Nuts and Bolts

Here is a story that is not surprising.  It rates a Kansas City neighborhood as one of the dangerous places to live in the country.  I grew up within a couple of miles of it.  The area I grew up in was Northeast KC or back in the day known as “little Italy”, but once the Italians moved out, it became a war zone.  Growing up, I witnessed stabbings, drug deals, gangs, prostitution, and believe it or not, a couple of gun fights.  My neighbor kept a coffin in his house that he used as a cedar chest for his clothes, and he also had an army mortar he fired every Independence Day that literally shook our windows.  The house I grew up in burned down after we moved due to some suspicious activity.  It is a wonder I survived let alone am sane.  When my friends would come over they would fear for their lives.  The first time I brought my then girlfriend, now wife over to meet my parents for dinner, gunshots were going off.  You can read more about its reality here. 

Update on School

I am in the midst of some intense studies with my Patristic and Celtic Spirituality course.  This course is directly related to my major emphasis “Biblical Spirituality”.  It is led and taught by Dr. Michael Haykin who is known at least in Baptist circles as an expert in spirituality and revival.  He is one gracious scholar.  I have already read a dozen or more books, participated in three different forum discussions, and am preparing for two major presentations when I go to Louisville in November-December.  The major presentation is a 25 page paper on Augustine on the Psalms (more on that in the coming weeks).  Needless to say it is a whopper.  In addition, to all of that, we are required to complete a series of questions based on several writings of church fathers, which totals around one hundred questions.  It is an extremely rich and intense course.  I would appreciate much prayer.  Augustine in particular has challenged me especially in his preaching, which is alien to most preaching today, myself included. 

Hymn of the Month

The song we have been learning throughout this month at Calvary has been “What Wondrous Love is This”. It is an American folk hymn, and here is a good clip that I think serves the song well.

JOSEPHUS ON THE JEWISH WAR

On Sunday mornings the last month we have been treading through Matthew 24.   I am appreciative of so many scholars who have plowed the exegetical trail before me, and others that I have read that are just plain (how do I be diplomatic?)…irresponsible.  But Christian charity kicks in with texts like these doesn’t it?  When we get to heaven, we won’t care about certain textual nuances and hermeneutical gymnastics we will simply have Jesus.  And having Jesus is enough.  I only wish I and every other student of Matthew 24 would keep Him front and center. 

Enough of the diatribe, I honestly don’t see how any serious student of the Word can tackle Matthew 24 with at least glancing over Josephus who was an eyewitness to the Jewish War in A.D. 66-70 which I believe chunks of Matthew 24 deals in large measure (just take a peak at Luke-principle of hermeneutics-Scripture interprets Scripture).  So if you want some real accounts, take a moment to read Josephus and see how Scripture and in particular what Jesus says is confirmed.

ANNIVERSARY-FIRST LOVE-STRYPER

Today marks my thirteenth wedding anniversary, and the years have been incredible. Without hesitation, I am in deeper and greater love with my wife than when we first got married, and I loved her then. She is the only woman that I had any desire to marry, or ever will for that matter. Her love does get better with age. And in a blink of an eye, we have been married thirteen years. Anita is truly the ultimate woman, and she stands in a special class-all to herself.
So instead of waxing on and on, I will let Stryper do the talking. This comes from their “Soldiers Under Command” tour (circa 1985). It is their song “First Love”, and I love how Michael Sweet (the lead singer) kicks it into overdrive at about the 2:30 mark.
Much love to you my life.

What I am Reading

This two volume set is a must particularly for pastors.  The index alone is worth the price you will pay for it.  Believe me.  This is an incredible piece of literature, one of the best resources on evangelism and missions written in our time. 

Jack on Suffering

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it."

Matthew Henry on Persecution

“Persecuting times are discovering times”.

To The Garden We Go-Noah's Tractor

Last year we got Noah the largest John Deere Tractor and trailer that is offered for kids.  It was a specialty item that has two speeds including reverse.  The highest speed goes about five miles an hour.  Noah took to this last year like water off a duck’s back.  Needless to say, he loves it.  I actually can load wood in the back of his trailer, and he hauls it to me.  The T-shirt he is wearing is also from John Deere, and it reads, “Will trade my sister for a tractor”.  Early this spring, a lady was driving by and saw Noah on his tractor dressed up in his John Deere colors.  She stopped, got out, and asked to take his picture.  And she told us she worked for the sales division at John Deere.  I asked her in jest, “how much would she give us for our son being a model?”  I am still waiting for the check that will get him through college!

Update on School

If you are a consistent blogger, you may have picked up on several posts related to a missions seminar I am involved with.  The class is “History and Theology of Missions”.  Thus far I have read four books, engaged in some small assignments, and participated in various forum discussion groups.  It is a daily project.  The biggest part of this class is yet to come at the end of November, first part of December as I present a twenty five page paper for a seminar.  Please pray for me as I am starting the first draft of that paper.  I have been very impressed with the involvement of missionaries in this forum, and as a pastor I really look forward to getting to know them personally come late fall so that I am learn as a local church pastor how to better equip the people of Calvary from the pulpit. 

William Temple's Christian Hostility

“Not all that the world hates is good Christianity; but it does hate good Christianity and always will.”

Missions Response on the Great Commission

In another forum I am involved with in my missions seminar is to respond to a book I am reading, and basically give synopses on the state of the Great Commission has been in the church.  Here is my response thus far based on a book we are engaging.  It is an ongoing forum. 

I surmise that as long as the church upholds the fourfold gospel ideal mentioned in by Sweeney in the introduction, the gospel will always advance.  The four qualities: “conversionism, the belief that lives need to be changed; activism, the expression of the gospel in effort; Biblicism, a particular regard for the Bible, and crucicentrism, a stress on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Where these qualities remain intact, we retain and progress a strong and healthy gospel. 

I was thankful that Sushine in chapter one eventually mentioned the mission accomplishments of the Reformers, particularly in the area of printing and missionary mobilization.  The lack of understanding language can be and has always been a barrier in gospel advancement.  One of the means of Pentecost was the Spirit empowered proclamation to each nation in their own tongue, so clarity of language cannot be overstated.  This is why the criticism of early Protestants who remained in their own homeland as a proof of their lack of missionary vision is at the very least a weak one.   Could it be that they were not suited linguistically to those foreign cultures, something that Hinkson brings up vividly in chapter two.  I for one think that Luther’s German Bible, Calvin’s French Bible, and Wycliffe’s English Bible can be counted as major missionary accomplishments in the history of redemption.  As with our age, the greatest time to proclaim the gospel has to be now in terms of technology, resources, and accessibility. 

We must also consider the training of the Word in a local church produces missionaries.  Again, I am grateful Sushine pointed this out, but not in its fullest way.  As persecution passed, Calvin began to train missionaries and plant churches.  From 1555 to 1562 100 underground churches were planted by Calvin’s’ church in France.  By the time of Calvin’s death there were over 2,100 churches in France that had been planted that wasn’t there when he was born.  By the time of his death more than 1,200 missionaries went to France to plant those churches and they all came from Geneva.  Not just in France but churches were planted in Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Germany, England, Scotland, and Brazil.

Frederick Dale Bruner

Bruner’s two volume commentary on Matthew has been one of my favorite since preaching through this gospel.  He is exegetically precise and applies the passage pastorally.  Regarding the section that I have been preaching on the last few weeks (Matthew 24:4-14) Bruner writes:

“Christians at any time should not await the appearance of anyone or anything except Jesus Christ himself, not even a remarkable Antichrist or a conversion of the Jews or anything else except Jesus Christ himself.  This Christ-centered expectation is at the heart of the New Testament witness, and no other teaching, however well meant, should be allowed to eclipse him.” (Commentary on Matthew Vol. 2, pg. 494)

Nuts and Bolts

It seems Jimmy Carter believes that he is superior to contemporary Presidents.  I am sure he has done wonderful things, but his service as President continues to be dismissal.  Most Presidents are all probably in search of their legacy, but this is just delusional.

This next bit is another one of these cute and real notes from kids to God.  It may not always reflect sound theology, but it does reflect pure honesty.  Thanks JRG. 

Matthew Poole on the Gospel

“Christ bought or redeemed His people…in that by his death he purchased the continuance of their lives, and the staying of their execution, and rescued them from that present imminent destruction which, without Christ’s interposition, had seized on them, as it had likewise on the whole visible creation immediately upon the apostasy of mankind” (A Commentary on the Whole Bible, Volume 3, Banner of Truth Trust, 1963 reprint, pg. 921). 

What I am Reading

One author that I have always appreciated his expertise is Alister McGrath.  I have many of his works on Reformation thought and the spirituality of the Reformers.  Recently, I read his Introduction to Christian Spirituality.  The issue of Christian spirituality is a hot potato in evangelical ranks these days.  If people had questions as related to what is meant by spirituality and how is it demonstrated in the church, then McGrath’s work will be beneficial.  In typical McGrath style, he paints in broad sweeping strokes.  He excels in clarity as this book attests.  Throughout the work, McGrath seeks to describe the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant perspectives of various spiritual practices and beliefs.  It is a good tool if one desires an accurate survey of what constitutes Christian Spirituality.

Polycarp Martyrdom

It was a Friday afternoon. Polycarp was resting upstairs in a country home. They came in like a posse, fully armed as if they were arresting a dangerous criminal. Polycarp's friends wanted to sneak him out, but he refused, saying, "God's will be done."

In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable, Polycarp welcomed his captors as if they were friends, talked with them and ordered that food and drink be served to them. Then Polycarp made one request: one hour to pray before they took him away. The officers overhearing his prayers (that went on for two hours) began to have second thoughts. What were they doing arresting an old man like this?

Despite the cries of the crowd, the Roman authorities saw the senselessness of making this aged man a martyr. So when Polycarp was brought into the arena, the proconsul pled with him: "Curse Christ and I will release you."

REPLY: "Eighty-six years I have served Him. He had never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?"

The proconsul reached for an acceptable way out: "Then do this, old man. Just swear by the genius of the emperor and that will be sufficient." 

REPLY: "If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don't know who I am. Hear it plainly. I am a Christian."

More entreaties. Polycarp stood firm.

The proconsul threatened him with the wild beasts.

REPLY: "Bring them forth. I would change my mind if it meant going from the worse to the better, but not to change from the right to the wrong."

The proconsul's patience was gone: "I will have you burned alive."

REPLY: "You threaten fire that burns for an hour and is over. But the judgment on the ungodly is forever."

The fire was prepared. Polycarp lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed: "Father, I bless you that you have deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I might take a portion of the martyrs in the cup of Christ. . . Among these may I today be welcome before thy face as a rich and acceptable sacrifice."

As the fire engulfed him, the believers noted that it smelled not so much like flesh burning as a loaf baking. He was finished off with the stab of a dagger. His followers gathered his remains like precious jewels and buried them on February 22, 155. In the strange way known to the eyes of faith, it was as much a day of triumph as it was a day of tragedy.

Dad and Noah

This picture is precious to me for several reasons.  First, it is the only photo that I know that pictures my dad with my son.  Second, it is a picture of the two closest “guys” in my life. 

My dad would not live another year after this was taken.  We buried my father on my son’s first birthday.  God’s sovereignty is sweetly mysterious.  I don’t know why my boy will not have a close earthly relationship with my dad.  They would have, I am sure, been unbelievably close.  My dad taught me more about Christ at every level than any other human being I know.  I could talk to my father about anything, and did.  In a word, I had the fullest relationship with a dad any son could have, and then I had a son of my own.  I have wanted to ask my dad, “Hey dad, do you ever feel this way when I did this?” just to hear his reaction. 

I vividly remember when my dad’s dad died, and what he went through because they were so close.  On and on I could go, but the day my dad died, I stopped being a son and concentrated all my energies on being a father.  Or I like to say it this way, “The son became a father when the father met the Son”.  And so on my boy’s third birthday, I am thankful for his life, his future faith, and without waxing sloppy sentimentalism, he is as far as any human being can be, my everything.  From a long line of faithful men who loved their God and loved their sons much love, my son.

To The Garden We Go...

This is ode to what we affectionately call “Big Bertha”.  This is a massive water slide and swimming pool we bought in May.  And while it killed most of my grass, it attracted most of the neighborhood kids.  It has been fascinating to observe that when kids gather, their parents gather, which has allowed me to open the door for gospel conversations. 

We have had up to ten kids on this at once, and some adults have braved “Big Bertha”.  I also appreciate my neighbors, because the thing sounds like mission control, and it is beginning to look like a carnival in my back yard. 

Oh well, all is well that ends well.  “Big Bertha” has retired for the season, and I have to purchase grass seed.