Back again.....

Sorry for the long delay. It's not that I don't have things to say........it's making the time to put them here.

This is an interesting video I found that the folks at Willow Creek put together:
http://revealnow.com/story.asp?storyid=48

I highly recommend watching it for yourself (it's about 13 minutes), but in a nutshell Greg Hawkins says that the things they have been doing and refining for about thirty years, the "Willow Creek model" of doing church, hasn't achieved the things they wanted it to, so they are conducting research on how to change things. Here are some questions I have after watching it:

- What is the proper goal for a church to have? He points to making folks "far for God" into "disciples of Christ," that is, people who are characterized by their increasing love for God and their increasing love for other people. The things that the church does are the means to that end, and much of what they're doing now involves figuring out how to better make that happen. The basic idea is that if you "do the stuff" you'll love as you ought to love.

The thing is that the scriptures point to something important that is left out of that equation. Jesus tells the disciples that they are to love one another as He loved them (John 13:34). And John reiterates that point: "We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) The life of God is lived as a result of experiencing the love of God. I don't think that Greg or Bill Hybels would disagree, but the model that they have set up is not predicated on that experience. It's very possible for folks to go through the motions without having that experience. I don't think we can set a goal of having people experience God; that only comes by Him. So what goals ought to be set? Can they be set?

- How significant are the changes they are making? Are they significant enough to bring about a different outcome in another thirty years? It seems to me like they're only re-working the same model that they said isn't working. Now they're asking the congregations what works instead of just the leaders. After thirty years and millions (billions?) of dollars, that doesn't seem like enough of a change to warrant following what they're saying again. In my opinion, anyway.......

- What does God think they should do? I know the brothers and sisters behind this at Willow Creek are sincere, that they love Jesus. That's why I find it strange that He is rarely mentioned. At the end Greg says that this research is (hopefully) the means to discover what God is doing and how He is transforming the planet. Where is He in the rest of the process? Is it possible that they're going down a different road than wants somewhere farther back down the line. He regrets that the "centered" folks are leaving, but is it that they are looking for a better church? What if they sense God leading something else in their lives? Or what if they're simply mature enough to seek Him apart from a structure of that sort?

Just a few ideas......anyone else have thoughts? Anyone still look at this after almost four months? :)

Problems solved!

Well, probably not, but I am curious how many of the problems in the church are the result of an improper understanding of authority in the body of Christ. If Frank Viola (see the previous post) is correct in his understanding of the New Testament, and a hierarchical leadership structure is not what was practiced by the early church, then that could cause a great many difficulties. For instance:

- Gender roles would be handled very differently. It would be inappropriate for ANYONE, not just women, to function in a pastoral/preaching/elder role like those in most Western churches today because NO ONE should have that sort of authority. This isn't to say that there aren't differences between men and women, of course. But the authority set up by God does not run the risk of being compromised in the same way that it does when one person stands in front all the time.

- False teaching might not spread as easily because heresy would be confined to one local church or a smaller group of churches instead of being passed around the country in a denomination.

- Believers in general might be more mature because they would have to play a more active role in building up the body. No longer would one brother with a particular set of gifts do the majority of the ministry to the saints. Brothers and sisters with very different portions from the Lord would play a part in the equipping. The body in this country is dominated by pastor-teacher input, which is very different from that of a prophet or apostle, and those gifts have much to offer. And all believers would likely grow if they had the mindset that they should be prepared to build up others when they are together.

These are just a few ideas..........

Backlog

I find that I'm very good at thinking of things, not writing them down, and then not meditating on them as long as I ought. There are several ideas that I have been pondering in the last month, but I haven't gotten around to jotting them down.......so here's a bit of it, probably with more to come. I enjoy not being in school because my mind is more free to think on such things.

After several weeks of hemming and hawing about it, I finally purchased and read Who Is Your Covering? by Frank Viola. The topic is authority in the church. His assessment is that questions such as the one in the title or "to whom are you accountable?" are really asking the question "who controls you?" It's a question that comes up for those believers who are outside of the institutional church setting as they meet other believers, and often the answer they're looking for is a person (pastor, elder, etc.), a denomination, or something similar. Very much in a nutshell, Viola suggests that the top-down hierarchical leadership structure practiced by the vast majority of Christians in the West is actually quite different from the picture of the church presented in the scriptures. He also says that the offices of pastor, elder, etc., wrongly place authority with man instead of with God Himself. (For related verses, see Mt. 20:25-28, 23:8-12, and Lk. 22:25-26)

Viola then presents a picture of the first-century church characterized by brotherhood and the involvement of every member of the body of Christ in building up, mutual subjection (that is, believers subjecting themselves to one another and authority coming from the Holy Spirit instead of authority coming to a person or persons through an office and demanding obedience), and confidence that the churches can seek the Lord on their own without a single dynamic leader. (Paul had this confidence in the churches he planted--2 Cor. 2:3, Gal. 5:10.) You can't judge a book by its summary :), but that gives you some idea of what he has to say. Feel free to ask questions if you like. Viola has clarified and developed some ideas I have had over the last several years, so I greatly enjoyed the book.

I've started reading another of his books (Covering is #2 of 5 in a series) called So You Want To Start a House Church? So far its a study of church planting as it was done in the scriptures--interesting stuff. I'm sure I'll write something on it soon, as well as something on the things stirring in my heart as a result of reading.

Other things on the backlog: Job, Philemon, how the Holy Spirit speaks

Quiz

I found this quiz on a friend's blog. Here are my results; feel free to try it yourself.

Fundamentalist		89%
Emergent/Postmodern		71%
Reformed Evangelical		71%
Charismatic/Pentecostal		61%
Neo orthodox		61%
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan		54%
Roman Catholic		18%
Classical Liberal		11%
Modern Liberal		4%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

Waxing prose.......

I was in Des Moines last weekend for my brother's graduation. I had an interesting moment as I was walking around the neighborhood where my parents live and recalled what has happened since we moved there almost twelve years ago. I've gone to college, gotten married, and moved out of state. My brother has grown up, as have the two kids that lived in the house next door. The neighbors on the other side have gotten divorced, and their kids have had kids out of wedlock. The folks behind us have dealt with the sorrow of the death of one child, the joy of the birth of another, and multiple heart attacks for his dad. And the tiny house across the street has had at least three owners and is now on sale for over $120,000-- way too much if you ask me.

Then I looked at the tree out in front of our house. I remember John climbing to the top when he was younger, and now it seems almost twice as high. It provides much more shade than it used to, as do the other trees around our house. Those trees were there long before we moved in, and they stand a chance to be there long after Mom and Dad head somewhere else. They've seen the hottest of summers, the dead of winter, storm after storm, and who knows how many people, and they still stand strong. This passage seemed appropriate:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion--to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

Lord, help us to comfort those who mourn, that they and we may be oaks of righteousness for Your glory. May we stand strong in You while the world changes around us.

Finals....ly.......

The semester's over, and that's pretty sweet. I turned in a paper and had my jury on Friday, and now I'm done until August. Now to find a job for the summer......substitute teaching for a few weeks, a couple of music camps, and who knows what else.

Tonight I was reading 2 Peter 1, and I was struck by verses 12 and 13. Peter just listed qualities that believers ought to have: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (v. 5-7). Then he writes, "Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder..." At times I feel that I should be beyond hearing about things regarding following Jesus that I already know, and often this is a product of my pride. But shouldn't I welcome encouragement and exhortation from the Lord and my brothers and sisters? This also reminds me that I should take every opportunity to build up another believer, even if I'm telling them something they "already know." Sometimes I shy away from that, too.

I have some thoughts on Philemon, too, but I'll save them for another time--hopefully not so late.......

So I guess I AM going to school in the fall......

I took an assistantship with the music department today. I will be proofreading the programs for all of the School of Music recitals, and I will be developing some advertising for the admissions office. Should be interesting..........thanks Lord.

Update

Ok, I'm getting to a point in the semester where I have a bit more time. Only two juries and a paper left! I had an interview this week for an assistantship, and I'm applying for two more. Please lift this up as you think of it. The Lord will take care of us.

Lisa and I have been reading Jeremiah lately. Chapter 20 is particularly interesting......dude is schizophrenic! Verse 13: " Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers." Verse 14: "Cursed be the day on which I was born!" What?! Reading that reminds me of the freedom we have to be ourselves before God. Jeremiah, David, Abraham, they all spoke their mind, and God allowed it to be included in the scriptures. It's better to tell the Lord how angry you are with Him and others than to pretend you're not angry at all. What a gracious God He is to allow us to say things like "you have deceived me, and I was deceived!" (v. 7)

Here is another quote:
'Execute justice in the morning,
and deliver from the hand of the oppressor
him who has been robbed,
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of your evil deeds.'

I'll probably say more about this later, but justice and help for those in need is a BIG deal to God. I want us (Lisa and I) to consider more seriously how we can love and serve the poor more than we are now (which isn't really very much.....).

Did you know that if you have a savings account, you're among the wealthiest 8% of people in the world?

Yeah.......

It's been a while........I read The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn last month, and I think it's one of the best I've read on the proper biblical use of money. His main point is that our money is God's (Ps. 24:1, Dt. 8:18) and we ought to use it as such. I'm a little foggy since I read it a month ago, but it was very timely. My funding for next fall is a bit up in the air (I found this out while reading the book), and the Lord used the things written here to remind me of how He is in control of those things. I highly recommend the book; Alcorn has one that's a bit more comprehensive that Lisa is reading right now, and I'm guessing that's good, too.

Also, a question I'm pondering: what does it mean to not forsake the gathering of the bretheren (Heb. 10:25)? I suppose the ensuing words help clear that up--"but encouraging one another..." Not meeting together is contrasted with encouraging. So being in the same room with other believers doesn't cut it. And it isn't that we are to simply receive encouragement; we are to be encouraging. So it seems that fulfilling this command involves being around and encouraging other followers of Christ. So, when you are around other believers, do you seek to build them up and encourage them?

I don't think the American model of Christianity always encourages that, at least not in the typical Sunday AM gathering. One brother shares, and the rest sit and listen to what he has to say. That is a good thing, but for the body of Christ to operate as it ought, for the gathering of the brothers and sisters to not be forsaken, everyone needs to encourage each other when we come together. If that never happens, the body does not grow in the proper way.

It's interesting that that question arose for me tonight. I went running the other night (outside!) and was burdened with a desire to pour my life into believers in a more significant way than I do currently. Perhaps the Lord is pushing me harder than I thought. :)

I won't give a specific date, just so I don't break my word, but I hope to post in a more timely fashion next time. The busiest time of the semester has almost passed, so that should make it easier. May His grace and peace fill you with joy.

The aftermath......

It took about two hours to do that!

Snowed in!

So I guess a couple of days really means over a week.........

For those who haven't heard, we're in the middle of a huge blizzard here in Champaign. There's a foot of new snow on top of the couple of inches we already had. I made my way to the bus stop at 8:45 this morning only to have the bus driver tell me that the University canceled classes today (and tomorrow) for the first time since the late 70's. It was nice to have an extra day at home with Lisa and Stephen.

This weather got me thinking about the Lord and if it is something that He allows Satan to use. Is He the one that caused this? What about other natural disasters? Here are a few verses (there are many others):

"For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour." Job 37:6

"For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea."
"He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm 107:25, 29

"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39

So obviously God is the one in control of the weather (even the snow.....). In many instances it relates to judgment, but not always. It makes me wonder if there is some sort of judgment related to this storm. Hmmm..........Job 1 presents an interesting case. God seems to allow Satan the opportunity to at least control the wind in order to test Job:

"And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.'"
".....a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people....." Job 1:12, 19

So does God give Satan control of other aspects of weather? How often does that happen? I need to ponder this a bit more........

Trois reflets

It's been a busy couple of days, sorry I didn't post something last Tuesday. We went out of town to visit Lisa's dad (he had surgery last week) and my grandparents. I'll write again in a couple of days, but for now, a few thoughts......

- It's interesting to watch people get on the bus every day. There are several rules to follow, sort of like urinal etiquette for guys. First, if there is an empty seat, sit there, presumably so you don't have to sit by anyone else. Second, if there isn't an empty seat, sit by someone of the same gender. If it's not possible to follow those rules, sit by a member of the opposite sex. The thing is that when you actually talk with someone you don't know, they're generally pretty nice. Deceit? Maybe, as the actions of most (including myself) point toward most of us wanting to sit alone in our own world without talking to anyone. I don't want to be someone that avoids the world, I want to engage it. Jesus says that even saying 'hi' can be a big deal, that the Kingdom of God can advance through that (Matthew 5:47).

- On the radio today I heard it said that watching a big game like the Super Bowl releases adrenaline in a manner similar to riding a roller coaster (except it lasts three hours, not three minutes). It can cause heart attacks in at-risk folks. Wow! I suppose having a heart attack while watching a sporting events might be a sign of caring too much about them. I know that feeling, though. I know the heart-racing excitement that comes from watching a game, but is it good? When does it become sinful?

- I was with an older brother tonight, and we were talking with a Muslim friend of his. We discussed some things about the Bible and the Koran--it was good. This other brother was very bold in bringing up some things he wanted his friend to consider. It's a boldness that I lack at times. I find myself being hesitant to bring up spiritual matters. May the Lord grant me a greater awareness of His Spirit and how He wants to work in situations such as these.

- The Bears were terrible tonight, and the real drag about that is that now we in the Chicago area have to hear talk about Rex Grossman for a few more weeks. Maybe I'll avoid sports radio for a while........

Quick thought

I've been thankful for the people Lisa and I have come in contact with in the last couple of weeks. We have been praying for deeper and more frequent fellowship with the believers we know around here, and God seems to be beginning to answer those petitions. We are hoping to spend more time with a couple that we know in passing. I met a brother on the bus the other day, and I hope we can get together sometime soon. And I spoke today with a professor who follows Jesus. I remain unsure of just how we should gather with our brothers and sisters, but the more folk we know that love the Lord, the more potential opportunities there are to seek Him together.

I've been in school for just over a semester now, and I already find myself pondering what's next. We are asking the Lord how He wants us to get overseas, and if I need to pursue another degree (doctoral) for that to happen. Lisa and I talked last night about it, that while our future is a bit uncertain, we have the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts. Thank you Lord for freeing me from the worries I could have regarding my "career" and what lies ahead. Please pray with us as we seek His face and His will.

Job, part 1

I've always had a difficult time following the lengthy discussions in Job, where he and his friends discuss the meaning of the circumstances of Job's life. (translation: I fall asleep because I get bored.......not that that's right) I've undertaken the task of figuring out what's going on in that book, what exactly is being said. Here is the first installment of a summary of the arguments (sorry if it's a bit like The Message). I've noted the chapters, and I can provide a list of the particular verses used in the summary.

Chapter 3 – Job: “I wish I had never been born….the pain is too great.”

Chapters 4-5 – Eliphaz: “Now it’s your turn; shouldn’t you have confidence in God? The innocent prosper, but who is truly innocent? No created thing will help you. If it were me, I would cry out to God. He causes pain, but He also heals. He does miraculous things!”

Chapters 6-7 – Job: “God is against me, that’s why I’m so distraught. Why doesn’t He just finish me off before I blaspheme Him? Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me, friends, what I have done wrong! Aren’t I right?! My life is EMPTY!! I’m at my wits end, so I will speak my mind, speak of my bitterness. Why are you after me, God?! It’s one thing after another! Please, just let me be! And what is my life to you, anyway?”

Chapter 8 – Bildad: “Listen to yourself! How long can you say these things? Obviously, your children sinned and God punished them. But if you repent before Him, He will restore you. The godless have no hope, but in Him you will find joy again.”

Chapters 9-10 – Job: “How can a man be right before God? I cannot answer Him. My words would condemn me even though I’m in the right……and I am right. Since I’m innocent and my life is like this, I can only conclude that God brings hardship on both the righteous and the wicked. Nothing will change, so why should I even bring my case before Him? I’m afraid of what will happen unless someone mediates, but who can do that? But here’s what I’d say if I could speak with Him: ‘What have I done, God? Why have you torn apart my life? You made it so good, and now you’ve destroyed it. You didn’t tell me that living righteously would get me this. At least give me a little joy before I die…..”

Chapter 11 – Zophar: “Job, do you think we can hear you say these things and not say anything? You think you’re perfect, but the reality is that God isn’t giving you half of what you deserve! He knows all and sees your sin. But still, if you reach out to Him, He will take away your shame.”

Chapters 12-14 – Job: “Look, genius, you have nothing on me. Who doesn’t know these things?! The well-off make fun of me, thinking they can take care of themselves, but the reality is that God is the one in control, and all will answer to Him. I’m asking God directly, not you liars who make up answers for Him and who think you need to defend Him! Keep silent, and let me say my piece. I only ask, two things, God: that you end my suffering, and that I get to talk this over with you face to face. Show me what I’ve done!

“God, we humans are so fleeting. Why even waste your time with us? Just make things a little easier for us. Oh, that I would have a second chance, a resurrection, where You would let me be with You, with my sins forgotten. But I do not have that hope; You keep it from me. Only death awaits me…….”

It was all I could do to not add ".....with nasty, big, sharp pointy teeth" to the end of that last line. :)

Joyfully accept the plundering of your property

Blogs can be a bit dull without any pictures, so here's one:

At times I am amazed at my lack of faith in the Lord. I was pondering this last month as I thought about my day. I seem to have greater faith in things of this world than I do in God.

1. I set my alarm fully believing and trusting that it will go off when I want it to (not that this means I actually get up right away......).
2. I have faith that the water will come out of the shower head when I turn on the faucet.
3. I have faith that the bus will show up to take me to school (though not that it will be on time; the 8:06 am orange bus destroyed that faith a long time ago).
4. Perhaps the greatest area in which I exercise faith is in playing the saxophone. I have to trust my horn to work every single time I go to play it--especially reeds.

I know that the sort of faith I have in those things is different than the sort I have in God, but with all of those it is still "the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." Heb. 11:1 Or as Webster's puts it, "firm belief in something for which there is no proof." And at times I trust the alarm clock more than I trust the Lord to work out some of the things He has put before us. I believe more strongly at times that the water will flow from the faucet when I turn the knob than I do that God will reveal Himself to those around us as we seek Him.

I want God to cultivate in me a faith like that of those in Hebrews. I want to have a sure faith all of the time, not most of it. I don't want to be like those in Israel whom Jeremiah rebuked for not being as faithful as those who follow false gods (Jer. 2:9-13). May Jesus continue to refine me for His glory.

"But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one." Heb. 10:32-34

Speaking of swords....

Hello all, it's been a while, but as of now I hope to post something at least once a week. Tuesday seems to be the day for that, so you might check then if you're interested. Feel free to post comments, I appreciate being told when I'm off my rocker. :)

Many believers (certainly myself included) quote verses from the bible, and often they are used as proof of various Christian ideas, for encouragement, etc. Much good and building of the kingdom comes from this, but there are two things I will mention here that happen that are not so good. The first is using a verse so out of context that the meaning is completely lost. An example is the way I've heard many use the following: "God is not a God of confusion..." (1 Cor. 14:33) I've been told many times that, "as this verse says," I should always have an understanding of what God is doing, and that if something does not make sense, it is not of the Lord.

However, the context of the verse clearly shows that it relates to order in the gathering of believers, and that the body is encouraged and built up when prophecy (and teaching, etc.) are done in an orderly manner. We are not to all talk at once because God is not a God of confusion. Actually, other verses point to the fact that we will not be able to understand God (Isaiah 55 comes to mind). So one problem is that verses can be taken out of context and used in a way that distorts their meaning (there are more aggregious examples, to be sure).

The second came to mind today as I read Ezra 1:
"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing." (1:1)

My thought was, "Where did Jeremiah prophesy this?" So I looked at a few cross references before I came across Jeremiah 29:10 (also 25:12, but that isn't as relevant for this discussion):
"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place."

Jeremiah 29 is a letter written to the Israelites exiled in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. They had witnessed the utter destruction of their nation, of the temple of their God, and were forced to travel to a land that was not their own, the hope of their captors being that they would lose their national identity. But Jeremiah sought to encourage them with the word of the Lord, that God would fulfill His promise to return His people to His land. Their hearts were no doubt faint, and those who still loved the Lord (many didn't, that's why they were exiled) were no doubt discouraged in a way that I cannot imagine. Their entire life was thrown into upheaval, and God said, "I'm still here, and I will bring you back! Endure this time, and I will fulfill my word, as I always do!"

I don't know about you, but I am personally much more familiar with the next verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. " And this verse, Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted in all of the bible. But it isn't just a feel-good verse. It's a powerful comment that one makes when they quote it! It isn't just a nice thing God said. It's a promise made to a nation! And it reveals SO MUCH about the character of God!

So on one hand, believers need to take care not to quote a verse out of context, and use the word (sword) in a manner that accurately reflects its meaning. And on the other hand, as we do quote it, we should seek the fullness of what God said, that we might bask in the depth of His wonderful word. Jeremiah 29:11 has much to offer, as does every verse if we take the time to see it.

"Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law." Psalm 119:18

Next topic: Faith in every day life
In the future: How does the Holy Spirit speak? This will probably consist of several posts.