Moving Next Door

I've reached the point where 2 blogs is redundant, but I like Blogger better than WordPress.  So, I've moved both of my blogs to a new address in the Blogger world.  Visit the new "The Village Pastor" website for future posts.  If you subscribe to this feed, I invite you to switch to the new site as well.

Happy Epiphany!

OK, most of you didn't even know that it was Epiphany, let alone were celebrating it.  That's fine, since most of us didn't grow up following the traditional church calendar.  But this was a celebration of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God in the world.  In the western (Roman) tradition, from which Protestantism sprang, it commemorates the coming of the wise men--which supports my contention that the wise men were not at the birth!  Gentiles from a faraway land came and announced just who this child was to those in Israel who had ears to hear.  In the eastern (Byzantine, or Orthodox) tradition, it is a general celebration of all the ways Jesus was manifested as God in the flesh (they call it "theophany"--God manifestation).  This includes the birth, the Magi's visit, and Jesus' baptism by John. 

What was the point of this celebration?  The fact that God's redemption plan was NOT some sort of secret wisdom hidden from view, but that it was manifested.  Paul spoke of this in his "mystery" references (remember Ephesians 3:1-13)--God's plan of redemption hinted at in ages past now revealed in Christ Jesus.  He was to be a light dawning on the people walking in darkness (look up Isaiah 9:1-7).

If Advent begins the story with anticipation and waiting, and Christmas tells us the promise is fulfilled, then Epiphany becomes the unfolding of this promised light--the beginnings of the ministry of Jesus preaching the gospel of repentance.

John's introduction of his Gospel speaks of this powerfully:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... (vv. 1-5)

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (v. 9)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (v. 14)

May your Epiphany day, and every day be one where the light of Christ shines to you, in you, and through you!

Benjamin Zander: Classical music with shining eyes

This is a remarkable video, not just in terms of gaining an appreciation for classical information, but for the leadership lessons the artist teaches. It's long, but worth it. Someone shared it with me on Facebook, and I wanted to share it with others.

Would you like fries with your Hallelujah Chorus?

This has been around for a while, but for those who haven't seen it, you should. A "flash mob" breaks out in a sterling rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus in a mall food court last month.

Watching it makes me wish that those of us who know the Messiah would be as bold as those who are singing "The Messiah" in this clip.

Enjoy.

Carson's "The God Who is There" Audio/Video Available for Free

This is a great book, by a wonderful teacher, and now we get to see the 14 part series done at Bethlehem Baptist Church in 2009 upon which the book is based.  Here is the first episode, and if you follow the links at the bottom, you can find the next 13 episodes as well as links to supporting materials for use in small group study.  I highly recommend this to you.


The God Who Is There - Part 1. The God Who Made Everything from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

55 Years Ago Today: Rosa Parks Refuses to Move and Sparks a Movement – Justin Taylor

Read this wonderful tribute from Justin Taylor at his "Between Two Worlds" Blog.

Click here.

Happy Thanksgiving to Anyone Checking This Long Silent Blog!

Keeping 2 blogs, Twitter, and Facebook going hasn't worked too well for me--this is the site that has suffered, even though it's much easier to edit than my other blog, The Village Pastor (my official blog for my church family).  

But if you are here, which may mean you have a very boring Thanksgiving Day going, I do want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving Day.  I have so much for which I am thankful!

1. I can never be thankful enough for the mercy and grace of God, given to me freely through Jesus Christ, and experienced more and more through the work of the Holy Spirit.  As I set my affections on things above, I am immeasurably blessed and changed.  So much could be said, but I'll move into preaching unless I stop.
2. My wife and best friend, Kathy, has blessed me throughout the years in so many ways.  Her love and support give me the confidence to seek to be the man she sees in me.   I never want to take for granted such a great wife.
3. My family teaches me so much, from the power (and sometimes pain) of love, to the marvel of God's work in each of us, to discovering the wisdom we never know our parents had, to having our siblings become more to us than we would have known, to the miracle of watching children become "people" (you know what I mean).  I love you all.
4. The body of Christ amazes me.  My local fellowship, Grace in Cedarville, loves me so well.  I love you back.  Dear brothers and sisters who serve with me here, and serve for us around the world have enriched my life even as they model selfless service to the Lord; you are in my heart and prayers, and I think about you with gratitude.
5. I have some very incredible friends, whose impact on my life far exceeds the time we sometimes get to spend together.  Just hearing your voices on the phone, or getting a random email, gives me so much joy.
6. I don't want to be trapped by what I have, but I also want to express great thankfulness for the ways in which God has blessed us with a bounty!  We will eat some of that bounty today!

So thankful!

Blog Entering the Cone of Silence

As I am traveling to southern Africa for two and half weeks, and will not have steady access or time to blog, I'm letting anyone who cares know that the blog will be pretty much limited to the thingys in the sidebar.  Enjoy, and Lord willing I'll be back here in early October!

Joel Rosenberg's latest report from Israel

Click on the title above or the link below to read Joel Rosenberg's insightful take on the situation currently in the Middle East. I usually find myself nodding in agreement with most of his points. This article is no exception.

Click here to go to the article.

Why A Pastor and Church Burning the Quran is a Sin

I am appalled by the plans of the Florida church and minister to burn Qurans on September 11th. But it is not just the stupidity of the action and the callous disregard of a myriad of unintended consequences that may occur (from danger to Americans overseas to inciting greater Muslim fanaticism around the world) that bothers me.

I believe this action is sin. By doing what they are doing this pastor and congregation are offending the very people they would teach Jesus died for. The pastor has forfeited his calling as a testimony to God's grace and his leading his people to live out the gospel toward others. The people have joined in the evil that their leader plans to do. This is not loving one's neighbor, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, giving no offense, or making the gospel an aroma of life. Not only would Jesus NOT do this, but it flies in the face of living as gospel witnesses. But then, I am not convinced that the gospel matters very much in this case, at least in the interviews I hear from the pastor. He complains about Muslim extremists and their actions, and actually said, "What are we supposed to do, sit back and take it?"

Yes, sir, we are, if we are ambassadors for Christ.

If this man were acting as a private citizen as a part of a secular fringe group, I would still be appalled and in opposition. But he is doing this while calling himself a pastor--a shepherd of God's flock. And this church is calling itself a manifestation of the body of Christ. By their words and actions, neither could be judged to be true.

They bring reproach not just on Americans, but on Jesus Christ and the gospel, just as Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church has done for years during their protests at military funerals and their anti-homosexual protests calling for the deaths of "queers."

We cannot stop people from using titles or callling themselves churches. But we ought to make clear that they are at the very best deluded and deceived, and very possibly they are false teachers and false witnesses used by Satan himself to undermine the gospel of Jesus.

Here is a recent news story on the event: Fla. minister: Sept. 11 Quran burn still planned - Yahoo! News

Stephen Hawking: God didn't create universe - CNN.com; God: Yes I did - Bible

The faith expressed by Stephen Hawking is breathtaking: "spontaneous creation" as the reason everything exists. The "existence of gravity" as evidence that the universe "can and will (note the future tense)" create itself from nothing.

How can "nothing" create itself?

I have great respect for this man's courage and discipline to overcome incredible disabilities. Yet, if he does not qualify as an example of "professing [himself] to be wise, [he] became fool[ish]" in Romans 1, I would be hard pressed to be able to cite anyone as such an example.

Read: Stephen Hawking: God didn't create universe - CNN.com

Why Hope is Missing for Today's Israel/Palestine Negotiations

Last night the President hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for dinner.  Today they start what is supposed to be a year's worth of negotiations to finalize peace between these peoples.

Can I suggest one very big reason that there is little reason to hope here?  There is no leader of "Palestine" to negotiate with.  Abbas and what is left of the PLO governs the West Bank, shakily.  Hamas has held Gaza for years and no "government" presence exists there.  Quite simply, Abbas can't implement anything he agrees to.  And even in the West Bank, Hamas operates, as they proved in an attack on Israeli settlers that killed four.  Abbas' government has received billions from Europe and the U.S. to prop it up, and relies (as does Gaza) on Israel to continue to supply power and water (the fact that Israel keeps the power on in Gaza while rockets continue to be launched from there against her is one of the most underreported stories of our age). 

Unless and until Palestinians have a functioning leadership that actually has control within its territory, the only negotiating "option" for Israel is to make concessions and hope that this time everyone else will "play nice."  Yasser Arafat was the last such leader, and he turned down offers more generous than those recently discussed.  Abbas says more concessions from Israel must be made, but he can not offer any guarantee that Hamas will abide by his agreements--in fact, they have said they will not. 

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, knowing that ultimately it will only come with the return of her Messiah.  Until then, I pray for the peoples of the land, even in the midst of the continuing loss of political hope.  May they discover the hope that brings true peace--the gospel of peace.

When a Plan Fails, Is the Solution to Do it Again?

A departing Obama administration economic advisor who helped craft the stimulus package announced in her last speech that the plan failed to generate growth and jobs. Her suggested solution is to do it again. In fact, it is to "tax less and spend more."

Now, if government deficits and debt are bad and drag down our economic performance and confidence, it would seem that we should spend less or tax more, but not the other way around. And if, as has been shown from the time of Kennedy onward, tax rates are reduced, then government revenues actually increase because people have more to invest and spend, then taxing more should be off the table. Therefore, the solution is to spend less--much less.

I know, I don't have advanced degrees in economics. But I did read Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson and listened well to Dr. Allen Monroe in Foundations of Social Science class. Why, if uncontrolled debt is bad for me and spending more than I take in is devastating, should I believe it is good for a society?

Read the speech and commentary here: Romer: My Plan Failed FrumForum

"Back To School" from Walter Russell Mead's Blog

This link takes you to the thoughts of a brilliant scholar and writer who is returning to the classroom and has some powerful advice for students. It's a thought-provoking read.

Do We Have To Say "in Jesus' name" to Pray Right?

In a recent sermon I mentioned that repeating words as if they make our prayers effective is a practice similar to the Ephesians' attempts to use words of power as charms or curses.  Some dear friends pointed me to John 14:14 where Jesus encourages us to pray "in my name" as warrant for saying this is necessary.  I spent some time composing an answer, and here is what I shared with them.

Thank you for your comment and response last Sunday.  I hope that you will believe me when I say that I appreciate your concern for honoring the name of Jesus in prayer, which I referenced a few weeks ago in the sermon.  I’d like to try to explain what I was referring to, and hope it will help you to understand my thinking on this matter.  I know that it may seem that I am moving outside of what Scripture directs, such as John 14:13-14, 15:16, or 16:23-26.  As you say, the Savior clearly teaches us to ask the Father “in my name.”  I believe that is what we are to do.  But I do not believe that what this means is simply to say the phrase at the end of, or sometime in the middle of, any given prayer.  The point I was trying to make is that simply saying, “…in Jesus’ name” is not what praying in Jesus’ name means, and can become similar to what the Ephesians thought of as using words of power to get what they wanted if we reduce it to saying the right phrase at the end of a prayer.

As I examine the prayers prayed from the time of Jesus onward in the New Testament, I do not find any particular formula at the end of a prayer.  If you look through the New Testament, you do have prayers that have “Amen” at the end by various apostles and writers.  You have prayers that simply end with the final petition or praise to God. But you never find an example of a prayer that ends with the phrase, “in Jesus’ name.”

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus speaks of gathering “in my name” which means he is the focus or reason for the gathering.  Matthew 24:5 tells of false prophets coming “in my name”—claiming the authority and commission of Jesus.  In Mark 9:37 it speaks of receiving a child in Jesus’ name and receiving Jesus himself by doing so.  In Mark 9:39 it speaks of doing a mighty work in his name.  This means claiming to act in the authority and power of Jesus or on behalf of Jesus. In John 5:43, Jesus speaks of coming in “his Father’s name”—which means on behalf of or in the authority of the Father.  He says that people didn’t receive him this way, but that if someone comes in his own name, the listeners would receive such a witness.  Then there are the passages in John about prayer that I mentioned above.  In each case, it does not mean to say the words, “in Jesus’ name.”  I don’t, for example, say “I receive this child in Jesus’ name,” or “I do this good work in Jesus’ name,” and so on.  I do these things in the attitude of doing what Jesus would do or have me do in the given situation.

Based on all these usages of the phrase, and the absence of the words themselves in actual New Testament prayers, it seems that asking or praying “in Jesus’ name” cannot mean I am to say those words, any more than receiving a child in Jesus’ name means I have to say those words then.  I pray in Jesus’ name whenever I pray in under his authority, or pray what he would have me to pray.  When he teaches us to pray in the Lord’s prayer, he does not tell us to say “in Jesus’ name” at the end, but he teaches to pray exactly what he prayed for in other prayers and would have us pray for—the glory of God, the will of God to be done, the provision of God for our needs, the protection of God from evil.  Such prayers carry his authority because they are what he wants us to pray—so that when I pray such things I pray in his name.  This would hold true for all the prayers I find written in the New Testament.  I believe that Paul’s prayers in his epistles were certainly prayed in the power and authority of Jesus, but he didn’t say or write, “in Jesus’ name” at the end.  He didn’t need to because the whole of the prayer was what Jesus wanted him to pray.

Now, it is certainly not wrong to say “in Jesus’ name,” and if it is a meaningful reminder of the authority in which we pray, it is a very good thing.  I often speak of Jesus’ name and authority as I pray to the Father, during the course of different prayers.  However, it seems to me that many times the use of “in Jesus’ name” has become an empty form to us, much like the word “Amen.”  We treat these phrases as our way to say either “goodbye” or “I’m finished now,” in a prayer.  But Jesus’ name is his authority and his reputation, and “Amen” is the word for “true,” as in “truly, truly I say to you.”  It means you can believe what is said.

Worse, there are some who actually believe and teach that unless we say these words, our prayers are substandard and not likely to be heard.  I have had people here tell me that this is what they had been taught.  That is not only wrong, but dangerous, because it makes a particular word or phrase the key to powerful praying.  And of course we all know that there are prayers for things offered with the “in Jesus’ name, Amen” ending that are not according to the will of God—sometimes out of ignorance, but sometimes out of wrong motives.

I grieve over the lack of powerful, consistent prayer that marks so many Christians and churches.  I long to see prayer revitalized in a way not seen in decades among American Christians, and we will be talking about prayer in a few weeks for a number of Sundays.  One of the problems I encounter is believers who have lost faith in the power of prayer, and one of the main reasons I hear from them is “well, I prayed with all my heart, and prayed in Jesus’ name, but it didn’t happen.  Jesus said if I ask for anything in his name that it would happen.  So he is either not really able to do it, or praying in his name doesn’t work.”  I think a wrong understanding of what praying in Jesus’ name means needs to be corrected for many.  It isn’t saying the words, it is praying as Jesus wants us to pray—for the right things, with the right motivation, for the appropriate length of time.  It is not to inform him of what we need—for he knows, but to demonstrate faith and dependence on him alone.

I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on this, and if you can offer any help to my understanding, I would gladly receive it.  I love you and appreciate your fellowship in the gospel here.  You have been a great encouragement to me as your pastor.  Keep praying for me.

So do you have any thoughts to share on this?

A Great Resource for Audiobooks!

I have been enjoying the benefits of registration with ChristianAudio.com, a site that boasts "the largest collection of Christian audio books" on the internet.  They indeed have a large catalog, and their prices are reasonable.

But even better, they offer a free audiobook each month, and sometimes more than one.  I am currently listening to one I got a few months ago, The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer.  I've also obtained both of Francis Chan's books on audio, Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions by Mark Driscoll, The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, a biography of E.M. Bounds, and others.

Just click on the link above and register if you would like to begin to share the bounty of books on your IPod or mp3 player.

What do Francis Chan, Jim Belcher, and N.T. Wright all have in common?

Answer: They have all resigned a pastoral role in order to pursue a new direction in ministry, AND, I read a book by all three this year and found it helpful!


Francis Chan's book was Crazy Love.  An excellent and convicting call to a life that is sold out for Jesus.  Actually I've read two books by Chan, the other great one being Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Neither is ponderous, and both are challenging reading.  Chan has left his teaching pastor position at Cornerstone Church of Simi Valley, CA, to serve a ministry in Thailand with his family for the remainder of the year, and then find a new ministry in a major urban area in the U.S.

From Jim Belcher, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional.  Most books that try to come up with a "third way" tend to get lost, but this one strikes a very good balance.  I'd say that the middle that is described wouldn't bother too many of us.  Belcher has left the PCA church he planted in southern California to study abroad for a year.

Finally, N.T. Wright's "Paul for Everyone" commentary series has a wonderful volume on The Prison Epistles that has been particularly helpful in my preaching through the book.  I also read his tome on The Resurrection and the Son of God and, while huge and hugely technical, found it very helpful nonetheless.  Wright is stepping down from his role as a Bishop in the Anglican Church to take up teaching in a university.

Follow the links if you are interested.

Getting Back on the Blogging Bus

Well, I don't know if any one has missed me, but the summer has been one of lots of activities and travel, and not one for sitting and writing.  At least, that's my story. I'm working on a few posts right now, and hope to get back to this soon.

We'll see!

Update on Caner post from 5/3

Ergun Caner, dean of Liberty University, has been demoted from that position, and will serve only as a professor at the graduate school he has led for four years.  The action was taken following an investigation prompted in large part by bloggers who saw discrepancies between his public statements concerning his background as a former Muslim.

You can read a report on the action and the reasons here.

This whole situation was originally referenced and continues to be a good warning to those of us who speak publicly to keep our tendency toward embellishment and self-promotion firmly under the guard of the Holy Spirit.

Does Israel Deserve the World's Condemnation?

The world seems ready once again to condemn Israel for the force used to stop a flotilla of activists seeking to break the blockade of the Gaza strip.  This blockade, imposed by both Israel and Egypt, is meant to stop the supply of weapons and other war-making material to Hamas, the de facto rulers of this small, densely populated strip of land along the Mediterranean.  Over 10,000 tons of relief aid is shipped through Israel to Gaza each week, so the aid on the ships was a pretext for the attempt to break the blockade.  People on the ship were prepared to use violence to repel Israeli forces that sought to board the main ship, with a result of at least nine of the activists dying in the clash.

Video has been released showing the soldiers being attacked by the ship's passengers, and both Egypt and Israel offered to let the ships dock and then transport the aid to Gaza.  These offers were refused.  The only conclusion to draw is that the flotilla wanted a confrontation.  One woman on the ship was quoted saying that they had two good alternatives ahead--landing in Gaza or martyrdom.

In a clear and blunt video message in response to worldwide criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to apologize for actions he says are defending the safety of Israelis.  He warns that Israel will continue to maintain this blockade, and asks other world leaders, "what would you do" if your people were under missile attacks.

Some press in the U.S. is reporting Israel's responses, but most of the world's reporting is calling the action a massacre and calling for condemnation of Israel.  While I don't believe that all of Israel's actions in relation to Palestinians are always just; in this case I have no doubt that Israel's actions should be seen as justifiable, and in fact would be the actions of any country that considered itself at risk.  When America blockaded Cuba during the missile crisis in the early 60s, there was no thought that any ship would be let through, no matter how "peace loving" they may have been.

Israel is under siege in world opinion, and is still bordered by nations and peoples that desire and seek its destruction.  I've been in Israel during tense times, and in cities that have been the target of missiles from Lebanon and from Gaza.  Their treatment of Gaza is far more humane than that of their neighbors dealing with political rivals or ethnic groups.  How much humanitarian aid would be making its way to a surrounded Jewish enclave that was surrounded by a superior Arab power?  There is no doubt that the amount would be zero--if such an enclave were even to be allowed to exist.

Israel's future holds some very difficult days ahead, until the day they welcome their Messiah's return to earth. Her friends will be few in those days, but God does not forget those who bless his chosen people, even in their unbelief.  Being a friend to Israel may sometimes mean expressing disapproval when the state acts unjustly.  More often, it will mean enduring the opposition of most of the rest of the world.