God is this good. Rolland and Heidi Baker are missionaries in Africa and have seen hundreds of thousands of people come to faith in Jesus Christ. This is Rolland's testimony of being healed from a life-threatening disease. This is the God I believe in.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
When the President Speaks to Our Children
President Obama's speech today to our nation's classroom's today at 11am CST is not without precedent. This was President Ronald Reagan's speech delivered in 1988.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Go Deep
Things are not always as they seem. One of the reasons I love studying the Bible is that each time I take on a new Bible book or class, I discover new insight into the encounter the first century apostles, disciples, and writers had with the risen Jesus.
The more one studies Greek, for instance, the greater awareness one has of stylistic nuances a NT writer used to communicate a transforming idea. You can study rhetoric and see precisely how the "books" of the NT were written to be heard as powerful oral messages or even "sermons." Studying history helps one to understand the complex political and social backdrop against which the lives of the early Christians were lived. Each layer of understanding opens up scripture's beauty and depth as well as the writers' receptivity to God's revelation. It also reveals their skillfulness in communicating well the "good news" about Jesus.
Becoming more knowledgeable on topics like these can only open up the word of God and increase our ability to see how God moved in people's lives back then and how He might move in people's lives today!
Here are three really helpful resources that can serve as an entry point to a deeper appreciation of scripture..
Virtual Campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. You can find a completely FREE course on the New Testament (and many other topics) on Itunes (www.apple.com/itunes).
Ben Witherington has a wonderful little book called What's in a Word which is a look at how we can understand certain New Testament passages by better understanding how people in the past constructed speeches on important topics (known as the study of rhetoric)! (available HERE)
For a good historical overview of the New Testament period you can read Witherington's New Testament History, found HERE.
If you want to go deeper in your understanding of what's taking place in the New Testament, check these out. They are really wonderful places to start for learning more about the words that give us hope and life!!
The more one studies Greek, for instance, the greater awareness one has of stylistic nuances a NT writer used to communicate a transforming idea. You can study rhetoric and see precisely how the "books" of the NT were written to be heard as powerful oral messages or even "sermons." Studying history helps one to understand the complex political and social backdrop against which the lives of the early Christians were lived. Each layer of understanding opens up scripture's beauty and depth as well as the writers' receptivity to God's revelation. It also reveals their skillfulness in communicating well the "good news" about Jesus.
Becoming more knowledgeable on topics like these can only open up the word of God and increase our ability to see how God moved in people's lives back then and how He might move in people's lives today!
Here are three really helpful resources that can serve as an entry point to a deeper appreciation of scripture..
Virtual Campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. You can find a completely FREE course on the New Testament (and many other topics) on Itunes (www.apple.com/itunes).
Ben Witherington has a wonderful little book called What's in a Word which is a look at how we can understand certain New Testament passages by better understanding how people in the past constructed speeches on important topics (known as the study of rhetoric)! (available HERE)
For a good historical overview of the New Testament period you can read Witherington's New Testament History, found HERE.
If you want to go deeper in your understanding of what's taking place in the New Testament, check these out. They are really wonderful places to start for learning more about the words that give us hope and life!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Pure Religion
"Religion" has become one of those words that spirit-filled Christians have let go of - preferring instead to speak of expressive faith in Jesus. Religion, in this vein, conjures up images of emotionless ritual and routine worship. Faith is about opening up one's eyes to see the reality of God in one's everyday experience and moving in agreement with that vision.
Martin Luther was suspicious of the the book of James (not so much a letter as an "homily" to Jewish Christians written in about 45 AD) because of its emphasis on doing, relegating it in his canon to secondary status. Luther, Calvin, and many others in the reformed tradition preferred the writing of Paul, particularly Romans, which gave primacy to faith, thinking that any faith that elevated works would simultaneously elevate human pride.
Interestingly, James has a lot to say about human pride. He castigates the rich who show preference in the worship service for other wealthy people and disdain the poor (Jas 2:5-7). Unafraid of speaking of his faith in terms of "religion" (latin meaning "reconnect") real religion, James observes, is about caring for those who are on the margins of society or even forgotten - the widows and orphans (Jas 1:27)
He even gives critique to those who would take pride in their "faith." Isn't that interesting. "Faith without works is dead", he tell those who would pridefully rest on their superior knowledge and understanding and then do nothing to pour life and love into those who have no home or family.
I think James would offer the same critique today to anyone who rested in their "doctrinal purity" and neglected the spiritual discipline of compassion. When you talk to someone outside of the church about why they aren't a Christian, the conversation always turns to how those who claim to follow Jesus have squabbled over minute differences in scriptual interpretation while the world around them (including the environment, the government, social networks, and economy) fell to ruin. Naturally, there are apocalyptic scenarios in which some Christians maintain that such ruin is a "sign of the times." But James, who lived in equally uncertain and oppressive times would have offered a different prognosis. Knowing intimately the power of Jesus to heal and "sozo" save, he told the Christians of his day to LIVE their faith and PRACTICE their love. Any "wisdom" in fact, that doesn't take into account and work toward real life transformation is "demonic" (Jas 3:15).
James believes our faith together makes a difference. Followers of Christ are to be peace-makers (Jas 3:18). Why would he cast vision for peace and being peace-makers if real peace, real reconciliation and wholeness weren't something that we could work toward and hope to actually see? Real faith actually believes in God's power to transform his creation and works toward the healing of people and nations.
Martin Luther was suspicious of the the book of James (not so much a letter as an "homily" to Jewish Christians written in about 45 AD) because of its emphasis on doing, relegating it in his canon to secondary status. Luther, Calvin, and many others in the reformed tradition preferred the writing of Paul, particularly Romans, which gave primacy to faith, thinking that any faith that elevated works would simultaneously elevate human pride.
Interestingly, James has a lot to say about human pride. He castigates the rich who show preference in the worship service for other wealthy people and disdain the poor (Jas 2:5-7). Unafraid of speaking of his faith in terms of "religion" (latin meaning "reconnect") real religion, James observes, is about caring for those who are on the margins of society or even forgotten - the widows and orphans (Jas 1:27)
He even gives critique to those who would take pride in their "faith." Isn't that interesting. "Faith without works is dead", he tell those who would pridefully rest on their superior knowledge and understanding and then do nothing to pour life and love into those who have no home or family.
I think James would offer the same critique today to anyone who rested in their "doctrinal purity" and neglected the spiritual discipline of compassion. When you talk to someone outside of the church about why they aren't a Christian, the conversation always turns to how those who claim to follow Jesus have squabbled over minute differences in scriptual interpretation while the world around them (including the environment, the government, social networks, and economy) fell to ruin. Naturally, there are apocalyptic scenarios in which some Christians maintain that such ruin is a "sign of the times." But James, who lived in equally uncertain and oppressive times would have offered a different prognosis. Knowing intimately the power of Jesus to heal and "sozo" save, he told the Christians of his day to LIVE their faith and PRACTICE their love. Any "wisdom" in fact, that doesn't take into account and work toward real life transformation is "demonic" (Jas 3:15).
James believes our faith together makes a difference. Followers of Christ are to be peace-makers (Jas 3:18). Why would he cast vision for peace and being peace-makers if real peace, real reconciliation and wholeness weren't something that we could work toward and hope to actually see? Real faith actually believes in God's power to transform his creation and works toward the healing of people and nations.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Patrick!
A friend of ours - Patrick McNaughton - the brother of John Ryan McNaughton is moving back to California to San Jose. We had a great "going away" lunch for him today at Thai Cafe and wish Patrick the very best as he establishes some roots in sunny CA. We also wish him the very best as he develops his relationship with a special young woman there. We'll miss Patrick's laid back style, humorous outlook, and passion for late night guy flicks!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Leaders
Yesterday I met with several new deacons at First Christian in Alamo while John Gilbert, Mark Crider, Dale Dodd (and several others) held down the fort at Promise Church in Jackson. As ministry in both places heats up, I'm finding that I have to rely more on the great leaders at both churches to step up and do what otherwise I would do. In other words, I'm finding that as I hit my limits, room is being made for others to step into leadership and practice their gifts of leadership.
There's always the temptation to try to do it all yourself. You've got a vision of how you'd like something to look and you believe (wrongly) that you're the only one who can make the vision happen. In following this path, though, you prevent others from being used by God, gaining experience in the ways God is wanting to use them, and being developed into people who use lead with confidence. All of us can probably look back to the time and the person who gave us an opportunity to "do our thing." Where would we be if they had held on to what was their "responsibility" and not opened up a development path to the potential they saw in us?
I'm finding that the best leaders (1) identify other teachable leaders, (2) pour life and experience and vision into them, and (3) make room for them to grow by giving them opportunities to use what they're learning.
This is really how the kingdom of God is supposed to look. We see a picture of this also in Romans 12. We all are part of the body. We each have our function and we each depend on the other to become more complete as missionally competent servant-leaders. We want more of this sort of leader in the church, not fewer. We want more people activated and equipped to live out their purpose. It's in in this way that each of us become catalysts for further kingdom growth. Multiply that process exponentially and you've created a culture.
There's always the temptation to try to do it all yourself. You've got a vision of how you'd like something to look and you believe (wrongly) that you're the only one who can make the vision happen. In following this path, though, you prevent others from being used by God, gaining experience in the ways God is wanting to use them, and being developed into people who use lead with confidence. All of us can probably look back to the time and the person who gave us an opportunity to "do our thing." Where would we be if they had held on to what was their "responsibility" and not opened up a development path to the potential they saw in us?
I'm finding that the best leaders (1) identify other teachable leaders, (2) pour life and experience and vision into them, and (3) make room for them to grow by giving them opportunities to use what they're learning.
This is really how the kingdom of God is supposed to look. We see a picture of this also in Romans 12. We all are part of the body. We each have our function and we each depend on the other to become more complete as missionally competent servant-leaders. We want more of this sort of leader in the church, not fewer. We want more people activated and equipped to live out their purpose. It's in in this way that each of us become catalysts for further kingdom growth. Multiply that process exponentially and you've created a culture.
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