The Bible is filled with the words of God that make us rejoice, weep, shudder, and wonder at His goodness, grace, wrath, and might.

Appeal to the Word of God was extremely important to the author’s arguments concerning Christ. It is impossible to read through the book of Hebrews without being almost overwhelmed at the abundance of OT quotations and allusions. One commentator suggests that there are thirty-one explicit quotations and four more implicit quotations, a minimum of thirty-seven allusions to OT passages, nineteen instances where OT material is summarized and thirteen more where a biblical name or topic is cited without reference to a specific context.” The author grounds everything in Scripture. It must be the same for us today.

If we don’t speak the message from the Word of God, we simply give our opinions and our words lack the power and authority that comes only from the very words of God given to us in the Bible.

Go to Part 3

Christmas 2007 (Part 1)

How can we cut through all of the mess in order to emphasize the real meaning of Christmas?

It was God in the manger!

I can’t begin to understand the mind-blowing concept that GOD was born in a manger…not a warm, cozy bed…A feeding trough in a BARN! How can the baby worthy of receiving gold, frankincense and myrrh have, as His first bed, a food bin for cattle?

I believe the dismal, dirty circumstances of Jesus’ birth serve to remind us about how amazing and incredible it is that the God of the universe chose to become human! How can that be? I don’t think our minds will ever be able to comprehend the realities involved. As John MacArthur writes in his book The Miracle of Christmas:

“[No one can] explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant.

He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.”

The good news of Christmas is that God has spoken in the person of Jesus!

One Christmas memory from my teenage years is related to sports. My sport of choice was wrestling. Now, you might be wondering why in the world I had a desire to dress up in odd-looking underwear, weird shoes, and foam bowls on my ears so that I could roll around on a mat for 6 minutes with another sweaty guy! The key factor was that the other guy was always about the same size as me…very important for an American high school kid who only weighed 119lbs! (I’ve grown a bit since)

So…it was my Senior year. Semi-finals of the Christmas Wrestling Tournament held at my high school. Overflowing stands filled with fans. Final period. Thirty seconds left. Down by one point....

These were the conditions that I faced as I stood face-to-face with my opponent. Me knowing I had to take him down to win. Him knowing he just had to hold out thirty more seconds and he was in the finals of the biggest mid-season tournament in our town. In the midst of the thunder of the cheers and the thoughts inside my head, there was one voice that stood out. One voice that I had been trained to listen to and listen for. That was the voice of my wrestling coach. The words I heard were “SHOOT, SHOOT!!!” And so I did, I dove for my opponent’s legs. It was the only way for me to possibly win the match...

I wish I could say I got the take down, but I can’t. I shot for his legs, but time ran out and I didn’t score. Instead, I became a missionary! The thing that will always stand out to me, however, is the loud, clear voice of my coach...and his later congratulations for an excellent match in which I tried my best.

Do you ever feel like you’re in the final period in your Christian life and everyone is shouting at you? Do you ever feel confused by all the many voices? Don’t you long for a clear, definitive voice of guidance in your life as a disciple of Christ?

As Christians, I know we need a clear, guiding voice at Christmastime! We’re swimming in a sea of secularism and other religions in places where so much of ‘Christmas’ seems to involve shopping and Santa Clause! We’re truly in danger of missing the true meaning of Christmas!

In Hebrews 1:1-4, the author tells us that because God has spoken finally and supremely in His Son, Jesus Christ, we must listen to Jesus’ voice above all others in addressing the concerns of daily Christian life and the concerns of God’s church. In the next few posts, we’ll take a look at what God is saying in these verses and how it relates to our lives.

Hebrews 1:1-4
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)

Go to Part 2

Signs of Christmas Confusion

On a lighter note...

1. Your child looks at the nativity scene nestled serenely beneath your tree and says, “What’s that camel doing in Santa’s workshop?”

2. Little Johnny is writing a letter to Baby Jesus at the North Pole, asking for a pony like the one Mary Christmas rode in the pageant at church last year. You gently correct Johnny’s error: it was a donkey.

3. You sing “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “Frosty, the Snowman.”

4. Your pre-schooler adds a green Play-Doh creature to your manger scene insisting, “Mommy, you forgot the Grinch.

5. In the plywood caravan of magi on your roof, the lead camel sports a red 200-watt nose.

6. Your kindergartner comes home with a story that wise guys from back East (probably from Brooklyn) gave the first Hanukkah presents to three kids named Golda, Frankenstein, and Murray.

7. You’ve been searching your Bible for the story of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

8. You’re surprised when it isn’t eggnog in those tiny cups at communion.

9. Your spouse repaints the front yard nativity scene and gives Joseph a red suit and white beard.

10. You remember the Bible says Jesus was living in a “house” when the wise men arrived; this explains how they were able to come down the chimney.

Merry Christmas!

From 'A View From the Back Pew' by Delia Stewart

New Album: The Altar and the Door

My friend introduced me to a great new album by Casting Crowns while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago. Last week, I downloaded the entire album from iTunes and I love it. Musically, the album has style (go here and click on 'Listen to samples' to get a taste). The lyrics, however, are what really get me because they're pretty deep and they don't pull any punches...

Here are the lyrics for the most popular song on the album:

East To West
Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other

Predestination (Part 4)

Today, I came across a meditation on Acts 16:14 written by John Piper and I was amazed at how well it fits with what I posted yesterday relating to how predestination and evangelism fit together because they are both taught in the Bible. Piper's article adds more Biblical weight to what I said yesterday as he explains why some who heard Paul's Gospel message did not believe and why some believed. If yesterday's post intrigued you in any way, I encourage you to give Piper's article a read: How the Lord of Life Gives Life

Predestination (Part 3)

If predestination is true, why are you wasting your life as a missionary? God's going to do it all, right?

The simplest explanation for why belief in predestination does not conflict with active evangelistic efforts is that the Bible teaches both. As Bible-believing Christians, we must be careful to believe and defend everything the Bible teaches, nothing less and nothing more. Even though it seems ‘logical’ that belief in predestination renders evangelism meaningless, that view goes beyond the Bible. We must be willing to live with mystery in our lives, realizing that we won’t be able to explain and completely understand how every clear teaching of the Bible fits together with every other clear teaching of the Bible.

Another way to look at things is to realize that God, the One who predestines, has every right to choose the way he works out the salvation of those whom He chooses. According to the Bible, the ONLY way God chooses to effect salvation in those who are chosen is by connecting that person with the Gospel truth (via evangelistic witness, Bible reading, etc.) in such a way that willing, joyful faith is birthed in the heart of that person. In other words, evangelism is THE key tool used by the Holy Spirit to work salvation in all who are chosen.

Predestination (Part 2)

This post will be more meaningful if you read Part 1 and Romans 9 first...

In my view, unless simply ignore what the words of Romans 9 are clearly saying or do some very fancy interpretation, you will find that God makes a sovereign choice, according to His purposes and wisdom, about individual destinies. In other words, predestination is clearly taught in the Bible.

The most important truth to remember in this whole debate is that every human (except Jesus) is, by nature, a rebel traitor against God who deserves eternal punishment. If we want to speak of fairness, the only fair thing is for every human to be condemned to hell. What is manifestly unfair is that Jesus, sinless and perfect, was crucified on a Cross. If only one human in history was ever saved (say, for example, the criminal on the Cross with Jesus), God would be just to send everyone else to hell because they would all remain rebels. For God to choose some to be saved does not cause God to be unfair or mean to those who are not chosen (all remain deserving of hell because all are rebels); instead, God's choice magnifies His mercy.

It’s important to remember that all who believe in Christ alone for salvation are our brothers and sisters in Christ. This issue should always be discussed with gentleness and humility. Also, we should remember that our primary task as Christians is to tell those who are lost how they can be saved, not to convince Christians to believe in predestination (or any other aspect of a particular theological system). Still, this debate has serious implications on how we view God, especially in how we view God in relation to ourselves. Are we going to be God-centered in our Christianity or man-centered?

Predestination (Part 1)

Recently, I had a short email conversation with someone who was interested in my views regarding predestination. I've adapted my responses for others who might be interested in the subject...

Is predestination true? Does the Bible really teach that God chooses who will be saved and who won't?

I'll answer this question in two parts...

If you believe the Bible is true, read Romans 9, seeking to dispense with any preconceived notions about what is ‘obviously true’ or what is ‘fair’. Interpret the chapter in a straightforward manner and you will have your answer about predestination. Before you read Romans 9, you should know a few Bible words that relate to the predestination issue:

Election: This is a Bible term for God’s overall work of predestination. I.e. God elects (chooses, selects, picks) those who will be saved.

Calling: This is what God does in the life of one who is predestined/elected/chosen which ensures they will believe.

Now, read Romans 9, being mindful of these definitions. What do you think? Pray about the meaning of this chapter (especially vv. 6-26) and record your thoughts on the matter (preferably before reading part 2).

Back online on December 10

Due to vacation and work travel last week and this week, I will be unable to post. I look forward to sharing regularly again starting December 10. Blessings!

Persistently

Jeremiah 35:12-15
"12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me."

The faithfulness of God is astounding! When I read these words in Jeremiah, especially within the larger context of Israel's unfaithfulness during that period in history, I am amazed. The depth of Israel's rebellion against the Lord, over and over again, juxtaposed with God's continued mercy, forgiveness and grace simply leaves me at a loss for words when I really get to thinking. The word that stands out to me in the passage quoted above is 'persistently'. God has spoken to His children persistently and He has persistently sent prophets to warn and teach the people how to follow His ways. What an incredible effort expended by the Almighty on a bunch of rebels!

Either God is really quite thick-headed and unable to figure out that these people are so self-absorbed they will never incline their hearts towards Him...or He has a redemptive plan so powerful and amazing that it almost defies human comprehension. Think about what this persistence in the face of rebellion says about the character of God. Knowing that I serve a God like this merciful is incredibly comforting to me. At the same time, it makes me tremble.

Our lives as Christians too often parallel the nation of Israel. We profess deep faith that produces great love for our Savior...then we go off and willfully disregard His will in simple issues of obedience, illustrating a shocking lack of faith. It seems that the Rechabites (read verses 1-11 for more context) among us are far and few between (no, this post is not at all about the issue of alcohol consumption).

Lord, please help me to consider Your persistent action on my behalf to communicate the fullness of your beauty, greatness and love to me, Your enemy. My the power of Your grace working by the Holy Spirit produce in me the will and desire to obey You in all things great and small. I don't want to 'go after other gods to serve them' as I have done so often in the past. Increase my faith, Lord! Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You may have heard the story of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in its current form. For those who haven't heard, I've copied it below, as posted in a wonderful blog called Girl Talk (Focus: "Conversations on Biblical womanhood and other fun stuff"):

“The Woman Who Brought Us Thanksgiving”
by Harold Ivan Smith

Most Americans associate Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims. Fifty-one survivors of the Mayflower gathered to celebrate after their first fall harvest. Governor William Bradford proclaimed it a day of thanksgiving.

But during the next century and a half, thanksgiving was an irregular celebration, varying from community to community, dependent at times upon the religious and political climates and the attitudes of individual governors.

Then the victory of the Americans over the British at Saratoga in October, 1777 prompted the Continental Congress to set aside December 18 as a day of thanksgiving and praise to be observed by all the colonies.

On September 28, 1863, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale wrote President Abraham Lincoln urging him to make the annual Thanksgiving “a national and fixed Union Festival.” By this time, she had built the circulation of her magazine, Godey’s Ladies Book to 150,000. Hale’s letter could not be ignored. Nor her editorials. Her annual Thanksgiving editorial in Godey’s opened with Nehemiah 8:10: “Then he said unto them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

Hale argued, from her strong Episcopal faith, that if Nehemiah set aside a time of thanksgiving in a time of national stress, “in a time of national darkness and sore troubles, shall we not recognize the goodness of God never faileth, and that to our Father in heaven we should always bring the Thanksgiving offering at the ingathering of the harvest?”

Lincoln weighed the matter and decided that the timing was right for something that would promote national unity. He ordered Seward to draft the proclamation.

Early on October 3, Lincoln read the proclamation: “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and helpful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

Seward wrote, “No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gift of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

Lincoln commended Seward for a project “well done” and then focused on the last paragraph: “I do, therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

Three things struck me as I heard this story read at a Thanksgiving dinner we shared with friends this evening:

• The strong Biblical motivation expressed by Sarah Josepha Buell Hale in her editorials urging Lincoln to proclaim a national day of thanksgiving.
• The unashamed focus on God by Lincoln in his proclamation. (For more God-focused talk by Lincoln, go to the Lincoln Memorial and read the text of his Second Inaugural Address that is engraved on the wall...or read it here)
• Lincoln's inclusion of "those who are sojourning in foreign lands" as part of his proclamation...that's me!
  

God bless America!

Homosexuality Awareness for Christians

As Christian believers, it is important for the world to know us by what we are for more than by what we are against. We are for spreading knowledge, excitement and life in and through Jesus Christ! We are against sin, yes, but we are against sin, not because we enjoy being against things and/or people, but because we don't want it to cloud the goodness and glory of Jesus.

Within this mindset, I believe it is important for Christians to understand the culture as it relates to the issue of homosexuality. The reality is that popular opinion and perception of homosexuality has changed incredibly in recent years. The following blog entry by Albert Mohler offers important insight into the current cultural climate on this issue. You can read it here.

As we seek to share the life transforming power of the Gospel with those who commit homosexual acts (yes, their lives do need to be transformed, as any sinner without Christ), we should have accurate awareness of the issues we will face in this process. I pray that we will not be disheartened by our changing cultural climate. I pray it will heighten our awareness of our need to sacrificially and lovingly share the Gospel with those who are lost.

Mindful of the 'Millennials'

As one who is within the age range usually given to define 'Generation X' (~1964-1980), but on the younger side, I feel a bit schizophrenic when I read articles like The "Millennials" Are Coming. I can certainly identify with some of the things said in the article about the 'Millennial' generation. Still, my typical response is to take all of the good things said about Generation X, lump them together with the admirable qualities of the Millennial Generation and claim the result as a pretty good description of me and 'my kind' (this post is really about humility, can't you tell)! Seriously, I was intrigued when I read the article and thought it might make some light bulbs go on for any of you out there who are over 30. Blessings!

Let the Little Children Come!

Today was moving day at the House of Grace orphanage in Chantaburi Province, Thailand! The orphanage is run by a Thai pastor and his wife, but 2 members of our home group from church have been intimately involved in the work. Over the last year, a new home has been constructed for the approximately 50 children who, until today, have been housed in cramped quarters at an old school.
Now, the children will live in two sets of dormitories, one for boys and one for girls. Each dorm has 3 wings that are designed to house 8 small children, 2 teenagers, and one houseparent, for a maximum of 60 children. There is also a wonderful dining hall with a large multipurpose educational/worship room upstairs.

There is one thing that makes the House of Grace unique. About half of the kids here are HIV positive. In this loving environment, the children are helped by administering the confusing regiment of drugs and diet restrictions that keep the virus at bay. There is also a dorm that has apartment-style rooms where AIDS widows can stay with their children.

There are tears in my eyes right now as I reflect on what an honor and privilege it was to see this wonderful work firsthand. I was also humbled to meet the Thai couple who have given their lives to those many consider the untouchable refuse of society. Their faith throughout the process that has led them to this day is nothing short of miraculous. Praise God!

'One Issue' Voting

Pat Robertson has recently raised some eyebrows with his endorsement of Rudi Giuliani for President. The eyebrows are raised because Giuliani's position on abortion is, to quote the Washington Post,

"I hate abortion," which is "morally wrong." But "people ultimately have to make that choice. If a woman chooses that, that's her choice, not mine. That's her morality, not mine."

Columnist Michael Gerson's overall reasoning is sound when he questions the validity of Giuliani's position:

But the question naturally arises: Why does Giuliani "hate" abortion? No one feels moral outrage about an appendectomy. Clearly he is implying his support for the Catholic belief that an innocent life is being taken. And here the problems begin.

How can the violation of a fundamental human right be viewed as a private matter? Not everything that is viewed as immoral should be illegal; there are no compelling public reasons to restrict adultery, for example, or to outlaw sodomy. But when morality demands respect for the rights of a human being, those protections become a matter of social justice, not just personal or religious preference.

John Piper expresses a similar argument in his article, One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Human Society.

I'm sure Pat Robertson has heard and considered these arguments. His endorsement hinges on the belief that, whatever Giuliani's personal view on abortion, his promise to appoint conservative, 'strict constructionist' judges to the Supreme Court means voting for this particular pro-choice Republican candidate will potentially do more to protect the unborn than support for an unelectable pro-life candidate.

Here is where I cry foul. If the decision is up to me (and it is when I'm in that voting booth), when a candidate has refused to take a stand on an issue of justice, who cares how his presidency might promote an issue I hold dear if such and such and such happens down the road? The bottom line is that there really are single issues that disqualify someone from public office.

In the end we, as Christians, need to remember that we serve a sovereign God who does not require the assistance of the Republican party to ensure that all is right with the world. I won't get into to it now but, in many areas, I feel like I've been 'sold a bill of goods' by a slew of Republicans who, at heart, don't share my convictions about the unborn or other social and moral issues. I feel 'courted' because these folks know they can't win without my 'Evangelical right' vote. So that I don't overstate the issue, let me assert my belief that there are many godly men and women serving in elected positions throughout the country, intentionally glorifying God by their service.

I've lived overseas for many years now in countries (Malaysia and now Thailand) where Christian views have absolutely no impact on the political process. Christians in these countries routinely glorify God and the government never asks their opinion when making policies for the country. America is certainly a bit different. Still, I have to face the fact that 'Republican controlled government' is most definitely not synonymous with 'Motivated by a desire to glorify God-controlled government'.

Based on these observations, I will still continue to exercise my right and responsibility, as an American, to vote. In my mind, however, my vote will serve more as an expression of my Bible-based beliefs than as a tool for making America a more God-centered place (at least in a Clinton-Giuliani-everyone else race). I will not support a candidate who is unwilling to stand up for the rights of America's most oppressed population segment, the unborn.

Let me know what you think. I don't have all the answers on these issues! I'm happy to dialogue with those who disagree.

Prayers in Many Languages

Our international church in Bangkok recently had a prayer time for the new building that is currently being constructed. The largest room in the new building is designed to be a fellowship hall but it will also serve as a temporary sanctuary seating up to 450 people that we will use until a larger auditorium-style sanctuary can be built on the location of our current, smaller sanctuary.

During the prayer time, a large group from the congregation met together and, with permission from the builders, went into the large, unfinished room to pray. Each of us had with us a permanent marker that we used to write prayers and Scripture verses on the floor and walls of this new room (all will ultimately be covered by carpet and paint).

I was excited about the time because I thought it was cool to be able to write all over the floor and walls! When we started the process, I was blown away by how powerful the experience was. After I finished writing my Scriptures, I started walking around the room and looking at what other people were writing. I started noticing many other languages! Eventually, I started counting until I realized that there were 13 different languages represented on the floor and walls!

I praise God for the wonderful unity within cultural diversity that He has created at our church. I also praise God for the English language which enables all of us to come together for worship, fellowship, and cooperation in outreach to a lost world!

Commission Stories Website

Please have a look at a new website put out by the International Mission Board called Commission Stories. A few years ago, production of the excellent printed magazine called The Commission was discontinued for financial reasons. Now, through this website, the quality journalism is back with stories about what God is doing around the world. Unlike a printed magazine, the website offers videos and other interactive media to help you get a glimpse of what is happening in places both near and far.

Co-ed Combat and Cultural Cowardice

I recently ran across the following article by John Piper entitled Co-ed Combat and Cultural Cowardice. It struck a cord with me because our church is currently going through a transition phase where we are making decisions on gender issues as related to church leadership.

Whatever your views on these issues, I encourage you to read Piper's article. It's so shockingly counter-cultural that you will either dismiss Piper immediately as an outdated fool, or you will give the issue some serious thought. I'm certainly not 'egalitarian' or supportive of 'Christian feminist' perspectives. Still, Piper's article was a stretch for me. What I learned is that I need to give the issue more thought and, more than anything, make sure my perspectives are informed by the Bible. As I attempt to let the Bible inform my views, I need to be aware of how powerfully cultural perspectives from the world around me can exert influence as well.

The Fire of God

Jeremiah 20:9

"If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot."

Do you ever experience the presence and the power of God in ways like the prophet Jeremiah describes? I pray that God will work in my heart, drawing me nearer to Himself so that I have clear understanding about God's words to me and to those in the church and world around me. As God gives me confidence of His words, through the Word, I pray that God will give me grace, wisdom, faith, and boldness to proclaim those words in exactly the way He intends, to His ultimate honor and glory.

That all might sound great and spiritual, but it's actually very simple: Seek God, hear and understand His Word, obey. Simple yet hard to accomplish because of the sin that continues to dwell in us, even as believers.

Perhaps you or I have experienced God working in us and then through us to communicate life-giving truth into someone's life. It's an amazing experience! We might read Jeremiah's words and wonder what his problem was. Why would he even want to hold God's words inside? Why, if he was right with God and clearly understood God's message, wouldn't he hurry to communicate the truth? To get the answers to those questions, we need to read the rest of the passage and book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah spent over 40 years proclaiming messages from God that nobody wanted to hear. He started out during the reign of King Josiah (a good King who is cast in favorable light) with a message from God for people to truly repent in order to avoid coming destruction. I can imagine his listeners thinking he was a bit over the top since they were, obviously, in a much better state because of all the reforms Josiah was instituting. 'Just go with this good flow! Don't get so negative on us!'

All the kings after Josiah went downhill morally, leading the kingdom of Judah into multitudes of sins. Jeremiah's message from God shifted to proclamation of God's coming judgment on Judah because of the peoples' continued rebellion against God. These folks definitely didn't want to hear Jeremiah's message. There were at least two plots to kill him along with beatings and imprisonments.

Now, we get a better understanding of why Jeremiah might have desired a break from being the bearer of bad news! Yet he kept preaching. More than that...he was incapable to stop proclaiming God's messages to the people.

When I consider some of the sorry excuses and rationalizations that lead me to put a muzzle on the truth that comes out of my mouth at times, I am ashamed. I've never once been beaten for proclaiming the truth. I've never been in prison. I've never knowingly had my life threatened. It's not threats like these that keep me from proclaiming. Instead, I keep quiet for reasons as ridiculous as finishing the next chapter in a novel.

Lord, please enliven the vibrancy of my relationship with You. Reveal to me the truth You have each day for my life and the truth You wish to convey to others through me. Help me to have the faith to believe that a broken conversation about You with a Buddhist taxi driver will bring more joy than a few pages in a mindless spy novel. Let Your fire burn so brightly in my bones that it has no option but escape through my life! Amen.

Hollywood Writers Strike

I have recently read a few stories about the current strike by Hollywood screenwriters that has already started to affect some popular shows. Others may go off the air by January or February if the strike continues.

I'm intrigued by the range of emotions I've experienced while reading this news. My first thought was about how this would affect some of the shows my wife and I enjoy watching (we get the DVD versions after the seasons are over and watch at our own pace). Hints of sadness at the thought of being forced to wait longer before I know what happens between Jim and Pam on The Office. I was even a bit put out at the thought of not being able to know how in the world the folks who bring us Lost will continue on after the rather bizarre ending to season 3. What new disaster will Jack Bauer thwart this time (although it can be convincingly argued that the disasters of the last couple of seasons weren't exactly 'new')? We may not find out for quite some time...

Do I feel sorry for the writers who are arguing for more pennies from each DVD sale to come their way? Or do I get angry at the ridiculously rich and greedy studios? What about the actors? What am I to think about all this craziness?

Finally, I drifted back to this reality: Me, myself, and I (along with my multi-million member band of cohorts around the world) am the ultimate source of this madness. If we never bought any DVDs, tuned into a show at the right time or clicked the mouse to visit an official website of my favorite show, there wouldn't be any shows at all! It's that whole supply/demand thing.

How is it that Hollywood pulls millions and millions of dollars from the economy every year? The answer is simple. People like me watch. We usually watch the ads as well. We buy the products that are advertised. That money goes into more ads and that money pays for more TV shows and movies.

What I'm really trying to point out with all this rambling is that it's hard for us to realize the true value that something has for us in our lives until it is gone (at least potentially) and we can gauge our reaction. How much of my life's energy is spent being entertained? How high up on my list of priorities is 'fun'? In the end, I'm reminded of a quote from St. Augustine that hangs beside my desk:

"He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee which he loves not for Thy sake."

Where does Hollywood fit?

Relational Evangelism (Part 2 of 2)

Go to Part 1
What does it look like to relate to a non-believer in a ‘real’ way while, at the same time, seeking to share the Gospel with that person? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no authority on the subject. I regularly struggle to find the right balance. I often find myself retreating into comfortable relationships with my family, Christian friends, or a good book in lieu of intentional, real, and meaningful interaction with non-believers. Of course, in Thailand, I have the added communication challenges that come when a foreigner tries to build a relationship with someone from a different culture who speaks a different language! Still, one thing that is non-negotiable is that my relationship with Jesus shines…“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

If I’m to have a real relationship with a non-believer, we won’t get past the first few conversations without him realizing that Jesus is central to my life. In fact, if I found it easy to interact for weeks or months with a non-believer without making a ‘big deal’ about my faith in Christ, I’d be worried! To me, that would evidence that Jesus hasn’t yet taken control of many aspects of my activities and thoughts about the world around me.

Will a non-believer think I’m strange at times when I express God-centered and Bible-informed views on the things in the world? Of course! Will some decide they don’t want to continue in relationship with me because I’m too ‘out there’? Probably. The number who choose to discontinue the relationship will be much smaller, I’m convinced, than most people fear. God has built people to worship their Creator. Yes, sin has turned us from the worshipers we were intended to be in to rebels to the core, but we’re still hard-wired for worship! As someone relates to me over a period of time, they will begin to get, I pray, a picture of my God-centered worldview. I truly believe that God will use this picture as one tool to draw that person to Himself.

Let’s combine sincere, God-given joy in relating to non-believers with an unashamed willingness to let them see the ‘real us’, especially the real part that desperately seeks to honor Jesus in every aspect of life.

Relational Evangelism (Part 1 of 2)

What is the essence of our responsibility as believers to share the Gospel? Is going to church enough? What about praying before we eat at a public place? Do we actually have to open our mouths and tell someone we believe in Jesus? Is the goal of 'sharing the Gospel' to get someone to bow their head with us and 'pray the sinner's prayer'? What about street preachers? Should we always rely on a tried and true system to make sure we say everything and don't leave parts out?

So many questions! Often, today, I hear people boil their approach to evangelism down to one word, 'relational'. That sounds good, but what does it mean to do relational evangelism? In my view, it simply means that we share the Gospel with another person within the context of a personal relationship. We don't view people only as potential converts, rungs to climb on the evangelistic effectiveness ladder. We view people as people; people who are worth our time because we have been filled with love for them. Because of this love, we enjoy other people. We enjoy interacting, discussing, and joking. Spending time with people is not the necessary evil required to achieve the goal of glorifying God by that person's conversion. No, spending time interacting with non-believers is, itself, glorifying to God. The Gospel is shared as we intersect our lives with those who are lost.

There is a stream of 'relational' evangelism that bothers me, however. I've heard people describe their interactions with unbelievers as the process of 'earning the right to share the Gospel'. Typically, this means the believer is interacting with a non-believer on various levels in order to 'build the relationship' and 'establish trust'. Almost always, it's implied that this phase should involve little or no verbal discussion about spiritual truths in order to make sure the non-believer doesn't get 'turned off' because the relationship 'hasn't reached that level yet.' According to this view, non-spiritual interaction needs to continue until the right moment arrives and Gospel truth can be shared. The time required for this initial phase varies, but it is usually measured in weeks and months, not in days.

I understand that proponents of the sort of ‘relational evangelism’ just described are reacting against people and methods that insist upon sharing a prepared ‘Gospel presentation’ during every encounter with a non-believer. I, too, do not agree that we should be aiming to steer every conversation toward ‘spiritual matters’ so that we can deliver the full ‘Gospel presentation’ that will be followed by a call for belief and ‘praying the prayer’. Still, ‘relational’ evangelism that tells Christians to interact with non-believers on a non-spiritual level for a long time goes too far to the other extreme.

Here’s the crux of the matter. How can a style of evangelism be relational when a key part of the process involves withholding discussion about the most significant part of the believer’s life? As a Christian, if my relationship to Jesus is central to every aspect of my life, how can I have a true relationship with a non-believer if I intentionally refrain from conversation in this area? That’s not relational, it’s deceptive! If a non-believer doesn’t understand that everything significant about my life relates to Jesus and His work, there is no real relationship.

In Part 2, we’ll look more closely that the type of relationship we should seek with non-believers as we share our very lives with them (including the most important part—Jesus).

Only Hope

The words of the song Only Hope by Caedmon's Call spoke to me as I was sitting in traffic today. I share them with you here:

Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God, your wrath forbear
Me the chief of sinners, spare?

Chorus
It's my only hope
You're my only hope
It's my only hope of Heaven
At the cross forgiven...

I have long withstood your grace
Long provoked you to your face
Would not harken to your calls
Grieved you by a thousand falls

There for me the Savior stands
Shows his wounds and spreads His hands
Face to face before the Son
And like Isaiah I'm undone

Depth of mercy, vast and free
So much deeper than the sea
God of love, you heard my cry
Now into your open arms I fly

Copyright 2003 Mighty Molecule Music (Admin. by Music Services). Charles Wesley, Randall Goodgame.

Not All 'Baptists' Are Created Equally

I was appalled today as I read one of the lead news stories as sorted by Google News. Here's the link. The story is about the settlement awarded to the family of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died in Iraq last year. Apparently, a church from Kansas picketed his funeral, waving signs suggesting that American deaths in Iraq are due to America's tolerance of homosexuality. I was appalled, not because the court ruled against the church (I'm thankful for that ruling on many levels), but because of the church name: Westboro Baptist Church. The news story points out that the church is not affiliated with any major denomination. In other words, even though it has the word 'Baptist' in it's name, it is not part of any major Baptist convention in the USA; it functions independently.

Yes, living a homosexual lifestyle is sinful and a person who continues in an unrepentant state, ignoring the Bible's teaching about their sin, will go to hell when they die. As Christians, we cannot ignore the seriousness of sin! At the same time...

We must not ignore the majesty and wonder of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and life-transforming power that is freely available in Jesus Christ for all who will believe!

It is true that a person needs to understand the true meaning of their sin in order to be saved: without Christ, every person is a depraved rebel against our holy and righteous Lord. EVERY human is in desperate need of salvation, hopelessly lost in their sin without Jesus. However, any message that stops there, with only a message of hate and judgment, is NOT a Christian message!

As Christians, let us do the hard work of loving those in society who do not agree with us. Part of loving means we must not condone sinful behavior and we must be honest about the real consequences of sin (in this life and the next). Part of loving also means we continually hold out the hope of Jesus to unbelievers and we continue to act with love towards them even if they do not believe or stop their sinful behavior.

Happy Halloween (or is it?)

What will you and your children do tonight, October 31, 2007. For much of the world, even Bangkok, Thailand, there will be Halloween parties and kids out trick-or-treating. For believers who are concerned about spiritual things, how should we respond? Whatever we decide, it should be based on a thoughtful desire to honor the Lord. Basing our decision on reasons like 'that's the way I grew up and I turned out alright' or 'it seems harmless enough' is not adequate.

For a thoughtful review relating to Halloween as well as an outline of various Christian response, check out what Southern Baptist speaker, author, and seminary president (he's also my former theology professor), Al Mohler, has to say about Halloween on his blog.

Mobile Fellowship

Philippians 4:11-13

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Tonight, my wife and I left our house in Bangkok at around 5:45pm to go over to a friend's house for dinner at 6:30pm. Our friend gave me directions over the phone earlier today so I was not worried. At around 6:20pm, I felt we might have missed a turn so I phoned our friend to get some advice, but received no answer. We kept driving.

Eventually, after passing a few bridges and going along the river for a ways, we pulled over to consult the map. Two more phone calls went unanswered and we headed back in the direction we had already come, looking intently for the appropriate landmarks. More phone calls went unanswered. Eventually, we passed the place where we had turned originally, noting the jam of cars a few kilometers long now congesting the way back towards our friend's house. It was now almost 7:00pm.

Our friend called, apologizing that her phone had been on silent mode. I told her we should probably take a rain check on dinner since it would likely take another 40 minutes or more to make our way back towards her place. She understood and encouraged us to have a 'date night.' That sounded good, so we headed to a mall, getting there at about 7:15pm and enjoying dinner together.

After dinner, we boarded the Skytrain and headed to a night market where we stopped at a vendor selling DVDs. We chose a movie to watch together and headed back to the Skytrain, boarding and going to the stop near our house. We then got in a taxi where we realized, once we were 5 minutes from home, that we forgot our truck in the mall parking lot! Now we have to figure out whether or not to go pick it up tonight (traffic issues) or wait until the morning (high fee)...

Speaking honestly, nights like this can eat away at our sense of contentment and joy at our circumstance of living in one of the planet's biggest cities. For two kids (we're not grown ups yet) who grew up tromping around in the Appalachian mountains, Bangkok can feel fairly suffocating. We just go back from a short vacation to a beautiful new (to us) island. It seems that whenever we get away and breathe fresh air for a while, reacquainting ourselves with aspects of the planet other than concrete and asphalt, we have a discussion related to how sure (or not) we are that God wants us in Bangkok and not some mountain or beach getaway (people need Jesus there too, right?).

My phrase for what we experienced in the car tonight is 'mobile fellowship.' It's my humble attempt to apply the verses quoted at the beginning of this blog. We truly want to be content in all circumstances! Which is more enjoyable, sitting in the car for 1.5 hours and getting lost or having an edifying conversation with my wife, without kids? Well, they were one in the same tonight...praise the Lord! Yes, its' a small thing, but it illustrates a crucial point for our Christian walk: What dictates our contentment? Circumstances or the Lord? We certainly don't have it all figured out! We are truly thankful for God's Word in passages like this one that helps focus our hearts and minds in the right direction.

(I still don't know what to do about the truck.)

How Deep Are Your Roots?

Jeremiah 17:7-10
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”

As I read this passage a while ago, I immediately asked myself, "How deep are my roots?" I began reflecting on the depth of my spiritual life in the Lord. As I reflected, the Lord called my attention to verse 9 and I was tempted to despair! What good will it do to think about the depth of my trust in God if my heart is so deceitful? Won't my heart just deceive me into thinking that I'm much better off than I really am? (For some the heart might deceive in the other way, loading a person with guilt...that's not my problem)

In the end, I realized once again that God's wonderful grace will sustain me. My relationship with God is not based on theological truths running through my head, or my status as a missionary but on His grace given to me in Christ. Trusting that grace is the only way to be saved. At the same time, the deepening of my spiritual roots is not dependent on my excellent powers of self-reflection and introspection but on the same grace that justified me in the first place!

It's good that the Bible reminds us that we need to root our lives deeply in the Lord. It's also good that the Bible warns us of our deceitful hearts that can easily fool us and lead us astray. In the end, it will only by by the grace of God that we grow ever deeper in our trust of the Lord, weathering the storms and trials of life as we honor Him.

How deep are your roots?

More to come on October 29

Many thanks to those of you who have been reading regularly. Our family was on a short vacation Oct 20-23 and I will likely be without Internet access while at a meeting Oct 25-28. Blessings!

Listen to the Poor...and Learn (Part 2)

"Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"
James 2:5

Go to Part 1

Why does the passage excite me? In spite of the sin of partiality that remains in my life at times, God has been gracious to show me examples that prove how much there is to learn from poor brothers and sisters in Christ.

In a recent trip to a restricted Southeast Asian country, I had the wonderful privilege of visiting a house church comprised of local believers. The church meets in the home of the core family, an aging mother along with about 8 family members (several unmarried daughters as well as some children from married siblings who are working elsewhere). The house is quite small (probably smaller than the combination of an average living room and kitchen in the USA. What struck me, however, was the uneasy feeling created by the fact that the house appeared as if it would fall down at any minute! There was literally a 40 degree slant to a few walls. Other walls were leaning in different directions and the ceiling was sagging in various ways. Suffice it to say that this family and the church that meets in their house are not well off!

These wonderful brothers and sisters taught me so much in the few short hours I spent with them! The light and joy of Jesus Christ was evident in their lives. I did not bring them money. I did not bring them gifts. The camera I took out of my bag to take pictures could have been sold to repair their entire house! Still, their excitement to see me was based on anticipation that I would share with them from the Bible. I'm convinced that I could have taught them for hours and hours and they would have never grown weary of hearing God's Word!

Their eagerness was not a show. I learned that the church meets daily for extended times of prayer. They meet longer on Wednesdays so they can have Bible time together. On Sunday, over half of the day is spent in worship and study of the Bible. On Saturdays, they go out in strategically planned ventures to share the love of Christ with those around them in their town and in surrounding villages. All of this is in addition to a work schedule that would cause most of us to quit in an instant!

Theses brothers and sisters are truly 'rich in faith.' They taught me about priorities and what it means to live lives that are truly centered around the Lord. The sobering reality for me is the realization that there are likely people just like them in my own church that I don't recognize because of my partiality.

Lord, please forgive me for sinning against poor brothers and sisters, however sub-consciously it may be. Forgive me for missing the valuable lessons You want to teach me through them. Please guide me to see people with Your eyes, never agin missing the Kingdom lessons of faith You want to bring my way through poor brothers and sisters. Amen.

Consider the Poor...and Learn (Part 1)

"Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"
James 2:5

These words from James come in the midst of a section where he warning Christians against showing partiality in the church. As I read the words of James 2:1-13, I get convicted and excited at the same time.

My conviction comes from the realization, as I examine my own life, that I am often guilty of showing partiality based on economic status. I think my subconscious mind goes through a process like this: Poor implies less educated or less diligent either of which gives less weight to what this person has to offer.

How wrong! Yes, it may be true that the perspective of someone with a 3rd grade education should be given less weight when discussing certain topics (like nuclear physics). Also, the Bible has things to say about sluggards which should inform our interactions with lazy people. Even so, there is absolutely no good reason for me to assume either of these things based on someone's economic status. Furthermore, even if one or both of these things is true about a poor person in the church, I need to realize that the rich, educated, and workaholic people also have sins and shortcomings in their lives.

Let's pray and ask God to reveal the sinful ways we show partiality to those around us in church. May He grant us wisdom to grow and to know what we are missing.

In Part 2, I will talk about why I get excited when I read this verse...

Worship & Rest...or 'Fun'?

Think of the way you spent your last 4 Sundays. What did you do? What was the focus of your heart, mind, and soul? Did your family focus on the Lord together? Did you rest?

In another good article from the Wall Street Journal's Opinion page, Molly Ziegler Hemmingway offers insightful analysis about Sundays in the ever-expanding consumer age. Check it out here.

I'm certainly not one who wants to become a Christian 'Pharisee' with a long list of do's and don'ts about the Sabbath! Still, my own heart is convicted as I ask myself the question, "What do my Sunday activities reveal about the true passions of my heart?"

Speak and Let Speak

"Will some of them boo? Yes, of course. So what? Too bad. That's the price you pay for being truthful at a tough time. And in America it's always a tough time." --Peggy Noonan

Peggy Noonan recently published an excellent column in the Wall Street Journal. I strongly encourage you to read it here.

As Christians, let's take the lead in boldly proclaiming what we believe with careful, well-thought discourse. Let us also take the lead in boldly listening to what others have to say and being willing to engage them with the truth. America needs this! Of course, to be useful in this type of discourse we, as Christians, need to be rooted in God's truth and mindful about how that truth informs the world around us...

Do You Tremble?

Jeremiah 5:22a
"Do you not fear me? declares the Lord;
Do you not tremble before me?"

Many times when we think of ways to express our desire to grow in our Christian faith, we use words like these:

LOVE - FAITH - JOY - CONTENTMENT - INTIMACY - DEVOTION - TRUST

All of these words represent aspects of a faithful Christian walk that are indispensable. Still, there are two words in Jeremiah 5:22 that we don't hear too often in discussions about Christian growth:

FEAR - TREMBLE

What's the purpose of these concepts for a Christian who is saved? Aren't the realms of fear and trembling for those who are not believers and, therefore, are facing eternity without Christ? For Christians, there is no need to fear these things since our sins are forgiven and heaven awaits, right?

The words that come just before the verse quoted at the beginning of this post in Jeremiah 5:21 are sobering:

"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not."

In verse 20, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to "declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah." House of Jacob! Judah! Wait a minute, those are God's people! They aren't supposed to fear and tremble...God is on their side! Not in this section of Jeremiah. God is warning of the coming judgment that will result from the people's rebellion against Him. Over the years, their zeal for the Lord grew cold and they turned to worthless idols for satisfaction.

If my 'Christianity' is anything less than a life-changing, all-consuming, ongoing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, there is much room for fear and trembling in my life. If I'm just going through religious motions, but my true passions lie in other things, how am I any different from Judah in Jeremiah 5? Do I cling to the 'sinner's prayer' that I prayed when I was 15? Do I visit the signpost I planted on the day of my baptism? Do these events have any meaning in the face of a life that is not truly fueled by Jesus Christ? For all who claim Christianity, yet fail to see fruit that comes from faith in their lives, fear and trembling need to play a significant role as motivators for faith and repentance.

Suppose my life is fueled by a growing and dynamic relationship with Jesus. Suppose I have assurance of my salvation that has grown as I've witnessed God-wrought changes in my life that only happened because of the free grace given to me in Christ. Do fear and trembling have a place in my life?

Absolutely! If my focus as a believer is on God, not merely on His gifts (like heaven), my number one passion will be to exalt His Name and spread that passion to other people. There is one major obstacle to fulfilling that passion, however...me! Fear and trembling come in because I know how weak I am; how incapable of bringing honor to God; how hopeless as a guide to the lost and perishing in the world. I'm like Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5:

"And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

My greatest desire in life is that people will see and know the beauty and wisdom and power of God! I pray that the Lord will help me fulfill that desire with fear and trembling that serve to keep me humble and faithful in pointing people to Jesus rather than myself.

Introduce them to Jesus

The other day, as I was re-reading the first chapter of John's Gospel, I was reminded of a message given by one of the pastors at our church. Think about what comes to your mind when you hear the following names: John, Peter, Paul, Moses, Abraham, Andrew. Many might nod their heads until they get to 'Andrew.' Who was that guy anyway?

Your memory might be helped by my John 1 reference. In John 1:35-42, we read about Jesus' calling of the first disciples. We hear that two disciples of John were standing with him when they saw Jesus and He invited them to follow Him. One of these two disciples was Andrew. What did Andrew do after meeting Jesus and spending a little time with Him? Verses 41-42 tell us: "He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah'...He brought him to Jesus."

What immediately happens once Andrew brings his brother, Simon, to Jesus? The focus shifts to Simon! "Jesus looked at [Simon] and said, 'So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas' (which means Peter)" (John 1:42). From what we read in the rest of the New Testament, we know that Peter is a very dynamic, up-front sort of guy. We can imagine the way his personality caused him to overshadow his brother, Andrew. Still, Andrew did not hesitate. He brought his brother to Jesus, perhaps giving up influence and notice for himself. Andrew's love for his brother and his desire to honor the Lord resulted in a leader like Peter, who was used by God to bring thousands to faith (see Acts 2:41)!

There is another setting in John's Gospel where Andrew plays a significant part in another opportunity to highlight and emphasize the power of God through Jesus. Remember the story of Jesus feeding the multitude? He took a small boy's lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and distributed it to 5000 men plus women and children. In the face of all those mouths to feed, who brought the boy to Jesus? Andrew was the one (John 6:8-9).

What about us? Whatever gifts, skills, and abilities God has given. Whatever God's call on our lives. Are we willing to be like Andrew? Are we willing to operate in the background, giving our lives to the simple, yet powerful, process of introducing people to Jesus? Whether or not God calls any of us to be great and powerful leaders for His glory, I pray that we will all realize that the real power in the Gospel only happens when people get introduced to Jesus.

The Christian's Most Ridiculous Sin (Part 2 of 2)

In part 1 of this post, I suggested that worry in a Christian’s life might be a pointer to unbalanced priorities or undue attention to what others think when they are disappointed by our Christ-centered decisions. Sometimes, however, we do our very best, for God’s honor and glory and we still worry! The reality is that circumstances don’t always work out the way we plan, even with the best, most God-honoring intentions.

When it seems like living our priorities is getting us nowhere, what is our response? First, we should check our priorities and get counsel to make sure we’re not missing the boat. But what comes next? Worry in these situations, no matter how important the issues, can represent a lack of trust on our part.

It’s like the famous tightrope walker at Niagara Falls, ‘Blondin.’ He walked across the falls pushing a wheelbarrow! Later, in the New York Times, he communicated that he would gladly push any lady across for free (guys had to pay for the ‘privilege’)!

Would you get in the wheelbarrow? If you say that you believe he can do it with no harm, but won’t get in, do you really trust him and his ability? Maybe you go, but worry the whole time. That’s belief, but without complete trust (Like the Christian who strives to keep Godly priorities but gets in a jam and lets that ruin him). Or maybe you go with the faith of a child completely trusting and enjoying a thrilling ride unlike anyone else in the world!

We must believe we are God’s children and trust Him with our lives and priorities. We’ve got to obey the Lord by letting Him control our priorities. Finally, we need to pray that He will give us the joy-filled, childlike faith to trust Him when the priorities He has given conflict with the priorities of our sinful nature and the priorities of the world.

God’s Word is very clear. Do not worry! Pray instead with a thankful heart. This is the path to peace and joy that will shine brightly in the world because it is so peculiarly wonderful!

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In Memory of Khun Samien

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Tonight I attended the funeral of Khun Samien, caretaker/handyman/guard at our church in Bangkok, Thailand. For most of the time we have been at this church, Samien has been sick with liver cancer. As a result, I didn't know Samien and I can't recall if I ever met him. Still, his funeral was something special because Samien knew Jesus and he led his wife and two daughters to follow Jesus as well. As a result, his service was one of celebration!

I truly believe that funerals are better than birthdays and weddings. Why? Funerals cause us to reflect on the truly important things in life. When a baby is born or two lovebirds are married it's easy to feel 'joyful' in ways that give little or no acknowledgment to the Lord. At a funeral, the only true joy possible comes from focusing on the Lord.

At this funeral, after singing, a recorded testimony from Samien himself, and heart tugging, challenging words from our pastor, the floor was opened to stories and testimonies from those present. I was amazed. Almost every story was one that described how Samien's life and words brought someone to faith in Jesus Christ. One man who knew Samien years ago declared publicly his desire to renew his commitment to Jesus!

I realized tonight that Samien lived well. He was a poor servant to a 27 year stream of (mostly) American pastors and staff members who lived at the church. Yet he was rich in the Spirit of God and his life was used powerfully to impact many.

I also realized that Samien died well. As cancer ravaged his body and frayed the edges of his family's emotional and spiritual stability, Samien remained rock steady in his faith. Praise God!

Lord, I did not know Your servant Samien, but his life impacted the hearts of many people who are dear to me. I praise You for him. I pray that You will work powerfully in my life during these 'easy' times, building my passion and joy in You. Strengthen me so that when tragedy, sickness, and death impact my life, my 'default mode' will be praise and joy! You are the King of life! Amen.

The Christian's Most Ridiculous Sin (Part 1 of 2)

Almost everyone will acknowledge the need for priorities in life. After all, there are only 24 hours in each day, 7 days in each week, and 52 weeks in each year. We are constantly faced with the need to decide what things in life are more important than other things? As Christians, the trick is to discern God’s priorities. We often look to verses like Matthew 6:23, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” as guidelines for our priorities. A typical Christian priority list might look like this…

GOD - FAMILY - CHURCH – WORK/SCHOOL – OTHER PEOPLE

Planning our lives around priorities like these is essential. However, as we trust God and remain faithful in these priorities, conflicts will arise (back to the 24 hours in one day thing). What is our response when priorities conflict and we face the constant struggle between what is ‘best’, the ‘tyranny of the urgent’, and the pull of our worldly desires?

Enter in: The Christian’s most ridiculous sin…worry. For many of us our response is to become anxious and frustrated because we cannot seem to accomplish everything we ‘need’ to do in a way that brings joy and fulfillment. We worry in spite of the Bible’s clear command that tells us not to worry (Phil. 4:6). What might our worry be telling us if we are willing to have a look?

Worrying may be a signal of not following God’s command in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

When we choose to spend time indulging our flesh (even if no blatant sin is involved), then we might find ourselves ‘without time’ for other things that are clearly more important. Selfishly indulging our ‘wants’ does not count as ‘working heartily’ and does not keep God at the center of our activity.

On the other hand, it might not be our selfish desires that rob our Christ-centered energy. Instead, we sometimes allow the responses of other people dictate our anxiety level. There will be times when a well-balanced and God-focused Christian disappoints people by making the best decisions. If we are working for men more than for the Lord, anxiety will inevitably arise when living our priorities conflict with the expectations of others.

Bottom line: Are we truly pouring out our lives through prioritized involvement in God-focused work? If the answer is ‘yes’, I believe we will be a step closer to a life of joy and contentment that is free from worry.

Go to Part 2

The Worth of the Word

Psalm 119:72
“The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Would you be willing to give up your God-given blessing of having and reading His Word if someone paid you $1 million? Of course not! What about giving up the Bible for two or three months for $1,000? Again, a real Christian would not be interested. As Christians we agree with the psalmist when he writes “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Psalm 119:72). We all nod our heads to this Scripture, but do we really believe it? Do we live it?

In reality, we sell out our opportunities to read and cherish God’s Word for a lot less than $1,000. Consider a Christian who desires to know God and, therefore, seeks to read the Bible everyday. Life gets busy and follow-through only happens on 4 days of the week. That’s 3 days per week without the Bible, which adds up to 5 months and 6 days per year, which, from college graduation to retirement, adds up to more than 18 years!

If you do an ‘average’ job of reading your Bible 4 days per week throughout your working years, you will sell out over 18 years worth of days for what? Extra sleep? That TV show you really don’t want to miss? More time at the office? Think of the days when you fail to read the Bible. Is there ever a day when you don’t spend 30+ minutes doing something at the ‘watch-the-TV’ level or less? Probably not many and the reality is that spending time with God in His Word is more important than eating (Job 23:12)! Nevertheless, we sell out the Bible for things that have no real value at all.

Let us get on our knees together and repent before the Lord for the way we have belittled the value of His most precious Word. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with a passion for the Bible unlike anything we have ever imagined. Let us pray for the courage and the discipline to plan priority time each day that is centered on the Bible.