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Poverty

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Revelation 3:1

My wife and I just spent an interesting day with Jenny from CrossPurpose. First, some background.

CrossPurpose is a local Denver area ministry that is seeking to eradicate poverty, one life at a time, through extravagant investment in individuals. From their web site,

CrossPurpose equips unemployed or underemployed adults to become self-sufficient through job training and personal development. In six months, program graduates will be earning $15/hour or more in a meaningful career.

I first became aware of the ministry when I heard a BreakPoint podcast about them. So much of this ministry is different from the traditional ways Christians have dealt with the poor. The vision and the results of this organization have touched me; being in my back yard, I was convicted to partner with them.

The follow-up e-mail was unusual, but not too surprising; a small ministry tends to be closer to their donors than bigger ones. It was the phone call that caught my attention. The thing I remember about our conversation was that she said, “I really just want to get to know you and your wife and understand where you are coming from.” She wanted to schedule a time to meet us (that’s never happened before). It wasn’t a particularly good time; I was in a hotel on a business trip, we were coming up on the holidays, so we agreed to try to get together after the new year.

Time went by, and I had let it all dribble out of my brain, when one day my phone rang. I was sitting in the airport, waiting to board a flight (I see a trend!); I didn’t recognize the number but my phone helpfully offered “may be Jenny”. As soon as I answered, I remembered why that name looked familiar. Again, it wasn’t a good time, but I put her in touch with my social director and they scheduled today for us to meet and tour the facility.

Jenny said something as we walked, which is really the point of this blog. She said, “Everyone comes through these doors with their own poverty, whether it be financial, relational, or spiritual.” That thought has been sticking with me.

Financial poverty is the easiest to recognize. You know when you have more month than money; when life is a constant struggle to juggle the unpaid bills; when you have to prioritize heat over food and clothes will just have to wait. It is cruel, demeaning, demoralizing, stripping people of dignity and leading to hopelessness and despair because of the inability to provide for oneself and one’s family.

Relational poverty is just as rampant, although there are no statistics gathered, no government programs, very little acknowledgement of its existence. It is rampant in white-collar communities where people live isolated lives, leaving their safe little boxes only by means of their boxes on wheels that take them to other boxes where they work in isolating cubicles. It is possible to have all the trappings of wealth and be impoverished inside, for the lack of meaningful human interaction. Relational poverty is also demeaning, as the loneliness eats at your soul, until you wonder if anyone actually cares that you are alive.

Spiritual poverty is the most prevalent of all, since we are all born into this condition. We are born with nothing in our spiritual bank, nothing to offer to a holy God. Perhaps because we are born this way, most people are at best numb to their poverty. The need does not feel as pressing as physical poverty; the pain is not quite as poignant as relational poverty. But I assure you, it is the most desperate of all poverties.

In financial terms, income is the input to your (financial, relational, spiritual) system and expenditures are the output. When income is insufficient for your necessary expenditures, poverty exists. When output is greater than input, this creates debt (financial, relational, spiritual). While deficit spending is possible for a while, eventually the debt becomes crushing.

Fortunately, spiritual poverty is the easiest to solve. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Why? Because the first key to spiritual riches is a humble acknowledgement of your utter spiritual destitution. Only when you give up being good and declare spiritual bankruptcy can you find the solution to your problems. Jesus said,

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14-15

In classic Christian buzz-words, “He paid a price I could not pay to satisfy a debt he did not owe.” But just as financial poverty can’t be eliminated by a lump sum payment, and a party won’t heal your relational poverty, simply having your sins forgiven isn’t enough to end your spiritual poverty.

No, the solution to poverty lies in eliminating the underlying causes. At its simplest, it requires increasing input to the (financial, relational, spiritual) system in excess of any increase in output. When income exceeds expenses, there is a surplus, which is the seed of prosperity.

God has provided the ultimate increase in your spiritual input: his own spirit living in the hearts of his people.

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
  after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
  and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
  and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
  or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
  from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
  and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:33-34

My friends at CrossPurpose have a pretty good strategy for addressing financial poverty. And, as it turns out, the real key to success is to work on relational and spiritual poverty at the same time. Because, as it turns out, Jesus really is the answer to every question.

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Bev

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us
Hebrews 12:1

She was a woman of substance. Tall, elegant, confident, beautiful; when she was in the room, you knew it. She wasn’t brash or obnoxious, but gentle and loving. Yet she would not back down from the truth.

If you spent five minutes with Bev, you would know that she had three great loves: Jesus, her family, and Muslim people (generally) and the people of Tunisia (specifically). She lived her life passionately devoted to these loves. She would be uncomfortable reading this, if she were alive, because she was keenly aware of her faults and shortcomings and uneasy accepting praise.

Love of Jesus

There was nothing more important to Bev than knowing and serving her lord and savior, Jesus Christ. She was passionate about sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone who needed to hear it. This isn’t to say that is was always easy or comfortable for her; she described how terrifying it was to go to the food court in Park Meadows mall and share as she was led. But her passion for obedience overcame her fear of people, rejection, or even personal safety.

As we studied the Bible together, she longed for a deeper call on the lives of Christians. Not content to simply “play church” and be comforted by soothing platitudes, she hungered for a radical commitment to the things of God in the truth of scripture. She keenly felt the demands of God’s word for personal holiness and selfless surrender. She knew that salvation was not purchased at the priceless cost of the death of Jesus so that we could live comfortable lives of mediocrity. Her passion was, like Oswald Chambers’ wrote, to give “My Utmost for His Highest”.

Love of Family

Bev loved her family more than anything else on earth. She was faithfully committed to her husband. This is not to say that their marriage was perfect; who among us can claim such a thing? No, broken people in relationship together will have issues. But she always stood by her husband. I never heard her say anything disparaging or derogatory about him, even when I suspected that she didn’t agree with his decisions. They stood by, supported, loved each other as they walked through life together.

She loved her children. Her heart was constantly towards them and when they hurt, she hurt. I had the privilege of praying with her and for her (and them) as each one went through various trying times. She was vulnerable to her friends, unashamedly weeping as she poured out her heart to her God on behalf of her children. She longed for her children and grandchildren to know her savior as she did.

Love of Tunisia

When the Missions team at Grace Chapel brought a challenge to the elders and congregation to “adopt” a particular people group, to commit to and focus on growing the indigenous church, Bev was among the first to “spy out the land”. Through multiple trips, prayer walks, and relationships started, God gave her a tender heart towards Tunisia and its people.

As her calling to Tunisia grew, Bev decided to learn French so she could communicate more effectively. She researched Muslim apologetics and cultivated relationships with Muslims both at home and in Tunisia. Her life became punctuated by the annual trips to Tunisia. Her heart had been gripped by the love of God for the people of Tunisia, and she longed for many to come to Christ.

She returned year after year, developing relationships, showing God’s love, patiently explaining the hope that is in Christ to anyone who would talk to her. In between trips, she had countless social media conversations with her Muslim friends; loving them, encouraging them, challenging them with the truth of God’s word.

Other than surrounded by her family, there was no place on earth that she wanted to be more than Tunisia. So it is fitting that, at the end a trip to love and serve the people of Tunisia, after enjoying a stroll along a beautiful beach, she stepped into eternity.

So What?

If you are wondering why I’m writing this tribute, you aren’t alone, I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. While I would say that we were friends, we weren’t close. Although you might not know it from the way I described Bev, I can’t say I knew her well. We’d spent many years in the same Sunday School class, but I don’t think we’d ever been in each other’s homes. I’d characterize our relationship as “intimate acquaintances”.

My heart is for her husband and children, and I pray for them nearly daily as they grieve and navigate their loss and what life looks like after Bev. I know she was a key figure in the family dynamic.

Yet, her death has hit me hard. It’s not because we are about the same age, and her death reminds me of my own mortality. Death holds no fear for me (nor should it for any follower of Jesus).

In some way, the notion that she is in the presence of Jesus seems surreal to me. And that really bothers me. It seems that I’ve stopped thinking about, longing for, eagerly anticipating my redemption. I’ve gotten a little too comfortable here.

Thinking about her being in the presence of God reminds me that “well done, good and faithful servant” is not a given. It requires, well, actually being a good and faithful servant. And, as I am all to painfully aware of my own shortcomings, I know I need to live like she did: fully aware of my calling and fully committed to God’s purposes in my life.

And Now?

Chances are good, unless you are part of my church family, you didn’t know Bev. Her death, to you, is less impactful than President Bush’s. However, I would hope that you are encouraged, in light of the testimony of a life well lived, and recognizing that Heaven is not just waiting, but watching, to renew your commitment to your call.

And if you don’t know what I’m talking about; if Jesus is not the ruler and king of your life; if in any way you are unsure about your eternity; the best response you can have is to let me introduce you to my savior. Then, one day, you can meet my friend Bev in eternity. Nothing would make her happier.

SDG

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Heaven Can’t Wait

Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
Romans 8:23-25

The e-mail in my inbox was almost beyond belief.

Design Your Model 3

If you know me at all (or have been following my blog for a while) you know that I have hoped and longed and dreamed for the day when I would own a Tesla. It wasn’t a question of “if”, only “when”. We talked about the day I would have my dream car as if it were a certainty.

However, it had been years of waiting, and months of delays and slips “to the right”. While I knew of a certainty that one day I would own a Tesla, I had become comfortable in the future nature of it. Someday, I would own one. Someday. But not today.

Yet there it was. The promise of the promise becoming a reality. A sense of the surreal began to envelop me as I clicked on the link, and worked my way through the configurator (there really weren’t many choices… color, wheels, auto-pilot). I had used Tesla’s configuration tool countless times before, building a dream Model S. At the end, I would get the car just the way I wanted it, then see the price and say… “yeah, no. Never gonna happen. I’ll wait for the Model 3.”

To be sure, Elon Musk’s promise of a consumer ($35,000) car was not yet realized. Early adopters have the privilege of paying for certain mandatory upgrades (extended range battery, premium interior), adding another 57% to the “base” price of the vehicle. And enhanced auto pilot (EAP) adds another 17% (but you can’t have a Tesla without auto pilot). The price was a bit higher than I was hoping. And all-wheel-drive wasn’t (yet) an option.

As I finished the configuration, I found myself face to face with the most terrifying thing I’ve seen in recent memory: “Submit order”.

You need to understand that my personal theology (what is expressed in how I live my life, not just in my words) tends towards the ascetic. I am firmly rooted in the belief that this world is not my home; that I am a steward of God’s resources, and that all financial decisions are spiritual ones. I don’t have a problem being generous towards others, or giving my wife her dream. But spending money on myself is extremely difficult for me.

My wife wasn’t home at the time. As fear began to grip my heart, I questioned if this was the right thing to do. A quick check of the bank account showed (surprisingly) that there was enough money in savings to pay for the car in full. No need to move money around, sell investments, consolidate assets. It was right there. Nevertheless, it was a lot of money. For a car. Was I really going to do this? Surely God would not approve.

Many of you have no clue why I struggled with this. Perhaps it’s because such a thing is so far from your reality that it’s all hypothetical. Perhaps you are quite comfortable enjoying the pleasures of this life. Perhaps you are well versed in accepting God’s blessings as they come along. Whatever the reason, I want you to try to understand the depth of my self-doubt and fear.

This was a nice dream, but surely God has other plans for that money. You don’t need the car of your dreams; there are plenty of other ways to get from Point A to Point B. How can you be so selfish, indulging your pleasures like that? What would Jesus do?

No, maybe you can’t resonate with my angst. But I wonder, are there other dreams that you have become comfortable in just dreaming? You want the dream, to be sure, but it’s so far out of reach that you make peace with the “someday” aspect of it and relegate it to that somnolent part of your brain so it doesn’t clutter up the day-to-day realities.

As a believer in Jesus, is heaven such a dream for you? Your creed dictates that it is a future reality, but here on earth there is no time for that. There are kids to raise, and bills to pay, and real world problems to solve. Yes, a dream of someday, where there is no more sin, pain, and death; where every tear is wiped away; where we can be reunited with loved ones; and even being in the continual presence of God (whatever that means); such a dream would be nice. Sometime. Someday.

My story doesn’t end yet. When my wife got home, I showed her the configuration, told her the bottom line, and waited for her to confirm my fears. I completely expected her to agree with me that this was just unrealistic, and we should give up on this foolishness.

Instead, she said, “OK.”

What? No second guessing? No hand-wringing? I tried to communicate my doubts, my fears. She looked at me like I’d lost my mind (probably they way you have been reading this). “You’ve waited for this; we can afford it. Do it.”

So I did. It took a few days for the shock to wear off, that I had actually ordered this car. After ordering, the web site said to expect 3-6 weeks for delivery. Nine days later I had my car.

The applications of this experience are numerous. Don’t let the future nature of a the Kingdom of God keep you from stepping in to the fullness of what he has for you today. Heaven is not just pie in the sky, by and by. Jesus said that he came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. The promise is for today, if you will enter in.

I bought this car, sight unseen. I’d never laid eyes on a Model 3, much less driven one, before I took delivery. People who have never driven a Tesla don’t understand what the appeal is. It’s like trying to explain “purple” to a blind man. Or as Chris Rice put it, it’s like trying to smell the color 9. If you don’t know the love of God expressed through the forgiveness of your sins through the atoning death of Jesus, I urge you to believe those of us who have gone before.. it is so worth it.

Short of buying a house, I’ve never spent so much money on anything. God offers you to accept on faith that eternal life is so much greater than anything you have ever known that it is worth everything. In the parable of the pearl of great price, the merchant sells everything he has in order to possess it. Jesus said, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Heaven, eternal life, new life in Christ is worth whatever you are holding on to, whatever is keeping you from entering in to whatever God has for you.

Once I took the leap, things happened much quicker than I thought. Heaven is closer than you think. No one knows the number of their days. Don’t put off being reconciled to God. You may think you have time, but sometimes things move fast. There is no time like the present.

Don’t let your hope wane. While I was convinced that I would someday own a Tesla, I had stopped anticipating it. We should live in the eager anticipation of the coming promise of the Kingdom of God. Don’t let your love grow cold; don’t let the cares of this life choke out the fruitfulness of the word planted in you. Don’t give up on God. Someday is sooner than you think.

My Tesla (red Model 3)
SDG
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Forge On

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Matthew 5:30

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
2 Timothy 4:4

Many of you won’t have a clue what this is about. The idea of sitting in front of a screen clicking on things and building virtual worlds sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. I’m sorry about that; if you can stick it out, there may be something for you here. This blog is mostly for my on-line compatriots, to whom I am bidding farewell.

I have enjoyed a variety of on-line games for many years. In fact, I first started on Facebook to monitor my kids but I stayed for their games. The games I find most appealing have a strong social / teamwork aspect to them. When there is a team/mob/guild/alliance and we have to work together to accomplish our purposes, I enjoy the games most.

However, there is an aspect of my personality that makes these games dangerous to me. I am obsessive. I care less about time, responsibilities, sleep, pretty much anything else, than I do about “one more, faster, better, stronger.” And that’s where I get in trouble.

The first game I really got into was Mafia Wars. It was more or less an individual effort, until they introduced a new time-based feature that required interaction from your friends. I quickly saw through the social aspects of the game design, that it was intended to keep you on-line as much as possible. I felt the draw, almost irresistible, to play continually to finish the missions and get stronger. Realizing my weakness, I abandoned Mafia Wars entirely.

During roughly the same time, I also played Mob Wars. The game was slow and uninteresting until I joined a very active mob. We had a Skype chat room (several, actually, for leadership, alliances and wars, etc.) and I left Skype up on my computer 24×7. I took a fast or two from the game to curtail my activity, but it remained my primary non-work enterprise.

(I should note that for most of my career, I’ve worked in places with no access to smart-phones and game web sites are blocked by the company firewall, so I haven’t been dragged into my obsession during the day. Good thing; I haven’t gotten fired yet).

However, as the game aged, it lost players. The social aspect of the game very much depends upon involved people. As it became more boring, I happened to click on one of the ad links and on a whim started a new game, Forge of Empires. Over the past three years, this game has become my new passion. And my downfall.

I know this game consumes my time. One Lent, I gave up the game, for 40 days, just to prove I wasn’t addicted. But as I joined an active and fulfilling guild, and I had mentors who generously helped me grow, I spent more and more time on it. I used to spend 2-4 hours on a weekend writing a weekly activity report for the guild. I tracked everyone’s progress and contributions. I had spreadsheet upon spreadsheet. This was on top of the 4+ hours I spent every night building my city and helping my guild.

There was a crisis of leadership in my guild, and all the senior people ended up leaving; the two key leaders quit the game entirely. I wasn’t willing to throw it all away, so with the help of my game best friend, we took on keeping the guild intact. It was a slow process, but we rebuilt. Not to the former glory, but we did manage to achieve the #1 guild ranking on the server. We also succeeded in bringing about the demise of the hitherto untouchable #1 guild. There was much to be proud of. For a clicky game.

However, for many months I have been wrestling with the call of God for me to use my time differently. I have good intentions. I also have bad habits. I sit at my computer, open my browser, and my evening is over. Nothing productive happens. I tried cutting back my involvement. I eliminated all my other cities and guilds in the game, and I took a major step back for many weeks. But when I finally came back, the old ways resumed.

For some people, the idea that God speaks is hard to accept. Joy Behar became infamous for calling people who hear God speak mentally ill. However, for the child of God, who has trained himself to be attentive to his voice, it should not be weird or unusual. In fact, the primary motivation for prayer, for me, at least, is not to bring my laundry list of requests to my doting grandfather in the sky, but to hear from my heavenly father. Frankly, what I have to say isn’t that interesting.

So this Sunday, it wasn’t at all odd or dare I say “mentally ill” when God spoke to me clearly during the morning worship service, and said, “It’s time to leave the game.”

The thing for me about hearing from God (and no, I don’t hear an audible voice; I live in my thought life and that is where he meets with me) is that there is no denying that it is real. This wasn’t “it probably would be a good idea for you to stop playing this game”. No, it was an unambiguous command. So as a child of God, a Christ-follower, a man who longs (or at least claims) to do God’s will, I have no choice.

I want to make this perfectly clear. I love playing this game. I have forged relationships with people around the country and around the world that I treasure. From time to time, God has even used me, in the game, to speak words of life. The game is not evil. I’m not bored. There is just more.

So for me, it’s time to take the axe to my right hand. It has to go. I have a higher calling, a greater purpose. Fun is fun, but it’s not what we were created for. It’s not what I was created for.

What’s next? I imagine I will spend some more time writing. There are lots of ideas that enter my head. I wonder if I really need to say them, if someone hasn’t already said them before, and better than me. But I also realize that I have an audience. You are reading this, where you might not be reading someone smarter than me. And I do believe that God uses what I write to speak life to those who read. But the main thing is that I need to make my actual priorities line up with my stated beliefs. My games have become an idol, and it’s time to tear them down, and give all of my worship to the one who is worthy of it.

If you don’t know God, if this whole concept of God speaking as if he is a real person is foreign to you, I’d love to introduce you to him. He has no greater desire than for you to be translated from the kingdom of darkness (where you were born) into the kingdom of light. He is so passionate about this cause that he sent his son to become human, to live among us, and to die the death that you deserve for your rebellion and hostility towards your creator. He did all of that so you could know him too, and learn to hear his voice.

If you do know God, is there something that he is calling you to lay aside? Not that it is intrinsically bad, but something that is getting in the way of you being more? God did not save you to mediocrity. Jesus died so that you could have life, and that more abundantly. Are you experiencing the abundance of life? If not, what is getting in the way?

Hearing God is one thing. Obeying him is another. I’ll miss you guys. Forge on!

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Soli Deo Gloria

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6

I don’t know how I missed it all these years. It is clearly there, but I never saw.

Everything God has ever done, from the creation of the world: his covenant with Abraham, his calling of Israel, the Exodus, Moses, Joshua, the prophets, Saul, David and the other kings, Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection, the early church, and on until today has been for one purpose. All of it has one common thread. And if you have ears to hear, it just might rock your theology to the core.

The church today has become perilously “me-centric”. Jesus died for my sins. He is my savior. He hears me when I pray. He provides for me, protects me, gives me comfort and purpose. My identity is in Christ. Listen today to the most popular songs either on Christian radio, or perhaps sung where you worship. Count the number of times you year “I” or “me” and compare it to how often you hear “you”. It’s enough to give the impression that we are the ones to be worshiped.

Well, here’s the thing. All those phrases above are true. And yet, they are dangerously incomplete. Yes, God has done all those things, and we, as undeserving sinners, are the astonished beneficiaries. But here is the completion of the truth. He did all those things so that he would be glorified.

Let me say it again. God’s underlying purpose from Genesis to Revelation is that he (himself) is glorified. Let that sink in for a moment, and reflect on what you know.

Why did he create the world? For his glory. Why did he make man in his image, or as a reflector of himself? For his glory. Why did he make a unilateral covenant with an insignificant, childless Chaldean named Abram to bless him and make him into a great nation? For his glory. Why did he take a deceitful, scheming man like Jacob and change his name to Israel and make him the father of twelve tribes? For his glory. Why did he take an adolescent shepherd out of the pasture in into the battlefield to slay a giant? For his glory.

Why did Jesus abandon the bliss of eternity to take on human form, live a live of self-denial and obedience, suffer an agonizing (physical) death, bearing the brunt of all God’s pent up wrath for sin? Why did he rise from the dead, appear to many witnesses, and ascend to heaven? For his glory.

Why does God invite you and me to receive the free gift of salvation through the atoning death of Jesus, to be reconciled to him, and to walk in newness of life? Why does he indwell us with his very own Spirit, empowering us to live as more than conquerors over sin and death? So that we can feel good, and be fulfilled? No, a thousand times no! It is for his glory.

To be sure, we are (and have been, since the fall) depraved sinners in desperate need of a savior. And in the cross, we find an unbelievable gift, beyond what any of us could hope for. Walking with God, through redemption in Jesus and in the fellowship of the Spirit is beyond fulfilling. Jesus said that we could have life, and that more abundantly. Mission accomplished.

But when you understand that, like all of creation and all of history before you, everything is for God’s glory, when you willingly enter in and take your place in the grand pageant, and say like Mary, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” when you realize that the chief end of man is the glorify God, then your perspective changes eternally.

No longer are challenges, difficulties, unpleasantness and pain affronts to my will, to my plan to live a comfortable life and enjoy the good things of this earth. Rather, they are opportunities for us to see God at work for his glory. If he chooses to deliver us, then all glory to God. If not, then we endure in faith for the glory of God.

Johann Sebastian Bach is widely known to have signed most of his pieces “S.D.G.”, for Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone). Despite his immense talent and success, the composer adopted a position of humility and deference to his creator and savior. Who am I to do less?

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Preacher

“Some day you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

Unless you’ve be living under a rock, you are probably aware of the passing of William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr. Affectionately referred to as “America’s Evangelist”, Billy Graham was the face of the Evangelical movement for decades. Most Americans over 40 have probably heard, seen or attended a Billy Graham crusade. His impact for the Kingdom of God has been profound.

I found myself (through the mystery of YouTube auto-play) listening to the entire celebration of Billy Graham yesterday. If you are interested the ceremony at the Capitol is here, his funeral service is here, and the interment is here. I have a few observations born of watching the honor bestowed upon this man.

Watching the Capitol ceremony, the first thing that struck me was that when you honor someone, you often have to wait. The video begins with the hearse pulling up in front of the capitol. The morticians get out of the car and wait as events unfold. Standing by the Capitol steps is an honor guard, standing at attention. Who knows how long they had been waiting. Next, a bus arrives and the family disembarks they are guided up into the Capitol where they wait until all is ready. Then, the family is directed out of the Capitol and arrayed at the top of the steps to observe the arrival of the guest of honor.

Finally, the honor guard marches with precision to where they receive the casket and march to the Capitol steps. Then, one step at a time, they ascend the Capitol steps, always holding the casket level (I would really have hated to be the guys in the back). The 5 minutes it takes seems like an eternity. At last, they reach the top of the steps and enter the building, followed by the family.

Inside are various government leaders, including the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell; Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan; President and Mrs. Trump and Vice President and Mrs. Pence. These are important people, not used to being kept waiting, yet they have been inside for at least 20 minutes if not longer.

Here is an application. The importance of a person is indicated by who waits for him. The President of the United States does not typically wait for anyone; people wait for him. Yet by their willingness to wait as this ceremony unfolded, these powerful people declared the importance of Billy Graham.

There is no one greater than God. Sometimes, we are called to wait on him. Prayers are not answered at the time or in the fashion we would have wanted. Plans don’t work out they way we intended. Justice is not immediately received. Reasons are not forthcoming. Waiting patiently on God’s timing is an act of worship, declaring that he is more important than we are. Note that his importance is not defined by our waiting, we simply demonstrate our agreement to it.

Mitch McConnell’s eulogy, on behalf of the United States Senate, began by stating, “The man we recognize today shared the Gospel with more people, face to face, than any man in history.” In other words, Billy Graham is important, worthy of the honor being bestowed, because of his faithfulness in sharing the Gospel.

Billy Graham had just one message. It was simple, it was timeless. It basically goes like this: God loves you. You can be restored to right relationship with him if you repent of your sins and believe in the name of Jesus Christ, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.

One of the things reiterated by his family was that the Billy Graham they knew at home was the same Billy Graham who preached before thousands. He didn’t have a public persona different from his private one. He was the genuine article.

The question I’m left with is this: Billy Graham was great because of his faithfulness in proclaiming the message of God’s love and redemption. If that message is true, do you believe it? If not, why not? If it’s not true, then was he really great?

The Gospel cannot be proven empirically, except for one way; the way the Billy Graham has gone. By the time you know for sure that it is true or false, it will be too late to do anything about it. That is why it is necessary to receive the gift of God by faith.

“I’m counting totally and completely on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not on Billy Graham. I’m not going to Heaven because I’ve read the Bible, nor because I’ve preached to a lot of people. I’m going to Heaven because of what Christ did.”

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Advent

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7 (KJV)

Newborn Baby

The song “Mary Did You Know?” was written by Mark Lowry and has been performed by countless artists. Our favorite is the 2014 rendition by the acapella group Pentatonix, although this 2016 performance by Mark is pretty good. It asks the question of whether Mary fully comprehended who she had given birth to, and what he would accomplish.

A few days before Thanksgiving, my daughter gave birth to her first child. This girl has wanted nothing more than to be a mommy at least since she was 12, so the culmination of this time of waiting has literally been a life-long dream for her. She enjoyed (almost) every moment of being pregnant, but when “the days were accomplished” she willingly left pregnancy behind and welcomed her son into the world.

The day after thanksgiving, she sent me this text, “Not intentionally listening to Christmas music (yet) but Mary did you know totally takes on new meaning for me now.”

If you are a mother, you are probably nodding your head, saying “uh huh”, thinking back to when you first held your precious one. The intangible bond formed in the womb now realized as you were able to hold and stare in loving awe at the miracle of life that came out of your body.

If you are a father, you may remember looking at this little life and suddenly being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the responsibility you now had. You may have been filled with hopes and dreams of all that this helpless infant might become and accomplish.

There is no question that the pathos of the Christmas story touches us at the core of our humanity. It is easy to identify with these newlyweds, even if the circumstances of their expecting are unfamiliar. And while we tend to focus on Mary (and to a lesser extent, Joseph) as they navigated the uncharted waters of being parents to the son of God, there is another parent in this story that we don’t often think about.

This father had perfect knowledge and understanding of all that was about to happen in and through his son. He knew about the joys of first steps and first words; the tears of skinned knees and smashed thumbs. He knew his boy would sit and discuss the holy books with the old men, astounding them. He knew that his son would feed a multitude, walk on water, give sight to the blind and raise the dead. What could make a father more proud?

But he also knew that his son would be rejected by the people he loved with all his heart. He knew that only a few would follow and believe, and that his son, his only son, the pride and joy of this father’s heart, would be beaten and tortured to death. But the worst part was that this father would have to turn his own back on his son and pour out all his wrath over the evil of the world upon him.

Even now as I try to comprehend this, I fall short. To be sure, my sons have known my wrath but it was always because they deserved it. Today, they are fine men who bring much joy to my heart. Could I unleash the full weight of my fury upon them, anger that another deserved? Could I enter into a situation, knowing beforehand that my son would have to die by my hand for the crimes of another?

Whether Mary knew or not what lay ahead of her precious baby, the Father has known from eternity past and chose to create us anyway. Defying all logic,

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Merry Christmas

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Seriously

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us
Hebrews 12:1 (NET)

Are you serious?

This question is most often uttered with a tone of incredulity, as in, do you actually believe the nonsense that just came out of your mouth? Are you really so stupid that you actually did what you I just saw? Surely there is a joke here somewhere, and I’m waiting for the punchline.

Five hundred years ago this week Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the All Saints Church in Wittenberg. The initial reaction of the theological establishment was a form of “are you serious?” Luther’s challenging of the status quo, with particular impact on the pockets of the sellers of indulgences, was unthinkable. A year later he was put on trial for heresy, and ultimately excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

Today, we celebrate his boldness and the Reformation that gave rise to Protestant Christianity. In the hindsight of history, few even think to question. Yet Luther himself said that had he known what would follow from his actions, he probably wouldn’t have taken them.

There is a second, more probing form of this interrogative. It calls into question your commitment, your dedication, your willingness to sacrifice to achieve the goal. In one form or another, probably every athletic coach has challenged the athlete to give more, push harder, commit more completely.

Similarly, students engaged in rigorous academic study may be questioned on their commitment. Any time hard work is required, the casual adherent is likely to fall away; only the most dedicated stay the course. Let’s face it, hard work is no fun; there are less costly and more pleasing uses for my energy.

The leaders of the American Revolution, signers of the Declaration of Independence were under no illusions about the significance and the consequences of their actions. The last sentence of the Declaration states their commitment: And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Recently I have found myself being challenged in my faith. I remember as a young man in college searching for the meaning of life. My question to God was, “Am I just supposed to be a good person, love and provide for my family, or is there something more you are calling me to?” At the time, I found myself encouraged to be radical, steeped in the words of Leonard Ravenhill, David Wilkerson, and Keith Green. If these names are not familiar to you, they are worth getting to know. They are each dedicated men of God with an unwavering commitment to His kingdom and glory. I concluded that such a radical love as Jesus demonstrated to me in purchasing salvation demanded a radical life in response.

But along the way of living life, loving and providing for my family, I fear I have slipped into being just a good person. It is said that “life is what happens to you while you are making other plans.” Other things, other interests, other desires fill my mind and my heart, leaving little room for knowing, pursuing, loving my savior.

I look around me, and I don’t find many role models pushing me harder, encouraging me to live radically. The pretty good facade I have developed seems to be about all that is expected, even in the church. If someone were to ask for more, expect more, demand more, I probably could give it. But this sure is comfortable.

I hear a voice from the recesses of my heart, in that place where the Holy Spirit is still welcome, coaching me quietly, insistently, probingly, challenging me to dig deep, to give my all. Maybe you’ve heard that voice too.

Are you serious?

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But If Not…

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:16-18

 

I am stirred by bold declarations of faith in God. My most favorite Bible vignette is when David comes to the battle lines to see the army of Israel hiding in fear from the giant, Goliath. Filled with righteous indignation, he declares, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he dares to defy the armies of the living God?”. His jealousy for God’s glory intersected with his faith in God’s power and resulted in a great victory for the nation and the beginning of his ascent to the kingship.

Similarly, my hero is Elijah the prophet. I would love to have been there when he challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown. The premise was simple, if improbable: whichever god answers his servants by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice is truly God. This man of God had great faith; it had already not rained for 3 years at his word, and now he was challenging the reigning religion to a “God-off”. As the story unfolds, Baal is predictably absent but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reveals himself in spectacular power. It gives me goose bumps!

Just slightly behind David in brazen declaration is the story of the three Hebrew children, taken into captivity. Hauled away from their home as teens or young men, Daniel and his friends Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah (their Hebrew names) resolved to hold firmly to their faith in God. They did not assimilate into the Babylonian culture, but maintained their ritual and dietary purity in obedience, faith, and worship of the God of their ancestors.

Later, Daniel and his friends are promoted to positions of high influence in the empire. Yet, there comes a time of testing. The king set up a massive golden idol and sent out a decree that whenever the music played everyone was required to fall down and worship the idol. The penalty for failure to comply was to be immediately thrown into a furnace. The story of Shadrach, Mesahach, and Abednego (their Babylonian names) in the Fiery Furnace is well known to most Sunday School children. Yet there is a depth to this story, leading up to their profound declaration of faith that is not often exposited.

Babylon was a fundamentally multicultural society. As the armies conquered a people, the native people would be deported and the land eventually settled with other people. In the case of Israel, the best and the brightest were brought to the capitol to join the cultural elite. Sociologically, it was a brilliant strategy, simultaneously crushing the identity of a conquered people and integrating their intellectual capital into the society.

This multiculturalism necessarily fostered polytheism. Every society had its own religious practices and deities. As they were integrated into society, they brought their beliefs and customs with them. Such polytheistic societies are actually inherently atheistic. Intrinsically, we know that all beliefs are not all true. In fact, multiple conflicting beliefs cannot all be true. Yet the willingness to accept them is based on an implicit understanding that none of them are really true. But “just in case”…

The people of Israel threw a wrench into the monkeyworks. Although deported and dispersed multiple times since Joshua first took possession of the promised land, they retained their identity as God’s chosen people and (with varying degrees of devotion) maintained their belief and worship of Jehovah. So it was with these young men. They maintained an unswerving devotion to the God of their ancestors. That devotion absolutely proscribed worshiping idols.

Malicious men whispered in the king’s ear that these Israelites refused to obey his command. The king, of course, was outraged. These weren’t random strangers but trusted officials. If the men in his cabinet could not be counted on to obey his words, how would the people react? He called them in for a reckoning, and gave them one last chance, including this ultimatum:

“But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15b)

This is the context in which they make their famous declaration. Now, understand that preceding this encounter, they had already made up their minds that they were not going to bow before the idol. They knew the penalty was death, and they were prepared to pay the price. This was the depth of their faith, that they would rather die than disobey God. And as they well called in to the king, they were surely thinking, “this is it” but steeling their resolve not to turn away from their faith.

But when the king rages at them and says, “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands”, I believe the Spirit of God came upon them and stirred them up even more. The king was basically saying, “I’m the most powerful person on earth. You will obey me or suffer the consequences and no one can stop me.” Their response to this arrogance is to the point. Our God is able to deliver us from you. You may be the most powerful man on the planet, but our God made the planet and allows you to reign. He is greater than you and can stop your plans if he wants.

This is David-level stuff! When faced with an insurmountable (humanly speaking) obstacle that stands in defiance of God’s holiness and glory, the man (or woman) of God is justified in drawing themselves up to the full height of their faith and staring down the obstacle. Giants? No problem. All-powerful king? Inconsequential. Fiery Furnace? Walk in the park. Literally.

But the most powerful declaration of faith is the one they walked in with. Yes, I know God is able to deliver me from whatever situation seems hopeless in my eyes. But even if he doesn’t… I will still trust in him. Selah

You see, the lesson in this story is not that God will never let you burn. Rather it is two-fold. First, that there is no circumstance that is too hopeless for God to overcome. He’s just that big. Facing a mountain? God is bigger. Lost in an ocean? God runs deeper. Surrounded by enemies? God is more powerful. Nothing is too great for God.

Second (and more important) is that our faith should not be conditional. The object of our faith is the one true God, creator, sustainer, and redeemer of the universe. In the end, his glory will be magnified. Our confidence is in his power, yes, but more so in his character. As servants of the true King, we are willing to be spent for his purposes. If that means suffering persecutions, we will rejoice and be glad. If it means facing shame and disgrace for his sake, we look forward to a heavenly reward.

Got your own story of brazen faith? Share it with me. This is what gets me going!

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Broken Together

Music is the narration of my life. I can think of an applicable lyric fragment to nearly any situation, and certain songs still have a visceral effect on me, as they evoke strong feelings from past events.

Music has a way of touching us deeply like no other expression. Music imprints itself upon our consciousness. How many of us used a song to memorize otherwise useless information, like the periodic table (no, I never did actually memorize that)? Really though, chances are much higher that you remember the lyrics to some song than a book you read or movie you saw. Soaring strings can lift your spirits and dissonance can make you feel uncomfortable.

Many years ago, I made the decision to listen primarily to Christian music. This wasn’t based on theology or conviction, but a simple observation. As I drove daily through Houston, I found myself much more tense when listening to the Top 40 station than when I listened to the Christian station. I really don’t care if it’s music or teaching, I just feel more peaceful when hearing the things of God.

However, my critical nature is difficult to keep in check. Some songs are on very shaky theological ground. Others are, as Twila Paris put it, “bubble-gum pop” with nothing of substance. Others are simply “7/11s”, with the same seven words repeated 11 times.

Since I am so hard on so many artists (and for the most part, this is an inner conversation that I don’t subject others to, except on occasion my wife), I thought it would be worthwhile to celebrate some of the truly excellent music that has touched me in recent years. From time to time I will write a blog like this where I highlight a song that is excellent in its composition, arrangement, performance, and theology.

First on my list is “Broken Together” by Casting Crowns. This song is rich in so many dimensions. The first time I heard it my heart was gripped by the gut-wrenching honesty and vulnerability of a man admitting his failure and renewed dedication to his wife.

Musically, the persistent, insistent, repeated note in the left hand of the piano creates a tension which is reflected in the lyrics. As the emotion is poured out, the tension builds until finally resolving in the chorus when the words change gradually from pain to hope. This is a marvelous example of music that is perfectly suited to the lyrics.

Also, the simplicity of the arrangement places the emphasis squarely where it belongs, with the lyrics. The piano provides sufficient foundation with support from a lone cello at times, and understated strings in the chorus. As a side note, if the violin is the voice of the orchestra, the cello is the soul. The prominence of the cello in this piece is appropriate to its soulful subject matter. I love everything about this orchestration, as the different instruments blend flawlessly to carry us along on this difficult emotional ride.

Mark Hall’s performance is honest and unassuming. It doesn’t feel like he is performing, but rather that he is pouring out the hurt, fear, and hope in his heart. This vulnerability adds to the discomfort of being included in a conversation where we don’t belong, which in turn allows us to connect to our own failings.

There is no deep theology here, just common human experience. Too many people come into marriage with an idealized notion that their spouse will fulfill all their needs. Too many marriages devolve into separate lives lived under the same roof as that reality sinks in, and fulfillment is sought in other avenues (work, children, recreation).

The theological truth is this: I’m not perfect and neither are you. But if we come together to the God who is, he can give us the strength to bear with one another and be more together than we are separately. That is, when I stop trying to “fix” you and accept all of your strengths and weaknesses, and especially accept that God is working in your life to conform you to the image of Christ, just as he is in mine, and when I humbly confess to you my failings and imperfections and stop pretending like I am perfect and can do no wrong, THEN perhaps I can love you the way you need to be loved, and you can do the same for me. But none of this is possible apart from the power of God working in our lives.