Postmodern Renaissance Pastor

Radical Together

2011-08-25T12:43:00.003-05:00

I'm back from a long summer non-break. I started reading Radical Together by David Platt before the break started and it got lost in the summer activity. I was able to finish it this week and am fulfilling an obligation since I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

It really isn't a difficult book to read. It was my misfortune to read it when the summer got busy. This is a companion to Radical by the same author. I have not read that book, yet.

The sentence that really stuck out to me in the entire book was, "individually and together, we are to selflessly serve a self-centered God." It was a powerful reminder to me to that God does expect us to put God's interests before our own as individuals and as churches. Platt focuses on the corporate in this book more than the individual (thus Radical Together). And I felt he was challenging contemporary churches to pause and reflect on their current focus. Program and building, spending/stewardship and mission really do get called into question in this book.

I did feel that throughout the book I was required to have read the first work. There were many comments referring back to it. In some cases the connection was required to understand the comment. Context was enough to carry the conversation forward but something was lost.

I would use this as a great conversation starter in my churches. It reads easy enough for the average reader but offers challenges for conversation.

The Death of Osama bin Laden

2011-05-02T12:12:00.002-05:00

Honestly, I cannot mourn nor celebrate the end of Osama bin Laden's life.

His life was marked with the suffering he caused and the chaos he brought into so many places and lives. At one time he accepted the hand of cooperation from the United States to conduct his war against infidels, committing the same acts of violence and destruction with our sanction and blessing because he was the enemy of our enemy. At that time his efforts were hailed by U.S. political leaders as inspiring and worthy of praise. But he was perpetrating the same deeds he later committed against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil.

I cannot mourn for a man whose life was so centered on evil. But I don't mean evil in relation to human quality of good or evil. bin Laden was proclaimed as a hero 30 years ago by the United States when he led the Mujahideen. At that time he was fighting the good fight. But our opinion turned in the completely opposite direction when he began the jihad against the American intrusion into his world. And then he became evil in the public eye.

So the evil of his life that I denounce is that of evil against all humanity and the greater will of God in creation. Chaos, destruction, and death in mass scale are evil. They are a direct effort to undo what God has intended for this world. Order, goodness, and life are God's desire. That is the evil he committed.

But I cannot celebrate his death, either. What makes us believe that this man is any more or less human? What makes him any more or less deserving of compassion? Was it not the Roman's, who were just as capable of being the bin Laden's of their age, that Jesus said, "Forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Don't we each have the capacity for chaos, destruction, and death in our own hearts when we take into account Jesus' words of Matthew 5:21-48?

But I will be ignored because we do not like to think that ALL sin is equal before God. We don't consider our trivial failures of keeping the will of God to be of similar weight to the atrocities of Osama bin Laden. We would rather celebrate the passing of an evil man with chants of "U.S.A." or a rousing "Yee-haw" than contemplate that we might not be that much different. We would rather debate the efficacy of the Obama administration in accomplishing the deed of ending this man's life (without ending the military effort that puts so many of our servicepersons in harms' way) than confess that we do have our own capacity for defying the will of God.

The news channels will be filled with rambling reports of how this was carried out and the outcome of these events. There will be prayers of joy and thanksgiving on Sunday morning that this man is dead. But in the end what will we take away from this? Will we see that justice is not measured in ending human life but giving our lives for others willfully?

Awakening: a fresh approach to fasting?

2011-04-25T09:13:00.001-05:00

Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom
Stovall Weems

What makes fasting easier? How can you make fasting more effective? Is it necessary?
Stovall Weems provides a pattern for bringing people into the discipline of fasting without making it a burden. He also proposes that following a fast can be effective in producing spiritual awakening. And he stresses the necessity of it if you desire a fresher, more passionate relationship with God.

Awakening has two parts. The first two thirds of the book is the foundational teaching regarding Weems’ approach to fasting. The last one thirds of the book sets out a pattern for implementing fasting into your life.

Early in the book, Weems makes a decent argument for the need of believers to re-emphasize prayer and fasting in our lives. He also makes a passing mention of the role of giving. And he is right on. Believers in the current generations of the church have left the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving to the “holier” people. These disciplines are regarded as special (excluding commuter prayer practice) and not attainable by “normal” people. I believe that Weems makes the point very well that everyone can approach these means of spiritual enrichment.

But beyond agreeing on the necessity, I struggled with how Weems supports his argument. I will say that I believe he is right on target regarding the need of fasting and the role of fasting in spiritual awakening. But I found his supporting argument filled with contradictory points.

Early on he refers to the community of faith he belonged to and spoke the legalistic, “our way is the right way”, approach they took (pg.31). He denounces this performance centric type of faith development. But at other points in the book, he makes his own pattern very performance centric. He begins to apply the same, “my way is the right way” arguments.

On page 76 Weems imagines this interaction with someone. “I can almost imagine someone asking, ‘Stovall, are you saying that in order to come into full alignment with God, I need to fast?’ ‘Yes! That’s exactly what I am saying and Jesus said it too.’” Then on page 102 he makes this statement, “You will get a breakthrough in your area of struggle after you complete the ‘Awakening 21-Day Plan and will enjoy freedom.’”

I don’t disagree with him on the necessity of fasting. I wish I were better at practicing this discipline just for this reason. But at points he makes it sound as if his way of fasting is the only way to make contact with God.

As I read, the distinction that I found him to be making was the difference between what he called Old Covenant and New Covenant fasting. He makes the statement that the purpose and experience of fasting in the Old Covenant (specifically the Old Testament) was radically different from the purpose and experience of fasting in the New Covenant (I am assuming he means the entire New Testament) (pg.64). I think he is way off base here.

First, I would argue that if you claim that the New Testament purpose and experience of fasting is radically different from the Old Testament and that the Old Testament form of fasting was inadequate for the task of having an intimate relationship with God, then the fasting which Jesus practiced, which was the Old Covenant form was inadequate. We are told very clearly that Jesus was faithful to the law. That means the purpose and experience of the law. And that means Jesus observed faithfully everything within the relationship with God regarding the law. If Jesus did not observe the law, then he did not fast, and his expectations of followers to fast would be hollow and invalid. Jesus did observe the law, he most likely observed the fasts, and his expectations for followers would be an example of a greater understanding of the law and the relationship with God through it (Matthew 5:17-20).

Second, Weems states that Old Covenant fasting was for the purpose of mourning, getting God to intervene during a crisis, convincing God to change His mind, and obtaining favor from God (pp. 66-67). And there are specific instances where fasting was implemented for these reasons. But regular fasting, limiting what was eaten or drank to sharpen spiritual awareness, was a part of the normal ritual life of God’s people.

Sabbath required eating only what could be prepared the day before. Some of the festivals were solemn rests when no work could be done, including preparing food, in order to humble themselves. That would be why the religious leaders were condemning Jesus and the disciples for plucking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Fasting is a humbling experience, not an exalting experience. The Old Covenant connects fasting with humility in order to realign human priorities with God’s priorities.

Most of the argument about a difference between the two forms of fasting comes down to intention. Weems makes it clear that the intention behind the fast is what makes the difference. And I agree completely. Fasting is about the condition of our lives before, during, and after. If we are approaching fasting with any other intention than humbling ourselves before God so that God can work in us, through us, and around us, then we will be disappointed and hungry. But I have to wonder what Weems means by intention.

At times it almost sounds like he refers to intentionality as “think happy thoughts” and it will be enough. On page 30 Weems says, “Right thinking leads to right feelings and the way we think right is to renew our minds in the Word of God.” He nods to the need of study of the Word of God but there is very little to expand this practice. Instead it is the influence of thinking “right” thoughts that produces “right” feelings. And this sentence is three sentences behind what I consider to be the most problematic sentence in the entire book.

“You will live more holy on accident by focusing on the goodness of God than you will by focusing on all the “thou shalts” and the “thou shalt nots.”

You cannot live intentionally by living on accident. You cannot be holy by accident. You cannot understand the full meaning of God’s goodness without at least comprehending the necessity of shalts and shalt nots. And you cannot live out this later statement, “…if you don’t feel like obeying God then there is something wrong with your feelings.” (pg.90) Weems goes on to say that “the majority of the time we should feel like obeying God.” You cannot obey God without focusing on what God requires. Call it what you will, obedience is still focusing on what we shall do and shall not do.

I believe that Weems is another of the current crop of preachers who is trying to draw an imaginary line dividing religion and relationship, claiming the former is dead and the latter is critical. And that distinction needs to die a quick death, soon. There is no line between the two. It is an effort to eradicate a word that should, instead, be clarified. Religion is relationship. It is the relationship that God offers to us. Religion is the response to the relationship that God offers to us. There is no separation of the two. The more the two are separated, the more the orthodox faith of Christianity will be diminished and undermined to the point of an amorphous and irrelevant social organization with no life-altering power.

I was given a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Heaven Is For Real

2011-04-12T08:06:00.002-05:00

It is making waves in the talk show circuits. It is on the best sellers list. Wal-Mart has a whole pile of the book. It is a smash hit.

Heaven Is For Real tells the story of a little boy, Colton Burpo, who undergoes a serious surgical procedure. While under the anesthetic Colton experiences the wonders of heaven, the very throne room of God. The story is told from Colton's dad's perspective. Todd Burpo is a Wesleyan minister. Colton begins to divulge little pieces of what he experienced long after the surgery. The book tells of the little pieces of Colton's experiences that he shared over the course of a couple of years.

This is a sweet book. The innocence Colton portrays makes you want to follow in his dad's footsteps, "Tell me more." It is a very quick read. I got through it in just a few hours. But I can't say that I liked the book.

I'm probably too much of a cynic. Maybe I'm ingrained in my own beliefs too much. But as I read through the story, I couldn't connect with the experience Colton had. There were just little pieces here and there that I couldn't fit into my worldview and theology. I am not going to go so far as saying it is bad theology. It is just familiar theology. And that is my sticking point.

I wish that I could lay aside the understanding I have come to. I wish that I could lay aside the years of study and discovery and let this story wash over me as a faith building experience. But I can't. There are just little points where ideological red lights go off and tiny sirens of doubt ring in my ears.

But with all of that in mind, I sincerely hope that Colton touches many people and gets them on the path to discovering God. I hope that his family shelters him from the crush of people who would love to take advantage of his experience of grace. And I hope that if you read this story, you will have a deeper blessing of God.

Love Wins - Rob Bell's book about heaven, hell, and everyone in between

2011-04-11T12:49:00.003-05:00

Who goes to heaven? Who goes to hell? And who gets to choose?

These are the questions that Rob Bell sets out to answer. To cut to the chase, Bell believes that God chooses everyone going to heaven. He argues that God is interested in a good story. And a god who allows people to live for approximately 72 years and then potentially spend eternity in hell does not make for a good story. For Bell, God allowing everyone to spend eternity with God makes a better story.

And it does. It makes for a good story.

And I agree with Bell on a good percentage of what he says early in the book. In general I believe that traditions and opinions of contemporary believers have strayed quite a bit from early beliefs. It is also interesting what biblical gymnastics are employed to argue for beliefs about the afterlife. Bell challenges the comfy armchair pictures and opinions about heaven and hell that we most commonly run into in today's churches. He draws out the many biblical approaches to heaven and hell. He makes some really solid points that I agree with.

But the darn Arminian within me cannot agree with Rob's final arguments that everyone will be have been redeemed to the point of eternal celebration with God. I can't go there with him. I don't read scripture the same way.

The farther Bell goes with his position, the farther he gets away from discipleship and how I understand faith. Yes, I admit, my disagreement is about how I believe and how I understand scripture. It isn't that he is the great heretic of our time. It isn't that he has violated the fellowship of faith. It is that I don't agree with him.

And it is time to face the truth about our beliefs. Your beliefs are your own. They are either compatible with other people's (living or dead or long dead)or they are incompatible with other peoples's (living or dead or long dead). That, however, does not make your beliefs the rule and standard by which everyone's beliefs are to be judged. I can promise you that your beliefs are just as laughable from God's point of view as mine are.

There is a lot to be said about orthodoxy, though. And I'm sure that someone else has said a lot about it. So I will be brief. Orthodoxy, or the doxy of orthos, with a little "o" (not to be confused with Orthodoxy with a big "O" and really cool beards) is basically the idea of sticking to what is normal or traditional. It means holding to the mainline or what is enduring. There are some ideas that have endured and have been the unifying thoughts of Christian beliefs.

I know that there is a growing contingent of believers who believe that there has been a major revision in history that has excluded alternative beliefs and doctrine.

Yes, history is written by the victors. But the odd thing about the victors who have written Christian history and doctrine is that they write about their own failures and their own mistakes as well as the weaknesses of their opponents. So don't try to argue that the "heresies" of the early church were just sour grapes or ganging up on the little guy. From the beginning of teaching about the kingdom of God, there were acceptable and unacceptable beliefs. There were right and wrong beliefs. There were choices that were affirmed and choices that had to be put away.

Beliefs have to be weighed, not by personal opinion or what makes us comfortable. They need to be weighed by the measuring line of the enduring norm. The ideas that have stood throughout time are what will shape us as a people. And when something that sounds nice or draws more people in because it is easier to chew goes against the enduring norm, then we need to have enough integrity to admit that it is wrong and find our way back to the enduring norm.

Love Wins, in my opinion, crossed the line from the enduring norm and steps into a place where the church does not need to go.

The New Christians - same old story or new wine?

2011-03-11T09:36:00.002-06:00

I am reviewing Gabe Lyons' *The Next Christians* that I received free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review.

I wanted to read this book based on the title. What could the next generation of followers be like that would require this writing? I have watched the Postmodern flash and the emerging movement fade and wondered if this was the next passing claim.

The first thing that I noticed is that it is not original in the emotion behind the writing. This is a restoration ideology - "let's get back to how Jesus did it". And Lyons gives a couple of passing references to the earlier moves in church history. But he does not give a full nod to what he sees as an original shift. Church history is marked by a large number of efforts to get back to the original message of the Gospel,the marks of those efforts in the lives of followers, and the impact those followers have on the world.

The second thing that I noticed was the categories of churches that Lyons uses to divide the American (due to his focus on American believers)Christian experience. There are Separatist Christians that react to culture they don't agree with by retreating ideologically or physically. There are Cultural Christians that lose their identity in the process of trying to adapt to culture. Then there are the Restorers. These are Lyons focus for this book. What was obvious about the divisions was the direct critique of Separatist Christians throughout the book. The critique of Cultural Christians was more subtle and not as close to criticism as that of Separatists.

It is the Restorers defined in this book who stand out as the heroes of the church today. And by the time I reached the 1/3 point of the book, I was ready to disregard the rest. But as I began to work through the 6 qualities of Restorers, I began to read this differently. Lyons identifies the qualities of Restorers as Provoked, Creators, Called, Grounded, In community, and Countercultural. As I was reading those qualities I began to agree with the power of this contemporary restoration movement. And I agreed with what he was saying.

It is these qualities that make this movement a valid expression of restoring the message of Christ and God's kingdom. And it is the current reality that the modes that many believers operate in is insufficient to make significant connections with the direction that culture is moving. *The Next Christians* provides a starting block for believers and churches to begin examining their motives and actions as followers of the Gospel.

On the whole, I recommend this book. I don't agree with the generalizations of Christians experiences without substantiating the strengths that are mentioned only once. I don't feel that historical and powerful restoration movements within church history receive the credit that is due them. But this book is an important message for churches who desire to be a meaningful part of proclaiming the Kingdom's message.

There are some specific issues were raised in this book that I would like to see addressed to the church:

1.) We need to reclaim the entire proclamation of the Gospel. Lyons was a little too focused on stereotype and parody of churches. I would not disagree that simplified Gospel messages are presented often. The Gospel is not "are you going to make it to heaven" messages. The Gospel is the announcement that God created with world with purpose and ideals that reflect God's nature. Sin is a stumbling block in our individual lives but it is also a stumbling block in God's overall purpose and ideal for this world. Salvation, that is appropriated through Christ only, is not just salvation to a future perfect ideal. It is also salvation to the work of using our lives to make some of that ideal reality in our current surroundings (family, community, world). The Gospel isn't about making it to heaven, it's about capturing the idea of heaven and being inspired to shape the world we are now living in.

2.) The church needs to get past this victimized mindset. The world has changed. Perceptions of the church have changed. Accept that and do something about it. Lyons has a great mission statement for the church:

The church remains the epicenter of what is possible. It's the most uniquely positioned channel of cultural influence when it's operating on all cylinders. No other institution regularly convenes people who work within the other six channels of culture on a weekly basis. On any given Sunday in the church, leaders from all seven channels join together to pray, worship, learn, and socialize in one place. Then they are sent out, dispersed to support one another and to work within the sphere of society God has gifted and called them to in order to carry out his restoration work.

The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons, p.121.

That is the church in any generation, any location, made of up any group of people. That is who we are and what we are to be doing.

3.) The Next Christians, according to Lyons, require a grounding in what the traditional, orthodox church has called disciplines. It is odd that Lyons, who pays little homage to the influence of traditional church states that something intrinsically traditional is critical. But what is considered traditional in traditional churches is practiced with little discipline and even less passion. And Lyons chooses the classical practices that draw us closer to Christ.
Reading Scripture with a passion for the story god has unfolded in the lives of others
Observing a true, rest filled Sabbath to enrich our lives
Choosing to deny the extra indulgences that are freely available to us and fasting in the form of simplicity
Being completely present with those we interact with
Praying to put ourselves in the posture of humility and recognizing the true power player in the world

4.) Ever since I was in college, I have recognized the need of community in our lives. In college I found my first intentional community. It was a campus ministry at East Central University. In that place I found people from different backgrounds, belief systems, social position, and cultural status working together, playing together, and ministering to one another and the community together. In seminary, I found that experience once again. And ever since those two places of being a part of community, I have longed to find it again.

Being a pastor means being an outsider. We move into a house that is not ours. We take a job that was not created for us. We are a regularly interchanged part in a fixed machine. And community is not easy to find for pastors. Even in a place of welcome and friendship, community is still challenging. There are rules that prevent personal intimacy within the congregation. There are standards and expectations of the churches we serve that limit seeking community outside the congregation. So pastors have suffered isolation to many degrees. And have been denied a necessary experience in life.

But pastors are not alone. Churches have begun to take on the same traits as neighborhoods in regard to community. We don't take the time to get to know the neighbors. We have stopped inviting friends over because we are too busy, too tired, too gone. We get into each others' lives by reading their Facebook status or Tweets. Conversations happen with fingers and screens instead of eyes and facial expressions. The Body of Christ exists because we are parts of one another, not wired together.

To quote the Beatles, we need to "come together, right now". Jesus sat down with potential followers at parties. He feasted and fellowshipped quite regularly with friends and enemies. And he said that when two or more gathered together, he was present. Wouldn't a party with Jesus there, be an amazing grace-filled time? Wouldn't a meal with Jesus seated at the table be filled with the possibility of something extraordinary happening? And wouldn't the people of God, bound together by the Spirit of God, redeemed through the Son of God, be all the stronger and become more Christ-like if we came together more often, more intimately, more intentionally?

The Next Christians is not a new idea. There have been movements that re-emphasized these qualities when someone was brave enough to step out and change what is normal. And when people reacquired these qualities in their lives the church and the world have changed for the better.

Welcome back to my corner of the world

2011-02-02T22:35:00.003-06:00

I got a really, really cool Christmas present. Probably the greatest thing since sharp thingy's to slice bread.

My beautiful and really smart wife got me a Kindle for Christmas. For those who don't spend most of their time connected to technological doo-hickeys, a Kindle is an electronic/digital book reader. You download books into the device and then read the book.

I've gone through a few books so far. Most of them have been science fiction (because who else would think up a device to store and read thousands of books).

But I just finished a book that really deserved a comment or two. Amazon offers some Kindle books for free. And as someone always looking for something for free, I download a few each week. This week I downloaded Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos.

I typically do not read Christian fiction. I wasn't even sure this one was Christian. When I scanned the description, I wasn't sure what I was getting. But very early in the book I was finding it to be entertaining and engaging. Mikalatos has a snarky style, which I am very comfortable with. Imagine Lewis Carrol reading C.S. Lewis and pushing Mere Christianity and Screwtape Letters through the looking glass.

Basically this book tells the "semi-autobiographical" spiritual journey of Mikalatos to discover Jesus. Along the way he encounters a wide variety of Jesus'. From his home town to 1st century Israel and back, Matt joins Pete and Daisy as they confront the many different Jesus persona that exist today.

I admit that I'm not sure if I like the book. It didn't leave me comfortable but challenged me with my own Jesus. I think I may have to revisit this one at different places in my life.

If you are sensitive to your own flavor of faith, this book is not going to be easy. But if you don't mind a little challenge to your faith this will give you a little shove in a safe way.

Time to admit defeat?

2010-12-02T07:30:00.002-06:00

Nah.

It seems that this has laid dormant so long that the cobwebs were becoming sentient. Nothing wrong with my desire to express my opinion or feelings. I'm just lazy. And have a small addiction to Lord of the Rings Online.

I have been having someone post on my comments the last few days. I'm not sure how they found me or what drew them to a semi-abandoned blog, but they commented on a post the needed follow-up.

In the blog Dog Days I was lamenting on the media attention that Michael Vick was getting. He was a villain. A monster. The lowest of low of humanity. He should have been thrown into the dog ring he was planning to hold between a Rottweiler with a toothache and a rabid, hungry, zombie Chihuahua with a pork chops tied to every conceivable appendage of his body. Vick was seen as deserving of all of the bad things that could be thrown at him.

Now he's a hero.

OH! That reminds me of something else. The elections. Everyone was saying that this was a wake up call to the political insiders. That the radical reversal of party control lines was a clear announcement that the American people want things done differently in Washington (which I believe was the same thing said after the previous election, but I digress). This was the supposed to be the changing of the guard in political game play.

So the rules have changed. And the Republican media handlers have come out and said that they are not going to allow any bills to be passed until the tax breaks are extended.

Yep. It's a new day. Same crap, though.

I have an idea about these problems in Washington. People complain about the politicians. These politicians are career politicians. They are only in it for the money. They don't understand the common man and woman in America. Here is what we should do:

1.)Fire every elected politician at every level of government.
2.)Rewrite the Constitution prohibiting the election of any official.
3.)Put in place a lottery system. Any occupant of the United States would be eligible. No age or cognitive development level required (because obviously that isn't required now). Natural born citizen, naturalized citizen, undocumented occupant, doesn't matter. Just look for a slot and draw a name.
4.)Put all officials in a dormitory, feed them what the Federal rules have put in place for assisting families (food stamps, subsidized food programs, etc), and let them ride the metro.

In this system, no one can complain because "they" didn't put them in office. It wouldn't be about the money because they aren't getting any. And they can't be career because the lottery would be totally random.

And please. Don't tell Glenn Beck or Stephen Colbert about this.

Amazing Sand Art on Ukraine's Got talent - Kseniya Simonova

2010-07-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

This is a video of an amazing artist from Ukraine. She won Ukraine's Got Talent in 2009.

The problem of scientific studies

2010-04-14T10:05:00.002-05:00

Welcome back to my ongoing revival of posting.

Yesterday I shared with you the report of a new study on spanking. I ended that conversation with the question of a problem in logic. Here is the article again.

Study: Spanking Increases Aggression

The problem that I identified with the article was in the final paragraph.

Experts suggested that spanking might even be more dangerous to girls than boys because it trains them to be submissive. They said that can open women up to domestic abuse later in life.

The issue I saw is this:
- this article is about the study regarding an increase in aggressive behavior in children
- this article refers to children without any distinction between male or female becoming more aggressive due to spanking
- this article then claims that spanking is more dangerous to girls

Logic demands that the next statement should be: there is an overwhelming increase in dangerous aggressiveness among females. But is that where they go? Nope. Girls become submissive. On top of that, spanking opens women up to domestic abuse.

So is this a reporting problem or a study problem?

Here is something to consider. The Time article does not mention this "result". Neither does the Tulane University press release (where the study was conducted) about the study.

Now, in order to read the study you have to pay for it. And being the cheapskate that I am, that will not happen. But reading the abstract from Pediatrics shows nothing of the female specific increase in submissiveness. It also shows that the study focused on maternal spanking only.

So this comes back to bad reporting. And that is part of the problem of the relationship between scientific research and popular reporting. I say popular reporting because pure reporting is dry and uninteresting. If people read real reporting, they would read the study directly. Popular reporting tries to draw people into the issue they are reporting. And in general people lap it up. The general population does not bother to go and read the rest of the story.

If you read the news this is what you hear:

A new study supports scientifically that if you spank your child at all they will be aggressive, destructive children who are likely going to be bullies. And girls aren't children. They are a subspecies of creature that responds opposite of the findings.

Based on the abstract, here is what the study states:

Results: Frequent use of CP [corporal punishment, spanking] (ie, mother's use of spanking more than twice in the previous month) when the child was 3 years of age was associated with increased risk for higher levels of child aggression when the child was 5 years of age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.49 [95% confidence interval: 1.2–1.8]; P < .0001), even with controlling for the child's level of aggression at age 3 and the aforementioned potential confounding factors and key demographic features.

So what?

Before you react to something, find out the facts. If you read about a study that you don't agree with, go read it or get more information from different sources. Local news is not the only source. And the newspaper/television station/network of your choice will get the facts confused sometimes.

Suicide, Death, and a Cross

2010-04-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back I preached on the subject of “the unforgiveable sin”. Part of that sermon dealt with the question I received from a member of the congregation about suicide. I have heard in a number of places that suicide is an unforgiveable sin. After making a comment about suicide I stated that I would preach a series of sermons on the subject. I knew that the series would be soon but this became an immediate need in my opinion.

I received so many responses to the comments I made about suicide in a sermon that I had to respond quickly. I have never had as many deep conversations in response to a sermon as I had after mentioning suicide. I believe that this has something do to with the history of suicides or attempted suicides in our community. In the two years that I have been here, I have heard of or known of more suicides or attempts than anywhere else in my ministry. Part of that has to do with being a part of emergency response. And I am not saying that it is more than anywhere else. I have heard of more here than anywhere else I have served.

Maybe part of that is because suicide is a subject we don’t like to talk about. It is a painful subject. There is shame and guilt tied to it. Families who have lost love ones through suicide experience loss that seems even greater or longer than other tragic deaths. In this series I am going to deal with suicide head on. I’m not going to avoid this hard subject or even soften the issues. I am going to deal with it from a biblical worldview. My opinions are only going to be injected when I can’t find an answer. But there is Good News to speak even in a case when someone takes their own life.

But I have to deal head on with some bad news about suicide. Suicide is a sin. I can’t soften that any. Biblically it appears that it qualifies as a sin. Exodus 20:13 (the Ten Commandments) says that you will not kill. There is a lot of debate on whether that is “kill” or “murder”. The best way to understand it is to continue reading in Exodus and into the book of Deuteronomy. Moses explains that if someone dies without intent on the part of the person who hurt them, there is no guilt. If the person commits an act with intention of harming and killing, then there is guilt. Suicide is an act of violence (read that as physical harm) with full intention of harming oneself even to death. Intent, harm, and death means that suicide is a sin under the law.

In the New Testament, some argue that Paul talks about harming ourselves in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. IN some translations it says that anyone who “destroys” the temple of God (our bodies from verse 16) then God will destroy them. Our bodies are the temple where God’s Spirit meets our spirits. If we destroy the intersection where we meet God, then we are cutting ourselves off from that connection. It would be an act of sin. I don’t know all of the ins and outs of that argument. But I believe we can all agree that anything that is hurtful to yourself and others is opposite of God’s will. And sin is doing what is contrary to God’s will, nature, and love.

God’s will is life. God created life. God sustains life. God rewards faithfulness with everlasting life. God heals. So anything that destroys life is against God’s will.

God is a good God. God wants good for our lives. We cannot name all of the good that God does. But suicide is not good.

God is also a loving God. God loves you. No one is so bad that God doesn’t love them. And killing oneself is not an act of love. Jesus stated that the second most important thing we can do with our lives is to love the people around us as we love ourselves. If we don’t love ourselves, we are cut off from our neighbors. Suicide is not an act of loving oneself. Suicide is a sin because it goes against God’s will, nature, and love.

So where is the Good News I talked about? Hang on. We need to hear more about sin.

We act like suicide is some greater sin than others. The church has historically refused Christian rites or burial because they took their own life. We treat those who have died through their own hand as if they are an abomination to life and to God. There are some things that God calls an abomination. The Old Testament lists some of those. I am just going to quote some of the passages where something is called an abomination. This isn’t about judging those things. It is just stating what has been called an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22 – homosexual relations
Deuteronomy 7:25-26 – owning and possessing an idol
Deuteronomy 23:18 – hiring a prostitute
Deuteronomy 24:4 – sleeping with your ex-wife if she’s left her 2nd husband

Some groups make a big issue of those abominations. They claim that God is righteous in declaring those acts abominations. Those who practice such things are rightly judged and deserving of the worst that God can do. But what do we do about these passages.

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 – dealing unfairly in business
Proverbs 6:16-19 - prideful attitude, lying, killing an innocent, devising wickedness, quick decision to evil, uttering lies, spreading strife

Did you see that in Proverbs lying makes the list twice? God hates lying so much that it is a double abomination. But we don’t go around admitting that we are abominable creatures when we tell a little white lie. No, we justify it by saying that no one got hurt. We think that it was just a little one. But there is no room for little white lies in the Proverb.

In the New Testament, Paul loves to list things. Good things and bad things. In Gal 5:19-22 we read:
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Some of those acts we can write off and say, “I’ve never done anything like that.” But we can’t just excuse things like sensuality, doing something because it feels good. We have all broken fellowship with people because we didn’t like them. We participate in gossip. We get angry. Jealousy and envy rear their heads in our lives. And these acts exclude us from the kingdom of God

In Col 3:8-10 Paul writes that …anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,. In Ephesians 2:1-3 he calls these acts the characteristics of the “children of wrath”. Or better understood, anyone who does these things had God’s wrath directed at them.

The point that I want to make is that we cannot put individual sins on a sliding scale. The Bible reveals that sin is sin. There are no sins that are worse or less worse. All sins are despised by God. All sins are acts that put us in opposition to God’s will. And God is a just and righteous and holy God. God has no part in sin and God does not associate with sin.

Paul writes that everyone has sinned. We miss God’s standard. We have not measured up to what God wants. And because of the nature of God, sin leads to death. But God has made a choice to associate with us in a different way; through another person.

Here is the Good News. Jesus Christ died for all sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to God. It doesn’t say just the Christians or Jews. It doesn’t say just the good people. It doesn’t say perfect people. It says that God was reconciling the world through Christ. Jesus Christ died for every sin everyone could commit.

If Jesus Christ died only for the small sins, then he didn’t die for much. If Jesus Christ died for the good people, then he didn’t die for much. Jesus Christ had to die for all sins and all people so that every one of us might be saved. And he did it one time to cover all sins and every one’s sins. The cross was a onetime event. Hebrews 9:12 and 23 state that. There is no repeating of the death of Christ. That one event covered everything and everyone who lived, lives, or will live.

And God associates with us through Christ. God reconciles us through Christ. If we are in Christ, we know that forgiveness for those sins. We experience that reconciliation. If we are in Christ in life, we know that forgiveness in life but also in death. The means of that death do not matter. In other words, suicide, even though a person cannot ask for forgiveness for it, has that sin covered under the death of Christ. It is forgiveable. I don’t know how God works that out. But God forgives. The only thing that God cannot forgive is rejecting God’s love and power through the Holy Spirit. Everything else God is able and willing to forgive.

Let me say now that there are some statements in here that may lead to other discussions. The subject matter is that suicide is a sin covered under the cross of Christ. All other topics I will be glad to discuss, but there wasn't enough time or room to go into deep theological rabbit trails. But give me a little credit. If not, we can talk about it.

A whipping you'll never forget

2010-04-13T09:52:00.005-05:00

This is making the rounds on the news services and blogs (this was from KOCO TV 5, OKC)

I had to remove the post due to copyright restrictions. But you can read it here.

If you want to start a hot debate on a subject, open up the spanking vs. non-spanking conversation. It will get heated in a hurry. So if you want to jump on this and start something up, here is food for thought.

I was spanked as a child and abused as a child. There was a very clear difference. Spanking resulted from wrongdoing on my part. Abuse resulted from loss of control on my father's part. I'm saying that without any judgment or condemnation. It is the past and I am well beyond that. But I make the point to say that there is a difference between the two.

The spankings that I remember (and there were few) carried with them a deterrence factor. A spanking was something to be avoided, thus whatever resulted in a spanking was to be avoided. Abuse comes out of nowhere. It is completely at the whim of the person who loses control. There is nothing to avoid in the case of abuse.

I suppose what is at issue here is the persons involved. When I am emotionally at the edge of control I know enough to back off. I have spanked my kids but it doesn't happen very often at all. And it does not happen when I am close to being out of control. Nicholas has gotten more spankings (by nature of being the first and by nature of being able to push my buttons) but he is also the least aggressive of the two boys. He is a pacifist to some degree (he doesn't even really like to wrestle or roughhouse; but he plays a mean game of Halo). I really don't see him being more aggressive any time soon.

I believe that spanking has a place in a parent's choices of punishment. It cannot be frequently employed. It cannot be done when a parent is emotionally out of control. It cannot be excessive. And if a parent has a problem with any of those, then find some other way.

What do you think?

But before I leave off let me offer up a bit of a gripe. Go back and read that quote. Did you see any problems logically with what was stated? More tomorrow.

Religion vs Relationship???

2010-04-07T13:11:00.002-05:00

Mind if I rant a little. Actually I left off writing so long ago there probably isn't anyone checking on anything new. So I can rant if I want to. Here it goes.

I'm listening to a radio preacher talk about the sin and the 10 commandments. And eventually he gets around to talking about Jesus Christ being our salvation. Then he throws out the phrase that Jesus died to offer a relationship, not a religion. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the letter of that statement. But the spirit is all wrong.

The implication when I hear statements to that effect (and it has really been a rallying cry the last 10 years or so) is that religion is a less meaningful connection that we have to Christ. Relationship is the better connection that we have with the living Christ. And I suppose that works. But the implication is that the old covenant was a religion, not a relationship. That the code of conduct was the means and the end. The relationship was just doing what God said.

And that is where I take a huge amount of exception. I may have made that statement in the past (Christianity is about relationship and not religion) but that was before I understood what God has been about. Did Jesus do anything during his ministry, through his death and resurrection, or after his ascension that was contrary to what God had been doing? Did Christ do something completely out of the box that was revelation? No and no. Christ came to make what God had been doing for centuries a more present reality.

Go back to Genesis. Not the apple and the snake and the naked parts. Look what it says about God. God came to walk in the garden. Why did God come to the Garden? For religion. Management by walk around. NOT!!! Why else would God come into the garden but to find the man and the woman. To commune with them. To have a relationship.

Then fast forward to Abram. God tells this good son to leave his family and walk before God wherever God shows Abram to go. And what does God offer him in return? The satisfaction of a job well done? No, God says, "I will give you greatness, blessing, children, and land." Does this sound like a dry, "do as I say" kind of agreement? It sounds like God cares about what Abram/Abraham cares about, needs, wants. It sounds like a relationship.

What about those silly, immature Hebrew children? The ones that God sits down and says, "Do these 10 things or else?" Listen to what God says at the beginning of this little experiment in religion:

Exodus 6:5-8
5 "Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ' I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God ; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8'I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD.'" (New American Standard Updated)

This sounds a lot like someone who cares about what happens to the Hebrews. God knows their suffering. God desires to bring them out of that experience and make them aware that it was God who did this for them. It wasn't Moses. It wasn't Pharaoh out of the goodness of his heart. God did this for them. And all God wanted was for them to realize that they were God's people and God was their God. It wasn't about a religion or doing the right thing or even about the 10 commandments. It was about a relationship.

God did everything throughout the Old Testament to make it clear that God wanted a relationship with humanity. When Christ came in flesh, it was to show God's love for humanity. The Word made flesh was not a change in operational procedure. It was clarification of purpose.

And here is a question for you. What was the first thing that those disciples expected of new converts to this "relationship" with Jesus Christ? Religion.

What did Peter and James and John (the relational trio) fuss with Paul about? Things like circumcision, food that should or shouldn't be eaten, holy days, etc. The disciples who experienced the most real form of relationship with Jesus Christ turned that experience into religion. And how long did that take? Half the book of Acts.

So can we say that the religion vs relationship debate has been played? Can we get beyond trying to draw out a forced dichotomy between the two? Can we begin to admit that God has worked at getting us to realize that God has wanted a relationship from the very beginning and that Christians ARE religious people, too?

Oh my poor child.

2010-04-06T20:10:00.003-05:00

Growing up, athletics was not my cup of tea. I'm just not athletically inclined. I stink at almost anything sportsy.

Except volleyball. My 2 inch vertical leap is amazing.

Part of me wonders why I wasn't given the athletic gene. But that part is relatively small. I really don't have a passion about athletics.

But Nick loves sports. Basketball is his favorite. And he got to play on a team this year. Right now he is running track. He gets excited about playing on the teams.

The deal is that he got my genetic (lack of) ability when it comes to athletics. Except swimming. He is a natural in the water. That is a sport in which he would excel.

But his lack of natural ability in other sports does not slow him down. (Pun intended) He gets out on the court and chases that ball with joy. He runs and jumps with a love for the activity. And even if he isn't the first place (today he coined the phrase "first to last" to define his position in his heat), I still love to see him enjoy what he is doing.

And that for me is what it should be about. Kids should have a joy about what they are doing. I still don't approve of organized athletic programs for children. I believe they should be allowed to play. Really play. Not forced into "programs". It should be a game and all about play at this age.

Sooooo, now I appear hypocritical. I'm going to these organized (hehehe, like you can organize a few hundred 5th-8th grade boys and girls in the open air across a football field) events. I even worked in the concession stand. And I make the bold statement that I am opposed to organized programs.

But understand this... I love my son. If he pursues every athletic program (which we won't allow, but if he decided to do it) I would support him. If he never makes a basket and comes in "first to last" every time I will still be beside him. And I will always be looking for one thing, "Are you having fun? Is it a game to play?" If he is still in it for that reason, then I'll be there with him.

Helllooo????

2010-04-05T11:59:00.002-05:00

Yes, I abandoned blogging for a while. A long while. I didn't even post sermons. Is that bad?

So something has to be extremely important to bring me back, yes? No.

Life is about the in's and out's of things we do. And I'm not embarrassed by leaving off of writing.

But you never know what will happen this week.

(And I'm trying to keep the blog from drying up and blowing away.)

Beyond the Normal Seek Out New Life

2009-11-20T09:04:00.003-06:00

Psalm 8

Unidentified means we don't know

What does the Bible have to do with flying saucers, little green men, and aliens?

Unidentified flying object is a technical term that has been parodied

Are there U.F.O.'s in the Bible? Yes

2 Kings 2:11 – Elijah's final ride

Ezekiel 1:15-21 – Ezekiel's wheels

Exodus 13:21-22 – pillars

There are also creatures that cannot be explained

Ezekiel 1:5-10 – creatures of four faces

Revelation 4:6-8 – four creatures around the throne

Isaiah 6:1-6 – Seraphim

Genesis 6:4 – Nephilim (Numbers 13:33; 1 Samuel 17:4)

Job 40:15-18 – Behemoth

Job 41:1ff – Leviathan

Does this mean that UFO's and aliens are real?

Faith and God

This sermon series has never tried to divide along real or not

It has been the issue of responding to the subject

For believers in UFO's it is real for them and they have to be dealt with as with any religious believer

Some people see no inconsistency between believing in God and UFOs

It isn't completely inconsistent to believe in both

God's universe is immense

There are realms that we may not see

God's ways are higher than our ways and knowledge greater than ours

The inconsistency happens when God is replaced

There is a line between believing that life outside of our own is possible and denying the God is God over all

This series has been about asking one question

It was not are ghosts, angels, or UFOs real

The question I have been answering is: Is God real?

Angels are worshipped because of their amazing qualities

Ghosts are sought to provide answers

UFOs are credited with humanity's evolution and advancement

But God is behind angels and they are bound to God's authority

Ghosts are persons without bodies but we have those spirits by God's breath

UFOs and aliens may exist, but it is God who created the universe and placed them in it

God is majestic above all and we have been created by God, for God's glory and worship, and ultimately to be God's chosen people

Beyond the Normal What’s That You Hear

2009-11-20T09:04:00.001-06:00

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

No way, no how

Lately there is a revival of an artform that was very popular from the late 1800's to mid 1900's

Spiritualists and mediums flourished in the Victorian period

Many people believed in the spirit world and sought to make contact

The rise of spiritualists and mediums eventually turned in the age of science

Science began to "prove" many of these individuals as fakes and con-artists

The increased interest in this artform now is due to the willingness of many to believe in the paranormal

But this practice of communicating with the dead goes all the way back to pre-biblical times

Shaman and magi would claim ability to communicate with spirit world

That is where the OT picks up the story

The Hebrew children/Israelites were surrounded by cultures that practiced this

Egyptians had a very strong belief in the spirit world

The Chaldeans were known for their spirit world beliefs

The Hebrew children were exposed to this on a daily basis

Deuteronomy becomes a defining law in the life of Israel

God prohibits allowing those who cast spells, mediums, spiritists, or anyone who calls up the dead

Chobar cheber - Spell casting to charm someone, or to take away free will

Shoeel owb – a consulter of familiar spirits

Yidde oniy – a knowing one

Doreesh hameetiym – seeker of death/ the dead

Saul breaks the law when he consults a shoeel owb in 1 Samuel 28

Samuel, the prophet, was dead and buried

The Philistines had invaded the land

Saul sought God's wisdom through approved channels – God did not answer

Saul found a consulter of familiar spirits to bring Samuel forth

Samuel comes forth and condemns Saul in death as he did in life

Why turn to the dead

Saul is a great example of anyone who goes to a medium – they want reassurance or comfort or wisdom from someone they know has the answers

In life we turn to parents or aunts/uncles we admire for wisdom; we look to our children as hope

In death, when those we have turned to are gone, it seems that our source of wisdom, hope, reassurance is gone

Mediums and spiritists play on the longing of people to find answers or words of comfort regarding someone they have lost

But Saul forgot the word of the Lord – 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

The issue of mediums, spirit talkers, séances, Ouija boards isn't in the act of doing but in the act of not doing

By turning to the dead through these individuals people are forgetting the living – God

Isaiah 8:19 – to consult the dead is to turn on the living God

God has established himself as the ultimate source of wisdom, comfort, assurance, hope

Exodus 34:14 – God is Jealous, demands singular devotion

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 – death is defeated in Christ and under his authority

Romans 5:1-5 – hope that God offers does not disappoint

Beyond the Normal Not Afraid of Ghosts

2009-11-20T09:03:00.003-06:00

Ezekiel 37:1-6

How does the Bible deal with ghosts

OT – no use of the word "ghost" as rendered in Hebrew

1 Samuel 28:3,11-19 – Saul has Samuel conjured from the dead and has a conversation (eloihim)

NT – 2 separate occasions "ghost" is mentioned

Jesus walking on the water is considered a ghost (phantasm) (Mt14:26; Mk 6:49)

Luke 24:37,39 – Jesus appears and refers to a pneuma not having flesh and blood

What are ghosts?

Most people define ghosts as the spirit or soul or essence of a person how most times is dead

Mark 12:30 – love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, strength

Matt 10:30 – the body that can be destroyed but not the soul

Gen 35:18 – soul departs at death

There is an understanding from OT and NT that soul is the breath of life

Gen 2:7 – the breath given to man

Life is not just physical being

Thought and feeling are experienced separate of physical

Spirit and soul are not "felt" but it is part of us

When physical life ends we believe that only the physical ends

Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually we continue

2 Corinthians 4:16

As a definition of ghost

A demon/angel is not a ghost – demon/angels are a creation of their own

A ghost may be a demon/angel due to the nature of tempt/message

If a ghost is a soul released by death we have to ask why it isn't at rest

Dealing with ghosts

Death is a time of rest for the soul

Final judgment is to happen at God's chosen time

Until then death is a time of rest/waiting until then

What is behind ghostly encounters

Explained by natural/environmental explanations

Emotional connection

Natural/environmental

Intelligent

Sermon Series: Beyond the Normal Angels and Demons the Real Story

2009-10-27T11:38:00.002-05:00

Angels and Demons the real story

OT use of angels

Hebrew word/s used –
1. malak (messenger) – used in a general sense of a messenger or envoy sent from a person of authority to others; used most frequently of beings sent from God with a message to humans
Described as
1. Ex 3:2 – in midst of blazing fire
2. Nu 22:22 – with a drawn sword (1 Chr 21:27)
3. Jdg 6:21 – with a staff; fire from the staff; disappeared
4. Judg 13:18 – name is "wonderful"
5. Ps 103:20-21 – mighty in strength; obedient; serve God's will
Other notable uses
1. Angel of the Lord/God – a being sent by God for a protective purpose

OT use of demons

Hebrew word/s used –
1. sair (hairy goat; goat demon; Lev 17:7) – used to refer to goat spirit that people sacrificed to
2. shed (shade; Dt 32:17; Ps 106:37) - used to refer to the spirits behind the idols that people chose to sacrifice to other than to Yahweh
Described as: with exception of hairy goat demon, no description
Other notable uses
1. Evil spirit – Jud 9:23; 1 Sam 16:14-23; 18:10; 19:9

NT use of angels

Greek word/s used –
1. angelos (messenger) –
Described as:
1. Mat 4:11 – minister to Jesus (Mk 1:13; Lk 22:43)
2. Mat 22:30 – do not practice marriage (Mk 12:25)
3. Mat 24:6 – do not know God's full will (Mk 13:32)
4. Mat 26:53 – more than 12 legions
5. Mat 28:2 – strength to move a great stone
6. Lk 1:19 – named angel: Gabriel
7. Ac 5:19 – power to open prison doors (Ac 12:10)
8. Ac 12:7 – power to release chains
9. Ac 12:23 – power to curse a man to death
10. 1 Pe 3:22 – subjected to Christ
11. 2 Pe 2:4 – capable of sin
12. Jude 6 – abandoned heaven
Other notable uses
1. Guardian angels – Mat 18:10; Ac 12:15; Heb 1:14

NT use of demons

Greek word/s used
1. daimon (demon)
2. daimonion (demons)
Described as
1. Mat 25:41 – Satan's angels
2. affecting a person physically and mentally
3. Mk 1:34 – they know who Jesus is (Lk 4:41)
4. Mk 16:9 – multiple demons can affect a person (Lk 8:2)
5. Lk 4:33 – unclean (Lk 8:29)
6. Lk 8:30 – named demon
7. Lk 10:17 – subject to Jesus' name
8. 1 Co 10:20-21 – Gentiles sacrifice and worship
9. James 2:19 – know and fear God
Other uses
1. Evil Spirit – Acts 19:15-16
2. Demon possessed

New Age angels

Communication link to God
Spirit guide

Beyond the Normal Angels and Demons the Real Story

Colossians 2:16-19, 23

Beyond the normal

Christianity is a religion with room for the paranormal

Healing miracles, power of prayer, life after death, body raised from dead

But many Christians reject out right what is called paranormal phenomena

Instead of rejecting it, we need to examine it and speak truth about it

We begin by looking at angels and demons

Angels and demons

Angels and demons are a big deal in New Age movements and paranormal research

Angels have a new cult-like religious movement of their own

Demons are considered to be manifesting in cases where there are evil deeds

But what is the biblical truth behind these creatures?

Does the Bible talk about angels and demons? Yes

Old and New Testaments refer to angels in the same fashion

Hebrew – malak; Greek – angelos; both mean messenger

They serve at God's command to deliver messages to people

Old Testament hardly refers to demons; New Testament with some frequency

Hebrew – shade or sair; Greek – daimon

Most often the OT refers to them as the spirit behind idols that are worshipped

NT they torment human kind and lead people astray

Tradition tells us that angels and demons were created in the beginning by God

Is 14:12-14; Jude 6

Angels served God in worship until one angel was filled with pride

This angel was cast down with other angels for their pride

This angel became Satan and his angels are demons

If this is the case then angels and demons have the same power and essential nature

Angels are strong (Ps 103:20; Mt 28:2); have power over material objects (Ac 5:19; 12:7,10); have power to curse a person to death (Ac 12:23); and are capable of sin (2 Pe 2:4)

There is also some evidence that there may be angels who watch over humans

Mat 18:10; Ac 12:15; Heb 1:14

Demons appear to affect people mentally and physically in cases of possession; they know who God and Jesus are instinctively (Mk 1:34; Jam 2:19); and are behind the worship of other deities (Dt 32:17; Ps 106:37; 1 Cor 10:20-21)

Demons seem to operate in three manners

Temptation – as seen in how they respond to Jesus; 2 Cor 11:14; 1Tim 4:1-3

Oppression – 1 Sam 16:14-23

Possession – NT stories (Mt 4:24, 8:16, 28; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mk 16:9;Lk 4:33;

The Christian answer to the paranormal question

Within our belief system this is what we can say

Angels and demons are real

Angels and demons have power beyond human ability

Angels and demons interact with humanity

But angels and demons are not independently powerful

Angels and demons both answer to a higher power

Angels and demons are both subject to Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 3:22;Luke 10:17

An angel will speak no message unless Jesus Christ is glorified through it

A demon cannot remain when bound under the name of Jesus Christ

Lk 4:41; Mk 3:14-15; Lk 9:49-50; Lk 11:20

Where...oh where...has my little blog gone?

2009-10-26T07:33:00.004-05:00

I'm still here. Pondering great mysteries. Wondering about my sons become young men. Trying to love my wife more fully. Preaching the Gospel and living it to the best of my ability. But I just haven't been filled with inspiration to put anything to 1's and 0's.

So today, boys and girls, I thought I would vent a little frustration at my vacation. I'm going to Disney World. Yeah, I didn't think anyone would be surprised.

We are planning on a December trip. Lisa and the boys have never seen the park in full Disney Christmas holiday finest (I got to see some of it solo a couple of years back). We were tempted and didn't resist.

One of the nice things about going early in December is that there are smaller crowds. And smaller crowds mean a little slower pace to enjoy things.

Except I now find out that the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade is being filmed the same weekend we are going to be there. Have you ever seen the Parade on t.v.? Bunches of people lining Main Street U.S.A. Crowds of people wanting to get their .015 minute of fame as the camera gazes past their faces. Three days of filming in the Magic Kingdom means three days of really avoiding the Magic Kingdom. Blech!

And I was really looking forward to this trip as a time of relaxing enjoyment without fighting hordes of people.

So what to do? What to do?

Adapt.

It is easy to get frustrated and decide something isn't worth the effort. It is easy to blow it off and say, "There is an easier way." But that isn't how we do things around here.

We are going to go to Disney World. We are going to experience the Magic that Disney excels at providing. We are going to make memories as a family. We are going to get frustrated and aggravated, but we will be together in the Happiest Place On Earth.

And we might even kiss Mickey.

Yo Joe Finally

2009-08-17T08:54:00.001-05:00

I love comic books. I've been reading them as long as….well as long as I've been reading. I remember some of my earliest comic books were when I was in the second or third grade. And superhero comics are a big part of my collection. Yes, I collect comic books also. Spider-man has always been one of my heroes. And the Avengers were my favorite superhero team. But there is only one comic book series that I have collected almost every copy of and the accompanying toys (yes, I collect dolls….erm, action figures).

When G.I. Joe hit the shelves in the early '80's, I grabbed the first copy. I still have it. Nope, it's not worth anything, so don't come looking for it. It is ripped and stained and frayed on the edges. It has no monetary value. But its condition should tell you where its value lies. I read and read that book over and over. This was not the story of G.I. Joe, the soldiers of World War 2. This was not the story of G.I. Joe, the toy soldier and adventurer line of the '60's. This was a new G.I. Joe, a team of top of their skills special forces operatives. Their mission was to do what the regular armed forces couldn't accomplish, even special forces. In the comic book, the characters were non-regulation military. Uniforms, weapons, skills, etiquette, grooming habits, none of them would have passed muster in regular military life. But they were excellent at what they did.

Their primary nemesis was a terrorist/for-profit organization called Cobra. The Joes waged a balanced struggle with Cobra. They were just as over the top as any other comic supervillain. The Joes had their work cut out for them. And they fought the good fight through 155 issues. Larry Hama was the principal writer for the entire series. And he produced some compelling characters, engaging stories, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Fast forward to this past weekend when Lisa, Andrew, and I went to see the first serious feature length life-action G.I. Joe movie. I love comic book movies. Except Superman Returns. And The Hulk. So the Joe fan in me had to go see this movie.

Let me say up front that I liked the movie. It was light years beyond Transformers 2 in terms of enjoyment. There were plot holes. There was some campiness that I could do without. But I liked the movie.

Except.

They really messed with my story. I say my story because these were characters I had grown up with through my teen years. The stories of their life are as real to me as a soap opera junkies "stories" are to them. As I watched them being totally re-written for a new generation (who rarely ever picks up a book unless they must…much less comics) I felt that I was losing the opportunity to share with my boys what was a big part of my youth. I am going to have to tell them the stories to help them understand how passionate I am about this.

Or better yet, maybe I'll drag out the comic collection and let them share it.

No. On second thought, maybe not that.

Fear Not

2009-08-11T08:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning I was out on the back porch, drinking my coffee and enjoying E. Stanley Jones. For those who are not familiar, E. Stanley Jones was a Methodist preacher and evangelist in the middle part of the 20^th Century. He was also what may be considered a prolific devotional writer. I am currently collecting and reading through his writings. Most of ESJ's writings were devotional books that were structured to be read completely through (and could be done in one sitting…if you were only reading in a shallow manner), read thematically (he broke the writings into themed sections and not chapters), or daily (each page gives a daily reference). As a frame of reference, think about the Upper Room devotional or Our Daily Bread. Only chewier.

What I mean by chewier is that ESJ wrote some real serious thinking and introspective material. He was writing for life change, not just simple devotion. He wasn't trying to give people a brief "time with God" kind of moment. He was looking transform people in such a way that their lives were radically altered. He was an evangelist after all. Titles such as How To Be a Transformed Person or Abundant Living hint to the depth of where ESJ wanted to take devotees. Currently I am reading The Way. And I want to share something that I came across yesterday in my reading.

ESJ was dealing with fear. The first thing that really struck me as I was thinking about the subject was my own fears. I have identified three fears that are obvious in my life. I'm afraid of water (although I shower regularly), I'm afraid of heights, and I'm afraid of roller coasters. ESJ speaks to dealing with fears and presents 16 steps to dealing with fears. This is not a short term, easy fix solution.

The first step he describes is by saying that there are only 2 inherent fears in human nature – fear of falling and loud noises. By remembering that all other fears are learned behavior we begin to see that there is control over them.

Second is to talk over those fears with someone you trust. Really talk about the fears. Third is to decide on a plan of action. Fourth is to look at our surroundings (environment), our past history, and our present ideas and attitudes. Fifth he encourages us to think faith (Proverbs 23:7; or even Philippians 4:8). From the 6^th point through the 16^th point he talks about surrendering that fear to God instead of fighting those fears. If you want to know more detail, I suggest picking up a copy in an old book store or trying to find it on line. Or come for coffee some morning.

But reading all of that got me to thinking about something else. Do we ever see Jesus afraid in the Gospels?

The only thing that I feel may be close was the scene in the garden on the night of his arrest. But was it really fear that motivated the prayer, "let this cup pass from me"? When he was a youth separated from his family, there was no fear. When Jesus faced the crowd that wanted to stone him, there was no fear. When Jesus was being pressed by the religious leaders on his beliefs, there was no fear. When he was in new territory and surrounded by strangers, there was no fear. When he stood before a kangaroo court, before the seat of Roman power, was led from place to place under arrest, walked to his execution, and even on the cross facing the end of his mortal life Jesus showed no fear.

Fears control so many people. I don't just mean actions. I also think about how fear controls emotions, attitudes, opinions, and even health. Fear is a cancer. It takes healthy life and turns it into something negative and destructive.

But throughout Scripture, when God's appointed messenger shows up on the scene, what is the first word – fear not. It isn't easy to fear not. But it is possible; especially when we begin to tap into the power of surrender. Surrender is not a natural human inclination. In fact surrender is blocked by fear. When we face something in which surrender is an option, we encounter the natural inherent human response – fight or flight. This is fear response. So surrender, even to God, the lover of our souls, is fear inducing. But when we overcome fear through surrender to God, we are bringing power beyond imagination and grace beyond degree into our lives to bring fear into control. Healing occurs, forgiveness abounds, and love fills.

Fear not – for God is on your side.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T17:25:00.000-05:00

Questions from the Congregation

2009-07-02T16:44:00.002-05:00

In February and March I asked the Turpin congregation for questions. This is a practice I started where I get questions from the church and then preach on the subjects of their questions. I have been working on them from March until now.

This week I will begin to answer those questions. The first series will be Tithes, Taxes, and Tips. We will examine the biblical subject of tithing and what that means for modern followers of Christ. The question that sparked this series was: Do you go with 10% of your gross income or do you give to Caesar and then tithe on that?

Here are the other sermon series that I will be preaching based on the questions that I received.

Do pets go to heaven? - what happens to our beloved companions
Stereotypical or stereotyped Christians - how do we respond to being lumped together
The Return of the King - what does the 2nd coming mean and when will it happen
Mysteries of Genesis - creation, Cain's wife, Nephilim, Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah
Faith in Families - how to grow the Faith in a family setting
Death of Loved Ones - coping with the loss of family members, redeemed or lost
Paranormal - Ghosts, Spirit Communication, angels and demons, aliens and life out there
Is It All One God - world religions
What About Sin - dealing honestly with sin
What About Salvation - what does salvation mean
Why We Do What We Do: Holy Communion
Why We Do What We Do: Worship

I will try to post a recorded sermon on this blog. But I will also be occasionally be putting in something different: the sermon that didn't get preached. This will include information that didn't make it into the preached sermon. It may be material I found or things I left out of the sermon.

But I will be posting a little more frequently now. Feel free to join in with the comments and other questions.

Annual Conference '09

2009-05-27T22:36:00.002-05:00

So I'm back with absolutely nothing enlightening to say.

Or do I???

Annual Conference is the most frustrating and most rewarding most-of-a-week I have every year. It is frustrating because of the amount of 0 interactivity that is involved. Come on. I'm a web geek and RPG computer gamer. I don't like the complete lack of interactivity. I know that the stories and progress reports are signature feature of the conference experience. But there is so much sitting and listening that I lose all sense of reality.

But AC is also the most rewarding because we there is interactivity, it is usually lively conversation about pressing topics with good friends and colleagues. I've seen conferences where factionalism reigned supreme. I have seen people eye each other with skepticism and a lack of charity. But I try to avoid those circles of interaction. Instead I look for chances where people of differing opinion and world view can sit down and really express their opinions with respect for one another and listen to the differing viewpoints.

No I won't change my mind because we talked about a given subject. But the next time we do meet, I will have a deeper respect for you.

But then there is also time for conversations that contribute in no meaningful way to anything healthy or uplifting whatsoever. And only true friends can handle that kind of conversation.

Nostalgia day

2009-04-20T13:36:00.002-05:00

There are some days when the past just haunts your every move. Today it is music.

I've been wandering around the house with old favorite country CD's in the stereo, '80's metal hair bands on VH1 Classic, and now this.

This is Ralph Macchio doing for guitar music what he did for karate and the martial arts in "The Karate Kid". This from "Crossroads", an excellent movie about a Julliard-trained guitar prodigy who wants nothing more than to be blues guitarist.

This is the climactic guitar duel scene.

Update

2009-04-01T21:05:00.002-05:00

Lisa's Dad died at about 7:30 April 1st.

His funeral will be Monday at 10:00 at 1st United Pentecostal Church in Ada, OK.

Prayer Request

2009-03-31T12:36:00.002-05:00

Lisa's dad, Marvin, is in serious condition. He had quadruple bypass surgery about 4 weeks ago in Oklahoma City. Since then, he has remained in ICU. His current condition seems to be multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. He is having problems across many of his bodies systems. His heart is not operating properly, he is on dialysis because his kidney's are not functioning, his lungs are not processing oxygen into his cells, and the doctors are claiming he also has leukemia. There is fear that his brain functions have been compromised as well.

The doctors are not confident about any reversal. They wanted the family informed of how serious Marvin's condition truly is. Lisa's mom, Lois, also needs prayer. She does not handle a crisis well.

Lisa is struggling emotionally and spiritually. She is currently at the hospital and we don't know when she will come back home.

Our desire is that Marvin will be blessed with a miracle. He needs an intervention and we hope for God's power to bring him the balance and restoration of the organs and systems of Marvin's body. Our desire is that Lois will have the emotional fortitude to face this crisis. And that all of the kids will be able to face this difficult time.

New meaning to "I am the shepherd"

2009-03-19T10:11:00.001-05:00

What would you get if Jesus was the Good Shepherd and meant it in a techno-junkie way:

Rapture Debate

2009-02-28T14:44:00.003-06:00

As part of the preaching series on life, death, heaven, and the Resurrection the subject of the Rapture became quite the conversation starter. As part of that conversation, we had a talk-back debate one Wednesday night. Here is the audio of that conversation.

Country music funnies

2009-02-17T11:45:00.001-06:00

There are just some songs that need to be spoofed:

It's not that I hate Carrie Underwood. I just like fishing more.

Welcome to change

2009-02-14T10:51:00.002-06:00

The world is probably now well aware of the passing of the Stimulus Bill. That bill will be heading to the President's desk with all expediency.

Hmmmm. That word reminds me of something. What was it?

Oh yes, I remember now.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man -- a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake.

These were words spoken by President Obama upon his inauguration. The words struck me as biting and cutting to the outgoing President at the time. They were words meant to point at the decisions of President Bush to restrict freedoms to preserve security.

But now those words strike me as being hollow and devoid of meaning or substance. This stimulus bill has been pushed, at break neck speed, through the process of legislation. Republicans are complaining that the Democrats reneged on their word of allowing 48 hours to review the document before a vote. I'm simply flabbergasted that a 647 page bill filled with intricate and subtle financial projects was not allowed adequate time to be read, reviewed, and argued.

President Obama has established that he was the leader that will take us into a change. What change is he leading us into? I see nothing new. Except maybe to further remove us from the Founding Fathers ideals of this nation has been established upon.

The way I see it, if this is going to be business as usual, why don't we just eliminate the Constitution and the full document of the Declaration of Independence. I say get rid of them because the ideals that President Obama and the people who are guiding him into the decisions that are being made really only care about the opening lines of the second paragraph of the Declaration.

People forget what the Declaration of Independence was all about. They remember the lines "blah blah unalienable rights blah blah life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." But the Declaration of Independence was so much more than just the perceived right to get what you want to make you happy.

The Declaration of Independence was a rallying cry for a people who's government had forgotten the responsibility that government has to the governed. Those founding fathers, as we have come to call them, were holding king and country accountable for the duty of seeing the common good of all people within the boundaries of the nation. There were no political parties involved. There were no lobbyists at work for special interest groups. It was group of people who believed that government was to be accountable to the people.

In fact, the words following "pursuit of happiness" state just that fact.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,...

Government exists at OUR consent. Those people who sit in those beautiful, grand buildings in Washington, D.C. sit there because we allow them to. Those people get to spend their time on C-SPAN and all the talk shows because we allow them to. Those people get to write laws and govern this nation because we ALLOW them to.

When I see something like this stimulus bill passing without due diligence I have to wonder, "Why do we continue to allow this kind of behavior?"

The very next truth that is self evident (of which the government's power is derived from our consent is one) is that when the government abuses that trust the people have given, the people have the right to alter or abolish the government and establish a government that will effect safety and the happiness as they see fit. Welcome to the idea of revolution.

It is time for a revolution. It is time to get rid of the attitude of aristocracy in the government. It is time to remind politicians that they do not have self-interests or personal agendas when they sit in office. They do not have the right to receive gifts or incentives from lobbyists or special interest groups in return for favorable legislation. They are not there to represent the minority voice. They are there because we allow them to. Regardless of who we vote for, they sit there because this is a government for the people, by the people.

Let's put career politicians, lawyers in office, and lobbyists in their place: back in the workforce looking for a real job. Let's dismantle the machine that runs D.C. and replace it with the heart for the nation.

Growing a Church's DNA

2009-02-07T16:47:00.002-06:00

Here is something I am playing around with for a larger piece I am trying to write.

Growing a Church’s DNA

D.N.A. is the collection of proteins that combine to give each of us our unique and individual make up. It truly is the foundation material of our identity. People can be identified through D.N.A. People can also be connected to others through sharing of D.N.A. (from parent to child). D.N.A. is remarkable in giving us a basis for our identity and relating us to others.

Each church has DNA also. There are some fundamental elements that help give us identity. There is also a basis in our DNA for how we relate to one another and the people around the church. DNA does not limit us in who we can be. It only offers us the foundation for growing into who we are. Each church needs to identify its DNA and compare it to the One who gave birth to the church, Jesus Christ.

A United Methodist Church is to be a place of practical divinity. Practical divinity is a phrase drawn from John Wesley’s opinion of his work. He was not a systematic theologian – he didn’t write thick books on which he explained who God was. He was more concerned with who God is in our lives. His writings reflect a concrete application of scriptural revelation concerning the nature of God. Practical divinity is about making God’s nature a reality in people’s lives. John Wesley strove to do that in 18th century England. We are about making God’s nature a reality in people’s lives in 21st century community.

Our purpose or mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We do this by four means: mission, witness, nurture, and discipline. The church serves as the connection point or hub to engage people in a life of discipleship. We invite people to encounter God through mission and witness. We grow people in becoming followers of Christ through nurture and discipline. Then we send people out to minister and be agents for transformation in the world. Supporting this mission these values that cannot be compromised for any reason.

First, we constantly remember that Christ is the source of our strength and identity. No religious institution or tradition, no individual’s personality or qualities can supply all we need. Only Christ, the Savior and Redeemer, our hope and salvation, can be the source of strength and identity for what we do and who we are.

Second, we must keep our focus on people. Christ did not come into the world to transform religion or to reform the world. He came to be among his people and to heal their hurts. He went where the people were. He listened to their stories. He saw their needs. He never took his eyes off of the people. We must always look at Christ’s people.

Third everything we do should be a source of healing, or at the very least cause no harm. Christ’s teaching and healing were inseparable. His mission in the world was to proclaim freedom and healing. Our efforts should intend no harm to anyone but should be done with the intention of leaving that person better than when we first met them.

Fourth we can never give up. Christ is our source of strength. The world cannot overcome the victory we receive in the name of the risen Lord. He has overcome death and the grave, our mortal enemy. He gives us hope and reason to celebrate in everything. So we must give thanks to God and continue to persevere in the expectation of overcoming.

Fifth, we face the unknown and the new through imagination, innovation, and adaptation. Christ told the disciples he was about to do something new. Every opportunity we face should follow Christ’s example. We allow ourselves to do something new in order to accomplish mission. We adapt to the surrounding situations in order to minister more effectively. We cannot allow ourselves to be stuck in complacency or stagnation because we haven’t done something before. Christ ministered to the Gentiles, the unwashed, the diseased, and the outcast. We approach ministry looking for new ways to heal and help.

In order to fulfill our mission and honor our values, we place principles or guiding standards around our lives and activity. Above all else, we put ourselves in a position to seek the Holy Spirit’s direction and power. In order to reach God’s people and do God’s mission thus fulfilling God’s will, we must seek the Spirit’s guidance and power. If we do not begin at this point, we will be ill equipped to do anything else.

To fulfill our mission of inviting, we need to remember to do two things. First, always remain outwardly focused. The church was born for the people who are not yet part of the church. Jesus called on his disciples to go into the world baptizing and teaching people about him. This implies that we are called to focus on people who have never been a part of the church. Second we need to build and maintain loving, caring relationships. This begins in our homes but extends into every relationship we have. If people do not perceive that we love or care for them, our invitations will be hollow and return empty.

To fulfill our mission of growing, we need to concentrate on five areas.
• One, learning and growing in our walk with God and with one another in a safe and affirming environment.
• Two, train, model, and practice daily spiritual disciplines.
• Three, come together regularly and faithfully to worship God in ways that engage our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies.
• Four, teach and encourage all members that they are stewards of God given resources and challenge them to give sacrificially for the sake of Christ and others.
• Five, identify recruit, train, and empower leaders to be servants to the entire body.

To fulfill our mission of sending, we have two important principles. First, wisely administer all of our resources to provide the maximum amount of support and hold one another accountable that we are being honoring and answering to the DNA through the use of our resources. Second, network with other churches and faith-based organizations with compatible DNA to ensure the widest possible ministry effort and provide hope and healing further into the community.

A church’s DNA amounts to its Purpose or Mission, Values, and Vision or guiding principles. Everything a church does is based on enhancing the DNA. Each action or decision is compared to the DNA and then carried out only as it truly honors and answers to the DNA. Once the DNA has been formulated the leadership of the church seeks to understand and live it out. Each member is taught and expected to accept the DNA of the church. This may sound tyrannical or hard-lined. The truth is that if people cannot identify with who the church is our mission will encounter resistance. If our mission is resisted we cannot live what God calls us to be. If anything does not honor or advance the DNA of the church, it is dropped. From this position the church is ready to move forward in the mission field with Christ our shepherd.

25 Random Things

2009-02-07T13:20:00.002-06:00

Just because I did it over on my Facebook page:

25 Random Things about me.

1.) Short, fat, bald, nerd - of those only 1 of them can I change. Others I might change I choose not to.

2.) I'm religiously opposed to green beans.

3.) I have rattlesnake-head shaped big toes.

4.) If I could live anywhere in the world it would be on the property of Walt Disney World. Preferably within walking distance of one of Epcot's gates.

5.) The two things I always wanted to be growing up were: a fireman-paramedic and a forensic pathologist. Mostly because I loved Emergency and Quincy growing up.

6.) One of my favorite jobs has been radio d.j. at a country music station.

7.) I'm not a musician. I'm just a guy who plays guitar (poorly) and sings (badly).

8.) I love photography. I'm trying to improve my ability with that. Some day I hope I can get good enough to show some of it.

9.) If C.S.I. is on, I will most likely flip over and watch it (see #5).

10.) My God-given purpose in life is helping others become everything God has created them to be.

11.) I would love to sit down and have have coffee with Alton Brown.

12.) The most famous people I have ever met were Billy Sprague and Dave Ramsey.

13.) I think I'm a better cook than I really am.

14.) When life gets too stressful, and I'm dealing with people at the end of my limits, I find that virtual violence is a great release.

15.) I say "crap" entirely too much. But it is such a versatile word.

16.) My most treasured earthly possessions would be my comic book collection and my collection of G.I. Joe figures. And my Bibles. And the scrapbooks my mother made for me. And the map from my Pappaw's service in W.W. II. And my library.

17.) My favorite work of literature would be A Christmas Carol.

18.) I can eat good B.B.Q. ribs any time.

19.) There is nothing as frustrating as pedestrians.

20.) My mother is the strongest, most faithful person I know. If I would aspire to be like anyone, it would be her. She faces the crap of this world with a strength that circumstances cannot provide, but comes only from the depth of faith of a life lived in surrender to Christ.

21.) My best friend growing up in high school was my sister. She was the one who I felt I could share anything with. And it's not because I have plenty of "stuff" on her. She could make me laugh and hack me off quicker than anyone. But she was the best friend I had.

22.) Andrew, my youngest son, is the person who makes me happy. He has a sense of humor and natural comedic ability. He can say the right thing at the right moment to make me laugh hysterically. And he likes to wrestle.

23.) Nicholas, my oldest son, is the person I am most proud of. He frustrates me quite a bit. But that is because he and I are so much alike. But he is a smart kid. And I look forward to watching him become what God has planned.

24.) Lisa is the person behind me, pushing me, challenging me, keeping me honest, and bringing clarity to everything that happens around me. She keeps me aware of the important things in life. She deflates my big ego and boosts my failing spirits. She knows me better than anyone and yet still is willing to spend the rest of our lives together. I'm worried about her.

25.) There is nothing more important, nothing more substantial, and nothing more valuable to me than the faith I have in Jesus Christ. It defines my life and decisions. It is the only way I face reality. I may not get "it" right all the time. Failures and doubts still darken the landscape of life. But by grace and love, I know that there is more to life than how I far I've fallen. Life is how far God is willing to go to bring me back.

Don't account on me

2009-02-06T08:55:00.002-06:00

President Obama sure seems to be following through with his dedication to transparency in D.C. We are less than 1 month into his term and so far 4 of his picks for prominent positions as Cabinet members or advisers have had tax problems. This isn't about the fact of their failures. This is honestly about the transparency that we have seen. The sad truth is that if these 4 had not been moving into positions as visible as they are, there would have likely been nothing come of their infractions. They would not have been held to account for it. They would not have been penalized or punished in any way. But because of the public nature of the offices, they were held to account.

But how much of that accountability was proactive to beat the Republicans to the punch?

I say this because I'm in a generally cranky mood. Everyone seems to talk the talk of ethics and holding people account. But do we really want people to do this. Honestly, look at the culture we live in.

School kids ("good" kids as well as trouble makers) don't have a problem with cheating. The banking industry is having to be bailed out because we have allowed our economy to be built on debt and lending. Oh yeah, those same banks are constantly being busted for taking our tax money (that's what the government bailout was - our money) and using it for the same practices that got us into this situation. Which, by the way, was our money we gave to them to manage. You have to dig into people's past with the skills of a private investigator to find out if someone's resume is filled out honestly and that they went to the schools they said they did or performed the jobs they claim. And what was the last excuse you gave to get out of a speeding ticket?

Do we really want someone to hold us accountable to a good life? Do we really want someone getting up into our stuff and pointing out our failures? Do we want to live out the responsibility of Christians to "encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13). Do we want a pastor who will "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Tim 4:2). And we definitely don't want anyone to carry out Christ's instruction in Matthew 18:15-17 if we cause offense.

I know I'm not perfect. Anyone who has been around me more than 8 minutes knows that. I offend people. I make people mad. I say things that don't set right. But I tell people straight out: if I offend you, make you mad, set you off then hold me accountable. I can't promise to not screw up. But I can make myself open to seek forgiveness and restore relationships. I live with regrets and mistakes, just like we all do. But when they happen, I try to make reconciliation possible. But it has to begin with me being willing to face accountability.

And to any law enforcement officers who may stop me for speeding, I have no excuse. How much do I owe?

Revelation ch 5 and 6

2009-02-05T19:48:00.002-06:00

Revelation chapter 5

Revelation chapter 6

Turpin is on the map

2009-02-04T12:44:00.001-06:00

Yeah, it's been a while.

I was playing around with Google Maps today (when I should have been working on Revelation Bible Study - yeah, I haven't updated that in a while either).

Any way.

I put good ol' Turpin in the Google Map search line. Up popped the familiar overhead satellite photo image of our little corner of heaven in the panhandle. But there was something new. Turpin has a Street View.

What is a Street View, you may be wondering? Well this is Google's newest idea. They are sending out special vehicles to photograph places around the world from street level. They use spherical camera units to give a full panoramic, total view of the area.

Turpin's picture is from the south side of town on highway 64 heading to Hooker. It is across the street from the Post Office. The really cool thing is that this hasn't been done everywhere yet.

So Turpin has made it on the Google map. Check it out at www.google.com/maps and enter Turpin OK in the search line.

Updates

2008-12-22T10:57:00.002-06:00

Well Happy Holidays!

I'm still being delinquent when it comes to updating. Life is not that pressing. I just haven't come around to put anything meaningful up. So I thought I would pass the time with a few updates to life.

EMT training kicks over into the real world beginning tomorrow. I begin ride-along clinicals in Liberal. That means riding on the ambulance with paramedics and responding to real calls. I have also begun to consider pursuing EMT-Paramedic training. I'm looking at our community and see a need for a local paramedic on the fire department. So I may pursue that training to help out in the community.

The Turpin Food Pantry is another ministry that I'm involved with and it has been a great blessing to the community. Last night we served about 20 families with food baskets (sponsored by the Turpin Booster Club) and Angel Tree gifts for the kids (sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance) and teenagers (sponsored by the Turpin water department). It is really great to see so many groups coming together to impact the lives of community members. It is also the answer to so many needs in our world, cooperation.

The boys are out of school for Christmas break. They are quite excited about the freedom they have been given. They are living high on the hog, kicking back to play on the computer, watch T.V., and generally drive us batty all day for the next 2 weeks.

I have stepped over to a dark side that I never thought I would give into. I bought Guitar Hero: World Tour. For those who do not delve into the video game world, Guitar Hero is what is called a rhythm game. Sort of like the dance games that have been the rage for the last 10 or so years. Only these involve music instruments, sort of. Instead of playing guitar with strings and frets, you match colored dots on the screen with the corresponding buttons on the guitar while "strumming" a button. The thing about World Tour is that you can also play drums (more like the real thing) and sing with a microphone (just like the real thing). The dark side of this is that it is all rock and roll music. It covers songs from the last 40 years (with La Bamba thrown in for good measure). It is a lot of fun. And Nick is learning the drums. If we can just get Andrew to play guitar, we would have a family band.

Speaking of Andrew, I thought I would share an Andrew-ism from this morning. During Advent we have been doing a family Advent box. Every morning one of the boys gets to open the door of our box. Inside is a slip of paper describing a family event that we will do at some point during the day. Today's activity was Family Game Night. Andrew opened the door and read the description. Then this conversation:

Andrew: We don't have any Christmas games.
Me: Well we can play any game.

Andrew: But we don't celebrate Hanukkah.
Me: We can play ordinary games.

Andrew: We don't even have a dreidel.

And who says Blue's Clues doesn't teach our children anything.

I understand that there has been a few problems with the Revelation Bible Study when people try to view the blog. The gibberish some of you may be encountering is the code for the audio recordings that I have been posting. If you are having problems seeing them, I will try to debug it and give you a fix for it next week. Also, the multipart recordings are now listed in one recording and play back to back.

Until the next time - Merry Christmas.

Revelation Chapter 4

2008-12-08T15:59:00.001-06:00

Revelation chapter 3

2008-12-08T15:44:00.002-06:00

Christmas list

2008-11-19T15:56:00.003-06:00

As a follow-up to the previous post (if you haven't read it yet, don't feel to bad), I feel that it is most likely time for my annual posting of the Christmas Fantasy List.

A Christmas Fantasy List is not a wish list. It is simply those things that, if we lived in ToddWorld, would being under the Christmas tree.

This is mostly a resource for my family. But anyone is welcome to chip in.

Computer Games
Fallout 3
Spore
Bioshock

Video Games (Wii)
Star Wars Lightsaber Duel
Mario Kart
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
MySims Kingdom
Rock Band Special Edition (the whole band)
Iron Chef America
Star Wars The Force Unleashed

Computer supplies
320GB-1TB portable hard drive
Laptop/Desktop Computer memory 1GB -2GB

Books
Feasting On Asphalt
Bobby Flay’s Grill It
Grill It by Steve Raichlin
The Year of Living Biblically
Wesley Study Bible
Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney

Cooking
Digital scale
KitchenAid stand mixer slicer/shredder
Pizza stone

Movies/DVD
Incredible Hulk (just released movie)
Quincy

Magazine subscriptions
National Geographic
Food Network magazine
Popular Photography
PC Gamer

Music equipment
Guitar strap (fancy)
Tuner (digital)
Gibson Robot Guitar
Still holding out hope for bagpipes (cause now I have a place to play them)

Practical (boring) stuff
Banded collar shirts
Winter Under Armour shirts

Gift cards
Cokesbury
Best Buy
Guitar Center
Hastings
Wal-Mart

Music
Jeremy Camp – Speaking Louder Than Before
Jeremy Camp – Beyond Measure
Third Day – anything
ZZ Top, Def Leppard, The Who, ELO - greatest hits collections

Transportation
A brake job for my '97 Taurus
A new stereo system for my '97 Taurus
A Honda Element
Segway X-2

Back to blogging

2008-11-19T14:47:00.003-06:00

I've taken a little time off from sharing thoughts here and instead used the blog as a repository for Bible study recordings. I will continue with that for the remainder of the study. But I decided to get back to sharing thoughts and wonderings.

And really one thing has brought me back to this place of happy thoughts (well, not always happy): Christmas. Not Christmas in the sense of family memories or even high liturgical significance. Nope. What brought me back to blogging is one simple question: have people lost their minds?

Two weeks ago. Not today. Not next Friday. Two weeks ago yesterday. November 4. I was in Hastings to spend some money that I was blessed with from my church. By the way, a big "Thank You" again to the Turpin church for that blessing. But I was looking around for something meaningful and productive and reflective of the spirit with which the church gave me that gift. I was looking for video games. But blasting over the in-store music was Christmas music. Not just a song now and then. The entire music programming was Christmas music. In the first week of November.

Then, last week I was driving home from EMT class. And there was a house with it's Christmas lights turned on. Not just a simple strand of lights around the eaves of the house. Thousands of little lights everywhere.

Last night I was going into EMT class and someone had an elaborate Christmas light display turned on.

And Lisa (as well as an unnamed member of the church - who supposedly works for the local pizza restaurant) is all excited about getting their Christmas decorations up.

Yes. I am Ebeneezer Scrooge.

But come on. Really. 2 months before Christmas is a little extravagant. I have been saying for years now that Halloween will become the next big Christmas shopping event. It will eventually rival Black Friday and December 26th as one of the financial windfalls for retailers. This year is proof of the creep in that direction.

There can be too much of a good thing.

Curriculum Writing Event

2008-11-17T08:25:00.003-06:00

Curriculum Event notes

Content: Methodist beliefs

Scope: Grace; Sacraments; Practices (Biblical, UMC)

Sequence: as above
Grace: Ephesians 2:1-10
Sacrament: Mark 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
Practices: Luke 4:16-19

Main Idea/Camp Goals:
Kids will deepen understanding of UM discipleship in terms of belief and practice

Outcomes:
Name 3 kinds of grace;
Identify distinctiveness of UM sacraments;
Describe some behaviors of disciples

Session Outline
Copyright Judson Press, 2008. Permission for photocopy.

Theme:
Bible Passage:
Main Idea:

Goal:
Outcomes: By the end of the session, campers will have:

Supplies:

Opening

Presenting the Main Idea

Exploring the Main Idea

Responding to the Main Idea

Closing

Revelation 2:12 through 29

2008-11-11T10:46:00.002-06:00

Revelation 2: 1 through 11

2008-10-24T20:00:00.001-05:00

I. Construction of the 7 letters

A. Command: write “to the angelos…”

1. Pronounced angelos; means messenger

2. Could represent a heavenly counterpart to the church – Hebrews 8:4-5

3. Could represent a human intermediary

a) A messenger who would bring messages to the church

b) The bishop of the church – episkopos – 1 Timothy 3:1-7

4. Could represent a prevailing spirit within the church

5. Could represent a guardian angel

B. Christ’s description – “the one who…”

1. Each description is directly linked to Jesus Christ

2. Each description is linked to an element of the description in the introduction

3. Each introduction is directly related to the current state of the church being addressed

4. “thus says”

a) This is an Old testament echo of “thus says the Lord”

b) It is an introductory statement of impending prophetic message

C. Commendation

1. 6 Churches receive commendation for a worthwhile quality

2. It focuses on the churches’ good works

D. Accusation

1. 5 church are criticized for a quality contrary to Christ’s purpose

2. Compromising the faith is a repeated problem

E. Exhortation to repent

1. The churches that are criticized

2. Encouraged to return to a former state or change completely

3. A threat is present conditioned on Christ’s return

F. Promise

1. Given to those who conquer or overcome

G. Exhortation to discern – “to those with ears to hear…”

II. Purpose of the 7 letters

A. Affirmation of the churches

1. They are commended on remaining faithful

2. There is a promise for those who remain faithful

B. Admonitions for “faults”

1. There are accusations for acts or attitudes within the church contrary to Christ

2. There is instruction to repent or change

3. There are conditional threats of “punishment”

C. When we understand this as addressed to the universal church

1. Exhortation to discern is the “churches”

2. 2:23 – that all churches may know

3. Early church writers believed it was addressed to the universal church

D. Commentary on the state of the whole church

1. Chiastic structure

a) First and last are in danger of losing their Christian identity

b) Three middle churches are at varying degrees of remaining faithful and/or compromising to culture

c) Second and Sixth churches have been faithful even through persecution

2. Emphasizes

a) More churches are unhealthy than healthy in regards to faithful works

b) Emphasis points in the middle to churches with serious problems

c) The boundary letters are church in danger of losing their association with Christ

III. 7 Churches

A. Ephesus – Selcuk

1. Background

a) Politics and economics – Ephesus was the chief administration city in Asia Minor for the Roman Empire. This city was where Roman officials would arrive and leave Asia Minor. It was a commercially important city due to a manmade harbor. Eventually that harbor was filled with silt from river deposits and the city moved. This was also the western anchor for the Lower Royal road, a trade route to Mesopotamia.

b) Geography – Ephesus moved a number of times in its history. It is located on the Cayster River. Marsh lands have developed due to the silt that has been deposited.

c) Religion – Ephesus was a center for the worship of Artemis as well as 6 imperial temples. The Temple of Artemis was the 7^th wonder of the ancient world.

d) Population – It is estimated that Ephesus could have had 250,000-300,000 citizens making it the 4^th largest city at the time of the Roman Empire.

e) Ephesus had a very large Christian influence. It is mentioned a number of times in the New Testament. Paul stayed there for some time. John is believed to have lived, died, and was buried there. It is also tradition that John moved Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Ephesus.

2. Christ’s Introduction

a) Standing among the 7 lampstands

(1) Christ is present among the 7 churches

b) Holding the 7 stars

(1) “Angels” are within the authority of Christ

3. Commendation

a) Works and labor

b) Perseverance

c) Acts against “false apostles”

(1) False apostles are determined through examination of their lives and teaching.

(2) Examined on the basis of doctrinal integrity

d) Hate the practices of the Nicolaitans

(1) Nicolaitans taught that some degree of participation in the idolatrous culture of the Ephesians was acceptable

(a) Specifically eating meat sacrificed to idols and fornication

4. Accusation

a) They have lost their first love

(1) Passionate devotion to Christ

(2) Unconditional love for brothers and sisters

(3) Passion for witnessing to the unchurched world

5. Promise

a) Eat from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22)

6. Exhortation to repent

a) Remember their prior state

b) Repent from their current state

c) Return to their prior works

7. Threat if they don’t - remove their lampstand

a) Reference to the lampstands Christ stands among

b) They will no longer be identified with Christ

c) Their Christian identity in the spiritual realm would be lost

B. Smyrna – Izmir

1. Background

a) Politics – Smyrna was a trading city located on a secure natural harbor. It was very loyal to Rome. There was also a large Jewish influence in this city.

b) Economics – Smyrna was the economical rival of Ephesus. Its natural harbor did not suffer the weaknesses of Ephesus so it remained a viable seaport. It was also surrounded by fertile farm lands. The Hermus River flowed into the harbor.

c) Culture – Smyrna was a planned city with roads laid out in geometric designs and had many beautiful buildings. It was the home of a number of poets and is the reported home of Homer. It was a very rich city known for wine, science, and medicine. It’s stadium sat 20,000 people.

d) Population – Smyrna is believed to have had 100,000 to 200,000 citizens.

e) Religion – Smyrna was dedicated to the imperial cult; worship of Roman emperors. It was the center of worship for numerous Caesars. It also had a large Jewish population. Later Smyrna was an important Christian city.

f) It is the only city of the 7 church cities still inhabited.

2. Introduction of Christ

a) First and the Last

(1) Similar to the introduction of God in the introduction

(2) Refers to Lord of all creation

b) “who died and came to life again”

(1) Reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection

(2) Implied reference to Christ’s sacrifice

3. Commendation

a) Christ knows their sufferings through afflictions

(1) Hostile anti-Christian sentiments in the city

(a) Confirms that some persecution was occurring at the time of the writing

(2) Slander by the Jews

(a) Disloyal to the empire

(b) Atheists – did not believe in God but a man

(d) Cannibalism and orgies

(3) Poverty – financially destitute

4. Accusation – none

5. Exhortation to repent

a) Do not fear the things which will happen

(1) Imprisonment

(2) Death

(3) Persecution for 10 days – Daniel 1:12-15

b) Be faithful even to death

6. No threat since there is no accusation

7. Promise

a) Crown of life

(1) Eternal life

(2) Crown associated with victory or joy; not a rulers crown

b) Avoid the second death

(1) Rabbinic teaching of death in the next life for disobedient

(2) Physical then spiritual death possible

(3) Cast into the lake of fire (20:14)

Revelation 1:11 through 20

2008-10-24T09:46:00.002-05:00

I. Vision of the Man

a. “I turned to see the voice”

i. Could imply John turned to see the speaker

1. Represents a heavenly creature

ii. Old Testament references to “seeing the voice/sound” related to God

1. Exodus 20:18, 22

2. Daniel 7:11

3. Deuteronomy 4:12

4. Several prophets refer to words they saw

a. Isaiah 2:1; 13:1

b. Jeremiah 23:18

c. Amos 1:1

d. Micah 1:1

e. Habakkuk 1:1

iii. Also a warning to us that what we are about to see is symbolism

b. Seven golden lampstands

i. In terms of imagery, the Temple atmosphere is implied

1. The closest representation is that of the menorah from Old Testament tabernacle/temple

ii. Arranged around the man

1. The Temple menorah were placed before the Lord (Exodus 21:27; Leviticus 24:2-4)

2. These are situated to burn before the Son of Man

iii. Zechariah 4:1-4, 10

1. Seven lamps are the eyes of the Lord

2. Revelation 1:20 interprets the lamp stands as the seven churches

c. Son of Man

i. Reference to Daniel 7 and 10

1. The Son of Man and Ancient of Days are combined in this person

2. Jesus referred to himself as son of man

ii. Qualities to which John is drawn

1. Clothed in a robe and sash/girdle/belt

a. Much has been made of this as a priestly garment

b. Since we have little in way of description, it is inconclusive

c. If the lamp stands do create a temple atmosphere, priestly garments are appropriate interpretations

2. White head and hair

a. It is more appropriate to understand this as “white head, that is, hair”

b. Feature of the Ancient of Days from Daniel 7:9

c. OT and Near Eastern culture had certain attitudes toward “elderly”

i. Respect, honor, wisdom, and high social status

3. Eyes like fire

a. Some believe that this is a statement of judgment

b. Also allusion to Daniel 10:6

4. Feet like bright bronze

a. The Greek word is only used here in Revelation

b. Daniel 10:6

c. This person is barefoot – perhaps a nod to lack of special priestly footwear when officiating

d. Represents strength and stability or moral purity

5. Voice like many waters

a. Again a reference to a “loud” voice

b. Ezekiel 43:2

c. Some hold that the sound of the surf on Patmos was an inspiration for this image

6. Seven stars in his right hand

a. Revelation 1:20 interprets this as seven angels

b. Right hand represents power or authority

i. Authority over the churches

ii. Protection/judgment over the churches

c. Some see the stars as adopted from mythology/astrology

7. Sharp, two-edged sword from his mouth

a. Image found only in Revelation

b. Always refers to Christ

c. Sword’s function is mentioned in 2:16 and 19:15

i. Fight against those who do not repent

ii. Smite the nations

d. Sword is used as a metaphor for the tongue

i. Power then lies with words or speech

ii. Reason, effective speech, and Word of God are all compared to a sword or dagger

1. Psalm 52:2; 57:4

2. Ephesians 6:17

3. Hebrews 4:12

iii. Isaiah 11:4 – justice is the rod from his mouth

8. Face shining like the sun

a. Metaphor for holiness or divinity or transcendence

b. Spoken of in relation to theophanies (experience of meeting God)

c. Tradition of brightness of the faces of the righteous

d. Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:3)

iii. The person speaks to John

1. John falls down at the person’s feet

a. Common response when heavenly creatures are encountered

b. Isaiah 6 – undone

2. Words of assurance to John

a. Do not be afraid

b. Accompanied by the right hand

3. Identification

a. I am – identified with Christ’s “I am” statements as well as God

b. First and last

i. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12 – refers to God

ii. Occurs again in Revelation referring to Christ

c. Living One, I was dead, I am alive forevermore

i. Jewish tradition names God as the Living God

ii. Resurrection affirmation

d. Keys of death and Hades

i. Represent authority over the realms of the dead

4. Commission

a. Some see this as the outline of the entire book

i. Things you have seen – this vision

ii. Things which are – current state of churches

iii. Things which will take place – eschaton

b. John is commanded to write about the visions

5. Interpretation

a. Jesus gives understanding regarding the “mystery”

b. Similar to parable constructions

i. Story – interpretation

ii. Image – interpretation

c. Seven stars are the angels

d. Seven lamp stands are the churches

Revelation 1:9-10

2008-10-22T20:00:00.003-05:00

I. John sets out for us the setting of the first vision

a. John identifies with the readers and their situation

i. Brother – term used by early Christians for one another

ii. Fellow partaker in three things

1. Tribulation

2. Kingdom

3. Perseverance

4. All three things are in reference to Jesus

iii. Faithful endurance is the means to sharing in kingship with Christ

b. On Patmos

i. Physical location

1. An island located off present day Turkey

2. Rocky, volcanic island at about 1,000 ft.

3. Quarries for rock

ii. Reason for being there

1. “because of the Word of God and the testimony (witness) of Jesus”

a. Word of God is reference to the gospel traditions of Jesus

b. Witness would be “testimony” regarding Jesus or by Jesus

2. Regional persecution

a. Even by John’s time of writing, no general persecution occurred

b. Regional governors had the right and authority to act against Christians

c. Punishments for various serious crimes included death and different levels of banishment

d. Tradition says John was banished to the island of Patmos for sedition

i. Tradition – stories of the church that do not have scriptural evidence yet have been attested to by the church for centuries

3. Some believe John went there to preach

4. Some believe John went there to receive the visions

c. On the Lord’s Day

i. This references early Christians’ practice of setting one day for worship

1. Other mention of Christians gathering on the first day of the week

2. Commemoration of Lord’s Resurrection

3. Offers Christians an alternative to Emperor’s Day

4. This is the first literary reference to a day set apart for worship

ii. Some believe that John is mystically removed to the Day of the Lord

1. Old Testament prophetic name for time when God would bring time to full purpose

a. Isaiah 13:6-13 – judgment

b. Joel 2:1-11

c. Zephaniah 1:14-18

d. In the Spirit

i. An ecstatic state such as in Acts 10:10

ii. Similar to the experience of Ezekiel (2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 11:1; 43:5)

iii. Gives John’s revelation prophetic authority

II. John’s commission

a. A voice speaks to John

i. Similar to the voice that spoke to Moses at Sinai

ii. Voices in Revelation are associated with loud things

iii. The voice behind is a rabbinic tradition

1. “the voice you cannot see” – Isaiah 30:21

b. Write in a book what you see

i. Deuteronomy 31:24

c. Send it to the Seven churches

i. The message is for all 7 churches – intended that all letters were to be read in every church

ii. We are unsure of the significance of these 7 churches

1. Symbolically represents the entire Church

a. 7 symbolizes completeness/wholeness

2. It could represent a circuit of churches

a. Postal district or distribution

b. If you draw a line connecting the churches in order beginning and ending with Ephesus it completes a circle

3. John has special authority or relationship with these particular churches

4. Each church represents an aspect of persecution or problem

5. The churches represent the entire church in different ages

Revelation 1:7-8

2008-10-22T16:19:00.002-05:00

I. Oracles

a. Verse 7 is formed from 2 Old Testament passages

i. Daniel 7:13 – enthronement of the Son of Man over the nations

ii. Zechariah 12:10-12 – end of time reference when God defeats Israel’s enemies and the people are redeemed

1. Both passages refer to God’s activity in defeating the enemy of God’s people at the end of time

2. John uses these two to draw the picture in Revelation of Christ’s victory and the universal revelation of his sovereignty

a. Every eye will see him

b. Even those who pierce him – more than those responsible for his death

c. All tribes/societies will mourn because of him

b. God speaks in verse 8

i. This is 1 of 2 places where we hear God’s voice

ii. We have the “I Am” identifier as in verse 4

1. Other religions use this “I am” phraseology

2. Christian believers should be drawn back to Moses’ mountain epiphany – Exodus 3

iii. AW merism

1. A merism is a figure of speech where polar opposites are used to highlight everything in between

2. Merisms are common in other cultures

3. Hebrews used “aleph to tau” to refer to everything in the law

4. Many uses of merism in Revelation – beginning/end, first/last

iv. Almighty

1. This is a common reference for God in the Old Testament

2. It is rarely used in the New Testament

3. It is used 9 times in Revelation

4. It refers to God’s rule over all of creation

c. Verse 7-8 work together to assure the recipients of this revelation that God is still in control and that Christ is still coming in victory

Recap Revelation 1:1-8

John, a Christian prophet, received a message from God through Christ by means of a messenger
John is to transmit this message
Those who hear and do what is expected will receive a blessing
John addresses this message in the form of a letter to 7 churches in Asia
John begins with a greeting of grace and peace from God, the Seven Spirit, and Jesus Christ
John proclaims 2 oracles regarding Christ’s reign and God’s rule over creation