Eli Dowell

Attributes of God

2012-02-03T19:59:00.003-07:00

A blog post following up on a sermon about the Image of God.

1. Which of God’s attributes(characteristics) amazes you the most? Need help? Try this.

2. Psalm 8:5. David says that God made man “a little lower than____.” Translations will say“heavenly beings,” “angels,” or “gods.” The Hebrew is literally elohim – the plural form of “god.” Does the idea that God put some of His divine attributesinto mankind make more sense of David’s words?

3. Which of the three categories where wesee God’s image in us (intellect, emotion, and will) is the mostimportant? Or are they all equal? Why?

4. If you could pick one of God’snon-communicable attributes (those characteristics He does not share) to add towhat He’s already given us, which one would you pick? Why? How muchmore dangerous would we be in our fallen state if we also had this attribute todistort?

5. How should we view our fellow mandifferently in light of all of this?

Bonus: Howcould this doctrine transform the dynamics of your home if every member of yourfamily really, really got this?

The Perfect Christmas Gift

2011-12-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-law made Christmas stockings for our family. As you can see we can almost use them for sleeping bags. This summer I gave Rebekah a bicycle for her birthday. If I had waited 'till Christmas, it could have been a stocking stuffer. These are great stockings.

I'm not going to border on corny here. I'm going to leap well across that line and just ask - if Jesus had a stocking, what would you put in it? We talk about Christmas as Jesus' birthday, and say "Remember the reason for the season," and get angry when people replace "Christ" with an X on their tacky yard decorations (even though X is an ancient symbol for Christ). But, seriously, how can we practically do these things we speak of? How can we keep Him first and make Christmas about Christ? Like the Little Drummer Boy, what gift would you bring?

Fortunately, Scripture is never silent in response to any question we may ask. The Bible is very clear on what we can and should bring to the feet of Jesus. He is not interested in half-hearted or begrudging gifts. But, nothing He asks of us can be given in that way. It takes a whole heart, a gift given out of love and gratitude, to be a gift fit for the King. Here are three perfect Christmas gifts to consider.

Obedience. John 15:14 says so plainly, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." A fitting gift this Christmas could be a careful study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) or any other selection from His Word and make thoughtful application to your thoughts and actions. When we claim that we keep Christ first at Christmas while living a life contrary to His commandments, He is not impressed and we are deceiving only ourselves.

Service. Paul consistently refers to himself as a slave to Christ. And, how does he serve his Master? By serving and growing the Body of Christ. Jesus makes this very personal in Matthew 25:34-40 where he teaches that what we do for the most helpless we do for Jesus himself - "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Serve the Church. Serve the needy. This is a gift Christ will receive.

Worship. God says to a wayward Israel, "For I desire faithfulness and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). One of the problems with our Evangelical subculture is that we've confused music and worship (see, Worship). Worship covers a broad gamut of things like obedience and service. Hosea 6:6 reveals that faithfulness and even accurate knowledge are prerequisites to the more ceremonial or liturgical forms of worship. In short, if the lifestyle is not worshipful Jesus is not pleased with even the most emotional performance of, "O Come, Let Us Adore Him." Clean your hands in inward worship and then lift them in outward worship. This will honor Christ this Christmas.

One closing thought: We must not permit ourselves to be puffed up in giving these gifts. When/if we do, we are no longer giving to Him - we are giving to ourselves. "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10). The worthiness of our Master makes the service joyful. Give Him obedience, service, and worship this Christmas from a joyful heart yielded fully to Him. Then you will have a very merry Christmas.

If you were in his sandals...

2011-09-08T16:05:00.001-06:00

If you were Luke, who would you interview, and why? Imagine what it would have been like to read the original manuscripts and speak to the eye-witnesses. Imagine what it would be like to not read Mary's "Magnificat," but hear the passion as she recites it to you with a quiver in her aged voice. Imagine hearing Thomas' version of the occasion when Jesus showed the disciples his nail scars. Imagine stooping down to look Zacchaeus in the eye as the wee little man tells about his tree climbing days. Men formerly blind, formerly demon possessed; women formerly prostitutes, formerly a step lower on the social ladder now members of the Church... cool, huh?

Did Luke interview these people? We have no idea. We know from chapter 1 verse 2 that he interviewed some of the eye-witnesses to Jesus' ministry, so, why not? If you were in his sandals, who would you interview, and why?

restore the joy

2011-08-29T14:35:00.005-06:00

Ah, the first day of a new school year. It happened just this morning for us in Buffalo. Moms crying, kids laughing, families lined up in front of the school sign for pictures. Inside, the Principal was greeting kids in their freshly ironed polo shirts and summer dresses, and the aroma of freshly sharpened #2 pencils filled the air. There was joy and energy in abundance on every little summer-tanned face.

It won't be long before a nameless, bathrobe clad mom pulls up to the curb with rollers in her hair, throws the car in park before it fully stops, and screams "Get out of the car! I'm late for work!" Little Timmy will stumble onto the sidewalk with syrup smeared across his face and dribbled down his wrinkled Sponge Bob t-shirt. By then the halls will be lined with the Kindergartener's latest craft project and the guidance counselor will be on meds for ulcers, while the first year teachers are hiding in the teacher's lounge, secretly scanning the classifieds for a job opening at the uranium mine.

What happened to Mom's teary eyes and the freshly ironed summer dresses? What happened to the smiles of anticipation? What happened to the joy? In a word that risks sounding cynical, what happened was reality. The daily grind, the mundane. School is still good, knowledge is still imparted, the kids are still spending time with friends, but it has so quickly become so common place and is no longer appreciated.

So it is with the joy of our salvation. If it were not so David would not have written Psalm 51:12, "restore to me the joy of your salvation." David had sinned greatly and the hard truth of life had set in - sin, or even just the pace of life will rob us of the joy of our salvation. Do you remember those high points in your Christian walk when the forgiveness of sins and the friendship of Christ painted the world in bright colors? I'm sure you do. Do you remember when it went away? Probably not, but you can sure see the difference when it is gone. David pleads, "restore the joy." We don't have to limp along until the next big event. The joy can be restored now.

How? Joy is restored in the same way it came. Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Are you broken by your sin? Does the damaged relationship with God cause a contrite heart? Bring your repentance to God, refresh yourself in the wonders of His salvation, and the joy will return. Next thing you know you'll be opening the Word of God and finding it a lot like the first day of a brand new school year. Enjoy.

Warrior Shepherd

2011-08-22T20:17:00.005-06:00

Today my morning prayers focused on a variety of people. Some sick, some hurting, some mourning loss. Others facing big decisions, some making poor decisions, some just confused, whose confusion spilled over into my prayers. I wrestled with how to pray, which in turn naturally called into question my proficiency as shepherd of this flock. My thoughts then went to my co-laborers on the elder board - how should we, Grace Fellowship's shepherds, pastor these people in our care? Sometimes the hows, whos, and whys get a little messy.

God graciously allowed my mind to wonder to a passage I read the other day. Micah 5:1-5 tells us about the One who would come from Bethlehem, the shepherd who will "stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God." I usually picture ancient shepherds more like Little Boy Blue than a fierce warrior standing in the strength of Yahweh, reflecting His majesty. But that is our Shepherd. A Warrior Shepherd. I'm just a hireling, an under-shepherd. I don't need all the answers. Our elders aren't expected to be Christ. Our leadership falls short of the glory of God. Our calling is to faithfully point Christ's flock to their true Shepherd. He alone can lead us to the green pastures our souls crave.

To those of the flock who read this, I urge you to look to Him. I pray that you find us, your fellow sheep, simply pointing Christ-ward. To the under-shepherds who read this I encourage you to look to the Shepherd for your source of motivation in the task entrusted to us. And, never forget, that not unlike one of Israel's shepherds, King David, the Lord is our Shepherd too. We lack nothing. There are green pastures and still waters to be found for all of us, overflowing, and free, and only in the person of Jesus Christ.

Count your many blessings

2011-06-23T19:24:00.002-06:00

I got up early and ran 3 miles. Not because someone was chasing me or trying to kill me, but because my part time job not only expects, but pays me to be healthy. I then spent much of the day listening to and trying to help people with their personal problems. I got to open my Bible and reorient God’s children to His perfect plan for their life. My government pays me (quite well) to minister in the deepest way possible to those of, or open to, my faith. As I listened I reflected on the blessings in my personal life – wonderful, happy marriage that recently crossed over the 10-year mark, 3 healthy children, fulfilling full-time job. At that job I have an office that sits in the shadow of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. The people I am privileged to minister to as their pastor love my family, love God’s Word, love our Savior, Jesus Christ. They see my Chaplaincy as an outreach of their mission, which meshes my two worlds together into one service for our King. When I visit members of my congregation I drive passed signs that say “Open Range.” Who gets to do that? During my down time on base I'll sit by a lake reading and watch B2 Stealth Bombers take off. Who gets to do that? At the end of my tour I'll be reunited with my beautiful, happy, godly, brilliant wife and healthy, smart, funny kids. Who gets to do that? I am blessed. And this is just the short list. What are some of your blessings?

Sixth Commandment - More @ Home

2011-05-29T07:07:00.001-06:00

1. Matthew 5:21-24 – How quickly does God expect us to put aside our anger and hate? Think of times when you have had opportunity to do this. How did the process go?

2. James 4:1-3 – How does the commandment to love work out in the home? We won’t murder, but do we treat one another as though we have? What needs to change?

3. (#2 continued) Be specific when answering the question, “What needs to change?” List ways to help bring that change about.

4. Luke 10:25-37 – Who is your neighbor? Who has shown unexpected love to you? To whom have you shown this same kind of love? Who needs it from you right now?

5. How does this affect our prayers? (Think of Jesus’ example)

Bonus: How can the church provide an outlet for the fulfillment of this command?

"Camping out on God's Promises," or, "Weather You Like it or Not"

2011-05-23T11:56:00.003-06:00

Shame on me, but I don't pay much attention to the news. Two stories, however, have violently captured my attention: Harold Camping, and the ongoing saga of natural disasters, Joplin, MO., in particular. I'm not going to bother joining my voice to the throngs of people quoting Mark 13:32 because, we get it. That's why we didn't buy into the hype in the first place. I'm writing today because after hearing of 89+ people dying just 40 miles from my in-law's house, I'm glad that Harold was right about one thing - Jesus is coming back. Romans 8:18-25 is one of Paul's more convoluted paragraphs. It doesn't matter what translation you read it in - it is confusing. But if you take the time to mine it out three big ideas emerge, quite pertinent for today.

1. The entire planet is rotting like the left-over corn casserole from Easter that's still on the bottom shelf of your fridge. Go look for it, it's there, behind the pizza box. You don't have to look for the planetary decay, you just have to turn on the tube. Japan, Southern U.S., Burma, Joplin, Clear Creek in Buffalo, WY (you won't find that one in the news) and don't forget, we're fighting a war on 5 or so fronts. Not to mention rampant disease, domestic violence, and the depression you are now experiencing for having read this. (Hold on, point three is REALLY good news!)

2. The cause of this rot is sin. Not just Adam and Eve's original sin, but your sin and mine. Sin throws the cosmos into chaos. God wrote the laws of nature to function in harmony with His own character. Mankind simply cannot continue doing things his own way and expect things to work. We've been trying for a very long time and it's not working out so well. Did Joplin get cut in half by a tornado because God is judging them for sin? I have no idea. But I do know that "creation was subjected to futility" and is in "bondage to decay" because our race is sinful.

3. Jesus is coming back. We don't know when it will happen, but we know the result - creation will be "set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God!" Who are God's children? Those who "have the firstfruits of the Spirit" - those who through repentance have placed their faith and hope in the Jesus who is returning. Repentance and faith won't instantaneously fix what is wrong with the world. Repentance and faith won't tell us the date of Christ's return. Repentance and faith will give us a certainty of future redemption. It will allow our response to Joplin, et al., to be an echo of Paul's victorious opening sentence, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us!"

What do we do with this? First, embrace and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Take hope in it and present that hope to others. Then, live the conclusion of that Gospel now. One day redemption will settle every storm and Jesus will end every conflict. Justice and mercy will be the restored atmosphere of creation. Live as though it is true now by actively supplying mercy to a broken world. It is true in you, so let it be true around you. Gospel. Love. This is the Christian life.

5th Commandment - More @ Home

2011-05-22T07:02:00.000-06:00

1. For the parents: Consider Ephesians 6:4. In what ways do you see God working in your life that will make it easier for you children to obey the 5^th Commandment?

2. For the kids: What reasons do you come up with to disobey or disrespect your parents? What does the Bible say about these things?

3. For the family: Come up with three things you can do together that will draw your family closer to each other and closer to God.

4. Does this commandment have anything to say about your relationship with grandparents? Get specific.

5. Dads: Watch the video above and get ready to cry like a little girl.

Bonus: work the word “antipelargy” into conversations with 4 different people.

More @ Home - The 4th Commandment (Sabbath)

2011-05-14T20:48:00.000-06:00

One of the concerns of the Elders at Grace Fellowship is that our families study God's Word at home, together, regularly. In an effort to encourage this practice we are making study guides available that will suggest discussion points based on the Sunday Sermon. These can be done all at once, one per evening throughout the week, or however it works best for your family. I have decided to put these on the blog so that questions, insight, and suggestions for better discussion points can be posted for our mutual benefit. So please, post it anonymously if you must, but post whatever thoughts you have. I promise you, we will all be better off for it. Without further delay, here are the discussion points for the fourth commandment.

Things of the Christian life affirmed by the fourth commandment:

1. You have work to do. (Gen 2:15, Col 3:22-24)

a. What kind of work does each of us do?

b. How can this work be done as worship unto God?

2. It is healthy to set a day aside for spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical rest. (Ex 23:12)

a. Does our family have a day (or portion of a day) set aside for rest?

b. Can/should we do this? What practical steps can we take to make it a priority?

c. How can this day be Christ centered?

3. There is no true recreation apart it’s original source.

a. What is the meaning of “recreation?”

b. How can our trip to the mountain, water-park, etc. be focused on God?

c. What part does the church play in our God given need for recreation?

4. We are liberated from sin and spiritual oppression. (Deut 5:15, Gal 5:1, Psalm 8:3-8)

a. Does my/our practice of “recreation” draw us closer to God, or keep us from Him?

b. What changes need to be made?

c. What potential blessings are packed into the truth of these verses?

5. We benefit richly from God’s work. (Ex 20:11, Gen 2:1-3)

a. What works of God can you think of that benefit you?

b. How can a regular Sabbath-like observance remind you of these things?

Bonus question: If I could design the ideal Sabbath tradition for my family, what would that look like? What is stopping you?

Our world

2011-04-29T17:06:00.003-06:00

If contemplation were the real cause of devotion, it should follow that the higher the matter of our contemplation the greater the devotion it begot. But the opposite is the case. For it frequently happens that greater devotion is aroused by the contemplation of the Passion of Christ and of the other mysteries of His Sacred Humanity than by meditation upon the Divine excellences. - Thomas Aquinas

To know me is to know that I have three sons. They are all boy. Each one is brilliant in his own right. Not a one of them is (at this point) overtly athletic or musical, though their interests are broad and healthy. They love the same TV shows. Yet with all of this commonality they are remarkably and distinctly individuals. Their tastes for food, skills, aptitude, personalities, demonstration of affection - they are individuals.

They love their mom and me very much. They know about some of my "achievements." I.e. I graduated seminary, I'm an officer in the Air Force, and by my profile I am identical to Tom Cruise (in all honesty no one has noticed that last bit but me). But, concerning those kinds of things my boys really don't care. Not once has one of my boys said, "Father, your service to our nation is exemplary, your academic achievements inspiring, and, BTW, how do you remain so humble with such a rugged jaw-line?" As they become men some of those things will matter to them. But not today.

Today Ethan is impressed when I get on the floor and wrestle. Seth knows he is loved when I tickle him and chase him around the house. Joel prefers for us to read together or engage in a slightly more sophisticated level of play like a bike ride or soccer practice. He is getting to an age where he shows some interest in my work, but even still, he needs me to enter his world more than he desires to enter mine.

So it is with us. Our Father's achievements are incomprehensible. So far out of our field of experience that we struggle to ask intelligent questions about His universe. Most of His attributes are explained by theologians with words that begin with "omni" - ultimate or unlimited. We delve into those things to a degree through study and contemplation. We may think we are entering His world, but in reality our ability in those spheres is less than miniscule. To understand Him we need Him to enter ours.

And so He did. In the person of Jesus Christ God put on flesh and came down to where we live. If we were five year old boys he would wrestle with us. If we were two He would tickle us. If we were seven He'd peddle with us to the soccer park. He entered our world. Maybe you are poor; He was born in a cave. Maybe you suffer; He was crucified. Maybe you are distressed; He sweat blood. Maybe you have been betrayed; He was friends with Judas. Maybe you get frustrated with subordinates; He employed Peter.

Because He came to our world we are able to ascend into His, but only as He lifts us up. Only as our minds are enlightened. We are amazed by those attributes that start with omni - He is omni-present, everywhere at once. We are impressed philosophically, staggered intellectually, but are we moved? Is our devotion deeper? Does the omnipresence of God shake us to love our neighbor more? Probably not. Omnipresence doesn't mean much to a mortal. But presence does. He stepped out of omnipresence to be present. He came to our world and stretches us into His a little at a time. Thank God that He did. Thank God that He left His Spirit so that He is still present with us. Thank God that one day we will outgrow this world and be forever with Him in His.

Two kinds of fraud

2011-04-25T15:27:00.004-06:00

A few years ago I read an article in Time, or was it People... Newsweek maybe? Any way, it was about anxiety and the things that cause it and my reference to it will clearly be less than precise. Point is, as far as I remember, the #1 cause for anxiety in men is the fear that they will be discovered to be a fraud.

Now there are frauds and then there are frauds! I am thoroughly enjoying my read through Wyoming Range War which tells the story of the infamous invasion of Johnson County in 1892. One of the predominant characters thus far is Sherif Frank Canton. An iron willed, heavy fisted kind of guy that boasted of "always getting his man." For 50 pages the reader follows Canton's pursuit of bad guys, learns a bit about his political career, and grows to understand his reputation as a relentless enforcer of the letter of the law. Then, in the middle of a story that isn't even about him we're thrown a humdinger of a curve ball - "For one thing, he wasn't even Frank Canton. That was an alias that he made up when fled from Texas... in fact, all of his family history was made up. It is no exaggeration to say that his entire life was a lie. The truth was that Frank Canton was Joe Horner, a fugitive from Texas with an extensive criminal history there." These crimes ranged from assault, to cattle theft, to breaking out of jail, to murder. Jumping from that life and landing in a two-term Sherif gig - I'd have to label Frank Canton / Joe Horner as a fraud's fraud.

Imagine the exhausting existence it would be to live life with a skeleton in your closet big enough to make a paleontologist drool. Imagine what it would be like to live with a consent fear of being discovered a fraud. Problem is, I am a fraud. And so are you. As a Christian I am here to represent Christ. I am so unlike Him. I sin, I fear, I manipulate, I boast, I retaliate, I regret, I plot, and that is just some of what I do. Let's not talk about what I don't do. Yet somehow in me and through me is manifested the hands and feet of the Spirit of Christ. How?

This is where my fraudulent activity comes in. As suggested by the title I believe there are two types of frauds. I vacillate between the two quite consistently. The first is the arrogant fraud. I am that guy when I get up, go for a jog, eat a bowl of Wheaties, go to the office, check my e-mail, have a walk-in counselee, and try to help this person because, after all, I'm the pastor so I must have the answers. At that moment I'm just Eli, pretending to be a representative of my King whom I haven't even spoken to today. I'm an arrogant fraud trying to offer something I simply don't posses.

The other fraud we can call the legitimate fraud, or the sanctified fraud, or the honest fraud. I'm that guy when, by God's grace, I get up and open my Bible. Prayerfully I allow the Spirit to use the words to chisel off my sin, sand down the rough edges of pride, and wash me clean of those troublesome stains of personal agenda. From this well-spring I minister to my family as they begin to wake up until I'm on my way out the door. I sit at my desk looking out the window at my town in need of Christ's love. When a fellow-sinner comes in for a visit I lead them to the One with the answers they need. They thank me for help, because, after all I'm the pastor so I must have the answers. I don't, but it's okay, because I'm a legit fraud, who knows it, and knows the only One in the universe who is no fraud.

The difference sounds so simple because it is. But that simple difference changes lives. It breaks paradigms and cancels sin. In Acts it "turned the world upside down." It removes the weight of anxiety because the legitimate fraud has nothing to hide. There is no skeleton in his closet because he drags it out into the middle of the floor and says, "look, I'm just like you. A sinner in need of God's grace. Let's explore that grace together."

So, Time, or Newsweek, or whoever you are... I wish you knew the solution to our universal problem before you ran that article. Since Adam's sin we are a race of frauds. That needn't drive us to anxiety but to our knees. To the cross. To the One who's legitimacy is accredited to our account, not fraudulently, but lavishly. Which kind of fraud are you today?

No other gods

2011-03-22T09:53:00.007-06:00

It sounds so simple. "You shall have no other gods besides me." The first commandment is not only saying that God is to be preeminent, but we are expected to have no gods beside Him, or next to Him. We know instinctively that "other gods" is not limited to characters like Zeus or Molech, but includes anything and everything that boasts of providing security and confidence. This is why Jesus warned us of a broad idolatry that includes the mundane details of everyday goods. "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24b). Mammon is an Aramaic word meaning treasure, property, or my favorite, one's pile. Your pile of stuff that secures your well-being and provides comfort. Your insurance policy, running water, dependable vehicle, ski trips, stock-pile of firewood, garden plot, education, bank account, high-school sports, military strength... Your stuff, our stuff, those things that, because of their inherent goodness, subtly vie for equality with God on the throne of your heart. You can't serve both God and stuff. You can't place confidence in both God and stuff. You can't trust your security, future or current, to both God and stuff.

We know this is true, which raises the question: In our advanced society with so much to offer, how do you know with certainty if you are serving God or stuff?

Shattering measuring cups in Jesus' name

2011-03-04T19:16:00.005-07:00

Ah, parenthood... it's amazing the things you make us say: "Would you PLEASE stop trying to help in the kitchen and just go play video games with your brothers?" Don't judge me. If you're a parent you've said similar things. But God never says these things to us. He could send legions of angels to proclaim His message flawlessly. He could spring water from dry wells in Africa. He could cure children dying from diarrhea in Haiti. He could rescue 12 year old girls from the sex trade in Ethiopia. But He sends us. Like my two-year-old, we toddle around this big, round kitchen we call Earth and drop glass measuring cups, shattering a would be rescue, or would be salvation, or would be cure, into a million pieces of what could have been. But, somehow it still works. Somehow mercy is shown through the actions of embittered aid workers. Nutrition is provided through scant resources. The Gospel is received from the mouths of hypocrites. Somehow through our weakness He is made strong after all. God invites us holistically with our imperfections, novice experiences, questionable motives, and clumsy actions. But that "somehow" is no mystery at all. He takes our hands into His, like a loving parent compensates for the crude motor skills of a toddler. He tells us what to do, guides our hands as we do it, and with the patience of the ages He lets us grow up in Him. So go ahead and toddle into the kitchen. There is work to do, and He'll use your clumsiness to do it just as He has done through His children from the original breath of life. Ya, you'll drop something and watch it shatter, but He'll clean it up and hand you another one.

1 came back

2011-02-23T09:41:00.003-07:00

You never know about transients. With our church building on a major thoroughfare I meet one every other week, even during these brutal Wyoming winter months. Some are obstinate and only want cash, others refuse the benevolence funds managed by the police department. Still others gladly make the trip to the sherif's office only to be arrested for the illegal substances carried on their person (true story). They all have their sob story which usually involves a combination of victimization and unfortunate circumstances, of which they are totally innocent. None of them seem to have a credit card. Almost all of them cause me serious reservation when it comes time to tap into our already strained resources.

Michael was different. "I'm heading East, hoping to start over," was his simple explanation for hitchhiking to KC. No complaints, no stories of misfortune or betrayal. Another church provided a motel room and all he needed now was a meal. I made a call and was able to take care of the immediate need. We talked briefly about Christ. His answers may have been a bit rehearsed, but that is between him and God. I wished him well and didn't think of him again.

This morning I was on the phone and looked up to see him standing there. I fully expected a plea for more food, or bus fare (you may be picking up on the cynicism we pastors battle over these kinds of things). I secretly wanted to stay on the phone and not deal with this, but my call only reached voicemail. I left a message and greeted my guest with contrived compassion. He reached out to shake my hand and said, "Thanks again for the meal. I'm heading South, hoping to avoid some of the colder weather before I start moving East." Bewildered by his gratitude I asked if he needed anything. He said, "God has gotten me this far. I'm still trusting Him. God bless." With that he turned and left me with my thoughts.

I think of the 10 lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17 and how only 1 came back to thank Him. Jesus praises this man's faith. I think of Michael and wonder if his gratitude reveals far more about the condition of his soul than the answers he gave to my questions. I think of the resources we risk on those who say they are in need with no guarantee that they are not criminals or cons. I think if 1 out of 10 is truly grateful it is worth funding the bad habits of the 9. I think of my tendency to grumble (at least inwardly) about what I have and don't have and that uttering a simple "thank you" can radically change all perception.

I am thankful that God brought Michael across the threshold of Grace Fellowship last night, to remind us to give and give cheerfully, and to remind us to be grateful for every good gift that comes down from the Father of lights. I am thankful that Michael's "thank you" gave more to me than I gave to him.

Nuggets, Nativity, and a Hebrew Word

2010-12-10T15:29:00.006-07:00

People sometimes refer to poignant statements in Scripture as "nuggets." (The first image that comes to mind is a tub of chicken nuggets, although I am quite confident that the intended reference is gold nuggets.) Reason being, studying Scripture can be like mining for gold - you sometimes have to do a lot of hard work before you stumble onto the things of substance that drew you there in the first place. This sometimes frustrating reality is by Divine design, though I won't get into the reasons why right now. Rather, I want to polish a chicken, er, I mean gold nugget for Christmas.

Micah 6:8 is such a nugget. It is a summary passage, recapping basically the entire corpus of Old Testament theology. In the verses immediately prior a straw-man is built, who argues that he would do anything up to and including sacrificing his own son, if only God would be happy with him. He is begging God to reveal what He expects of humanity because, "I just don't know what God wants from me!" Through the prophet Micah we are reminded of the stunning simplicity of God's already revealed will. "He has already told you, oh man, but you weren't paying attention - do justice, love mercy, walk humbly" (my paraphrase).

Notice, it is all written in the singular - He has shown YOU. YOU do justice. Don't petition Washington for social programs or legislated morality and think you've done your Christian duty. YOU do justice. Care for the poor and sick. Lead with exemplary ethics and morals. Sacrifice, give, teach - from the overflow of your American abundance, YOU do justice.

YOU love mercy. From the Hebrew hesed (No, no, you've got to say the "h" while clearing your throat. Try that again.), which means, as my Hebrew prof taught us, "covenant faithfulness." The meaning of the word goes back to the Abrahamic covenant where God established His unconditional covenant with His fickle people (Genesis 15). We will fail, God will not. Loving this kind of mercy requires more than just resting securely in it. It demands that we act towards others in the same way. YOU love mercy means, treat people with the love of Christ regardless of their response to it or to you.

YOU walk humbly. This is really a prerequisite to the previous two. There is no way we can muster up the courage to do justice, or dig deep enough to love fellow sinners with hesed if we do not continually yield our stubborn will before God's immense wisdom and love.

This is not easy or light, but what a nugget it is! As we approach Christmas we are reminded of the incomprehensible sacrifice of Jesus Christ that far surpasses our concept of justice. God so loved an unlovely world that He was faithful to His promise and actually gave what Micah's straw-man arrogantly accused God of requiring of him. As we gaze on our beautiful nativities we must grapple with the depth of meaning in His lavish display of hesed both in the manger and ultimately on the cross. Let us be reminded throughout this season why walking humbly before our God is such a reasonable thing of Him to ask of us.

He has shown us, oh men and women, what He requires of us, and not just requires, but first gave to us. Let us make this Holiday season an offering of worship in justice, mercy, and humility.

Sin Clog (you know you want to read this one!)

2010-11-15T13:22:00.009-07:00

"God never reveals our hearts to discourage us. Convicting us of sin is one of the most profound ways he demonstrates his love for us" (Paul Tripp).

I worked my way through college on the campus maintenance crew. Periodically I would be called to one of the ladies' dorms for a slow shower drain. Inevitably a crowd would gather as I ran an elongated coat hanger down the drain. The girls would gather in closely as I turned the hanger around and around and slowly began to pull it to the surface... I'm not sure what they were anticipating, but by the time the wad of slimy hair, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a cat-sized rat, was resting on their shower floor, there was not a girl in sight. Above the clammer of slamming doors echoing down the hall I would shout "Hey, it's YOUR hair!" Maybe this is why I had to go off campus to find a bride, but that is neither here nor there.

In similar fashion, the Word of God reveals our hearts to us. The contents of hate, lust, and all kinds of evil (Matt 15:19) shouldn't surprise us, but all too often our deceitful heart (Jer 17:9) tells us that our problems must either have originated els-ware, or they aren't so bad after all. Then, rather than standing and dealing with what is revealed we run away screaming like a college girl. Rather than being grateful for the messenger who applied the tool of God's Word to our life we look on him/her with disdain, forgetting that the "clog" came from our own heart.

God, in His rich grace gives us His heart revealing Word. He gives us men and women who love us enough to hold the mirror of God's Word (Jam 1:22-25) in front of our eyes. Every one of us has a nasty hair-ball of sin in there causing a backup of problems in some shape or form. What we choose to do about it is up to us, but I pray we will all remember the kind words of Paul Tripp. "God never reveals our hearts to discourage us. Convicting us of sin is one of the most profound ways he demonstrates his love for us."

When God comes as a maintenance worker will His love for you cause you to stand and face the truth, or will your love for yourself cause you to run away and slam the door?

Bikes, Cookies, and Ecclesiastes

2010-11-03T08:28:00.003-06:00

It was one of those days with totally messed up timing. All I wanted to do was go for a run. The morning limped by, then the afternoon – interruption upon interruption, with no opportunity to get away. Finally, when my 7 year old got home from school, I could escape, and, to my delight, he wanted to ride his bike while I ran. As we left the house together I thought of how thankful I should be that the day went as it did. Now, I could have my run and spend some one-on-one time with my oldest son. But then, with the front yard still in view, his bike chain popped off. This wouldn’t normally be a deal breaker, except that this chain has been popping off with increasing frequency. It was time to tinker with the bike, or I’d be stopping every 20 yards to put the chain back on. I had to give up on the day’s run once and for all. What did I do then? Well, what do you do when your exercise gets interrupted? I ate a cookie.

You have your own versions of this story, each ranging between funny and heart breaking. These experiences are the materials used in Solomon’s construction of the book of Ecclesiastes. He begins with those words made famous by the old KJV, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” We find other offerings in various translations like, empty, futile, or meaningless, to name a few. My Hebrew Professor told us the best translation is the phrase, “frustratingly enigmatic,” which is kind of funny to me because trying to understand what that means is frustratingly enigmatic. In reality though, whichever rendering you prefer we’ve all experienced it and know exactly what Solomon is talking about.

Solomon’s conclusion to this journal of frustrating enigmas is not, “go fix everything that’s broken.” Rather, he sums up his learning in a few phrases like, “enjoy the fruit of your labor,” “enjoy life with your family,” and most importantly, “fear God and keep his commandments.” Vanity will come. The only question is, will we learn from Solomon’s vast experience with it? The next time the bike chain pops off your plans my prayer is that you take it as an opportunity to evaluate your relationship with God in light of His commandments, reflect on the blessings provided in your loved ones… and then of course, eat a cookie.

Glory

2010-09-29T10:53:00.004-06:00

So many powerful words are lost in the obscurity of the familiar. Worship, glory, fundamental, awesome, church… we could each add to the list with words we know we use poorly, but have them so engrained in our churchy vocabulary we just keep saying them without reflecting on their fundamental meaning. Oops, there I go already…

Glory. We want to glorify God, we sing of His glory, praise Him for His glory, but what is His glory? The word itself has a shockingly ordinary origin, being used to describe all manner of things, both good and bad. Here are some examples of the bad:

-Gen 12:10 – severe famine

-Ex 8:20 – great swarms of flies (glorious flies?)

-1 Sam 4:18 – Eli was old and heavy

-Psalm 38:4 – Sin is a heavy burden

The Old Testament usage applies the word to contexts of great significance, or heaviness, both figurative and literal. In summary, a glorious something is something of great substance.

In a volatile world such as ours where everything is in a state of flux from governments, to terrain, to that which quantifies beauty and humor, our souls scream for something constant. Something of lasting substance. Something of glory.

In this universe there is only one such thing. God. The glory of God will never change, never fade, never hide. We can see it in nature, experience it in the attributes that reveal His image within us, and if we do it right, share it in the Church (Ephesians 3:20-21).

So, how do we glorify God? By living in such a way that our lives reveal the one thing of true glory that exists. To love as Christ loved. To live as Christ lived. To die to self and selfish gain and point others to our source of life and happiness. This concept is nothing new. It is as old as, say, the glory of God itself.

Cowboy Coffee?

2010-09-22T12:52:00.003-06:00

The aroma was inviting, the music was the weird, the lighting was pleasantly dim while not so much as to inhibit my reading. Sipping my steaming, grande Americano in the thought-provoking ambience provided by Starbucks, I almost forgot what world existed outside the door. Everything was as you would expect in every Starbucks from Boston to Seattle, but suddenly, something didn’t fit. There was a noise totally out of place, pulling me from my leisurely read back into my new reality. I turned and saw a typical college girl whose likeness you would expect to see a dozen times during any visit to any Starbucks anywhere in the world. But the guy she was with told another story. From his Stetson, to the western cut shirt, pie-plate sized belt buckle, all the way to the culprit of the noise – spurs strapped to his manure caked boots, this guy meshed with the Starbucks scene like Joel Osteen at an old time tent revival. But here, somehow it works. Spurs in Starbucks. Only in Wyoming. Oh, and the best part? He ordered a skinny latte with room for sugar. Wimp.

Pastor's Job Description

2010-09-10T14:23:00.002-06:00

This is one of many possible job descriptions of the pastor:

My job is to visit with you on Tuesday, fully enjoying your beautiful home, recreative hobbies, and impressive accomplishments, celebrating God's blessings in His gracious gift of these things, then stand before you on Sunday, Bible in hand, and convince you that the love of these things will destroy your soul.

Prayer

2010-09-08T12:14:00.003-06:00

It is none of our concern how it works or why it works. We will tie our theological tails in knots if we worry to much about those questions. What we know is that God works. He works constantly and tirelessly for the sake of His glory. The bedrock truth of the Christian experience is that happiness, peace, holiness, and all of life, is written into the eternal saga of God's glory. Prayer is a channel through which we weave our stubborn will into God's perfect will, revealing His glorious workings in the affairs of men. We pour out our confused hearts before His throne and He fills us with holy passion for the revelation of His glory in our circumstance. This is why we qualify our requests with phrases like, "if it be your will." We are emptying ourselves of ourselves as we yearn for more of Himself.

This does not happen quickly. As I wrote in my last post, God is not in a hurry. Learning to pray well, to trust well, to be urgently patient, is a lifelong skill. God has surrounded me with a mighty army of prayer warriors in His church who have learned this far better than I have. I am grateful for their example, that I can learn from them, and that God' glory shines through their lives as they wait on Him in prayer.

God is doing something

2010-08-23T17:15:00.002-06:00

“The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I even know it” (Eugene Peterson).

God is extravagant with His resources. Wyoming landscape proves it like nothing else I’ve seen. Our tendency is to cram as much as possible into as little space and time as we possibly can. God spreads His creation over the unplumbed depths of space. He has extended His plan of redeeming His beloved from our rebellion against Him from before the annals of history and will continue long after my bones return to dust. He is not in a hurry.

If I claim to be spiritual I must assume that I know that. He is already working, and this work comes at His speed, not mine, for His purpose, not mine, according to His agenda, not mine.

Even as I write this blog I am fighting the urge to cram everything on my mind today onto a single page. God senses no need to be so stingy with time and space.

Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing. He invites us to join Him, not visa-versa.

"So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it."

The gentle rain

2010-08-12T14:33:00.009-06:00

At the close of Deuteronomy the nation of Israel is facing a huge transition. Moses is about to die, Joshua is about to take over, and the 40 year sojourn is ending. Finally, the conquest of the Promised Land is near enough to taste. Yet, with all the excitement that was surely in the air the sobering truth of man's depravity threatens to steal center stage. "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.'" (Deu 31:16). With this gloomy reality as inspiration God gives Moses a song to teach to the people...

Last week we got a hail storm that almost covered the ground in icy white marbles. We were pelted with what felt like gravel as we scrambled to park our newest vehicle in the garage before the worst came. If music could be likened to rain I would expect this song to sound and feel a lot like last week's storm. But, from the Songwriter's pen who is the God of all surprises, listen to these lyrics:

"May my teaching drop as the rain / my speech distill as the dew / like gentle rain upon the tender grass / and like showers upon the herb."

Less poetic but just as surprising are Paul's words to Timothy, "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort..." Many times us preachers are tempted to stop reading right there. We snort and paw at the ground like a bull ready to charge and the sheep we are called to lead by the cool waters we instead BBQ on the spot - all under the banner of this charge: preach the word, reprove, rebuke, exhort. If we keep reading, however, we see that Paul doesn't end the sentence here. It ends, "with complete patience and teaching." This sounds a lot less like hail storms and more like gentle rain on tender grass. Before we forget, many people of Timothy's church, and even our own for that matter, are probably a lot like the Israelites in our constant forsaking of God. The solution God provides is the patient teaching of His Word.

Let us thank God with the deepest gratitude that He doesn't pour down the hailstorms we deserve. Let us keep at center stage the gentle rain of His Word, and receive it like new grass desperate for life-giving refreshment.

The adventure continues

2010-07-23T19:44:00.004-06:00

Today a chapter closed, or a page turned, or a season changed... whatever metaphor you want to use, I said goodbye to a lot of good friends today. I have worked a total of seven years for one company and spent countless hours with many of the same people during that time. At these pivotal points in my life I can't help but evaluate things - conversations I should have had, arguments I should not have, ways I could have loved more like Christ, places where I should have done my job better. But, I am reminded that as long as I am human (which is hopefully a condition I will suffer for quite some time!) there will always be the "should haves." So tonight I am simply thankful. Thankful for the years God has given me to walk with these friends. Thankful for what I have learned and what, by God's grace, I have taught. Thankful for the provision of a job. Thankful for facebook, e-mail, and cell phones, and in the case of a few stubborn old-timers I am even thankful for postage stamps. Thankful for the pranksters who refused me the opportunity of taking myself too seriously, and thankful for the grouchy, retired drill-sergeant types who reminded me that sobriety of mind is sometimes an equally important character trait. I could go on, but that would be bordering on living in the past when God has given me so much in the present and future for which I am, with greatly anticipated excitement, equally thankful.

To name a few, my wife of nine years who is charging down the trail West at my side. She is my best friend, trusted counselor, and the greatest joy and love of my life. My three sons, the oldest of whom I get to baptize this Sunday! Boulevard Baptist, that filled a needed gap while transitioning between ministries, and for their whole-hearted support as we move. And of course, the reason for all of this change, Grace Fellowship in Buffalo, Wyoming - my new home, my new family. I am not a gifted enough writer to explain my excitement for the years ahead. Our amazing God has blessed us in countless ways making His course for us clear. Without Him nothing in this post would be true or possible, but because of Him these words barely scratch the surface of what is praiseworthy in this life. To Him be the glory forever, amen.

The Adventure

2010-06-02T19:00:00.006-06:00

And so it begins. Tomorrow will begin like a normal day, with a 0400 wake up call and a day of work. But, when I get home at 2:20ish, we throw the bags in the car and make like a tree. After a shower, of course. My good friends Dave and Beth in KC are kind enough to host us for the night and take us to airport in the morning, and then off to Grace Fellowship in Buffalo, WY. While in Buffalo I will have the opportunity to preach twice and our family will interact with the church members through several dinners and other events. We'll have time for some sight-seeing and recreation as well. But, the real reason for this post is to solicit prayer. What kind of prayer? I've found several key prayer requests (and praises) skimming through the openings of Paul's letters.

Thank God for His Word being preached in his absence
Pray for a blessed reunion (Or this case union since there can be no "re" to something that hasn't happened yet. But, you knew that already, didn't you?)
Spiritual strength for all parties involved
Thankfulness for the Spirit of God at work
Rest in God's faithfulness
A foundation of love
Wisdom
Purity and blamelessness
Discernment (perhaps the prayer conspicuously absent from Galatians?)

We could go on for sure, but for those of us involved I encourage a personal search through the prayers in Scripture to see what stands out to you. How are you praying? I would like to hear from you. I'll leave you with a couple personal prayer requests that will make our trip more comfortable, if not even more productive.

Joel has a tendency to get car/plane sick
The boys' sleeping patterns in leu of the time change.

P.S. I tried to get rid of the goofy looking flower bullets, but they seem to be stuck.

Scribbles on the Heart

2010-05-24T19:11:00.002-06:00

Two days ago we celebrated Joel's seventh birthday. Today, we celebrate his new birth! At a little after 7:00 this evening Joel trusted Christ as His Savior! During supper, out on the patio, we were reviewing Ethan's memory verse for Sunday School - "The lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all He has made" (Psalm 145:13). So, does this mean we can trust God to give us a new bicycle tomorrow? Our kids apparently have a touch of the prosperity gospel in them because Joel and Ethan both answered in the affirmative. "But did God promise us a new bicycle?" Of course not, so what did He promise? "A new body when we die," Joel answered. Who will get this new body? "People who are saved." Are you one of them? "Ummm... no." And so, the real conversation began. For some time now Joel has been able to articulate saving faith very clearly for his age, and for some time he has known that saving faith is something he does not possess. We have been encouraging him to think about it, pray about it, ask questions about it, and when he is ready we will be thrilled to walk him through expressing this faith to God in repentance. So tonight I simply asked, "What is stopping you?" "Well, I just don't have the time." We all know what a seven-year-old's schedule is like, what, with all the car playing, Veggie-Tale watching and tree climbing. I told him that when he's ready we will make the time, no matter what. He said, "Then I guess we ought to do it tonight." Exactly what I was hoping for!

I encouraged him to talk to God about this while I get his brothers in bed, and then if he still thinks this is the right time we will stay up and talk some more. And so we did. I was walking him through some Scripture and came to Romans 10:9-10. "For with the heart one believes and is justified..." O boy. I forgot "justified" was in there. How do I explain "justified" to a seven-year-old? Only seconds into my explanation he said, "Wait, I know this. When we sin it's like scribbles on our heart. When we confess our sins Jesus' blood is like an eraser and then God doesn't see the scribbles anymore." Martin Luther himself couldn't have said it better!

His prayer was a beautiful seven-year-old prayer, "God, I hope you'll save me because I'm a sinner. Please forgive me, and I hope You'll help me to do what's right."

My son is now my brother, and the scribbles on his heart are forever erased. Thanks be to God!

The Human Side

2010-02-16T04:10:00.003-07:00

John 2:1-5

While reading John, like the other Gospels, it is sometimes helpful to read it from the vantage point of the present (the time of the book’s writing) looking back. For example, John 1:11-13 leaps off the page when we consider what happens in Acts. The Gospel, scorned by the Jews, breaks free from national Israel and spreads like fire through the world of the Gentiles.

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” Yes, we figured that out when they killed Him. “But to all who did receive him… were born… not of the will of man, but of God.” Ah, that explains what happened on Pentecost. God is doing this!

This story, however, I want to understand from the past. Only I can’t. What was Jesus like prior to age 30? We know about his miraculous conception. We’ve studied Mary’s “magnificat.” We know that while some said “wow” and walked away, Mary “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). We are familiar with the story of Jesus the boy genius who confounded the Rabbis and terrified His parents by hiding out in the Temple. We know that after this Jesus “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Lk 2:52) and that after this chapter Joseph is conspicuously absent from the biblical narrative. What is so mysterious to me is that after the second chapter of Luke, 18 years pass before chapter 3. What was Jesus like?

John’s Gospel opens with Jesus as the Word who was God in eternity past and then thrusts Him into the earthly scene on the heels of John the Baptist. Other than calling a small band of disciples the first thing we see of this 30 year old mysterious Deity-in-flesh is Him prematurely (in His own words) revealing His God-ness in obedience to the wishes of His mother. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with His mom and the Word did what she told Him to do.”

I am not trying to be irreverent; I am merely trying to point out that there are some very human dynamics going on here. Mary knew that Jesus was far more than simply a man. From his conception she knew that Jesus was of God. At least by age 12 she knew that He had a special mission from His Heavenly Father. At His crucifixion it is clear that they were very close, and even into Acts we see her allegiance to her son/Savior (1:4). But, the first thing John tells us of her is that she was very comfortable playing the roll of His mother.

I can’t help but think of my relationship with my own mother, and how the Jesus/Mary relationship must have been very similar, and how it must have been very different. Several years ago when I told my mom I was considering becoming a military chaplain she said, “But those are rough people. Do you really want to be around people that rough?” What she really meant was (I think) “But you are my baby boy. I can’t imagine you hanging around with those roughnecks!” The beautiful irony of the situation was that she was on her way to Nicaragua, land of riots and kidnappings, following the journey Jesus laid out for her. What was it like for Mary when she saw the kind of company her perfect baby boy kept? Tax collectors. Lame. Prostitutes. Leprous. “But those are rough people…” And yet, unknowingly at the time, her journey would take her to the foot of her son’s cross – literally. What a roller coaster of emotions life must be for a mom.

Moms have an amazing knack for giving unsolicited advice to their sons in very inventive ways. One year while I was in Seminary, working full time, and trying to figure out how to be a dad to our first born, I got a very strange birthday present from my parents. A kite. Rebekah and I looked at each other and shrugged, and then it hit me. “I think my mom is telling me to relax,” I said. I was right, and so was she. It worked.

But surely Mary never needed to give Jesus any advice. Or is that what she is doing here? “Jesus, they have no wine (wink/nudge).” I’m not saying that Jesus needed the push. I’m just saying that maybe His mom thought He did. Several years have passed since my mom tried to talk me out of joining the military. She’s nothing but supportive now, and has been since before I made the final decision. Since then I’ve gotten her a tour of the B2 Stealth Bomber, which she loved. She saw me in my service dress for the first time recently and unable to come up with a more fitting adjective said I was “gorgeous.” I guess there was no other word capable of carrying the weight of motherly pride that was gushing out in tears and a huge smile. She’s in my corner, encouraging me, knowing that I can succeed far beyond what I am convinced is my own potential. But isn’t that what mom’s do, once they get over the initial shock of us growing up? How many men have gotten that motherly push to move out, get a job, ask the girl out… “They have no wine (wink/nudge).”

The point of all of this is that whatever conversations took place between Mary and Jesus between Luke 2 and John 2, they must have been very human. Jesus, born of a virgin, confounding the wise as a pre-teen, then shocking the human race by revealing His deity to save the face of an unnamed wedding host, was human. He had a mom just like you. They loved each other just like my mom and I do. And, just like I, at age 30, still listen to my Mom we may never have been able to tell the story of 30-year-old Jesus turning water into wine were it not for his mom saying, “Jesus, they have no wine (wink/nudge).”

Quality time with Dad

2008-09-11T19:48:00.008-06:00

So this one time... I was playing with Seth by a river in Colorado, and well... I dropped him in. He cleaned up really nice though. It's amazing that kids survive childhood. What's more amazing is that even though we do things like drop them in the mud, they constantly want to be with us (at least the little ones do). One day when Joel was about two or three I peaked into his room as he woke up from his nap. In one smooth movement he opened his eyes, heaved his still heavy head from his pillow, and slurred with a sleepy tongue, “Daddy, let’s go play in the play room.” It seems that every waking moment these kids want to play, and they want to play with me or their mom. I'm sure that will change one day so I'm taking all I can get right now. How about you? Do you constantly crave time with your Father? We find so many things to do all day - news, work, jogging, vegging. Do you, as you lift your head from your pillow think about spending time in the presence of your Father God? You know that He desires that time with you, and honestly, He'll never drop you in a Colorado river. Cry out for Him. He'll be there.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

witness

2008-09-02T14:18:00.000-06:00

Our love of our Father should be so deep within us that we aren’t ashamed of it in front of our peers.

Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."

Christmas program, 2006 – Joel finds himself standing in front of 200, in his mind, dangerous, people. With all eyes fixed on him, in a shaky voice he pleads, “Daddy?” Rebekah and I got his attention and watched the concern give way to joy as he pointed and announced to what could have been the world as far he was concerned, “There’s my Mommy and Daddy!”

Do we love our Father enough to joyfully, unashamedly, confidently, point Him out to a hostile audience?

Daddy > the dragon ninja

2008-08-30T19:29:00.006-06:00

I was catching a little Saturday morning TMNT when a dragon wrapped Master Splinter up in his tail and began thrashing him around, slamming him into the ground and surrounding buildings. My two-year old looked at me and said, "that dragon strong like you, Daddy!" Oh ya, that's the way it should be. The paradigm by which my boys evaluate the strength of a medieval, reptilian, martial warrior is me. Ah... fatherhood.

The Perfect Father

2008-08-29T16:35:00.004-06:00

Matthew 19:14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

As I search the Scriptures I do not see very many references to God’s fatherhood. They are there, please don’t misunderstand. But when compared to the frequency of references to God’s justice, righteousness, holiness, and others of His “harder” attributes, His fatherhood may appear to be a characteristic of lesser import. Reaching such a conclusion, however, would be to misunderstand the character of God.

Being a father (poor example as I am of God’s fatherhood) has taught me much about the character of my heavenly Father. I do not act as a father. I am a father. When I read a book to my kids I don’t preface it with, “as your father I am connecting with you in a special way through the reading of this book for your education and the strengthening of our relationship.” When I discipline them I don’t cite my parental authority to carry it out. When I get up before dawn to go to work I don’t announce that my motivation to do so is sleeping in the next room. Nor are these are actions a representation of a mere segment of my life. They are actions overflowing from who I now am. I am a father.

So it is with my Father. He need not say it frequently to make true. He demonstrates it throughout His Word and throughout my life. He provides as a father, disciplines as a father, instructs as a father, even when He doesn’t announce it in those terms. God’s attributes are eternal and therefore present in each and every one of His actions and statements. Unlike my imperfect fatherhood, His actions and statements are perfectly consistent according to His fatherly love for me. And so, I need not fear His “harder” attributes because it is my Father who is the Judge, my Father who is righteous, my Father who is holy, and all the while inviting me, His rebellious son, to walk in a father-son relationship with Him.

Even now through the unspeakable blessing of being a father myself He is drawing me closer to Himself – to His fatherly love towards me. The series of posts that will follow are a handful of those lessons that I rarely share out loud because my leak-happy tear-ducts betray how close these thoughts are to my heart. These vignettes are both convicting and humbling as they never fail to remind me just how finite I am and how perfect He is. My prayer is that these words challenge us all to walk ever more closely with the only One truly worthy of the honorable title, “Father.”

Melchizedekian Tithe or a Living Sacrifice

2008-08-06T16:14:00.005-06:00

What does Melchizedek teach us about tithe? Those who confine the principle of tithing to the Old Testament do so (usually) by pointing to its Mosaic Law origins. Under grace we are not bound by law, so why would we insist that this one piece of the law is binding now? On the other side, some who believe the principle of tithing is for the church, point to Melchizedek as proof that tithe predates law. If tithe predates law then it is a constant principle, not belonging to one era or one people. But what does the Genesis 14 actually have to say about tithe?

Who was Melchizedek? Whether or not he was preincarnate Christ is irrelevant for our study. (Although, I would like to point out that the definition of his name – “King of Righteousness” – isn’t much help in that debate. My name means “My God.”) Abram saw Melchizedek as either God, or at the very least, a representative of God. So, when tithing to him, Abram was, any way you slice it, tithing to God.

But why? What was Abram’s motive? Tithe was a common cultural practice in the suzerain/vassal society of the land. The vassal tithed as payment for and demonstration of the suzerain’s protection. In rescuing Lot, Abram also rescued the five kings of the five cities, which had been captured along with Lot. In gratitude, the king of Sodom approached Abram, we learn later, to shower him with the goods won in battle. Had Abram accepted his offer it would have been a demonstration of humility by the king of Sodom as vassal, and Abram, suzerain. It is in the middle of this encounter that Melchizedek appears and Abram demonstrates to these four pagan kings who the real Suzerain is. He uses a common expression from their culture to honor his God as the one who “delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” This is why Abram refused the offer. It would have distorted the message he was preaching. He would have communicated, “I serve the Most High who alone can deliver us, but I’ll take your cash too.” No, Abram was no suzerain. He saw himself a vassal, and also demonstrated himself to be a one through his humbled posture. The act was not one of obligation, but gratitude. It was not one of necessity. It was not what the law teaches for Levitical provision. It was not the storehouse tithe of Malachi for temple maintenance. It was a one-time act, not the regular giving a church needs today. It was a ceremony borrowed from pagans to show those same pagans who they should be serving.

The tithe sermon I have heard several times goes something like this: We take “storehouse tithe” from Malachi (which appeals to law), point to Melchizedek to prove its timelessness (which was not storehouse tithe), go to Jesus’ conversation with Pharisees for confirmation (which was actually confrontation), and finally appeal to Paul for regularity (which was actually a one time gift for a specific situation and organized for convenience). God’s Word has a much simpler plan for the church. But I’ll worn you, it’s much more demanding (Romans 12:1-2). But, that’s a whole sermon, not a blog.

Air Force Reserve and the Pastorate

2008-03-04T07:36:00.007-07:00

If you are reading this you have probably read my resume and may be wondering how I plan to fulfill my duties as a pastor while serving in the reserve military. The Air Force has a reserve category known as "Individual Mobilization Augmentee," or (IMA). Chaplains in this category work with active duty personal rather than being assigned to a reserve unit. As such we drill midweek, approximately once a month, rather than one weekend a month like most reservists. This not only frees the pastor to fulfill his ministerial duties but provides him with valuable experience and training, not to mention thrilling ministry opportunities that will augment his roll as pastor. Furthermore, these chaplains traditionally not been deployed overseas, but rather mobilized to stateside bases to fill in for active duty chaplains who are on deployment. These mobilizations (again, traditionally) occur only on a volunteer basis. We are a nation at war, and we are increasingly affected by friends and family serving in our military. Just as missions trips and conferences strengthen a church's ministry abroad, I see the reserve chaplaincy as a valuable opportunity for a local church to better understand and minister to our men and women in uniform.

Church Music

2008-02-25T20:23:00.008-07:00

God created us with a wide range of emotions. These emotions are all good and all have a proper expression in a proper context. These emotions are part of the image of God that we have the distinct
privilege to reflect and enjoy. To say that something is evil simply because it appeals to the flesh is to deny the innate goodness of these emotional (fleshly) feelings. Remember, context is the key in indulging these emotions, but also remember that theologically and biblically speaking, these emotions do have their proper place and bring glory to God when enjoyed there (and only there). Music, perhaps more than any thing else, powerfully connects with these emotional feelings.

I do not believe that we can categorize music as right and wrong based on the way it sounds or how it makes us feel. I do believe we can categorize music as appropriate and inappropriate for a given context based on the way it sounds. Let me explain. Chris Tomlin writes some of my favorite contemporary songs ("How Can I Keep from Singing," "Mighty Is the Power of the Cross") but, in my opinion, he makes a big blunder with "All Bow Down." The music is praise music - joyful, uplifting, makes you want to move - but the words are worship. The feeling associated with praise is obvious; the feeling associated with worship is humility. The lyrics say, "here comes the King, all bow down" (worship, humility), but the music makes me want to celebrate. That doesn't work. I'm not saying it's sinful, I'm just saying it doesn't work. I understand that there is a certain degree of subjectivity in that statement, but musicians agree that there are some universals here as well. If you don't believe them just ask a two-year old why he dances to some songs and not to others.

We have the liberty and biblical precedent to enjoy a wide variety in our church music. Psalm 150 names basically every instrument in existence at the time. We are to use all of our resources for the glory of our God. Surely this principle does not exclude musical ability. Music is meant to praise God, worship God, stir our hearts for action, and turn our hearts toward reflection. If we are serious about this, our music needs to make sense. I don't get into the old/new, hymn/chorus debates. Church music should touch on all of the Christian life, and to do that, it must make sense both lyrically and musically. There is good and bad in just about every genre and era of Christian music out there. My aim is to use the best I can find to bring glory to God. My view of music in a nutshell: the church should do music on purpose.

Worship

2008-02-25T19:06:00.007-07:00

Is worship what happens when The David Crowder Band and Chris Tomlin get together in a stadium full of college students? Is worship what happens on Sunday when we sing together... when we pass the offering plate... when the pastor preaches... when we skip church to pray in our boat at the lake? Worship is clearly a huge part of our Christian vocabulary - so much so that we can lose its meaning in our familiarity with it. So, what does the Bible say about worship?

While there are a handful of Greek and Hebrew words commonly translated as worship in our English translations the overwhelming majority of these references come from the Hebrew, shachah, and the Greek, proskuneo. These words almost synonomously mean "to bow down," or "to prostrate oneself." One lexicon explains the idea as, "to express in attitude or gesture one’s complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure." Thus, the meaning appears to be very broad in terms of form, but very narrow in terms of substance. The important thing is the attitude of the heart. For clarity it is helpful to look at this meaning in contrast with another Greek word often translated as worship in the New Testament. Sebomai is used only 10 times. The word refers to expressing worship through acts of ceremony. Jesus used sebomai in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 where he said the Pharisees worship him in vain "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." In other words, "lacking the humility of true worship their ceremonies mean nothing." Or, "true worship strips us of our legalistic pride in thinking that these ceremonial acts impress God." Worship is not about the event, especially when the life style is not in agreement with what is said in the worship act.

So what does Biblical worship look like? It looks like a penitent heart humbly expressing to God a desperate need for Him. This can and should be communicated through silence, prayer, song, reflection, study, preaching, giving, serving, and every thought or action we give ourselves to in a particular day. It can and should be done corporately but that event only means anything if it is done first privately on a consistent basis. Sunday morning worship only works if the worshipers have been worshiping Monday through Saturday. If not it is sebomai, not proskuneo. Sunday should be the overflow, not the goal. Sunday should be an expression to God of our corporate need for him and submission to him, not an experience we wish to get something out of.

Obviously, this has direct implications for church music. But, that will have to wait for the next post.

Church and Culture

2008-02-19T05:23:00.007-07:00

A website asks the question, "Is your church reflecting the culture or shaping it?" It is a fair question, but my response is different than what they are going for. The American Heritage Dictionary defines culture as, "The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought." That is more or less all inclusive of a people group. Does the church necessarily want to change all of that about every culture? By this definition things that influence culture will be industry, climate, history, and many other factors just as morally benign. Culture is who people are. So I ask, "If your church does not reflect elements of the culture, aren't you potentially legalistic?" Is it necessary or even preferable for a church to have their own style of music, dress, art, communication... that is totally foreign to the community in which they exist? We don't ask this of our missionaries. In fact, we strongly discourage this in missionaries. We expect them to learn their new culture and contextualize (please don't read too much theology into my use of that word) the Gospel into it as seamlessly as possible. Why do we think ministry should be any different state-side?

I understand that the doctrine of separation demands abstanence from certain elements of culture. Our society is increasingly sensual in entertainment and dress. But, this does not mean that we must never watch TV or should dress like the Amish. Our society worships recreation as a god. But, this does not mean that Christians can never play video games or go to the lake. Our culture produces a lot of music that is contrary to Biblical morality. But, this does not mean that guitars and drums are evil.

We need to remember that everything we hold traditional was once new and probably very contraversial. We also need to remember that to reach our neighbors we have a Biblical precedent to think like missionaries. The Great Commission demands it! We also need to remember that we are all probably emersed in the Christian subculture more than we think and need to extend grace and patience to other Christians as we progress together towards Christ-likeness.

Translations

2008-02-19T05:01:00.006-07:00

Having once held to the KJVO position I am well aware of the difficulty surrounding this topic. There are textual issues, transmition and preservation issues, translator issues, and faith issues, to name just a few. Frequently there is also a strong emotional element as seen in some of the book titles from this point of view such as, "Touch Not the Unclean Thing," and "Settled in Heaven." I am not even going to attempt to resolve such issues in a blog format. If we agree, great. If we strongly disagree I am not going to try to change your mind. If you are kind of KJV, or KJV and not sure why, send me an e-mail. I'd love to discuss this with you. For every one else here is where I stand without (too much) additional commentary.

My absolute favorite translation to date is the English Standard Version. I like the New American Standard, the Revised Standard, the Holman Christian Standard, and the New King James pretty well. I'm not particularly fond of the NIV for various reasons, but, I think the translators did a great job in what they set out to do. I don't have a problem preaching from the old KJV where the congregation uses it as their standard. The KJV has a beautiful history and tradition that I do not wish to diminish, but for the sake of the modern reader I acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful contribution of contemporary scholarship. Regardless which translation is read during the preaching, the preacher has a responsibility to the Word of God as it exists in the original languages. So, NIV, KJV, ESV... the important thing is to understand what God said and what that means in real life.

How sovereign is God?

2008-02-17T13:12:00.007-07:00

Given the countless volumes of books and two millennia of debate on the issue I have no illusions of resolving the fight here on blogspot, but I’ll at least try to let you know where I stand.

The word itself is often misunderstood. Nations are sovereign. Kings are sovereign. Sovereignty has to do with autonomous authority. Therefore, to say that God is sovereign is to say that he has absolute authority in and of himself. Though unintentional we usually think of his sovereignty in conjunction with his omnipotence. Not only does he have absolute authority, but absolute power to act on it. Those who get angry at the notion of his sovereignty are often unwittingly thinking in terms of omnipotence while ignoring the real issue – is God just in exercising absolute authority? One would have to deny the body of Scripture in its entirety to answer this question negatively. Colossians 1:16 is one of many passages that teach that everything was created by God, here specifically referencing the second person of the Godhead. Not only does it say all things but specifically addresses the world systems – thrones, rulers, etc. Christ, being the creator has authority over these things, as the verse declares this creation was not only through Christ, but for Christ. Even you and I were created through him and for him … so yes of course he is just in exercising absolute authority over us. But, some may say, just because he is justified in doing so, does he actually carry through with it to the violation of my will? The next verse tells us that “in him all things consist,” or, “are held together.” If all things means all things then we must conclude that not only is he just in exercising authority, and not only does he follow through in enacting his authority, but without it everything would cease to exist– even your will.

Rather than trying to figure out how free or bound our wills are maybe we should just tremble in the knowledge of how fragile we are and rejoice in the sustaining sovereignty and omnipotence of God!

The simplicity of the Gospel

2008-02-16T16:19:00.003-07:00

If you are reading this you are most likely familiar with the line, "I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest." I never got that as a kid. But now that I find myself falling into the Galatia trap of thinking that my salvation begun in grace through faith is now made better by finite me. What kind of spell comes over us to have such thoughts? I hunger for a steady diet of the simple Gospel that reminds me that grace does not require a suit and tie. It does not require ourtward forms of piety. It does not require "churchianity" - that confusing language only other evangelicals understand. The Gospel was never intended to morph into a culture cold to outsiders. It was intended to soften hearts to the point of loving others cross-culturally. The Gospel abhores my tendency to pretend that I'm OK when we all know that I am a sinner. The simple Gospel is the easy yoke and light burden of Jesus' teaching that defines sin not through the culture of established religion, but through Scripture alone. I love to tell that story. I need to hear that story. The Church is to be the medium of that story. Our lives are to be the testimony of that story.

The role of the pastor

2008-02-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

With the role of the pastor varying so much from church to church it is important to continually rediscover the biblical job description. Simply put, he is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-12). This can only be accomplished through a devotion to prayer and God's Word (2 Tim 3:16-17). There is always plenty of church work to do - good things that need to be done. The problem is that the pastor is only one man, and the important can easily trump the crucial. Acts 6 tells this story in concrete terms where the leaders, at that time Apostles, were busied with a good work to the neglect of their God-given duty. The solution was to choose out a group of godly men who could carry out those important tasks and allow the Apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the study and presentation of God's Word. If this focus was so important to men with the spiritual gift of apostleship, men who literally walked with Jesus, men who had heard him teach with their own ears, and with their own eyes saw him heal, raise the dead, cast out demons... how much more essential is this work for men like me?

In our culture the busy-work could look like office administration, financial planning, building programs, activities, and the like. These important things can easily crowd into the pastor's God given task of ministering through prayer and the Word. The solution? Godly men (deacons, elders, trustees, etc.) from within the congregation coming along side and shouldering the load.

The pastor's duty as overseer is often misunderstood, making him a CEO style administrator of the church's material assets. But, the term is used in Scripture in an exclusively spiritual sense (Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7). The pastor's oversight is the spiritual direction he gives to the church through his teaching and leading. The pastor's task then is, by biblical definition, spiritual. This is not to say that the pastor does not pick up a hammer, or push a mower, or feed the poor, or lead a committee, or stay up all night with the teens on occasion. What it does mean is that the ministry filling the pastor's calendar must be those things declared by Scripture as non-negotiable - equping his flock through prayer and the Word of God.

Sure, this is rather broad and vague. But that is because Scripture is a field manual designed to be applicable to unlimited cultures and situations. Therefore, we can confidently say that with a commitment to the biblical design of first things first we can find a right way to get all the good stuff done too.