Some Scenes

Going Home?

2011-11-26T16:04:00.000-08:00

This is a post that I originally put up on our family's web site, but thought others may find it interesting. That is especially if you have ever wondered about the importance of place and memories in our lives. I had the opportunity while visiting a customer in Pendleton, Oregon to drive 60 miles south on a warm fall day down to a place called Dale, Oregon. I lived here for two years back in the 1970's when I was a young boy. Back in those days, Dale was an active ranger station in the Umatilla National Forest where my dad served as ranger. The population of the entire town including the Forest Service housing that we lived in was about 100 people. Several years later after we left for the vastly different urban metropolis of Washington D.C., the Forest Service Ranger station was shut down.

2011

1975

The drive down to Dale took a little over an hour, and upon my arrival as I drove up the long hill and turned a sharp right into the neighborhood; I hoped not to bother any of the people living in this small remote community. I found the houses still there. They were still sitting around the same circular road and looking surprisingly the same as I remembered. Only something was strange. There were no cars. The grass was over two feet tall. And there was not a soul to be seen anywhere. I got out of my car and was met by a silence that I rarely experience. I walked around stunned. I wondered that if it was possible in this day and age that any place could become a ghost town; much less a place I had lived. I peeked into the window of the the house that we lived in: The Ranger's house. I saw the same shag orange carpet and 1960's vintage linoleum that had been there when I was 12. Other than that, the house was completely empty.

Try to imagine being transported back in time to find your childhood home still there. It looking very much like it did in your memory, but all the cars, people, and furniture gone. My mind, of course,wandered back to memories of my brother and my sister riding bicycles. My dad walking up from the Ranger Station office for lunch. My mom standing on the small porch. A feeling overwhelmed me of great regret that I had not been kinder when a young boy. A feeling that I had not appropriately redeemed the opportunities of childhood. I had not adequately appreciated the time I had been able to share with my family in this remote and beautiful place.

Hopefully, someone will find a good use for this outpost in rural America before it disintegrates to nothing. When my brother worked in economic development for the largest city in the county several years back, he had tried to get the Forest Service to turn it over to the county to make something out of it. They weren't interested. But no matter, even if it was saved and used for another 200 years, eventually eternity will catch up with it. This happens to all our most valued things here on this earth. We are reminded by Jesus to focus our treasures on Heaven and not on earth where thieves will break through and steal and where moth and rust corrupts. That it is only people that have permanent and eternal value. We are reminded that Jesus did not come to save buildings, but to save sinners for eternity by his blood.

A very young child does not realize that objects still exist when he no longer sees them. A great change in development is when they understand that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer in their sight. This is called object permanence. My hope is that our eyes will focus not on what disappears like houses, but what is permanent and eternal. That is the people in our lives.

IndoctriNation Released

2011-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is seriously interested in Christianity and the work of Jesus Christ among his people in America can not ignore the influence that the United States Public School System has had on the followers of Christ. Both in its influence on the temperal Christian Culture here is America, and its influence on numerous and numerous cases of eternal destiny. Liberal movie producer Davis Guggenheim came out last year with "Waiting for Superman" which took a critical look at the state of public education in America calling for an overhaul of the system due to its inept and damaging effects on our land.

The Gunn Brothers just introduced "IndoctriNation" which questions the level of involvement Christians should have in the system at all. If you have seen "Waiting for Superman," you will find "IndoctriNation" a more humerous and easily watchable movie. And one with a doable solution. Its solution is not breaking the backs of the teachers unions and developing more Charter schools as "Waiting for Superman"calls for, but a challenge for Christian Parents to join the millions of other Christians who have pulled their children out of the public school system and take charge of their education themselves.

You can buy IndoctriNation at:

http://indoctrinationmovie.com/about-indoctrination

Giving Away the Building

2011-08-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have had the opportunity to recently be part of two congregations that were made possible by the sacrifice of a church building. Both resulted in fruitful growth for Christ as is often the case when we are willing to make sacrifices. Too often churches dwindle away as people hang onto a vision that has long been gone. I love church buildings myself and can understand why a dwindling congregation would not want to give them up and hold onto the building with all their might. Church buildings are often peaceful, beautiful, refuges from a commercialized world hostile to the Gospel. But they are not the church. They are not the body, and it is best sometimes for the cause of Christ to give them up.

Both instances I have witnessed involved dramatically different approaches. One church building was given away to a new body of believers. Another was sold and the money used to promote a counter cultural approach to worship and teaching; which the congregation believed modeled the new testament church more than American traditions. But both had some consistent themes:

- Assistance from another body of believers.
- Courageous individuals willing to change
- Lots of hard work
- Fruit for the body of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit

The first situation was a beautiful older building in a highly desirable suburban community. The church was down to 10 to 15 members and was surviving on rental income. They were put in contact with a new church plant sponsored by a local "mega-church" with an active church planting program. Even though the location was not the first choice of the church plant. The ability to have a mortgage free building in an area of extremely high real estate was too hard to resist. The church start was able to bring renewed energy with a Pastor skilled in organization and outreach. They were able to remodel, rebuild, and bring new life to an old building to the point that the congregation has now outgrown the building itself and must meet on Sunday morning at the communities convention center next door.

The second was a church which had become unable to support a full time pastor. But they were able to connect with a church who agreed to help bring on and pay temporarily part of a pastors salary while they found a new vision. This new vision included selling the building for the money could be used to permanently sponsor a pastor who brought a different approach to teaching and worship that the church felt was desperately needed in the body of Christ. It took time and hard work. The church was able to do very little advertising, met in another church in the afternoon, and was located in a secluded older suburban community. All things that make church growth gurus groan. But the vision slowly caught on and the church has seen a dramatic increase in attendance and now, when there were almost no children before, has as many children as adults each Sunday in the service.

There are no formulas and neither are these perfect churches. Just God's Children doing their best to follow after him. Church buildings are wonderful tools for Christ, but there comes a time when it is best to admit that ownership of these buildings also belongs to God, and it may be best for ministry to give them up to better uses or organizations. What do you think? Do you have other ideas of what to do with an unused or underutilized church building?

Youth Groups Run Amok?

2011-07-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

A church near us just put on a Christian Rave for their "young adults." What's next? Smoking pot for God? Only, it won't be real pot and there will be a Bible Study after it. If you think Christian youth groups have run amok, you might want to check out the movie Divided. The National Center for Family Integrated Churches (NCFIC) just released a movie addressing the issue of why up to 80% of young adults may be leaving the faith. The movie provides a good introduction if you are not familiar with why there is a movement to reintegrate the church among age demographics. The movie is free to view for the next 30 days or so.

http://dividedthemovie.com/

Changing Our Paradigm

2011-06-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

Besides where our money goes, nothing may more reveal who we are here in America then what we choose as our information source for news and culture. Recently around our home, there was a vast flurry of emails as Margo put together a group order for God's World News which is a monthly news magazine for kids. I groaned a bit wondering if it was worth her time (something she is always in short supply of) to collect twenty checks and then distribute this Biblical worldview news magazine for next 12 months.

I wondered until we got an email saying that a family was going to sign up for Time for Kids, but now was now going to sign up for God's World News because of this order. Time may be a great for adults to see what humanists and socialists think about the world. However, you might as well drop your kids off at a "Planned Parenthood for Kids" event expecting them to teach your little ones about the birds and bees waiting until marriage than expect Time to fairly teach what Godly kids need to know about what is going on around the world.

One of the greatest challenges of our day is swimming up stream with the Gospel in a world whose news and entertainment sources are full of half truth humanism disguised as fact. If you don't want the enemy of our Souls to set the agenda of what's important, consider getting your information from some of these different sources.

For World News try

God's World News (for the younger generation)

World News (for adults both young and old)

For US Culture

Life Site News (crucial social issues focus)

For World News about our brothers and sisters overseas

Compass Direct

For the best in US Political and Cultural Blogs

The Pearcy Report

For the best in reforming the Church and Family

NCFIC

Add your better news source to the comments...

Avoiding "Christian Parenting" Burn Out

2011-05-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

Margo recently had the chance to give a talk to the Mom's of our local homeschool group on avoiding homeschool burnout. I thought I would pass along the hand out that she had. I think the principles apply to almost any part of the child raising process even if you don't homeschool (which of course we recommend). Add your suggestions to avoiding burnout on the comment box below.

How to Avoid Homeschool Burnout~

Are You in it for the Long Haul?

I. Catch a Vision-

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

*ask your husband *write it out *look long-term, think grandbabies!

“Always be ready to give a defense (or answer) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” I Peter 3:15

*be prepared to talk to the people the Lord puts in your path

II. Try it God’s Way

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deut. 6:6-9

www.lifestyleoflearning.org

III. Keep the ‘Home’ in Homeschool- Being Joyful at Home

“The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish woman pulls it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

*don’t give up the best for good things *successful Homeschooling require you to be at home *who is influencing your children’s heart?

IV. Put on Your Earmuffs- Are you listening to negative voices in your life?

“I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down.” Nehemiah 6:6

*get inspiration on a regular basis *surround yourself with people with similar goals *don’t put your fragile olive shoots out in the cold to freeze

v. You Deserve a Break Today!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

*daily time with the Lord *daily fresh air & exercise & fun with your children *daily sprucing-up

Easter Spirit (Revisited)

2011-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have re-posted last years Easter post due to some interesting cultural developments. Here in the Seattle public school system a teacher asked a guest to call the Easter Eggs she had brought to class Spring Spheres. (Apparently, the Children were not fooled.) Could it be that coming to our public square soon, we will have a wave of Easter persecution to rally the faithful. Will there be a public battle for Easter like there is a battle for Christmas? Humm...

March 29, 2010

I have been driving around town looking for the Easter banners put up by the local civic authorities with the word Believe on them like they did at Christmas. But apparently they had forgotten to put them up.

I was at the mall looking for the mass of shoppers preparing for Easter Day, and thought I would wander through the store looking at and enjoying the Easter decorations. It must have been the economic malaise that has recently hit this country, because except for the Card store it seems everyone forgot to check their calender.

On the drive back to my house, I turned on the radio to listen to some Easter music on the easy listening pop channel that each year plays Holiday music. There wasn't any. I clicked on the Christian radio station to catch a couple of hip versions of "He is Risen." But alas nothing.

I know that Easter has not been completely forgotten. There was a nice collection of dresses for little girls at the department store. I got an advertisement from a local church on special services. And I did read that the average family spends $200.00 on Easter each year for candy, decoration, and dinner.But lets just be honest here, society just doesn't change like it does at Christmas. There is no Easter Spirit among the community at large.

Like it or not, people have a tendency to be different at Christmas. More prone to be generous, secular musicians sing songs about Christ, and profound atheists have symbols of a Turkish Bishop named St. Nicholas all over their children's rooms. But at Easter...it...well...just doesn't happen.

Is it that bunny that lays eggs and decorates with pastels? Or is it that secular society says enough is enough. We will go along with you on Christmas and give you the virgin birth. But raised from the dead, that we call a halt on. I just don't know. It is just that, be honest, for most of America Easter doesn't have it.

However, one of the great problems with Christmas is that it doesn't stick around. All those good feelings slide away as the credit card bills come at the end of January. Those who catch the Easter vision. It is more than just catching a wave of societal goodness. The realization that you have been chosen by God for eternal life. That Christ died and rose again for you is permanently life changing, and the spirit doesn't quit two weeks into January.

What are your thoughts on the "Easter Spirit?"

You may be embarrassed to be a Christian if...

2011-04-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

1. The night before your airline flight, you purchased an electronic book reader so you can sit in the lobby of the airport and read your Bible undetected.

2. Your church recently removed any reference to God, Christ, or denomination from its name in order not to offend anyone who may be driving past who may have had a bad experience with God, Christ, or said denomination.

3. When your neighbor mentions they just read the first chapter of Genesis, you are quick to make an excuse for God and point out that this is the one place God didn't quite write it down correctly.

4. When someone mentions Christians and history, you immediately start apologizing about the crusades even though you never had anything to do with them, they happened over 700 years ago, and you still have never met anyone who had the slightest desire to emigrate to Iraq, Jordan, or Syria.

5. When someone accuses you of being a member of the Religious Right, you vehemently deny it even though you have Psalms 139:15, Ephesians 5:22-33, and Exodus 20:15 underlined in your Bible back at home.

6. The only reason your children know about God is that you occasionally show them talking vegetable videos.

7. You tape on a Coexist bumper sticker over your Jesus fish when driving into San Fransico, Seattle, or Washington D.C. scared of what may happen to you if your car breaks down.

8. You will wear any contemporary fashion making only the occasional minor adjustment to modesty, but you quickly point out to your friends that those silly women in long dresses and head coverings are all legalists.

9. When the BBC compares Muslim fundamentalists with devoted Christians in the United States, you are quick to point out that you love all people. That is you love all people but over zealous Christians who hand out tracts on the street and make you look bad by implying there actually may be a hell.

10. When your neighbors walk up to your house at Christmas time, they notice an apology note on the outdoor nativity set saying you are extremely sorry for taking over the season and diminishing the importance of Winter Solstice.

Feel free to add your comments, complaints, and your own "You may be embarrassed to be a Christian if..." to the list in the comments.

A Very Sensitive Subject...

2011-03-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Imagine across the street from you was a wonderful couple. They had a beautiful home. They loved their child. They gave him great training, opportunity, love, but neither did they spoil him or treat him as some sort of pet. They taught him wisdom and noticed he had great skills in drawing and other arts of which they gave him resources to develop those skills.

One day you were out mowing your front lawn. It was full of tall spring grass. Half way through, your lawn mower brakes down. When you go across the street to borrow your neighbors lawnmower (you knew they were kind and would loan theirs to you), you looked through the window and saw something that shocked you. The son was cursing at his Mother. Then you saw him take his painting easel and smash it across the dining room table. He picked up his paints and threw them on the furniture. He screamed at his father using profanity saying he wished he had never been born. As you watch, he picks up a $2,000 dollar vase and throws it at his mother. It hits her, breaks, and she begins bleeding. He runs out of the house, gets into his parents Lexus SUV, and drives off after taking his fathers wallet and $1000 dollars in cash.

Trying to recover from what you have seen, you come to the door and ask the parents if you can help. They say only if you have a lot of "paint remover." But maybe you could call an ambulance if you had a spare moment. You feel awful for you know the parents had loved the child. Obviously, you forget all about mowing the rest of your lawn.

The next day, the same son drives up and parks in front of your house. Out of the back of your neighbors Lexus, he pulls a lawnmower. He begins to finish mowing your lawn. You walk out to ask him what he is doing. He hands you an envelope. You open the envelope. Inside is a receipt, he has made a thousand dollar donation to the local Children's Hospital in your name. By the way, he says that he has asked some of his friends to come over later in the afternoon to help clean some of the moss that had been growing on your roof.

Through the years, you watch the house across the street. You notice that the parents continue to reach out to their son and tell him that they love him. He could come spend time with them, take vacations with them, and receive his inheritance of several millions of dollars if he would only ask for forgiveness for they could be reconciled. But the son rejects all offers, even though he has lived a lazy life, and now lives in a small apartment across town. He desperately needs money for a knee replacement because it is very painful for him to walk. All this time, he has continued to send you a Christmas Card with a gift certificate to Applebees or the local book store because he knows you love to read.

The Mother across the street eventually dies. The Father, on his death bed, reaches out to his son offering him his inheritance if only his son would just come to his hospital bed, ask forgiveness, and spend some time sitting and talking with him. But the son refuses. The Father dies and gives his inheritance to various charities.

Two weeks later, the son shows up at your door. Things have gotten worse lately. He is now unable to walk. He asks if you will pay for the operation. You say that you don't have any money, you are old and because of bad investments you only have social security to live on. The son then goes around to the various charities his father gave his inheritance to asking for help. The charities say they are very appreciative of the gifts his father donated to them, but they are also unable to help. They have by-laws limiting what they can do with the money. They are required to spend the money elsewhere.

There is a myth currently making its ways in Christian circles today. It is that people can reject the Father God and his Son Jesus Christ, and then because of their goodness, spend eternity with him in close relationship because God is Love. That God would never reject a good person. That God would never require him to spend eternity separated from him in what the Bible calls Hell or the Abyss. This myth is personally attractive to myself because I can not conceive of the suffering that a life separated from God would bring. But as you see in the story of the bad son. It is the son who rejects the father. And the sons good acts to another person can not gain him his Fathers inheritance.

In a letter written to the Roman Church the Apostle Paul (Romans 3:10) tells us, we have all rebelled against our Father. Have you kept all the ten commandments or even know what they are? A Father who is the definition of Love. And because of this God tells us we are all, in some degree, the bad son in the story. The God who created the universe also created us. But because of our failure to keep the commandments of God, none of us deserve anything from him as far as an eternal inheritance.

But that does not mean we can not spend eternity with him in heaven. In fact, God does not want anything from us except to believe on his Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16), repenting of our rebellion against his love of us for us (Mathew 4:17), reconciling ourselves to him by accepting Jesus death on the cross as payment for our rebellion or sin (Romans 3:25). From this act of reconciliation, all real goodness and blessings flow. He also does not give us any alternative. (John 10:1)

Heaven is a close relationship with our Father. (Revelation 21:3) A close relationship everyday for eternity. As you see in the story, it is not possible to have the loving and close relationship that Heaven requires if we are in an antagonistic relationship with our Father. God still loves us and desires to be with us. But we leave God with no other alternative except separation from him if we refuse to be reconciled. And since God is the creator of all, including all things that make life worth living, separation from him is described as a life of suffering.

The problem is that most of us never see, or want to believe even if we do, what went on in the house across the street. We want to determine for ourselves what is fair and correct, based most often on our feelings and opinions, from what we have observed people do for us. Only, we don't grasp the whole picture or know the whole story. And no matter how well meaning we are or good intentioned. We, like the poor neighbor in the story, have no money to help ourselves or the wayward son. Both you and I are powerless to overcome death.

It is my hope that this story of the bad son across the street, though a very imperfect representation, may give us a little glimpse into our relationship with God, our Father. God has revealed this whole picture in the Bible. The Bible consists of 66 books, written over 1500 years, by 40 different authors that has a consistent and cohesive message. It is the most repeatedly checked and verifiable book in all the ancient and modern world. And it is the Word of God. I encourage you to read and study it. Many many people have given their earthly lives to bring this message to you.

Family Devotions Among Other Things

2011-01-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

We drove 40 miles south on a dark night in a rain storm to go to a family conference. Two things were presented to me. One, I should get rid of my TV. Two, maybe I was a little lax on family devotions? After going a week without turning on my TV, I decided maybe I didn’t need to get rid of it. (A subject for another day.) But when it came to family devotions, I was convicted.

The speaker’s we went to see were the Maxwell family. A large homeschool family most famous for an organization book Mrs. Maxwell had written. They talked about giving up playing youth and high school baseball and other activities for they could be home at night in order to do devotions. They talked about doing devotions even when guests were over. They meant that the family did devotions every night, and not just two or three times a week when convenient. It struck me as a radical concept, putting God first in our lives by actually putting God first in our lives even if that meant eliminating activities.

When it came to devotions, I had fallen into a common trap of thinking. The trap of believing God grades on a curve. We think that just because we know someone else that does not do something, in this case family devotions, that we must be doing well since we occasionally do them or at least think about doing them.

With help of my wife, we have managed to get on a better track with family devotions. Though in no way do we think we have them nailed down, nor does anyone gain greater favor with God by doing or not doing devotions, but they draw us closer as a family to him and focus us in the right direction on him.

Here are some things we and a few others we know have found to have worked when it comes to family devotions:

- Place the Bible on the table at dinner. Dinner is a great time for devotions.

- Go through a Book of the Bible. And to get off to a good start, try an Epistle. If you are worried about not having time to prepare? Use a Bible that has notes. All of a sudden you have commentary and a lot of times the notes answer a question your child may ask. You don't have to be perfectly prepared.

- We enjoyed going through Kevin Swanson’s Proverbs study at Generations with Vision.

- Lately, we have been using a book called 365 Days of Praise by Julie Lavender. It works surprisingly well. Our smaller children really like it. It works especially well when you get home from a hard day and you don’t have the faintest idea of what to talk about. This is my greatest challenge to devotions. The challenge of being plain worn out when it comes time to do them.

- Go through one of the Catechisms just like families throughout history have. For little kids, there is the Westminster Shorter Catechism , and for "bigger folks" there is of course the longer Westminster Catechism. And the one that I have enjoyed going through at our church is the Baptist 1689 London Confession of Faith.

- Check out the Maxwell's themselves. They have resources on family devotions at Titus 2.

What works well for you when it comes to doing family or "even individual" daily devotions?

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a Most Wonderful Christmas

Hurrah for Advent!

2010-11-27T21:21:00.000-08:00

2010 Advent Reading Calender

For years, it seemed I would bungle through Advent hit or miss. I would start thinking about Advent on December 1st, and then when I looked at the reading list and realize I was already days behind. That is if I could manage to find the reading list from where I had tucked it away last January. Then throughout December, I would pull out the list and wonder... now which verse are we on tonight. Are we in the 3rd week 4th day?

But I finally got smart. By getting smart, I mean that I made up a calender. A calender which shows which day each reading was supposed to be done. Not only that, but I could also write each child's name down on the day that was their day. The day they were to pick the song, light and blow out the candles on the advent wreath, then hang up the marker on our countdown to Christmas calender forever indicating that we were one more day closer to Christmas.

(For a copy of our advent calender just click the link below)

http://www.scribd.com/full/44162653?access_key=key-2aqabym1nt1fkffwo6l

There is certainly is no right or wrong way to do Advent. There isn't even anything in the Bible instructing us to celebrate Christmas much less establishing a formal Advent season. After all, Jesus most likely wasn't even born in December. The Puritans, who I consider arguably one of bravest and greatest Christian groups in all of history, didn't even celebrate Christmas because it had degenerated into a raucous party back in merry old England.

But today, who would want to miss out on a chance to join the rest of the world in the biggest of all celebrations. Especially, when it is our celebration. And Advent keeps our family focused on what it is all about: The virgin birth of Jesus the Christ.

How does your family do Advent or keep your focus on Jesus Christ over Christmas?

The Bearable Lightness of Being

2010-11-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Jesus

Mathew 11:28-30

I am sure a vast majority of us have always taken great comfort from the words, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” But strangely, I had never connected the earlier verses in Matthew leading up to this well known statement of encouragement.

We see earlier in verse 24, Jesus crying out to the cities who should have been his greatest “supporters.” Those who were most familiar with him, but who refused to repent either with the preaching of the "greatest of old testament prophets" John the Baptist or the miracles of Jesus.

In verse 25, there is the challenging revelation that Christ reveals himself to the "babes." The unexpected part of the population. Throughout the new testement, he brings out that he most often reveals himself to those who would not be considered wise and full of common sense by the establishment.

And to these, those who come to Christ by his call. Who the establishment would consider the least, to these who walk yoked, connected like oxen, to Christ. The burden or phortion (the freight of a ship) is light or elaphros (agile).

The key word here that I have often missed is repentance. To be yoked with Christ, we must be repentant. We must turn from our selfishness, greed, love of the world, and love of the world's approval.

I also am suspect that in our pride and over zealousness, we try to carry burdens we aren't capable of carrying. Burdens that are Christ's, but we try to do alone. Things that belong to God.

The saving of the world…The changing of hearts...The separating of the chaff from the wheat....

Do you feel that we as Christians here in America feel unnecessarily burdened?

Family Integrate? Pro's and Con's

2010-10-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about changing the "procedures" on how we conduct church? It could be that you have thought that there should be a better way each Sunday to help the local body of Christ feel connected as one unit instead of various different groups? If so, a Family Integrated Church could be what you are looking for. These Churches minimize activities and programs. Especially, those that segregate groups by age (i.e. Sunday Schools and Youth Groups). They also emphasize the parents responsibility and privilege of discipling their own Children.

Here are some Pro's and Cons to Family Integrated Churches:

Pros:

- They are as close to the Biblical model as we can find. The Bible is not filled with detailed instruction on how to conduct a church service. Even though there is room for debate on this, from the best we can determine the early church did the following: Preach the Word, administer the sacraments, share a meal, and share hymns. Nowhere is there mention of Sunday Schools and Youth Groups in the Bible. (Please note that just because they aren't mentioned does not, in and of itself, mean we should not have them.)

- They provide an encouraging environment for parents to disciple their own children. There is always that feeling in our current model that there is a safety net just in case we don't get around to doing it ourselves. This means that sometimes us parents just don't get around to it.

- They eliminate the need to recruit Sunday School teachers. If you have ever been in charge of this, you understand what a daunting and frustrating task this can be. Plus, not all Sunday school teachers are qualified for the job.

- They limit "counter recruitment" opportunities. Not everyone in Sunday School and Youth Group is there to grow in their faith or to ask honest questions. I have had many a Sunday lesson diminished as one child tries to mock and distract those who are enjoying and learning. Or maybe you were asked, as I was, when growing up to join the church youth group on a retreat because it was a great place to smoke pot.

- They are easier on Moms. Most people who teach in Sunday Schools are Moms who have kids in the Sunday School. This means after watching their children all week, they go to church and watch their own children, and everyone elses, and miss the the nourishment of the service.

- They help put families all on the same page and teach children and young adults that church is not an oddity reserved only for grown ups. Everyone hears the same sermon and can later chat about it. This is great news!

Cons:

- They go against our current tradition. This means that if your church switches to this "format" some people will leave your church.

- They can be a bit noisy. But not as noisy as you may think.This is especially hard for pastors who are producing a TV show each Sunday to be aired over the Internet or local television.

- They can be hard on Moms. It isn't always easy to sit in the service with your children. Of course, even in Family Integrated Churches kids and young adults aren't always perfectly behaved. There is no "format" that leads to perfect behavior. Some Sundays can be taxing. But your children can do this, and most enjoy it.

- There isn't the opportunity to teach Sunday School. For me, a now defunct Children's Pastor this is the worst part. However, most likely, you are the best person to disciple your own child.

A couple books worth checking out are Family Integrated Church by Mark Fox or Voddie Baucham's Family Driven Faith.

Comments and Questions?

5 Reasons You May Be Better Than the Rest of Us...

2010-09-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

1. You don't need to pray. In Luke, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. However, it's great that you have life well under control and don't need much of God's assistance.

2. You don't need to go to church. The rest of the Body of Christ drags you down from your spiritual high. After all, you have missionary work to do at the ski slope. Next week, it is the yard work ministry.

3. You always know more than the Pastor. Every Sunday is an opportunity to critique the delivery, message, and dress of your local servant of God. A career on American Idol as a judge is sure to come your way soon.

4. Certain parts of the Bible just aren't for you. Because of your outstanding negotiation skills, you have made a special deal with God. Parts of the Bible have been ruled "not applicable" to your life.

5. You have the 67th Book of the Bible at home on your laptop. Included in it are all the solutions to the World's problems. If only God would get it in gear and have some knucklehead publisher agree with you...

If one of the above five reasons has caused you to chuckle at yourself good, I have not wasted my time. I confess that I have been guilty of most all of them at one point in my life. My hope is that you really are better than the rest of us.

I have lately seen the words pride and legalist bandied about quiet a bit. Most of the time, it appears the victims of these words are those people who are passionate, sometimes overly so, about certain positive aspects of the Christian life. I think pride can sometimes be a little bit more sneaky. It comes when we are tricked into believing special rules apply just to us. In James, we are reminded to work out our salvation with "fear and trembling." But often our own pride can blind us into complacency. Your thoughts?

Ramblings of Encouragement for a Demographic I Love

2010-08-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

In the Apostle Paul's famous chapter 13 in the book of Corinthians, Paul wrote about heaven that, "...I shall know just as I also am known." These words stand against an American media culture (i.e. reality TV etc...) which says all should clamor for attention. A world that says it is better to be known for something, even if it may be bad, than to live a life of obscurity. It appears from many of our actions that we are easily tricked into thinking that God notices and rewards people in the same way the world does. There is no Biblical proof of this I can find. We are encourage to live quiet lives both in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 1 Timothy 2:2.

Interestingly, there is nothing in the Bible that indicates that there is such a thing as obscurity for the believer. Paul says we will be known. I believe we will not only be known to God but also to our fellow saints in Heaven. Our enemy, the Devil, would love to discourage us otherwise. He would especially like to discourage what I see as still a small but growing phenomena in American Christianity. Women who put off glitz and glory of our time to live quiet lives for the blessings of our nation's children and for the community.

The hope of American Christianity lies with their work. We all must support them and their families. I have read reports that it takes 40 people in a church to bring one person to Christ. But the average home school mom has a 90% success rate in producing Godly offspring. Do the math. It is no wonder that our enemy would like to trick this demographic into thinking that putting all they have into child raising is misapplied energy. Even near where I live, there is a popular ministry focused on children and young adults started by a women who got tired of being home with her children. Go figure.

Moms: You are the most critically vital and important demographic group in America. Be encouraged. God is not overlooking anyone doing His will. I can tell you even from my business world experience that those who focus their energy on raising children are not missing out. Most weeks, I would rather spend a week at home with my kids than traveling about the country.

God knows us. And in Heaven, we will be known. We will be rewarded for the small things we have been faithful in (Mathew 25:14-23). How that reward plays out. I do not claim to know. We can only have faith that it will and our work will not be unknown. Not only that, but God says whatever we do for our own glory will be of no importance in Heaven. God is not tricking any of us into giving up anything of value. He saved us from destruction and perdition and is only keeping us from wasting our lives. Even though the work of child raising and daily discipleship can be hard, those doing this are doing a great work!

Your thoughts: How can we encourage families and especially Moms in raising their children for God?

The Pursuit of Happiness

2010-07-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Independence Hall

We are a nation in which one of our declared purposes is the pursuit of happiness. I have always thought that this was a bit of a hedonistic statement. Did our founders make an error? Some historians think that the statement was from John Locke and originally read, "life, liberty, and property." It was then improvised by Thomas Jefferson to read, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

But if we truly are or were a Christian nation (which some critics claim we never have been), shouldn't Jefferson have said something a little bit more selfless? Did our brave forefathers goof causing us to veer off course tricking us into building big houses on golf courses instead of more important pursuits?

Of course, happiness is hard to define. In academia, they don't even like the word happiness. They prefer the term "subjective well being" instead. If you think America is the best place for "subjective well being," you may want to check out Eric Weiner's book "The Geography of Bliss." Be prepared to grab your wallet, passport, and plan on moving soon because America may not be the spot you think it is. We are somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to this certain type of "well being."

In ancient Hebrew, the word 'ester' is often translated blessed. But it also translates happy. Strong's defines 'ester' as "happiness, blessedness." In Psalms 84, the Psalmist puts it plainly. 'Ester' (happy) are those who live at your temple. Happy are those who are always praising you. Happy are those who strength is in you. Happy are people who trust in you. Happy are those who cry out to be with the Living God. In short, happiness is found in the pursuit of God. The pursuit of happiness is actually an ideal goal for a nation founded by various groups of Christians based on Christian ideals.

I pray America's greatest legacy will not be be our riches and the liberty we enjoy at least for the moment. But that we will be forever known as a nation that pursues happiness in pursuing God. The Psalmist implies that in our pursuit of God comes all the things we may long for and desire in our nation. What can we do to change the direction of America and make us a nation chasing happiness in God instead of riches or a socialist utopia?

A Power Point God

2010-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

A view from the east side to Seattle

Living here in the Seattle, I have often asked myself the question. Has Microsoft been good or bad for the area? On one hand, it has been a huge boom for the economy, pouring unheard of amounts of money into the east side employing many including great friends and close relatives of mine. On the flip side, it has driven up housing prices high enough that ordinary families who didn't catch the rising waive can no longer afford to live in traditional family neighborhoods, and it brought in a large amount of congestion into some sleepy suburbs which were never designed to hold the worlds leading computer software company. The answer to the question to has Microsoft been good or bad for Seattle depends on who you are?

I ask the same question on our process of sanctification. Has technology been an asset to our growth in Christ opening up easy access to multitudes of Bible commentaries and resources plus connections to hundreds of great Bible teachers. It certainly has made it easier to communicate and get information out on our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world as well as keeping us connected with families, friends, etc.. But on the flip side, it can drive us away from our flesh and blood neighbors next door, it has poured billions of more dollars into the pornography industry destroying families in every corner of America, and kept many home from church looking at their computer as a substitute. The answer here also I believe is that it depends on who you are?

At bit of a computer addict myself, every morning I have tended to get up and sit down at my computer first thing. Because of this I developed a Prayer Power Point. Now instead clicking on my favorite blog or the news in the AM, I click through the Power Point to remind me what I was going to pray about or lead me through a Bible study.

How have you used technology in growing closer to God? Has it been a help or a hindrance?

*I have attached one of these Power Points in a YouTube version that is based on the Lords Prayer in the previous days post. I will send you the Power Point if it would helpful.

Time with God

2010-06-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Grab your Bible put on some of your favorite praise music and spend some time with God based on the Lord's Prayer.

We Bought our Van from a Christian Punk Band

2010-06-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

The car dealer told us the 12 passenger van we had just purchased had been used by a local band previously. As we were test driving the vehicle, I pictured a bunch of high school kids driving around in the van with tubas packed in back. But when we looked up the band name he had mentioned upon return home, we found that the group was a popular punk band. In their brief bio, they also claimed to be known as unapologetic Christians. Though I praise God for their salvation, the one video I watched didn't seem very "Christian."

Watching the video, brought up a question? Should music like Rap and Punk Rock, which are essentially born out of rebellion and defiance of authority, be used in glorify God? Does using this type of music draw those on the outside into the church as its performers and proponents claim? Or does it draw those on the inside of the church away from God to the world as an unintended consequence? (Right now, some claim 70-80% of youth are separated from the church at the end of college). In other words, does form matter as long as the lyrics say "Praise Jesus?" After all, weren't some of the great hymns of the faith originally viewed with suspicion and written by ex-scoundrels.

What do you think? Is one form of music or style better in the glorification and worship of God? Or should those who think so be forever banished as a legalists?

Faith, Worry, and Sin

2010-06-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

In the middle of the night my wife asked me why I wasn’t able to sleep. I had to confess, “I am just lying here sinning. I can’t keep from worrying.” I thought I had a lot to worry about. We just had a new baby and needed a new car. I was debating on whether or not to take a new job offer, should I let two of our daughters go and tour Europe with a local orchestra they played in, etc... Though none of these things are life and death matters, I did think I had a lot of legitimate things to worry about.

As I was lying there going over the same thoughts, the same scenarios, the same conversations again and again, it struck me that I had been teaching our children that we need to live out our lives as the Word of God instructs. We don’t have to the right to underline the parts of the Bible we like, only living those parts out, and ignore the other parts we don’t like. The apostle Paul tells us in his 2nd letter to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

That must include Jesus statement in the Gospel of Matthew to not worry about even the basic things of food, drink, and clothing. I must also follow Paul’s letter to the Philippians, when we are told not to be anxious about anything. When we worry, going over the same things over and over in my mind, we are actually rebelling against God. He does not give us the right to worry.

But here is the rub. Quitting worrying doesn’t seem that easy. Worry just sort of happens. I think it would be easier to quit something more tangible like robbing banks. That would be easy to quit. Bank robbing is dangerous, takes a lot of work, and there is severe consequences for failure, plus it is obvious to everyone that it is wrong. But worrying is easy. And everyone worries. Don't they?

In order to stop worry, we must have faith. A faith that God just might know what he is doing. A faith to trust that even if our worries come true. We can know that even then God never abandons those he has chosen. Even if we have to look to the end of the age for things to be made right.

Though a subject for another day, I also realize that not worrying is not permission to engage in foolishness. But the question of the day is how do we quit worrying? We have to have faith that what God is telling us is correct. But sometimes it is hard to apply that faith. Paul tells us to cast our cares on him with prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving. Here are some suggestions I have found to help stop worry. But feel free to help add to the list?

1) At night, quit lying in bed worrying, get up and read your Bible. (This is from Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa fame.)

2) As soon as worry starts begin going over a memory verse in your mind

3) If late at night when worry seems to strike with a vengeance, get up and click on the worship network www.worship.net (in my opinion one of the few good Christian TV programs)

4) Start going through your mind, good things that have happened…(i.e. thanksgivings)

5) …..

Scenes From Seattle

2010-05-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

Seattle is the most educated city in the country and home of some of the worlds richest people. It is a great place to ask the question, "If man gains the whole world and loses his own soul..."

What's Your Sign?

2010-05-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

What's does your Church sign say? There is one down the street from me which says,"Soul Out of Shape, Let God be your Personal Trainer." Another states,"Sorry Looks Back, Worry Looks Forward, Faith Looks Up!" An hour south from my home, I saw a sign which read, "Every Choice Leads Somewhere." The quote was even attributed to God himself.

I have become increasingly burdened about how our major media outlets ignore the pain and suffering of people around the world because they are Christians. Five hundred Christians, mostly women and children, in Nigeria murdered and there is barely a word mentioned. A young poor Pakistani girl attacked then thrown into prison for contacting the police? Nothing on CNN. China repatriating escaped North Korean Christians to almost certain death. You don't read about that on the news flashes when you sign onto your Yahoo email account. A father of ten and a pastor in the most dangerous place in the world killed for his faith in Christ. That doesn't make the evening news.

We Christians do, however, have tens of thousands of church sign boards across the USA. What if instead of telling people to "Smile for Jesus Today" we say, "Pastor Thrown in Prison. Wife Hungry " "Korean Girl Thrown in Concentration Camp for having Bible." What if we turned from catchy snippets to telling a blind world about the battle going on with "principalities of darkness." It may get peoples attention; which we don't have now. It might get some to walk back through those church doors because they are looking for something of such value that people are willing to give their lives for it. Let's not let such great promotional real estate go to waste.

Easter Spirit?

2010-03-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

I have been driving around town looking for the Easter banners put up by the local civic authorities with the word Believe on them like they did at Christmas. But apparently they had forgotten to put them up.

I was at the mall looking for the mass of shoppers preparing for Easter Day, and thought I would wander through the store looking at and enjoying the Easter decorations. It must have been the economic malaise that has recently hit this country, because except for the Card store it seems everyone forgot to check their calender.

On the drive back to my house, I turned on the radio to listen to some Easter music on the easy listening pop channel that each year plays Holiday music. There wasn't any. I clicked on the Christian radio station to catch a couple of hip versions of "He is Risen." But alas nothing.

I know that Easter has not been completely forgotten. There was a nice collection of dresses for little girls at the department store. I got an advertisement from a local church on special services. And I did read that the average family spends $200.00 on Easter each year for candy, decoration, and dinner.But lets just be honest here, society just doesn't change like it does at Christmas. There is no Easter Spirit among the community at large.

Like it or not, people have a tendency to be different at Christmas. More prone to be generous, secular musicians sing songs about Christ, and profound atheists have symbols of a Turkish Bishop named St. Nicholas all over their children's rooms. But at Easter...it...well...just doesn't happen.

Is it that bunny that lays eggs and decorates with pastels? Or is it that secular society says enough is enough. We will go along with you on Christmas and give you the virgin birth. But raised from the dead, that we call a halt on. I just don't know. It is just that, be honest, for most of America Easter doesn't have it.

However, one of the great problems with Christmas is that it doesn't stick around. All those good feelings slide away as the credit card bills come at the end of January. Those who catch the Easter vision. It is more than just catching a wave of societal goodness. The realization that you have been chosen by God for eternal life. That Christ died and rose again for you is permanently life changing, and the spirit doesn't quit two weeks into January.

It's an Empty World out there...go forth and fill it with fun loving kids!

2010-02-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

In P. J. O'Rourke's now aging irreverent book, "All the Trouble in the World" he makes the case that there has never been a shortage of food, at least in modern times, but there has been a shortage of ethical generous behavior. All those starving people seen on TV are starving not because there is no food somewhere. They are also not starving because people don't want to send it to them. But they are starving because evil people want to steal the food (and everything else they can get there hands on) for themselves.

We, as God fearing lovable anti-abortion American Christians, of course would never condone such a thing. After all, we are the ones often sending the food to be stolen by the evil warlords and government dictators. But have you ever thought about this? Are we depriving young wonderful fun loving kids of life, because having another child will hurt our pocket book, increase our time to retirement, or cause our spouse to quit work making us sell a car, and imagine if we ran out of time to watch our sports in the evening. Well, hum maybe?

But we are running out space here on this earth you say? Nonsense! You can give every person in the world in an 2200 sq. foot two story house and fit all the houses in Texas. Of course it would be pretty cramped, but you get the picture. The rest of entire world would all be fodder for the Nature Channel and thousands of miles of fields of grain.

The replacement rate to keep the population even here in the United States is 2.13 kids per family. We are just about even right now. But that is mostly because of immigrants coming to our wonderful Christian land (thank you Puritans, Quakers, and Anglicans) and having kids because it is a great thing to do. The rest of the world, especially Europe, which we seem to want to have as a model these days,is sliding backwards on a slow train to extinction.

Children are wonderful...go forth and fill the world with fun loving kids. Remember, he who has the most kids wins...sort of.

American Mythology

2010-01-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

The mythology that I would rather be rocking and rolling with my buddies in Hell, then bored floating around in the clouds in Heaven, is alive and well in America as seen in this recently opened "performing arts center" called Hells Kitchen in Tacoma. This myth as been perpetuated through the years from bands as diverse as: AC/DC Highway to ...well you know where, Mr. Billy Joel "I'd rather laugh with the sinners then cry with saints," to Death Cab for Cuties recent hit, I will follow you into the Dark.

Strange that I can't seem to find any evidence that "good time rocker" people get to party on in Hell with their buddies. (Seems even here on earth most eventually grow tired of it. ) However in interest of an open mind, I will give anyone $20 bucks and a free night out at Hells Kitchen to anyone who can send such evidence .

Christmas for Cowboys

2009-12-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

John Denver had a short Christmas Song Christmas for Cowboys. The "Cowboy" prefers his wide open plains in the day and the stars for Christmas lights at night over being back in town. Like most of John Denver's songs, it is a bit overly romantic. It is unlikely to find real "cowboys" out riding the range on Christmas Day and bedding down in the open that night.

But the song does capture a desire that many of us have which often goes unmet at Christmas. That is to simplify and focus on the beauty of the world around us and on Jesus Christ. The song is also maybe a bit more Biblical then we think. Think of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants will be as uncountable as the stars in the sky on a clear December night.

This Christmas celebrate God's unfathomable and uncountable gift. That gift is each of us. Our lives were made possible only through his creation. And our eternal Salvation as part of Abraham's family came through a baby born in Bethlehem. Christmas is indeed for Cowboys.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin

2009-10-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

left over pumpkins 2005
Most of us who grew up watching the Peanut Holiday specials know the story. Charlie Brown's friend Linus waits in the Pumpkin Patch on Halloween for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. The Great Pumpkin will come with a bag of toys for the most sincere believer. Of course, the Great Pumpkin never arrives. But Linus will not give up on his belief. Someday he will be the most sincere.

This is the thinking of the Post Modern culture of today. If I am sincere enough in what I believe, whatever I believe will be true for me. Surprisingly, this even appears to be the case for some of the brightest "fact based" minds in our world today when it comes to Darwinism. They apparently believe if they are sincere enough, and look hard enough, Darwinism must be true. This is because they believe there is no other choice.

They still search for Darwin's missing link despite a hundred years of fossil evidence to the contrary, and they gloss over insurmountable problems like irreducible complexity. But worse they force their theological theories as fact on hapless school students sometimes needing the backing of the courts to force compliance. All because they just can't see that there is a designer in the beauty of creation. When our greatest minds are still sitting in their own self made Pumpkin Patches looking to see who is most sincere in their belief that there is no God each October 31st, who needs ghosts and goblins. Happy Halloween!

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

2009-10-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Church, Nara Vista New Mexico

This is a summary of Dr. RC Sproul and Dr. Michael Horton’s lectures on the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church on board the Celebrity Cruise liner Mercury as we sailed around beautiful Vancouver Island in Canada. (Of course, going out to sea to international waters whenever possible to open the Casino.)

The term One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church comes from the Nicene Creed which was called to help settle heresy about the nature of Christ. This is important because the Church and Christ can not be separated. This can be seen at Peter’s preaching at Pentecost where as soon as someone belonged to Christ they were counted among the church.

Christ wants us to be one with each other just as he is one with the Father. Growth of a church is only identified with the spreading of the Gospel, and only the Gospel separates the church from other organizations in the world. The real church is identified by persecution.

Church in Greek means “the called ones.” We are called out of the world to him for we are to be a Holy people. Holy meaning to be set apart. The church belongs to Christ because he bought it. The price He paid was His blood.

Dr. Sproul stated that the church needs to be a place where you can get Holy. He also said that it is the most corrupt institution in the world. This is because as the Bible says when much has been given then much is expected. The church often falls short. The church, however, is not full of hypocrites as is often stated, but it is full of sinners. We are sinners who are all in the process of being sanctified. Since Christ has us covered by his blood, we also need to “cover each other”. (This does not mean ignoring gross sin that requires church discipline.)

The church is Catholic which means universal. (The term Roman Catholic is, of course, an oxymoron.) Dr. Horton said that the church connects us back through history and removes us from our “own dead end stories and plots.” It puts us in His story connecting us all the way back to the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The church is an organic institution where each local body is part of the whole. Local church bodies should consist of at minimum three elements: Preaching of the Word, the sacraments, and church discipline. Americans tend to be too individualist, and many of us want to equate individual spirituality with being part of a local body. This is a bad view. Preaching calls us to catholicity.

Dr. Horton made an impassioned plea against niche marketing in the church giving the example of problems it caused in helping start apartheid in South Africa. As an example, he believes that church youth groups are unintentionally drawing kids away from the church. Many young people graduate college having never participated in a church body or having dealt much with people of different backgrounds and ages. How can we pass on the covenants of the faith if this is true? (60%-80% of today’s Christian kids aren’t Christian by the time they leave college.)

The church is also apostolic. This is important because many today (militant feminists,those who teach Jesus as only a moral teacher), just as the Gnostics back in the time of the early church, want to have Jesus but not the Apostles. Most specifically, they don’t want Paul.

This is not possible. If you deny Paul, you are also denying Jesus Christ who passed on the position of Apostle to Paul. Paul was confirmed as an Apostle by the other Apostles. Dr. Sproul believes one of the major reasons the book of Acts was written was to show the authority of Paul. The Apostles are the foundation of the church as pointed out in the book of Revelation. Without the teaching of the Apostles, the church will crumble because it will have no foundtion.