Seven - Year Blessing

On this date, seven years ago, I went through one of the most life-changing days of my existence. Ruth was pregnant with our third child at the same time my sister-in-law Jan was dying of cancer. At the time we lived with my brother Rick and Jan and their two kids, and we were very close. The plan was for us to continue to grow together as two families in one house. When Jan found out that Ruth was pregnant she told her that she really wanted to be around when the baby was born. As the due date neared, Jan's condition worsened and we knew that it was not going to be much longer - unless God intervened miraculously (under our understanding of miraculous, because the death of one of His saints is a precious, miraculous thing in His sight).

Well, on this date, seven years ago, Ruth went into labor and my beautiful, red-headed boy Joshua was born (all 11 1/2 pounds of him). I got in my car and drove home as fast as I could from the hospital to bring the news, only to find as I was pulling up that my father and other siblings were at the house. I knew something was up and I rushed in to find that Jan had just passed. "Did she know about Josh?" They could only say that they were able to whisper into her ear that he had been born.

I went over to my side of the house and just sat on the back steps and cried - the most I've ever cried in my life. Just pouring out tears. My emotions were so mixed. I had a beautiful baby boy and Jan was gone - all at the same time - literally to the minute. It was an experience that ripped me to the core of my being and at the same time brought immense healing. I don't know how to explain it in any other way. God was so real to me at that time.

So every November 20th, when I look at my son, growing strong and healthy, I think of Jan, how awesome she was, how much I miss her. But I also think of God and how He is so far beyond what we can ever imagine. He is a real God, one that loves us, that we can personally experience and know intimately. He gave us this blessing in the middle of our darkest hour.

I don't want ever to put that burden upon Josh, like he has to live up to something like that, but he is special to our family in that sense. Rick was able to come and hold him while planning the burial of his wife. I was able to see new life in a room filled with death. Our family was able to celebrate in the depth of our mourning. Only God can do that. Only God can break open our hearts and fill them with His healing and grace, and then allow us to hold onto a constant reminder of His love.

Every time I hold Josh I am reminded of that special day when God brought me into a deeper place with Him. Where emotions are raw and real and God is within the entire experience. Man - I love Him. Now I get to go home from work today and have a birthday party for my son, to tuck him into bed and pray with him in his bedroom, the same room that Jan died in. To play Legos and Foosball in the exact same spot that Jan passed into God's presence. To laugh and wrestle and read silly books and play with his turtle - turning a death spot into holy ground.

To experience what God does best: taking death, removing all of its sting, and creating new life out of it.

Do you really understand what we have in our relationship with God? As we struggle with all the 'isms' and "ologies" in our journey to understand Him, sometimes we just need to embrace what He is offering us and dwell in the richness of His being. Sometimes we have to cast all of the trivialities aside and just let Him do what He does best - creating life out of death.

What It Is

"Abandon Hopelessness, All Ye Who Enter"

That's what I wrote on the front page of the Bible I had a long time ago. Why do I write it again now? Because there has been much (good) dialogue in Dave's blog about the inspiration/inerrancy/authority of Scripture. I believe it's a very healthy and useful exercise, but in opening the Word there is something that changes you forever, removing all of your hopelessness about yourself and this world.

So enough about what it isn't. What about what it is?

It is alive (Hebrews 4:12) and will cause serious damage to your old way of life. You will no longer be ignorant if you read it. You will no longer be without excuse. For example:

• If you read Genesis 1:1 you will no longer be able to say that you didn't know God created.
• If you read II Corinthians 10:5 you will no longer be able to say that your thoughts are uncontrollable.
• If you read Ephesians 4:29 you will no longer be able to say anything you feel like saying to anyone you feel like saying it to.
  
• If you read Philippians 4:8 you will no longer be able to say that you can think what you want.
• If you read Lamentations 3:22,23 you will no longer be able to say that it's 'too late' for mercy for the things you've done as His mercies are new every morning.
  
• If you read Matthew 27: 26 - 31 you will no longer be able to say that you didn't know how much Jesus loves you.
• If you read Proverbs 6:27,28 you will no longer be able to say that you can play with this world and remain untouched.
• If you read Daniel 1:8 you will no longer be able to say that you couldn't help but compromise with the things of the world.
• If you read Luke 24:6 you will no longer be able to say that He is not alive.
• If you read Romans 8:1 you will no longer be able to say that you can't escape the things of your past, that you are still under their condemnation.
• If you read Matthew 5:23, 24 you will no longer be able to say that it's okay to hold things against your brother.
  
• If you read John 14:6 you will no longer be able to say that there is another way than through Jesus Christ.
  

I think you get the drift - or better yet the rock - of my point.

You see - these other arguments, while valid, are because of some of the ambiguities we live under in our clouded thinking. It's nice to know that there are some things that are crystal clear, and finding them in His Word cuts through the ambiguities and removes all of our rationalizations or the reasonings of man. You can stake your life on them.

Innerentzee uv Skrypshur

John 6:19
"When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified."

The discussion of the inerrancy of Scripture versus the inspiration of Scripture is a fairly important topic. Is God's Word 100% true down to every last jot and tittle? Did each one of these stories actually happen? Or are they simply divinely inspired teachings, some true, some symbolic, to bring us into an understanding of Him?

I'll state right out front that I believe in the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture. But the funny thing is, it's not the 'weird' stories such as Jonah, Balaam, Samson, etc that made me question it at first, it was verses like John 6:19. I mean, look at it above. If the Holy Spirit is truly writing this passage, wouldn't He know if it was 3 or 3 1/2 miles? Why the hestitation? Also, referring to the title of this blog, what about spelling and grammar? If God's writing it, I'm going to assume that these are perfect as well! Where does each man who actually penned the words get in the way with his intellect or personality? These are interesting questions to ponder, but I believe that they can get us off task very easily as we debate jots and tittles.

Sometimes I think we look at things from the wrong side. Salvation for example: Why only one way? That's the argument of man that I hear all the time. But that's looking at it backwards. We're in terrible sin and God tells us that there is A WAY OUT! Through Christ and Christ alone. Man tend to look at things from his own perspective, not God's, so he doesn't look at the solution, he wonders why it IS the solution. THINK: God's on the outside saying you can get out of the crumbling house through THE DOOR and we're wondering why we can't use the window!! Can't there by another way, we yell as we die in the house?

I see the same thing with the 'incredible stories' of the OT. A seven day creation? A talking donkey? A fish and a man? A blind man sees? From my perspective, this is impossible to believe!!!!

Paul runs into this in Acts, when confronting the Jews about Jesus rising from the dead. In Acts 26:8 he says, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?" I mean, He is God after all. If He couldn't do that, then what's the point of putting any hope in Him, is what Paul is in effect saying.

Replace that question with "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God __________________" - had a donkey talk? - kept a man alive in a fish? - walked on water? - raises the dead? - healed a sinful man to the core of his being 2000 years later? As Paul said, if He can't do these things, then what's the point? I'm not interested in a good teacher - I need salvation. When Christ looked upon the paralytic in Luke 5, He healed the man to prove that He could forgive sins, because forgiveness is infinitely more important. But if you read the story you see that He did the miraculous to show he had the authority to forgive. An incredibly true miracle happened so that God would show me a more important truth. But the miracle couldn't just be a story - it had to have actually occurred for this truth to have any real meaning. If it was just an inspired story to paint a picture - then where's the authority? Where's the power? WHERE IS MY SALVATION?

All I'm saying is that we shouldn't let the incredible stories throw us off and use them as a proof-text that the Bible is not inerrant. That's looking at things from man's point-of-view, an always dangerous proposition. I've been in education for over 20 years and I know firsthand how often man's thoughts on things change. They're always shifting. So to put any argument against inerrancy on this shifting ground is a little dangerous.

Holy Downer or Righteous Indignation

I had quite an interesting experience with the business of Christianity this past week. I was invited to a Christian warehouse sale, that is held every 3 months about an hour from my house. We got there early and there already was a line formed out the door and down the side of the building. When we finally got in, all I can say is "wow!" It was huge and there were large amounts of Christians of all ages. Tables and shelves were full of Christian items marked way down. I didn't know what to do or where to begin, it was like a feeding frenzy.

I noticed a very peculiar Christian trait - the ability to shove you aside while giving you the nice Christian smile. You know the smile: God loves you but get out of my way. We use it in our ministries all the time as we push through our agendas. I must admit, it is effectively disarming. I loved to be smiled at as I'm looking up at the bottom of your designer sneaker.

Anyway, I was supposed to meet my friend who brought me, so I finally made my way to our pre-arranged spot in the center of all the activity. As I waited for him, I started turning around (similar to Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music) soaking it all in. There were books, videos, dvds, calendars, stuffed animals, pictures - the old guy beside me even had a do-it-yourself Tabernacle kit under his arm - everything Christian you could imagine. There was even the smell of Christian sweat in the air - another oddly peculiar trait that we possess.

While spinning, with the mixture of awe, sweat, sound, frenzy and tabernacles surrounding me, I suddenly became overwhelmed with a feeling that I tried to liken to Jesus in the Temple, but that's not fair to Him or the Temple. It was more like, "I can't believe that Christianity is such a grotesquely self-perpetuating business!" I'm not against the books, I'd love to write one myself and sell many, many copies. I'm not against cds, DVDs, posters, calendars or even do-it-yourself Tabernacles. Honestly, I don't know what it was that bothered me. I was just bothered and so I thought I'd write it down. Something felt wrong. Write to me and tell me what it was - or if I'm just a holy downer. Seriously. The last thing I want to be is a cynic with a critical spirit snuffing all the fun out of Christianity.

If you want to purchase copies of this blog, please see me at the end of the service.

Other Than That Mrs Lincoln . . . . .

I'm not a political pastor, much to the chagrin of many of the people of my congregation. Though I can see the value of their beliefs on this, I just don't have it within me to be fighting political battles and I am not actively involved in any of the "lifestyle" agendas, for lack of a better term. I don't say this in a holier-than-thou way, honestly, but I feel that my main job as a shepherd is to be helping the hurting, not fighting the issues.

However, there is one thing I just have to get off my chest and then I'm sinking into the background again and it's this: I have a real problem with that one vote of Barack Obama that allows for babies that are alive after an abortion to die on the table. I know - we aren't supposed to focus on one issue, I've been told time and again all these things. I even agree to that argument to a point. I'm just having a real hard time making the separation of THAT VOTE and the man's inner understanding of life at its very basic and holy.

We've all heard the saying, "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" In other words, let's ignore the assassination and talk about the other minor points of the evening. I feel that's what I've done with Obama, and it's what I've heard from others. "Other than that, how is his character?"

Other than THAT? THAT is a pretty big THAT and not just because I keep writing it in capital letters. A leader is a shepherd, and a shepherd's main responsibility is to look out for the weak, the helpless, the least of his flock. (Ezekiel 34) Who in Obama's flock is weaker than the unborn? THAT reveals who he really is, and THAT will affect every decision in every issue.

I don't want to get into the abortion argument, it's all been said and done. Here's what I believe: Those fighting against abortion are fighting for a life. Those fighting for it are fighting for a lifestyle. Believe me, I'm pretty settled on the difference. And anyone who is pro-choice at least has to understand that anti-abortionists feel that the stakes are higher for them, because they feel like they're fighting for a life. People always fight harder for a life than a lifestyle.

Anyway, this is my only point: If my leader has within him the ability to make that vote on that issue, if he can search his heart before a vote and still make that decision, then it's really hard for me to say, "Other than that Mrs. America how is your president?"

Looking for Loopholes - part II

Matthew 18:21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

When you're looking for a limit, like Peter was, you're really looking for a time when you can have your own way, no matter how noble your limit is. If you're looking for a time when you can have your own way, then you're still lost in your own thoughts, not in the thoughts of Christ.

Listen - when Christ makes the "demand" that you forgive indefinitely, with no limits, He is removing a burden from you, not adding one. When He tells you to pray for your enemies, to give an extra coat, walk an extra mile, He is releasing you. The rest is on Him. When a president is elected that many of you don't like (Washington, Lincoln, Bush, Obama, etc) and Jesus tells you to relax and seek His kingdom and His righteousness, He is releasing you. The removal of limits is His way of saying: "Think differently and walk in a higher way. This is not my kingdom."

The natural man wants to hate, wants to fight, wants to be bitter wants to divide into factions. According to Galatians 5, factions are a fruit of the flesh, on par with sexual immorality and witchcraft. If that's the case, then why do we actually look for ways to be mad, even to the point of creating factions out of the most minor points? We try to refine this nature by saying that we tried but we finally reached our limit - as if this makes it somehow noble - but it's still the low road.

If we're looking for limits then we're really still looking for loopholes that will allow us to feed these beasts of burden. We're still walking in the flesh. A more advanced and confined version of the flesh, but the flesh nonetheless. We're just animals, like Peter, who have been trained to count to seven instead of one. As usual, Christ blows this mentality completely out of the water.

If we're truly walking in the Spirit, we realize it's all on Him and we are freed to love and pray and forgive. There are no limits to that, so quit counting.