Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Don't forget that tonight at 6:30PM we're having a different kind of class to wrap-up our summer topic of "What I Wish I Had Applied In High School." After the announcements, we'll be breaking up into "guys-only" and "girls-only" sessions (guys will meet in the Temple after announcements while the girls stay in the Dungeon). The guys session will be led by Matt Eaton, who has served at Pine Cove on their staff for two summers. The girls session will be led by Abby Lorenc, who has been on various mission trips and spent considerable time overseas. Both graduated from Marcus and CBC...so make every effort to be there. It should be very insightful.
Brent 4:55 AM
Saturday, July 30, 2005
This is a really good read. Once again, it's called "The Naked Christian" and it's about the value of building relationships with non-Christians.
Anyway...
"Jesus made His business the inclusion of all, from the winners to the losers. It's true that He saved His harshest words for those who considered themselves the religious success stories of the day, while His most reckless and lavish acts were poured out on those who many would've thought were 'poor in spirit.' How great a battle plan is that? He got under the skin of complacency, surprised the pants off dejection, and offered salvation to all, regardless of background. Are we really following His lead?"
So, for today, are we really following His lead? If not, what practical steps could we take to follow His lead?
Brent 6:05 AM
Friday, July 29, 2005
Again, a quote from his new book "The Naked Christian" for your thought-provoking pleasure!
(Read Amos 2 & 3 if you'd like to get in the Word a bit before reading this)
"Sin against people is a sin against God, and the idea the they (Israel) were due special treatment got comprehensively blow out of the water (Amos 3:12). But what's this got to do with us? According to Amos, on the surface the Israelites weren't up to their eyes in sin and debauchery: in fact, they were actually quite good at putting on a good show. They did the feasts, the offerings, the songs, all that religious jazz, but it wasn't enough to fool God."
(Read Amos 5: 21--24 if you'd like to get in the Word for context on this next part)
"Life behind the mask--hiding behind the ritual or the action--is not enough to fool God. He sees behind and demands so much more of His people. If we are to take the call of Jesus to 'go and make disciples of all nations' (Matt. 28: 19) seriously, then we'd better make sure that we are doing a lot more than relying on our talent for putting on slick presentations and programs. We'd better make sure the lifestyle matches up."
So, for today, what do we do to try to fool God and man? What do our masks look like? How do we go about the "lifestyle" the author talks about? What does that look like?
Brent 5:25 AM
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Today's thought-provoker comes from Craig Barlase from his book "The Naked Christian." It's from a discussion about how the masks people wear when they come to church lead us to believe that our own spiritual experience is less than what it's supposed to be.
"God's idea of success is something else altogether.
A quick glance through the Bible will turn up some common themes. Look at Samuel, Abaraham and Sarah, David, Joseph, Elisha, Mary, and Jesus--to name but a few--and you'll see that each of them went through long periods of what looked like inactivity before they finally kicked into the big time of carrying out God's public purpose for their lives. Why? It's all about the character. God doesn't need a selection of hte most talented individuals to run things for him while He's out of town for a few millennia; instead, He's after character to follow through with the calling even when things don't look so great."
So, for today, how is God's idea of success different than the message we've been getting in American Christian subculture these days? What did those people listed go through in their 'long periods of inactivity' and how do you think they gleaned wisdom during during those times?
Brent 4:46 AM
Comments:
What's going on in Houston with Lakewood and the books at every check out line must really get under your skin...I'm seeing a pattern forming.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2005
I'm reading a book called "Confessions of a Caffeinated Christian" by John Fischer. Not that great of a book (think of a Donald Miller wannabe), but it's got some good stuff here and there. Here's something that jumped out at me for today:
"Confession: As a Christian, I am the bearer of a message packed full of love for people I am afraid to be around.
Doesn't that sound rather convoluted? Stay away from the sinners but tell everybody about Jesus. How do you do that? Mixed messages like this have created a history of contradictions for Christians. On one hand I hold within me a loving message, overflowing with forgiveness and mercy and a new beginning for all. On the other, I'm uncomfortable being around people who don't believe what I believe. The contradiction is even built into the behavioral code: Witnessing to people you don't know is okay; hanging around them is not. It's got to be hit-and-run for your own safety."
So, for today, do you agree with the author or not? Do we send a mixed message like he described? Do we have our own Christian "bubble?" If so, how do we break out of it?
Brent 4:25 AM
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
My grandmother used to have a garden of sorts. A habit she carried over from living through the Great Depression...minus the rabbits (for those of you who didn't know this: rabbits were raised during that time because they reproduced/grew quickly and were used for meat/protein). She raised all sorts of peas and beans and various vegetables. Holiday dinners were loaded with stuff right out of the garden.
That's as close as I've ever come to farming. I was raised in the suburbs of a city, and the only thing that comes close to farming there is mowing the grass. Maybe going through the produce section of the grocery store.
So I can't say that I understand the process of farming, but through simple observation of my grandmother's gardening I can at least see that the process takes time and a lot of things go on that aren't really seen until much later.
For example, my grandmother would begin each year by tilling the soil. In fact, the family went for the "chip in" on the gift one year and got her a fancy gas-powered one. But it took a day or two of serious work to get the soil prepared.
It was a simple garden, so it didn't take long for her to decide what she was going to plant...but she had to spend a few hours going to the store and picking out the seeds and such. Once she did, she took a few more hours planting them a certain way in certain rows and all that jazz. She even had stakes at the end of each row with the package of seeds stapled to it so she'd know what went where.
Then she watered. This took hours, too...back before timed sprinklers. She'd stand out there with her hose and sprayer with vitamins in it for about an hour a day. Not too much. Not too little. I don't know how she knew but she stopped at the right time.
Then she waited. For months. Stuff would sprout & grow.
Then she put out the scarecrow and traps and put nets over certain stuff so the varmints wouldn't eat it all. Didn't want her hard work to go to waste.
She tended her garden.
And every year my family benefited from peas, beans and vegetables at our holiday table.
It's a microcosm of farming in some ways. The principle is the same, anyway. It takes time.
And so does the spiritual life.
You pay attention to little things. You go to church. You attend a Sunday School class. You read the Word on your own. You encourage others and have them encourage you. You spend time in prayer. Even if you don't feel like doing those things at times, you do them. And you don't see the growth every day, really.
My grandmother sure didn't. I only came by about twice a month, and each time I could see visible results even though to her it didn't seem to stand out that much.
It's the same way with us, too. You simply pay attention to, and do, those things that cause growth. And, like the plants, stuff happened that couldn't be observed by outsiders--underneath the soil, in the stems and roots--that became visible over time and benefitted others.
And that's something else Brad alluded to: Give yourself the grace to grow at a slow pace. The spiritual life is a long race, not a sprint to the tape, and it is easy to look at others and say we're not going as fast or even to look at ourselves and how slow we appear to be going and that makes us want to quit...I mean, why bother?
So, for today, how can we apply the idea that it takes time for spiritual growth? How can we encourage others in the day-to-day? How can we personally cultivate our spiritual lives when it's so easy to focus on the "trees" of our sin rather than the "forest" of our growth?
Brent 4:16 AM
Monday, July 25, 2005
Last night, Brad used part of his teaching time to discuss the importance of spending time in the Word on your own. Not that listening to sermons from Pastor Tim is a bad thing, or taking notes in Sunday School is wrong, or even grabbing books that can help your spiritual growth can be a good teaching tool as well.
But what he was stressing was the importance of you with the Word...alone with God. Just getting in the habit of spending that time allowing Him to speak to you through His living and active Word was one of the most valuable things he got from our ministry that helped him survive and thrive while off at college...
...that time when you're looking for a new church home after having CBC for many years.
...that time when you're trying to figure out who you are and what you're about now that you're away from the day-to-day guidance of your parents and friends.
...that time when so much change is afoot that you rarely realize the rate of that change.
It's a time when you need to learn to "hear" from God, and "listen" to Him...and Him alone.
So, for today, I'd like to ask for some dialogue on this. What can CBC's student ministry be doing more effectively to help you learn this discipline? What changes do teens need to be making now in order to make this habit one you can carry into your adult life?
Brent 5:49 AM
Sunday, July 24, 2005
I know it's been a busy week for most of you with music camp and the middle school camp out, so thanks very much for serving our church with your gifts and talents! It certainly is being noticed and appreciated by staff, parents, and most of all, the people you're serving.
Tonight, Brad Shuffield, CBC alumni and current Aggie, will be speaking in class. So, pray for him...and we'll see you all at 6:30!
Brent 4:49 AM
Saturday, July 23, 2005
I picked up a new book to read. It's called The Naked Christian by Craig Borlase. Don't get too crazy, kids. He uses the term "naked" to mean the stripping away of "our process of hiding our true selves away from each other and from God." So, with that in mind, check out this quotation:
"Forgiveness, honesty, generosity: hardly a particularly glamorous triple cocktail, but what a set of results they sparked. It's the small steps that count, the ability to know, trust and obey God. These are the jewels worth treasuring, the prizes worth chasing. Forget all that stuff about status and success: With God in charge of the destiny, we only need to worry about the direction. So, how about it? Why don't we start by stripping off some of this excess baggage? How about we get naked?"
For today, do you think we, as a Church, really treasure the "jewels" he mentioned? What are the consequences, good and bad, of stripping off the excess baggage and taking the small steps of knowing, trusting and obeying God?
Brent 6:06 AM
Comments:
forgiveness, honesty, generosity -- these require humility and vulnerability...ridding yourself of what others might think if they knew "such and such" about you, stripping off the desire for their approval and moving forward, naked, where everyone is able to see your flaws. it's a very uncomfortable place to be and freeing all at the same time. the beautiful thing is...the freedom is contagious.
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Friday, July 22, 2005
...in Relevant Magazine this morning and came across this insight from Winn Collier of Clemson, S.C. His study was on Genesis:
"God intended His image-bearers to speak more of His reality into existence. We were to learn, to enjoy, to taste, to experience. We were to make music and paint murals and pass along legends. We were to create. As an act of worship to our Maker, we were to create a God-breathed culture.
So, when the serpent lied, and our progenitors snagged the fateful bait, more than function was lost. Beauty was maimed. Creativity was scarred. And God wants it back. As God redeems a people, He is re-creating an environment, calling us back into our purpose of living as His image-bearers, creating and loving and enjoying."
I was wondering today whether or not we, as followers of Christ, were a people who are 'making music, painting murals, learning, enjoying, tasting & experiencing.' If you think we are, tell us of some examples you've seen where we were living as an act of worship to our Maker. If you think we aren't, what can we, as a church, be doing to change that reality?
Brent 4:38 AM
Thursday, July 21, 2005
I read this is in this month's Relevant Magazine in an article entitled "O Jesus, Who Art Thou?" by Jason Boyett:
"Jesus Christ is about the most accessible personality we North Americans have ever come across. He's an action figure and pious pretty-boy, a dashboard bobblehead and the Savior of the world. He's beloved by Billy Graham and Britney Spears. He's celebrated by Jews and Muslims, Buddhists and Mormons, Klansmen and Black Panthers, gays and straights. He's our homeboy. We have T-shirts to prove it.
Religious scholar Stephen Prothero, in his book American Jesus, described the Son of God as one of the most popular icons the United States has ever known. Thanks to our democratic, do-it-yourself religious culture, 'everyone is free to understand Jesus in his or her own way,' Prothero wrote. 'And Americans have exercised that freedom with wild abandon.'"
So for today, what do you make of this? Have we spent so much time making Jesus "accessible" that we've taken away an understanding of Who He really Is? I mean, how can Billy Graham and Britney Spears be talking about the same person? Has our "wild abandon" hurt us in more ways that we know, or is the author off base somehow?
Brent 4:33 AM
Comments:
I definently agree with the author. Jesus Christ has become more of a "fad" then anything else. We, as Americans, are now more concerned with having t-shirts and bracelets with Jesus on them, than having an actual, personal relationship with Him. We have, consequently lost the art of fearing him, by reducing him to something, or someone rather, that is near the same social level as political heroes and movie stars. It kinda sucks.
i have no clue if that makes sense...
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i have no clue if that makes sense...
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
I read a quote yesterday in a book called "The Gutter" by Craig Gross that I'd appreciate a little insight on:
"As long as I'm breaking bad news, here are some statistics you probably don't want to hear: Of Americans in their mid-twenties to early-thirties, only 28 percent regularly attend church, and that number dwindles when you look at people between eighteen and twenty-four, with only 8 percent regularly attending. Eight percent! A generation ago, half our parents and grandparents were dutiful churchgoers, but now young, single and well-educated adults are the least likely group of people in the United States to attend church. By the year 2010, 100 million people who went to church this Sunday will no longer be going."
Don't get me wrong. I'm not pulling a "sky is falling" thing here. I have some questions about the data here (like, what defines "regular" attendance" and where did you find the data--footnotes were absent--and who compiled the data and for what reason, etc.) but the main point is still the same:
Young people are voting with their feet and failing to make attending "big church" a priority.
So, grown-ups (and I know many of you reading are grown ups, too, because you stop me in hallways to talk about this blog!) and teens alike...give me some feedback. What are some of the reasons you've experienced that would give credibility to the author's assertion? If you disagree (and some of you should/will), talk about where the author's missed a few things.
Brent 4:27 AM
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
...how was Sunday night's Sunday School (since I just got back from vacation)?
Brent 5:21 AM
Comments:
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Friday, July 15, 2005
Here's one last quote from the parenting book I've been reading this week by Paul David Tripp, entitled "Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens":
"There are several areas where you will see a growing accpetance of personal responsibility. Your teenager will take responsibility for maintaining day-to-day communion with the Lord. In the early years of a child's life, Christian parents are almost totally in control of the child's exposure to things of the Lord. At some point the child must internalize these values and take responsibility for his own relationship with God. He must have a desire for the Lord that will cause him to pursue fellowship, Bible teaching, personal worship, and ministry.
He will also take responsibility for maintaining healthy, productive, and God-glorifying relationships with the people in his life. This would include parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, and other authority figures outside the home...
You should also see the teenager growing in a responsible attitude toward work and productivity..."
This is in a section about how parents should be looking for evidence of daily "fruit of maturity" in their teen. I don't think it's really arguable that these are things a parent should look for (and the rest of the chapter has more, too), but my questions for today are two-fold: When does this usually happen and how does it get "set off?"
Whaddya think?
Brent 10:05 PM
Comments:
I have seen the huge growth in maturity from 14 to 16. The things that my 17 yr old is allowed to do and chooses to do are vastly (I wish these things had spell check!) different from when he was 14 or 15. I think an important part of this journey is realizing, as a parent, that you can't control your child's spiritual life, or any other choices they make. You can physically make someone do something, but you can't control someone else's heart and mind. So letting your child know that he must make his own choices and accept the consequences, know that you've done your best as a parent, pray, communicate, love. I had a great experience with this in the past year: My 16 yr old wanted to go to a PG13 comedy that I knew had a lot of crude stuff that I don't like in it. He was ready for me to say "no" and he was ready to argue about it. I said: "You know how I feel about this movie, but you have $ and a car to drive, I can't really say you CAN'T see it, because you are able to" I think he was disappointed in my answer, because now the responsibility was on him. I don't know if he ever saw it, but I feel confident that he has the ability to make a correct choice for himself.
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Thursday, July 14, 2005
Another quote, from Paul David Tripp in "Age of Opportunity":
"The church of Jesus Christ, the Christian family, was never meant to exist as an isolated ghetto in the middle of a darkened and broken culture. We are called by Christ to be participants in the world as His agents of redemption.
So we need to prepare our teenagers. We need to train them in truth and to teach them evaluative and analytical skills. We need to model how to think and interpret life biblically. We need to engage them in the decision making process. We need to teach them to recognize common grounds and to speak to the cries of the culture in language it understands. We need to teach them how to recognize the idols that underlie what the culture produces. We need to teach them to participate in cultural debate, to be people of influence, and to be rebuilders. And we need to teach them to do all this without giving way to self-righteous isolationism or the personal compromise of assimilation."
So, are we an "isolated ghetto" apart from the culture as Christians? What do you see that supports your answer? Is the Church (not just CBC) doing those things in the 2nd paragraph among teenagers in our area? If no, what can be done to change that reality? If yes, what evidence do you see?
Brent 10:10 PM
another quote from the teenage parenting book "Age of Opportunity" by Paul David Tripp:
"It is a sad reality that many children leaving Christian homes do not have a heart for God. They may profess to be Christians, and they are surely not philosophical atheists, but they are worldly in the way they approach life. There is little evidence in their day-to-day living of a hunger for God. These children do not consciously deny God, but other things have replaced his functional rulership in their lives. Love of God has been replaced by love of other things. Even though they are not overtly rebellious, at the heart level there is a greater love for the 'world' than there is for the 'Father.' (1 John 2:15). They have worshiped and served the created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1: 25)."
First of all, have you seen the "sad reality" in those graduating from high school and moving on that the author described?
Second, if so, what factors contribute to the "sad reality?"
Brent 9:24 AM
Comments:
Some of the questions that arise from both of your last posts ...
How are the families as a unit living? Is there a central disconnect between talking about God, and living for God throughout their homes, their friend's homes etc.?
One of the contributors of which we in our home are guilty is that all of life seems to revolve around the kids activities. I think this aspect of American culture imbeds early and deeply the belief that it is all about "me."
Another comment I hear out and about when people talk about their future lives is ... "I want to be rich, a billionaire etc." It is rarely I want to do X, because this is what interests me. And this is fed in the home by parental comments of X career doesn't pay well, or X career pays well.
Just some thoughts.
How are the families as a unit living? Is there a central disconnect between talking about God, and living for God throughout their homes, their friend's homes etc.?
One of the contributors of which we in our home are guilty is that all of life seems to revolve around the kids activities. I think this aspect of American culture imbeds early and deeply the belief that it is all about "me."
Another comment I hear out and about when people talk about their future lives is ... "I want to be rich, a billionaire etc." It is rarely I want to do X, because this is what interests me. And this is fed in the home by parental comments of X career doesn't pay well, or X career pays well.
Just some thoughts.
I agree. I am guilty of this myself, so why would my kids be any different? Is it because our lives are so easy? We are so self sufficient. People of other times and places had to rely on God to get through the day, to eat, find shelter etc......we have all this in abundance, so our only desire is for more worldly stuff, bigger house, more $$.
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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
...I've got something I'd like some feedback on. It's from a book on parenting teenagers entitled "Age of Opportunity" by Paul David Tripp. Here's a quote from chapter 7:
"Many teenagers do not take protective measures against sin ("fleeing youthful lusts") because they believe that they are much stronger and more mature than they actually are. They really do believe that they can play with fire without getting burnt. Even when they do get burnt by their choices and behavior, their inaccurate view of self leads them to conclude that what happened was really the fault of others or the fault of their circumstances. How important it is for us to take every opportunity God gives us to hold the mirror of the Word in front of our teenagers so that they can begin to see themselves as they actually are! So often in the moments when their hearts are being revealed, our own anger and frustration cause us to beat them with words and mete out punishments. We forget to function as God's instruments, and then our anger only leaves our children more defensive, more closed, more self-deceived."
Remember, this was written to parents...
...so...
What do you agree with? Disagree?
Brent 8:22 AM
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Like I've listed in the last two entries...I'm taking questions on general topics, much like Pastor Tim is doing in his summer sermon series. Please, feel free to continue to submit them using the "comments" section, and I'll get to them later in the week. Currently, I have room for three or four more.
Anyway, the first question was from Kathleen, who was asking for some insight into dealing with three relatives, being raised in London, having very different beliefs about Jesus.
Well, Kathleen, your nephews are products of (here comes that word again) "postmodern" thinking. PoMo. That word has been bandied about in America the last few years and the downside of that is the reality that it no longer has meaning. But when Francis Schaeffer was writing about it some 30 years ago, it was very powerful. Unfortunately, the Christian Church around the world failed to heed his insights.
At any rate, the crux of their belief system is that they fail to believe that absolutes exist. So, for example, in basic reasoning in any entry-level philosophy class, the most basic assumption is that "if you have any 'a' it cannot be 'non-a.'" A simply analogy would be, if you have a baseball, it cannot be a softball. You can't accurately call one the other. If you were to say a baseball was a softball, people would've called you 'crazy' or whatever...but the truth remained objective.
In postmodern thought, the lines get blurred a bit. So, for example, if you say that a baseball may not be intrinsically a softball, but they have many similar characteristics. They're both made of horsehide, they both have stictching, they both are round, etc. So, in some senses, a baseball is indeed a softball.
Obviously, I'm using a simple analogy to make a larger point (and yes, I realize the illustration falls short in several areas, but I'm trying to keep it simple). So, in Christian terms, people no longer view God as objectively existing. In other words, in a previous generation of thought, God either exists or he doesn't. Now it's all very blurry, especially in the minds of Europeans...who've been under this manner of thinking for nearly 100 years. Generations are now growing up in an environment that dismisses Christ and His claims and childlike, infantile...or silly...or any number of negatives ranging from disdain to malaise to animosity and everything in between.
So, for reading up on this, I'd recommend a book you can pick up at any bookstore called "Trilogy" by Francis A. Schaeffer. It will give a detailed history of Postmodernism and all three of the works are generally considered definitive. Another more accessible work is called "How Should We Live Then?" by Charles Colson, who draws heavily from Dr. Schaeffer. That's for those who are desiring to know more about how we got to this level of mindset, which is now beginning to affect the Post-Gen-X generations and affecting church thinking (read The Emerging Church by Dan Kimbell for how this plays out in our current culture, which again draws heavily from Dr. Schaeffer.
As for books for the 12 to 17 age range, I'd go with two, depending on where the teens are as far as "scholars" or "relaters." If they'd enjoy a more scholarly defense of the Christian faith, I'd go with "The Case for Christ" by Lee Stroebl. You could give it to them with the idea of "Hey, I know you think your aunt is just a grownup and this is what they do in religion, but there are real intellectual reasons for being a Christian and reading this would actually help you understand me a little bit better." Another excellent read if they're more into stories and such is to go with "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. In actuality, it's a presentation of the Gospel and spiritual life told through stories (a means of communication geared to the new generation, see The Emegring Church for more detail)--just watch out for a silly chapter on tithing late in the book. You could just give them that book as a gift as it's a good read, anyway...but I'd want to interact with them on it afterwards over coffee or tea. That's a very postmodern way to present the Gospel!
Hope that helps a bit, so feel free to comment and ask more questions if it didn't help...also, if you've read any of those books feel free to throw in your two cents in the comments.
And, if you've got any more questions, fire away!
Brent 9:42 AM
Comments:
Thanks, Brent, for the suggestions. I had already given them two Lee Stroebel books, and will pass along Blue Like Jazz when I finish. But it will have to be IM instead of coffee due to the distance. Thank you again. Have a wonderful time inn SFO. And may God bless Jill and Shane in their future together.
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Monday, July 11, 2005
Two days ago I asked you readers to solicit questions in the spirit of Pastor Tim's current sermon series, I'd like for you to use the "comments" section to ask questions that I can be addressing in the next 5 days. Anything.
Anything at all...preferably related to theology, the Bible, student ministry...stuff like that.
Go ahead.
Don't be scared.
No, really. This time I'm serious...otherwise it's gonna be quotes from stuff I'm reading. Seriously. For real.
Brent 4:43 AM
Comments:
I have three nephews 17, 15 and 12 who attend a very highbrow religious oriented school in London. All have decided, much as I did at about the same age, that this (Jesus is the Son of God) whole thing is a great big lie perpetrated by those who would control them. They're very interesting to talk to as they are all very well read both in the bible and in books that support their ideas. Any suggestions on questions to ask them to help plant seeds. I'll be spending the week of the 16-23 rd, with them as well as my other nephs and neices ages 23-12 all who are pretty certain that as fun as their aunt is, she's pretty much crossed over to the "dark" side of adulthood.
You could try to tackle the art of listening to God. Like, how do you know if God is directing your thoughts or if you're just making it up in your head because thats what you want God to say. Did that make sense?
That makes perfect sense to me, I struggle with this very question and I have no doubts about either God or Christ. But what about if you have decided, even if it's just to be contrary, you don't believe?
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Sunday, July 10, 2005
Tonight, be praying for Jude Miniat as he'll be teaching tonight as part of our summer series, "What I Wish I'd Applied When I Was In High School." Jude was involved in our high school student ministry when he was a student at Marcus, been on mission trips to Juarez and Holland, been a student ministry intern, served on Tuesday Night Discipleship's team (doing everything from leading 8th grade guys to mixing sound to leading worship). So, pray for Jude, and Steve-O and I will see you all at 6:30PM!
Brent 4:48 AM
Saturday, July 09, 2005
In the spirit of Pastor Tim's current sermon series, I'd like for you to use the "comments" section to ask questions that I can be addressing in the next 7 days. Anything.
Anything at all...preferably related to theology, the Bible, student ministry...stuff like that.
Go ahead.
Don't be scared.
Brent 2:12 PM
Friday, July 08, 2005
It's a game we all played as kids, I suppose.
You know it. You and a bunch of friends are in a circle and one of them starts a very short story or song lyrics or something by whispering it in the ear of the first person. That person then whispers it to the next person. And so on. And so on, until you get to the end of the circle.
That person is then supposed to repeat the sentence. Invariably, it sounds little like the original sentence, if anything at all. Then everybody laughs.
Well, the same thing can happen with bad theology. One person can say something, then next can pass it on, and before long, a large group of people actually believe the wrong thing.
And how do you know bad theology when you hear it?
The only way is to know the Bible so well, that when anything contrary to that is brought up, you immediately spot the difference.
Good people can be led astray by smooth talkers or people who are out for their own gain. It happened in 2 Timothy...a couple of guys named Hymenaeus and Philetus. The Message says these two were "throwing the believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile saying the resurrection is over and done with."
The doctrine of the resurrection was being toyed with and the hearers were thrown off stride. Their walks were affected. The NASB says that their talks were:
Worldly...
Empty chatter...
Lead to further ungodliness...
And spread like gangrene.
They were teaching things that were lies of the world.
They were talking nonsense.
And other people were failing to be more like God.
And spreading it around to others.
For those of you that don't know, gangrene (or cancer) attacks in a unique manner. It kills tissue slowly, by preventing blood to flow through to it. If treatment is a failure, the only "cure" is removal of the area by surgical means...sometimes through "amputation."
That's why it's so important, like yesterday, to make sure your gardening rows are straight, or to make sure your bricks are laid correctly, or your tent fabric is cut straight. If the things you believe are not godly, you'll become more worldly, believing lies and in effect, talk nonsense...and you'll lead others down the wrong roads.
So, for today, what practical things can you do to avoid worldly and empty chatter when you hear it? What can you do to avoid causing it to spread in your own life? How can you encourage others who have not avoided it or let it spread?
Brent 5:04 AM
Thursday, July 07, 2005
I think it's peculiar how every line of work has it's own jargon...it's own way of using words that people in that line of work understand and those outside of that line of work simply don't "get."
Computer experts have that kind of code-speak down pat. If I call someone to help with their computer you'll hear all sorts of buzz words like "gigs" and "megs" and "lan networks" and stuff like that.
My wife is a photographer and she has her own words, like "aperature" and "f-stops" and "fish-eye." Other photographers get it, but I don't.
Youth ministers even have their own buzzwords, like "emerging" or "contacting" or "building time" or whatever.
In our chosen hobby or job, we can always say a lot of things and nobody really understands the full meaning.
And Paul uses one in this section of Scripture. So, either grab a Bible and turn to the text or scroll down and read yesterday's entry. It's in there, too.
Verse 15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth."
First of all, note the we're COMMANDED (not asked) to give ourselves to God. In fact, we're supposed to be diligent to do so. It means we're to be zealous, to be passionate about doing so.
Then note that we're to seek God's approval in our work. Not man's. Not our own. But God's approval. I've heard the phrase somewhere before, but we're supposed to live our lives for an Unseen Audience of One.
We also need to be pleased with our work. A friend of mine had a sprinkler system installed recently. Then, over the next few months he noticed a series of leaks. He had to dig 5 times to repair the leaks, which sprung from disconnected pipes at the joints. It turns out that the sprinkler company had forgotten to glue the PVC pipe to the joints, so they were simply popping out of place. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be for the owner of the sprinkler company to have to keep coming out and fixing his poor work? He'd rightfully be ashamed. We to be pleased with our offering.
And then the "buzz word." We're to "handle accurately" the Word of God. It means "cutting straight." It was a tent-maker's term for cutting his material straight rather than in unmeasured, uncareful ways. It also is used to describe a builder who lines his bricks in straight rows or a farmer who makes straight rows for his plants. We're to be the same with the Word.
Each one of us.
So, for today...are we diligent with the Word? What are some things that have helped you with your individual study of God's Word that you'd tell us that might hlep us to become accurate handlers? Why is this valuable, so much that Paul is encouraging it?
Brent 6:44 AM
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
If you weren't able to make it to church on Sunday, you might want to check out the main website and give the sermon a listen soon. He started with an example I told him of a (former) student in our ministry.
The illustration (which I got permission from the former student before Pastor Tim told it to the church, so don't worry!) began with a conversation I had with a student a few years ago. This student was obviously growing in their relationship with Christ, serving all over the place and going on mission trips and such...really an ideal student for any youth pastor.
I asked this teen what their personal time in the Word was like.
The student told me that it was virtually non-existent.
I asked "why?"
The student told me that there was great Bible teaching at CBC...that you could get deep teaching from pulpit in Big Church; that you got excellent teaching in any number of Sunday School classes; that you got great insights from Bible study leaders each week.
There didn't seem to be a need since three times per week you were getting incredible Bible teaching, and even when you did study the Bible on your own you didn't get that much out of it. It was really the best use of time to get the teaching from the "professionals" and meditate on that stuff.
But 2 Timothy 2: 14--19 has something decidedly different to say to us.
"Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the heavens. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astry from the truth saying the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having the seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.'"
Read through this a couple of times as we'll be here for the next two or three days...
But for today, think through whether or not you relate to the former student's story. Do you think that attitude is generally true or not true for the average Christian teenager today? If so, what solutions can you offer that you got from the passage above? If not, what examples could you give to support your belief?
Brent 4:54 AM
Comments:
Where I went to church as a teen the teaching from the pulpit was pretty great. But we were not encouraged to read or study on our own. The teaching of the world was everywhere. My belief was inexorably eroded simply because there was no foundation. I too tried to read the bible in college and got absolutely nothing out of it. Back then I thought to approach the bible in much the same manner I approach literature. But I have learned now that if I drink a little, but drink deeply from the Bible and then spend the rest of the day savoring it, the precepts are made more clear.
But ultimately, is this teen's response unique to an age group, or is it indicative of an age?
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But ultimately, is this teen's response unique to an age group, or is it indicative of an age?
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
I saw my friend Matt the other day. He spent the first six-weeks of his summer working at a camp. Said that his mentors at camp were spending lots of time in the Sermon on the Mount.
You know, from Matthew 5:
"And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And, opening His mouth, He began to teach them, saying,
'Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for their is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.
You are the salt of the eart; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.'"
Most of you know that I usually come back to this passage. In fact, I usually come back to these three chapters in my study. The reality is that I think they're crucial to anyone who walks with Christ.
See, in our reading of this, who could argue with the platitidues? Who is against things like gentleness and righteousness and peace? It's like a politician who is for lower taxes and education, right?
Not right, actually.
See, this was anything but a polite little diatribe. Nope...these were fighting words to the hearers as the listening audience would've been expecting something entirely different. They were rogues. Looking for the Messiah to come and help them overthrow the occupying Roman government and take back Israel. Nope, these were people who were looking for a political revolution.
And Jesus blessed all the wrong people.
He talked about a kingdom in which the true revolution was found in people's hearts nad minds. That a life with God flips your inner world upside-down and then affects those around you. Hardly the saber-rattling these ruffians wanted to hear.
And, hardly what we want to hear...if we're honest.
At this time of year the American revolutionaries get a lot of publicity. We see the paintings, we maybe even read the Declaration of Independence. We admire the rabble-rousers like Jefferson, Hancock, Adams, et al. But we lose a bit of sight on the reality that it was the inner beliefs that these leaders held that they wrote pushed them towards forming their own nation. They wrote them down. It was their "Sermon on the Mount."
And we gloss over the reality that those words were the first salvo in a war. The British army and the newly-formed American militia would go at it over those words.
But Jesus said that our war will initially be fought in our hearts and minds. The inner revolution will have outward results.
I can never say that enough, or point you to this section of Scripture often enough. Thanks, Matt, for reminding me of that by telling me how much your summer study was encouraging you.
So, for today, what encourages you about this section of His revolutionary speech?
Brent 4:31 AM
Comments:
Brent, I have a question about our student ministry, as Christians, we are to be like Christ and stand out and be different from the world, and our student ministry is far from that! I walk into youth group and there is loud rock music playing, the girls are dressed very immodestly, and I feel like I am at a school get together where the school dress code no-longer applies! People are left out of activities because they are unable to go to after church and week-day activities, and end up surrounded by people that they don't know.
Why don't you talk to our youth group about their irreverent behavior?
Also, to keep people from being left out, we could have small group disscussions about the lesson DURING CHURCH like we did at Tuesday Night Discipleship. By doing this, we would get to know each other, and reinforce and more thouroughly understand the lesson.
I know that we would have time to do so if we cut back on the movie/music video clips and jokes and stories that have nothing to do with the lesson.
Please answer ASAP.
-In Christ
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Why don't you talk to our youth group about their irreverent behavior?
Also, to keep people from being left out, we could have small group disscussions about the lesson DURING CHURCH like we did at Tuesday Night Discipleship. By doing this, we would get to know each other, and reinforce and more thouroughly understand the lesson.
I know that we would have time to do so if we cut back on the movie/music video clips and jokes and stories that have nothing to do with the lesson.
Please answer ASAP.
-In Christ
Monday, July 04, 2005
Galatians 5: 1 & 13.
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery...
...For you were called to freedom bretheren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Brent 5:54 AM
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Don't forget that, in honor of the July 4 holiday weekend, we WILL NOT be having the 6:30PM Sunday School class tonight. We hope you'll take this time and get together with family and/or friends...so obviously, there's nothing to really "prepare" for tonight, unless you're preparing for what you're going to do with your family and/or friends.
Brent 4:43 AM
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Sometimes, just reading The Message makes things really clear. Check out the remainder of Psalm 19:
"There's more: God warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise, how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest of My Altar."
I'm not sure I can add anything to that today...
Brent 7:51 AM
Friday, July 01, 2005
I had never been that angry in one moment before.
I don't think I've ever been that mad in one moment since.
I'm not very interested in giving you all the details of my sin. Suffice to say that my emotions had been hurt deeply by my high school girlfriend, and a three-month process of breaking-up my first semester at university had all come to a head in one night. I was in the right. Really. An injustice had been done to me. She would've...and still would, I think...tell you the same thing.
But it didn't change things. The relationship was unquestionably over.
Technically, I broke up with her. Realistically, she'd made other choices long before that. The bottom line was still the same: It was over, and I was livid about it.
On that night, I walked back to my fraternity house which was about a mile from where the break-up took place. I guess over that 15 minutes or so I'd worked myself into a pretty good lather...didn't control my thoughts and those thoughts affected my emotions. My friends hadn't really seen me like that...in many ways I was pretty laid-back in those days...and I was shaking I was so upset. Silent, shaking, and in a rage. A real, live rage.
When I walked into the house, my best friends picked up what was going on and I told them the story. They offered all sorts of advice, too, to try to calm me down.
They offered alchohol. Just to take the edge off.
They offered drugs. Just to mellow out.
They offered ideas involving "using" some other girl. Just to vent my anger.
They offered to go to a movie. Just to get my mind off it.
They offered to go bowling. Just to take out some frustrations.
They offered to leave me alone. Just so I could collect my thoughts.
They tried.
They gave me the best they knew how to give me.
They really were good friends, and they cared about me and my life.
They were simply misguided.
Especially when you look at Psalm 19: 7--10, "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb."
See, look at all the things words of God are, and the result of that:
It's perfect. It's complete. The result is that our very souls can be restored. That means fixed when it's broken.
It's sure. It's clear...understandable. It makes "simple" people wise.
The precepts are "right." The "rules" show us the way to go...instead of the "wrong" way. This makes our "heart rejoice." They make us happy ultimately...showing us true joy.
They are pure. Unspoiled by anything. They help us to see things as they really are.
They are clean...they don't have any "dirt" in them...and they are timeless. Lasting forever. They'll never go away. Ever.
They are true. Accurate. Never off, like this clock I have that re-sets itself every night with the offical clocks of the United States by honing in on some radar tower in Colorado.
They are more desirable than gold.
At least, I wish they were. Sometimes, I don't really desire reading them.
But back to my point. My friends simply didn't have that kind of reasoning in their radar. They fell back on what had given them some relief in the past. They went with their experiences rather than the timeless truths of the universe. They simply didn't know them or how to get them.
I know you're saying I should've had some different friends. Friends that would've encouraged me. I had Bible study friends, and I called our leader that night...and he knew enough to point me to the Word and prayer.
Which is what I did.
I wish I could say that it "cured" me instantly and I was at peace, going the right way, that my heart was rejoicing, and all that jazz.
But it wasn't true. Those things did develop over time, though. No where in that list does it say that the words and ways of the Lord make for instant-fixes.
But the words and ways of the Lord are, in the words of The Message, "better than a diamond...better than a diamond set between emeralds." Even if it takes time. The "rewards" are well worth it.
So, for today, can you think of a time when you began to lean on Him and His Word? What long-term perspective can you tell us about that gives support for all these things the psalm tells us are true?
Brent 5:02 AM