Today is my 10th anniversary of joining the staff at BCC. Actually, I was the only staff at BCC at that point. And I’m not sure exactly what the lord is saying by ordaining that this anniversary would always land on April fool’s day, but…
In order to reflect, I took time one evening this week to pour over 20 years of journaling. Amongst declarations of spiritual progress and prayers of thanks, were brutal reminders of the challenges and heartaches that God has brought me through.
I would never, in a million years, have looked forward and tried to motivate myself toward spiritual progress with such a turbulent tale of trial and test and yet this is how God’s goal of holiness is brought about. The problem with human vision-casting is that we imagine what we would like and forget how God works.
We imagine successful ministries and a full house of happy maturing church-goers, a picture that will fulfill us and satisfy us and make us content with ourselves, when from one angle, what we get is broken lives relying on stretched-thin resources in a world designed to fail in order to point us to the age when failure will be no more.
When we vision-cast, we can be like the Peter who said “This will never happen to you!” or the false prophets who only ever prophesied good, despite the punishment that was coming (See Jeremiah and Ezekiel) telling the people what they want to hear rather than maintaining God’s vision of holiness and warning of the discipline, (both corrective and strengthening) that will be required to accomplish his goals.
No one wants to hear that. We want to hear romantic notions of how everything is going to work out just fine. We would rather put our trust in these, than trust God who works out all our planned pain for his purpose, conforming us to the image of his son who also suffered. We paint marvelous expectations for ourselves and then can’t figure out why we are disappointed when our visions don’t come true. (Or when they do come true, but fail to deliver satisfaction as we imagined.)
I rejoice in the overflowing cup of blessing that God has granted in these last 20 years, the last 10 especially, but recognize that these blessings have sometimes been delivered by less than desirable means.
God use our pain and failure as well as our success and fulfilled dreams to make us holy. Accomplish in us what you envision and use our disappointments and our success to bring us to that end.
Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Love, Agony & Peace
Colossians 2:1
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church…
After having gone to bed exhausted last night at about 8 p.m., I awoke around 11 agonizing for this church and the people who find themselves in overwhelming difficulty who often seek pleasure primarily as a means of escaping pain (some legitimate pleasure and others, illegitimate which just causes more pain.)
I prayed and problem-solved until I was anxious and alert and feeling consumed.
I prayed, “God I push all of these problems on to your plate and expect the peace you offer in their stead.”
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
After some persistence in this, I became mindful of the creek. Hunting for crayfish. Looking at the smooth rocks beneath the stream. Noticing the light reflecting off the ripples in the water. Remembering how the water pooled just after the bridge and flowed around each emerging stone that formed a semicircle slowing the water enough to create the pool. I was home. At the creek. Totally absorbed in child-like wonder in the beauty of the breeze rushing through the trees around me, engulfed in the solitude. No one but God could find me here.
Someday I’m going home and it is going to feel like that again. I’m glad for that. The creek taught me what home feels like. I miss it and long for it and can visit it any time I am willing to be slightly less important and accept the peace that God is ready and willing to give.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a labourer is sweet
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church…
After having gone to bed exhausted last night at about 8 p.m., I awoke around 11 agonizing for this church and the people who find themselves in overwhelming difficulty who often seek pleasure primarily as a means of escaping pain (some legitimate pleasure and others, illegitimate which just causes more pain.)
I prayed and problem-solved until I was anxious and alert and feeling consumed.
I prayed, “God I push all of these problems on to your plate and expect the peace you offer in their stead.”
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
After some persistence in this, I became mindful of the creek. Hunting for crayfish. Looking at the smooth rocks beneath the stream. Noticing the light reflecting off the ripples in the water. Remembering how the water pooled just after the bridge and flowed around each emerging stone that formed a semicircle slowing the water enough to create the pool. I was home. At the creek. Totally absorbed in child-like wonder in the beauty of the breeze rushing through the trees around me, engulfed in the solitude. No one but God could find me here.
Someday I’m going home and it is going to feel like that again. I’m glad for that. The creek taught me what home feels like. I miss it and long for it and can visit it any time I am willing to be slightly less important and accept the peace that God is ready and willing to give.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a labourer is sweet
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Democracy Destroys Churches
1Pe 5:5 NLT
…you younger men must accept the authority of the elders.
The NLT rightly recognizes the authority (singular) of the church as being resident amongst the elders (plural). Paul the apostle himself, one who declares himself to have been granted authority by God…
Ga 1:1 I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
…recognizes and submits himself to the authority of the elders team in the local church and seeks their agreement and backing of his ministry.
Ga 2:2 I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. 3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.
Paul who says…
Tit 1:5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.
...followed the practice himself of appointing elders, (plural) in individual churches.
Ac 14:23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
This is the example he set as a pattern, not as mere description, but as prescription.
Php 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
1Co 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.
Paul would not and does not praise, democracy in the church, or congregationalism as it is known, nor does he leave it up for grabs. God does not desire the confusion and leadership vacuum that congregationalism causes. He does command…
Heb 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Introducing a system of Church government into a church constitution that removes authority from the elders and places it in the hands of voting church members ensures that the church will lack God’s benefit and blessing in this regard.
For a teaching elder to fail to point this out, is for him to build the church with wood, hay, and straw, rather than the precious word of God. It is to build the life of the church on sinking sand rather than solid rock.
1Co 3:11 for no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
Mt 7:26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
The polarization that occurs in a people group where the authority structure is in question and where the use of authority is required to make decisions and maintain purity, destroys unity and faith rather than building them up as the design of God intends.
Ephesians 4:11 now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
If you are considered “the” pastor (singular) of a local church, this is a call to repentance and an encouragement to do the hard work of leading your church to change its constitution. This is a call to biblically empower the team of elders with equal authority and mutual godly, accountability and lead your congregation toward the benefit that God’s truth is destined to ignite in his church.
Jas 4:17 Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
John 5:14 ...stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.
…you younger men must accept the authority of the elders.
The NLT rightly recognizes the authority (singular) of the church as being resident amongst the elders (plural). Paul the apostle himself, one who declares himself to have been granted authority by God…
Ga 1:1 I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
…recognizes and submits himself to the authority of the elders team in the local church and seeks their agreement and backing of his ministry.
Ga 2:2 I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. 3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.
Paul who says…
Tit 1:5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.
...followed the practice himself of appointing elders, (plural) in individual churches.
Ac 14:23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
This is the example he set as a pattern, not as mere description, but as prescription.
Php 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
1Co 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.
Paul would not and does not praise, democracy in the church, or congregationalism as it is known, nor does he leave it up for grabs. God does not desire the confusion and leadership vacuum that congregationalism causes. He does command…
Heb 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Introducing a system of Church government into a church constitution that removes authority from the elders and places it in the hands of voting church members ensures that the church will lack God’s benefit and blessing in this regard.
For a teaching elder to fail to point this out, is for him to build the church with wood, hay, and straw, rather than the precious word of God. It is to build the life of the church on sinking sand rather than solid rock.
1Co 3:11 for no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
Mt 7:26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
The polarization that occurs in a people group where the authority structure is in question and where the use of authority is required to make decisions and maintain purity, destroys unity and faith rather than building them up as the design of God intends.
Ephesians 4:11 now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
If you are considered “the” pastor (singular) of a local church, this is a call to repentance and an encouragement to do the hard work of leading your church to change its constitution. This is a call to biblically empower the team of elders with equal authority and mutual godly, accountability and lead your congregation toward the benefit that God’s truth is destined to ignite in his church.
Jas 4:17 Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
John 5:14 ...stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Single and Satisfied?
Can life-contentment be attained in the ongoing absence of ultimate human intimacy?
1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. (content and engaged in life’s purpose, without having my pursuit of holiness sabotaged by the distress of longing for sexual intimacy.) But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Paul is almost-undoubtedly single again - and satisfied. He is living independent of a sexual relationship and happy, even enviable and wishes we could all be just like him. But alas, that is impossible.
Paul states that the pursuit of a particular marital status should be determined by giftedness and not be seen as a matter of spiritual attainment. Paul wishes everyone could receive from God what is required to cheerfully lay aside the human sex-drive and be single and satisfied as opposed to being dependent upon regular holy sex in order to avoid immorality. However, part of the pursuit of holy joy for those who have not received this spiritual gift of sexless satisfaction, will include marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
If you don’t have the gift of satisfied celibacy, you will suffer the results of unfulfilled desire, if and when you are not being satisfied by your spouse. Some of our relational needs God satisfies directly and some he satisfies by the use of means and when those means are removed, we will suffer. Suffering includes not being able to find or create a comfortable conclusion. It means wrestling and struggling with unmet desire. It brings us back to Christ and requires growth in our theology of suffering with-and-for Him.
1 Pe 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Ro 5:2 …we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1Pe 1:6 for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Can, or could the “all-satisfying” relationship with Christ subdue the sex drive? Can a human being attain this single and satisfied state by becoming more spiritual? In this world where things are not as they should be (James 3:10) the answer is. No. Knowing this will rescue us from the unrealistic guilt of “not being spiritual enough”. It should also cause us to know that without God’s provision of a spiritual gift, or a spouse, we will suffer. The fight for God-glorifying joy, requires choosing to suffer, when we must, with and for Christ.
1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. (content and engaged in life’s purpose, without having my pursuit of holiness sabotaged by the distress of longing for sexual intimacy.) But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Paul is almost-undoubtedly single again - and satisfied. He is living independent of a sexual relationship and happy, even enviable and wishes we could all be just like him. But alas, that is impossible.
Paul states that the pursuit of a particular marital status should be determined by giftedness and not be seen as a matter of spiritual attainment. Paul wishes everyone could receive from God what is required to cheerfully lay aside the human sex-drive and be single and satisfied as opposed to being dependent upon regular holy sex in order to avoid immorality. However, part of the pursuit of holy joy for those who have not received this spiritual gift of sexless satisfaction, will include marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
If you don’t have the gift of satisfied celibacy, you will suffer the results of unfulfilled desire, if and when you are not being satisfied by your spouse. Some of our relational needs God satisfies directly and some he satisfies by the use of means and when those means are removed, we will suffer. Suffering includes not being able to find or create a comfortable conclusion. It means wrestling and struggling with unmet desire. It brings us back to Christ and requires growth in our theology of suffering with-and-for Him.
1 Pe 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Ro 5:2 …we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1Pe 1:6 for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Can, or could the “all-satisfying” relationship with Christ subdue the sex drive? Can a human being attain this single and satisfied state by becoming more spiritual? In this world where things are not as they should be (James 3:10) the answer is. No. Knowing this will rescue us from the unrealistic guilt of “not being spiritual enough”. It should also cause us to know that without God’s provision of a spiritual gift, or a spouse, we will suffer. The fight for God-glorifying joy, requires choosing to suffer, when we must, with and for Christ.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I Don’t Believe In This World Anymore
Coming to the place where one experientially loses faith in this world as the source from which our desire for joy will be met, may sound like pessimism and a loss of hope and in some sense it is, though it is justified. This loss of faith in this world is the starting place for the fullness of our hope to be placed in that which cannot disappoint.
Jonathan Edwards prayed: Lord, grant that from hence, I may learn to withdraw my thoughts, affections, desires and expectations entirely from the world, and may fix them upon the heavenly state, where there is fullness of joy; where reigns sweet, calm and delightful love without alloy; where there are continually the dearest expressions of this love; where there is enjoyment of this love without ever parting; and where those persons who appear so lovely in this world, will be inexpressibly more lovely, and full of love to us. How sweetly will those, who mutually love, join together in singing the praises of God and the Lamb. How full will it fill us with joy to think that this enjoyment, these sweet exercises, will never cease or come to an end, but will last to all eternity.
Paul said: Galatians 6:14 The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…
15 what counts is a new creation.
Jonathan Edwards prayed: Lord, grant that from hence, I may learn to withdraw my thoughts, affections, desires and expectations entirely from the world, and may fix them upon the heavenly state, where there is fullness of joy; where reigns sweet, calm and delightful love without alloy; where there are continually the dearest expressions of this love; where there is enjoyment of this love without ever parting; and where those persons who appear so lovely in this world, will be inexpressibly more lovely, and full of love to us. How sweetly will those, who mutually love, join together in singing the praises of God and the Lamb. How full will it fill us with joy to think that this enjoyment, these sweet exercises, will never cease or come to an end, but will last to all eternity.
Paul said: Galatians 6:14 The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…
15 what counts is a new creation.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Theology of Breasts
I apologize in advance to my readers if this entry makes you feel vulnerable or exposed. My goal is not that women would feel ogled or exploited, but rather properly esteemed and honored.
Our society has been said to be “breast-obsessed” and a biblical response is required. Breasts are used to promote and sell and seduce with great effectiveness and at great cost to both genders.
Proverbs 5:19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.
Breasts are intended for the sensual satisfaction of a husband. They are given to the wife as a gift she may share with her husband, that he might be captivated, enthralled, mesmerized, have every other thought flooded out of his head, except the overwhelming desire and satisfaction found in embracing his wife.
That which satisfies sexual desire is meant to remain between a man and his wife for their exclusive, mutual enjoyment which is a crucial element of love.
Proverbs 5:16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
Song of Solomon 1:13 My lover is like a sachet of myrrh lying between my breasts.
It is here that a man may feel accepted and delighted and at home. Here are the words of a man so comforted and enthralled all at the same time.
Song of Solomon 4:5 Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
If you were on a bus full of tourists and the driver of the bus came upon twin fawns, grazing among lilies, he would stop and point and everyone would take pictures. This is the attention, the joy and wonder, breasts are designed to attract. Here we see a picture of the beauty they are meant to provide to a husband. To abuse that purpose for any other gain; a flattering look from a stranger in order to boost self-esteem, political manipulation at the office, or to sell beer, is to distort and depreciate the good God intends. Our society has valued breasts, women, love too little.
Modesty and privacy and purity and sanctity promote holy joy between a husband and a wife. Properly valuing that experience of mutual pleasure helps us to understand the shared joy we may and must pursue with Christ. Satan knows just how to pervert and cheapen what God has made beautiful and our culture falls for his lies in droves.
Our society has been said to be “breast-obsessed” and a biblical response is required. Breasts are used to promote and sell and seduce with great effectiveness and at great cost to both genders.
Proverbs 5:19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.
Breasts are intended for the sensual satisfaction of a husband. They are given to the wife as a gift she may share with her husband, that he might be captivated, enthralled, mesmerized, have every other thought flooded out of his head, except the overwhelming desire and satisfaction found in embracing his wife.
That which satisfies sexual desire is meant to remain between a man and his wife for their exclusive, mutual enjoyment which is a crucial element of love.
Proverbs 5:16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
Song of Solomon 1:13 My lover is like a sachet of myrrh lying between my breasts.
It is here that a man may feel accepted and delighted and at home. Here are the words of a man so comforted and enthralled all at the same time.
Song of Solomon 4:5 Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
If you were on a bus full of tourists and the driver of the bus came upon twin fawns, grazing among lilies, he would stop and point and everyone would take pictures. This is the attention, the joy and wonder, breasts are designed to attract. Here we see a picture of the beauty they are meant to provide to a husband. To abuse that purpose for any other gain; a flattering look from a stranger in order to boost self-esteem, political manipulation at the office, or to sell beer, is to distort and depreciate the good God intends. Our society has valued breasts, women, love too little.
Modesty and privacy and purity and sanctity promote holy joy between a husband and a wife. Properly valuing that experience of mutual pleasure helps us to understand the shared joy we may and must pursue with Christ. Satan knows just how to pervert and cheapen what God has made beautiful and our culture falls for his lies in droves.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Set My Desires On You and Satisfy Them
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.
Ezra 7:27 Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem!
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
1 Chronicles 29:18 “O LORD, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.
Ezra 7:27 Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem!
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
1 Chronicles 29:18 “O LORD, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.
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