Immanuel, "God with us"

Christmas is upon us once again.  You'd be hard pressed to find an American who hasn't heard of Christmas.  Most of those same people know that the holiday is somehow connected to a child, a manger, some angels, maybe something about a star.  In other words, we all seem to know a little bit about Christmas.  But do we know about why this particular child's birth has been remembered for over 2,000 years?  It was certainly worth noting that Jesus was born of a virgin, that doesn't happen every day does it?  But more importantly, Jesus was Immanuel, which means "God with us".  Jesus is the incarnation (God taking on humanity) of God.  In this case, he is literally, God with us.  When the world was created, God walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.  There was nothing between God and his creation.  After the sin of Adam and Eve (the Fall), an unbridgable gap opened up between God's perfection and our fallen state.  We had no way to come to God, and he couldn't be with us any longer.  Perfection and imperfection don't mix.  With the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the finale of the process of God's redemption of humanity was set in motion.  As God, Jesus could achieve the perfection that we cannot.  As a man, Jesus could stand in our place before God and receive our punishment.  The baby in the manager 2,000 years ago made it possible for us to be reunited with God by dying on a cross thirty years later and rising from the dead.  He is indeed, God with us. 
Merry Christmas.

The last time the World was supposed to end...

I've been reading Tom Holland's The Forge of Christendom: The End of Day and the Epic Rise of the West which focuses on the End Times fascination and/or hysteria that occured throughout Christendom in and around the turning of the Millenium (1000 AD).  The book is excellent, and it reminds me that throughout Christian history there have been voices crying out that their particular generation had become so corrupt and morally bankrupt that surely the return of Christ was imminent.  And yet the world continues to turn and the day and hour that only the Father knows is not yet upon us. 
One of the interesting aspects of Holland's book is the numerous reminders that Churchmen KNEW that knowledge of the specific Day of the LORD was forbidden, that only the Father knows (and he isn't sharing that one).  And yet, those same priest and bishops went on to speculate to their flocks or interested kings that the End Times were upon us because of all of the "signs"
We certainly aren't immune to that same specualtion fever.  During my early years the Soviet Union was portrayed as the Evil Empire that woud rise up behind the Anti-Christ; when the Soviets crumbled a new home needed to be found...Fast forward to 9/11, another event that was portrayed as a sign of the beginning of the end...And yet, speculation of this nature continues to be dangerous or at least futile.  It conditions Christians to give up fighting for their communities, to assume that decay is inevitable and that we're doomed to failure. 
This generation is certainly corrupt, we've perfected the art of killing the unborn child and passing it off as convenience (like one-hour photo), we've embraced the destruction of marriage and enshrined the celebration of sexual immorality.  We've done all this and more, but we're not better or not worse than the generations that came before us.  When your grandparents were kids their parents were decrying the corruption of the youth and worrying about the future.  And yet God always sparks a revival through the faith of his people, God gives us a chance to swing the pendulum back toward righteousness and justice.  Our God is a God of restoration and hope; as his people, we must be ministers of hope and renewal.
When is Christ coming back, you'll never hear me speculating, I have no idea.  I'm here to do the work of the Lord today, I'll let God decide the future.

Ten years and counting...

It was ten years ago today that Nicole and I shared our first kiss.  From that day forward we've been together (married 8 1/2 years now).  We've already lasted beyond the average length of marriages in America today (somewhere around 7-8 years) and we have no intention of stopping.  The sad truth is that many in our society, and far too many of them are Christians, don't take their marriage vows seriously.  People stand before God, promise to love someone for the rest of their life, and then simply walk away when the grass is greener or they just don't feel "happy".  Forget for a moment the disaster this has been for children whose lives are torn apart (and who may never really trust anyone as a result), and simply marvel at the audacity of assuming that a promise made to another Christian (assuming Christians at least follow Paul's guidelines in this; I know many do not) in the house of God; standing before the altar, with a man of God giving witness; marvel that this promise isn't considered to be more important than one's own "happiness". {we don't need to debate whether divorced people are happier than married people, they are clearly not happier being "free"}
It is amazing to me that people can simply give up.  {I'm not talking about the two exceptions that I believe the Bible would sanction, the cheated upon spouse who MAY leave if they want, or the spouse who is abused}.  Most divorces in America today end for reasons of convenience; a horrible excuse if ever there was one.
Of all of the challenges facing the Church today, this may be the most dire.  If we don't promote marriage, encourage marriage, and support marriage (on an individual basis and the principles behind it), how can we possibly bear witness to the Gospel's power to change lives?  If Christianity in America is going to stand against moral relativism and offer true Hope for those who are lost, we MUST redeem the marriage in our own house and begin to once again take our vows seriously.
For Nicole and I the very idea of considering an end to our marriage is off limits.  Neither of us has ever threatened anything of the sort while mad, nor do we allow ourselves to wonder what life might be like apart; we're in this together, together for life.
It's been ten years since my wife and I first kissed, God willing, we'll be celbrating this day for many years to come.

Rest for the Weary

Having just spent half of Thanksgiving driving up to Traverse City (to my in-laws) and back, I am reminded that during the Christmas season we often find it very difficult to actually take time to rest from our labors.  Genesis 2:2 tells us, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."  This was the first occassion that illustrates the need to take a break from our labors.  That same principle was enshrined in the Ten Commandments alongside such staples as "do not murder", do not commit adultery", "do not steal", etc. which tend to get all of the attention.  Yet purposefully taking the time to REST was so to God that it was included.
In the modern world, we're connected 24/7 to our jobs and our social networks so much so that many people never really rest at all.  I know that many people may laugh at the notion of disconnecting themselves in order to have some peace and quiet, but that is precisely what God has commanded us to do.  During holidays we become so fixated with all of the things that need to be done (many of them useful or worthy tasks) that we don't allow ourselves to experience the purpose of the holy day that we are commemorating.
Christians have traditionally used Sunday as our day of rest, but I know from experience that many Americans don't even pause from their yardwork, shopping, texting, sports, or anything else in honor of the Sabbath that God took when he finished his labor.  As a pastor, Sunday is actually my busiest day which forces me to find time on another day to obey God's command to rest, but it's a command, not a suggestion.
If you're one of those people who feels the need to fill every waking moment with some task or other, don't.  Take the examle of our God's rest to heart and schedule (if you have to) some time this Christmas to REST.

The End of the World as We Know it

It seems that mankind has a never ending thirst for rumors and speculation about the end of the world.  Since we are the only species on this planet that can contemplate our own existence and see that it has a possibility to not continue it should seem odd that we're perpetually dispelling such myths.  My wife and I enjoy a good disaster flick, Independence Day for example, but man has been fascinated about this topic since long before the motion pictures came along to give it special effects.
Why is it that we can't seem to put an end to such speculation?  The minute one deadline passes (like Y2K), another pops up (like 2012).  The minute one crisis is averted (Nuclear Winter) another comes to the fore (Global Warming).  What is it about humanity (in general) that ensures that such speculation always finds an audience?
The answer is relatively simple.  Because we are aware of our own personal existence, and because we have reasonable concerns about what will happen to us when we die, we seek out comfort and hope through religion (or philosophy) to assure us that it will be ok.  For Christians, we have our hope in Jesus Christ, a hope that is secure and a promise that we can count on.  Others may find some comfort in the Eight-Fold Path or the Five Pillars (Buddhism and Islam), but they won't find the Hope that can quite the anxiety of their hearts.
This quest for assurance, and fear of the future is simply writ large when it comes to humanity as a whole.  Millions of people throughout the world are hopelessly looking for some sort of answer to their own personal need and as such are willing to listen to those who predict an end to this struggle even if it means that they begin to believe that we are all doomed (at least that would solve their problem too).  Each time one of these false doomsayers is proven false, another pops up with a "new" scenario to find ever willing listeners.
By the way, it's a waste of time to argue the folly of such ideas, the improbability of them actually adds to the appeal (When logic and reasoning haven't led to answeres, people will embrace the illogical and the unreasoned)
What does the future hold?  How will this world end?  Take a look at Revelation if you want the visions that the Apostle John saw, just don't ask me to explain all of them.  There is at least one thing that I'm confident to say I understand about those future prediction though: "'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Where two or three are gathered...

We had a small crowd at First Baptist of Palo today; all the men were gone trying to shoot deer, and several of the women other non-shooting reasons for their abscence.  I was asked before the service started if I wanted to "save" my sermon for next week and just have a prayer/song service instead.  I have nothing against spending time with prayer and singing, but to me, it just doesn't seem right to not share what I've prepared from the Word of God.  It doesn't really matter that this person or that person wasn't there for the message, (although at times I'm hopeful for a "good" crowd when a message has particularly moved me during my preparation of it) because the message itself comes from God and is for His people.  This isn't some mystical thing, I'm certainly not claiming to "hear" what God wants me to preach, but the work that I do in preparation for each Sunday's worship service is work that is for the people.  They don't have the time or training to study God's Word in the depth that I do, so I use the God-given talent that I have to share with my fellow Christians what I've learned from the Bible during that particular week. 
As such, when I was asked if I wanted to "save" the sermon, I declined.  It may be a bit odd to give a message when so many of our regulars were missing, but the Word of God has its own power.  Who knows?  Perhaps one of those who were there received a blessing from this message that was timely for her this week (I can use her, all the men ran off in their orange and cammo).  As a pastor, it isn't for me to decide that a particular message isn't necessary.  That's why I try to work my way through the Bible in a systematic way; to ensure that virtually no portion of Scripture is left behind without being preached (I do "skip" passages such as geneology lists, or perhaps something repetitive that we've just covered a week or two ago, for example). 
Does it really matter to me that I had a small audience this morning.  Yes, but not for the reason that most people would think.  I don't need to be heard by a large crowd, but I certainly hope that as many people as can be will hear what God's Word has to say.  Save my sermon?  Nah, I'll be working on another one real soon. 

Does being married help when you work for God?

I was reading in the paper (yes, I still read an actual physical paper) that the Catholic Church has made some clarifications to the policy of accepting married Anglican priests who want to convert.  Of course, Catholic priests are forbidden to marry, and so it's a bit odd when people encounter a priest who is married (because he used to be Anglican).  The Pope's spokesman insisted that this would have no bearing on the continuing policy of requiring priests to be celibate in the Catholic Church.
Which raises the question; does being married make it easier or harder to minister to God's people?  As far as I'm concerned it was never an issue.  Paul may have seen the positive side of being free to do whatever he felt the Lord wanted of him, but I knew from my teen years that I was not the kind of guy who would be happy alone.  I'm content to sit and read a good book or take a run by myself in the woods, but I always knew that I needed someone to share life with.
That doesn't really answer the question though.  Does being a husband first and a pastor second make being a pastor easier?  In my experience it does, and the reason is simple.  I've learned more about patience, kindness, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, hope, trust, love, etc. etc. from my marriage to my beautiful wife Nicole (she insists I always refer to her here as "my beautiful wife Nicole", just kidding, no really she does) than I have from all of my friendships and family.  Why is this?  I can't walk away.  I know that some people in a marriage take a break when they're having trouble (a fight or disagreement, or just getting on each other's nerves), but Nicole and I have never been that way.  I can't go to sleep if one of us is upset with the other.  I can't watch TV or do anything relaxing if I know that Nicole and I have a problem that is unresolved.  Perhaps not everyone would appreciate that, but I've learned so much from the need to sort through our problems.  I've learned to set my emotions aside and consider what is in the best interest of my wife; I've learned to ignore petty things and focus on building for the future; and I've learned to put my ideals into practice no matter what I may or may not want to do (molding character by doing the right thing first regardless of motives and letting that build toward the right motives).
Has it been easy?  Not really.  My ongoing job saga has made life difficult for my wife and caused trouble, and financial pressure weigh on me far more than they would if I was concerned with only my own needs.  But it's worth it.  How could I minister to my flock if I can't first minister to my wife?  How could I preach loving kindness if I'm not practicing it at home during the week?  And how could I endure the ups and downs of working for the Lord if I didn't know that my wife's love was a constant that I could always fall back upon?
Does being married make being a pastor easier?  It has made me a better Christian and a better man.  I'm pretty sure I needed to be both of those to be the pastor that God wants me to be.

Inside the Heart of Darkness

No offense to Joseph Conrad, but we don't need to travel to the dark reaches of the globe anymore to find the evil that is in man's heart.  We were shown it once again this week with the cold-blooded murders of American soldiers at Ft. Hood by one of their own comrades.  The news media and investigators will be obsessed in the coming days with answering the question of "Why?"  Why would someone snap and go on a murderous rampage.  The same question was asked after the Virginia Tech killings, the same question after Columbine.  Culprits will be found who "missed the signs" and scapegoats will be blamed (as they were after the others).  But what was the real cause of this inhumanity?  Rebellion against God.  Rejection of the Truth that all men are brothers because we have the same father.  The placing of selfish motives or ideals above regard for the lives of others.
This is a familiar path, we've been down it so many times before.  The heart of mankind is dark.  In this darkness, even the basic notion that the lives of others are to be respected can be, and is, lost.  It should only takes another father beating his child to convince us of this Truth, and it should only take glance at a Hitler or a Mao to convince us that we will never fix this problem on our own.
The heart of man is dark; self-help is not the answer; Hinduism is not the answer; Scientology is not the answer; Buddhism is not the answer; Islam is not the answer; materialism is not the answer; secularism is not the answer...
There is an answer, there is a Gospel, there is salvation from our sin through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Every other solution, every other cure, is a fraud. 
Our prayers go out to the men and women of the Army who have bravely defended the freedom that Americans enjoy each day.  God bless you all.

Sometimes, I don't have any answers

Sometimes you just don’t have any answers. You’ve heard about a tragic situation, or maybe listened as a friend relates the agonizing details of a loss. Answers just don’t come. You could quote Scripture, and if you think of the right passage that might help, but sometimes your mind goes blank and all you have to give is, “I know” or “I’m sorry”. Then again, maybe that’s the right thing to do anyway; James said we should be quick to listen and slow to speak so maybe we shouldn’t be trying to think of what we should say and simply concentrate on listening. Bad things do happen to good people. Our world is neck deep in sin and rebellion toward everything that is good and noble and pure. Is it any wonder that good people suffer too? Death, disease, fire, storms, corruption, greed, hatred; they’re all a part of this world we’ve made for ourselves (in the sense that this is what it’s like apart from God; man’s rebellion is reaping only what it once sowed). How does anyone make it through a good week without the hope of knowing God? Should we be surprised that people try to drown out their sorrow in alcohol, sex, and drugs? Without God, we don’t have any answers.


Back to my original thought; sometimes I don’t have any answers; that seems odd because people count on me for answers all the time. If answers are what you crave, you’ll have to ask God, but I have a feeling that when you or I stand face to face with Jesus Christ the last thing we’ll be wondering about are the answers.

From the mountain "burning with fire" to "the city of the living God" - Hebrews 12:18-24

When Moses approached the presence of God on Mt. Sinai he did so "trembling with fear".  The people of Israel were unable to endure the sight of Moses when he returned because he face shown with the radiance of God's glory.  Fast forward about 1500 years to the Temple in Jerusalem.  A massive curtain separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.  What does this all mean?  God's people still do not have access to the glory of his presence.  Their sin prevents them from enduring the holiness of God (God's perfection cannot be in the presence of such inperfection).  Only the High Priest can enter this inner room, and only once a year (The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur), and that only with a blood sacrifice for his own sins.
That very curtain, the symbolic separation between God and man, is torn in two at the moment of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The blood guilt has been paid, God's presence can now be approached by man through faith.
And so Hebrews tells us that we now approach Mount Zion, "the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God" where thousands of angels rejoice and celebrate with the "spirits of righteous men made perfect".  Here Jesus "the mediator of the new covenant" awaits us with open arms.
A far cry from a gloomy mountain covered in darkness, fire, and storm isn't it?

Run "the race marked out for us" - Hebrews 12:1

One of the first things that cross-country runners (both high school and college) do when they arrive at a meet is to run the course.  I know, some of you are thinking, "run BEFORE you race?"  I can't say that I was overly fond of these warm-up runs but they served an important purpose.  Not only did they get our bodies ready for the intensity of the race, but they allowed us to see the actual course itself.  It isn't that necessary to study the course if you plan on trailing the main pack, you can just follow them.  But, if you plan on trying to lead the pack you'd better know which way to go.  In most cases, there are clues already on the course (usually a white painted line in the grass and colored flags at corners and turns), and most of the time we were provided with crude maps detailing the course, but you don't want to come to a crossroad at full speed and have to decide which way to go on the fly.  When I was in H.S. it was customary for members of the home team to guide the visitors through the course and explain any unusual twists or turns.
How does any of this apply to what Hebrews is telling us about running the race of Christian faith?  We have a "great cloud of witnesses", the heroes of the faith from chapter 11, to show us the path that we should follow, and we have contemporary heroes in the faith who we can look to for inspiration and guidance (in my life, my grandmother, Pastor Frank, Andy Smith, Dr. Mayers, my dad, and many others).  We also have an amazing guidebook in God's Word to help us through the unexpected twists and turns of life.
This may all seem a bit dramatic but an example from my days in the middle school cross-country team applies here.  We were running at Central Montcalm (a big race where we ran only against our own grade instead of 7th and 8th together) and one of my teammates, now the wife of a good friend and fellow basketball player, shot out of the starting line to an early lead.  This was somewhat unusual for her, but on this day she was clearly leading the race.  There was only one problem with this scenario, she didn't know where she was going.  When she came to a crossroad in the course she went the wrong way and EVERYONE in the pack followed her.  The race officials scrambled to figure out where to direct the pack to try to get them to run a distance close to what was intended.  In the end her mistake was simply a humorous story because it was just a middle school race and not a life changing decision.

If you want to run the race of faith from the front of the pack, you'd better pay attention to course that has been marked out for you.

Entering God's Rest - Hebrews 4

I was asked to conduct a funeral this past week for someone from Palo (years ago) that I had never met.  This sort of thing can be difficult because as a pastor it's hard to know which Scripture passages will be of the most comfort for the family when you don't know much about the person who is being remembered.  In the end, two passages from the Gospels helped me, Jesus and the thief on the Cross (how wide is God's mercy and how easily obtained) and the 99 and 1 Sheep (God cares enough about each of us to not let us wander off) were able to guide me in my remarks.
Thinking back on that funeral, there was a lot of talk from the family and friends about how their loved one was no longer struggling against the troubles that beset her during her life.  That's certainly true, but I think it misses the point a little bit.  We often think of heaven as a place where we no longer have to endure physical troubles (an aching back, poor eyesight, a handicap); while this is certainly true, it doesn't reflect the real reason why standing before Jesus some day will be so amazing.
The burden that we are all carrying, a burden whose weight we are so used to that we don't even notice it, is sin.  We live in a world where sin is everywhere.  A world where our lives are beset by temptations and tragedies that come from sin.  The true peace of God that we will experience when standing face to face with Jesus will be finally knowing what it is like to be holy.  When selfishness is no longer an option, when fear and failure slip away.  On that day, you will find that a tremendous weight has fallen off your shoulders, never to be taken up again.  On that day, you will truly rest.
I'm reminded of the song, "I can only Imagine"  I love that song; the lyrics are amazing.  "Surrounded by your glory, what will my hear feel?  Will I dance for  you Jesus, or in awe of you bill still?  Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?   Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine, I can only imagine."

When doing the Right Thing makes you the bad guy

It is an unfortunate part of my teaching job that when I have an opportunity to do the right thing it usually ends up making me the bad guy in the eyes of my students.  It's not that I'm tempted to do otherwise, but it's just kinda sad that when we're trying to help people educate themselves, to make positive steps forward in their lives, that we (our staff of teachers, and teachers in general) end up earning their enmity instead.
I had an incident today that involved a very upset student shouting obscenities at me after I did the right thing by reporting his behavior to our administration.  There really any wiggle wrong here; I had a clear obligation to do it, but it's going to hurt my ability to teacher other students and certainly wrecked my relationship with this particular student.  Sometimes doing the right thing makes you the bad guy.  I don't think I make much of a villian, but it's true just the same.
As a pastor, I'm used to the notion that not everyone is going to be willing to listen to the Gospel message; some will reject it for now, others for good, but there's a confidence that comes from knowing the absolute value of what you're trying to share with others.  In school settings, the students often complain that what they're learing isn't important (whether or not it is), and to add to this, they're generally forced to be here.  Imagine if your church was half full of people who hated being there, who tried to sleep during the service or spent the whole time texting on their phone.  It's days like this that make my ministry seem all the more important because the root cause of these problems in the academic world are spiritual needs of the students (and their families).  How can a student focus on learning when the only things in their life that has meaning are drugs and sex?  How can we expect a student to care about literature or history if they find their own life to be meaningless?  As always, God bless our teachers, their job is never easy {note: both my brother, sister, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, wife and myself are teachers, I just have the fortune to also be a pastor}

What I've Learned about Marriage and Success - Ephesians 4:25

One of the things that you learn from being married for a while is that it doesn't take a triumphal entry to consider yourself a success.  I can't claim to have made much money in life, nor to have become in anyway famous (outside of a bunch of kids who recognize me as Mr. Powell; not quite the same thing), but I am proud to say that I have found success as a husband.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't know any secret formulas (even though the bookstores are full of books that claim to have them), I've just tried to take seriously the advice of Paul in Ephesians 4:25 that husbands need to "love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her".
As a pastor, I hope that I have a clear notion of just how much Christ loved the Church (after all, that's what I preach about on a regular basis; Christ's love for us), and let me tell you, that's an ambitious goal.  {Note to husbands: we don't have any chance of matching Christ's love for the church when we love our wives, but that doesn't mean we're not obligated to try}. 
So what does it mean to love your wife as Christ loves the Church?  Step one, you need to put yourself 2nd.  That right there is the root of the problem for most men.  We may be willing to say "I love you", but we're not so keen on saying, "I love you  more than I love myself".  Sorry to rain on your parade, but if you're not willing to go that far, you'll never be much of a husband.
Which brings me back to my original thought; I've had some success in my marriage to my beautiful wife Nicole because I decided early on to demonstrate to her that I care for her more than I care for myself through simple acts of kindess.  Maybe that means bringing home flowers unexpectedly, or leaving a note for her; whatever form it takes, those simple things are the small steps we husbands need to be taking in order to build up our character in relation to our wives.  Guys, it isn't the big moments that make you a better man (because you'll fail in them if you wait for them to decide to step up), it's living like a servant toward your wife each and every day.

What I've learned about marriage and failure

Over the years my wife has wondered if I ever get really upset; I've built up a reputation as a Stoic because of my even tempermant.  Not that there haven't been a few times when I've been pushed beyond my limit to endure, but they've been the rare exception.  In our marriage, this has at times been a blessing, allowing me to be a "rock" for Nicole to lean on.  At others times I've envied the way Nicole can find such release for her emotions, purging herself of the pain or sorrow through tears on my shoulder.
Because of this outward appearance, it may be assumed by some that I'm not all that affected by the emotions in others.  Actually, the opposite is true; nothing brought tears to my eyes quicker as a youth than the sight of my mother's tears (at a couple of funerals in particular); that connection was powerful, but I've found through our years of marriage that it isn't in the same league as the emotins connected to pain in the eyes of my wife.
I grew up being able to do most of the things that I wanted to do; school was easy, sports were not so much, but I found a home in cross-country and eventually in basketball when I finally grew.  My early disappointments (in particular being picked on by bullies as a small kid) were things that I could shake off with a joke or well-timed zinger.
Even during college when I was in a long-term relationship that didn't work out I didn't have that same connection to her that I now have with Nicole.  The end of that relationship hurt a lot, but it was still she and I and not we.  Being married changed everything. (that it doesn't for so many may have something to do with those high divorce statistics)  I no longer faced disappointment alone; if something that I was hoping for didn't happen (a job opportunity for example) I could no longer just laugh it off and allow my natural personality to insulate me.
During the last several years I have had to watch my wife struggle with the financial and job difficulties that we have faced.  I've done everything within my own power to help; but I can't fix the problem.  I've prayed for the situation endlessly; I've prayed for Nicole daily, but I can't make that hurt in her eyes go away.  If I succeed at something, she shares my joy, which is nice, but if I fail at something, Nicole ends up being the one who feels the pain.  Of all of the things in life that I wish I could take back or change, these top the list.  As a man who loves his wife more than anyone else he's ever met, how can I reconcile that love and desire for her to only have good things from our relationship with the stress and pain she feels when I'm not able to "fix" the problem we're facing?  I've spent nights staring up at the ceiling wondering about that; hoping for an answer.
I've always said, "the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord" (I didn't make that up of course), but until Nicole and I became one in the eyes of God I never knew how hard it was to say that for the both of us.

Preach the Word - II Timothy 4:2

In the modern Church the responsibilities of pastoral staff have often been segregated into distinct responsibilities (such as youth, outreach, visitation, etc.).  This varies of course with the size of the church.  In a small one staff member church the pastor becomes a jack-of-all trades; doing whatever needs to be done.  The average size church often has someone responsible primarily for the youth as well, and larger churches are able to assign staff to specific needs.
What do all of these manifestations of the role of a pastor have in common?  Perhaps the words of II Timothy 4:2 will help remind us what the core of the pastorate is: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."  In the end, no matter what the job description happens to say, a pastor's first job is to Preach the Word.  To be a conduit for the Word of God to his church in whatever times and places are available, with both correction and encouragement, and all of this with great patience and care.
I'll always remember the words of Ed Dobson (at the time, pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids) as he explained why he routinely spent 30 hours each week working on the Sunday sermon; Dobson explained that it was the most important thing he did and that even though he had lots of other responsibilities too, they came second to preaching the Word.
I've certainly never been able to spend that much time on a sermon, but I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment.  Our responsibility to our flock is multi-faceted, but in the end we'll be held accountable for how we preached God's Word because that Word is the Word of Life.

Staying afloat in a sea of Apathy

For the past several years I've worked as an alternative education teacher during the week along with my ministry.  As you might guess, being in church on Sunday and in school during the week is like living in two different worlds.  For one thing, the respect and courtesy that makes our fellowship at Palo so sweet is a rarity come Monday morning.  It's also such a vastly different world in terms of what people care about in their lives.  For many of my students, there isn't anything beyond the next sexual encounter or use of drugs and alcohol.  Their lives revolve around these attempts at escape; some of them are self-aware enough to realize this, but many are so caught up in this "life" that they don't realize how hollow such pursuits ultimately are.  We as teachers are trying to instill the value of bettering yourself through education to students who are only tolerating us long enough to get home and get high.  Needless to say, in this environment tension runs high, animosity between students is frequent, and teachers shake their heads knowing that their own love of literature, history, or mathematics is not going to be shared.
Why do I keep working here (aside from the paying the bills)?  It's the rare students whom I have actually been able to reach, the ones whose lives I have made a difference in that keep me going.  These students are so very needy when it comes to kindness, understanding, and empathy that the little things that we can do for them can make all of the difference in the world.  I may only have one or two of these students in class this week; but they're worth it.  Reminds me of when Jesus said that he'd leave 99 sheap to go look for one that is lost.  These students may all be lost, most are fighting as hard as they can to deny it, but every once in a while we have one who wants to find their way home. 
All of my students know that I'm a Christian; most know that I'm also a pastor (they've seen me reading my Bible or working on my sermon while they're doing a reading assignment; plus I'm open and honest about it); they're shocked that I've never done drugs/alcohol, but in the end they can clearly see that my life is defined by things that they don't have.  If 99 laugh at me for not wanting to get high, at least 1 is looking at the hope that I have and wondering.

Letting the public decide

I just read an interesting article in today's paper about the Art Prize contest that is being held in Grand Rapids right now. The over 1,200 entries are going to be judged by the votes of the public and cash awards given out to the winners. The article stated that some art bloggers have taken offense at the notion that the public would know anything about art, that we aren't trusting to the critics to tell us what good art is and what is not. Needless to say, I'm no fan of such snobbish behavior (I'm not usually a fan of what the art critics love anyway; Crucifix in a jar of urine remind anyone of something? The critics loved that one).

How does this art debate end up in my blog? There is a similar amount of snobbery amongst some Christian leaders when the people are allowed to read and understand the Bible for themselves. "What do lay people know about the complexities of theology anyway?" they wonder. The primary problem with this line of thought is that it places far too much confidence in the hands of the fallible men who've been called to shepherd God's flock. Yes, we have training and education, but no, we are far from always right. The worst theological notions and decisions in Church history came from the leadership of the Church (some of which we're still dealing with the legacies of). The second problem with reserving interpretation for a class of Church leaders is that the Bible clearly tells us that ALL Christians are equal believers before Christ, indeed we are a royal priesthood (see I Peter 2:9-10; in the past a select few were priests by birth; Peter declares us all to be priest set apart by God).

So, what then is the purpose of Christian leaders? Remember that we are shepherd; ours is not the job of telling each and every sheep what to do all the time; we must look for the stray, for those who have wandered from safety and bring them back home. As a pastor, it is my responsibility to be on guard for doctrine that threatens the faith, to set for the Gospel clearly and preach the Word, but NOT to be an authority and every little thing (we have a final authority, the Word, not any man).

The best thing a pastor can do is teach his people to think Biblically for themselves. Any pastor who wants more control than that is on an ego trip; we're the shepherds of the flock, we're not its masters. Teach the people to think Biblically for themselves.

9/11 Remembered

I was working on the morning of Sept 11th, 2001.  It happened to be my prep hour, so I had the TV on CNN just to have some background noise and hear if anything interesting was going on.  When the first plane hit the coverage was mostly just the tower on fire with speculation by the commentators about what might have caused it.  As I continued to watch, the second plane came in and hit the 2nd tower.  The modern world as we understood it, was over.  Americans had been enjoying a false sense of security, the end of the Cold War removing the last "threat" to our hegemony and allowing us to ponder whether we were at the "end of history" or not. 
The world we live in today is one where man's inhumanity to his fellow man is never far from the news headlines.  Rarely does a week go by when someone isn't blowing up innocent men, women, and children to make a political statement.  The casual dismissal of the value of human life that we've now grown accustomed to is shocking.  We used to be able to convince ourselves that such evil was confined (such as in Northern Ireland or Somalia); that it wasn't able to get out and penetrate the "civilized" world.  After 9/11 (and the subsequent bombings in Spain and England) we have become all to aware that the evil of humanity can never be "contained" through force of arms or police agencies.  Those who wish to kill for their own ends will always be a threat to those who try to protect and serve.  God bless our soldiers and police who risk their lives in this struggle.
For the past eight years we have been seeking military, political, diplomatic, and economic answers to the ugly question posed that fateful morning.  Sadly, these efforts are doomed to, at best, partial success.  We may be able to eliminate individuals or groups who seek to kill, but we cannot eliminate the evil that spawns the hatred that breeds them anew. 
In the end, this is just another sad example of man's entirely lost status apart from God.  If we don't worship God, we'll follow something else.  If we don't value life because God created it, we'll eventually find a reason to not value it at all.  As necessary as these other solutions may be, our battle is indeed not against flesh and blood; it is a spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of mankind.  Every soul that comes to know the grace and peace of Jesus Christ is a victory in this war.
May the LORD keep our loved ones safe from this evil, may the LORD protect those who defend the innocent, and may the LORD turn the hearts of those who hate that they may find the love of Christ.

When Bad things Happen to Good People

Nicole and I have suffered several job related setbacks in recent years; the most recent happening just this past week.  As a pastor, people might assume that I have some fancy answer ready to go for such situations, like "don't worry, God will work it all out in the end".  I don't.  I always cringe when I hear well-meaning people give a pep talk to those who are suffering from a loss (esp. after the death of a loved one).  Not only does this approach make light of the very real emotions that person is feeling, but it also casts God in a light that does not reflect the true nature of the situation.  Make no mistake, God does indeed know that our sorrow or pain is real.  God doesn't want you to pretend that you're not hurting, or put on a happy face in order to appear a "good" Christian.  That's foolishness.  There is indeed a time for sorrow (ask Solomon, he wrote it), and a reason for tears (Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb).  We live in a fallen world full of pain, disease, sin, and death.  Isn't there plenty of reasons why Christians should feel sorrow too? 
So now you're asking, what's the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian in terms of sorrow?  The answer is simple: the Christian may feel sorrow today, and it may last for a while, even years; but the Christian has HOPE in the future.  The Christian knows that God is indeed in control (regardless of today's circumstances), and that ultimately, God will work for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).
So when my wife asks me, "when is this going to end?" "why is this happening to us?" I don't pretend to offer answers, nor do I try to be a cheerleader; sorrow is real, troubles are real, pain is real.  To minimize them is un-Christian, but so is despair.  Because we know that our souls are safe in God's hands, we can endure far worse than this.  Because we know how blessed we are by God, we can be thankful in far worse than this.  The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Where do Good things comes from? James 1:16-18

We've had a lot of depressing news in this country in the last couple of years, the state of Michigan has been run through the ringer again and again.  When times are tough, it helps to remind ourselves where the truly GOOD things in life come from.  No, I'm not talking about jobs, health care, homes, or anything that money can purchase.  The truly GOOD things in this world are Faith, Hope, Love, Mercy, Joy, Truth, and Holiness.  I use the capital letters because we often think that we know or understand this ideals but in reality know only the reflection of them as they are enbodied in the essence of God.  Sorry if that's a bit wordy, but the short version is this: If you're looking for anything truly GOOD in life, you're wasting your time and energy looking anywhere else but God.  I have no hope in my own ability to achieve anything resembling perfection on my own.  Nor do I have any confidence in my fellow man to achieve perfection either (no matter what the politicians are promising you).  But, I have complete and full confidence in the Holy God who created this world, who holds us to the standard of his own holiness, and who offers us the chance to join him in holiness through his Son.

Is Failing to Pray a Sin? - I Samuel 12:23-24

When Israel's spiritual leader Samuel was addressing the people about their choice of Saul as their king he made a curious remark about his responsibility to pray for them.  "far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you."  As a man called by God to lead his people, Samuel considered it an obligation, a moral imperative, that he pray for his people.
So, are we obligated in the same way to pray for our family, our friends, our church?  The short answer is that the Bible tells us to pray a lot.  To pray earnestly, to pray without ceasing, to pray on all occassions (to name a few).  Fathers and mothers need to pray for their children.  Husbands need to pray for their wives, and wives for their husbands.  We need to pray for our family and friends; and we definately need to pray for our local church family.
There are few parts of scripture that convict me when I read it as much as these verses.  As a pastor, I know this obligation, and I'm sure I don't live up to it as much as I need to; but even before I began at Palo, I knew that the God of the universe wants ME to pray about the people whom he has placed in my path.  Far be it from me to sin by failing to pray for you.

My Friend and Afghanistan

Got a call from a good friend of mine (he was in my wedding, I was his best man, plus we've played hockey together); found out he's heading to Afghanistan in January with the Army (doctor).  Needless to say, the thoughts and prayers of my wife and I will be with him and his wife and children while he is gone, as they should be for any members of the military we know who are in harms way.  As I wrote about my Memorial Day address, I've always been a staunch supporter of the men and women who serve to protect and defend the unprecedented freedom that we enjoy in America each day.  When I went to my high school reunion last summer (15), it was amazing to calculate how many of the boys from my graduating class ended up serving in the military (it was something like 12 to 15 out of 30).  I think it says something very positive about small town values that so many see the military as a worthy pursuit.  God Bless you all, may the Lord of us all protect you, comfort you, and bring you back home safe to those you love.

Who's in Charge of this mess? I Samuel 9:1-2

What is it about man that we feel the need to have somebody in charge? It didn’t take the people of Israel long to decide that they wanted more than the prophets and judges that God had sent them; they wanted a king just like everybody else. Why a king? What’s the value of having someone visibly in charge, a representative of the people? For the people of Israel it was the hope that the repeated cycle of Judges could be ended with the dynastic line of a king. (The people sin, God brings judgment, the people cry out, God sends a deliverer, the people follow the judge till he dies, and then the people sin again; cycle repeats itself) Security and continuity was what the people were longing for. In the end, they chose Saul because he was tall and handsome (I Samuel 9:1-2). He was rather different from the judges whom God had chosen to lead his people.
We’ve haven’t changed much since their day. We still choose our leaders (both secular and religious) more on the outward appearance than we should, and we still crave the feeling of security that comes from believing that somebody is in charge. Sadly, we’re just as mistaken as the people of Israel were. Saul wasn’t in charge, God was and God is. Calling someone a king, or president, chairman or chancellor doesn’t change a thing. If you want to have peace of mind about your life, your community, or our nation, you need to start paying attention to someone what actually is capable of running things.

God ain't finished with me yet...Philippians 1:6

There are times when we doubt the direction our lives are going in. We lose momentum, get stuck in a rut, or can't seem to make any of our dreams or goals come true. It's at times like these that's it's comforting to know that God has a plan and a purpose for each of his children, and that this process WILL continue regardless of the "success" we're experiencing in life. As Paul wrote, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Make no mistake, taking fallen sinners, washing them in the blood of Christ, and transforming them into the image and likeness of Christ is a "good work"; there can be no higher. The value of this process (called Sanctification if you want the fancy word) is easy to see, but so is the difficulty. When we look at our own lives, at our faults and shortcomings, we certainly don't compare ourselves to Christ. Don't be discouraged, God has promised you that one day you will stand before him and he will see his Son when he looks at you.

What Values are Best

I was reading an article about our local community college when I read a quote that was a clear indication of what is wrong with higher education in America. I'm not going to say which school official said it, and it really isn't important which issue prompted the quote, the words speak for themselves: "I don't think it's the business of higher education to tell people which values are best and which values they should all live by. I'd be concerned...if specific values or morals would become part of our culture to promote." In other words; the last thing a college or university should be doing is promoting values. If all value systems are equal (presumably, if you won't take a stand one way or another), then even clearly amoral value systems deserve the right to be heard and considered. College campuses in America are rife with the idea that there are NO moral absolutes in our world (except the absolute that there are no absolutes; a bit of irony). Despicable acts like pedophilia and morally bankrupt systems like Neo-Nazism have all gained traction in the public arena because nobody in authority at public universities is willing to say, "This is clearly a moral evil". In the name of acceptance and diversity we've lost the ability to condemn evil and promote good. In the words of Edmund Burke, "The only thing that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
{note: for the record, I went to a Christian University, but my wife went to a public school and now works for a public college. I'm not saying Christians shouldn't attend public schools {I'm a public school teacher, as are my brother, sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law}, but Christian parents need to be aware of what's being taught (or not taught in this case) to their teens; moral relativism is NOT Christian}

How we change over time

One of the things that continues to fascinate me as I grow and mature (as opposed to getting older, which sounds less appealing) is how my ideas and beliefs go through a process of
growth and maturation as well. Some of the things that I thought as a young man I now
know were misguided or wrong. Some of the ideas that I felt so strongly about have been
replaced by concerns that I now know are more important.
One example of that is politics. As a teen, I was very concerned with politics and interested in the political process. Perhaps I'm only more cynical about politicians now, but I just don't seem able to get as excited about the latest political development; I've also noticed that after my ordination such concerns have really taken a backseat to ministry needs/concerns; I won't go as far as Cal Thomas (columnist who advocates the Church's withdrawal from politics following his experience with the Moral Majority), but I certainly have refrained from offering my political opinions at church (believe it or not people; I can hold my tongue), I certainly don't ever want the Gospel of Jesus Christ being confused with any political agenda (however well intentioned)

The area in my thinking that has undergone the most radical change is easily my understanding of how to define the Church (that is, the universal Church, all believers regardless of their particular church; for a complete breakdown, see the posting on my book which deals with this extensively). When I was in H.S. we worked our way through Galatians verse by verse in our student Bible study. I clearly remember my comments on Galatians 1:7 "If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned." With the fire and conviction of youth I told everyone that the Catholic Church was clearly preaching "another gospel" and was thus clearly condemned by the words of Paul. At the time, Mrs Sanford (the teacher who hosted our weekly meeting) asked me if I was sure about that, if maybe I wanted to tone it down a bit, but I was too sure of myself to listen.

A couple years later, at Cornerstone University, as I learned more about the history of the Church; about the variety within the Church; and especially about Paul's contention that the Church is like a body with many parts, I began to soften my stance to the point of admitting that the Catholic Church certainly contains many believing Christian in spite of the theology of the Church.

After College I worked for the Methodist Church and a Reformed Church as their youth pastor; more experience in the wideness of God's mercy. My understanding of the Church was in flux; I was considering the Orthodox Church and Catholic Church in a new light. Then God decided to put me to the test. He brought a young woman into my life as a friend whom I would not consider dating because she was Catholic. So far so good, then I fell for her. Those of you who know the story know that we've been married since 6/30/01. It was this relationship that forced me to get back into the Bible; to LOOK at all of the N.T. and to really ask myself the tough questions about who the Church really is.

Many of my answers were found in the letter of I John. In it John describes his own definition of a Christian as someone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; someone who loves their brothers and sisters in Christ, and someone who obeys God's commands. Not a word about Baptism, Communion, church structure, etc. I eventually decided to use my own curiosity on this issue to write a book (yes, another shameless plug; please feel free to read it if you're interested in the topic) about Ecumenism and I John.

Over the years my ideas on a variety of topics have grown, changed, or matured in ways that I would not have anticipated from my the lofty perch I occupied as a teen. I guess that's the biggest lesson in all of this; don't walk around thinking you know everything because God has a way of waking people up and letting them see the light.

The Turns our Lives Take

I was recently sitting in the cafe of a Barnes and Noble (a truly good place to be) while correcting papers for summer school when the father of my college girlfriend walked in and sat down at the next table. We exchanged pleasantries; caught up on a bit of news (this was over ten years ago; time flies), and proceeded to continue with the work that had brought us there...If I rewind my life to the beginning of my last year in college I would be in a place where I thought that I had the future all worked out. I was in love with this girl, we were approaching our year and a half anniversary of dating, and my future ministry opportunities seemed at my fingertips.
That "plan" all ended with the end of that relationship; I was certainly devastated (are are most when they don't see it coming) and found myself visiting my grandmother (my mom's mom) at the nursing home where she had recently been taken to seek her advice and consolation. She did not disappoint me (this time or any other); despite her failing health she offered me hope for the future; assured me that it would all work itself out, and asked me to speak at her funeral; all in one conversation.
It took me more than two years to find my bearings (relationship wise) again; and it turns out it was love from a source I wasn't even considering. My wife Nicole and I were simply friends on the night of Dec 4th 1999 when we ended up kissing for the first time. A month later, I knew this was the woman that God had placed in my path. Over eight years of marriage later I've only confirmed that God knew what he was doing all along.
I learned a lot from that failed college romance; a lot about what it takes to be the man I should be; lessons I was able to apply when Nicole entered my life.
I spent many a day wondering when the Lord was going to answer my prayers; at times sad, at times resigned to waiting; I know now that I WASN'T READY for Nicole until the day we first met. If she had stumbled into my life earlier neither one of us would have been ready. That may sound a bit dramatic, but its true. I may have been wondering why God was being slow in answering my prayers; he was wondering how long it was gonna take for me to open my eyes and see that a God-fearing girl like Nicole was just what I needed (not a complimentary theology perspective; a complimentary help-mate)
As I sat in Barnes and Noble, remembering how very different my attitude and perspectives were eleven years ago I decided that it was necessary to thank this father who had been a part in the process of what it took for me to become who I needed to be (he and his wife always treated me well; that's something to appreciate, it doesn't always happen that way; it also helped prepare me for the very positive relationship I have now with Nicole's parents). Is it any wonder that Isaiah writes, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." (55:8)
I never saw that turn in the road coming, but when I look into the beautiful eyes of my wife; I'm glad that God knew all about it.

Do I have to be Happy with God to Pray?

In I Samuel 1:10 we're told that, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD." By the way, God answered that prayer. Hannah was praying for a child, God blessed her with the boy Samuel who would grow up to be one of the heroes of Jewish history. We absolutely don't have to be in a happy frame of mind to pray. In fact, God welcomes our honest prayers (including those where we're upset or don't understand God) far more than he ever will a fake attempt to get what you want from him through flattery. By the way, God knows your heart anyway, so you might as well be honest and admit to God that you're confused, sad, tired, and yes, angry.
Why was Hannah praying to God in the first place? Hannah went to the temple to pray precisely because she believed that God was in control of the world; that he was the one who could answer her prayer, and that it was a waste of time to ask anyone else for a miracle. Hannah HAD faith. Not a happy go lucky, all is right with the world kind of faith; but rather a real, down in the trenches, beaten but not broken, kind of faith. Real faith. And God answered her prayer, not in spite of her bitterness and weeping, but because of it.

Taking a Break

I recently enjoyed a three day camping trip with one of my best friends (the army doctor) and a couple of his friends on the shore of Lake Superior (at the Two-Hearted River); it was guys only, (wives and kids left behind in order to make the trip a rest from obligations and duties); fishing, canoeing, swimming in Lake Superior (that's a manly enterprise; believe me, it wasn't very warm at all), and mostly just sitting around the campfire at night talking about nonsense (such as trying to decide which characters in Episode IV each of us were {rule: you can't pick the character for yourself}; I was happy to be nominated as Obi-Wan, although the guy we tagged as C3PO wasn't too thrilled)...It was only a couple of days, but that time away did us all a world of good. There's a reason why the LORD rested on the seventh day; not everything in life can be about work; otherwise, when do you appreciate what you have and what you've accomplished?
Another bonus of our trip: We were entirely unplugged from the modern world; no electricity, no running water, NO cell phones, no 24 hour news cycle; just guys cooking over a fire and not worrying about all of the things that follow us around back in our daily lives.
When is the last time you truly got away from it all; if only for a day or two? Can you let it all go for a bit, or are you too worried that all of the balls you're juggling will come crashing down?
The Christian has access to the ultimate in stress management...Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Make the time to find rest in your life; I'm pretty sure if God took a day off, you can too.

Which Bible Translation do I use?

One question that always seems to get asked of those like myself in the ministry is, "What Bible translation do you use?" For some, this question is a litmus test, a way to determine if the two people in question are on the same "team"; for others, this is merely one of those issues of curiosity akin to asking a pro-golfer what brand of club he prefers. Much has been made over the years by those who have staked out a King James ONLY position. These partisans of the King James Version have declared all users of other translations to be at best 2nd-rate Christians, at worst hopeless agents of the Whore of Babylon (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I've been called things to that effect). Unfortunately, that position itself is wholly un-Biblical, has no basis in the scholarship of translation, and assumes that 99% of those who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior are somehow mistaken. So much for a Church against which the Gates of Hell shall not overcome.
As you can tell, I am NOT at King James ONLY believer. By the same token, I don't have anything against the King James Version beyond the difficulty that arises when you try to use it to reach the un-churched. (For its poetic beauty and its influence on Church history, the KJV deserves to be kept in the mix to be sure)
I myself use the New International Version when I preach and for my personal study because of how readily the meaning and message of the Gospel are conveyed through its modern English. When I put the weekly PowerPoint together and choose the opening and responsive Scripture readings I typically check the KJV, NIV, NASB, and NLT to find the one that speaks to the sermon's message the best (and I usually try to rotate my use of the major translations to demonstrate my own acceptance of them).
In the end, the truth is that we are BLESSED with an abundance of excellent and trustworthy translations in English such that we should never consider ourselves to lack the true Scriptures (compared to some languages which have one or no translations of the Bible, what are you complaining about??) Every translation of the Bible into English is one man's or a committee's attempt to render the original Greek (and bit of Aramaic) into English. Anyone who has ever translated ANYTHING into another language knows that more than one English word (and sometimes several) can be used to convey nuances of the single word from the Greek. Some translations try to be word for word; others go for the meaning behind the words. That debate, while interesting, is immaterial to the question of whether or not we have the true Bible in English. We do, end of story, no question about it.
So, the next time someone asks you, "Which Bible translation do you use?" go ahead and tell them. Don't be worried about your answer, the important question is not which Bible you use, but that you do use it and learn from it.

The Value of Persevering - James 1:12

There's something about persevering under difficulties that gets God's attention. The Bible has plenty of examples of men and women who stood up against life's difficulties AND remained true to their faith. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Ruth, Hannah, Daniel, Elijah, Sarah, Peter, Paul, etc. It's actually one of the most prevelant themes of those believers in God whose stories we know about from the Bible. In James 1:12, we're told that those who persevere under trial will be "blessed" and "receive the crown of life"; much likes Jesus' list of the downtrodden "blessed" from the Sermon on the Mount.
Anybody can be commited to a cause when its convenient, even easy, but who really is willing to say, "I trust God, no matter what." In "Forrest Gump", Lt. Dan rages into the storm, defying God to do his worst; Forrest reasoned that Dan made his peace with God in that he let go of his bitterness and anger (at his "unfair" loss). What do we need to do in order to stand our ground under trial? Pray? Certainly, that's a must even in good times. Read the Bible? Sure, knowing what God has done for others, and what God has promised to you is always a big help. Talk to someone you can trust? Yes, share you're burden with another Christian, let him/her know that you're having a rough time, be honest.
Are we supposed to be happy all of the time? Put on a happy face? No, just remain true to God, even if you have to yell into the storm, stay true.

Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my household"

I’ve always been partial to Joshua’s advice to the people of Israel when he knew that his days as their leader were coming to a close. “If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) Joshua made it clear to the people that he would not be at the mercy of public opinion. His desire to worship and serve the LORD was firm and not to be cast aside no matter what. Joshua also felt confident enough to speak on behalf of his own household. As a husband and father Joshua ensured that his family knew the LORD too; his family, his responsibility.
Another thing that Joshua is saying here is that his household will continue to serve the LORD no matter what happens in the society around him. Too often we see examples of unbelief in our society and we let it discourage us. Instead of letting anecdotes from the big picture influence us, we should be starting at home, ensuring that our family is raised in the LORD from day one. Beyond that, the troubles that we read about various denominations shouldn’t discourage us from taking the responsibility of guaranteeing that our own church remains true to God and the Gospel. No matter what happens outside these doors, WE will serve the LORD!

What I Learned from Running

There are always a few things that a married couple do not have in common. I've taken Nicole to the Opera, but I certainly don't share that interest. Nicole has taken me to sporting events (the Verlander no-hitter one Anniversary, and Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals {Go Wings!!} this year), but she really isn't interested in sports. Another passion of mine that doesn't make any sense to Nicole is running. Her theory is, if something isn't chasing me, why am I running?

I started running when I was in the 7th grade; I played football in 5th and 6th grade; but I was one of the shortest, and easily the skinniest kid in my grade; naturally, I turned to cross-country. I eventually came to love the idea of competing man vs. man in a test of endurance and will. I know I wasn't the fastest guy on the course, but I also knew that it was entirely up to me how hard I was willing to run, whether or not I was willing to outwork the guy running next to me. There's just something about the purity of that sort of competition that appeals to me.

So why do I run now? After running for Cornerstone University my knees were more or less shot and I've never been able to run enough to compete at a high level since. So why do I keep running? Even without the competition against someone else, there's still the self-discipline that comes from pushing yourself against whatever you can achieve, pushing up that next hill, finishing a run with a solid kick at the end.

I never run in town; lots of people do, but I don't. I run out in nature, on grass or dirt, among the trees; that's another thing that running does for me, let's me reconnect with the peace and quiet that our world lacks these days.

Anyone else see how this applies to my blog on my ministry? That same self-discipline that I need and draw upon when I run is so very necessary in both my private and public life. Marriage is a test of running the race (not sprinting, putting in the miles), it's too easy to take
the easy way out, but that's why we need to discipline ourselves.

Is it any wonder that when Paul was seeking to justify his ministry he said, "I have run the race"; it's time we as Christians started running the race like people who want to win it.

A Moment of Rest

These are pictures of the pond that Nicole and I dug in our front yard about six years ago. The project turned out to be a LOT more work than it seemed when Nicole came up with the idea (not to mention occurring during the hottest and most humid week of the year). I wasn't sure about the idea at first, but since it was put in I've discovered that I really enjoy having this little place of peace right outside my front door. I don't mind the bit of maintenance it takes, it's actually nice to keep something in a "natural state" in good working condition. The real benefit of this pond is the chance it gives both of us to take a few moments when we need them to go and sit by the pond and just listen to the water, watch the fish or the frogs, and let life's troubles and worries be for a while. Perhaps you don't have the chance to get a moment alone in nature, but don't underestimate the healing power of taking a few minutes to just sit and let life go for a while. When you think about it, how worried do those two frogs look anyway?

Those Who Don't Learn from History

The sad lesson of the book of Judges is repeated over and over, "the Israelites once again div evil in the eyes of the LORD." This phrase invariably follows after the death of the latest Judge who saves Israel from oppression and leads the people during the rest of his/her lifetime. When that judge dies, however, the people forget the lesson of being true to God and stray once again into rebellion and sin. Their sin leads to God allowing oppression (because they aren't keeping the Covenant), the people cry out to God in their misery, God raises up a judge to deliver them which he does, and the people have peace until that judge dies. The process repeats itself so many times in Judges that it the lesson we should be learning from this bit of history is inescapable. IF we do not learn from what God has done already, we will be doomed to make the same mistakes as those who came before us. Most of us are confident enough that we don't think that we'll make such mistakes, but we should ask ourselves, do we even KNOW what God has done in the lives of our family before we came along; what did our parents learn about God that we should know, what about our grandparents? What did my church learn in the past that I don't know about? Take the time to have those conversations with those who have LIVED through the ups and downs of life; whatever else, you won't be wasting your time.

Hear Us From Heaven

We sang the iworship song, "Hear Us From Heaven" in church this morning; as I was thinking about the song (and getting the a/v equipment ready to start it), I shared this thought with the congregation, "What do we want God to HEAR from us? What is it that we really want God to know about?" It's the kind of thing that we don't stop to think about very often. Sure, we pray, we talk to God, but how often to we stop to examine what it is that we're saying to God, and what we hope to hear in return? The next time you pray, take a moment to consider what it is that you're hoping God will hear from you (obviously, I know that God knows and hears everything; but the point of praying is for us to speak to God {ultimately, for our benefit, to learn obedience and trust, and also because we're in a relationship with God (as opposed to a cosmic ATM, God is a PERSON)}...If God is going to Hear Us From Heaven (and he will), what are we saying??

Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd"

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." That pretty much says it all doesn't it?

Back up and running

After two and a half days, and countless hours of fussing, my computer is back up and running. I ended up having to reinstall Windows (wiping the hardrive, which I had back-up of course). If only it were that "easy" to wipe clean the mistakes that we've made, that easy to undue the wrongs that we've done. It took Christ on the cross to erase those sins, and even though I'll have to keep working to prevent further computer malfunctions, and eventually have to replace this machine; our savior died once for all, the ultimate clean slate.

Joshua 21:45 "Not one of all the LORD's good promises..."

This verse struck me the other day as I read it; "Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." If only you or I could say that about anyone or anything else. Even when we fully intend to keep our promises, to fulfill our obligations, we don't always have the ability to do it. When I think over the past eight years of my marriage to Nicole, the times that I wasn't able to do what she needed (even though I wanted to), have been the things that have caused me the most grief. If only I could do everything that I need to do. Thanks be to God that we worship a God who does keep his promises. And not just typical promises, but "good promises"; promises to be our Protector, Comforter, Guide. When God promises to do something, we don't have to worry about whether or not he can, and because he is God, we don't have to worry about whether or not he will. The next time somebody or something in your life lets you down, take a moment to consider that God has never broken a promise to you.

Our God is a Creator, so are we

Which is the greater wonder, the majestic mountain or the towering skyscraper? The crystal clear lake or the painting on the ceiling? We strive to make things that are beautiful because we're created in the image of our Father. God created the entire universe (not just Earth) because it was his creative pleasure to do it. Why would someone paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (read Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, it's a good book on that effort)? Why, because it's beautiful. This is our stained glass window, it looks out to the east and catches a lot of sunlight in the early hours. Why include such things in a church? Didn't you ever try to build something while your dad was working on a project, or "cook" something while your mother was making lunch? We create to honor our Creator.

Who else is coming?

Nicole took this picture before church started last week. I always seem to walk down to the front door at least once to see if someone else is coming. Not sure why, but I do. It's weird how you feel 15 minutes before church starts; almost like the host of a party who knows that people have sent an RSVP, but still wonders if they're going to show up. It doesn't really matter how many people are already at church, I'm always wondering about the few that aren't there (on vacation, sick, working, etc.); I'm also always hoping for a fresh face, for an uninvited visitor to pop in (we invite people of course, just always hope for one of those people who just feel the need to stop by).

On the way out...

I always make sure that I get to the back of the church before anyone else. I can't remember which pastor told me this, but he said that nothing that the pastor is doing the few minutes before or after the church is as important as greeting people; shaking their hands, letting them know you are glad they're there, finding out what they need prayer for, etc. I know that some churches use time before the service for a quick prayer gathering with the pastor (not being critical of them, I just see it differently), but I always intend to be there at the entrance, both before and after; just trying to be the friendly face of this ministry.

Let the Sun shine in

Most weeks at Palo we have the pleasure of having sunlight coming through our stained glass windows during the service (this being Michigan, we have weeks when 11 AM looks like twilight too). It makes seeing the PowerPoint a little more difficult at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything less. By the way, those decorations in between the windows were made by Nicole, she also has a fall set, plus a ton of stuff she made for Christmas and Easter.

The name on the sign out front

When I was growing up I struggled quit a bit with pride. School was very easy for me, I always got A's, and being one of the smallest kids in my grade led to a lot of teasing. My defense mechanism was to comfort myself with my intellectual superiority to the guys who were picking on me. It took me a while to overcome that early influence; God made sure that life humbled me sufficiently (by waiting a long, long, time before I met my future wife, and having some setbacks before I met Nicole). I also had to wait years to have a church ministry of my own (spent a few years as a youth pastor, then a long wait...); by the time that Palo offered me this position, I was just happy to finally have the chance to use what I had learned in college, the chance to use what God has given me (like the 2nd string quarterback just itching to get in the game). It wasn't until later that the sign was repainted and the little piece hung beneath it with my name on it. It actually caught me by surprise the first time, but I can't help but feel a little bit of pride when I see that sign outside the church. Not pride in who I am, but pride in what God has been able to do because I was willing to try to be of use for the kingdom.

Do this in remembrance of Me

This is the altar at Palo that we use for our monthly communion. Of all the things that a pastor does, two stand out to me. The first is performing a wedding, it always feels special as I remember my own wedding and help two new people begin that journey. The second is communion. I remember the first time I led a communion service; I was filling in at Galilee years ago before I had my own church. The memorable thing about it was that I got the chance to hand the bread and the "wine" to my own dad (a deacon at Galilee); that was a moment that stuck with me, we all want to make our parents proud of us, and I really felt like I was taking a step in the right direction in that department. My wife partakes of communion every week (at the Cathedral of St. Andrew), but most of us Baptists only have the service one a month; either way, it'll always be significant to me.

Amazing what a few farmers can build isn't it?

This is the exterior of First Baptist Church of Palo, it was built in 1927. We don't build them like this anymore, and that's a shame. The stone looks beautiful and the stain glass is truly amazing. We recently had the glass removed and remounted (and cleaned, revealing the original colors behind 80 years of dirt). As you can see, we have the American flag proudly displayed out front, across the street is the cemetery where Nicole and I were able to lead the Memorial Day service this year.

Where we came from...

This is the plaque inside my church at Palo. The church has been ministering in Palo since 1846 (that's pretty early for rural Michigan). Our current stone building replaced the original wooden one in 1927. You never really know who you are until you know where you've been. In the case of First Baptist of Palo, the church has come full-circle somewhat. I didn't know this when I first visited the church as a guest preacher, but Rev. J VanVleck is a distant relative of mine; his great-great-great (or something like that) niece is a 4th or 5th cousin of mine; we were friends throughout school. (her dad's photography studio took the pictures at our wedding) I'm proud to carry on the work that was started by J. VanVleck. I guess it is a small world after all.

With Days like these...

Well, I've spent most of the last week working on getting my computer working properly again. Unfortunately, I can't say that I've been entirely successful. I suppose that I should remember my favorite verse, Isaiah 40:31 "they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.." I could use a little renewed strength right now. Perspective also helps at times like this; nothing that I'm doing on this machine will echo in eternity; my computer is just a tool, much like my car (don't get me started on car repair stories), I can use it for God's glory, I can ensure that I use what God has given me, that I own them and that they don't own me.

My Former Home, Galilee Baptist Church of Saranac

This is Pastor Andy Mooren of Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac (my hometown, and where Nicole and I live). I grew up in this church, under the leadership of Pastor James Frank (at Galilee for 40 years!!). I owe much of my ability in the ministry to what I learned at Galilee in Sunday School, Awana, and our youth group. If you're in the Saranac area, make sure you drop by for a visit on Sunday morning. {This is also the church of my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, my sister and brother-in-law, and my three nephews and my niece.}

http://galileesaranac.com/index.htm

Jon and Elise Chadwick, Missionaries to Peru

Jon and Elise Chadwick are missionaries with Kids Alive! in Lima Peru where they work with short-term missions trip teams to show the love of Christ to the impoverished families of Lima. I've known Jon since the days when he was the kid brother of two of my best friends. Now he's all grown up and married (with young Lilia just added to the family) to Elise. The two of them are doing good work in Lima with Kids Alive! At First Baptist Church of Palo we financially support their ministry and have them in our prayers regularly. Check our their blog to find out what they've been up to lately.. http://thechadwickchronicles.com

An Analysis of Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"

Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of America's great writers. His short story, "Young Goodman Brown" is a powerful analogy about the dangers of leaving our faith behind to dabble in sin. It also speaks to the need to refrain from placing our faith in our fellow Christians rather than in God. This paper is my analysis of how faith is portrayed by Hawthorne in the story.

Young Goodman Brown essay

The Dissenting Opinions in the Roe vs. Wade case

There are few decisions which have shaped America as profoundly for good or evil as the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. The aftermath of that decision is still causing death and turmoil in our nation and has certainly damaged the Church in America (to the extent that we have become culpable in using abortion to solve our own sexual sins). Because this issue is so important, people should educate themselves so that they understand where we as a nation came from. In that light, the following links are the dissents of justices Rhenquist and White in the Roe case.

 Rhenquist's dissent

 White's dissent

How Creation, the Fall, and Redemption affect human relational intimacy

The Christian Worldview has a lot to say about the world we live in including an explanation of why our relationships are so strained, and what those relationships would have looked like before the Fall, and will look like after the Redemption that God has begun through Christ finds its fulfillment. This paper is a small attempt to discuss those issues in regards to human relationships.

Relational intimacy paper

The Play that Brought us Together

The writing of this play holds a special place in the memory of both Nicole and I. We began writing this play as friends, by the time we finished the play we were in love. The play has been performed at Saranac High School (the first production, with Nicole as Electra, myself as Rock) and also at Pewamo-Westphalia High School (thankfully, we didn't act in this one). It's a story about love forgotten that gets a second chance, and love delayed that finally takes the risk of coming to fruition.

The U.S.S. Platonic script

A Christian Worldview applied to Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov is an amazing series of books that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good story. With Asimov, it's always more than a good story, Asimov's view of humanity and human history is clear throughout his writing. I wrote this paper as an analysis of Asimov's view of history within the Foundation Series. If you're a fan of Asimov, give it a read, if you're not a fan, get one of his books.

Asimov's Foundation Series analysis by a Christian Worldview paper

A Brief Theology Derived from the Nicene Creed

I put this document together in order to have a brief overview of Christian theology set within the framework of the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed was adopted in 381 A.D. and was accepted by virtually all of Christendom. We as a Church have splintered badly in the last 1700 years, but it is important to realize that the Church was able to overcome its differences and unite behind this powerful statement.

Read and enjoy,

An overview of theology derived from the Nicene Creed

II Corinthians 1:4 "so that we can comfort"

Why do we endure troubles and trials? No simple answer will satisfy the question that has echoed since the days of Job (beware of those peddling simple answers), but in II Corinthians 1:3-7 Paul offers us one reason why we may endure such difficulties. The answer is that we learn to comfort others when we ourselves receive comfort from God. Because God is merciful, we can learn to show mercy, because God is forgiving, we can learn to forgive, and because God comforts those in need, we too can learn to be comforters in the imitation of our Father. It's not a complete answer, it isn't supposed to be, but perhaps the next time you stare into the heavens and ask, "Why me Lord?", it'll be a bit of comfort for you to know that you may be learning to be a more useful child of God.

Greed and the Death of our neighbor the "Bicycle Man"

Today in Federal Court two men were charged with the kidnapping and murder of our neighbor Donald Dietz, the "bicycle man", on Sep. 11, 2007. Donald was a very private man who lived at the end of a dirt road across from the state park (about a mile from my house, a couple hundred yards from my parents' house). I used to park across from his trailer (set a hundred yards back from the road) and go run on the park's trails. Donald road his bicylce to Ionia weekly, six miles on a busy narrow road; I always thought he'd get killed by a driver who didn't see him. The darkness of mens' hearts had other plans though. These two men tried to steal $450,000 from Donald and transfer it out of the country (the bank stopped the transfer, it looked suspicious). In the process, they evidently tasered this quiet older man, and at some point killed him. My father used to help Donald from time to time with things like paperwork, they both worked at Amway, and nobody would have known that this unassuming man had half a million dollars. The money had no hold at all on Donald, he just kept on saving it, but to these two men (whom I will not dignify by using their names) had enough Greed in their hearts to contemplate theft, to plan it, to contemplate and carry out kidnapping, and to let it lead to murder. Sin is like that, it blackens our hearts and destroys the humanity that we all have as Children of God. Donald certainly would not have appreciated being front page news in the Grand Rapids Press again and again, and he obviously didn't deserve to die, but in a world crying out for redemption by God this is what happens. My neighbor, a quiet man, was murdered by greed, our world is like that.