A Moving Experience

This is my last entry on this blog. I have started a new blog, A View from 6000 Feet. I figured that, with a new ministry, I needed a new blog. For those of you who may not know, I recently accepted a call to serve as Senior Pastor of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It was very hard to leave Orlando. Tricia and I were in Orlando for 20 of our 21 years of marriage. Sixteen of those years were at our beloved UPC. Orlando and UPC is all our children have ever known. After 20 years, our roots were pretty deep. Uprooting is painful.

On our last Sunday night in Orlando, UPC gave us a party. It was bittersweet. We laugh and cried ourselves to the point of utter exhaustion. We were overwhelmed by all the expressions of love from the UPC family.

While I miss UPC, I know I am where God wants me to be. The people of Village Seven have gone out of their way to welcome us and make us feel at home. That, too, has been overwhelming.

So, we are embarking on a new chapter of life and ministry with great anticipation about what God will do in us, through us, and even in spite of us. I certainly would appreciate your prayers.

Missing God's Plan A?

In my sermon yesterday on Jonah, as sort of a side point, I noted how gracious it was of God to send the storm into Jonah’s life because it was God’s way of getting Jonah back on course. I said that one of the great lies that Satan would have us believe is that, because of our sin, or because of bad decisions that we have made, we can be off course in our lives, forever relegated to God’s plan B because we messed up God’s plan A for our lives. That simply is not true. In the message, I quoted from Reggie Kidd’s With One Voice a point that I posted here earlier.

Some have asked me to clarify what I meant. Do I really believe that we cannot mess up God’s plan for our lives and be on a second rate plan when we could have had a first-rate life? First of all, let me say that, in sermon, you can’t say everything on a subject. Of course, our sin and poor decisions have consequences. Yet, I do believe that God works through everything—including our sin and poor decisions—to bring about His will. There are a number of examples of this in Scripture. The most famous is when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in the book of Genesis. The end result of that was that Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt. Because he was the Prime Minister of Egypt, he was able to save his family—including the brothers who had betrayed him—from starvation. Their sin actually resulted in their good. Joseph summarizes it this way in Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (NASB). Does that somehow justify their sin? Of course not. Or, as Paul says in Romans 6:1-2, “May it never be!” Still, God is so mighty and sovereign that He even uses our sin and folly for our good. He is that big.

One of the best articles I have read on this topic is an essay by J. I. Packer on guidance. It is in his book Hot Tub Religion. Packer notes that modern evangelicals are extremely anxious about knowing God’s will. In other generations, this was not a primary concern, but it appears to be one today. He believes that “The source of anxiety is that a desire for guidance is linked with uncertainty about how to get it and fear of the consequences of not getting it.” While he notes that a desire to know God’s guidance is a sign of spiritual health, the fear of spiritual ruin through mistaking God’s guidance is a sign of unthinking unbelief. He summarizes the fear as follows:

God’s plan for your life is like an itinerary drawn up for you by a travel agent. As long as you are in the right place at the right time to board each plan or train or bus or boat, all is well. But miss one of these preplanned connections, and the itinerary is ruined. A revised plan can only ever be second-best compared with the original plan.

The assumption is that God lacks either the will or the wisdom to get you back on track. A substandard spiritual life is all that is now open to you. You may not be on the scrapheap, but you are on the shelf, having forfeited much of your usefulness. Your mistake sentences you to live and serve God as a second-rate Christian.

…The kernel of truth in the above scenario is that bad decisions have sad consequences from which we cannot expected to be shielded. But beyond that the fear described expresses nothing more than unbelief regarding the goodness, wisdom, and power of God. God can and does restore the years that the locusts have eaten (see Joel 2:25). Scripture shows us a number of saints making great and grievous mistakes about the will of God for them—Jacob fooling his father, Moses murdering the Egyptian, David numbering the people, Peter boycotting Gentile believers—yet none became incurably second-class. On the contrary, they were each forgiven and restored. This is how all true saints live.

This chapter of Hot Tub Religion is posted in three parts on the website of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The part I quoted from here comes from the article titled Wisdom Along the Way.

The Church as a Religious Cushion

I am rereading Jack Miller's Outgrowing the Ingrown Church and came across this quote:

The local church was intended by Jesus to be a gathering of people full of faith--strong in their confidence in Him--not a gathering of religious folk who desperately need reassurance. Perhaps seeking personal comfort is not wrong in itself. But it is desperately wrong when it becomes the primary reason for the existence of the local church. When that happens, the local church is no living fellowship at all, but a retreat center where anxious people draw resources that enable them merely to cope with the pains of life. The church then becomes a religious cushion.

The gospel certainly is therapeutic (in the best sense of the word) and the church is a hospital for sinners who have been broken by the Fall. However, it is supposed to far more than that. God never calls you in unless He also intends to send you out. If the church merely serves as a retreat center for anxious people, then she is not being faithful to her missionary calling.

Women in Ministry

Earlier this month, UPC hosted Carolyn James to speak on the topic of women in ministry. Carolyn did a wonderful job talking about the need for a “blessed alliance” between men and women. She explained how men and women need each other and should work together throughout the church’s ministry.

Carolyn intentionally did not deal with some of the controversial issues surrounding the role of women in ministry. That was not the purpose of her talk. However, because these issues were not discussed, that left some people with a number of important questions about the role of women at UPC. In fact, some may even have left with the impression that there are no distinctions between the roles of men and women in the home or in the church. Others may have left thinking that the only reason UPC does not ordain women to the office of elder is because we are in the PCA. Still others may have thought that male-only elders is a hindrance to ministry. None of these are true. UPC does not ordain women as elders because we believe this is the biblical position. Furthermore, we do not believe that the difference in roles for men and women is a product of culture, but is rooted in creation. That is, the difference in the roles of men and women is part of the way God structured the world and is good for both men and women. As a result, UPC does not believe this in any way is a hindrance to its ministry.

In the discussions about the role of women in the church (and the home, for that matter), one of my concerns is that the church is trying to find ways to make the biblical position more palatable to our culture. Some even want to circumvent the biblical teaching through the subtlety of nuanced definitions. Others seem to hide behind the Apostle Peter’s words that some things in Paul’s letters are difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:16). Since it is difficult to understand, they throw out its teaching altogether. However, if one believes that the Scriptures are our only authority of what we are to believe and how we are to live, then we must seek to understand the Word of God as clearly as possible and then apply it as faithfully as possible to our own cultural context. That includes passages like 1 Timothy 2:12-15. The goal of trying to be acceptable to the culture around us is an objective that is fraught with peril.

Of course, blindly following tradition has its own perils. Dr. Bryan Chapell is fond of asking, “Which is more unbiblical; to permit what God forbids or to forbid what God permits?” That, of course, is a trick question. Both are equally unbiblical. For years, conservatives have complained that liberals have sinned by permitting what God forbids. Because they did not want to commit this error, some believed it was better to err on the side of caution by not allowing women to serve in areas where Scripture might actually permit them to serve. As Dr. Chapell notes, the “error on the side of caution” is just as egregious an error as the one it is guarding against.

Some time this summer, I hope to write my own thoughts about what the Bible says regarding the role of women. In the meantime, UPC publishes its official statement on women in ministry in its Discovery Class manual and will soon be on our website. This position paper was originally written by Dr. and Mrs. Tim Keller. Dr. Keller is the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in New York. When the UPC elders adopted this paper in 1997, they made some modifications to the Kellers’ position. These modifications are significant and are clearly stated on the first page. One part of UPC’s position on that page needs clarification. UPC has taken no position on the ordination of women as deacons. However, the PCA has. Out of submission to the PCA, we do not ordain deacons. I have not studies that issue fully, but hope to in the near future.

Christ Kingdom Church

I had the privilege of preaching at Christ Kingdom Church (CKC) a cople of weeks ago. Christ Kingdom is a daughter church of UPC, the church where I serve. Scott Puckett, the pastor of CKC is true friend and brother in Christ. Before launching CKC, Scott served with me at UPC for about 11 years, dating back to his time in seminary. Also, about half of the people at CKC used to be at UPC. We sent them out along with Scott and Laura Puckett to start this new church. So, it was great to get together with old friends and see how God is blessing the expansion of His church. It was also wonderful to see how many people at CKC I did not know. The church is effectively reaching out in its community.

American Idol and the Hope of the World

Last night on American Idol, the theme of the show was “American Idol Gives Back.” As part of the theme, the contestants sang songs of hope and compassion. Towards the end of the show, Melinda Doolittle sang the Faith Hill song, There Will Come A Day. The next contestant, Blake Lewis sang John Lennon’s classic, Imagine. The two songs present two radically different views of hope for this world. In fact, they are diametrically opposed to one another. If you like the lyrics to one, you could not like the lyrics to the other.

There Will Come A Day is sort of a gospel song. Without directly mentioning Jesus, it contains some strong allusions to the biblical view of the coming kingdom. Here is the final verse:

There will come a day, there will come a day
The song will ring out, down those golden streets
The voices of earth with the angels will sing
Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace
In the glory of His amazing grace
Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace
In the glory of His amazing grace
There will come a day, there will come a day
Oooh there will come a day
I know there's coming a day, coming a day.

This song celebrates the fact that one day, the world will be made right when Jesus consummates His kingdom, when every knee bows to His rule.

Contrast that to John Lennon’s Imagine. In Imagine¸ the hope of the world is that we will put aside all of our religious views and just get along. According to Lennon (and Lewis, I suppose), Christianity is part of the problem with this world. If we could just get rid of Christianity and all other religions, the world would be a wonderful place.

As Melinda Doolittle sang, and Christians believe, the only hope for this world is Jesus. That is why we pray “Thy kingdom come”. We long for Jesus to come and bring His peace. However, Satan’s lie is that Jesus is part of the problem. If we want peace, we must throw off the reign of God and Imagine that religion is part of the problem. That is the same lie Satan told to Adam and Eve in the Garden and it is the same lie people are celebrating in song today.

The Lost Tomb of Jesus

On Sunday, I started a new series at UPC on Reasons Not To Believe. My first message was on the controversial Discovery Channel documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus (Executive Producer is James Cameron, who won an Oscar for his movie, Titanic. The Director is Emmy Award winning director, Simcha Jacobovici) and its companion book, The Jesus Family Tomb (by Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pelligrino). While the book was poorly written, the documentary was produced very well. The filmmakers leave you with the impression that they have indeed found Jesus’ tomb and his remains.

When I first planned to do this message several weeks ago, the book was on the bestseller list and the documentary (which had not even been shown, yet) was causing quite a stir. It has been enjoyable to watch as this “controversial” project disintegrated so quickly. The debate ended before it started, primarily because most of the scholars who are quoted in the project have tried to distance themselves from it.

I have a couple of challenges in delivering a message like this one. First, it is difficult to make it a sermon rather than merely a lecture. The second challenge is that I have no way to footnote. So, below are some of the sources I used for this message. If you listened to my sermon and want to see the information for yourself, these would be good places to start.

• Article in the Jerusalem Post, Jesus tomb film scholars backtrack
• Cracks in the Foundation paper by Dr Pfann of the University of the Holy Land
• MARY MAGDALENE IS NOW MISSING by Dr Pfann
• Has the Tomb of Jesus Been Discovered? by Dr. Jodi Magness, Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Dr. Andrey Feuerverger explanation of his use of statistics - note the assumptions he used in making his calculations
• "Together at Last?" by Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., emeritus professor of biblical studies at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C

Hope this helps those who have questions.

Musings on Easter Sunday and Other Stuff

• The Worship Team's gospel rendition of Christ the Lord is Risen Today was truly amazing. It hit all the right notes for Easter Sunday--celebrative, victorious, joyous, and worshipful.
  
• E. V. Hill's It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin' is one the greatest Easter sermons of the 20th century. I've never heard the whole thing, but that line alone is classic.
  
• After the service, I discovered that a lot of UPC people have recently been pulled over for speeding. It seems that all of the women either had the ticket reduced or got off with a warning. Can I file a case for sexual discrimination?
  
  Also, I asked my Monday morning Bible study to pray that God would give me a good illustration for Easter Sunday. They claim that my ticket was an answer to their prayers. If that is the case, I think they should help me pay it.
  
  Since I used it in a sermon, can I write it off as a business expense? Probably not.
  
• I sent out a last-minute call to prayer on Wednesday and received a wonderful response from the congregation. The interplay between prayer and sovereignty is a mystery to me, but I know that God moves when His people pray. A side benefit was that knowing others were praying was an encouragement to me because it confirmed the truth we are all co-laborers in the work of taking the gospel to our community and the world. We truly are in this together.
  
• On Sports - Tiger Woods is mortal after all. So is Roger Federer. The Magic are driving me crazy.
  
• Joke of the Day - Did you hear that there is a movement to reduce the number of states to 49? After the football and basketball season, it is clear that Florida owns Ohio.
  
• Quote of the Day - Speaking of the God who mocks in Psalm 2: "He scoffs at the demons who mock my redemption as though the besetting sins I have yet to shake in thirty years of following Christ could lessen my Father's commitment to see my salvation through. God chortles at the way those same voices try to keep me looking back over my shoulder at the many places I could have--should have--zigged but zagged instead. As if anything could keep him from directing my steps despite whatever inanity goes into how I plan the way (Prov. 16:9)." (Reggie Kidd, With One Voice, pp.45-46).

5 Minutes to Save a Life

I sent this out as an email to the UPC family. In case some missed it, I am posting it here:

Dear UPC Family,

Would you spend 5 minutes a day everyday between now and Sunday praying for our Easter Service? As you know, on Easter Sunday, we have the opportunity to share the love of Christ with many people who do not regularly attend church. This experience for them can either be a nice religous/cultural outing or it can be radically life changing. For it to be radically life changing, the Holy Spirit must move in their hearts. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit moves when God's people pray. Our usual expectation is that we have a good crowd for Easter and things go back to normal the next day. Let's ask God to do more than that at UPC this Sunday. Here is what you can do:

1. Find a time each day for the next few days when you can pray. You can do this as a family (in fact, that might be best when you can).

2. Pray for me, that God would give me the right words to say. I will be giving a message of hope. Our prayer is that they leave with the hope of the gopsel ringing in their hearts.

3. Pray for the Worship Team as they lead us. May we truly worship the risen Christ. As unbelievers gather with us, may they be drawn to worship Him, too.

4. Pray for our greeters, hosts, and ushers. May our members and guest both see the love of Christ displayed in these servants of the Lord.

5. Pray for the Sunday School teachers, Children's Church teachers, and nursery workers. Pray that God would use them to capture the hearts of children. We know from experience if the kids have a positive experience, we have a great chance of connecting with the parents.

6. Pray for our Easter ad in the East Orange Sun. Pray that people who do not attend church will see it and God would move their hearts to come.

7. Pray for the Easter cards that you recieved in the bulletin on Sunday and that people will be handing out. Pray that God would use that to bring people out.

8. Pray for the people who will be sitting next to guests who come this Sunday. Pray that they will reach out to them with the love of Christ.

9. Pray that people will come back the next Sunday for our Follow Up series on "Reasons Not To Believe".

10. If you are committing to pray, could you email me at MBates@upc-orlando.com and let me know?

Finally, while I am asking (begging, pleading, exhorting, urging) everyone at UPC to pray for 5 minutes a day, I am also requesting that some of you join me in fasting starting with the end of our Maundy Thursday Service and ending with the Good Friday dinner celebration. Even if you are not attending these two events, you can join in fasting during those times. Fasting is a spiritual discipline when we forego food because we hunger to see God's glory and kingdom even more than we hunger for food. Again, if you are joining me in the fast, let me know that as well. I am only asking you to let me know because I need the encouragement that we are all in this together--that is part of what it means to be a church.

Thank you for your prayers.

Singing with the Dead

As I mentioned in my last post, I read Reggie Kidd's With One Voice. In the book, Reggie makes a case for diversity in worship. Citing Psalm 22, Reggie notes that our "Singing Savior" invites all the families of the earth to worship including the poor and the rich, those who have died and those not yet born. Reggie draws a number of implications from this (and other texts), one of which is the importance of tradition. He writes:

This expression of the living connection between the church in heaven and the church on earth is correct. As G. K. Chesterton observes, honoring tradition is how we give the dead their voice in our community. And that is important, because their voice is a part of Jesus's voice." (p. 129).

There is a lot we can learn from dead people. C. S. Lewis points out somewhere the arrogance of believing what is modern is, by definition, better. The brothers and sisters who have gone before us have much to teach us. That is one reason it is helpful for us to read the writings of the teachers that God has given the church throughout history. It is also why it is important to join with the ancients in song by singing the old hymns. Not only do we learn from their expressions of worship, but it reminds us that we are part of a community of faith that is far greater and far more vast than what we see today.

It saddens me that we are raising a generation that does not know the old hymns. I realize that the hymnody that I was raised on only goes back a 200-300 years (there are some exceptions) and does not truly cover the history of the church. Still, there is a reason these hymns endured. There is a richness to them. So often in my prayers, the words of the hymns of my youth come to mind. The old hymn writers had a way of expressing my heart that I could not do on my own. Sadly, we are raising a generation that does not know these hymns and, when they hear them, cannot appreciate them.

In terms of music style, the church I pastor tends towards contemporary music. I am very grateful that our worship director incorporates many hymns in our worship, usually with a contemporary arrangement. Often, he retains the traditional melody while dressing it with modern instrumentation. I am also delighted that there seems to be a movement among groups like Indelible Grace and Sovereign Grace Music to introduce a new generation to the songs of the past. But these groups have only begun to scratch the surface and, let's face it, many of our people have difficulty with the words.

Still (and this is probably just nostalgia), I miss not only the words, but the music and style as well. It is not that I am a classical music buff or that I want to turn the clock back, I just don't want to lose my Christian heritage. I grew up singing in choirs from childhood through college. I learned so much that is still with me in singing choral works from Bach to Mendelssohn. I remember laboring over Brahm's German Requium, and singing the Messiah so much that the story of Christ was embazened in my memory. While I probably will never buy a CD of organ music, I remember hearing the organ thunder in church calling us to worship. Plus, how can you sing "For All the Saints" or "Guide Me, O, Thou Great Jehovah" without an organ?

Of course, those who are steeped in tradition need to learn the importance of contemporary forms of worship. Here are two more quotes from Reggie on that subject:

Musically, we are called to do the best we can with the musical idioms we have inherited so we can help the next generation hear the Savior's song and take up their own voice in response (p. 132).

Because the King matters to me, his people have to matter to me. Accordingly, it has to matter to me that my Singing Savior surrounds himself with so many whose ways of singing are so utterly different from mine. It has to matter to me that Jesus hears harmonies that sound cacophonous to me. It has to matter to me that he dances to rhythmns that do not move me (pp. 129-130).

One time I was doing some consulting for a congregation that was caught up in the "worship wars" (talk about an oxymoron!). I told them "If Jesus died for you, then certainly you can sing some songs that don't suit your taste." Reggie is saying the same thing, only better and far more tactfully. Our love for the next generation should enable us to put our musical preferences aside so that they can express their heart in the musical forms of their subculture. Just as Jesus accomodated Himself to us so that we might worship Him, we should accomodate ourselves to others so that they might worship Christ in their own cultural language as well.

All this to say, we need to join with the ancient voices who have gone before us in our worship. We also need to sing new songs with the voices of today. That is part of the beauty and richness of the church.

What Scares Me

I am afraid. I am afraid for my children and the children of our church. I am afraid for them because they are growing up in a culture that is increasingly hostile to their faith. It is not that I fear that they will be overtly persecuted. Rather, I fear that the culture will suck the life out of their faith and seduce them away.

The world my children are growing up in is very different from the one of my childhood. That is even more true of the culture in which they will live as adults. I grew up in the South during an era where most people went to church. Even those who did not go to church were respectful of Christian values and probably had some level of biblical literacy. Those who sought to walk faithfully with Christ in my high school stood out, but not like they do today. Being a Christian did not put one on the outside. Being a Christian was perfectly acceptable, even respectable.

Today, that is not the case. It is not that Christians are persecuted, or even directly ridiculed for their faith. Rather, our faith seems totally irrelevant to the people of the world. We no longer share the same values with our culture in regard to marriage, sexual purity, or other moral issues. People actually think it is strange—not just wrong, but weird—that Christians believe that sex is reserved for marriage. I have counseled adults in dating relationships who were considering marriage. When I told them they should not sleep together until they were married, they looked at me as if I was crazy. They thought I was joking. Our values make no sense to the culture around us. This is the world in which my children live.

I am afraid that my children’s hearts will be lured away by a world that tells them that their faith is irrelevant and out-of-date. I am afraid the culture might get them. I have reasons for this fear. I have seen it happen to good kids from good families who were well-grounded in the faith. I am not a Nervous Nelly. This danger is real.

I am currently reading a book on worship by Reggie Kidd called With One Voice. Reggie sums up the problem (and even prescribes a solution) in his first chapter with these words:

Disbelief today is not a funciton of logic; it stems from a loss of imagination. When a college student is told by her professor that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John cannot be read as literal truth anymore, it's not the supporting evidence he offers that does her in. . . It's the professor's imperious tone of voice--and the fact that when our student looks around the classroom she sees no hands raised in dissent. She doesn't know anybody whose life is governed by the Gospels. . . This is what theologian David Kelsey means when he says that faith is faltering because "plausibility structures" have decayed: "authoritative community" has been in decline, and a culture of disbelief has taken over. The facts haven't changed. The things that make the Christian hope thinkable have changed. (Kidd, Reggie, With One Voice, Baker Books, pp. 22-23)

That is what scares me. My kids are growing up in a world where the plausibility structures for the faith are decaying and a culture of disbelief has taken over.

As if that were not enough, I am afraid that if the culture doesn’t get them directly, then some form of passionless Christianity will. I am afraid that they will go to church on Sundays, maybe even teach Sunday School or lead a small group, but live for the world the rest of the time. I am afraid that I will raise daughters (and that our church will raise children) that will follow Christ as long as the path is comfortable and doesn’t demand too much. This is the sort of Christianity that sings, “All to Jesus I surrender . . .as long as I can still have my DirecTV, cell phone, nice car, eat out twice a week, and it doesn’t affect my schedule or require me to move out of my comfort zone.” In other words, it is the type of Christianity that adds a little religion into an already full-life. What scares me about this danger is that I am afraid that they will learn it from me.

I know that I (we) need to make sure that our kids are well-grounded in the faith. They need a solid grasp of the gospel and Scripture, a robust Christian world and life view, and good models in their parents. Yet, even if they get all that, I am still afraid. Ultimately, what they need are my prayers. Only God can steer their hearts. So, my prayer for my kids (and, by extension, the kids of our church) is that they will have a strong, robust faith that will enable them to say to Him with joy, “Wherever you lead, I will follow. Whatever you ask, I will do.” The result will be, at the end of their lives, they can say with David Livingston (quoted by Piper);

“Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”

Securing the Future

Here is some good news for the UPC family. A month ago, we exercised our option to buy the remaining 11 acres from Devonwood Farms. We bought the original 5 acres prior to building our new sanctuary. For the next two years, Devonwood will continue to lease back the property. So, instead of UPC paying for the option each month, we now are receiving rent payments each month. While we are making a mortgage payment on the property, this still is a significant improvement. Our payments are lower and we now own 26 acres of beautiful real estate.

That is not all! Because of the success of the Momentum campaign in the fall, we already have made a significant step towards paying it off. Today, I received an email from our treasurer, Roy Stevens, saying that our balance on the property already has been reduced to $212,000. As Roy said, "God is being good to us and it appears His people are being faithful to their pledges. Lets pray that continues and we can close this down quickly!!!"

Tony Dungy and Traditional Marriage

Have I mentioned that I like Tony Dungy? Just a few times. Tony Dungy, the first African-American to coach in the Superbowl (along with Lovie Smith), the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl, and a man who seeks to live out his Christian faith in every area of life, was criticized recently because he spoke at a fundraiser for the Indiana Family Institute, an affiliate of Focus on the Family. At the event, Coach Dungy expressed his support for traditional families and a ban on gay marriage.
Even before Dungy showed up to speak, he was under heavy criticism for even attending the event. Now, the chorus of critics has grown stronger, implying that a) he shouldn't express his political views and/or b) he is a homophobic gay hater. In response to this criticism, Coach Dungy said:
"We're not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we're trying to promote the family — family values the Lord's way. IFI is saying what the Lord says. You can take that and make your decision on which way you want to be."
Nothing that Coach Dungy said was hateful or mean-spirited. He simply has a conviction--based on the Bible--that homosexuality is wrong. For this conviction, he is labeled an evil man. I have said before, that unless you say that homosexuality is just as acceptable as heterosexuality, then our culture will accuse you of the great sins of prejudice and bigotry. You will be called a religious extremist, the equivalent of the 9-11 terrorists.
Interestingly, I first heard of Dungy's speech on ESPN radio. The host, Colin Cowherd, is not a religious person and holds a number of views I find objectionable. Yet, even he gave Dungy an admirable defense. His defense was simply this, "If you believe the Bible like Tony Dungy does, and most of you say that you do, then you have to agree with Tony Dungy." He then went on to say that he agreed with Tony Dungy because, "I just happen to believe a kid growing up is better off if his dad's name is Frank and not Heather." Cowherd also noted that other celebrities are praised for sharing their political views while Dungy is being criticized. I guess sharing your political views is only acceptable if you have the "right" political views.
I write all this to say that I think Tony Dungy is a good model for us in how we deal with the politically charged issue of homosexuality. He is man who shows both truth and grace without compromising either. That is exactly what Christ calls us to do as well.

The Abortion War

One of the challenges facing modern Christians is, how can we be salt and light in our society given the fact that we are living in a post-Christian culture that views us with suspicion. One of the places this is most challenging is around the issue of abortion. Those who are committed to the full authority of Scripture are virtually unanimous in our belief that abortion is wrong because abortion is the unwarranted ending of a human life. Since this is our conviction, we are committed to protecting the lives of the unborn. However, we live in a culture that does not share our conviction. So, the question of how we influence our society in this area is an important tactical question.

My personal conviction is that protest do not work. Protests do not help convince anyone that abortion is wrong and, in the end, only seem to galvanize the opposition. Another tactic the prolife movement has tried is to influence the political process in an attempt to out law, or at least, limit abortion. While I am very supportive of this, I believe this has proven to have very limited potential. For 20 of the past 27 years, we have had a pro-life president. For several years, we had a Republican (and presumably pro-life) majority in the House and Senate. Yet, the "victories" for the pro-life movement have been very limited. Our attempts to grab the levers of power and force our agenda on others have not worked.

Does this mean we abandon the fight? No. Christians should always fight for justice. We should always be concerned for the powerless and the oppressed. The unborn fetus certainly fits the category of the powerless. So, we cannot abandon our call to fight for justice for the unborn. I think we ought to support pro-life candidates, encourage our elected officials to enact laws that protect the unborn, and do all that we can to save human lives. However, we need to be wise and realize that this is not the only place where we should be working.

Time Magazine recently had a very interesting cover story called "The Grassroots Abortion War". The article is interesting for several reasons. Overall, I believe the article is fair. The writer is careful not to demonize either pro-life advocates or abortion providers. Of course, I wish the writer had put some things differently. Still, considering the nature of Time magazine, it isn't bad.

The second reason the article is interesting is that it shows that our most effective strategy in combatting abortion is through "changing one heart at a time". True Life Choice is a local agency that does an excellent job with this. At UPC, we have participated in a number of projects in support of this ministry.

A third reason the article is interesting is that it shows the power of grace and humility in the battle over abortion. The most powerful part of the article is when fellow PCA pastor, Jeff Hutchinson of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Asheville was contacted by an abortion provider. The abortion provider called Jeff to complain about the tactics one of the members of Trinity was using to protest the clinic. Jeff asked to meet with the abortion provider. They got together at the Blue Moon Cafe. Here is what the abortion provider said about the encounter: "I thought they might be really defensive or judgmental. The first word out of their mouths was to ask our forgiveness that they hadn't dealt with this sooner. I think we were all surprised."

What a terrific testimony that was. I think Jeff has provided a great example for us. As Christians, we must maintain our convictions. The Word of God is not negotiable. We also must continue to fight for justice, which includes protecting the unborn. At the same time, we must live out the gospel by being people who are marked by love, humility and repentance.

Jury Duty

I am at Jury Duty today and it isn't all bad. The room is comfortable with free wireless internet. I have done some of my study for next week's sermon, and enjoyed a bit of study of a book that I have been wanting to read. So, it is turning out to be a productive day after all.

I have already been rejected as a juror in one case during the voir dire process. They called 16 of us back to seat a panel of six. I knew I would not be chosen simply by the question the defense attorney asked me. Here is how it went:

Attorney: "Mr. Bates, I see you are a minister. With your occupation, do you think it is possible for you to be fair?"

Me: "I don't understand the question. What is it about my occupation that would make it seem like I could not be fair?"

Attorney: "Uhh, you know, you are a minister. I assume that you have deep convictions."

So, there you have it. People with convictions can't be fair jurors.

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Also, while surfing the web, I tried to go to the PCA's website and it was blocked by the county's fire wall. Here is the error message I received:

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Reason: The Websense category "Traditional Religions" is filtered

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I am glad to know that our county's internet service is protecting us from dangers on the internet like traditional religions. Can you imagine what might happen if someone accidentally stumbled onto a Baptist site? Meanwhile, I walk by another guy and he was playing online poker. I guess we can't violate his civil rights, can we?

Somehow, I don't think our founding fathers would recognize this place.

Christianity and Homosexuality

This Sunday night (March 4), UPC is hosting an event on Homosexuality and the Church.” That event, combined with two recent events in the national news, has brought homosexuality to the forefront for some of us.

The first national event occurred in the sports arena. A couple of weeks ago, former Orlando Magic player, John Amaechi, revealed that he is a homosexual. He did this in conjunction with promoting his new book, Man in the Middle. Since he is the only former or current NBA player to reveal that he is gay, this news was the dominant topic on all sports talk programs.

Shortly after Amaechi went public, former Miami Heat player, Tim Hardaway, was asked what he thought about it on a local sports talk station in Miami. I am sure the host thought he was lobbing a softball and expecting some innocuous response from Hardaway. Instead, Hardaway said, “You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

The second event that put homosexuality on my radar was a story I heard on NPR. A church in Phoenix, Arizona recently hosted a conference sponsored by Focus on the Family called “Love Won Out.” It is a conference designed to help people to find freedom from homosexuality. This conference and even the idea that homosexuals need to change has drawn considerable protest.
Clinton Anderson, who directs the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Office in Washington, D.C., for the American Psychological Association, said “the promotion of such therapies contributes to the climate of prejudice and discrimination in this country.”

I think many Evangelical Christians would prefer simply to bury their heads in the sand and hope the issue of homosexuality will just go away. There are many other things we would prefer to discuss. However, the issue is not going to go away. So, we cannot avoid it.

One of the reasons many Evangelicals want to avoid the issue is that we are embarrassed by it. I remember seeing a bumper sticker a few years ago that said “Hatred is not a family value.” At first the bumper sticker angered me because some people think if you are against immorality that you are a hate-filled bigot. However, the real reason it bothered me is because it pricked my conscience. It exposed my self-righteousness. I am against sex outside the context of marriage. I am against homosexuality. However, if my zeal for righteousness causes me to hate fornicators and homosexuals, then something is terribly wrong. If your zeal to be right causes you to hate or despise those who do wrong, then not only are you yourself breaking God’s law, but it reveals that you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It bothers me that Christians are often filled with contempt for the people of the world. Hatred and contempt for those outside the faith by religious people, reveals that they (the religious people) are nothing more than whitewashed tombs (that is Paul’s and Jesus’ terminology). The religious trimmings on the outside hide death, decay and rot on the inside.

When we hate people because they are sinners, then that reveals we don’t understand the gospel. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says, “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:3-5).

To hate gay people because they are gay is ignorant, self-righteous, and offensive to God. So, without any fear of caving into “Political correctness”, Christians should stand alongside the mainstream media in condemning the remarks of Mr. Hardaway.

At the same time, while Christ calls us to love sinners, even as we have been loved, that does not mean we are to do away with the biblical definition of sin. The Bible defines what is and what is not sin for us. It is God’s law and He doesn’t put it up for a vote. It does not change with the times. If it was sin 2000 years ago, it is still sin today. If we succumb to the notion that the culture defines what is and is not sin, then that would mean that slavery was not sin in the days prior to the Civil War and the abuse of women under the reign of the Taliban was not sin prior to our invasion.

Still, we must recognize that, if we say that homosexuality is sin and, if we say that it is desirable for those who are homosexuals to change their behavior, our culture will accuse us of the ultimate cultural sins of prejudice and bigotry. In a radio interview, John Amaechi was very clear in saying that he did not want mere “tolerance”. He doesn’t want us merely to tolerate his homosexuality. He wants us to accept it as being okay. Anyone who does not accept it as okay is a bigot.

So, what do we do? First, we must love sinners. Just as God has shown compassion and mercy on us, we should show compassion and mercy on our fellow sinners.

Secondly, we must be careful that we do not “cherry pick” which sins offend us and which sins do not. For example, Christians notoriously get up in arms about homosexuality but only shrug at culturally acceptable sins such as greed, gluttony, self-righteousness, pride, arrogance, and judgmental attitudes. I still contend that greed and heterosexual fornication are causing far more damage in our culture and in the church than homosexuality. Also, we must remember that according to the Bible, the reason God judged Sodom was not primarily because men practiced homosexuality, Instead, Ezekiel 16:49 tells us, "'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”

Thirdly, we must remember that we are aliens in a strange land. I do not see either the Jews in exile or the Apostle Paul in the Roman world having as their primary agenda to reform the sexual practices of their cultures. I do not see in Scripture any model for this being a primary goal of the church. I am not sure fighting the battle of forcing our moral views (even though God’s moral law applies to all people) on the culture regarding homosexuality is a wise tactic. We need to wake up and realize that we are no longer living in a Christian culture but are living in a post-Christian culture. As Christians, we are called to redeem every part of life, to bring all of life under the lordship of Christ. However, we need to be wise in how we interact with our culture and how we set our priorities. Again, I believe the Jews in exile and the early church serve as good models for us here. So, let’s act wisely.

Fourthly, we must remember that acting wisely is not a call to passivity. I believe that there are some significant negative social consequences to redefining the family in a way that no longer resembles the "traditional" family. So, as Christians and as good citizens, I think we have good reasons for wanting the definition of marriage to be one man married to one woman.

Fifthly, we cannot allow the culture to tell us what is and what is not sin. The Bible defines that for us. Christians must accept the fact that we are going to be out of step with the culture. We will be accused of bigotry. Hopefully, by our acts of love and compassion, we can prove these charges wrong, at least in the eyes of some. However, we must hold firm on the Bible no matter what the cost. As we do so, I believe the Scriptures, particularly the General Epistles, will come alive to us in even greater ways because we will be able to identify with our brothers and sisters who suffered for teh faith before us.

Communicating

Do you remember the main point of a sermon you heard last month? How about last week? If you are like most people, probably not. RC Sproul once commented that you only remember about five sermons in your lifetime. For the preacher, that can be very discouraging.

I believe that the Bible changes lives. I also believe that preaching is one of the means God has ordained to transform the lives of His people. I also believe there is something special, something high and holy, almost mystical about the preaching that is different from Bible studies. Yet, if nobody is listening to what I say, or if nobody remembers on Monday what I said on Sunday, then I am not sure how the Holy Spirit is using it.

Because of this, I want to become a better preaching. To help me towards that goal, I have been reading two very different books. One is a book that anyone who tries to communicate anything will enjoy. The other is specifically aimed at preachers.

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Made to Stick, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (Random House, 2007) explains why some ideas survive and others die. The Heath brothers take the idea of stickyness, a word coined by Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point, and argue that ideas that stick meet the SUCCESs criteria--Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories.

There are two reasons why I would recommend this book. The first is, it is full of interesting stories. While they do not write as well as Gladwell, it is still a fun read. The second reason I would recommend it is that the information is helpful to anyone. The authors do not tell you anything that you do not know. We all know that ideas need to be simple. We all know that stories help. However, while we know those things, we (or, I should say, I) fail to incorporate these things into many of my messages. The authors give the reader an idea of how to use the SUCCESs criteria to communicate more effectively.

The second book I am reading is Preaching with Freshness by Bruce Mawhinney. If you are not a preacher, this book probably won't interest you. If you are a preacher, I think you will enjoy it. It is Jay Adam's Preaching with Freshness put in narrative form. Those who preach in more "contemporary" settings may have to translate some of Mawhinney's ideas to their own subculture, but much of the stuff here is transferrable. If you haven't thought much about the art of preaching since your last homeletics class in seminary, then this is a good refresher.

Reading these books is the easy part. The challenge is putting their ideas into practice.

Florida in February

It is February and my azaleas are in full bloom. They started blooming two weeks ago. Is that supposed to happen? It must be global warming.

I bet my friends in the north could use a bit of global warming right now. I hate to rub it in, but, while you all are working up a sweat under your down parkas shovelling snow, I have been working up a sweat going on bike rides and playing tennis. Florida is beautiful this time of year. Of course, I couldn't write this in August.

If you go to the Capital building in Washington DC, you will see that every state has two statues of people there to represent their state. One of the statues from Florida is of Dr. John Gorrie. He invented artificial refrigeration. If you have ever been to Florida in July or August, then you know why Dr. Gorrie is our hero. This place would be unihabitable without air conditioning. Even now, the AC is running in our offices and it is February.

Esther and Holy War

I mentioned Holy War in my sermon on Sunday and did not have time to flesh out all of my thoughts on this. So, here is an attempt to say some more on the subject. The problem is, the topic is so broad that it is quite possible that this lengthy article will only add to the confusion. As Richard Pratt is fond of saying, “You can’t say everything. If you try to say everything then you won’t say anything.” Richard can probably cite this article as an example of that. Here goes anyway!

Let me give some of the main points first, and then I will flesh out some of it (but not all of it!)

• Holy War in the Old Testament was a means of God’s judgment on the nations
• Holy War is a foretaste of the judgment of God, aka, “the Day of the Lord”
• We are not worthy to bring God’s judgment. Only the Lamb who was slain is. Therefore, we should not engage in violence as a means of waging Holy War.
• Instead of judging, God calls us to love our enemies. Vengeance belongs to Him alone.
• Christ won the Holy War on the cross when He faced the judgment of God. It was there that He faced “the Day of the Lord” on behalf of all who are in Christ. Also on the cross, Jesus conquered the spiritual powers through His death and resurrection.
• Holy War in the New Testament is a spiritual conflict.

Background

On Sunday, while preaching through the book of Esther, I talked some about Holy War. To give a little context, there is considerable debate as to whether or not the massacre of Esther 9 (the events celebrated in the Jewish festival of Purim) truly qualify as Holy War. My reason for believing that this is an example of Holy War is that the writer mentions three times in a very short span that the Jews did not lay their hands on the plunder (9:10,15, 16). By repeating himself like that, the writer is trying to make a point. I believe the point he is making is that the Jews, in their fight against Haman the Agagite (aka the Amalekite) succeed in obeying where King Saul failed. King Saul was told to wipe out the Amalekites and to destroy the plunder (1 Samuel 15:2-3). He disobeys God and keeps the plunder. So, when the Jews again are at war with the Amalekites (via Haman) in the book of Esther, they do not take the plunder. By not taking the plunder, they show that they understood these events as being governed by God’s command of war against the Amalekites.

Holy War as God’s Judgment

The term “Holy War” is a term that scares us today, and rightly so. We have seen all sorts of atrocities committed in the name of Jihad, or Holy War. Some of the most disturbing parts of the Bible—the parts of the Bible that many people find offensive—are the sections where we find God commanding His people to go to war, and, not just to go to war, but to slaughter every living thing. How could a God of love, of peace, and mercy, command the nation of Israel to wipe out the Amalekites, the Canaanites and others?

The term itself, “Holy War” sounds like an oxymoron. How anything as ugly as war ever be called holy? War is holy when God Himself is the Warrior. The reason God is a warrior is because God is the righteous judge over all the earth. As the judge over all the earth, God was exercising justice on evil when He commanded the kings and armies of Israel to punish other nations. Scripture makes it clear that these acts of judgment on the nations came about as God’s response to their gross evil and rebellion (cf. Genesis 15:16, Genesis 19:20ff, Deuteronomy 25:17-19).

So, Holy War was not merely an excuse for ethnic cleansing, but was God’s means of bringing about justice through the agency of God’s servants, the kings and armies of Israel.

Only God is Worthy to Judge

Holy War was only to be taken up at God’s command. In Holy War, God’s people were not to act on their own. Rather, Israel’s rulers and armies were to be instruments of God’s justice not their own vengeance. The trouble is, Israel’s rulers often abused their power. That may even be the case here with Esther. In fact, this chapter very well could also be serving as an example of both Esther and Mordecai abusing their power and seeking vengeance on their enemies. Certainly, Esther’s call for another day of slaughter, together with her request to hang (literally, impale) Haman’s sons (who were already dead seems to be vengeful. “If that is the case, then this story may be here to show that no one is worthy to wage true holy war in God’s name.” (Karen H. Jobes). If that is true, then this chapter of the book of Esther could be serving a very similar function as the book of Judges. The point of the book of Judges was that Israel needed a righteous king because, without a king, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” and the results were disastrous. In the same way, this chapter of the book of Esther could be showing how we need a Righteous Judge over all the earth who will bring about justice without abuse.

This is why the New Testament calls us not to judge others. The command “Do not judge” does not mean that we are not to be discerning. Rather, it means that we are not to bring down judgment. The reason we are not to do so is because we are not worthy. We are sinners and cannot judge properly.

However, there is one who is worthy to judge. In the book of Revelation, there is this dramatic scene in Revelation 5. There is a scroll that is sealed with seven seals. No one is worthy to open the scroll. When John sees this, he begins to weep. Then, one of the elders says, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then John saw “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.” It is after this, we have the wonderful chorus made famous by Handel’s Messiah – “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” What does the Lamb do by opening the scroll? He unleashes judgment, God’s “Holy War” on the earth.

So, the reason Holy War was valid in the Old Testament is because God is worthy to judge and He used Israel as His instrument of justice. In the New Testament, God has not laid aside His “Holy War”. Instead, we see that we are not worthy to bring about the justice in this sense. The Lamb of God is. Our anger does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

Holy War and “The Day of the Lord”

If Holy War is an act of God’s judgment, then Holy War is merely a foretaste of “the great and terrible day of the Lord.” That is the case with all acts of judgment. The trumpets of the book of Revelation are reminders that all disasters, both natural and human-initiated, are mere warnings of the great day of judgment to come when the Lord returns.

Throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testament, we read about an event called “The Day of the Lord”. That phrase, “Day of the Lord” appears 24 times in the Bible. In every case it refers to a day of judgment, when God’s anger is poured out on the earth against sin.1 The prophet Malachi calls it “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

So, the Bible warns us that God the righteous Judge will bring justice to the earth. There will come a day, the great and terrible Day of the Lord, when justice will be served and every sin will be punished. Some like Haman and the other enemies who were wanting to destroy the Jews, meet that day of justice early, but all of us will face it.

This day of the Lord is the day when Christ returns. For those who are with Christ, this will be a day of joy because our King has come. For those outside of Christ, it will mean judgment. So, the same day that brings rejoicing for Christians, brings wailing for those who are not ready for that day. (By the way, I believe Esther 9 gives us a foretaste of this. God’s people are rejoicing and their enemies are destroyed).

Peter writes about this day in his second letter:

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:9-10)

Peter tells us that the day of the Lord is coming, but that it hasn’t come yet. Why? Because God is patient, giving people time to come to repentance. To repent means to abandon your own course, and to adopt someone else’s. There are militaristic overtones to this phrase. To repent means to drop your allegiance to the kingdom of this world and swear your allegiance to the coming kingdom of God. In other words, it means to stop going the direction you are going with your life, and follow after God.

In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul puts it a little differently. He says,

2 Corinthians 5:20 -21 ²⁰ We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In times of war, an ambassador is usually someone who goes to bring peace, usually through negotiations. However that is not what this ambassador does. There are no negotiations. There are no conditions. Instead, the ambassador is simply announcing that the King is coming. His armies are with Him and are about to invade. When He arrives, the present kingdoms will be wiped away and replaced by His rule. There can only be one response and that is unconditional surrender. That is why in the gospels, we hear Jesus saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus is saying, “Turn away from your own kingdom and become a citizen of mine.”

It is here at the Day of the Lord where God’s justice and mercy collide. Two thousand years ago on the cross, Jesus, the Son of God, endured the great and terrible day of the Lord. On the cross, God the Father poured out His wrath against sin onto His own Son. That is the meaning of the cross. That is why Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It is because on the cross, He did not merely suffer a horrible physical death, but He also suffered the punishment for the sins of all who would hope in Him.

So, all are under the threat of Holy War. Some will face it on their own when the kingdom of God comes. Some will escape its judgment because they have already been judged in Christ. As Christians, we share in the body of Christ that already experienced the Day of the Lord on the cross. That is why we do not fear the coming Day. It no longer holds any threat for us, only promise.

Our Role in Holy War

We are not to bring judgment on others. Instead, vengeance belongs to the Lord alone. We do not have to worry about bringing about justice. Instead, God tells us in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.” Our calling then, is to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, show compassion, pray for them, and serve them. We are not to be God’s instrument of judgment. Instead, we are to be God’s ambassadors of salvation.

However, that does not mean that we are not engaged in Holy War at all. Instead, the Apostle Paul tells us that our Holy War is a spiritual battle. He says in Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

We are to wage war against sin and we are to wage war in a spiritual sense against the spiritual forces at work in the world. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So, we are not worthy to bring judgment. Yet, the examples of Holy War we see in the Old Testament are reminders that, even though we are not worthy to bring judgment, God is. God is a Warrior because God is the Judge.

I could go on, but this is far too long as it is.

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1Some might say that Acts 2:20 is an exception. However, this verse shows us that Jesus endured the Day of the Lord on the cross. He faced God’s judgment.

Random Thoughts

It has been a while since I have written anything. Life has been a little busy, but it is good. Here are some random thoughts:

On UPC... We had a great Session retreat (the Session is the governing body of the church). I am blessed to work with a wonderful group of elders. Money is tight. Staff is stretched. So, these guys are really stepping up to the plate and leading. I recently have had an inside look at some of the problems other churches face. That has only served to make me more grateful for UPC--our staff, congregation, elders and deacons, the unity of the body and the commitment to the mission.

On sports . . . Will Tiger or Federer ever lose again? I heard Frank Deford say on NPR that these are two of the greatest athletes of all time. The difference between Tiger and the #2 golfer in the world is greater than the difference between #2 and and #50. The same is true of Roger. No one else is in their league.

On the Super Bowl . . . I wrote earlier about Tony Dungy and the Soveriegnty of God. The more I hear about him, the more impressed I become. In the Orlando Sentinel, columnist Mike Bianchi wrote a wonderful article about the authenticity of Dungy's faith. That is what gospel living looks like.

What do parenting and prayer have in common? 1) Both are harder than they look. 2) Both are more rewarding than you would think. 3) If you are parenting, you better be praying.