"Wonder of Wonders" by Sidlow Baxter

     One of my favorite Christmas poems was written by the old Australian pastor and theologian, Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter. Even though I read this poem every year during Advent, I never weary of the beautiful manner in which describes my "indescribable" Savior....

     “Was ever a gift like the Savior given? He leaves the bosom of the eternal Father, and comes to the bosom of an earthly mother. The Son of God becomes the Son of Mary. The Infinite becomes an infant. He who holds the world in His arms is held in the arms of a frail woman. He whose garment is space, whose house is the universe, whose chariots are the clouds, and whose diadems are the stars, is wrapped in swaddling bands, and laid in a manger.     

     “He leaves the palace-beautiful of heaven, for the stable, the work-bench, and having ‘no where to lay His head’.  He lays aside His celestial insignia, for the peasant dress and the purple robe.  He puts aside His scepter of universal sovereignty, for the reed of mock royalty in Pilate’s hall. He who is Prince of life bows His head in death.  He who is without sin becomes Sin-bearer.  The Christ of God becomes the Crucified.  He who is the Father’s delight becomes the God-forsaken.  He who lit the stars lies in the dust.  He comes, He toils, He hungers, He thirsts, He weeps, He suffers, He bleeds and dies! – for God so loved the world that He ‘gave up’ His only-begotten Son.”

Taking Back the 12 Steps

I am becoming increasingly saddened by the lack of personal honesty and brokenness in the church these days. It seems that everyone wants supernatural power, more blessings from God, spectacular experiences of worship and extraordinary spiritual guidance, but few are committed to developing a genuinely broken and serving community of 'powerless' lovers who focus on giving and dying for the world.

What if we- in the church- learned back from 12 Step groups what the founders of Alcoholic Anonymous originally learned from the Church? What if we had the same sense of brokenness, urgency, and life-long commitment as those who 'hit bottom' and then find ways of helping one another to rise above our inclination to live self-centered, faithless, hopeless, and loveless lives? What if we built back into the 12 steps the Christ-centered roots they came from so that we could honestly and repeatedly say– through our church experience– for the rest of our lives:

1. We admitted we were powerless over our inclination live for ourselves at the expense of others.

2. Came to believe that Jesus could restore us to spiritual sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as he has revealed himself in his written and living word.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God develop within us the attitudes of Christ.

7. Humbly asked him to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation in the Scriptures to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of our shared accountability, we committed ourselves, with God’s help to carry this message to those who are still as hopeless as we once were without Christ, and to practice his principles in all of our affairs.

My question to you is this: Is there something about these 12 steps that could help us to be more realistic about ourselves, while at the same time raising our expectations and hopes for one another? Do you see anything here that might have been lost along the way for the church in America? I certainly do.

My gut tells me that 12 Step programs are growing because the church is falling short of doing what it is intended to do for the broken and hurting of our world. These groups may be living closer to the life God intended for the church than the church is now living.

Grace and Characater Defects

            “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”  — Marilyn Monroe

Many of us may share Marilyn's attitude. We are unwilling to be changed. But let's face: Change does not come easily! There is a Chinese saying which goes something like this: ‘It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person’s character....' I've found this to be true even in my own life. How about you?

In my experience, and the experience of millions of others, it is only God who can ultimately remove my character defects. If this true, then what is my role in being changed? 


Well, as I see it, my role is first of all to notice (develop self-awareness) and then admit my defects honestly (the obstacle, of course, is my pride). I must surrender to God (the obstacle here is my spirit of self-reliance and independence), and pull on His grace (the obstacle: my general unwillingness, laziness, or my desire to hold on to them). I must be willing to 'be changed' (this can happen if I become tired of living a lie or weary of the effects indulging my defects brings into my life and the lives of those I love). I must be willing to accept the leading (the will) and grace of God (his divine enablement and power) for that change.


At the end of the day, it is noticing and honestly admitting our weaknesses (to self, God, and others) that may be the greatest challenge for most of us on the road to change. 


By the way, remember that 'nature abhors a vacuum'; it is not enough to remove a character defect- something new and better must take its place. God is ready to help in this matter as well.


That's how I see.

Is Big Faith Always Biblical Faith?

On every turn, American preachers encourage us to ‘DREAM BIG!’ We're told that this is the very nature of faith- FAITH IS BIG! (That's why it can bring in "big money, big meetings, big miracles, big, big, big!").  But, is this really the nature of Biblical faith? 

It is true, we do have a BIG God, a God who performs BIG works. We need only to consider the scope  of God's Creation or the long story of Christ's Redemption to see that God is a BIG God. Having said this, Biblical faith is not essentially something we focus outwardly on our own personal 'visions' or dreams. Biblical faith is directed Godward. It is grounded in what God has said, what God has forever accomplished in Jesus Christ, and in what God aims to do in the future. Simply put, Biblical faith is focused on God's DREAM (His Kingdom Dream), not our own dreams.

So, where in Scripture are Christians encouraged DREAM BIG in their personal lives and ministries? Certainly we'd all like to have more, be more, do more, and see more. Maybe this is the reason why such message is so appealing. The question remains: "For what reason do we wish to have more, be more, do more, and see more?" Is it really for Christ or for us? If it truly is for Christ, then perhaps we ought to surrender our personal dreams (or our church's dream) and settle for His Dream alone.

Did you know that most ‘dreams’ (visions) in Scripture were focused on the glory and the holiness of God? Some Biblical dreams were focused on the need for faithfulness from God's people or on their need for repentance before God. The Apostle Paul’s dream was quite simple. It did not include big buildings, big programs, big crowd counting, or even making a big name for himself (though his name is now VERY big). Paul's dream was this: to preach Christ crucified and risen- to preach it everywhere to anyone and everyone- until his life would end (and his personal dream would be realized- to be with Jesus). 

I suspect that “BIG-Dream-Faith” may simply be ‘Faith American-Style’.  What do you think? Like Paul, let’s do our part in God’s One BIG Dream- His Kingdom Draem. Let's take Christ's name everywhere to everyone and let’s do it faithfully, joyfully, eagerly, lovingly (which is, in large part, what it means to ‘do’ our part).

Depression Gives Birth to Truth

William Cowper was a British poet and hymn writer (1731-1800). My grandmother often quoted his most famous poem when mystified or troubled. It's first line became widely known and the poem later became a classic hymn: "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform."

Amazingly, this great poet, like many of us, struggled throughout his life with depression, doubts, and fears. Some of the most influential people- both in and outside God's Church- have waged this battle throughout their lives. In the end, it was always Cowper's faith that carried him out of his inner isolation and darkness.

Read Cowper's poem reflectively the next time you're facing a dark season of your own. And keep this in mind: it was written from a sanitarium (the precursor of our modern psychiatric hospitals). I think you'll agree that this fact alone gives added weight to Cowper's powerful insights..

"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain."

Love-less Virtue

Love makes all other virtues acceptable to God. Without love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, are basically self-serving. 'Love-less virtue' (if there is such a thing at all) may make a name for me: "He's a good person, a kind old soul." It may serve to make for a better and safer world to live in. It may help to convince me that I am benevolent in nature or that I am better than others around me who live differently than I do. Yet none of this makes love-less virtue acceptable to God. Wisdom lovingly reminds me, "Without love, I am nothing but a clanging gong."

The Kingdom of God is Relational in Nature

After a day in Brussels with good friends and the church body to which God called them, I am once again struck by the fact that the life of God's Kingdom flows through relationships just as life flows through a vine wherever the vine goes. 


Our God is a relational God- Father, Son and Spirit in relationship. God is also relational with respect to His Creation- especially with those He has made in His own image (an image in us which includes our own relational nature). 


Jesus Christ became one of us in order that God might invite us into a deeper, life-giving intimacy with Him [a profound relationship of 'oneness'] and with one another. 


The best thing God's people can offer others is a life-giving relationship where God's life working in them is free to flow through them to others as a blessing. This is truly 'grace at work'.


Wherever possible, whenever possible, we ought to never exclude anyone from this gift God seeks to give to the world through us. God says through John: "Beloved, let us love one another. For love comes [to you, through you] from God."

Creation Paradigm Shift and Genesis: A Response to John Piper Video

I just watched an interesting short video by John Piper on what a leader must believe about Creation to be an elder at Bethlehem Church. It saddened me to discover that I may not qualify for such a role in his church. After watching the video, I wrote a response to John and discovered that the video comment section would only allow me to place a sound bite of my thoughts on the page. If this subject interests you, consider watching John's video and then see my response and concerns below.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCF47U4lzr4


"Come on, John. There is certainly a great deal more evidence for evolution than your position or your church is allowing. Let's face it, this is a tough question and it should not be glossed over with statements that suggest everything we believe will fall apart if we were rethink Genesis. Gallileo heard the same kind of statements from those who could not (or would not) seriously consider the evidence he was presenting. I read John Sailhamer's Genesis Unbound long ago as I studied with him while also studying with you at Bethel College. It is my understanding that his book is no longer in print. I suspect his novel approach to Genesis did not really have much staying power in the face of what we have been so rapidly learning about the physical history of life on this planet.

"Many of us who have long been followers and lovers of Jesus are already starting to do a paradigm shift on this subject. Rather than parroting the old company line, I appreciate those who are actually dialoguing on the real finds of science and are not afraid to admit that we do not know all that there is to know about Genesis and how it once functioned (and is to now function) in the life of God's people. For me, one of the most helpful authors on this subject has been Professor Denis O. Lamoureux, Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution. The book is not the finest piece of writing but its author is asking the hard questions others are content to gloss over or ignore. Lamoureux and other contemporary Christian thinkers are demonstrating that we must reckon with the fact that our O.T. text is delivered in the packaging of ancient science.

"I wonder if the real issue for us is that we are afraid to do some reworking of our doctrine of Scripture. This will be most difficult for those who, like you and me, have made a particular doctrinal approach to Scripture the very heart of all of our teaching and preaching ministries. After 30 years of ministry, I and many others I know are beginning to ask a number of important questions we've never really considered about the nature of God's Book and how we have been reading and interpreting it.

"One day, not long ago, I was thinking about what it might be like to sit down for a day with the Apostle Paul and off-load a list of questions I've carried along concerning his powerful insights and experiences. I then realized that Paul, God's great revelator, would be just as fascinated to talk with me about what we present day Kingdom citizens have learned concerning God's work of in creation. Paul would be amazed (and likely not phased- but moved to worship... "O, the inscrutable wisdom and knowledge of God") in just the discovery that the world is in fact a sphere and that the Universe is immense and beyond imagination in it's scope and design.

"Please don't join the chorus of those who are trying to shut down the conversation. This is a real matter of interest and concern for many us- not only to resolve the issue for ourselves but to effectively communicate Christ in these days where the old pat answers are no longer sufficient for those who take an interest in matters of cosmology, biology, geology, paleontology, anthropology and all the other 'ologies' (including theology)."

scott@scottvj.com

Hold On For God's Best

Life can be a little bit shopping for an antique oak table. Let me explain...

About a month ago, Becky and I did a road trip out to the Midwest. We traveled with money in our pockets hoping to find an antique oak dining room table- a table we'd been envisioning for the Bryce Mountain house. After foraging through a dozen or so shops from Ohio to Minnesota, we struck gold. The shop where we ended our search was in a lazy river town appropriately named 'Stillwater'.

Entered the house of timeless treasures, we immediately came upon a beautiful oak table. I thought we'd end up ferrying the piece back to Ol' Virginia until we decided we'd move further into the bowels of the old building. Up on the third floor, back in the corner, we discover that the musty old place had a half dozen more tables- some were in much better condition than the first table we saw and most were more to our liking.

An experience like this is a good reminder for me. Sometimes I settle too soon- stopping short on my search for true treasure. Sometimes I envision a thing that will satisfy but it is less than what I might otherwise have if only I knew what was really out there. And finally, the best things of the greatest value have been out there waiting for us- for a long time.

Everybody's Got A Hungry Heart

Bruce Springsteen joined the sages when he penned the words: "Everybody's got a hungry heart." But how does the heart recover when love seems lost forever, when hope is gone and dreams are shattered on the floor? Time and sleep pave the way for new days to come and new loves to be born. Yet only with time does such a truth become known to the heart that feels its most precious love lies stillborn. 

Hungry hearts like hungry lion cubs lie in wait for the mother’s return. She carries the kill, bloodied and bruised, to her little ones that feed with a fury lest any surrender his part to another. And so hungry hearts feast on whatever is presented- getting their fill but rarely the reward of true satisfaction. 

This is why I would prefer to sing of the deepest love one can know- a love rarely enjoyed, precious beyond words and comprehension- "love divine, all loves excelling." Only God can truly satisfy the famished human heart. This is because the heart was made for God. The heart's home- it's destination- is God alone. Yet, like the cub when mother comes, we must open wide to feed lest we fail to get our fill. When other loves lie stillborn, faith must rise to God if love is to be born in and through us.

Biblical sages and ancient saints would proffer this bit of wisdom: Feed furiously like a hungry cub on the grace of God and you'll get abundant love your heart longs for- not simply the fleeting, lesser love Springsteen and lovesick sages routinely sing about.

Your Spiritual Garden

Our spiritual lives can be likened to a garden. What kind of garden are you cultivating? Isn't it true that we have much to do with the nature of our garden even though God is the only one who can really cause life to flourish?

Consider Three Gardens (like three different people):

The Trellis after Part 2: "Designing Your Trellis."

The Private Garden: Closed to the public- reserved just for God; the rest of life has little to do with what takes place in this garden- "Public Not Allowed."

The City Park: Open 24/7 to the public; always busy with few resources for maintenance and starting new plants; God occasionally shows up in the crowd but it's hard to make out his voice.

Gated At Times But Also Open to the Public: A well-maintained garden; special, private gatherings with God take place; when the soul has had its fill of solitude, feeding, conversation, and renewal, the public is welcome to come and enjoy the beauty of this ever-growing, ever-changing garden.


I just finished a series of two messages at Oakbrook Church. The series is called: "Your Trellis." If you'd like to take a fresh look at your Spiritual practices, go to the following link and spend some time on your garden.  God bless you.  http://www.oakbrookchurch.org/download/

Roller Coaster of Life

The iPhone has a crazy app called "Roller Coaster." The app simulates the wild, visual experience of one of my favorite amusement park rides. 


Life can be a bit like being on a constant roller coaster- the ups, downs, all arounds, and ups again. It's true of stock markets, politics, human emotions, you name it. Even love has it's twists and turns along with it's highs and lows.


History and human nature suggest that things probably won't change much as time goes on. Perhaps it is best just to sit back, throw our arms up in the air (giving thanks to God that we're alive) and enjoy the wild ride.


If you have an iPhone, you might consider downloading the app as a spiritual 'therapy tool'. The next time you're little coaster car takes a hard right turn or begins a nasty descent, play with your little app and be encouraged that what goes down usually goes up again- and there are a few wonderful pauses in the ride when the car actually jeaks backward- moments provided for catching one's breath.

Dangerous, Beautiful World

I was reading in yesterday's news about the bear mauling in a remote region of Yellowstone. What a horrible thing to wake up in the dark being attacked by a grizzly you cannot see. One ranger said, "We need to realize we are both in their world and in their food chain." So true. 

God gives us an amazing world to explore. Yet, there are risks for explorers: there are bears out there and we are sometimes drawn into their habitat. Too bad for God, though. God will likely get the blame when things go terribly wrong. We say, "Why didn't God protect my love one from this vicious, random act?" 

Part of God's gift to us comes in the form of a brain- a brain that weighs risks (or, at least ought to) and a brain that accumulates wisdom (or, at least ought to). We continue to build our homes in hurricane alleys, our cities on ancient fault lines, and venture out among the grizzlies. We just do. Why? We are drawn to explore this amazing world full of risks. That's all. And... great beauty often lies in dangerous places.

The Power of Hate

The world is on fire and much of this is due to religious and political indignation. It all seems to have to do with entitlement. Who is entitled to the Holy Lands? Whose religious perspective has a right to set the world’s agenda? Who has the right to decide what is right in America and to set its political and moral agenda? Amidst the many narratives human beings live by, which one will dominate the earth?

The problem with religious and political indignation is that none of us are truly righteous. We all have it inside of us to become like the enemies we hate.  In the human heart, hate always breeds and breathes an atmosphere of violence or disdain, even when it is birth in what we are prone to call ‘righteousness’.

As for the followers of Jesus, he urges us leave all vengeance to God. Instead, we are to follow his manner of life- to live a life of love, mercy and forgiveness. I always remind myself that Jesus never asked his followers to use violence in order to remove the evil Roman rulers from the land. Instead, he said: “If you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword” and “love your enemies; do good to them.”

I read an interesting interview between Krista Tippet and Yossi Klein Halevi. Halevi knows the moslem fundamentalist mindset from the inside. Now an outsider, he has an interesting perspective on his former life. Reffering to the American goal of “hunting down” terrorists, Halevi spoke of how American efforts are doomed to failure, certainly against these current enemies. He said, “You can’t outhate a fundamentalist. They will win.”

And how do they win? In her book, Speaking of Faith, Tippet shares a conversation she once had with military chaplain, Major John Morris. Morris witnessed the awful days of fighting in Fallujah. Standing before the charred bodies of four American contractors hanging from the bridge across the Euphrates, Morris said that fury consumed him, along with the certainty that the people who did this did not deserve to live. “They were animals.” He would be the agent of God, the wrath of God. Then, something happened in Morris’ heart. As the conviction seized him, he understood that he was at an abyss that would render him capable of the very actions he hated. “God help me and have mercy on me,” he prayed. “Save me from becoming a debased, immoral human being, and save my soldiers as well.” One man’s hero is another man’s terrorist. 

When hate has taken hold of the human heart, it easily leads us in a direction away from life and distorts our vision of God and his ways. We must never surrender to the power of hate, nor the power of worldly power seeking. If we are to remain true to our calling as followers of Jesus, and, truly ‘humane’, we must surrender instead to the power of love, mercy, and forgiveness. We must ‘do good to our enemies’. That's the only way out of this mess we're in.

Scott's Top Ten Christian Authors on God, Science, and Origins

1. Denis Lamoureux, Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution
     -http://www.ualberta.ca/~dlamoure/evolutionary_creation.pdf
2. Gordon Glover, Beyond the Firmament

3. John Haught, God After Darwin; Making Sense of Evolution: Darwin, God, and the Drama of Life

4. Francis Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

5. Kenneth Miller, Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution

6. John Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate

7. John Polkinghorne, Quarks, Chaos & Christianity: Questions to Science And Religion

8. Alister McGrath, Science and Religion: A New Introduction

9. John Sailhamer, Genesis Unbound (though out of print, AMazon sells used copies from time to time)

10. Meredith Kline, “Because It Had Not Rained,” Westminster Theological Journal 20 (1958):146-157.
     -http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/WTJ/WTJ58Kline.html

The Universe is Shouting

Great theologians have been proven wrong with time. Calvin reportedly called Copernicus something a kin to a glorified astrologer. He claimed to have settled the matter with ‘the text’ (a text Calvin obviously misinterpreted). As much as we love the Apostle Paul, that great man of God would be mystified were we to tell him that God’s world is ‘round’.

I can no longer dismiss the growing evidence. It is time for my own Copernican revolution. The natural world does not lie, and, over time, truth always wins. The Universe not only shouts the glory of God, it also shouts of deep time and deep space. Our planet not only records an amazing history of human accomplishment through brick, steel and glass, but also layer upon layer of entombed rock and bone from the past- clues to God's methods and ways with the natural world.

Let me say it: I was wrong. It was through evolutionary processes that God brought natural things into being.

There, I said it. It's out. And, I am still here- still a 'believer', still a lover of Jesus.

Less Me and More Majesty in Worship

I've noticed that today's most popular worship music loves the words 'me', 'my', and 'I'. Seems many contemporary songwriters think it is their role to help us articulate our self-focused desires for more personal blessings from God or to reinforce our American 'Just God and Me' ('rugged individualism') theology. 


I've also noticed that much of today's worship music might best be classified as 'Jesus-is-my-girlfriend' music. These are feeling-centered songs that do not focus on what Jonathan Edwards called 'holy affections' but rather on sensual, personal experiences. I think you know what I mean. It's just getting more and more weird. Quite frankly, I'm connecting less and less with the ideas of these contemporary song writers as time goes on.


Offering criticism is not enough. Let me say what I'd like to see in our public worship:


1. I'd like to see more majesty and transcendence in our public worship. Truly God is immanent through Jesus Christ, however, He is also (and remains forever) the God who is 'Above and Beyond'. Some have noted that the modern guitar (and contemporary instrumentation in general) communicates the closeness of God our day just as the pipe organ and choir loft once reminded God's people of His unapproachable transcendence. I think we need to embrace both God's nearness as well as God's 'above and beyond' nature in our corporate times of worship- not one without the other.


2. I'd like to occasionally see a call to corporate worship followed by something of a collective recognition (by the people) that we are now entering into a time of 'corporate' worship. This is something different in character from our individual times of private worship. In public worship, we are seeking to do what none of us can do when we are alone- namely, worship 'as one people with one voice'. When our songwriters give us words that focus on our individual experiences or personal longings alone, these words work against any effort we might make to worship as one Body. Corporate worship is much more than a group of unrelated bodies each doing her or his 'own thing' with God. We must share more in common than simply a room.


3. I'd like to see more of a focus on God as the God of all glory and excellence. Less on "You... make me feel so good" or "Come, Lord, make me feel better." Even less on "You saved me, I am so happy."


4. I'd like worship to expand- enlarge- our vision of God. Worship ought to help us see 'Who' God is; 'What' God has done in days past and IS even now doing within His Creation and with us collectively. Worship reminds us that God has been Lord throughout history past and history yet to be written, and that God is Lord beyond all human history (there is history beyond human history). 


5. Some may wonder: "Is it possible to worship God without cymbals, drums, electric guitars and sound systems?"  Two decades ago, I and other pastors fought for more of these instruments in our public worship. Now I fear we may have gone too far. 


I'd like to see us acknowledge that we've made an idol out of the musical aspect of worship. I'd like to see us respond to this by incorporating more forms of worship that have less to do with music and more to do with ancient words, corporate rituals (creative and meaningful ones), drama and other art forms. Today we sang a song that spoke of how God is able to 'move mountains'. I thought to myself: "We human beings can now do that too. I've seen how the coal companies have moved many mountains in Kentucky and West Virginia." Then I pondered: "Why hasn't our more recent understanding of Cosmology (http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/) influenced how we think about God and His glory? Isn't an earthly mountain rather insignificant compared to a galaxy or a black hole?" It seems that, even though we've learned more and more about the immensity of God's creative power and work, our worship seems to focus on a God who has never grown any larger to His people than He was during the Reformation or the days of the psalmists.


6. Finally, I'd like to see us find a way to incorporate 'holy silence' into our public worship times. Yes, silence. I don't mean the awkward silence we experience when a lead guitarist changes a broken string or when someone drops their sheet music onto the floor. For many of us, silence may be one of the rarest experiences we have in life. We are forever surrounding ourselves with noise. At times, it is so noisy that we cannot reflect and we cannot hear. Ever notice that when you wish to connect with God in a deeper way, you can do so only when you slow down, take a deep breath, shut up, and listen? Maybe this is something we should do together as well. Consider two Scriptures. Paul said: "Do you not know that you are the Temple of the Lord and His Spirit lives in you?" The Psalmist said: "God is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent!" 


I've not only run out of music, I've run out of words.

Fervent Searchers

Is it possible to be spiritually fervent and searching, to be both a believer as well as a listener, and to honor the truth of one’s own convictions as well as the mystery of the convictions of others? I believe it is. However, humility is essential if we are to live in this way. We’ve all seen that there exists a certainty (i.e. a ‘fundamentalism’) that leads to arrogance and a lack of compassion for others. Let’s have none of this. Faith must be graced with humility. Only humility allows us to love those with whom we disagree, thereby keeping our hearts open toward them. When we embrace humility, we actually make the world a safer place for others. (Buyer, beware! Living this way can make life more dangerous for ourselves- which may be why we rarely see ‘fervent searchers’, ‘believing listeners’, and those who are able to honor both their own convictions as well as those of others).

Grief Observed

This has been a year of 'grief observed'. Rebecca's brother died a year ago. My sister Cindy passed away last August. Rebecca's father just last month. These three people have been greatly loved. It has been difficult to let them go.

In The Awakened Heart, author Gerald May writes: "Love is present whenever we experience loneliness, loss, [and] grief.... We may say such feelings of bereavement come from an absence of love, but in fact they are signs of our loving; they express how much we care. We grieve according to how much of ourselves we have already given; we yearn according to how much we would give, if only we could."

Disembodied Concepts or Reciprocal Love?

The great A.W. Tozer once wrote: "The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God.” We need to be careful that our doctrines and systematic theologies don't con us into thinking we are genuinely connecting with the Living God. It is easy in these days to embrace a form of Christian faith that is devoted less to the experience of God than to abstractions about God. Quaker author Parker Palmer asks a great question in his Let Your Life Shine: "How did so many disembodied concepts emerge from a tradition whose central commitment is to 'the Word become flesh'?"

The aim of spending time in God's Word is not that we might have a relationship with our Bibles or become masters of theology (disembodied concepts- abstractions about God), but that we might truly encounter God himself in a relationship of reciprocal love (his love, of course, far out distancing, overpowering, and strengthening ours). 

John Piper's Public Announcement

John Piper’s ministry has influenced me a good deal over the years. I studied under John back in 1977 when he taught at the college I attended. John was just as fiery and passionate back in those days as he is now at 64 years of age. Maybe you’ve heard of John's public announcement that he is taking an eight month leave of absence to attend to his soul. Well, John has been applauded for taking this action from just about every corner of the Evangelical world. One friend of mine said: "This man restores my faith in pastors. Imagine that, a pastor admitting his sin."

I’d like to say something about this- something very few have said at this point. Quite frankly, I don’t understand why John felt the need to share this decision in the manner he did.  Leaders often take sabbaticals- and usually for the purpose of doing soul work: making adjustments due to pride; working on their marriage; repositioning for the future.  There is a reason that Jesus said: “When you fast, do it in secret.”

No one can question that John is a lover of truth (at least his brand of truth). However, I’ve been concerned about his forcefulness as of late. Most recently, I've noted John’s personal attacks on certain emergent leaders (even making innuendos about knowledge he has of unexposed immorality in their lives), homosexuals in his city (remember the bit about the Minneapolis tornado and the Lutherans?), and the manner of his sparing with Bishop N. T. Wright. Hopefully, a little break will help bring back a little tenderness not only to John’s marriage, but to his public voice as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkGq5A4QEjg

http://minnesotaindependent.com/42379/minneapolis-pastor-tornado-was-a-warning-to-lutherans-on-gay-inclusion

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xFzdeyK4Zw

What Sort of Old Guy Do I Want To Be?

When I was a young man, an older pastor said to me: "Scott, don't think too highly of what you'll be able to accomplish in life. The world will likely be worse off by the time you leave this planet." 


I loved that man so I trusted him and embraced his pessimism (also becoming a Calvinist). Now, at 52 years of age (probably about the age he was when he shared his counsel), I'm no longer certain the pastor gave such good advice. I agree, we ought not to 'think too highly of ourselves' (even Paul says that). Still, we ought to at least be trying to change the world (as well as enjoying the earthly life we've been given). Additionally, I no longer agree that the world is worse off today than it was when I was a younger man. I'd say it is just different (and that's okay). 


Now, I am the old guy (and not quite as Calvinistic as I once was). What sort of old guy am I? I know what I'd like to be- the sort of old guy that inspires youth to embrace the future with hope and work passionately to bring loving changes. 


To all my younger friends: "Go ahead: embrace the future with hope; make a loving mark wherever you can; and, enjoy the difference that's coming tomorrow. It won't be any better, won't be an worse- just different."

My New Kindle DX

Just got my new Kindle DX. I'm looking forward to filling it up with great books and to carrying a lighter suitcase on my travels ahead. I never thought I'd abandoned the idea of a hard copy in my hand. But... I like this thing. Teachings and messages can be filed away in the Kindle by putting them in a PDF format. The advantage over using a personal computer (when teaching), is the amazing battery life of the Kindle (lasts many days). I find that my computer brightness has to be set quite low to get through several hours of teaching when in Africa or India without power access. 

YOUR FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE

QUESTION: What's the deal with American church life these days? Sometimes it seems (AT LEAST TO ME) little more than an exercise in missing the point. Routinely hanging with God's people in nations far and wide, I can honestly say that things don't seem to be much different (i.e. healthier) 'over there' (though many missionaries talk as if they are- it is good for funding!). Why should things be much different? Hasn't the Western world has laid down the pattern through much of its mission work? 


ANOTHER QUESTION: Why does the American church function and 'think' (theologize) in a way that suggests that the living God stopped doing anything new or fresh after the Reformation? 


I agree with Brian McLaren and others: Faithfulness requires that 'everything must change'! The church is in real trouble if it does not change (*a change that starts with its self-serving leaders). I remember hearing a message by Tim Timmons years ago and I've never forgotten its title: "We're Only Talking to Ourselves."  I think that we preach to and serve ourselves- the way we do- because our faith is actually so weak and, we ourselves, though we will not readily admit it, feel so lost.


Recall the old ad campaign: "This is not your father's Oldsmobile." The campaign helped sell more cars for a season, however, the Oldsmobile eventually went along the wayside with other clunkers.  Some say that the problem was that the 'new' car truly was just like father's Oldsmobile.


For several decades now, my generation (the Baby Boomers- and after them, the Busters) have tried to convince our culture that everything 'has' changed with the church. Actually, all we did was dress up the same old Oldsmobile. We got rid of the big tail fins, added slick new wheels, leather interiors, and 'navigational systems'. BTW- What good is a navigational system if you don't know where you're going?


Over these decades while I've been in ministry, at least from my point of view, the American church (dare I say, 'we' go include 'me') has essentially been about promoting itself; letting the world know 'they' are 'lost' and 'we' are 'saved'; keeping the church coffers full so we can build bigger and more comfortable buildings (sometimes more attractive, funky, and high-tech, or 'buildings-that-don't-like-churches buildings'), bigger budgets and staff ('Staff'- the Professionals- e.g. media pastors (what the heck is that?); executive pastors (does that mean he/ she finally makes decisions?); Church CEOs (I cannot believe that some even dare use this title- though, at least they are more honest than others who act this way but never claim the title); more members and baptisms, and an array of other basically self-serving programs.  


It is curious that, under our last presidential administration, surveys showed that those who regularly attended church in America were more likely to support the idea of torturing our nation's enemies in order to get information what would keep us 'safe'. What's wrong with this picture?  I suspect that those who attend church regularly would also be more likely to say this about the present healthcare debate in our nation: "Why should we pay for them?"  Anything seem strange about this? Maybe Peter Rollins is correct when he suggests that there may be a certain 'fidelity in betrayal' (that is, betraying one's family to stand with those who believe something or live something closer to the truth). My wife just added: "You can dress up a corpse but it is still dead."




No. It is not about dressing up the old (or dead). It is about getting on to what Jesus wanted all along: a people he could call his own who are ruled by the inconvenient, messy, and 'selfless' rule of love.  "And love seeks not its own."


Well, enough. Gotta go. My Oldsmobile is idling out in the driveway.

A Disposable Planet? God Help Us!

A friend just directed me to a quote by a popular pastor and author- one of those "I-can't-believe-he-actually-said-that" quotes. The author's comment 'unearths' some unfortunate and persistent beliefs that reside deep in the hearts of many who align themselves with Jesus in our day. I hope we soon grow up and grow beyond this kind of thinking. Here's the quote:

"The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever. But we know that isn’t in God’s plan… The earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet. It is, frankly, a disposable planet—it is going to have a very short life. It’s been around about six thousand years or so—that’s all—and it may last a few thousand more. And then the Lord is going to destroy it…. I’ve told environmentalists that if they think humanity is wrecking the planet, wait until they see what Jesus does to it. Peter says God is going to literally turn it in on itself in an atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence (2 Peter 3:7-13)."

'A disposable planet'? You mean, like the paper cup I tossed after drinking Starbucks this morning? Is it that simple? Give me a break! Is there no awe and wonder for the majesty of creation? What about the first command- to care for the garden?

'An atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence'? Really. Is that what Peter is saying? Are you sure? This has huge consequences on how we treat our home (and, at this point, this is the only home we've got), so you'd better be sure in what you are saying, my friend.

'It's [i.e. planet Earth] been around about six thousand years or so'? Say what? Are you reading anything besides your Bible (guided by your rigid and arcane traditions)? How can any thinking lover of Jesus believe this earth has only been around for six thousand years? Do we just ignore all the data that is pressing in on us- pass it off as a big 'anti-God marketing campaign'? Is it all that simple? Are scientists that dishonest (and, quite frankly, are they that good at conjuring up false data)? If they are, what would be their motivation for doing so? Do scientists really spend all of their time just trying to prove that God has nothing to do with the natural world around us? I don't think so. [If we never listened to what the scientists had to say, we'd still believe the earth is flat and that the earth is the center of the universe].

I'm sure that there are a few extreme environmentalists who are 'consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever'. But, more of them (more of us) just want to able to hand their children a planet worth living on- a planet that doesn't look and smell like a global garbage dump; a planet that has a few trees and animals left on it; a planet that still has some potable water and soil that can grow good veggies; a planet that still has few places worth visiting just to enjoy the view they offer. 

[BTW- In climbing Kilimanjaro 18 months ago, I noticed that there wasn't much left of the mountain's famous glacier. 


-In traveling to the far eastern corner of India, I discovered that it is hard to find even one beautiful bird flying free in the Naga Hills where the hornbill once dominated the skies along with hundreds of other aviary delights. 

-In crisscrossing Africa over 16 years, I've found that there really are no animals left in the Dark Continent except for those that have been imported (especially dogs and donkeys) and those protected in the national preserves (and even these are slowly passing. Zambia has two white rhino left in the whole country. They are alive only because they are living under the watchful eye of armed guards in the Mosi National Park). 


Just wondering whether my grandkids will have the privilege of seeing the 'snows of Kilimanjaro', the 'Big Five' of Africa, or vista worth beholding.

For the rest of the comments made by the author quoted above, go to his blog: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A148_Evangelicalism-and-the-Environmental-Movement?q=I+ve+told+environmentalists

Trees Matter to God? Come on.

Twenty years ago, I pushed for the name "Oakbrook Church" for what was then our crippled, little Christ Baptist Church of Reston, Virginia. Isaiah 61:3 is the Biblical passage that inspired the new name: "And they shall be called 'Oaks of Righteousness', a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." 


I think Isaiah is saying something like this: "Just as God planted trees in order to display his glory, so he plants us for the same reason." As God's people, we seem to get the second part of this statement (i.e. that we are made for God's glory). However, most American Jesus-lovers miss the first part (that earthy things- like trees- are also made for his glory). 


I wonder: "Is this why so many feel free to exploit the natural world in any way that suits them or seems expedient? Is this why the customary message preached in the American pulpit makes much of heaven but little of earth? ("God I hope there's a heaven because there ain't much earth left that's livable!")


According to Isaiah 61:3, trees and earthly stuff matter to God just as we do! Maybe we need a new narrative that includes the redemption of trees, rocks, and creeping, crawling things too. 


Just maybe it is supposed to work this way: "God redeems us and then we redeem the earth."  Hmm. ("And all the trees shall clap their hands!")

Tied to the Mast

We all love a sense of certainty, don't we? Certainty can lead one to feeling secure (even if the certainty is only an illusion).


Here's a question: "Should we continue to tell the same old story of God, Jesus, salvation history, and our narrative concerning where this whole thing is all going... without rethinking whether we (or 'they'- i.e. those who passed it along to us) truly got things right in the first place?"


What if the larger story line (as told by family and friends throughout history) actually took a detour from the Biblical narrative years ago? What if we've now become defenders and promoters of a narrative that is no longer able to bring life to this world? 


In these days of life in my 50s, I am trying to re-read the Biblical narrative without giving in to the siren voices of Church history. I am trying to forget what my teachers taught me and to enter into a conversation with Scripture anew. This is not easily accomplished. Those sirens continue to sing from the shore begging me to join them (and thus to stay faithful to the same old company line. [But what if the company line is faithful to the sirens of Church history but not the Spirit of God?]). 

And so, with some measure of fear, I tie myself to the mast and keep looking straight ahead.