Brazil Post 4 11/12/09

Date: 2009-11-12 06:58:28 -0200
Topic: Taking Back Some Revelation

Each day a new revelation comes. Today, I have a renewed revelation for prayer.

We had an impromptu healing service for Ben tonight in the parking lot outside of the church office. It was his first time to be prayed for with anointing with oil, laying on hands and for healing. His eyes are puffy and incredibly itchy. They are driving him crazy for three days. His stomach has been upset since Sunday night. The allegra is not working. In the night, many of his symptoms were gone.

Everywhere we go we pray. We pray all at once. We pray individually. The Cell Groups pray. People cry out. Tongues are heard, but many encourage the person who is praying with echoes of  “Amen!” or simply repeating what was said. During worship the leader prays, and the singers pray, and the leader steps away from the keyboard to pray with his musicians and encourage them while the congregation is still singing. Before meals we pray. “Amens!” and “Seen, Seen! (Yes, Yes!)” are heard at dinner prayers. “We are always thankful to our God who loves us, and we know that we must enter into what he is already doing so we pray”, Pastor Iran says. We submit to the one who loves us, and we recognize his desire to have us know what he has promised to do, what he is doing and what gifts he brings into our lives and for those we cover in prayer. We “covered in prayer” the upcoming conference, “The Encounter”. We have not had falling over or jumping or outbursts of a tongue or interpretation. This is simply a sincere desire to encounter God personally while we are together, to do what Paul and Jesus commanded, i.e. to pray without ceasing, to bring our requests to God, to pray in the spirit, to intercede for others, our rulers and leaders, to worship, etc. I do not see competition. Pastor Iran does not beat a drum to build up the emotions. We pray because we love God and he loves us.

Communion last night at Cell Group went well. I gave my talk about all of us being “10’s”. I started by counting off ten squares, moved the communion table to square 10 and went to square 1. I explained that we remember Jesus in communion so we will remember how he loved people unconditionally. I asked for examples of people, ten examples. One guy didn’t get it, but the rest did. As I finished this section, I asked people to rate themselves on their own walk with God. Most placed themselves in the middle, and Rachelina said sometimes she is a one. Yet, Jesus loved people unconditionally. He saw them as 10’s. All of the people we mentioned were up at the ten spot in Jesus’ eyes. I moved myself to the 10 spot. Because of the death of Christ, his burial which proves our sins were buried with him and his resurrection which proves he is victorious over sin and death. I invited all those who are 10’s to come forward to remember Jesus. I was so honored that these younger leaders of the church responded well. I believe that God wants us to hear over and over of his love for us and our complete acceptance by him. There is so much hatred and reviling people who are sinners and imperfect, as though we need more of that to know God’s love and kindness.

I was  thankful the respons was positive. Evander and Sayanara, who arrived from a city in NE Brazil for the conference this weeked, took notes. They are going to repeat this for their congregation. Go God! What I take for granted as typical crazy “Tom Bier” stuff, someone actually tastes the Spirit and wants to bless someone else. I love that!

Today, we tried to do some sightseeing. the weather was cool and rainy, a beautiful temperature and much preferred to the sweltering heat of the day before. We were caught in several traffic jams. The market at the foot of the Eiffel tower in the center of town was practically closed due to the rain, but I found a great t-shirt shop for some gifts for home.

We went to the museum that honors Juscelino Kubitschek, the President of Brazil who instigated and directed the building of Brasilia in 1960. He took Brazil out of the third world and into the progressive industrial age by moving the capital from Rio de Janeiro to the center of Brazil, uninhabited and uncultivated. He wanted a planned, modern city so the city moves easily with very few traffic signals, except where the roads into and out of Brasilia intersect. Those four main exits are always backlogged at peak times. We got caught in one for about an hour. A man three cars ahead of us stepped out of his car and peed in plain view. We were stuck so long, then found a paving machine blocking three lanes of four in the middle of rush hour.

The museum is almost a cult religion as it looks at every aspect of JK’s life. Even his sarcophagus is there. He lies in permanent state in a darkened rotunda, with an evil red glow to the black walls and black coffin. Yet, the achievement over a period of about five years is astounding. Bruce was saying his first trip to Brazil as an intern was in 1968. At that time none of the outlying metropolis was built and only two of the four quadrants was built up. Brasilia looks like it came out of the 1950’s with cubist realism as its theme and concrete and glass as it’s building blocks. Many of the apartments, stores and schools are looking their age.

We met a fellow Christian, Zazo, who took us to the National congress building. Congress was in session, but unspectacular. The body wouldn’t gather until after 4:00 p.m. to debate the issues of the day. Speeches were made to near empty Senate and Congress chambers, but Zazo said they would gather at 4:00 until well after midnight. The main subject of the day is a labor law changing the work week from 44 hours to 40 and restricting employers from firing someone without cause at any time. Thousands of people were supposed to come out and protest in red shirts on the congressional lawn, but we didn’t see those large numbers because of the torrential rain all morning. The protests were peaceful, but the police were out in record numbers.

As always, a mission trip is a mixed bag, just like ministry at home. We have to eat and get around, so much of our day is preparing for a few moments in time to be in relationship with someone or a group so that God can use us. We are learning from the people who drive us and feed us, as well. Bruce has been a missionary since the 60’s, and at 65 years old has geared up for many more years of ministry to help the poor in Mozambique as well as in Brasilia. He’s had two lives in a way. His first wife died of a brain tumor when the youngest of his three girls was 14. He married within a year to a Brazilian woman who tutored his children. They now have two teenage children, and are in the thick of ministry, cell groups, leadership training, English classes and helping Pastor Iran with leadership. As we moved through town, we saw many people who knew Bruce and Naija and gave great hugs of warmth. Bruce’s phone was ringing like mine with contacts and planning. The gift he and his family gave of a day to transport us and share with us their lives was incredible knowing the things that he must do to keep up with the details of life and ministry. They have built their house over the last year in stages, and live in an unfinished house. It’s nice, but most Americans couldn’t live with the sacrifices they have made, even though having a house is a real privilege.

For missionaries and pastors in this context of “The Mustard Seed Church”, their homes are their base of ministry with Cell Groups and counseling, happening there all the time. Naija has had three groups of women in this week to learn how to do scrapbooking and card making. They start with a devotion. Their friend from Green Bay, WI, shares her testimony. They pray. Then, they have a great time learning a skill to save money and do something for love. The women have loved it. And it happens in their home. At this moment, Pastor Iran has six of us living in his home of about 2,500 square feet. There is no heat or A/C, no double paned windows or screens and no carpeting. It’s simple, yet comfortable, elegant yet practical. They built it for ministry. Polly, from Bulgaria, is staying with them without charge for three months as she helps in the ministry. Interesting. How many of our Americans would be able to share their homes in this way? And the pastors of all the churches do this. Pastor Wilson has the husband of an Immanuel Seminary student living with him for a year. People in the church are sponsoring attendees to “The Encounter” this weekend in their homes. Wow! This is how the early church loved each other and won many to Christ.

Ricardo is going to teach Ben a few songs he has written. He has them in English. We’ll sing them at The Journey, Lord willing, some time.

Tomorrow is a day to catch up on some activities before Friday’s Encounter. We are resting and meeting with some of the leaders throughout the day as they come in to visit. We are hosting a cookout for the staff and missionaries today, as well. Lots of  Brazilian style grilled food!

BRAZIL POST 1

[Pictures Below. Click to enlarge.] After arrival around noon from the airport to Pastor Iran’s home, we had lunch, then napped. Dinner at 6ish, then whisked into town to attend the Youth Cell gathering. we were there just to observe. The youth are intense about their relationship with God. The speakers were all impassioned to live a life worthy of God. Even in the music the youth were passionate. We sang the newest song by the worship leader, created the day before, as a theme song for the night. Then, on Sunday night’s celebration sang it again. I think it will become the theme of the “Encounter Weekend”, the national gathering of people affiliated with the Mustard Seed Church.

We arrived home to have another dinner, as you can see by my watch, past midnight. I slept for seven hours straight on Saturday night.

We’re fed well! Lots of beans and rice. Rice is served at every meal. Beef was great. On Sunday afternoon we were entertained by the missionary family with the church. They are from Green Bay, but are truly Brazilian. In fact, the father has served here for over thirty years. His first wife died of cancer. He married a Brazilian woman and have two children, 16 and 14. We ate the traditional Brazilian favorite dish, faijoada, comprised of black beans, sausage, pork and tons of spices over rice. Each of the family members is dedicated to the mission of the gospel and their cell groups are intense places for discipleship. As well as our “families” and the missionary’s, a friend from Green Bay with her son is staying with Bruce and his wife for three weeks.

On Sunday morning we gave Pastor Iran a $1,000.00 gift to be used where he most needed it in ministry, the conference or any expenses of the congregation. He immediately thanked us, saying it was too much. We insisted he take it as a gift for him and the ministry. He was brought to tears. He spoke of the love that people sent to him through the gift. Giving is sacramental, he said. As he told Noueza, his wife, she could not believe it. As well, we have much more to give. The church does not have an overflow of abundance, yet is a prosperous congregation. Most people have their college degrees. Their goal is to have 2% of their congregation have Doctorates and 10% have Master’s Degrees within eight more years. So, they are sending their people to the U.S. or to Brazilian schools, helping with costs and helping with scholarship searches. The money we have left may very well be used for scholarships.

Sunday night I preached on “What is the Gospel?” Many of you know my spiel about this. I acted out a variation of Rob Bell’s Cave Man, Cave Woman example from his “God is Not Angry” tour. I tried it out on a couple of people before preaching so I could make sure I had culturally appropriate terms and questions. Babi suggested I use real people to be the Cave Man and Cave Woman because she wasn’t sure in the translation to Portuguese it would be as effective without them. So, I used the missionaries two teens as props. they acted along with me as if we had choreographed the skit before hand. What was happening is that I spoke in English so by the time they started to act, the interpreter, their father, would start the Portuguese and it would seem to be in “real time” for the Portuguese.

Throughout the sermon I kept the focus on the fact that the church has covered up the simple gospel so that the church portrays a God who is angry. I prepared them often to be ready for the question, “What is the Gospel?” I had checked with several people before the sermon if this question would offend people, but everyone said “no!” So, I had each person ask a neighbor the question and listen for the answer. After a few minutes I asked if anyone was absolutely positive they had answered the question correctly. No one answered. I was sure I had offended everyone, especially Pastor Iran. So, when I explained 1 Cor. 15:1-8, and said the simple gospel, i.e. the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, there were “Amens!” and “Ahh’s” of understanding. They truly had complicated the gospel just like the rest of us! It’s so simple and so central to all that we are and believe.

After worship we went out to eat at 10:30 and arrived home at one a.m. What a day. And this is normal. Tonight we meet our Cell Group at 8:30! When do our friends go to work in the morning?

The view from Bruce’s Back Yard 09. In the boonies.

Bruce’s dinner party 110809

Our last luggage pick up!

I’m praying, but Pastor Iran has his eyes open during the prayer.

Youth night

Posing with youth leaders

The TIME our first dinner took place…that’s a.m.!

Our first dinner with Pastor Iran and Neueza

Babi waving in the long line for Brazilians in customs.

Ben after customs and running through the airport in Sao Paulo

Babi and her dad, Pastor Iran

USA or Brazil?

the time of our arrival on the first day

Youth Praying

Praying at the Youth Cell Night on Saturday

Bruce and Naiajia

Praying before dinner. Pastor Iran

Delicious dinner at Bruce and Noiagia (sp?)’ s house

The noisiest bird in the world…like a crow.

Bruce, missionary, and Ben talking construction

The rain is keeping it gorgeously cool! About 80 during the day.

Raining!

Modern government building in Brasilia

Playing the role of cave people, a la Rob Bell, but Tom Bier style

A Candleabra

Neueza, Pastor’s wife, our unbelievable chef, hostess

Paulo, drummer, Pastor’s son, cell leader

Treated to seafood dinner after worship!

Athletic club owned by the famous footballer Renaldo

Brazil = Shoes!

John, missionary’s son

Brazil

leaving tomorrow. packing, kind of. always a bigger job than I think.

got dry cleaning. need to bring a suit…ugh.

got my computer back from Apple on Monday…a 2-day turn around for a chipped case repair.

got my visa, gift money and expense money for the trip. Thanks, Shawn!

leaving The Journey in good hands. Lots of great, committed people to keep the cells thriving and Sunday morning celebration a good time. Thank you all!

Tennessee Candle Holder and Hand Dipped Candles

Margie brought some Tennessee gifts to give to our families we visit. Thank you, Margie.

And now off to buy a Big Orange Tennessee shirt for the Pastor to wear over his suit!

Yes, Rhonda, the flights are confirmed.

The signed and numbered print Margie donated for a guest family.

Leave Tri-Cities at 11:10 a.m. tomorrow. Arrive Brasilia 9:15 a.m. Saturday.

Canada, Aye?

Yonge (pronounced "Young") St. North York Center a couple of blocks from Lake Ontario

Arrived in Muskoka at 9:10 p.m. yesterday. We took an hour and a half detour through the heart of Toronto, Yonge St. The ride would have been a record 14.5 hour drive but instead lasted 16 hours, but the trip up Yonge St., so cosmo, so multi-ethnic, so many bikes was worth it. I’ll have pictures we took from the car as we passed by large plate glass windows where our reflection stood out from the cosmo look. The mini van with an 18.5′ canoe on top was hilarious in the window. And yes, we got lost twice on the way up. We took a little detour onto the PA Turnpike looking for a bathroom for Jim. Ask him who Chi Chi is. My fault on the bad directions. And then in Buffalo, we went through Lackawanna to hook up with the Fort Erie bridge and got a little turned around but saw downtown Buffalo for the first time. Tim says Lackawanna is a great name for Presbyterians.

Rain pelted us as we emptied the car. The pump worked after sitting idle for two months. We have one working heater, but the wood stove cranked out maximum heat when we got it going. It’s not that cold. I think it was about 48 degrees last night. Sleeping was great. Beds have been fitted with new egg shell mattresses so they aren’t rock hard. Tim slept on the porch to get maximum exposure. Tim and Jim snored like elephants but they were two rooms away!

View from the Cottage

Danny shared his journey of faith this morning. Awesome! I wish he could tell it like that in front of a bunch of people. He’s become a Warrior for Christ, a rock of faith, in the five years I’ve known him. Jim and I went for a two mile walk up the road. We saw five deer who peered at us through the bushes, less than fifty feet away, as we walked by. I talked to them the whole way, but they didn’t want to go get coffee and talk.

I took a quickie swim this morning. Air temp was about 50. Water temp felt warmer, but chilly. Jim got it on film. All I can say is, “Refreshing!”

The guys played along with me and went to Knox Presbyterian Church in Port Carling to the prayer service and soup lunch. We had a liturgical prayer and worship then prayed for people’s needs. I prayed for Rhonda’s tests back home as she is totally stressed with history right now. The folks are Knox are wonderful and totally accommodated our usurping of their

Summer worship at Knox Pres., Port Carling, Ontario

prayer group. Soups were fantastic as usual. I had the corn chowder and the pureed squash, red pepper and some other zingy spices. Steven, the pastor, doesn’t know the recipe because he made it up as he found ingredients in the fridge. I sat at the end table with Toni, Steven’s wife, who was still excited from the excellent sermon (in Canadian “reading”) she gave at Knox on Sunday. Steven was preaching in Bracebridge as their moderator. He says stated supply is hard to get in the winter in these churches. I think we should give them some of our Commissioned Lay Pastors to help out!

The only doctor in town came to lunch and sat next to me. She immediately took up with the conversation about health care started by Jim when he asked what everyone thought of the Ontario health system. The response people had give was, “satisfied.” The doc asked how such a generous country could allow so many people to remain unvaccinated and under-served, and why our infant mortality rate is almost to third world proportions? she believes that the middle man and the lawyers are creating a selfish system. She mentioned that dentists make much more than doctors in Ontario because it is privatized. Toni concurred since she writes the paychecks for the doc and used to work for a dentist. But the payments and the services are working great according to the doc. She would like an appointment with Obama to help him understand the system. Canadian Health is all about cutting costs by keeping people healthy.

So, I’m at the Library while the guys do a little souvenier shopping and get a fishing license. Jim has to bring some moose antlers home for his granddaughter. I think Danny is going to bring something home with “Aye” on it since that has become his favorite word. Tim hopes to catch some fish. So out we go on the clear glassy piece of heaven, Lake Rosseau, before the rain starts in a few hours.

OBAMA’s Education Speech

John Piper and Al Mohler give their evaluation of President Obama’s speech two weeks ago:

John Piper- “I’ve Read the President’s Speech: Amazing”

Al Mohler- “The Obama School Speech Controversy- What To Think?”

My Favorite Number

Just discovered a new fact about my favorite number, 26. The number twenty six symbolizes God’s true name. 26 is the gematric number of the true name of god – YHWH. According to Jewish chronology, God gave the Torah in the 26th generation since Creation.

This is all said knowing the real reason 26 is my favorite number is because for a good part of my pre-teens, I couldn’t remember whether my birthday was August 26 or 24. I remember that I had said the wrong date a few times, so I made 26 my favorite number. Then, low and behold, 24 became a great number in my life. Rhonda and I married on August 24th. (Prescient, prophetic, twilight zonish?)

Remember

Prosperity and Abundance

James K. A. Smith, Associate Prof at Calvin College in Philosophy, writes about the difference between abundance and prosperity. A comment by a reader says that Walter Bruggeman was asked the same question and responded simply, “Us and me.” After listening to a Joel Osteen sermon critiqued by Pastor Mark Driscoll about how God has made us victorious, and how we should have the same prosperity in our family relationships, health and finances, I found Smith’s article a well rounded and reasoned underpinning to the crazy factions on all sides of the issue.

Smith speaks of the difference the prosperity gospel makes to a Nigerian making $2/day and a mega church member in Atlanta. He makes the connection to the eschatological nature of the God’s promise of an abundance in heaven to the preaching of it now. He contrasts God’s concern for the poor with the structural injustices that yield abundance for only a few.

I would die for it

Amazing story of faith. Three pastors beheaded this week. They would not recant their faith or give Allah glory. Zip, crack, headless. Swift and over. Not mega church pastors or famous authors, but poor, Nigerian Christians, doing their faith, obedient, sold out.

What are you willing to die for? Bill Hybels said, he’d die for his grandson, as he held him in his arms. His thoughts immediately went to the starving children around the world. He had a Jesus moment.

15,000,000 (fifteen million. 15 million, that’s Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, San Diego, Philadelphia and Houston combined) children will die of starvation this year! Could the financial world give up their millions of bonus dollars for them? Could I just give up $1,000.00? What could I do? (More world hunger stats)

Football season is almost here. Can you sponsor a football party to end world hunger? Can you invite the guys and their wives over raise money for World Vision, Bread for the World, your local food bank, etc.? Your obedience to Jesus the Lord and Christ will shine through!

How much can we do? How much do we need to spend on ourselves?

Check out this story on www.kiva.org. A naive 20 something woman started a micro-lending machine, not impersonal, but you get the story, the reality, the need and the joy of nearly a 0% default rate! Millions of dollars to change lives. Her commitment to Christ shines through.

Good African Coffee. 50% of proceeds go back to the Ugandan farmers. Farmers need trade not just aid. The founder’s faith in the Lord Jesus shines through!

Who are we to think we deserve so much? Because “…he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:8-10

Why So Much Spiritual Deadness in Our Church

Tim Keller at Willow Creek Leadership Conference 09

I have the key to Spiritual renewal…I’m a sucker for people who say that.

What shocks us as ministers is the spiritual deadness in our congregations. A tiny number do all the work. Much spiritual indifference, backbiting, the critical spirit, pride, etc. we are so desperate to get a good idea. Lack of spiritual vitality is still the main problem. We don’t have the problem who can’t or won’t do it. I’m going to give you at my best shot of my diagnosis of what that deadness exists of that is not too vague. It’s too programmatic or organizational development.

Parable of prodigal son: prodigal = recklessly extravagant, prodigious. Spurgeon called it Prodigal love for the Prodigal Son. The parable is not for younger brother types. In Luke 15 at the beginning, the religious people and the sinners surround Jesus. The Pharisees notice that Jesus is hanging out with sinners. Then, Jesus told three parables to them, the Pharisees and religious people. Inside you have two figures, the sinner and the religious people. The last part of the parable is about the older brother to address us in the church, moral people, not the irreligious or immoral.

2. Main point in the parable is shocking in that both are alienated from the father, who represents God. Both are alienated from the father’s heart, lost and need an invitation in. they younger brother just wants the fathers money. He lives any way he wants, but by the end of the parable, the elder brother doesn’t love the father, even on the greatest day of the father’s life, because he is upset over how the money is spent! Both love the Father’s things but not the Father. Younger gets money by being bad. Elder tries to get money by staying home and being compliant and good. He says, “I’ve never disobeyed you!” Two ways of trying to control you own life: bad or moralistic. God has to answer my prayers, respect me and take me to heaven. Jesus might be his inspiration or example, or helper, but not his savior. He is his own savior. Two ways of being your own savior and reject God. The other brother claims he is with God. I stayed home and am doing everything you want. Underneath is no difference. The shocking ending is that the good brother does not come into the feast. The bad boy is saved and the good boy is lost, not in spite of his goodness but because of his goodness. The reason he rejects the father is because he has never disobeyed the father. I am so mad and licentiate because he has been so good and you are not doing what I want you to do.

The gospel is not morality or immorality.

Religion operates on the principle of obey and get acceptance. Gospel operates on accepting what Jesus has done for me therefore I obey. Motive. Spirit. Different results. Obey to get things. God is a means to an end. OR God gives us a righteous record and then I live for him. Everything a rational being could ever want is yours at the moment you believe. Granted eternal life and the knowledge of his delight in you, the only one in the whole universe that matters. Gospel people obey to get more of God, not his thins. Want to resemble God and delight in God to get more of him.

The source of spiritual deadness. Elder brothers through their efforts to obey and do good, want leverage over god and have self-righteousness over others and insecure inside of themselves, and functionally with God they are basing their relationship on performance. Self-centeredness, pride, backbiting. No growth in the fruit of the spirit. The fault of our heart is religion and we don’t really believe the gospel. The marks of spiritual deadness are that they get incredibly angry when their life doesn’t go well. Discouragement, yes. Sadness, yes, but they believe god owes them so anger at God. My leverage over him did not work. You don’t really believe the gospel so there is a spiritual deadness in your life.

How do you respond to criticism? Either counters attack because reputation is being a good person so very foundation of your life is at stake so we melt down or melt someone else down. You don’t believe you are sinner saved by grace.

Prayer: elder brothers pray, a lot. But are petitionary prayers. When things are going bad we do a lot, but one thing almost never do is just enjoy God, not much contemplation, adoration, meditation. It is impossible for elder brothers to not loathe other people. You have to despise other people who are lazy. If your self-image is based on the right doctrine, not on right doctrine is about, hard working, you will loathe people who disagree with you. Elder brothers are filled with loathing

Elder brothers can’t forgive. Anger is right normal and natural. But you can’t stay angry with someone unless you feel superior. Bitterness is a sign of power looking down on others who can’t see your goodness so you condemn others.

So many people!!

Two things must be done: a new level of repentance and a new level of rejoicing.

Pharisees were sorry and repented, but they were still Pharisees. They were even more pharisaical because they would say, “look how much I’ve repented!” it’s not repenting for your wrong doing but repenting for your right doing. You are trying to get control over other, your own life, leverage over god, feeling superior over others. Unless you can’t repent for your right doing there will not be renewal. You cannot get right with God because of your damnable good works. You think you are doing God a favor by following him. You must get down to that deeper level of repentance to break through to a new level of rejoicing and renewal.

Prodigal son typical moral is to repent and god receives you back. But you know that is just one more thing for us to do! We need to be moved by what it cost to bring the young man home! The cost to the father was huge. His estate was half gone. Every robe and ring, fatted calf and party belonged to the elder brother. So he brought him back at the expense of the elder brother. Elder brother didn’t want to do it. Oldest son’s job was to keep the family together. If he were a true older brother he would have gone out to get the younger brother like the good shepherd. The young man didn’t have an older brother but a Pharisee. But you do!

The father can only bring us back at the expense of the older brother. Who is that? The elder brother must save us not just by money but also with his life. He can clothe us with his robe because he gave it up on the cross. He can give us the cup of joy because Jesus drank the cup of wrath. When you are moved to the depths to see what it cost to bring you home you are cleansed of your self righteousness, and gives you a security that you do not need to do anything for God’s favor.

Practical: 50% of your elder brother needs to be squeezed out right now. Deeper repenting and deeper rejoicing to destroy the spiritual deadness. Showing people that gospel is not religion or irreligion, morality or immorality but a third way.

Young people are so demoralized by the gospel because it is not just living the way they want nor is it legalism but a third way. When you ask people to ask Jesus into your heart they think you are asking them to live like Jesus. Unless you thread the needle like I’ve described you cannot get spiritual renewal.

1. The leader must get this in my heart myself. Why am I trying so hard to help people? For me. We need to show that through faith alone! Don’t go into the ministry to save your soul. Now, I know. That’s what I do because I live and die by my attendance. My self-regard is bound up in numbers and overwork. Why criticism kills you. It’s not going after your ministry but your salvation. Experience personal yourself.

2. If you are a preacher or a teacher, when you communicate move beyond biblical principles to the gospel. We don’t give our money, as we should because we don’t see we have spiritual riches so money will stop becoming our salvation or our sign of righteousness. We need to give to take people to the gospel. We believe the gospel more deeply today so we can give our money away. God leads me beside still waters and green pastures. Go and trust him like that???? I have trouble trusting him like that. So, never end the teaching without talking about the one who thirsted or wasn’t allowed to lie down in green pastures but was killed on a cross. He was forsaken! He was tortured so you can see that your sins are always covered, and we bring the gospel to the heart rather than pounding the will.

3. Leaders together and take them through the Prodigal God and DVD. Do not treat it like a class.

4. Work it in your congregation the slow way, with your leaders taking it to the people in your congregation or you can do the whole church at once. If you do all that you will see these differences. You will have gracious disagreements. Most people would leave. We have gracious differences, and we are still happy on our own. Religious people come and say that they weren’t really Christians. Pray for this. John Newton: Thou art coming as a king…Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.

–Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare: by John Newton

Small Gospel Large Gospel

Listen to the audio by Darrel Bock… and compare what he says to T. M. Moore here in a pdf file. If you’re interested in what is the small gospel and what the large gospel is, or what is the core of belief in Christianity and what it leads to you’ll find this interesting. Here was my response to a friend about Darrel Bock’s audio…

Great link and explanation, but he contradicts himself and confuses the issue. He says later that 1 Cor. 15 is “the basement” yet earlier says the core of the gospel is a reestablishing of our relationship with God. I think that in the same breath we should state both, yet keep it simple. Belief in the DBR [death, burial and resurrection] always leads to the question “So what?” but without the DBR of Jesus nothing else can take place. In evangelism, I find that most people are confused because they understand the need for a renewed or born again relationship with God, but most have no idea how it happens. They have a warm fuzzy. They confessed their sins. They merged two or three religions. They went forward to receive Christ, but “the basement” is unexplored and thus, their foundations are very, very selfish and shakey.

Porn Again

Real guys have huge sex drives. Unfortunately, we Christians don’t like to talk about it, thus, no practical advice, and many, many frustrated men and women men have hurt. The church has become an institution for the effeminate (see the book, “Why Men Hate Going to Church“) denying the facts we all know are so true about men’s libido’s, which, by the way, are part of God’s creation, in his image (now there’s a thought to explore in Rob Bell’s book, “The Sex God“) So, thanks to Mark Driscoll, a free book is available. Men beware! It’s not soft on us, but there’s hope. We need practical advice. Download it! Pass it out. An army Chaplain friend has given it to forty of his men.

Make Sense Out of Life

In one Cell group this week we studied 1 Corinthian 7 and in another the little letter to the slave owner, Philemon. Both studies revealed the practical nature of grace. In 1 Corinthians 7, sex is the issue. In Philemon, forgiving a major theft and violation of criminal law is at issue. Sex and forgiveness. I’ll bet we never see a TV show by that title! Paul was helping new believers make sense out of life.

After watching “Everything is Spiritual” last Sunday night, I realized how easy it is to forget that everything is spiritual. We create grace waves that swim through our networks, or we perpetuate offenses and crap. When Obama invited a couple of dueling personalities, the cop and the Harvard prof, for a couple of beers, he admitted that some things didn’t make sense except around a casual, friendly conversation.

Madonna has run to Kaballah. It made sense out of everything, she said. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. George Harrison, of the Beatles, said the same about music,  “I’ll give up this sort of touring madness certainly, but music-everything is based on music. No, I’ll never stop my music.”

Yet, even knowing everything is spiritual, one cannot make total sense of this world. Harrison retreated into a world of drugs and alcohol his entire life. Madonna is rich and famous, but her problems are still with her. In “Everything is Spiritual,” Rob Bell pointed out the fights between different theological camps as examples, and God looks at both and says, “Yep!”  As Christians we can only make sense out of life when we see a Jesus, who is Savior and Lord. Donald Miller writes in “Searching for God Knows What,” “It wasn’t until I read the gospels that Christianity made sense. As surprising as it sounds, Jesus saved my faith!” Today, find some sense.

Christian String Theory

The vows I took as a husband to Rhonda 24 years ago on Aug. 24, 1985 seemed doable. For some reason, we memorized the vows. Seemed repeating them after Pastor Sherwin was a little too much of him and not enough of the romance, our eyes locked romantically, lips moving, hearts burning with joy at those binding words. The rub? I bumbled my vows and left out “for richer, for poorer.” Does that mean I am exempt on that one?

The last four weeks, Rhonda’s been sick, coughing so hard her neck is sore and she has a strained rib. She’s slept in another room for a week so that I could sleep without her barking next to me thinking Armegeddon was close. Our second trip to the doctor proved she had pneumonia, a little spot of crackling in one of her lower right lobes. She starts antibiotics today. If they work, which they will, she’s cough free this week! If they don’t…

Our story is small. Take Mary and Charles, friends, elders, fellow Journeyites. Mary has nursed Charles back to health over the last five weeks. It was touch and go for a while from his infection. He’s been weak. She has trouble sleeping. They were in church for the first time in four Sundays last night. They’ve been married 28 years. They brim with love and thankfulness together. A beaming, emotional, Charles stood last night to thank everyone for praying, and especially the Wednesday night Cell Group for spending an evening with them at their home. “O the bliss that fills my soul!”

Our friends Marge and Eddie, in Florida, have suffered through Marge’s marriage-long hip injury and wheelchair dependency. Eddie dutifully, and usually, joyfully, moves the wheelchair in and out of the car, up and down curbs and bends his will to hers to get stuff for her. They’ve been married at least thirty years. Duty and love, serving and sickness.

Scott and Linda, in Muskegon, MI, old High School friends, keep us posted on her cancer treatment and various repercussions. The pain and anxiety plow through the optical fibers to friends on Facebook, garnishing typed words of encouragement and prayer for all to see.

Some marriages don’t survive these sicknesses. In these sicknesses, pressure for intimacy and the carefree romantic life, tiptoeing through the tulips, drives people insane for normalcy. The stress destroys frivolity…and possibly fidelity.

On the other hand, something else emerges, something grand and deep. A power creeps in, seeps in, overpowers in the night, or after day seven, or in the middle of an emergency room visit. That power isn’t a hope that intimacy will be met or a resolution is near. The emerging power is like a sweeping mist overtaking the surface of a deep, clear lake. Soon, the lover is in an envelope of mist, a power from outside, a shortening of sight to what is close at hand. A job must be done. A person is in need. Focus. Care. Help. Serve. Listen. The options are cut. The romantic notion of friendship dies. Now, thin misty threads of true love form, spidery strings, sticky and strong, powerful, to buckle down, to save the one closest to you.

I’ve seen it. I’ve tasted it. That mist is sweet. The bonds are stronger. The vows held, “in sickness and in health,” and we are ready to face the onslaught to our other vows, but together, strength in numbers, two can chase a hundred, where in sickness, one is bound in deep, misty love to lonely serving.

Praise God, Mary and Charles! Hang on Scott and Linda! Be strong, Dale and Joann! Stay the course, Shelby and Dave! Focus, Tom and Rhonda!

“Finally, these three remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love!” 1 Cor. 13

“Christ’s love compels us.” 2 Cor. 5:14

Big Chicken Witnessing

Why did the rooster cross the road? Because he wasn’t chicken.

What do we say when we witness? Three times this week in our cell groups this topic was discussed. I’m going to try to flesh out what happens in witnessing.

In a word, witnessing is discernment. Some people don’t want to talk to us about religious things so we must be discerning and gracious. We don’t know what another person believes so we have to ask and ask and ask. Many Christians can’t articulate what the gospel is, and all of us must continually probe the depths of all that the gospel brings. Thus, the gospel must be discerned.
Discernment also takes place during the conversation. Unfortunately, most of us are more concerned with being heard! Most Christian witnessing tools emphasize what we must say. Thus, Christians are afraid to witness because “I don’t know very much!” What we are afraid of is the fact that other people might find holes in our beliefs or knowledge, but don’t we want to get stronger in faith? Don’t we want our holes to be filled? Don’t we want more of the power of the gospel at work in our lives?
Most people are not good discerners or listeners in conversation! We match story for story, belief for belief, and sickness for sickness. More excitingly and more satisfying is the listening and asking questions approach. Unfortunately, we have to suspend our own stories and beliefs, deny our egocentrism and our need to be loved and heard. People have so many interesting life events and faith histories when I actually listen for them. I’m fascinated by the assumptions people make about Christianity so I ask people how they came to these assumptions.

Some atheists are believers and don’t know it! They speak more about God than some believers. They know what God isn’t like because they believe that their God wouldn’t act in certain ways or make them do certain things. Some atheists know more about the Bible and the gospel than church people. I’m almost always amazed at how much thought and study some of my unbelieving friends have put into their beliefs.

But don’t be intimidated. Ask more questions. We might be afraid of looking foolish because we don’t know what the other person knows, but that’s a little like not going to the doctor because he might give us bad news. Witnessing is going to help us to know what we are supposed to know. Witnessing helps us discern what we know and what we don’t. Thank people for their honesty, their study and thought and their discussion. You’ve been helped by it.

Discernment about the gospel means we must discern and believe in our deepest self that the evidence is true. The gospel must be discerned in a nutshell. What are we believing and asking people to believe? Paul does a nutshell presentation for the Corinthians (and for us!) in 1 Cor. 15:1-7. The core of the good news (the gospel) is that “Christ died according to the scripture, he was buried and he was raised from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures.” Every word of that phrase has to be unpacked. All the projections into life must be discerned. Before we can so boldly say religious sounding phrases to people, we must have discerned the power of this core message of the gospel. Paul is so sure of this he says, “This is the gospel!” We must know and say this to people! Several pastors in my life in the last few months have confirmed that without an excitement about this gospel there is no witnessing. It’s simple isn’t it? the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus? That’s it. That’s the gospel. This is what we believe or reject!

Discernment means we move from the known to the unknown to know, i.e. to discern. Witnessing is starting where we are, jumping into unknown territory so that because we are on a mission of discernment, we have more confirmation of what we have believed. Paul says to Philemon, “I want you to be active in sharing your faith so that you may know every good thing you have in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus, Born in the Land of Adultery

Reading and studying Hosea with our Tuesday night group, I realized at the end of the study that the visual illustration God wanted the people to see extended into the future to Jesus. In Hosea 1, God asks Hosea to marry an adulterous woman (prostitute). They have three children together named, “Scattered,” “Not Loved,” and “Not My People.” The people of the Northern ten tribes, Israel, are told that God no longer loves them nor wants them. He is no longer their God. The three children visually demonstrate God’s severing of ties with Israel. Everytime Hosea, Gomer, his wife, and all within earshot, heard the names of the children being called to supper were reminded that God was done and finished with loving these adulterous people.

But in verse 10 he switches gears to give some hope! “One day you will be united with Judah as one people. and one leader will come from you and will raise you up from the land!” After the Assyrians, Babylonians, Ghengis Khan, Alexander the Great and finally the Romans terrorized and raped the land of Israel in succession, our GREAT GOD fulfilled his pledge to Israel, his bastard child of adultery. (I know this sounds so ungodly and strong, but get the picture God is painting for his people, ok?) Jesus came to earth, born in Bethlehem of Judea, the southern kingdom, but Jesus  lived in Nazareth of Galilee, part of the Northern ten tribes of Israel (part of Naphtali or Manasseh?)! What the people destroyed and divided because of their adultery with idols God reunited by sending his son. There’s more.

Hosea again predicts the miraculous coming of Christ by saying, “In the place where it was said to them,  ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” Jesus, born in the “land of adultery” did more than reunify north and south. He “gave them the right to be called ‘children of God’,  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 It was said in those days that nothing good could come out of Galilee. The stench of their curse lingered through the centuries. But God prophetically spoke into existence the power to be called, once again, sons and daughters of the living God, through Jesus!

Hosea concludes the opening prophecy with this powerful resolution: Hos. 2:1    “Say of your brothers,  ‘My people,’ and of your sisters,  ‘My loved one.’ Such is the power of God to reach into something he himself cast away as evil and redeem it for himself. There is hope for all of us!

Leadership Pepper

Winston Churchill and his only bodyguard, Walter Thompson

You made ‘em giddy up, Joe. How you got thirty folks to follow you to Or-gun with only a horse, side arm and a rifle makes me think you was a great leader, Joe!

Naw, not really, Hoss. I just did my job to get them folks a new home in Or-gun.

Joe, not many of us followed you, but you got us all there safe and sound. We will be forever grateful to you for leading the wagon train. We did have a few scares, like that one over the Missou-rah River. Lost two wagons and six oxen, but you kept us goin’.

The way I remember it, Hoss, you doused me with some peppery words ‘‘bout keepin’’ on and ‘don’t let the folks down now by quittin’’. I don’t think I could have rode another mile without that pepper shakin’ you give me.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ah, leadership. Some mysterious mix of qualities that can smack of arrogance and self adulation, but comes off as confidence and charisma. The good leaders just do a job and some folks come along to help. Great leaders need pepperin’ once in a while.
Winston Churchill’s body guard, Walter Thompson, guarded the British bulldog for 38 years. He knew more state secrets than anyone other than Churchill, but he also knew the depressions and insecurities of that great leader. He gave countless pepperings of encouragement to keep going, to get out of bed and even to get dressed. Who would have known that such a relationship was such a huge asset to such a great world leader?

And the amazing thing is that the great Winston Churchill listened to his “lowly” bodyguard!

Leaders never go the distance alone. Great leaders have great leaders around them. Great leaders help others to be great leaders. The best organizations have people willing to pepper their boss and keep on going themselves. What may look like confidence and charisma covers an anxious load of self doubt and insecurity. Ask anyone who has ever lead anything!

Demonstration of the Spirit’s Power

Paul said to the Corinthians, “I did not come with persuasive words or eloquence, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” Oh, how we need to know what he meant! How we need to see the demonstration in transformations and wonders explained only by the Spirit’s and gospel’s power!

I saw the power at summer camp. Singing around the campfire, slapping mosquitos, looking intently at the dancing flames, faces glowing, the darkness looming behind, no one strong enough to look at each other. We waited for the spirit to move, someone to stand, someone to break into tears, convicted, wanting to follow Jesus. Just a few minutes before campfire we were kicking and stomping each other, but the Spirit moved, we all knew campfire was life or death. God massaged our teenage hearts and we all vowed undying love and devotion to Him. 12 year old boys stood, stammered out, “I’m going to go home and talk to my mom about Jesus,” break into tears, and fall back to his seat, with the other boys and a counselor patting his back, and the rest of us clapping and cheering. We sang with moxie, “I have Decided to Follow Jesus….No turning back, no turning back.”

I stood, too. I meant it. I knew I was so imperfect, a sinner, and I still know that! I committed myself to serving Christ, and I meant it! I still do, but in those days of the Viet Nam war, and missionary slide shows, I saw myself in a jungle with a machete, leeches sucking on my thighs and a Bible hanging by my side. “No turning back!” The Spirit’s power demonstrated!

At Apostle Johnny Washington’s tent meeting in Jamaica, Brooklyn in 1978, I saw the Spirit move. Shaking and jivin’, stuttering in tongues, twirling, falling over, money flowing to the front, the Spirit’s power came all over everyone but  two white boys in the front row. This 20 year old white boy didn’t feel the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, but I saw it. My inner city friends lived it, and loved me, changed me!

I preached to the seagulls on the shores of Lake Huron once while in college. I preached through the book of Philippians. I was in tears I was so in the Spirit.

I stuck myself in the quietest, most lonely place near campus during college, the local cemetery, just so I could get a demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Reading Colossians 1 and 2 out loud in the dark by a family’s crypt just about gave me a heart attack of the good kind as the Spirit washed over me, reminding me of the God who was Jesus whose death on the cross ridiculed the powers that stood against me. I was a changed man! I was full of the Spirit, full of life, running as fast as I could, studying Biology and all the sciences, but the joy of the Spirit’s power slaughtered any notion anything else in life was close to equal.

About ten years ago, I was in our small Presbyterian church in Canada near our cottage. A guest preacher, about 110 years old was speaking. I expected nothing great, but he was full of the Spirit. He loved God and it showed. As he spoke the Spirit’s power washed over me. I knew God’s love, his power, and full of life, I began to weep–NOT in a Presbyterian church! He spoke with quiet passion about a personal God who was my God, and I knew that God’s power was changing, transforming 40 year old me.

The Corinthians were enamored by the pompous rhetoric of its philosophers and religious logicians. They were enamored by all the glory of the temple beauty and, bluntly, sexual liberties. The polished preachers and the sexual libertarians were winning the hearts of the Corinthian Christians. Ecstasy washed away the message of the resurrection. Paul reminded them the source of life and power was in Christ, in His Spirit.

We Americans are enamored by the glitter of gold, sex and the trappings of success, but the Spirit’s power is where? As my good friend Charles always says, “every pastor must have a button on his ego labeled “build”.” Churches buy into the American way in order to get more people, but where is the demonstration of the Spirit’s power?

Jim Cymbala, pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle and author of “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” asked an interviewer if he could state the number one sin the church in America. He went on to say that most people would say something like internet pornography or the divorce rate being the same as the secular world or several other things. But the number one problem Cymbala said is that its pastors and leaders are not on their knees crying out to God, ‘Bring us the drug-addicted, bring us the prostitutes, bring us the destitute, bring us the gang leaders, bring us those with AIDS, bring us the people nobody else wants, whom only you can heal, and let us love them in your name until they are whole.’”

Bible Study Tool

The picture is a screen shot of how I’ve been doing Bible Study in my Quiet Time. The program is a Mac specific study tool called Accordance. I’ve had Accordance

Accordance screen shot of highlight tool.

for seven or eight years, and had a precursor program prior to that called Mac Bible. I’ve had to slow my reading each morning to do the color highlighting. Now that I am reading through four very long narrative passages in Jeremiah, Judges, Acts and Mark, my reading is taking close to an hour each day. My study notes take more time. At this stage of life, so much of the truth of God and  work in history is shining through the text in more vivid detail. I highly recommend the M’Cheyne Bible reading guide to get through the Bible in a year, and see so much of the vivid details and faith strengthening truths he wants you to see each day.

What’s good about this method is that I was losing my desire to read through the Bible in a year. I was becoming lethargic and did only cursory readings. I discovered this highlighting tool on vacation when my girls accidentally took my Bible with them back to Johnson City when we were leaving for Canada.

Now, if only someone could tell me where there is an electronic prayer tool!

The List God vs The Relational God

Anyone who worships the List God will vehemently deny it. Their List God is absolute, unquestionable and provable by a plethora of verses. I’ve been working my whole life to destroy my belief in the List God. I used to have a stronger belief in List God, but today, thanks to some severe encounters with the Loving God, my false assurances are waning.

The List God wants us to check off  a variety of ways to worship him:

Using correct language: Bishop vs pastor, spirit filled vs just born again, wine vs grape juice

Correct Church: women in leadership vs not, elders vs deacons, traditional vs everything else, women wear headcoverings or not

Correct doctrine: predestination vs free will, pre or post tribulation, 144,000 Jewish evangelists vs symbolism

Correct Lifestyle: alchohol, abortion, swearing, the death sentence

The List God won’t let the Love God operate freely. Too much is at stake. People might not have the right thoughts or actions. Satan is so deceptive. The List God loves to make people feel better about themselves: check, check, check. I did that and that and that. Whew! I’m OK! Thank you List God for your blessings!

But that’s not the Loving God Jesus showed us. He died at the hands of those who worshipped the List God. He seemed too liberal, too easy on sin, too wishy washy. Paul, too, said only one thing matter: you are a new creation. Circumcision (the leading indicator of those of worship Mr. List God) didn’t matter one bit! Just be a believer in what Jesus did. Bingo! The Loving God steps out of the darkness. No list in hand or red lettered in his Bible. He says, “Follow Me!” Not much of a list!

The good news is that lists don’t count! Woo Hoo! His holiness is my holiness! The blind who follow the List God seem so sure and confident that perfection is possible while following the List God. Truth is stranger than fiction. Lists don’t count! Jesus, the anti-List God, revealed a greater power to change people, the power of the grace and love of the Loving God. Follow Him!

2Tim. 1:8   So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,  9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,  10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Have You Ever Thought About the Incarnation?

Can we wrap up the Incarnation in a nutshell: God became man. There. Done. Christians like everything wrapped up in tidy packages so we can feel better, have more confidence. My goal today is to ask you to take a question about the Incarnation to someone you know and to someone you don’t know. I want you to ask two people the question: Can you explain the Incarnation? See what happens. Try it!

It might help to know what the incarnation means. It means, in a nutshell, God becomes a man, literally, embodied by flesh. And we are not the only people who believe in incarnation. Hindu’s believe in the incarnation of Vishnu. He is an avatar. Buddhist’s believe that the Dali Lama is the incarnation of the Buddha. Rastafarians believe that Hallie Salasi, the Emperor of Ethiopia, is an incarnation.

God inhabiting a human body presents some problems, however. How do we fit God into such a small package? Or is he the watered down God?

Lately, I’ve not got into a huge debate over the Incarnation. It seems that most people today have backed up further to whether or not God exists. People are skeptical of our superstitions. The church has sold out for money and power again, thus, in some people’s minds, invalidating our basic beliefs, even that God exists. This week I heard, again, the term, “practical atheist” of which many so-called Christians could be called. Practical Atheists means that a person walks through a day without the mystery of God or his power, grace, presence experienced. God doesn’t matter, really. My job, my kids, my cleaning, my trip matter.

So, why bother talking about the incarnation? What’s the power in it?

About the first time I debated with someone about the incarnation, I was a college sophomore. My new roommate was a Muslim. He violently rejected that God could be a man, and backed up his evidence that Allah was only one God. He said the death of Jesus proved he was not God. God cannot die! God is infinite.

That conversation sent me on a crash course to discover truth. I read the Bible, of course. I began to examine creeds and confessions. I read church history. I was on the sixth floor of the Grad Library studying Chemistry when I found four hundred year old Catechisms and read through so many wanting to hear their truth. (Chemistry was far inferior to Incarnation!) I wanted to know the truth, and ever since then, that powerful search has fueled my wonder and amazement in worship, in raising my kids, in ministry. I can say that the mystery is as real today as back then, but my circle has been drawn ever wider. The Muslim friend’s circle is still the same size. His fear of mystery shrunk his world. My love for mystery opened up a new world.

Every time we meet someone who is a non-seeker or a Muslim or a Jehovah’s witness, Mormon, Jew, practical atheist, they have chosen to not believe in the Incarnation. They have chosen a smaller circle. We Christians are the odd ducks, really. We open ourselves to disappointment or to doubt. Incarnation is one of the central beliefs we carry around in our suitcase of beliefs, and it’s not easy to believe! It’s easier to believe that moles can become the size of elephants or sunflowers in Kansas grow taller than skyscrapers. The fact that God was wriggling around in poopy diapers is harder to believe than Christopher Columbus’ belief that the world was round! But the mystery of Jesus being both God and man, wrapped up together, with no boundaries or as separate beings, blows our minds, and puts us places we couldn’t go otherwise.

The incarnation is proof that God is in our world. Jesus becoming flesh proves God loves His world. Jesus becoming a human being destroys the belief that this is all there is. Jesus and God together in one person is anti-materialistic, anti-fatalistic, and anti-Marxist, Nietzsche, Spong, Freud, Shaw, Dawkins or Hitchens. The incarnation of God is opposed to my Christian/Buddists, who want to hold both religions as nice philosophies. The Incarnation is not “nice.” It’s “in your face” and changes the way a person thinks about all of life! The incarnation tells us that not all is lost or evil. That God can do anything and will. However, not many people are all that interested in thinking about the Incarnation these days, let alone believing in God.

Go ahead and ask a couple of people. See if you can set off a few ticking bombs of truth to change a life or two!

God Does Not Judge External Appearance

God does not judge by external appearance. Gal. 2:6

The marks of an apostle were obvious.

2 Corinthians12:12 The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.

But Satan, also can masquerade as an angel of light and do counterfeit miracles.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.

When we who believe in God’s grace through the gospel (i.e. the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and all that historic event means!) the question of “Who are you?” or implied “Are you legitimate?” rises in people. Why should someone listen? What makes us legitimate?

Jesus used the analogy of a shepherd in John 10. The hired hand runs away when trouble comes. The good shepherd lies down in front of the gate and gives up his life. To Jesus, legitimacy was serving, sacrifice and perseverance. (See the parable of the four soils in Luke 8:15)

The Corinthian church was dismissing Paul’s legitimacy. Paul uses evidence that puts many of us Christians to shame to show his legitimacy.

1 Cor. 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power….23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…

He told them the fact of gospel history over and over again.

1Cor. 2:1   When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,  5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

He knows there is only one foundation to build on to promote legitimacy.

1 Cor. 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul knew that the Corinthian church people were distancing themselves from him because he seemed so simple. He said that they were saying he was a fool (i.e. simpleton) and that his words were not wise (Gk: sophia from which we get the word sophisticated)

1 Cor. 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

1 Cor. 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

External appearances can be deceiving. What we consider successful or sophisticated includes large monuments, big buildings, beautiful steeples, respectful peers, large crowds and the spectacular “excellence” in worship. The external signs of a successful ministry can masquerade around for years and dupe people as Satan does. It can make people think they are making a difference in the world, but are really just “hired hands.”

Throughout his ministry, Paul was perplexed by what is a legitimate church. His final comments from his final letter in prison at the end of his life goes like this:

Phil. 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.  16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

The goal wasn’t external success. If that was the case, he failed. Success is Christ and the gospel, plain and simple. Preach Christ. Tell the gospel (his death, burial and resurrection). Preach Jesus. Unpack the way, the truth and the life. Knowing the truth sets us free. His death proves his love and grace can be unharnessed in our lives. Knowing the truth, that is, a belief in the historical facts of Christ’s death and resurrection is the greatest mark of the church. Separate this from The Journey or any church and we are duped and de-legit!

Suspicious Clouds

Ever read Frank Perreti’s, This Present Darkness? This cloud formation looked like Commissioner Gordon’s bat signal, but morphed quickly as I took it’s picture. do-do d0-d0, do-d0 d0-d0

What does it look like to you? Rhonda says it looks like an Eagle. She's from Oakridge HS, "The Eagles!"

….

Iran Vote Whistle Blower Suspiciously Killed

Live updates here from twitter and other sources inside Iran

11am:
The man who leaked the real election results from the Interior Ministry – the ones showing Ahmadinejad coming third – was killed in a suspicious car accident, according to unconfirmed reports, writes Saeed Kamali Dehghan in Tehran.

Mohammad Asgari, who was responsible for the security of the IT network in Iran’s interior ministry, was killed yesterday in Tehran.

Asgari had reportedly leaked results that showed the elections were rigged by government use of new software to alter the votes from the provinces.

Asgari was said to have leaked information that showed Mousavi had won almost 19 million votes, and should therefore be president.

We will try to get more details later.

The Apostle Paul’s Boasts

As I see what churches and pastors boast about, I wonder if they have a right. Churches let visitors know what they have to offer. Not inherently boasting, this advertising markets the “strengths” of each church. As fellow pastors understand, the church without programs can’t make it. So, a little boasting about programs!

The Apostle Paul did not boast in programs he sponsored. He boasted about people, giving and what God had done.

1Cor. 9:1   Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?  2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

I find that after 25 years of ministry, when I need to take inventory of what has happened I look at people. We had some good runs with programs, some success with numbers but I feel the greatest satisfaction when I get word from people who are still running with The Lord. Every “program” that was successful as I get older produced a lifelong change in some folks who have reproduced other lifelong Christians. I can’t say I’ve had the impact of some world leaders, but in so many people, a love for Christ and his work has thoroughly worked through them. I can say that their kids are also going in that same direction. The secret? What’s your boasting in?

Two of Paul’s favorite boasts:

1 Cor. 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Gal. 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Fall 2008
College:				Kirkhof College of Nursing
Major:				Pre-Nursing
Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Subject	Course	Level	Title					Grade	Credit Hours	Quality Points	R
ART	101	U	Introduction to Art					C-	3.000	5.10
CHM	109	U	Introductory Chemistry					C+	5.000	11.50
MTH	097	U	Elementary Algebra					A-	4.000	14.80
WRT	098	U	Writing with a Purpose					C	4.000	8.00
					Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Current Term:					16.000	16.000	16.000	16.000	39.40	2.463
Cumulative:					16.000	16.000	16.000	16.000	39.40	2.463
Winter 2009
College:				Kirkhof College of Nursing
Major:				Pre-Nursing
Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Last Academic Standing:				Good Standing
Subject	Course	Level	Title					Grade	Credit Hours	Quality Points	R
BIO	120	U	General Biology I					C	4.000	8.00
MTH	110	U	Algebra					C	4.000	8.00
PSY	101	U	SLA Introductory Psychology					C-	3.000	5.10
WRT	150	U	Strategies in Writing					B	4.000	12.00
				Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Current Term:				15.000	15.000	15.000	15.000	33.10	2.207
Cumulative:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339
TRANSCRIPT TOTALS (UNDERGRADUATE)      -Top-
				Attempt Hours	Passed Hours	Earned Hours	GPA Hours	Quality Points	GPA
Total Institution:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339
Total Transfer:				0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.00	0.000
Overall:				31.000	31.000	31.000	31.000	72.50	2.339

Marriage Hypocrisy

The myth of Christian values permeates our culture or should I say, covers a multitude of sins. One example is marriage. We are marriage hypocrites here. We value the institution of marriage so highly, yet treat it so poorly. For example, if we hold that marriage is so important to create stable homes, why would Sweden’s unmarried, co-habitating couples have a greater chance of staying together and provide more security than a comparable American family? Why do we have a revolving door of significant relationships in America greater than any other country? Why are we in a raging debate about same-sex marriages that doesn’t seem to affect other western nations? Why do we hold marriage to be the right of “first-class-citizenship”?

BTW, I think marriage is a great institution! We’re going on 24 this August! And if you want to see Co-habitation statistics in our culture read about the dangers here! The chance of divorce or break up in the USA for cohabitating couples is monstrous.

You can read one sociologist’s study about why and join the debate about the value of marriage in

The Marriage-Go-Round

The State of Marriage and the Family in America Today

Written by Andrew J. Cherlin

The Interior Voice of the Spirit

by Francis Fenelon (Chapter 21 in Christian Classics, Fenelon, Talking with God, by Francois Fenelon. Modern English Version by Hal M. Helms. Paraclete Press, Brewster, Massachusetts, 1997.)

Our God is not Flat Stanley. Have you ever wondered why your God seems so blah? Read on and practice the presence of God in the inner sanctuary! Wow!

The Interior Voice of the Spirit

It is certain from the Holy Scriptures that the Spirit of God dwells within us. There he acts, there he prays without ceasing, groans, desires, and asks for us what we do not know how to ask for ourselves. The Spirit urges us on, animates us, speaks to us when we are silent, suggests to us all truth, and so unites us to him that we become one spirit. (1 Cor. 6:17)

That is the teaching of faith, and even those teachers farthest removed from the interior life cannot avoid acknowledging it to be so. To be sure, there are some who strive to maintain that in practice, we are illuminated by external law, or by the light of learning and reason, and that then our understanding acts of itself from that instruction. They do not rely sufficiently on upon the interior Teacher, the Holy Spirit, who does everything within us. We could not form a thought or desire without him. Alas, what blindness is ours! We suppose ourselves alone in the inner sanctuary, when God is more intimately present there than we are ourselves.

You may say, “What then! Are we all inspired?”

Healthy Chicken, Easy!

You might like this quick and easy, healthy chicken recipe. I cooked for the family the other day, and the chicken was delicious. What a nice surprise to have an easy meal like this taste so good!

Chicken, Mushrooms, Spinach

Three large chicken breasts boneless
•    Place in frying pan on med high
•    Add 1/3 to ½ cup Olive Oil
•    Add ½ tsp ground pepper
•    Add 2 tablespoons dried parsley
•    Add 1 tablespoon dried onions
•    Add 8 oz sliced mushrooms over the top of chicken breasts

Cook ten minutes then flip chicken breasts ( Do not cover!)
•    Cook another ten minutes but keep checking so they don’t burn
•    Cut chicken breasts into smaller pieces with a spatula (cutting here keeps the inside moist!)
•    Cook another ten minutes stirring frequently.

Turn off heat.
•    Place two cups of fresh spinach leaves over the top of the chicken and mushrooms.
•    When the leaves begin to wilt stir spinach into chicken and mushrooms.

Serve immediately.

Sean’s Hard Verses List

Just thought you might like to see Sean’s list of verses he wants explained. I find these verses cropping up in all kinds of places on the web, in conversation, with doubters and in Bible studies. Why? For most of the past 200 years Jewish background studies of the New Testament were negligible. The gospels are Jewish documents, not Greek or Roman. Everything must be filtered through authors who wrote to Jews. None wrote to a Gentile audience. Luke may come closest since he is a gentile, but never forget that Christianity in it’s infancy was a Jewish cult. Jesus went to the Jews. “He went to that which was his own but his own received him not!” John 1:10.

Jesus is a Jewish Rabbi. You can read Geza Vermes brilliant outline of Jesus the Jew to see how this is so true. Vermes is not a Christian, but a Jewish scholar fascinated by Jesus, yet remaining in unbelief. If you cannot see Jesus using Rabbinical teaching methods or teaching through a Jewish lens on the world, many of his teachings are bizarre and contradictory.  For instance. “hate your mother”, he says. This is simple hyperbole or exaggeration to get a point across about your devotion to God. “Carry your cross,” is again a mystical view of the greatness of living for Christ in the face of overwhelming odds against living for Christ. Jesus poses questions and riddles to people who are seeking his identity. He does exactly what Rabbi’s do all through history. In Luke 20:1-5, Jesus doesn’t answer the question about where he gets his authority or who sponsors him. He poses a riddle about John the Baptist. He’s helping the Pharisees to see their ladder of inference, their basis for their assumptions. Of course, they don’t, but that’s his point. Self-delusion blinds people to his identity.

And today is no exception. People are so full of themselves and their ability to discern truth that questioning their assumptions is sacrosanct. NADA! Don’t go there. We are supposed to allow people to make up their beliefs and then coddle them with ooh’s and ahh’s at their high sounding arguments. “I’m not exclusive!” “How can I believe in a God who wipes out thousands of Philistines or kills his own son?” “I’m a Buddhist Christian!” Sounds profound, but of course, Jesus would ask a question in return or prod them with a parable. (Maybe the parable of Lazarus and the rich man might work. The rich man made up his religion, lived for himself and ended up on the short side of the chasm. The beggar understood a need for God, as he was stripped of any sense of self aggrandizement in his poverty.)

So, if you want to probe Sean’s Hard Verses List, go ahead. See how my friend is thinking. If you are interested in more theological discussion check out “FAbricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospel,” by Mark Evans. He’s not a hyper ventilating apologeticist, but a theo-historian with a pragmatic and comprehensive view of the first Century world Jesus and other Jews inhabited. You may also want to read, “Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus (Hinges of History)”, by Thomas Cahill.

Anyone who reads the New Testament must understand the division between Paul and all the others. Remember, he’s the only apostle who understood the mystery of the gospel.

Romans 16:24-26 (New International Version)

²⁵Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—

Lydia Graduates: Magna Cum Honduras

With a degree in Mathematics, a minor in Bible and Spanish, Lydia rushed from graduation last Saturday, May 9th, for six weeks. Is she using her math degree? Nope. She’s using her God degree. Our Lydia is gifted in translating the gospel cross culturally. So, she’s using what God has given to her. This fall she goes back to Lee U. for her Masters. Will she be using her math degree? Nope. She’s using her passion for helping people to receive the first ever Lee U. Masters in Cross Cultural Counseling. Figuring out people’s problems is new math at its best!

We are all so proud of you Lydia Lea! And also for graduating Magna Cum Laude and Magna Cum Honduras!

No More Money

I read a blog by a man who lives without money. He’s lived without it for nine years. How? Dumpster diving. Living in a cave.

Dumpster diving in London

Eating roadkill. Getting free clothes. Eating insects, grass and leaves. Yum!

He’s a genius, and a philosopher. He’s not mentally crazy. He’s part of a contingency of people who say that money makes us all crazy and lawless. The moneyless man states that people share and love more when money is not involved. Native Americans before the Europeans didn’t worry about who’s bowl or who’s blanket they used, he says. He is unencumbered with cares of this world and can sit all day watching clouds go by. Wow! I want that life! NO WORRY

When I told Rhonda this great idea about living without money and all our money issues would be solved  she made it clear that she didn’t want to do the dumpster diving. She did mention that Ken White, our pastor friend in Ann Arbor, ate someone else’s leftover pizza once in college. She didn’t buy the great concept of freedom held out by our penniless friend.

In Summary: The guy’s crazy. He has no kids. It’s a selfish existence. He takes care of himself. He makes absolutely no case at all about taking care of the sick, the impaired, those who cannot care for themselves, like children. he doesn’t care. He can watch the clouds all day, all by himself, making up his religion and his purpose in life. I find it no surprise that in the fine print he’s an avid evolutionist. He’s as counter cultural as he can be, making a statement against traditions and cultural mores. Screaming loudly on the internet so that others will be jealous of his freedom. Ballyhooing anything of the cross, the Bible and of course, evil Christians!

He’s as right as the Beatles who said, “Can’t buy me love!” He’s right that, we think way too much that money solves our problems. Money does enslave us, but can you see his flawed argument? Freedom doesn’t come from having no worries or no binding contracts with anyone. Isolation is not freedom. Dumpster diving is not freedom.

Have you ever stayed up all night talking to a friend or a group of friends? That’s freedom! Have you ever stayed up reading a good book until you knew that the next day would be the zombiest day of the week? That’s freedom! Have you ever hiked or ran until you were exhausted, squeezed dry on the inside and your inside was on the outside? Jumping into a cool pond is where the feeling of freedom comes. We are unencumbered by things and money problems in the penniless man’s system, but is that freedom? What would he do in a Utah desert without any of the dumpsters or free clothes or wood to burn from building sites? He wouldn’t feel so free? Unencumbered, yes, but free?

Freedom comes from another source, through a relationship with one who sets us free and reminds us about our own self-delusions that enslave us. When will we ever be totally free here? Jesus said,  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 The way to freedom he says is “to hold to my teachings.” What are his teachings? The way of the cross. The way of belief in the Father’s gifts. The way of the gospel: his death for our lives and the crazy world and universe we live in. Freedom comes when we “see” him and “visualize” his truth and “meditate on” these glories of God at work in life and thought. Freedom from self-delusion and from the cares of this world happens when we are staying up all night talking to a real God and contemplating his being and glory revealed in history (The Bible) and in His Son.

Most people will settle for dumpster diving.

Profound Quotes and Stupid Movie Video

This post is an oxyposting: two opposite posts in one post. I came across a couple of quotes: the first from a random Journal entry of mine (I don’t know where I got it), and the second from a friend’s sermon. The opposite from profound: last summer a friend and I “made” a video response to the most stupid movie ever, “Gerry”, with zero profound or memorable quotes. (I’m not linking to its website because you are smarter than that!)

Quote 1: “Grace runs downhill and pools in the lowest places.”

Quote 2: “God puts us in situations we may not have chosen, and so we have to learn to lead through it. When the going gets tough don’t turn your back on it.” –Dave Bianchin

Watch the response to the least creative and time wasting movie ever, here, but don’t click until you read further. I just love this spontaneous video we made last summer. It’s based on the really stupid movie made by Matt Damon and Casey Affleck called “Gerry”. In “Gerry”, beware! Caution! NOTHING HAPPENS!   But in our response, something does happen! Gerry won not one, but two awards!  The movie summary: A friendship between two twenty-something men is tested to its very limits when they go on a hike in a desert and forget to bring any water or food with them. The movie has the crunching sound of walking on gravel throughout, so we thought we’d spice up our response version of it to make ours more interesting. And ours is only 65 seconds long, compared to 100 minutes of stone crunching noises!

If you must see more about the movie, click here to see some reviews at the bottom of the page. The first review shows why it received a 6.2 rating, but I think they made the film just to fool people into watching idiocy, much like Damon’s and the other Affleck’s movie about Jesus, “Dogma.”

Time Does Stand Still

We have had several sets of friends visit for a day or two in the last two months. We pick up where we left off. Time stands still. The feeling when we meet is a joy and a lightness, the reconnection of two dots on the line graph of time, but the dots seem so close together, like waking from a deep sleep. We have not witnessed the passing of time. Do you know what I mean? The casual banter and homey feeling doesn’t leave over time. Sure, events and age show through, but the connection did not dim. How so?

When people visit, they risk being de-hospitable-ized which means “to become a burden”. Old friends visiting a burden? Feels like an honor, not a burden. Do you feel that connection with the desk clerk at the Marriott or the receptionist at the doctor? Of course not. They look up, but have no recognition. They do not have a life experience with you. They won’t recognize you in a week. They are paid to make you feel welcomed. What kind of a welcome is that? The de-hospitable-izing effect is known when you wait in silence for them, or wait for them to tell you what to do. We are a burden to be passed off.

We welcome our friends into our lives as if they have never left. We anticipate the joy of having this friend in the same room, face-to-face, again. We enjoy preparing a room and a meal. Yesterday, I enjoyed sharing swimming techniques, food and a couple hours of probing some spiritual depth in my friend Dave. Last night and this morning we shared our cell groups, breakfast and some stories about how we all met, fell in love, and took a post-wedding drive to Lake Michigan.

Hospitality goes both ways here. Our friends have to tell us they are coming through or want to see us. I am honored they want this connection. Today, I am thankful for friends with whom I can experience the phenomenon of Time Standing Still.

Thank you Dave and Sue, Jordan and Laura, Gary and Jane, Alan and Mary, Eric and Jen, Grandma Marge and Eddie…and…Ralph and Mrt, Christine Freed, Joel, Kayla, Nathan’s friends, Ellen’s friends, and on and on and on!

Christians and the Rwandan Massacre

Click on photo to view more. Why were people so enraged???

I was just reading through Psalms 23-37. The Psalmist states so often how the righteous will be protected. God is on the side of those who fear him. God is faithful to bring about good things to those who delight in the Lord. I kept getting hints of Rwanda, the Hutus slashing Tutsi’s mercilessly, knowing that both “tribes” were strongly Christian, mostly evangelical. Where was the power of the gospel in this ethnic strife, and where was it for the previous slaughters and since then? Where is God? So, I found stuff on the web, of course.

Does a conversion to following Christ change the murderous flesh we carry? This is the question posed by J. J. (Dons) Kritzinger, who writes in the Journal Missionalia. How could mobs of Hutus murder people they knew, loved, worshipped with, lived next to and ate with? Rwanda was the most Christian nation of Africa with estimates as high as 85% professing to be Christians. Where were the Christians during the massacre? 800,000 or more Tutsi’s were massacred in just a few days. Why? Why? Why? Are we really sold out to the faithfulness of God and the demands of the gospel to “Rejoice always!”? What would I have done? Would I have fought back, escaped, been hacked to death, preached in the middle? Many Christians stood against the killing, hid victims, stopped bullets for neighbors and preached publicly in those few days against the murderous evil.

Read a thorough, introspective and historical account of the atrocity if you dare, or if you care!

Read about Christian reconciliation stories here!!!! God can bring amazing healing!

After Preaching

I found myself resonating with this poem of George MacDonald’s because of how I feel after most Sunday preaching/teaching. Do any of you preachers/teachers feel the same thing?

O Lord, I have been
talking to the people;

Thought’s wheels have
round me whirled a
fiery zone,

And the recoil of my
words’ airy ripple

My heart unheedful
has puffed up and
blown.

Therefore I cast myself
before Thee prone;

Lay cool hands on my
burning brain, and
press

From my weak heart
the swelling emptiness.

George MacDonald was a nineteenth-century poet, novelist, and preacher.

Love These Stats (and the Bailout)

I love statistics, maps, encyclopedias. I cried one Christmas when Rhonda gave me an unabridged dictionary! So, finding these stats that compare China to the USA was a gold mine. You can get the full wad and compare, compare, compare to your heart’s delight by clicking on this link to mint.com. Now, isn’t this so much more informative and useful than watching old reruns of “Britains Greatest Talent”?

If you want another mint.com fantastic visual of what happened to GM click here.

For a visual of the financial bailout to simplify what all has happened click here.

I’m wondering why Obama doesn’t give the next $35 billion to build some oil production facilities out west where 1.5 Trillion barrels of oil are locked in shale.

or set up three new nuclear power plants.

or give the money to ten steel production companies.

or help the hard working guy who came to our house today because his wife is in pain and they have no money for meds.

or pay for the 25% increase in property taxes those of us in Washington County will experience next year!

Same as When She was Two

Since Lydia was born she has slept in unusual places. She’s fallen asleep behind sofas, on my back, in a backpack, in the back of a van, in her spaghetti, on the toilet (when we were potty training). She came home for Easter weekend and after an early rise at 6:00 a.m. to go to Starbucks by 7:15 and to set up the equipment for worship at Daniel Boone High School, I found her sleeping on the deck in our back yard. Some things never change!

Newsless in JC

Look on the left: A little warped but another way to "stay in touch."

Since February 3rd, 2009, I have not watched the news, tracked my favorite news websites or listened to the radio. I don’t own a TV. I have a My Yahoo top news story tracker, but that’s it. I’m free to listen to books on CD’s in my car, having finished fascintating novels and non-fiction. I’m wondering when Steven James’ novels will be put on CD?? The thought process is less cluttered. My imagination is more free. I’m not so worried or depressed.

But watching the weather? That’s another story. My family thinks I’m the weatherman. Every morning Ellen or Nathan asks: “What’s the weather going to be dad?” And I always know…

Inaugural Heat: Remember Mogadishu!

(This Blog was written on January 20, 2009)

The inauguration was very cold. People were hot on Obama. Wonderful and disturbing. Four years ago, most people were wondering how this young upstart from Illinois became Senator. Obama who? A blip on the political radar. About eight people thought he was Presidential material. And now? Gloating and messianic fervor.

Just like in Jesus’ day people want a human savior. The herd is looking for a quick fix, money to buy the American dream and a continuation of power and comfort. The herd is running hard from the Bush years. I’m not quite sure what the crowd knows about their destination. The speech today was pure platitude, more like Clinton**, promising happy thoughts and brave hearts, and of course, change! Unlike Bush, who put his cards on the table, and tried to outline some definite agenda items, and bored me in the process, Obama sounds like he’s giving us hope, sounds so confident in the future, so sure of a positive outcome. He’s building my faith and at least a million shivering people in DC today. And he might be able to deliver, but first…

• I am praying that Obama unlike Bush gets a lot right in the first few months and no “9-11″ crisis disturbs the progress!
• I will pray that three massive hurricane seasons in a row will not derail his agenda.
• I will pray that the greed and avarice of trillions of trickle-down-economic dollars will not suck him into the power machine of Wall Street.
• I will pray that he understands leadership as the listening ear with a nerve to stand up to the whimpering and pandering of the power hungry, those who use money to oppress others and those who do not understand evil.
• I pray that his agenda includes the protection of the unborn and the dignity and honor of parenting and marriage.
• I pray that his inaugural plea for God’s grace means that he really plans to help ordinary, undeserving people with more than a token amount of the several trillion dollars needed over the next two years of government stimulus.

If Obama can lead this nation, he will have done it with nerve and a non-anxious presence, not with a Messiah’s zeal. Change comes with a price, lots of it, and time, lots of it.  All the answers are yet unkown. His bag of tricks, whatever they are, will be good for about six months, then a reckoning. Be careful what you undo. It may be your undoing, Mr. Obama! I believe you will lead well, you seem sincere and one whose aloofness comes across as a leader with a non-anxious presence. It just might work, but I still believe there is only one true Messiah!

**

Bill Clinton was a young, brilliant politician in ‘92. He had amazing energy and ideas. Do you remember them? NAFTA, welfare reform, health care reform, and a balanced budget?  Yet, what do you remember about the Clinton era? An English lesson on the word “is” and a young female intern. Within a few years, Clinton and many former anti-Reaganites reversed their appraisal of Ronald Reagan to the point where he was seen as a new hero of the 20th century. I was one of them. Within months, Clinton’s ideas lost steam. Having won only  43% and 49% of the popular vote, and never having a friendly congress or senate, Clinton’s claim to fame is going to be his reputation as a womanizer and possibly his $500,000,000.00 (yes, 1/2 Billion!) presidential library containing happy thoughts and platitudes borrowed from a previous President.

Clinton built many bridges to Reagan and laissez faire economics and world politics. Yet, unlike Reagan, he entirely missed the threat of an evil world power, Al Quaeda, and the stubborn refusal of and evil Iraqi dictator to comply with EIGHTEEN U.N. resolutions against it. He defended himself by saying he boldly sent cruise missiles from the South China Sea into Afghanistan, but forgets that he  gave the Army Rangers a new rallying cry, “Remember Mogadishu!” (See another article here on Clinton’s ties to Reagan)

Obama and Clinton continue to praise Reagan even in 2008. Ronald Reagan is seen as a hero on many fronts. I don’t think Bush will deserve that glamorous position, but he will certainly receive much more praise as time wears on.

Funeral

Honored to perform a funeral service for a friend’s ex-wife today. What do I say when I barely knew her?

The family gathered with me at the funeral home. I typed in our conversation about her. Took this morning to put it together. Honored her. Gave the gospel. and Voila… here it is.

Gena, Eugenia Bashor  (49) Funeral: April 8, 2009
Prayer
Father, you are the giver of Life, Creator, You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, to be the Savior of the world to all who believe. You have given your Holy Spirit to remind us of your love and grace. Today, as we gather to honor Gena and to hear the good news again of your love to us, send your peace that passes understanding to all who request it. Send a renewed love for life and the freedom that you give. Shower your grace on Shirley, Nelson, Tory, Chase, Dirk, Donna and other dear friends and family. Be their strong fortress in sadness and a light of salvation to guide them safely to you, In Jesus Name, AMEN>
======\
Gena had a Short life…relatively speaking…30 years shy of the national average. Yet, Gena Embraced life. She was tenderhearted, a freebird, loved her family and a non materialistic person who looked great in second hand clothes! Shirley tells about an event when Gena was little. A little dog ran away, got hit by a car and then lying in a field of grass by the road. She would look at it when they drove by and after quite a few days she told her mother sadly, “Mom, it’s OK. that dog’s going to heaven one bit at a time.”
Gena had a tender streak. She would look at disadvantaged people and would often cry. She Would look under the bridges and try to see where the homeless people. Near the medical center, where a bunch live under the bridges. She and Dirk would eat at Zaxby’s and then see some of the guys under the bridges. Gena wished she could do something. Very aware. Had a big heart.
To most people she Gave them the benefit of the doubt. If someone needed it, she’d give them her last dollar. Helper, servant attitude. When I would go in the store with a problem, she always made it clear we were not a bother and did all she could to make sure we understood we would be taken care of.
A good bargain shopper. Didn’t care about all the fancy, top dollar. Happy with what she had and could stretch five dollars. Wasn’t materialist. Kept herself looking really good and dressed well.
Let’s back up a bit. You’ve seen how beautiful she was in her sweet sixteen photos. Graduated from Hendersonville, TN. A woman named Sarah said she had a flair for doing that interior design, so did it for a summer. Then, Went to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY for a year, close to Nashville  and Hendersonville, and began her degree in interior design.
Gena Lived in Florida for a while on her own for a year or two after College, adventurous spirit. Free spirit… Maybe this is why her two favorite songs are:
Free Bird, by Lynard Skynard
If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
‘Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
‘Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.

Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can’t change.
But please don’t take it badly,
‘Cause Lord knows I’m to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you’ll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.
Lord help me, I can’t change.

She started settling down in the 80’s. She got married. she gave birth to Tory, then, eight years later gave birth to Chase. And married again.
Gena had many best friends. Many, many friends. Once she made a friend she meant it and they took it like she meant it, and real friends from then on. Very loyal wherever she met them. Made friends easily cause she was outgoing. Liked to argue just to argue, not to be mean, but to give a hard time.
Tory, chase and she would do this kind of bickering without being mean, and laugh, (and sounded like they would kill each other: Dirk), and then come back after five minutes and it was over. Didn’t hold a grudge, but she was blunt.
You all know that Gena wasn’t a church going person. She went to a Pentecostal Church. And liked it. Probably a little of the free spirit in her resonated with the free spirit in the Pentacostals.
She had some pain in her life. She wondered, as we all do, if this life was all there is. Sometimes, we deal with pain in healthy ways and other times in not so healthy ways.
Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war,
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Life threw some curves at Gena. Satan himself was out to get her. “Two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year, running over the same old ground. Same old fears. Wish you were here.”
There were times when Gena wouldn’t know what to say. You’d ask a question, or say something about current events. She would automatically, sometimes painfully say, “You think?” To those close to her they knew she wasn’t ready to answer or couldn’t. Though, at times irritating, it’s one of things they’re going to miss about Gena.
What will you miss the most?
Miss her smile…Mom
Her eyes…Chase
Protective
Fun
She could be sneaky too, Tori. She snuck off all the time to the Thrift store or out the back ‘til the next day.
God’s given us a way to deal with pain. More than anything else, we all get to a point in our lives when we can’t figure it all out or when we can’t handle the circumstances or stress. So, God’s plan is to let someone else deal with it. It’s called “GRACE” and it’s really good news.
The good news is that the pain doesn’t have to cause more pain. There’s been only one perfect person who ever walked this earth. His name is Jesus. He went to the cross to take our pain, our sin and shame. Too often people feel shame and don’t know what to do with it. He felt pain. His whole life people tried to kill or hurt him, but his eyes were only on one thing: to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin and shame because we can’t do it ourselves.
Col. 2:13   When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,  14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Jesus knew that we’d try to self-medicate, sow too many wild oats and get ourselves into jams that can break our momma’s hearts. So, he set it all straight, if we want it. Jesus knew that we’d face economic disaster, relationships that go sour and health problems that break us into tiny pieces.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
This is good news. Too often in churches people are beat up for being imperfect. That’s not good news. That’s bad news. The good news is that God knows there is only one perfect person who ever walked on earth, and his own people crucified him in a horrible, violent, blood bath.
So what’s the point?
Most of you know it’s Easter week. The good news doesn’t stop with us being forgiven. The physical and spiritual life of Jesus was raised from the dead. God proved Jesus was His Son. God did all the work and all we have to do is believe. This is love and grace.
1John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We can’t do anything but believe, and by believing we are saved. He doesn’t promise the perfect life, but he does promise that those who believe will have other forces at work in their lives.
Titus 2:11   For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
For many people, belief comes too late. This grace is offered freely today. It’s not a message of shame or telling us how bad we are, or how we’ve screwed up over and over again. God loves us so much that he has taken care of all that. His grace means we are free to be with him forever, and because of belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus we can be sure that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How many people are needlessly and painfully taught the bad news that because they didn’t act like a Christian or go to church or do all the right things God doesn’t love them? Once we put our faith in what God has done in Christ, he instantly seals us to himself forever. Now, that’s good news at a time like this!
Eccl. 3:1   There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,  4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,  5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,  6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,  7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,  8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
I think it’s a good time to honor the good memories God has given to us in Gena, and to put our faith in what he has done in Christ. I would hope that today you would do both.

The Christian Bazaar: Confusion or Two Simple Solutions?

So many twists and turns to Christian thought and output. Who’s right?

In my lifetime, I’ve personally been a part of…

Plymouth Brethren: no pastors, no order of worship, Communion worship led by whoever is led by the Spirit, big missionary push, emphasize evangelism and getting saved, in depth Bible teaching, elder led, independent from other communities

Roman Catholic: cultural Christianity, not much study or bible knowledge, devoted to the Catholic way and community, low priority on great singing, hierarchical, Parish Priest is ruler of the community, non-missional

Episcopalian: ditto on the Roman Catholic, but add the Book of Worship.

General Conference Baptist: ditto on the Plymouth Brethren except structured worship and deacons not elders.

Southern Baptist: wow, what a variety of styles from country ignorant and shouting to refined, robes and Ph.D’s, but totally devoted to the SBC in mission, style and culture, openly evangelistic, concerned with who’s “in”.

Reformed Church in America: one word, “Dutch”, again, cultural with roots to the Dutch way of life with Dutch names, reformed theology but mildly so, Elders and Deacons rule, Biblically scattered knowledge, mildly evangelistic

Presbyterian: ditto to the Southern Baptist without the shouting and evangelism, and add a book of church order with a general ignorance of the Bible

KJV only: what can I say when someone says that an English translation is inspired by God? We’re getting a little like the Mary Baker Eddy’s and the Russelites. I know the KJV is a great translation. I know of their arguments against the modern translations. I wish that someone in that camp could produce an accurate translation of their liking without the archaic language, but then it wouldn’t be inspired, so……

Charismatics: combo the Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Southern Baptist and add emotional fervor, tongues and up at the front praying and falling over, Bible heavy, evangelistic, worship centric, usually good giving, culturated with lingo and signs of being “in”, some shouting, some refined, but there IS a charismatic culture formed after 100 years of development.

I’ve been in Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Bible churches, Unitarian, Black and Hispanic churches, too, from Europe, South America, The Bronx, Kentucky, Montana, British Columbia, Florida and California. The outsider and some of us insiders look at the Christian Bazaar and find that even smorgasboarding what we like out of the variety, creating our own style and beliefs, we quickly melt into one group over another. Sooner than later we start labeling others who are not like us as “those pitiful people who just don’t get it!”

What’s the way out of the Bazaar? It’s not simple. Some say, “Just teach what the Bible says.” Others, “Just proclaim Jesus is Lord.” A few: discover the ancient ways. More would want us to keep quiet and all stay in their rabbit holes until Jesus comes back or death removes our options.

Anyone who has tried to shield themselves with a wall of indisputable doctrine quickly learns that there are great debaters and great thinkers in every camp who quickly rescind every argument parlayed to the table. The swords clang with resounding debates. Questions and arguments lead to denouncements and more quotes and logic. What’s the point to all of this?

Didn’t Paul have the same problem? “Some preach another gospel” (Gal. 1:6) Some people he marked as traitors, dangerous and throwing the Christians into confusion. (Gal. 5:10, 1 Tim. 1:20) I find that many people are so confused going to the Christian Bazaar that they retreat into a bevy of logical and forceful, intelligent and right sounding teachers so that they can be affirmed and even a little puffed up at the rightness of their group’s understanding. It’s dangerous to do this: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1-3)

Two things that begin to bring our pride down and build people up to figure out many of these things on their own: Jesus and love/grace. Jesus is the key focus in a true Christians life. Love/grace operating in and through a true Christian will quickly show. How do I know? Just do a word search in the Bible on “preach Christ”. I’ve done it for you here. Lose this focus and you will get confused. I think that Paul saw through these false teachers as they kept adding on the rules and the slander against other Christian groups. He had to mark them so that Christ in all his authority and purpose could be seen as opposed to seeing these pompous men and women strutting around with buckets of information and rules.

The love part is also key. Jesus said it himself, John 13:34-36, “35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We will spend our lives figuring out how to love and show grace, favor and blessing. We will have the power of the Holy Spirit and the doctrine of the gospel of grace (1 Cor. 15:1-10) to guide us and yank us back to our humility. For who can show love if humility is not an asset? We offer something when we love. We don’t demand that someone takes it! That’s humility. Paul told young Timothy to tell certain men to quit pompously preaching foolish things, i.e. preaching off the mark of knowing Christ and his gospel. He continues emphatically: “5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim. 1:5)

The Christian Bazaar is getting really bizarre! From emergent churches to churches stuck in a period of history and culture, from ancient practices to new fangled technology, I think people are confused inside and outside of Christendom. There really is no way out! We are dealing with human frailty and egos, the very problem Jesus came to save. I often tell people to “choose your cult.” I say to choose like there is not one best way because I don’t believe there is one best way except to proclaim Jesus Christ and his gospel and to figure out how to love/grace others. For many they choose their own way: out of the Bazaar. The escape is safer superficially. It’s like committing suicide or getting a divorce. At first the pain is gone, but the long term ramifications are enormous. We have to make a choice. If it’s Southern Baptist or Roman Catholic, it doesn’t matter which one because both have lunacies and potencies. All have merit and demerit. Which one is best? I would never say, “Whatever is best for you.” We don’t want relativism. I say, “Choose the one that preaches Christ and his gospel, and is trying to figure out how and doing something to love/grace.

The opposite of following the two Pauline laws is to fall back into religion (by defintion a way to promote one’s self to a god or the gods) and to lose sight of the power of grace to keep this world and our lives from falling apart. Many Christians feel better about themselves before God because they can prove to him that they are good people and practice Christianity. Other Christians may think that showing their rightness and declaiming sin or wrong in this world brings change, and fail to shower grace on the undeserving and sinful around them. The message they preach with their actions is the opposite of Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!”.

Where are you in this mix? On a scale from one to ten, are you totally confused or totally embedded in a Christian way? Do you think that Christians are mean spirited or loving and kind? do you think that Christians are preaching religion or preaching Christ Jesus as Lord? What would happen if instead of throwing around numbers and Bible verses we actually believed that loving other disciples would cause people to jump on board the gospel along with us?

The truth is that I’ve found people in every group I’ve been in or witnessed who do these two things very well. Somehow, getting more than 2 or 3 gathered generates some of the other stuff that creates interference with the Christ/gospel message and loving/gracing others. I’ve been loved and taught about Christ and the gospel, love and grace in each of these camps. Why? I don’t think it’s all dependent on humans. For this I am so thankful! 1 Cor. 3:6, 7 “6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Cartoons: Have Faith in the Right Place

Put your faith where it belongs! Be wise, and present all your requests to God for peace that passes understanding!

Jesus is Coming: Be Ready Video

So many people think Jesus is a fictional character, even Christians. Their footing is due to laziness or willful disobedience. The facts are clearly laid out in the gospels. He’s amazing. The stories may seem irregular or incongruent to a modern, TV watching, busy-0-phile. No one can read the gospels and say something like, “Ah, shucks…Jesus is just like my Uncle Jeb. He’s so cheap, why he walked on water just last week trying to get his lure off a deadhead log.” Most Christians can’t explain a lick about why Jesus is so amazing.

And can anyone you know today, in politics or glitzywood, claim to want to die for you? Sure, we’ll spend millions getting you to watch us or vote for us, but die? Silly goose!

Cool, funny video called “Be Ready! Men’s Egos

After preaching Sunday on Luke 17, I realize how incredible Jesus’ teaching was to the disciples. He explained that the end would come quickly and gave two short examples: the days of Noah and the days of Lot. If the end happened quickly once or twice before, surely it could happen again! Jesus left out the parts about the Exile or Exodus or Elijah and several other judgments that happened quickly.

Yet, his message wasn’t a “stomp your guilt button with condemnation to get ready for the end” sermon. If you’ve ever heard one, you know what I mean. “Jesus is coming soon, like a thief in the night, so make sure you’re ready. Don’t be caught in a theater or drinking a beer when he comes.” Does anyone wonder what Jesus will think when he catches you in the shower? No condemnation at all in his message. Just a clear explanation that when the end of the period of grace comes, it will happen quickly. No stimulus plan can pull you out of the trouble.

So, how does a person get ready? Only one way. We will never be pure enough as long as we have minds and bodies. Only one way! Believe that this amazing Jesus was crucifed according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:2-3) So, Be Ready!

Remnants of a Boy

Just loving my kids, each with a unique gift to this world, I noticed the unique attempts, subconscious most likely, of my son to make us aware of his presence. He’s been making paper airplanes, or should I say, his big sister, Grace, is making them, and he’s flying them. He flies them and leaves them. If it wasn’t paper airplanes, it would be his army men. If not army men, then cars. If not cars, then his socks, or anything that would remind us he is part of us. I could get mad, or as I did the other day, I loved seeing him in my mind, reminded of his joy of living, and the pleasure in watching these planes soar, twirl or drop like a rock. I love these remnants of him left all over the house!

Here are some photos I took to help you see what I mean.

Cartoon Wind Detectors

Cartoonists lick a finger, stick it into the wind and draft a current attitude summary in cartoon format. Here’s what I mean…

Yes, Someone Saw It Coming

“At a minimum, the mergers are creating a class of ‘too big to fail’ institutions – banks that must be bailed out, various presidents will inevitably tell us, to prevent a ‘domino’ economic effect.”

– Ralph Nader, The New York Times, November 12, 1995

–

“The real concern that we have is that we have got and developed, in this country, a very serious ‘too big to fail’ problem, and that problem, we’ve just recognized now in the current situation, how severe it is.”

- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, NYT, October 16, 2008

Full article here by University of Florida’s Travis Pillow

Obama, on Finding a New Church

Great article on the Obama’s hunt for a community of Christians in D.C.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/01/obamas-to-searc.html

My Burned Out Heart

Matt, the cath lab (Vanderbilt Med Center) prep nurse took exactly 2 minutes and 32 seconds to shave everything from my groin up-with an electric razor. I’m as smooth as a baby’s butt. They needed hairless room to put all the electrodes and defibrillator paddles, not to mention the possiblility, remote, of having to go in through my sternum.

I woke up once during the procedure to an awful pain in my chest. That was a good thing, they said. The pain was proof that they had cauterized the right spot, about a centimenter long, in the left atrium. I vaguely remember asking if Matt was now inside my heart doing his razor thing.

Three small spaghetti sized holes in my right groin, with a little bruising is all that remains of the procedure on the surface. I won’t show pictures. I’m not leaking blood or have more than a couple square inches of bruising.

I was groggy from the sedatives, sleeping most of the afternoon, but waking up for a few hours for a delicious dinner from my sister, and a quick game of “Up and Down the River” with her daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, Dave, Nathan and Rhonda. I haven’t had any symptoms of flutter or fib all day or night so looks like they zapped the right spot. My only question as I waited for Dr. Whalen to show up was, “How many of these have you done?” His student resident was there so I asked him how many he had done on live patients. Chuckle, chuckle. “Thirty or forty” he said. They promised a 95% success rate. Looks like number 41 hit the jackpot! I’ve now got my old age heart problems solved early.

Thanks for your prayers and concern.

Novel Part 3: National Novel Writing Month

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

No super hero training school exists. Mom and Dad decided in fifth grade that I wouldn’t go back to public school. We lived in a small town of 5,000, but the world was getting closer. The internet came to town the year before, 1993. Mom and Dad hooked during my fifth grade. They knew that a lower profile was the only way to save me from the fascination of evil and touch hungry fans. We moved to Michigan. To the woods. To a place where Calvinism and Dutch puritanical instincts ran deep. Kent County. Neighbors take care of each other there. We found some good ones.

On a summer night that melted wallpaper, our neighbor, Gerrit Guikema, blasted his 12 guage into the night air. Shattering glass followed. Moaning and screaming came next. My dad picked up his pistol holster, carrying a Taurus PT 24/7 PRO, with twelve .45’s in the clip. Gerrit had intimidated a couple of goobers who had staked out our house. He said it was the third night. He didn’t trust them. He called the police, then fired his shotgun. At 75, Gerrit didn’t look criminal so the police let him go. The goobers? They had guns. Ex-felons. They were locked up for a couple more years. But who sent them? And what did they want? Simple! It’s always about money.