2009: The Year in Retrospect

2009 was a tough year for me. Was it tough for you, too?

It seems that every year brings its own challenges and this past year has challenged me at every turn. I went though a five-month engagement, a rough breakup, and the roughest emotional fallout resulting from it. It shattered my confidence and shook my soul. I went from the heights of romantic love to the depths of depression in the span of six months and I'm only now starting to look forward and not back. This year has also brought a tough period of waiting while I sought the will of God for my life and ministry. My heart deeply longs to be anywhere but here. However, my circumstances seem to be keeping me here, leading to a great rift inside of me. I want to go but I cannot. Seems the reality of making a living has a way to ruin even the loftiest of dreams...

So 2009 is ending on a bit of a downer for me, to be quite honest. I'm really glad a new year starts in a few hours. I need a new one. Do you?

You know, I have found that there are times in every person's life in which they must go through great trial to test their character and their faith. Why God allows us (or leads us) to these periods is a mystery to me but I do know that He works all things for good to those who are His (Romans 8). That doesn't mean everything will be roses in every situation but that God will, somehow, bring something good out of circumstances that seem hopelessly bad. I'm reminded of Joseph's situation in Genesis. He was abused by, sold by, and forgotten by his brothers. He spent months (maybe years) in prison, was forced to endure great hardship, and yet after God exalted him to political power Joseph told his now-penitent brothers: "What you intended for evil, God intended for good."

As I look back on my rough year, I can see clearly that the Holy Spirit's work through the Scriptures helped me get through my trials. Certain passages kept coming to my mind all year, guiding me, calming me, and strengthening me. I'd like to share a few with you. These came to mind at various points of the year just when I needed to be reminded of them.

-- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) I relied heavily on our Lord's promise this year. This verse was never far from mind in the weeks after my breakup. I have recently recalled it in the midst of a stressful holiday work schedule.

-- "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. " (Lamentations 3:22-25) This passage has been one of my favorites for years, never more so than this year. To think that I can go to sleep on my troubles and wake up with a fresh mind and even more grace from God. I love the opening lines to that song, "Mighty to Save," which say, "Everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing... let mercy fall on me." I feel that same sentiment every day. And His mercy falls on me every day! How amazing.

-- "Blessed are the meek (gentle), for they shall inherit the earth." (Matt 5:5) I needed to be reminded of this constantly because it not only is counter-cultural but counter-nature. The meek inherit the earth and not the powerful. In following the mindset of Jesus (Phil 2:5-9), I needed to humble myself often this year. Ego is easy. Humility is hard.

-- "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:1-6) I found myself upset a lot last year over "name calling" or "labeling" by pastors near and far. It seemed that even those I look up to most are capable of dividing the body over theology or ecclesiology. There is one body, though that body is scattered in many churches. Some are Reformed. Some are Pentecostal. Some are Free Grace. All are one body and fellowship should not be denied. So I resolved to myself and the Lord this year to be more accepting of brethren that disagree with the finer points of my theology and fellowship with them in the joy of the Holy Spirit. It's not easy (for I believe I'm right, of course!) but absolutely necessary.

-- "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1) I clung to this verse over and over again whenever I slipped up in sin and self-pity (which was often). I hold to this verse as a life foundation and assurance of God's love and grace.

-- "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3) I used this verse along with Romans 13:1ff whenever I thought of the relationship of Church and government. I want President Obama to succeed and be blessed just as I want America to succeed and be blessed by God. I pray he governs wisely and learns how to reject bad advice int he search for wisdom. I thank God for him and pray for his family. And his faith. Why pray for government? So that I may live the type of life every believer should seek: quiet and tranquil. You cannot get more counter-cultural than that!

I cannot over emphasize the importance of God's word in our daily lives. As we explore His scriptures and hide His word in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will use that same word to speak to us in our various life situations. I knew this was true and had experienced it before, but this year it meant more to me than ever before.

I pray that the Holy Spirit may minister to you in the same way in 2010.

Be God's and Happy New Year!

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Recalling the Old Fashioned Holidays

On the first day of Christmas....

Ever wonder what the first day of Christmas was? When I was young, I used to think the 12 days of Christmas were like a countdown to Christmas Day, with Christmas Eve being the first day of Christmas (to me, Christmas Day didn't count because it was Christmas itself).

As a student of Church history, however, I discovered that the song "12 Days of Christmas" didn't refer to before the holiday but after. Christmas Day was the first day of Christmas and the days ran to January 6th. Turns out that January 6th is a holiday that many Protestant churches have tossed out: the Feast of Epiphany. It celebrates the arrival of the magi at Bethlehem. In the ancient church, that period between the two Christmas holidays was a period of celebration, forever memorialized as "The 12 Days of Christmas." Interesting, huh?

There are many holidays of the Old Church that are fun and festive but I find that a lot of Protestant folks are hesitant to observe them. Epiphany is one of those days. Ironically, before Christmas was celebrated on December 25th, it was celebrated on January 6th. Why? Well, no one knows exactly when Jesus was born so setting a date was difficult for early Church leaders. Easter was certain because it came during the Jewish Passover, which was set by the spring moon cycle. But Christmas was more of a mystery. So eventually, I think it was in the 3rd or 4th Century, a date was set to remember the nativity events. Our modern Christmas date comes from an attempt to seize control of a pagan winter solstice holiday and claim it for Christ.

Another great holiday of old was the Feast of St. Stephen, which fell the day after Christmas, Dec. 26th. In jolly old England, it was a day for benevolence. The wealthy would take their leftovers (food and clothing) and give them to the poor. In the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas," the events the song describes fell on this day, when a rich king decided to bless a cold, poor man. In England today it's called "Boxing Day" because the rich would box up their goodies for donation.

Another great Christmas holiday is the Feast of St. Nicholas, which falls every year on December 6th (the day he died). In the decades after the death of the real St. Nick in the 300s, people began spreading a tradition of giving gifts to the poor on the death day of St. Nicholas. So in the the middle ages, our modern Christmas traditions were split between two or three dates: gift giving on Dec. 6th, the nativity on Dec. 25th and the wise men on Jan. 6th. A month of Christmas!

I love to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, keeping my Christmas decorations up through January 6th. (I've become more of an orthodox fellow the older I've grown, so this shouldn't be too surprising) My neighbors take their stuff down soon after Christmas (even my church) but I want to keep Christmas on the brain longer just like the saints of old. So if you drive by my house in the next 12 days, know that my Christmas lights will be on and stockings will be hung by my chimney with care.

Christmas is just beginning, after all!

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Fun

When I went to bed last night, I knew I'd be waking up to a white Christmas but I didn't realize how much fun it could be. Take a look at some inside, top-secret holiday movies...





I hope your family had the chance to enjoy a little Christmas fun today, whether it was 70 degrees or 7 below. We Newtons sure had a blast!

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Tis the Night Before Christmas

Well, my Christmas is over. Work-wise, that is. We had two services at the church tonight and I put in my 12 hour day preparing for and executing the technical and communications aspects of those services. It was quite a chore. Now I get to rest for a few days before beginning the January grind. I've really needed this rest. (That being said, I DID shamefully bring work home to do! But I can do it at MY pace this time.). The whole concept of rest (both biblically and in reality) has been on the forefront of my mind and heart this year. I'm just plain burned out.

Christmas did me in this time. No, not the holiday itself but, instead, the church ministry that revolves around the busy month of December. There is A LOT going on this month! And I found myself working 12-hour days every week and sacrificing off days for the sake of getting work done. It was exhausting. And now fatigue has caught up with me.

You know, Christmas has always been a wonderful time for me, my most special time of the year. But as I've grown older and dived head-first into church ministry I've found that my enjoyment of the season has changed. It's sad, really. I no longer find Christmas relaxing and fun. I used to love to see the beauty of garland and bows but now I'm too busy to truly enjoy it. People start taking down their decorations just when I am finally able to take a break and celebrate Christmas — AFTER the holiday. I'm sorry for my cynicism and grumbling tone. I meant to leave them in the car on my way home. But Christmas is work for me now and stress kills the spirit. Stress always kills the spirit, doesn't it?

I've found through two churches and eight years of church ministry that December is a busy month. We have concerts, banquets, programs and worship services. The services are major events, since Christmas Eve and Easter are the two highest-attended days of the church year. If not for snow and ice here in North Texas, I imagine we would've had over 2,000 people flooding our hallways tonight. Those are precious, valuable souls — some of whom may finally "get" the Gospel message this time. So doing everything I can to help them is very important. And I enjoy doing everything I can, even if it exhausts me.

Ministry is worth it, though it seems that ministers are always on the edge of burnout. We have high-stress jobs, whether counseling, teaching kids, or creating art. Please pray for us all. Christmas is exhausting. And we need rest.

So on this night before Christmas, as I use my last bit of energy to type and spell, I am finally able to rest. Soon I'll be sleeping, and tomorrow awaken to the sight of a white Christmas — an event very rare in North Texas. Maybe I'll make a snowman. Maybe not. Maybe I'll just enjoy being with my family and leave work behind for a day. I hope your Christmas Day is a blessing to you and a time of joy... and rest.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

— Brother John

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Turning 33

Well, today is my birthday. December 16. It's my 33rd such birthday and a day of great reflection. The older I get, the more reflective birthdays tend to be for me. How about you? I just can't stop thinking about how I got to be 33. How did this happen!??? I'm very thankful for my 33 years but I guess I never prepared myself for turning this age (Or any age, for that matter).

I posted on Facebook today that 33 is a strange age. What I mean by that is this: at 33 I'm neither young nor old, established or shaky. I just... am. I once again find myself in a "tween" category of life, where I'm nowhere close to college yet nowhere close to middle age. Gee, I guess you could say that I'm really close to "nowhere"! That's seems strange to me. I'll get over it when I'm 34, I'm sure...

When I was 22, I had specific hopes and ideals for my life. I wanted to be here or there, doing this or that, with this or that accompanying me on this life journey. I realize now how foolish I was to expect my life to follow any specific path, for none of us chooses our specific paths of life. It's not our job! It's God's job. Sure we make decisions and those decisions shape our journeys, but doors open and close not at our command but God's. He alone is the keeper of time and space. He alone can see the finish line of each of our lives (read Psalm 139:15-16). And He alone can wisely direct our steps — every time.


So as I look back on my 33 years and reflect this day, I can see God's hand guiding me to where I am. I never expected to (nor wanted to) end up 33, single, working at a church and financially scraping by in relative obscurity. At 22, I was going to be famous! The evening news! (see 1998 photo at right) Or ESPN! Top 20 records! But I'm glad I'm not 33 and famous.

I'm so very glad that God took me through the peaks and the valleys of life for 11 years because He taught me so much during that journey (and still is teaching me). There was a lot of pain. There was a lot of learning. And there was a lot of fight in my bones. But my faith is stronger. My humility deeper. Indeed, my knowledge of how faith and life interact has been shaped by my experiences.

At 33, I'm thankful. I know that God has more plans for me, though He has chosen not to reveal the timing of those plans. I don't know where and I don't know when. It can get frustrating and I can shake my fist at the sky but when the storm is over I know that the same God who guided me through the past 11 years — nigh, the past 33 years — will be with me in the next 33 years as well. He got me to 33. Why can't He get me to 66?

Count your blessings, self. And praise the Lord your God for number 33.

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The Night Before Christmas

It's been a hectic month for me so far, with my workload at the church magnified by the holiday season. I haven't even had time to blog a few words! In fact, the theme of rest has come to the top of my mind lately. I'm badly in need of rest for body, soul and mind. But not until Christmas is passed!

Speaking of moments of peace, a week ago one of my coworkers came up to me and asked me to scan images from a book he was using during a banquet. The book was a holiday classic: "The Night Before Christmas." It was a beautifully illustrated publication that recaptured my fancy. I became a 6-year-old again and started reading: "Twas the night before Christmas and all though the house..." I slowly scanned the pages. "What amazing poetry!" I thought. Well written and imaginative, I thought of all the great narrations I have heard of this poem through the years. In my mind, I imagined Burl Ives reading this lyric in his best storyteller mode. But it had been years since I had heard the Christmas classic, so I thought the world needed another "Night Before Christmas" fix. And so I asked a friend of mine, George Beach, to read the story into a microphone, using his best narrator's voice. George seems to be just discovering that his voice, which he calls "hick," is actually a treasure and not something shameful. He has a deep Southern drawl with a gravely texture that instantly sends your mind and heart into a really good Western, or maybe into an old-fashioned country ball. I could listen to George speak for hours.

Alas, dear friends, I have decided to share with you only three minutes. It's the entire poem, which I have put with the illustrations I scanned. I hope you enjoy it! Get ready... for a really cool Christmas tale...




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The Advent Season

Well, Thanksgiving is behind us, the leftover turkey is in the freezer and now it's time once again to turn our full attention to Christmas. One of the oldest traditions in the Christian Church is the celebration of "Advent," which is the Latin word for "coming." It is a four-week celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ, celebrated initially in homes and later in churches. I've found Advent to be a wonderful thing to celebrate every year since it ties my generation of believers to those of yesteryear. There is a sense of completeness of the Church when celebrations of old are brought into the new.

Over a period of three years I wrote a daily Advent devotional and posted it on the web for family and friends. This year I have compiled and edited those devotionals into a PDF document that you can download and use at home. Each week I've focused on one aspect of Christ's coming: Light, Peace, Hope and Joy. At the beginning of the devotional I have given and explanation of the Advent elements, from the wreath to the candles. Please check it out. It may be of use to you, it may not. Download it HERE.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is a day to explain the meaning of Christ's coming and prepare for the celebration.

I pray that you have a blessed and wonderful Advent celebration!

-- Brother John

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Jesus in the Spotlight

In a world of celebrities gone bad, it's very refreshing to hear about someone in the spotlight who is actually setting a good example for the youth (and young adults) of this land. Tim Tebow, the star quarterback for the University of Florida, is one such celebrity.

Tim is a brother in Christ and a solid one at that. The son of missionaries, he has consistently placed Jesus into the same spotlight that media and fans have lavishly shined on him. A hard worker with a competitive passion to match, Tim has consciously sought to reach out to his teammates and coaches in the name of Jesus during his four years at Florida. His witness for Christ has even touched his coach, Urban Meyer. Here's an excerpt from an online article that started out focusing on speculation involving Meyer's job interest in Notre Dame into a testimony about Tebow's faith.

Meyer paused one more time, composing himself after he was asked about the impact Tebow has had on him. Tebow inspired Meyer to take his family on a mission trip to Central America.

“The one thing about Tim is his unselfishness, and his mission outside of college football is unparalleled as far as I’m concerned,” said Meyer, holding back tears. “The impact that he’s made, it’s almost like selflessness is now a cool thing. Kids realizing to give back and if you can brighten someone’s day, you do it. The impact that he’s made on this team is phenomenal and as coaches. It’s very noticeable behind closed doors, more than probably what you guys see. It’s a significant impact.”

Tebow wasn’t nearly as emotional when talking about his final home game. But he was adamant that Meyer would be in Gainesville a long time.

“I don’t think he’ll be at Notre Dame. I don’t think that’s anything he’ll do now. I don’t think he’ll do that ever,” Tebow said. “I don’t think he’s really interested. I think he’s enjoying his time here. I think he’s enjoying being the head coach at the University of Florida and enjoying this senior class and being undefeated; we’ve won 21 in a row.

“He loves his players, and I don’t think he wants to go to a place where he has to start fresh.”

Tebow added that he would consider coaching at Florida down the road, once his playing days are over. Meyer first mentioned the possibility a few years ago.

“He actually always gives me a hard time about that, saying one day how I’m going to be in his seat and coaching here,” Tebow said. “I don’t know. That’s something that intrigues me … being able to coach them as far as life experiences and football.

“I like being able to correlate the two. … I think I’d enjoy it. That door will never be closed for me.”

I love it when sports stars are focused on a bigger mission than touchdowns, home runs and dunks. They influence so many young lives. One man I admire greatly is former NFL coach Tony Dungy. Tony is in his second year of retirement but he has done anything but retire from the game. Tony is now seeking to invest in the lives of NFL players and coaches as a mentor. He knows that there is more than football affecting the lives of football players. There are pressures and temptations that can eat away at whatever moral fiber was instilled in the athletes as youths. So Tony is seeking to find the most troubled and enter their lives in the name of Jesus. It's great to see that Tim Tebow is seeking to do the same with those around him and wants to do the same when he gets to be in Tony Dungy's position.

It's wonderful to see such people in the spotlight for reasons that honor and glorify the Lord, isn't it?

Be God's.

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In the News

Every day I scan the national and regional headlines, largely for my own entertainment, but also to see if I can find instances of God's working in and through the Church. In the past few days it seems that there is a lot going on. Here are a few headlines and links to a few of the stories.

• Christian Singer Steven Curtis Chapman Copes with His Daughter's Death Through Music
• The Greek Orthodox Church Acts on Public Crucifix Ban
• Evangelist Tony Alamo Sentenced to 175 Years on Sex Charges

It seems that each day there is good and there is bad being reported about the Church or those who call themselves Christians.

Steven Curtis Chapman's story, if you're not aware, is heart-wrenching. He lost his 5-year-old adopted daughter 18 months ago to a tragic accident involving a car driven by his teenage son. He wrestled with the questions any sane person would wrestle with in times of grief. Is God good? Does He care? Why does He allow bad things to happen? The result of his searching was put into music, as SCC stripped away the polished pop production and just recorded his honest emotions in song as they crept into his heart. The Chapmans have been through a lot of grief in the past 18 months. Yet they still continue to believe in the God who loves them and sees to their every need. Even in times of their grief.

The Greek Orthodox Church is fighting a battle long lost here in America. The Church has been a major part in the development of modern Greece, and for centuries crosses have been on display in public buildings and school classrooms. Now a humanist organization is taking direct fire at such displays, claiming they infringe on the freedom of religion that Greek law guarantees. I can see their point, to be honest. Yet I also see the continued deterioration of the Church's influence and relevancy in Europe. It used to be that the Greek and Roman churches influenced law. Now it seems they influence little. With the evangelical and Protestant churches also suffering poor attendance and increased government intrusion, it's sad to say that the secularization of Europe is almost complete.

Finally, we have the ongoing saga of another creep in an evangelist's mask. Tony Alamo once stirred up followers with emotional vigor to prepare the world for the end times. I remember parking outside an Academy Sports store in Lewisville one day a few years back and being approached by an Alamo follower. He handed me a flier and asked me some questions I cannot now remember. It was my first introduction to Tony Alamo Christian Ministries. Little did that poor sap know, 75-year-old Tony was involved in horrifying child abuse, transporting underage girls across Arkansas state lines for sexual purposes and even indulging himself. Now he's going to jail for the rest of his life. He still claims innocence but circumstances say otherwise. Church leaders are to be "above reproach" and Tony's behavior was way below the reproach line. Sadly, the assistant U.S. Attorney pointed out in honesty that, "Not only did (the girls) entrust their lives to him, he did it in the name of God. And he betrayed their trust." How awful!

Keep praying for the Church around the world today. There are some positive stories mixed in the negativism that has become the norm. Pray that the Church of God may become salt and light in this world and influence culture in a way that lifts high the name of Jesus and proves the message of the gospel to be what we all have known it to be -- relevant.

Be God's!

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Grace... Explained the Skit Guys' Way

I absolutely love The Skit Guys, a comedy duo that writes and performs skits for student ministry and adult congregation audiences. In this video, Eddie James and Tommy Woodard act out several funny scenes to describe the amazing grace of God.

Be prepared to suspend belief and have some fun.

Be God's!

A Whirlwind of Thoughts

Been awhile since I last posted on Growing Young. I'd love to excuse this e-absence by citing my personal laziness but that's not the case. Life has just sped up for me. Mega fast. Mixed into a busy holiday season of preparing and managing promotional campaigns was the busyness of planning a flag football game for my singles group and the death of my grandfather in Louisiana. As I write this entry, I'm planning another trip to Acadiana (French Louisiana) for my grandfather's funeral. He went to be with the Lord today after a terrible battle with lung cancer. He was 84 and a significant blessing to my life.

Over the last two weeks I have had a variety of thoughts that I'd like to share with you.

DEATH

• Saying goodbye is never easy. As my grandfather lay in his hospital bed I placed my hand on his limp shoulder and said "I love you" over and over again. I could think of nothing more eloquent to say. I then drove for 45 minutes in stunned silence. I was doing okay emotionally until it was time to leave. Then I lost it.
  
• Suffering is not the best way to die, but it often cannot be avoided. My grandfather struggled for breath and fought various symptoms for days. He was on morphine and other drugs constantly towards the end. I don't know how much pain he was in but the suffering was obvious.
  
• Having a close family is a joy during times of trial.
  
• Hospice has to be one of the toughest jobs one can have. Caring for the dying is one of the ultimate acts of servitude. I couldn't do it.
• Dealing with death turns even the strongest of persons into a soul needing support. It was tough watching my grandmother care for her husband of 63 years. Very tough. Yet tender at the same time. Makes me cry even now.
  

It has been a tough few weeks for me and my family. Please keep us in your prayers.

Be God's!

Of Celibacy & the Church

I just read an interesting article by Marcy Hintz on Christianity Today's website calling for the respect of celibate singles in the Protestant church. Here it is:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=58801

There is nothing wrong with being single, no matter what age you are. Singleness is not a sin. In fact, it is a blessing. And "celibacy" means more than just being single -- it is an intentional decision to not pursue marriage in order to serve the Lord and serve His Church. Celibacy is intentional single-minded spirituality.

I wish more unmarried believers would choose the path of celibacy and intentionally dedicate their lives, for however long God calls them to this state, to pursuing the Lord and serving His Church. I'm not a big promoter of lifelong vows of celibacy but favor short-term, determined periods of celibacy.

I thought reading Marcy's article was a breath of fresh air. So I thought I'd share.

-- Brother John

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What Makes You Happy?

My dad just read me parts of an article he gleaned from The Atlantic about a little-known 73-year-old survey of Harvard graduates called the Grant Survey. It had many purposes but what of its major tasks was to answer this question: What makes men happy? The survey followed a group of men from the late 1930s, through the war, and on to old age. The survey brought that question to the forefront of my mind: What makes you happy? What makes me happy? And...

Does what makes you HAPPY also make you HOLY?

Every human I know loves stuff. Some people love a lot of stuff, others a little, but we all cherish our possessions. I know that seeing my familiar possessions -- in my house, my car, my office, etc. sets my heart at ease. I like my stuff. I have way too much of it, maybe, but I like it. I tend to think I'd weep like a baby if I ever lost everything I had. All it takes is one little match, you know.

My stuff may make me comfortable but does it make me happy? In some ways, sure. Am I better off, spiritually, for having stuff or is my stuff neutral or negative to my spiritual life?

I know that I'm usually happy when I feel like I'm making a difference, either in someone's life or in the life of an organization. I'm most frustrated and unhappy when I feel useless to someone or something.

I'm happy when I'm not stressed for time. When I can take off on a Sunday drive and not care about getting back before dark or getting to bed early. When I can feel relaxed and not under deadline pressure. I'm most unhappy when I miss a sunset because I was frantically working indoors so I could go home.

I'm happy when I explore new places and meet new people. I love to travel. And I love to move. No, not the physical exertion of moving but the excitement of going someplace new and learning the streets and stores. I'm most unhappy when I feel stuck in one place for too long. How long is too long depends on the place and circumstance.

I'm happy when I can laugh freely and often. When I can learn something new. When I can play my guitar late at night by the fireside and enjoy creating new sounds (new to me) and remember old melodies. When I see an awesome movie. When I give gifts at Christmas.

Enough about me. What makes you happy?

I'm not asking, I'm just asking. :-)

Be God's!

They Are Second

I just saw this video and wanted to share it with you. It's from a great campaign called "I Am Second" that gives some celebrities and athletes an opportunity to explain how they have placed God first in their lives. This video features the quarterbacks of tomorrow's big UT-OU game. It really blessed my heart tonight.



Wasn't that great?!

Life After Death

I've been seeing and reading a lot of things lately about the afterlife -- from ghosts haunting a town to near-death experiences. Just this evening I sat down to check the world's news and ran across this CNN story about a Massachusetts woman who was "dead" for 57 minutes last April after suffering a heart attack and was resuscitated. She describes her experiences at the moment of death and what she saw and felt for the 57 minutes afterward. The hair of the back of my neck stood up when I read it. I suggest you read it, too, and we'll discuss after.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/16/cheating.near.death/index.html

Wasn't that interesting? (did you read it? really? all right. if you say so.)

There is certainly life after death. No doubt about it. The fact that our conscious selves don't cease to exist after death is clear from those who have been to death, experienced the afterlife just a little, and come back. They all tell similar stories about what happened. There are some variations, of course, as in any eyewitness account but the basics are the same.

1. The consciousness/soul separates from the body. It usually is described as a "floating" sensation and near-death people usually say they can look down upon their own bodies. "I floated right out of my body. My body was here, and I just floated away. I looked back at it once, and it was there," the victim, Laura Geraghty, said. There is no denying the existence of the soul. The body is perishable. The soul is eternal — it never dies. The Bible speaks of this clearly. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (2 Cor. 5:1)." In other words, we have two parts of us: earthly (body) and eternal (soul and spirit). The earthly will decay just as the earth decays. But the spiritual is given to us by God and will not decay.
   
2. There is a great sense of peace. People describe not pain or torment but peace. A calmness. As if striving is over and pain is no more. So it is with death. Here's how Laura described what she felt, "It was very peaceful and light and beautiful." I tend to think the peace they experienced comes from the knowledge that they don't have anything to fight anymore. Their life decisions have been made. Their future is not in their hands anymore. So there is a sense of peace.
3. There is a sense of majesty and energy though no one has reported seeing God (as if they could recognize Him). Laura said she was overwhelmed by "massive energy, powerful, very powerful energy." This really fascinates me because I wonder if she was starting to sense the presence of God Almighty. Or maybe it was the cardiac paddles the doctor was using to revive her. Don't know. But every character in the Bible who encountered the presence of God fell powerless to their knees. Remember Daniel? When he saw the angel of the LORD in Daniel 10 he was paralyzed and could not move. Same for John in Revelation 1.
   

I tried to watch a new show of Discovery Channel the other day called "Ghost Lab." The basic premise is this: a team of paranormal hunters go from haunted place to haunted place with scientific equipment and document the paranormal activity they find. The show spooked the stuffing out of me. I couldn't even finish the episode. You see, I DO believe that ghosts exist and, no, I don't think they are all demons at play. I have a theory that is just that -- a theory about ghosts. I can't prove it from Scripture or logic. If you're curious, ask me sometime.

There is life after death. And I'm placing my hope in God's word that when I die and my soul starts floating away, that massive energy will be God welcoming me to heaven, where I will see the saints and the angels. I'll see loved ones who have fallen asleep in Christ. I'll see different faces from different places and times. And I'll see God Himself in all three Persons. Whatever He looks like in whatever setting.

That is, unless someone shocks me back to earth.

I'm glad that Laura Geraghty has another chance in life and a new perspective. I hope she uses it to choose to follow God closer than ever before and cling to His promises for life after death.

Be God's!

I'm Not in Carrollton Anymore

Just tonight I was reminded of how much things have changed in the last five years of my life. I was out for a late night shopping trip to Wal-Mart when I noticed the I-HOP restaurant on the corner of the mega store lot. Like Wal-Mart it is a 24-hour-a-day establishment, serving both the weary-eyed and the wide awake. It's the type of place I used to frequent late at night... five years ago.

I used to love late night trips to I-HOP when I lived in North Dallas/Carrollton. A full-time student at Dallas Seminary and part-time pastor at Gainesville Bible Church, I used to enjoy bringing my bible and notes to an empty I-HOP booth and studying the Word over omelets, pancakes and hot tea. I would stay up to two hours, chatting with the server, reading, thinking, relaxing... time was no enemy to me, then. I worked as a consultant for my dad's business, in addition to a few side jobs on weekends, so I didn't have daily 8am wake-up calls. Oh, I had classes at 8 or 9 some days, but not every day. Which meant I could afford to spend a couple hours at I-HOP every week.

Ministry was always on my mind when I went to I-HOP. The bible was a conversation starter, not an ender. I would pray before I went inside that God would allow an opportunity to come my way to minister to my server (and give me the right words to say) and He obliged several times. I'll never forget one gal I met working the graveyard shift named Keisha. She got curious when she saw me reading my bible and started a conversation with me about spiritual stuff. Our brief time ended with me praying with her for a tough family situation and her spiritual search. I doubt that I will ever forget that late night trip to I-HOP.

But things are different now. Five years later I have a job that requires my attendance at 9am nearly every morning. I can't afford to be out late at night like I want to be. I can't afford trips to I-HOP. And I kind of feel a little part of me missing. I-HOP wasn't just a ministry. It was rest. And time in the Word. Away from the distractions of my house and, sometimes, a break from the clutter of my brain. We all need a break from the clutter, don't we?

So I looked at I-HOP tonight and declined. There were only three cars out front, which I considered ideal but I'm sure the restaurant considered poor. I like space. And peace. Noisy restaurants usually drive me crazy.

It's amazing how my life has changed in five years. I've traded I-HOP for a paycheck, and think I need both. Maybe there's a compromise out there somewhere.

Be God's.

The Forgotten Letter

I love a good investigation. I don't know if this love comes from my journalistic training or my passion for history, but a good mystery just can't be beat. I love to uncover new details about someone or something, especially if that person or thing has long passed away.

Just tonight my dad, himself a fan of the mystery, showed me a most remarkable artifact he uncovered while going through a pile of his dad's belongings. It was an old Civil War-copyrighted pamplet containing a soldier's prayer poem. The pamphlet's age is unknown but it certainly predated the both of us.

But discovery of the poem was not the true prize of his discovery. For inside the pamphlet was a folded piece of paper. Two pieces, to be exact. They looked old but were of good preservation — as if they had been inside the pamphlet for decades, protected from the light and undefiled by the oils of human fingers. The pages dated from 1918 or 1919, an age when the Great War was raging in Europe and America's boys were being drafted to go fight in the trenches against both bullet and mustard gas.

They were a letter from my great grandfather, Eugene Newton, to his mother, and from the wording, quite possibly written on the eve of his leaving the United States to head to the battlefield. My great grandfather was a character of all characters, my dad says. He lived his life — all 85 years — with a chip on his shoulder. He had wounds from a cruel and demanding father. He suffered from the wandering ambition of a wayward heart that did not want to stay near his family. He ruled his son with an iron fist and heaped upon him expectations few men could meet. But that was after he experienced the horrors of war and its physical and psychological effects.

What fascinates me is that this letter predated Europe. It was amazing to read Eugene's own words as he left for war. A 26-year-old young adult from rural Alabama, he was concerned about his family's finances. He was hoping his sister would get a job. He was hoping his big brother could avoid the war altogether. Things any soldier would write in a goodbye as he prepared to board a ship destined for a much different world across the Atlantic.

My dad has been on a mission in recent years to find out more about his family. I have enjoyed being on the ride with him because I desperately want to know about my heritage — good and bad. I love to hear about my grandfather, especially so since he passed away, and even about my dad's life. I want to know where they lived and who they knew. What they felt and why they made the choices they made.

Like I said, I love a good investigation. And the story of my great grandfather's life keeps getting fuller and fuller. As does the story of my grandfather. My dad has found out so much about his dad in the course of going through boxes of stuff. It's an investigation after a death that is making the past come alive.

How cool.

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Things That Make Me Scratch My Head, Part 1

Sometimes I just don't get it. Why...

• are people so excited about celebrating death at Halloween? Since when are skulls, tombstones, ghosts, witches and the sort things to be celebrated? I even see some neighbors take their Halloween festivities to their yards, setting up blow-up skulls, tombstones in the front yard, and plugging in orange lights in the windows and shrubs. I just don't get it.
• do people enjoy being scared? Haunted houses make big bucks this time of year, as do slasher films (year-round, really). A sensible person would want to be secure and at peace. Or so sense seems to say. But people for some reason enjoy being frightened, even in a world of terrorism and stalkers. I just don't get it.
• do we have dozens of choices of shampoo and salsa? It seems that everybody has a brand of shampoo and everybody else has a brand of salsa. Three quarters of a shelf row in my local Kroger store has nothing but shampoo displayed. If they were all different flavors I'd understand, but are they? And salsa... there must be 30 brands to choose from. I've tried a few of the "off brands" and they taste the same. I just don't get it.
• am I perplexed at 10pm on a Saturday night? Hmmm....

Good night!

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Tearing Down Our Idols

I'll be the first to confess that I don't know a whole lot about pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I've never met him, never listened to a full sermon of his, or even read one of his books. But this I do know: much like pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, he is becoming a major voice in the evangelical church of America. But the demographic he represents is not the same as Warren. Warren is a middle-aged man who largely attracts the boomer generation. Driscoll's biggest impact is on the younger generations like mine.

I just watched a Nightline report on the topic of idolatry and Driscoll was interviewed exclusively. We all have idols whether you believe in God or not, he said on the news report, because we all have an innate desire to worship something. And if not God, we will fill that desire with other things. Some idols our culture promotes are celebrities, sports and sex. Driscoll's right on.

This is the third Nightline report I've seen in recent years on something Driscoll and Mars Hill are doing to make an impact on American popular culture. He last tackled the issue of the sanctity of sex. Now he is urging that a new mindset is needed to survive as godly people in a culture that seeks to replace God with stuff.

Terry Moran, the ABC reporter behind the story, asked Driscoll about the impact of celebrity. Driscoll said that any idol we set up in place of God will always disappoint us and we will suffer as a result. He pointed to the death of Michael Jackson last June. Some people went into a deep depression after Jackson's death, others played his music for hours on end, and some wept over their memorabilia collections. Those who were affected the deepest by his death had set up Jackson as an idol in their hearts, Driscoll said. And any idol will disappoint.

The celebrities are destroyed by the attention, too, he said, because they can never live up to the hope, the hype, or the expectations. They are set up to fail.

I have been extremely impressed by Mars Hill Church and pastor Mark every time I see what they're doing. I don't know about their theology or what their worship is like, I just know that they are actively trying to be salt and light in this world and among my generation. And that impresses me. The fact that Nightline has come calling three times in the past few years says a lot, too. The media is paying attention. And the message is reaching a bigger audience, surprisingly without distortion.

I'll confess that I've had various idols in my life at various points of my life. And each time I set one up it failed to satisfy and I felt empty inside. For only God can satisfy the longings of our hearts. He will not fail. Only He is worthy of our worship.

If I find the ABC Nightline video from tonight, I'll be sure to post it. Here's a link to Mark Driscoll's thoughts on his interview: http://blog.marshillchurch.org/2009/10/05/pastor-mark-driscoll-on-abcs-nightline-tonight/.

Be God's!

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October Showers

Scattershooting on a cool, spitting October afternoon. It's one of those afternoons when there is water falling from the sky but it's not thick enough to be rain or thin enough to be fog. You know... it's just... spitting.

What are your favorite October memories? What has made this month stand out in years past? What do you love about October?

When I think of October, I think of days like today: cool to mild, semi-dreary, yet refreshing. I think of the changing of the seasons, of cool fronts and warm spells. Of thunderstorms and falling leaves. Of confused wardrobes because one day it's 65 and the next 90.

I think of pumpkins and colorful leaves. Halloween decorations in the stores and the whisper of Christmas spirit in the air. Oh yeah. I can hear it. Can you?

When I think of October I think of the State Fair, the Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl, and high school football. For several years I spent Friday nights in October in high school football stadiums and getting lost and found in small towns. Some nights were really muggy. Others were downright crisp. It was a great way to make 30-45 bucks for one night of work in October.

October is one of those transition months (though I guess you could say every month is a transition month!) in which I feel like this world is on its way to somewhere but isn't there just yet. We're between summer and the holidays, kind of like driving between Dallas and San Antonio. I guess you could say that October is Austin.

I like October but November is my goal. I can justify breaking out the Christmas festivities in November. Right now? My coworkers give me funny looks. I told them I was just celebrating Jesus but they didn't buy it. Seems that Christmas music doesn't belong in September or October. So I'm on my way to November...

October is here now. Time for pumpkins and hay bales, falling leaves and warm teas.

It's a good month.

Yom Kippur: The Most Holy Day

Today is Yom Kippur in the Jewish religion, the holy day of all holy days. Yom (day) Kippur (atonement) is the famous Day of Atonement mentioned in Leviticus 16, the one day in which the designated high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of a goat to sprinkle it on the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for his sins, the sins of his household, and the sins of the nation. Here's the passage:

“[This] shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute. So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year.” (16:29-34)

Until Good Friday, today was the most important day to God, as well. For where there is sin, God demands the shedding of blood. Because the wages of sin is death. Thankfully, Good Friday was the ultimate Yom Kippur, the final Day of Atonement to God. It was the blood of Jesus that was offered up to God for the sin of the people -- ALL people, everywhere, every time. Here's how the author of Hebrews (I call him Heb) describes Yom Kippur in light of the cross:

For the Law (esp. the sacrifices), since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those [sacrifices] there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (10:1-4)

Yom Kippur was not an end-all for the Jewish people. It had to be repeated year after year for there to be atonement between God and man. Not only did one sacrifice not endure past one year, it wasn't really atonement at all! For animals are not humans and could never be a true substitute. Yet God chose to let this inadequate substitution slide for 1400 years until the ultimate substitute, Jesus, entered this world. A human dying for humans. An act only God Himself could do without sin. Heb continues:

"Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." (10:11-14)

Today is not only the best day to pray for Jews to accept the permanent sacrifice, Jesus, but also for Christians to praise the Lord for His eternal gift. And this is that gift: That God so loved sinful, rebellious mankind that He gave His one and only Son to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in Him will not die a spiritual death but have everlasting life.

A Marvelous Evening

Wasn't it just wonderful yesterday evening?

The temperature here in North Texas was in the upper 60's, at most, and the air had a crispness to it that only comes with the arrival of fall. Which happened overnight Monday night. Fall is my favorite season.

I love it when autumn trees turn color,
in the disappearing heat of summer;
the smell of fresh pies; when cold fronts surprise
and pumpkins and scarecrows come over

Okay, maybe that last part doesn't make much sense, but I truly do love autumn. Pumpkins, scarecrows and all. Tonight I took a few minutes to go sit outside by my waterfall and pond and enjoy the evening. Sipping a hot mug of tea, I listened to the sound of the water, looked up at the moonlit skies, listened to the wind in the treetops and took a deep breath. It was awesome.

Welcome, fall! Been a long time.

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God and Hollywood

Every day I scan the local and national news in hopes of not only becoming more informed about what's happening in this world but also to keep tabs on the flow of popular culture. Today on CNN.com (yes, I watch CNN), contributor Roland Martin has a good column on whether God and Hollywood can co-exist. He points to filmmaker Tyler Perry as evidence that Christians can not only make good, uplifting movies, but they can get the faithful to the box office, too.

Here's an excerpt:

For years Hollywood has treated people of faith more like lepers, refusing to acknowledge that Christians and others who identify themselves as religious actually go to movies. We’ve always seen the blockbusters filled with elaborate highway car crashes, flicks with a young starlet walking around for nearly two hours in tight fitting clothes, and movie after movie with enough cussin’ to make Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley scream, “Enough!”

Their mantra is always, “Show me the money!” Every movie with Christ at the center won’t be as big as Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” ($370 million U.S.; $611 million worldwide), but Perry’s movies continue to bring in the people and the bucks, and Hollywood had better pay attention.

What the critics hate about Tyler Perry’s films is what I appreciate: A willingness to tell stories about love, redemption, family and God and do so in an entertaining way. He is an unapologetic Christian.

Perry is an outspoken believer from Georgia who mostly makes lighthearted comedies. Five times his films have topped a box office weekend in earnings, despite generally poor media reviews. Even though mainstream Hollywood still is uncomfortable with his public faith, Perry perseveres in getting projects made, both on TV and in theaters. Here's Martin again:

Perry’s insistence on being willing to publicly profess his faith is truly the root of his success. Before hitting the big screen, he was a hit with his traveling plays, often reaching thousands of people in cities across the country and a ton of them were churchgoing folks, especially women.

At one time he had a development deal with ABC but when executives objected to the constant references to God, he walked away, saying he wouldn’t compromise his principles for a TV show. (He now has two hit TV shows on TBS, “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.” Both mention God, Jesus and the Bible all the time).

“These stars can make all the references in the world to Kabbalah or Scientology, and that’s just fine,” he told USA Today last year, “But mention Jesus Christ, and they (studios) don’t want to deal with you.”

He has transferred that loyalty to the big screen and Hollywood has taken notice.

I recommend reading all of Roland Martin's article. God bless Tyler Perry. I'm not personally a fan of his film style but I wish him all the best as he fights to get and keep his faith in his art.

Be God's.

Living in the In Between

Ever have one of those days when you feel like you're living in the "in between"? When you feel out of place, aimless, or just not quite right?

The "in between" is anytime in life when you feel like you're not at home yet not at whatever final destination you're heading. You're on a journey and the only grounding you feel is the very fact that you're traveling. It's a time that can go by really fast or really slow. Rarely does it pass normally.

I had one of those days today. I just felt out of place today, whether I was at work, in the car, or at home. Like something was out of sync. Strange.

I'm convinced that every person comes to at least one "in between" time in their life. Some people live their whole lives in the "in between." They're usually called "restless hearts."

For me, my entire adult life has been lived in the in between. I'm now 32, but for the first ten years of my post-college life I lived as a ranger, moving every 17 months and holding many jobs. I did some really cool things during that time but I got used to packing boxes and moving furniture, of setting up new places and meeting new faces.

I did not have a house or job to ground me in my life. No family of my own to hold me one place. My only grounding was my faith in God, my family and my church. Work didn't ground me, nor did society. Money certainly didn't ground me, for I had little wealth.

Now, at 32, I find myself at the proverbial crossroads of life. I'm not a youth anymore, living recklessly and freely because I didn't know any better. Sure, I guess I'm still young to most of you but my bones don't feel the same as they did at 22. And my mind... no comparison. Yet I'm not old and wise yet, either. I'm living in the "in between." And I'm wondering what I need to do to prepare myself for the years ahead. For where I want to be. For what I want to do.

I'm also learning to embrace the "in between" in my spiritual life, as well. As I've grown older I have increasingly realized that this world is not my home and that I don't feel comfortable here. Do you feel comfortable here? It's not a kind place. And by its nature the system of this world stands opposed to my faith in God. This makes me an outsider. A stranger. And I don't want t ever be so comfortable here that I forget that I'm not home yet.

I'm living in the "in between" of everything right now. It's a strange place to be. A strange stage of life. And I'm doing my best to keep my eyes on Jesus with this fallen body and mind to keep me grounded. It's not easy. But, then again, He never said it would be.

Be God's.

When You Can't Go Home Again

One of the joys of my communications job at my church is the occasional interview I videotape and edit for Sunday mornings. Usually, I film the testimonies of individuals or reports from missionaries. Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to film the testimony of a lady in our church. For the sake of privacy, I'll call her "Sharon."

Sharon was born in Iran, at a time when the Shah was still in charge and the United States had an embassy in Tehran. Her parents were middle class citizens, well educated, and going through the motions as public Muslims. But in private they rejected religion, choosing to worship science and intellect. Sharon was subject to strong anti-religious views at home, and when the Islamic Revolution hit in 1979, she was sent overseas by her parents to live with her aunt and uncle in California. The hope was that Sharon, then 14 years old, would find a solid education in science and become something important — maybe a doctor or lawyer.

What Sharon found instead was the Lord Jesus Christ. Through a series of events that she believes God orchestrated, Sharon believed in the existence of God and the Lord Jesus. She says, "God gave me faith. It's a simple as that. God gave me faith, and I believed." I've found that He tends to do that from time to time when our faith is found lacking.

Sharon decided to sneak away from her aunt and uncle and start attending a local church. She had no choice as a teenager living under a secular roof. She told her aunt and uncle she was going to the library but instead used her bus pass to go to church. She hungered and thirsted to know God and be around His other children. She hid her church attendance for months until she could conceal it no longer. It's hard to get away with "library attendance" every Sunday morning! When Sharon decided to enroll in a Christian college, the cat was out of the bag.

Sharon's aunt and uncle were stunned and upset. They grounded her from going to church and a long period of hardship ensued. Sharon's mother in Iran expressed her disappointment over the phone. Sharon's parents had not sent their daughter to America to find religion! Her father said he wouldn't speak to her again if she continued to follow Christ. Her aunt and uncle eventually told her she could no longer live in their house. In most people, this would have torn a heart in two and I don't doubt that Sharon was hurting inside. But she said she was at peace.

Her reason? Her Savior! She had, as Saint Peter put it, "passed from darkness into light." (1 Peter 2:9). Sharon clung to the words of Jesus during this time, especially a passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Her life verse became: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33)" She knew that if she continued to pursue God, no matter what the consequence, He would take care of her.

The next month or two of her life demonstrated that a life of faith, dependent on God's provision, is not foolishness. She went to live with another aunt in town for three weeks, then moved into a college dorm early. She received money from various sources, a job in the school library, cast-off clothing from fellow students, and all of her needs met. How awesome!

God does not drop the ball, folks. He will provide for you. It gives Him pleasure as a Father.

Sharon went on to meet her future husband at the college and marry him just weeks before her visa ran out and she would've had to return to Iran. Returning was not an option for Sharon.

She couldn't go home again. Islamic law forbids the conversion of a Muslim to any other religion. Though not Muslim by belief, her family was outwardly Muslim. The penalty for forsaking Islam could have cost Sharon her life. And since she wasn't going to renounce Christ....

They have a daughter now and are happy living in North Texas. As for her Iranian family, they are now on speaking terms, though her parents still think religion is foolishness best fit for the uneducated. They have to meet in a third country to visit, though, since Sharon can't step foot in Iran and Iranians have a hard time stepping foot in the U.S.

Sharon's story reminded me that the cost of following Jesus sometimes means leaving family, friends, and country. But followers are not left isolated and alone. No, those who follow Christ inherit a new family, new friends, and a new country — a kingdom that is everlasting and a king who never falters.

Sharon's right. Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. No matter the cost.

Be God's!

A Powerful Picture

This is one of my new favorites, taken at San Luis Mission in Oceanside, CA. It is a statue of Jesus in the cemetery with one person's difficult surrender affixed to it. Take a look.

I nearly cried when I saw this fallen soldier's dog tags in the hand of the Savior. A loved one gave him or her up to Jesus. Probably with many tears. I'm tearing up right now as I post this entry. "War is hell," someone once declared. "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest," Jesus declared. War may be hell, but in the Savior there is rest.

Be God's.

Eight Years Past

Eight years ago today, our world changed. Our countries changed. Our states changed. Our neighborhoods changed.

Nothing has changed in the attitudes of hate that existed eight years ago. They are still present today. They existed eighty years ago, and eight hundred. And eight thousand. If there were eight thousand. Sin hasn't changed, though most people think it has gotten worse. Sin is sin.

Eight years past... people in America came face to face with attitudes of hate that had been breeding half a world away for years. September 11, 2001 was eye-opening for most of us. I know it was for me. Our heads have been on a swivel ever since. We trust even less than we did before, casting suspicion on neighbors and strangers alike. Any remaining innocence has been lost.

It has been said that every generation has a defining tragedy that changes the world that generation faces. My great-grandparents were impacted by the Great War (WWI) and the Stock Market crash of 1929. My grandparents saw their world change at Pearl Harbor. My parents saw their world affected by the assassination of John F. Kennedy. And my generation has September 11. I shiver to think of what the next generation will have to face.

Here are some of the things I have observed about life after 9/11.

• That the Revolutionary slogan "Don't Tread on Me" has regained popularity after governmental reactions to 9/11 involved the taking away of many rights and privacies in the name of security. I guess that if you want security, you'd better be willing to part with freedom.
  
• That I now know a LOT more about Islam than I did before! I remember being enlightened about the religion after my pastor in Gainesville preached an informational message on Islam the Sunday after 9/11. I was very clueless beforehand.
  
• That we are too willing to compromise when it comes to the dignity of human life. It's funny to me how many Christians are quick to defend torture while I see non-believers actively seeking to preserve the dignity of life. Quite a reversal of the abortion issue, eh? God created human life. We should support it, whether in a womb or in a turban.
  
• That I'm now intimidated about traveling overseas. It used to be that the welcome mat was rolled out for Americans traveling overseas. This is still true in some countries but very few compared to 20 years ago. It's not a safe time to be abroad. Pray for your missionaries.
• That war is hell, no matter what the century or the cause. Several young friends of mine left to fight over the past eight years. That made the Iraq and Afghan wars personal for me. I'm so glad they returned safe. Many did not. Maybe the madness will end soon. Maybe not. I support the troops in either case.
  
• That the Gospel remains unchanged. God loves terrorists and wants them to come to faith in Jesus — not as a prophet — but as the Son of God. And His call for us to peach the Gospel still remains, even to terrorists. And He calls us to love our enemies. And bless those who curse us. No matter how much it pains us to do so. It's always more satisfying to respond with anger. But blessed are the meek...

The events of September 11th changed our world. For many it changed their faith. Mine was more energized after the events of 9/11. And I think I've seen the church in this world more clearly since that day. I saw pastors comfort the worried, and believers come to the sanctuaries just to pray. I saw fund raising by church groups to bless families of 9/11 victims, and support groups form for those emotionally traumatized.

I started seminary two weeks before 9/11 and entered full-time ministry a little more than three years after. I've moved three times since. It's been a long eight years. So long that I struggle to remember life before 9/11. It seems like another world. I guess it was.

Be God's.

-- Brother John

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Wired for Sounds

As I sat down at my desk to write something this evening I had intended to ramble on about some theological or philosophical matter that had drawn my attention lately. But instead I find myself mesmerized by something outside my home office window. It's making a ruckus and yet it's soothing. It's calming and yet irritating. It is... sound. Yep. Sound! My window is open and I'm listening to the sounds filtering through my window screen.

Currently, it's raining. I can't see the rain through the darkness but I know it's there because of the evidence I hear. I can feel the breeze pick up through the window, as if some gale is winding up to blow. It's that wind that accompanies rain. You know, the draft that is cool and musty, humid and dusty? And then there are is the loud pitter-patter of raindrops, falling on the leaves at 150 beats per minute. Like a thousand metronomes winding down in play, it clicks with an irregularity that only nature could provide. A loud irregularity. Then there is the sound of my fountain and waterfall-fed pond. A few months ago I added a pond, water fountain and aqueduct system to my yard. It has two waterfalls, essentially, each of which splatters at a different octave. The water system is on right now and providing a depth to the rainfall.

The rain is dying down now, making the waterfalls more prominent. My ears find them soothing, lulling my spirit into a spirit of rest. And rest I think I shall.

Isn't sound a wonderful thing? Especially when you least expect to hear something grand?

Be God's.

A Dangerous Faith

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

From CNN today comes another reminder that Christianity is not "safe." Many people are coming to faith in Christ around the world, including a number of Muslims. In Islam, it is more than a trivial thing for a Muslim to convert to any other religious faith. It is a high dishonor. And in some Islamic-law countries, it is punishable by death. Conversions of Muslims to Christianity has cost many people their lives in places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Blessed are the persecuted, our Lord said. Why, when persecution sometimes brings death? Because they will inherit an eternal reward in heaven. They have become a part of the Church, the Christ-followers, who will enter the gates of heaven and enjoy eternal bliss in the presence of their Savior. There is pain on earth but the hope of heaven soothes the wounds.

Here's the first part of the story.

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(CNN) -- A Muslim teenager from Ohio says her father threatened to kill her because she converted to Christianity.

Rifqa Bary claims her father wants her dead after she converted to Christianity.

Rifqa Bary, 17, ran away from her family in Columbus, Ohio, in July and took refuge in the central Florida home of the Rev. Blake Lorenz with the Global Revolution Church in Orlando.

The teen heard of the pastor and his church through a prayer group on Facebook. The girl's parents reported her missing to Columbus police, who found her two weeks later in Florida through cell phone records.

The teenager, in a sworn affidavit, claims her father, Mohamed Bary, 47, was pressured by the mosque the family attends in Ohio to "deal with the situation." In the court filing, Rifqa Bary stated her father said, "If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!" The teenager claims her father added, "I will kill you!"

Mohamed Bary told CNN a lot of false information has been given and "we wouldn't do her harm." He knew his daughter was involved with Christian organizations.

"I have no problem with her practicing any faith," he said, but Bary admitted he would have preferred his daughter to practice the Muslim faith first.

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May the Lord our God protect this young lady. And may the Body of Christ surround her with love, security, and grace.

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Blessed are the Meek

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

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The following is taken from a commentary on the Sermon on the Mount called, "Re: Defined," that I started writing following a Bible study I taught in 2005. It's close to being completed but, then again, it's been close for years now...

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Meekness is a trait of spiritual strength and maturity. To be meek means to be in harmony with God, completely obedient, and wise in speech. It is usually good advice to pay close attention to the words of someone meek. One can usually trust them. Meekness flies in the face of pride, and humans have been full of pride since the Garden. We think of the proud and mighty as the great conquerors. Just look at Alexander, the Caesars, Napoleon, Nebuchadnezzar, Hitler, etc. But those people will not inherit the earth. It is the meek ones, the ones who mourn their sin and seek the righteousness of God (see Psalm 37).

This verse is tied in subject matter to the verse above it and the verse below it. In verse 4, those who mourn recognize that they are spiritually broken and empty apart from God. In verse 6, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are seeking to be filled. Meekness comes from mourning. It is very humbling to see one's own brokenness. Meekness is required to seek God's nourishment, for you must recognize that you have a need that you cannot fill. Just like mourning for sin or being poor, humility/meekness is seen as weakness. The meek get run over by the assertive ones. It's happened throughout history. But being constantly aggressive means being in constant danger of failure.

I liken this to a stoplight scene. The car of a meek driver sits next to that of an aggressive driver, who is constantly revving his engine, trying to get the meek driver to drive like him. As the light turns green, the meek driver slowly accelerates through the intersection, looking ahead for any obstacles. The aggressive driver steps on the gas and peels out of the intersection, hitting a car turning right from a side street.

Humble people are weak, though not for the same reasons as the world's reasons. Meek people recognize their weakness and seek the strength that God provides. So, even though they are weak, they are stronger than the proud. Paul praised God for his weakness in 2 Corinthians 13 and so should we.

There is no greater example of being meek and gentle than our Savior's trial and crucifixion. Isaiah 53, as elaborated on by Peter in 1 Peter 2:20-23, says, "But if when you do what is right and suffer [for it] you patiently endure it, this [finds] favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously;" Jesus did not ask for money or fame. He used the spotlight to teach, then often retreated to a place of solitude. His birth was not one of royal grandeur but of humble gentility. He was raised in Nazareth, a boondocks town in an oft-insulted region of Israel. Meekness also defined His very incarnation, as Paul laid out in Philippians 2:5-9.

I've known quite a few people who fit the description of a meek person, most of them in churches. I admire them because they have a self-control that I do not have. They bear with my boasts and still speak to me with love. I see a model of Christ in them that I want to emulate. Fretting comes from a lack of trust in God. Meekness is a total trust in God because a meek person has recognized their inability to provide for themselves. Let the proud man worry and the meek have peace. Do not fret because you are being overrun by the wicked and proud ones for you, not they, will prevail.

Blessed are the meek, who cannot be weak
For in their weakness they are strong
God will provide, and though cast aside
Their heart still sings a trusting song

So do not fret, nor harbor regret
When the proud ones pass you by
There is a place, far past time and space
An inheritance bigger than the sky

Be God's!

Just Some Random Toughts on Rest

Scattershooting while wondering if it is better to be a jack of all trades or a master of one.....

"I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." (King David, in Psalm 55:6)

PHYSICAL REST — The concept of "rest" has risen to the forefront of my life in recent years. What is "rest" and what does it take to truly feel "rested? It seems that everybody has a different way to relax and rest. There doesn't seem to be one perfect way. Some people find their rest through sleep, though I've found that too much sleep can tire me out as much as too little sleep! Others relax on a chair by the pool, lake, ocean, etc. for hours on end. Some people go on short road trips. I know of at least one person who finds rest in being alone and another who cannot rest if they are alone.

How do you rest your weary body and mind? Do you ever feel fully rested? Completely recharged? I must confess that I haven't found a lot of physical rest in past years. I've tried so many things to relax but they fail to completely recharge my batteries. My recent vacation to California was as close to restful as I've come in recent years. I almost stayed!

SPIRITUAL REST — Our Savior said, "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." The Savior's rest is wonderful and reassuring. It eases my weary heart and takes a massive spiritual and emotional burden off my shoulders. But it doesn't make my joints stop hurting nor my head. It doesn't clear up by blurry vision or buy me a few extra days of vacation. It's wonderful for the soul but doesn't make the pain and fatigue go away. After all, the pain of work is part of the curse on mankind after Adam and eve's sinned.

Our God made a provision for physical rest a long time ago when He gave Israel a Sabbath Day. Its intention was to provide people a day of physical rest every week. The people were not to do any work on that day, a restriction which even included gathering food. The seventh day was a sacred day, a holy day (holiday) from labor. Six days man was to work, just like the Lord in creation, but the seventh was for rest. I wonder, how did the ancient Hebrews rest? What did they do? Were there games or sports? Was there a lot of sleeping in? Did they sit by the pool... err... sand... and soak in some shady sun for a few hours? If so, were they ready to go back to work Sunday morning?

If so, why doesn't that work so well for me? Maybe I need another vacation.....


Be God's.

An Upside Down World

Have you ever had one of those moments when a truth you learned as a kid ... and always kept with you ... suddenly becomes new again? What about a Bible verse you've always known but never fully understood until now?

Over the past year I've been wowed by the makeup of the kingdom of heaven. The first shall be last, the poor shall by rich, the meek shall overcome the proud, turn the other cheek, pick up your cross, etc. Jesus came and turned the known world upside down. He said all the wrong things and, as N.T. Wright famously wrote, He "blessed all the wrong people."

He flipped the world's concept of righteousness and in the process revealed the true way of righteousness. The true way doesn't seem glorious. But the true way is the only way to pure glory.

Blessed are the poor in spirit...
Blessed are those who mourn...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are...

As Christians living in a hostile culture, we often want to play by that culture's rules. We want to fight back when attacked. We want to boast of our accomplishments. We want to have a church building that's way bigger than the other church buildings. We're not looking at the world from an upside down perspective. We want to interact with the world right side up. But in doing so we are becoming like the world and not like our Lord. He stayed upside down and called you and I to do the same.

I know I'm not doing it as well as He'd like. So I keep on trying. How are you doing?

Be God's.

About Performances

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." -- Apostle Paul to the Galatian churches

It never ceases to amaze me how the kingdom of God is completely upside down (or is it right-side up?) compared to the kingdom of this world. After all, blessed are the meek and oppressed. Cursed are the proud and mighty. And then there is this: salvation and good standing before God is not swayed by anything we do. What was that? Performance doesn't matter? What about all those "do's" and "don'ts"? Well, they don't affect how God sees you. He knows that you and I can't cut it as holy people. We do not have that ability inherent within ourselves. There are none righteous, King David crooned a long time ago.

In the kingdom of this world we judge each other based on what we do, not who we are. If a man has great wealth and gives a lot to charity, we consider that man to be blessed. "He must be doing things right!" we think. Never mind the six marriages, the live-in girlfriend, the lives he has trampled on his way to the top. Nope. We don't judge based on his character. We judge based on the external things.

But in the kingdom of heaven, the King calls us to accept one another based on who we are — despite what we do. We will all mess up and fall. It's inevitable. But we are children of the King — adopted sons and daughters of God the Father — who are deeply flawed but dearly loved. And because we are sons and daughters, we should acceot one another, even if we stumble and fall. This is the message of grace. That the unacceptable would be accepted; the dead resurrected; and the unlovable found to be lovely. Permanently.

It's not based on performance. It's all about God's perfect grace. As the Chris Tomlin song, "How Can I Keep From Singing?" states, "I am loved by the King; and it makes my heart want to sing!"

Be God's!

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