No Word Yet

I've checked email throughout the day, but no word yet. I assume they've arrived in Belize and are just too busy praying to email their son. At least I hope that's what they're doing because its the only way I'll let them off for not emailing yet. I did hear from the team twice today...once at 5:30 AM. Wes called to say the plane was delayed in Nashville. Jen and I are still trying to figure out why he thought this piece of information was necessary to relay to us in the wee hours of the morning. Then I heard from Dad around 9:30 AM. They were on the plane in Atlanta. They barely caught it because of the delay. They were supposed to fly straight to Belize City from Belize. That's the last word and I'm logging off for the night. I'll check back tomorrow and post something when I know it.

Belize Blog

For the next week this blog will become the official "Belize Blog." I'll be providing daily (hopefully) updates on the Belize Medical Mission. The team leaves tomorrow morning around 4:00 AM, but I'm staying home to preach this Sunday so I won't join them until Monday. I will be posting something Saturday and Sunday though. My parents are supposed to email me updates and I'll share those. The Belize Mission will be June 30th-July 8th. More to come...

Questions

What if the ring story had turned out differently? What if I prayed and nothing happened? What if I never found the ring? Would God then get the blame? That's part of my struggle with answered prayer. What happens when it's not answered? For example, I love to hear stories from the CCU how someone was miraculously healed. In those cases we tell the families to give God the credit, not just the doctors. But what about those who pray for healing and it never comes? What do we tell those families?

The Parable of the Lost Ring

Friday morning I was sitting at my computer working on my sermon. I was fiddling with my wedding ring and accidentally dropped it. I was in the middle of a thought so I ignored it and figured I'd get it later. Later turned out to be around 5:15 pm. I completely forgot about it until I'd already packed up my briefcase and headed out the door. No problem though. My office is tiny and I know exactly where I dropped it. Fifteen minutes later I was on my hands and knees looking under the same stack of books I'd already looked under three times. The ring was gone! I'd been over every square inch of my floor. I'd moved my desk, dug through my chair, even shuffled through my files in case one of them was open when I dropped it. Nothing!

Finally, in desperation, I paused and said a short prayer . . . "Lord, please help me find this ring." I went back to searching, thinking how awesome it would be if I immediately found it after saying the prayer. But after a fourth look under the same stack of books, I was still ringless. So I turned off the lights, shut the door, and picked up my briefcase. Then it hit me! My briefcase was laying open beside my chair all day. What if the ring dropped in there? I emptied the briefcase and the ring was laying in bottom of the second pocket. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, slipped it on my finger, and headed home.

At home I related the story to my wife. When she asked how I found the ring I said, "I finally remembered that my briefcase was beside my desk and I thought it could have fallen in there." I remembered. I thought. No mention of God. No mention of the answered prayer. Sound familiar? How many of us have asked God to do something and when He does it, we take all the credit?

Forsaking the Assembly

This is actually my topic for Sunday (Hebrews 10:24-25). I haven't really advertised it because people are so used to getting beat up with this passage. I'm afraid if they learned I was speaking on "forsaking the assembly" it might motivate them to forsake it! Ironic, but true. I think its because preachers have misused this passage. It's often preached with an agenda in mind. When I was a kid I remember this passage being used to guilt us into attending services, especially the ones we didn't really want to attend (i.e. Sunday nights, week-long gospel meetings, missionary slide shows, etc.). Funny how God lead the preacher to that exact text just before every major event.

But is that how the original author intended its use? Was it written it so we'd have a place to go to shame people into better attendance or is there a higher calling in the text? I think the latter is true. The passage does speak to attendance, but the more I've reflected on it the more convinced I've become that it speaks much more to encouragement. Read it and see what you think. Have we missed the main point of this passage?

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Was Jesus A Sissy?

On Father's Day I challenged fathers to be an example to their kids by living their life like Jesus (listen here). My main thought was captured in 1st Cor 11:1 where Paul said follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. The challenge was that we (fathers) should be able to say the same thing to our children! It sounded good and it preached well, but did it resonate with men? Is Jesus the kind of man that other men want to imitate? That's one of the questions that's rattled around in my head since Father's Day. Before you accuse me of heresy, hear me out.

My fear is that our culture has "sissified" Jesus. Portraits depict him as a gaunt, frail man with stringy hair and lily white skin. Movies portray him as a mild mannered, timid man with more feminine qualities than masculine ones. Even preachers have tended to emphasize his meekness more than his boldness. And we wonder why more women are attending church than men. Where's the Jesus who made a living with his own two hands? Who cleaned out the temple? Confronted the Pharisees? Stood toe to toe with Pilate? Endured ridicule and beatings? Carried the cross? Withstood the nails? Rolled away the stone?

Yes, he was a man of mildness and gentleness, but he was also a man of great courage and boldness. Don't let the pictures fool you. His shoulders were probably broad, his hands callused, his muscles taunt. And don't let Hollywood tame him. He was a radical teacher, a powerful healer, a friend to all who met him, a man who stood for his convictions, a man who kept his word, and a man willing to pay the ultimate price for those he loved. He's exactly the kind of man I want to be.

Evan Almighty

I remember being pleasantly surprised at some of the Biblical themes in Bruce Almighty. The sequel comes out on this weekend (June 22). Not sure if it will be the same but these two clips seem to indicate it will. (In case you didn't see the orginal, Morgan Freeman plays "God")

Technology and Spirituality

Friday night I spent the night at my parent's cabin on the Buffalo River. It's very secluded, I was by myself, and I had no internet or cell service. I did have satellite TV so don't feel too sorry for me. As I sat out on the back porch last night in the darkness and silence (two things most of us have grown unaccustomed too), the thought came to mind . . . "Do our modern technologies help or hamper our spirituality?" What do you think? Were our ancestors more likely to think on spiritual things because they lacked all of our interferences? Or are we more likely to think on spiritual things because we have so many forums in which to do it?

Deep Thoughts

My brother and I used to love a little segment on SNL called Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy. Last week he ran across an old book of the sayings. Here's a few of our favorites...

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy.

If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other.

One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. "Oh no," I said, "Disneyland burned down." He cried and cried, but I think that deep down, he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.

If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.

I guess of all my uncles I liked Uncle Cave Man the best. We called him Uncle Cave Man because he lived in a cave and because sometimes he'd eat one of us. Later on we found out he was a bear.

If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most? I'd say Flippy, wouldn't you? You'd be wrong though. It's Hambone.

He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land. He loved it so much he made a woman out of dirt and married her. But when he kissed her, she disintegrated. Later, at the funeral, when the preacher said "Dust to dust," some people laughed, and the cowboy shot them. At his hanging, the told the others, "I'll be waiting for you in heaven--with a gun."

Perspective

This week the Barna Research Group released a study claiming that atheists & agnostics are the "new evangelists" in America. They said both groups are "adopting a more aggressive, intentional effort to reject God and to critique people of faith." (read more) As I read the report the thought crossed my mind . . . the world around us is debating the existence of God (something we all agree on) and we're debating the finer points of psalms and silence. It kind of brought things into perspective. It also raised a few questions . . . are we even having discussions that the world is interested in? Are we answering the questions they're asking? Debating the issues they're debating? Are we helping make sense of life & faith or just adding to its confusion?

My Answer

As commenter #13 suggested, now it's my turn . . . here's my original, unedited reply to the email (before I knew I would post it on the web for all to see). . .

You're correct. Not only does the definition of the word lend itself to that conclusion, but also the "psalms" themselves. When you read the OT book many of the psalms contain references to music and some contain instructions concerning which instrument to use (i.e. with harp, with lyre). I think that certainly allows for music in worship. But does it command it?? I'm not sure. I'm of the opinion that the Bible commands neither instrumental or acappella praise, but simply commands praise. But you've given me a new angle to consider! I'll have to do some pondering.

After pondering, I'm at about the same place. I think the simple God-spoken words in Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16 command us to praise him with all our heart. Its a stretch to say that's only possible through acappella singing, just as its a stretch to say that's only possible through instrumental music. I believe it's possible through either style if the heart of the worshipper is in the right place. As we learned in our recent study on how to read the Bible, the main question to ask of any passage is "what's the point?" Usually the point shines through, it's the details that get fuzzy. The point of Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16 seem simple enough. Praise God through heartfelt song! To argue over issues of style or form seems to miss the point.

Which brings up an interesting thought. You're comments forced me to go back and listen to part of my sermon on music style. At one point I said something about the fact that style seems to be a non-issue in the NT and it should be a non-issue for us today. The implication being that what's most important is that we simply praise God regardless of whether we choose to do it acappella or otherwise. Of course then I realized that while I preached it as a non-issue, I turned around and made it an issue on the blog! Funny how that works. Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for the comments. Honest discussion of any topic helps us all become better students of God's Word.

Back to Church Controversy

Someone sent me an email this week I thought was interesting enough to share . . .

Russ,
Old folks like to quote a phrase something like this, "Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent." Which got me wondering what the difference was between the words..."psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." Why would God have used three different ways to say "just sing songs."

So I looked up the word "psalms," and since that time, the only problem I've had with music in the worship service is "forbidding it" or "never having it." I often wonder if they ever looked up the definition to "psalms." If they had, I wonder how anyone can take the position of "no music in the worship service, it is forbidden."

I find in Abingdon's Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible the following Greek definitions for a couple of ways the word "psalms" is used in the New Testament.

#5578 in the Greek section:
(as used in Col 3:16, from #5567)
a set piece of music, i.e., a sacred ode (accompanied with the voice, harp, or other instrument, a "psalm").

#5567 in the Greek section:
to twitch or twang, i.e., to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes)--make melody, sing (psalms).

Am I wrong? Don't the simple God-spoken words allow, even instruct, us to use musical instruments? Do you have any thoughts on this?

Before I share my answer, I'd love to hear yours...

Give Me a Break!

A break from church controversies to look an at even more controversial area--gas prices. Watch this piece from John Stossel. He says something my Dad has preached for years . . . the reason people are so upset about gas prices is because they're posted on the street in big letters! If retailers did that with any other commodity (milk, bottled water, etc) the public would accuse them of "gouging" as well.



I also think Stossel accurately explians the reason for the rise--supply and demand. Of course economics doesn't sound nearly as interesting as gouging.

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It's Sunday, but Monday's Coming!

That's the title for a book I'd love to write on the ups & downs of ministry. We had an outstanding day Sunday! Lots of people here, powerful worship, a very moving response and time of prayer together. Then comes Monday. Since the day started I've heard five different complaints about various issues. It reminds me of why I usually try to take off on Mondays. Sunday is the highlight of the week, Monday is the day of reckoning.

My Shepherds (those older and wiser than me) explain that complaints are not a bad thing. That its good that people feel comfortable enough to express their opinions openly and that often there's some truth in what they are saying. They point out that complaints offered in right spirit can actually help us become a better church. Intellectually, I completely agree. Emotionally, its a real struggle. Complaints have a way of draining me. Primarily because I focus on them way too much! For example, I probably had 15 positive comments yesterday about the church or our worship but I allowed 5 negative ones to supplant them.

And the real kicker is that most of the negative comments were heard second-hand. They were not even expressed to me personally! Possibly meaning that those complaining didn't think it was a big deal in the first place. Perhaps they were simply stating a matter of preference (i.e. I didn't like that song) and never intended to make it an issue. So why am I making it an issue? Why am I blogging about it? Why am I doing the very thing that bothers me? Complaining on a Monday. Sure its complaining about the complaining, but its still complaining isn't it?

Ponder that line of reasoning for little while . . .