A Road to Reason

Last week Sara and I spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii.  It was our first time to the islands, so everything had an air of freshness and newness.  Our eyes were wide as we jumped in our rental car and began our journey.  As we drove along the highway from the airport to our hotel some 20 miles north, we found ourselves surrounded by great swaths of black lava rock with very little vegetation.  While most of the Hawaiian Islands are green and lush, this section of land appeared to much more lunar in topography. 

 

What made things even more interesting was all the rock graffiti strewn along the roadside.  It seems that people like to take small white boulders and create short messages that are easily seen against the black lava rock.  Through the years, hundreds of messeages have been formed by people wanting to immortalize their name, express love or memorialize a departed soul.

 

As we drove along the road under the bright afternoon sun, I was struck with a thought:  These rocks did not arrange themselves into carefully communicated messages...SOMEONE had to make it happen.  A person with an idea, a mind and a body was necessary to create the graffiti.  If I suggested to someone that the messages came into being all by themselves, they would say I was crazy!

 

Yet I find it interesting that when some people look at our world and universe, they insist that it somehow "just happened".  They overlook how our bodies are incredibley intricate systems.  They fail to acknowlege that all that we see that has been created (which is marked by order, design, structure, functionality and beauty) points to a creator. 

 

In the case of the rock graffiti, I know of no person who would say it is reasonable to suggest those rocks came together to form their own message.  Yet, I often hear people say that suggesting the earth was created is unreasonable.  They would prefer to come up with all sorts of differing and far fetched explanations of how such an amazing world, filled with life, color and intricate systems came into being, rather than atrribute such work to a personal, intelligent being.

 

Simple rock messages = personal creator.  Complex world = impersonal chance.

 

Is that reasonable?

Not all Mercy is Merciful

At first glance, the title of this blog post seems ridiculous.  How could mercy not be merciful?  Maybe another way to say it is, "Not all help is helpful."

There are some of us who, by nature, are more inclined to be tenderhearted and compassionate.  We hate to see people in pain and can't stand the sight of a human being suffering.  (It was probably someone from our tribe who came up with the idea that every junior soccer player or little leaguer should get a trophy).  The gift of mercy is divine, but like any of our personal strengths, if it is overused, it actually becomes our weakness.

The reality is this: there are times in life when showing too much grace and mercy actual hinders a person rather than gives them help.

I remember the day after my dad had serious heart surgery.  The doctors instructed him to get out of bed and take a walk down the hall.  On the surface, that seemed a bit cruel!  But the surgeons knew that the best thing for him was to get blood moving around.  What seemed harsh and challenging was actually the merciful act. Physical therapists force their patients through pain in order to gain strength and mobility.  It's not always a pretty picture, but it is necessary.

As many of you know, our son has Down syndrome.  Throughout his 20 years of life some people have felt sorry for him, and as a result of their deep feelings mercy and compassion, have often sought to find ways to make his life easier and more pleasurable.  Which is really cool.  Except if that is all they ever offer.  See, what we have witnessed  time and time again is people who would gladly  fill him up on junk food all day long, or give him a pass on making any significant effort to develop and improve.  The thinking goes something like this: because of Aaron's handicap, life should be a steady flow TV, Disneyland and McDonalds.  He should never have to share or obey or do anything he doesn't want to do.  He's already suffered enough, why not give the kid a break?

I wonder if, in these types of cases, the problem is that we don't have the guts to get tough when someone needs us to be tough.  Perhaps we over-extend mercy because it makes us feel good, but in reality we don't have the other persons best interest in mind.

I am forever grateful for the people in Aaron's life who have lovingly challenged him toward greater health and achievement.  The teachers who pushed him to read, spell and do math.  The speech therapists who pressed him to communicate.  The big sister who never let him skate, but rather treated him like any other sibling. The mom who held her ground with a son who would never say "no" to seconds...or thirds...our fourths.

Mercy is a thing of beauty.  Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  There is great power in mercy, for it can dramatically change a life (think Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables."). But for those of us with a strong mercy bent, we must come to grips with the fact that not all mercy is merciful.  May God grant us the wisdom to know the difference.

Dealing with Criticsim

Critics.  They're everywhere!  It seems the world is full of people who have opinions on everything, and they're not afraid to share their opinions with whoever will listen.  Criticism is a part of life.  If you or I ever attempt anything in life, we open ourselves up to be critiqued.

So how should we deal with criticism?  How do we respond when someone is ready to unload their opinion on us?

First of all, I believe it can be helpful to consider WHY criticism happens.  A few thoughts:

• Some people just have critical spirits.  They wouldn't know how to hand out a compliment if they tried.
• People often criticize because they only know part of the story.
• Criticism is a tool some people use to feel better about themselves.
• It's easier to complain than to solve or repair.

We must be realistic though and realize that some criticism is meant to be helpful. Some really great people criticize because they care about us.  We should never see ourselves as being above criticism, because we all have faults!

When criticism comes our way, it can be tough.  No one likes to hear negative things about themselves.  In some cases, our insecurity is revealed by the slightest bit of criticism!  So, how should we handle it?

• Learn to thank God for your critics.  The Bible says, "Iron sharpens iron."  Sometimes our critics help us become better people.
• Always search for the truth in what's being shared.  Someone may be 99% off base, but we would do well to apply the 1% that is true.
• Avoid the temptation to counter-criticize.
• Don't allow negativity to discourage you.

A few last thoughts on criticism:

• We cannot escape criticism by trying to please everyone.  If we are insistent on trying to make everyone happy, at some point we'll be criticized for being a people pleaser!  Abraham Lincoln was right: You can't please all of the people all of the time.
• The more you try and do something, the more you move into the spotlight.  Which means you'll probably be criticized more.  There's an old expression: "Where there is light, there are also bugs."  Don't crawl back into the shadows just because you receive a little criticism!

Theodore Roosevelt once offered up this quote that serves as a reminder that when a person is trying, they will be open to criticism.  But better someone try and fail, than never try at all:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best know in end the triumph of achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat!"

Beware: Spiritual Hoarding

Perhaps you've heard of the TV show called"Hoarders."  The series depicts the real-life struggles and treatment of people who suffer from compulsive hoarding .  It is often painful to watch individuals grapple with their inclination to hoard. And sometimes its hard to watch because we see a bit of ourselves in each episode!
As we all know, God provides for us in many ways.  But one thing He doesn't want us to do with his provision is hoard it. One of basic lessons concerning the manna God provided for the Israelites was that He would meet their needs on a daily basis. In other words, there was no need to hoard!

The temptation to hang on and hoard can even show up in the areas of our Christian life and ministry.  A few examples:

• We become overly protective our our own area of ministry to the exclusion of others
• We struggle seeing material items put to use for fear we will have to clean, repair or replace them
• We keep our relationship circles tight, resulting in closed-off cliques
• We refuse to employ our time, treasure or talents for use within the body of Christ
• We are reluctant to "pass the baton" off to a new generation of leaders and servants

When God gives us something we have a choice: we can either use it, abuse it or recuse it.  In other words, we can put it to work, mistreat it, or hold it back. Hopefully, it should be obvious to us that the only God-honoring option is to wisely, but generously, employ all the things with which He provides.

The writer of Proverbs offered this paradox that every spiritual hoarder ought to consider: 

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Proverbs 11:24

The reality is that we never really own all the things God provides for us.  We are merely stewards of the things he entrusts to us.  That includes our money, material goods, talents, abilities and time.  When God gives us such things, he expects that we will put them to use.  Imagine standing before God and having to admit that we were guilty of spiritual hoarding!

God has freely given to us that we might freely give to others.  It is a human tendency to guard, hold on and protect. But the truth is this: we are called to be used up for God.  Perhaps no other words of Jesus remind us of the terrible danger of clinging to things that don't matter or won't last:

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

Mark 8:26

The Lure of Complete Control

Before you read my latest posting, take a minute and chew on this Bible passage for a minute.  Read it a couple of times so you can soak in its meaning:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...Romans 12:2a

Did you do it?  Did you give it a good, meditative read?  If so, you may now proceed to the blog post!

...

I remember a short expression I heard many years ago: "Stinking thinking"

Stinking thinking speaks to the sad fact that sometimes our thought processes can let us down.  How often have we said or thought, "It seemed right at the time," "It made sense to me then," or "On paper it appeared like a good idea."  But as things played out, we realized our brains weren't running on all cylinders.

Case in point: A news article that came out last week that told the story of a couple from Portland, Oregon who won $3,000,000 is a "wrongful birth" suit against Legacy Health.  The problem?  Legacy Health, at the request of the couple, had administered a pre-birth test which showed no chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.  The baby arrived with Down syndrome.  You can read the entire article here:

Full article: Portland Couple awarded $3 Million for Wrongful Birth

First off, I want to make clear that I realize life is a challenge to navigate.  We are all faced with hard choices and we don't always choose wisely.  All of us have made decisions based on fear.  We've made choices out of ignorance.  Sometimes with devastating results.  

And let's be real for a moment: when a couple finds out that there child is born with Down syndrome or Spina Bifida or Cerebral Palsy no one cheers.  No one celebrates.  It can feel like a punch to the gut.  Minds begin swirling with all sorts of crazy thoughts.  But does the arrival of a special needs child signal the end of the world?  Not hardly.

But here's what I'm thinking: these pre-birth exams are basically a way we try to avoid the harsh pain and realities of life. According to one news article, this couple was so fearful of having a handicapped child they called Legacy over and over about the test results.  Why?  Because if they could know the child was "defective," they would have aborted.

But allow me to ask a question: is that stinking thinking?  Are we really choosing wisely for ourselves? Are we really caring for the person chillin' within the womb?  What message do we send to those who are mentally and/or physically challenged?  At what point is a person considered defective and not worthy of escaping the womb?  Big questions...that I fear too often are never asked or considered.

For me, the saddest part of the whole story is the fact the couple decided to sue Legacy Healthcare.  They made another choice...one to put a price tag on what they felt was an injustice.  One news article offered the couple's reasoning for the litigation:

"...they sued because they worried about providing all that their daughter would need over her lifetime.  Experts testified that she will continue to need speech and physical therapy and face a concerning list of possible medical problems over her lifetime.  Professionals have told the couple that she will likely never be able to live independently, or earn a living." (From The Oregonian)

To me this was simply another fearful choice.  Another way to try to control and secure the future. More stinking thinking.  Since they didn't get the opportunity to control outcomes via abortion, they figured the next thing they needed to do was to seek out monetary security.  (By the way, I teased Aaron the other day, asking him when we get our $3 mil!)  

Once again, I get it.  Life is really challenging.  It throws us all sorts of curve balls.  I'll admit that sometimes I think it would be nice to eliminate needless pain if I had the opportunity.  That's why I don't feel like storming Portland with pitchforks and torches.  Instead, I feel sorry for this young couple.  They simply got caught in some foul thinking.  Maybe no one ever told them any different.

Some will say that situations like this are a matter of personal choice.  But, to me, there is a line that ought not be crossed when it comes to our desire to avoid difficulty.  I wonder: do others have to exterminated because they dare to upset our pursuit of a safe, controlled life?

Here's what I wish.  I wish that rather than listening to the fearful, negative voices of culture, the couple from Portland could have seen the video posted below.  Because it pokes a big hole in a whole lot of that stinking thinking.  Give it a look and let your mind be renewed...

A Winning Formula

This past week Aaron attended his first conference.  It was a two-day event called Tools for Life.  It was designed to help young adults with disabilities navigate through issues related to employment, education, social security benefits, medical care and more.  There were keynote speakers, workshops, and exhibitors on hand to help these young adults try to better find their way through an already challenging world.

Truth be told, I would estimate that 98% of the content presented at Tools for Life went right over Aaron's head.  The fact is, compared to many who were in attendance, Aaron's cognitive level simply didn't allow him to comprehend most of what was being shared.

Even when Aaron joined the Project SEARCH team last September, it was quickly evident to us that the other Project SEARCH interns were much more mentally astute and aware.  To be honest, I secretly wondered how he would fare.

And yet, in the midst of the conference, as well as in his Project SEARCH endeavors, Aaron is surprisingly successful.   During the winter months, as part of his Project SEARCH curriculum, Aaron was assigned to work in the McGrane Center, a rehabilitation facility that is part of Kootenai Medical Center.  As his eight-week rotation came to a close, the McGrane center leaders asked if Aaron could stay on at the center.  The reason?  His attitude, performance and reliability were so stellar, they actually asked if he could stick around for another rotation (which won't happen...he's already been assigned to another department of the hospital).

All of this got me thinking.  How is it that in spite of Aaron's low cognitive abilities, he has made such a positive impact in the minds of his employers?  For me, it really comes down to three things:

1. WORK ETHIC  When Aaron was in elementary school his special ed teachers often commented about how long he could stay on task.  Work seems to bring him pleasure, and he likes completing a task  He has always been quick to join in a job.

2. COMPASSION  Aaron cares about his relationships.  He is very sensitive to others, and this quality helps him do well, especially in jobs that require human interaction.

3. SENSE OF HUMOR  Aaron knows the value of bringing some levity into a room.  His typical countenance is one of brightness and cheerfulness.  Aaron sometimes reminds me of the words of Buddy the Elf: "Smiling is my favorite."  Well, smiling is high up on Aaron's list of favorites.

Upon some reflection, I realized the three things that Aaron brings to the job are three things ANYONE can incorporate into the work environment!  Even with his low levels of understanding, Aaron has made great strides in work productivity and helping create a enjoyable environment.  What if we did the same?  What if we cared about our work, and treated it like the God-given blessing it is, rather than trying to figure out how to get out of it?  What if we genuinely cared about the people we interacted with (fellow employee and customer)?  What if we always carried within us a spirit of lightheartedness and joy?  How would applying things change our work experience?  How would they change us?

Thinking about Tebow

One of the biggest differences between football and other ball-related sports is how a football is shaped.  In other sports the trajectory of the ball (a perfect sphere) is pretty much predictable; for the most part it will bounce or roll in one direction.  But the football, based on its odd shape, has a tendency to bounce in a myriad of directions, adding an element of excitement and unpredictability to the game.  For the Denver Broncos, the past few months have often resembled the unpredictable bounces of a football as they were engulfed in something known as Tebowmania.

For the most part America enthusiastically embraced Tim Tebow, the unlikely quarterback hero of the Broncos.  Tebow is an unabashed man of faith, but his appeal went far beyond those who claim to be religious.  Almost everyone jumped on the Tebow train (save for a few football experts who declared Tebow was not a prototypical quarterback, and thus could not win in the NFL).  There were, of course, some who got sick of hearing about Tim Tebow at the expense of their favorite teams and/or players, and some were not thrilled with his religious displays of prayer.  But, all in all, national TV ratings for Bronco games went through the roof.  He made the cover of Sports Illustrated.  An ESPN poll named Tebow the most popular athlete in America.

But, as they say, all things must come to and end.  Tebowmania (at least the 2011-2012 edition) came to an abrupt halt on a frigid foutball field in Massachusetts, as the New England Patriots pummeled the Broncos by a score of 45-10, knocking them out of the AFC playoffs.

After Tim Tebow walked off the field for the last time of the season, I began pondering why this young man became such a viral sensation.  Why had so many people, many who don’t even care much for football, become so enthralled with the heroics of a second-year quarterback who wasn’t supposed to amount to much as an NFL player?  A few thoughts:

PEOPLE LOVE AN INTRIGUING STORY 

Have you ever noticed that the way TV networks get people get watch people to watch the Olympics?  They tell the back stories of the athletes.  They seek out those narratives that will capture the imagination of the viewing public.  In like fashion, Tebow's story is chock-full of interesting  elements.  Tebow's bio from Wikipedia reveals that things have been dramatic from the beginning:of his life:

Tebow was born in Makati City in the Philippines to American parents who were serving as missionaries at the time.  While pregnant with Tim, his mother suffered a life-threatening infection.  Drugs uses to rouse her from a coma caused the fetus to experience a severe placental abruption.  Doctors expected a stillbirth, and even recommended an abortion to protect her life, but she decided against it.

After a stellar college football season (Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner), the Broncos selected Tebow in first round of the NFL.  Many scoffed at the Bronco's decision to draft Tebow, with most of the critic's disdain being aimed at Tebow's unorthodox throwing motion.  NFL analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. was noted for saying Tebow lacked the "intangibles" to play quarterback at the NFL level.

Thus the foundation was layed for the Tebow story to gain traction.  With each dramatic victory, people resonated with a man who, in their minds was beating the odds and overcoming the obstacles.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE INSPIRED
Tebow became known for more than his exploits on the football field.  He is also known for his philanthropic efforts.  He helped raise funds for an orphanage in the Philippines and a hospital in Florida.  Tebow.  He has visited prisons, schools and churches.  He often invites people who who struggle with disabilities to be his guests for games, visiting with them before and after the game.

He is also known for being a fiery and courageous competitor.  He is seen as never giving up, and that attitude appears to been a plus for the Broncos as they pulled out some close wins.  He plays hurt.  He once broke his hand in a game but continued on, even scoring a touchdown.  

PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR HOPE 

To me, this is the deepest connection people have to Tebow.  The reason Tebowmania took off was because Tebow often extricated his team from games that seemed to be certain losses.  As the Broncos started piling up unthinkable wins, people began turning on the television sets to see if, once again, Tebow would pull his team from the jaws of defeat.  To me, this reaction reveals to me that deep within us we are wired for hope.  We look for rescue and redemption.  We expect something bigger and better.

Some have wondered if God is the really the One behind the Bronco's successes.  In other words: are the Broncos God's team?  I don't think so...not even for a second. Even Tim Tebow has rejected this idea.  That would be an insult (and a severe cause for lack of motivation!) to all the other players in the NFL.

But  I will say this: I believe that for whatever reasons, God has allowed Tim Tebow to gain an amazing amount of worldwide exposure.  It's not because Tebow is perfect.  Tim will not only lose football games in the years to come, he will, just like the rest of us, fall short of God's perfection.  No, if God chooses to lift a man or woman up in such a manner, it is for the purpose of bringing glory and attention to Himself.

The danger, of course, is that people will instead seek to lift up and exalt Tim Tebow...who will most certainly let them down.  Despite winning football games and doing good in the world, Tim is made up of the same stuff as every other human who walks this earth.  He's flawed.  He has faults.  He will disappoint.

But the message Tim has been communicating is an inspiring story of hope: That broken, messed up people can find forgiveness, healing, and purpose through a relationship with Jesus.  For that we can robustly thank God for Tim Tebow.

Advent: Waiting for the Light

Although the message of the retail industry might be that this is the season for shopping, the Christian calendar tells us we have just entered the season of advent.  The word advent is derived from the Latin language, and  means "arrival" or "coming."  Simply put, the advent season is designed to take our thoughts back to a time when the people of earth looked forward to the first arrival of the Messiah.  The Old Testament writings were full of prophecies, promises and pictures of a Savior.  For those who lived before Jesus birth, all they could do was wait.


Here in North Idaho, the winters are long and dark.  By the time December 21 rolls around, darkness can fall as early as 3:30 in the afternoon.  After enjoying summer days when the sun begins to rise at 4AM and keeps the sky lit until around 10 PM, this can be quite a challenge.  On top of that, clouds often fill the winter skies, so our bodies are shielded from direct sunlight.  As a result, our vitamin D levels drop, affecting our mind as well as our body.  As the long winter presses on, it is not uncommon to hear people talk more and more about how ready they are for the spring to arrive.  They want to be bathed in the warmth and light of the sun.

During the Advent season, we acknowledge the "lack of light" within our souls that occurs when we are disconnected from God.  We dare to recognize the reality of our pain, grief, sorrow, confusion, and sadly, in some cases, our despair.   But because Christ is the Light of the world (John 9:1-41), we can be filled with expectant hope.  During Advent, we recognize our need, and as a result we cry out to God for His pleasing presence, His warm touch, His wonderful light.  It is a perfect time to prepare our hearts to be receptive to Christ.

For those who lived before Christ's arrival, all they could cling to were words of promise found in God's Word.  But now we know so much more!  We understand the "who, what, when, why, how, and where" of the arrival of Jesus.  We have His words of life (and light) to reflect upon.  We can fully comprehend exactly what  He accomplished by coming to earth.  Those who lived prior to the incarnation were waiting for the light to arrive.  For the generations that followed his arrival, the challenge is not to wait for his coming, but to take advantage of his healing light!

Is it Grace?

"While sin is an occasion for grace, 

grace is never to be an occasion for sin"

Bob Deffinbaugh

One of the best words in all of Christianity is the word grace.  Without grace, we would be in a world of hurt.  Grace is one of the reasons we can actually find ourselves in a right relationship with God.  Without grace, we have no hope of experience all the Gospel offers.

Consider how the presence of the word "grace" in a few Bible verses can immediately provides the reader with a sense of hope, relief and gratitude...for grace provides for us the very thing we could not provide for ourselves to intimately know God and live as a member of his family:

For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) 


For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people (Titus 2:11)


Over and over, the pages of the NT reveal the wondrous reality that God has done something on our behalf, providing for us the things we couldn't provide for ourselves.  And the word used to describe God's work is grace.

But, lately, I've come to the conclusion that a lot of well-meaning people don't fully understand grace.  I hear grace talked about a lot, but to me it sounds like the grace they speak of isn't completely compatible with the grace of the Bible.

In some cases, people seem to talk about grace as being the action of never taking action.  Letting things slide.  Looking the other way.  Never calling a foul.  The thinking is this: a truly gracious person never calls someone to any sort of accountability.

Sometimes I hear people talk up grace when they know they are doing something wrong or inappropriate. It seems their mental picture of God (and often His people) is one of a benevolent father who actually finds the mischief of his children amusing, and is fond of saying things like, "Oh, you know, boys willl be boys!

At the root of all this is a simple common denominator: The perspective that grace is a sort of sin pass.  In other words, The view that when all is said and done, sin really doesn't matter.  The angry, wrathful God of the Old Testament may have taken issue with man's transgressions, but the go-with-the-flow God of the New Testament gains great pleasure in looking the other way.

What's up with grace?

A few thoughts:

• GRACE IS A GIFT  It is truly something to be valued and cherished.  Grace serves as a constant reminder that apart from the love and mercy of God, we are incapable of earning our own salvation.  Grace humbles us, and ought to be manifest in our own lives as we seek to minister to others.

• GRACE ALWAYS COSTS  There is no free pass for sin.  Someone always has to pay for it.  When Christ died on the cross, he was giving His life for grievous sins committed against His father.  Anytime we sin and say, "It really doesn't matter" we make light of what took place on Calvary 2000 years ago.  One way to remember that the grace we receive from God is not without cost is this simple acronym: God's Riches At Christ's Expense

• GRACE CAN BE ABUSED  The theme of Romans chapter 5 is the amazing grace of God...grace that rescues us from the death of sin into new life in Jesus.  The NT is adamant in telling us that we could NEVER escape the penalty of sin by ourselves...we must rely upon God to make that happen.  But then Paul starts chapter 6 off with a hypothetical question (perhaps anticipating the way the human mind works): "What shall we say then?  Should we keep on sinning so grace might increase?" Paul then quickly provides a emphatic response to his question: "May it never be!"  In other words, when we discover that God had provided for us to be cleared of our account of sin guilt, we should't go back and try to add stuff to the books so as to take advantage of God's mercy!  Yes, until we are with God in heaven, we will sin.  We will still fail.  But to knowingly dive into sin thinking, "Hey, God loves showing his grace...I'm just giving Him more opportunities!" is to misunderstand grace.  Jerry Bridges wrote: "We abuse grace when, after sinning, we dwell on the compassion and mercy of God to the exclusion of His holiness and hatred of sin."

• GOD'S GRACE IS INTENDED TO DIRECT US TOWARDS NEW LIFE, NOT BACKWARDS INTO THE VERY THINGS THAT GOT US IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE  God didn't only grace us with forgiveness of sins.  He graced us with gifts like the Holy Spirit, the Bible, pastors, teachers, and churches to help us move forward in the faith.  When Paul wrote about the wonderful free gift of salvation in Ephesians 2, he also added that the result of our salvation was the fact that we are to now walk in works that God prepared for us beforehand.  I listed Titus 2:11 above as an example of grace resulting in salvation, but look at the entire context of that passage:

For the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation for all the people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age...(Titus 2:11-12)

In other words, God's grace not only saves us from sin, but it also provides us with what we need to walk in a new and living way!  I like to think that the mere presence of grace ought to serve as fertilizer for Christian growth and maturity.  And, yet, it seems to me that some Christians are intent on using grace for the exact opposite purpose.

I think Bryan Chapell sums all of this up well when he writes:

"If our teaching of grace causes us to make light of sin, or to slight the requirements of the Savior, then we have not really understood either the monstrosity of our sin or the greatness of the heart that forgives it."

Nothing Like a Little Competition

This past summer our family joined The Kroc Center, a wonderful community center that provides us with all sorts of recreation and fitness options: pools, courts, classes, exercise equipment and more.

One of the things we started doing was swimming, which at first was a real challenge.  Of the exercise activities we were involved with at the Kroc, nothing wore us out like swimming 200-300 meters.  But we stuck with it.  In fact, Sara and Aaron both took lessons to improve their form and increase their endurance.  Swimming was actually the last thing I had in mind when we joined the Kroc, but I soon realized that a spin in the pool was a great cardio/aerobic workout.  One of the ways I knew I was getting a good workout was how hungry I was throughout the day.  Many calories were being burned in the Kroc pool!

By the end of summer I was swimming between a 1/2 mile and a 3/4 of a mile three times a week.  Some days were easier than others, but as we entered the fall, I had gotten into a groove where I didn't feel like a swim wore me out for the rest of the day.  Also, I wasn't nearly as starved as I was during the summer.  I had found a groove and figured I was getting the workout I needed.

Then just this past week I was swimming on a crowded day and another swimmer, who was much better than me, asked if he could share my lane.  Once he began swimming, I could tell that he was a faster and had better endurance than me.  So I started swimming a bit faster, trying to keep him from catching up and lapping me.  At the end of each lap, I'd look up to see if he had gained on me at all.  Sometimes he did, but other times I think he slowed down so as not to crowd me too much.  Throughout the swim, I tried to keep him from catching me.  I swam a bit faster, and resisted the urge to stop for a few breaths between laps.  I did my usual 1/2 mile, got out of the pool, showered and headed to work.

By 10 AM I was starving.  By 2PM I was ready for a nap.  That evening I became aware of some sore muscles - muscles that hadn't been sore since the beginning of September.  What I realized was that after about a month of leveling off in my workouts, a little competition caused me to push harder.  Now, I wasn't really in a competition, except for the competition in my mind.  But the simple presence of another swimmer in my lane challenged my ego enough to try and keep this fellow swimmer's pace.

Here's my takeaway from this simple scenario: competition is often good for us.  If we never have competition, we can easily find ourselves going at a pace that we are comfortable with...and we stay there.  Competition lets us know that someone can do it better than us.  It forces us to raise the bar and become more productive.

So, to my nameless lane mate, I say, "Thank you!"  Seems I needed a little competition to squeeze a bit more out of my workout.

What's a Pastor to do?

Ask 100 people what a pastor is supposed to do, and you'll likely get at least 25 different ideas about what should be included in the pastor's job description.  I know I can sometimes feel pulled back and forth by the different expectations of people within the church body.

So, what is the pastor's primary responsibilities?  How can he discern between the good, better and best?

When Paul wrote to his letter to Titus, one of the first things he wrote about was his job description.  In verse 1 he declared:

I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

I like how Paul was able to describe his calling in a simple sentence.  Sure, Paul did all sorts of things as he carried out his ministry, but at the end of the day he knew it needed to revolve around two things:

1. The proclamation of the gospel
2. Helping people who responded to the gospel succeed in living a God-pleasing life.

Paul planted the seeds of the gospel, and when spiritual life emerged, he focused on cultivation.  The goal was to see that new believers become active and productive in their faith.

God's minister is to be mainly concerned with proclaiming the faith, and when faith is received, working hard at seeing that faith fully develop.

Why I'm Excited about the Union Gospel Mission Coming to CDA

This morning a few local pastors met up at the building site for the UGM Kootenai County Women and Children's Shelter.  The reason?  To film some sound bites that will be used in a promo video.  Each of us shared our heart about why UGM is such a great ministry and how we would love to see people get involved in their ministry.

Here's the gist of what I shared: I'm excited for the arrival of UGM in Coeur d'Alene because so many lives will be impacted and changed.  Women in crisis will be able to find rescue, recovery and rehabilitation in a grace-based environment.

But those aren't the only lives that will be transformed.  Anyone who dares to get involved in some type of service with the mission will find that their life will experience transformation as well.  Some people will grow in their compassion. Others will begin to prioritize their life in new ways.  Still others will find that their belief in the Gospel will grow leaps and bounds.

So, overall I'm excited to know that God will be working in the lives of all sorts of people in our community, whether they live at the shelter or in a comfortable suburban neighborhood.  Truth be told, we are all in need of restoration!  We need to be broken of our pride, addictions, idols and stubborn sin patterns.

Looking forward to being a witness to transformation!

Does Risk Averse Christianity Result in Safe, Civil Religion?

Alan Hirsch: "Churches have cultivated this safety awareness, this middle class obsession with safety and security.  I'm afraid that will kill us in the end."  





Alan Hirsch - Are You Stuck In A Rut? from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Easter on the way!

 This is a reprint from the CBC April E-Newsletter:

Easter is a wonderful time for celebration!  

True, the events that took place before Christ's resurrection were terrifying and traumatizing.  Prior to escaping the tomb, Jesus had to endure a series of phony trials, false charges, physical and verbal abuse, and ultimately being nailed to a cross.  The events surrounding of Jesus' trial, torture and execution revealed the depths of man's sinfulness and his rebellion against God.  Those were dark days, indeed.

Thankfully, the death and resurrection of Christ was completely within God's sovereignty and will.  Although it might seem as if God was losing control, the reality was this: everything that took place in Jerusalem was fully integrated into God's program.  God was not stunned, shocked or surprised by what was transpiring...in fact the Bible tells us that it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put him to grief (Isaiah 53:10).  Ephesians 5:2 adds: Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Easter reminds us that God, on arguably the worst day in human history, was purposefully at work, carrying out His plan to deal with the problem of human sin, and to redeem willing individuals back to Himself.  Through Christ's death and the resurrection, God was busy getting things done.  He was taking care of all sorts of spiritual business.  He was reordering a world marked by spiritual chaos and confusion.   

That's why we celebrate!

April 24 is the date of Easter Sunday 2011.  We are so very excited to gather as the people of God to celebrate not only the fact that the tomb was emptied, but also all the things that were accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection.  In fact, that will be the focus of the Easter Sunday message, simply titled, "Why?"  I'll spend some time talking about some of the reasons why Jesus came to die for you and me.  In addition to the message, we'll enjoy some soul-stirring music, inspiring testimonies, and a special message specifically for the kids (but I'm sure many of us will learn something as well!).  You won't want to miss it. Bring your Bible, a friend, and a heart intent on celebrating!

Yours for the Kingdom,

Pastor Kurt

Acts: Intro to Acts

"Acts: God's Seismic Impact upon the First Century World"


That's the title of the message series I kicked off this morning.


The reason for choosing that title comes from Acts 17:6.  According to this verse, people were complaining about the impact the believers of Jesus were having as they shook things up in their part of the world.  "These men who have upset the world have come here also..." (NASB)  The KJV describes them as "turning the world upside-down."


What is the value of studying the book of Acts?  Here are five reasons why I believe Acts is a worthy and useful read:


1. Acts introduces us to the genesis of the church, providing us with many insights, principles and strategies regarding the development of the church and the dynamics of missions


2. Acts reveals how much can be accomplished through people when God is involved


3. The heart of the message of Acts is the spreading of the message of Christ, which ought to motivate us to busy ourselves with the same activity


4. Acts shows how the message of Christ is often met with resistance at the hands of men, but ultimately those challenges come at the hands of darker forces (Ephesians 6:10-12).  Therefore, Acts opens our eyes to the realities of spiritual warfare.


5. The book of Acts demonstrates that the work of Jesus didn't end in the Gospel accounts.  Jesus worked beyond the cross and the tomb, and He is still at work to this day.


Next: Acts 1:1-3

When Vultures Circle

“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” - ARISTOTLE


This coming Sunday evening I will teach a class at our church's School for Shepherds called "Leadership Land Mines."  The lesson essentially focuses on the costs and perils of taking on leadership.  One thing we will talk about is the fact that leaders will always be criticized.  


J. Oswald Sanders wrote, "There is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability and initiative of a leader as destructive criticism.  It tends to hamper the efficiency of man’s thinking process.  It chips away at this self respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities.”


But there's one thing about criticism the leader must accept: it is inevitable.  It's part of the package.  The challenge is to figure out how to deal with it.  Some times we want to blow it off.  In other cases we think it best to dig in and fight.  But I believe there are a few more  options than the two choices above.  Here's a quick bullet point list of what I plan on sharing with the class:

• Accept criticism as part of the leadership development process
• Admit you aren't perfect
• Wise leaders never let criticism become the center of their focus
• Hard work and attention to details helps eliminate a lot of potential criticism
• Be willing to receive that potential nugget of truth that is buried deep within that mountain of nonsense
• Realize that although some people may deliver their critique in a terrible manner, they still may be right
• Remember that you are supposed to fail sometimes (Think Thomas Edison)
• Employ the wisdom of a fair and faithful friend who supports you, but is also willing to tell you the truth...even if it hurts
• Refuse to be abused at the hands of a destructive critic

Well, there you go.  A few tips for those days when people are feeling the need to let you know what they think and/or how they feel about you.  And, before you head out of here, allow me to offer one more quote...one designed to serve as an encouragement to you during those times when the buzzards start their circling: 


“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Encouragement, Exhortation...or Exasperation?

Leaders are supposed to be active at doing the first two on the above list: Encouraging and Exhorting.

Conversely, they are to go to great lengths to avoid producing the last one: Exasperation.

There are times to comfort, nurture and come alongside individuals who need encouragement.

There are other times when it is necessary to push, prod or motivate someone to get moving.

But we must be ever wary of expecting something out of someone that is simply impossible.  When we do, we will drive them to exasperation.

The dictionary defines exasperation as the state of being made very angry or impatient; annoyed greatly.  

In one short New Testament verse, Paul concisely wrote: And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

In other words...

Sometimes we have to corral people.

Sometimes we have to strengthen people.

Sometimes people just need a little support.

But, Paul, at the end of that verse reminds his readers to "be patient with everyone."

When we aren't patient with people, things can go sideways.  Our frustration and anxiety can get transferred to the person we are trying to help, and they will begin to suffer or struggle.

Leaders need to know when they are pushing too hard or expecting too much.  They need to be cognizant of the limitations of those they work with.  I fear that, quite often, many people suffer under the heavy hand of idealistic (read: unrealistic) leadership.

Connected leaders know their people.  They are adept at knowing when its time to cheer someone on and when its time bark someone back.  They are aware of the fact that people have different temperaments...in other words, one size DOES NOT fit all!  Sure, these leaders want to get the most out of people, but they also understand that within every person there is a point where desired success can quickly turn into failure and frustration.

I recently had a situation on the home front that reminded me of the need to be aware of causing someone to experience feelings of exasperation.

This past Christmas we had an early family gathering (trying to accommodate varying work schedules) where we opened up all of our Christmas presents about a week before December 25th.  Aaron, our son with Down syndrome wasn't sure about it.  He wondered how it was possible to open gifts BEFORE December 25th, but the lure of opening presents was strong as well, and he joined in the fun and opened gifts.  But from that point on, he kept bringing up the fact that Christmas...the real Christmas...still loomed ahead on December 25th.  Since he was 18 we figured he would get over it and things would all work out fine.

But when he went to bed on December 24th...Christmas Eve...he let us know he was really struggling with the idea that there would be no presents under the tree when he woke up.  His emotions were very strong, and we realized that we had asked something out of him that he couldn't handle.  He turned to his mom and uttered (through tears) something like, "Mom, I need Christmas!"

We had thought he would somehow come to grips with the fact that we had moved Christmas forward a week.  We were wrong.  He was exasperated.

Was there a solution?  At that moment a plan was devised.  As Aaron fell asleep, all distressed and dismayed, I did something I've never done before. I made an 11:00PM trip to Walgreen's (the only store open it town) in hopes of finding a few things to park underneath the tree. (Everyone ought to go to Walgreen's at 11:00 PM on Christmas Eve at least once in their life...the place was packed!)  Thankfully, I was able to find a few presents I knew he would like and dashed home, hopeful that we would salve his bruised spirit.  I didn't have to spend a lot of money...that's not what its about with Aaron.  For him, it truly is "the thought that counts."

On the morning of Christmas, he came downstairs a bit tentatively...but soon spied the gifts.  The smile that crossed his face was priceless.  He found a new Seahawks hat, a pull-up bar for his doorway...and a box of White Cheddar Cheez-its.  And for the next couple hours, both Sara and I were repeatedly hugged and thanked, essentially letting us know he was grateful for not allowing him to go over the "emotional falls."

Encourage.  Exhort.  But don't Exasperate.

The Heart of Christmas

What Christmas movie do you have to watch every year?

I believe most people consider It's a Wonderful Life to be their favorite yule time movie.  They find the story of George Bailey's rediscovery of friendship and purpose irresistible.

Other films that people often mention include:

• A Christmas Carol
• Miracle on 34th Street
• White Christmas
• A Charlie Brown Christmas

More recently, Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf tops many a list as a holiday film fan favorite.

But for me, my favorite movie of the Christmas season is the theatrical version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," released in 2003 and starring Jim Carrey as the green, grouchy Grinch.

We first saw the movie on the day it hit the theaters.  We went with some friends, but the cinema was so crowded we were unable to sit together.  My first reaction to The Grinch was hmmm...okay, not bad.  It didn't really grab me, but I wonder if that was partly due to the fact that our group was split up throughout the theater.

A year or so later we picked The Grinch on DVD, and Aaron started watching it all the time.  It was then that I really came to appreciate Jim Carrey's characterization of the Grinch.  Pretty soon my family, especially my daughter, were quoting lines from the movie left and right.  For a while there, speaking "Grinch" became a central part of our family culture.  But it wasn't until this year that I was struck by how much How the Grinch Stole Christmas embodies a powerful message for Christians and the Church.  

The Grinch is an unlikeable fellow.  That is an understatement.  He makes Ebenezer Scrooge look like an angel.  Due to some childhood hardship and heartbreak, he has become absorbed with anger and hate.  He has exiled himself from Whoville, choosing to live high upon Mount Crumpet.  And the people of Whoville are fine with the arrangement.  After all, he's coarse, spiteful and quite smelly.  The general attitude in Whoville is this: as long as the Grinch stays secluded in his Grinch lair, everything will remain just fine.

But one of the "Who's," a young girl named Cindy Lou Who, wonders why the people of Whoville refuse to make an attempt to reach out to the Grinch.  She questions whether all the gifts and decorations and activity are really the meaning of Christmas.  She even goes so far to nominate the dreaded Grinch to serve as the "Holiday Cheermeister," believing that by expressing care for the Grinch, that perhaps he will finally jettison his cranky persona.

What really strikes me is how the heirarchy of Whoville becomes so resistant to the idea of reaching out to the Grinch.  To discourage Cindy Lou from such redemptive ideals, The mayor of Whoville (an expert on all things Christmas) quotes from "The Book of Who" to show Cindy how of course her thinking is.  But Cindy is not to be deterred, and she herself quotes from "The Book of Who," citing a verse that encourages the Who's to show care and compassion towards one who is in need.   The mayor is a bit dumbfounded, and goes on to make up a verse that isn't found in "The Book of Who' in an attempt to close the door on any efforts to extend a hand out to the Grinch.  But her efforts pay off, and even though no one thinks that the Grinch would ever respond to an invitation from the Who's, she is given permission to invite him to become the Cheermeister.

Cindy Lou heads up the mountain to the Grinch's cave, and in what I find to be the funniest of all the scenes, tells the Grinch of the nomination.  Outwardly he does everything he can to make her believe he would never be caught dead spending any time with the Who's.  He essentially tells her, "NO!" and proceeds to send her back down the mountain via the town's garbage chute.

But after she leaves he struggles.  Something has been stirred inside of him, although most of his thoughts are still  processed through his grinchy mind.  But he finally decides to go and accept his award.  Of course, after a few hopeful moments, everything falls apart and the Grinch, once again rejected, proceeds to do all he can to destroy Christmas.  He gives everyone multiple reasons to think to themselves, "See!  I knew he couldn't change!"

While every Who sleeps. the Grinch sneaks into their homes to steal all of the packages and presents, as well as any Christmas decorations.  But after stealing every vestige of Christmas, and seconds from dumping every item he has absconded over the side of Mount Crumpet, the Grinch hears the sounds of Who singing.  Even though they have lost every package, decoration and treat, they still have a song to sing.  

And then it happens.  The Grinch is finally struck with the fact that, deep down, Christmas is more than gifts and feasts and lights.  He is overwhelmed with emotion and as his minuscule heart grows three sizes.  He cries his first tear, and laments to his faithful dog Max, "I'm leaking!" 

Renewed and redeemed, he returns every last toy, bulb and morsel of holiday food.  The Grinch confesses to all his evil deeds.  Finally, in the last scene of the film, the Grinch is seen as a leading figure in the celebration of Christmas, joining the Who's for a blessed feast of Roast Beast.

How did a story of such rancor become a tale of redemption?  Cindy Lou Who.  She showed compassion toward another being, was willing to go against the flow, and endured the Grinch's initial resistance.  She had it in her heart to make others more important than anything else.  If it wasn't for her, the Grinch would have remained in his cave, full of his bitterness.

God has called Christians and His church to be "salt and light" to a world that needs renewal and redemption. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We have a responsibility (and the privilege) to communicate with others the hope that comes from being reconciled with God through knowing Christ.  We get to be part of the redemption mission of God.  It may not be easy.  Some within the church may question us, and those we are trying to reach may resist us.  But, perhaps we can learn from the tenacity and single-mindedness of Cindy Lou Who, who relentlessly sought to see the evil Grinch of Mount Crumpet restored to the people of Whoville.

Stuck in the Past

My favorite character from the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite has to be Uncle Rico (although Rex from "Rex Kwon Do" comes in a close second).  But for all the lines he delivers that make me laugh, Uncle Rico is, in reality, a tragic character .  Even though he's trying to move forward in life, he is helplessly stuck in the past.  No scene makes this more clear then when he and Kip are sitting on the front porch, and Rico is telling Kip how he could have been the star of the state football championships...if only the coach had decided to play him.  In other scenes, he is seen filming himself practicing taking snaps and throwing a football, privately trying to prove to himself that he really did have the goods to bring home the trophy for his alma mater.


Getting stuck in the past can be a difficult place to be.  Yet, I believe that for Christians this can be a common occurrence.  Time and time again, as I interact with people and they talk with me about their faith and their walk with Christ, much of what they share is in the past tense.  Not the recent past, but going back months, years, and in some cases, even decades.


We can be tempted to memorialize the past and, in turn, avoid moving forward to experience new adventures in Christ.  We may find it desirable to "rest on the laurels' of past accomplishments rather than seek out new challenges.  In some case, we will insist upon using the past to define how things are supposed to go in the future, often crippling the creative process.


Most likely you have heard the saying, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are bound to make the same mistakes."  This quote reminds us that the past does have value.  Who wants to commit the same errors over and over?  The past also provides us with legacies and traditions that enrich our life experience.  To do away with the past would be foolish.


But to get stuck in the past can be highly grievous.  To do so means we are choosing to constantly gaze into the rear view mirror of life, rather that focusing our attention on the horizons and vistas and opportunities clearly displayed through the front windshield.


Ray Ortlund, in his book When God Comes to Church wrote: "For those of us who have been Christians for a while, it becomes easy to think that we've pretty much exhausted the possibilities of the Christian life. We can settle into a routine of activities at church and in our small groups and Bible studies, with little expectation of anything new. The familiar becomes the predictable, and everything from here on out will be more of the same. We dip our teaspoon into the vast ocean of the living God. Holding that teaspoon in our hand, we say, 'This is God.' we pour it out into our lives, and we say, 'This is the Christian experience.'

God calls us to dive into the ocean. He call us into ever new regions of his fullness, his immensity, his all-sufficiency. There is more for us in Christ than we have yet apprehended. Let's never think that we have him figured out or that we've seen all he can do. The Bible is not a guidebook to a theological museum. It is a road map showing us the way into neglected or even forgotten glories of the living God."

Take a minute and think about your life.  Are you embracing fresh experiences and new seasons in your walk with God?  If someone asks you what God is doing in your life, do you have to turn back numerous pages in your mental calendar, or able you to reference God's recent activity in your midst?  

The Human Inclination to Avoid the Truth

Human nature is fascinating to observe.  As much as we perceive ourselves to be unique individuals, the truth is much of who we are and what we do is hard-wired into our being.  We can't escape our human-ness.

One way our nature is clearly put on display is when we have done something wrong.  When we violate God or another person, our mind almost immediately presents us with a myriad of options to handle the situation, most that in fact, encourage us to avoid properly dealing the issue at hand.  Here are a few examples of how we go about doing this:

• We tell ourselves that, overall, we are really a good person, so we can avoid dealing with this particular transgression
• We convince ourselves our bad conduct is somehow justified
• We attempt to divert attention away from our offense
• We reset the boundry lines of what would be considered acceptable behavior

But, in reality, what we are actually doing with all this effort and activity is simply working overtime at holding back the truth.  Something deep within us sends up signals and messages that encourage us to avoid dealing with our acts of treachery and treason, and so we attempt to figure out some way...any way... to avoid taking responsibility for our actions.  Why?  Because it's in our nature.  Welcome to the human race.

Perhaps no place in Scripture reveals just how far mankind will go to avoid the truth than Romans 1:18-20:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

One might say that what Paul describes in these verses is the ultimate suppression...the audacity to look at the world around us, which is jam-packed with all sorts of examples of order and design, and yet fail to take into consideration that behind all the observable creativity of our world is a creator.  

We have to wonder...why would anyone do that?  Why would we choose to dis-acknowledge the designer of the universe?  It is for the same reason we don't like admitting a lie or that we damaged someone else's property.  We don't want to be held accountable and/or deal with the responsibility of answering to someone else for our failures.  And I believe at the root of all this resistence we will find the culprits for our condition: PRIDE and CONTROL.  If we can ignore God and try to remove Him from our conciousness, than we convince oursleves that we can do anything we want.  We are free from accountability! 

I've known more than a few people, who seek to deny the existence of God, yet go out of their way to avoid going into church buildings.  Why?  If there is no God, why would they care?  I believe the reason for this seemingly illogical behavior is because these religious-base structures serve as nagging reminders of the God who created them; a God who, in fact, has the right to speak into their lives about truth, right, wrong, sin, responsibility, etc.  So, part of the "supression strategy" is to make extra effort at avoiding anything that might bring to mind the fact that we live in a world put together by a master designer.

Recently I observed a situation where a child had acted out in a callous and disrespectful way toward one of his parents.  When the parent confronted the child, the boy decided to pull out the entire "sin suppression playbook": blame, anger, misdirection, claims of being good and so on.  But the parents were persistent in insisting that the child come to grips with reality...that when all was said and done, the child had simply acted badly.  Some twenty minutes later, the child realized that all of his ploys were not going to work, and he finally chose to confess his wrong-doing. 

What happened next was most interesting.  The child began to cry - almost uncontrollably.  The suppression had been lifted, and from underneath it all came forth a gushing flood of emotion.  And in those moments of confession and forgiveness a broken relationship was instantly restored.

We, by nature, are prone to supress the truth.  But, in reality, this suppression of reality is one of the worst of our human flaws.  We foolishly believe that we will find some sort of escape in holding back reality.  But the reality is that through honest confession and humble acknowledgment of wrong doing we can find release for our spirit and relief for our souls.

Four for Friday

Four quotes for your holiday weekend consideration...

“As heretical as it sounds today, it is probably worth telling Americans that you don’t need Jesus to have better families, finances, health, or even morality. Coming to the cross means repentance–not adding Jesus as a supporting character for an otherwise decent script, but throwing away the script in order to be writ…ten into God’s drama. It is death and resurrection, not coaching and makeovers.” Michael Horton

The religious person may say, “I am doing the right things that God commands” and the irreligious person may say, “I decide what is right and wrong for myself.” But both ways reject Jesus as Savior (though they may revere Him as ‘Example’ or ‘Helper’). Both ways are strategies for self-salvation– both actually keep control of their own lives.”  Tim Keller

“Jesus’s teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect…. That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect… on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.” Tim Keller

“The astonishing thing is that people can become religious without being converted. That is, they join churches and start reading the Bible and doing religious things with no change in the foundation of their happiness: It is still themselves. They are the ground of their joy.”  John Piper

Beware the Box

The human body is fascinating for several reasons.  One of the things that I find extremely intriguing is the balance our bodies possess between rigid stucture and mobile flexibility. 

Our skeletal system provides the structure our muscles need to function.  Without a skeleton we end up unable to do anything related to motion, no matter how much muscle mass we possess!  But a skeleton without muscles is pretty useless, too.  Just a collection of hard bones.  The truth is, for us to fully function, we need both a solid skeleton and flexible muscles.  They work together to keep us moving!

I believe the function of the church is similar to the relationship between skeleton and muscles.  In some areas of church life we have the need for structure and order.  In others areas we need flexibility and mobility.  The challenge is knowing what's correct for each situation we face.

Structure is an important part of doing church.  There is purpose and usefulenss in figuring out doctrinal positions, defining roles and responsibilities, and organizing the governmental systems within the church. 

Over the years I've come across some churches that are very concerned about their structure.  They put a lot of focus on their "skeletal system".  It seems their goal is to get every thing figured out and nailed down.  As I wrote above, structure is important, but I believe an overemphasis on structure has a tendency to try to put God in a box.  The danger is that we tell God what the protocols are for any given situation...even in areas where He doesn't have any.  In some instances we need to beware the box. 

Consider some of the biblical accounts of Jesus healing people within the pages of the New Testament.  In some cases He simply spoke to them and they were healed.  Other times he would physically touch them.  One Bible account has a person being healed by touching the hem of His clothing.  In one extraordinary situation, Jesus made mud by spitting onto the ground, and rubbing the mud into the eyes of a blind man!  There seems to be no set formula that Jesus followed

How about prayer?  The Bible emphatically encourages people to pray.  But if you or I begin searching the pages of our Bibles for a singular example of how we should pray...well, good luck!  If we are in pursuit of the proper posture of prayer, we will have to contend with the fact that the Bible records people praying standing up, with their hands lifted, sitting, kneeling, looking upward, bowing down, placing their heads between their knees, and pounding their chests. 

When it comes to the place of prayer, the Bible describes some of the different locations where prayer took place: on a battlefield, in a closet, on a mountainside, by the sea, inside a temple, in a garden, in the belly of a whale, on a housetop, in a prison...even on a cross.

Perhaps we believe we can find the proper time of prayer.  But once again, the Bible offers a variety of times that people prayed: in the morning, in the evening, before meals, after meals, at midnight, during times of trouble, during years of youth, and when we are old.

When Jesus offered his disciples a lesson on prayer (Matthew 6), he didn't prescribe a prayer that was meant to be recited over and over, but rather he gave them a template for a well-rounded prayer life.  He provided for them (and us) the structure.  But He also gives us the flexibility to insert our own words and emotions into our prayers.

Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle describes how the leaders of his church seek to handle the balance between structure and flexibility.  He uses the image of two hands to make his point.  One hand is described as closed, while the other is open.  The items that go in the closed hand are the things of structure.  There are certain doctrines and methodologies that are made so crystal clear in Scripture that it would be blatant sin to believe or do things in contrast to the Bible's teaching.

The open hand holds the types of things believers are able to practice with more freedom and flexibility.  Those who are overly committed to structure often have a hard time with this, but the reality is much of their "closed hand" theology is not found in Scripture, but are simply man-made ideas.  They are usually based upon long-held traditions.

It's important to note that without structure a church collapses.  Over the centuries, individuals and congregations have attempted to pursue the Christian life without structure, and the result is always the same: mayhem.  Even the most free-spirited person must admit that some structure is a good thing.

But where God gives room for flexibility, we need to beware the box.  We need to be cautious of prescribing precise, systematic structure in areas where God has simply laid out a blueprint.