Danny's "The Christian Life"

Tolerance vs. Righteousness

2011-01-10T19:46:00.003-06:00

There has been a controversy recently at the Christian university at which I teach. One of our coaches was suddenly removed from her position. A rumor got started (I don't know whether it is true or false) that she was removed because she is a homosexual. She and the university have both said that they had reached a mutual agreement for her removal. She has not officially said it had anything to do with her homosexuality, although in my opinion she has implied it. The university president made an official statement that homosexuality is not used in university personnel decisions.

As the rumor circulated on campus and also in the local media (it also got some attention in the national media) that she was removed because of her homosexuality, there was a great outcry from some of the university financial supporters, a large number of students, and some of the faculty. These people believe that at a Christian university, the ideals of love, forgiveness and tolerance should be applied and therefore we should be accepting and she should not be removed from her position because of her choice of life partner.

This, of course, got me to pondering. What is right? Should a Christian university allow homosexual faculty? (Incidentally, our university has no requirements on our students relating to sexual orientation, gender, race, nationality, or even religion.)

The first thing I always consider: What does the Bible say?

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done." -Romans 1:24-28

"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." -Leviticus 18:22

So, it is pretty clear that the Biblical writers considered homosexuality wrong.

But, are those statements commands from God which he intends for us to follow today? That's not an easy question to answer, and would take a lot longer than a single blog post to address. A quick statement of my own view is that if we only believe part of the Bible and not all of it, then we're really making up our own religion, and there is, of course, no reason to believe that a made-up religion has any truth or validity. The Bible is the only source we have for determining God's will.

So, at least my viewpoint is that since the Bible says homosexuality is wrong, then God does not want us to practice it in the 21st century. I don't mean to speak for God - rather, I'm stating what I believe God wants us to do based on the available evidence. I can't say for certain what God wants - only God can do that.

It then follows that at a Christian university, in which faculty members are to provide Christian examples to the students, the faculty members should not be practicing homosexuals. Note that I said practicing, because I think someone who has homosexual urges and doesn't follow them is not sinning.

But, what about love, forgiveness and tolerance? They are important, VERY important! But, we have to be careful to follow the teachings of God and not the teachings of man. God has warned us of this many times:

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight." -1 Corinthians 3:19

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing." -1 Timothy 6:3

"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." - 2 Peter 3:3

"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.' These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." -Jude 17-19

"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." -2 Peter 2:18-19

"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.' " -Isaiah 29:13-14

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." -Matthew 7:15

Issues relating to homosexuality are coming often to the forefront in our society, and each of us needs to ponder these issues with prayer, humility and study.

How to Be Happy!

2010-12-15T18:12:00.004-06:00

We all seem to have a natural tendency to try to grab what is most pleasing to ourselves. How can I get more money? How can I get more stuff? How can I get nicer stuff? How can I get a nicer house? How can I get a better car? How can I be better looking? How can I live longer? How can I get more friends? How can I get cooler friends? How can I find something fun to do? How can I get to go on the vacation I want? How can I get a better job? I'm sure you can find some personal favorites to add here.

But, doing these things is the surest way to make yourself unhappy. If you take the attitude in the previous paragraph, you'll never be satisfied. You'll always want more, and you'll feel depressed, frustrated and mistreated that you can't get it.

It's really ironic. The quickest way to get unhappy is to try to find things/ways to make yourself happy.

There's only one path to happiness and contentment: Surrender your will to God! Think outwardly, not inwardly. How can I please God? How can I do what God wants me to do? How can I have the faith God wants me to have? How can I love and serve others? What is God's will for my life? How can I make prayer a bigger part of my life? How can I contribute to my church? How can I spend more time with the Bible?

Living your life for God frees yourself from the frustrating and pointless task of chasing the world's pursuits.

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' " -John 8:31-33

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:11-13

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." -Galatians 5:16-17, 22-24

Hand your life completely and fully over to the Good Lord Almighty, and you'll be setting your foot on the path to contentment!

Television

2010-08-21T20:17:00.004-05:00

I'd like to add yet another voice to those who say that television shows are becoming more and more immoral over the last __ years. (Fill in the blank as you see fit: 5, 10, 20, 40 years.)

The show "Two and a Half Men" makes constant sexual references including nitty-gritty details. "Big Bang Theory" is mostly about the pursuit and capture of casual sex. "Friends" doesn't have quite as much casual sex, but it has a good bit, and the characters routinely lie and mislead each other. Through some inexplicable quirk, I was watching "That 70's Show" with my mother-in-law recently. (I still can't remember how that happened...) Up to then I had not realized how bad this show was. And, don't even get me started on "Family Guy," which makes the shows above look like choir practice.

Now, don't jump to conclusions about me. I'm not a fundamentalist, hang 'em high, Pat Robertson-hugging conservative. I'm not a prude. But, these types of shows, and similar cultural influences, gradually and almost unnoticeably eat away at the fabric of society.

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." -I Timothy 4:1-2

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you." -I Peter 4:3-4

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." -Romans 1:28-32

I remember a sermon in which the preacher said that our consciences are like an alarm. The first time we commit a certain sin, the alarm goes off loudly. The next time, it goes off, but a little less loudly. If we continue the sin, eventually the alarm will no longer go off. At that point, we begin believing the sin is no longer wrong, but acceptable. And in time, some people go on to believe that it is not only acceptable, but favorable, and they must enlighten others to do the same.

I really do believe that these cultural influences are gradually pulling our nation down. And they are especially deceptive, because most of these shows are funny and "cute." Might these influences be the reason for the behavior of people like Lindsey Lohan, who went from being a talented, beautiful, young actress and singer to a disaster? I don't think there's much doubt.

I'm a strong enough believer in free speech that such shows have the right to be on air, as long as the censors don't stop them. But, we Christians should not support and approve them by watching.

True Christianity?

2010-05-21T18:14:00.004-05:00

There is a trend among Christians that I have been noticing in recent years that I think is harmful. I've been seeing it even more lately, and I've even been observing it at the Christian university at which I teach.

The trend is to deny the central importance of Jesus. A lot of it tends to emphasize some very important things, such as love, tolerance and service to our fellow humans. You hear Christians quoting Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist sources to make their religious points. They say things like there are many paths to God and each one must find his or her own way. They talk about the brotherhood of man.

But, this is missing the whole point of Christianity. The basis of Christianity is that humankind chose sin over God, thus separating ourselves from the fellowship of God. No matter how hard we try, we cannot earn our way back. We had to have someone stronger and better than us to pay the price, namely Jesus. And, if we accept this free gift, we are back in fellowship with God - God has wiped the slate clean.

Of course, love, tolerance, service to our fellow humans, compassion and forgiveness are very important, and Christians should do those things in response to the free gift of salvation and in devotion, love and obedience to God.

But, Jesus is pretty clear:

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " -John 14:6

and

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." -John 3:18

Paul wrote:

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" -Galatians 1:6-8

Another passage:

"The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.' " -Acts 16:29-31

As Christians, we should not be afraid to assert and defend the truth of Christianity!

Easter!

2010-03-28T19:49:00.004-05:00

Christmas is a big time of celebration for Christians. And why not? The gift of Jesus is the greatest gift humankind has ever received.

But, I always thought Easter was somewhat overlooked. Of course, it does get some attention. The church service on Easter is usually well-attended and bigger than usual, and we all love the festivity of the Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets. Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are getting more attention these days from more Christians and Christian denominations.

Easter should be a really big deal. This is when we celebrate The Event, The Big Event, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Bible says:

"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." -I Corinthians 15:13-14

But, Jesus was raised from the dead - it's a real, historical fact which has been documented carefully in the Bible and witnessed by many people. Jesus has reconciled God and humankind, despite humankind's choice of sin and rejection of God.

" 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -I Corinthians 15:55-57

Jesus has paid the price, and became the first to be raised from the dead. And so we will be raised from the dead also, to join God and the other believers in eternal happiness in Heaven.

Easter is a really big deal!

small group studies

2010-01-24T12:51:00.001-06:00

This isn't my usual kind of post, but I thought some of you might find this helpful. We've been studying starting a small group ministry at my church, and here is a summary of what we've learned so far. I feel like the first five are the most important points.

SOME LESSONS LEARNED FOR GROUP LEADERS

Each group should include prayer, fellowship, Bible reading and service in some way. Your group might choose to emphasize one or more of these features.

Stress the importance of attendance and making the group’s activities a priority.

Give each person in your group a sense of ownership. Allow them input into your group’s activities and direction - listen to their suggestions and complaints and make changes where needed. Rotate responsibilities for managing the group’s activities (leading in prayer, Bible reading, etc.).

Have a regular meeting time, day and place. Give reminders by telephone or e-mail, even if you’re “sure” they know.

The group members should pray for each other, and provide care where needed.

********************************************************************

Clarify to yourself and to your group members what your group’s mission is. You might want to consider a written covenant.

Identify the specific talents and skills of your group’s members, and make use of them.

Make sure everyone in your group is involved. For example, if someone seems left out of the discussion, pull them in by asking them a question or asking for their opinion.

Follow up with people who miss an activity. Make sure they feel missed, but not chastised.

Don’t be upset if things don’t go as you plan – make plans and then just go with the flow.

You don’t need to be the group’s “teacher,” unless you consider that a particular skill or interest of yours. Your job is to organize the group, keep it going and with the group members’ input, set the direction for the group.

Create an environment in which everyone feels free to be themselves and feels they can voice their opinions and feelings without being criticized or ridiculed.

If you try something that doesn’t work, don’t get discouraged - learn from it and move on. Not everything you try is going to work well.

Be reasonable in your demands on your group members’ time commitments.

Food always encourages fellowship!

dealing with death

2009-12-07T21:15:00.003-06:00

Recently, I received the surprising and shocking news that a friend of mine had been murdered. She was just an ordinary person and wasn't involved in drugs or any kind of crime. She lived in a very safe small town and was not out late at night. From what we can tell, it was a random killing and particularly brutal.

An event like this can be faith shaking. Couldn't an all powerful God have prevented this? Wouldn't a good God have taken action? I did quite a bit of soul searching and pondered this carefully. Of course, these two questions are always before us, but this particular incident so close to home (both literally and figuratively) really caused me to ponder anew these issues.

The bottom line is that this is not heaven. God never promised it was. Humankind brought sin into the world by choice. Now, we live in a battlefield between good and evil. And in a battle zone, sometimes innocent people are caught in the crossfire. My friend was caught in the crossfire.

Shouldn't a good God step in and stop all of this suffering? Of course. And he will! Not in the time we choose, but in his time. And that's a good thing - God is infinitely knowledgeable and infinitely wise, and we are not. So, we must be patient for his perfect timing, and not foolishly think we know better than he does.

We can take comfort that my friend is now in a better place, a land of peace and good - not a battle zone. And when God steps in and puts a stop to all suffering, we will join her!

Halloween

2009-10-04T17:18:00.007-05:00

Like a lot of people who are nostalgic about their childhood, I have good memories of Halloween. It was a real kids' holiday. You could feel the excitement in the air as you scanned the neighborhood as it got dark and saw kids, front porch lights and flashlights everywhere. The candy was just a bonus. One of the fun things about the candy was you always got some stuff you had never had before, instead of the same old thing we got at the market every single time.

But, as I mentioned to a friend of mine not long ago, Halloween was a lot more fun before I realized that witches and the like were real. The forces and power of evil are real, and there are people out there who practice witchcraft, sorcery and devil worship, and some might actually derive power from Satan. While our society's practice of Halloween is generally innocent, I'm just not sure it's a good idea to "celebrate" evil, torture, fear, demons, etc. Even practices like Ouija boards and fortune telling might lead to things that are much more dangerous.

The Bible has much to say about this:

"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you." -Deuteronomy 18:10-12

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." -Galatians 5:19-21

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." -Revelation 21:8

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12

"I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people." -Leviticus 20:6

I think if you want to have a "candy day" or a "dress-up day" sometime in late October, it's OK. But don't associate with Halloween and other practices or traditions that glorify evil, even if it seems innocent.

health care reform

2009-08-22T18:44:00.004-05:00

Health care reform is all you hear about on the news programs right now. We all knew this is something the Democrats wanted to do, and hopefully, everyone who voted for President Obama knew that. (Otherwise, they didn't make a very informed choice!)

So, what will we get? A full blown nationalized health care system, a modification or tweaking of the current system, or no change at all? It's the usual tug-of-war between the Republicans and Democrats, and it's anyone's guess who will win, but I would be surprised if we don't get at least a few changes this time around.

What should a Christian think about this? Well, I don't think there's a Christian position on how the government should be involved in health care. Often, many Christians will align themselves with the "less-government-intervention" side, but that doesn't mean that side is always the "correct" side scripturally.

Whatever you think about the views expressed in the paragraph above, ALL Christians should push for health care for all people:

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them." -Matthew 4:23-24

So, if you're a person who believes the government should stay of the health care business, then you need to support private initiatives to provide health care for uninsured and underinsured people. There are a lot of ways in which you can help, including providing money, volunteer time, or your medical expertise. Here in my town we have the Siloam Family Health Center. From their website:

"Siloam Family Health Center cares for the uninsured in Middle Tennessee by providing high-quality, affordable health care designed to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients. The clinic aligns staff, volunteers and donors to carry out this ministry of health, healing and hope for people who have few options for medical care."

So, let's get out there and get to work to follow Jesus' example of caring for the sick!

honor your parents

2009-07-12T20:12:00.005-05:00

We're all familiar with the commandment "Honor your father and your mother" straight from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12). It must be a big deal to God for Him to include it in "The Top Ten." As a child, it's pretty clear what this means - obey your parents, don't argue with them, treat them with respect, etc. There can be some dilemmas here, such as what do you do if your parents tell you to do something you know is wrong? But, that's an issue for another day.

What I'd like to consider now is how do we obey this command when we are adults? At age 40, should we buy the house that our parents tell us to, or live where they tell us to, or raise our children the way they tell us to? Etc.

Sometimes once we have obtained our adult "knowledge" and "wisdom," our parents can seem pretty foolish. In Proverbs 23:22, we are told "Do not despise your mother when she is old." There are times when it might be a temptation to do so.

So, how do we honor our parents as adults?

I don't think the Bible commands us to obey them. As adults we are responsible for our own decisions, just as our parents were when they were our current age. However, I do think that we are expected to listen to what they have to say, treat it with respect, and consider it seriously. They have a lot of years of experience - they just might have some good ideas! It's OK to disagree with them, but your opinion should be stated gently, humbly and respectfully.

I also think we need to care for them when the time is appropriate. I believe in giving the aged and elderly as much freedom and autonomy as we can. However, when our parents need our help, we have the responsibility to make sure they are taken care of, just as they did when we were young.

It was helpful to me when I realized that God never commanded us to remain close to our parents, not only in terms of distance, but also in terms of spending a lot of social time with them and telling them our every problem or fear. I've found that my relationship with my parents is stronger if I hold a little emotional distance, while continuing to recognize the importance of the things mentioned in the previous two paragraphs. But, this approach might not be best for everyone.

It's also my opinion that parents who help support their adult children financially have the right to a little more intervention. If you can be financially independent of your parents, you should do so, but if not, recognize the fact that they have an "investment" in what you're doing and have the right to a little extra control. It's not reasonable or fair for you to expect your parents to give you money to spend in a way that they believe is unwise.

Treating our parents with respect is an important part of living the life God wants us to live, and I believe it pleases Him when we do so.

pursuit of the world's temptations

2009-05-28T20:32:00.003-05:00

Someone I know has been on my mind a lot lately. He's a nice enough fellow and I love him very much. But his life is a total disaster, and it always has been. I've prayed fervently for his life to turn around, but he's made no progress whatsoever. He's hit the bottom financially many times. He's been homeless and unemployed many times. He's abused alcohol, and probably drugs to a smaller degree. He's been in trouble with the law many times, and has spent time in prison. He has emotional problems for which he needs medication, but he refuses to stay on his prescribed medication. Many times a family member or friend has taken him under their wing and tried to give him a fresh start, but every time within a matter of weeks he has rejected it all and hit bottom again.

Why is his life like this? I don't know for certain - I think that some people are given more challenges than others, and I think some are more prone to temptation than others. I don't think you can really know what it's like for another person, unless you've had all of the experiences and influences that they have had. But I can speculate in his case, since I know it well.

First, he does not have God in his life. I think he believes in the Christian story and acknowledges the truth, but he does not practice Christianity in any sense, nor does Christianity affect his life in any way. How can anyone hope to thrive, or even survive in this world, without a full devotion to the Creator?

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.' " -John 14:6

I think his second problem is that all of his thoughts and actions are turned toward himself. When he does manage to get a little money, he quickly blows it on eating out, electronic gadgets and alcohol. I don't know of a single time he has ever done any volunteer or charitable work. Ironically, by focusing on squeezing out of life whatever he can for his own use and pleasure, he has ended up denying himself of all of the good things that life offers.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life." -Luke 21:34

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you." -I Peter 4:3-4

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." -Galatians 5:19-24

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:8

This young man needs your prayers. He has a sharp and quick mind, and a great deal of energy. He might yet go far if he can get his life on track. Only God can make the kind of change he needs.

blessings

2009-03-20T20:33:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I'm just overwhelmed with the ways that God has blessed me.

I've had excellent health - I've never had surgery, spent a night in the hospital, or had a broken bone.

I've had access to education - I was able to complete my education up to and including a Ph. D., and never paid a dime, thanks to public funding and scholarships.

I've never been unemployed.

I've never been homeless.

I've never been without food. In fact, my waistline proves that I've even enjoyed an excess of food!

I've owned a car since I was 16 years old.

And I could go on and on listing many more ways in which God has blessed me.

And I am certain that I can take no credit for these things - they are all gifts from a generous and loving God.

In fact, the vast majority of us in the U. S. have been the beneficiaries of many of God's blessings. When you consider all people throughout the world, and also consider all of the people who lived in the past who are now deceased, all but the very poorest of Americans are ridiculously wealthy. I think it's especially important for us to remember this now, as we go through an economic climate that is much more challenging than we've faced in many years.

In other words, count your blessings! Look at all of the wonderful things that God has done for you in the past, and is doing for you now. The vast majority of Americans have food, shelter, fresh water, health care, free education, freedom, adequate clothing, transportation, free and easy access to worship and the Bible, etc.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." -Psalm 118:1

"In that day you will say: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.'" -Isaiah 12:4

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -I Thessalonians 5:18

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." -Ephesians 1:3

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" -I Corinthians 4:7

speaking about our Christian beliefs

2009-02-18T18:14:00.005-06:00

As mentioned in my profile, I am a university professor. Recently, one of the senior members in my department came to me to tell me that one of our students had complained that I talk about my Christian beliefs in class too much. This was especially interesting, since I teach at a Christian university! But, I was glad my colleague talked to me - it was her intention to give me some helpful input to help me become a better teacher. After all, the Bible says:

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."-Proverbs 27:5

So, we should not be offended when someone offers us constructive criticism given in the spirit of helpfulness.

But, is it possible for one to talk about their Christian beliefs too much?

I think so. For one, even in a Christian school, a teacher must maintain a level of professionalism, so it's possible for a teacher to reveal too much personal information that is not relevant to the material. Secondly, one must show respect for others' right to form their own opinion. (Notice that I said the "right to form their own opinion." That doesn't mean that one opinion is good as the next!) Finally, people who are not Christians can be turned off if we Christians are too aggressive in our witnessing.

However, under the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph, Christians should be unafraid to be open and honest about their beliefs. As Peter and John said in the book of Acts

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." -Acts 4:20

And I think that all Christians should feel this way. In particular, I feel that I have the Christian responsibility to talk about Christianity to my students for two reasons:

1. Many young people in the U. S. have been told that truth is relative, and that religious beliefs are a personal matter - a matter of individual choice. But, the fact is that there is either a God or not, it's not our choice. And if there is a God (which we Christians believe), He has certain characteristics - we don't get to choose those characteristics. He either has them or he doesn't, whether we like them or not. So, truth is not relative, it's absolute, and our young people need to be taught that they have been misled on this.

2. Many young people have also been taught to "compartmentalize" their lives: "Religion is fine for Sunday mornings, but don't talk about it the rest of the week." But, we know from the Bible that God wants all of our life, not just some segment of it. All of our activities should be about serving and glorifying God, including work, family, recreation, rest, nourishment, etc. I want to show my students that everything relates to God, whether it's history, psychology, math, finances, electronics or whatever!

I'd appreciate your prayers helping me to have good judgment on when and how to express my Christianity in my classes!

prayer

2009-01-31T20:03:00.006-06:00

Today I received an e-mail message from a former student of mine. It means a lot to me when my students from the past take the time to reconnect with me. This particular student has had nothing but bad luck. He was an outstanding student, with an unusual amount of creativity and motivation. But, his people skills are terrible, and have run him into trouble at every turn.

I feel like this person needs a lot of prayer. God gave him his special skills for a reason, and he just needs to find the right situation in which patient and caring people can mentor him in the social skills, and provide a shield for him when he makes mistakes.

From the Bible, we know that God wants us to pray, and we know that God wants to answer prayer and give us good things.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" -Matthew 7:7-11

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." -James 5:16-18

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -Philippians 4:6

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." -Ephesians 6:18

God has promised to answer prayers and he has the power to do so. Please pray with me for this young man, and let's watch the results of God's power and mercy!

While I am talking about prayer, I want to give God praise for two recently answered prayers:

A young lady I worked with gave birth to twins recently, but one was born with a serious heart defect. He needed a heart transplant. After many prayers, God provided a heart for this little one, and his body has accepted the heart and it is functioning well!

A friend of mine for 37 years runs a mortgage business here in town. He worked very hard to build this business up, and then lost almost everything in a divorce, in which he was dealt with unfairly by the legal system. Then the housing crisis hit, and his business, which I understand supports five families, was in danger of going under. But, recently, business has picked up, and I happy to say he is having to stay in his office until late in the evening to get his work done!

Isn't God good!

fresh starts

2009-01-13T18:00:00.006-06:00

It just crossed my mind that there are a lot of fresh starts/new beginnings this time of year:

January 1, New Year's Day, the start of a new year,

School is starting back after Christmas break for a large number of students and teachers - tomorrow is the start of the spring semester at the university where I teach,

January 20 is the day the next U. S. President takes office and begins a possible new direction for our nation,

And, hopefully it won't be TOO long until spring starts and then baseball season begins!

These things make me think of the well-known passage in the gospel of John:

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.' In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again....For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.' " -John 3:1-3, 16-17

God gives us a new beginning through baptism - we are born again. Our sins are wiped clean, and we have a fresh start.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - II Corinthians 5:17

"...everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43b

I remember a student of mine once telling me that she had a debt that she needed to pay. She had worried about this debt for a long time, but did not have the means to pay it off. When she finally had collected enough money to pay it back, she was told that she no longer owed the money! She told me that at that point, she really understood what Jesus has done for us - he has wiped the slate completely clean for us, and has given us a fresh start, a chance to be a new person dedicated to the Lord!

Marriage: Partnership or Dictatorship?

2008-12-30T20:16:00.005-06:00

One of the biggest sources of difficulty in a marriage is decision making. How should decisions be made regarding finances, children, religion, vacations, where to live, etc., etc.?

Remember, the Bible is the answer key, so we can find the correct answer by looking there:

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." -Ephesians 5:22-24

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." -Colossians 3:18

So, it looks pretty clear what the answer is, so I guess I'm finished...

But, wait, I think it's a little bit more complicated. Here in the U. S., we live in a time of equal rights for men and women (whether or not we have an amendment to the Constitution that says so). Women today are well-educated, and are taught to be self-sufficient and have opinions of their own.

I think the Bible says that the husband has the right to make the decisions regarding the family and household, but I don't see that it says that he must exercise that right. In this day and age, I think decisions are best made when the husband and wife work together. You know the saying, "Two heads are better than one!"

I think there is a time and place when a husband and wife cannot arrive at a decision, for example, if no compromise is possible. (For example, do we send the kids to private school or public school?) In a case like this, the husband has the Biblically-based right to make the decision, and the wife should submit. (And no "cold shoulders" or "silent treatments" - wives, do you really think that's what the Lord means when he says submit?) However, husbands, please listen to this: I would only play that ace very infrequently, maybe only once or twice in a lifetime. You should only play that ace if the decision is extremely important - do not abuse this God-given right.

And, when possible, involve the kids too. For example, if you're buying a new car, the parents could choose the make and model, and you could let the kids choose the color! Don't you think that if they are involved, the kids are more likely to support the family's activities and responsibilities, such as...washing the car?

Christian divisions

2008-12-08T21:07:00.007-06:00

After all of the years I've spent on this earth, I'm still surprised and dismayed at the extreme allegiance that some Christians have for their particular denomination!

Some of the reasons for these "divisions" into Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc. are not harmful. Some of them are simply historical in basis. Some people feel more comfortable worshipping in one style than another. Some people might feel more that a particular denomination's doctrinal stance is more consistent with their beliefs. Some people feel fulfillment in worshipping the same way that their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did. I have no quibble with people who choose to attend church services of a particular denomination for these reasons.

But, I take issue with those whose denominational allegiance is so strong that they are convinced that their denomination has perfect doctine, and that all other groups are in serious error. Some take their over-the-top zeal so far that they believe that people in other Christian groups must be converted to their own personal church group.

There are a number of problems with the attitudes mentioned in the previous paragraph. For one, it does not reflect the humility that Jesus preached and that is taught elsewhere in the Bible. Second, it ignores the fact that only God is perfect. Third, it causes animosity between denominations, while the Bible teaches unity. Fourth, these contententious divisions are an obstacle to evangelism. I remember talking to someone from the Middle East about Christianity, and one of his biggest problems with Christianity was all of the in-fighting that Christians do. Fifth, the extreme allegiance some have to their particular denomination is not all that different from idolatry, something which the Bible especially warns us about.

Consider the following passages from the Bible:

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" - I Corinthians 1:10-13

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." -Titus 3:9-11

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." -Acts 4:32

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." -John 17:20-23

The Bible sends a clear message of God's believers working together in love, humility and unity. Let's all strive with prayer and with God's help toward that goal!

materialism and the U. S. economy

2008-11-24T20:48:00.007-06:00

The media are telling us that the U. S. economy is in bad shape, and there is good reason to believe that things will get worse. Since the various parts of the U. S. economy are so interdependent, the problems with the real estate bubble bursting and the problems with the banking industry are being spread throughout all commerce in the nation. A great number of layoffs have been made, and many more will probably occur as the problems continue spreading throughout business in the U. S. and the rest of the world.

As a result, many Americans are spending less money - including those who still have jobs, even those whose jobs are at least fairly secure. They're hoping to save money, or at least not obtain more financial obligations, so that they can weather the tough times to come. This is very wise, although it will result in fewer purchases being made, which will slow down the U. S. economy even further.

I'm not an economics expert, although I have a great deal of training in mathematics and have published mathematics related to economics. But, as someone who is mostly an amateur in these areas, I believe the days of the U. S. being the only financial superpower in the world are over. This factor, along with the items mentioned in the paragraphs above, I think is going to cause American citizens to need to get used to having less.

But, I believe this is a blessing in disguise! We've gotten too attached to our money and possessions, and gotten away from the things that are really important. We need to go back to what the Bible teaches about materialism:

"And he [Jesus] told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.' ' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." -Luke 12:16-21

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." -I Timothy 6:6-10

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21

"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." -Philippians 4:11a-12

God would not mislead you. You really will be happier with less stuff. Don't think about what you want - be thankful to God for what you have. And concentrate on the things that are really important: love, compassion, humility, forgiveness, friendship, prayer, Bible study, nature - they're all free!

President-Elect Obama

2008-11-12T20:31:00.005-06:00

The United States will have a new president in January (if you haven't heard already...). One of the things that makes our nation great is that we have peaceful elections in which American citizens choose their own leader, and President-elect Obama has emerged as the choice of the American people. Another thing that makes our nation great is the peaceful change of governments. President Bush and his staff will depart quietly, and graciously hand the reins to the people's new choice.

You might not have supported Obama in the Presidential election. Almost half of the voters voted for McCain, including me. But, now that the decision has been made, all Americans should rally behind Obama and give him our full support. He will be our President, the President of the U. S. A., and no longer simply a leader of the Democratic party. He's intelligent and full of energy, and from all reports, a moral, Christian family man. I think he has some special skills to bring to the nation's current needs:

1. It's becoming increasingly clear that there is a great disparity between the rich and poor in the U. S., and also becoming clear that some of the richest have taken unreasonable advantage of their good fortune. CEO's continue to draw exorbitant salaries, even when their companies are doing poorly and laying off their long-time employees. Sports figures and entertainers draw huge salaries disproportionate to their contribution to society. Elderly people are having to do without medications to make ends meet. I think Obama realizes these things and will address these problems.

2. As the rest of the world continues to catch up with the United States in economic power, we will find that we will no longer be able to use our might to force other countries to do the right thing. An alternate approach is needed, and I think Obama might be able to find it.

3. Despite huge strides toward racial equality in this nation, there is still a great deal of racial resentment. I think Obama will help heal that. Hopefully, as a result, crime rates will go down.

The Bible makes it clear that God wants us to submit to our government leaders:

"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." -Hebrews 13:17

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." -Titus 3:1-2

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." -Romans 13:1

Pray for President-elect Obama. He has a tough job in front of him, probably the most stressful job in the world. If he is successful, all of the U. S. will reap the benefits.

living with fibromyalgia

2008-10-28T20:11:00.007-05:00

My wife has been battling fibromyalgia for about a year now. This is an aggravating disease. It causes a lot of muscular pain and fatigue, and also causes emotional distress, if for no other reason than from the pain and fatigue. It's not curable, and there are not any known medical aids that do not cause worse problems from side effects. Some people have found relief from various natural sources, such as dietary supplements, acupuncture, massage and soaking in a hot tub. None of these work for everyone, and not everyone can find something that works. It affects me, too, in the sense that I worry about my wife a lot, plus the fact that I need to do more of the physical work around the house, and I miss out on some of the activities we used to do.

Why does God allow these things? Well, first, I'm very thankful he has protected my wife and me from many other more serious and debilitating diseases and injuries. In the great scheme of things, if this is all we have to deal with, we should probably consider ourselves very blessed. But, the bottom line is we live in a fallen world, in which humankind has chosen the ways of Satan, and lots of bad things happen in a sinful world. Someday, God will step in and stop sin:

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." -I Thessalonians 4:16-18

But, we have to wait until God does this in His own time:

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."... But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness." -II Peter 3:3-4, 8-9

We might think we know the right time for Him to step in and stop the effects of a sinful world, but we must have faith that He knows the right time much better than we do. Meanwhile, He has promised that He will help us through these earthly trials.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -Matthew 10:29-31

Almost everyone, no matter how physically or emotionally sick, still has something they can contribute to the world and to God's work. I need to encourage my wife to stay optimistic, and for her to find ways to help others with her remaining skills and strength. I continue to pray to God to help her with this sickness, and for patience and understanding.

Muslim friends

2008-10-12T13:08:00.005-05:00

Last night I attended a dinner hosted by a group of Muslim people who have come to the U.S. from Turkey. This group is dedicated to the idea of a peaceful world and believe that Christians and Muslims can coexist in a peaceful way. I too believe that this is possible, and I am inspired by the work and dedication of this group.

Nevertheless, these people are not Christians and do not have salvation from God, despite the fact that they are friendly, loving and peaceful people. Jesus said:

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6.

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." -John 3:18

My non-Christian friends and some of my Christian friends will say that kind of attitude is arrogant, intolerant and self-righteous. But, here's the way I look it: I've been invited to a really great party (Heaven), and I can invite anyone I want to come. I want all of the people I love, my family and friends, to be there. I want to see there my friends from Turkey Mustafa and Ferhan, my friend from Iran Nezam, my friend from Vietnam Lan, my science-minded friend Johnathan, and my outspoken atheist friends Barry and Eric. From what the Bible says, in particular from what Jesus says, the only way you can get into the party is to get a ticket from Jesus. So, I invite, encourage and pray for all of my family and friends to go get their ticket from Jesus. I don't care who's right or wrong, I don't care who's smart or dumb, I just don't want them to miss out on the big party. And this includes my new Muslim friends from Turkey who hosted the wonderful dinner last night. I will continue to support their dream of peaceful coexistence, while I continue to pray that they will see the truth about Jesus.

Working for the Lord

2008-09-29T21:09:00.007-05:00

Our jobs take a lot of time, energy and attention. We don't have much choice - we have to work to pay our way in this world, to pay for food, shelter and many other necessities, and hopefully we have some left over for a pleasure, hobby or luxury. I feel like too many of us, even we Christians, compartmentalize our lives: We think of work as one part of our lives, our family as another part, church as another part, etc.

But it should ALL be devoted to God. God wants all of us, not just a part of us. In particular, with as much of our time, energy and attention as we need to devote to our jobs, we should devote our jobs to God. If you feel led to serve the Lord directly, doing something like preaching or missionary work, go for it. But, if you feel led in another direction, devote that work to God too. If you work for the electric company, then do your job the best you can to provide the power that your fellow humans need. If you work in a bakery, do your job the best you can, so that your fellow humans can find joy in the products you make. Whatever you do, do your best, be honest, and treat the people with whom you come in contact with respect, humility and compassion.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." -Colossians 3:23-24

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." -Ecclesiastes 9:10

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow." -II Thessalonians 3:7-9

Turn over a new leaf, starting tomorrow. Look at your job in a new way. Think of your job as serving the Lord, no matter what it is! You will find it more enjoyable, less stressful, and you'll find fulfillment in knowing you are serving the Lord and society to the best of your ability.

Hurricanes

2008-09-14T20:44:00.005-05:00

If you're like me, you've been watching the news reports on Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, Ike, etc. with great interest. I like weather in general, and I enjoy following what's going on, especially something that's a little unusual. But, of course, we're all concerned about the people in the paths of these storms. People are losing their lives and others are getting injured. And the damage to public and personal property is almost unimaginable for those of us who haven't had experience with hurricanes.

One lesson we can learn from this is how little faith we can put in earthly possessions. These possessions can be taken away quickly, with almost no warning.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." -Matthew 7:24-27

"Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." -Proverbs 23:5

We need to put our faith in God, who will not fail us as earthly possessions and wealth do. He is the only thing we can count on with certainty.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." -Proverbs 3:25-26

We should strive for the attitude of Paul:

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." -Philippians 4:12

And don't forget to help those who are suffering from the effects of these storms. If you can't help them personally, send money to the groups who are providing aid! How about the American Red Cross?

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

Finding a Church

2008-08-24T21:14:00.007-05:00

We've been in our new town for about two months now, and we're still looking for a church. We've put this in God's hands. I've prayed repeatedly for guidance on this, and I believe he will lead us to the right place.

We've visited a number of places. We've tried three LCMS (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod) churches. This was our first priority since my wife has been a life-long member of the LCMS. One was a very contemporary service. We liked it OK, but we were very turned off with the second visit - the "praise band" seemed to dominate the service, and seemed more interested in giving an amateur concert than leading the congregation in singing. People carried on loud conversations during the songs, and even got up from their seats to talk to others. We're not going back there. Another was a very small congregation - only about 20 people, and most were senior citizens. Even the members seemed to think the church was dying, and it sure felt like it. Another LCMS church we visited was OK, but it was a long way away, and they were searching for a new pastor, and seemed to be possibly searching for an identity also. We also tried an independent congregation, which is more my style, but while I liked it, my wife didn't seem very hopeful. We've also tried two ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) churches. The first was very informal, maybe a little too informal, but we both generally liked it. But, it is quite far away from where we live. We attended another one this morning. It is a downtown church and very formal, maybe a little too formal for me. But there seems to be a lot going on there that we could possibly contribute to. Another factor we're dealing with is that the LCMS does not consider the ELCA to be as close in doctrine to them as you might imagine. But, I'm thinking that we'll settle in on one of those last two churches I've mentioned. (Once we choose one, we won't be nearly so picky with it! We just want to make sure we make a good choice before we commit ourselves!)

So, is this the right way to choose a church? Maybe a church should be chosen by family tradition. My wife, her parents, her sister and her family, and several of my wife's cousins are long-time LCMS members and they are very devoted to this particular denomination, and would be unhappy to see her leave the LCMS. Or, possibly, a church should be chosen based on its doctrinal positions. One could study the doctrinal stances of the major denominations, and also those of the local independent churches, and choose that way. To be honest, I haven't found a mainline denomination that doesn't have conflicts with the Bible. Or, possibly, one should choose a church that "feels" like the right fit: One in which you feel comfortable, has people who make you feel welcome, and has programs that you believe you can contribute to. It's especially tricky for a married couple or a family, because there are conflicting goals and opinions.

I don't know the correct answer to this. We're using a lot of prayer and patience. We're considering all of the factors mentioned in the previous paragraph. We're keeping our hearts and minds open to the direction of the Holy Spirit and we believe that through whatever means he chooses, he will lead us to the best church for us.

God's will

2008-08-12T14:19:00.007-05:00

Is it possible for someone to know God's will, fully and completely? For this post, I'm talking in particular about doctrinal issues. For example, does God want us to baptize infants? Some groups think yes, some no.

What has me thinking about this is a book I've been reading. In this book, the author basically claims that he has found the perfect, correct interpretation of the Bible regarding doctrinal issues.

There are a number of ways to attack this, it's just a matter of choosing which one to start with!

First, I'm not sure there is only one correct interpretation. Might it be possible that God has given humankind some room to make their own choices? Why not? He created each of us individually - isn't it possible that one person might have different worship needs than another?

Second, there are so many places for disagreement. How can we all agree on a single, correct interpretation for the entire Bible? In fact, how can even two of us agree on the correct interpretation? I mentioned to my wife the other day a verse that I thought was fairly straightforward:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

I made the remark that this is "proof" that we have to take the first step in the process toward salvation. My wife said that she always thought this verse was directed at people who were already believers, it's just a prescription for finding peace from the burdens of this world. Considering there are literally thousands of such verses and passages, any two people are going to find a place for disagreement.

Third, if one claims to know perfectly God's will, isn't that basically the same as claiming to be on the same level as God? None of us can claim that!

I think the lesson in all of this is that each one of us needs to continue to try to learn more about God's will for our lives. This requires Bible study, prayer, openness to the direction of the Holy Spirit, and discussion. It's a life-long process. Hopefully, as we continue to do these things, God's directions will become more and more clear to us. But, we should never believe that we've arrived at the "final truth" (again, consider the reasons given above). After all, the Bible says:

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. -I Corinthians 3:18

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. - Proverbs 26:12

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.-Proverbs 18:15

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. -Proverbs 12:15

Trust in God

2008-08-02T13:13:00.008-05:00

About six weeks ago, my wife and I moved to a new town. We're really enjoying our new house and our new situation. About the only negative I can report is that our old house hasn't sold yet. It's been on the market about two months, and in this very slow housing market in the U. S., that's not long enough to start worrying just yet. We've put the selling of our old house in God's hands, and I believe he will take care of it perfectly.

However, my human impatience still bothers me about this from time to time. How long can we make two house payments? (The answer is not very long!) Is it possible that there is no one out there who would be interested in our house? It's not really that bad, is it?

My wife and I were talking about this the other day, and she had some things to say that were very helpful to me. She said that God knows who he has planned to move into this house - someone who will love the good things about it. But, maybe this person or family isn't ready to buy yet. Maybe God has more to do with this person before they are ready to make the move. We just have to be patient that he knows what is best, and his timing is always perfect. She also made another point: If we're going to trust in God for something as big as salvation, can't we trust God for something as small as selling a house?

Good advice, I think. The human/carnal part of me would like to decide for God when our house should sell, but the spititual side of me knows that he knows what is best better than I do.

Young Earth vs. Old Earth

2008-07-22T20:14:00.004-05:00

Scientists have now established that the universe is about 13.7 billion years old. One factor that gives this estimate a great deal of credibility is that this estimate was found using a number of different methods, not just a single method. So, this estimate seems reasonably "certain," at least as certain as one can be when discussing the distant past! With my overriding principle that the Bible and science never contradict one another, I've typically believed the validity of science's concept of the age of the universe, while interpreting the six creation days in the Bible as "time eras," each of which could be billions of years long, and not necessarily all of the same length.

But something struck me recently. To the best of my knowledge, all of the methods that have been used to estimate the age of the universe have one assumption in common: The laws of physics have never changed. After all, why should we think that they had?

But they have changed! According to Genesis, before the Flood, the earth was surrounded by a canopy of water, and it did not rain - instead, streams of water (like sprinklers?) came from the ground and kept things watered. If the laws of physics had been the same before the Flood as they are now, these things would not have happened in that way.

So, we have reason to believe that the laws of physics have changed. While I have no problem with a Christian who believes in the "old earth" creation theory, the "young earth" creation theory might still be correct - each of the "days" in six days of creation might have actually been 24 hours, and God used whatever methods he wanted (including "changing" the laws of physics) to accomplish the tasks he wanted to in each 24 hour period.

The bottom line is I really don't think it matters whether one believes in the "old earth" or the "new earth" creation theory. All that is important is that one believes that God created everything in the way he chose to be best!

Great Smoky Mountains

2008-07-14T20:00:00.005-05:00

I just returned from a short trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in east Tennessee/west North Carolina. The Smoky Mountains (also known as The Smokies) probably wouldn't be considered mountains by people used to the Rockies or the Alps - maybe they'd be better named The Big Rolling Hills. But they are beautiful! Full of trees and lush greenery and lots of wildlife. There are butterflies everywhere, and it's common to see deer, bears and wild turkey. The Smokies are also filled with rushing rivers and streams with cold, clear water.

I have a great sense of God when I am in the Smokies. Surrounded by his beautiful and perfect creations, I feel a strong connection to him. His fingerprints are everywhere. How good he is to provide us with a little hint of heaven! And how good he is to give us the wisdom to preserve this land and not let it be taken over by development and other uses.

A couple of relevant Bible verses:

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." -Romans 1:20

and not as directly related, but illustrating the same principle:

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." -Psalm 19:1

So, get out in nature and open your heart and mind to his presence, and get recharged!

voluntary simplicity

2008-07-04T21:17:00.005-05:00

I think the "voluntary simplicity" movement is more consistent with the Christian life described in the Bible than the stereotypical contemporary American lifestyle of consumerism and "keeping up with the Joneses." Here are a few reasons:

1. Non-materialism: Voluntary simplicity advocates minimizing possessions as opposed to consumerism. Store up treasures for yourself in heaven, not on earth. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

2. Minimizing negative impact on the earth: God created the earth for us to inhabit and enjoy, and we have a responsibility to take care of it. God's creations are perfect - the actions of humankind can only harm them.

3. Dedicating yourself to what is truly important to you: We're warned in the Bible through the parable of sowing the seeds how easy it is to get distracted by the details of everyday life. We're told to put first the kingdom of God, and the other things of this life will be taken care of.

4. Finding pleasure in the simple things: God provided us with so many things that we can easily enjoy, such as birds, sunsets, clouds, trees, pets, friends, streams, etc. God is the perfect artist and the perfect engineer. In order to enjoy life, we don't need to spend a lot of money, or have a big house, or a fancy car, or a high profile job.

5. Living for the moment: God forgives us for the past, and God will take care of the future - we only need to concentrate on the present. Don't delay happiness until you lose weight, or you finish school, or until you buy a house, etc. - you can always find another reason to delay happiness. Now is the time to be happy!

6. Natural health approaches: God created the body so that it has incredible self-healing capabilities. We only get in the way of these capabilities with over-dependence on medications.

In the book "Finding God at Harvard" edited by K. M. Kullberg, one of the writers says: "... a life centered on God and founded upon such values as simplicity rather than consumption, sharing rather than accumulation, and solidarity rather than "success" does not have to remain an abstract possibility. It can be a lived-out reality rather than a wished-for idea, one empowered and sustained by the wholeness that the resurrection of Jesus Christ makes possible for the inner self."

Google voluntary simplicity and learn more about this lifestyle and reflect on how well it fits in with the teachings of Jesus.