We are in a 100 year storm financially. I am not kidding. It only remains to see how bad things will get and it appears that they will get pretty bad. Bad as in Great Depression bad. Storm as in, it will affect the rest of my working life, storm. Words at this point probably cannot do justice to what will come. What is a follower of Christ to do here?
1. Remember that God is in control of all things, everywhere, at all times (Dan 4.34-35).
2. Recall that John Calvin wrote that since God is sovereign we ought to have praise in prosperity, patience in adversity, and hope in the future. So patience in adversity is in order here.
3. Willingly and humbly submit to the situation that God puts us in—Indonesian and Indian believers are losing their houses and even lives right now because they are Christians. Some of us will end up in difficult living/financial situations because of this storm. So be it. God is still God and has promised to provide our needs (not wants or desires, just needs - Phil 4.19).
4. Make wise financial decisions. Conserve cash. Don't take on more debt. If you are going to invest in this environment, either absolutely know what you are doing, or invest to conserve principle (which at this point means pretty much only U. S. Treasuries, a bank savings account (under $100,000), or a CD. Be careful with Money Market Funds.
5. Don't waste your life worrying about your retirement funds (or lack thereof). Pour yourself into ministering to people (to immortal beings as C. S. Lewis put it) Matt 6.33-34.
6. Difficult times offer opportunities to preach the gospel. Look for opportunities!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On the Nature of Sin
I am pondering Ray Boltz's announcement that he has fully chosen a gay lifestyle. His most painful (to me) words are:
“This is what it really comes down to,” he says. “If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.”
Just so. One wonders if Mr. Boltz would accept this sort of justification in his children for instance. "Dad, I know I'm not supposed to lie and steal, but the fact of the matter is that I have an uncontrollable urge to lie and steal. I can only conclude that God made me this way, and if he made me this way I'm going to live this way. I'm only being who God created me to be ( a liar and thief). I really feel closer to God being a liar and thief."
I know, sounds crazy doesn't it, but it's the natural outworking of Mr. Boltz's theology.
This is the nature of deep and abiding sin. I cannot control it, so I give in to it and call it "the way God made me," despite the clear biblical teaching that it is, well, sin. It's why Psalm 66.18 is so important.
The Christian's badge of belief is that he fights sin to his last breath. He does not give in to it when the struggle becomes too much. He keeps fighting. Fight sin!
“This is what it really comes down to,” he says. “If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.”
Just so. One wonders if Mr. Boltz would accept this sort of justification in his children for instance. "Dad, I know I'm not supposed to lie and steal, but the fact of the matter is that I have an uncontrollable urge to lie and steal. I can only conclude that God made me this way, and if he made me this way I'm going to live this way. I'm only being who God created me to be ( a liar and thief). I really feel closer to God being a liar and thief."
I know, sounds crazy doesn't it, but it's the natural outworking of Mr. Boltz's theology.
This is the nature of deep and abiding sin. I cannot control it, so I give in to it and call it "the way God made me," despite the clear biblical teaching that it is, well, sin. It's why Psalm 66.18 is so important.
The Christian's badge of belief is that he fights sin to his last breath. He does not give in to it when the struggle becomes too much. He keeps fighting. Fight sin!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Heart Idols and Discerning God's Will
I've been pondering Ezekiel 14.3 today. A comment from the Expositor's Bible Commentary on the verse got me thinking. The commentator said: This verse is important for those who come to Scripture seeking guidance. No true direction can be given to those who have erected idols in their hearts. This has profound ramifications for discerning God's will. If one comes to him with a heart given over to idols of whatever kind, any attempt to seek God's guidance will be disastrous.
What this means in a practical sense is that, with a heart full of idols, I can convince myself that what I want to do is God directing me. This is a dangerous place indeed and ought to give me pause to analyze very carefully my own heart. To do what I want and call it "God's will for me" is an affront to God and takes his glory and attempts to put it on me. Not good.
What this means in a practical sense is that, with a heart full of idols, I can convince myself that what I want to do is God directing me. This is a dangerous place indeed and ought to give me pause to analyze very carefully my own heart. To do what I want and call it "God's will for me" is an affront to God and takes his glory and attempts to put it on me. Not good.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Salvation and God's Power
What does it mean today that the Lord is not constrained to save by many or by few (1 Samuel 14.6)? Surely it means the same as in Jonathan's day—God will fight our battles and will win for us, no matter if we are many or few, if it is in his will to win—but what is the application for us? We are not part of God's army doing God's work through physical battle. Does not Paul say that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6.10)?
I think the application here is to spiritual battles, whether that be a battle on a personal level, or whether it be on a social level, in other words the battle for another person's soul, or a spiritual battle in the church. God is fully capable of using one person or many persons to bring about spiritual victory in the lives of people whom we least expect to come to faith, or to be swayed by our arguments or efforts. Jonathan had a sign from God, we have the promises of God (in the Scriptures). God is the same. He is not constrained to save by many or by few.
I think the application here is to spiritual battles, whether that be a battle on a personal level, or whether it be on a social level, in other words the battle for another person's soul, or a spiritual battle in the church. God is fully capable of using one person or many persons to bring about spiritual victory in the lives of people whom we least expect to come to faith, or to be swayed by our arguments or efforts. Jonathan had a sign from God, we have the promises of God (in the Scriptures). God is the same. He is not constrained to save by many or by few.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Dark Night of the Soul
Dan Cummings who is a pastor in suburban Detroit has a nasty form of cancer, a life-threatening form of cancer. His latest blog post discusses the valley of the shadow of death through which he is walking:
C.S. Lewis in A Grief Observed expresses what so many, including me, experience in the dark night of the soul: “Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him…you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as [well] turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become.”
I have no answer for this, only humble silence. Lewis is correct of course and the life of the Psalmists generally support him (Psalms 42:3). Surely Joseph went through a dark night of the soul when he was thrown into prison by Potiphar with no hope of any help since the only people who knew he was in prison hated him. There is some solace in the fact that it is a common experience, that other's have gone through it, that when I experience it, I am not alone in the experience.
C.S. Lewis in A Grief Observed expresses what so many, including me, experience in the dark night of the soul: “Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him…you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as [well] turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become.”
I have no answer for this, only humble silence. Lewis is correct of course and the life of the Psalmists generally support him (Psalms 42:3). Surely Joseph went through a dark night of the soul when he was thrown into prison by Potiphar with no hope of any help since the only people who knew he was in prison hated him. There is some solace in the fact that it is a common experience, that other's have gone through it, that when I experience it, I am not alone in the experience.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Christian and Culture
Social critic Jacques Ellul issues a challenge we should heed: “The Christian has a prophetic mission to try to think before events become inevitable.” (Doug Groothius)
I've been pondering this issue some. I believe what Mr. Ellul meant was that we of all people should be thinking ahead about issues so that when we address them we speak prophetically. In some ways we have done this—abortion comes to mind—in other ways we have not. Take television for example, or cyberspace, or our addiction to entertainment. Have we really thought through the long term implications of giving ourselves over, night after night, to sitting in front of a box that projects electronic sounds and image at us? How does this affect the soul? Our interaction with our neighbors? Our own development?
We don't know because we've never given it any thought, and what affects us will affect the culture at large, only more so.
I've been pondering this issue some. I believe what Mr. Ellul meant was that we of all people should be thinking ahead about issues so that when we address them we speak prophetically. In some ways we have done this—abortion comes to mind—in other ways we have not. Take television for example, or cyberspace, or our addiction to entertainment. Have we really thought through the long term implications of giving ourselves over, night after night, to sitting in front of a box that projects electronic sounds and image at us? How does this affect the soul? Our interaction with our neighbors? Our own development?
We don't know because we've never given it any thought, and what affects us will affect the culture at large, only more so.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Solzhenitsyn on Sacrifice
This is an excerpt from Solzhenitsyn's Nobel Prize lecture. It is an astounding lecture.
The spirit of Munich has by no means retreated into the past; it was not merely a brief episode. I even venture to say that the spirit of Munich prevails in the Twentieth Century. The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles. The spirit of Munich is a sickness of the will of successful people, it is the daily condition of those who have given themselves up to the thirst after prosperity at any price, to material well-being as the chief goal of earthly existence. Such people - and there are many in today's world - elect passivity and retreat, just so as their accustomed life might drag on a bit longer, just so as not to step over the threshold of hardship today - and tomorrow, you'll see, it will all be all right. (But it will never be all right! The price of cowardice will only be evil; we shall reap courage and victory only when we dare to make sacrifices.)
He was, unfortunately, absolutely correct. Prosperity breeds inevitably a lack of will because all we want is to be comfortable, to avoid trouble. There are some things more important than my own personal peace. Or as Kevin Costner's character put it in Open Range: "There's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying."
The spirit of Munich has by no means retreated into the past; it was not merely a brief episode. I even venture to say that the spirit of Munich prevails in the Twentieth Century. The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles. The spirit of Munich is a sickness of the will of successful people, it is the daily condition of those who have given themselves up to the thirst after prosperity at any price, to material well-being as the chief goal of earthly existence. Such people - and there are many in today's world - elect passivity and retreat, just so as their accustomed life might drag on a bit longer, just so as not to step over the threshold of hardship today - and tomorrow, you'll see, it will all be all right. (But it will never be all right! The price of cowardice will only be evil; we shall reap courage and victory only when we dare to make sacrifices.)
He was, unfortunately, absolutely correct. Prosperity breeds inevitably a lack of will because all we want is to be comfortable, to avoid trouble. There are some things more important than my own personal peace. Or as Kevin Costner's character put it in Open Range: "There's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying."
Monday, August 04, 2008
Get Busy Living...or Get Busy Dying
I'm working on a novel and had cause to think about the movie The Shawshank Redemption during the latest chapter. I love the line where Red tells Andy (who is new to the prison),
"you can get busy living...or get busy dying." In other words, you can accept your circumstances and deal with them, or you can start dying today, and it will be a long and bitter death.
It's a good philosophy to live out. We can't choose much of our circumstances or of the events that come our way, but we can choose to accept them as they are and deal with them. One of the things I need to model for my kids is exactly what Red was saying in the movie. I need to model how to "get busy living" no matter what my particular circumstances.
OBTW, The Shawshank Redemption is a great movie.
"you can get busy living...or get busy dying." In other words, you can accept your circumstances and deal with them, or you can start dying today, and it will be a long and bitter death.
It's a good philosophy to live out. We can't choose much of our circumstances or of the events that come our way, but we can choose to accept them as they are and deal with them. One of the things I need to model for my kids is exactly what Red was saying in the movie. I need to model how to "get busy living" no matter what my particular circumstances.
OBTW, The Shawshank Redemption is a great movie.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Dark Knight
Yep, watched it. I actually thought it was a pretty good movie, mostly because it explored themes deeper than "how many buildings and vehicles can we blow up in one movie." The movie dialed down into the nature of good and evil and how good ought to confront evil. It also explored the morality of fighting evil with evil. Interesting.
While I don't agree with the way the movie worked out all these themes, it is nice to see a film that ponders meaning beyond simple entertainment, and Dark Knight to it's credit, did just that.
Oh, and Heath Ledger, despite all the hype, was incredible as The Joker. Sad to see such a wasted life. Too bad people won't learn from it.
While I don't agree with the way the movie worked out all these themes, it is nice to see a film that ponders meaning beyond simple entertainment, and Dark Knight to it's credit, did just that.
Oh, and Heath Ledger, despite all the hype, was incredible as The Joker. Sad to see such a wasted life. Too bad people won't learn from it.
More on Marriage
I had the privilege of speaking at the wedding of Josh Sawyer, one of the guys that Cherie and I have seen go all the way from 7-12 grade in the youth group (and then on to two years at NTM Bible school in Jackson). I labored over those 5 minutes, wording and rewording it again and again because I just couldn't get it "right." I ended up framing it around Roman 1.16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
I wanted to communicate the cross-centered, Christ-exalting nature of marriage. In the process I got to think back over my own marriage and thank the Lord for Cherie and for 24 awesome years with her. God was very good to bring us together and very good to allow us these years of close companionship. I couldn't imagine life without her. I rely on her for advice and for comfort and as a sounding board, not to mention as my biking partner. Funny how the "I" of being single gave way to the "we" of marriage so easily. I've always compared living single with living married as going from like in black and white, to life in color.
Thanks beautiful!
I wanted to communicate the cross-centered, Christ-exalting nature of marriage. In the process I got to think back over my own marriage and thank the Lord for Cherie and for 24 awesome years with her. God was very good to bring us together and very good to allow us these years of close companionship. I couldn't imagine life without her. I rely on her for advice and for comfort and as a sounding board, not to mention as my biking partner. Funny how the "I" of being single gave way to the "we" of marriage so easily. I've always compared living single with living married as going from like in black and white, to life in color.
Thanks beautiful!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Pondering the Mystery of Marriage
I was up in the middle of the night pondering marriage. A good friend of mine asked me to preach the (short) sermon at his upcoming wedding and I was lying there awake so I began to meditate on marriage. [I know, death to marriage in the space of a day, weird, but that's how my mind works.]
First the thing that strikes me is that one moves in an instant from "I" to "we." Ever since Cherie and I got married 24 years ago, while I am still an individual, I simply cannot make decisions or choices as an individual—don't even want to. I want to make them as "we" as Cherie and I. This is the nature of marriage and I think it's the way God intended things to be. The two become one flesh.
The primary thing that strikes me about marriage as I ponder what to say is this: The first reason for marriage is not "because we are in love." [Well, it shouldn't be anyway]. The penultimate reason for marriage is that it is a chance for the couple to make Christ look great. This is because marriage is first of all, a covenant. We make "vows" to each other, and "swear" our faithfulness and love for each other because we are freely entering into a covenant which reflects the covenant that Christ has with the church. To the extent that we honor our vows we make Christ look great because marriage is meant to be a shadow of and a reflection upon, the greater covenant that God has made with the church. Thus Paul to the Ephesians: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (Eph 5:31-32 ESV).
First the thing that strikes me is that one moves in an instant from "I" to "we." Ever since Cherie and I got married 24 years ago, while I am still an individual, I simply cannot make decisions or choices as an individual—don't even want to. I want to make them as "we" as Cherie and I. This is the nature of marriage and I think it's the way God intended things to be. The two become one flesh.
The primary thing that strikes me about marriage as I ponder what to say is this: The first reason for marriage is not "because we are in love." [Well, it shouldn't be anyway]. The penultimate reason for marriage is that it is a chance for the couple to make Christ look great. This is because marriage is first of all, a covenant. We make "vows" to each other, and "swear" our faithfulness and love for each other because we are freely entering into a covenant which reflects the covenant that Christ has with the church. To the extent that we honor our vows we make Christ look great because marriage is meant to be a shadow of and a reflection upon, the greater covenant that God has made with the church. Thus Paul to the Ephesians: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (Eph 5:31-32 ESV).
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Pondering Death
I have been thinking about death recently, due mostly to the passing of Tony Snow, Fox News contributor, White House spokesman, husband, father. He died of colon cancer at the age of 53. His mother also died of colon cancer. My uncle died in the past month as well.
One one level this is just the normal cycle of life. People are born. They live. They die. It's rather unremarkable—if the death isn't in your family, or someone close to you. Of course if it is someone close to you, then it just isn't "the normal cycle of life," it is a tragedy that rips away at your gut and forces you out of your day-to-day routine to ponder these things. What can one say at these times except that one is grateful for the solace and promise of the Scriptures. What to do without them? Despair comes to mind.
Because of God's promises one can rest in hope. Death isn't the end, it is the beginning of eternity. God has a plan. He will redeem all things. Life has meaning. Life has promise. Death has hope. Thank you, Lord. Psalms 116.15
One one level this is just the normal cycle of life. People are born. They live. They die. It's rather unremarkable—if the death isn't in your family, or someone close to you. Of course if it is someone close to you, then it just isn't "the normal cycle of life," it is a tragedy that rips away at your gut and forces you out of your day-to-day routine to ponder these things. What can one say at these times except that one is grateful for the solace and promise of the Scriptures. What to do without them? Despair comes to mind.
Because of God's promises one can rest in hope. Death isn't the end, it is the beginning of eternity. God has a plan. He will redeem all things. Life has meaning. Life has promise. Death has hope. Thank you, Lord. Psalms 116.15
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ruminating on Life
I think I'm going to use this blog to ponder life and meaning. I just finished reading All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Great book. Too tired to discuss it, will finish this tomorrow.
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