Family:
My family is spread out. As the next generation gets older and moves out--something that will begin to happen shortly--it will, likely, be even more multi-sited. So, it was a great privilege to be with my two sons and their families and most of my wife's family over the past couple of weeks.
I am an incredibly blessed man. My sons and daughters-in-law are involved in significant ministry in churches that are making a difference in their communities and beyond. All of my siblings and my brothers, and sisters-in-law love the Lord. and are serving Him. I see great promise in the next generation.
When I ask myself why I am so privileged, I am quickly driven to the reality of God's goodness. Knowing, though, that God often works through human instuments, I am reminded of faithful parents, my father-in-law who began a spiritual stream sixty-plus years ago when he turned to Jesus Christ, of my grandmother who faithfully raised three boys by herself during the depression, and countless others who have gone before me. I want to leave something behind that will be there long after I'm gone. I am the ancestor of someone great that I will never meet. I enjoy my family. I want to live so that even my family that will be born after I'm gone will appreciate me.
Family, it's STTA.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Hard Preachin'
I've been a preacher for nearly forty years, so I've heard--and told--a lot of jokes about preaching. "You stand up to be seen. Speak up to be heard. And, shut up to be appreciated."
I can tell you about the preacher who used to time his messages by placing a lozenge in his mouth. When it melted he knew it was time to quit. By mistake he put a button in his mouth one Sunday morning--preached himself to death.
A friend of mine is fond of commenting--often correctly--that a preacher passed up several good opportunities to quit.
I don't recall that anyone has ever told me, but I figure folk have surely thought that I'd "done quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'."
A number of comments and stories about preaching have to do with "hard preaching." Putting those two words in your web-browser will produce a number of hits.
I never considered myself a hard preacher. I want folk in the front row to be safe from slobber-showers, and I've found that pounding the pulpit tends to make my fist sore. Yesterday, though, I preached so hard that one of my fillings came out. Truth be told, it was already loose. I had already made an appointment with the dentist to get it cared for.
All humor aside, Biblical preaching is often hard. I don't mean loud or bombastic. Rather I refer to the fact that some of the truths that the Bible contains are hard to proclaim. Things like the universality of sin, Romans 3:23, or Romans 6:23, which speaks of the consequences of that sin. The Bible frequently instructs us to do hard things, Matthew 5:10-11, for example. Those are hard truths, They are hard to proclaim. But, they must be told. It is not hard, for example, to tell people to love the nice and lovely, but to proclaim Jesus message that we are to love even our enemies, that is hard preaching.
Lord, I'd like to keep my fillings, but let me be a hard preacher. Amen
It's STTA.
I can tell you about the preacher who used to time his messages by placing a lozenge in his mouth. When it melted he knew it was time to quit. By mistake he put a button in his mouth one Sunday morning--preached himself to death.
A friend of mine is fond of commenting--often correctly--that a preacher passed up several good opportunities to quit.
I don't recall that anyone has ever told me, but I figure folk have surely thought that I'd "done quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'."
A number of comments and stories about preaching have to do with "hard preaching." Putting those two words in your web-browser will produce a number of hits.
I never considered myself a hard preacher. I want folk in the front row to be safe from slobber-showers, and I've found that pounding the pulpit tends to make my fist sore. Yesterday, though, I preached so hard that one of my fillings came out. Truth be told, it was already loose. I had already made an appointment with the dentist to get it cared for.
All humor aside, Biblical preaching is often hard. I don't mean loud or bombastic. Rather I refer to the fact that some of the truths that the Bible contains are hard to proclaim. Things like the universality of sin, Romans 3:23, or Romans 6:23, which speaks of the consequences of that sin. The Bible frequently instructs us to do hard things, Matthew 5:10-11, for example. Those are hard truths, They are hard to proclaim. But, they must be told. It is not hard, for example, to tell people to love the nice and lovely, but to proclaim Jesus message that we are to love even our enemies, that is hard preaching.
Lord, I'd like to keep my fillings, but let me be a hard preacher. Amen
It's STTA.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
OK, You Can Straighten Up, Now.
I'm looking forward to not hearing about the "debt crisis," or the "debt ceiling" for a while. At least I'm hopeful.
Some of my smarter, better informed friends can correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand what just happened/is happening like this:
Everyday we spend more money than we take in. In order to finance this deficit we sell savings bonds to grandparents as birthday gifts for their grandkids, and treasury certificates to the Chinese because they have our best interest at heart..
Somewhere along the line somebody got the idea that this might not be the best way of doing things, so some law was passed that set a limit on just how much red-ink we could use.
That law, regulation, scout's-honor promise--whatever it is--has proven to be no real impediment to our continued, and increasing indebtedness, however, because whenever we feel the ceiling brushing our fiscal spike-hairdo we simply raise the limit. I read that we have done so 74 times since March of 1962. I have no doubt, though, that Congress felt really bad every time they did.
As this current debt ceiling approached somebody got the bright idea--who let this guy in?--that maybe this continually spending more money than we have coming in wasn't such a good idea. I mean, what if the Chinese show up and offer to break our thumbs? So, totally ignoring the long-standing rules this gang of thugs--he recruited some like-minded friends-- said we won't raise the ceiling unless we slow the flow of red-ink--turning it off completely would cause National D. T.s. so that was never seriously considered.
Thus the horse-trading, arm-twisting, back-scratching, and log-rolling began. We now have a piece of legislation that no one likes--giving it the GOLD-STANDARD BIPARTISAN Compromise Seal of Approval--but which will get enough nose-holding "Ayes." to stave off Debt-a-geddon one more time.
Whew!
OK, here is an undeniable debt crisis, and a totally real solution we should all--and I mean "all"--really--and I, likewise mean "really"--get excited about:
" . . . where sin increased [that brings about an indebtedness that will cost us out lives Romans 6:23*], grace [resulting in forgiveness of that debt] abounded all the more," (Romans 5:20
It's STTA.
To find out how you can infinitely raise your debt-ceiling look here.
(Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
Some of my smarter, better informed friends can correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand what just happened/is happening like this:
Everyday we spend more money than we take in. In order to finance this deficit we sell savings bonds to grandparents as birthday gifts for their grandkids, and treasury certificates to the Chinese because they have our best interest at heart..
Somewhere along the line somebody got the idea that this might not be the best way of doing things, so some law was passed that set a limit on just how much red-ink we could use.
That law, regulation, scout's-honor promise--whatever it is--has proven to be no real impediment to our continued, and increasing indebtedness, however, because whenever we feel the ceiling brushing our fiscal spike-hairdo we simply raise the limit. I read that we have done so 74 times since March of 1962. I have no doubt, though, that Congress felt really bad every time they did.
As this current debt ceiling approached somebody got the bright idea--who let this guy in?--that maybe this continually spending more money than we have coming in wasn't such a good idea. I mean, what if the Chinese show up and offer to break our thumbs? So, totally ignoring the long-standing rules this gang of thugs--he recruited some like-minded friends-- said we won't raise the ceiling unless we slow the flow of red-ink--turning it off completely would cause National D. T.s. so that was never seriously considered.
Thus the horse-trading, arm-twisting, back-scratching, and log-rolling began. We now have a piece of legislation that no one likes--giving it the GOLD-STANDARD BIPARTISAN Compromise Seal of Approval--but which will get enough nose-holding "Ayes." to stave off Debt-a-geddon one more time.
Whew!
OK, here is an undeniable debt crisis, and a totally real solution we should all--and I mean "all"--really--and I, likewise mean "really"--get excited about:
" . . . where sin increased [that brings about an indebtedness that will cost us out lives Romans 6:23*], grace [resulting in forgiveness of that debt] abounded all the more," (Romans 5:20
It's STTA.
To find out how you can infinitely raise your debt-ceiling look here.
(Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
God's Protection?
A modern Western leader was widely hailed as God's instrument in his country. He had brought a new level of economic prosperity, created unity where there had been near chaos, and was credited by many for improving the moral climate if the citizenry. A group of conspirators--some motivated by religious zealotry, mounted an assassination attempt. The ensuing bomb blast killed some of those nearby, and even reduced the leader's trousers to tatters, resembling a hula-skirt. The leader gave credit to God. "God has preserved me!" He and his allies considered it a statement from the Allmighty that Heaven approved of the administration's policies. This "Divine protection" became the political leverage used to push along their agenda.
The leader of whom I speak is Adolf Hitler. The Valkyrie plot was but one of many attempts on the Fuhrer's life. His survival of the bomb blast in his Wolf's Lair Prussian military stronghold is indeed remarkable. If the meeting had taken place in the bunker where it was originally scheduled, if the table had been of a different design, if the briefcase bomb had not been placed in, or moved to a spot behind the massive supports of the table, plus a thousand other "if"s had not been exactly as they were, Hitler would have died.
So, is this any more than an interesting, ironic twist of history?
Yes, there is a powerful lesson. The collective teaching of scripture would clearly indicate that God was in control July 20, 1944, as well as July 27, 2011. The Fuhrer's conclusions, though, based on his reading of what happened, were entirely wrong. God was most definitely not on the side of the Third Reich. I have a definitive answer as to why God allowed Hitler to live that day--a survival that led to the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many people of excellent character. "I don't know." Often my quick and easy conclusions based on my observations of God's sovereign actions are just as faulty as those of the leader who had his pants blown off.
I've been learning recently from Job that my job is not so much to figure out, as it is to trust.
It's STTA.
The leader of whom I speak is Adolf Hitler. The Valkyrie plot was but one of many attempts on the Fuhrer's life. His survival of the bomb blast in his Wolf's Lair Prussian military stronghold is indeed remarkable. If the meeting had taken place in the bunker where it was originally scheduled, if the table had been of a different design, if the briefcase bomb had not been placed in, or moved to a spot behind the massive supports of the table, plus a thousand other "if"s had not been exactly as they were, Hitler would have died.
So, is this any more than an interesting, ironic twist of history?
Yes, there is a powerful lesson. The collective teaching of scripture would clearly indicate that God was in control July 20, 1944, as well as July 27, 2011. The Fuhrer's conclusions, though, based on his reading of what happened, were entirely wrong. God was most definitely not on the side of the Third Reich. I have a definitive answer as to why God allowed Hitler to live that day--a survival that led to the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many people of excellent character. "I don't know." Often my quick and easy conclusions based on my observations of God's sovereign actions are just as faulty as those of the leader who had his pants blown off.
I've been learning recently from Job that my job is not so much to figure out, as it is to trust.
It's STTA.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Oh, for leaders like this!
I have been working through the list of qualifications that Paul gives for leaders in the church in 1 Timothy and Titus. A concept that stands out big time in this list is self-control. As I interact with the text I keep thinking, "Oh for leaders like that today!"
Men who:
Are sexually pure and known for faithfulness to their wives and who place family responsibility at the top of their list.
Have the good sense and discipline to put, and keep, first things first.
Possess a calming-spirit.
Can make a point honestly and forcefully, without flying off the handle, because they have the ability to teach the truth.
Are truly worthy of respect.
In the recent past, in circles in which I move, I have come across men who have allowed lust to lead them away from marital fidelity, observed leaders who allowed pettiness to escalate to unfortunate separation, and seen failure to take decisive action lead influential ministries to the brink of disaster. I wish I could paint all these situations with a brush of self-discipline, but it's not applied from the outside.
These characteristics are not merely the pedigree of the upper-echelon. They are traits to which all of us should aspire and for which we all should strive. They are qualities of life that lead to a better world for all concerned. (See here.)
I invite you to find out more Sunday.
It's STTA.
Men who:
Are sexually pure and known for faithfulness to their wives and who place family responsibility at the top of their list.
Have the good sense and discipline to put, and keep, first things first.
Possess a calming-spirit.
Can make a point honestly and forcefully, without flying off the handle, because they have the ability to teach the truth.
Are truly worthy of respect.
In the recent past, in circles in which I move, I have come across men who have allowed lust to lead them away from marital fidelity, observed leaders who allowed pettiness to escalate to unfortunate separation, and seen failure to take decisive action lead influential ministries to the brink of disaster. I wish I could paint all these situations with a brush of self-discipline, but it's not applied from the outside.
These characteristics are not merely the pedigree of the upper-echelon. They are traits to which all of us should aspire and for which we all should strive. They are qualities of life that lead to a better world for all concerned. (See here.)
I invite you to find out more Sunday.
It's STTA.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Protecting the right to believe the unpopular:
I had forgotten about the proposed case.
Asra Q. Nomani, a Muslim woman and former Wall Street Journal reporter wants to sic the IRS on the likes of me. To be honest, Ms. Nomani has congregations that gather in Mosques primarily in mind, but her reasoning and proposed action applies to any of us who believe that the tenets of our faith include any substantive difference between male and female. Al Mohler does a good job pointing out the issues, here.
Yesterday I attempted to deal with the later half of 1 Timothy 2. (Check our website later; the message should be posted.) This morning Mohler's article reminded me of the enforcer that Ms. Nomani and her allies want to make the upholder of their view of things. Whether you agree with him or not, it is clear that the Apostle Paul maintains that there are differences between women and men, and their place in the church. If I understand her reasoning correctly--a line of thought shared by others--Ms. Nomani thinks that the considerable force of the IRS should be unleashed on the likes of me--a prospect that chills my bones even in the July heat.
Like Mohler, I have no interest in arguing Islamic Theology. It is clear, however, that Nomani's argument is one that is based in the truth claims (many of which I reject) of Islam. She claims that Mohammad did not require the gender-separation, practiced in many 21st Century Mosques, therefore modern Imams should not. It is this apartheid that is at the root of her objection. See here.
Ms. Nomani is in no way forced by the IRS or any other government entity to participate in a place, or system, of worship that she regards as faulty. I have no idea what mechanisms exist within Islam for the reform of practices, especially forms of worship deemed to not be in keeping with the teachings of their founding prophet. As one who considers himself both a Protestant and an Independent, I could (but I haven't been asked) give advice on one route leading to reform.
Bottom line:
I really have little if any interest in what goes on in the Mosque where Ms. Nomani worships. I am vitally interested, and I maintain that you should be, in the idea that the force of government agencies should be involved in telling religious organizations what they should and should not believe. (I do acknowledge that the government ought to be involved if women or others are forced to be involved in a system to which they object. Ms. Nomani is not being so coerced.)
If I am to be free to publicly interact with some of the Apostle Paul's unpopular thoughts, then I must be willing to grant other religious entities the freedom to teach beliefs with which I disagree.
It's STTA.
Asra Q. Nomani, a Muslim woman and former Wall Street Journal reporter wants to sic the IRS on the likes of me. To be honest, Ms. Nomani has congregations that gather in Mosques primarily in mind, but her reasoning and proposed action applies to any of us who believe that the tenets of our faith include any substantive difference between male and female. Al Mohler does a good job pointing out the issues, here.
Yesterday I attempted to deal with the later half of 1 Timothy 2. (Check our website later; the message should be posted.) This morning Mohler's article reminded me of the enforcer that Ms. Nomani and her allies want to make the upholder of their view of things. Whether you agree with him or not, it is clear that the Apostle Paul maintains that there are differences between women and men, and their place in the church. If I understand her reasoning correctly--a line of thought shared by others--Ms. Nomani thinks that the considerable force of the IRS should be unleashed on the likes of me--a prospect that chills my bones even in the July heat.
Like Mohler, I have no interest in arguing Islamic Theology. It is clear, however, that Nomani's argument is one that is based in the truth claims (many of which I reject) of Islam. She claims that Mohammad did not require the gender-separation, practiced in many 21st Century Mosques, therefore modern Imams should not. It is this apartheid that is at the root of her objection. See here.
Ms. Nomani is in no way forced by the IRS or any other government entity to participate in a place, or system, of worship that she regards as faulty. I have no idea what mechanisms exist within Islam for the reform of practices, especially forms of worship deemed to not be in keeping with the teachings of their founding prophet. As one who considers himself both a Protestant and an Independent, I could (but I haven't been asked) give advice on one route leading to reform.
Bottom line:
I really have little if any interest in what goes on in the Mosque where Ms. Nomani worships. I am vitally interested, and I maintain that you should be, in the idea that the force of government agencies should be involved in telling religious organizations what they should and should not believe. (I do acknowledge that the government ought to be involved if women or others are forced to be involved in a system to which they object. Ms. Nomani is not being so coerced.)
If I am to be free to publicly interact with some of the Apostle Paul's unpopular thoughts, then I must be willing to grant other religious entities the freedom to teach beliefs with which I disagree.
It's STTA.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
It's HARDER!
The first three letters in "diet" spell "die."
Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something like, "Whenever I feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until I get over it." Whoever it was, it would appear from the increasing girth of American's young and old, that it is a popular practice--only instead of lying down the modern equivalent is to sit down in front of the TV--wide bottoms parked in front of wide screens. First Lady, Michelle Obama, among others, has emphasized that this syndrome is not only true about we oldsters, but is pandemic among the younger set.
I fear that the "Big Easy" is more than a nickname for New Orleans. Our dedication to ease leads to an unpleasant reality--we are headed for a life that is not easy at all.
Our dedication to the path of least resistance, which leads to a result that we resist in non-effective ways, is not limited to our intake and usage of calories. We read less and "surf" more. Social niceties are abandoned because they are too much trouble. Spiritual disciplines like time in the Bible and prayer and regular attendance with an assembly of believers for worship, fellowship, and learning, have given way to spiritual equivalents of diet pills. It is weird. We look at the end of the path we are on and say, "I don't want to go there." Yet we are unwilling to get off the road that inevitably leads to where we don't want to go. We maintain this schizophrenia accompanied by whining choruses of "It's hard!"
Indeed!
The Apostle Paul challenged his younger protege to "discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7) Hebrews 12:11 puts it in perspective. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) I know it is a jock-cliche, but it is true: "No pain, no gain!" Let me add to it: "No gain, worse pain." It is hard to live right. Eventually, though, it is harder not to.
It's STTA.
Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something like, "Whenever I feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until I get over it." Whoever it was, it would appear from the increasing girth of American's young and old, that it is a popular practice--only instead of lying down the modern equivalent is to sit down in front of the TV--wide bottoms parked in front of wide screens. First Lady, Michelle Obama, among others, has emphasized that this syndrome is not only true about we oldsters, but is pandemic among the younger set.
I fear that the "Big Easy" is more than a nickname for New Orleans. Our dedication to ease leads to an unpleasant reality--we are headed for a life that is not easy at all.
Our dedication to the path of least resistance, which leads to a result that we resist in non-effective ways, is not limited to our intake and usage of calories. We read less and "surf" more. Social niceties are abandoned because they are too much trouble. Spiritual disciplines like time in the Bible and prayer and regular attendance with an assembly of believers for worship, fellowship, and learning, have given way to spiritual equivalents of diet pills. It is weird. We look at the end of the path we are on and say, "I don't want to go there." Yet we are unwilling to get off the road that inevitably leads to where we don't want to go. We maintain this schizophrenia accompanied by whining choruses of "It's hard!"
Indeed!
The Apostle Paul challenged his younger protege to "discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7) Hebrews 12:11 puts it in perspective. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) I know it is a jock-cliche, but it is true: "No pain, no gain!" Let me add to it: "No gain, worse pain." It is hard to live right. Eventually, though, it is harder not to.
It's STTA.
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