The Bishop's Beard

Is burning the Koran a hate crime?

2010-09-08T09:59:00.004-04:00

This was the question asked recently in national media outlets in response to a Gainsville, Florida pastor's plan to burn the Koran on 9/11.

Simple - we live in America and if you can burn the US flag in protest you can certainly burn a book. It is exactly the same! Some hold the US flag to be sacred - some hate what it is only a symbol of. Some hold the koran to be sacred - some hate what it is a symbol of. So NO it is not a crime in any sense of the word.

Burning a Koran may not be a crime, but it may be stupid. The backlash could be worse than even the media or military predicts. Certainly "peaceful" Muslims around the world will protest and people will most likely die. They will burn US flags and chant "Death to Satan America"! But, that is not what worries me most.

Certainly this book burning cannot be compared in scope to the Night of Broken Glass, but the incremental loss of freedom our does hearken back to 1930s Germany. Gainsville police plan to step up a road block and check the ID of everyone who attends the Koran burning. Is no one outraged that the city of Gainsville plans to "set up a road block" and "check the license" of people who go to the event? Who is going to keep the list and what are they planning to do with it? What is happening to our freedom?

You may laugh now, but do not be surprised if one day you have a visit from the "Religious" division of the FBI, or an entirely new federal agency established to "promote tolerance" and fight against the "defamation of religion".

PREDICTION -- The US Congress will debate a bill on the Defamation of Religion that will seek to make it a "hate crime" to "defame" anyone's religion, religious symbols, sacred sites or founders.

I wish the pastor would just cancel the burning, but the firestorm has already started. He did not start the fire, it has always been burning.

Lastly, speaking of politics since when did our political leaders become so well versed in religion? Since when do our political leaders have the right to tell us what to believe and how to practice our faith?

Hillary Clinton has apparently become well versed in Islam and stands in the place of prophet as she make proclamation after proclamation. She condemned Jones' plan at a dinner Tuesday in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths," she said. She has proclaimed that Islam is a religion of peace and that "terrorism has no religion".

Repeatedly we are told that we are "not in a religious war". This is a war against "terrorism". You know the thing that has "no religion". Am I stupid or something? As the Islamic terrorists blow themselves up they chant religious slogans, mobs chant "Death to Infidels", spontaneous parties broke out in the Islamic world to celebrate the Islamic victory on 9/11 and I could go on and on. But, it isn't religion?

The fact is that all leaders of all faiths have not condemned the Koran burning, and from the comments posted on many websites it seems that many (if not a majority of) Americans agree that Pastor Jones has every right to burn whatever book he wants to burn. Furthermore many Americans still believe that you can believe whatever you want to believe, and say whatever you want to say about religion. It is based on something we call the US Constitution.

What ever happened to the separation of Church and State?

www.righttobelieve.org

Method vs Proclamation

2010-08-18T21:29:00.004-04:00

I was reading a book today about a modern method of "reaching Muslims for Jesus." The method is based on using the Koran, Islamic tradition and custom, but somehow sneaking Jesus into the mix. The tactic is to Islamify the "gospel" and take away the offense. Change the name of Jesus or Yeshua to "Isa". Change God to Allah. Exchange the title "Jesus, Son of God" for "Isa, Spirit of God". The hopeful end result is "Isa Muslim" (someone who looks, speaks and acts like a Muslim; but has been "saved" by Isa). If you have read much of this blog I am sure you know how I feel about this so I will not belabor the point.

The interesting thing is the story for how this particular method was started. Years ago a young Muslim boy was evicted from his school and family for asking, "How do we know the Koran is true?" He was literally labeled as a "sinner". Some time later the boy was befriended by a foreign missionary who gave the young sinner a Bible. The boy read the Bible, repented and received faith in Jesus. He was baptized and began sharing the Bible with others. Eventually hundreds were saved by hearing the Gospel as revealed in Scripture. After some time one of the leaders in the movement was killed for his faith. Then a method was developed in an effort to "bridge the gap", and hopefully "remove the offense".

I found it ironic that the gift of a Bible was the catalyst for this move of God, however the method now is to use the Koran. The impetus for the young sinner to receive the gift was his expulsion from Islamic society. The young boy exited Islamic culture and found Jesus. The product of using the Bible was a true convert to Christ who was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Why try to develop a scheme for evangelism when God has given us His Word?

Words - are they important?

2010-08-17T01:16:00.002-04:00

I am totally understanding the need to be careful in our language
with prospects, and even the general public. I do not agree with lying
about our intentions to evangelize, or deception to gain access to "closed areas".
However, I can see the wisdom of prudent language when living or
ministering in a hostile land.

Recently I was asked to teach a seminar to converted Muslims. I was instructed to not call Jesus the "Son of God" or to mention "Trinity". Furthermore I was told to call God "Allah" and use "Al Masheia" rather than "Jesus".

When we are dealing with converted Muslims I think it would be irresponsible
not to teach the whole counsel of Scripture and introduce our new brothers
to good theology. I know that Muslims have a problem with calling Jesus
the Son of God because they know it means that He is literally God's Son
and therefore divine. But, that is the point.

Some years ago I had a bad experience with the IMB's "expert" on Muslim
evangelization. He said that Muslim, Jews and Christians all worship the
same god. I asked, "But, doesn't Jesus say, 'I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life... no man comes to the Father except by me.'"? The teacher
rebuked me and said that I was only interested in arguing semantics. I
responded that I was not speaking of semantics at all, but the very words
of God. He had said that Jews and Muslims worship the God I worship, but they do not
know Jesus. SO, in what way can they come to the Father? How can they
worship a God that can only be approached through Christ Jesus? It was an argument over words, primarily the Word of God.

Recently I had a conversation with a Jehovah's Witness. In the past they
would have never said, "Jesus is LORD." However, they have recently
started saying, "Jesus is lord." Notice the difference? "LORD" =
God, Jehovah, the Word incarnate. "lord" = master, landowner, knight. When I
say "LORD" I proclaim that Jesus is God. When a JW says "lord" he is
saying "mister." Very subtle, and very dangerous. So it isn't just words I am
concerned about it is their meaning.

Allah is an Arabic word for the god of Mohammed. After thinking about it I might could use the term "allah" to refer to God, but not Allah. I think I would be compelled to clarify each time I said allah "notice the small 'a'." Or maybe "allah - I mean the triune God of the Universe". It would be difficult, but I think I could find some way to accommodate on this point.

Many languages have a word for god and another for God. I have heard Muslims in America use "God" when speaking of Allah.

Really this whole issue for me is resolved in the Trinity. The Nicene and
Apostle's creeds predate Islam by several hundred years, and I would think
that a converted Muslim would readily agree with these historically
orthodox statements. In fact, for several hundred years you would not be
considered Christian, nor be baptized if you did not profess a Trinitarian
creed. Christ's divinity is almost impossible to discuss without a
discussion of the Trinity.

If former Muslims had sound teaching in this area I think it
would give them a foundation that would be unshakable. Someone recently implied that the Trinity is too advanced for new believers, but I
would argue that a child could understand - indeed we must have the faith
of a child to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe they would not be
able to explain, but I am confident that the Spirit (if indeed they have
the Spirit of Christ) would bear witness and they would shout "glory to
God" as the beauty of God's triune nature is proclaimed to them.

Often we make the mistake of not communicating deeper truth with new
converts. Somehow we think that a lack of formal education might mean
that they are too ignorant to grasp complex concepts. We think that
evangelism is too important to waste time on theology. However, we see
many examples in Scripture of men preparing for years (some for decades)
learning about God before serving Him.

Stephen Kennedy, Mission Coordinator for IOI, had a beautiful experience with a new evangelist. He came from the countryside and was very poorly educated. When he was joining IOI he had to sign a form that states that he agrees with the Apostle's
Creed. He did not know what it was, so Stephen read it to him. When he
heard what the creed contained he began to say, "Yes! Yes! Praise God!"
It was wonderful to see that the truth of this creed was readily accepted
by this dear brother. He was encouraged to find that this creed predated
his personal experience by over 1,700 years.

To contrast I heard a song tonight on Christian radio. The lyrics said
something like, "It isn't important that I understand some creed, or even
what I believe... I want to feel like I am falling in love." So, are we
saying that it does not really matter what we believe about God as long as
it feels right? Call Him Allah, or Baal, or Bob - Trinity, not trinity -
Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha - don't all roads lead to the same destination? -
words don't matter as long as it feels right, promotes peace and we keep
the numbers coming.

I cannot state emphatically enough how central the Trinity is to everything I might teach. I mean my name is PATRICK (as in Saint Patrick the Trinitarian theologian that won Ireland for Christ - and to this day symbols for the Trinity are plastered
everywhere in Ireland including on beer bottles) for goodness sakes!

Lying to tell the Truth - Evangelistic Deception

2010-08-09T12:42:00.002-04:00

For years I have protested the modern evangelical Christian practice of Evangelistic Deception (lying about our intentions in doing mission work). How can we share the Truth by lying?

Today it is painfully evident that we have only deceived ourselves - the Taliban knows exactly what the IAM (International Assistance Mission) workers were doing - promoting Christianity. It seems that the only people who are unaware that this is what the team was doing are the US Secretary of State, news outlets and the director of IAM.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton condemned the attack and disputed the Taliban's assertion that the medical team was promoting Christianity.

"We also condemn the Taliban's transparent attempt to justify the unjustifiable by making false accusations about their activities in Afghanistan," Clinton said.

On the IAM website a statement was posted that reads, "Our faith motivates and inspires us - but we do not proselytize. We abide by the laws of Afghanistan. We are signatures of the Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs Disaster Response Programmes, in other words, that, 'aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.' But more than that, our record speaks for itself." (Dirk R Frans)

What record is that? One of doing good in the name of Jesus the Christ and proclamation of the Gospel I would hope. For a true Christian your entire life is about the following of Christ which certainly does include "proselytizing."

It is a shame that this mass martydom is not being portrayed as exactly what it is. These people were killed because they were Christians ministering in the name of Jesus and hopeful that their witness might cause some to convert to Christ and proclaim Jesus as LORD. Instead the State department and even the ministry that sent the team is tying to convince the world that these people were "aid workers" and not "ministers."

It is time to stop fooling ourselves. If you go to another country in the name of Jesus you are a missionary! If you extend yourself on behalf of the poor for Jesus sake, and the Gospel - YOU ARE A MISSIONARY! You do not have to "preach," but I certainly am hopeful that many heard the Gospel through this team of missionaries. Certainly I do not propose that we wear little name plates that say "Missionary Bob," but we should never be ashamed of the fact that these people (at least one that I knew) were promoting Jesus!

Should I get a tattoo?

2010-06-28T15:53:00.009-04:00

I would like to begin by saying that I do not intend to offend, pass judgement or condemn anyone. My purpose is simply to look at the issue of Christians trying to decide on the issue of getting tattoos, and to help young believers think through the issues.

I have read a lot of opinion on the issue and the debates about Levitical law. Both sides seem to make many good arguments, but there is apparently no consensus on the Old Testament Biblical prohibition. Generally most people end up saying something like, "Christians are not 'under' the law..." and the response is generally, "well then is murder still wrong?" These type of arguments don't really get to the heart of the matter.

Indeed it is the heart where Christ's work is done and God's concern for the individual seems to be focused. The New Testament teaching on circumcision is clearly about God's concern for our heart. The Apostles agreed that Gentile believers be prohibited from eating blood and sexual immorality (both of which are Levitical laws, btw), and that Gentiles not be burdened with the extent of ceremonial law. The heart is God's concern, and a transformed heart will change behavior.

But, does the New Testament have anything to say about tattoos? The Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to command Gentile (and Jewish) believers that they should do everything within their power not to live "as the pagans do". Any behavior or meal that is associated with pagan behavior should be avoided. Christians should be know by the "Banner of Love". We should be "marked" with love. In other words, Pagans display their gods in carvings of stone, wood and skins -- Christians display our God through deeds of love and concern for our brothers. We should be known for our love.

This led me to investigate WHY many young Christians want tattoos. Obviously there are many reasons. One of the main reasons I hear is, "To witness Christ to others" or "so everyone will know I am a Christian". Kind of the Evangelical trump card - EVANGELISM.

One blogger said of his reasons for getting a tattoo, "To me it was the sense of taking control and doing what I want regardless of what anybody said or thought... Really what I think is it all boils down to is either you have the nerve to have ink carved into your body for life... That is why all of us with tattoos have a sense of brotherhood. Because each one of us knows the pain we went through for something we love (tattooing)."

So there we have it. "Taking control and doing what I want to do regardless of what anybody said or thought." As Christians we are to be intensely concerned with what others think, especially in regards to the perception of sinful behavior (real or imagined). Also, we are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not our fleshly desires.

While the Old Testament prohibition against tattoos might be up for debate I think it is clear that our society still views tattoos as "rebellious" and "to Hell with your opinion of me". A new term has evolved called "tattoo lifestyle" with magazines focusing on this evolving people group. (BTW, many Internet filters will block 'Tattoo Lifestyle' sights as "R rated"). I wonder how long it will be until people begin saying, concerning their desire to be tattooed, "I was born this way."

In conclusion I think the real issue concerns your heart. Why do you want a tattoo? Are you at all concerned about offending people for the sake of your freedom? Do you seriously want to do what pleases God, or what pleases you?

If you are truly concerned about lost souls or being identified with Christ then I would suggest a little soul searching. Is a tattoo glorifying to God? Will it offend others around you? Will it cause others to stumble?

The Apostle Paul put it this way, "So whatever you eat, drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved." (I Corinthians 10:31-33)

A Mission to Share

2009-09-25T23:33:00.001-04:00

photo by Aaron Hardin
story by Tracie Simer
The Jackson Sun Friday, September 25, 2009

More than 12 years ago, Patrick Beard and his wife, Lana, moved to Ethiopia to become missionaries. Their dreams were ended when they had to return to the United States because she had a complicated pregnancy.

"I came home sick and beaten," he said. "I just knew our missions career was over."

However, he soon had a vision to help native missionaries and pastors like the ones he met in Ethiopia. That vision became Indigenous Outreach International, which celebrated 10 years of ministry Thursday night at Union University.

The ministry now supports 38 missionaries in Ethiopia, two in Brazil and one in Germany. The organization also provides a child care service to meet the needs of 100 poverty-stricken children in Ethiopia, Beard said.

After six weeks, the ministry was supporting seven missionaries for about $250 a month, Beard said.

"Indigenous Outreach International was born in suffering, carried out in simplicity and grounded in ancient roots," he said. "It's simple, really - we saw brothers in need, and we had compassion. We're simply doing what the apostle Paul did when he helped out young missionaries and churches."

Steven Kennedy, missions coordinator for the ministry, said the celebration was a way for people to learn more about what the ministry does and hear about its progress.

"We wanted to make the Jackson area aware of what this ministry is doing," he said. "Scripture says that good news from distant lands brings joy to the heart. We want to encourage (people) that God is working around the world and using people in Jackson to help around the world."

Beard shared the stories of a few missionaries who receive support and who have started their own ministries. Future projects include opening a cafe in Ethiopia to help raise funds and creating training centers for missionaries there, Beard said.

"God has done some amazing things," he said. "I hope we can continue to help others in need."

Kennedy said that aside from financial support, Indigenous Outreach International also offers technical, educational and prayer support.

Visit www.jacksonsun.com and share your thoughts.

- Tracie Simer, 731-425-9629

THANK YOU TRACIE, AARON and the JACKSON SUN!!!

My weekend project...

2009-08-29T19:53:00.001-04:00

Slowly by Slowly should go to press this week!

2009-07-21T16:50:00.005-04:00

I'm excited! The book has finally gone to press and I should have a final copy within a month. Hopefully by August it will be available on Amazon and others.
So much work for 108 pages!

Thank God for seizures

2009-07-09T18:13:00.003-04:00

I can honestly say that God has made me thankful for most everything, even cerebral palsy. If Lauren had not been born with CP I would not be living in Jackson, TN and I most likely would not be doing what I do now with Indigenous Outreach (www.ioiusa.org). But, I haven't ever really been thankful for the seizures. They have stolen what few abilities she had.

A few years ago my oldest daughter and I were by Lauren's side as she had a series of seizures. "Please God make them stop at 50."

"Oh LORD, stop them at 60."

"70!"

"Please Jesus - 80? No more, please!"

"90???"

"One hundred. Please God stop them at 100."

She had 101 seizures and then fell deep asleep. My oldest daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and asked, "Daddy, why is God mad at us?"

"He isn't honey. And I know this does not make sense, but He is doing good to us."

"Well, it does not feel good."

It didn't feel good. It felt horrible. I felt like a fool that night, but what else could I do? So helpless. So incapable of conjuring religious zeal. Yet my faith compelled me to make statements that I cannot prove.

A few months ago I complained to my wife that I hated the seizures and the helpless feeling that we have as Lauren suffers through them. "God has made me thankful for everything, except seizures."

We got a card from one of Lauren's therapist. She and her husband have been attending our small church for a few months now. They were looking for a church home one providential day as Lauren had a series of seizures at therapy. "...I thank God for the seizures Lauren had that day, because it gave us the opportunity to talk about your church." This dear family has found a home with our quirky little congregation of believers.

God was so kind to us. He did not have to make me thankful for seizures, He could have allowed me to stay mad - to stay in unbelief. But God is so loving and kind that He gave us a glimpse of His goodness even in the seizures.

I still don't like them, but thank God for the seizures.

It didn't work...

2009-07-03T16:14:00.004-04:00

I'm so tired of having hopes dashed. The new medicine that had so much promise to control Lauren's seizures has done very little. In fact, although the number of seizures may be fewer, the types of seizures has increased. I hate seeing her suffer so much.
What we need is a true miracle.
Maybe Lauren's only hope is the Resurrection.
Thank God for Lauren's great attitude and beautiful smile!

A little hope for Lauren

2009-03-05T10:35:00.004-05:00

I took Lauren to see her neurologist yesterday and he has introduced a new medicine that he said "could help her to be seizure free"(she has been averaging 20+ seizures per day). It seems too good to be true, but we know that God can use medicine to answer our prayers. So , as you pray for Lauren please pray that the medicine will work, and that she will not suffer any bad side effects.

Against the doctrine of Drunkeness in the Spirit

2009-01-31T16:13:00.022-05:00

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20

It has been some time since I posted on this blog. But, today my heart is troubled and I simply must say something.

A friend recently gave me a web link thinking that I would enjoy the site because it featured self-proclaimed "modern mystics". When I think of mystics I generally am thinking about those throughout history who have had a deep love relationship with Christ, and that relationship is then manifest in the outworking of extreme love. In my opinion Mother Teresa would be an example. A modern mystic would be someone who, in their secret devotions, has a vision or dream that propels them to a deeper relationship with God that is worked out in tangible ministry to their fellow man.

Today I take a public stand against the "charisma" of "drunkenness". This foolishness is nothing new in the world of heresy, and it is demeaning to the holiness of God. Those who promote "Spirit Drunkenness" teach that being filled with the Holy Spirit means that you babble like an idiot, act like an animal and have ecstatic experiences like being "high". Scripture clearly teaches that we are not to be "drunk" with wine, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Someone who is truly "filled with the Holy Spirit" would then manifest the fruit of that Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

As I watched videos of "manifestations" on the "New Mystics" website I was literally sickened. I could not continue to watch as they used the Eucharist like it was pot, or crack. The sensuality of the videos was extreme - to explain to you in detail what they did with the elements would be a sin to even repeat. For those who would defend this behavior I ask you, can you see Jesus acting this way? Would Jesus act like an animal? Didn't Jesus actually cast demons out of people who acted like animals?

God is a god of order, not of chaos. Flee those who bring disorder and disunity over disputable matters! Run from those who preach the Gospel as a means of financial gain, or of self-promotion! Rebuke those who preach drunkenness in any form! Be sober minded for the days are evil!

Update on Lauren

2008-11-12T12:09:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Lauren!

I have not written much about her lately, but her recovery has been very slow and there has not been much to tell. However, in the past couple of weeks she has really seemed to be her old self, minus the hip displacement. She is eating well and I think maybe even gaining some weight. Her hips are still somewhat tender, or sensitive, but over all she is doing really well. She has returned to her therapy schedule (minus the horseback riding for now) and she is making marked improvement in many ways.

We remain hopeful that she will be able to walk, or at the very least have some level of mobility in the future.

Please continue to pray for Lauren and her complete healing. Praise God for so many answered prayers so far. Pray too for Lana as she continues to try to balance all of her responsibilities while she battles UC.

Yours in Christ,
Patrick

Walking the line

2008-09-09T11:14:00.003-04:00

It is so hard to walk a line that leads down the middle of the road. Walton Padelford says, "The only thing you find in the middle of the road is a dead skunk with yellow paint across its back."

IOI was recently refused an audience with a missions committee because we are "too inclusive" and therefore not "orthodox". The funny thing is that in this democratic church I was never allowed to speak to the committee, nor was I ever asked one question. The conclusion was based solely on the fact that we work with so many denominations in Ethiopia, and our support comes from so many different churches in the USA.

The fact is IOI is an orthodox Christian missionary organization. As far as our Statement of Faith we site the Apostle’s and Nicene Creed, and believe the Bible to be inspired of God without error in the original manuscripts. Furthermore the ministers supported through IOI should preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ clearly as explained in scriptures such as I Corinthians 15:1-6 and be expecting the physical bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is about as orthodox a statement as one could possibly make.

The real issue it seems is not theology rather it is methodology. We are not charismatic enough for the Charismatic, we are too inclusive for the Cessationists. It is not the issue of revelation that is a problem (IOI holds to the classical Protestant view that there is no "new" revelation about God - Sola Scriptura, while at the same time giving honor to tradition when it complies with Scripture), rather it is speaking in tongues that plagues us as the unity breaker.

To be honest, most of what I see that is called a "work of God" seems to be nothing more than flesh on parade. Yet, I cannot deny that God still does miracles and there are many gifts that God gives. Scripture is clear that we are not to forbid speaking in tongues, furthermore Scripture is clear in how tongues are (or not) to be used publicly. We teach Biblical exercise of all the gifts to the glory of God and the edification of the Church. If the Church is not edified then cease.

Rather than promotion of a denominational flavor IOI is committed to the teaching of sound doctrine and sound methodology according to Scripture. It may not be possible to walk this line, but our law is the Law of Love. We see our brothers and sisters in need and we are striving to have compassion them. We seek to aid them financially and practically, as well as theologically and methodologically.

May God grant us His grace as we seek to fulfill this labor of love in unity of the Holy Spirit.

Christian Beggars

2008-08-07T13:07:00.007-04:00

A lady selling vegetables on the streets of Addis Abeba.

I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor God's seed begging for bread.

My office is at the church and we often have beggars come by seeking cash or a hotel room. Most of the time they tell me that they are Christian, just had some "bad luck".

When I probe deeper I find that these "Christians" don't actually belong to a church, and don't actually know other Christians that they could give me as a reference. So, what makes someone think they are Christian if they have NO fellowship. I am not saying you have to be listed on the roles of some organization, but I do believe you should have some contact with another Christian if you are in the Body of Christ.

For those who have a somewhat credible profession I have found that the "beggar" leaves my office as one who already had the answer in his hand, he just needed someone to help him see it. That is the beauty of life together. We have all things pertaining to life and godliness, we just forget, or can't see it.

Rebellion against God and pride are the main causes of begging that I have witnessed in America. Now, don't think I am saying this means we have no obligation to help, but it does make a difference in what type help we give.

When a man asks for bread we simply give him bread in the name of Jesus. No obligations, no expectation. We simply obey Jesus. However, when we are approached by a professed Christian that is begging we certainly owe this confessed brother a bit more than a simple meal -- we are after all our brother's keeper. For a Christian to be reduced to begging is a shame on the Church. For a Christian to be reduced to begging it is a shame for him. For a Christian to beg it is a reproach on Christ, and an accusation against God for not providing what He promised His children in food and clothing.

In the Old Testament we find a believer by the name of Job. He lost everything, but not through rebellion or disobedience. He was reduced to ashes. Yet, the only begging Job did was to beg of God for an answer. Apparently the believers who surrounded Job, although they judged him wrongly and gave horrible advice, apparently care for him physically. We see clearly that Job's friends sat with him and tried to aid him as best they could.

So, here we have it. The most "down on his luck" man in history, yet he continues to believe and God continues to care for him through his weak believing friends.

While the world is full of poor Christians there should be NO Christian beggars.

As I have traveled through out Ethiopia I have met many desperately poor Christians, but I have yet to see them utterly forsaken or reduced to begging. The churches are full of people who are poor, but they care for each other in ways that shame us in America. I have witnessed poverty stricken Christians in Ethiopia share their dirt floor with even poorer Christians.

The next time someone begs of you on the basis of being a Christian brother I encourage you to question this brother. Don't simply tell him to be "warm and filled", but take a moment to find out why he does not attend worship or have fellowship with anyone who can share in his sufferings. You may find a lair and a thief, but you may find a brother that needs a prophetic word to go home and be reconciled.

When we view the Christian beggar as our brother then we see that God has given us an opportunity to share in the love of God in the care of His children. We can "get in on what God is doing" by giving to the poor and having mercy on those who least "deserve it".

A little humor for a Friday -- Airline Mechanics

2008-07-11T18:18:00.003-04:00

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minuteDescent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

the best one for last
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midgetpounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget

Thanks to Sheila for a good laugh!

Lauren is recovering!

2008-07-10T10:31:00.000-04:00

The cast covers her from her chest to her toes, but she is tolerating it very well. Lauren continues to be joyful and seems not to be in pain at all. She has four weeks left in the cast, then months of therapy to follow. Thank you for your continued prayers!

Robin Mark with WindDance in Cordova, TN August 1

2008-07-02T03:46:00.001-04:00

For tickets go to www.itickets.com

Going Home Today!

2008-06-21T10:38:00.003-04:00

Thank you again to everyone who has been praying for Lauren. She will be allowed to go home today from the hospital. She slept through the night last night and seems to be almost back to normal.

Rough night, but better morning

2008-06-18T12:22:00.003-04:00

Lauren had a fairly rough night last night, but this morning she has perked up and even eaten most of her breakfast.

She has smiled a couple of times this morning and even laughed once, so we are definately seeing improvement.

Lauren has been moved to a regular hospital room.

2008-06-17T23:11:00.004-04:00

Thank you again to everyone who has been praying!

We arrived at the hospital at 8am on Monday morning for Lauren's double hip replacement surgery. Twelve hours after our arrival, after six hours of surgery, she was moved to ICU for observation. Today, after eighteen long hours in ICU, we were moved to a normal hospital room.

Lauren has begun eating some, and has longer periods of being awake. Lana and I think she is having quite a bit of pain, but she still has an epidural (also known as a "spinal block") to help manage it.

We have received cards, calls and email from around the world. We are very grateful for the family of God that has joined with us in praying for Lauren.

If all goes well Lauren should be going home by Friday. Still she will have six weeks in a body cast and months of therapy. However, the surgery should keep her hip in socket and we are hopeful she will be riding horses again within six months or so. Who knows -- she might even walk with her walker again one day (a skill among many that she had lost because of her chronic hip problems).

God bless you for caring!

Surgery Went Well

2008-06-16T23:04:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has sent word, greetings and prayers!

Lauren was in surgery for 6 hours today and she is now in intensive care. The doctors expect to move her to a regular room if all goes well through the night.

She is exhausted as you can imagine. Lana and I too are exhausted. But, we give thanks that all went well up until the very end of the surgery.

Lauren's vital signs continued to look great throughout the day and the doctor felt good about going ahead and performing the surgery on both hips. Toward the end of the surgery there was some concern about her blood ph levels, and a UT issue. They did end up having to give Lauren a blood transfusion.

We have visited with Lauren and she seems more than a little disoriented and weepy. But, so far she seems like she is doing as well as can be expected after such an intense day of surgery.

"We are not out of the woods yet," said her doctor. "But, it looks very promising."

Thank you for your continued prayers. Six weeks in a body cast holds the possibility of more problems, but we have a great peace tonight. Praise God.

Surgery on Monday

2008-06-14T19:01:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has prayed so far! We have received word from Ukraine, Germany, Ethiopia, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Brazil and all over America from people who have joined in prayer for Lauren.

Her surgery will be this Monday, June 16 at 8:15am. She is scheduled to have both hips replaced, her leg bones reshaped and muscle "lengthening". It will be major surgery followed by six weeks in a body cast.

God has answered many of your prayers so far and we have an amazing amount of peace about this surgery.

While we were at Vanderbilt Hospital for the pre-op we met a lady and her son that we had met three years before. Three years ago the boy had the same surgery that Lauren is scheduled to have and after his recovery we lost touch with the family. They were in Nashville for a routine appointment on Wednesday and it was definitely a "God thing" that we saw each other after all this time. The boy is doing great, and the mother was very encouraging.

Thank you again for all your prayers!

Mid-day of Day of Prayer for Lauren

2008-05-29T12:37:00.002-04:00

We have received email and messages from Cambodia, Ethiopia, England, Ireland, Brazil and across the USA as people have been lifting up prayers for Lauren for the past 13 hours.

It is so encouraging to hear from brothers and sisters around the world who are united in prayer for one little girl in Jackson, Tennessee.

"LORD, may you hear the prayers of your children. Although we speak in many languages we speak with one heart in one Body and pray that would would be glorified as your mercy flows from the Throne of Grace."

Day of Prayer for Lauren

2008-05-28T10:52:00.001-04:00

Many of you know Lauren personally and you know of her struggles with CP.

She is scheduled for major surgery on June 16 for double hip replacement and reformation of both femur bones.Our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia have set aside Thursday, May 29 as a special day of prayer and fasting for Lauren.

We invite you to join us in prayer.

The Mission of Compassion

2008-04-16T12:10:00.009-04:00

"If you see your brother in need and have not compassion - the love of God does not live in you." (I John 3:17)

From what I understand there are Christians who are persecuted every day in this world. I personally know hundreds of believers in Ethiopia alone who need help. How is it that Christians in the most prosperous nation in the world and the richest congregations turn a blind eye to our suffering brethren? There should be a multitude of ministries that seek to help poor, imprisoned and naked Christians.

It often seems that if a mission is interested in the poor it is only to draw them in to their programs so that they can count heads. I don't doubt the sincerity of these organizations I only doubt their gospel and its mission. Feeding the poor becomes a "method of evangelizing" all the while we expect believers to "pull themselves up by their boot straps." It is wicked. For some it would seem to be better to stay a "seeker" and take advantage of "christian charity" rather than become a believer left to fend for yourself.

The good news is that many of these missions are actually preaching the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. I have witnessed churches who explode in numbers and zeal when they are first planted, and I see many who's lives are changed indeed. The problem is that in the years to come their zeal grows cold and soon they become much like the churches that planted them concerned with growing their programs rather than meeting the needs of those around them.

Conversely there are missions who have lost the Truth and have become nothing more than social aid agencies that help salve the conscience of wealth Westerners by feeding multitudes of poor. There are no requirements for aid or belonging, no Gospel message. Just "pure" charity with no strings attached.

What I am trying to say is that both of these views are extreme, and neither is truly bringing God's Kingdom to this earth.

I am growing increasingly confident that missions is something that must be done in community. I believe that Christ's Kingdom is being established on this planet, that His will is being done on Earth as it is in Heaven. This is happening as more and more congregations begin to truly care for each other and become known for their love rather than their buildings or programs. As believers are encouraged to work out their salvation through the practice of God given gifts the world sees the Light and tastes the Salt.

Who in America has not heard that "Jesus died for your sins"? But, how many in America see the Body of Christ (the Church) loving God by loving each other?

How many have heard the Gospel which is costly? How many have heard that it will cost them everything to follow Christ? The Gospel has become an event rather than total life transformation.

All too often our gospel is offensive, not because of Christ, but because it lacks Christ. Jesus died for you. Say this prayer, go to church, give your tithe (of course spend the rest on yourself), obey God and you will prosper! God just wants you to stop doing bad things. The only thing God requires is that you receive His free gift that He offers. "All you have to do is accept." -- It is a lie!

Jesus not only died for you He rose from the dead in a real body! He demands that we believe. He commands us to repent (a constant adjustment of our thoughts to conform with the will of God rather than doing what we want). What God requires is obedience!

The book of James (which many would remove from Scripture) states plainly that faith without works is dead. First John states clearly that we must "lay down our lives for the brethren". Jude warns of those who feasted with believers, yet only wanted gain for themselves. Acts tells of those who wanted to follow Christ in a effort to gain magical powers or miracles, only to find themselves being cut off. Colossians warns about false religion that is worked out in ascetic harshness, rather than overflowing love for the Church that comes from a relationship with the Triune God. Paul greeting the Thessalonians, who not only speak the Gospel, but their "faith goes out before them" -- even so in chapter 4 he says, "you have been taught by God to love one another." In Timothy we see command after command about humility and submission because of the great love of God -- the good "fight" is one of love, faith godliness, gentleness -- and a strict command from God for wealthy Christians to be "rich in good deeds, liberal in giving." These are not options they are commands!

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to build big buildings, provide sporting events or any of the plethora of activities that are associated with "church" (not that there is anything inherently wrong with these things). However, we are commanded repeatedly to be generous to poor believers. It is tragic that aiding believers is so low a priority that it is not even on the budget of many congregations.

(Not suggesting that we aid laziness or that we enable people to be leaches on the Church -- see following posts).

There simply is no way around it -- we will be judged according to our deeds! Without faith in Christ we are lost, and without works we have no faith. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only those who believe can obey, and only those who obey can believe."

It is not our message or our words that we are known by, it is our fruit. Our fruit should be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As unbelievers see the fruit they are amazed, as they hear the Gospel they are offended, and as God gives faith they are saved. Those who were outside are inside and become part of the Body of God's great love.

The Word of God

2008-04-14T13:07:00.005-04:00

Many in the States would say that the Bible is the Word of God. Just one example of this belief about the Bible comes from a website of a Baptist fellowship.

"1. By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God."

This organization is not alone in a statement like this -- it is very common among independent and fundamental Christians in America. In essence what they have accidental done with their words is to elevate the Bible to Deity - "The Bible IS the very Word of God."

One site I found (I believe it was God Tube.com) says, "The Bible is the living Word of God."

Now to be fair I do not believe that they actually mean what they say. I think what they are trying to say is that the Bible is more than a book, it is a perfect revelation of God to man in written form, and faithful for doctrine, etc. The scriptures are relevant to our lives today and God speaks through the pages into our lives. In other words they aren't liberals. The problem is that is not what they say exactly.

It is not only a belief among Baptist, but this belief can also be found among denominations such as the conservative Presbyterians. One Presbyterian pastor actual told me that the Bible is the Perfect which was to be revealed, and after its' coming would do away with knowledge, tongues, etc. Again, in essence this minister was saying (although I don't believe he means it this way) that the Bible is the second coming of Jesus. The Bible is the Word (God) incarnate (in flesh).

Now I want to be very clear that I do believe the Bible is the written record of God's words to us. The Bible is useful for doctrine, and all our beliefs and practice should be weighed against the whole counsel of scripture. However, Jesus is the Word of God that is revealed in the Bible. Jesus is the Sword of God that divides bone from marrow, and judges the hearts of man!

To say that the Bible IS the Word of God is like saying that the badge IS the policeman. Certainly the badge reveals to us that the person holding it is a policeman. The badge may tell us where the policeman comes from. It may tell us the limits of his authority (ie. federal or local). There are certain things implied for one who holds a badge, and certain things expected. The badge bears a certain amount of authority (a symbol that actually does/bears something). But, the badge is not the living policeman, nor is the badge the authority that it represents. The badge is only a symbol that communicates a great reality.

What fundamentalists are trying to do is to say that they believe the Bible is the final authority on every subject. They want you to know that they believe the Bible from "Genesis to Maps". They want you to know that they are REAL Christians. They want to convey that they try to live a holy life and obey the commands of God. They want you to know that they do not believe that God is still revealing information about Himself. Most of all they want you to know that they are not charismatic pentecostal and that there is not going to be any new prophets who make new revelations about God or His plan for mankind.

The problem is that most fundamentalist know very little of the Bible. There are many good Baptists who have memorized a plethora of proof texts and can argue them against the barrage of the best trained Jehovah's Witness proof texts. But, when it comes to a good understanding of the whole counsel of Scripture, or finding Christ revealed in the Old Testament, or even an elementary understanding of Church history the average fundamental evangelical Christian will have as poor an understanding of these things as the average Christian cultist.

An example of this poor understanding would be the belief that Jews are blessed and Arabs are cursed. This is a strong belief among fundamental evangelicals in America, and it is not found in Scripture. In fact the we find that God blessed Ishmael. We also see throughout the New Testament that "all of Israel is not Israel", and that Paul even desired the salvation of his fellow Jews so much that he was willing to die in their place -- however, it is "by faith that we (or anyone Jew or Gentile) are saved."

This same phenomenon is happening to the Gospel. Some ministers say that "it is all about the Gospel." In some sermons you might hear the word "Gospel" a dozen times, but you never actually hear the Gospel -- the death, burial and bodily Resurrection of the incarnate Word of God. In deed if you ask the average evangelical the question, "What is the Gospel?" You will get a strange variety of answers that includes, "The Bible. The Good News. It has to do with Jesus." Now, when you point them to I Corinthians 15:1-5 they will say, "Yeah, right the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus."

If you watch much Christian television in America you will hear a lot about money, how to have a successful life, how God wants to bless you, the Crucifixion, the Gospel (although few explain what they are talking about with that phrase) and our need to pray the Sinner's Prayer. What you will not hear much of is public reading of Scripture (I don't think I have ever heard an entire chapter read on Christian radio or TV, much less an entire book of Scripture).

I believe we are perishing for lack of knowledge. Although we firmly believe the Bible is the word of God, we don't know it. Although we believe the Gospel, we cannot articulate it. Although we believe the worship of God is our most important duty, we cannot really tell you what it means to worship God. We have protested the Catholic system and all her creeds, only to replace them with inferior copies. At least the Nicene Creed does not elevate the Bible to being the fourth person of the Trinity, and the ancient creeds speak more of hope of the bodily Resurrection than some kind of secret evaporation of the faithful. There is no doubt that the Church in America is already left behind, we have exchanged our inheritance for a bowl of porridge. Rather than using the Bible to know about God we have practically elevated it to a god, and use it to divide and conquer.

Jesus says, "If any will come after me let them take up their cross and follow me." "You must eat my body and drink my blood."

In America we come to a table of empty calories - cute sayings, proof texts, guilt, prosperity, "Jesus will fix all your problems." No wonder so many leave the table hungry!

This is only partly the reason for why you see so many young people in America who are hungry for the ancient things of our faith. The modern methods depend of theological maxims and meeting of perceived needs. All the while what we desire is to know and be known by God. We desire the Man of salvation, not the plan of salvation. We want to see and know that He is God. Truly it is by hearing that we receive faith, but we must hear Christ not just proof texts. The Bible reveals Christ, and to quote a common phrase among fundamentalists, "It (salvation) is a relationship." As we hear about Christ revealed in Scripture and walk with Him in the community of His Bride (the Church) we should be moved to obedience to Him. If He is God then what does that mean to me, and how should I then live?

It was in the secret meetings in homes, the reading of books of Scripture, the breaking of bread and the giving of life that the early Church was formed and conformed to the image of Christ. It was their life and death together. It is the same today -- we long to be in community, we want to know Christ now in flesh and blood. We long to worship God in spirit and truth, not simply meet once a week for a presentation of a "worship experience." The ancient traditions involve our bodies - we sing, we pray, we stand, we listen, we smell, we eat, we drink, we kneel, we bow, we hold out our hands, we repeat, and then we go back out into the world and live a life of worship.

People Groups or People?

2008-03-19T12:45:00.004-04:00

I am evangelical, but I think the emphesis on "church planting movements" and "people groups" focus is fairly anti-Christ. The IMB has a very short-sighted approach to missions that is driven by bad theology (or more precisely bad eschatology - ie. Jesus can't come back until the last people group has been "reached").

In my opinion the focus on people groups rather than people has been a detrimental approach that has caused us to look at the Church in America as a "resource" and the people in other countries as a "product". We don't have time to focus on an individual and his needs -- we are trying to open the door for Jesus to return. We have a "heart for the Oromo people", but we don't actually care about the well being of Tesguy and his family. I was actually told once in a IMB training session, "We can't waste time hunting birds -- we want the elephant."

The focus on evangelism rather than Christ has produced an emasculated Gospel that has reduced a holy God to a pathetic creator who has lost control and is now begging people to convert. Discipleship has been reduced to "evangelism" for the sake of more evangelism. Christ's demands on us have been reduced to "just receive the free gift."

No doubt some good work is being done by the IMB. There are missionaries, many who are known as disobedient, who are doing good works. But, as you can tell, I have very little impathy with their denominational approach and strategy. I hate secret agent missions (lying and decet to tell the "truth"), the "culturally sensitive gospel" (removing Christ - the stumbling block), the "western gospel" (Jesus needs you - you need to be like us - just believe and God will fix all your problems), and any other gospel than Christ crucified.

Christ has commanded us to repent, believe, and to take up our cross and follow Him. Many American mission agencies seem to have forgotten that the free grace we preach has come, and continues to come, at a very high price.

Be Generous

2008-02-13T13:36:00.001-05:00

Apparently my last post stirred a bit of an angry response from "Anonymous". Anonymous was basically saying that I was promoting greed when Christ promotes generosity.

Part of the problem has to do with the fact that I am too wordy I suppose, but I never meant to imply that Christians should not be generous. On the contrary I think Christians should be the most generous people in the world. My point was that simply giving a homeless guy $20 may not be generous, but rather could be the same as saying, "Be warm and be filled -- and go away."

Last night I dealt with a homeless man and I actually offered total life change. Our church is willing to be extended on this man's behalf to radically change his state from being a beggar to being a giver. I told "Bob" that he could go from living in his car to having a home and offering room and board to homeless people like himself. "Instead of being a taker Bob you could be a giver." The condition was that he be willing to submit to Christ in every aspect of his life and come under the authority of the Church. If he would just be willing to come among us, be of us and be quiet. He could really be part of a body.

Actually what Bob wanted was a hotel room because it was too cold to sleep in his car.

We do not have hotel rooms. We did offer a warm bed and meal at a local shelter.

But, Bob does not stay in shelters. Bob does not want community. Bob wants what Bob wants, Bob's way.

Give drinks of water. Feed the hungry. Give shelter to the homeless. But, without true love it is worthless! We do not send people away hungry, but we must also not make the Bride of Christ a pimp pushing a prostituted Gospel.

It is high time to put to an end cheap grace. The grace of God is very costly. Far more than simple generosity we extend ourselves beyond inconvenience and the soothing of a guilty conscience. We are Christ's Body on earth and we must continue the work of the Gospel.

The Gospel commands more than easy belief and continuance in a life of rebellion, Christ demands our total submission and obedience to Him. To be in Christ we must be in His Church. To love Christ we must love His Bride.

Jesus said, "Eat my Body and drink my Blood." Many departed that day.

Giving

2007-11-14T09:52:00.000-05:00

Notice the cell phone? Can't afford a Laundromat, but he has unlimited text messaging?

The leaves have fallen, so it is time to blog again. Chris has some awesome thoughts (to put it mildly) concerning worship on St Ambrose, Craig continues to explore art that glorifies God on StCelebart and the blog master Brian (aka Brain) makes me belly laugh on Emasculating Nickname. I am afraid that my blog continues to be the soapbox of a very opinionated man.

The church has waves of beggars and vagabonds that come and go. I actually found myself getting angry one Sunday at a beggar who endured the worship service in hopes of getting some cash for God knows what. We generally do give to all those who ask, but I am not so sure that giving to vagabonds is a right use of "God's money".

Now before you get all up in arms about my thoughts on the subject you must realize that I work full time in a ministry that exists to extend ourselves on behalf of our poor brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. You could say that my vocation is giving, or "redistribution of wealth." We support Christians in Ethiopia who are working for the Gospel. We support orphans and widows who have no other source of income. We support those who cannot support themselves.

When it comes to able bodied young men on the streets of America -- do we really owe them five bucks just because they have a sign that reads "Will work for food"?

Some young Christians will immediately throw a proof text my way and proclaim that Jesus clearly commands us to give. I agree. Jesus most certainly commands us to give, and even to be generous in giving. The problem is that Scripture also teaches that if a man does not work he should not eat. And there was that strange day when Jesus said to the multitude, "If you are hungry eat my body and drink my blood."

When Jesus perceived that most in the crowd wanted to see a miracle and get their bellies filled He rebuked them and basically chased them away. The Apostles were amazed and more than a bit concerned. Jesus turns to the disciples and asks if they are going to leave as well, and the response was, "You have the words of life, where shall we go?"

Many who knock on the doors of the Church are like those that Jesus chased away. The Church of God does not owe every lazy man his daily bread. But, the Church does have a debt -- we owe it to the wise man and the fool.

In Romans chapter one Paul speaks of the Gospel and the life changing power of Christ. He says that he is a debtor to both those who know the Gospel (to share in their faith) and to those who do not know the Gospel (that they might hear).

Certainly there are those who truly need financial help or a bag of groceries, but God forbid that we send away the needy with only some cash or bread! I fear that all too often young Christians relieve their guilt by giving cash to a beggar, but missing the opportunity to be a prophet. Maybe the beggar needed something more than money. God may send a lazy man to the doors of a church for the sole purpose of having someone speak into the man's life and rebuke his laziness. When a beggar comes to our door God may have sent him to have a radical life changing transformation. As believers we owe it to those who come to the Church looking for help. We owe them the Gospel!

Finally a wedding picture!

2007-07-19T18:21:00.000-04:00

Ben and Pepo!
Married in Addis Abeba Ethiopia on Sunday, Jul 8th, 2007.
Anyone else need a matchmaker's services?

Rafting the Poudre

2007-06-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Regular readers may have noticed my absence. I have spent a few days in Brazil and Colorado. The trip to Brazil was to visit with the Teixeira family. The trip to Colorado was to preside over the Eucharist for Stephen and Shelley's wedding - which was an awesome experience, very Christ honoring.

The next day I went rafting on the Poudre (pronounced "poo-der" in the native dialect). That is me on the far left, you can only see three of us although there were eight on the raft. I wrenched my back, but stayed on board through a series of class II, III and IV rapids. It was a good thing to stay on board as there were over 4' waters (which is high for the Poudre, and it was the peak day for the year) which were about 40 degrees.

Updates to ioi blog

2007-05-30T12:32:00.000-04:00

For those of you interested in the ministry of IOI --
The www.ioiusa.blogspot.com blog is updated monthly. Also, we have a new URL for our website at www.ioiusa.org which I hope is much more user friendly. Check it out when you have an opportunity.

Also, for those interested in our home renovations check out www.universal-design-home.blogspot.com

Dependency

2007-05-16T15:42:00.000-04:00

I have copied the article in its entirety and only added a few comments which are in red. I wanted to include the entire article to be fair.

DEPENDENCY ISSUES AND EXTENDING GOD’S KINGDOM
South America Region, International Mission Board, SBC

The concept of dependence is an important and vital part of the Christian life. We are taught in Scripture to be completely and totally dependent on God. Therefore, to foster a dependence on other things, even as they relate to Kingdom Extension, runs contrary to good missiological approaches and sound Scriptural principles. (Strange, no mention of the Church being like a body, which would imply interdependence on each other).

We are called, committed and accountable to go and to make disciples of the nations, even to the uttermost ends of the earth. Thankfully, many Southern Baptists and others have been and continue to be involved in that Kingdom task. The purpose of this position paper is to help avoid practices that are paternalistic (Application of the ideas that follow are not only "paternalistic" they are supremest, ie. "because we are greater...") and those that create dependency because such practices hinder Kingdom growth.

Some Relevant Scripture
We Baptists hold a strong belief that every individual is directly accountable to Almighty God to obey, worship and serve Him and that the Lord directs and empowers each individual to accomplish that which He has purposed. His church leadership is instructed "to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:12&13) (I think it strange to divorce the individual from the "body of Christ," and apply a scripture that clearly is addressing "you all" and interpret the passage to be to the individual. Aren't Baptists supposed to be the ones who believe in the literal translation of Scripture?)

Jesus sent out the disciples to the lost sheep of Israel with authority and strong words of encouragement to preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and to drive out demons because they were to freely give of what they had freely received. The disciples were instructed not to take along any gold, or silver, or copper money and no luggage, because "the worker is worth his keep," (obviously meant to apply to the little dark skinned people, but not to SBC missionaries who live in fine homes, drive new SUVs and have servants) (Matt. 10:1-10) which idea is expressed in today’s mission phraseology as "the resources are in the harvest." (ie. "why should we use our money to help the poor?" HOW RIDICULOUS! Can you imagine Jesus saying, "heal thyself" or "I have come that you might find the life that you already have"?) Matthew 10:11-20 indicates that the disciples were not expected to have an altogether easy entrance into their mission world. Instead of ease, they were instructed to expect hardships of rejection, betrayal, arrests and trials (Unlike SBC missionaries to the Middle East who are taught to lie about their presence in the country and do everything possible to avoid any rejection). Jesus sent them out "like sheep among wolves." Jesus also gave similar instructions to the 72 whom he sent out later. (Luke 10:1-12) Later, in Luke 22:35-36, even when Jesus gave further instructions indicating the need for provisions of a money belt, a bag and a sword, these provisions were the simplest ones that allowed the worker to be sent out for ministry.
The Apostle Paul traveled throughout most of the known world of the Roman Empire, working, teaching, writing, preaching, suffering various trials and hardships, and witnessing, with almost no mention made of any financial or material aid for those receiving the witness. He did, of course, collect an offering for the faithful in Jerusalem who were suffering a lack of necessities, probably as a result of persecution. (So admittedly the Apostle Paul collected money for the poor in another country. Just a reminder - that is the thing that this article is preaching against.) Paul even worked to earn his own livelihood when the circumstances indicated. (Acts 18:3) The Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 11:16-33 describes in his own words what he suffered in order that others would hear the good news of salvation in Christ.

God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to himself, but, even though it was God the Father who was taking the initiative; it was Christ the Son who was required to pay the price of obedience that was set before him by God, the Father. (2 Cor. 5:18-21) (Any theologians have a problem with this statement, or is it just me?)

It is quite evident from the Biblical texts cited, and many others, that some of the principal ingredients for reaching the lost world were personal testimony of faith, sharing the gospel message, challenging the lost to believe, and paying the price of obedience along with some cautions about the role material resources would play. (Oh yes, quite evident in deed. Ahem. Now all you little people without Bible degrees take a seat and get ready for this great exposition).

Missionary Leadership Insight
The following insights were shared by Dr. Jerry Rankin in the September 1997 issue of The Commission magazine, a Southern Baptist International Mission Board publication, and they are echoed by many leaders in missions (who mostly live in really nice homes in America and jobs depend on American money given by American Christians; but are real experts on the sufferings of the developing world).

North Americans often see poverty and economic disparity overseas and, out of a compassionate desire to help, they wish to share of their own abundant resources. However, they are often less than fully aware of the dangers of a valid spiritual ministry (I think that is an interesting phrase, "valid spiritual ministry") degenerating into material assistance (assistance - that 's bad, right? Sounds too much like welfare. Sounds liberal or Communist or something wholly unAmerican), and how creating dependency can be detrimental to the health and growth of Kingdom efforts (Clearly the IMB are not Calvinists - at least we can be thankful for something. I mean we scoff at global warming because Man cannot destroy God's planet, but apparently individual men can harm God's Kingdom).

The International Mission Board is firmly committed to indigenous principles of missions in the work of evangelism and church planting overseas ("yes, yes firmly committed with words, lots of words, and programs, and Veggie Tales - but not money that might hurt somebody). The churches that result must have members who are growing to maturity in Christ, reaching the lost around them with the gospel, and seeing new congregations resulting from their efforts. "It is a mistake to try to accelerate growth by an infusion of financial aid to build churches and support pastors…Well intended financial assistance too often creates dependence and handicaps the initiative and faith essential for spontaneous growth (I don't know -- seems like it works in America. Funny how the Home Mission Board supports pastors, builds buildings, etc. here in the good ole USA, but when it comes to the darkies in Africa...)." When "Americans subsidize the work of churches and pastors on the mission field (Oh, I see the "mission field") potential growth is stalled because of a mind-set that it can‘t be done unless an overseas benefactor provides the funds." In such a case, the local congregation stops assuming responsibility before the Lord for the work and begins to rely more on the human benefactors to take care of them (I suppose that is why we pay our pastors here in America, because we want them to be dependant on us?). "People are deprived of growing in faith, learning to depend on God and discovering that He is sufficient for all their needs."

"Subsidy propagates a Western model of a church that sees a building and a paid pastor as essential rather than encouraging a reproducible biblical model of the church as gathered believers responsible to and for their own leadership and facilities." (Again a statement of "fact" that has no reference in reality. I personally know of churches that have been helped greatly by "western $" and they don't look or act "western". Furthermore, isn't this actually condemning the very churches that support the IMB? Don't all SBC churches in America see a building and a paid pastor as essential?)
Dr. Rankin concludes that the "Explosive growth ….around the world would never have occurred if a pattern of subsidy and dependence had been created. Unfortunately, well-intentioned help on many fields has handicapped long-term potential growth." (Hasn't most of the growth in the past 150 years been subsidized by the West? I don't get it. Has the Church grown or not? And if it has doesn't it disprove what Dr. Rankin is saying?)

Also, Dr. David Garrison has intensely studied church planting movements around the world and concludes that the use of outside resources to construct church buildings and to pay pastors’ salaries actually creates barriers to the realization of a church planting movement, because it saps local initiative. He goes on to state that these actions may produce some impressive short-term results, but they will also produce a long-term dead end. (I sorry I have no idea who this guy is, but I am willing to call him on the carpet here and ask for some statistics. Again we have a great learned man who states a "fact" based on his "intense study" and we are expected to believe him with no verification of what he says. Again, I can show you churches that are thriving and growing, and have actually been encouraged to give more when they learn that churches in America are willing to help them. How I wish there was a missions version of Snopes.com).
In his book, Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World, Garrison lists some serious obstacles to the blossoming of a church planting movement; in fact, he designates them as seven deadly sins (Oh, God forbid that we give to the poor! What a sin! -- WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL GOOD EVIL!) which create barriers against a church planting movement. Two of them are especially pertinent for the issue being treated here.

One he names the "The Devil’s Candy." "The Devil’s Candy is deceptive, because it refers to good things that have real value" but they can hinder reaching the lost with the gospel. In the mission setting, it is the use of outside money for paying pastors and church building construction. Garrison writes that when outside (Outside? That would be "para" like "para-church"? Like a mission organization? COME ON! It is ONE Church Dr. Garrison, there is NO "outside"!) funds are used to hire pastors and construct church buildings, there may be some quick results but sustainable growth will not be realized.

A second barrier for a church planting movement is what Garrison calls "Alien Abduction (Who’s in charge here?) He continues, "There are at least three ways that Church Planting Movements can succumb to alien abduction: 1) by forcing new believers to exchange their cultural forms for alien ones, 2) by creating a welfare state (there are those liberals again!) of foreign dependency, and 3) by injecting foreign elements into the life of the church that cannot be locally reproduced."

So, when is it "help that helps" and when is it "help that hurts?" That is the question that requires much prayer, study and application of the admonition of Jesus to the twelve and the seventy when he sent them out. "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matt. 10:16 KJV) How can one be wise in Kingdom service in a mission setting? By praying relevant questions through to constructive answers. (I know lets read I John 3. No, why don't we just pray and ask God to enlighten us.)

The following are some relevant prayer topics for anyone or a group committing to ministry on a mission field and who wishes to wisely invest time and resources.

Are we truly partners in Christ with local believers with commensurate responsibilities in this mission effort? (Well if your the IMB I don't know if you are a partner, but you surely are the boss).
Do our ministry and resources enhance discipleship growth and commitment? (Maybe you could have Dr Garrison do intensive study on the subject?)
Will our ministry result in disciples absolutely committed to reaching others? (Would it be a bad thing if our disciples were "absolutely committed" to worship of God?)
What would be the signs that dependency is being fostered? (Maybe no one having the intestinal fortitude to tell you and all your "resources" to take a hike?)
Who is really making the decisions about ministry here? (Some dude in Richmond, of course.)
Would the ministry continue if the outside, or foreign, resources were suddenly withdrawn? (If it is from God, and He wants it to continue).
Are we seeking the Lord’s leadership in praying alongside our national partners? (While I am sure that it must happen -- of all the mission sponsored prayer meetings I attended while an SBC missionary I can't remember one prayer meeting that involved nationals - that would have been far too risky.)
Do our ministry and resources foster more dependence upon the Lord or more dependence upon us?

Here are some additional questions that can be used volunteers:
Are we fostering a welfare state? (Again that liberal question. Is welfare that evil? My handicapped daughter gets "welfare" and thank God for it! I have no idea how she would get the medical care she needed if it weren't for "welfare". But, I'm white and work so obviously they don't mean me.)
Are we funding something that they can’t fund for themselves? (If they could fund it themselves why would we give money to pay for it??? Are you suggesting that we only give to those who have and not to those who do not have?)
If they can’t fund it themselves, is there a way it can be done that would be affordable to them/within their cultural and economic means?
If they can’t fund it themselves, are we leaving them with a financial burden to maintain it after we’re gone? So many Latino Baptists say they can’t afford to do missions because their funds are tied up in maintaining buildings, campgrounds, seminaries, and other American-spawned institutions. (Oh the poor Latinos who don't have enough good sense to sell their liabilities and turn them into assets.)

Conclusion (I'm tired of stating the obvious - I will leave you to come to your own conclusions).
The South America Region leadership, after study and prayer, has sensed a responsibility to lead missionaries and volunteers to seek ministries that have been proven to facilitate church planting movements and that avoid, as much as possible, the potential for creating dependency.
In light of the information presented in this position paper, missionaries and volunteers serving in the South America Region of the International Mission Board are strongly urged to study and pray through the issue of dependency in missions and what it means for ministry involvement. This is especially important as it relates to the construction of church buildings and subsidy, such as paying salaries of either national pastors or national missionaries, as well as purchasing or providing other material resources that are not available locally for starting churches. Because of the importance of these issues, we also ask for your understanding as we implement a guideline in the region, beginning in 2006, of no longer approving volunteer projects that involve the construction of church buildings, as well as no longer transferring funds through our offices that have as their designation the construction of church buildings, the paying of national pastor’s or national missionary’s salaries, or other financial support that creates dependency.
What are some construction alternatives for those volunteers who desire to do construction and/or provide other material resources, and, at the same time, avoid creating dependency? There are many ways that volunteers can be involved in construction projects that do not create dependency but rather impact lostness among communities and families with whom we are working. Examples of such projects are: Community Projects (School repair and renovation, Handicapped access, Stairs and Sidewalk installation, Clean water projects, Irrigation Systems, Public Bathrooms, Bus Stop Shelters, Playgrounds and Parks, Landscaping Projects) Single Family Dwellings (Painting, Roofing and repair, Cabinet building, Bathroom installation and repairs, Plumbing, Window installation and repairs, Electrical installation and repairs) Human Needs and Disaster Relief Projects. Such projects express the love of God and open doors and hearts to the gospel message.

Bibliography and Notes
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New International Version of the Bible.
Garrison, David. Church Planting Movements, booklet, also online at www.imb.org/CPM.
Garrison, David. Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World. Midlothian, VA: WIGTake Resources, 2004, pages 240-257 especially. See www.churchplantingmovements.com.
International Centre for Excellence in Leadership. Strategic Engagement of Volunteers, pages 76-96. Richmond: International Mission Board, SBC, 2000.
McQuilkin, Robertson. "Avoiding Dependency" in Mission Frontiers magazine, August 1999, p. 38.
Rankin, Jerry. "Help That Hurts" in The Commission magazine, September 1997.

Are you washed in the Blood?

2007-05-16T12:21:00.000-04:00

"I saw the filthiness of sin and I also saw the efficacy of the Lord’s precious blood cleansing me and making me white as snow." --Wacthman Nee

There are over 250 references to "blood" in the Bible. Blood plays a significant role in the Christian faith. Animal blood provided a symbol and a true "covering" for sins. But, it is not animal blood that cleanses us or takes away our sins. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4)

According to Scripture the Blood of Christ accomplishes many things -- redemption, cleansing, covering, sanctification and more.

In Revelation 7:14 we see that our "robes" are washed in the Blood of the Lamb and made "white as snow." How strange it is to think that blood can make robes white. Yet, it is a spiritual message.

Our works are our "robes," and even the very best of man is all together vanity. Our works are tainted by the flesh and sin. Our righteousness is filthy. But, the Blood of Christ washes us as we participate in His sacrifice. Our hands have His blood on them.

He washes our works and makes them white as snow. He has redeemed not only our souls, but our very existence. He did not simply wash our hearts, He has given us new hearts. He has given us His Spirit to live within us. He has taken a dead thing and given it life. He has made those who only knew darkness and decay to be the light and salt.

By the scheduling of His precious Blood Christ accomplished our salvation. The blood of Christ is an offense to some, and a stumbling block to many. The Blood of Christ is central to the Gospel. For those who believe it is the display and action of the power of God unto salvation. Praise God for the Blood of Christ!

"Woman's hand washed in blood" (Art.com)

Quote of the Weak - Proselytize

2007-04-20T14:04:00.000-04:00

"Every attempt to impose the gospel by force, to run after people and proselytize them, to use our own resources to arrange the salvation of other people, is both futile and dangerous."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Taken out of context one might accuse Bonhoeffer of being "unevangelical." This would be a huge mistake.

Bonhoeffer saw clearly that modern methods of evangelism were dangerous because they cheapen the gospel, and present a god that is incapable of accomplishing His will. The begging, powerless and effeminate Jesus wants to save you, if you will only ask him to...
Bonhoeffer knew the all powerful, sovereign Creator of the Universe that commands all men everywhere to believe and repent. He boldly proclaimed the Gospel and knew that God was the only faith giver. He knew that men cannot believe unless God performs a miracle at the hearing of the Word. He knew too that there must be a preacher to proclaim the Gospel. With his very life Bonhoeffer paid the cost of his discipleship (he died in a Nazi concentration camp). At the end of his life it was said of him by a fellow non-Christian prisoner, "I never knew a man who's God was so real to him."

A kinder gentler blog...

2007-04-11T23:20:00.000-04:00

For the regular readers of the Bishop's Beard you may have noticed that the blog disappeared for a couple of days and was replaced by a "Bible Study/Viagra Sells" site. This was not my doing.

Blogger has graciously fixed the problem and the Bishop is back!

It was providence that brought this my way. Already I have begun to think that I simply state my opinion too often and come across very harshly in my judgements, especially against larger denominational missions agencies and pop-Christian personalities.

I think God has given me the opportunity to delete some of my past (often scathing) comments and start a fresh with a kinder, gentler blog. It isn't that God has done a work in me to remove my strong opinions, but at least I don't have to publish them all.

Quote of the Weak -- Material Needs

2007-03-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

"If we grant the baptized brother the right to the gifts of salvation, but refuse him the gifts necessary to earthly life or knowingly leave him in material need and distress, we are holding up the gifts of salvation to ridicule and behaving as liars."
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

Now Showing -- Amazing Grace

2007-03-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

The Bishop's Rating: aaaaa (Five out of five marks)

Very much worth the $5.50 price!

The recommendations came from a wide range of people. In fact, so many people recommended this movie to me that I was intrigued. I was afraid that it would be another heavy handed "Christian movie" that basically only Christians would want to see.

I enjoyed this movie on so many levels that it is hard to know where to start. Basically it is the story of William Wilberforce, the British Member of Parliament that sponsored the bill to abolish the slave trade in all English colonies. This may not sound like much of a story to you, but you could not be more wrong. This movie is a story of love, penance, redemption and grace.
The title Amazing Grace comes from the song of the same title which was written by a former Slave Ship captain. Wilberforce was a student of this captain who had become a "protestant monk" after his conversion.
The movie shows the important role that Wilberforce's wife played in her encouragement to continue to fight the fight, although he had lost the effort 39 times over 18 years (a fact that is not in the movie).
I also appreciated the depiction of Colitis, which afflicted Wilberforce and now affects my wife. The physical and emotional suffering that he endured served to make him even more aware of a life lived well.
Far from Christian Cheese this movie should appeal to a wide audience, and encourage many to be who they have been created to be.

The sad fact is that I believe that most people will not see this movie. One point in the movie was that "great men" most often become great through actions that haunt them, yet Wilberforce proved to be a great man through actions that blessed others. It is a beautiful story; sadly a story that most likely will not sell.

Quote of the Weak -- Islam

2007-02-26T02:05:00.000-05:00

Egyptian sultan kills Christian who refuse to convert to Islam (Art.Com)

"I think it is interesting. After 9-11 your politicians, your news media and your scholars suddenly become experts on Islam. They say, 'Islam is peaceful religion.' I think this interesting because your politicians, your news media and your scholars obviously not read the Koran. But, somehow they are experts."

"Husen", a former Islamic teacher who converted to Christ and was severely tortured by Islamic religious police

Not all cheese is bad...

2007-02-26T01:07:00.000-05:00

The Cheese Sellers, French School (Art.com)

Those who know me know the distaste I have for American style pop-Christian worship. The term I like to use for this modern performance style worship is, "Cheese Whiz."

But, I have come to the conclusion that not all cheese is bad cheese. Real cheese is better than Cheese Whiz.

I was in a church recently that is very much in to the modern worship style. The preacher wears one of those headset mic things, there are too large screens displaying the action, a full band complete with two percussionists, previously video taped announcements -- the whole works. However, I noticed something this time. Instead of my normal sarcasm I found that I actually appreciated the perfection with which the program was being produced. From lighting and video to music and speakers the ques were perfect. The only flub was some jerky movements from a cameraman that apparently lost interest in the speaker.

I suppose my point is that if you are going to go with the modern style at least hire some people who know what they are doing. This church's style does not speak to me at all. But, the perfection with which they pulled it off was admirable.

The thing that I don't like about the modern style is that it removes the congregation even further from the action and definitely makes the people gathered into an audience. I felt like I was watching a show, which I was occasionally invited to participate in. Very little was demanded of me. I could just sit there in my theatre style seating and enjoy the show.

I also noticed something else. The speaker exalted Christ. Even some of the music exalted Christ. It was obvious to me that these people love Jesus.

In the end the difference between cheese and Cheese Whiz is substance. Cheese Whiz may look like cheese, smell like cheese and kind of taste like cheese, but it has no milk in it and very little (if any) nutrition. Real cheese taste better, is more valuable and has nutritional value -- just be careful because too much can cause problems.

Quote of the Weak - God's Word

2007-02-13T22:36:00.000-05:00

"It was as if a gentle southerly wind were blowing. It was as if the Sun of righteousness were shining close by, causing sweet smelling spiritual spices to flow. Yes, and now may God send forth His Word and may it make them flow in us."

- Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Frenchman Who Established the Monastery at Clairvaux (Art.com)

Website Update - Indigenous Outreach

2007-02-13T17:21:00.000-05:00

The IOI Website has been updated!! Check it out www.indigenousoutreach.net and let me know what you think.

Wrestling Diplomacy

2007-02-01T16:56:00.000-05:00

While Bush rattles his saber and sends another warship to the Persian Gulf to "warn Iran" with "Battleship diplomacy" the US Wrestling Team is winning the hearts of Iranian wrestling fans.

3,000 fans crammed into a stadium built for 2,000 and another 3,000 fans tried to get in to see the US Wrestlers go head to head with Iran's best.

It is amazing what a wrestler can do that a politician can't.

NPR's Story on the subject. AP Photos

Virginia to Apologize for Slavery

2007-02-01T15:04:00.000-05:00

Joseph Sold into Slavery
by Raphael (Art.com)

The first legislative body in America is set to vote for the Commonwealth of Virginia's official "regret" for its involvement in the slave trade.

Aien't that nice y'all.

I have been inundated today with political correctness and I must say I am a bit nauseous. NPR's talk station was all about political correctness and the idea of banning the use of certain words. Then in USAToday I read that Virginia is going to "apologize" for slavery, but the carefully worded "apology" expresses "regret" rather than "responsibility" and should squeak by the lawyers who hope to benefit from "reparations".

Some of you may be saying that I deserve an upset tummy for listening to NPR and reading USAToday. But, I have a serious issue that bothers me profoundly.

We spend so much time in this nation trying not to offended each other, and we are all too eager to apologize for what our great great grandpa's did. But, all the while injustice is rampant in the world and as a nation we ignore the plight of the downtrodden (unless of course they happen to be sitting on a large oil reserve).

The State of Virginia could move unilaterally, or with a coalition of states and nations to affect the current slave trade in Africa and child sex labor in Southeast Asia. Instead of blowing smoke the state could lead nations in demanding that child labor and slave trade in Africa and Asia be stopped. They could use their power and influence as a state to send emissaries around the world to promote an end to slavery and injustice. They could develop trade policy as a state that encourages developing African and Asian nations to outlaw the current slave trade and discrimination against religious minorities. Far from expressing cheap "regret" the state could lead the world in a campaign of positive actions rather than half-hearted words.

Historically in the democratic West it is the people, not governments who move to end injustice. Governments simply respond to the demands of the people. It was leaders in the Christian Church (http://www.wilberforcecentral.org) that first demanded an end to the slave trade. Where are those leaders today? Sadly we leave social reform to extremists in favor of having our best life now. Expending our energy on laws that would ban sin rather than actually doing something with our power and money to help the weakest.

I am under no illusions that we will end racism, poverty and injustice. But, as Christians we are to love mercy and do justly. Our love is not to be in words only, but in deed and truth.

Words are cheap Virginia. Doing something about current injustice is costly. How I wish that the great grandsons of plantation owners and the great grandsons of slaves would join together to bring justice to the developing nations. Virginia wants to set precedent as they "express profound regret", how I wish they would set precedent by actually doing something about current injustice. As a free, wealthy and democratic society we have some level of responsibility to the downtrodden. Why do we wait for the Federal Government to set the agenda?

(More information about Christian leadership in ending slavery).

The Word of God

2007-01-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

He That is of God Hears God's Words
by James Tissot (Art.com)

Never one to shy away from controversy -- my question today is what (or who) is the Word of God?

My brothers at the largest Baptist church in Memphis have erected a 20' statue of the Bible in the foyer of the church. These same brothers would rightly proclaim that a statue of Mary in the church at Fatima, Portugal is an idol. However, just like the faithful Portuguese Catholic that erected the statue of Mary they too are blind to the fact that they have made an idol of the Bible. It is Bibliolotry.

Growing up Baptist I was taught that the Bible is the Word of God. Many proof texts support this claim (and for regular readers of the Bishop's Beard you know how I loath proof texts). However, a reading of many of these proof texts in their context prove that this proclamation is not correct. Hebrews 4:12 was a memory verse in VBS (Vacation Bible School) and a favorite verse to find at Bible "Sword" Drills. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edge sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, as is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Sounds like the Bible is a powerful sword, unless you read this same verse in its context and see that the entire passage is about Christ, not the Bible. Because Jesus is the Word of God He is also the Great High Priest that discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Romans 8 proclaims that the Spirit of God is the One who searches hearts and makes intercession for us.

After preaching at a Presbyterian church I was gently rebuked for preaching the hope of seeing Christ "face to face" as though it was a future event. I had made reference to I Corinthians 13 where our hope of Resurrection ("...when that which is perfect has come...") is hope for a physical event where we will know Christ as intimately as He now knows us. I was told that the "Perfect" in this passage is the Bible, which has already come so that we can know Christ through His word. Knowledge, tongues and prophesy have all been done away with because we now have the Bible. The problem that I have with this interpretation (other than the fact that it is wrong) is that the Bible does not contain every word of Christ (John 21:25), and I don't know how many hairs He has on His head, much less can I see His face or look into His eyes. The Christian hope is that we will be physically resurrected and we will know God like He knows us.

I understand what the fundamentalist is trying to do when he says that the Bible is the word of God and the final authority for life and faith. He is trying to distance himself from the charismatic chaos of modern times and the "Christian" cults who have extra Biblical "scripture" and anti-Christ "revelation". The problem is that interpretation of Scripture can vary greatly, so how then is the Bible the "Final Authority?"

I am always looking for balance. I think the balance in this issue is simply that we must look to the whole counsel of Scripture, which contains the written revelation of the Word of God, for instruction in life and faith. Certainly the Bible is the bench mark by which all revelation, prophesy and tongues should be judged. The Bible is a way to know about God. The Apostles gave us timeless instruction in how we should live. The prophets foretold Christ, and Christ revealed the Father to us. Ultimately it is by faith that we know Him, and His Spirit lives within us aiding us as we struggle to know, understand and comprehend the depth, width and height of His love.

There is no doubt that the Bible contains the words of God. But, Jesus IS the Word of God.

I hate to say I told you so...

2007-01-06T13:10:00.000-05:00

"Western and African diplomats called on Friday for the urgent deployment of peacekeepers to Somalia, hours after al Qaeda's deputy leader called on Somali Islamists to launch an
Iraq-style insurgency against Ethiopian forces."

"In the latest show of discontent with the forces that ousted the Islamists, hundreds of Somalis marched through the capital chanting "Down with Ethiopia." (Just days after being hailed as heroes and liberators the Ethiopians are finding few friends).

Reuters (photo and story)

Have we learned nothing?

2007-01-04T11:53:00.000-05:00

Photo by Guy Calaf New York Times

Once again a US backed force has put the "Islamists" on the run. Ethiopia invaded Somalia in an effort to rid the neighboring country of terrorists (and maybe secure some territory along the way). The "terrorists" escaped to the countryside only to be replaced by lawlessness and a return to warlords. Ethiopia, much like her ally proclaimed, "Mission Accomplished" as their troops rolled into Mogadishu. I fear that Somalia will be Ethiopia's Iraq.

"MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen attacked an oil tanker truck near Mogadishu on Thursday, wounding three people and raising fears of a return to the clan violence that had largely stopped during six months of Islamist rule.
The Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC), which had imposed sharia law across much of the south, abandoned the capital last week to government troops backed by Ethiopian forces.
Within hours of the Islamists' departure, militiamen loyal to warlords ousted in June reappeared at checkpoints in the city where they used to rob, rape and murder civilians"

I am no military general, but surely someone has figured out that a power vacuum invites true terrorists and thugs to rape, pillage and plunder people who have already suffered immensely under both sides of an ideological and religious war. I propose that the next time we invade a nation that we should be prepared to bring the rule of law, peace and order immediately to that nation, or we should stay out.

Hindu god manifest on butterfly's back

2007-01-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

According to a report from Reuters News the Hindu god Krishna has appeared on the back of a butterfly in India.
Krishna has joined with the Virgin Mary, Elvis and Abraham Lincoln on a growing list of manifestations on both animate and inanimate subjects.

The Virgin Mary tops the list with appearances in thin air as well as physical manifestations on various breads, hospital windows and other objects. The "Virgin Toast" actually sold on EBay for almost $30K. Mother Teressa appeared on a cinnamon bun in Nashville at Cafe Bongo, now known as the home of the "Nun Bun". Elvis has been spotted on at least one tortilla (which admittedly was a hoax), still the faithful have witnessed his miraculous appearances. Even Abraham Lincoln has appeared in the profile of a french fry. Even Islam is not without their "Miracle Tomato of Huttersfield".

Personally I only see a butterfly. But, the faithful Hindu sees Krishna. Maybe you see it too?

The man who discovered this butterfly said that it has "increased his devotion." Another worshiper named Vilma said, "We have no option but to believe what we are seeing. But after seeing it, our devotion to the Lord has increased."

I suppose my point is that for all the "supernatural" (or lack thereof) evidence that we see the Christian hope is not in butterflies and tortillas. Our hope is not seen and our faith is not in the tangible. Scripture proclaims, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Our faith is a gift from God, and our hope is the resurrection. The promise of God is that all who believe that Jesus is the Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead, will be saved.

If you believe in Christ's (the Messiah, God in the flesh) death, burial and Resurrection you will be saved. The faith that you have is the evidence that you possess, you need look no farther.

Somalia - "Life was better under Islamist"

2006-12-31T01:06:00.000-05:00

In our American zeal to bring democracy to the world I thought this quote might give pause for thought.

"In June this year, when the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) first took control of Mogadishu, the capital was transformed. A ruined city of warlord-controlled fiefdoms became largely safe. Guns disappeared from the streets. Not everybody approved of the SCIC, which started as 11 different clan-based courts of justice, but few in Mogadishu could deny that life was better under the Islamists. Outsiders' fears of an 'African Taliban' seemed misplaced." Xan Rice, The Observer

My comment: I would suggest that Xan Rice visit the Islamic prisons around the world where life is not "better" for those who disagree with the prevalent theology of the society. Tyranny is tyranny wither it is power hungry warlords or power hungry religious fundamentalist who dish it out.

Xan Rice, The Observer, Sunday, December 31, 2006
La Tribuna Magazine Cover Ethiopians Invade Somalia - 1930s (Art.com)

Substance over Symbol

2006-12-31T00:23:00.000-05:00

As I have contemplated symbol lately I feel that I may be in danger of error. I have been so focused on correct symbolism that I have preferred correct symbols over substance.

God made it clear in the Old Testament that symbols are important. People died for misuse of God's given symbols like the Ark of the Covenant, or the offering "strange fire".

I do believe that symbols are important, but symbol without substance is a type of poverty.

The symbols that God gave in the Old Testament were pure, and were not at the privy of men to change. In this age it seems that God tolerates misuse and error to a generous degree. Obviously this is because Christ has come and the symbols of the Old Testament, while only shadows, were fulfilled in Christ. Still, we should take great care with the symbols we offer in this age.

A friend of mine attended a very liturgical wedding recently. The symbolism was perfect. You could not have attended the service without seeing the symbolism of Christ and His Church. Yet, the couple that married was less than godly. The symbols were all in place, but the substance was weak at best. "It was a sham," said my friend.

I suppose if I had to make a choice, I would prefer substance over symbol. But, once again I find myself looking for balance in an imbalanced world. In an ideal situation we would find correct symbols with correct substance. Weddings that correctly present Christ and His Church, and marriages that have a depth of love that the world cannot imitate nor understand.

Christ is the reality of the symbols we handle. They are but a shadow of the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the substance of our faith and symbols. In our striving for correct symbols let us strive all the more to know Christ Himself. Knowing, loving and worshiping Him are the purposes of the symbols.

The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini
by Jan van Eyck (Art.com)

Quote of the Weak -- The feast of Christmas

2006-12-27T00:57:00.000-05:00

"In the feast of Christmas we are directed in a new way to the very thing that stands in the center of the Bible, to the simple reality of the gacious and merciful action which comes from God into this lost world. We are no longer concerned with elegant and gay pictures and fancies; from the reality which is so plain and from our distress, we thirst for the reality of the great divine help. Our question is whether God really has sent the One who has the right and authority for complete, all-embracing, final redemption. And the Christmas message is the complete, glorious "Yes" of the answer to this question."

-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Photo and quote - International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society

Do Symbols Matter?

2006-12-20T13:00:00.000-05:00

I love the scene in Indiana Jones and the last Crusade where the "cup of Christ" is revealed as a plain simple common goblet. While the magic that is attached to the goblet is the fantasy of Hollywood the image of simplicity makes up for it.

In one sense symbols are nothing. Bread is nothing, wine is nothing and water is nothing. These are simple elements of life. However, in the right setting and with the right words these elements are transformed into symbols of something much greater.

A red light in a window can symbolize a house of ill repute. A red light in a traffic signal is a symbol that says "stop", and bears the full weight of the law if it is disobeyed. Both are just red lights. One advertises a message and identifies a place, the other bears authority and commands respect as it stands in the place of the reality.

How we deal with symbols in the church is important. Imagine a traffic light with three green globes, or one with red on the bottom and green on the top. If it matters how lights are handled it certainly matters how we handle symbols in the church.

Using grape flavored drink and yeast bread in communion may not be sinful, but it does hinder the symbol. Showering a baby may be true baptism, but the picture is blurred. An abusive husband may indeed be a husband, but he is a false example of Christ.

I am becoming convinced that the churches that present the purest symbols are the churches that present the truest picture of Christ. I am not advocating finery or pomp. I am advocating simple obedience.

In this Christmas season let us review our symbols and strive for a true presentation of Christ.

Photo from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

European Efficiency

2006-12-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

Before Thanksgiving our government announced that travelers who plan to fly place their carry-on liquids and gels (less than 3 oz per container) in a quart sized plastic bag.

Simple enough?

Apparently not.

Almost a month later about every third traveler passing through security holds up the line while they dig their liquids out of their bag and throw away their bottled water or 32 oz Coke. It took about 20 minutes to get through security in the States.

When in Amsterdam a few weeks ago I noticed that there were multiple stations set-up throughout the airport with a few simple things. Large posters explaining the new regulations (in multiple languages and symbols), uniformed attendants who were screening passengers as they walked by (asking "Are you carrying any liquids or gels?") and plastic bags for people who were carrying such items. By the time we got to the security check we had passed two such stations and had had plenty of opportunity to make adjustments to our carry-on bags.

It took less than five minutes to get through a thorough security check in Amsterdam (including taking a survey about how the airport could improve services) and proceed to the gate. I truly appreciate northern European efficiency.

Security at Heathrow, Art.com

The Spititual Rapist

2006-12-15T11:02:00.000-05:00

With his six guns ablaze the revivalist crushes all in his wake.

I am angry today, but I think it might be righteous anger.

I have a friend whose son was the victim of spiritual abuse. This child believes the Gospel and has born fruit of that faith as only a child can do.

Like so many others the child has been faced with questions, the revivalist might call "doubt." Surely the boy has become aware of sin and questions how it is that a child of God can be so bad. So the spiritual rapist aims for the "kill" and tries to force the child to "nail it down!"

The questions pour forth from the pulpit and guilt is heaped upon guilt. "Are you sure that you are sure? Did you say that prayer with your whole heart? Do you remember the date and time? Have you been truly converted? Do you FEEL saved?" And the final blow, "If you died tonight, do you know where you would go? Heaven or HELL?!!"

The answer, according to the spiritual rapist, is a rapturous moment in time that a decision is made from the heart and the child "asks Jesus into his heart" and "makes" him Lord and Savior.

How far from Biblical salvation we have fallen.

How sad it is that we allow men to come into our evangelical churches and abuse our children and the weak. How sad it is that we have come to the place in the history of the Church that we think that preying on souls is considered true spirituality.

If you just believe enough. If you just get the formula correct. If you "place your faith" in Jesus. If you say it the right way, or have the correct experience. Nothing more than existential neo-gnosticism.

The invitation of Christ is not to walk an aisle and make a bunch of promises. His invitation is not to "true conversion" or being "born-again." How can a man decide to be born at all?

Is salvation an event? The historic Christian faith has been understood as more a picture of a journey or race rather than an event. We begin by faith and walk by faith; in the end we are saved if we continue in the faith.

The command of Christ is to believe and repent. The invitation of Christ is simply, "Come and follow me." It is not possible that man could believe without the gift of faith from God. It is not possible that my heart and mind could be changed or that I could be born again unless God creates a new creature. Our salvation is the work of God. We hear and believe, and it is by hearing that faith comes.

When our children or weak ones doubt, we should edify them by encouragement to continue to believe and obey Christ. As Bonhoeffer said, "Only those who believe can obey, and only those who obey can believe." Those who are truly spiritual should feed the hungry ones, and warn the ones in danger.

Enough of the spiritual abuse of our weak ones! May the shepherds of Christ's Church be good shepherds -- feed and guard the sheep.

What Americans believe about God

2006-12-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 12, 2006

The vast majority of Americans believe in God. But in the land of the free, ideas about the more personal nature of God can be subject to some interpretation. (In this survey traditional Protestants have been distinguished from Evangelical "Born-Again" Christians).

Only 1 percent of Americans overall, for example, think God is female, according to a wide-ranging Harris poll of 2,010 adults. Among men, Protestant and Born-Again Christian respondents, the number was 0 percent; among women and Catholics it was 1 percent; among Jews, 7 percent.

More than a third -- 36 percent -- said God was male. More women than men thought God was male, 39 percent to 34 percent, respectively (interesting that more American women than men consider Biblical language such as "Father" accurate). More than half of Born-Again Christians agreed, along with about 47 percent of the Protestants and Catholics. Other responses were mixed. Overall, 37 percent said God was neither male nor female. Ten percent said God was both male and female, while 17 percent were not entirely sure what they believed.

Does God look like Michelangelo's vision on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Maybe. The survey showed that 9 percent said God appeared "like a human with a face, body, arms, legs, eyes," though the percentage was slightly higher -- 13 percent -- among Protestants, but just 1 percent among Jews.

More people -- 41 percent-- were comfortable with the idea that God is a "spirit or power that can take on human form, but is not inherently human." The sentiment was highest among Born-Again Christians, with 60 percent agreeing with the statement (What happened to the doctrine - Fully God and Fully Man?). More than a quarter of Americans overall say God is "a spirit or power that does not take human form," a belief shared by 49 percent of Jewish respondents.

Beliefs about God's involvement in events on Earth also varies. Twenty-seven percent of Catholics said God "controls what happens on Earth," compared with 41 percent among Protestants and 57 percent among Born-Agains. Forty-four percent said God "observes but does not control" what happens here. That figure rises to 58 percent among Catholics, but falls to 37 percent among Born-Agains.

A slim majority of Americans -- 51 percent -- believe Christians, Jews and Muslims "worship the same God," the poll found. That idea is shared by 63 percent of Catholics, about 48 percent of Protestants and Jews and 34 percent of Born-Agains. Almost a third overall said the three faiths do not worship the same God, and 16 percent were unsure. (Jesus said about Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)

Intensity of belief also varies among faiths and political parties. Overall, 73 percent of Americans believe in God; the numbers are 97 percent among Born-Agains, 90 percent among Protestants, 84 percent among Catholics, 64 percent among Jews, 83 percent among Republicans and 72 percent among Democrats.

Are Americans "absolutely certain" there is a God? Born-Agains are the most adamant, with 93 percent agreeing with the statement (and how did that 7% become "born-again" and not believe in God???), followed by 76 percent of Protestants, 64 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Jews. Overall, 6 percent are "absolutely certain" there is no God.

Almost half of Americans overall -- 46 percent -- attend church a few times a year, 35 percent go once a month and a quarter go every week or more often.

The survey was conducted Oct. 4-10 and has a margin of error of two percentage points.

Creation of Adam (Detail) Michelangelo - Art.com

Celebrating 18 years of happy matrimony

2006-12-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

My love busting a pose on the bridge across the moat of the Baroque palace of Schloss Gymnich in Germany.

A wonderful place to celebrate a wonderful gift from God of 18 years of happy matrimony!

Located west of Cologne, Germany this palace was originally constructed in 1390. The castle suffered a fire in 1642 and was restored in 1655. It has served many purposes including official government functions. It is now a wonderful Bed and Breakfast.

Quote of the Weak - Wisdom

2006-12-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

"Getting older does not mean you are wise, it just means you are old."

- Günther Schulze, SCFS Board Member

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain wise counsels."
(Proverbs 1:5)

Old Man in Armchair, Unknown (17th century) Art.com

Black Friday

2006-11-27T10:04:00.000-05:00

A lot has changed in America since 1932. During the great depression many people were reduced to the humiliation of standing in bread lines for their daily sustenance.

Today I think it can truly be said, "We are rich and have need of nothing, except maybe a Playstation 3!"

What is the cause of our extreme prosperity?

Surely our Puritan work ethic and "Christian" ideals, and some would say our support for the modern state of Israel, have been the cause of much of our nations prosperity. But, a far more sinister promotion to our wealth lurks under the thin skin of our Christian facade -- GREED.

The scenes we witnessed on Friday were despicable in the worst way. Wealthy (in comparison to most of the world's population) people fought over toys and "good deals." We actually saw "animal" behavior over entertainment. We are not far from the Coliseum of Rome.

Many of our Fundamentalist brothers are fond of pointing out that America is becoming Sodom and Gamorrah. The popular teaching is that Sodom and Gamorrah were destroyed for their immorality (particularly homosexuality). I think they are correct in part, but not because of homosexuality (that is simply a symptom and a sign of God's judgment). The cities of Sodom and Gamorrah were known for their PRIDE and GREED as well as their immoral behavior.

"As I live, says the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, surfeit of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them, when I saw it." (Ezek. 16:48-50)

Many children (and adults for that matter) will be exposed to greater depths of spiritual poverty this Christmas as they play "Gangsta" video games on their new Playstations, log on to pornographic websites on their new computers and begin making their wish lists for next year.

What is the answer? Should we move to a cave? Should we hide our heads in the sand? Maybe we should have more activities at church to compete with the world? Maybe we should protest? NO!

Christ's Kingdom is not of this world, yet we are called to live in the world and not be of it. Our uniqueness is not that our women wear burkas, or that we all dress alike, or wear name plates with "Elder So and So" on it, or what we do not do. Our uniqueness is the Spirit that dwells within us by faith and is manifest outwardly in love, godliness and good character. It is what we DO (obedience to love) that displays God in us.

In a prosperous nation we are commanded to hear the Savior knocking and open the door. He will fellowship with us. We can overcome as our hearts desire Christ more than the things of this world. In the obscenity of our culture the light will shine as we simply obey and love Christ.

Photos-
Bread Line - Dorothea Lange Collection, Oakland Museum of California
Macy's Department Store on Black Friday, CNN.COM

Ortega set to win Nicaraguan election on Pro/Anti-American platform.

2006-11-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed that there are a growing number of international leaders that are gaining power based solely on their opposition to America (and possibly their uncool mustaches)?

The latest upset on the global scene is the predicted victory of Daniel Ortega and his return as the president of Nicaragua. In the 70's Ortega was the iron fisted "dictator" who ruled Nicaragua with the support of Cuba and the Soviet Union. The USA sponsored an insurgency (where have you heard that word used lately?) against the Sandanista Party that led to the fall of that government and the death of over 30,000 Nicaraguans.

Today Ortega has the support of Cuba and our newest "enemy" Venezuela. He has played a delicate balancing act as he has courted American investors while being less than friendly to American political leaders. I suppose he will also lead Nicaragua to join the non-alined group that is made of Iran, North Korea and other sordid nations.

Why are we making so many enemies of nations that were once our allies? Iran, Venezuela and Nicaragua were all allies at one point in recent history. "We" brought "freedom" to these nations so that they could elect anti-American leaders? What happened?

In short, American hypocrisy, prosperity and arrogance. We are PROUD to be Americans, as though it was our wisdom that gave birth to us. We consume the majority of the world's energy as we entertain ourselves to death. We tip our hats to God as we push the "American Way of Life" around the world in a vain effort to fulfill our manifest destiny of taking freedom to the four corners of the globe. We have supported "friendly" dictators while we have promoted democracy in nations that have hostile leaders. It has been a very short-sighted list of policies (on the part of both Democrats and Republicans) that had little to learn from history.

In the sixteen years since the fall of the communist Sandanista government, and the introduction to American style democracy life has not improved for the average Nicaraguan. Not surprisingly the wealthy minority Nicaraguans fear the return of Ortega, while most of the poverty stricken majority are apathetic. "At least we ate under the communist."

It is high time that we realize that democracy is not the answer to man's eternal questions. Democracy is not God's plan for man's salvation. Democracy can produce a high level of prosperity (when corruption is held at bay and the lower classes are provided for), but we must not forget that man's heart is wicked and over time man's free will will always led back to sin. Jesus did indeed come to set us free, but it is freedom from slavery to sin so that we can be SLAVES and friends of Christ. If we truly want to change the world I suggest that we extend our nation on behalf of the poor and outcast, and purchase friends for the lonely days ahead.

I don't think we have too much to worry about with a hand full of third world countries in opposition to the US of A. But, if we do not radically change our foreign policies and humble ourselves in the sight of the world we will surely see the numbers of radical anti-American leaders and nations growing.

Quote of the Weak -- Faith

2006-11-03T01:05:00.000-05:00

"We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone."

--John Calvin

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

John Calvin print from Art.com

All roads lead to evangelism???

2006-11-03T00:45:00.000-05:00

"The purpose of the church is evangelism," the evangelist said. "If you are not evangelizing I seriously doubt your salvation. At the very least you are not a good Christian."

I have an eight year old daughter that cannot speak. I am convinced that she has faith in Christ, although I have never heard her say so. Most likely she will never say so. Yet, I see the love of Christ in her eyes, and I have witnessed her minister the grace of God to my family and others. I think she is the best Christian I know.

Saying that Jesus commanded all of His followers to be evangelists is as ridiculous as saying that He commanded all Christians everywhere to preach and teach. On the contrary, there are many instances where Jesus forbids his followers from "sharing the Gospel" with others and the apostle Paul warns that many should not become teachers.

I believe that God has prepared good works for His children to be involved in. I believe that each of His children have been uniquely gifted in order to edify the Church and bring glory to God. God is so gracious that He has enabled every believer to do what He has commanded. Above all else we are commanded to love, and even a mute paraplegic can lie on his back and love God.

I submit that a good Christian is one that follows Christ, and the purpose of the Church is to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. This is our eternal purpose as we display the manifold wisdom of God in heavenly places.

Do you really want to know that you are saved? Do you want to be sure that you are sure? Then I propose that you reject the magic of men, the sorcery of hearts and the manipulation of spirits. Away with the altar calls and the secret formulas! Forget the date and time. Disregard your experience, or lack thereof. To Hell with the spiritual abuse of children and the soul damning guilt that is heaped upon weak men and women!

Take comfort from the words of God, "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous...By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of truth, and shall assure our hearts before God." (I John 3:7, 16-19)

If you are a believer God has gifted you and given you His Holy Spirit. You have everything that is needed for godliness in Christ Jesus. Walk in those good works that He prepared for you before the creation of the Universe. Obedience to the commands of Christ is the evidence of faith. Cloth the naked, feed the hungry, bind up the broken hearted and care for widows and orphans. Be prepared to give an answer to those who question.

Do all roads lead to evangelism? I don't think so. But, all followers of Christ do lead to Christ as we exercise of individual gifts within the community of faith in deed and in truth.

John the Baptist -Print found at Art.com

The Sacrament of Penance

2006-10-31T18:13:00.000-05:00

I had a discussion today with a pastor friend who had a question about forgiveness.

He had spoken to a Christian counselor about the topic of forgiveness. My friend is having to deal with former church members who have voiced a desire to reconcile.

"Saying, 'I'm sorry' is unBiblical," he said. I didn't know where he was going with this so I just listened. He went on to explain that saying that you are "sorry" is simply stating how you feel. "There is no forgiveness in simply stating facts," He said. " Something else is needed."

The evangelical Christian counselor went on to explain that confession of the wrong, asking for forgiveness and offering some sign of sincerity is the Biblical way to forgiveness.

Now, I must admit that I have had very little use for Christian counselors, but this guy is on to something that we as protestants have lost. Penance - the sign of sincerity. (Penance - a sacrament that includes contrition, confession, acceptance of punishment and absolution)

The protestant world sees "repentance" as necessary for forgiveness, and generally it is viewed among fundamentalists as an event that proceeds salvation. Some of the better protestant teachers make clear that repentance is a lifestyle of turning from sin and toward God (ie. changing your mind about sin and agreeing with God that it is bad). But, there is little to no mention of penance in the protestant circles.

Penance is often viewed by evangelicals as a means of "paying" for sin. This idea is rejected on good grounds as there simply is no way that we could "pay" for our sins. But, in the rejection of this extreme we have lost the Biblical role of confession in forgiveness. Just saying "I'm sorry" does not cut it, no matter how sincere you are.

A woman is caught in sin. She confesses her sins and asks for forgiveness. When Jesus offered forgiveness to the adulterous woman He gave her the penance of "...Go and sin no more." Always the call and command of Christ involves real and concrete actions. "Come, take up your cross and follow me."

As an example -- a young man goes to his elder and confesses his viewing of pornography on the internet. The elder brother prays for and comforts the young brother with the words of God. Then the elder brother prescribes the penance of putting a filter on the young brother's computer (or cutting off the internet altogether) in order to gage sincerity, but more importantly to help prevent the young man from repeating the same sin. Far from an "accountability partner" the young man has submitted to the authority of an elder and received an action to "prove" his repentance and aid the young man in sanctification. The young man now has the opportunity to walk in repentance and obey the command he has been given.

Listing my sins to God in some secret prayer and asking Him to forgive me is a cheap way of grace. Changing my mind about sin and telling God He is right is a nice idea that I suppose He appreciates. Paying for a candy bar I stole as a child makes me feel better.
However, actually confessing to someone who has authority over us, receiving God's word on the matter, performing in our bodies deeds of contrition and ceasing from the sins that plague us produce the grace of God in us in our quest for sanctification and the working out of our salvation. Confession, humility, action and obedience follow the disciples of Christ.

The Return of the prodigal Son by Rembrant van Rijn (Art.com)

Quote of the Weak -- Communion

2006-10-19T10:05:00.000-04:00

"What we do in our bodies and in our physical, mundane lives does matter, both for sin and grace."

"Many Christians look for signs and miracles. But there is no more miraculous sign than what happens during Holy Communion. Many Christians look for religious experience, but there is no experience as vivid as tasting. Evangelicals talk about 'receiving Christ', something that happened way back at their conversion. But in the Lord's Supper, as we are brought back to the Gospel again and again, we can continue to receive Christ.
Contemporary Christianity tends to be all internalized - a matter of my feelings, my inner life and my personal opinions... the Reformers stressed how salvation is extra nos, outside ourselves, accomplished in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Contemporary Christians tend to be all spiritual. They often scorn the physical realm... reasoning like Gnostics that what they do with their bodies does not affect their spirits. They often construe God as being in their heads, and they treat Jesus like some imaginary friend...
What we do in our bodies and in our physical, mundane lives does matter, both for sin and grace."

-- Gene Edward Veith

Quote of the Weak - The Great Commission

2006-10-05T01:46:00.000-04:00

"Jesus told them to go and teach all nations. This was Jesus commanding before heaven and earth something of far greater significance than emphasizing evangelism. He is saying that the kingdom of God is open to the gentiles as well. Worship of God was no longer to be for the ceremonially clean chosen people of Israel, but for the whole world. So the Great Commission was a sweeping moment of revelation, not some emphasis on “beating the bushes” with tracts and door-to-door campaigns. We have missed the majesty of this passage if we assume it is merely about evangelistic efforts."

-- Chris Johnson (Saint Ambrose Blog)

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

What architecture says about your beliefs.

2006-09-21T00:27:00.000-04:00

A student friend, that attends a local Baptist college, came into my office the other day in dismay over a lecture concerning the placement of the pulpit in many liturgical (or high) churches. The professor had noted the emphasis that was placed on the Eucharist (or Communion) during the Middle Ages and the removal of the pulpit to the side. The professor deduced that the placement of the pulpit to the side was an external sign of a belief that placed communion at the center of worship and preaching as subordinate or secondary to it.

Truly many sacramental denominations do refer to communion as the "most blessed" sacrament and believe that it is the focus or climax of true worship. The implication from the Baptist professor was that this emphasis was wrong, and that preaching should take the place as the center of true worship and the only means of grace being dispensed. Therefore the pulpit takes center stage in most protestant churches.

The issue that troubled my young friend was the ramifications of such an observation if it were applied to most Baptist churches today. To begin with the typical exterior of most Baptist churches is a plain brick rectangle with a steeple - this speaks of a practicality and modesty that is sadly disappearing. The sanctuary is situated much like a theatre with rows of pews facing a stage (I understand this is a practical and traditional way of building that is common to most churches) and communicates to the adherent a sense of observation rather than participation. The altar table (or Lord's Supper table) is generally in the lowest center of the stage in most Baptist churches. Often the altar table holds an arrangement of flowers (since it is only used for Communion four times per year) and the flowers resemble those one would place on a grave or memorial (which is very much in keeping with the Baptist view that Communion is ONLY a memorial and symbolic act of obedience). Above the table the heavy wooden pulpit is exalted which not only serves a practical purpose, but send a clear message of the importance of the sermon (the new plastic pulpits irritate me and I am not sure of the message they send). Interestingly enough the choir is raised above the pulpit, but it is located behind the pulpit which communicates the importance of "worship" (which means singing in most Baptist churches) and its secondary place of support of the sermon. On either side of the choir you will find an American flag and the "Christian flag" -- this conveys the syncretistic beliefs of many Baptists and the belief that God's kingdom IS of this world. However, the most highly exalted place in the typical Baptist sanctuary is the baptistry -- what are we to understand from this symbolic placement? Using the logic and observations of the Baptist professor we could deduce that baptism is the most important aspect of Baptist life and in essence is the "most blessed sacrament" for the non-sacramental Baptists.

I love the Orthodox and their view that the church building (and indeed the entire service of worship) should convey Heaven to Earth. Much of the art and architecture sends a message of God's holiness and the Gospel message. The crucifixion often takes center stage, the ceilings reach to the heavens, saints remind us of faithfulness and incense give the aroma of otherworldliness. There is a sense of antiquity and presence in most Orthodox churches. There can also be found an inordinate adoration of the saints and the Virgin Mary, but this, too, communicates to the adherent the reality of the communion (or fellowship) of saints.

In my book the Episcopal Church takes the prize for protestant architecture. They generally have the most beautiful, oldest and traditional buildings in town. They are saying that they are ancient, they are here to stay, and they are concerned with beauty. Furthermore, Episcopal bell towers usually have REAL bells in them (please do not even get me started on fiberglass steeples with PA systems that play fake bells)!

At Christ Community Church we have inherited a beautiful sanctuary with a typical seating arrangement of pews. Stained glass windows along the wall depict various aspects of Trinitarian belief without attempting to depict the persons of the Trinity. The windows are merely symbolic and no attempt is made to depict the body of Jesus and are therefore not to be considered graven images. We are not opposed to printed or painted images or depictions of Christ as many icons can be found on our printed materials, but you would be hard pressed to call a bulletin cover an idol. Care is taken to appeal to the sense of sight while at the same time not allowing the worshiper to fixate on an image, but rather on Christ Himself who transcends our creativity, imagination and comprehension.

There are two works of art on the wall that are passages of scripture written in a Celtic style. These passages are theme verses from past years that speak of knowing Christ and who we are in Him.

The altar table is centrally located on the floor and flanked by kneeling benches. A Bible is placed in the center of the table with bread and wine on either side of the Bible. Hopefully this communicates the importance that is placed on the written word of God and the physical body of Christ who is the Word of God.

A single goblet is filled with red grape juice and a platter holds a single loaf of unleavened bread. The single cup and loaf are symbolic of the unity we share in Christ. (However, we currently serve the juice in individual cups -- it is a practice that is practical and in consideration of germs since real wine is not being used. I do not wish to critique our practice at this time as we are in the thoughtful process of change.) Communion is taken in a kneeling position at the end of the service and in response to the sermon. Communion (or the Eucharist), then, is the "altar call" issued to believers to respond to the liturgy, scripture reading, singing and preaching of Christ. It is more than memorial or merely a symbol; it is a proclamation of our faith in Him.

Two candle stands hold a total of six candles that are lit at the beginning of each service. Two represents "witness." Three is the number of the "Trinity". Six is the number for "man". Jesus is the "Light of the world". He says that we are the "light." At CCC, we are human witnesses of the Trinity that show forth light to the world.

Our pulpit is a simple wooden podium that is moved to the center floor for preaching and removed after the sermon. The wooden podium is symbolic of the cross, and it conveys a heaviness that plastic cannot. It is movable for practical reasons, but its placement on the floor with the congregation conveys the idea that the Word of God came to dwell with us and is preached among the people.

As we occupy a former Methodist church we have no baptistry. Therefore, our baptisms must take place outside of the confines of our four walls. This forces us to take the proclamation of the Gospel to an outdoor facility such as a pool. Unwittingly, we have been placed in the position of proclaiming the death, burial and resurrection of Christ both inside and outside of the church building. We are a congregation that proclaims Christ in our regular sacred gathering places, as well as our secular community.

The musicians are placed on the raised floor that is behind the altar table and at the foot of a stained glass window that depicts the cross. On the cross hang a crown of thorns and a wreath of laurel (symbolic of the crown of glory Christ gained through His suffering). While the slight elevation difference of the platform (or stage) is due to previous design and the placement is practical for instruments, I think it does convey a slightly misleading message that we place a higher emphasis on music. At CCC I think it would be true to say that we value each element of the worship service equally. All of the service is to be Christ exalting, and conducted at the foot of the Cross to the glory of God.

Quote of the Weak -- Church Architecture

2006-09-21T00:08:00.000-04:00

"Architects could design church spaces that encourage people to use more of their senses than just sight or hearing. Think of the possibilities if architects were to consider the five senses not in isolation from one another but in harmony with each other.
God gave us five senses for a reason. People need to look, to listen, to touch, to taste, and to smell when they are praising God. "

-- Leonard Sweet (Church Architecture for the 21st Century, Christianity Today 1999)

While I disagree with most of his article (too much emphasis on innovation and video screens) I very much like his thoughts concerning the harmony of senses in worship.

What did the Pope say?

2006-09-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

The Pope's recent speech concerning peace and dialogue was the fuel for violence and threats from the Islamic world.

His words, a quote taken out of context, were an accusation that Mohammed taught growth by the sword and this teaching is wrong. Today the Pope said that this was not his view. Yet, the Muslim reaction around the world has served only to prove that Islam is a violent religion.

If you do read the Pope's speech it is a bit disturbing to see that the Pope seems to refers to the Koran in terms of scripture. If anything the Pope has been too benevolent by making Islam on the same plain as Christianity. Moderate Islamist have tried to calm their Fundamentalist brothers by pointing out that the Pope promotes Islam as one of the three great monotheistic religions, and that "thinking" Muslims are in some way in tune with God. Many say that the Pope is only speaking out against "radical" Islamist that have "hijacked Islam."

The belief in the equality of belief (at least as far as the "monotheistic" religions) is popular among many Christians these days, but you will find it is rare in the Islamic world.

One point that the Pope was trying to make is that you cannot force religion on anyone. Sure the Catholic Church has been guilty of trying, and various Christians throughout the history of the Church have tried coercions in many forms. But, listen to what the man is saying! He does not believe in forcing religion on people - either the Christian or Muslim religion.

All religions are not equal. To say that "Mohammed promoted peace" is about as smart as saying that "Jesus promoted violence".

Jews do not believe that God is triune. Muslims do not believe that God is triune. More than philosophy Christianity stands out above the other "monotheistic" religions pointing to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life -- the only way to get to the Father. Christianity is not only monotheistic, but it is Trinitarian.

While I do not think that the Pope is God's voice on Earth it does trouble me to hear him apologize for the reaction that misinformed zealots (which seem to be the majority) had concerning his quote. Pope Benedict, please do not make apologies. Preach the Gospel, repentance and faith, and Christ as the only way!

Quote of the Weak -- Compassion

2006-09-05T23:24:00.000-04:00

"I want to send the signal to our enemy that you have aroused a compassionate and decent and mighty nation, and we're going to hunt you down."
-- President George W. Bush

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

He is Holy, He is Love

2006-08-30T14:56:00.000-04:00

Thursday night I despaired of life. Lauren was suffering. She had injured her deformed legs in therapy. Her seizures were too many to count. She vomited her supper onto her pillow.

My eldest daughter was frustrated as she was helpless to stop the suffering. "I know life is not fair, but this isn't right." As my wife and daughter cried over Lauren she said clearly, "Anna. No." and wiped the tears from Anna's face.

I went to the bathroom and screamed my prayers of frustration into a rolled up towel.

Did God count those tears?

There are many things we can know about God. Two specific things that scripture reveals about God's nature are that He is holy, holy, holy and He is love.

Because He is holy, He cannot sin and does no evil. Because He is perfectly holy, there is none like Him. Because He is holy, He must also be just. Because He is holy, evil will not prevail forever. Because He is holy, He is glorified. Because He is holy, He is to be feared.

Because God is love, he must love. Because God is love, He is full of mercy. Because God so loved the world, He gave us His only begotten Son Jesus.

I am persuaded today that it is God's nature of love and holiness that motivate His actions toward us. While He may have every right to glorify Himself, He does it in such a way that it is both holy and full of love.

The world was made for Jesus. The world was made by Jesus. He was supreme in glory before the foundations of the universe, and His love was perfect before the world was formed. Yet, God created the universe so that His love would be manifest and His glory displayed. Christ's Bride was created by God for Him that He might have an object of His love. Such great love is amazing. I am not saying that He created the universe for man, nor am I saying that man is the center of the universe. But our God is so great that He created man to love, and the universe as the setting for this divine and glorious love affair.

It is because of His great love that we who believe have been chosen, and given faith, hope and love. It is because of His great love that we are destined to be conformed to His image and share in His glory. It is because of His great love that all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purposes. It is because of His great love that we are being conformed through sharing in His suffering to the image of His Son Jesus.

The world is not fair and it certainly is not right. Indeed, all of creation groans under sin. But I am convinced today that God is love and He is holy, holy, holy. I believe, although I die, I will see my daughter walk and proclaim with all of creation that Jesus is LORD to the glory of God the Father. I have faith that by His great love I will see my Redeemer and Lauren will stand with Him on that day. "We will dance on streets that are golden; the glorious Bride and the great Son of Man. Every tribe and every nation will join in the song of the Lamb!"

Because of His Holy Love, He counts every tear, and they will be redeemed for joy!

Why some hate the Reformation Movement

2006-08-24T10:45:00.000-04:00

What, you don't know?

There is a "movement" among Baptists these days. I think the word movement should indicate that there is a potential error afoot. Most movements seem to unintentionally breed cultish behavior by focusing too much on a particular teaching or passage. Even what may be called "good movements" such as the Great Awakening promoted a pendulum swing in the other direction. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and every other Christian cult that I know of was the result of or a reaction to a "movement."

You will notice that I have avoided the word "revival." Revival carries with it too much baggage and the picture of a mad man in a three piece suit pounding a pulpit. Revival also implies a connection with our emotions. So, I believe most people prefer to call what is happening a movement. However, this term is not without its connotations as well.

The charismatic movement has birthed a great number of heretics as the emphasis has been on emotions, feelings, prophesy, manifestations and revelation. Not all charismatics are heretics, mind you. This movement affected Baptists in that many churches shifted to a more emotional worship style and preaching that was pointed at the perceived needs of the congregation (salvation and personal happiness) which is now termed "man-centered preaching." Evangelism focused less on the work of God and more on the "decision" of the man.

Today there is a growing minority among Baptists that are reacting to the emphasis on emotion by appealing to reformation theology. Reformation theology being the theology that resulted (or was recovered) in the reformation movements of the 1500s in Europe. Luther, Calvin and many others had restored the doctrines of the Church Fathers, and they focused heavily on the doctrines of grace, election, predestination and salvation. Today's reformist would claim that they are seeking "God-centered preaching."

Luther was a monk that never felt saved. He tried with all his might to be saved and it was not until he understood that the "just shall live by faith" that he was freed from the bondage of a works-based salvation. He was free indeed. His was not a passionless salvation, but rather one that was worked out in fear and trembling.

Calvin seems to have been much more intellectual and scholarly in his approach (Not that Luther was a dope, he did translate the entire Bible into German. He was just more "earthy.") Both men gloried in the doctrines of grace concerning salvation and the fact that God is the one who elects to save according to His will. It is God who gives faith and God who has predestined those who receive faith to be conformed to the image of Christ.

While many may think that it is election or predestination that causes fellow believers to hate the Reformation Movement, I would submit that it is neither. I have come to the conclusion that the movement is hated because it is imbalanced.

When I first read the passages (in a college Bible study) in Romans that concern God's election, I was offended. I had grown up with an imblanced view that I had saved myself. "I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore..." But, if the Apostle Paul was right I was not sinking -- I was "DEAD in sins and trespasses." I was not seeking God, but He was seeking me. The offense was replaced with joy and a sureness that I had never known concerning my own salvation. It was not my work, rather it was the work of God. It was not MY faith, nor my sincere prayer that saved me. It was faith that God gave me regardless of my emotion, sincerity or manifestations.

My zeal for good theology sent me gorging on words about God. The more I knew the more proud and arrogant I became. I began to hate the Church in America. I came to see most churches in America as fulfillments of the prophesy concerning Laodacea (although they were rich and had need of nothing they were poor, blind, miserable and naked). I gloried in the wrath of God that was being stored up for the sons of disobedience. I gloried that I was chosen before the foundations of the World. I hated the ignorant preachers who spent more time beating me up for not tithing or being a good person than speaking about Christ.

I was becoming full of good theology. I was so full that I could not eat another bite. The sweetness of God's love had become repulsive to me as I had feasted on His glory, wrath and election. Some years later, God brought me to a point of starvation.

The day that I was told that my daughter had brain damage all of my good theology flew right out the window. "God is without body, parts or passions." "God does everything for His own glory." Extra Biblical theological statements and maxims were useless to me. All I knew was the Gospel, and I wanted God to speak to me. I cried and moaned for hours. Quote Calvin to me, are you kidding me? God had deformed my child for His own egocentric glory?!? I didn't want to hear Calvin, Luther or Billy Graham for that matter. I had to hear from God Himself. I was not hungry; I was famished.

"Do you hate your daughter?"

"No, God. Maybe I am angry with you, but how could I hate her?"

"Then why do you hate my Church? You say you love me, but you hate my Bride. Therefore, my love does not live in you."

That word was so bitter, but God's bitter word was sweet to a starving man.

Scripture does not teach us that God so desired to glorify Himself that He sent Jesus. On the contrary His word teaches us that "God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son." God's nature is love. He is LOVE. Of course His love brings Him glory; everything He does is glorious. But God is a God of passion and love. This passionate God loved us so much that He took on flesh, humbled Himself and became a man. He disrobed His glory and manifest His very nature of Love by submitting to death on a cross. His love and power resurrected the dead body of Christ, and it is by His love that He gives faith and His Spirit to men, and conforms them to His image. It is because of His great love that He has done this. It is because of His great love that He has maimed my daughter's body and afflicted us with trials. He is working all things together for the good of them that love Him and are called according to His good purposes.

I fear God. I mean shaking in my shoes terrified. I fear Him because of His great love. He is the Lion of Judah that tears us to pieces. He is also the Lamb of God that loves us with a jealous and divine passion. He loves us so much that we share in the sufferings of Christ so that we might be more than converted -- we might be made new creatures and conformed to His glorious image.

We have been commanded to make disciples. We have been commanded to teach and reprove. But the greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. If love is our motivation (as I believe it is God's), then everything that we do will be to the glory of God.

Why do some people hate the reformation movement? While it is full of zeal for good theology, it is often void of God's love, the love He has for Christ's body (His bride, the Church) and His passion that is all consuming.

Tolerance and the question of the Universe

2006-08-22T17:30:00.000-04:00

I read a new blog recently that was written by a sincere Pakistani who was vainly promoting tolerance. He (or she) will soon find out how intolerant religious people are.

I do take issue with the idea that the center of Semitic religions is tolerance. The center of Islam, Judaism and Christianity should be God. Each religion has its own particular view of a monotheistic god and each religion's practice is determined by that view of a god. Quite simply none of these religions is based upon tolerance.

I cannot speak for Islam or Judaism, but I can speak as a Christian. Love of God and love for man is the greatest commandment, but that does not mean that I should condone all of mans' beliefs or behaviors.

Rather than teaching tolerance or ambivalence Christ taught that we should live in a way that brings light to a dark world and stands in stark contrast to other systems of belief and practice. While we are not to condemn others we are certainly not commanded to condone others.

In this nation (USA) tolerance carries with it the idea that anyone's belief is not above another's. Tolerance has come to mean submission. Nothing is absolute, nothing is true -- therefore, no one should have the the belief that his faith is true so as to disrespect others beliefs. This is a silly idea. If a man believes perfectly that the moon is made of cheese his belief is wrong. It is not my place to change his belief through argument or violence, but I certainly do not have to live by his belief, nor should I have to submit to it. To respect such a belief and place it as equal to truth would be ridiculous.

I (neither would the Pakistani blogger) respect the beliefs of anyone who is willing to kill others so as to force his/her beliefs on someone else.

Talk of tolerance is a diversion from the real issue.

The main question of the Universe is Who is God?

Islam says that Allah is God and there is no other.

Judaism says that Jehovah is God and there is no other.

Christ says, "I am the way, the truth and the life and there are none that come to the Father except by me."

These three teachings (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) are tri-polar opposites and cannot all be true.

In the blog a sincere peace-loving Muslim's question read, "How can someone who is truly religious kill themselves?" I do not understand the zealots who kill others, nor do I understand how they think this will persuade others to follow their example or their god. However, Christians are called to "kill themselves" in a sense.

We have been commanded to put to death the deeds of the flesh, which are murder, envy, strife, lust, etc. I submit that the man who truly knows God must "kill himself" and love all of man kind. Far from simple tolerance Christians have been commanded to active self-sacrificial love. Tolerance is inactive, I can sit on a log and tolerate everyone. Love is active, I must pursue love in deed and truth.

The blogger went on to say that all true religions promote tolerance as tolerance is the center of true religion. While I appreciated this Mulsim's hope for promoting peace and tolerance I think his assessment is superficial at best. I do not claim to understand Islam, however I would never say that the essence of Islam or religion is "tolerance."

The essence of religion should be answering the questions; Who is God? What did He say? How should I then live?

Listerine Kills!

2006-08-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

Today flights were canceled, people around the world were having their hygiene products confiscated, arrest were made and a group of young English Muslims of Pakistani decent gave new meaning to the ad slogan, "Listerine Kills..."

Thanks to a moronic group of Islamic "fascists" (as W put it) seems that toothpaste, shampoo and that loved/hated mouthwash are now contraband on flights.

First the guy who tried to light his shoes, now mouthwash. Is nothing sacred?!?

The irony is that these punks were trying to terrorize the Capitalist West and bring our economic engines to a screeching halt. What they did was cause the stock prices for hygiene products to gain ground and sent hundreds of thousands of would-be squeaky clean travelers to Wal-Mart to replace their shampoo that was impounded by the TSA. Most travelers were mildly irritated, but travel again they will.

Maybe instead of banning my toothpaste our government should reconsider decades of flawed policies directed at most of the world's poorest populations. When will we get it through our heads that it is not OUR freedom that the Islamic world fears (it is our freedom that makes us vulnerable to their shoe and Listerine bombers) it is THEIR freedom that they fear. Freedom is a mixed bag of good and bad. They do not want our democratic system of government, nor do they want the decadence that accompanies it. They do not want their women to be treated like human beings. Most of all they want us to stop supporting everything that Israel (the most democratic society in the Middle East) does just because they are democratic (and that shared religious heritage Judao/Christian stuff).

I am afraid that the more the Muslim extremists try to terrorize the West the more the West will infringe upon the East. Ironically these young zealots are going to bring to their nations the thing they fear most -- more US troops to the Middle East and more Americans to the support of Israel's "fight against terrorists." Did these cave dwellers not see how many American flags were flying on the day after September 11? Terrorism does affect Americans deeply, and makes us even more resolved.

I have to admit that I have been swayed today. The more attacks we face as a nation the more patriotic I feel. The more I am hated for simply being born in America the more American I feel. I was against the war, I'm still against war. I think democracy is not such a good idea on a global scale. But, the more Muslims try to kill Westerners (and fellow Muslims as in Iraq) the more empathy I feel toward Israel and England. Sure America has done a lot of bad things in the name of democracy. Truly Israel has taken land that did not legally belong to them. Of course Great Britain made gross errors in dividing up the Middle East (which was a mess before the UK got involved). But, what makes Osama think that by terrorizing the general public of free nations we will want to run headlong back into the dark ages? For better or worse a free society may not be able to freshen up on a flight, but we refuse to ban Muslims from flights. We will not become the racist bigots and zealots that threaten us.

My message to the terrorists -- Keep it up and I'll be working for the right of Muslim women everywhere to vote. What woman would "mastermind" a plan to kill thousands of innocent people?

Thanks a lot, zealots, for taking my toothpaste away on my next international flight. May the bad breath of a hundred thousand travelers fill the nostrils of your sleep.

We will empower no leaders before their time.

2006-08-09T12:30:00.000-04:00

Why is it that we never hear of a Christian church or school that has as its motto, "Training the Followers of Tomorrow!" Where are all the followers going to come from for all the leaders we are training?

Jesus never said, "Follow me and I will make you leaders of men." His command was to "follow me" and the promise was that He would make the followers to be "fishers of men." Furthermore, in the Church the leaders are called "apostles," "shepherds," "elders" and "overseers" instead of "lords," "bosses" and "tyrants." Authority is vastly different than our concept of leadership. To be an authority in the Church is to be a "servant to all." The authorities in the Church are commanded to watch over, love, care for, teach, reprove and instruct. The only instruction that seems to indicate leadership is by example and lifestyle.

Spiritual authority is voluntarily exercised and voluntarily received. We have spiritual authorities for our good and our protection. When our authorities fail, we suffer; when we fail to follow, we suffer.

What is seen as a "silly rule" or "stupid paperwork" is actually a blessing from God. The fact that the IRS has authority over me to make me report the expenses of the ministry makes me a better bookkeeper and hopefully, a better spender of the funds entrusted to me.

As a young Christian I was zealous and put into leadership as a teenager. I entered college with a plan to continue being the leader and continued to be a minister on church staff. It took me a decade to have the pride beaten out of me that was the result of too much authority too fast. There are few realms in the world where a young inexperienced man, whose philosophy has not been proven, can become the leader. Can you imagine graduating college and immediately becoming the president of a bank? I don't care how much "knowledge" you have, you have not proven it. You have not "earned" it. And you have not gained the experience that transforms knowledge into wisdom.

I have been guilty of promoting younger brothers to positions of power (all be it small) before their time. This can lead to pride and actually harm my brother that I am trying to help. Walton says, "help is from Hell." What we need is a radical (paradigm if you will) shift in our thinking. We are not "helped" by God; we are saved by God. What He has done is a radical new creation. He has turned the world upside down and established the things that were not. We were DEAD in an ocean of sin (not swimming just fine, thank you very much).

There is a strong temptation in the missions world to send as many young Christians overseas as we can possibly facilitate. Why do we continue to think that God thinks the way we think? Why do we think that God has such a sense of urgency that He would negate His own Word (not to put a novice in authority, lest he become conceited and fall into the snare of the devil) and lead us to put a novice in authority? If Jesus Christ Himself was not ready for public ministry until He was about 30, then who are we to think that we are ready at 21?

Like a fine wine that is perfected through patience, we should empower no leaders before their time.

Quote of the Weak -- Apocalypse

2006-08-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

"America has to support Israel. You know what they say, 'You shouldn't change horses in mid-apocalypse.'"
-- Arlene (my sister who blogs vicariously)

Quote of the Weak -- Emotions

2006-08-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

"If I wasn't on anti-depressants, I might have teared up a little."
-- Ben Williams in response to Iz's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

Violent ambivalence

2006-08-03T00:26:00.000-04:00

I admire Brian's blog. Generally it is lighthearted and makes me laugh. When he does have something profound to communicate, he does it in such a way that he offends no one. Brian cares deeply about some issues; if you look closely at his blog you can discern what they are. He does this in such a way that he leaves the reader to come to his own conclusions. Brian actually survives quite well in the world, and he has achieved a balance that I often envy. Brian is profoundly innocuous and he stirs people to deeper thought and action all the time, allowing them to feel that it was their idea all along.

I am what you may call "opinionated;" most people call it "obnoxious." Everyone has an opinion on just about every subject, even if their opinion is simply, "I don't care." But there are a few of us out there that are passionately opinionated. Amongst the passionately opinionated, there is a minority that are also conflicted in their opinions. Seems that I have such strong feelings on so many subjects and many times my strong feelings are conflicting. I am what is called V.A. = violently ambivalent.

V.A. can manifest itself in many ways, but generally involves the phrase, "I don't care." For example, "I don't care where we eat! Anywhere but ethnic, or fish, or burgers, or chicken; I don't care! Just pick somewhere!!!" In this situation the simple fact is I must eat and I do care where I don't eat, but I do not know where I want to eat. The longer it takes to make a decision, the more VA I can get.

Most of the time I don't know what the answers are. I may know what the problem is, but I don't know how to fix it. The result more often than not is a provocative display of VA. Why do I care about wars in the Middle East? Why do I care about Christians on TV who resemble clownish snake oil salesmen and make us all look goofy? Why do I care about man-centered mission strategies? What do I plan to do about it? I don't know, just so long as I don't have to go to battle with a missiologist in a pink wig.

So, tell me again -- who are the terrorists?

2006-07-30T21:52:00.000-04:00

34 children and 12 women died while sleeping in their apartment building that was hit in an Israeli air strike on Sunday in Qana, Lebanon.

Some 500 Lebanese, mostly civilians, have been killed in the campaign according to the Health Ministry. Thirty-three Israeli soldiers have died, and Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel have killed 18 civilians, Israeli authorities said.

"During the current crisis, Israel and the world need to know that the US Congress stands firm in its commitment to Israel's protection and right to defend itself against terrorism and state-sponsored terrorists," Dave Weldon (R) Congressman from Florida. Funny, I thought blowing up buildings full of women and children was what we call terrorism.

What disturbs me most is that so many of my fellow Christians cheer for the modern state of Israel as "God's chosen people" and that anything the nation does is endorsed by God Himself. For some balance I suggest John Piper's sermon on the issue.

I might also suggest a history lesson from Wikipedia concerning the Lavon Affair. To quote my favorite movie line once again, "We all covered up in it, they aien't a one of us clean. "

Bumper Sticker of the Week - Democracy

2006-07-30T20:47:00.000-04:00

It is interesting to me that we only seem to bring "freedom" to our enemies and not our allies (ie. Saudi Arabia, which just happens to be our second greatest ally in the Middle East and the second most oppressive government in the world).

I am convinced that those who hate America do not hate our wealth, they do not even hate freedom. They hate that our freedom and wealth has led to decadence. They also hate the hypocrisy of our support of oppressive regimes (like the Taliban or "Mujahideen" during the Cold War) around the world in our efforts to promote the "American way of life". And that is what they fear that we will bringing to their country by force.

Quote of the Weak -- Indulgences

2006-07-23T20:59:00.000-04:00

A German illustration of a priest collecting "indulgences" on behalf of the Catholic church. An indulgence could be purchased that would bring a blessing or "guarentee salvation" of one's soul. This was just one of the issues that sparked the Protestant Reformation. The last line of the poem reads, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, / The soul at once into Heaven springs."

"After 1500 years you could purchase blessings from Rome. But don't be too hard on the Catholic church. Protestants have only been around for 500 years and we have TBN."

--Ross

Pray for the peace of Palestine

2006-07-23T01:55:00.000-04:00

It is horrible that so many young Muslim men (and now women) are so willing to strap bombs to their chests and blow up cafes full of civilians. But have you ever stopped to ask the question, "What would make someone so desperate?"

Bin Ladin is an opportunist on a power trip, but what about the young men who are willing to die for him? Maybe they had a childhood like the boy in the photo from Gaza. Maybe their homes, or families were destroyed by a rocket fired from Israel and made in the good ole US of A.

I do not condone the taking of prisoners of war, nor do I condone the excessive force exerted by Israel in retaliation. But whatever happened to the rule of "an eye for an eye?"

What bothers me most tonight is that I am hearing so many evangelicals who are calling us to pray for Israel, but so few who make the same request for the Palestinians and the Lebanese. I know this comes from a misunderstanding of Paul's teaching about the spiritual covenant and the physical covenant God made with Abraham (Gal 4:21-31). It comes from an ignorance of history as recent as the 1940s. It comes from a fear of Islam and Arabs. But even if the Arabs (some of whom are not Muslim) are our enemies (as the enemies of Israel), are we not required by Christ to love and pray for them?

The Israel of God are those who have faith in the Christ (Galatians 3:26-29, 6:16). The Seed that was promised to Abraham is Jesus (Galatians 3:16, Genesis 21:17-20, 22:15-19). Ishmael (the father of the Arabs) was not cursed by God; he and Isaac were both blessed by God. (Jealousy caused Sarah to curse Ishmael and his mother as recorded in Genesis 21:8-21, yet God was at work to bless them all). Abraham is the father of many nations, but God is the Father of the true Israel, which is not a kingdom (or nation) of this world (John 18:36). Isaac was particularly blessed as his descendant would be the Christ, but it has always been by faith in the Gospel that anyone was considered righteous by God (Galatians 3:8) and grafted into the vine (Jesus).

There are many innocent Arabs (Christian and Muslim) who are suffering tonight at the hand of Israel, with the backing of the USA. Collateral damage we prefer to call it. I can only hope that the little boys who are digging through the rubble tonight will not be the suicide bombers of tomorrow.

In just a few hours thousands of American Christians will gather at their places of worship and will pray for the peace of Israel. When you pray, consider whispering a prayer for the peace of Palestine as well.

Quote of the Weak -- Community

2006-07-21T02:11:00.000-04:00

"The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt."
-- Frederick Buechner

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

A cup of Christ?

2006-07-20T17:49:00.000-04:00

Icons have been used through much of Christian history to convey certain truths of Scripture. Some Icons are obviously heretical (ie. a depiction of the Trinty with three "Jesus" heads), while others may be helpful. This icon is meant to convey the "true presence of Christ" in the Eucharist.

I don't think this was what Jesus had in mind when He said , "this is my blood." Yet, it does give pause for thought.

Thoughts on Sacrament

2006-07-20T14:42:00.000-04:00

How strange it seems to me now that we used the word "ordinance" instead of "sacrament." But I think this is precisely where the problem lies in much of evangelical Protestant America.

The definition of ordinance in my daughter's student dictionary says, "A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a city government." Another dictionary adds, "A religious rite or ceremony." The definition of communion is, "The act or instance of sharing, as of thoughts, feelings, or interests". The definition of sacrament in the same dictionaries reads, "a sacred rite considered to have been instituted by Jesus" and "a manifestation of God's grace on earth."

Growing up in an SBC church I knew that the "Lord's Supper" was special, you had to be really somber and make sure that you had confessed all your sins or you might go to Hell. But I also knew that it, like baptism, was ONLY "a symbol" and that it was just bread and juice. In an effort to remove mystery we had created a superstitious symbol that had the power to curse. No wonder we Baptists don't want to take communion more than 3 or 4 times per year. In our Baptist rebellion against tradition, "church talk" and "dead liturgy" we have created new words, rites and elements that have been diluted of any meaning and simply created new traditions, jargon and liturgy that are devoid of depth. The only sacraments (in a salvation sense of the word) were the aisle walk and the sinner's prayer (neither of which can be found in Scripture).

It was at a weekly ecumenical men's prayer meeting that I first started seeing communion as communion. We believed that God's grace was being manifest to us in a tangible way as we broke bread and shared a common cup of wine. By faith we were receiving and sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ. I saw for the first time that disunity and hatred of my brothers made communion hypocrisy and me unworthy to proclaim my part in the Body. I came to understand that this group of men, my church and the Church universal is the Body of Christ. It was at this meeting that Christ's Body was discerned -- given on Earth, residing in Heaven and manifest in the Church. It was in every way a mysterious ordinance that was both a sacrament and communion. It is a weekly profession of faith and a tangible proclamation of the Gospel of Christ's body given for us and His blood shed for us.

Some years later as I had the privilege to baptize my daughter, I came to believe that baptism is more than a mere symbol or act of obedience. As I plunged my daughter's head underwater and pronounced her "buried with Christ in baptism" and raised her out of the symbolic grave "to newness of life in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," I knew that I had handled holy things. I had a bird's eye view as she took that first gasp of air after having been submerged in cold water, and I could imagine what the resurrection will be like. No, the water had no power to save, but something of God's grace was manifest in that moment through baptism. It is a visual proclamation of the Gospel.

What does Christ mean when He says, "where two or more are gathered in my name I am present?" In what way is Christ present with us gathered that He is not present with me when I am alone. He does not leave me, nor forsake me. I am never alone. Yet, there is a manifestation of God's presence when we are gathered in Jesus name that we do not have alone. Every Baptist I know would agree that the "presence of the Lord" can be felt in a worship service, and most have had experiences of "God's presence" in a time of prayer or intense struggle. Yet, we are afraid to say that "Christ is present" in baptism or communion.

Here is a winsome and wise quote from Millard Erickson (elder statesman of Baptist theology) on this point: "Out of a zeal to avoid the conception that Jesus is present in some sort of magical way, certain Baptists among others have sometimes gone to such extremes as to give the impression that the one place where Jesus most assuredly is not to be found is the Lord's Supper. This is what one Baptist leader termed 'the doctrine of the real absence' of Jesus Christ." (Christian Theology [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books], 1123) (Thanks Ray!)

In a very real way the mission of the Church is to be a manifestation of God's grace and presence in the world. We are not God, but we are His body, His bride. The lost will never receive faith if the Gospel is not preached. The new believer will not be baptized and there is no communion outside of the Body. God's grace in the Gospel will not be witnessed in the world without the Bride. The Church is not the savior; Christ is the Savior. Jesus has not given the task to angels, but He has given the glorious task of proclaiming the Gospel to us, the Church. There then is no salvation outside of the Church and the Gospel that she preaches and proclaims in word and deed. Our task is a tangible, visible and audible proclamation of the Gospel.

I agree with my Baptist brothers in the importance of preaching. However, I do not believe that preaching has primacy. Rather I believe that preaching is sacramental in that God's grace is being manifest on the Earth in the spoken word, and that we must hear and believe the Gospel in order to be saved. Preaching, baptism and communion are opportunities for faith to be proclaimed and worked out, and God's grace to be manifest on Earth.

I have been accused of being a mystic, and to be honest I love mystery. I love scholarship as well. But I am content to leave some things in the realm of mystery. We have, in America, a need to explain everything. We simply cannot stand to have people think that we are fools. If only we could prove our faith... Have we forgotten that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the word of life to those who believe? These mysterious ordinances are a way that we identify with Christ and separate ourselves from the World, and the Church together in word and deed proclaims the Gospel.

He gives and takes away...

2006-07-18T00:41:00.000-04:00

Robin Mark sang a song Thursday night at the concert that has the words, "He gives and takes away, and still my heart will say 'Blessed be the name of the LORD.'" As he sang those words, I joined with him in singing even as our unborn child seemed to be in the process of being taken away.

Our fears for the baby were confirmed last night as the heartbeat had stopped and signs of imminent miscarriage were confirmed by the doctor at the ER.

For all that I think I do know about God there is so much more I don't know. I really don't understand why so many things happen, but I have to trust that God is good and He does good to those that love Him and are called according to His purposes. I have been told that it is foolish to look for purpose or try to figure out the reason for every thing that happens in our lives. Personally, I think it is foolish not to look for the hand of God in even the smallest things of life and if there is no purpose to tragedy then there is no purpose for anything. It can be foolish to jump to conclusions, but it can never be foolish to seek God.

As we waited for the doctor a lab tech came in to draw Lana's blood. I mentioned that I would not watch the process as it makes me a bit weak in the knees. To salvage my manhood, I mentioned that I had assisted doctors in Honduras, but that it was just different when it came to my wife and kids. The tech agreed, and then we talked more about Honduras and missions. As the conversation progressed she shared her concern for her unbelieving relatives. Her deep concern was evident through the tears that welled in her eyes. There is so much pain in the world. We prayed together for her nephew and nieces to receive faith and be led to repentance. "God certainly knows what He is doing," she said. "I'm glad He brought you here tonight."

Later in the night Walt and Craig came to the hospital to share their concern and pray for us. In the middle of pain and sorrow God had brought spiritual family together to comfort each other. Some are in the process of giving; some are in the process of receiving. Some of us have known each other for years, others we just met in passing. Together one day we will be before our LORD and proclaim together, "Blessed be the name of the LORD!"

Quote of the Weak -- Perfectionism

2006-07-07T22:28:00.000-04:00

"Perfectionism is the enemy of good enough."
-- Russian Proverb

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

To thine own self be true...

2006-07-07T15:54:00.000-04:00

...but, who are you?

My upbringing taught me to be hyperconscious of what other people thought about me. The main reason I did not drink alcohol as a teenager was not the fear of God, but for fear of what others would think. Fear of what others will think is ironically why most teens in America start drinking alcohol. I was more concerned with impressing my parents, church friends and older people that I respected, because I wanted to be respected -- obeying the rules earned me respect. Most teens want respect or recognition and some find it in their friends -- for some disobedience and rebellion earns them the respect or recognition they desire.

As I have gotten older I have grown to care less and less what others think of me. I wish that I could say that I don't care at all, but if that were true I would not publish a blog. I don't even try as hard to give a good impression to the people that I love dearly.

If we truly love others we must be willing to love them as they are. The good, the bad and the ugly are all a part of who we truly are.

We are all in the same boat really. We start life with great expectations and being told to dream big. We grow up and life happens. We get older and panic because we have not achieved our dreams. For some truly blessed, they come to realize that their dreams were all together vanity.

I suppose my favorite dialogue in my favorite movie comes from a scene in Glory. A young private has just participated in his first battle against pure evil. He has dreamed of the day that he could take vengeance on his enemy and bring justice to earth. He has killed for the first time and come to realize that he is now guilty of all that has been done against him and more. Col. Shaw says to the young black soldier, "Stinks I suppose?" The soldier replies, "Yeah it stinks. Stinks bad, and we all covered up in it. Ain't a one of us clean." The end of the conversation brings the conviction that we must simply, "ante up and kick in (do our duty)."

I am in the process of trying to build a house, LORD willing. There are as many opinions on the matter as I have friends and family. I know men in Ethiopia who live content lives in huts. I know men in Ethiopia who live very discontent lives in huts. There is no intrinsic virtue in poverty. I know men who live content lives in large American homes. I know men who live very discontent lives in large American homes. There is no intrinsic evil in wealth.

The common thread of the content men that I know is not their possessions or lack thereof. Their common ground is Christ alone and that they know who they are in Him. The common thread I see in the discontent is a lack of depth and a constant yearning to be or have more.

"In the last resort what matters is not what the man does, but only his faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Mediator. At all events poverty or riches, marriage or celibacy, a profession or the lack of it, have in the last resort nothing to do with it -- everything depends on faith alone." -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Everything outside of faith is sin. In the end we must fear God and know that we will give account to Him alone. We must know Christ and walk alone in the community of faith. By faith we can be who we are, and only by faith can we be who we will be.

Noah's Ark discovered....Again.

2006-06-30T10:23:00.000-04:00

When I checked the news this morning I saw the headline, "Noah's Ark Discovered." Seems that I remember a book about this that came out in the 70's, or was it the 80's, or both?

Basically a group of guys have found a pile of wood in Iran that is about the size of a small aircraft carrier. It actually does seem logical to me that a pile of wood the size of an aircraft carrier at 13,000 feet in that part of the world would be Noah's ark. I don't doubt it. The problem is that this group of men actually believe that they are going to "prove" the existence of God.

When I look at an ant, I know God exists because I have faith. Some will not believe even with the evidence of miracles or the testimony of prophets. "Neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead," Jesus said.

I love apologetics and I think it is great that this group has found the Ark (or at least a very interesting pile of wood on an arid mountain). But no one will come to the Father through evidence; they will only come if the Holy Spirit draws them through Christ (the One who rose from the dead) by faith.

There was an opportunity on AOL to post your comments on the story, and I made the mistake of taking a look at those comments. One zealous Christian lady was so excited because this "evidence" would once and for all persuade all the people who do not believe in God. She wrote passionately about the God that healed her babies, and that we would all see such miracles if we could only believe and obey like she had (then of course she added, "...by the grace of God.") Very predictably the first reply to her post was, "If your god is so good why did my....?"

I think the reason why this story affected me so deeply is that I have a child and wife that have not been totally healed. Our miracles seem limited. There remains a thorn. Yet, I cannot deny the faith that God has given me. Furthermore it is through suffering that God has proven His goodness to us. It really does not matter what scientists find or don't find. I have been adopted by my Creator and nothing can separate me from His love.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

---
For a look at the most recent photos and story see the
Christian Worldview website which places the Ark in Iran.
Then you might be interested in "Noah's Ark Found: The Search is Over" Rene Nourbegen 1988
or "In Search of Noah's Ark, the greatest discovery of our time" Documentary 1976
or John Morris' and Tim LaHaye's book "The Ark On Ararat" 1976 Thomas Nelson (which was about the Ark being "found in Turkey"
or LaHaye's sequel that is sure to come "The Ark that was Left Behind"
and the powerful forthcoming book "Your Best Ark Now!"

You can judge a cover by the book.

2006-06-29T14:27:00.000-04:00

You can find out a lot about people by the books they recommend, not necessarily the books on their shelves.

I admit that there is a limit to the knowledge you can gain about someone this way, but in general it is a fair method. A 30-something year old lady who recommends "Love You Forever" must be a mother of small children (or a sentimentalist at the very least). A man who recommends the "Gunowner's Bible" must be a gun owner (and maybe someone you should never insult). A pastor who has copies of Spurgeon and the Church Fathers may have read neither; instead ask him what he recommends if you really want to know where he is coming from.

I finally updated and repaired the links to my book recommendations on the IOI website Resources and Links. My wife observed that I am definitely "all over the map." It was not the subjects that seemed disconnected as I recommended books about discipleship, missions, ministry, travel (particularly Ethiopia) and theology. It was the variety of authors that seems a bit, how shall I say it -- ecumenical. Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, Evangelical Free and Puritan books are among those recommended. Some might think it strange to recommend Barth, Chesterton and Edwards on the same page, but what I am looking for is the gold that each man mined rather than fitting into a particular camp. We are, after all, the Body of Christ and there are many members each with particular gifts and needs.

I love to tell people that I go to Christ Community Church, and then have them ask me what denomination we are. What they want is a label so they can understand where I am coming from. So, instead of saying we are "non-denominational" (which is a label with its own definition), I say, "We are a missions-minded community of people that are trying hard to love God and each other that grew from a former Methodist Bible church that is elder led and similar to Anglican Catholicism in liturgy with a reformed Baptist theology (that depends more on the Church Fathers than the reformers), charismatic worship and an Irish pub band that sings ancient hymns along with modern praise songs." But I guess you could have figured that out by looking at my book recommendations.

Quote of the Weak - Simplicity

2006-06-29T09:29:00.000-04:00

"Seek simplicity -- and distrust it."
-- Alfred North Whitehead

Quote of the Weak -- Disagreement

2006-06-28T11:35:00.000-04:00

"At one point I had to explain how I differed on a certain point from both Catholics and Fundamentalists: I hope I shall not for this forfeit the goodwill or the prayers of either. Nor do I much fear it." -- C.S. Lewis

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

Sublime and Ridiculous

2006-06-28T11:05:00.000-04:00

Graffiti in the bell tower

2006-06-24T15:29:00.000-04:00

I really should stop swearing oaths. It is an exercise in ungodliness, and besides that I almost always end up breaking my word eventually. Other than my marriage vow and an oath never to eat at Shoney's again, most of my rash vows have been broken.

I climbed the stairs of the bell tower in the cathedral in Cologne a couple of years ago. It was worth the trouble and the 2 euro they charge. After ascending and descending the 500+ stones stairs of the narrow passageway to the historic bells I said, "Well, I'll never do that again." What I should have said was, "I'd rather not do that again."

Two years later I found myself purchasing another 2 euro ticket for the privledge of losing my breath and getting cramps in my legs. My daughter was traveling with me and I thought it would be a crime not to take her to the top of the tower and see the view of the city. It was worth the trouble of course, and I took a picture of her that is one of my favorites.

I had already seen the bells and the view so this time my attention was turned to the graffiti that fills the inner walls of the tower stairway. Lovers, students, pilgrims, Satanists and others had taken their turns memorializing their journey to the cathedral by writing inscriptions with a variety of tools and languages. I was repulsed by the bold vandalism and at the same moment tempted to memorialize our visit. In some way we want to be a part of the greatness of the 700 year old building, and the permenance, faith and hope it represents. Graffiti on top of graffiti had made much of the writing illegible and served to illustrate the nameless mass of people that have come and gone like fading letters over the years.

Patrons of the cathedral are buried in eloquent coffins and tombs littering the main floor of the cathedral. Stained glass windows serve as reminders of great men through the ages. An elderly woman kneels in prayer. A group of Asian tourists snap photos. A priest with a coin box strapped to his chest scolds men who forget to remove their hats as they enter the holy place. Gift shops built into the outer walls peddle scale models of the cathedral, religious books and pornographic post cards. A man dressed in a blue bodysuit and wearing a jester's hat performs for the crowds outside the front door. A three-piece accordion band from the Ukraine plays classical music in the courtyard. A street artist spends his day chalking a picture of Mozart on the sidewalk. McDonald's is just across the narrow street and located next door to a hundreds of years old bier haus. It is both sublime and ridiculous.

It is in this place that I am reminded that our names are written in a place that is eternal. I take a deep breath and for a moment I cease despairing of the vanity of life.

Quote of the Weak - Controversy

2006-06-23T15:32:00.000-04:00

"Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error"
-- Benjamin Rush (signer of the Declaration of Independence, Surgeon General, women's education advocate, anti-slavery and anti-liquor crusader, not one to avoid controversy)

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

Quote of the Weak - Guilt

2006-06-22T01:42:00.000-04:00

"There's no problem so awful that you can't add some guilt to it and make it even worse!" -- Calvin (Bill Waterson)

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:21)

The fourth book in my trilogy.

2006-06-21T13:57:00.000-04:00

That is a good Irish name but, you're not Irish.

2006-06-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

Some years ago I was on a flight from England to Germany. Many of my fellow passengers were Irish students on holiday. I struck up a conversation with the lads' teacher and shared with her my love of all things Irish. As a matter of fact I have a good Irish name, "Patrick Shae Beard". With a wonderfully thick Irish accent her reply came, "Aye, that is a good Irish name, but you're not Irish then, are you."

On the return trip home I passed through Heathrow not long after the IRA had bombed some place in London. The security agent looked over my passport and asked me to follow him. "Is there a problem officer?" "Just need to do a bit of checking, mate. Where are you from originally?" "Mississippi." "So, you were born in America?" "Yes." "Any family from Ireland?" "No, well my great, great grandfather. Why?" "Well, you see you have this Irish name, and we have had a bit of trouble recently from the Irish..." It was my first experience at racial profiling.

I'm a true American mutt with as much French blood as Irish or English. To the Irish, I'm not Irish at all. To the English, I'm a bit too Irish. Oh, well -- Viva America!

I never said I was a Calvinist...

2006-06-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

To some it does not seem to matter what you call yourself, or who you really are. For that matter, I don't even know if we can honestly know ourselves. I am sure that my view of myself is more fancy than fact.

Lately I have gained a reputation as a flaming unevangelical five point hyper-Calvinist. I don't know exactly what I did to earn this reputation; I suppose it was predestined.

I left the Southern Baptist church five years ago, not over theology or political ideals. My family and I left because we were literally told, "Why don't you just go away? We don't want you here anymore." As much as I honestly wanted to fulfill my duty as chairman of the pastor search committee and hire the best man for the job (and I honestly would have recommended a loving Armenian over a Calvinist) it seems that you can't please everyone. And I have come to the conclusion that democracy in the Church is from Hell.

The stress got so bad I had to visit my doctor. What I needed was not a pill, but peace in a congregation that loved Jesus and each other. That is when we joined Christ Community, and not long after that I apparently became a Calvinist.

Christ Community has a reputation among some as the "smoking, drinking, cursing church." That bothered me the first time I heard it. If the people who made this accusation could only experience the love that my family has experienced. The funny thing is that these same practices can be found among the people at our former church, and I don't remember anyone ever calling it the "smoking, drinking, cursing church." What is more I have never seen anyone at CCC drink or smoke to excess, and only a couple use crude language (this is an area that they admittedly struggle with). The fact is that the labels just don't fit.

I really don't know why we like to label each other so much. It seems to be easier to build straw men rather than to actually have a relationship with others.

I suppose this is the reason for my blog. I hope that some who think they know me might actually get to know me, and that those who do know me might know me better. At the very least it is an opportunity to express myself (ie. Get things off my chest) without being interrupted.

Am I a Calvinist? It's your choice. You can be the judge.