One of the “side benefits” (if I can use that term) of being a Christian is the awareness of self that it brings. John Calvin understood this. He begins his “Institutes of the Christian Religion” making the two-part point that, “in the first place, no man can survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts towards the God in whom he lives and moves… On the other hand, it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.” Our aim in becoming a disciple of Jesus … [Read more...] about The Christian and Self-Awareness
SBC Issues
Building Bridges on a Lonely Trail
"It is finished." Can there be more satisfying words? Said in quiet resolve as a father steps back from a swing set in the yard, an artist scoots back from a painting, a writer pushes away from a keyboard, a seamstress sews the final seam, a final test is taken, or a silent prayer is lifted. When we sense completion, we spread our arms like a blessing, then rest our hands on our hips to take the moment in before life moves on. Life moves on? I thought we were finished. I thought about these things as I chopped and sawed my way through thick brush and dead trees, spiders scattering … [Read more...] about Building Bridges on a Lonely Trail
Is God Mad at America?
On April 27, a massive tornado cut a more than 80-mile swath through the heart of Alabama at a cost of hundreds of lives and untold damage. Before we had a chance to catch our collective breath, an EF5 tornado pretty much leveled Joplin, MO on May 22. Just last week, as I was touring the streets of Boston with my family, an ominous storm system came through, eventually dropping a tornado on Springfield that killed four people. (Stunning video of that storm is available online.) Right now, Sioux City, Iowa is awaiting almost inevitable destruction from well-over 500 year flood levels that … [Read more...] about Is God Mad at America?
Do pastors care for the church with a fatherly love?
A bit back I wrote a post on congregationalism, and within it stated of pastors: They are elders, in part, because they are trustworthy men of character who have proven themselves good managers through the care of their families and can therefore care for the church in a loving, fatherly way. In the comment stream there was an objection that the love of a pastor should be seen as the brotherly/sisterly love of equals as opposed to a fatherly love, since such a “fatherly” position is reserved for God alone. Though the passage was not referenced, in my mind behind such objection would be … [Read more...] about Do pastors care for the church with a fatherly love?
Monday’s Ministry Musing: Hired Shepherds v. Jesus-type Shepherds
I have a young pastor friend that I am extremely proud of. (Not that I’m not proud of my other pastor friends, but this guy takes the cake right now). This is his first pastorate and it has not been a grand experience as of yet. The details do not matter. What pertains to this post is his attitude. The only thing that you need to know is that he is having to endure a dangerous disposition from an influential man in the church. From what it sounds like this is the type of guy that could split the church. My young pastor friend has decided that rather than leave town he is going … [Read more...] about Monday’s Ministry Musing: Hired Shepherds v. Jesus-type Shepherds
What Does This Say about Me?
I invaded enemy territory this week. As a lifelong and passionate fan of the greatest sports franchise in the history of sports (need I name the Yankees?), I've always considered Boston a swirling vortex of evil. But my son moved there two years ago and we cashed in our frequent flier miles and booked three seats from Omaha to Boston's Logan airport. After a rather roundabout trip (four flights instead of two) we landed in Boston Monday night. First, my son took us on a tour of the MIT Media Lab (a playground for people with astronomical IQs) where he has worked and studied the last two … [Read more...] about What Does This Say about Me?
Review of Tempted and Tried
One morning as I was taking a shower this text came across my mind: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” I didn’t give it much thought until a few days later… There I was sitting in the bath tub at a spiritual crossroad. I felt as if all of hell was pulling at my soul. Tempting me, sifting me…sifting me…wait, was God communicating something to me a few days ago. I had no idea. Everything was cloudy. Here I was a youth pastor. I am supposed to be leading teenagers. I … [Read more...] about Review of Tempted and Tried
Sharia Law: Constitutional Menace or a Religious Freedom?
Originally published at From Law to Grace When you hear the words, "Sharia Law," what immediately comes to mind? If you said an Islamic legal code that is incompatible with the laws of our nation and states, you would probably be in "good" company, at least in Oklahoma. Whether or not you would be 100% correct is debatable. I must admit that when I hear "Sharia Law," I do not have a positive dispostion toward this Islamic code. I suspect this is the case with many people, including many Southern Baptists. Our reticence in allowing Sharia Law to be used AT ALL in the United States … [Read more...] about Sharia Law: Constitutional Menace or a Religious Freedom?
Shut Up and Work
There are times in my life that I am reminded that all the stuff I say, all the stuff I know, unless there are hands and feet behind it doesn't mean anything. Here in the part of Iowa I live in, there is a surge of water being released from an overfilled and overstressed dam. This surge in an already bloated river will flood many basements and destroy some homes. Our church has organized to send people to help our family who is in the path of the water. We have been packing and moving quickly before the date of the release. As I was packing, I was joking with some guys. We were talking … [Read more...] about Shut Up and Work
Trevin Wax’s Important Baptist Press Article
Baptist Press has recently published an article by Trevin Wax entitled, "Being Southern Baptist among & for Evangelicals." Southern Baptists are in an identity crisis right now, trying to decide what it means to be a Southern Baptist. At the risk of oversimplifying, there are traditionalists who think that the key is to look back at the cultural, theological and ecclesiological identity that identified Southern Baptists and work to restore that identity. Brad Whitt has articulated the traditionalist viewpoint very well. Then there are the "reformationists" who believe the SBC needs … [Read more...] about Trevin Wax’s Important Baptist Press Article