Really?

A little Friday humor...from the ATL.

Some Good Reading

I'm too tired to write much tonight, so I'll share some good reading with you.

John Piper has written a compelling article entitled "The Morning I Heard the Voice of God." I read it with a great deal of discomfort. That was convicting! But I finished it in deep worship of God.

Anthony Carter shares his recent talk at a men's retreat calling them to have "a bigger, better, more biblical picture of God."

Van Edwards gives us a glimpse into his personal worship of God in reading through Exodus.

Dan Barber, a friend of mine studying at Covenant Theological Seminary, has done his homework in dealing with the recent "discovery" of Jesus' tomb. Click here to read it. Dr. Steve Cowan of the Apologetics Resource Center has also written on this subject.

Steve Camp has written a two-part series (so far) entitled "There is none like Him: recovering a high view and reverence of God." Part 1 | Part 2

J.W. Hendryx has written "Jesus Christ: The Interpretive Key to the Scripture."

Finally, Glenn Lucke shares his tribute to Dustin Salter, a young RUF pastor who recently died. I did not know Dustin but I know several people who knew him and whose lives have been impacted by his ministry.

A Little Dose of Napoleon Will Cure Any Thursday

There are some days you just need some Napoleon. I get a little bit every day, thanks to a handy desk calendar. I thought I should share some favorites:

There’s a lot more where this came from if you go to the dance with me. –Yours Truly, Napoleon Dynamite

So, uh, how does the dealio sound to you? –Uncle Rico

Do you think I got where I am today because I dress like Peter Pan here? –Rex

You know, like numchuck skills, bow-hunting skills, computer hacking skills. Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills. –Napoleon

Pedro: Like, what are my skills?
Napoleon: Well, you have a sweet bike…and you’re really good at hookin’ up with chicks. Plus you’re, like, the only guy at school who has a mustache.
Pedro: That’s true.

Uncle Rico: You ever come across anything like time travel?
Kip: Easy. I’ve already looked into it for myself.
Uncle Rico: Right on. Right on.

Pedro: If I win, you can be my secretary or something.
Napoleon: Sweet! Plus I could be your bodyguard, too. Or, like, Secret Service captain or…whatever.

She says she doesn’t want you here when she gets back because you’ve been ruining everybody’s lives and eatin’ all our steak! –Napoleon

Napoleon: How long did it take you to grow that mustache?
Pedro: A couple of days.
Napoleon: I wish I could grow one. Are you gonna eat your tots?

Grandma: How was school?
Napoleon: The worst day of my life. What do you think?

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Literal or Allegorical?

After writing a piece (again, not meant to be exhaustive or systematic, just anecdotal) on why I hold to Covenant Theology, a good friend of mine (Van Edwards) commented, “So when I read this, should I interpret it as a literal allegory or allegorically literal?” I’m sure it was tongue-in-cheek. But it prompted me in just as much fun to write a little prod back. However, I thought I’d write a bit more, mostly for myself, but if it can help to carry a dialogue along with anyone else, then good!
I think what Van is getting at in his comment is, if I consent that some Scripture should be understood allegorically, then how do I know what Scripture that is, and what Scripture that is not. However, my jab back to him and my thought now is, “Isn’t that a fair question for the Dispensationalist as well?” First, I have not found a Covenant Theologian (in my circles…namely, conservative) that would not hold to the view that Scripture should be interpreted literally where possible. That is to say, unless there is a reason to interpret it non-literally, then it should be understood literally. The Dispensationalists that I’ve been under and those whose books I’ve read say the same thing. The difference between both groups is what Scripture is to be understood literally.

From my Covenantal viewpoint, I come to prophecy not for a detailed roadmap, but for hope (Isa. 40:1; Luke 21:28; 1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11). When I consider many of the prophecies in the Old Testament that speak to the coming Messiah, I see some details revealed (that were literally fulfilled, although the readers didn’t get it any more than Jesus’ contemporaries…even after He pointed them out) that point to how Jesus came, lived and died. However, most of the prophecy was speaking to give God’s people hope, and to point them to the object of their faith. If we see through a glass dimly, they were looking through a really, really dim glass. We look back at OT prophecy about the Messiah, and say, “It’s so clear!” Now when we consider the return of Christ, we are in their shoes. But we don’t have a detailed roadmap (in my opinion). Rather we have an overview of the overall movement.

Other than prophecy, we (Covenant Theologians) and Dispensationalists share much in common. This is why our libraries look so similar and we often attend the same conferences. It really comes down to how we approach prophetical Scripture, and more specifically who is/are God’s people(s) and what will the end look like. Dispensationalists like to say it is hermeneutics. They accuse Covenantal folks of interpreting Scripture allegorically. But again, find a conservative CT who treats any/all Scripture allegorically. I haven’t found one. Rather, I’ve found only those who come to certain types of Biblical writing (literary types) with allegorical glasses (such as poetry).

So is it hermeneutics or the system of theology that triumphs the Dispensational cause? The ones who I’ve talked with over the years argued they, as Dispensationalists, don’t teach theology. They teach Scripture. And they do so literally. Consistently literally. But this never seemed right to me. First, what bothered me about this was logic. As I grew older I came to realize that no one comes to anything they study without predispositions toward a system of understanding. This same argument is one we use for those trying to prove evolution. They come to every “scientific” study they conduct with a predisposition toward their system of “evolutionism.” We all do this. The Dispensationalist argues that his system is simply the Bible, and the literal interpretation of that. Okay then, that’s your system. But then can your system triumph the actual meaning of the text? I say, from logic alone, “yes!” For example, when Christ said at the Last Supper, “This is my body,” was it literally body or literally bread? Now I’m not trying to stir up a debate here of Lutheran type. My point is, what did Christ literally mean and what does it literally mean for us? Most Dispensationalists say communion (the Lord’s Supper) is a memorial. It’s not literally Christ’s flesh. To use a prophetic example, what about Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones? What about when Jeremiah said he would remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh? (that was Jeremiah wasn’t it…it’s getting late!) Even Darby stated that John 14:18 spoke of an invisible coming of the Holy Spirit (not visible or “literal”).

Recently, I listened to a speech by John MacArthur (entitled, “Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is a Pre-Millennialist”). In this talk, he laid out the premise that if your hermeneutic is correct, they you’ll get Israel right, and if you get
Israel right then you’ll get eschatology right (can’t remember if that is exact, or even the right order, but it’s close I believe). But he spoke this in defense of premillennialism. I know several Covenantal guys who are historical premillennialists. How did they get to the “right” conclusion with the wrong hermeneutic (I’m assuming he’d consider historic premillennialism as correct because he didn’t differentiate between Dispensational Premillennialism and Historic)? If both CT and Disp. folks can come to the same eschatology, then it’s not their getting
Israel “right” or their hermeneutic. Rather, each system allows one to come to premillennialism. This means that the two hermeneutics aren’t the driving force but rather the theological systems themselves. Dispensationalism does not allow one to come to Amillennialism (which he was critiquing). Covenant Theology allows one to come to any of the three major views. So, I would argue, Dispensationalism drives one to both a separate view of
Israel and the Church and to Dispensational Premillennialism. I haven’t met or read a Dispensationalist who will concede this, but I am convinced of it both from their writing and from my own experience.
The second issue that has bothered me about the Dispensationalists’ claim to interpret Scripture consistently literally (the first was logic) is from Scripture itself. As I have pointed out above, there are a number of passages that Dispensationalists do not interpret literally. I will cite only one (since I have pointed out others above and even more are readily available in writings by scholars who merit more attention than my own ramblings). I refer to Psalm 22. In this psalm, there are portions that were literally fulfilled. Christ did cry out, “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Soldiers did cast lots for his clothing. But Christ is not a worm (v. 6), nor did bulls surround him (v. 12), nor dogs (v. 16), nor was He afraid of the mouth of an actual lion (v. 21). My point here is that the audience of that day would not have known what portion of that prophetic psalm was to be viewed literally and what was to be viewed allegorically. A point was simply that the Messiah would suffer and die. His death would be one in innocence. This passage doesn’t give a detailed roadmap (although we understand the details in hindsight, but those that were literally fulfilled and those that were allegorical).

So while the Dispensationalist is driven by a theological system of God working inconsistently through history, Covenant Theologians are driven by a system of one single unified movement of God unfolded in history. It is the latter that I hold to. I admit I am no less objective (nor more) than the Dispensationalist when it comes to hermeneutics. Rather, we are both influenced and sometimes driven by our theological system. And so to answer my friend Van, interpret what I am saying literally, unless you deem that it must be taken allegorically! :-)

Why Covenant Theology?

I’ve recently been questioned as to how I came to hold to Covenant Theology. It’s a good question for me to try and answer. I didn’t grow up in a Covenantal context. Rather, I grew up in a Dispensational Bible church. In that church I was given a healthy, weekly dose of biblical exposition. It was usually morning and evening, and often in Sunday School. I don’t remember learning the system of Dispensationalism, but I certainly heard from it consistently.

When I left home to join the Navy, my father gave me a copy of J.I. Packer’s Knowing God. I didn’t enjoy reading much, and really had no love for theology. But because of the stresses of leaving home and having my faith questioned regularly by others, I dove in head first into this book. There were some hard truths within those pages. I didn’t know it was written from a Covenantal perspective. I simply recognized the truths within the book that I had been taught from Scripture all my life. I spent nearly a year reading it, often rereading pages until I understood them.

Soon after that, I got plugged into a PCA church in Hawaii where I was stationed. There I began to interact with Reformed theology, from a Covenantal perspective. I didn’t recognize so much the hermeneutical system as I did the truths within Reformed theology. I soon was able to wholeheartedly agree with Calvinism and Reformed theology. But I still wrestled with the system of hermeneutics (although I couldn’t necessarily articulate it). Dispensational thought was engrained within me, even though I didn’t know it. So when it came to eschatology and my view of the Church, I still had Dispensational leanings.

After leaving the Navy I served in a Southern Baptist church. There, I continued to study authors like R.C. Sproul, J.I. Packer, and other Reformed guys. I really had to defend being Reformed and that caused me to be more convinced of my beliefs. But Dispensational thoughts were still there.

From there, I returned to serve in the church I grew up in. I was Associate Pastor there for three years. It was during this time that I really began to look at hermeneutical systems. As I considered Dispensationalism, and I was certainly being encouraged to adopt this system, I became more and more frustrated. I liked many things about it, such as the literal approach to Scripture and the seemingly convincing eschatology. This was of course due to the fact that I was taught there that Covenant Theology treated Scripture allegorically and that it was nearly heretical to consider the Church as the fulfillment of Old Testament Israel. But the system itself still did not gel for me. One of the significant factors was the fact that many, if not most, of the authors I respected (and even those within this church respected) came from a Covenantal perspective. Because I wasn’t convinced of Dispensationalism, I felt compelled to study Covenant Theology more deeply.

I went from that church to Birmingham Theological Seminary where I pursued my Master of Divinity. It was during these years that I saw clearly several things about Covenant Theology. First, the Covenantal view of one God, with one people, and one means of salvation seemed consistent not only with Scripture in particular but seemed more consistent to God’s very nature. Although I struggled to articulate it, it seemed strange that God would have two people. This distinction, as engrained as it was in my head from birth, seemed inconsistent as I read not only the New Testament, but also as I studied the Old Testament. The way I began to understand it, the nation of Israel was the infancy of God’s revelation of His people, just as the Law had been given as a tutor to this infant people. As Christ came and fulfilled all that the Old Testament prophesied, so the expansion of His people went from infant Israel, to the adult Church. It is one and the same people. Covenant Theology teaches not that the Church replaces Israel, but that the Church is the further revelation of God’s people. Secondly, I learned that the difference between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism wasn’t a literal hermeneutic versus an allegorical one, but rather what each system considers literal. Covenant Theology uses a literal hermeneutic. It treats Scripture that is to be understood literally, as literal. The difference is that Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism disagree over those portions which are to be understood allegorically. Certainly, Dispensationalists don’t treat every word of Scripture literally. They simply disagree with us as to what is to be understood literally and what is allegorical.

I’m not writing this to be an exhaustive treatise on Covenant Theology. It’s simply my story. And at this point of that story, Covenant Theology just makes sense to me. This doesn’t mean that I have it all sorted out. I don’t. Although I’m Covenantal, I’m still quite sympathetic to Historical Premillennialism, for example. I wouldn’t say that I hold to this view of eschatology, but I’m still open to it. And that is quite acceptable in my denomination, the PCA. In fact, a number of pastors and professors I have set under hold to Historical Premillennialism. I’m still studying Amillennialism, however, as well.

So, I can clearly say at this point that I am Reformed, a Calvinist, and that I hold to Covenant Theology. Each of these perspectives has caused my love and faith in God to grow to a deeper level, and I have a stronger desire to see His glory shine as a result. And so, until I am convinced from Scripture otherwise, I’ll stand here. To read a more "scholarly" (and I use that term very lightly) approach to Covenant Theology versus Dispensationalism, I have posted it here in three parts: Part I, Part II, and Part III.

The Democratic Plan

I Hate Death

I hate everything about death. It's ugly. I don't know of a better word. At least that's my earthly, selfish perspective. I know I must take these thoughts captive. In reality, death is a passing from this life to real life. At least it is for the believer. But from where I sit, death brings grief. Sure, it's not grief without hope, but it's grief nonetheless.

Last night my great Aunt Verna died in her sleep. I'm thankful that she died this way, but I hate that she died. She's gone. And for our family, she is the last of a generation on my mom's side to die. I feel like we've lost touch with that generation. My kids will never know about my memories, except for the stories I tell. They will never know sitting in her kitchen while she cooked tapioca on the stove. They won't know how she made sun tea or the little boxes of cereal she always had to offer us for breakfast. They won't know sitting beside her at her organ or hearing about her travels with Uncle Joe. They won't know the warmth of her home. Those days are gone.

The same is true with both of my grandparents on my mom's side. In the past five years both grandparents and both Uncle Joe and Aunt Verna have died. It's been a time of grief for us.

I'm thankful for the hope we have that each of them put their faith in Christ alone as their savior. We grieve with this hope in mind. But we still grieve. It's especially hard for mom as Aunt Verna was like a second mom to her. She and Uncle Joe were like grandparents to us. I thought this was normal growing up. I thought everyone had a "Uncle Joe & Aunt Verna." But we had something special, and I was too old before I really recognized this. So for me there are regrets. I'm thankful for the times I had with them, but I wish I had treasure them more. The visits in the summer, the rides on the tandem bike, flying kites, birthday cards and visits when they came to our house.

Death is a part of life. It has become more a part of my life in recent years. In the past two weeks alone my great Aunt died, my friend lost his good friend Dustin (who left a wife and three young children), my sister and brother-in-law's friends lost their three-year-old daughter in her sleep, another friend of mine lost his son who was killed by a drunk driver. The separation that results causes a break in life. It changes life. But in as much as it focuses my thoughts on the effect of sin in this world, it ultimately points me to Christ and what He did to conquer death. Death's sting is gone. It still stings, but the eternal sting is removed. The sting is only temporary. As a believer I know there will be a reuniting. This is not the end.

Still I hate what death does to us. It divides us. It scares us. It hurts us. But still, in the midst of all of this, it points us to our dependence on Christ. Even when we hurt, we are strengthened by Christ's presence with us here. How terrible it would be to not know His presence in this grief. Emptyness would prevail.

Emptyness does not prevail though, for me. Not because of any good thought or act of mine. Emptyness is there because I'm human. I can no longer talk with Aunt Verna, Uncle Joe, my grandparents or Aunt Tommae. They're all gone. A piece of my life is gone. But my life is not emptied because of their death. The holes they left are ministered to by the grace of Christ through His Spirit.

So when I see an organ, a box of tapioca or a miniature box of cereal, an owl, or even a woven purse I will think of Aunt Verna. I will thank God for the life she lived in faith, for the ways she gave, for the love she shared. But thanks to God she now lives to the fullest with her faith now made complete, she has now been given everything she needs and she now shares the greatest love with her Heavenly Father completely. Aunt Verna, because of your faith in Christ, enjoy your reward!

Humility and a Superfreak

Anthony Carter has voiced some questions on humility around some thoughts on the recent performance of rapper Curtis "Voice" Allen at Bethlehem Baptist Church (see "Rapper in the Pulpit"). The question is a good one, namely, can a person say they are being humble and still be humble? It reminds me of statements like "How to be humble like me" and "Humility: And how I achieved it." All joking aside, I think Voice is simply expressing his desire to respond to recent criticism in humility. I'll let God sort it out. But I will say that humility is a difficult subject to talk about in personal terms. We can talk about our struggle to be humble (that sounds humble), and we can talk about humility in non-personal terms (Christians should be humble), but to say anything in personal terms about one's own humility begins to sound...well, a bit un-humble. So, in my own humble opinion, we should read and talk with humility about others discussing their own humility.

My pastor is preaching through a series about humility and during the benediction one Sunday he inferred something to the effect of taking pride in your humility. That's a tough one to get your hands around. I understood what he was saying, or trying to say. But it's difficult to encourage people to embrace humility. As humans, when we embrace anything that personally characterizes us we walk a fine line between humility and pride. And so I think it might be best to say "be humble, but in your humility keep your eyes fixed on Jesus in dependence." Humility and independence don't go together. So all that to say, I think Voice can talk about his reaction to criticism as being humble as long as he does so pointing to Christ's enablement.

If you've never heard funk music put to bluegrass, then you need to hear Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs and John Anderson do Superfreak:

Ramblings

If you haven't given a nod to your favorite Republican candidate, today is the last day to do so. Just visit GOP Nation. You don't have to register, just click "Fred Thompson" and hit submit. :-)

And here's another opportunity to vote for Fred Thompson.

My son has been bugging me to read a book to him for the past two nights. Last night, I finally read Skippyjon Jones to him. It's about a cat that thinks he's a chihuahua and I believe it's the funniest childrens' book I've read.

Steve Camp has written an interesting article about Al Mohler's recent comments regarding sin and genetics.

If only this story were true!

I think it'd be fun to wear this t-shirt.

A Real Leprechaun Trap

In honor of St. Patrick's Day!

Watching Missions

One of the joys of my job is that I regularly have an up-close-and-personal view of missions. This past week has been especially up-close. The week started with what we call our Vision Retreat. This is an event we host several times a year where people seriously interested in missions come for 2 1/2 days and hear about our agency and most importantly from missionaries themselves. I always enjoy this time because I'm encouraged by those seeking God's direction as they pursue missions. And I'm especially encouraged as I listen to various missionaries tell their story. This time I listened to folks serving in the Philippines, England, Africa, Mexico and Czech Republic.

As the week progressed I got to meet a group who were simultaneously involved in a week of orientation as they prepare to go to the field. There were folks heading to places all over the world. It's hard to be discouraged when you see God working to spread His Kingdom.

Today I enjoyed several hours with a local church, assisting them in evaluating and developing their local missions ministry. So I've felt close to all aspects this week, those going, those there, and those sending.

As I opened our time this morning, I reminded this particular missions committee of the Great Commission in the Scriptures. Now when you ask most folks where we see missions in the Scriptures, they typically say things like Matthew 28 and Acts 1 (and several other passages in Acts). They're right. But it's not the only time, or the first time we see God's plan to spread His fame throughout the world, and save men and women from all nations, tribes and tongues.

After Christ's resurrection and before He ascended, Luke gives un an account of a particular meal Jesus had with His disciples that gives us a bigger picture of missions. In Luke 24:44-47 we read,

44Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  (English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)

First we see Him point to "everything written about me." The disciples probably didn't get half of it at the time (I'm speculating of course), but we've certainly had more light shed on this throughout the New Testament. But then He opened their minds. I think this was something supernatural. They'd heard Christ's words since His public ministry began, but as we see in the narratives, they seemed to understand very little (even when Peter answered Christ's question that He was the Messiah, Christ pointed out that he had not come up with the answer on his own but had been shown by God). But here the Bible says their minds were opened. Their minds were opened to the Scriptures. What were the Scriptures at that time? Our Old Testament. And what does He say that the Scriptures say? That in the Old Testament we see Christ would suffer and be raised from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. I wonder if He took them to Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53 or other places in the Old Testament?

Maybe he took them to Exodus 19:5-6. "5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.) Sounds familiar, right? You mostly likely recall where this passage is quoted in the New Testatent in 1 Peter 2:9 . Peter makes a clear connection between the people of God in the Old Testament and the people of God in the New Testament (that they are one in the same). I'm not sure what Dispensationalists do with this, but it sounds pretty literal to me to understand this connection from this passage alone. But John also uses the phrase "kingdom of priests" in Revelation 1:6 in talking to the Church. But I think it's even clearer in Revelation 5:9-10 where John connects "men from all nations, tribes, and tongues" to this phrase "kingdom of priests." So while through Israel we see the infant stages of missions as we understand it today, it was no less an essential part of God's heart and plan to elect and save men and women from all nations.

While eating that meal, maybe Jesus took them Psalm 22:27-28, or Psalm 67:1-5. Maybe He taught them the story of Jonah where God showed His compassion on a Gentile nation (Jonah 4:11). Or maybe they looked at Isaiah 34:1 or 49:6 where it is written,

6he says:
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
   to raise up the tribes of Jacob
   and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
   that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)

Here we see Israel would come back from exile to be made (once again) a light for the nations. Certainly we understand that they were to be a good example. But it meant more than some understand it, and the way my mom used that phrase as we'd leave for school in the mornings. God's people were to be missionaries. God was moving (and we see this progression beginning in the Garden) through history "that my salvation may reach the end of the earth." In it's infancy, this movement started in Israel, but the movement was the same movement we are a part of today. Missions is a call to go to all nations with the good news that Jesus is Messiah and has come and paid our ransom. It's a call to all nations (including Israel), so that we, God's people, may be a holy nation of royal priests. This is missions. As Peter says, that we may offer up spiritual sacrifices (not real ones as Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, was once and for all). We're priests offering up spiritual sacrifices. We're doing this as a light to the nations, that God's salvation may reach to the end of the earth. We're to go out and call people to faith. It's not a different faith than the OT. It's the same faith. We've got more knowledge to join with that faith (thanks to further revelation in Scripture). But just like Abraham who believed and it was credited to him as righteosness, all who believe are his children. See Galatians 3:6-8. We don't go to nations and say, "believe" but to Israel (or is it Jews, or it Israelis, I'm not sure) and say, "you're different because of your DNA." But those who believe are children of Abraham. And then, in that passage in Galatians, Paul ties together everything, "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'" So there it is, back in Genesis 12:1-3, we see the Gospel and the announcement of missions. God's plan has been and will always be one people, one Savior, one way of salvation.

As I continue through life and my study of Scripture, it's continually overwhelming to me to see God's grace permeate in not only His love for His people, but His saving us. The consistency of His character (He is immutable) echoes througout history and the story of redemption. His unchanging, convenantal love amazes me!

God is surprisingly silent for being so sovereign

I've enjoyed dialoguing and developing a friendship with a missionary in Australia. I met Steve and his wife in November while they were in the States. Over the past year, Steve and I have exchanged thoughts and how the Lord is working in our lives. I recently expressed my reaction to Philip Yancey's article to Steve and how the Lord is teaching and showing me more of His grace. Steve's reply struck me, especially the line about God's sovereignty...like a ton of bricks. He wrote, "Life and the human heart are much more messy than the neat little world of correct answers we lay hold of in manuals of doctrine and how to’s of the Christian Life.  There is an ineffability that lays bare all our self-made safe havens.  Faith is more about mystery that formulas.  God is surprisingly silent for being so sovereign.  That’s one of the things about Job that is so encouraging.  God does not speak until the right moment.  Talking to God, knowing he hangs on every word- and without our knowing it He is working in some ineffable way.  Not knowing the answers and living in the in-between spaces of our clarity and orthodoxy is a challenge, but God is even in the in between spaces.  Berkhoff would probably have something orthodox to say about that, but even old Louise knew God was also outside the box."

I'm learning that God is at work, even in the silence.

Rapper in the Pulpit

Some time back I heard about John Piper bringing a Reformed rapper to "perform" during a Sunday morning service at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Thanks to my friend Van, I enjoyed viewing the video tonight and thought I'd put it here to share.

I'm not surprised that there has been an outcry over this. The church in America is such a great example of our lack of understanding as Christians. We have no problem accepting cultural adaptations of worship and using gifts in a missiological fashion, and even within some cultures in America (e.g. Southern gospel). But our racisim permeates our judgments. What a shame. I found the rap moving to say the least. See what you think...

I Like Fred

Okay, so I already made this clear a few days ago. But now I like Fred even more. After actually reading some of the transcript from his appearance on Fox News Sunday, I find that no one can legitimately level the title "moderate" at this guy. I so appreciate the fact that this guy is a straight-shooter, a truth-teller. If you didn't see it or haven't read the transcript, click here and read it now.

On another note, I installed Vista on one of my computers today. So far it's working (I'm typing on it now). I can notice a bit of a slow down, but I do like the interface. I think the improvements are worth it, but I'd still recommend waiting for more fixes to come out. I got this one free, otherwise I would have waited. I'm still not pleased with Outlook '07. The rest of the Office '07 suite seems great, but Outlook is running really slow. It seems it's doing a little better under Vista than it was under XP though.

Life Is Not A Problem To Be Solved

I got my March issue of Christianity Today today. It was late because it had been damaged in the mail and the cover was torn off. I was glad because where the front cover had been taped on (it had my address on it so I guess it was necessary) the back cover was missing. And so my attention was drawn to an article by Philip Yancey called "Not What It Seems." The highlighted quote was, "For all its faults and failures, the church offers a place to bring wounds and to seek meaning." That was enough to get me to read the article immediately (or at least as soon as I could after I got the girls down for their naps). I've always enjoyed reading Yancey. His perspective seems fresh and just enough unorthodox at times to be thought-provoking. He makes some interesting observations about the church in America. It's encouraging. But my favorite quote from the article is the last 2 sentences: "From such souls, I learn that life is not a problem to be solved buy a mystery to be lived. Prayer offers no ironclad guarantees, just the certain promise that we need not live that mystery alone." Most of my life I lived as if life were a problem to be solved. I think as modern believers we are more likely to do this because we have the completed canon. We come at life as if all the answers have been given to us in Scripture. God never promised all the answers. Can you imagine how much of a mystery life was to the OT saints, or even the NT saints as the fulfillment of OT prophecies came in the flesh. So even though we have more light shining on life, we still live a mystery. As he implies in his article, how do you solve the death of a child, a tornado that kills so many, 9/11, or even a talented artist and Christian who gets lymphoma?

Talented artist and Christian Wes King has lymphoma and death seems on the horizon. He is getting over chemo at home now, but the chemo was rough and nearly killed him. I just learned about this today. I just don't have the time to keep up with CCM much any more. So although this occurred a year ago, I just heard about it on the radio today. Wes King is an artist I've not only enjoyed as a phenomenal musician, but especially as a theologian. Plus, I took my wife to a King, Keaggy, and Dente concert on our first date. So there's some sentimentalism there too. It was heart-breaking to hear the news. I then learned from his website that the medical bills had really mounted up and that a tribute album had been put together to help Wes and his wife and three kids. The album has some of my favorite artists on it (like The Kry, Phil Keaggy, Derek Webb, and Downhere). So I'm putting it on my short list of things I really want. Without ever hearing it I encourage you to buy it if for no other reason than to help the Kings. But from the reviews, it sounds like it's got some great music on it.

A Little Politicalness

Here's a shirt I'd really like. I'd kind of like to wear this one to work some days. Or maybe even this one.

Okay, so what I'd really like to say is that I've got my eye on Fred Thompson. I've said for years that I'd like to see him run for president. I thought all hope was gone when he left the Senate after 8 good years of service. But the rumors are back, I just discovered today when I Googled (i.e. use "The Google") his name. Now before you true conservatives get really upset with me and use the "moderate" word on me, let me explain a bit. I know Fred Thompson isn't a James-Dobson-Religious-Right-America-is-the-Promised-Land kind of candidate. But he is a conservative (which is my primary concern), and conservatives will deliver less government and protect our freedoms (not to mention avoiding socialism). However, in addition to his conservatism, he has a great presence and like-ability. So he could get our votes as well as all of the non-thinkers who are just looking to feel good about voting for someone they like to see on TV. If you've ever seen Fred in any of his movies or on Law & Order, you know what I'm talking about. Yes, that's right, Fred is the other conservative actor in America. I don't remember the other one's name. (wait, is it Chuck Norris?)

Some might still ask why I'd support a divorced (oh my!) man like Fred over a "good Christian conservative." I'll save that for another post. But suffice to say that years ago (while majoring in Political Science in college), I realized that there was no hope in America's political system saving us. Our only hope is in Christ and He has chosen to work through His body, the church...which is why I shifted paths toward seminary and away from politics. Later, I came to the conviction that America is not the Promised Land, nor are Americans God's chosen people. His Church contains His chosen people. So I'm not interested in finding a Christian conservative that James Dobson would endorse to run for president. I've seen and been around enough Ted Haggards. I think if we can elect conservatives who will preserve and regain our freedoms, then the church will be able to thrive and Christians will be able to be lights to a dark world. We don't need an evangelical in office to do that. Now Fred may be a Christian, I've never asked or read anything. My point is that I don't think it's necessary.

Oh yeah, Fred, you should get Sean Hannity to run with you...that way he'd be set to take office in 2016. Speaking of Sean, he had a link to this article on his page today.

A Really Good Friday

Today I picked up the girls from their preschool since I had taken a comp day and was at home. I wasn't prepared for the delight that the conversation would be on the ride home. Aggie decided she would "read" a note written by Munchkin's teacher. She preceded to describe how good the Munch had been today and that she tee-tee'ed on the potty. I said, "Wow! That's great!" to which Aggie replied, "Yeah, she tee-tee'ed on the potty for three minutes." Something only a dad could appreciate. I wish I had a better memory so I could recall all the things they said. It's really been a night-and-day difference that we've seen since moving them to this new preschool, something we're especially thankful for right now.

I'm in talks again with my seminary about getting started with my studies again. I tried in November and things fell through with the prof. So now I'm working to study with a different prof. I'm really excited about getting back into things since I've been out of the study routine for a while now. I'm still trying to juggle work. Work means progress to me. It's money and money goes to debt and relief from debt offers the hope of freedom. Studying, although something I enjoy more, doesn't offer the same hope. Maybe the whole "debt free" thing is a bit of an idol.

There's a good, brief article on consumerism and contentment here. I've expressed similar sentiments here, here, and here.

Tonight I took the kids to enjoy a little slice of heaven since Mom was out of town. Yep, we ate at the Waffle House!

Ramblings

I just picked up a new storybook Bible to read with my kids that I really like. It displays Christ throughout the Scripture in a way the kids can understand. 

Steve Cowan, of the Apologetics Resource Center, has written an interesting article on the current issue of Jesus' tomb being "discovered."

I just returned from a wonderful missions conference at Lake Osborne Presbyterian Church in Lake Worth, FL. Not only was the weather beautiful and the congregation warm and friendly, the conference was a real encouragement to me.

My friend Van overheard a funny comment at the Shepherd's Conference this week.

I was moved by John Piper's recent account of his father's passing.

Montgomery Flea Market

And to think I once lived in Alabama!



So someone did this, and it's kind of funny.



But what is REALLY scary is that this one was posted by one of my wife's co-workers. I won't tell you that he's a public educator because that would probably totally scare the crap out of you!