Devotional Blessings

     When I finished the 40-Day prayer challenge last month, I wondered if I would ever find a new devotional book to replace Mark Batterson's The Circle Maker. The whole concept of drawing prayer circles in my life was profound, and the Holy Spirit used Batterson's writings to help reinvigorate my prayer life.
     And then one morning, as I was perusing the shelves of our small church library, doubtful I would find anything to fit the bill, I came upon a devotional book by Ann Spangler called Praying the Names of God. Each day, Spangler invites readers to reflect upon a name of God mentioned in Scripture (Yahweh Yireh, Yahweh Rophe, El Shaddai, etc...). She then connects promises of God that are associated with those names in Scripture. And so now, I have a second written devotional resource that brings focus and inspiration to my morning quiet times!
     Thank you Mark Batterson and Ann Spangler for taking the time to write these devotional books.
     In the past, I had turned up my nose at devotional writers like Batterson and Spangler. I would say things like, "All I need is the Bible. I don't need these secondary writings." Or I would look at the marketing strategies surrounding such books and say to myself, "These authors are just trying to make a buck."
     Since then, I have come to value the role of secondary sources, even if the authors turn on a profit on their work. The Battersons and Spanglers of the world take the Bible and make it come alive! And there are many Christian pastors and authors out there who have the gift of writing devotional books. Not all are created equal, but there are plenty to choose from. The trick is to find writings that speak to you for a few weeks, use them for a season, and then find another author.
     Devotional authors, I have come to learn, are like friends for the journey, and who among us does not need friends?

Downgrading is Tough

     Downgrading is tough.
     A few weeks ago,  I traded in my cracked iPhone 4 for a $30 "dumb phone." All I can do now is text and talk. No more Facebook status updates at the grocery store. No more listening to ball games on the radio with my MLB app. No more Mapquest when I drive. No more Meet Mobile at my kids' swim meets (my favorite app).
     Technically, I can still check Facebook or Twitter on my dumb phone if I desire, but the graphics look like something out of an Atari 2600 video game.
    I'm telling you, it hasn't been easy, but I slowly feel like I am reaching a new normal. I don't know how long I will last, but I am looking to reap some spiritual benefits along the way.
    Technological downgrading (for whatever reason we do it) can be a blessing. We are tethered today to wireless stuff. Every free moment of the day, our eyes are glued --  our lives transfixed -- by digital data, most of it of no use for everyday life (except of course, the MLB app).
     So how can I make better use of those mindless, 30-second intervals, when I would typically click on Instagram?
     One possibility is silence. Instead of checking to see how many people "like" my latest quip on Twitter, maybe I allow my mind to have a few moments to reflect upon the day, or even lift a prayer or praise.
     Another possibility is communication. Instead of sitting beside someone with my eyes fixed on my touchpad, maybe I look my children, wife, or friend directly in the eyes as I speak with them.
     A final scenario is that I stop (perhaps for a just a few moments) the constant stream of social media advertisements.
     Downgrading is tough, but I have high hopes for the spiritual blessings that may come my way, at least until I am ready for a new upgrade.
   

Scripture and Salvation

     Following is the last installment of my personal credo. This is not to say there aren't other doctrines central to our faith; these are just a few that I believe we must be in agreement on for the Church. It is not a must that we articulate these doctrines as I have articulated them in this credo, but we need to be in agreement on the basic principles.
     As always, I invite your feedback.
     "I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Spirit of God, the authoritative Word of God for the Church. As the cultural norms of our society shift and change, the Bible has proven over time to be, "useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16) The Scriptures are the primary means through which God instructs His Church. From the opening verses of Genesis to the closing words of John in Revelation, they tell the amazing story of God's plan of redemption for the world in Christ.
    "I believe there is one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul says we are "dead in our transgressions and sins (Eph. 2:1)," unable to save ourselves. In baptism, whether infant or believer's baptism, we are marked with an outward sign of God's inward call in our lives. This call must be confirmed for each person, as Jacob wrestled with God at Peniel (Genesis 32:28), or as Paul's eyes were opened suddenly on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), or even as Timothy accepted the Gospel as a young man, after he was raised and nurtured in the faith throughout his childhood by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 5). Ultimately, it is not we who save ourselves; it is God who calls, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies us (Romans 8:30)."

The Trinity: Essential and Practical

     If you and I disagree whether Christians must undergo a baptism by immersion or sprinkling, I can agree to disagree. It is not a deal breaker for me or for most Christians, for that matter. You are my brother or sister in Christ, no matter what mode of baptism you affirm.
     If you say Jesus Christ is literally, physically present (rather than spiritually present) in the consecrated elements of bread and wine during the Lord's Supper, we can still break break together on our knees.
     There are some doctrines, though, that are essential for the Christian faith. On these doctrines, there can be no turning or wavering; they define the one, true Church.
     One of those essential doctrines is the Trinity. Following is what I believe about the Triune God:
     "There is one God revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian formula is more than doctrine, though; it is the wonderful way through which God has chosen to the reconcile the world to Himself.
     "God the Father sent his one and only Son to the world to save the world through Him (John 3:16). Jesus is God incarnate, the eternal Word of God become flesh (John 1:14). In Christ, all the fullness of Deity lives in human flesh (Col. 2:9). And now, from the birth of the Church at Pentecost to the present, Jesus continues to live through the Church, His Body on earth. 
     "This happens through the person of Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer. Holy Spirit is a deposit, "guaranteeing our redemption." (Eph. 1:14). Ultimately, Holy Spirit will return us, in Christ, to the Father, "without stain or wrinkle or any ohter blemish, but holy and blameless." (Eph. 5:27)
     So what do you think about this short sample from my personal credo? Is what I believe consonant with the historical teachings of the Church? Is the doctrine of the Trinity just some esoteric mumbo jumbo, or do you agree that it has practical implications for our lives?

I Believe What I Believe

     What do I believe?

     Now more than ever I find it necessary to return to home base and articulate once again my basic beliefs about Jesus Christ, His Church, and what it is His Church is called to do in this world. There are so many messages we get today from our culture that claim to be truth, and it is simply not all truth.

     You can read some of my previous posts if you want specific examples of how I see fiction masquerading as truth in the world today.

     The nuts and bolts about what Christians believe is the same; what I state in this personal credo is fundamentally no different than other believers, but I have to put into my own words, so here goes ...

     "I believe that God was (and is) reconciling the world to himself in Jesus Christ, and that God has entrusted this ministry of reconciliation to the Church (2 Cor. 5:19). The world is reconciled to Christ when individuals receive new life in Christ, are joined to the Body of Christ, and participate in God’s reconciling work in the world. Apart from Christ, people in the world are, “… foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God ...” (Eph. 2:12) In Christ, people discover God’s wonderful plans for their lives; they receive a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). 

     The Church lives out the ministry of reconciliation by proclaiming the Word of God faithfully, in word and in deed, to everyone we encounter. Jesus came, “to proclaim good news to the poor … to proclaim freedom for the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, (and) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Whether the Spirit has given us the gifts of evangelism, healing, service, compassion, administration, teaching, or preaching (or some other gift), we each have a role to play in Christ’s reconciling work in the Church."

     In my next few posts I will share what I believe about some specific doctrines. In the meantime, I invite your feedback. Does this personal credo capture the essence of what the Church believes about ministry and mission? If you were to sit down and write your own personal credo, what would you say?

40 Days of Prayer

There is something special about the number 40. Whether it was Noah and family aboard the ark, the Israelites wandering in the desert, or Jesus fasting in the wilderness, God has used the number 40 to prepare his people to inhabit new places and ministries.

God still uses the number 40, not as a magical formula but as a model to help prepare God’s people for the fulfillment of his promises in-and-through us.

Monday (Sept. 9) begins a 40-Day prayer challenge for the congregation that I serve, and perhaps for you. What will we do for the next 40 days (ending on Oct. 18)? I suggest three things:

Read a devotional entry every day from the book Draw the Circle: A 40-Day Prayer Challenge, by Mark Batterson. (You could use a different devotional booklet if you wish, or simply read a daily Bible verse.)

Define 3-4 “prayer circles” in your life. A prayer circle is a prayer that you are 100%, without-a-doubt, wholeheartedly committed to see through over the next 40 days (and beyond). You might draw prayer circles for a ministry at GPC, a personal prayer need, or our nation.

“Pray through” these prayers and journal how you see God responding, and how God is changing you throughout the process.

I believe God has special plans for your life and mine. Join us in a 40-Day Prayer Challenge.

New Territory in Prayer

     I am working my way through the Mark Batterson book, The Circle Maker, and am pleased so far. I mean, yeah, it bothers me that he is a bit of a book hawk. In addition to The Circle Maker, he has additional Circle Maker resources for children, students, parents, classroom, etc... It is the same content repackaged and marketed a hundred ways. But aside from all this, at its core, the Circle Maker is a solid image for prayer.
     It is based on the story of a Jewish sage named Honi (apparently a historical figure from the Jewish Talmud) who, during a time of drought, drew a prayer circle in the sand. According the legend, Honi literally drew a circle, stood inside it, and refused to come out until God brought forth rain from the heavens and refreshment for his people. In like manner, we can draw spiritual circles around the different areas of our lives and pray through our requests until they come to pass.
     It is not about demanding things from God.
     It is not about putting God to the test.
     It is not about us receiving stuff from God like he is a divine candy dispenser.
     Drawing a prayer circle is about wrestling with our wants/needs in life and matching them against the will of God (testing it against Scripture). Once we are convinced our prayer request is the will of God, we should draw a spiritual circle around that prayer and see the request through. So often, we throw prayers to the sky and do not really know what we are asking. Or we pray for a season, but then grow weary and give up. Batterson encourages us not merely to "pray for" things, but "pray through" them.
     Our congregation will be using Batterson's resources for a 40-Day prayer challenge beginning on Sept. 8. I will be targeting a vision for Men's Ministries at GPC and for The Gathering, a contemporary worshiping community that I lead at GPC. I will also be drawing prayer circles for my marriage, my children, my health, and other things.
     I invite you to join us on this 40-Day Challenge, whether or not you buy the book. Let me know if you choose to partner with me on this challenge. Blessings to you!

'Heal our Land'

     Two Oklahoma teens, the newspapers report this week, were sitting on their front porch with a handgun. They saw a man jogging by them on the street, and so they decided to hop in their car, follow the man, and shoot the man in his back. The reason? They were bored and thought they would kill a guy, "just for fun."
     In California, a new law allows transgender kids to choose which locker room they would like to use. If they are a boy, but feel more like a girl, they may use the girls locker room, and vice versa.
     In New York City, 16-year-old girls can take the morning after pill from a school nurse, without the consent of their parents.
     Something is happening (or has happened) to the soul of our nation. It seems as if God has removed his hand and is allowing for us to function according to our own plans. We do not apparently value God's plans, and do not want to live according to his Word, and so he is allowing us to have our way.
     We will see how long we can go on this path before we finally return to God.
     I have heard and seen this oft-quoted passage of Scripture, and it has finally found a place in my heart: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
     I apologize if my last two posts are kind of Debby-downers, but I see wickedness around us and I am growing more distressed. The only way forward is if we would abandon our plans and return to the Lord humbly in prayer. It starts with congregations and denominations abandoning attempts to be "relevant" to cultural trends, and preaching and teaching (in the simplest sense possible) the Word of God (as revealed in Scripture). It continues with believers responding to the Word in their own lives, and becoming Light shining in a dark place. And if more of us from the Church (the "called out" ones) will live as God's called-out people, the Light will gradually overcome the darkness that has set in.

   

We're All Nuts!

     In hindsight, I can see how the Left-leaning folks in America were turned off (and even nauseated) by the Religious Right political-religious movement of the 1980s and '90s. Fundamentalist leaders like Jerry Falwell (of the Moral Majority) and Pat Robertson (Christian Coalition) came across as smug and self-righteous. They served up a mix of political and religious rhetoric and then shoved it down our throats.
    Before becoming a Christian (in the early 1990s), these guys infuriated me. And to be honest, I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief every time they open their mouths.
     But a paradigm shift has occurred of late. The political Left today is every bit as obnoxious as the the Religious Right ever was, and they display many of the same tendencies. If you believe abortion is morally wrong and that legislation should tightly restrict (if not eliminate) the practice, don't bother sharing that viewpoint with others. If you so much as question Obamacare, they wonder how you can call yourself a Christian. If you affirm that God does not (nor ever will) affirm homosexual practice (or heterosexual promiscuity) as acceptable lifestyles, you are labeled a bigot.
     I still remember the words of my AP European History teacher in high school. Chuck Lucas taught us, with a coffee mug in his hand, that there is little difference between the extreme Right and the extreme Left. Zealots will always be zealots, whether they are on the Right or Left side of the aisle (or pew).
     So how do we live passionately as Christians today, and work for justice and the truth of God's Word, without becoming Right-wing or Left-wing nuts? Is it even possible?
     I have not read much of Friedrich Nietzsche, but perhaps his writings on "A Will to Power" aren't that far off the mark. Maybe it comes down to the Left and Right lining up on both sides of the ball, and going at it relentlessly when the whistle blows, until one side emerges victorious. Maybe today there is no compromising or "third way" in the ideological and theological disagreements that confront us.
     I am certain there is a way (something about "speaking the truth in love"), but I have not yet seen it modeled effectively. And I have not yet discovered a way to be transparent and honest about the grave concerns I have for the morality of this nation. As a pastor, my fear is that if I lean in too prophetic of a direction, I will alienate people and become a poor witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
     This is always the danger. In speaking the truth, we can easily compromise love and compassion (or create the perception that we are not loving or compassionate).
     Jesus managed to balance the offices well, but can we?
     What are your thoughts? How do you live passionately and champion what you believe in the marketplace of ideas (the Public Square)? How do we fight the good fight? Can we, in good conscience, remain silent, if what we see around us is contrary to the love and truth of God's Word? I welcome all responses, whether you are Left- or Right-leaning, or even a Left- or Right-wing nut.
   

Feeling Like a Rubber Band

     About this time every year, I start to feel like a rubber band that is being gradually stretched to capacity, hoping I don't break. As the pastor who oversees discipleship ministries, it is my responsibility to make sure that all Sunday School classes, small groups, etc..., are formed and ready to go. I also work with men's ministries, nurture ministries, and other areas.
     I love it.
    The church is an exciting place to work in August, because with the start of the school year, so many people are open to new routines and new beginnings. My prayer is that, as a congregation, we learn to identify the BEST opportunities for growth and say yes to those things. I also hope we learn to say no to other things, even things that are otherwise good.
    I struggle with this. There are so many GOOD things to engage in this fall. There are music ministries, mission ministries, Sunday School classes, men's ministries, nurture ministries, youth and children's ministries, and young adult ministries, just to name a few. Even though these are all good things, we cannot do it all! We have to identify the BEST for us and our families, and the right balance of rest, family time, worship, service, fellowship, etc... If we don't choose, somebody else will write our schedules for us and soon we will feel like the rubber band, ready to break.
     I have some tough decisions to make for this fall, not only as a pastor, but as a dad, husband, and follower of Jesus Christ. How will I connect with my children in meaningful ways this fall? What is the BEST opportunity available for us to do this? How will my wife and I stay in touch amidst all of the shuffling back-and-forth between home, church, school, work, and activities? And how will I find time to hear the whisper of God in my own life? Will I overbook myself, so that I don't have time to reflect and pray? Or will I build that time into my schedule.
     So many choices out there of how to spend our time. May we listen to God leading us to those best opportunities, and let the other things fall by the wayside.

Easy Like a Sunday Morning

     There are a lot of people who do not "go to church" on Sunday mornings. I know, because I was one of them last Sunday.
     About four or five times a year, I take the Sunday off. Sometimes our family visits other churches in the area, just for a change of pace. But sometimes, I must confess, our family simply sleeps in.
     Last Sunday -- after a long flight home from Baltimore the night before -- was a sleep-in Sunday. At 10:30 AM, we left the house to drive my daughter to a 1 o'clock swim meet that was about an hour away. Along the way, we stopped at the local Wal-Mart to load up on snacks and drinks for the pool deck, and lo-and-behold, Wal-Mart was packed! People were strolling the aisles in flip-flops and shorts, enjoying a little value shopping on Sunday morning. As we drove away from Wal-Mart, I noticed other parking lots and storefronts were packed! Roads were busy! A dozen or so pick-up trucks toted ski boats and Jet Skis, as families made their way to the lake.
     My conclusion? It's not rocket science. A lot of people do not worship on Sunday mornings. Some of the people we observed, to be fair, would worship later that evening, if their church home offers a Sunday night service. Others, perhaps, had worshiped the night before. And maybe a few of them were pastors like me playing hooky. But there is no denying that many people choose not to worship on Sunday mornings!
     There are several potential reasons for his. The first is that a large number of people in McKinney, Texas, are not Christians. If this is the case, it seems logical that such people would not attend worship services on Sunday mornings. A second reason is that it was Pastor Sunday at Wal-Mart, and thousands of other pastors were also taking the day off. A more likely explanation is that these are Christians who have chosen to do other things on Sunday mornings. When considering the question, "What should I do with my Sunday morning?" many people consistently choose to stay away from worshiping communities of believers in the local church.
     This realization t is not shocking to me. I am not offended by it. I do not stand in judgment of these people. It simply shows that we have a lot of work to accomplish in the Church today, even in the so-called Bible Belt.
    Granted this was just one small sample of, "Sunday Mornings at Wal-Mart in McKinney, Texas," but I think I would find the same pattern, next week, and the week after that, whether it be springtime, summer, or fall.
    I offer no solutions or recommendations. I'm just calling it like I see it, and hopefully my exposure to ground zero can motivate me (and other church leaders) to be more invitational. Perhaps it is showing us the hard truth that our culture is becoming more secular by the moment, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still needed in our own backyard.

Mission Accomplished

     My son recently returned from a week-long mission trip to Staten Island. He and three others helped out a guy named George, whose house was submerged during Hurricane Sandy. It was hot. It was sticky. It was hard work. And yet, from all accounts, he and another youth on the trip did a great job and worked hard.
     I could not me more proud of these boys for responding to God's call to the mission field.
     In the evenings, they slept on cots at Olivet Presbyterian Church and showered across the street at the YMCA. They also had a chance to meet some interesting people in the congregation and neighborhood. On one particular evening, they were invited to a barbecue with many people who are homeless and/or battling HIV/AIDS. This is one of those invitations to the mission field that could cause many otherwise faithful Christians to hesitate. It is a ministry that many congregations might not embrace, but not this 80-member congregation in Staten Island.
     As I reflect upon this my son's experience at this barbecue (and the mission trip as a whole), I give thanks that he was exposed to ministry to a group of people often overlooked or even exiled. I am thankful to hear there are congregations who reach out to groups of people the rest of the world has cast aside. I am also compelled to inventory how we witness to Christ's love to different groups of people in our own community.
    Mission (in Scripture) is understood in concentric circles. Jesus says, "...You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  In other words, we serve the people of our neighborhoods and communities (Jerusalem), in our region/state/nation (Judea), and even overseas (to the ends of the earth). We also go to places -- like barbecues with AIDS/HIV patients -- that the world says don't matter (Samaria).
     Thank you to Pastor Bryan and another adult church member for leading these two boys in mission and enabling them to be witnesses of Christ's love.

Lessons from Little League

My son's 11-13 year-old baseball team recently won the championship for a 10-day Little League All-Star tournament in north/northeast Dallas, and we couldn’t have asked for a better coach.

            The coach emphasized how he was not concerned with the boys striking out or making errors in the field. As he told the boys, errors will happen; ballplayers strike out. More important is how they conduct themselves while playing the game. For example, he expected his players to run back to the dugout after a bad, third-strike call, and not argue with the umpires. He expected his players to run onto the field when it was their turn to play defense. He instructed the players not to get down on themselves when they made errors, because the next play would be coming.

            In other words, for my son's coach, it’s how you play the game that is most important, and it is not about perfection. And who can argue with the man; we won the whole tournament playing baseball this way!

            The same thing applies to life. We will get bad calls and bad breaks. We will make mistakes. We will not succeed in every endeavor. What truly defines our success in life and faith is our attitude. It is so easy to get down on our selves or others, or complain that things aren’t fair. It is easy to give up and mope. Every day is a new opportunity to run onto the field, ready to play the game, because our next chance may be just around the corner!

July 4th Reflections

     Our friend Sherif in Cairo sends us regular Facebook updates on the coup in Egypt. If you have not heard the news, democratically elected president Morsi is out and the army is now in charge. Millions who claim Morsi was inept at best and a power-hungry thug at worst are rejoicing in the streets. But there are hundreds of thousands of others (perhaps a few million?), including our friend Sherif and his family, who think this is a devastating development. They have lost all hope in any form of democracy taking hold in Egypt, and of course there is the immediate threat of riots and perhaps civil war. The country seems that divided.
     I do not pretend to know the ins and outs of the situation. For all I know, Morsi is inept or perhaps a real scumbag. The primary connection I have to the situation is our friend Sharif, and our hope that he and his family remain safe. I also am of course concerned for our brothers and sisters in the Coptic Christian Church, who make up about 10 percent of the 90 million people in this country. And I am just concerned for a nation of people who are so bitterly divided, and about to (potentially) abandon their year-long experiment with democracy.
     I offer no solutions to the situation in Egypt; I am ill-equipped to choose sides. But I pray for my friends Sherif and his family. I pray that the Church in Egypt can embody the personhood of Christ and become effective peace-makers. And I pray there is no power grab by the army as they prepare for another democratic process to begin.
     And of course on this July 4 holiday, I give thanks for our nation. We greatly misuse our freedoms in this nation. We treat our freedoms as an amusement park rather than as a responsibility. And yet, we are free. We have peaceful transfers of power. We do not tolerate attempts and schemes to overthrow our government. We can preach and teach the Word of God in our sanctuaries and small groups. I could go on and on.
     Today, the invitation is to stop to read about the situation in Egypt, or some other politically troubled nation, and realize just how good we have it.

Moving Forward as the Church

     Last Wednesday was a watershed moment in the gay rights movement. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that essentially tossed out the gay marriage ban (Proposition 8) in California. It also struck down a part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which means legally married, same-gendered couples can now receive the same federal benefits as married, opposite-sex couples.
     Since that ruling, I have gone through all types of emotions, from anger and frustration to confusion and fear. I have found myself asking many questions. How did our society ever get to the point of affirming that it is an OK thing for a man to marry (and have sexual union with) another man, or a woman with another woman? What is the basis for our affirmation of this practice, and on what authority did we reach this conclusion? If we continue on this trajectory, and gay marriage (and homosexual practice) become firmly entrenched in our culture, what will be the next sexually defined "equal rights" movement? Will a brother seek the right to marry his sister (or brother)? Will a high school teacher pursue her right to have a sexual union with a 14-year-old junior high school student?
     Judging from the way courts make decisions -- almost exclusively on the basis of what is constitutionally permissible, and not what is morally acceptable or unacceptable -- these scenarios do not seem so far-fetched.
     This was how I processed the news last week, and I am simply being transparent about my emotions and thought processes.
     Today is a new day. I have returned from a family vacation -- which was also a vacation from news and digital media (for the most part) -- and I am now ready to get back to work. I realize that, moving forward, I (we) cannot be driven by emotions like anger and fear. These are natural human emotions, and I feel no shame for asking these questions, but they must be immersed in prayer, reflection, and the Spirit of God.
     So far, after several days of prayer and reflection, here is where I am.
     God does have a plan for this nation. More importantly, God has a purpose for the Church, as we seek to communicate the Gospel message to a good but broken world. The content of the Gospel message is a good-news message that absolutely includes love of all people.
    The question is this, What does it mean to truly love other people? Does love mean that we accept and affirm every action that other people take? Does it mean that every lifestyle is OK? When I love another person, does it mean I refuse to speak up when their lives run contrary to the Word of God?
     If this is love, then please, do not love me. I want to be surrounded by people who love me gently, patiently, and kindly. But I also count on people in my life to confront me (hopefully, but not necessarily in a gentle way) when I am on the wrong path. This is true love, and the kind of love that God exhibits to his children when necessary (See Hebrews 12:3-17). The message of Christ is not merely a message of acceptance and tolerance, but forgiveness linked to repentance (See John 8:1-11).
     This is the nature of the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
     Moving forward, what should be the response of the Church to the decisions last Wednesday (which really are the culmination of years of struggle with this issue)? It seems we can take several important steps as the Church. Firstly, we can pray that, in our discourse and interactions with others, we remember that we, like all other people, are sinners in need of the ongoing grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. If we forget this simple message, then our testimony will be lost to others and we will be held to account by God's perfect and righteous Judgment (Romans 2:1-4).
     Secondly, pray for the courage to speak more boldly for the truth of God, as revealed in Scripture. It is time to get off the fence and speak the truth in love.
     Thirdly, pray that you will cling, and the Church will cling, to the Word of God that is revealed in the pages of Scripture. We are not our own authority!
     Lastly, give thanks that the eternal Word of God remains steadfast, no matter how an earthly court may rule or what a cultural movement may say is truth.
     There are more steps to take moving forward, but these are some logical steps that are before us as the Church, if we seek to move beyond emotions toward faithful witness.

In Veggie Mode Once Again

 
    Dust off the bamboo steamer, I am in veggie mode once again.
   A few years ago, when I was experimenting with the vegan diet, my wife and daughter bought me a bamboo steamer that works wonders on vegetables. You stack two bamboo trays on a wok, fill the wok with a few inches of water, stuff the trays with corn, broccoli, squash, whatever, and voila, healthy and yummy vegetables.
    The vegan diet experiment was just that, an experiment. I could not sustain it over the long haul. I believe you can get the essential nutrients and vitamins from an animal-products-free diet, but something just seemed to be missing (iron? vitamin B?) from my diet. Maybe I need to interview a gorilla and see how they manage day-to-day living on a vegan diet.
     This time around, I am not going the vegan route. I am eating fish and vegetables, along with eggs and (ideally) a minimal use of dairy products. If you had to throw a label on me, I guess it would be an ovo-lacto-pesca-vegetarian, but whatever. I am not interested in labels, and I reserve the right to chow down on some chicken or beef now and then. One of my conditions for the occasional consumption of meats is that I understand where the meat came from. It needs to be "kosher," not by Jewish definitions, but by the standards of sustainable agriculture (i.e. grass fed cattle and free-range chicken).
     What prompted all of this?
     A few weeks ago, two of my worlds collided. My father had triple-bypass surgery and I preached on the dietary laws from Deuteronomy 14, both in the same week. My conclusion? I guess I am influenced by books like The Maker's Diet (Jordan Rubin) and Omnivore's Dilemna / In Defense of Food (Michael Polin). Perhaps there is a health-inspired reason why God restricted the diet of the Israelites? Although it is not required of God's people, perhaps it is a guideline that can lead to our health and prosperity? Maybe it is time to return to a plant-based diet and tolerate only an occasional (and more conscientious) consumption of meat.
    For now, I am riding the wave and following Spirit, as it leads me back into veggie mode.

"Jesus Changes Everything"

     I figured out how to upload my Sunday morning messages. Thank you, Vimeo. If you want to hear my message on Easter Sunday (March 31, 2013), click on this link https://vimeo.com/64410115
    The message, "Jesus Changes Everything," is from John 20:19-30, the passage where the risen Lord meets the Disciples behind locked doors. The message reminds us that Jesus works with the doubts of our faith and then leads us back out across the choppy waters of the sea. Ultimately, Jesus will lead us to the other side. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
     May you continue to live in power of the risen Lord.

Sample No. 3: Personal Motivations

This is a third sample for my final doctor of ministry project, "Cultivating Spiritual Disciplines in a Consumer Culture." This sample highlights my personal motivations for conducting this project. 

            Guess blue jeans. Swatch watches. Nike basketball shoes. These are just a few of the brands of clothing and accessories that were popular when I was a sixth-grade boy. I envisioned myself walking the crowded middle school hallways in those faded, $40 blue jeans. The inverted, triangular Guess emblem on the back pocket, I told myself, would make me an instant hit with classmates. I envisioned how owning a colorful Swiss watch would perhaps turn a girl’s head. And somehow I convinced myself that owning a pair of Air Jordan sneakers would elevate my skill level and athletic ability on the basketball court. 

Owning these brand-name products was a burning desire for me as an adolescent, and I can remember haranguing my mother to purchase these items on back-to-school shopping trips. Now that I have children of my own, the same script plays out, only in this scenario my children plead with me to buy iPhones, Beats headphones, and $180 Rock Revival designer blue jeans. And as for me, my consumer desires have now graduated to larger-ticket items like vehicles, home-improvement projects, and flat-screen televisions.

            Consumerism is as powerful today as it was in the 1980s. When under the spell of consumerism, nothing else seems to matter for individuals but pursuing and consuming stuff we typically do not need, or consuming in quantities and ways that are wasteful and luxuriant. When captivated by the consumer spirit, we do not think conscientiously about how things are made, who makes them, and under what circumstances they are made. We do not think about the effects of things like packaging or fuel costs, and how our everyday consumer choices impact God’s creation and The Least of These. We do not think about the negative spiritual impact upon us personally, or reflect upon the reasons why we feel we have to have certain products. Consumerism is an unbridled force today, particularly in our western culture, and it presents significant challenges to the western Church as we seek to live out our calling to care for God’s creation and provide for the needs of the world’s poor.

            I am drawn to this project for personal reasons. I realize how pervasive a force consumerism has exerted and continues to exert on me. When I look at my city trash receptacle each week on trash day and I see four plastic bags full of Styrofoam cups, plastic bags, and other household waste, something does not seem right. When I taxi back-and-forth across town every night of the week to my children’s athletics practices and other activities, something seems off. When I see a television commercial for a new F-150 pickup truck and spend the next week fantasizing about how I might acquire one someday, I realize there is something other than the Holy Spirit vying for my deepest spiritual and emotional affections. And as I look beyond myself, I see the same force is at work in my family, my neighbors, my community, and my world. 

            The impetus for my final project is an internal nudging that has pursued me since I was a child; I have wrestled for many years with the tension between my consumer desires and the deeper, spiritual desires of my heart. I have longed for many years to identify a way of being in this consumer context – an ordering of everyday life – that can become a means of personal, Christian formation. I hope that through this project, my family and I, and others in my ministry context, can learn how to maximize our talents and contribute more to the work of mission, specifically in the areas of Creation Care and The Least of These. There is much we can do as Christ’s Church to participate in these mission themes if we can just learn to consume in more responsible and thoughtful ways.