Good Works that Actually Work for the Good

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14; ESV).

It was interesting in reading through Titus and Philemon together today. Philemon is the abolitionists' Bible book. Titus teaches us to be devoted to good works and Philemon teaches us that there is a disconnect between Christianity and slavery ... all the while Paul teaches in other places that Christian slaves and Christian masters have Christian duties to each other.

Why did Paul not call for the abolition of slavery ... outright? This question is easy for us to ask, living in the "free" world in the 21st Century. Yet Paul wrote from 1st Century Roman society that was already quite suspicious of this new sect. Paul, himself was executed by Nero. Perhaps he knew such a proclamation was tantamount to the execution of the whole new Christian movement all together. And perhaps ... just perhaps ... Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit preached, taught, and wrote Scriptural principles he knew would one day undermine the whole enterprise ... without undermining Christianity itself.

In this patriotic season, we might be tempted to castigate the Founders and Framers of our beloved Republic for their failure to implement Abolition to Slavery. However, in the vein above, we must take great pause to avoid the same short-sighted mistakes that are often committed in comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chairs. Thomas Jefferson actually levelled the introduction of the slave trade as one of the offenses committed by King George III in the Declaration of Independence. However, the colonies of Georgia and South Carolina refused to participate if it was included. Many of the Founders and Framers, including George Washington, eventually acquired a severe distaste for Slavery, but it did not happen overnight. But it did happen as they came to realize that Slavery was inconsistent with the Republican principles in the Declaration. Needless to say that did not have the luxury of the comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chair. They were charged with holding together the fledgling colonial (and then state) alliances to fight Great Britain and then build a new country.

They believed that Abolition's day was coming, but in their prudence did not believe it was their own day. Two generations later the country would deal with the question of slavery ... but be able to do so with greater internal cohesion and strength.

While it might feel good to proclaim with bravado that such and such ought to be done, let's remember that being devoted to good works ... means being devoted to their "good" implementation ... which means good for the long haul. Jesus calls us to wisdom (Matthew 10:16) and promises us the Holy Spirit's teaching and comforting and providing fellowship (John 14).

One of the many challenges of Christianity is living in the world ... as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We have been given no option in that regard, but we have been given a God who is promised to come along side us ... the Paraclete, aka the Holy Spirit. Not only are we to live in the world as faithful disciples, we are to be devoted to good works.

That precisely is the challenge of a faithful Christianity ... to be a "thinking" Christianity, using wisdom to produce the good works that actually work for the Good.

A Missing Link

When reading the Gospels, one of the objections to the authenticity of Jesus and his messages and deeds is their supposedly being pulled out of thin air. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls we can see that much of what Jesus taught actually fits in quite well with the Jewish culture of his day. Much of what he said can be shone to be in line with the development of Jewish rabbinical thought and not simply importations from later Christian enthusiasts.

One such piece is a tablet, apparently recently discovered, which contains a resurrection story. Gabriel tells a dude named Simon that he would be resurrected in three days. The tablet has been dated to the 1st Century BC.

Here is a link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4295804.ece.

Notice that the title of the article interprets the finding as "casting doubt" on Jesus's Resurrection. While some might be disturbed to hear of this tablet or other pre-Jesus Jesus-like-teachings ... because in their eyes they might take away from the uniqueness of Jesus ... this tablet actually becomes a part of a larger stream of confirmation of the authenticity of Jesus. It confirms that Jewish thought prior to Jesus did think about resurrection ... and that resurrection was not simply a Greek-Christian importation into Jewish thought.

Be encouraged: John 11:25.

Self-Consumptive Patriotism and American Global Leadership

Perhaps questioning calling attention to a common type of patriotism ... which I dub "Self-Consumptive" ... can be a cause for concern. Typically, there are two voices in this topic, which scream the loudest, drowning out all other voices. Voice one is from the fringe-left ... and at times from the moderate-left ... denouncing all forms of patriotism. Voice two is from the fringe right which only allows gushing sentiment over our country and way of life.

While it is certainly understandable that these two voices exist (they are reactionary to the perceived dangers of each other), it is unfortunate. Patriotism certainly does not need to be deported, as C.S. Lewis once quipped that we deride patriotism and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. On the other hand we blindly give absolute allegiance to anyone to our peril.

The point I have been attempting to make over the past couple of posts is that the version of patriotism ... that I find as appetizing as vomit ... is an unthinking, blind, and often reactionary patriotism of self-consumption. This type of patriotism is love because someone or something gives me something ... or makes me feel a certain way.

While any love will exact a certain amount of good feelings in anyone from time to time, unfortunately in our day, love is almost solely defined by what someone does for me or how someone makes me feel.

What happens, then, when those feelings run dry ... or out all together?

True love from my standpoint, while certainly containing good and positive feeling caused by someone or something else, is more properly defined by what I do and and give to someone or something else.

In short love is primarily a verb ... not primarily a feeling.

The Rand Corporation has produced very welcome findings that we Americans are still heavy-weight competitors on the global scene in Science and Technology.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG674/
Scroll down the page to download the Online PDF of their document.

What will be the results of raising generations of Americans to be primarily self-consumptive? Only time will tell. My prediction is that self-consumption can in no way aid our efforts in producing global leadership in various important areas ... such as science and technology.

And certainly self-consumption will not grow dynamic churches, whose Lord calls us to die to self. Self-sacrifice for God and neighbor is ironically the older, supposedly outdated form of patriotism that calls one to self-sacrifice for God and country, as taught by the Boy Scouts.

A Red, White, and Blue Cross?

Patriotism can be a glue, holding a people together. Patriotism can be a virtue, propelling people to self-sacrifice for their neighbors and posterity. Patriotism for believers can be a way to worship God for his marvelous provisions for their peace and safety. Patriotism, for believers, may also simply be their prosperity, thrown into Aaron's fire ... out of which pops a calf, wearing red, white, and blue.

Sunday, I believe, such a calf popped. To be fair such a calf may have unwittingly popped, but popped it did on a bulletin, which appeared in a number of churches celebration of July 4th by Cathedral Press (http://www.cathedralpress.com/every_08.html). What, pray tell, is the central message of this picture?

Before I tell you the two messages that I take away from this picture, allow me to draw your attention to certain aspects. The word that immediately draws your attention is "FREEDOM." Below that is this family, complete with a dog, posing in front of the American flag. Fireworks are blazing in the background.

Let's stop here. What seems to be the message so far? To me it seems to be a typical message about the preciousness of our American freedom and its gloriousness.

Question: How many of our families, today, look like that? I would say not enough. Yet, even those of us who come from broken families carry with us ideas of "freedom." Freedom in pop culture means the ability to do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. Like it or not, this is the interpretation of the word freedom that immigrates into this picture. And I'm taught from day 1 of living in this country that freedom (however it's defined) is mine by right.

Now allow me to direct your attention to the obscure words under the picture, "...IS OURS IN CHRIST." I mentioned above that there are two messages I take away from this picture ... as a whole.

1. I, personally, can have the American dream (however that's defined) ... if I become a Christian.
2. In order to preserve my American dream, I need to get everybody to go to church on a regular basis.

Now there is actually a third message that explodes on the scene, once these two messages are understood:

• My American dream is the most important facet of Christianity and achieving my American dream is what God cares most about.

These messages are inherently selfish and borderline ... if not blatant ... idolatry. This is the American culture and way of life dictating to me what Christianity is all about. How might this picture look to believers, living in oppressive regimes overseas? Might it communicate to them that reward of choosing Christ as Lord is the American Dream? Might it then suggest that they are not as good a quality of Christians as those of us living in the States, because they are suffering under repressive regimes? Might it suggest that we Americans think we are somehow better Christians than those living under repressive regimes ... because we have the favor of God on us they do not?

Whatever the messages those people living in repressive regimes might take away from this picture, a statement by a Kenyan pastor to the largely American student body of Asbury Theological Seminary a couple of years ago is quite telling. He told them he believed it was harder to be a Christian in America, than in Kenya or any other number of African states. His point was that prosperity can dull one's sense of duty and need for self-sacrifice for others and need for real, living, breathing faith in everyday life ... which is the lifeblood of Biblical Christianity.

When the lines between patriotism and Biblical Worship of Jesus, our Lord, are blurred, our American culture often times dictates the terms of our Christianity. Given the secular-progressive value system of contemporary American culture, such a blurred distinction renders both flag and cross tarnished.

Is all of this what was intended by the bulletin picture creator? Let's hope not. Let's hope the creator meant that true freedom (which is freedom from sin and freedom for Christian ministry in the world) is found only in Christ ... but that message is stolen by the mingling of the flag, the fireworks, and the word "FREEDOM."

Consider portions of verses from our national hymn, "America, the Beautiful," published in 1895 and revised a couple of times since. Each of the four verses extols the natural beauty of our great country. She arrests our attention in each verse, "America! America!" to certain character traits she believes are necessary for our country:

• From Verse 1: God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
• From Verse 2: God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.
• From Verse 3: May God thy gold refine till all success be nobleness and every gain divine!

When was the last time self-control was extolled as an American virtue? At one time it was ... or at least a genuine prayer of the American people who were largely Christian. But that time is long passed. We must take great care to ensure the freedom of Bible-Jesus-Christianity from our American secular-progressive culture ... lest we find the sun setting on the American Church.

My Shadows Are Chasing Me

I've been back from "vacation" for nearly a week now (Thursday will be a week). I must say that I can certainly tell that I'm no longer "on vacation." But more on that in a bit.

What my vacation consisted of was seeing family, visiting who I consider to be my home church, a pastor's retreat/conference, and spending time with my immediate family at the beach. You ever hear of the phrase, "I need a vacation from my vacation?"

All in all my vacation was "good" ... at times unpleasant ... but nonetheless good. Deciding to head off stress by discontinuing to keep score on the golf course is certainly less than pleasant ... but in the long run being able to spend the time with my brother is invaluable ... it was good.

I found out that I still have much to learn. For example my 4-year old nephew was about to sport some brand new Diego swim shorts and proceeded to inform me that Diego was not real. I asked him how he knew Diego was not real. A couple of minutes passed in our jostling debate, and he grew impatient with his obviously ignorant uncle. He ends the conversation with golden nugget of wisdom, "UNCLE WILLIAM ... Diego is NOT real. He's made in China just like everything else ... except for gnats."

I've never been put into my place quite like that before!

Yes, my life here in South Carolina is not my life in Georgia. I miss Georgia ... and I especially felt my longing for "home" when I had the opportunity to attend what I consider to be my home church. No, my life here is not my life there.

In fact, I really don't have a life there anymore. Oh, there are facets of my life here that are still in Georgia. But my life is not there ... nor is my life here. Rather my life is in Christ ... who has the authority to lead me to even the ends of the earth.

Don't get me wrong. There is a philosophy that many of precious older believers live out. Christianity to them is getting saved ... holding out here as best I can ... and waiting to make it to heaven. This is not what I mean.

I have precious treasure in my friends and family, precious memories in the various places I've visited and lived. These will always be a part of me ... a part of who I am. But all of these will always flow from my life in Christ Jesus ... who is my very life.

These special people and places are shadows of Jesus's great Salvation in my life. If I attempt to pursue them first, they become idols and Jesus becomes a mere shadow (and a bad one at that) of the Jesus in Scripture ... and I find that instead of Jesus casting his shadow over me, the devil does ... and his shadows are quite rough and scary.

Yet, if I chase Jesus, by taking up my cross and following him, I find that my shadows are chasing me.

• But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33; ESV)
• If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:24 & 25; ESV)

Whiny Kids Are a Beautiful Vacation

Yesterday, I began my vacation ... and I did it at McDonalds with whiny kids! Well, despite the failure of the "Happy Meal" to live up to its name ... "I'm lovin' it."

Family has been circum-navigating my heart every since I left for my trip. While I know that most of you out there are perfect ... you humor me by reading my blog to gather some faint idea of what imperfection feels like. Often times my past relational boo-boos and blunders are thrust into my heart.

"How could I have even thought such a thing ... much less have said it!?" "Man, what a idiot!" You remember the feel of finger nails scratching across the chalkboard? Yeah ... then you understand my gut wrenching during these lovely trips down Memory Lane.

Then ... and thankfully "then" comes ... then I remember that I actually have children ... which several years ago I never believed would grace my life ... my less a wonderful darling of a wife.

At one time I entertained the fantasy of meeting who was to become my beautiful bride in high school or even college. Not any more! I would have ruined my chances from the first hello.

But look at us now ... not perfect ... but continuing to build a very beautiful friendship. What a mightifully wonderful God I serve! You see Salvation is not simply a one moment of conversion. It certainly includes that, but Salvation is so much more. Salvation following that one moment of conversion includes taking that idiot I was and molding and shaping me into the husband and father I am today ... not that I've "arrived" or obtained mathematical perfection in husbandry or fatherhood. But I'm not where I was ... and I'm also not where I'm going to be next month or even next year!

Salvation is not clean ... its down right kids-gettin'-the-ketchup-in-the-hair messy. The Holy Spirit is so marvelous. So ... yeah ... I'll take a vacation with less than sit-up-and-shut-up-style kids any day. After all the presence of my kids is the tangible evidence that I'm on vacation from the power of the sin that so easily beset me ... and I don't plan on returning from that vacation! Yes ... I can easily return to my former self and former mistakes ... but the good news of the Gospel is that I don't have to! A major part of the Gospel is the opportunity of being transformed from depravity into the righteousness of God. In a Ronald-McDonald-hair fashion ... that is wild!

"Yes, We Can," Does Not Necessarily Mean "Yes, We Will"

In watching Senator Barack Obama give what could have been his general election victory speech, I was struck by just how appealing he was ... and all of this after coming out from under the "prophetic" mantle of Rev. Wright to invoke the blessing of God on America, dodging lightening from the potential thunderstorm of the Weather Underground association, marching the rural God-Country-Guns crowd from Pennsylvania to the verbal firing squad, etc. In a word, the electricity emanating from Obama felt real. For a moment ... a brief moment ... but a moment nonetheless ... Obama felt like the messiah for our times.

Problem.

What does Obama mean when he is proud of American values that are supposedly neither Liberal nor Conservative ... but are in fact laced with pinkish red socialism? Is it the government's responsibility to secure health care for all people ... despite whether they want to work or not? Is it the government's responsibility to ensure that all children can financially afford to go to college ... when some of those "all" refuse to do the work in middle and high school that is necessary to help them succeed once they are there? Is it the government's responsibility to pick the winners and losers in the game of life-economics?

In Obama's vision for America, equal opportunity for all seems to mean equal results demanded from all.

Problem.

Obama says that he does not expect the government to solve all of our problems ... yet, the Fathers' intent was that government would solve very few problems of the citizenry. Government was intended to only make the playing field safe and civil so that the citizenry could solve their own problems by their own hard work and moral integrity.

Solution.

This is where the Fathers' envisioned the place of religion in our society ... as an instructor for personal and social morality ... and ... to provide welfare for the poor and the needy. Big Brother is not and cannot successfully be the instructor of morals nor the largess provider for the populous.

Caution.

This has been tried has been tried before. Remember "The Great Society." Yeah ... it has helped to spawn the systematic dismantling of the family. Yeah ... it has helped to spawn the vast entitlement mentality embraced by so many in my own generation and in the one to come.

Question.

How does Obama value hard work and self-reliance while valuing pinkish-red socialism that has spawned weakened families and pandemic entitlement mentalities?

Vote.

Yes, vote for whoever you want. But please understand that government makes a very poor god.

Praying Works in Unusual Way

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and I had the priviledge of meeting with area church leaders (both clergy and non-clergy) to partake of this unifying event. As I watched the various people play their roles, I noticed my 2-year old climbing in and out of her seat. I noticed her tapping me on the arm and whisper, "Look," with her gorgeous smile.

I also noticed that we were all worshipping in an inter-racial service, and my baby girl was oblivious as to how big of a deal that really is. The piece delegated to me was to pray over the local, state, and federal governing officials, which is one of the areas most dear to my heart.

I recall two specific points I made to the crowd before praying, while holding my daughter:

• We live in a land which is governed by a system that is "by the people, for the people, and of the people." That is us who were in that room tonight. As much as we may or may not like our elected officials, we cannot forget that we are the primary ones responsible for bettering our country ... not simply those dearly beloved bozos in office.
• Since the brunt of the burdern falls on our shoulders and as good Christians we will fulfill our responsibilities ... and not simply put them off onto others ... to move forward we must lock arms together ... regardless of what we look, taste, feel, or smell like ... if we are to move forward indeed.

I am proudly conservative socially and politically. I proudly love our country and believe that she is my Christian responsibility ... at least part of my Christian responsibility. We must move past grouping ourselves according to what we look like. We must group ourselves according to theology and philosophy. These are lessons I hope that my daughter will be able to take for granted if she so chooses to ... not that she should ... but that contemporary American Christianity will be so different from years ago that she could.

Don't Call Me "Preacher."

Who is the one who prays at the family gatherings over meals? Who is the one who prays at family night suppers at church? Who else ... but ... "the Preacher." Recently I was at a birthday party for a rather classy chap. Half-way joking he said to me, "You're the professional, you pray."

Typically I find several attitudes towards "The Preacher" in the Southern Traditional Church.

• One is that the preacher is a Lucky Rabbit's Foot, a spiritual talisman. If you're sick, if you're having a bad day, make sure the preacher is around. His presence alone can ward off the evil spirits and bring good fortune. Too bad this doesn't work for the non church world ... I could make a killing at the state fair!
• Another similar but somewhat different attitude is that the preacher is a magic silver bullet. If we're stumped, if we're sick, if we're feeling bad, then go and get the preacher ... for heaven's sake. He is THE SOLUTION. After all preacher prayers work better than common, vulgar prayers. If your congregation is dying ... no problem ... just bring in a young whipper-snapper and he can pull a dynamic congregation out of his hat.
• The preacher is an Old Testament prophet/seer type. You can run to him and God will tell you through him the answers to all your problems. Leave a tip in the offering plate and he will forcast your future for you. (I certainly could make a killing off that one at the state fair.)
• The preacher is God. What he says is law. What he thinks is not simply opinion. It is mathematical law. It is his way or the highway ... to hell. Turn or burn baby! It's his job to call the adult-sized, adult-aged teen-agers to order ... because they can't do this themselves.
• The preacher is an island god. We dress him up, bring him out at fancy dinners, call him fancy names like "Reverend" and "Minister". We take up generous collections for him at Christmas ... while only giving the elderly shut-ins fruit baskets. While we smile and nod to him now, we're really fattening him up simply to eat him later.
• The preacher is the scape goat for all problems flowing from the above thinking.

While most people certainly mean well, there's simply no ignoring the elephant in the sanctuary. The preacher is the paid professional Christian on staff. It is his job to do church stuff, while it is my job simply to live right and stay out of jail. The preacher does the church stuff, and I as the "lay" person simply consume the product of his hands. After all I'm not as smart as the preacher ... until it comes to particular social issues that I simply think he is crazy wrong about.

Please, don't call me preacher. Everything I do (or should do) flows from my heart of worship as an "ordinary" Christian ... and not simply because I'm paid to eat fried chicken and sip iced tea with the old ladies for a living.

Coming of Age Can Come at Any Age

Just a few days ago my wife and I saw the recently released film, "Nim's Island." Trust me ... do yourself a favor and see this at least once ... if not twice.

A research scientist, Jack, lives with his 11-ish year old daughter, Nim, on a volcanic island in the middle of the South Pacific ... away from the public ... completely away ... well almost. They receive shipments occasionally and communicate with the scientific community and National Geographic via satalight. Early in the movie Jack launches out into a two day expedition, leaving Nim alone ... with her animal friends ... and adventure novel featuring legendary hero, Alex Rover. Think Jason Bourne with Indiana Jones's personality and swave. Well, maybe not Jason Bourne ... as the kicker with Alex Rover is his famous escapes from impossible predicaments. On the other side of the world Alex Rover ... the real Alex Rover ... Alexandra Rover is attempting to complete yet another novel in her long-running series.

While Jack is out at sea doing research a surprise monsoon hits, keeping him stranded with no communication back to Nim. Nim is left to fend for herself and her animals ... and her island. With Alex Rover as her archetype (the picture in her mind she's striving make reality for her life) she faces brave challenges with swash-buckling courage.

Meanwhile a monsoon hits of another variety. Alexandra Rover is past her deadline for turning in yet another novel ... and she is marooned on the island of writer's block. If she could only get out for a while, perhaps she could scavenge up some fresh ideas. However, Alexandra ... the mind behind Alex Rover ... suffers from some variety of agoraphobia and possibly obsessive-compulsive disorder. In other words due to the workings of her brain, mind, and heart, she is physically paralyzed by fear to leave her apartment. She fears germs. She fears any food but Progresso Soup. Some kind of "progress" huh?

At any rate Alexandra and Nim make contact. Alexandra, believing Nim to be in trouble gets brave and decides to go to her. Meanwhile, Nim, believing her island is under attack by modern-day pirates, decides to live the Alex Rover life and fend her island off from the "invaders" (who are really tourists from Australia on a Pirate-themed cruise. So while Nim is leading the swash-buckling life created by Alexandra ... Alexandra herself takes on swash-buckling courage just to turn the door knob of her front door.

One of the high points of the movie for me ... and there are many ... was seeing Nim and Alexandra (who does eventually make it, by the way) meet. Alexandra just about reaches the island, when her stolen row boat acquires a huge gash from some rocks. Nim, thinking Alexandra to be her still-missing father, swims out to save her from drowning. Once on the beach Alexandra informs Nim that she is the real Alex Rover.

Nim ... looking paternalistically and quite disappointingly at the frail and pathetic Alexandra ... is simply in disbelief. "No, Alex saves people. He doesn't need saving."

Yet over time Nim opens up her mind and heart to this wafe, who opened up her mind and heart to the wide world to come to her so that Nim would not be alone. Both females came of age, despite their age ... and backgrounds.

What a lesson for us in the church ... in particular those of us in dying, gray-haired, traditional churches. Jesus wants very badly for us to take him at his word and live a dangerous Christianity. There is still time, despite our ages and backgrounds, to come of age.

There are many other parallels and metaphors that could be discussed, which makes this movie so much richer in content, meaning, value, and values than what is normally put out by Hollywood. I'll be meditating on this movie for some time to come. Please, do yourself a favor and see this movie at least once ... if not twice ... if not thrice.

Patrick, a 5th-Century Inspiration of Hope for Our 21st Century

Bill O'Reilly interviewed Dr. Shannon Fox of Mom*Logic last night on "The O'Reilly Factor." Mom*Logic is dedicated to helping on-the-go moms to be more in-the-know when it comes to being a mom in today's racy culture. Last night's topic was a mini-expose on the brash drugged out and banally, sexed-up week that is Spring Break.

A couple of points of interest:

• The kids in Dr. Fox's video were quite brazen and brash about their "pastimes," despite their knowing the video would be shown on national TV.
• One girl displayed a brash "like-uh-what...ever" attitude when it came to one of her Vaction-mates being raped. Laughing, she estimated their might have been as many as 30 guys in the room at that time.

What has struck me in working with mostly older and elderly adults in my churches, is the near-absolute fear these precious people have of this particular banal youth culture. Okay, I have to admit that I'm fairly overwhelmed myself. Yet, there is a growing excitement in me that is salivating at the possible future opportunities and challenges of working in that culture. My emotions will likely be clashing for quite some time.

One obscure man from an era long bygone continues to fuel my fire in reaching out to utterly pagan and banal people, especially youth. When we commonly think of St. Patrick, we typically want to run to our closets for that green sweater to avoid being pinched. Many of the particular youth being discussed would likely think of funneling green beer by the newly-dyed green river front.

However, Patrick is one of those who will likely sit next to Jesus a bit longer than most of us will in heaven. He is a giant of orthodox Christianity. If he were living today, it is likely he would be considered an Evangelical, charismatic Roman Catholic. At any rate, he grew up in 5th Century Roman-occupied Britannia. His father was presbyter in their church ... and ... he was a spoiled brat, avoiding all the priests teachings. At the ripe old age of 16 he was captured by Irish raiders along with many others and taken into slavery. During his enslavement he embraced the Jesus his spoiled-bratness has rejected. Passionately did he embrace Jesus. He was able to escape 6 years after being kidnapped. Yet instead of living out the rest of his days in Christian-comfort, he went into the priesthood and obeyed the call to return to Ireland on Holy Spirit, Gospel Mission. Ireland's rich Celtic Christian legacy ... passionate Christian outreach to mainland Europe owes her soul to Jesus ... and to Patrick ... a former spoiled brat who flippantly rejected the Jesus he eventually gave up his homeland for.

Here are Patrick's own words from his Confessio:

• Now it is too tedious to give an account of my labours, in whole or in part. Let me relate briefly how the most holy God has often freed [me] from slavery and from twelve perils whereby my soul was endangered, besides numerous treacheries and "things which I am unable to express in words." Nor shall shall (sic) I bore my readers, but I have God as my authority, who knows all things even before they come to pass, that me, a poor little pupil, an ordinary person, [his] "divine answer" would frequently warn. "Whence did this wisdom [come] to me," which was not in me, who knew neither "the number of my days," nor did I have any discernment about God. When [was given] to me afterwards the gift so great, so salutary, to know or to love God wholeheartedly, but at the loss of country and kindred? (trans. Maire B. de Paor, p. 245 & 247; underlining mine)

If the Holy Spirit can capture the heart of a flippant, spoiled brat teen from yester-year, certainly he can do so this year. I'm afraid that ... as in Patrick's day ... such a movement of the Holy Spirit might just require so many of our creature-comforts to be stolen by the leprechauns and hidden away at the end of the rainbow. However, I certainly don't wish destruction on anyone.

Here is the video of Bill's interview with Dr. Fox:

Grace that's Truly Amazing Is Grace that Transforms and Fuels a Passion for God and His World

Perhaps the most popular "churchy" song is "Amazing Grace." What amazes me is that while we often sing it quite passionately ... we don't believe it. Consider the first line ... and the author who wrote the song:

• Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. --John Newton, former slave trader

John Newton, who wrote the song was a former slave trader, a vile man, having no love for God nor his fellow man. By his own words, he was a wretch. Yet, amazingly, he responded to the Holy Spirit's wooing him. Not only did he embrace Jesus as his Savior, he embraced a call to pastoral ministry. He considered himself "Evangelical," when that label was wretched among the supposed classy church folk of the day.

What is amazing about the grace that saved Newton is that it not only saved him from an eternal hell ... it also saved him from the wretched lifestyle he was currently living ... it also saved him for Gospel ministry in the here-and-now of his day.

We see this pattern in Paul's epistle to the Romans. In chapters 9-11 Paul discusses his anguish over many of his fellow countrymen (the Jewish people) rejecting God's messiah to them, Jesus. He discusses how God had elected them by his grace as his people, but they at the current time have rejected his messiah they sent to him. By grace God is now bringing those who we're his people, the gentiles, into his remnant/elect status. The vulgar grace we know today is that which we trumpet, quite arrogantly, that we are now going to heaven and can simply hang out in our holy ghettos, isolated from the world, until we make heaven.

However, a particular point needs to be emphasized. Paul, speaking of the Jewish people rejecting Jesus and the Gentiles accepting Jesus, carefully warns:

• They (those Jewish people rejecting Jesus) were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did no spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you (those gentiles accepting Jesus), provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (Romans 11:20-23, ESV)

God grace saves, but it is our perseverance that propels us to "stand fast through faith" and to "continue in his kindness." God's grace is an unmerited gift of extravagant proportions ... but we must unwrap his gift.

Lastly, following Paul's discussion in Romans 9-11 on God's saving grace, he writes in:

• I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (12:1, ESV)

Having been saved by his grace we are to "present (our) bodies as a living sacrifice ... which is (our) ... worship." Grace was never intended to save us from the world ... just so we can hide out in our churchy-ghettos and watch the world go to hell in a hand basket. Rather Grace that saves us was intended to fit us for Holy Spirit ministry in the church to fellow believers (vs. 3-8), live holy out in the world (vs. 9-21), as well as serve the world (13:1-14).

Any type of grace that doesn't transform and fuel one's passion for God and his world is far from amazing ... it is amusing and rather pathetic.

The Luster of Christmas

Christmas has since I can remember been a time of fanciful imaginging and wonderlands of daydreams. However, in recent years, this favorite time of the year for me has been losing its luster. Even my all-time favorite movie, "A Christmas Story," was a bit anti-climatic this past week. Have I shot Christmas-eye out?

However, this Christmas will go down on record as the most memorable for me ... due to a short visit back in Georgia (where most sweetly-good things are!) with my brother's family and a couple of friends. In visiting with my brother's family, he and I got the unique opportunity to teach his 5-year old daughter how to ride a bike ... with no training wheels. He had already begun to work with her. Upon arriving at his place, I joined in the fun, and together we helped her move from terrible fright (especially on concrete) to riding by herself (on concrete) with emotional zest ... all in one day!!!!!!!

From whipping him in several riviting games of checkers to great conversations with several other family folks to putting stickers on Burger King toys for both my neice and nephew to staying up late and watching "Pirates of the Carribean 3" and eating fudge with my sister-in-law to connecting over lunch with three really great friends who really love the Lord with deep passion; this visit really scratched my Christmas itch. As an emotional stocking-stuffer, I got to return home to my wife, who has become my best friend and talk to a another good friend on the phone, who I had to leave behind in Kentucky.

Yes, giving is a major part of Christmas; and while buying stuff to give to people can potentially cause you to think about someone other than yourself ... many people are actually drowning self-consumption. The gift-giving tends to be more about them than the person for whom they're buying.

What made this visit so rewarding, I believe, (even though I happily and proudly bought things for people) was the opportunity and ability to personally invest in the lives of others and tend to relationships with people very important to me. That is something which makes even the brightest Higbee's Christmas window display pale in comparison.

The Higbee's picture is from the site: http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=022301.

The Basic Christmas Spirit

As you may or may not know, I'm a pastor. As you may or may not know further still, I don't have an unlimited spiritual reservoir. I get tired. I am tired ... spiritually speaking.

I need the Lord. I guess that's how I know that I know the Holy Spirit is holding fast in my heart, filled with multiple distractions. My first mentor once said to me that one of the greatest tools the devil has at his disposal can be being busy. And ... as believers who are hard at work ... at the Lord's work ... there is much temptation to go, go, go ... without resting in God's presence in personal worship.

After all, if I take care of myself, then I'm being selfish ... right? WRONG!!!!!! There is a reason why the airlines advise parents to secure their own oxygen masks before those of their children.

In my Christmas sermon series, I've made one critical comment concerning nativity scenes. (Mostly, the criticism is not directed so much at the nativity scene themselves as at our own perceptions and conceptions.) Nativity scenes can be way too polished, often leading the observer to forget the scandal and hardship and heart ache that was that first Christmas for many of the major players.

However, one thing that I've never seen a nativity scene mess up on is the power of a moment. All nativity scenes I've ever seen (live ones excluded) have each of the characters kneeling, bowing, standing ... but all are still and quiet ... at worship before the infant King. That I believe is the moment of glory for the nativity scene. Even as I write this my heart is longing ever more to be still and quiet in worship before my King.

That, my friends, is the basic Christmas spirit. Every thing else that's good about Christmas must flow from that attitude of worship.

Remodeling

Recently, I was given permission to repaint my office and was thrilled. Of course the prospect of making some much needed updates and changes was exciting. However, a major part of the excitement for me was incorporating others into the discussion and planning phase, rendering this project more of a "we-thing" than simply a "me-thing." I truly believe this can represent great ministry possibilities for the two churches with which I work. I have many talented and blessed-of-God-to-minister-to-others type folks in both of my churches ... and I want church ministry for us to be more of a we-thing than a me-thing.

Here are some pictures of the office before I moved in:



Here are some pictures that were taken after I moved in, but before I remodeled.

Here are some pictures taken of the remodeled room, and, yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. The above picture was Windows 95 in the Spring of 2007!









The "before pictures" were all taken during daylight. So you can see that it was a fairly dark room. The first four pictures of the remodeled room were taken at night. The remodeled room is now brighter at night than the old room was during the day time. You can see how shiny the book shelf is now. Before the bookshelf was only stained with one or at most two coats. The wood was super scratchy, because it had not been sanded. Thus, I sanded the book case and the boards, before painting the book case (and wood paneling!) with semi-gloss. For whatever reason the builders decided it would be a great idea to put ceiling pop-corn on the upper trim and the upper half of the wall. I scraped and sanded all of that off. The paint went on remarkably. As long as I have a choice in the matter, I will only use Sherwin-Williams paint. Sherwin-Williams, you rock the house (and my office!).

Needless to say, the room needed some serious updates (I can't believe wood paneling was ever in style!). But with a little attention it looks great now (at least in my humble opinion). Even the wood paneling, once painted, looks great. Instead of sucking all of the light out of the world like a black hole, the room reflects light beautifully. It no longer has the feel of a dungeon or storage closest.

The room beautifully reflects what the Holy Spirit can do with some willing materials for church ministry.

Chaos for Christmas

"All this took place to fulfill what the the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us). Matthew 1:22 & 23 (ESV)

One of the names of Jesus is Immanuel, which means God with us. It is indeed interesting that Matthew brings this information out in the midst of what had to have been a tumultous and scandulous relationship between Mary and Joseph. Mary was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph. However, Mary and Joseph were betrothed, which is engagement on steroids. They were legally pledged to be married. They were legally married without the ceremony and benefits.

Mary is pregnant. The baby is not Joseph's. But Mary got pregnant from someone. Can we say "Soap Opera?" Adultery was rewarded with stoning. Joseph trusted Mary enough to dismiss her behind the scenes. Enter the Lord (or the Angel of the Lord). He tells Joseph this is God's doing, to be patient, and wait. Joseph was to still marry Mary. The people talked ... no doubt the people talked. "Soap Opera?"

This is what Jesus was born into. Jesus was born in choas. That first Christmas was surely choas. Today, when things are sheer madness, I want the Prince of Peace that was born in sheer chaos to be born anew in my heart.

You Don't Have to Look Pretty, You Just Have to Make It

Last night I watched the second half of the LSU - Alabama game. It was an adrenaline rush. LSU pulled it out at the wire, with Chad Jones's sack of John Parker Wilson, the Bama QB. The ball was knocked free and LSU recovered the fumble on the 4 yard line, which resulted in a Jacob Hester TD for LSU. LSU is still in the hunt for the national championship.

Shortly before this one of the commentators remarked that all that mattered for winning the national championship for the BCS was winning games and getting there, not winning and looking pretty. "You don't have to look pretty; you just have to make it."

This morning a lot went wrong ... all before church. By the way I'm the pastor. Pastors are perfect and nothing is supposed to go wrong. If anything does, then they perfectly handle the situation. Yeah Right!!!!!!!!

I know some people think of their pastors in that horrible light, and some pastors draconily want their underlings to think of them that way. That's something I want no part of!!!!!!

God is transforming me. Jesus became sin, that I might become the righteousness of God. You know the transformation process might not be pretty, but it's beautiful. It doesn't have to look pretty, I just have to make it to the end.

Team logo is from the site: http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=7827

Engaging with God in Art

I have met a very important milestone y'all. I have now arranged my first church sign. Yes, the sign has been up for several weeks; I'm still pretty excited. The two sides of the sign are two sides of the same coin.

In order to help emphasize this idea, I have created a picture that I hope to display in both of my churches for some period of time. Though we will finish the sermon series, "Engaging with God--Reframing Worship," the theme of my ministry with these very wonderful people remains the same. By teaching, preaching, praying, living with them, and personal example, I hope to help as many as possible to experience the Christian lifestyle as one that is actively engaging with God--on His terms.

The picture is entitled, "Authentic Worship." It features a man, who is not only partially naked but is bereft of his face. Underneath is polished exterior lies an ugly brutish beast. A Thing! Notice that he is also holding a time piece. For how many of us, does the clock dictate who were are? He is offering his face and his time piece to God, as token of his real self. In so doing his real self is exposed, before the all-consuming fire that is God's very nature. Thus, the fiery cauldron represents God. The cauldron sits upon rocks. On several occasions people in the Old Testament built altars out of rocks to God. This was done as gestures of worship, but also as vehicles of worship. The rocky altars would be memorial stones to help them remember the great and vast things God had done for them.

Thus, the man is encountering a deep penetrating experience. Notice again that the cauldron is sitting on the altar. This represents God's offering of himself for the sin of the world in the person of Jesus. This offering, where Jesus literally gave his life on the cross, is what makes reconciliation with God even possible. Not only is the man legally justified before God, the way is now paved for him to become totally transformed. Remember that Jesus became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. This is represented by the different colors of the river in which the man is standing. The darker water, which represents his dark sin nature, is being washed away and replace by the lighter water. Concerning the river itself, Jesus claimed that whoever believed in him rivers of living water would flow out of him.

Notice the people descending down to the river. They are leaving the church to do so. As believers we are not to stay held up in our cozy little churches (known as Ft. God). Rather we are to leave in force and go into the sin of the world (out of imitation of Christ). The people are a church who is going to encapsulate the man who is redemptively experiencing God. The believers are robed in red, representing their being clothed in the blood of Christ. One of them holds a red robe for the man in the river. The picture is of night, where mythically crime happens. The church is leaving the church building to encounter the world with Christ during the time of sin. Notice that the trees are different colors. Some trees look as if to be in summer and some look as if to be in fall, with reddish-orange colors. The ground is reddish-orange. These images represent the need to be prepared during any season of the year (or at all times) for any work of ministry for the Lord.

Here are a few pictures featuring the completion process:

The "Becoming" Type of Christianity

Well, Richt's motivational celebration order worked last Saturday, as his dawgs entered The Swamp and had a gator feast. 42-30 is certainly more exciting to watch (if you're a Georgia fan) than the 31-14 Mississippi State upset of Kentucky (if you're a Kentucky fan) last Saturday. I'm both ... at least I'm becoming both.

1200 pages of reading per class in grad school (I took at least 3 classes, sometimes four per semester) was not exactly condusive to the college football junkie lifestyle. College was not much better ... that is if I wanted to make good grades. However, now I'm out of school with some time on my hands. I've decided to jump into the college football scene.

A man asked me today if I was Georgia fan or was I simply wearing the hat. You know, I had to think about that one. Two weeks ago, someone noticed my Georgia hat and asked me who they were playing that day. I didn't know. Some fan, huh? I think it's more accurate to say that I'm "becoming" a fan. I certainly do enjoy the games.

Though seeing every team I pull for while watching them on TV lose is getting pretty annoying. It's crazy! I watched Kentucky lose to Florida two Saturdays ago. Yet while traveling on the road and unable to watch any games, both Kentucky and Georgia had victories. Kentucky beat LSU of all people!!! I was out in the yard most of this past Saturday and also involved in a church social that evening--which meant I wasn't watching TV. Georgia rolls over Florida. However, that night I was watching the South Carolina--Tennessee game with a friend later that evening. South Carolina loses! I watched Georgia get steam-rolled by Tennessee and Kentucky get crunched by Florida on the same day. Watching Kentucky beat themselves in the South Carolina game was depressing. Hey a "becoming" fan could get a complex!

(I guess I should mention that I did see LSU beat Florida, Auburn beat Florida, and Georgia beat Alabama. But this tidbit of information would rain out my pity party!)

I'm having a great time "becoming" a college football fan. I'm also loving the process of "becoming" something else. Paul writes "For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (II Corinthians 5:21, ESV). Wow, that is App-State-beating-Michigan-at-Michigan huge! Such an approach to Christianity is holistic, involving every aspect of my life becoming the righteousness of God. Every aspect of my life including my work life, sex life, diaper-changing life, apologizing to my wife life, etc. is to be becoming the righteousness of God. This is also huge, considering that I should have wound up institutionalized, either in the penal system or the state hospital system. This also means I need other believers and other believers need me!

The Christianity I grew up with was simply signing on the divine dotted line, God sending in his angels for a celebration on the field (like Richt's dawgs), and simply waiting for the hear-after. Yet, such traditional Southern Christianity (southern U.S.) is boring!!!!!!!!! God intends so much more. The "becoming" type of Christianity involves becoming personally involved in the lives others (who may not look, think, smell, or act like me) and helping them to become the righteousness of God. Such a "becoming" type of Christianity is certainly messy, but it's so much more exciting!

Team logos are from the website: http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=7827.

Behind the Curtain

There are days when I "feel" less spiritual than others. Certainly, changing diapers or fighting with my wife does not exactly bring me into the ecstasies of God. Some days, for any number of reasons (caffeine, good sleep, good sex, great exercise, watching Elmo on TV?) can surely lift my spirits. During those times is my relationship with God more secure? Does God like me more and thus make me feel better? In short does feeling good necessarily indicate that God is pleased with me?

If by "feeling good" we mean to say feeling "pleasurable," then I can "feel good" while gluttonizing myself at the Ryan's buffet on Sunday (after fanning the flames of hell concerning drunkenness during my earlier sermon). I can feel rotten about having to live up to my promise to help my wife with diaper duty. My feelings can go in any number of directions and lure me in any number of ways. The sirens sing when I am least likely to wear ear plugs.

"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:19 & 20). The writer is speaking of a hope that is no mere wish, but a "sure and steadfast anchor of the soul." Confidence. Much like a weighty diaper, my feelings can stink. I need a soul confidence that is anchor-like. The writer says "we have this...." The "this" that we (Christians) have is the inheritance of the promises of God (Heb. 6:12). And "this" is partly my soul's anchor.

I say "partly" because we don't just inherit a paycheck from Grandpa God. The writer speaks of a "hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain." This is an allusion to the ancient Hebrew temple. The "inner place behind the curtain" was known as the Holy of Holies. Only once a year was anyone allowed to go "behind the curtain." And not just anyone, but only the High Priest--and only if he had purified himself adequately. He entered "behind the curtain" to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the whole Hebrew people to God to atone for their sins. Yet, we see Jesus has taken up perpetual residence "behind the curtain." Not only that, but he is "a forerunner on our behalf." Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did Jesus atone for our sins, but we also have constant access to the presence of God through Jesus, our high priest.

So, my Christianity is based on something more than my feelings, which like my 21 month old daughter, are at times all over the place and bouncing off walls. My Christianity, my faith is firmly anchored in Jesus, who has redeemed and reconciled me to God. May I constantly live "behind the curtain" with Jesus in the presence of God.