The 'Nevers' of the Gospel
O Lord, may I,
Never rest in a system of doctrine that does not teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;
Never rely on my own convictions and resolutions, but be strong in thee and in thy might;
Never cease to find thy grace sufficient in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;
Never forget to repair to thee in all my distresses and troubles, in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;
Never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace and truth, the friend that loveth at all times, who can do exceeding abundantly for me;
Never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions, but acknowledge thee in all my ways
Never limit my devotions to particular seasons but be in thy fear all the day long;
Amen.
adapted from The Valley of Vision
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Witnessing from Weakness
I've been thinking about my classmates here at AFIT. Since we spend so much time together, including lunch most days, it's probably the best assignment I've had to speak of Christ and the gospel. However, since my classmates are all at least a decade past the college years, it would be easy for me to write them off as past their "formative years". But I see no such evangelism-exemption in Scripture.
The more challenging obstacle for me is my class-ranking. Many, perhaps most, of my classmates are better suited than me for a technical master's degree. I am far from being the brightest student in class. Since these folks know me through my performance in class, this will affect my attempts to evangelize. When I witness, it will be from a position of weakness. When I speak to them about the wisdom of God it will be "that guy who we have to help in calculus and programming" who is talking.
Yet, God often honors the efforts of those who are seen as weak by their hearers. Think of Paul before rulers. Or on Mars Hill. Or think of simple fisherman before the Sanhedrin.
This really may be my best opportunity at evangelism.
I've been thinking about my classmates here at AFIT. Since we spend so much time together, including lunch most days, it's probably the best assignment I've had to speak of Christ and the gospel. However, since my classmates are all at least a decade past the college years, it would be easy for me to write them off as past their "formative years". But I see no such evangelism-exemption in Scripture.
The more challenging obstacle for me is my class-ranking. Many, perhaps most, of my classmates are better suited than me for a technical master's degree. I am far from being the brightest student in class. Since these folks know me through my performance in class, this will affect my attempts to evangelize. When I witness, it will be from a position of weakness. When I speak to them about the wisdom of God it will be "that guy who we have to help in calculus and programming" who is talking.
Yet, God often honors the efforts of those who are seen as weak by their hearers. Think of Paul before rulers. Or on Mars Hill. Or think of simple fisherman before the Sanhedrin.
This really may be my best opportunity at evangelism.
Sunday, June 06, 2004
The Heart of Anger
I appreciate blogs like Buried Treasure that don't hide the fact that neither our children nor us are perfect.
In that spirit, I've mentioned before the struggles we have with sinful anger in our children and our parenting. Kristin and I recently read the only book on this subject I know of, The Heart of Anger, by Lou Priolo.
I was initially skeptical of the book, since most of the Christian "How-To" books seem to forget the gospel. They make you think that if you do these 7 things then your marriage will be better, your job more satisfying, etc. They almost all fail to mention the essential role of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying us, and also the means He primarily uses (the preaching of the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer).
However, this book was good, it avoided those errors more than most. As far as addressing how to avoid sinful anger, I found it helpful. For instance, it pointed out from Proverbs a couple dozen ways that parents can provoke their children to anger.
I also thought the author did well to address the parent's crucial task of ensuring that positive behavior replaces poor behavior. He says, "biblical discipline involves correcting wrong behavior by practicing right behavior, with the right attitude, for the right reason, until the right behavior becomes habitual". For example, when my son says something mean to his sister, he should not only apologize, but also restate his remark to her appropriately (words, tone, and non-verbal communication).
Lastly, I found the book similar in tone and theological perspective to Shepherding a Child's Heart.
I appreciate blogs like Buried Treasure that don't hide the fact that neither our children nor us are perfect.
In that spirit, I've mentioned before the struggles we have with sinful anger in our children and our parenting. Kristin and I recently read the only book on this subject I know of, The Heart of Anger, by Lou Priolo.
I was initially skeptical of the book, since most of the Christian "How-To" books seem to forget the gospel. They make you think that if you do these 7 things then your marriage will be better, your job more satisfying, etc. They almost all fail to mention the essential role of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying us, and also the means He primarily uses (the preaching of the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer).
However, this book was good, it avoided those errors more than most. As far as addressing how to avoid sinful anger, I found it helpful. For instance, it pointed out from Proverbs a couple dozen ways that parents can provoke their children to anger.
I also thought the author did well to address the parent's crucial task of ensuring that positive behavior replaces poor behavior. He says, "biblical discipline involves correcting wrong behavior by practicing right behavior, with the right attitude, for the right reason, until the right behavior becomes habitual". For example, when my son says something mean to his sister, he should not only apologize, but also restate his remark to her appropriately (words, tone, and non-verbal communication).
Lastly, I found the book similar in tone and theological perspective to Shepherding a Child's Heart.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Kyriosity warned me, but it came too late, we had our first adoption meeting with the Lutheran Social Services agency.
I was foolish enough to think that since this was part of the Lutheran church (forgetting altogether about the unorthodoxy of some Lutheran denominations), they would have a Biblical approach to their homestudy.
We met with one of their social workers to understand their homestudy process. Since spanking would come up in the homestudy, I asked upfront about their view; I expected a Christian explanation. But what I got was the view of any government social worker...."There is always a better option than physical punishment (their term). Perhaps as a last resort, but there is always a better way..."
He then went on to say (warn?!) that another family, who had applied to be a foster family, was discovered to have spanked their children. That family lost permission to foster or adopt and are currently under investigation.
This agency seems to me to be just a government agency with "Lutheran" as their first name.
Why is it so hard to find someone to do a homestudy from a Biblical perspective?
Kyriosity warned me, but it came too late, we had our first adoption meeting with the Lutheran Social Services agency.
I was foolish enough to think that since this was part of the Lutheran church (forgetting altogether about the unorthodoxy of some Lutheran denominations), they would have a Biblical approach to their homestudy.
We met with one of their social workers to understand their homestudy process. Since spanking would come up in the homestudy, I asked upfront about their view; I expected a Christian explanation. But what I got was the view of any government social worker...."There is always a better option than physical punishment (their term). Perhaps as a last resort, but there is always a better way..."
He then went on to say (warn?!) that another family, who had applied to be a foster family, was discovered to have spanked their children. That family lost permission to foster or adopt and are currently under investigation.
This agency seems to me to be just a government agency with "Lutheran" as their first name.
Why is it so hard to find someone to do a homestudy from a Biblical perspective?
Monday, May 31, 2004
Repentance
Again today I read a statement that I often encounter, "this [book, message, etc] is for Christians. If you haven't repented and accepted...". So often we seem to be told that a Christian is someone who has repented and believed the gospel [past tense]. This lacks humility and is a dangerously-incomplete confession of the faith. A Christian is someone who repents and believes [present tense]. Chief sinners, like us, should also be chief repenters.
Tonight during family worship my son showed repentance in a prayer for God to make him kinder to his family. We do struggle with sibling rivalry and with radically different personalities in our children. Tonight it struck me that Kristin and I have been so focused on correcting him that we are not also remembering to enjoy him.
It was refreshing for us to hear him repent tonight, now he needs to hear his parents do the same.
Again today I read a statement that I often encounter, "this [book, message, etc] is for Christians. If you haven't repented and accepted...". So often we seem to be told that a Christian is someone who has repented and believed the gospel [past tense]. This lacks humility and is a dangerously-incomplete confession of the faith. A Christian is someone who repents and believes [present tense]. Chief sinners, like us, should also be chief repenters.
Tonight during family worship my son showed repentance in a prayer for God to make him kinder to his family. We do struggle with sibling rivalry and with radically different personalities in our children. Tonight it struck me that Kristin and I have been so focused on correcting him that we are not also remembering to enjoy him.
It was refreshing for us to hear him repent tonight, now he needs to hear his parents do the same.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Summary of Biblical Theology
I became interested in this book because of the influence the author had on my pastor. I found his redemptive-historical preaching style to be powerful and engaging and I wanted to know what "redemptive-historical" meant.
Biblical Theology is Special Revelation told as epic history. It's somewhere between exegesis and systematic theology. It tracks the growth or development of the gospel in the Scriptures over time. Importantly, it relieves, to some extent, the unfortunate tendency to rely upon proof texts when defining fundamental doctrines. Instead, it traces these truths throughout the whole of the Bible.
Starting with pre-redemptive special revelation (e.g. creation), everything disclosed here is largely symbolical. Don't misconstrue this to mean that the events weren't actually real. It's real symbolism embodied in actual things. The symbols are not expressed in words so much as in tokens. These tokens prefigure and convey assurance concerning the future realization of the things symbolized.
In early redemptive relevation (the Fall to pre-Flood), it's important to note that here, as in all of the Old Testament, the concept of a personal Messiah is approached very gradually. It sufficed for fallen man to know that through His divine power and grace God would bring victory over the serpent. In that faith could rest. The object of their faith was much less defined than ours. But none the less, the essence of this faith was the same, trust in God's grace and power to bring deliverance from sin.
In Noachian revelation, note the rapid development of sin's power. In the first generation after Adam you already have murder. Sin proves powerful enough to prostitute the gifts of God's common grace. Soon there is no trace of the sense of sin in Cain's line. In Seth's line, the continuity of redemption is stressed. But even the good kept alive is not enabled to force back evil. While the power of redemption remained stationary, the power of sin waxed strong. Once the Sethites and Canites intermarry, the continuity of God's work appeared in danger, and the lesson of the destructive power of sin had been fully taught, the time had come to teach the finishing lesson of the judgment.
During the Patriarchal period, God checks the power of sin (e.g. division of tongues) and the actual beginning of the people of God, the first embodiment of objective religion, the nucleus of the Church is found with the call of Abram. The idea of faith suddenly springs into prominence. The patriarchs learned that God reserved to Himself the fulfillment of the promises (e.g. great nation, land, blessing to all people). They had learned to look upward to a form of possession of the promises identified closely with God Himself, instead of just a temporal fulfillment by possessing Canaan, etc.
Revelation in the time of Moses, consisting of the theocracy, typifies the perfected kingdom of God. When apostasy on a general scale took place, they could no longer remain in the promised land. The history of Israel was shaped by God intentionally so as to mirror all important situations befalling the people of God in all subsequent ages.
Prophetic revelation guarded the unfolded theocracy in order to keep it a true representation of the kingdom of Jehovah.
New Testament revelation, contained the speech of the Son, and so no higher speech was possible. It includes the Apostles, who are witnesses and interpreters of the Christ. Jesus regarded the whole Old Testament movement as a divinely directed and inspired movement, as having arrived at its goal in Himself. In His numerous appeals to Scripture, Jesus shows the Scriptures are a book for the people and that they cannot be broken (Jn 10:35).
This may be my longest post ever, so if you read this far, I hope you have a refreshed sense of the majesty and the oneness of the Scriptures.
Geerhardus Vos (1870-1949) is the author of Biblical Theology.
I became interested in this book because of the influence the author had on my pastor. I found his redemptive-historical preaching style to be powerful and engaging and I wanted to know what "redemptive-historical" meant.
Biblical Theology is Special Revelation told as epic history. It's somewhere between exegesis and systematic theology. It tracks the growth or development of the gospel in the Scriptures over time. Importantly, it relieves, to some extent, the unfortunate tendency to rely upon proof texts when defining fundamental doctrines. Instead, it traces these truths throughout the whole of the Bible.
Starting with pre-redemptive special revelation (e.g. creation), everything disclosed here is largely symbolical. Don't misconstrue this to mean that the events weren't actually real. It's real symbolism embodied in actual things. The symbols are not expressed in words so much as in tokens. These tokens prefigure and convey assurance concerning the future realization of the things symbolized.
In early redemptive relevation (the Fall to pre-Flood), it's important to note that here, as in all of the Old Testament, the concept of a personal Messiah is approached very gradually. It sufficed for fallen man to know that through His divine power and grace God would bring victory over the serpent. In that faith could rest. The object of their faith was much less defined than ours. But none the less, the essence of this faith was the same, trust in God's grace and power to bring deliverance from sin.
In Noachian revelation, note the rapid development of sin's power. In the first generation after Adam you already have murder. Sin proves powerful enough to prostitute the gifts of God's common grace. Soon there is no trace of the sense of sin in Cain's line. In Seth's line, the continuity of redemption is stressed. But even the good kept alive is not enabled to force back evil. While the power of redemption remained stationary, the power of sin waxed strong. Once the Sethites and Canites intermarry, the continuity of God's work appeared in danger, and the lesson of the destructive power of sin had been fully taught, the time had come to teach the finishing lesson of the judgment.
During the Patriarchal period, God checks the power of sin (e.g. division of tongues) and the actual beginning of the people of God, the first embodiment of objective religion, the nucleus of the Church is found with the call of Abram. The idea of faith suddenly springs into prominence. The patriarchs learned that God reserved to Himself the fulfillment of the promises (e.g. great nation, land, blessing to all people). They had learned to look upward to a form of possession of the promises identified closely with God Himself, instead of just a temporal fulfillment by possessing Canaan, etc.
Revelation in the time of Moses, consisting of the theocracy, typifies the perfected kingdom of God. When apostasy on a general scale took place, they could no longer remain in the promised land. The history of Israel was shaped by God intentionally so as to mirror all important situations befalling the people of God in all subsequent ages.
Prophetic revelation guarded the unfolded theocracy in order to keep it a true representation of the kingdom of Jehovah.
New Testament revelation, contained the speech of the Son, and so no higher speech was possible. It includes the Apostles, who are witnesses and interpreters of the Christ. Jesus regarded the whole Old Testament movement as a divinely directed and inspired movement, as having arrived at its goal in Himself. In His numerous appeals to Scripture, Jesus shows the Scriptures are a book for the people and that they cannot be broken (Jn 10:35).
This may be my longest post ever, so if you read this far, I hope you have a refreshed sense of the majesty and the oneness of the Scriptures.
Geerhardus Vos (1870-1949) is the author of Biblical Theology.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Adoption Options
We've found a couple different adoption agencies here that we think are worthwhile. Since we only plan to do the homestudy and post-adoption follow-up locally (our plan is to use an agency called Special Link for actually adopting a child), we're trying to decide who locally should do the homestudy. We've ensured that the homestudy will be conducted on biblical grounds (e.g. spanking is biblical not abusive, etc), so the real decision is, to which agency do we want to write a fat check?
One option is a small business ran by a Christian lady. Another is a Lutheran agency. We probably can't go wrong with either one, but we're wondering who should have the primary role for ensuring that we're a good family to adopt a child? It seems to us that this is more of a responsibility of the church, rather than just a state-certified agency. So I hope to involve our church in our homestudy. We're open to other thoughts.
We've found a couple different adoption agencies here that we think are worthwhile. Since we only plan to do the homestudy and post-adoption follow-up locally (our plan is to use an agency called Special Link for actually adopting a child), we're trying to decide who locally should do the homestudy. We've ensured that the homestudy will be conducted on biblical grounds (e.g. spanking is biblical not abusive, etc), so the real decision is, to which agency do we want to write a fat check?
One option is a small business ran by a Christian lady. Another is a Lutheran agency. We probably can't go wrong with either one, but we're wondering who should have the primary role for ensuring that we're a good family to adopt a child? It seems to us that this is more of a responsibility of the church, rather than just a state-certified agency. So I hope to involve our church in our homestudy. We're open to other thoughts.
Church Invitations
Part of a new assignment is getting out-of-the-blue invitations from people I meet to attend their church. Usually I know that their church wouldn't be a good fit for my family, but I appreciate the person's invitation. But conveying this can be difficult.
Today while entering an auditorium for a briefing I was invited to a large Baptist church. I only had a moment to reply, so I said, "How's the preaching?" His brief response painted a sad picture all too common today.
"Well, it's okay", my friend said a little surprised at my question, "the preaching is not very deep. You get that in a small group which meets during the week".
I declined the invite, but not without feeling blue for those that worship at a place that minimizes the preached Word.
Part of a new assignment is getting out-of-the-blue invitations from people I meet to attend their church. Usually I know that their church wouldn't be a good fit for my family, but I appreciate the person's invitation. But conveying this can be difficult.
Today while entering an auditorium for a briefing I was invited to a large Baptist church. I only had a moment to reply, so I said, "How's the preaching?" His brief response painted a sad picture all too common today.
"Well, it's okay", my friend said a little surprised at my question, "the preaching is not very deep. You get that in a small group which meets during the week".
I declined the invite, but not without feeling blue for those that worship at a place that minimizes the preached Word.
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Revenge of the Nerds?
As my first week here at the Air Force's Institute of Technology progresses, I'm struck at how single-faceted this place is. Like the city of Oz where everything is green, everything here is only hi-tech. The school library is a 3-story modern facility, but only stocked with technical books and journals. Books, books everywhere and not a drop [of literature] to drink! I'm not surprised that there are no liberal arts degrees here, but it seems there would be value in at least some liberal arts classes. The only offering that comes close is a single elective on just-war theory. The military instructors are uniformed, but otherwise, stereotypical 10-pound brains. Yesterday, the faculty seemed to enjoy giving us a "diagnostic" math exam containing 50 advanced calculus problems. I might have scored a 10% on it. This is the revenge of the nerds.
More than grumbling, I hope to raise a point while I'm here that the military relies too much on technology to win our nation's wars. While effective in destructive power and precision, it only forces our enemies to wage asymmetrical warfare. And at this our technology is unable to bring closure to a conflict.
To balance our approach to warfare, we need to comprehend a culture where religion is not just an individual, private thing, as it is here. Our western leaders need to fathom a society knitted together by a single religious conviction, as we see in the Islam of our enemies. If we can't understand our enemy, but instead rely only upon our technology to kill them all, I'm afraid we can't find peace, much less victory.
As my first week here at the Air Force's Institute of Technology progresses, I'm struck at how single-faceted this place is. Like the city of Oz where everything is green, everything here is only hi-tech. The school library is a 3-story modern facility, but only stocked with technical books and journals. Books, books everywhere and not a drop [of literature] to drink! I'm not surprised that there are no liberal arts degrees here, but it seems there would be value in at least some liberal arts classes. The only offering that comes close is a single elective on just-war theory. The military instructors are uniformed, but otherwise, stereotypical 10-pound brains. Yesterday, the faculty seemed to enjoy giving us a "diagnostic" math exam containing 50 advanced calculus problems. I might have scored a 10% on it. This is the revenge of the nerds.
More than grumbling, I hope to raise a point while I'm here that the military relies too much on technology to win our nation's wars. While effective in destructive power and precision, it only forces our enemies to wage asymmetrical warfare. And at this our technology is unable to bring closure to a conflict.
To balance our approach to warfare, we need to comprehend a culture where religion is not just an individual, private thing, as it is here. Our western leaders need to fathom a society knitted together by a single religious conviction, as we see in the Islam of our enemies. If we can't understand our enemy, but instead rely only upon our technology to kill them all, I'm afraid we can't find peace, much less victory.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
I'm no Doug Phillips
Doug Phillips has posted some great photos of a recent family trip cross-country. Looks like they had a lot more fun than we did! I didn't follow through with an early plan to stop along the way at state parks and maybe even hit a Roadfood restuarant.
Instead I reverted back to going after the land speed record. The worst part of the trip: lunch at a Burger King/gas-station along I-65 somewhere in Tennessee. There ought to be a law...fast food is bad enough already without the gas station atmosphere.
Some highlights from the trip: Kudos to the road engineers who laid out the approach into Cincinnati on I-75. The city is completely masked by some foothills until you round a bend in the road and then all of a sudden there it is in full view down in the valley just across the Ohio river.
I also greatly benefited from listening to the lectures on "America's Wars--a Biblical overview and evaluation" produced by Canon Press. I hope to bring up some of the points here in an elective course on Just War Theory. Thanks go to the BadgerMum for recommending them.
Doug Phillips has posted some great photos of a recent family trip cross-country. Looks like they had a lot more fun than we did! I didn't follow through with an early plan to stop along the way at state parks and maybe even hit a Roadfood restuarant.
Instead I reverted back to going after the land speed record. The worst part of the trip: lunch at a Burger King/gas-station along I-65 somewhere in Tennessee. There ought to be a law...fast food is bad enough already without the gas station atmosphere.
Some highlights from the trip: Kudos to the road engineers who laid out the approach into Cincinnati on I-75. The city is completely masked by some foothills until you round a bend in the road and then all of a sudden there it is in full view down in the valley just across the Ohio river.
I also greatly benefited from listening to the lectures on "America's Wars--a Biblical overview and evaluation" produced by Canon Press. I hope to bring up some of the points here in an elective course on Just War Theory. Thanks go to the BadgerMum for recommending them.
Monday, May 24, 2004
Living in Ohio
Our move back North was a good one. We packed six weeks of provisions into the car and van; enough to last us until we move into a house in July. For the time being we've rented a furnished apartment.
I had doubts about my 13 year old car making one more cross-country drive. Over the last 10 years it's gone from Alabama to San Antonio. From there to New Jersey. Then over to Illinois. Next down to Georgia. But even loaded down with stuff, including our confused Border Collie and son it made it up the hills of Tennessee and across the fields of Kentucky. God is good. I did have to turn-off the air conditioner on steeper climbs to keep up speed. I also found that sunflower seeds are good for fighting off the "sleepies" during long stretches.
Regrettably, we said good-bye to our Georgia church family (and the wonderful worship); but there are some promising options here, too. Both Kristin and I are longing to get settled and plugged-in again. It's tough to always be starting-over.
Today was the first day at AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology); I saw several familiar faces from previous assignments. It's fun to catch up.
I also finally finished Biblical Theology by Vos. I hope to post some thoughts on it in the near future.
Our move back North was a good one. We packed six weeks of provisions into the car and van; enough to last us until we move into a house in July. For the time being we've rented a furnished apartment.
I had doubts about my 13 year old car making one more cross-country drive. Over the last 10 years it's gone from Alabama to San Antonio. From there to New Jersey. Then over to Illinois. Next down to Georgia. But even loaded down with stuff, including our confused Border Collie and son it made it up the hills of Tennessee and across the fields of Kentucky. God is good. I did have to turn-off the air conditioner on steeper climbs to keep up speed. I also found that sunflower seeds are good for fighting off the "sleepies" during long stretches.
Regrettably, we said good-bye to our Georgia church family (and the wonderful worship); but there are some promising options here, too. Both Kristin and I are longing to get settled and plugged-in again. It's tough to always be starting-over.
Today was the first day at AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology); I saw several familiar faces from previous assignments. It's fun to catch up.
I also finally finished Biblical Theology by Vos. I hope to post some thoughts on it in the near future.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Cardboard Cottage
I type this from what is left of our home. Except for the computer, everything else that will fit has been taped shut inside a hundred or so cardboard boxes stacked throughout this house.
There are a 100 things flying around in my mind that I should be doing, but I'd like to record a portion of the remarks I made at my farewell luncheon.
After I led a toast to my co-workers, I sought to honor Christ with these words,
"Any success I've achieved in this job I owe in large part //large part// to Christ. This has been my favorite job in the Air Force, even though it has been stressful at times. I've had one other stressful job, that was flightline maintenance. Over time the pressure got to me. It made me defensive, cynical, bitter, cold. It got to the point that my supervisor counseled me on my bad attitude. And he was right!
"For those that know me, if that surprises you, I want to explain the two most important things I've learned about work during the last year or so. First, the Bible encourages hearty, diligent, excellent work. My God does all things well, and so should I. Second, and don't miss this, I'm slowly learning how not to work or expect affirmation from people or personal reward. Don't get me wrong! These things are good and we supervisors should reward our people. But the point is we don't always get it right. How much better it is that I get to entrust myself to One who judges justly!
"So those two things: Excellent work, Trusting One who judges justly; have kept me from that bad attitude that ruled me before.
"I don't say these things to lecture you, but as a simple way for me to honor Christ. I think some of you have enjoyed working with me or have enjoyed the fruits of my labor. I want you to know it's only because of Christ that you have enjoyed that. If it wasn't for His work it would have been a whole different experience."
I type this from what is left of our home. Except for the computer, everything else that will fit has been taped shut inside a hundred or so cardboard boxes stacked throughout this house.
There are a 100 things flying around in my mind that I should be doing, but I'd like to record a portion of the remarks I made at my farewell luncheon.
After I led a toast to my co-workers, I sought to honor Christ with these words,
"Any success I've achieved in this job I owe in large part //large part// to Christ. This has been my favorite job in the Air Force, even though it has been stressful at times. I've had one other stressful job, that was flightline maintenance. Over time the pressure got to me. It made me defensive, cynical, bitter, cold. It got to the point that my supervisor counseled me on my bad attitude. And he was right!
"For those that know me, if that surprises you, I want to explain the two most important things I've learned about work during the last year or so. First, the Bible encourages hearty, diligent, excellent work. My God does all things well, and so should I. Second, and don't miss this, I'm slowly learning how not to work or expect affirmation from people or personal reward. Don't get me wrong! These things are good and we supervisors should reward our people. But the point is we don't always get it right. How much better it is that I get to entrust myself to One who judges justly!
"So those two things: Excellent work, Trusting One who judges justly; have kept me from that bad attitude that ruled me before.
"I don't say these things to lecture you, but as a simple way for me to honor Christ. I think some of you have enjoyed working with me or have enjoyed the fruits of my labor. I want you to know it's only because of Christ that you have enjoyed that. If it wasn't for His work it would have been a whole different experience."
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
All is Well?
This e-mail was sent last week to over 10,000 people that work on Robins Air Force Base, my current home:
"All Robins Personnel,
In light of concern regarding the safety of your children within the Houston County School System, Mr. Carpenter, Houston County School Superintendent, informs that all is well. He appreciates all your inquiries and wants you to know that there was only one isolated event at Warner Robins High School and it was handled quickly and effectively. Please be assured that your children are safe and doing fine today."
I asked around and learned that in the last two weeks the local high school has had 3 attempted suicides and one actual. They've also found a horde of guns and ammo in a student's car, plus one gun in the school building.
This e-mail was sent last week to over 10,000 people that work on Robins Air Force Base, my current home:
"All Robins Personnel,
In light of concern regarding the safety of your children within the Houston County School System, Mr. Carpenter, Houston County School Superintendent, informs that all is well. He appreciates all your inquiries and wants you to know that there was only one isolated event at Warner Robins High School and it was handled quickly and effectively. Please be assured that your children are safe and doing fine today."
I asked around and learned that in the last two weeks the local high school has had 3 attempted suicides and one actual. They've also found a horde of guns and ammo in a student's car, plus one gun in the school building.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Thursday, April 29, 2004
A Call to Be a Computer Geek?
Dumbfounded by the Air Force's decision to send me to school for a computer science degree, something alien to my background, perhaps God is now letting me in on a little of His plan...
This week I heard that missionary-candidates in the '70s and '80s were trained in agriculture so they could sow the gospel seed with unreached people while also teaching them to farm. That's now passe, in part because the big food conglomerates, like ADF, have moved in. And a small missionary team can't compete with something that big.
These days more and more candidates are brushing up on their calculus and computer skills. Many of the unreached people groups need and want these skills in order to move to a city and find steady work. So perhaps the missionary spark that God has lit in our hearts will be fanned into flame through something as mundane as differential equations and Java.
After all, it is His math.
Dumbfounded by the Air Force's decision to send me to school for a computer science degree, something alien to my background, perhaps God is now letting me in on a little of His plan...
This week I heard that missionary-candidates in the '70s and '80s were trained in agriculture so they could sow the gospel seed with unreached people while also teaching them to farm. That's now passe, in part because the big food conglomerates, like ADF, have moved in. And a small missionary team can't compete with something that big.
These days more and more candidates are brushing up on their calculus and computer skills. Many of the unreached people groups need and want these skills in order to move to a city and find steady work. So perhaps the missionary spark that God has lit in our hearts will be fanned into flame through something as mundane as differential equations and Java.
After all, it is His math.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
God Bless You
"Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Gen 27: 29)
One of the themes my pastor has traced through Genesis is the passing of the "blessing-bearer" torch from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob. God dealt with others based on how they dealt with his blessing-bearer. For instance, when Pharaoh took Sarai, all the wombs of his household were closed. Lot parts from Abraham and ends up in Sodom.
Ultimately the blessing-bearer torch belongs to Abraham's seed, Jesus. It stops with him. Whoever blesses him will be blessed; whoever doesn't will be cursed.
People want their house to be blessed, their children to be blessed, their job to be blessed. But they don't bless Christ, meaning they don't live in a way that honors Him. If we want the blessing of God we must bless Jesus, the blessing-bearer.
"Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Gen 27: 29)
One of the themes my pastor has traced through Genesis is the passing of the "blessing-bearer" torch from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob. God dealt with others based on how they dealt with his blessing-bearer. For instance, when Pharaoh took Sarai, all the wombs of his household were closed. Lot parts from Abraham and ends up in Sodom.
Ultimately the blessing-bearer torch belongs to Abraham's seed, Jesus. It stops with him. Whoever blesses him will be blessed; whoever doesn't will be cursed.
People want their house to be blessed, their children to be blessed, their job to be blessed. But they don't bless Christ, meaning they don't live in a way that honors Him. If we want the blessing of God we must bless Jesus, the blessing-bearer.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Every Idle Word
A collage of interesting things I heard throughout the day...
Farewell Speech from a Captain
My friend's farewell luncheon was today; it was well attended. He's a PCA guy and has done well at work. His farewell remarks were polished and moving. But I was a little disappointed that he didn't work any gospel into his remarks. That does take some guts and more discretion.
I'll have my chance in a couple of weeks. I've been told that when God gives you a canon, you fire it. That's what I plan to do.
Commander's Call
The new General on base remarked, "My priorities are faith, family, Air Force. You might be surprised to hear a General Officer put service to his nation in third place. But if my top two priorities aren't right, then #3 can't be done well."
"I make tough choices on these priorities every day. Friday I had to choose between going to my son's baseball game or attending a gathering of 600 volunteers on our base. This time I chose to be with my son. He says I don't do that enough."
[I liked his point. Saying you have priorities is easy, but they're proven through tough choices that pit one priority against the others. But, I wished he would have proven that faith is his first priority with an example of it bumping everything else.]
Two Men on a Bus
Man 1: "Now that we have super churches there's a lot more offered. There are courses on Finances, Marriage...so many things the small churches haven't had."
Man 2: "What do the big churches use?"
Man 1: "They buy the books for you. The little churches can't do that. They just teach from the Bible."
Man 2: "I guess there's a place for that, too."
Man 1: "Yeah, there is a time for that. But the books have direct quotes from the Bible. Plus they also have really helpful thoughts on all kinds of topics, too."
A collage of interesting things I heard throughout the day...
Farewell Speech from a Captain
My friend's farewell luncheon was today; it was well attended. He's a PCA guy and has done well at work. His farewell remarks were polished and moving. But I was a little disappointed that he didn't work any gospel into his remarks. That does take some guts and more discretion.
I'll have my chance in a couple of weeks. I've been told that when God gives you a canon, you fire it. That's what I plan to do.
Commander's Call
The new General on base remarked, "My priorities are faith, family, Air Force. You might be surprised to hear a General Officer put service to his nation in third place. But if my top two priorities aren't right, then #3 can't be done well."
"I make tough choices on these priorities every day. Friday I had to choose between going to my son's baseball game or attending a gathering of 600 volunteers on our base. This time I chose to be with my son. He says I don't do that enough."
[I liked his point. Saying you have priorities is easy, but they're proven through tough choices that pit one priority against the others. But, I wished he would have proven that faith is his first priority with an example of it bumping everything else.]
Two Men on a Bus
Man 1: "Now that we have super churches there's a lot more offered. There are courses on Finances, Marriage...so many things the small churches haven't had."
Man 2: "What do the big churches use?"
Man 1: "They buy the books for you. The little churches can't do that. They just teach from the Bible."
Man 2: "I guess there's a place for that, too."
Man 1: "Yeah, there is a time for that. But the books have direct quotes from the Bible. Plus they also have really helpful thoughts on all kinds of topics, too."
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Urban Legends of Evangelicalism
17. One way to share the Gospel is to say, "ask Jesus into your heart".
FALSE!
This is a sub-Christian euphemism, foreign to the Scriptures. Better would be: "today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
18. God's love is unconditional
FALSE!
Unconditional love is a farce. God's love is completely conditioned upon Christ.
19. God loves you just the way you are
FALSE!
God loves you the way Christ is. We please God by relying on His grace to make us like His Son.
17. One way to share the Gospel is to say, "ask Jesus into your heart".
FALSE!
This is a sub-Christian euphemism, foreign to the Scriptures. Better would be: "today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
18. God's love is unconditional
FALSE!
Unconditional love is a farce. God's love is completely conditioned upon Christ.
19. God loves you just the way you are
FALSE!
God loves you the way Christ is. We please God by relying on His grace to make us like His Son.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Graduation Celebration
In recognition of Eli finishing kindergarten in a couple of weeks, I'm planning his first camping trip. We'll spend one night deep in the woods of Georgia with some other fathers and sons from the church. The next day we'll catch a Ranger (as in US Army Ranger) demonstration.
The Ranger demo sounds exciting: patrol insertion from a Blackhawk, rappelling, climbing, mountain rescue, hand-to-hand combat, and free-fall parachute jumping. Static displays include helicopters, night-vision devices, weapons, and parachutes.
Tents, campfires, and handgrenades; what could be more exciting?
In recognition of Eli finishing kindergarten in a couple of weeks, I'm planning his first camping trip. We'll spend one night deep in the woods of Georgia with some other fathers and sons from the church. The next day we'll catch a Ranger (as in US Army Ranger) demonstration.
The Ranger demo sounds exciting: patrol insertion from a Blackhawk, rappelling, climbing, mountain rescue, hand-to-hand combat, and free-fall parachute jumping. Static displays include helicopters, night-vision devices, weapons, and parachutes.
Tents, campfires, and handgrenades; what could be more exciting?
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