Monday, June 11, 2012
Preach the Word
Before we begin preaching/teaching the Bible, we must be honest and acknowledge whether our hearts are pure and filled with love and sincere faith for the Lord. Also, as 'preacher' we must conduct ourselves appropriately in the house of the Lord, as described in 1 Timothy 3:15, "if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth"” Indeed, a humble attitude is not an option for the preacher/teacher that desires to see the work of God through the message delivered.
The sermon, to be effective, must use an effective tool, "a sharp two-edged sword". When I think of the reference to a two-edged sword I consider how the text of Scripture is to "cut both ways". A text should cut us in terms of reminding us who we used to be without Christ and then cut the other way to encourage us to be what Christ has called us to be. A summary of the entire letter to the Ephesians fits this idea. Distilled into one sentence the Ephesians are encouraged that they cannot live as they once did [chapters 4-6] because they are no longer the people they once were [chapters 1-3]. The sermon is a tool to use the power of the Word to nudge hearers closer to God and closer to His kingdom.
How does a balance of Bible study and prayer fit into the idea of making a sermon/presentation that will, by the grace of God, accomplish the task God wants it to accomplish?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Demonshare Resort
I have been a member of the above timeshare for about 9 years. In the big picture I am very satisfied with the benefits I have received from the timeshare. The condos are very nice and are in nice places. On the negative side in a minor way, the condos are not always available and they are not located near my favorite people.
On the negative side in a big way are the regular attempts by the resort to rope me into buying a larger portion of time. The amazing thing about these sales attempts is how persistent and clever the bullying sales people can be. Every year the resort calls and offers a "tour" or an "update". Not to be fooled, these tours and updates are actually strong armed sales events by a tag team of high pressure sales people who are highly trained to cleverly insult and ultimately persuade owners to spend large amounts of money. In the most devious ways, the sales people offer a seemingly irresistible offer that separates the owner from large amounts of money.
On my last visit I agreed to an "update" because I was to be given a significantly larger portion of time for the coming year to add to my already bought and paid for portion. I knew the promised 55 minute "update" would take at least 2 hours. It did. The update began with a sales pitch that began relatively gently but advanced toward the end to being high pressure. Among the things noted by the salesperson was that the resort would prefer I stay at my current level of time [I cannot imagine why they have been pestering me for 9 years if they had me right where they wanted me. This concept seemed to escape the salesperson]. For a mere 24,000 dollars payable over the course of over a year at a rate over 20% I would double the portion of time I "owned". I was barely able to resist the offer. In about an hour this original salesperson retired and sicked his boss on me. The boss said I would have to sign a document that confirmed that I had rejected this amazing offer and was indeed a sorry person. I snatched the pen out of her hand and signed away [she wouldn't let me keep the pen].
Within 20 minutes and after promising my "gift" of additional time she brought back the original salesperson. The original salesperson strongly insisted that I stay seated while another person brought me my "gifts". I heard the plural twice. I figured I would stay. A final heavy duty "closer" sort of salesperson came to the table [no gifts were evident upon his person]. For thirty minutes he grilled me on how I wasting my life by not spending 2200 dollars for a slightly smaller additional time. I politely refused. For his final effort he offered me a one time good deal to quadruple my time available for use in the next 18 months for a mere 1200 dollars. By this time the increments [let's call them points] had moved from the original 6 dollars a point to 16 cents a point. I asked if there was a discount for cash. He was stymied, but refused. I had to sign another document admitting my stupidity and begging for my single gift. Now the gift of "points" could have been electronically added to my account, however the final salesmen had me sign another document and accept an envelope with a point voucher in it that had to be mailed to a special address within a limited period of time. I will mail the voucher to the appointed location within 48 hours. At last I was dismissed, literally out the back door. Prior to actually leaving I was again asked to sign another document. I did so and escaped. I was worn, weary and beaten, but I had survived. I may even do it again. I think I love the pain.. or the points.
blessings,
Paul
On the negative side in a big way are the regular attempts by the resort to rope me into buying a larger portion of time. The amazing thing about these sales attempts is how persistent and clever the bullying sales people can be. Every year the resort calls and offers a "tour" or an "update". Not to be fooled, these tours and updates are actually strong armed sales events by a tag team of high pressure sales people who are highly trained to cleverly insult and ultimately persuade owners to spend large amounts of money. In the most devious ways, the sales people offer a seemingly irresistible offer that separates the owner from large amounts of money.
On my last visit I agreed to an "update" because I was to be given a significantly larger portion of time for the coming year to add to my already bought and paid for portion. I knew the promised 55 minute "update" would take at least 2 hours. It did. The update began with a sales pitch that began relatively gently but advanced toward the end to being high pressure. Among the things noted by the salesperson was that the resort would prefer I stay at my current level of time [I cannot imagine why they have been pestering me for 9 years if they had me right where they wanted me. This concept seemed to escape the salesperson]. For a mere 24,000 dollars payable over the course of over a year at a rate over 20% I would double the portion of time I "owned". I was barely able to resist the offer. In about an hour this original salesperson retired and sicked his boss on me. The boss said I would have to sign a document that confirmed that I had rejected this amazing offer and was indeed a sorry person. I snatched the pen out of her hand and signed away [she wouldn't let me keep the pen].
Within 20 minutes and after promising my "gift" of additional time she brought back the original salesperson. The original salesperson strongly insisted that I stay seated while another person brought me my "gifts". I heard the plural twice. I figured I would stay. A final heavy duty "closer" sort of salesperson came to the table [no gifts were evident upon his person]. For thirty minutes he grilled me on how I wasting my life by not spending 2200 dollars for a slightly smaller additional time. I politely refused. For his final effort he offered me a one time good deal to quadruple my time available for use in the next 18 months for a mere 1200 dollars. By this time the increments [let's call them points] had moved from the original 6 dollars a point to 16 cents a point. I asked if there was a discount for cash. He was stymied, but refused. I had to sign another document admitting my stupidity and begging for my single gift. Now the gift of "points" could have been electronically added to my account, however the final salesmen had me sign another document and accept an envelope with a point voucher in it that had to be mailed to a special address within a limited period of time. I will mail the voucher to the appointed location within 48 hours. At last I was dismissed, literally out the back door. Prior to actually leaving I was again asked to sign another document. I did so and escaped. I was worn, weary and beaten, but I had survived. I may even do it again. I think I love the pain.. or the points.
blessings,
Paul
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Finding Comfort in a Fallen World
Jesus implied in His opening words of the Sermon on the Mount that all of mankind are 'poor in spirit' [Matthew 5.3], but not all admit that poverty. Poor in spirit means that I cannot create or maintain a good relationship with God or my fellow human beings. In light of the reality of our being and admitting to be poor in spirit it is appropriate that we mourn that poverty. Because we have lost our ability to have good relationships we suffer loss.
There is a broad spectrum of loss. I lose my keys almost every week. I lost my best friend 15 years ago. I suffered with allergy related asthma most of 2010. Every area of loss implies some suffering and demands some balance of action and mourning. The more insignificant the loss, the more action is required. The more devastating the loss the more mourning is required.
For the most part action is easy and as a human being, I tend to impose action on devastating losses rather than mourning. I tend use a couple of different actions as alternatives to the slower more painful process of mourning. Actions include mental acts like denial [recall Jack Bauer of the TV series "24" being blown up, cut and bleeding, then asked if he was OK. His constant response was, "I am fine." Everyone knew he was not fine]. Actions include emotional acts like anger. Actions include physical acts like medicating the loss.
Unfortunately, these alternatives for mourning do not work. Appropriate mourning has many counterfeits, but no successful alternatives. When we do choose the difficult task of mourning we grieve the loss, we accept the loss and we, by the grace of God, choose to forgive those who are implicated in causing the loss. I believe that no matter where we are in the process of mourning God will comfort us. That is precisely what Matthew 5.4 claims.
The Good News for those that follow Christ is that all of our losses are temporal. They are limited to this earth. The greater part of our comfort, contentment and joy are part of God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Those that, by faith, ask God for forgiveness and accept Jesus as Savior are promised that every tear will be wiped away.
We can find comfort in the present world through appropriate mourning; that is God's promise.
There is a broad spectrum of loss. I lose my keys almost every week. I lost my best friend 15 years ago. I suffered with allergy related asthma most of 2010. Every area of loss implies some suffering and demands some balance of action and mourning. The more insignificant the loss, the more action is required. The more devastating the loss the more mourning is required.
For the most part action is easy and as a human being, I tend to impose action on devastating losses rather than mourning. I tend use a couple of different actions as alternatives to the slower more painful process of mourning. Actions include mental acts like denial [recall Jack Bauer of the TV series "24" being blown up, cut and bleeding, then asked if he was OK. His constant response was, "I am fine." Everyone knew he was not fine]. Actions include emotional acts like anger. Actions include physical acts like medicating the loss.
Unfortunately, these alternatives for mourning do not work. Appropriate mourning has many counterfeits, but no successful alternatives. When we do choose the difficult task of mourning we grieve the loss, we accept the loss and we, by the grace of God, choose to forgive those who are implicated in causing the loss. I believe that no matter where we are in the process of mourning God will comfort us. That is precisely what Matthew 5.4 claims.
The Good News for those that follow Christ is that all of our losses are temporal. They are limited to this earth. The greater part of our comfort, contentment and joy are part of God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Those that, by faith, ask God for forgiveness and accept Jesus as Savior are promised that every tear will be wiped away.
We can find comfort in the present world through appropriate mourning; that is God's promise.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Bible Authority & Anabaptists
It certainly makes the whole idea of Christian devotion to Scriptural authority and more specifically to dedicated worship more alive when one can experience it firsthand. Coming from a Mennonite background, I saw that early Anabaptists [the central Christian group from which Mennonites emerged] had a commitment to the authority of Scripture. I was interested to read this quote from Dr. Thomas Finger,
(The) extreme suffering, however, did not lure most early Anabaptists away from society. Instead, their convictions energized mission activity throughout Europe. Their eschatology, moreover, involved a strong “realized” element. The very nearness of God’s Kingdom meant that it was already present in some significant way. Anabaptists and their Mennonite descendants are perhaps best known for their literal application of Jesus’ teachings, including non-resistant love for enemies. In Reformation times, at least, this behavior was inspired not only by ethical motives, but probably more by the conviction that it was possible because God’s Kingdom, energized by God’s Spirit, was already here [http://www.ncccusa.org/faithandorder/authority.finger.htm ].
I wonder how I can be more aware of the presence of God and the nearness of His kingdom.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Big Tent Thinking in Christianity
Numerous emergent church and other Christian leaders are beginning a new campaign to transform the theology of the Christian Church [see http://transformingtheology.org/]. Personally, I feel uninvited to their alleged Big Tent.
I write this because most of their animosity is aimed at my particular view of the Bible, a view that takes the Bible seriously and attempts to interpret it in a historical and grammatically accurate way [Baldock, Big Tent Artifact, eBook, p. 5 and Clayton, p. 12].
I will be glad to set aside the semantics and join their Big Tent, but I do have two aspects of their action plan that I will watch closely. In two areas the Big Tent leaders tend to have loose connections. The first loose connection is between the Big Tenters and the mainstream liberal view of America. I see that loose connection as they claim openness to many views but tend to be open to only their own views [I saw this clearly at the one meeting I attended on AZ SB1070].
They are also, in a scary way, more connected with the LGBT 'church'. I have no problem inviting LGBTs to church, nor do I have a problem worshiping with them. My problem is that LGBTs and Big Tent people believe homosexual behavior is acceptable to God. As far as I am concerned their 'church' would be parallel to a racist church gathering that thinks God accepts racism.
Seriously, I do not need the Bible to tell me that homosexual behavior is not good. I only need the Bible to tell me that it is evil. Anatomy, hygiene and the medical field convince me that anal intercourse is not good. Anal intercourse always causes injury and exposes both partners to chronic, contagious and deadly diseases. Those that hate homosexual men condone or glorify [through their promotion of gay marriage] anal intercourse. In my view, the Bible condemns homosexual behavior that is anal intercourse. The Bible, in fact, seriously condemns anal intercourse between any two people. God loves homosexual men. Why does the Big Tent hate them?
If the connection between the LGBT 'church' and the Big Tent remains open to homosexual behavior they can count me out. If their movement were open to accepting racism they could count me out as well.
The other loose connection of the big tent movement is their connection with teaching the Bible. While attacking conservative views of the Bible consistently they keep their own mention of the Bible to a minimum.
Unless their Big Tent is more closely connected to the Bible and less closely connected to political liberalism, the tent is going to be much smaller than they expect.
I write this because most of their animosity is aimed at my particular view of the Bible, a view that takes the Bible seriously and attempts to interpret it in a historical and grammatically accurate way [Baldock, Big Tent Artifact, eBook, p. 5 and Clayton, p. 12].
I will be glad to set aside the semantics and join their Big Tent, but I do have two aspects of their action plan that I will watch closely. In two areas the Big Tent leaders tend to have loose connections. The first loose connection is between the Big Tenters and the mainstream liberal view of America. I see that loose connection as they claim openness to many views but tend to be open to only their own views [I saw this clearly at the one meeting I attended on AZ SB1070].
They are also, in a scary way, more connected with the LGBT 'church'. I have no problem inviting LGBTs to church, nor do I have a problem worshiping with them. My problem is that LGBTs and Big Tent people believe homosexual behavior is acceptable to God. As far as I am concerned their 'church' would be parallel to a racist church gathering that thinks God accepts racism.
Seriously, I do not need the Bible to tell me that homosexual behavior is not good. I only need the Bible to tell me that it is evil. Anatomy, hygiene and the medical field convince me that anal intercourse is not good. Anal intercourse always causes injury and exposes both partners to chronic, contagious and deadly diseases. Those that hate homosexual men condone or glorify [through their promotion of gay marriage] anal intercourse. In my view, the Bible condemns homosexual behavior that is anal intercourse. The Bible, in fact, seriously condemns anal intercourse between any two people. God loves homosexual men. Why does the Big Tent hate them?
If the connection between the LGBT 'church' and the Big Tent remains open to homosexual behavior they can count me out. If their movement were open to accepting racism they could count me out as well.
The other loose connection of the big tent movement is their connection with teaching the Bible. While attacking conservative views of the Bible consistently they keep their own mention of the Bible to a minimum.
Unless their Big Tent is more closely connected to the Bible and less closely connected to political liberalism, the tent is going to be much smaller than they expect.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
New Bible based Christmas Sermon
My new Christmas sermon series is called "The Amazing Race". There are many 'races' in the Bible, but by far the races in the Bible are metaphorical uses taken from the world of athletics. Depending on the translation some English Bible texts use the word 'race' in reference to a group of people. Biblically speaking this is always a poor translation. I say that because, for instance, in 1 Peter 2.9 [a key verse for "The Amazing Race"] the word translated 'race' that begins the thought is the Greek word 'genea' from which we derive genealogy, generation and generic. It is more appropriate to translate this word as 'family' or 'generation'.
The truth is that the word 'race', when used in reference to people has only one meaning, the human race. Darwin may have been the figure that most popularized the idea of a multitude of human races, but the Bible only knows of one race, and it is beginning with God's creation of Adam and Eve an amazing race.
The truth is that the word 'race', when used in reference to people has only one meaning, the human race. Darwin may have been the figure that most popularized the idea of a multitude of human races, but the Bible only knows of one race, and it is beginning with God's creation of Adam and Eve an amazing race.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Philippians 2
The Apostle Paul expresses one main priority for those who follow Christ in terms of their relationship with each other. Philippians 2.1,2 "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." The Apostle is teaching us that if we have any spiritual commitment at all we should seek a unity in love & purpose with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
But, literally, how in the world do we gain a unity in the church when there is such diversity of personality, opinion and preference? It is not easy, but we follow the example of Christ, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” All of us tend to cling to our earthly rights and priorities and this tends to develop divisions in the church. Jesus is God, and yet He chose not to grasp hold of His rights as God. He was born as a servant, ministered as a servant and died as a servant, all for our sake.
But, literally, how in the world do we gain a unity in the church when there is such diversity of personality, opinion and preference? It is not easy, but we follow the example of Christ, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” All of us tend to cling to our earthly rights and priorities and this tends to develop divisions in the church. Jesus is God, and yet He chose not to grasp hold of His rights as God. He was born as a servant, ministered as a servant and died as a servant, all for our sake.
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