God has made us to live at harmony with others and to lead lives of inner peace and harmony. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which means not only, "peace," but a right ordering of all things in our lives. Our relationships with our spouse, children, neighbors, co-workers, et.al., are intended to be ones of shalom.
Our hearts and minds should also experience God's shalom.
The problem is that, as sinful people, we do not always experience God's shalom, do we? Husbands and wives argue. Siblings squabble. Neighbors gossip. And even in our inner lives, we allow ourselves to be controlled by toxic addictions and unhealthy attitudes.
Jesus came that we might experience God's shalom.
In Ephesians 2:14, Paul writes that, "...He is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall...." In this verse, Paul writes that Christ has reconciled the world to God. We Gentiles, who were once far off from the promises of God (to Israel), have been brought near to God through Christ. We have been welcomed by grace into the covenant family of God.
If God can break down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, then he can most certainly break down the hostilities that exist in our households and in all of our relationships. Indeed, Christ can also break down the inner hostilities of our lives.
Christ has come that we might find God's peace -- or shalom -- in our lives. May you experience the peace that Christ came to bring. May it cover all of your relationships and even the inner corners of your life.
True peace in life comes only through a knowledge of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A Dad to Remember
Dads are such a powerful force in our lives.
I watched a documentary last night on Henry Ford, who of course built the automotive empire that started with the Model T in the early 1900s. Ford was a man of the people, a rugged, self-made man who was uneducated but street smart and very much in touch with the values of working-class people. But unfortunately, Henry Ford was was also a man who left a sour taste in the mouth of his only son, Edsell.
According to the documentary, Ford was extremely critical and unaccepting of his son. Edsell could do no right, in the eyes of his father, and Edsell ultimately died of stomach cancer in his early 40s. Many say he died because of the stress inflicted upon him by his father.
Henry Ford died a few years later with major regrets, regrets he ultimately could not undo.
I do not want to die with those type of regrets. I want my children to remember me as somebody who was genuinely interested in their lives, and as somebody who genuinely loved and affirmed them. I will no doubt regret the mistakes that I have made (and will make) with my children, but I want my children to remember these two things about me.
As a pastor, I have officiated at the funeral service of a dad who was not liked a whole lot by his adult children. When I asked for "highlights" of their dad's life, so that I could accurately talk about their father in the funeral service, the highlights were hard to come by.
What a sad situation.
Dads, we only get one chance at this thing called fatherhood. We aren't going to get it perfect, but let's give it our best so our kids have something wonderful to remember and pass along to their children. Let's make the most of the time we have with them.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Necessity of Judgment
Judgment is a tricky thing.
We all must make judgments in life. If I do not think my children's friends are a positive influence in their lives, you'd better believe I am going to exercise my parental judgment. If somebody (including me) preaches or writes something outlandish, we should judge those comments accordingly. If I am guilty of running a red light and the traffic camera has caught me on film, then I should be (and have been) judged guilty.
The key it seems is to judge with the Golden Rule in mind. When we enter the arena of judgment, as we all must do, then we judge others by the standard, "love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus affirms this when he says, "Do not be judged, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get." (Mt. 7:1-2, NRSV).
What do we take from this?
At face value, maybe Jesus means what he says. Do not judge. Period. You are better off -- and so is everybody else -- if you never, ever judge anybody.
But how can we possibly do this? If we do not judge the actions of others, then there would be no justice or order in the world. Our children would run afoul with no accountability and no guidance or protection. Dictators would run wild (as they frequently do) because no other nations would be courageous enough to judge that despot as corrupt or evil, and to respond appropriately.
Judgment, it seems, is a necessary thing in this world, but it has to be used wisely and correctly.
A helpful tool, it seems, is to avoid judging personhood. It is better practice to judge the words that people speak and the actions that they take, rather than judging the person themselves. Operate by the principle, "Attack words, not people."
There will come a time to judge people's character and personhood, though. If somebody strings together enough words and enough actions to warrant a negative judgment on our part -- in terms of character -- then so it must be. We just need to be prepared to be held to that same standard, by others and by God.
Indeed, judgment is a tricky thing.
We all must make judgments in life. If I do not think my children's friends are a positive influence in their lives, you'd better believe I am going to exercise my parental judgment. If somebody (including me) preaches or writes something outlandish, we should judge those comments accordingly. If I am guilty of running a red light and the traffic camera has caught me on film, then I should be (and have been) judged guilty.
The key it seems is to judge with the Golden Rule in mind. When we enter the arena of judgment, as we all must do, then we judge others by the standard, "love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus affirms this when he says, "Do not be judged, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get." (Mt. 7:1-2, NRSV).
What do we take from this?
At face value, maybe Jesus means what he says. Do not judge. Period. You are better off -- and so is everybody else -- if you never, ever judge anybody.
But how can we possibly do this? If we do not judge the actions of others, then there would be no justice or order in the world. Our children would run afoul with no accountability and no guidance or protection. Dictators would run wild (as they frequently do) because no other nations would be courageous enough to judge that despot as corrupt or evil, and to respond appropriately.
Judgment, it seems, is a necessary thing in this world, but it has to be used wisely and correctly.
A helpful tool, it seems, is to avoid judging personhood. It is better practice to judge the words that people speak and the actions that they take, rather than judging the person themselves. Operate by the principle, "Attack words, not people."
There will come a time to judge people's character and personhood, though. If somebody strings together enough words and enough actions to warrant a negative judgment on our part -- in terms of character -- then so it must be. We just need to be prepared to be held to that same standard, by others and by God.
Indeed, judgment is a tricky thing.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Swept Away By Myths
Once in a while, I open my Bible and it hits me between the eyes. The words I read speak so clearly to our situation in the world today that it us uncanny.
During a word study this week on the Greek word for rebuke in Matthew 16:22, I was led to the use of the same word in 2 Timothy 4:2: "Convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths."
Rebuke means something like, "To correct, with the intent of preventing something from happening, or to stop something from continuing." As brothers and sisters in Christ, this passage invites us to be patient teachers with one another, helping each other to hold to the basic doctrines of the Church that have withstood the test of time. Sometimes it may be a convincing argument, sometimes it may be stern admonishment, sometimes it may actually be words of encouragement! But the bottom line is that we should help each other not to be swept away by myths and false teachings.
Myths abound today. We continue to battle the fairy tale that money can buy us happiness, or that the more toys we accumulate the better our lives will be. We face the myth that we are our own gods! We have no need for the Church. After all, can't I just worship God on the golf course or in my fishing boat on Sunday mornings? And we battle the myth that sexuality is our God ... that we can define our own sexual standards, so long as two consenting adults agree.
Myths. All of them.
There are many more.
I grow frustrated at times by our lack of discipline in the Church; we allow ourselves to be swept away so easily by myths. We believe the words of any teacher of the day that stands up and professes to know what is true. As always, our task is to match what others (and we ourselves say) by the standard of Scripture. If it does not measure up, then it simply is not true!
I will confess, I grow angry from time to time and need to hold myself in check. I realize this is ridiculous. I am just as apt to be swept away by myths as the next person. They are a powerful force that will indeed sweep us away if we grow complacent.
This passage invites us, however, not to become bitter and angry Christians. When we do, it destroys our credible witness, and as the old saying goes, anger, like acid, does more harm to the vessel that contains it. I am grateful that this passage rebukes my anger and invites us to become teachers who demonstrate the utmost patience with one another. It also invites us to remain students who allows ourselves to be continually guided and molded by the instruction of others in the Church (and the pages of Scripture itself).
What do you think? Do I sound like a grumpy old man? Are these myths that I have identified actually myths? Are there others that are a threat to the Church today?
During a word study this week on the Greek word for rebuke in Matthew 16:22, I was led to the use of the same word in 2 Timothy 4:2: "Convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths."
Rebuke means something like, "To correct, with the intent of preventing something from happening, or to stop something from continuing." As brothers and sisters in Christ, this passage invites us to be patient teachers with one another, helping each other to hold to the basic doctrines of the Church that have withstood the test of time. Sometimes it may be a convincing argument, sometimes it may be stern admonishment, sometimes it may actually be words of encouragement! But the bottom line is that we should help each other not to be swept away by myths and false teachings.
Myths abound today. We continue to battle the fairy tale that money can buy us happiness, or that the more toys we accumulate the better our lives will be. We face the myth that we are our own gods! We have no need for the Church. After all, can't I just worship God on the golf course or in my fishing boat on Sunday mornings? And we battle the myth that sexuality is our God ... that we can define our own sexual standards, so long as two consenting adults agree.
Myths. All of them.
There are many more.
I grow frustrated at times by our lack of discipline in the Church; we allow ourselves to be swept away so easily by myths. We believe the words of any teacher of the day that stands up and professes to know what is true. As always, our task is to match what others (and we ourselves say) by the standard of Scripture. If it does not measure up, then it simply is not true!
I will confess, I grow angry from time to time and need to hold myself in check. I realize this is ridiculous. I am just as apt to be swept away by myths as the next person. They are a powerful force that will indeed sweep us away if we grow complacent.
This passage invites us, however, not to become bitter and angry Christians. When we do, it destroys our credible witness, and as the old saying goes, anger, like acid, does more harm to the vessel that contains it. I am grateful that this passage rebukes my anger and invites us to become teachers who demonstrate the utmost patience with one another. It also invites us to remain students who allows ourselves to be continually guided and molded by the instruction of others in the Church (and the pages of Scripture itself).
What do you think? Do I sound like a grumpy old man? Are these myths that I have identified actually myths? Are there others that are a threat to the Church today?
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Birthdays are an Affirmation
One of my sons turns 14 today. Benjamin came into this world at 4 pounds, 15 ounces; he is now a healthy, growing teenage boy with a tender heart for God and a heart for the underdog. He is always looking out for kids who need a friend. Through the years, there have been several situations at school and in the neighborhood in which he has instinctively defended the friendless.
His name in Hebrew means, "Son of my Right Hand." That means that he is also my warrior son, a strong arrow in my quiver.
I affirm this work of God in his life and I give thanks to God for entrusting me as one of his primary caretakers in life. If I was writing this blog post last September or December, or even this March, I would think about my other three children and affirm the work of God in their lives. Or I would affirm the work of God in my wife, who celebrated her birthday a few days ago.
Birthdays are affirmations. They remind us that every year is a precious gift from God. Every relationship is worth nurturing and appreciating, because you never know when it will end.
As a pastor, it seems the care list in my congregation is growing longer and longer. There are older folks who are growing more frail and sick, but there are also several young people who have been killed or at least died this year, long before their time. While I am obviously saddened by losing friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, their deaths and circumstances have also encouraged me to appreciate the moments I have with my wife and children.
They are a gift.
In the Sunday School class that I teach, we are working our way through a powerful poem called The Dash. It invites us to consider how well we spend "the dash" (on our tombstones) between the day we are born and the day we die. The Dash, the poet writes, represents how we love and live our lives.
Today, my son's birthday reminds me to love the gift of today and celebrate the gift of life and family that God has given us.
His name in Hebrew means, "Son of my Right Hand." That means that he is also my warrior son, a strong arrow in my quiver.
I affirm this work of God in his life and I give thanks to God for entrusting me as one of his primary caretakers in life. If I was writing this blog post last September or December, or even this March, I would think about my other three children and affirm the work of God in their lives. Or I would affirm the work of God in my wife, who celebrated her birthday a few days ago.
Birthdays are affirmations. They remind us that every year is a precious gift from God. Every relationship is worth nurturing and appreciating, because you never know when it will end.
As a pastor, it seems the care list in my congregation is growing longer and longer. There are older folks who are growing more frail and sick, but there are also several young people who have been killed or at least died this year, long before their time. While I am obviously saddened by losing friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, their deaths and circumstances have also encouraged me to appreciate the moments I have with my wife and children.
They are a gift.
In the Sunday School class that I teach, we are working our way through a powerful poem called The Dash. It invites us to consider how well we spend "the dash" (on our tombstones) between the day we are born and the day we die. The Dash, the poet writes, represents how we love and live our lives.
Today, my son's birthday reminds me to love the gift of today and celebrate the gift of life and family that God has given us.
Monday, January 21, 2013
What Shall I Fear?
Fear can be a good thing. It alerts us to danger. It kicks our bodies and minds into defense mode when we need it most. It is a primal instinct that continues to serve important roles for us today.
Fear can also paralyze us. Fear casts doubt and uncertainty into our hearts and minds. When you fear something or someone, it can feel like a 10-pound cinder block is resting on your chest.
There are four kinds of fear that cause us problems, according to Paul David Trip, a Presbyterian pastor and teacher. There is the fear of ourselves (once we come to learn our weaknesses and tendencies), the fear of others (those whom we are convinced are a genuine threat to our well-being), the fear of circumstances (What if this happens? What if that happens?), and the fear of the future (What does tomorrow hold for me? For my family?).
There are probably more categories of things we fear, but this is a solid start, if you ask me. I am particularly vulnerable to fear of the future. I want to know where my ship is heading. I feel a need to know if I am on a short trip or a long one, if we are making stops along the way, and what is our port of destination.
Faith, I know with my mind, is the ability to trust that God is guiding the ship where He wants it to go. Faith is a gift that allows us to enjoy the voyage. There is work to do on this trip. There are people to meet. There are challenges ahead. But through it all, faith allows us to trust that the vessel is heading in the right direction and that the ship ain't going down.
I am good at recognizing little tidbits and truths like this in my mind, but allowing it to take deep root in my heart is another story. I am a sinner like anybody else and I have a lot of fears that will crush me if I let them.
Tripp says the antidote for fear is fear itself. When we embrace the fear of God (understood more as an awe of God), the small things in life that we fear are put in their proper place.
Do you agree with these four categories of fear? Can you think of others? Read 1 John 4:8 and learn how fear is also overcome.
Fear can also paralyze us. Fear casts doubt and uncertainty into our hearts and minds. When you fear something or someone, it can feel like a 10-pound cinder block is resting on your chest.
There are four kinds of fear that cause us problems, according to Paul David Trip, a Presbyterian pastor and teacher. There is the fear of ourselves (once we come to learn our weaknesses and tendencies), the fear of others (those whom we are convinced are a genuine threat to our well-being), the fear of circumstances (What if this happens? What if that happens?), and the fear of the future (What does tomorrow hold for me? For my family?).
There are probably more categories of things we fear, but this is a solid start, if you ask me. I am particularly vulnerable to fear of the future. I want to know where my ship is heading. I feel a need to know if I am on a short trip or a long one, if we are making stops along the way, and what is our port of destination.
Faith, I know with my mind, is the ability to trust that God is guiding the ship where He wants it to go. Faith is a gift that allows us to enjoy the voyage. There is work to do on this trip. There are people to meet. There are challenges ahead. But through it all, faith allows us to trust that the vessel is heading in the right direction and that the ship ain't going down.
I am good at recognizing little tidbits and truths like this in my mind, but allowing it to take deep root in my heart is another story. I am a sinner like anybody else and I have a lot of fears that will crush me if I let them.
Tripp says the antidote for fear is fear itself. When we embrace the fear of God (understood more as an awe of God), the small things in life that we fear are put in their proper place.
Do you agree with these four categories of fear? Can you think of others? Read 1 John 4:8 and learn how fear is also overcome.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Finding True Rest
Resting in God's work is not easy.
We work hard each day. We sow seeds. It seems that if we stop working for one moment, the widgets will pile up in front of us and we will never catch up, like an episode of I Love Lucy. Or, the fear may be that everything will come crumbling down if take one breather.
Many of these fears, you may be surprised to hear me say, are not unfounded. This is the way the world works. These are the rules for the road. If titles, accolades, positions of power, and success are your only motivators in life, you indeed need to keep up the pace or the widgets will pile up! Your kingdom may indeed come crashing down if you quit for one moment.
When we work with God as our inspiration and incorporate the discipline of Sabbath rest into our weekly routine, we find refreshment from this conveyor-belt mentality. We find a new understanding of vocation and rest. But what is Sabbath rest?
Sabbath rest is more the attitude of your heart than anything else. It is not watching Saturday afternoon football for hours on end. It is not a fancy weekend vacation or a game of golf on Sunday mornings. Sabbath rest assumes that you rest from your normal labors (whatever it is that you "do" vocationally), but what brings refreshment is the spiritual process that transpires as you desist from your labors.
When we participate in Sabbath rest, we come to realize and trust that God is at work -- nurturing the seeds we have sown throughout the week -- even as we sleep and rest. It is not an attitude of "I don't care" what happens to my fields on my day off, I just need a day off! (Although we all feel like that by the end of the week) The attitude is one of gratitude and joy as we come to truly rest in God's work, because God never takes a day off! He is always at work in this world and in our lives, and we can rest in this knowledge.
Are you tired? Do you need refreshment in your life -- a tree to shade you from the heat of the work day? Read Isaiah 55:1 and Matthew 11:28. How do you spend your "day(s) off"? What activities help lead you into genuine Sabbath rest?
We work hard each day. We sow seeds. It seems that if we stop working for one moment, the widgets will pile up in front of us and we will never catch up, like an episode of I Love Lucy. Or, the fear may be that everything will come crumbling down if take one breather.
Many of these fears, you may be surprised to hear me say, are not unfounded. This is the way the world works. These are the rules for the road. If titles, accolades, positions of power, and success are your only motivators in life, you indeed need to keep up the pace or the widgets will pile up! Your kingdom may indeed come crashing down if you quit for one moment.
When we work with God as our inspiration and incorporate the discipline of Sabbath rest into our weekly routine, we find refreshment from this conveyor-belt mentality. We find a new understanding of vocation and rest. But what is Sabbath rest?
Sabbath rest is more the attitude of your heart than anything else. It is not watching Saturday afternoon football for hours on end. It is not a fancy weekend vacation or a game of golf on Sunday mornings. Sabbath rest assumes that you rest from your normal labors (whatever it is that you "do" vocationally), but what brings refreshment is the spiritual process that transpires as you desist from your labors.
When we participate in Sabbath rest, we come to realize and trust that God is at work -- nurturing the seeds we have sown throughout the week -- even as we sleep and rest. It is not an attitude of "I don't care" what happens to my fields on my day off, I just need a day off! (Although we all feel like that by the end of the week) The attitude is one of gratitude and joy as we come to truly rest in God's work, because God never takes a day off! He is always at work in this world and in our lives, and we can rest in this knowledge.
Are you tired? Do you need refreshment in your life -- a tree to shade you from the heat of the work day? Read Isaiah 55:1 and Matthew 11:28. How do you spend your "day(s) off"? What activities help lead you into genuine Sabbath rest?
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Almost Heaven
"Small Town" Texas is something beautiful to behold.
I officiated at a graveside service this morning for a man from Roxton, Texas (population 635), located in the northeast corner of the state. When you pull into town, there is a welcome sign that reads, "Near to Heaven." And who can argue? There is one cafe in town where everyone eats. There are grain elevators in "downtown" Roxton still in operation. And there is an old refurbished train station.
Why is this place near to Heaven?
This may seem a strange reason, but when you walk into the cafe, there is a serve-yourself tray of homemade biscuit sandwiches with saugage-and-bacon. It is up to each customer to put their biscuit on a plate, zap it in the microwave, and heat it to your liking.
Payment, of course, is all on the honor's system.
There are also a few churches in town and even a "mission center" guest house, for all of those missionaries that must come rolling through town.
And of course there is the history. Cotton was king in Roxton in the early 19th century, when the man from my congregation lived there as a child (with his nine siblings).
There are other places Near to Heaven, but I have to agree with the sign. Other neighboring towns - Pecan Grove, Ben Franklin, and Hickory Grove -- don't seem to far from Heaven either.
It was a refreshing, two-hour visit to paradise, but now it is back to the hustle-and-bustle of life in the Dallas Metroplex. I don't think I am ready yet for my residency in Heaven, but it was nice to visit for a day.
I officiated at a graveside service this morning for a man from Roxton, Texas (population 635), located in the northeast corner of the state. When you pull into town, there is a welcome sign that reads, "Near to Heaven." And who can argue? There is one cafe in town where everyone eats. There are grain elevators in "downtown" Roxton still in operation. And there is an old refurbished train station.
Why is this place near to Heaven?
This may seem a strange reason, but when you walk into the cafe, there is a serve-yourself tray of homemade biscuit sandwiches with saugage-and-bacon. It is up to each customer to put their biscuit on a plate, zap it in the microwave, and heat it to your liking.
Payment, of course, is all on the honor's system.
There are also a few churches in town and even a "mission center" guest house, for all of those missionaries that must come rolling through town.
And of course there is the history. Cotton was king in Roxton in the early 19th century, when the man from my congregation lived there as a child (with his nine siblings).
There are other places Near to Heaven, but I have to agree with the sign. Other neighboring towns - Pecan Grove, Ben Franklin, and Hickory Grove -- don't seem to far from Heaven either.
It was a refreshing, two-hour visit to paradise, but now it is back to the hustle-and-bustle of life in the Dallas Metroplex. I don't think I am ready yet for my residency in Heaven, but it was nice to visit for a day.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Musical Meditations
“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable
in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
When we listen to our car radios, watch television programs, read books, or just sit and wonder, our hearts (and minds) are in meditation mode, for good or bad.
If ESPN Radio is on in my car, I am absorbed in the storylines, commentaries, and sports analyses of the day. When we watch movies, we are fully immersed in romance, horror, or the funny and absurd. If we allow our minds to wonder down memory lane, we drink in again the positive or negative episodes from our past.
In short, we have a great deal of control over the meditations of our hearts.
I enjoy sports radio or a weekly whodunnit on TV like Castle. I enjoy a good historical non-fiction book; I am currently in the thick of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. I enjoy entertaining a memory from time-to-time. The challenge is making sure these meditations of our hearts are acceptable in God's sight, that we are feeding ourselves a spiritually nutritious diet of words, images, and sounds.
Despite my recent criticism of contemporary Christian music, I have returned to it on my car radio. Whatever criticisms I may have of Christian radio, it is because I think it is an awesome thing that has so much potential. It can ground of our hearts and minds daily in meditations on Christ.
The more I hear the songs of the faithful, the more I hear others lifting their voices in praise, the more I hear songwriters and musicians praising God, the more my heart meditates upon God.
Christian radio cannot fill me completely with the spiritual diet that my life needs, but it is becoming more of a main course in my life.
When we listen to our car radios, watch television programs, read books, or just sit and wonder, our hearts (and minds) are in meditation mode, for good or bad.
If ESPN Radio is on in my car, I am absorbed in the storylines, commentaries, and sports analyses of the day. When we watch movies, we are fully immersed in romance, horror, or the funny and absurd. If we allow our minds to wonder down memory lane, we drink in again the positive or negative episodes from our past.
In short, we have a great deal of control over the meditations of our hearts.
I enjoy sports radio or a weekly whodunnit on TV like Castle. I enjoy a good historical non-fiction book; I am currently in the thick of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. I enjoy entertaining a memory from time-to-time. The challenge is making sure these meditations of our hearts are acceptable in God's sight, that we are feeding ourselves a spiritually nutritious diet of words, images, and sounds.
Despite my recent criticism of contemporary Christian music, I have returned to it on my car radio. Whatever criticisms I may have of Christian radio, it is because I think it is an awesome thing that has so much potential. It can ground of our hearts and minds daily in meditations on Christ.
The more I hear the songs of the faithful, the more I hear others lifting their voices in praise, the more I hear songwriters and musicians praising God, the more my heart meditates upon God.
Christian radio cannot fill me completely with the spiritual diet that my life needs, but it is becoming more of a main course in my life.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Musical Sustenance
Contemporary Christian radio is a mixed bag.
Some of what airs on the radio is worshipful and meditative and points listeners to the grandeur and majesty of God.
Praise God for these songs and song-writers!
A significant portion of it, though, is loaded with therapeutic, me-centered anthems. God is portrayed as nothing more than the Savior who sole purpose is to rescue us from the messy circumstances of life. It feels like chewing bubble gum, or like eating a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast and expecting it will satisfy us until lunch.
During Christmas 2012, KLTY in Dallas also felt a need to flood the airways with sentimental, secular holiday music. There seemed to be more songs about "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" than Jesus and his birth.
Each of us, no doubt, is free to turn to a different station. Markets and target audiences are certainly a reality in the Christian music industry and it makes sense that radio stations and Christian record labels would court the loyalties of teenagers and families who want "safe" alternatives on the radio. But many times, it seems like the best alternative in my vehicle is to tune in to ESPN Radio or country music stations, or perhaps invest in satellite radio.
I know it does not sound like it, but I am thankful for Christian radio. There are moments -- when I drive to worship services on Sunday mornings for example -- when I can catch some live worship songs from Michael W. Smith or Chris Tomlin. But these days, it doesn't seem like there are many consistently "safe" stations on the radio dial.
The radio airwaves are better off with Christian music stations in the mix, for sure. And instead of lumping all of them into the same category, maybe I just need to try something different than KLTY.
Some of what airs on the radio is worshipful and meditative and points listeners to the grandeur and majesty of God.
Praise God for these songs and song-writers!
A significant portion of it, though, is loaded with therapeutic, me-centered anthems. God is portrayed as nothing more than the Savior who sole purpose is to rescue us from the messy circumstances of life. It feels like chewing bubble gum, or like eating a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast and expecting it will satisfy us until lunch.
During Christmas 2012, KLTY in Dallas also felt a need to flood the airways with sentimental, secular holiday music. There seemed to be more songs about "Jack Frost nipping at your nose" than Jesus and his birth.
Each of us, no doubt, is free to turn to a different station. Markets and target audiences are certainly a reality in the Christian music industry and it makes sense that radio stations and Christian record labels would court the loyalties of teenagers and families who want "safe" alternatives on the radio. But many times, it seems like the best alternative in my vehicle is to tune in to ESPN Radio or country music stations, or perhaps invest in satellite radio.
I know it does not sound like it, but I am thankful for Christian radio. There are moments -- when I drive to worship services on Sunday mornings for example -- when I can catch some live worship songs from Michael W. Smith or Chris Tomlin. But these days, it doesn't seem like there are many consistently "safe" stations on the radio dial.
The radio airwaves are better off with Christian music stations in the mix, for sure. And instead of lumping all of them into the same category, maybe I just need to try something different than KLTY.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Leadership is Hard
Frontline aired a compelling public television documentary last week of Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington D.C. School District. The PBS camera crews followed Rhee through her three-year, unprecedented effort to overhaul a fledgling, if not anemic, school district.
Rhee was given unparalleled authority by the Mayor and the City Council. She could do basically whatever she wanted to do. How did she use this authority? In short, she embarked on a crusade to increase standardized test scores and held principals, teachers, and administrators accountable for those test scores. More than one-third of all employees in the district were fired under her watch, and as you might imagine, she made more than a few enemies.
By the end of her three years, angry mobs (in the hundreds) pleaded and campaigned for her ouster. She was eventually canned after a new mayor was elected and she had expended all of her political capital.
The effectiveness of her work can and will be debated for years to come. Test scores indeed improved, but there is some indication that schools found a way to cheat the system and manufacture improved scores on standardized tests.
What is most compelling and inspiring about Rhee is her commitment to the cause. Say what you will about her results, but Rhee laid it all on the line to make positive change. She was willing to be a three-year flash in the pan. She was willing to have people disagree with her, threaten her, and hate her guts. It is not far-fetched to say that she put her life on the line.
Leadership -- true leadership -- is tough. Effective leaders are willing to lead others without counting the costs. Leaders are hurt emotionally and spiritually when others gripe and complain; they are humans like anyone else. Leaders grow frustrated when change does not happen the way that leaders want it to happen, but they are undeterred in their efforts to affect change.
The old saying proves true, that the results are all in God's hands. We cannot control the results. The only thing we can ensure is that we are faithful to the cause that He has given us.
Rhee was given unparalleled authority by the Mayor and the City Council. She could do basically whatever she wanted to do. How did she use this authority? In short, she embarked on a crusade to increase standardized test scores and held principals, teachers, and administrators accountable for those test scores. More than one-third of all employees in the district were fired under her watch, and as you might imagine, she made more than a few enemies.
By the end of her three years, angry mobs (in the hundreds) pleaded and campaigned for her ouster. She was eventually canned after a new mayor was elected and she had expended all of her political capital.
The effectiveness of her work can and will be debated for years to come. Test scores indeed improved, but there is some indication that schools found a way to cheat the system and manufacture improved scores on standardized tests.
What is most compelling and inspiring about Rhee is her commitment to the cause. Say what you will about her results, but Rhee laid it all on the line to make positive change. She was willing to be a three-year flash in the pan. She was willing to have people disagree with her, threaten her, and hate her guts. It is not far-fetched to say that she put her life on the line.
Leadership -- true leadership -- is tough. Effective leaders are willing to lead others without counting the costs. Leaders are hurt emotionally and spiritually when others gripe and complain; they are humans like anyone else. Leaders grow frustrated when change does not happen the way that leaders want it to happen, but they are undeterred in their efforts to affect change.
The old saying proves true, that the results are all in God's hands. We cannot control the results. The only thing we can ensure is that we are faithful to the cause that He has given us.
Friday, January 11, 2013
A Glimpse of Spring
It doesn't stay cold for too long in North Texas. During January and February, we have our pockets of 20- or 30-degree temps, but they usually only last a few days. We are able to throw a few logs in the fireplace for maybe seven or eight days out of the year; most of the time it feels like you are slowly being cooked alive in the Texas heat.
Today was a nice treat. After a week or so of cold temperatures and rain, we hit the upper 60s. It felt like spring for a few moments this afternoon. I could almost imagine kids taking to baseball fields and the grass returning to life on my front lawn. We are not out of the woods yet with "winter," but spring will be here before we know it.
The kingdom of God is a lot like spring. We catch glimpses of it from time-to-time, enough to keep us putting one foot in front of the other during the gray days of winter.
A powerful sermon grabs us. A friend makes us laugh or smile. A song stirs our spirit. It can happen in so many ways, but when it happens, it is like walking outside on a warm January day in North Texas.
I am grateful for the ways that God smiles on me and lets me know He is there, active in my life and active in the world. The forecast calls for a return to the 20s starting this Sunday and I am OK with that. I am grateful for at least a glimpse of spring.
Today was a nice treat. After a week or so of cold temperatures and rain, we hit the upper 60s. It felt like spring for a few moments this afternoon. I could almost imagine kids taking to baseball fields and the grass returning to life on my front lawn. We are not out of the woods yet with "winter," but spring will be here before we know it.
The kingdom of God is a lot like spring. We catch glimpses of it from time-to-time, enough to keep us putting one foot in front of the other during the gray days of winter.
A powerful sermon grabs us. A friend makes us laugh or smile. A song stirs our spirit. It can happen in so many ways, but when it happens, it is like walking outside on a warm January day in North Texas.
I am grateful for the ways that God smiles on me and lets me know He is there, active in my life and active in the world. The forecast calls for a return to the 20s starting this Sunday and I am OK with that. I am grateful for at least a glimpse of spring.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Prayer is Poetry
We have some genuine "prayer warriors," as they say, in our congregation. These individuals do not merely say, "I'll pray for you." These folks write down prayer requests as they receive them. They meet weekly to pray over a large list of prayer requests in our congregation and track how God is answering. And most importantly, they follow up with prayer requests. If you submit a prayer request, they will ask you a week or several weeks later, "So, how are things going?"
They are a very encouraging group of people, and I am glad that they are in my corner!
They are also fun to pray with. When I enter into a time of prayer with them, it is not perfunctory prayer. These folks allow the Spirit of God to inspire their words, and they speak the most beautiful and poetic words, drawing upon biblical imagery and the Spirit-infused imagination. They are dialed-in to the usual biblical language of spiritual warfare (phrases like, "arrows in the quiver," "armor of God," etc...). But they also carry prophetic words from God. They sense when God is leading us into a "season of renewal" and are able to name it in prayer, and they have spiritual discernment that pierces through the generalities of life.
Prayer is not about the abundance of words or flowery language. God hears the simplest of our cries from the heart, and He is not impressed by our experience or maturity in prayer (or disappointed by our lack thereof). On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with allowing our prayer to be poetic and allow ourselves, like the psalmists, to glorify God in our language (both spoken and written). There is something very edifying about practicing prayer as poetry.
So long as we do not engage in prayer that seeks to impress other, prayer-as-poetry is an effective tool that aids our understanding of prayer (and God's will for our lives and situations) and our level of faith and trust.
They are a very encouraging group of people, and I am glad that they are in my corner!
They are also fun to pray with. When I enter into a time of prayer with them, it is not perfunctory prayer. These folks allow the Spirit of God to inspire their words, and they speak the most beautiful and poetic words, drawing upon biblical imagery and the Spirit-infused imagination. They are dialed-in to the usual biblical language of spiritual warfare (phrases like, "arrows in the quiver," "armor of God," etc...). But they also carry prophetic words from God. They sense when God is leading us into a "season of renewal" and are able to name it in prayer, and they have spiritual discernment that pierces through the generalities of life.
Prayer is not about the abundance of words or flowery language. God hears the simplest of our cries from the heart, and He is not impressed by our experience or maturity in prayer (or disappointed by our lack thereof). On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with allowing our prayer to be poetic and allow ourselves, like the psalmists, to glorify God in our language (both spoken and written). There is something very edifying about practicing prayer as poetry.
So long as we do not engage in prayer that seeks to impress other, prayer-as-poetry is an effective tool that aids our understanding of prayer (and God's will for our lives and situations) and our level of faith and trust.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Small Beginnings
I have felt physically ill for the past three weeks. It started with a bad cold but then the lingering effects were felt for many more days. I still am not 100 percent.
When I feel like this physically for an extended period of time, my mind starts to play tricks on me. Do I have a stomach bug? Is it something worse? Am I having a nervous breakdown?
As you can tell, I come to all types of ridiculous conclusions. (Pray for my wife on this, by the way, as she manages life with a hopeless hypochondriac.)
My ill feelings have coincided with the holiday season and day-after-day of eating nothing but rich foods. Thanksgiving through New Year's Day was a marathon of banquet-style eating and lounging around on the couch.
Today it finally hit me why I feel so crummy. My body needs exercise!
This morning, I finally made it to the fitness center for a brief workout. I swam only 500 yards in the pool, but man it felt great! I can hear my body saying, "Thanks, man! I needed that!"
Our bodies are wonderful gifts from God, and they are meant to be exercised regularly! I cannot stand in the pulpit and preach to anybody about this or pretend that I have already achieved a regular discipline of physical exercise, but I have at least identified the problem.
I refuse to get overly excited or make any impressive New Year's resolutions that I will not keep. Instead, I will simply own the simple truth that it feels good to exercise my body, and the more I do it in 2013, the better I will feel.
It's a small beginning, but I have to start somewhere.
When I feel like this physically for an extended period of time, my mind starts to play tricks on me. Do I have a stomach bug? Is it something worse? Am I having a nervous breakdown?
As you can tell, I come to all types of ridiculous conclusions. (Pray for my wife on this, by the way, as she manages life with a hopeless hypochondriac.)
My ill feelings have coincided with the holiday season and day-after-day of eating nothing but rich foods. Thanksgiving through New Year's Day was a marathon of banquet-style eating and lounging around on the couch.
Today it finally hit me why I feel so crummy. My body needs exercise!
This morning, I finally made it to the fitness center for a brief workout. I swam only 500 yards in the pool, but man it felt great! I can hear my body saying, "Thanks, man! I needed that!"
Our bodies are wonderful gifts from God, and they are meant to be exercised regularly! I cannot stand in the pulpit and preach to anybody about this or pretend that I have already achieved a regular discipline of physical exercise, but I have at least identified the problem.
I refuse to get overly excited or make any impressive New Year's resolutions that I will not keep. Instead, I will simply own the simple truth that it feels good to exercise my body, and the more I do it in 2013, the better I will feel.
It's a small beginning, but I have to start somewhere.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Two Weeks After Shootings, We Are Back to Old Habits
It took two weeks for us Americans to get back to old habits.
In the days following the Connecticut school shootings, I remember a compelling article by Mike Lopresti in USA Today titled, "Have We Had Enough Yet?" In the article, he critiqued a culture of violence in the United States that is no doubt a primary contributor to tragedies like the Connecticut and Aurora, Colo., school shootings. He commented how Hollywood, out of "sensitivity" to the victims' families, was delaying the release of movies like Django Unchained, Jack Reacher, and other blood-soaked flicks scheduled for release in December and January.
For at least a week or so, it seemed as if Americans may have had enough. In my little fantasy world, I envisioned parents removing violent video games from their homes. I envisioned our social consciousness being sufficiently pricked, so that we would refuse to pay our money to support blood-soaked movies. I imagined Hollywood producers and actors accepting responsibility for their part in the cultural and moral epidemic.
These sentimental dreams came crashing back to earth this afternoon as I read an article in the Lifestyle section of USA Today. It turns out that Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Django Unchained are raking in tens of millions of dollars as the No. 1 and No. 2 movies at the box office this past weekend.
Our disdain for violence, I now see, was only a temporary fast. We have pulled a chair back up to the table of blood-soaked movies. Sorry, Mike Lopresti, but unfortunately it seems we have not had enough.
In the days following the Connecticut school shootings, I remember a compelling article by Mike Lopresti in USA Today titled, "Have We Had Enough Yet?" In the article, he critiqued a culture of violence in the United States that is no doubt a primary contributor to tragedies like the Connecticut and Aurora, Colo., school shootings. He commented how Hollywood, out of "sensitivity" to the victims' families, was delaying the release of movies like Django Unchained, Jack Reacher, and other blood-soaked flicks scheduled for release in December and January.
For at least a week or so, it seemed as if Americans may have had enough. In my little fantasy world, I envisioned parents removing violent video games from their homes. I envisioned our social consciousness being sufficiently pricked, so that we would refuse to pay our money to support blood-soaked movies. I imagined Hollywood producers and actors accepting responsibility for their part in the cultural and moral epidemic.
These sentimental dreams came crashing back to earth this afternoon as I read an article in the Lifestyle section of USA Today. It turns out that Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Django Unchained are raking in tens of millions of dollars as the No. 1 and No. 2 movies at the box office this past weekend.
Our disdain for violence, I now see, was only a temporary fast. We have pulled a chair back up to the table of blood-soaked movies. Sorry, Mike Lopresti, but unfortunately it seems we have not had enough.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The Price of Dedication
I stand in awe of the swimmers on my son's club swimming team. They basically swim two practices a day and they do this year-round. Many of them have aspirations of a college scholarship and even the Olympics. And when I say, "Olympic aspirations," it is not a far-fetched dream; some of them are good enough to attend Olympic qualifying meets.
My son, God bless him, is hard-working. I am very proud of his efforts to be the best swimmer he can be, but in order to get to "the next level," it would require him swimming "two-a-day" practices year-round. It would be an incredible commitment of time and energy.
Is it worth it? What would he have to sacrifice in order to reach this goal?
Well, for starters, it would mean sacrificing a social life outside of swimming. And as much as we might knock "having a social life," it is important. We are not machines and we need friends and down-time.
It would also mean giving up commitments to participating in church-related activities. These club teams are not afraid to compete (and even practice) on Sunday mornings! Nothing is sacred in youth sports these days, whether we are talking swimming, soccer, or whatever. Sundays are just as viable an option for games, practices, and tournaments, and there does not appear to be a concept of Sabbath worship in youth sports today.
It would mean the abandonment of other goals and aspirations, such as music. My son is a gifted drummer, and it is exceedingly difficult for a young man to excel in more than one thing these days. It almost comes down to swimming OR music.
There are blessings in pursuing goals in swimming (and other sports for that matter) with a single-minded devotion. It teaches hard work and commitment. It teaches the importance of good physical health. It brings self-confidence. But I can't help but wonder if "getting to the next level" is too big of a sacrifice to make.
Athletics is one of the common forms of idol worship in our culture today. Idols, it is helpful to remember, are not merely the funny statues that people keep on their mantles in far-away lands. Idols are any created things that we allow to replace God in our lives.
My son, God bless him, is hard-working. I am very proud of his efforts to be the best swimmer he can be, but in order to get to "the next level," it would require him swimming "two-a-day" practices year-round. It would be an incredible commitment of time and energy.
Is it worth it? What would he have to sacrifice in order to reach this goal?
Well, for starters, it would mean sacrificing a social life outside of swimming. And as much as we might knock "having a social life," it is important. We are not machines and we need friends and down-time.
It would also mean giving up commitments to participating in church-related activities. These club teams are not afraid to compete (and even practice) on Sunday mornings! Nothing is sacred in youth sports these days, whether we are talking swimming, soccer, or whatever. Sundays are just as viable an option for games, practices, and tournaments, and there does not appear to be a concept of Sabbath worship in youth sports today.
It would mean the abandonment of other goals and aspirations, such as music. My son is a gifted drummer, and it is exceedingly difficult for a young man to excel in more than one thing these days. It almost comes down to swimming OR music.
There are blessings in pursuing goals in swimming (and other sports for that matter) with a single-minded devotion. It teaches hard work and commitment. It teaches the importance of good physical health. It brings self-confidence. But I can't help but wonder if "getting to the next level" is too big of a sacrifice to make.
Athletics is one of the common forms of idol worship in our culture today. Idols, it is helpful to remember, are not merely the funny statues that people keep on their mantles in far-away lands. Idols are any created things that we allow to replace God in our lives.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Two Old Friends
It is time for a dose of good ole' John the Baptist and the "R" word this Sunday, as I preach on repentance from Matthew 3:1-12.
Repentance and John the Baptist have a lot in common. They both stand out as "freaks" to the culture at large. John ate locusts with wild honey, wore garments made from camel hair, and probably looked like a wild cave man. Repentance tells us that we are sinners who need to change our behavior. Repentance tells the world that some things it calls "good" are no good at all.
The world today might actually embrace a character like John the Baptist, or at least his outward appearance would be accepted. Repentance, though, I don't think will ever be able to make a home in this world. It is up to the Church to give it a home, along with grace to match.
Anyhow, I give thanks for the chance to preach on repentance this Sunday. It's the start of a new year. It's an opportunity to abandon actions, attitudes, and in-actions in our lives that are flat-out not helpful to us and others.
It is a time to discover a plan that God has in store for our lives. It's a plan we may have been missing out on for too long.
Repentance and John the Baptist have a lot in common. They both stand out as "freaks" to the culture at large. John ate locusts with wild honey, wore garments made from camel hair, and probably looked like a wild cave man. Repentance tells us that we are sinners who need to change our behavior. Repentance tells the world that some things it calls "good" are no good at all.
The world today might actually embrace a character like John the Baptist, or at least his outward appearance would be accepted. Repentance, though, I don't think will ever be able to make a home in this world. It is up to the Church to give it a home, along with grace to match.
Anyhow, I give thanks for the chance to preach on repentance this Sunday. It's the start of a new year. It's an opportunity to abandon actions, attitudes, and in-actions in our lives that are flat-out not helpful to us and others.
It is a time to discover a plan that God has in store for our lives. It's a plan we may have been missing out on for too long.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
A True Blessing for the New Year
This is the second day into the new year and we need a blessing to kick things off the right way. I borrow from the words of (or rather, the words attributed to) St. Francis of Assissi: "Where there is hatred and anger in our lives, may God sow seeds of love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy."
If you didn't notice, I have "Reformed" the original words to make it more of an actual benediction. When we give or receive a blessing, God needs to be the primary actor. What kind of blessing is it to say, "may we sow seeds of of love ..."? A blessing, properly understood, is a prayer that asks God to do something in our lives. It acknowledges that we need the Bless-er to do things in our lives that we cannot do alone.
I am capable of sowing seeds of love, pardon, faith, et. al., in small and insignificant ways. It remains my responsibility to be active in these pursuits in 2013. But what I need most is for God to do for me what I cannot adequately do for myself (or others). In other words, may God make me more loving, more forgiving, for faith-filled, more hope-ful, more illumined, and more joy-ful this year. And may God do the same thing in your life!
I don't know about you, but I need more of God's actions in my life this year. If we can do anything of value, it is to be more open for the works that God is trying to do in and through us. The seeds that we sow are important only in as much as God is saturating those same seeds with his grace. In the words of Paul, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." (I Cor. 3:6)
If you didn't notice, I have "Reformed" the original words to make it more of an actual benediction. When we give or receive a blessing, God needs to be the primary actor. What kind of blessing is it to say, "may we sow seeds of of love ..."? A blessing, properly understood, is a prayer that asks God to do something in our lives. It acknowledges that we need the Bless-er to do things in our lives that we cannot do alone.
I am capable of sowing seeds of love, pardon, faith, et. al., in small and insignificant ways. It remains my responsibility to be active in these pursuits in 2013. But what I need most is for God to do for me what I cannot adequately do for myself (or others). In other words, may God make me more loving, more forgiving, for faith-filled, more hope-ful, more illumined, and more joy-ful this year. And may God do the same thing in your life!
I don't know about you, but I need more of God's actions in my life this year. If we can do anything of value, it is to be more open for the works that God is trying to do in and through us. The seeds that we sow are important only in as much as God is saturating those same seeds with his grace. In the words of Paul, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." (I Cor. 3:6)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)