Conforming to the World

     Currently I am visiting, and experiencing astonishingly wonderful hospitality from friends in the Bay Area. (U.S.) Last night, a young man appeared, describing himself as a community organizer. His cause seemed to be opposition to the use of styrofoam. He urged signing a petition, and giving funds to defeat this evil. He was quite passionate and energetic for this cause. Now I anticipate that people of the kingdom of the world will support causes of one kind or another. What about the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? ( Philippians 3:20)
     Romans 12:2a, an often quoted verse, says "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."(NKJV) How might we be conformed? One way in which we could discern is by our priorities. To what do we give our time, money and energy? What do we talk about? "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." ( Luke 6:45 NKJV)
     One thing that a growing number of Christians in America talk about and give their time, money and energy to is what they eat. Now I am not opposed to health; I try to live a healthy lifestyle. Yet no matter how much or wisely I exercise or what I eat or don't eat, my current body will perish. (Hebrews 9:27) The reality is that most of our brothers and sisters around the world do not have the food choices that we have. Many are thankful to have enough food to sustain life. Some do not. It seems like major self-indulgence to put inordinate focus on every item we place in our mouths. If we were as concerned about our sin- a topic the Bible addresses repeatedly- as we are about what we eat, we would be much better off.
     While I am admittedly ignorant about the alleged evils of styrofoam. I would rather, as Paul did, be "determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)

Barrett

     My maternal grandfather, who disliked his original first name so much that he switched it with his middle name, used the name Barrett for the rest of his life. As a young man he served with the Signal Corps in France during the First World War. Much later when I was three, I ran into a pond with all my clothes on. My mother, occupied with my baby brother, saw my hat floating, and called my grandfather. He ran in with all his clothes on to rescue me from drowning. I remember him as a genial fellow in his older years. Now his name has resurrected with his great grandson. Thank you, Jesus.
     Enjoyed my brief visit to southern CA. Saw my friend Bill for lunch yesterday. Wish we lived closer. Took several walks in the hot sun. Enjoyed Mother's Day with my son-in law's parents, Chuck & Cynthia, and Chris' younger brother Casey, and then again Monday evening when we learned that my daughter would bear a grandson rather than a granddaughter. "Blessed is the first born son who opens the womb." (Luke 2:23 cf. Ex. 12) Now off to the Bay Area. God is faithful.

A Little More History

     While I understand that most people find history boring, every once in awhile I want to indulge myself. Today I was reading in the book of Acts and found a detail that many might find inconsequential. Still it contributes to the historical veracity of the Bible. In chapter 16, verse 12, Luke relates a visit to the city of Philippi, adding the detail that it was a Roman colony. The word "colony" has historical significance because it refers to the custom of Roman rulers (emperors) establishing designated areas to settle discharged legionary veterans. When a young man was recruited for the legions or the auxiliaries, he enlisted for twenty to twenty-five years. Part of the incentive to do so was the promise of free land once they completed their service. Philippi is a known "colony" where ex-Roman soldiers received land. So even a seemingly minor detail has importance.
     Another more prominent example is the prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 24 that "not one stone would be left upon another" of the Temple, a structured which took at least 46 years to build. This prediction, given in the early 30's AD, was literally fulfilled at the conclusion of the Roman siege of Jerusalem. ( AD 70) The fires burned so hot in the temple that the gold liquified. After the battle, when it cooled, the Romans had their slaves take every stone in the temple apart so they could scrape off the valuable metal. Again, history supports the Biblical account.

The Celestial Drama

   Last night I received an analogy that i think of as "The Celestial Drama." God the Father creates the stage and the theatre. (Gen. 1:1) He is also the playwright. The script is the Word of God, the Bible. The Holy Spirit directs the play and Jesus is the star. Genuine believers play the supporting roles, and the audience is composed of principalities and powers in the heavenly places. "To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God  might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10-11 NKJV)
     How amazing that we, made of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7,3:19 et. al.,) are permitted to have a role in God's play. The Creator of the Universe not only allows but desires us to participate with Him- to sing in the chorus, to say our lines, to worship Jesus the King. Yet we often complain about the role we have been given rather than rejoice that we were given a part. Brothers and sisters, let us learn our lines (the Bible), receive direction from the Holy Spirit, and play our part with the measure of faith, (Romans 12:3) and the grace and truth (John 1:17) that we have received.

Cat & the Toaster

The following is a review of "The Cat and the Toaster," written by Douglas A. Hall & two co-authors. Despite its title, this is not a children's book but rather a treatise on ministry from an urban perspective. I was predisposed to receive from this work, first because it was given to me by someone whom I like and respect, and secondly because the author has lived and ministered in the city of Boston, where our church operates, for almost fifty years. I also believe in the principle of "gleaning", that it is not necessary to agree with one hundred percent of what someone says or writes in order to receive something. So it is with sadness that I report that the book has very problematic issues.
     The first is a tendency that plagues many theorists- the need to create or utilize thickets of terminology and jungles of jargon. Why not use Biblical concepts and examples? This should be the common language for Christians. I don't recall a Scripture reference in the first hundred pages of the 350 written. The second problem is taking ideas from other places and then looking for Scriptural support rather than searching the Bible and developing our thinking from that foundation. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." (Rom. 12:2 ESV)
     Accusing people of heresy because they don't agree with one's subjective interpretations is wrong. Telling people to repent from "inadequate mental models" rather than sin falls in the same category.
     Making technology a cornerstone of one's argument with no Scriptural corroboration, and then saying that God slaying animals for the skins to clothe Adam and Eve is an example of technology is also meaningless.
     Perhaps I am too dull to understand the intricacy and loftiness of the material but I had certainly hoped for something more useful. A person's theories, no matter how elaborate, seldom survive real life.

Practicing to be a Grandpa

While on a short road trip, God is blessing me with the chance to practice being a grandpa. J is energetic, engaging, expressive, twenty-one months old, and strong willed. The second he saw me, he smiled. A moment later we were throwing balls back and forth, with him squealing with delighted laughter. He spontaneously took my hand when we walked down a steep flight of stairs, and is engaged in rapid language acquisition. Although not yet able to make sentences, he repeats almost any word that you say, and evidences understanding of a number of them.
     Yet all like young children he is inherently selfish, working incessantly to gets what he wants from his parents and anyone else around him. Today we were coloring. He has about a hundred crayons but the only one he wanted was the one i was using, usually within two or three seconds of me picking it up. J knows the word "please," so after the tenth grab of the crayon i was using i asked him to use it, not giving up the crayon. He clearly understood what i wanted him to do but would not say please. When i did not give him the crayon he clouded up although he did not cry. Eventually he took a different crayon and "traded" me for the one i had, which i allowed although were i to stay longer i would keep working on the please.
     A major part of our maturing as Christians is to recognize that the universe revolves around God instead of us. We are saved into His Kingdom to do His will, not our own. We help children exponentially if we shape their wills to obey their parents so they find it much easier to obey God if they enter into relationship with Him.
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, this is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV)

Celebration

     In December of last year our little group of 12 adults and 4 children, who have been meeting in homes for over four years together, felt led to get out of our comfort zones, and  attempt to give away some of the blessings that God has given to us. One couple had been ministering in a low income housing project for about six years. The Lord led us to build on that faithful sowing. For each of  the past five months we have dedicated one Sunday to these celebrations. The reasons for this are many. One is to provide a physical illustration of the unity of the Body that Jesus prayed for in John 17. God has provided relationship with a small Brazilian church, students from a nearby Christian college, people who live in the area, and brethren from all around the region. Now we all are partnering together. The people in our group have taken on more responsibility in preparation and also in ministry. God has provided a place for people who are part of his family but temporarily out of regular fellowship. He has also allowed for public gifts from different parts of His body to function.
     Yesterday we had at least 125 people present, which is about ten times the size of our group. Our brother Matt preached, there was translation into Portuguese, our brother Bill, aka "The Grillmaster," & his family cooked up the burgers and hot dogs, with a few vegan burgers thrown in, and the saints encouraged one another. "And let us consider One Another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some but exhorting (encouraging) ONE ANOTHER, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." ( Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV)