Geesh...where do I start writing again after...umm...FOUR MONTHS! What's the point in having a blog if I'm never gonna use it? Great questions, glad you didn't ask them. lol
My new goal? To write more, but less. Should I explain? Well, I'm thinking I keep putting off writing because it takes a long time and where in the world am I gonna get the time for this. But, what if I don't write as much, but I write more often. Hmmm...I'm thinking that's a good idea.
So, let's try it.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my view of God, how skewed it sometimes is, how frustrated I get with preachers who distort the Word of God for their own selfish gain (or just because they're blind). Anyway, I wanna get it right. I know I won't always get it right, but I wanna get it right more often than not. So, I've been reading a lot lately. Wanna know what books? What Jesus Demands From The World by John Piper; Desiring God by John Piper; The Complete Book of Discipleship by Bill Hull. The stack on my desk is towering, but those are the ones I'm carrying around in my briefcase at the moment. The one on the back of the toilet? The Dangerous Duty of Delight by John Piper.
I've also been thinking a lot about discipleship and the guys I'm investing in right now. Wondering where they will be in 5 years. Wondering about the guys from years past. Where they are, who they've discipled, who the people that they've discipled have discipled, who they might have won to Christ and discipled, etc etc. Also wondering why more people in the church don't understand biblical, God honoring, Christ exalting discipleship. Where did the church get off track?
It was a tiring summer. Exhausting really. Not long ago I hit a wall of some sorts. Thankfully, the smog has cleared, my joy is back, my energy is being sustained and I'm ready for whatever God is doing and calling me to. Right now, it's to be faithful to feed His sheep, right here in Huron, SD. Never thought I would be in South Dakota, but here I am. And trusting God with the details. All of them. You can too. All the details of your life. He's already been to tomorrow, so He's got it covered.
Well, short enough? Join with me in saying...'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.'
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Golf and Godliness
Once in a lifetime (okay maybe twice), I get to stay in a house that is actually ON a golf course. It’s quite an experience. Even if you’re not a golfer, it’s still pretty spectacular. This vacation house we’re in is on a golf course. A beautiful one at that. The course is lined with majestic, century old oak trees. There’s enough undulation on the greens to make even Tiger Woods nervous.
In any case, I was thinking of all the golf I’ve watched and played over the past twenty some years. I’ve played with some pretty amazing scratch golfers and even played with someone who accidentally hit the ball backwards once. No kidding. And this was NOT on purpose! I shouldn’t tell you it was my brother-in-law Brad, because that might embarrass him.
Yesterday I was sitting on the back porch reading and writing…and watching the golfers. And really, if you remove yourself from anything you might know about the game, and pretend like you’re from a country that’s never seen golf before, you’d have to admit it’s a pretty peculiar game. A bunch of people, often times dressed rather odd, taking a bunch of silly looking sticks and pushing a little white ball all over a nicely manicured patch of grass. Strange really. Almost comical. Well, unless I’m playing. Then it’s certainly comical.
So I was thinking of the futility of those who play golf who really don’t know what in the world they are doing. It’s funny to watch. Frustrating to no end, especially if you’re playing with them. But, funny to watch none the less. And then you have those who play with such consistency and rhythm, you’d think they were born with a putter in their hand. These people just have the look. They line up their shots like the best of ‘em. Their practice swings are magical. And when they hit the ball - wow! They’re always hitting the ‘sweet spot’ and their balls always blast off in the right direction and land in the desired location. Or at least incredibly close to it.
Whether you’re part of the group enjoying each of the various sand traps encircling the green (like the guy I watched yesterday. I’m telling you, he definitely got his money’s worth because he played the green from every possible angle struggling to find the hole), or you’re like those who play the course rightly and make few, if any, mistakes along the way.
In either case though, much of golf can be attributed to several factors. Natural ability, quality of clubs, and how many hours you’ve spent on the practice range. For those who’ve invested the money necessary to get good, it often times shows up on the course. For those of us who play ‘at’ golf, rather than actually play golf, well, you can tell who we are.
So what does any of this have to do with spiritual things? Well, maybe nothing. But as I was watching these people yesterday I couldn’t help but think of some of the things that Paul penned about salvation two thousand years ago. ‘It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no man can boast.’
I suppose as boasting goes, some people are probably entitled to at little boasting. On the golf course that is. I mean, you know some people are just stinkin’ good and have worked noticeably hard to get there. Okay, any sort of boasting is a tad obnoxious, but at least it would be somewhat understandable on the golf course, right?
In real life though, as our spiritual life goes, there is absolutely, unequivocally NO room for boasting. Period. Truth is, none of us would be where we are were it not for God’s grace and mercy. None of us would be able to taste salvation were it not for God’s sovereignty and His desire to draw us to Himself. None of us would be anything apart from Christ. And to dig a little deeper, our righteous acts (apart from Christ) are like filthy rags in God’s sight. ‘Filthy rags’ was a term used to describe a woman’s cloth used during her menstrual cycle. Enough said about that. You get the point though. Scripture is often times overtly graphic because God wants to make sure we don’t miss the point. This would most certainly be one such place.
Anything we might put on our ‘righteous list’ of things we’ve done or gifts we have or natural talent we possess or…. count as nothing when it comes to merit or earning salvation. Take the Tiger Woods of spirituality and he doesn’t hold a candle to Christ’s righteousness. Not even close.
None of us do. We’re all paupers in great need of salvation. And once we get it, we’re still continually in great need of mercy and grace and forgiveness. None of us need it any less. We’re all desperate. The only difference is some of us know how desperate we are. Sadly though, some of us seem rather oblivious to our depravity and continual need for Christ. Truth be told, it’s too easy to point fingers at everyone else with our spiritual megaphones up telling all the ‘sinners’ around us how bad they are. And when we get caught up doing that, we’re too distracted and preoccupied to see the wickedness in our own lives.
Today, let’s purpose to live our lives positioned in humility and gratefulness for who He is and what He has done. And let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In any case, I was thinking of all the golf I’ve watched and played over the past twenty some years. I’ve played with some pretty amazing scratch golfers and even played with someone who accidentally hit the ball backwards once. No kidding. And this was NOT on purpose! I shouldn’t tell you it was my brother-in-law Brad, because that might embarrass him.
Yesterday I was sitting on the back porch reading and writing…and watching the golfers. And really, if you remove yourself from anything you might know about the game, and pretend like you’re from a country that’s never seen golf before, you’d have to admit it’s a pretty peculiar game. A bunch of people, often times dressed rather odd, taking a bunch of silly looking sticks and pushing a little white ball all over a nicely manicured patch of grass. Strange really. Almost comical. Well, unless I’m playing. Then it’s certainly comical.
So I was thinking of the futility of those who play golf who really don’t know what in the world they are doing. It’s funny to watch. Frustrating to no end, especially if you’re playing with them. But, funny to watch none the less. And then you have those who play with such consistency and rhythm, you’d think they were born with a putter in their hand. These people just have the look. They line up their shots like the best of ‘em. Their practice swings are magical. And when they hit the ball - wow! They’re always hitting the ‘sweet spot’ and their balls always blast off in the right direction and land in the desired location. Or at least incredibly close to it.
Whether you’re part of the group enjoying each of the various sand traps encircling the green (like the guy I watched yesterday. I’m telling you, he definitely got his money’s worth because he played the green from every possible angle struggling to find the hole), or you’re like those who play the course rightly and make few, if any, mistakes along the way.
In either case though, much of golf can be attributed to several factors. Natural ability, quality of clubs, and how many hours you’ve spent on the practice range. For those who’ve invested the money necessary to get good, it often times shows up on the course. For those of us who play ‘at’ golf, rather than actually play golf, well, you can tell who we are.
So what does any of this have to do with spiritual things? Well, maybe nothing. But as I was watching these people yesterday I couldn’t help but think of some of the things that Paul penned about salvation two thousand years ago. ‘It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no man can boast.’
I suppose as boasting goes, some people are probably entitled to at little boasting. On the golf course that is. I mean, you know some people are just stinkin’ good and have worked noticeably hard to get there. Okay, any sort of boasting is a tad obnoxious, but at least it would be somewhat understandable on the golf course, right?
In real life though, as our spiritual life goes, there is absolutely, unequivocally NO room for boasting. Period. Truth is, none of us would be where we are were it not for God’s grace and mercy. None of us would be able to taste salvation were it not for God’s sovereignty and His desire to draw us to Himself. None of us would be anything apart from Christ. And to dig a little deeper, our righteous acts (apart from Christ) are like filthy rags in God’s sight. ‘Filthy rags’ was a term used to describe a woman’s cloth used during her menstrual cycle. Enough said about that. You get the point though. Scripture is often times overtly graphic because God wants to make sure we don’t miss the point. This would most certainly be one such place.
Anything we might put on our ‘righteous list’ of things we’ve done or gifts we have or natural talent we possess or…. count as nothing when it comes to merit or earning salvation. Take the Tiger Woods of spirituality and he doesn’t hold a candle to Christ’s righteousness. Not even close.
None of us do. We’re all paupers in great need of salvation. And once we get it, we’re still continually in great need of mercy and grace and forgiveness. None of us need it any less. We’re all desperate. The only difference is some of us know how desperate we are. Sadly though, some of us seem rather oblivious to our depravity and continual need for Christ. Truth be told, it’s too easy to point fingers at everyone else with our spiritual megaphones up telling all the ‘sinners’ around us how bad they are. And when we get caught up doing that, we’re too distracted and preoccupied to see the wickedness in our own lives.
Today, let’s purpose to live our lives positioned in humility and gratefulness for who He is and what He has done. And let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Autographs and The Lamb’s Book of Life
Last night my wife and I took in a show. Is that how you say it? Well, that’s not really how we would say it. What we’d say is…”Last night we went to this really cool place and watched this really neat thing with lots of different people and stuff and, you know. Stuff like that. It was really cool. You should go see it.”
We’re in Branson, MO on vacation and seeing shows is what folks do around here. At least the tourists! My in-laws bought us tickets and offered to watch all seven of our kids so we could go on a date. Wow! What a gift of grace that we cherished and certainly enjoyed last night.
Anyway, while we were at the show (front and center by the way) we noticed at halftime (actually, in ‘show language’ they call it intermission) the main dude was stage center down on our level hammin it up with us regular people. He was taking pictures and signing autographs. Not sure an autograph would mean much. This man’s originally from Japan and his name is really hard to pronounce, let alone read a signature on. I’m smiling. His security people and show bouncers only let a few people get close to him and had obvious restrictions on how many pictures he’d take. After that, they started fending people off is mace and tazer’s. That alone was worth the price of the ticket! Not really, they didn’t use either of those. His body guards were ninja warriors so mace and tazer’s weren’t really even needed. They could take down two rows of older people with one swift ninja warrior swirl kick.
Focus here – back to the real story. I was thinking about the whole ‘autograph’ thing. Why is it that we clamor to rich people or famous people or notorious people? What drives that? Why would it matter if I had my picture taken with some famous person that doesn’t know me from Adam? What would a signature really mean to me anyway? Why does my heart race faster when I get close to someone the world has branded as famous?
Is it ‘fame by association’? Is it that someone like that noticed me, and they’re really important so if I get my picture with them then I’m really important too? Or is it that if one of these famous people see me, then I’m important by default? Seriously though, have you ever really thought about this? I’m guessing not. But you should! You definitely should!
I’m really not trying to be funny, I’m actually being serious. These are the stupid things that run through my mind in situations like this. Sadly, last night wasn’t the first. It happens EVERY time. It really does. At this point in time, perhaps you’re thinking of not reading my blog anymore, huh? Don’t let this deter you from visiting (and yes, reading!) my blog. Please. I have far more annoying idiosyncrasies that would drive you away from the blog. Don’t let this silly little thing be the wedge between us. (I’m smiling again and I hope you are too!)
I have a couple ‘famous’ friends. 2 guys I knew back in the day. Well, I still know them but we lived in the same town, went to the same church and occasionally played golf together. I actually taught one of their kids for a few years too. Both of these guys were pro baseball players a few years back and then went on to be announcers and commentators for a few of the big networks.
One day the three of us were playing golf together. If I told you how these guys were treated, you wouldn’t believe me. Honest. It was actually a bit uncomfortable. People tripping over themselves to get close and be noticed by the famous guys.
All this brings me to this….does it matter? I mean, does it really matter if a famous person signs a CD for me or if I have hanging on my wall a scrap piece of paper with someone’s signature on it? I’m thinking it really doesn’t matter…at all. But, what does matter is knowing the One whose name lasts forever. What does matter is not whether or not I have His signature in my autograph book, but whether or not He has my name written in His book of fame. Does my name appear in the Lambs Book of Life? Is my name included there - written not with a pen or pencil, but written in blood -the blood of a pure, spotless, perfect sacrifice. Blood that purchased our redemption and freedom and liberty and salvation. Is your name there? Can your name be found somewhere in the Eternal Book of Life?
I don’t think it should really matter to me whether or not I know famous people or that famous people know me. What does matter is whether or not I’m singing my praises to the God who brings redemption to the nations, whether I recognize Him as the only One in whose presence I should long for. The One to whom every king and prince and princess and president and senator and famous rock star and talk show host and prime time news anchor and author and movie star and drop out and drug addict and televangelist and pastor and doctor and homemaker and golf course superintendant and professional basketball player and principal and janitor and lifeguard and astronaut and CEO will one day bow before. That’s the One I want to get excited about. Being in the presence of the Famous One. The Uncreated One. The Unending One. The Worthy One. The Star Breathing, Universe Making God.
“Father, would You enthrall me in Your presence? Would You cause my heart to skip a few beats knowing that I have access to Your throne room of grace? This isn’t a back stage pass to a Kenny Chesney concert or an invitation to the White House to have lunch with the President. It’s a living, breathing, unheard of invitation to know and be known by You, the Creator of heaven and earth. An invitation to join those already encamped around Your throne to declare that You are altogether worthy, forever and ever. And to this invitation I say YES and AMEN!”
We’re in Branson, MO on vacation and seeing shows is what folks do around here. At least the tourists! My in-laws bought us tickets and offered to watch all seven of our kids so we could go on a date. Wow! What a gift of grace that we cherished and certainly enjoyed last night.
Anyway, while we were at the show (front and center by the way) we noticed at halftime (actually, in ‘show language’ they call it intermission) the main dude was stage center down on our level hammin it up with us regular people. He was taking pictures and signing autographs. Not sure an autograph would mean much. This man’s originally from Japan and his name is really hard to pronounce, let alone read a signature on. I’m smiling. His security people and show bouncers only let a few people get close to him and had obvious restrictions on how many pictures he’d take. After that, they started fending people off is mace and tazer’s. That alone was worth the price of the ticket! Not really, they didn’t use either of those. His body guards were ninja warriors so mace and tazer’s weren’t really even needed. They could take down two rows of older people with one swift ninja warrior swirl kick.
Focus here – back to the real story. I was thinking about the whole ‘autograph’ thing. Why is it that we clamor to rich people or famous people or notorious people? What drives that? Why would it matter if I had my picture taken with some famous person that doesn’t know me from Adam? What would a signature really mean to me anyway? Why does my heart race faster when I get close to someone the world has branded as famous?
Is it ‘fame by association’? Is it that someone like that noticed me, and they’re really important so if I get my picture with them then I’m really important too? Or is it that if one of these famous people see me, then I’m important by default? Seriously though, have you ever really thought about this? I’m guessing not. But you should! You definitely should!
I’m really not trying to be funny, I’m actually being serious. These are the stupid things that run through my mind in situations like this. Sadly, last night wasn’t the first. It happens EVERY time. It really does. At this point in time, perhaps you’re thinking of not reading my blog anymore, huh? Don’t let this deter you from visiting (and yes, reading!) my blog. Please. I have far more annoying idiosyncrasies that would drive you away from the blog. Don’t let this silly little thing be the wedge between us. (I’m smiling again and I hope you are too!)
I have a couple ‘famous’ friends. 2 guys I knew back in the day. Well, I still know them but we lived in the same town, went to the same church and occasionally played golf together. I actually taught one of their kids for a few years too. Both of these guys were pro baseball players a few years back and then went on to be announcers and commentators for a few of the big networks.
One day the three of us were playing golf together. If I told you how these guys were treated, you wouldn’t believe me. Honest. It was actually a bit uncomfortable. People tripping over themselves to get close and be noticed by the famous guys.
All this brings me to this….does it matter? I mean, does it really matter if a famous person signs a CD for me or if I have hanging on my wall a scrap piece of paper with someone’s signature on it? I’m thinking it really doesn’t matter…at all. But, what does matter is knowing the One whose name lasts forever. What does matter is not whether or not I have His signature in my autograph book, but whether or not He has my name written in His book of fame. Does my name appear in the Lambs Book of Life? Is my name included there - written not with a pen or pencil, but written in blood -the blood of a pure, spotless, perfect sacrifice. Blood that purchased our redemption and freedom and liberty and salvation. Is your name there? Can your name be found somewhere in the Eternal Book of Life?
I don’t think it should really matter to me whether or not I know famous people or that famous people know me. What does matter is whether or not I’m singing my praises to the God who brings redemption to the nations, whether I recognize Him as the only One in whose presence I should long for. The One to whom every king and prince and princess and president and senator and famous rock star and talk show host and prime time news anchor and author and movie star and drop out and drug addict and televangelist and pastor and doctor and homemaker and golf course superintendant and professional basketball player and principal and janitor and lifeguard and astronaut and CEO will one day bow before. That’s the One I want to get excited about. Being in the presence of the Famous One. The Uncreated One. The Unending One. The Worthy One. The Star Breathing, Universe Making God.
“Father, would You enthrall me in Your presence? Would You cause my heart to skip a few beats knowing that I have access to Your throne room of grace? This isn’t a back stage pass to a Kenny Chesney concert or an invitation to the White House to have lunch with the President. It’s a living, breathing, unheard of invitation to know and be known by You, the Creator of heaven and earth. An invitation to join those already encamped around Your throne to declare that You are altogether worthy, forever and ever. And to this invitation I say YES and AMEN!”
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Persecution With A Purpose
It’s been twenty years since God sovereignly pulled me out of the muck and mire of my world, drew me to Himself, and gave me a new heart. Some day I’d like to write a book about this journey. I would. Not just to write a book, but to stick a magnifying glass on the Sovereignty and Supremacy of God. Because truthfully, that’s all I can attribute anything in my life to. Not just the ‘nice’ stuff, but the junky stuff as well.
For twenty years I've sat under a variety of different pastors (Jack Graham and Keith Thomas were amazing!) and have of course, listened and learned from many others as well. I’m grateful for technology that enables me to listen to, read, and watch guys that I’d otherwise never have a chance to meet in person. My walk with the Lord and my effectiveness in ministry has been greatly enhanced because of this.
Lately though, I’ve become increasingly critical of those I suspect have warped theology and are propagating bad doctrine. Call me a cynic. Call me judgmental. Call me what you want. I’m just being honest. I’m certainly not setting myself up as judge and jury. At least that’s not the intent of my heart. I’m simply making assessments based on what I see, hear, and read. I believe we’re all called to do that. Otherwise we’d be blind followers. And certainly the Light of Christ has enabled us and equipped us with His Spirit to ensure we aren’t following misguided teachers or savage wolves.
Truth be told, I was recently accused of being a savage wolf myself. Yep, I’m not kidding. There’s a group of guys in Oklahoma who have taken their stand against me. Guys I don’t really even know. We’re more acquaintances than anything. I’ve met them and spent a cumulative total of a small handful of hours with them. In any event though, their appointed spokeman for the group called me the other day to let me know they’ve determined I am a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Maybe you’re nodding your head back and forth in disbelief. I find myself doing that as well from time to time as I think about this. It’s disheartening for me to believe that so called “Christians” can and do act like this. And to top it off, it's all in the name of Christ. I’m not surprised so many unregenerate people are turned off by the ‘hypocrites’ they find in churches across America.
Well, this certainly isn’t a suitable courtroom to hash out my arguments against these Oklahoma dudes, nor do I believe that would be profitable. After talking with each of them at length about our ‘differences’, I believe the most profitable thing I can do is disengage from any further dialogue with them and pray that God accomplishes His salvific purposes in each of their lives. As I’ve told each one of them, I love them and don’t harbor any hatred towards them. The bottom line is, I believe God wants to change their hearts and multiply their affect on the kingdom.
Throughout this ordeal over the past 8 months or so, I’ve come face to face with the realities of the content contained in First Peter. And as it is, our church is preaching through First Peter right now, so I’ve been trying to absorb myself in this book each day - asking God to wash my heart and my mind with the Truth of His Word. I pray it’s working.
Peter talks a lot about persecution. The kind of persecution that could cause you to lose your head. Literally. I don’t think he’s talking about the kind of persecution you might get if you were to wear your ‘Christian’ t-shirt to work or to school and hear a few people behind you snickering about it. Or the kind of persecution you might face if you were caught bringing your bible to church with you. Or perhaps even the type of persecution you might receive from your friends because you’ve decided you’re telling your kids up front that there is no Santa Clause. No, no, no, not that kind of persecution. I’m talking persecution for living a righteous, holy, upright, uncompromising life, committed to the Lordship of Jesus and the absolute authority of His Word. A life that unashamedly proclaims the hard truth of the Gospel, even in the face of certain ridicule and persecution.
The people Peter was writing to were just those kinds of people. They were facing certain hardships and persecution from the Romans and pagans around them. Following Jesus wasn’t popular. And often times it led to certain death. Peter’s expressed purpose in writing his epistle was that his readers would stand firm in the true grace of God (5.12) in the face of escalating persecution and suffering. Peter wanted his readers to live triumphantly in the midst of hostility without abandoning hope, becoming bitter, losing faith in Christ, or forgetting Christ’s second coming. He wanted his readers to know that when they are obedient to God’s Word despite the world’s antagonism, Christians’ lives will testify to the truth of the gospel (2.12, 3.1, 13-17).
I’m certainly not facing this type of persecution. I doubt you are either. Unless you’re reading this from someplace like a cold prison cell in China or a remote jungle in Peru. My guess is the persecution you face is much like the persecution I face. Hardly worthy of even calling persecution.
My prayer is that I would gladly welcome trails and hardships. That I would learn to welcome and embrace persecution. Real persecution. The kind of persecution and suffering that develops perseverance and ultimately proves the reality of my faith. I long to treasure the infinite value and worth of Jesus more than anything else, and I’m realizing this most likely isn’t going to happen just because I’m a pastor or because I read my Bible and have a few verses memorized. It's not going to happen just because a few dudes in Oklahoma have it out for me and aren't afraid to say as much.
This will only happen as I’m faced with the hard realities of choosing Jesus over my comforts. And as I’m forced to heed Christ’s call on my life as opposed to walking through the wide gate and taking the broad road that many others seem to be choosing. It will happen as I embrace persecution and begin to see it as a necessary means to a desired end. The end of course being, that I look like Jesus.
The more I learn the Word of God, the more convinced I am that God chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we might fearlessly declare the glories of the Exalted One. I am humbled beyond adequate words.
For twenty years I've sat under a variety of different pastors (Jack Graham and Keith Thomas were amazing!) and have of course, listened and learned from many others as well. I’m grateful for technology that enables me to listen to, read, and watch guys that I’d otherwise never have a chance to meet in person. My walk with the Lord and my effectiveness in ministry has been greatly enhanced because of this.
Lately though, I’ve become increasingly critical of those I suspect have warped theology and are propagating bad doctrine. Call me a cynic. Call me judgmental. Call me what you want. I’m just being honest. I’m certainly not setting myself up as judge and jury. At least that’s not the intent of my heart. I’m simply making assessments based on what I see, hear, and read. I believe we’re all called to do that. Otherwise we’d be blind followers. And certainly the Light of Christ has enabled us and equipped us with His Spirit to ensure we aren’t following misguided teachers or savage wolves.
Truth be told, I was recently accused of being a savage wolf myself. Yep, I’m not kidding. There’s a group of guys in Oklahoma who have taken their stand against me. Guys I don’t really even know. We’re more acquaintances than anything. I’ve met them and spent a cumulative total of a small handful of hours with them. In any event though, their appointed spokeman for the group called me the other day to let me know they’ve determined I am a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Maybe you’re nodding your head back and forth in disbelief. I find myself doing that as well from time to time as I think about this. It’s disheartening for me to believe that so called “Christians” can and do act like this. And to top it off, it's all in the name of Christ. I’m not surprised so many unregenerate people are turned off by the ‘hypocrites’ they find in churches across America.
Well, this certainly isn’t a suitable courtroom to hash out my arguments against these Oklahoma dudes, nor do I believe that would be profitable. After talking with each of them at length about our ‘differences’, I believe the most profitable thing I can do is disengage from any further dialogue with them and pray that God accomplishes His salvific purposes in each of their lives. As I’ve told each one of them, I love them and don’t harbor any hatred towards them. The bottom line is, I believe God wants to change their hearts and multiply their affect on the kingdom.
Throughout this ordeal over the past 8 months or so, I’ve come face to face with the realities of the content contained in First Peter. And as it is, our church is preaching through First Peter right now, so I’ve been trying to absorb myself in this book each day - asking God to wash my heart and my mind with the Truth of His Word. I pray it’s working.
Peter talks a lot about persecution. The kind of persecution that could cause you to lose your head. Literally. I don’t think he’s talking about the kind of persecution you might get if you were to wear your ‘Christian’ t-shirt to work or to school and hear a few people behind you snickering about it. Or the kind of persecution you might face if you were caught bringing your bible to church with you. Or perhaps even the type of persecution you might receive from your friends because you’ve decided you’re telling your kids up front that there is no Santa Clause. No, no, no, not that kind of persecution. I’m talking persecution for living a righteous, holy, upright, uncompromising life, committed to the Lordship of Jesus and the absolute authority of His Word. A life that unashamedly proclaims the hard truth of the Gospel, even in the face of certain ridicule and persecution.
The people Peter was writing to were just those kinds of people. They were facing certain hardships and persecution from the Romans and pagans around them. Following Jesus wasn’t popular. And often times it led to certain death. Peter’s expressed purpose in writing his epistle was that his readers would stand firm in the true grace of God (5.12) in the face of escalating persecution and suffering. Peter wanted his readers to live triumphantly in the midst of hostility without abandoning hope, becoming bitter, losing faith in Christ, or forgetting Christ’s second coming. He wanted his readers to know that when they are obedient to God’s Word despite the world’s antagonism, Christians’ lives will testify to the truth of the gospel (2.12, 3.1, 13-17).
I’m certainly not facing this type of persecution. I doubt you are either. Unless you’re reading this from someplace like a cold prison cell in China or a remote jungle in Peru. My guess is the persecution you face is much like the persecution I face. Hardly worthy of even calling persecution.
My prayer is that I would gladly welcome trails and hardships. That I would learn to welcome and embrace persecution. Real persecution. The kind of persecution and suffering that develops perseverance and ultimately proves the reality of my faith. I long to treasure the infinite value and worth of Jesus more than anything else, and I’m realizing this most likely isn’t going to happen just because I’m a pastor or because I read my Bible and have a few verses memorized. It's not going to happen just because a few dudes in Oklahoma have it out for me and aren't afraid to say as much.
This will only happen as I’m faced with the hard realities of choosing Jesus over my comforts. And as I’m forced to heed Christ’s call on my life as opposed to walking through the wide gate and taking the broad road that many others seem to be choosing. It will happen as I embrace persecution and begin to see it as a necessary means to a desired end. The end of course being, that I look like Jesus.
The more I learn the Word of God, the more convinced I am that God chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we might fearlessly declare the glories of the Exalted One. I am humbled beyond adequate words.
New Eyes To See
We’re on a much needed vacation this week. And one of my favorite things to do on vacation is…of course…lay out by the pool and soak up as much sun as humanly possibly without landing in the E.R. with first degree burns or sun poisoning.
Seriously though, I do enjoy the sun. I’m praying I learn to enjoy the Son even more. It’s certainly not happening over night, but there is a marked progression in my love of our Redeemer. And I’m excited about that, mindful that it is Him who works in us, both to will and to act according to His good pleasure.
As I was laying out this afternoon in the hot, blinding sun, I noticed there was not a single cloud in the sky. It was a perfectly blue sky with one single white jet streak making its way across the atmospheric landscape. The sky seemed mostly empty. Empty except for the blazing hot sun that continues giving light and heat to this little place we call home. You know the sun is one million times bigger than planet earth? And not only that, but it’s 10,000 degrees on the surface of the sun. I burnt my fingers this morning on a pan in our 400 degree oven. A bit like comparing an ant pile in our back yard to Mt. Everest. No real comparison.
While I was enjoying the rays of the sun turning by body a darker shade of whatever color I was before, I couldn’t help but open my eyes, albeit only for a split nano second. I should also tell you I was listening to my new favorite song, Revelation Song, sung by Kari Jobe. And upon opening my eyes I was struck with this daunting vision (not a real one, just an image in my head) of what it might be like in heaven one day soon when we gather around the throne of God. The uncreated One, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Imagineer behind this thing we call our universe. The Architect who breathed the sun into existence.
I’m imagining the worthy One, upon my entrance into heaven, will equip me with brand new eyes that will be fully equipped to gaze upon the Bright and Morning Star. Eyes fit for an eternity of fixing my eyes on Jesus, my fully realized Redeemer and Sin Bearer. I can hardly imagine what that will be like. But, I’m excited about it anyway. Humbled, honored, awe struck, sometimes speechless. It seems too much to take in, really.
My much anticipated new heavenly eyes made me think of something else though. What about now? What about my eyes here and now while I’m still fumbling my way around planet earth? Wouldn’t it make sense that God would want to give me a new set of eyes here? Not so I can glare at the sun without burning out my retina’s. A new set of eyes so I can see people the way He see’s people. I new set of lenses so I can see needs the way He sees those same needs. Fresh new eyes so I’m able to look at the pain, difficulty and circumstances of life, both mine and those around me, and see His redemptive purposes in all of them.
I’m convinced God is looking, roaming back and forth throughout the earth, for men and women, boys and girls, who would yearn and long to have a heart like His. A bi-product of having a heart that beats like God’s heart beats would be eyes that see people the way He seems them and eyes that see circumstances and heartache the way He does. These same eyes would be able to more clearly see His redemptive and salvific purposes in what we see on the evening news.
Let’s begin anticipating the new eyes God will give us as He ushers us into heaven. And let’s start praying now for new eyes to see what He is seeing, so we have a proper, eternal perspective on this short life we’ve been entrusted with.
Seriously though, I do enjoy the sun. I’m praying I learn to enjoy the Son even more. It’s certainly not happening over night, but there is a marked progression in my love of our Redeemer. And I’m excited about that, mindful that it is Him who works in us, both to will and to act according to His good pleasure.
As I was laying out this afternoon in the hot, blinding sun, I noticed there was not a single cloud in the sky. It was a perfectly blue sky with one single white jet streak making its way across the atmospheric landscape. The sky seemed mostly empty. Empty except for the blazing hot sun that continues giving light and heat to this little place we call home. You know the sun is one million times bigger than planet earth? And not only that, but it’s 10,000 degrees on the surface of the sun. I burnt my fingers this morning on a pan in our 400 degree oven. A bit like comparing an ant pile in our back yard to Mt. Everest. No real comparison.
While I was enjoying the rays of the sun turning by body a darker shade of whatever color I was before, I couldn’t help but open my eyes, albeit only for a split nano second. I should also tell you I was listening to my new favorite song, Revelation Song, sung by Kari Jobe. And upon opening my eyes I was struck with this daunting vision (not a real one, just an image in my head) of what it might be like in heaven one day soon when we gather around the throne of God. The uncreated One, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Imagineer behind this thing we call our universe. The Architect who breathed the sun into existence.
I’m imagining the worthy One, upon my entrance into heaven, will equip me with brand new eyes that will be fully equipped to gaze upon the Bright and Morning Star. Eyes fit for an eternity of fixing my eyes on Jesus, my fully realized Redeemer and Sin Bearer. I can hardly imagine what that will be like. But, I’m excited about it anyway. Humbled, honored, awe struck, sometimes speechless. It seems too much to take in, really.
My much anticipated new heavenly eyes made me think of something else though. What about now? What about my eyes here and now while I’m still fumbling my way around planet earth? Wouldn’t it make sense that God would want to give me a new set of eyes here? Not so I can glare at the sun without burning out my retina’s. A new set of eyes so I can see people the way He see’s people. I new set of lenses so I can see needs the way He sees those same needs. Fresh new eyes so I’m able to look at the pain, difficulty and circumstances of life, both mine and those around me, and see His redemptive purposes in all of them.
I’m convinced God is looking, roaming back and forth throughout the earth, for men and women, boys and girls, who would yearn and long to have a heart like His. A bi-product of having a heart that beats like God’s heart beats would be eyes that see people the way He seems them and eyes that see circumstances and heartache the way He does. These same eyes would be able to more clearly see His redemptive and salvific purposes in what we see on the evening news.
Let’s begin anticipating the new eyes God will give us as He ushers us into heaven. And let’s start praying now for new eyes to see what He is seeing, so we have a proper, eternal perspective on this short life we’ve been entrusted with.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Spectacular Sins...
Are you a ‘reader’? What I mean is, do you like to read? Are you currently reading anything worth passing on? I am and I want to share it with you. It’s a book by John Piper called Spectacular Sins. The title is misleading. Unless of course you know what the book’s about. And then it makes perfect sense!
Without giving the entire book away, the premise of the book is simply this – God’s plan from before time even began included Satan’s fall from perfection and Adams choice of rebellion in the garden.
For many years I’ve heard people talk about God’s prefect plan and God’s sovereign plan. As if God had in mind accomplishing Plan A, but somehow failed in that endeavor and is now working out His back-up Plan B. It’s as if we’ve messed up His initial, perfect, sovereign plan and He had to go back to the board room with Jesus and the Holy Spirit and come up with a creative alternative plan since His original plan slipped through the cracks and went berserk .
I, on the other hand, do not believe we are living out Plan B. I believe what we are living out right now is God’s perfect, all glorious, sovereign Plan A that He developed before there was time. Which just happens to include the fall of Satan from his perfect place among the other angels and Adam’s deliberate choice to eat the fruit he was forbidden to eat. I haven’t read any books about this (until now), but have firmly believed it for a number of years.
The fact is, the more I read the Word and the more the Spirit of God changes my mind and my heart, and the more I wrestle with real life questions about sin and suffering, and God’s omnipotence and omniscience, the more I am utterly convinced that God’s master plan of redemption was willed by a perfect, holy, loving God long before there was a need for salvation.
I digress. Back to the book at hand - Spectacular Sins. As the title denotes, it is simply a book about the spectacular sins, namely of Satan and Adam that have put the glory and majesty of Christ on prominent display for all the world to see. They are indeed spectacular not because they are somehow better than other sins or because they deserve special recognition as sins that are somehow elevated above other sins. They are spectacular because by their very definition they have directly worked to fulfill God’s eternal plan of rescuing sinners and illuminating the glory of the Uncreated One and making much of his grace, mercy, splendor, majesty, forgiveness, and complete ‘otherness’.
I can’t give a high enough recommendation of the book. As a matter of fact, you can click the link below and it will take you directly to CDB’s website where you can order the book yourself. It’s a spectacular book with a spectacular title making much to do about a spectacular God who stands alone as worthy of everything. www.cbd.org
The ballast each one of us need for our boats is the solid and rich doctrine of God’s sovereignty. From there we can build lives on a sock solid foundation with beliefs and convictions that will lead us to live lives worthy of our calling.
It’s not all deep theology. The goal of the book is that people would take this theology and incorporate it into their everyday lives. The practical application for me here is this – God is perfect. He doesn’t have nor does He need a back-up plan. He will be faithful to accomplish His sovereign purposes in my life and in the world. I might not like the ramifications of this and I might even have a difficult time swallowing the hard truths of Scripture, but that doesn’t make any of it any less true. This holds true from simple things like my birth order and the job I have, to more profound events and circumstances like the holocaust, Saddam Hussein, the tragic events of 9/11, birth defects, abortions, etc. etc. I desperately long to see God as He is. Not as I’d like Him to be. And this book has me sitting in the Optometrists office getting the right lenses so my eyesight is clear.
I’m learning to walk in a keen awareness of God’s sovereignty and longing for God to plant His Word deep inside my heart so that I will be able to live a life of faith, honoring and pleasing to my Father. Won’t you join me in endeavoring to divide the Word of God properly so we can live it rightly?
May the Lord Jesus Himself empower us to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2.9
Without giving the entire book away, the premise of the book is simply this – God’s plan from before time even began included Satan’s fall from perfection and Adams choice of rebellion in the garden.
For many years I’ve heard people talk about God’s prefect plan and God’s sovereign plan. As if God had in mind accomplishing Plan A, but somehow failed in that endeavor and is now working out His back-up Plan B. It’s as if we’ve messed up His initial, perfect, sovereign plan and He had to go back to the board room with Jesus and the Holy Spirit and come up with a creative alternative plan since His original plan slipped through the cracks and went berserk .
I, on the other hand, do not believe we are living out Plan B. I believe what we are living out right now is God’s perfect, all glorious, sovereign Plan A that He developed before there was time. Which just happens to include the fall of Satan from his perfect place among the other angels and Adam’s deliberate choice to eat the fruit he was forbidden to eat. I haven’t read any books about this (until now), but have firmly believed it for a number of years.
The fact is, the more I read the Word and the more the Spirit of God changes my mind and my heart, and the more I wrestle with real life questions about sin and suffering, and God’s omnipotence and omniscience, the more I am utterly convinced that God’s master plan of redemption was willed by a perfect, holy, loving God long before there was a need for salvation.
I digress. Back to the book at hand - Spectacular Sins. As the title denotes, it is simply a book about the spectacular sins, namely of Satan and Adam that have put the glory and majesty of Christ on prominent display for all the world to see. They are indeed spectacular not because they are somehow better than other sins or because they deserve special recognition as sins that are somehow elevated above other sins. They are spectacular because by their very definition they have directly worked to fulfill God’s eternal plan of rescuing sinners and illuminating the glory of the Uncreated One and making much of his grace, mercy, splendor, majesty, forgiveness, and complete ‘otherness’.
I can’t give a high enough recommendation of the book. As a matter of fact, you can click the link below and it will take you directly to CDB’s website where you can order the book yourself. It’s a spectacular book with a spectacular title making much to do about a spectacular God who stands alone as worthy of everything. www.cbd.org
The ballast each one of us need for our boats is the solid and rich doctrine of God’s sovereignty. From there we can build lives on a sock solid foundation with beliefs and convictions that will lead us to live lives worthy of our calling.
It’s not all deep theology. The goal of the book is that people would take this theology and incorporate it into their everyday lives. The practical application for me here is this – God is perfect. He doesn’t have nor does He need a back-up plan. He will be faithful to accomplish His sovereign purposes in my life and in the world. I might not like the ramifications of this and I might even have a difficult time swallowing the hard truths of Scripture, but that doesn’t make any of it any less true. This holds true from simple things like my birth order and the job I have, to more profound events and circumstances like the holocaust, Saddam Hussein, the tragic events of 9/11, birth defects, abortions, etc. etc. I desperately long to see God as He is. Not as I’d like Him to be. And this book has me sitting in the Optometrists office getting the right lenses so my eyesight is clear.
I’m learning to walk in a keen awareness of God’s sovereignty and longing for God to plant His Word deep inside my heart so that I will be able to live a life of faith, honoring and pleasing to my Father. Won’t you join me in endeavoring to divide the Word of God properly so we can live it rightly?
May the Lord Jesus Himself empower us to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2.9
Monday, May 4, 2009
Where is God When It Hurts?
The past 24 hours have been quite the whirlwind. I got word that a close friend was taken to the hospital and wasn't doing well. I flew into Minneapolis, MN last night to be with him at the hospital and to be close to his two daughters. Unfortunately though, I didn't make it in time. My plane landed about the same time he passed away.
When I arrived at their home, there was such deep pain and despair. Cries and weeping could have been heard halfway down the block. This friend who died wasn't just a friend. He was John Luyken. John is Maria's husband. Maria Luyken has fast become one of my dearest and most treasured friends. Maria is in Liberia, Africa and was not here when John passed. As she heard the news late last night her heart broke. She wept and wept.
My heart breaks for this dear family. And while all of this in happening, I can't help but wonder...where is God when it hurts so badly? Where is God when people are sitting in the pit of despair? Where is God when hearts are so badly broken they feel like they will never be healed.
I'll tell you where He is. He's weeping with them. He's hurting with them. His heart is breaking as their hearts break. That's where He is. He couldn't be any closer to the hurt and pain that each one of them are experiencing.
As the Creator of life, He grieves when His people grieve. Because He is our Wonderful Counselor, He hurts when His children hurt. Because He is our Great High Priest, He knows full well what this family is going through and feeling.
Where is God when YOU hurt you might be asking? Well, He's there with you. He grieves with you. When your heart breaks, His heart breaks. This is the God who has redeemed us and purchased us and adopted us and made us into His sons and daughters. He is near. Nearer than most of us can imagine.
If you're reading this blog, will you take a minute to pray for my friend Maria and her two beautiful daughters Nikita and Katarina? Each of them will walk through a very difficult season of grieving and pain over the next few weeks and months.
I'm honored to be there with them right now. And I'm fully aware that God works in and through our pain and suffering to bring about His redemptive purposes. Will you pray that many people will come to know Jesus as their Lord as this family walks through this painful time? Pray specifically that Maria will know and walk in the deep truths of the Word of God and that God will guard her heart from anything the Enemy would want to do to distract and discourage her? Will you pray that Kita and Katarina will know with certainty that they belong to a God who is faithful and good and that He is a Father to the fatherless. He is close to the brokenhearted. Pray that they will experience this.
Thanks for your interest in the ministry of 29.11. Let's purpose to make much of the One who stepped out of heaven so we could know the Father and be reconciled to a Holy God.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name!
When I arrived at their home, there was such deep pain and despair. Cries and weeping could have been heard halfway down the block. This friend who died wasn't just a friend. He was John Luyken. John is Maria's husband. Maria Luyken has fast become one of my dearest and most treasured friends. Maria is in Liberia, Africa and was not here when John passed. As she heard the news late last night her heart broke. She wept and wept.
My heart breaks for this dear family. And while all of this in happening, I can't help but wonder...where is God when it hurts so badly? Where is God when people are sitting in the pit of despair? Where is God when hearts are so badly broken they feel like they will never be healed.
I'll tell you where He is. He's weeping with them. He's hurting with them. His heart is breaking as their hearts break. That's where He is. He couldn't be any closer to the hurt and pain that each one of them are experiencing.
As the Creator of life, He grieves when His people grieve. Because He is our Wonderful Counselor, He hurts when His children hurt. Because He is our Great High Priest, He knows full well what this family is going through and feeling.
Where is God when YOU hurt you might be asking? Well, He's there with you. He grieves with you. When your heart breaks, His heart breaks. This is the God who has redeemed us and purchased us and adopted us and made us into His sons and daughters. He is near. Nearer than most of us can imagine.
If you're reading this blog, will you take a minute to pray for my friend Maria and her two beautiful daughters Nikita and Katarina? Each of them will walk through a very difficult season of grieving and pain over the next few weeks and months.
I'm honored to be there with them right now. And I'm fully aware that God works in and through our pain and suffering to bring about His redemptive purposes. Will you pray that many people will come to know Jesus as their Lord as this family walks through this painful time? Pray specifically that Maria will know and walk in the deep truths of the Word of God and that God will guard her heart from anything the Enemy would want to do to distract and discourage her? Will you pray that Kita and Katarina will know with certainty that they belong to a God who is faithful and good and that He is a Father to the fatherless. He is close to the brokenhearted. Pray that they will experience this.
Thanks for your interest in the ministry of 29.11. Let's purpose to make much of the One who stepped out of heaven so we could know the Father and be reconciled to a Holy God.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name!
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