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.