My Royal Son

Add this to my list of things I never expected.  When I spoke with his sister, she too, was amazed.  But it just goes to show you that we don't really know what tomorrow holds. 

That was the serious thought I took from the whole Homecoming experience.  I go about making my plans and thinking about what I expect and don't expect when all along I really have no control over it at all.

I was reminded of Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails."  And also Psalm 33:11 reminds me that my plans come with no guarantees but, "the plans of the Lord stand firm forever."

I just finished reading about Joseph's life and was struck by how it was all about God's plan. I have a funeral this week and was reminded again that we don't always have a tomorrow. My son never ceases to amaze me.  Perhaps I am too easily amazed that the way I see things isn't chiseled in stone.

But as I said, that was the serious thought that I took from the whole Homecoming thing.  I also just had fun watching my boy grow up a little more.  In two more years perhaps it will be King and  not just attendant! Never say never!

Too Much For One Sermon

It's a short week after getting back (a day late - thank you United!) from vacation with my family. (it was a FABULOUS week together!) (read Amanda's blog for more details on that)

Anyway, I have been using this short week to get ready for Sunday and have just finished my sermon except that there was more I wanted to talk about!  It just didn't all fit.  So I decided to write a little about it here to get it out of my head and hopefully not get too sidetracked on Sunday.  (nobody likes two sermons squeezed into one!)

I am preaching from Ezekiel 47:1-12 and referring to Jesus' comments in John 7:37-39.  The sermon will focus on the power and spiritual healing of the Holy Spirit that we recieve when we believe in Jesus. I can only touch on the point that we then become LIKE Jesus and the Holy Spirit will flow through us to others.

That is where the sermon could get much longer!  I was reading and thinking about the balance that God put in the whole idea and how we too often fail to maintain.  Right from the start I want to affirm that I believe BOTH ideas are needed, otherwise there would be no balance and our life and faith would not be what God has intended for us.

So allow me to begin my second sermon.  In Ezekiel 40-46 God had the prophet measuring the boundaries of the land and walls of the temple.  One commentator pointed out that these represent legalism which emphasizes the need for separation and holy living.  This has for many believers constituted the main emphasis of being "Christian."  We point to Jesus Himself laying down the law to the rich young ruler and say, "See, THAT is what it takes to be a 'Christian.'"  That leads us to focus our efforts at presenting the gospel to sin as humanity's problem, forgiveness as our need and the gospel as the means by which we reach forgiveness and peace with God.  It's what the Romans Road and many gospel presentations are based on, "All have sinned...the wages of sin is death...but there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Understand that is all 100% true but it is best suited for people with a strong ethical, moral sense of what is right and wrong, and who feel an obligation to live up to a certain standard or code of morality.  "It is a way of showing those who believe in the existence of walls, like the rich young ruler, that they themselves are on the outside."  To that person showing them their sin is the best way to invite them to forgiveness so they can come inside.

The problem is when we start to believe that this is the ONLY way to present the good news of Jesus.  We currently live in a society that is not merely immoral but actually moving fast to becomeing amoral.  So many people just can't see the world in black and white; right and wrong. (thank you postmoderism)  To continue the imagery of walls, many today don't believe that spiritual walls actually exist.  It is a world of many ways to get to heaven, if there is one. So if I don't believe that walls really exist, then I reject the premise that I am on the outside needing to come in.  If I don't believe I am guilty, I don't need to be forgiven.  And so we need to be able to present the gospel (same good news) in a different way.  Instead of the sin - forgiveness - gospel equation can we look at the problem - need - solution this way?  We still have a problem but instead of guilt could we focus on bondage?  That would make our need, liberation and the gospel then is our solution that enables us to be free to be what God created us to be.

This is seen in the River of Ezekiel's vision in chapter 47 that flows from the temple.  It represents a gospel of freedom and fullness.  No walls can contain it and it grows in depth and power able to wash away any barrier and bring life to all that it touches.    It still leads us to a relationship with God through Jesus but is presented in a different "language."

It's sad that so many today have abandoned the walls of the temple (the church) in search of total freedom; a life with no rules or restrictions, do whatever I please. And they fail to see that the one true free flowing River begins right there.  It often involves us not understanding that, "Sin is not just breaking the rules, it is living a life centered around something other than God."And equally sad is how the church too often tries to put a wall around the river, too, not inviting sinners to approach and be healed for fear they may contaminate us. 

I guess it reminds me of the Apostles on Pentecost speaking one truth - God longs for a relationship with everyone - and each man was able to hear it in his own language.  I'm not saying that we can/should never lead someone down the Romans Road or use the Four Spiritual Laws.  I guess I am just thinking we ought to know who we are talking to enough to know what "language" they speak.  If they believe in walls, show them the walls. If not point them to the River that flows freely from Jesus and invite them to believe and drink their full.

(the quotes above and the impetus for some of my thoughts came from the Ezekiel volume of The NIV Application Commentary written by Iain M. Duguid)

No More of Me

The other day I was reading The Sense of the Call by Marva J. Dawn and was reminded again of one of the truths that has and is transforming my life.   God really accepts me - plain and simple - without me doing anything to deserve it.

Ms. Dawn quotes Eugene Peterson who wrote, "We do not progress in the Christian life by becoming more competent, more knowledgeable, more virtuous, more energetic. We do not advance in the Christian life by acquiring expertise. Each day, and many times each day, we return to Square One...We hear Jesus say, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt.18:3). And so we become as little children...we adore and we listen....The world does not need more of you; it needs more of God.... The Christian life consists in what God does for us, not what we do for God."

God, I don't deserve Your grace, but I am so thankful for it. Continue to mold me into the child you want me to be.

Free At Last!

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

That cry originated with an old Negro Spiritual and was made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his famous “I Have A Dream” speech and it has been a rallying cry for many different people and groups who feel oppressed and enslaved. You can feel the emotion of emancipation whenever you say the words, even if you personally aren’t subjugated in any way.

What is the power in that word, “free” and the concept of freedom? For most of human history freedom, it seems, has been the desire of one group or nation or race from another almost non-stop.

Freedom was a driving force in our own nation’s Revolution and has been a rallying cry for every war since. The Fourth of July is a celebration of our freedom. Even Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forced Day; how many holidays do we celebrate that are related in some way to achieving and protecting our freedom? We Americans love our freedom!

And we should. But our political freedom is only part of the picture. The Bible calls us to focus on the best freedom of all, spiritual freedom in Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has provided us with something we could never gain on our own; freedom from sin. That is something worth celebrating!

As I read Romans 8 I get the same feeling as when I read the stirring words of MLK Jr. See if you feel it too…

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Grace Greater Than My Sin

I am so old.  I get a thought to share today and what comes to mind? A hymn. Oh well, thank you Nanty-Glo Alliance Church

The hymn is "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" (or # 545 in the maroon book for any Tunnecliffe's that may read this) So the hymn includes the lines, "Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace freely bestowed on all who believe." and "Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin." (I know it is OUR sin, but this is MY blog and I like to personalize my hymns!)

A number of things have come together to lead me to this hymn. First, over the past few days I have seen some very beautiful things like this.

(Thank you Vance & TJ)

And I have done some beautiful things with beautiful people and again in beautiful places, like this...

(Brenda takes better pictures - but you get the point)

And that reminds me of these verses in Psalm 16...

"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance."

Then, I have been reading my daughter's and wife's blogs and they make me so proud and happy. If you read them you know what I mean. They remind me that I am blessed beyond what I deserve...that is what grace is all about. They also remind me that I am lousy at keeping up with a blog. So I came to write it all down.

I am humbled and very thankful today.  I agree with David...

“You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.” 

(Psalm 16:2)

This is a good way to start my week.

Reading Day

Today my copy of Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins" came today in the mail. (Remember I live in WY!) God knows best since this was my day off and I sat down and read the whole book. (Not something I do very often)  I did take a break to rake the yard since it was such a nice day - that was mostly for Brenda's benefit so she would know I got that done!

Anyway, reading today was a very good thing and I thought it would be good for me to blog about it while it is still fresh on my 50+yr old brain.  I purposefully refrained from commenting on all the other blogs and articles I saw about the book, both pro and con, because I don't like to give my opinion on someone's opinion on someone else's opinion on a book I haven't read.  I ask that you read all the way through my thoughts and not just stop half way and think you know what I think. (you'll see why if you persevere)

I did very much agree with Rob when he wrote, "There is no question that Jesus cannot handle, no discussion too volatile, no issue too dangerous." and I pray that brothers and sisters in Christ can engage in the debate in a Christ-like manner.

There has already been lots of controversy over his thoughts on "heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived."  and I must admit the first part of the book left me very skeptical.  Bell attacks what he calls, "some of the dominant stories that are being told as the Jesus story."  I thought the description of some of those points of view were set up as straw men with a fair amount of generalizing going on.  Granted, the views he addresses are present in modern Christianity but I hesitate to consider them all mainstream even if that is often what is portrayed in the media and is accepted by many.

Also in the first part of the book it seemed as if arguments were being made based on how people felt about things , such as this quote. "Does God punish people for thousands of years with infinite, eternal torment for things they did in their few finite years of life?"  The danger in this line of thinking is that it brings into question absolute truth.  If I don't feel good about something does that make it any less true?  Anyway, I think Rob played on that a lot in the beginning of the book.

Bell makes a valid point when he says that it "matters how you respond to Jesus" and then asks, "which Jesus?"  There are so many different ideas that people hold about who Jesus is, how He interacts with us and what He really teaches that it is very important to know what people mean when they talk about Jesus.  Our age of sound bites and tweets doesn't always lend itself to deep conversation when you can really discover what is meant behind what is said.

I still have to wrap my aging mind around some of the thoughts and dig a little deeper to check on Rob's Hebrew and Greek references.  Things like defining eternity and age and how they should be understood in context.  And I have to evaluate my upbringing as well when it comes to Rob's thoughts about "everyone", "all people", and "the nations" being in heaven.  Rob seems to infer that those phrases mean literally everyone, in a universalist sort of way. Am I doing too much mental gymnastics to think that those phrases refer to representatives from every nation, tribe, people and tongue?  We come to a similar conclusion when Bell speaks of the great diversity and unity in heaven and I wholeheartedly agree that "A racist would be miserable in the world to come."

Rob Bell was attacked in one interview I saw as the host believed Bell was implying that what we do in this life has no bearing or impact on eternity. I'm not sure where he came up with that line of questioning!  Rob is very clear that how we live now has a lot to do with our eternal life.  He points out very clearly that our eternity is going on right now and what we do now matters. "While we continually find grace waiting to pick us up off the ground after we have fallen, there are realities to our choices. While we may get other opportunities, we won't get the one right in front of us again."

I have always felt that the whole "hell on earth" concept sort of downplayed the actual torment of the hell described in the Bible.  I am not taking lightly the extreme pain and suffering that is in our world. I am just saying that even the torment many live through in this life is but a reflection of the eternal reality of hell.  As I read the book, I felt that Bell seems to not make that distinction.

I felt like Rob was making a false dichotomy when he asked, "Is God our friend, our provider, our protector, our father - or is God the kind of judge woh may in the end declare that we deserve to spend forever separated from our Father?"  I found myself asking can God not be BOTH Father and Judge?

As I got into the 100's, however, I found I was agreeing more than disagreeing. The thought that, "love, by its very nature is freedom." resonated in me along with the observation that, "We aren't fixed, static beings - we change and morph as life unfolds."  It wasn't until pages 113-114 that I felt I found the key to Rob's line of reasoning.  He is very clear that Heaven will not be home to sin or "those who would continue to do them."  The statement "We are free to resist, reject adn rebel against God's ways for us. We can have all the hell we want," eased my mind concerning Rob Bell becoming a universalist!

Bell leaves open for discussion and disagreement the notion that after death and/or the end of the age people will still be able to change their mind about rebelling against God.  He points to numerous church fathers who held that belief noting that this is nothing new.  Rob Bell states, "Will everybody be saved, or will some perish apart from God forever because of their choices? Those are questions, or more accurately, those are tensions we are free to leave fully intact. We don't need to resolve them or answer them because we can't, and so we simply respect them, creating space for the freedome that love requires."  Again, I pray that brothers and sisters in Christ can engage in the debate in a Christ-like manner. 


When Bell states "Yes, we get what we want." in relation to Heaven and Hell I was left thinking of one player that was missing from the discussion.  Remember that Satan is also at work lying to man as he always has, "did God really say...?"  That doubt casting can really influence a person's decisions concerning what they really want.

I appreciated Rob's recognition of the two stories and how one resonates better than the other in our modern world.  I will have to think that through in light of Paul's stated purpose to become all things to all men so that by all means he may win some.

OK this was really long, but it helps me to sort some of my thoughts while they are still fresh on my mind.  I am not ready to make a final conclusion regarding some of the thoughts raised in the book, "Love Wins" but I have always believed that there is nothing wrong with questions as long as I turn to God for the answers!  I invite dialogue about my observations and would love to hear yours as well.  I just ask that you read the book and not just other people's thoughts about it. 

God bless us all in our journey together!

PS - I'm not a fan of the plastic slip cover! Just saying.