Word Up

No Tubes In Heaven

2011-08-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

I like telling people that I went to school with Bob Barker. Not the famous game show host but my good friend whom I have shared ups and downs with over four decades. Recently, Bob and his wife Jo have been visiting us here on the Oregon Coast. Bob as he explained to my five year old grandson, Payden, who was curious about the oxygen tubing attached to Bob, has lungs that just don’t work well. Payden who never met a situation he couldn’t explain then informed Bob that in heaven he wouldn’t have any tubes because God would make it all better and he would breathe just fine there. Bob affirmed this blessed forecast by approving Payden’s declaration with a resounding, “Yahoo!” Well, as resounding as Bob’s failing lungs allow him. I think Bob and Payden remind us that everybody believes in heaven… and in hell.
You see we all want the wrongs to be righted… the infirmed to be well… the evil and insolent to be punished. People talk about the delightful with the label heavenly and the painful and sorrowful as hellish. This isn’t about theology or ornate charts delineating the details of the afterlife. This is the visceral reality of every beating heart that longs for good to prevail and evil to be banished. A five year old (even as precocious as Payden) can see that the Bobs of the world shouldn’t have to suffer forever. And Payden in his desire to authenticate faith by assuring all of its certain future speaks for us all… we want life that is eternal life. Not life that last forever but life that is heavenly… life that rids itself of the enemy death that has harmed the universe and imprisoned mankind.
The irony of all this is that in a sense sin and its effects have been the best advocates for stirring mankind to long for heaven and fear hell. A fallen world according to the apostle Paul longs for the redemption of mankind (Romans 8:19-21). Eternity, as Solomon says, has been set in our hearts so we will reach after God (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Every soul coming into this world has the spark of the light that makes sense out of the nonsense (John 1:9). Even five year olds know that life should be better and that something greater… that is someone greater can and will make it better. Heaven is not just wishful thinking but an innate reality that good will triumph over evil… wrongs will be righted… and heaven will remove all the messy tubing and failing lungs! O, how heavenly for all us Bobs! -DAN

Kites

2011-06-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

The sky was full of them… big ones, little ones, acrobatic ones, animal shaped ones, geometric wonders soaring, hovering and filling the sky with a kaleidoscopic display of color and numinous joy. The recent kite festival was truly festive and a picturesque moment that not only kept cameras clicking but eyes heavenward. Kite is word borrowed from birds of prey that captures not only the sense of flight but a glimpse into the history of these ancient tools and toys. No one is quite sure of their origin whether the Pacific islands or China but it is agreed that their original use was practical. In the islands they were used for fishing or for entreating the gods. In China they served as aids to military endeavors and even for flight behind enemy lines. Even in our own history we remember Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with electricity. However, in all cultures eventually kites were for fun and sport… toys for big and small. And when celebrated the sky becomes a canvas of color and rhythmic motion sparkling with creative energy that harnesses the wind and the human spirit it is tethered to on the ground. At once it is childhood revisited and an armada of skilled aerial puppeteers delighting the audience with tales of adventure and memories of paper, sticks and string.
As I viewed the sky in all its dramatic beauty I thought to myself as I often do when awed by an exceptional sunset or postcard view… “What will it be like when Jesus returns and fills the sky with trumpeting angels and the undeniable display of his presence? Will it be a scene of indescribable beauty or will we cover our eyes blinded by both its brilliance and struck with terror by its power and magnitude? Or will we just simply be consumed with joy and surprise so that we fall down and worship the King’s return?” I don’t expect to have an answer but I’m sure that hot air balloons, kite festivals, the Blue Angels soaring over stadiums and the like are no match to that glorious day. But they are a good reminder that we are connected to the skies… that there is a world beyond. Such reminders reconnect us to the reality that we are more than citizens of earth but that we love looking to the skies because within us is a longing to know the divine and express our spirituality.
So, if you could create a kite that would visually express your connection to the divine… what would it look like? Would it simply be a cross embraced with a heart? Or would it be a tapestry of your hopes and dreams? Or possibly it would be a great banner displaying your family history and your loyalty to the kingdom of God? What would your kite look like? Or maybe the best way to look at it is what a joyous scene it will be when we like kites soar to meet Jesus in the air when he comes again! “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).” -DAN

Variety

2011-06-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

My favorite question that my wife asks me is, “How do you spell…?” It’s my favorite because I’ll never be wrong because the answer is always correct because it is how “I” spell the word! It bears the McQuiddy twist, the Danny Earl nuance… the unique stamp of me. It’s a lot like spring time. Everywhere you look there is a colorful explosion of Scotch broom yellow leading the way to a Jackson Pollack canvas of wildflowers along paths and hillsides. On every horizon your eyes are treated with vibrant colors and diversity proclaiming the wonders of the Creator! God, like an artist signing His work, stamps each creation with uniqueness. Solomon surmises… “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).”
So, if God so loves diversity and variety… why does man continue to fight against it, demanding that unity is achieved by uniformity and beauty judged by standards? When one embraces that variety is more than just individual differences but rather is the true nature of unity… then, it becomes clear to one where they fit in. They develop their gifts instead of envying the gifts of others. They hone their skills in support of the giftedness of others. They discover that in connectedness is strength of diversity that can never be found in a cookie cutter world that demands sameness and uniformity. Suddenly, one celebrates diversity and learns to appreciate those who are not like him and yet are very much like him. One begins to see the world as God sees the world.
Now, the cynic may rightfully protest that unity cannot exist in a world where there are no standards or mutual concessions that binds all to an agreed standard. Otherwise, it is anarchy. If diversity is the rule of the day then what happens to law, order, standards and most importantly the challenge to excellence. There is no benchmark or goal to achieve… just everyone celebrated for the way they spell the word. They are fooled into believing their uniqueness equals success. Well, yes the cynic could propose such but he would be myopic in his view of excellence and success. And more importantly he would be fooled into believing that success was when everyone looked like him. Success is when the symphony of diversity creates a harmony that enriches everyone. One note may warn of impending danger but a melody surrounded in harmony is the true music of life. Diversity is God’s reminder that something greater than all of us conducts the orchestra and creates the music. Viva la difference! -DAN

Constructive Criticism

2011-04-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

Successful and mature individuals are more than happy to receive constructive criticism… at least that’s what I’ve been told. Now, don’t get me wrong I have had and continue to receive criticism that I learn from but I must admit that it always stings a bit! This is not because I think I am perfect and can do no wrong, in fact, I think it is the opposite… my ego is just fragile enough that it is discombobulated with the slightest of nudges from anyone trying to straighten me up. Yes, I know that is pathetic but I don’t think I’m the only one on board the S. S. Pity Me. So, if you can relate to this maybe we can learn a valuable lesson from King David that will give us perspective on how to receive criticism.
One of the lowest points of David’s life is when he had to flee Jerusalem because his son Absalom conspired against him and gained the hearts of the people (2 Samuel 15:13ff.). David leaves the palace exiting, if you will, by the back door slipping out of Jerusalem via the Mount of Olives. Defeated, mournful and now a fugitive David descends down the northeastern slope of the mount. David and his entourage as they are about to enter Bahurim are met by a relative of Saul named Shimei who curses David and his troops while pelting them with stones. Abishai one of David’s captains offers to cut off Shemei’s head to silence his arrogant taunting. Shemei was shouting that David was a man of blood, a scoundrel who stole Saul’s kingdom and now God had avenged Saul with Absalom’s reign. David surprises everyone by telling them to leave him alone and suggesting that maybe God may have told Shimei to curse David! I think there is more to this than a defeated attitude confessing I deserve whatever comes my way… I think David has a perspective on criticism that we should emulate.
First, David is willing to accept that criticism can and may often be generated from God. That is, Shemei is just a conduit for God’s message and thus we must always listen to hear if we can determine the voice of God in the noise of life. Second, David’s humility illustrates the place from which we best receive the benefits of criticism. And lastly, David is really motivated by a greater goal and thus is willing to tolerate the pain of shame and yes, rocks, to get to reach a greater goal. Ironically this takes place in Bahurim which in Hebrew means, “Valiant or brave.” It really does take an act of bravery to accept criticism from ignorance and misplaced zeal.
Maybe, the postscript to this story is just as valuable… Shimei ends up serving David and lives in Jerusalem under the protection of the King but meets his demise at the hand of Solomon when he once again in his arrogance defies the King’s will. Critics don’t often outlive their criticism… “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).” -DAN

Hop

2011-04-12T11:17:00.001-07:00

Spring has sprung and Hollywood has met the challenge with its Easter offering of the misfit tales of Fred O’Hare, an unmotivated misfit, who runs into (literally) E.B. the heir to be the Easter Bunny who has escaped Easter Island to find fame and fortune. You can tell by the characters names and location that the movie is Easter basket full of puns and Easter/bunny innuendos. Hold me back if you will from launching into some lofty diatribe that laments the commercialization and secularization of the sacred. I mean I get that bunnies are cute and who doesn’t like a basket full of candy? But what does this all have to do with a national day that recognizes the resurrection of Jesus the Christ? The history of Easter is well publicized and recently because of its connection with the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre (Ostara), many churches have opted to refer to it as Resurrection Sunday. What seems more satisfying (and biblical) is that every Sunday is a Resurrection celebration.
Now about bunnies as symbols… we have to turn to the German settlers of Pennsylvania who brought with them traditions of Oschter Haws, a hare who laid colored eggs for children to find. The connection to this tradition and the mythology of the goddess Ostara who turned her bird into a hare probably has some historic influence. However, no one can say definitively where we got the oddity of a rabbit laying eggs. Suffice it to say that eggs, rabbits, pagan fertility goddesses and the like find their common ground in the reawakening of the earth at spring time. Such a celebration reminds us that after winter’s chilling barren hold there follows rebirth, new life and resurrection. So I guess there is some “Hop” to this tale but I would like to be assured that beyond sugary treats and a hop down the bunny trail that the message of a new living hope might prevail. Peter (the apostle not the cottontail) writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade –kept in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3, 4).”
I must admit that my favorite bunny though is from the movie “Harvey.” This 1950 movie with Jimmy Stewart is a tale about an eccentric middle aged man named Elwood P. Dawd, who has a 6 foot plus invisible friend named Harvey who happens to be a rabbit. Elwood’s sister decides to have Elwood committed but through a comedy of errors ends up committing herself to an asylum. The story culminates in getting things straightened out and a finale where Elwood is about to be given an injection that will forever banish Harvey from his memory. A taxi cab driver reveals to the sister that others who had received the shot turned surly and she decides she rather have the amiable but misguided brother who sees a six foot rabbit. Likewise, I guess I rather put up with the Easter nonsense of “Hop” if it keeps people looking to new life and the ultimate power of resurrection experienced not in rabbit lore but in the truth of the gospel… the good news of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the dead! -DAN

The Book of X-Ray

2011-04-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

My daughter reported on Facebook that my grandson Padyen had just quoted to her the first five books of the Bible… “Genesis, X-ray, Dennis, Numbers and Deuteronomy.” A good friend of the family responded with tongue in cheek that their favorite book was X-ray. One would assume because of its revealing content and radiant vocabulary. I personally like the book of Dennis… especially the chapter where Mr. Wilson catches him red handed… literally red handed when he got into Mr. Wilson’s red paint. All kidding aside, the two things that I take away from this family lore are: 1) I’m thrilled that my grandson is learning the books of the Bible and 2) These books that he is learning the names of are ancient voices of witness that bear the stamp of inspiration but are reflective of the messenger.
It is that last point that I hope someday that Payden will delight in as he begins to discover not only the names of the books of the Bible but finds himself in the stories of faith. I recently heard someone speak of the first time they found a contradiction in the Bible (they were puzzled by Matthew saying there were two men at the tombs when Mark and Luke said there was only one, Matt.8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). They finally decided that Matthew was telling it from his perspective and the other two were more interested in the man of the tombs who Jesus cast out the legion of demons. There are four gospels not because they were trying to correct or fill in one another’s stories but because there is an infinite amount of ways to tell the one story! And often it is a matter of seeing it from a different perspective (hence Matthew focuses on parables especially of the kingdom while John many years later gives us the intimate conversations between Jesus and disciples).
A couple of Sundays ago while the youth group from Gresham were conducting services Greg Woods suggested that people ask his wife Dottie about how she broke my collar bone. For some reason that resonated with me in a way I had never entertained before. You see, that’s always been “my” story and suddenly I realized that Dorothy had her version of the same story as well (probably not as painful as my version but an interesting side of the tale as well). Now I’ve said all this to simply say this… my prayer for Payden is that as he grows in knowledge of the Scripture and develops his faith that the story of the Bible becomes “his” story! I know that one of the greatest joys of my life is finding myself alongside Elijah running ahead of the chariots of Ahab and besting a bear with David on the hills of Palestine. I muse myself with poking Peter in the ribs as we joke about how some of the things Paul says are hard to be understood and I achingly weep at the foot of the cross with John and Mary and others. And time and time again I am convicted of my sins and amazed at the magnitude of grace as I listen to the ancient voices of faith tell their stories! -DAN

Anaphora

2011-03-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th of 1963 and for 17 minutes mesmerized an audience of more than 200,000 civil rights advocates who felt more like they were in church than a political rally. Dr. King’s words were not only poetic and weighted with references from the bible to the constitution to Shakespeare but in the cadence and rhetorical style of a Baptist minister King delivered a speech that was voted the most influential speech of the 20th century. The rhetorical device that King employed as he often did is called anaphora (the repeat of a word or phrase that captures the essence of the subject). He reiterated several phrases but the one that captured the heart of many Americans was, “I have a dream!” Much of his dream has come to life and the spirit of his words still stand in testimony against the vestige of injustice and prejudice that remains. If you’ve never heard the speech or it has been awhile take time to listen to his stirring words at www.mlkonline.net/video-i-have-a-dream-speech.
I love the anaphora of “I have a dream!” Whether one is calling the soul of America to rise above the dark torrent of racism and segregation or for Christians to dream for the cause of Christ… the anaphora “to dream” is vital. To keep the dream alive is to reaffirm that life is a journey. Where we are today is not where we will be tomorrow. To dream is to have not only a vision but a confidence in God’s provision and guide. To dream is to open the heart to the imagination of the soul to dare to risk failure while focused on victory. To dream is to view possibility as a door to the future. The church must always be a place for dreamers who long for the kingdom of God to prevail. The church must pioneer the way to spiritual adventures and courageous faith. Yes, the church must have a dream!
I know that the dream is as simple as for all to hear of the saving grace afforded by the blood of Jesus in his atoning sacrifice. However, the fullness of that dream is captured in the many dreams of the body who long for deeper service, worship and fellowship. The dream is as dynamic as those who are willing to bring their hearts and their imaginations to visualize a world illuminated with the light of the gospel and the gentle presence of the Savior. So my dream… my prayer… my hope for us all is to follow our dreams! Now that’s, worth repeating! -DAN

Understanding

2011-03-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

On my desk top at work is Byron Pickering’s business card. Byron is a master artist who has given his eyes and heart to painting the sea. On his card set apart from his general information is the statement, “Painting with understanding the ways of the sea.” Byron an insightful and gentle soul has given 30 years to the observation and interpretation of not only the beauty and power of the Great Pacific but to capturing the life energy of the ever changing but never ceasing current of waves that grace the Oregon Coast. His paintings truly reveal that Byron has an understanding of the ways of the sea! You can see his mastery of color and movement at his web site, www.pickeringstudio.com. For fun search Byron’s name on youtube and enjoy a quick glimpse at his master artistry set to music and excerpts of his instruction in teaching what he has come to understand about the sea.
Proverbs 3:13 reads, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.” Wisdom and understanding are personified by Solomon as a fair maiden whose beauty and worth are to be sought. Even God in creating all we know… even the formation of sea used Understanding’s fair charms. Understanding then is not only the desired goal of the discerning soul but should always be recognized as divine precedent. That is, we live in a world formed by understanding and wisdom. I’m sure it is much more mysterious and exegetically deeper but John boldly states that Jesus is that logos/word/wisdom/understanding (John 1:1). Thus, the world as we know it (and certainly the sea that covers two thirds of it) are formed by wisdom and understanding. And Jesus is that wisdom. So, I maintain that Byron and many before him have sat reflectively in observation discerning the imprint of the divine and translating it into art. Art is the ultimate expression of our connection to God’s creative Spirit and Wisdom!
So, I say drink in the beauty of such paintings as created by Byron and hear the Word preached and the soul of creation captured in worship and praise to the Creator! Listen to the pictures painted in Sunday’s hymns’ lyrics. Bask in the warmth of the colorful images captured in God’s Word and expounded in sermon. And leave the portals of communion with the desire to proclaim His death until He comes again as you splash the color of your soul across your week. And come to understand the ways of the sea! -DAN

God And Natural Disasters

2011-03-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Headline after headline recently have chronicled earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and the like. The loss of life, devastation to property and the harrowing prospect of nuclear contamination have made some to wonder where God is in such tragic events. How can he allow such chaos and devastation to continue? Where is this God of love when so many are hurting? Truth is… in this world there’s not a moment that goes by that there isn’t some heart wrenching disaster, injustice or evil impaling the lives of individuals, communities and nations. We live in a fallen world where everyone has some misfortune or tragedy come their way. So then, why does God let such continue?
I’m not presumptuous or arrogant enough to tell you that I have an answer to why innocent babies are born with debilitating birth defects or young children’s lives are cut short with cancer or countless other diseases. Nor will I tell you that I know the mind of God and can quote you book, chapter and verse to explain why or how God lets this current of misfortunes continue. What I will tell you is that I have seen God intervene and rescue souls from grave misfortunes and I have also seen him rescue others with the aid of great misfortune. What I feel safe saying in witness to what I have experienced in life is that God is always there. Sometimes his role is deliverer and sometimes his role is comforter. Sometimes God is in the calm and sometimes God is in the storm. What’s most important is that God is there!
But if he is there then why is he all too often silent? Could it be that in his silence he has done his best work? I’m not trying to side step the issue here by pretending that innocent suffering doesn’t exist and that there aren’t legitimate questions. But what I am saying is that God who reveals himself as Father often assumes the parental role. As parents we all have experience how hard it is to let our children learn through their failures, bad judgments and naiveté. Jesus’ story of the prodigal son recorded in Luke 15 paints a picture of a God who allows bad judgment to lead to bad times. However, the father stands in wait scouring the horizon in hopes that tragedy leads to restoration and thus celebration. Rejoicing is over that which was loss can be found and that which was dead can come to life!
Our granddaughter Makaiya was born with Down syndrome. Do I wish she was born whole and healthy like our other grandchildren? You might be surprised at my answer… because it is no. Makaiya is a blessing to us and her parents. Her smile warms me more than any other I can think of. As many Down syndrome kids would like you to know they are not down they are up! Will Makaiya become the first lady president? No, but she will always be first to us and most importantly she is first to God. He watches over her… over us and over a world that he loves and patiently (often silent) waits to redeem and restore. That’s not an answer to innocent suffering it’s just a witness to the love of God I have seen, felt and hold on to in faith. -DAN

Foulweather

2011-03-09T12:05:00.001-08:00

My commute into work requires me to traverse Cape Foulweather as I make my way from Newport to Lincoln City. In 1778 Captain James Cook (and no, that’s not Captain James T. Kirk) spied the prominent basalt rock point and because of the inclement weather named it Cape Foulweather. Early on the 500 foot high promontory was used as a modest stagecoach rest between Depot Bay and Newport. In the 1930’s Buck Bradley and his wife Anna built what they initially called the Fairweather Coffee Bar with hopes that people would enjoy watching the breath taking view while they enjoyed a meal. Noticing people were more interested in taking a souvenir home they renamed the place the Lookout gift shop and made their money selling Oregon coast memorabilia. Interesting enough it really was a lookout during WWII when the Coast Guard stationed 6 men to be lookouts in the basement of the gift shop. Though initially the Bradley’s believed their nautical niche to be “Fairweather” the reality of winter time winds that reach 100 mph and consistent unpredictable weather patterns Captain Cook’s appraisal stands… it’s Foulweather.

However, I like the Bradley spirit! Take the foul weathered experiences of life and put a fair weather label on them to enjoy the view while one feasts on the joys of life. High winds may blow and fog may obscure the view but even the storm has beauty. When we first built our beach house in 2004 and were able to visit from time to time I looked forward to being there during and after a storm. I still have many “treasures” that I have gathered from the beach after a storm. Foul weather often drives buried treasure to light… and so it is with life and our spiritual walk. We often discover the treasures of grace after the storms of conflict or mishap. We realize the mettle of our faith when tested so James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2, 3).”

The Bradley spirit also touts that one should be willing to change their vision to fit their reality! If people aren’t going to sit and enjoy a meal with the view then give them pillow cases with “Mother” monogrammed on them (believe it or not that was their biggest seller). When our spiritual journey begins to stagnate and become unproductive we should prayerfully be willing to re-vision our path. I’m not advocating that we become culturally driven by the winds of change but that we build a better sail to navigate the winds of change. We value the goal enough to be new wineskins that stretch to meet the current needs of the kingdom of God. With the “Bradley” spirit we let “the” Spirit continue to do His good work of convicting the world of its sins and leading them to the joy of redemption in Christ! -DAN

Happy

2011-02-28T12:31:00.001-08:00

While driving into work recently I noticed that the welcome sign of the Ester Lee motel was obviously in transition… it simply read, “Happy…” I’m sure it was either saying goodbye to a happy birthday, anniversary or similar occasion or getting ready for such. But all it said was… Happy. I was very “happy” to receive that message and under my breath said, “Thank you Linda and Paul for starting my day off so well… I think I will take your advice and be happy today!” And if by this point you haven’t found yourself humming “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” I’d be surprised. Worries set aside a day of happiness is a golden opportunity to not just feel good but to be productive and share the wealth of positive energy. Yes, we all like a “happy” day!

The apostle Paul in a sense leaves a happy sign for the church in Philippi. Well, at least he keeps coming back to the word “rejoice!” The verse that may come to mind for you is in chapter 4 and verse 4 where he exhorts, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” But what follows is the most revealing about the secret of happiness and a life that rejoices. Paul tells the church “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether will-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).” Happiness is a choice not a result of perfect conditions void of any conflict, stress or consternation. Happy is a place we create with being content because we believe that our strength is in Jesus and nothing else! Because that is so and because we believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God then we are at rest (happy) where ever we might find ourselves.

Paul certainly illustrated with his life the value of this secret to contentment. Remember in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas are thrown into prison? They had been beaten, shackled and cast into an inner cell most certainly bleeding, cold and hungry. But what do they do? They have church and start praying and singing to God! Don’t worry be happy! Happiness wasn’t dependent upon their surroundings (it couldn’t get much worse) but they we filled with praise and joy before the Lord. Their strength wasn’t bolstered by adrenaline but rather by knowing that in their misery was the choice to draw on the Lord’s strength to be happy! So, my sign to you this glorious day and every day is “Happy!” -DAN

The Flip of the Coin

2011-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

The afterglow of the Super Bowl for most is either a sorrow or joy for the victorious I’m going to Disneyland triumphant or a residual chuckle over the ever hyped commercials. I’m still enamored with the toss of the coin. Not just the possible advantage of winning the toss but who is it that determines which is heads and which is tales. That is, why is the trophy heads and the stadium tails? Maybe they toss a coin to determine which is which? My real point here is that… yes, there are two sides to a coin.
Recently, I listened to N.T. Wright’s lecture at Bristol entitled, “Putting the Gospels Back Together: How We've All misread Our Central Story.” Bishop Tom Wright’s point in this lecture is that we have missed much in the gospels by not connecting kingdom and cross. That is, we have either interpreted the kingdom through the cross or the cross through the kingdom and have not seen that they are two sides of the same coin. Such an interpretation or better yet, understanding of the completed promises of God allows God’s people to embrace the connection of God’s reign on earth as it is in heaven through the resurrected Jesus and the implications of redemption revealed in a cross that anchors a radically new creation in the recipients of eternal life. I would not for a moment pretend to interpret N.T. Wright for any and all but would highly encourage you to go to his web site (http://www.ntwrightpage.com) and listen to the rich and challenging discussion of the connection of cross and kingdom in the gospels.
The food for thought that brother Wright left in my spiritual bread basket forms into the question, “What would the church look like if we embraced both kingdom and cross as two sides of the same coin?” That is, what would the church look like if we talked as much about kingdom citizenship and responsibilities as we do about salvation and accompanying holiness? I think at least one change would be that we spend less time debating what happens in corporate worship and more time contemplating how the kingdom of God can break into a world that is lost! I think we would be more focused on who Jesus must be for the world than who he must be for us. And I think if not moved to action we would at least have our conscience prodding us to be salt to the earth. But possibly the most important change would be that instead of seeing ourselves as guardians of orthodoxy we would truly be more than conquerors through him who loved us! -DAN

The Gospel of Legos

2011-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

This morning I read in the publication from Agape Villages that Frank Inscore, one of the founding board members of Sierra Children’s Home (now Agape Villages) had passed away. Frank and his wife Charlotte were one time members at the Roseville Church of Christ. Frank knew my Dad and we often shared memories and an occasional lunch. I had not thought of Frank in many years but just seeing a picture of him reminded me the warm spot he silently held in my life. Frank was a “gentle” man and rich with the Spirit of Christ. Heaven is brighter by his presence. Frank got me thinking of how many good brothers and sisters have filled my life that silently lay in my memory but are ever present in my formation.
My kids and now my grandkids are big time fans of legos. I should have bought stock in their corporation because I believe through the years I have kept them financially solvent. Each child has discovered not only the power of their imagination and the development of fine motor skills but a confidence in building. That is, the seeming ruble pile of plastic blocks that sprawl across the floor are perceived not as disaster but as opportunity and foundational for making dreams come true. As each child has matured and gone on to other building adventures in their lives they have left their legos in tubs tucked away in a dark corner of a closet. However, I believe these forgotten friends have been instrumental in building their lives. I call them friends because I have seen their eyes light up when on occasion they have had a chance to dust them off and share them with their children, nephews and nieces. There is a warm spot they silently hold in their lives for these old friends.
Paul in testimony to the gospel tells the church at Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16, 17).” What the NIV translates “by faith from first to last” is literally in the Greek, “out of faith, into faith.” That is, the gospel is a shared experience… one faith giving to another’s faith the building blocks of life and faith. Some of the pieces are remembered and some are not but all are part what has built our lives. And maybe most importantly… some of those forgotten ones are truly foundational to the structure and stability of our lives! Thanks Frank and so many others who have led me back again and again to the cross that anchors our lives. -DAN

Mercy Triumphs

2011-01-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

Scripture says, “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13)!” The context of James axiom is an expose against favoritism in which he exposes how the rich congregants are treated with special favor while the poor are marginalized and discriminated against. James reminds his audience that true riches are not in material goods but rather in the promised inheritance of the kingdom of God. Such wealth as Jesus taught cannot be stolen, tarnished or perish with time or use. Additionally, the reality was that many who controlled the wealth were enemies of the church slandering the good name of Christ. Brothers and Sisters should therefore have the utmost care for one another and allow mercy to triumph over judgment!
When I was a teenager I had a steady girlfriend that I often walked to class at school. Fueled like most teens with supercharged hormones and with the excuse that my girlfriend was not feeling well, I gave her a rather lingering kiss before she went to class. The teacher saw this school violation and reported it to the principal. We were called to the office and told letters would be sent to our parents the following day. So, we agreed to stay home sick the next day and intercept the letters. I did so. She did not. Her parents called mine and I had to confess to stealing the letter. I braced myself for the wrath of God delivered via my father but instead he put his arm around me and consoled me about the injustice of school rules and then grounded me for my dishonesty in stealing his mail and assured me it was a federal crime. Mercy triumphed over judgment!
Later, I found out that my Dad had been quite the kissing bandit in High School and that obviously tempered his judgment. God’s mercy is predicated on compassion while often man’s mercy is spurned by a realization that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Our hearts are soften by the reality that failure and sin are the common grounds we all find ourselves cast upon. None of us is willing to cast the first stone. All of us have known the poverty of the soul as well as the riches. We are in this boat together. So, let mercy rule the day and we’ll leave judgment to the one who knows the hearts of men. For the church this is a challenge to be fully aware of how we treat one another as well as strangers. I have no doubt we will slip here and there but I pray that what persists is a loving spirit that favors no one and exalts all! -DAN
P.S. The picture is of my Dad... O, yes -that's a kissing bandit if I ever saw one!

Immersion

2011-01-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

I know some ministers who have a log of all the baptisms they have officiated. I don’t know if it revokes my “man of the cloth” card or not but I’ve never logged in, kept records or counted how many hungry souls I have assisted in their new birth. I’m with Paul, “…I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… (1 Corinthians 1:16, 17).” However, I do remember some significant moments like snapshots in a picture album. I have immersed people into Christ in pools, baptisteries, lakes, bathtubs and now for the first time last Sunday in a baptistery where I stood outside and the candidate inside the water. It was also the first time that I set aside my planned sermon and spent my allotted time giving witness to the beauty and meaning of baptism… unscripted and from the heart. Rob, a recovering addict seemed to take it all in and after being immersed and standing next to George Moore who had been instrumental in leading him to Christ gave one of those memorable witnesses to the beauty and power of baptism. Rob whispered to George before he prayed over him, “I didn’t realize that I would feel so good!”
New life… the hope of the resurrection inaugurated… sins remitted… and heaven rejoicing filled the air of the evening as one and all embraced our new brother in Christ. However, lingering in the back of my mind ever so faintly was the scourge of legalism that has tainted many a celebration of the kingdom. You see, I was assured that there was plenty of water in the baptistery but the one filling it had forgotten to calculate that Rob being slight of build would not displace as much water as some of us more cheese burger endowed souls. So, when I immersed Rob the tip of his nose did not go under the water. I remember as a young preacher baptizing a young girl in the Navarro river and someone shouting from the bank, “She’ll have to be immersed again her hair floated to the top and didn’t go under!” Whether it was the right thing to do or not, I’m not sure, but I shouted back, “She’ll go to heaven bald!” My point is that even though some know that baptism is not about externals their attention to details makes them swallow camels while they strain out gnats (Matthew 23:24).
Now, do I think that Rob is going to heaven without a nose? The answer is as my granddaughter says, “Silly, silly Poppies!” Immersion is not in exactness or by ritual it is as Peter so succinctly writes, “…baptism that now saves you also –not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand –with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him (1 Peter 3:21, 22)” It’s about submission powered by a heart that’s at peace because it knows Jesus is the way, the truth and the life! -DAN

Skyping On The Floor

2011-01-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

During this transition of our move from California to Oregon Pam and I have had to have some time apart while she takes care of loose ends in California. I love living in the information age and therefore able to take advantage of Skyping Pam. When I video call Pam, she is often accompanied by Lauryn our soon to be two year old granddaughter who is precocious and strong willed. Lauryn wants to talk to Poppies on the compooter. Lately she has been insistent that the computer be placed on the floor so she can lie down in front of it. I’m not sure if this about comfort or more about having things on her level? I do know that she is quite comfortable with the magic of Poppies being on the compooter to talk to her and though she stays quite mobile during the call she keeps one eye on the screen to see what I’m doing.
I sometimes wish that I could Skype God… you know so he could be on my level and I could keep one eye on him while I wander back and forth in this world. But then I come to my senses and realize that staying in a prayer frame of mind may not be as exciting or fit my comfort zone but ultimately it is a better connection. It’s a clear channel and the only static, discoloring, freeze frame interference comes from my side of the connection. God is always on the line static free and ready to hear what I have to say, feel, question, gripe, praise or repent. His silent but ominous presence keeps me alert to His will and weighing my own faltering ways with what I know He longs for me to discover. My imagination is a better screen for keeping an eye on Him while He keeps an eye on me. And to be honest I guess I still have some worries over that Old Testament thing about if you see God… you die!
As I write this I am filled with anticipation and can’t wait until it’s time to Skype with Pam and her demanding companion. Which, after all, is probably the most important principle that I should carry over into my prayer life? When was the last time any of us were so excited about slipping away somewhere so we could talk to God? Or when was the last time you thought, “I can’t wait to hear what we pray about at worship today!”? The key here is the joy of communicating with those we love. Sometimes I wish I could Skype God… maybe with special lenses that protect you! -DAN

Void

2011-01-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever felt the grip of emptiness? You know that hollow feeling where a dark void forebodes in the pit of your stomach and you ache with a desire for something to fill you up or brighten your eyes. You feel estranged from the world and even yourself. This is not just depression or a forlorn desire for companionship… it’s lost in space… unraveled… cocooned in one’s own misery! I recently read an article by a friend of mine, Mike Anderson, who has an excellent blog (http://ourplace-makeadifference.blogspot.com) in which he explored how Genesis one parallels the creative and redemptive work of God in our lives. In the beginning God took a world that was void and without form in which the darkness prevailed and gave it form, shape, life and light. Mike noted that God continues to do that with His creation dispelling the empty darkness that often prevails in individuals lives. God takes our troubled waters and divides them with grace and light that frees us to see His will and direction for our life.
Mike got me thinking and wondering as well. Yes, God often takes the horrible messes we find ourselves in and turns them into a witness of His light. And if Genesis one is as much about how God takes the voids of our lives and recreates us in His Son through His Spirit as it is about creation… then maybe it explains one of those “Hey, wait a minute there” moments in Scripture. Did you ever notice in the Genesis account that God first creates light (Genesis 1:3) and divides it from the darkness calling the result night and day. However, it is not until the fourth day of creation that God creates the sun and the moon and the stars (Genesis 1:14-19). God creates light before the physics of light are given form, that is, all that shines and twinkles was created after light was created. “Hey, wait a minute there… How does that work?” On one hand for those of us who love our awesome God the answer is, “Whoa, Dude that’s awesome!” But the other hand beckons with cautious gesture to suggest it is unquestionably a divine mystery but certainly has explanation.
I think Mike is right about Genesis one… it’s as much about the redemptive power of God as it is about the fiat of creation. Light is not bound by physics or scientific delineation but echoes the presence of God in bringing true light and life to man. The psalmist says, “For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light (Psalm 36:9).” The apostle John says, “In him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it… the true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4,5,9).” Light, Shekinah, Glory and brightness point to the creator and sustainer of all things. God is and creates light for the life of mankind so we may see and know that He is God! -DAN

Trash

2011-01-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure… so the saying goes. Maybe another way of stating that principle is to say that trash is a state of mind. The apostle Paul tells the church in Philippi that the pedigree that he once took such great pride in he now considered trash (Philippians 3:7-9). In the process of moving from Sacramento to the Oregon Coast we discovered how much trash we had that well, quite frankly we thought at one time was invaluable treasure. This is not just a matter of how quickly things become outdated (the computer that I’m writing this article with has more memory in RAM than my first computer had on its hard drive)… but is also the product of our capricious nature. That is, we are not about to bring out our bell bottom jeans… well, unless they come back into fashion like our skinny jeans did. And if Justin Bieber thinks he is the first heartthrob with bangs… he can trash that idea.
So, is there some spiritual principle that we can salvage from this collective trash pile of our cluttered lives? It starts with a reminder that we will always treasure something. Jesus sermon on the mounts, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).” So when we speak of treasure we are identifying what fills our hearts, our minds, and our imaginations. Do you ever watch “Antique Road Show”? I love when someone brings in Aunt Betty’s old doodad that she left them and they find out that at auction it could be worth as much as their house! They choke on their own air and then sputter with wide eyes of disbelief insisting they had no idea and that’s wonderful but they thought it was priceless anyhow because it always reminds them of fond visits to Aunt Betty’s house in the summer. And in unison we all think… “Sure it is. As soon as the cameras are turned off you’re headed to the nearest antique auction you can find!” But wait a minute… maybe this is the spiritual principle.
Value is not in the price tag. Did any of you see your kids or grandkids playing with the boxes your expensive Christmas gift came in? Value is in the affection, or the importance of the beauty that we perceive in what’s before us. Did you ever wonder why the story of the prodigal son begins with what seems like a couple of flakes who spend their time looking for one thing when they have 99 other sheep and 9 other coins? Answer is… treasure. They treasure what is lost and will do what it takes to recover what they value! That’s important for us because it means that even when we get lost and go into “a distant country” God pursues our hearts! O, he doesn’t go after us like mom did and drags us back by our ear… He lets sin scare us with it darkness and drive us to long for His light. How surprising it is to find that God treasures us! How important it is for us to never trash that relationship! And how rich are our lives to be in the grace of God! –DAN

Loved By God

2011-01-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

Scripture is the remarkable product of earthen vessels filled with a divinely given treasure that spills over into our imaginations while it leads us to the feet of the Master. It is the malleable souls of the called inspired to write what their hearts were filled with assured that their words were escorted by the Holy Spirit. It is wisdom from above amalgamated with the frailty of a fallen world so that by contrast we might clearly see and turn to the only true light. It is rock. It is fire. It is the Word that was from the beginning that was with God and is God. So when we hold this library of 66 volumes in our hands we should not only long to hear its gentle whisper or resolute commands… we should be still and know that He is God! Such contemplative understanding of Holy Writ does not lead us to make the ancient words idol, tyrant, legal dictate or mysterious coded puzzle discerned only by the elite. It should simply yet unfathomably be seen as a love letter from God!
Paul tells the church at Rome that they are “loved by God (Romans 1:7).” What we sometimes call the little gospel tells us that “God so loved the world (John 3:16).” John in his first epistle reduces it to its most simple and clear affirmation: “God is love (1 John 4:8).” The Decalogue begins with asserting that God is a jealous God and we are to have no other gods before Him. That is, this love that we often relegate to abstract theology or Christian rhetoric is not a distant, better told than experienced affair but rather the passionate pursuit of the God of all creation who loves us like a groom loves his bride (Ephesians 5:31,32). So, when we affirm that we are loved by God it is not only witness to the grace we have received in Jesus but a proclamation of “How GREAT is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1)!”
At the time of this writing my wife is in Sacramento while I’m in Newport/Lincoln City… different states but yet the same state of missing each other. Our love bridges the distance but we long to be with each other. I dare say that when Paul alludes to the groaning of all creation (Romans 8:22) over its desire to be freed from a decaying world and transformed into a form suited for eternity, that it’s the same empty feeling when you are separated from loved ones. You long to be in their company. Paul goes on to say the Spirit intercedes in our prayers to bridge the gap. Prayer connects us with God and for a moment we are in fellowship and feel His love. But we will never be fully satisfied until that day we are face to face in the presence of the divine.
When Pam calls I get to talk to our granddaughter Lauryn. She always tells me that she loves me. That fills my heart! My heavenly Father always tells me that He loves me. That fills my heart! And it’s the good news that we all can share! -DAN
P.S. The pic is of the two people who first made the love of God real for me!

Have A Safe Drive

2010-12-27T23:11:00.000-08:00

My last Wednesday night at Roseville had a most delightful serendipity… from the sweetest source ever… Lizzie Garza. Sylvia ushered this big eyed sage of little girldom to take audience with me and with a motherly whisper instructed Lizzie Bug, “Tell Dan…” And in her sweetest voice yet bolstered with one part performance and two parts mischief Lizzie clearly instructed me, “Drive safe on your trip and please… don’t run into a pig (big smile).” Let me explain. In the conclusion of my last sermon on Sunday I retold a story I had told in my very first sermon. It seemed not only fitting but allowed me to rib Vaughncele Kiser who maintains that she remembers the first sermon I had preached at Roseville. I told the audience that she didn’t have that good of a memory but what she did remember was the following story.
Brothers and sisters I don’t know if you are familiar with the road between Ukiah where we now live and Interstate Five but there are parts of it that are ribboned with hairpin curves. While driving here and approaching one of these curves a car came screeching around the corner with a woman leaning out of her front window waving her arms and yelling, “Pig! Pig! Pig!” Well, being a man of the cloth and in full control of my faculties I slammed on the brakes and hopped out of my car and shaking my fist at her I yelled, “Swine! Porker! Snout bearing McSnorter! Arrrrghhh! Then I got back into my car and drove around the curve and ran into a pig! So, you see that Lizzie did not want me to hit any pigs!
Besides being the best going away gift that I received it really set the tone for making the transitions that Pam and I will be making in leaving our home of several decades to start a new adventure on the Oregon Coast. We are going to make it our motto not to hit any pigs or squeal about how hard it is to leave family and friends or root around for any opportunity to lament the past. Our eyes are on the future and how God will use us for His kingdom. We have planned and long for an opportunity to live permanently in our little house by the sea… so, here we go full speed ahead with great expectations for what lies around the curves of life!
And Lizzie… we’ll try real hard not to run into any pigs! -DAN

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

2010-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

I had to apologize to Jacki. O, I didn’t want to apologize because I had only been the victim of not paying close enough attention. You see, I had bet Jacki a million (not real but hyperbolic you-bet-I’m-sure-on-this-one) bucks that the song we were listening to was not Burl Ives singing but Gene Autry (the singing cowboy) belting out the “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” lyrics. I was wrong… it was “curse that Sam the Snowman” Burl Ives! I can just hear that goateed fake-snow gliding stop animated troubadour chiding me with, “Have a holly jolly Christmas...” I tell you if I wasn’t the minister for the Roseville Church of Christ… Hey, wait a minute this is my last Sunday maybe I’ll pancake that orbed holiday nuisance and silence his cherry little tune! Yes, yes, yes… I’m just kidding and I really do believe in the next Johnny Marks’ lyrical line, “It’s the best time of the year!” Christmas has its fair share of bad traffic, bad attitude shoppers, bad Santas and holiDAZED nonsense but it still is the best time of the year!

Johnny Marks wrote the song “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” along with the lively “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” His lyrics are simple but really do invoke the Christmas spirit in us all. The fascinating thing about that is that Johnny Marks was Jewish and to my knowledge never wrote a Chanukah song. However, that really is the Christmas story after all. Now, don’t get me wrong I believe that the reason for the season is Jesus. Whether historically inaccurate or not the celebration of the Christ child is the glory of the season. If angels could sing from on high of this glory we should celebrate the holy night as well. With that said… the real spirit of Christmas is the spirit seen in the Christ child, in a jolly elf named St. Nick, in a Dicken’s character scrooged up with greed and in a Jewish lyricist that proclaims it’s the best time of the year. It is the human spirit freed from sins darkness and warmed by love, kindness and joy. It is a summon to know the power of giving and the unity of sacrifice that dissipates the general sad state of affairs. It transcends ethnicity or cultural bias and unites mankind in the joy of a season of love expressed and generosity unchained. It really is the best time of the year!

So… in this last article that I will write for the Roseville Church of Christ my home for 23 and a half years let me say with the angels on high, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:14).” It really is the best time of the year! -DAN

The Party's Over

2010-12-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

On December 5th in a hospital in Santa Fe New Mexico Joseph “Dandy” Don Meredith at the age of 72 succumbed to a brain aneurism and as his wife reported, “We lost a good one.” I have to believe that with a quiet and reverent homage many whispered, “Turn out the lights, the party’s over.” Dandy Don brought to football what many lament is missing in this over compensated narcissistic media driven menagerie of prima donnas who see football as entertainment more than a man’s game. Meredith played hard, played injured and played for the team whether he was on the gridiron or in the sportscast booth. He was “entertaining.” But not driven by a spotlight but rather a passion and love for the game. He is well known for singing Willie Nelson’s lyrics when it was obvious that a game was over… “Turn out the lights, the party’s over!” Rest in peace “Dandy” Don and we’ll turn out the lights and never forget how many times you took us to the party.

“They say all good things must come to an end” are the next lyrics in Willie Nelson’s song. And though I’m at a place in life where many of those who formed my history now make up the obituaries I’m glad that my faith anchors my soul with eternal life and the hope of the resurrection. The Holiday season is always a tough time to lose a loved one. My mother passed away in 1999 the day before Christmas. We were devastated but assured the party was not over but closer to starting when we all will be assembled at the wedding feast of the lamb. The lights weren’t turned off they were burning bright making heaven that much more dear to us! I’m in no hurry to fill my place in the obituaries but I am excited about going to the party. Maranatha is more meaningful to me each passing year… yes, Lord come quickly!

The rest of the lyrics of Willie Nelson’s song are a lament about losing a sweetheart because he had more care for the party than for his gal. Life was more about having fun than it was about making sure his love was true. Sadly, that’s where Nelson’s song leaves you… with the lights out and the echo of “it’s over.” I’m glad that after the gospels we have Acts one reporting the ascension and the comforting words, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven(Acts 1:11).” Jesus IS coming to gather those who made sure that their love was true and are ready for the party to begin… an eternal party of praise, adoration and service to the exalted one! The catch phrase for the NFL now days is, “Are you ready for some football?” More importantly are you ready for heaven’s party? The lights will be on and for eternal days the party will be celebrating the victory of faith! -DAN

Can I Get An Amen?

2010-11-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

From time to time you hear from those who stand to proclaim good news before the gathered faithful, “Can I get an amen?” This solicitation of enthusiasm infused approval for the point being made is intended to evoke not only agreement but is also intended to be a call to action. That is, the amen (“let it be so!”) is faith’s witness to one another that we’re serious about what has been spoken. It affirms that God’s people are by nature those who let their yes, be yes and there no be no (2 Corinthians 1:17-22). We’re not just about bold rhetoric but are courageously committed to walk the talk. Now with all that said, the preacher often just simply reflects with “Can I get an amen?” that the pew is all too often silent! Stoic frozen faces that refuse to reflect the passion of the message are a dissonant cry that feigns apathy or at best that the lights are on but nobody is home. Maybe the absence of the amen in our assemblies is reflective of the information overload of the world that surrounds us? Is it possible that church has become the final frontier where we boldly go where no man has gone before in silent protest to a world of talking heads, blaring commercials, silly soaps and indifferent newscasters that overwhelm us with talk, talk, talk, talk? Is our silence more protest than decorous politeness? Well, can I get an amen?

If this might possibly be true that we have by silence voted for a word to be spoken that is not hyped, twisted or taken out of context… then we’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater! If corporate worship is both vertical and horizontal in its nature (that is, we worship and adore God and in the joy of praise encourage one another) then how can it be anything other than vocal. The sermon doesn’t have to be a monologue. The preacher really does want to get an amen… not because he wants to feel that what he is saying is getting top approval ratings but because he is passionate about the message and wants to know others are too! Sharing the bread of life is a stirring experience and most of all a shared experience. The sermon is not rote liturgy but the witness of faith… faith in a Word from God that will delight, challenge, shape and affirm the soul who has discovered over and over that these words are words of life! The sermon is not about a spotlight on the entertainer but light from above that baths us all in its warmth and illumination of truth. Well, can I get an amen?

Can a sermon punctuated with a liberal dose of amen become so much talk, talk, talk, talk? Of course. But not if the amen comes from the heart, inspired by the Spirit and shared with passionate affirmation of one’s faithful witness. The amen is one’s signature on the declaration of the hour! It is citizens of heaven exercising their right to vote for the truth and rally for the cause. It’s the heavenly way to cheer for the team. It’s worship with a double shot of excitement to help us spiritually stay awake for the day. It’s one of Jesus favorite words! Well, CAN I get an amen? -DAN

The Waning Years Of My Calamistrate

2010-11-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

As I have been cleaning, culling, and reducing the clutter that my office had become I have discovered a chronicle of my almost quarter of a century with the Roseville Church of Christ. One prize possession that was excavated from the cavernous mounds of artifacts was a California driver’s license that revealed that I am not only a greater man than when I first arrived (by pound that is) but I’m certainly in the waning years of my calamistrate! Okay, Dan, we know how much you love odd, strange, obtuse and dust covered words of the past… pray tell, what is your calamistrate? I’m so glad you asked… as you remember from your High School Latin the word “calamistratus” means “curl” usually as regards hair and is a word borrowed from the calamus reed that resembles in fragrance and color a cinnamon stalk. Yes, yes… I’ve lost much hair and thereby much curl! I’ve gone from redheaded to deadheaded and thereby are in the waning years of my calamistrate but wait… there’s a special nexus with Scripture here that must not be missed: One of the ingredients of the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33) is calamus (NIV has “sweet cane”). Like cinnamon, calamus is reddish in color and therefore what I’ve experienced is an anointing of fragrant oil that has consecrated me as Roseville’s priest while honoring my redheaded past and recognizing my graying and sparsely curled present… or maybe not!

I hope what I have illustrated is not just my creative abilities to twist the truth until it fits my curly nonsense but what I’ve been trying to preach and teach these many years. It’s been a few years but I have always offered the wager that one could give me any wild idea they could conger up and I could find Scripture to back it up. O, it would be twisted, curled and out of context but it would be convincing enough to fool some. My wager has never been for entertainment or to promote the twisted postmodern view that there are no absolute truths just individual perceptions… but rather to point out that we must be careful with God’s Word and listen more than we speak, digest more than we divest and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 119:97). If it is a two edged sword then we need to handle it with care realizing its power as well as its beauty. Above all else we must maintain its simplicity and resolute truth and free it from our wandering complexities and juvenile incessant questioning of peripheral trivialities that miss the forest for the trees!

Paul uncurls it this way, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).” -DAN

Love The Look

2010-11-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Recently, Sylvia Garza reported one of those I’m-thrilled-to-be-a-mom moments on Facebook. Lizzie tugged at her heart when she proclaimed to Sylvia about her sister Katie, “I just love the look of her!” I can just hear the song from “White Christmas” with Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen singing, “Sisters, sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters… Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister.” O, don’t get me wrong I’m pretty sure that Lizzie and Katie will have some knock down drag out fights ahead of them as well as some tug of wars over clothes, boys and car keys but I have no doubt that they will be a close loving duo that will always have each other’s back. And no doubt they’ll love the look of each other!

The early church was maligned as cannibalistic incestuous insurrectionists because outsiders didn’t understand the symbolism of the Lord’s Supper, the spiritual ties of being brothers and sisters in Christ and their ardent devotion to Jesus as Lord. Outsiders were often confused but inside the family of God brothers and sisters loved the look of one another. Because they knew where the look came from… “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).” Yes, Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sisters and brothers in Christ!

Paul puts it this way to a Roman church that he had not even yet visited, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly (and yes, sisterly) love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).” That is, love the look of one another! A look with patience when you would like to twist off their stubborn thick head… A look with care when you know they’re hurting… A look with encouragement when you know their struggle… A look of pride when you see their passion and compassion… A look with joy when you join together in the battle… A look of satisfaction when you see in one another the glory of our King and you love one another with the love of the Lord!

I said all of that to say this… I love the look of you! You make me glad that I’m a follower of Christ and rest in the company of those who want to be like Him! -DAN

Really?

2010-11-08T10:44:00.001-08:00

I’m sure you’ve seen the Windows 7 phone commercials where various people who should be paying attention to the business (or pleasure) at hand are instead focused on their cell phones oblivious to everything else. Occasionally those nearby in utter frustration blurt out, “Really?” They hang on to these two syllables with such distain and physical punctuation to evidence their disapproval with a dramatic flair that only a mother who caught her child sneaking a cookie could muster. The problem here is that this commercial underscoring our love affair with our cell phones suggests the only way out is to have a better cell phone operating system… Widows 7. Can someone call the irony police because we have a crime scene here… REALLY!

When did we convince ourselves that cell phones were vital to our existence? When did little Johnnie and Missy start packing Ma Bell in their elementary school backpacks? And for the love of irony how in the world did our youth turn the telephone back into the telegraph with their texting craze? Really? I mean REALLY! Okay… deep breath –I know this is the information age and our cell phones have become info central with access to the web but can I get just a whisper of an amen that maybe we should slow down on the information highway and pull into a rest stop and check the map to see where we are headed? Can we talk about the spiritual consequences of the cellular craze, mobile mania and texting taciturnity? Can we take a moment and get real?

Here is what I think is real… the need to communicate. Not better, faster or heavenly cell phones paving the way for coded text language (lol) or icon emotions :) or even actual dialogue wearied by, “So, what cha doin?” But a renaissance of conversation that longs for the sharing of ideas and faith and hope. Minds meeting in the arena of possibilities sparring with their dreams and challenging each other with insights. I think that’s what Solomon had in mind when he wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).” Really? …yes, REALLY! -DAN

Asthenopia

2010-11-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Do you ever do a double take when you hear something in a commercial that you’re not quite sure you heard correctly? I recently heard the phrase “vision fatigue.” That perked up my theological ears because it seems that God’s people have suffered from a lot of things but “vision fatigue” is not one of them… maybe, “vision failure” or “vision over analyzing” and of course the dreaded “vision by committee” but certainly not “vision fatigue!” Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that I’m being a little harsh (and a lot tongue and cheek) but the old preacher line from the King James translation of Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” may be an exegetical stretch but never-the-less a true statement. The church must have vision, an indefatigable vision that rests in God’s providence and relies on the Spirit’s lead. The medical term for vision fatigue or eye strain is asthenopia (literally in the Greek –weak eyes). The church must have strong, clear resolute vision that keeps it pressing toward the goal which God has called it “heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13, 14).”

When my first child came into this world I was not only proud, thankful and hopeful but I wanted her to know the Lord so I lobbied for biblical names. I liked the sound of Leah Michal McQuiddy. It worked! She loves the Lord and serves His kingdom but unfortunately she early on learned the history of Leah, Jacob’s less than favored wife and Michal, David’s less than favored wife. But what really boils her grits (I’m not sure that’s a saying, I think I just made it up) is that Leah is Hebrew for “weak” and specifically Genesis 29:17 asserts that it is a reference to weak eyes… asthenopia, vision fatigue! Leah has grown to love her name but not the “weak eyes” implication because she is a woman of God with vision!

So, here’s how this all shakes out (I’m pretty sure that’s a saying)… the church, individuals, communities and all on a journey need to keep their eyes on the destination. They need to stay not just focused but alert to those things that can slowly blur their vision. One large group of individuals who suffer from “vision fatigue” is professional drivers who spend a great deal of time focused on the road. Yes, the truck driver secret is to not keep your eyes on one spot but to scan your entire surroundings while keeping the wheels headed in the right direction. So, keep your eyes on Jesus but see Jesus and the need for Jesus in your entire surroundings. Now, that’s a vision that doesn’t suffer fatigue! …And Leah, sorry about the weak eyes thing! -DAN

I'll Never Know

2010-10-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday as we were driving down Douglas Boulevard we found ourselves behind a young lady driving and singing and obviously moved by what was silent to us but electric to her. Her body swayed with the rhythm and occasionally she would raise one hand in the air waving it side to side. I mused to Pam, “I wonder if she is praising God?” I quickly scanned her four wheeled church building looking for signs that would tip me off but I found not one bumper sticker or fish symbol to help me out. Now I’ll never know whether this was a child of God caught up in the ecstasy of praise or someone just bopping to the beat. It was Sunday… I think I’ll just assume that she was praising God!

Yes, I know… I’ll never know! But there is much in this life, in this world, in God’s world that I’ll never know. I’ll never know why Judas had to betray Jesus with a kiss… Michael Card is right, “That’s not what a kiss is for.” I’ll never know if God with a wry smile gave Adam a belly button just because He knew we would ask. I’ll never know why innocent little babies have to suffer with deformities, illnesses and handicaps. I’ll never know why the Bible seems silent about things that seem so important. I’ll never know why God thought flies was such a good idea. I’ll never know why the apostle Paul took a vow that ended with animal sacrifice when he was adamant that the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross. I’ll never know if the Holy Spirit is leading me or if I’ve just convinced myself that God would like things the way I would like them. And to be honest my “I’ll never know” list is an ever growing thing that sometimes leaves me sick with doubt and sometimes reaffirms my faith and sometimes sparks my imagination… but always leaves me with this doxology: “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).”

So, “I’ll never know” should be corrected to “someday I’ll know.” For now… I’ll look on the bright side of life! So, praise away my young Douglas driver lady. -DAN

Thus Saith The Text

2010-10-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday even before I got the chance to draw breath and expound with my usual mellifluous treasures of wisdom… a cell phone went off with a ring tone with a rather 60’s seedy vibe. You would think that one would have the decency to wait until I had sufficient time to homiletically anesthetized the congregation (i.e. bore them to sleep) before interrupting such sacred ground? I can’t tell you how tickled I was to find out from the recipient of this cellular faux pas the story behind their untimely ring. They were surprised because they had faithfully silenced their cell phone before services. In fact, they received this ring tone because they were policing a certain calloused pewster who was in violation of the time honored song leader’s instruction, “Now, let’s give our undivided attention to the preacher’s message.” The person next to them was texting and so they texted them to “stop texting!” And though they had silenced the ring tone for incoming calls they had not silenced the ring tone for receiving texts so when they received a text back to mind their own texting business… well, cheesy ring tone here we come. Ugh…. hoisted on their own petard (I can’t tell you how much I’ve longed to be able to use that phrase correctly)!

To text or not to text that is the question. Is one’s right to multi-task in church by both listening and texting as dangerous as texting and driving at the same time? And what does thus saith the text have to say about all this? I learned very early on in my preaching career that you don’t know how people listen and absorb a message so don’t make too much out of what you think you see. My first regular audience had a good sister who set up close to the front who continually nodded her head to what I thought was agreement to what I was saying but found out later it was her way of staying awake. Likewise there was a good brother who sat toward the back and had his eyes closed the entire sermon who was far from sleeping but seriously concentrating on the sermon. So… it is entirely possible that one could text, doodle, nod or close their eyes and be absorbing with the help of the Holy Spirit all the message God intended for them to hear!

So, here is my ring tone to this common problem of cell phones going off in church, funerals, libraries, meetings and the like… “Ring out, the word, o’er land and sea…” James Rowe’s 1911 lyrics remind us that the important thing is for the word to ring out! I’m not as worried about each generation’s distractions as I am worried about them getting the message of His “saving grace, Make it known in every place, Ring it out, ring it out!” So if your cell phone goes off during one of my sermons I’ll be assured that you would like for the message to “merrily ring!” -DAN

Dreams

2010-10-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Are you a vivid dreamer? My lovely wife maintains that she doesn’t dream or at least doesn’t recall any of her dreams. I’m fascinated by that, because my dreams are often so real that I awake sometimes worn out by their activity or upset by their events and occasionally enlightened by their instruction. Now, I’m not bold enough or foolish enough to make some kind of Joseph claims that touts divine given insight or heavenly revelation but I must say that occasionally I feel a God nudge. Let me quickly allay any fears you may have… I’m fully aware of how many times that my dreams are a garbled mess and make no earthly much less heavenly sense (Pam once woke me up because I was laughing at a “dream” joke and when I tried to tell the joke –well, suffice to say, “Not funny!”). So, what I’m saying is that my meager understanding of dreams is that it is a function of the subconscious that affords our imaginations an opportunity to help us vent frustration, attempt to resolve issues and take outlandish vacations from reality. But as the conscious is led by the Spirit of God… I assume so is the subconscious. Thus, occasionally a dream or two has helped or enlightened me spiritually.

Such was a snippet from a recent dream where a friend from the past told me in conversation that he was trying to put into practice the memo from upstairs to observe, conserve and then reserve. This odd triad kept ringing in my dream ears and I kept rehearsing them over and over until I carried the following insight into the waking hours: 1) Life is learned more by observation than any other learning process. As a kindergarten teacher, Pam often had five or more different language speakers in her class but this tower of Babel obstacle was easily overcome because most of her teaching was done by modeling. We learn much by observation. What I began to observe about this triad was that what the three words had in common was the root “serve.” The greatest observation in life is that I’m called to serve; 2) that observation is only effective if I am quickly reminded that to serve I must conserve. No, not go green but the literal sense of the word… to serve with. That is, to serve I must always be aware that I am in partnership with God and the apostle Paul adds, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13);” 3) to top this all off one must never forget that in serving God and his fellow man that all service is just a service already received from God. We reserve (re-serve) the blessings that God has given so freely to us!

Okay… I know at this point you’re thinking… This is no dream insight but the hyper imaginative powers of a preacher in search of a sermon! Maybe, you’re right –or maybe God sometimes gives us a nudge! -DAN

Beracah

2010-10-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

I told Leah to count her blessings while Johnson Oates’ lyrics echoed in the back of my head, “…name them one by one.” My fatherly advice was not intended as corrective but rather a universal reminder of how we all dwell in the Valley of Beracah (2 Chronicles 20:26) and should never lose sight of the blessings that are not only abundant but tailored to our current needs. King Jehoshaphat and his army had been told by prophetic utterance that the battle was the Lord’s but stood in awe to see the vast coalition of armies that lay silent on the valley floor from destroying one another. They had resolved that the charge to go and face this formidable army would be a costly but victorious battle. They knew only Jehovah would enable them and so they had spent the night in worship singing at the top of their lungs, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” So, surprised and awed, they stand overlooking the enduring love of a God who delivers His people. The text reveals the depths of God’s blessing is not only deliverance from an enemy but Jehoshaphat’s troops spent three days collecting valuable articles from the fallen armies that had intended to route them. The divine irony of it is that they collect harps, lutes and trumpets that are taken to the Jerusalem temple and used not to rally troops against Jehovah’s people but to stir the hearts of God’s people in singing praise to the God who delivers!

So, how do you count your blessings? I’m not sure that it is a literal naming them one by one… even though that is a fun challenge. It is more of a call to recognize that like Jehoshaphat’s army we collect blessing after blessing over several days. That is, we are challenged each day to see the blessings that God has left in our path… some will be familiar and well-worn (give us this day our daily bread) and some will be unexpected and demanding (your will be done on earth as it is in heaven). But we resolve that we WILL be blessed because we are confident the Lord’s love endures forever! So, we will praise Him in the storm as well as the calm. We will seek to be still so we may know Him and hear His whispered presence. We will acknowledge Him in all our ways and let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly! We WILL be blessed!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20,21). -DAN

Born In A Treehouse

2010-09-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

If I haven’t mentioned it lately let me be clear in stating that all my grandchildren (including Miles Stephen Ford, number 12, who arrives February) are geniuses! Now, I don’t mean that in the typical bragging grandfatherly way… they ARE bonnie lads and lasses of copious cleverness and insatiable acumen that would leave Solomon scratching his head. Let me illustrate with a recent snippet from a facebook entry by Leah. “Payden says to Mary (I assume a playmate), ‘My sister was born in the city. I was born in Oregon, in a treehouse.’” O, did I mention that my estimation of genius is the ability to bring creative insights to the mundane and common everydayness of life? Payden decided to embellish and bring hints of legend into his humble Oregonian birthday arrival. I was there and though shooed out of the room as the time drew nigh I’m pretty sure that it was a hospital room and not a treehouse… but man O man would it have been cool if it was! And hey, it’s not like they don’t have a lot trees in Oregon –now is it?

Some wonder as they read through the Bible if some of the stories have not been embellished a little here and a little there. Others would be quick to say if the Bible says it then it happened just that way for all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). And then others might interject that we have four gospels because there is more than one way to view or tell the story. And then again there a cynics that out right reject the stories because of seeming contradictions in the Bible. And if you want to add another layer to the pie you have biblical scholars who maintain that Scripture is a conglomerate of editors, redactors and scribal mishaps that have given local color and cultural shaping to the text. And therefore, you might have a couple births in a treehouse that didn’t actually happen that way!

Well, just as I think my grandkids are genius so too I think Scripture is God-breathed and rings with glorious clarity that it is Holy Spirit moved and God orchestrated genius. And so I believe that if the story has been retold with a treehouse view that God intended it to be so. The Bible is not a static lifeless newspaper account of events that chronicle history. It is the living active sharper than a two-edged sword telling of faith in action that penetrates our imaginations to draw us closer to our Creator and Sustainer! It’s insight into possibility and ultimate probability of a God shaped world because after all there are a lot trees in Oregon! -DAN

BALLOONING

2010-09-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

I don’t consider myself particularly nosey or by any means a closet eavesdropper but I must confess that from time to time I zoom in on a conversation I haven’t been invited to share. Recently, I overheard one individual say to another, “So, have you been ballooning lately?” For some reason (could it be my own girth?), I took offense in behalf of my anonymous friend and silently implored him to retort, “Why no, Ms. Skinny… have you been deflating?” You’ve probably have guessed by now that as I listened further into the conversation I discovered that one friend was curious about another’s high flying hobby of hot air ballooning. As I laughed at my misunderstanding and measured my record breaking jumping to a conclusion, I seriously thought about the challenge this brought to my faith.

You see, the greatest eavesdropping that we ever engage in is reading the New Testament letters. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that Paul, Peter, James, John and whoever wrote Hebrews were engaged in obtuse dialogue or insider conversations that were so personalized that others would be unable to know fully what they were talking about. The letters are certainly full of purposed instruction fully intended to teach the body of Christ as a whole, as well as theological discussion designed to clarify, instruct and elucidate the Christian faith. However, there are times it would be nice to know what exactly was the context of the discussion and the motivation to publically air the issue. Do I think scholarship has done well in their educated guesses about enigmatic texts… yes, but with this qualification: We must always confess that we’re eavesdropping and so we have to be careful to what height we take our balloon.

Now, with that said, it seems to me that studying to show ourselves approved requires first for us to get on our knees and ask for wisdom from above and spiritual discernment void of misunderstanding. That implies to me that Bible study is not a pool party (you know where we all pool our ignorance and spout our opinions) but rather a challenge to be patient to hear all the conversation we can, keeping in mind who is saying what and where they saying it and to whom they are saying it to and then prayerfully measuring the meaning of it the light of eternity. David Wilcox, one of my favorite musicians has a song entitled, “Hold it Up to the Light.” It’s a song about trusting decisions by holding it up to the light of God, truth and faith. So it is with God’s Word… we “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this (2 Timothy 2:7).” So… hold it up to the Light and happy ballooning! -DAN

No To No

2010-09-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

I personally think that irony is one of life’s greatest teachers. One has to scratch their head when you consider that we park on our driveways and drive on our parkways. And then there’s the Oxymorons who live next door who eat jumbo shrimp and just ordered clean dirt for their garden. Jesus seems to enjoy the merits of paradox in the upside down theology of the first will be last and the last will be first. What all this ordered chaos has in common is that it reminds us that we live in a conflicted world. Jesus is right that the one who thinks only of himself, will be the last person you want to be around while the person who has a servant’s heart and puts others first will be the first person you want around. That is, in this fallen world motivated by greed, self-centered pleasures and pride it seems dog eat dog is the rule of the day. So, God had to stand tall on a cross to reorient the world to forgiveness, love and sacrifice. Rebellious mankind ironically killed it’s greatest citizen thinking it would stop his mission but unwittingly secured their only hope of salvation. Death brought life and open the door to eternity. And maybe just as importantly opened the door to see how upside down this world has become.

Now, here’s the sacred dilemma in its day to day reality. I swat my grandchild on the backside after she hits me, sternly saying, "We don’t hit!" And I muster all my Pappy Pomposity to affirm, "We don’t say, ‘No!’" In this swirl of irony I pray, "Lord, help me let my yes be yes and my no be no!" That is, in this conflicted world where I hit to teach that we don’t hit and I say no to no, let there be some wisdom from above that makes sense out of the nonsense.

And here’s the voice of God that I think whispers to me in a still small voice… Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5,6). That is, our paradoxical lives will only find wisdom by trusting God enough to supply insight to a balanced life that knows how to stand firm on both sides when it’s yes and when it’s no. I have no doubt that God continues to teach us through our grandchildren that we live in a ironic and chaotic world whose only hope is God! -DAN

Book Burning 101

2010-09-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Senior Pastor Dr. Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida has declared September 11, 2010 as a date to burn copies of the Quran. This protest rides on the back of the recent debate over whether a mosque should be permitted to be built near the hallowed site of ground zero where so many lost their lives to Muslim terrorist. Dr. Jones is the author of a book entitled, "Islam is of the Devil." Though warned that his protest might endanger military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan Jones is adamant that we must fight the surging effects of Islam here and abroad. So… let’s burn their holy book asserting our right to demonstrate our rejection of their maniacal Muslim meddling mission to dominate the world. And as that was too much alliteration the very thought that burning books could demonstrate the Spirit of Christ is as abominable as it is immature. And the alert student in the back row raises his hand and defiantly blurts out, "What about Acts 19:19 when they burned their sorcery books publicly?" I’m glad you brought that up…

The public burning of expensive sorcery scrolls by their owners was an act of contrition evoked by the realization that the name of Jesus was not only powerful but Jesus was Lord. Burning books that you don’t agree with as protest does little to change the hearts of those who do believe. In fact, it does the opposite and incites them to reject your beliefs and entrench themselves in their own. If the Spirit of Christ is to impact the world around us it will do it not by the light of protest fires but by the light of truth that burns brightly in the heart of disciples who value and love all mankind. The Quran will only loose its effectiveness when it pales in the light of Holy Scripture demonstrated in the loving hearts and vibrant faith of the redeemed. Soldiers of Christ are not armed with torches but rather "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)." The radical and awesome army of God is victorious by faith not playground retaliation tactics or barbed rhetoric designed to incite religious or political battles. If you want to lock and load like Jesus then pray for your enemies!

Here is what this all means to me –or in other words, this is what is burning in my heart: Standing up for my faith means that the only fire I’m concerned with is hearts set on fire by the Spirit of God. And I hope and pray that they all come to a knowledge of Jesus as Lord and embrace Him alone in salvation. We don’t need the Crusades again (or ever) what we need is revival sparked by the movement of the Spirit’s call to salvation. -DAN

The Spirit of Truth

2010-08-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, by now you know that I have a few pet peeves (to which I usually say, "I don’t know what a peeve is but they make lousy pets…" however, peeve is a reference to the Renaissance word "peevish" that means fretful or vexing). So, I have a few things in my theological bag that vex me. One is our top weighted view of Acts two thirty eight that results in many baptisms where forgiveness of sins is highlighted and no mention of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now, don’t get me wrong… I know there is no formal baptismal liturgy in Scripture but it seems to me that Peter’s impassioned plea to repent and be baptized so your sins may be forgiven is so he can underscore the promise of the Holy Spirit filled life is for those near and far. It was the Spirit that convicted that Pentecost audience of their sins and culpability in crucifying Jesus and it was the very same Spirit that would mark their lives with God’s seal of possession and promise (Ephesians 1:11-14). Forgiveness of sins is completed in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-17). Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them orphans but that the Spirit of truth would be with them forever (John 14:16-21). Yes, take a deep breath… the Spirit of truth, of Christ, of God… the Holy Spirit lives within the believer. He is truly a counselor and comforter. He is at once mystical and practical for we will never be able wrap our minds around God living within us but we know we will never walk in truth without His lead.

Now, I said all that, not to give some definitive systematic treatise on the Holy Spirit but to delight in the moniker "Spirit of truth." Because, whether we see it as elucidating the Spirit’s role as "teacher of all things" (John 14:26) or the ethereal implication that there is a spirit of truth that the Spirit enables in the heart of the believer… well, both ideas are rich and delightful to feast upon. I don’t think I have an irrefutable perspective of Scripture and history but it seems to me that the Holy Spirit moves from miracle maker to heart shaper. That is, the Spirit through the ages has matured from authenticating God’s presence by signs, wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit to taking up residence in the heart of the faithful who rely on His lead and intercession. That is, He inspires a spirit of truth that embraces the gift of being children of God and the challenge to live holy lives by a righteousness that is not our own. Such leading by the Holy Spirit identifies those He indwells as Sons of God (Romans 8:14). And most importantly, the Spirit’s presence opens my heart to God’s truths and His promises!

What does the spirit of truth impel you to do or say? -DAN

Vitriol

2010-08-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

I often listen to the "Rise Guys" sports talk show on the way into work. Recently, a caller was rewarded for using the word "vitriol" correctly in regards to the bitter and caustic press that has been targeted toward NFL quarterback Bret Favre. What sparked my imagination about this nod to a sophisticated vocabulary was the emphasis of "using the word correctly." It’s no secret that I have an ardent appreciation for a well turned phrase or an articulate and pithy adjective that brings life and meaning to the spoken or written word. I wholeheartedly believe that the languages and cultures of the Bible were orchestrated by the hand of God so that His will could be fully expressed. Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek are languages that are image driven and thus become eloquent by their simplicity and discerning by the depth of their denotation. Because the Word of God is tightly packed with meaning to be discovered it challenges us with the task to "use the Word correctly."

Now, don’t get me wrong… I don’t mean the twisted banter I’ve heard from some who wish to promote their own theological slant by excising sound bytes from Paul claiming one should "rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)." However, said passage is a wonderful example of exactly what I mean. Paul uses the Greek word "orthotomeo" translated "divide" but literally means "to cut straight." Paul as a rabbinical student would have naturally thought of such passages as Proverbs 3:6, that state, "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." His exhortation to Timothy is to become an "instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (v.21)." That is, to "cut straight" the word of truth is to let God be the final word as we make every effort to discern His will and become malleable to the lead of His Spirit. Hymenaeus and Philetus according to Paul "had wandered away from the truth (v.18)." Their paths were obviously not the straight and narrow road of Jesus.

Last Sunday I told you about our hiking chatter when after an instructor had told her students all the ways they could determine where they were on the trail, I piped up and said, "Or you can just stay on the trail." What I didn’t mention is that the instructor did agree with me that the people that get lost while hiking are the people who wander off the trail. Stay on the trail… rightly divide… keep your eyes upon Jesus and acknowledge Him in all your ways and he WILL make your path straight! And may our earnest prayer be always, "Lord give me wisdom to use your Word correctly!" -DAN

Vitreous Humor

2010-08-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

As you get older you liquefy… well, at least your vitreous humor does. Are you trying to say that as we age we loose our sense of humor? No, no, no, no… as our body ages the gel like substance in our eyes (vitreous humor) looses viscosity becoming more liquid like and often clumps of more solid vitreous humor float in the liquid and cast shadows on your retina. Thus, creating spots in our vision that are commonly called "floaters." Okay, I’m not an ophthalmologist (yes, I had to look up the spelling) nor am I an MD by any stretch of the imagination, but, I do have a wife who was concerned about her "floaters." So, I googled (and yes, I am a googologist). Now I can answer her questions and ease her mind. But I’m still not happy that I am liquefying!

I remember hearing my parents talk to their friends about all their aches and pains and "old people" disorders from arthritis to incontinence and making a solemn vow to never do that when I got their age. And now as if possessed by their spirit I moan and groan about the arthritis in my thumb and ask my friends if they’ll shuffle the cards for me. As my father use to say, "Never, say ‘never’!" Getting older is not for sissies. Who would have thought that from dust to dust would be such a dirty deal (Genesis 3:19)?

Now, I said all that to say this… "Aging should enhance our humor and temper our temperament." Spiritual maturity leads us to not consider ourselves better than others (Philippians 3:3) so that our humble perspective allows us to laugh at ourselves and trust in God’s providence and guidance. Yes, a world shrouded in death is full of pain, disappointments, deteriorating parts that fail, falter and fold-up on us but in the wake of a world doomed from dust to dust is the glorious light of grace. Grace that enriches the poor, comforts those that mourn, fills the hungry and thirsty and regales the meek (Matthew 5:1-12)! Grace that permeates our souls so that our speech is seasoned with graciousness (Colossians 4:6). Grace that reminds us that where sin increases grace increases all the more (Romans 5:20). And most importantly grace full of God’s mercy that in spite of our sinful prevailing hearts, a gracious God has seated us with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms that secure our salvation (Ephesians 2:4-10). Now, if you see some of that sin floating around in your vision… just keep your eyes on Jesus who is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)! -DAN

What Is An Elder?

2010-08-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following words a decade ago during a time when we were looking for men to serve as elders. The search never tires for men who will rise up and serve.

What is an elder? He’s a man in his Sunday best playing tag with the kids on the church’s front lawn after services. He’s the silent man that fades into the background while a young couple reveals how they received a card of encouragement with a $50 bill and a note that read, "You deserve a break today -take the kids to McDonalds!" He’s the man who prays at the strangest times in the oddest places like at a stoplight where his "amen" is a cacophony of car horns blowing behind him signaling that the light is green. He’s the man who listens to you with eyes that are windows to his soul and invites you to pull up a chair for a good talk. He’s the guy with the infectious laugh that makes the shut-in forget for the moment their four-walled world. He’s the student with the beat-up bible that is stuffed with his own special filing system of miscellaneous, multi-colored, dog-eared papers peeking out of well-worn pages. He’s the last in line at the potluck and the first in line at a workday. He’s the haggard man with the droopy eyes because he was up all night praying for wisdom to help solve someone else’s problem. He’s big on enthusiasm and small on trivial matters. He’s manly even in a lacy apron cooking pancakes for a youth rally. He’s available even when he’s busy yet stops to pick wildflowers with the grand kids and with misty eyes gives the fragile bouquet to his perpetual bride and best friend. He knows his heritage rests in the Great Shepherd and the tender hearts that wept with the apostle Paul on a beach in Miletus. He knows that shepherding, overseeing and nurturing is an awesome responsibility that the Holy Spirit has called him to do. However, he knows that God will supply the wisdom he needs through ardent prayer and eyes focused on the cross.

Who will be an elder? It will be the man who seeks his perfection in Christ. It will be the tender soul who desires to serve with a willingness to sacrifice. It will be the man who takes heaven serious not himself and thus often laments his own worldliness. It will be a pioneer of powerful imagination to see that God has already secured the victories. It will be a champion who is God reliant on his strength to lead and his compassion to serve. And most of all it will be a man called by God to use his leadership talents to love on the people of God and the lost of this world! -DAN

A Huguette Problem

2010-08-02T14:04:00.001-07:00

Now I know two ladies that are 104 years old. Minnie Whicker who is the sweetest, dearest Christian lady I know and Huguette Clark billionaire heiress. Well, I don’t really "know" Huguette but I did read about this eccentric recluse who is heir of a fortune that rivals the Rockerfellers with multi-million dollar properties and priceless art collections. Huguette has a 100 million dollar mansion in Santa Barbara, a 24 million estate in New Canaan, Connecticut and a 100 million dollar apartment complex on Fifth Avenue in New York that consists of the entire eighth floor and half of the twelfth floor in a building overlooking Central Park. However, Huguette does not live in any of these properties and they all sit vacant and are only visited by those whose job it is to maintain these opulent sentinels of loneliness. This is a Huguette problem!

The problem is not riches but the burden of such riches that crush a soul and consign them to being a recluse afraid of the greedy and paralyzed by imagined fears. Mrs. Clark’s entombment of wealth reminds me not of the aged but the rich young man who came to Jesus (Mark 10:17-31). Jesus request for him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor was too much for him to bear for the text says, "He went away sad, because he had great wealth." Jesus wanted him to see that wealth was not discovered in a bank account or properties but treasure laid up in heaven. That is, in the currency of love, sacrifice, compassion and mercy that has eternal value. Wealth at its best is a tool for accomplishing great benevolent and compassionate purposes… at its worst it is a roadblock to the heart and a millstone around the neck of spiritual awareness. Jesus sums up by saying, " many who are first will be last and the last first." Which brings me back to the beginning…

Do you want to be a Minnie or a Huguette? I’ll be a Minnie… mini in my desire to Lord it over anyone or anything… many as in the throng beneath the throne of God who worships Him in praise and many as in deeds that serve in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord! I’ll keep Huguette in my prayers hoping that God will find away to squeeze this camel through the eye of a needle! As Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." -DAN

The Key Called Promise

2010-07-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

"Religion points to that area of human experience where in one way or another man comes upon mystery as a summons to pilgrimage (Frederick Beuchner)." The primary meaning of pilgrim is stranger or foreigner. Peter addresses his readers as "God’s elect, strangers in the world (1 Peter 1:1)" …that is, pilgrims. But I must admit when I hear "pilgrim" the first thing I think of is John Wayne. However, my second thought is really the power of the word because I think of John Bunyan’s "Pilgrims Progress," one of the most influential books written in the English language. It also is what Beuchner is talking about when he suggests that religion’s birth is when man embarks upon his life-long search for the mystery of spiritual destination. In Bunyan’s allegorical expose the main character, Christian, with his companion Hope (yes, Bunyan doesn’t leave you guessing who his characters represent) take a side road because it seemed easier traveling. However, they end up captured by the giant named Despair who taunts them and beats them and imprisons them in his castle. Suddenly, Christian remembers while in prayer that he has in his bosom a key called promise that will unlock the chains and doors so they can escape Despair’s dungeon. Yes, an important part of our pilgrimage and spiritual journey is discover that within our hearts is a key called promise!

I hope when you memorized Acts 2:38 to get your C of C membership jacket that you also digested verse 39 that gloriously recounts, "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off –for all whom the Lord our God will call." Promise is the sole business of God who unlike mere humans, organizations, politicians or new and improved products makes promises that are sure. His ultimate promise of redemption is the key to life! It unlocks the door of mystery and reveals the love, grace and mercy of a Creator Who passionately pursues His children with the promise of eternal life. We come to know God by the surety of His promises and the immutable nature of His love.

Now, here is what I think is most important about this key… it has nothing to do with me but everything to do with me. Yes, I know that sounds like double talk but let me explain. God’s grace evidenced in His promises does not depend upon my understanding or approval but rather my submission and acceptance. The pilgrimage to discover the mystery of life and God is a journey that leads to the self-discovery that fulfillment, peace and happiness are not self-centered but Christ-centered. When pleasing God is more than motivation and becomes second-nature His promises become tangible reality and key to life! So, what’s in your bosom? -DAN

How Far Did You Get?

2010-07-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

The young man from the forestry department paused from his duties to speak to Pam and Jacki while I bypassed the conversation and plopped myself into the front seat of the car. We were hot, spent and apparently showing the wear of the day so the young man asked, "How far did you get?" We had just finished hiking the Loch Leven trail off I-80 near the Big Bend exit. We did not look like the fresh glowing youths that had passed us often as we paused for breath in the thin air of the high Sierras. We obviously had the look of well intentioned hikers who trail off the trail before it ends to return with a resolve that next time I’ll go all the way. So, "How far did you make it?" …still, hung in the air. With lowered heads we confessed, "Just to the railroad tracks." He graciously tempered our efforts with an understanding nod that it was terribly hot today and we felt consoled. But next time we’ll go the distance.

However, I think our forestry department friend posses a question that has application for all of life …"How far did you get?" Paul words it this way to Corinth, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you –unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test (2 Corinthians 13:5,6)." Now before someone piles on Jesus’ saying if we put our hand to the plow and then look back, well, we’re not fit for the kingdom… let me suggests that destination is about relationship not distance covered. The journey of life and walk of faith is not about skill levels but rather about being Spirit led, Christ filled and God centered. That is, the journey within determines the journey without. Christ in us is the hope of glory so we keep on with the struggle of the journey knowing our energy is accompanied by His working through us and in us (Colossians 1:27-29).

"So, how far have you gone?" –is a question about drawing nearer to God not some arbitrary spiritual goal. Don’t get me wrong… I think we need spiritual goals. Those goals should aid us in getting closer to God not stroke our egos with accolades from others or the satisfaction of conquering the perceived mountain for bragging rights. The question should challenge our prayer life… our faith… our love for God! So, "How far did you make it?" -DAN

Comfort

2010-07-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

A new trend in the restaurant business is to change one’s regional and somewhat pretentious cuisine to comfort food. You know… mom’s cooking (meatloaf, mac and cheese, dumplings and the like). Comfort is from the Latin confortare meaning to strengthen much. That is, comfort implies that life is often interrupted with times of weakness and trouble. When we were children our comfort was found in blankies and sucking thumbs (or the digit of choice) but as adults the list has grown exponentially including food, hobbies, shopping, reading, entertainment media and anything that will take us away from the pain, problem or irritant that has sapped our strength and disrupted the peace. We take solace in a Savior who promises a Comforter/Counselor who provides truth, peace and comfort. The Spirit filled and led life enables faith and nurtures trust in God’s providence and watchcare. We bask in God’s grace that nudges us under the protection of His wings where we feel safe and comforted.

I love what Psalm 119:50 says about comfort, "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise renews my life." If you recall, Psalm 119 is an acrostic that use the Hebrew alphabet to create 22 tributes to the blessing and delight of God’s Word and His Law. Thus, it is filled with various forms and synonyms for God’s Law and His will for mankind. One important (and comforting) way to view God’s will is as "promise." It truly renews life because His promises (and His promises alone) are sure and immutable. His promise is life… Life in His Son! Several verses later the Psalmist says, "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge." I love the idea of God’s voice evidenced in all He has decreed from creation to Scripture is the soundtrack to my life wherever I find myself. That is, God is the music of my life.

Bill Cosby (the theologian of my childhood) had a bit that he did about leaving a horror movie late at night. He had to cross the unlighted 9th Street Bridge to get home. Cosby says he was okay as long as he had his music because as everyone knows monsters can not get you if you are humming or singing. I believe that as long as God is my song no power, person (or monster) can get me! The God of all comfort continues to comfort me no matter what monsters come my way. Jesus as the bread of life is truly my comfort food and I have a peace that surpasses all understanding that guards my heart day and night. -DAN

Ocean View

2010-07-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

One of the great blessings in our lives is our retirement home in Newport, Oregon. Pam and I have always been drawn to the sea but never in our wildest imaginations believed that we would own a home less than a hundred yards from the beach. To have such an incredible view of the Yaquina Head lighthouse… well, God is good. Now, don’t get me wrong –I’m not singing that heretical and greed driven refrain, “I’m satisfied with just a little silver and a little gold.” My perspective is more Jobian for I know the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord! I embrace being a sojourner but while this blessing abides I have been infused with the beauty, constancy and reverence for the power of God that roars in the soothing music played on the crest of waves that never falter in their song. What would our faith look like if we were as faithful as the waves? What would our lives look like if like the rocks on the shore we were well worn by the constant presence of God? And most importantly, how would our hearts change if they were moved by the tidal force of God’s desire that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

Here are some faith lessons I have learned by listening to God’s voice in the waves: 1) Always respect the power of the ocean/God… a sleeper wave can knock you down and drag you out to sea… never take God for granted; 2) The power of the ocean/God daily changes the look of the beach/my life… expect God to change you each day; 3) The storm always drives up hidden treasures to be discovered on the beach… and so troubled waters reveal perseverance that matures a faithful witness; and 4) A lighthouse is most effective when it emits its signature light signal… our lighthouse (don’t love that we’ve claimed ownership) has a two short burst with a fourteen count pause and then repeats so mariners know exactly which lighthouse they are approaching… so should our light shine in a way that people know they are approaching a disciple of the Kingdom of our Lord!

Here’s some other things I’ve learned that I’m pretty sure are just lessons learned… green growth on the rocks is not as slippery as the brown stuff… a whale spout is exciting to track… seaweed makes great whips but wives think differently… the color of the ocean is never the same… an ocean sunset is God’s amen to the day… if it’s still moving –leave it alone… and the moonlight reflected on the calm sea is a sliver zipper that opens what heaven must be like! -DAN

Independence

2010-06-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

184 years ago Charles Carroll’s life changed by remarkable circumstances. Charles Carroll was a retired senator from his home state Maryland, a former member of the Continental Congress and one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th, 1826 both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of one another leaving Carroll the sole surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. How remarkable that the only two signers of the Declaration that became president of the United States would die on the 50th year celebration of our nation’s birth and independence from British rule! Adams and Jefferson had recently renewed their friendship after years of bitter political dispute. Their correspondence reveals much about the advent of this new nation spurred by their pens. Both Adams and Jefferson were deist and thus would not acknowledge God’s hand in such remarkable history but one is hard put to not think that God orchestrated such remarkable circumstances.

The paradox is that this new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal regales independence including the amended right to speak freely against a God who calls us to submit to His will. The Bible speaks counter-culturally by soliciting servitude, submission and dependence on the divine lead. The Christian declaration is not for independence nor autonomy but to follow Jesus lead to empty ourselves and take on the nature of a servant (Phippians 2:5-8). Paul pleads with Ephesus to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21)." Such malleable and humble spirits champion better familial relationships and cohesiveness of the body of Christ. Here is my fourth of July declaration of dependence for those who just want to be Christians:

1) We declare the we shall take seriously Paul’s challenge to "pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)" so that we may never forget to put God first in all things!
2) We declare that "the first will be last and the last will be first" is not just a saying but call to have a servant’s heart in all we do or say!
3) We declare that in the body of Christ all "its parts should have equal concern for each other (1 Corinthians 12:25)."
4) We declare that the pursuit of happiness is not a inalienable right but a path to pleasing self by pleasing God!
5) And finally, we declare that we are solely, wholly and completely dependent on the God who created us in His image and redeemed us by the blood of His Son!

Happy Fourth of July Dependence! -DAN

Felix The Cat

2010-06-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

“Hey, there _________ you’re a real cool cat; you’ve got a lot of this and a lot of that; We all think that you’re real sweet so come on down and do the chickee, chickee beat!” If these words are foreign to you and you have been chickee chickee deprived in your life –let me explain. This Bible Camp campfire standard is a way to recognize kids and staff at camp by getting them on stage to do a silly dance that rejoices in the common identity of this week long community of self-imposed castaways escaping the grind of everydayness. O, this community has plenty of drama, pranks, flare ups and nonsense but it inevitably takes on the Spirit of God. Both campers and staff are immersed in a sense of Christian joy that transforms them. When parents arrive to reclaim their real cool cats they find a mixture of joy to see them but tears to leave their week long family.

Let me tell you about one of those real cool cats… William Felix the cat. William is a member at the May Street Church of Christ. William is a handsome African American young man who happens to be mentally challenged (but then aren’t we all). William by a landslide vote was our Mr. Camper for 2010. This honor is given to those who distinguish themselves through the week with acts of kindness, service and spiritual leadership. William was such and unlike Felix the cat who resolves things by pulling something out of his magic bag of tricks… our Felix just operated out of a heart for the Lord. William sat next to me one afternoon and preached to me the gospel of Christ. Now, I have to admit ashamedly that preachers don’t like to be preached to… because that’s kind of our territory. I fought through my natural aversion of, “Hey, who’s the expert here?” –to be still and listen. This cat knows the book but even more important he knows the Lord! So, I listened and said a few amen’s and felt the presence of the Savior.

At the banquet, the last night of camp, when William was recognized as Mr. Camper 2010, as is our custom last year’s winner puts a crown (a shiny cardboard Burger King type of affair) on the newly crowned winner. Usually, this crown doesn’t make it past the banquet and finds itself in the trash by the end of the night. William kept his on all night… and I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t wear it to church on Sunday! Yes, William you’re a real cool cat… you’ve got a lot of this and a lot of that… but most of all William you’re what camp is all about! -DAN

Who Is The Preacher?

2010-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a lesson on the subject of what the Bible has to say about preachers. After defining preaching as proclaiming a message and suggesting such would include Hitler the speaker went on to say that in Scripture there is no example of a paid located minister/preacher. He couldn’t remember the location of the passage but alluded to Ephesians 4:11 as a listing of those who speak for the church. That is, “It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers.” This sermon was given to a small church that was looking for a minister. To the speaker’s credit he wanted to communicate that preachers are not hired guns to do all the dirty work for the church. All proclaim Christ, all minister to the body, all reach out to the hurting, deprived or bereaved… the church is a body that works in unison. However, the lesson was arduous fare for a preacher sitting in the audience… and I wanted ever so much to say but… but… but… what about? So dear reader brace yourself because you get to hear “the what about.”

Of first importance the one we call the preacher, the minister, the evangelist, the pastor and an occasional “Hey, you” is a human. That means he is like you, ever in prayer asking God to forgive, to transform, to enlighten and to Spirit fill his life. He assumes this humble station not as excuse or to ward off accountability but because he longs to hear the still small whisper of God, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).” It is in this cross shaped weakness that the one who desires to be nothing less than God’s man attempts to be the following: 1)A student of the Word so he may share the feast he has discovered; 2)A servant of all; 3)A reflective light of the warmth of Christ that desires to spark the love and joy of Christ in the hearts of all; 4)A counselor who is accessible who listens more than they speak; 5)A bringer of glad tidings and thus, joyously infectious; and last of all obedient to the perfect law of love that compels heart and hand to work tirelessly for the Lord.

Now I said all of that to say this, “The preacher is just one of the guys.” He’s not on a pedestal nor is he to be a footstool. He’s devoted to Christ and His body and feels a calling from God to share the good news. He laughs, he cries, he’s Tom Joad from the Grapes of Wrath on the run from sin but called to be the voice of justice in a world heavy with the fruit of the grapes of wrath. He’s James Bond fighting against sin but perceived as Barney Fife with one bullet in his pocket. He stumbles but he gets back up only to finish the day on his knees in thanksgiving and humble petition. -DAN

You Can't Attend Our Church

2010-06-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

This past holiday weekend Pam and I enjoyed the beauty of the Oregon Coast and for a little while the joy of our Missouri grandkids (O, yeah… and their parents too). Caelleb is always full of energy and Trystyn at four months has a win your heart smile and Tia is well… Tia. She’s a juggernaut karaoke tornado gale force wind of non-stop imagination and incessant verbiage but I love her to bits. But she DOES go on. On our way to lunch she asked me if I could clap. Ever so helpful I responded, “I miss that day at school and I didn’t learn how to clap.” “Yes, you did Pappy… show me how you clap.” I start snapping my fingers… she lets out a sigh and says, “That’s snapping.” I flap my hands in the air. She sighs and narrowing her eyes says, “If you can’t clap then you can’t attend our church!” Membership into the kingdom is getting tougher and tougher these days!

Tia as she often does unwittingly gets me thinking about the way we see the world and experience our place in it. I think our Lord’s prompting to be more child-like in how we view the kingdom is an exhortation to simplify things… well, at least in part. Children reduce the complex or inflated precepts to their most basic application. They want to know why but don’t question the reality of what is to be done. That is, they may want you to give them motive but never demand more choices or alternatives. If we clap in children’s church then clapping must be important. No discussion about is sacred music melody driven or does Psalm 47 give our youth license to jazz up the service with their syncopated hand popping camp nonsense? It’s eyes that trust, hearts that are open and imaginations still fertile and receptive.

You see… Tia wants Pappy to know that if you want to serve the Lord and be filled with praise then you need to get with the program and learn how to clap. You need to follow the leader… hold hands while you cross the road and sit in your square quietly until you hear directions. In short, take God at His word and stop fussing and fighting over what He didn’t say or what you thought He said and just praise the Lord! And O yeah, learn to clap! -DAN

Toot Your Own Horn

2010-05-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Standing around with Mike and Jeremy pontificating about the future of King’s basketball we are interrupted by Lizzie who displays one of her drawings to her dad. Mike remarks on her capable drawing of a dinosaur. Lizzie promptly corrects him that it is a picture of her hand with a bracelet and the father daughter banter begins to our delight. Once it dies down Lizzie looks at me and says meekly, “Sometimes my dad toots.” The father daughter banter is rekindled while Jeremy and I laugh! Now, for the sake of an article on the front of our bulletin, I’ll assume Lizzie means Mike toots his own horn every once and awhile. That is, every little engine finally makes it up the hill and toots the victory blast that proclaims, “I know I can!”

Now the dilemma here is that the bible challenge is to be humble and that the first will be last and the last will be first. So, should we toot our horns or not? Paul laments that Corinth forces him into boasting (i.e. listing his achievements, accolades and pedigree) and reflects, “In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast (2 Corinthians 11:17, 18).” Earlier he had quoted them Jeremiah 9:24 “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” The context of Jeremiah is a call for Israel to lament their unfaithfulness and not rely on their wisdom or their strength but their covenant relationship with the Lord. It seems that boasting is not the problem but what one chooses to boast about! When we esteem those who serve the Lord and recognize the faithful it encourages the body as a whole and honors the Father. Self promotion is the problem. Not introspection that acknowledges God’s gifts and His challenges that should be praised… that should be tooted!

So toot away… if it brings the spotlight to God’s wondrous grace and the joy of sacrifice in His name! If any man boast let him boast in the Lord for such acknowledges that God works within those who are working out their own salvation in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12, 13). And yes… I know Lizzie wasn’t talking about her father’s laudable achievements but she was giving testimony to Mike’s human reality. And I dare say that in a way she took some pride in the vulnerability of her hero… her father! Let us all stay humble in the eyes of a child. -DAN

The One You Love

2010-05-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Some say that 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 defines it and others in protest say its depth and height defies explanation but everyone lays claim to their hold on love. Each of us testifies to its importance and witness to its divine nature best summed up by the apostle of love, John, when he surmised, “God is love (1 John 4:8).” Love is the only force in the universe that triumphs over all. Love conquers injustice and callous apathy. Love dissipates tyrannical brutality and selfish exploitations. Love is the music that sooths the savage breast and orchestrates the soundtrack of life. Love is as essential to life as is water, light and air. That is why when Scripture says of Jesus, “the one you love (John 11:3)” –you take notice. O, we know that Jesus loves us because the Bible tells us so (so at least we sing) but seldom in Scripture do we hear the words with such specificity. Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to know that their brother Lazarus was sick and they subtlety reminded him that he is the one you love. Well, maybe not so subtle since they wanted Jesus to rush to Lazarus’ side.

In the selfless and altruistic world of the Messiah is there room for such favoritism? Can Jesus love encompass partiality or at least deeper love for some whom he esteems? Yes, yes, yes, yes… I like it! Jesus intimacy with those close to him doesn’t diminish his love for anyone else but rather deepens his love for us all. I know the value of close personal friends who love you without barter or demand but simply enjoy your company. I cherish the bond that is unthreatened by honesty and buoyed by mutual concern. True love… the one you love, will tell you if you have spinach in your teeth or your zipper is down (or I guess in the case of Lazarus, Jesus may have pointed out Lazarus’ “you’ve-been-in-the-grave-four-days” body odor and you got a little burial cloth stuck to your tunic). Such love benefits us all… so, I’m glad that Jesus had those he loved like no others. I’m enriched by Jesus passion for friendship and his loyalty of love. Once again the Savior sets the standard for behavior and the path of Sonship.

So, who are the ones you love? This is not a request for a list of those you’d take a bullet for or even those of intimate connection but rather who does your heart connect to. I think the answer tells us much about ourselves and what direction is evident in our lives. Yes, love is the most powerful force in the universe… May God bless you and those with whom you share its joys! -DAN

Merit Badge

2010-05-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

I heard recently that the Boys Scouts of America now have a merit badge for video games. Once again the cyber world tries to edge its way into reality. I mean seriously a “merit” badge for mindless thumb twitching, bomb exploding screen flashes of aggression vicariously ridden on skateboarded, tank driven, Mario-carting death machines? And the shy thick glassed scout with his shorts hiked a little too high clears his throat and says, “Excuse me Sir, but the badge is for choosing good games and involving your parents while keeping your playing time down to an agreed amount of time with parent approval.” And in the immortal words of Emily Latilla, “Never Mind.” (Now, for those of you who never saw Saturday Night Live’s original cast Gilda Radner’s character Emily Latilla she was a spinster type character that gave mock editorials about an issue that she always got wrong because of poor hearing so she would say, “What’s all this I hear about making Puerto Rico a steak?” To which she would be corrected that it was “state”). Thus, let me stand corrected…

I love the idea of a merit badge for video games! Teaching young people to properly use and control their recreation time is a valuable and meritorious effort by the Boy Scouts. I believe that one of the most neglected biblical principles is moderation. Paul tells the church at Philippi, “Let your moderation be known to all men (Philippians 4:5, KJV).” The NIV translates it gentleness. It’s a Greek word that literally means a heightened fairness. That is a sweet reasonableness about life that uses without abuse. If we treated most of the self-appointed taboos of life with moderation and restraint I dare say that many of the inevitable abuses would have been avoided. And if truth be told many a lie would have been avoided. Dancing does not lead to sexual activity; the bible doesn’t denounce drinking it abhors the drunk; and cultural mores about the length of this and that are exactly that… cultural mores not thus says the Lord! And at this point you might be thinking, “A little moderation in this article would be nice!” To which I concede but under protest.

My protest is this: we need more merit badges! We need a Christian merit badge for those who turn away wrath with a gentle answer (Proverbs 15:1). An elite badge for those who rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). And a crown of life for those who stay implacable in the face of meritless, heartless, cruelty in the name of the Lord! We need to rise up and call blessed those among us who practice moderation in temperament and lifestyle. We need to regale those who lead the way in counting their blessings and being good stewards of all that God has given us! -DAN

Mom's Housecoat

2010-05-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Have you heard Dolly Parton’s song, “Coat of Many Colors?” I’m not a country music fan but somewhere along the line I remember hearing this song. It is a song that recounts Ms. Parton’s days of poverty when someone had given the family a box of varied colored rags that Mamma Parton sewed together to make Dolly a coat. While Dolly watched her mother told her the story of Joseph and prayed the coat would bring Dolly great fortune. She couldn’t wait to show it off at school and was met with ridicule from her classmates who scoffed at her raggedy coat. The message of the song is recounted in the chorus, “That one is only poor, only if they choose to be; now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be in my coat of many colors my momma made for me.” Avie Parton died December 5, 2003 but her spirit lives on in Dolly’s song.

My mother didn’t make me a coat of many colors but she did sew us clothes, darn our socks and had her own coat she wore. I remember that while growing up that I was always a little embarrassed that my mother was in her housecoat for many hours in the morning and was afraid that when she waved goodbye to us at the door as we went off to school that someone might see her in that raggedy old housecoat. Mrs. Cleaver was always dressed and even had a pearl necklace on! If a sitcom mom could make an effort why not mine? I hope at this point in the story you are booing and hissing me like I was the villain in a melodrama! I would give anything to see my mom in her chair in her raggedy old coat reading the bible as she gently rocked. That old housecoat is a cherished memory now. It reminds me of my mother’s sacrifices and her humble spirit that brought such joy to the lives of her children. As a child I didn’t even consider that she was more interested in meeting our needs than doing simple things like getting dressed. Everybody should have a saint in their lives and my mother was mine!

To all our moms who make such great sacrifices and share such unfathomable love… may all of us rise up and call you blessed! May the Lord of blessings shower you richly with an abiding sense of how much you are loved and appreciated! And may you know with the greatest certitude this Mother’s Day that you are loved and honored! And mom if by some incredible grace the Lord lets you look upon these words… I love you and miss you and cherish that raggedy old housecoat! -DAN

Hell Dot Com

2010-04-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

On my way to work displayed in placards on an overpass was the message, “JesusSavesFromHell.com.” The word “Hell” was in red letters. I could hardly wait till I got to work to see who in the world was behind this red letter edict. The web wove an interesting answer to my question. It appears that this freeway forecast was an advertisement for the books of one Mary K. Baxter an ordained pastor in the Pentecostal movement. It seems that Ms. Baxter in the mid seventies was visited by Jesus and given a guided tour of hell for thirty nights followed by a glimpse of heaven for ten more nights. Her two books give an account of her Dante’s Divine Comedy experience as she and Jesus work their way through the human shaped portals of hell located in the core of the earth. I’ll let you youtube an interview with Ms. Baxter and you can judge the veracity of her witness and cast you vote whether delusional or divinely inspired. What I would like to discuss is not the reality of heaven and hell but the upside down approach of asserting Jesus as savior for the hell bound (i.e. a red letter emphasis).

Do I think preaching ought to have a little “hell” raising? Yes, the reality of eternal punishment is a fear that ought to hold its place in the heart of all believers. However, I think it might be best served in the ratio that Jesus employed. Take up a concordance and see how many times Jesus speaks of heaven as opposed to speaking of hell. Talk of heaven just naturally dominates the conversation when hearts are turned toward God and the promises of eternal life. Would I like to see a freeway placard proclaiming, “Want to know how to make your way home to God in heaven?”… Why, yes!

But aren’t you afraid some will be saying, “Lord, Lord (Matthew 7:21-23).” If we don’t put the fear of God in people they will cheapen grace and have false expectations! If our destination was dependent on making sure we didn’t do anything to deserve hell I might agree. However, entrance into heaven’s gates is not based on who you are but who you have become in Christ! It’s about living heavenly lives in a world marred by sin. It’s about surrendering to Jesus Lordship and being sealed by the Spirit until that promised day. It’s about Jesus writing your name in the Lamb’s book of life! It seems to me that Ms. Baxter forgot an important part of Jesus story of the rich man and Lazarus. Abraham tells the rich man that his five brothers don’t need a witness from beyond because “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31).” I’m with Ada Powell… “Sing to me of heaven, let me fondly dream…” DAN

Garden Party

2010-04-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

I grew up on those black and white family sitcoms like Leave It to Beaver , Father Knows Best and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Show. My oldest sister loved Ricky Nelson and so she was elated when she met his wife and twin boys while working at a five and dime in Burbank in the early seventies. Ricky had become cool again by that time with the biggest hit of his career, “Garden Party.” The song was auto-biographical about a rock’n roll reunion concert at Madison Square Garden in 1971. If you remember the lyrics reflect his rejection that night because he didn’t sing or look like he did in the fifties and consequently was met with a wave of boos. I woke up recently singing this song and it made me think of another garden party that’s been on my mind.

It’s the original garden party where an uninvited guest spoiled all the future parties of life. This talking snake with a “not” in his tale convinced Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by telling her if she ate the forbidden fruit, “you will not surely die (Genesis 3:4).” Deceived, complicit and dripping with consequences Eve and her acquiescing partner Adam opened death’s door. When God shows up to the party in the cool of the day, sin is in its usual place –hiding. But you can’t hide from God and you can’t hide from the destruction that sin always leaves in its path. This is the only time in Scripture that I have ever felt sorry for the devil (and of course I’m kidding) but Adam blames God for the defective woman he gave him and Eve blames the devil snake and the helpless snake hasn’t got anybody left to blame. You see the loss of innocence is also about the birth of the blame game. Sinners from this point forward will tend to blame others for their selfish indulgences. But as promised the fruit bowl at this garden party resulted in God’s proclamation, “from dust you are and from dust you will return (Genesis 3:19).” Or as Paul reflects, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12).”

This garden story I believe has one more veiled insight. Before God put Adam and Eve out of the garden he made them suitable clothes (fig leaves have a shelf life). So, he clothed them in skins (leather is the original fashion statement). But what must be assumed and is vital to our understanding of sin and grace is that such required the loss of innocent life… the shedding of blood in behalf of mankind. This awful mixture of grace filled love and the consequences of sin should never be far from our lips. How great is the price for our sins! May we never forget what we lost at the Garden Party… and lament our sinfulness as we embrace the grace that covers us! -DAN

What Is Your Life?

2010-04-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Life has its favorites… favorite sport, favorite ice-cream, favorite vacation spot, and I guess if we go back far enough, favorite stuffed animal/blanket/thumb to suck. What lasts a lifetime is favorite people, close friends, those birds of a feather that flock together. This past week I reunited on the phone with some of my favorite people, Ken and Jan Siminoe from Ukiah days. Their house was always a place to let my hair down… yes, I had more hair in those days. One could be themselves and share heart, fears, joys and laughter. A preacher doesn’t always find a place where he doesn’t feel he has to put on the airs of the calling but Jan and Ken made me always feel at home. After some formal matters we began to catch up and reminisce about times. Realizing how long it had been since seeing each other, Ken reflected on the book of James affirmation that life is short… “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14).” Those are sad words if your mist isn’t rich, full and joyous. However, if your life is “good” as Ken asserted, the answer to “What is your life?” is “a great ride!”

Maybe the most revealing question is to ask, “What makes one’s life rich, full and joyous?” Let me be brash enough to say what I think makes up that list. First and foremost would be resilient faith. This is the kind of faith that is not hitched to people, facts, feelings or tradition but rather is anchored in relationship with Jesus. This is faith that can’t be taken away by any force on earth because it rests in heaven! Second, and companion to this faith is a humble humorous bone. People who take themselves too serious have frail misty lives but one who can laugh at his weakness, chortle over his mistakes and belly laugh at life’s blemishes is rich, full and joyous indeed. (Ken and Jan were the first to join me in laughing about my pulpit plunder when I said prostate instead of prostrate). Included in this list is family and like a favorite child not heralded but known to be favored, family is just the best! My list would be incomplete if I didn’t include art appreciation, world travel (or at least exposure to different cultures), silly time, reading enrichment, hand and foot (or whatever card game you like), poetry and yes, O yes… the greatest of these is love!

I’m quite sure your list looks different than mine but amazingly the same! From our guts we know what makes life rich, full and joyous! The common prayer of all our lives is that we can say with Ken, “Life’s been good!” So, how has your ride been? -DAN

The Ministry of Prophesying

2010-04-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

School in the 1960’s was more experimental, arts friendly and open to a relaxed atmosphere for learning. In eighth grade I took music appreciation. O, I had grown up appreciating music through singing in church, listening to the radio or records and rocking out to the Beatles… but I hadn’t been moved deep within until I heard Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite. Suddenly, music took on a new power in my life and melody was more than toe tapping or vocal gymnastics –it was spiritual, mystic and spoke a language of the heart. The greatest songwriter of all time, King David, knew that power as he soothed the moody reigning King, Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). Later David set apart 288 skilled musicians for the “music of the temple of the Lord (1 Chronicles 25:6).” However, David first identifies their ministry as “the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals (v.1).” Prophecy not in forecasting future events but in its most basic meaning of revealing the divine will. Music is a gift from God and an integral part of our physical and spiritual design. That is, our hearts beat to a rhythm and our feet respond to a steady beat with toe-tapping body swaying delight. God has programmed us with music appreciation that moves us deep within.

So how about that church music? Without a doubt it is a prophetic voice revealing God’s will… Paul who soothed his wounds and discomfort along with Silas sang the jailhouse blues (Acts 16:25). Later he wrote of how church life needed music as divine conversation that spoke, taught and admonished (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). Music gives voice to words that exceed their conversational use and become lyrical memories that capture the essence of faith, hope and love. Music transports us to a deeper understanding of grace that now becomes Amazing Grace and how to cope with life no matter what our lot may be so we can say It Is Well With My Soul. The musical library of our hearts furnishes us with spiritual guidance to travel through this life’s journey with assurance, confidence and joy.

So, next time you gather with the Saints and the song leader initiates the downbeat… sing like the 288 with the assurance that you are part of a ministry of prophesying! Sing like you mean what you say and say what you mean. This is no time to check out mentally with, “Not this old song” or “Wow, something from the last two centuries would be nice!” Rather, sing like a prophet… a passionate, dedicated and heartfelt proclaimer of good news and God’s love! And if God has gifted you to be on tune that would be nice as well. -DAN

DBR Is Spiritual CPR

2010-03-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you are CPR certified? Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification has saved countless lives by enabling many (often as a job requirement) to aid individuals with heart failure or loss of breathing to survive until emergency care is available. Heroes have been born and lives have been saved. This Easter I am reminded that DBR (Jesus death, burial and resurrection) has enabled many (as a spiritual requirement) to aid individuals who’s hearts have been pierced with the grace of God to rescue them from sin. As physical revival allows one a second chance on life so does spiritual revival! However, the challenge of spiritual revival is both marvelous in its grace and challenging in its nature.

Listen to the challenge of Paul as he writes to the church at Philippi, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10, 11).” When we become DBR certified the course includes not only a willingness to be like Jesus in his death but full acknowledgment that it includes fellowship in his suffering. That is, DBR training means we are fearless about dying whether it is to our selfishness, our sinfulness or the ultimate sacrifice of giving our lives so others may live! Such is not for the fainthearted. It may require one to forgive ones enemy or pray for the arrogant who have nothing good to say about you. It may require long hours of painful endurance that eat into personal time and go without accolade or appreciation. It may require that you take the task alone because those who you thought were your support team have not stayed the course with you. In short, it’s a cross experience!

The world will suffer much if there are not those who are DBR certified! The world needs those who take Easter serious. Those who take up their cross and follow Jesus. Those who know the power of the resurrection is more than just personal salvation but a call to be conformed to the one who is the way, the truth and the life! I wouldn’t for a moment take away the excitement of youth hunting eggs or them smiling with that chocolate rimmed smile while they cuddle with some soft fury bunny. But I would hope that faithful parents would live lives that left no doubt in their children’s hearts that their parents were DBR certified! -DAN

Christian Open The Door

2010-03-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday morning as I walked out into the lobby I heard Wanda Headrick say, “Christian, open the door.” At first I thought it was directed to me and a sharp-witted exhortation referencing Revelation 3:20. You know… Preacher, practice what you preach by leading the way to letting Jesus into your life so that His presence is more than words in a homily but rather tangible visible action in your life! Then, I saw her great-grandson, Christian, head over to the door to open it. I still like my version of “Christian, open the door.”

I believe that there are two important lessons in my fantasy interpretation of the conversation I overheard: 1) It is always important to know the context, setting and characters involved in any interpretation of dialogue; and 2) The bigger context of our lives determines how we perceive the world around us. Now, the first lesson is one that you hear me say a lot… context, context and context. When we eavesdrop on the Bible we are bound to make it say something other than intended if we don’t keep it in context. Sometimes it is because we have a myopic and predetermined view of Scripture, scoping it out with a fine tooth comb so we can supply our personal arsenal of Holy Spirit sanctioned directives that back up our point. Often called proof-texting we create a book, chapter and verse brief sure to stand up in any court of opinion. The problem is that we have Chubby Checkered the Word of God (i.e. as Peter warns “twisted it to our own destruction” 2 Peter 3:16). And sometimes our twisting is because we’ve made the text distorted because we have taken the incidental and made it the main point! Ironically, this is what Jesus chides the Pharisees about again and again. Jesus humorous picture is one finds himself phobic about picking out gnats in their food while they gobble down a side of camel (Matthew 23:24).

The second point however, is the one that is often both blessing and curse. Yet, I am glad that there is a presiding narrative that guides my life. That is, that I see things, hear things and feel things via a Christ centered vision. I know that “Christian” is a name but I’m glad I hear it first as descriptive of my faith and those that share it. Yes, my faith bias sometimes determines how I see or feel about something and I often misunderstand. However, I believe that bias should… no, must guide me to the most positive interpretation of any given situation. So, I say, “Christian, open the door!” And may God bless every opportunity that is afforded by letting Christ come into your life as Lord, companion and advocate! -DAN

You Know Me

2010-03-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

Do you know me? These are words you might ask a stranger or you might ask the most intimate of friends. In fact, at times the question is appropriate to ask oneself. The question seeks not to inquire if one has facts, anecdotes, history highlights or a detailed biography. Rather, the question poses whether one has relationship, intimacy, personal perception and an intuitive feel for another. “Do you know me?” is a question that affirms that one’s understanding of you includes not just driver’s license information but anticipates your likes and dislikes, your strengths and your weakness, your fears, your dreams and your passions. To really know someone is a tall order and takes husband and wives a life-time to accomplish!

Jesus with tongue in cheek tells the festival crowd whose street banter had discounted him as a possible candidate for Messiah (i.e. no one with that Galilean twang and dress had the right address) that “Yes, you know me and you know where I am from (John 7:28).” But in fact, they didn’t know him because they really didn’t know God who had sent him! This is a strange thing to tell people who are attending the Feast of Booths that celebrates God’s blessings and affirms His providence and protection so vividly demonstrated in the wilderness wanderings. However, they like their forefathers were just shallow enough to look at bread from heaven and say, “What?” (i.e. translation of the Hebrew word, “manna”). Shallow enough to not see the Messiah for the messianic traditions. Shallow enough to stay thirsty when in the presence of the water of life! If they had just known… i.e. known Him.

The question every believer should grapple with is, “Do you know Jesus (2 Corinthians 13:5)?” Not know of or can you ace a test on the gospels but are you “in” Christ and Christ “in” you. Is Jesus more than religious nomenclature and Sunday best costume that we put on and off at the “appointed time.” Is Jesus companion and cherished friend that draws us into his sphere of influence commanding respect as Lord and embracing us with his unique grace? Yes, the question is do you know Jesus? -DAN

Barzillai

2010-03-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been reading along in the Bible and have your tongue spin out of control and crash into your tonsils? For example… They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad (Numbers 33:32 –which I’m not even sure you can say in mixed company?). And then there are the names that are just impossible to read without a slight giggle… Bukki son of Jogli, the leader from the tribe of Dan (Numbers 34:22). Not to mention those names that sound like really bad nicknames: Dorcas, Nimrod, Ham, Mash and Jobab. Okay, I can understand that different cultures and languages seem odd because of unfamiliarity (read the ingredients on your favorite cereal box and see how funny you sound) but I must confess when Lamont on Men’s day brought up Barzillai I pictured a fictitious large green Japanese monster who frequented Sushi bars!

Now, if I can push past my silliness, I’ll discover first that Barzillai’s name means “iron” connoting the idea of strength. This aged soul (we’re told he is 80) who was instrumental in stabilizing the political hotbed of a son (Absalom) challenging his father (David) for control of the kingdom. Barzillai’s strength of character and wealth assisted David and his troops with provisions. Such allowed them to route Absalom’s army and pursue Absalom where he unfortunately caught his signature long locks in a tree and Joab, David’s chief general, killed him with thrusting three javelins into Absalom’s heart. High drama with elevated consequences but in the midst of this chaos was Barzillai’s devotion and soon to be rewarded friendship. Upon David’s return to Jerusalem to reclaim the throne David requests that Barzillai accompany him and be a part of his entourage. High praise indeed.

Here’s what I think this iron man story is all about. Barzillai requests that due to his aging body that his servant take his place (i.e. with strength comes diplomacy). Brazillai accompanies David over the Jordan but request to return to his homeland where he’s sure to join his deceased parents soon. True strength accepts limitations yet stays in the game. That is, I may not have youthful sight or stamina but what insight God has granted me drives me to go as far as I can! The Psalmist writes of the righteous… They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:14). May we all have the iron will to bear fruit even in our old age! -DAN

Men And Women

2010-03-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

Our long standing schedule has included a men’s day and a women’s day seminar in an effort to encourage, challenge and edify those in our community and surrounding area. We’ve divided the sexes for the opportunity to address gender specific issues and to encourage fellowship and camaraderie for those on the same team (i.e. gender wise). Unhindered by the possible pitfalls of competition (our seminar is better than your seminar) or exclusivity (no men allowed beyond this point), we have pushed on to find that each seminar is unique and has its individual benefits for each group. God has truly blessed us in these annual events. However, which yes, I know sounds like a disclaimer, but none-the-less… however, in Jesus there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). Now this affirmation of being one in Christ is not about eradicating our differences but uniting us in the mantle of Christ where in the arms of Jesus our differences make no difference!

Paul words it this way, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12).” His conclusion then is, “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other (cf. v.25).” There’s the key and the purpose if not at least the intent of our seminars… to show and hopefully address our concerns for one another. Individual seminars allow the freedom and intimacy for things to be shared that meet the specific needs of those involved. These seminars are not about dividing ourselves but rather uniting ourselves by better understanding of the individual parts of the body of Christ. These efforts are for honoring the gift of our gender so that we may serve the body of Christ in its fullness. Genesis tells us, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).” Our prayer is that in discovering the differences (male and female) we will also discover the sameness (in his image) so we may honor His place in our lives. And in turn, we may honor one another!

Yes, I know this could springboard into a cacophony of protests about where is my seminar… that is the sportsman seminar, the red-head seminar (my personal favorite), the stay-at-home mom seminar, the senior saints seminar, the toddlers seminar, the nobody pays attention to me seminar… and yes, the list is ad infinitum (and I’m sure they want a seminar too)! My answer is… if it brings us together while honoring the many parts of the body –let’s do it! May all that we say and do bring glory and honor to Him who calls us into one body through His son. Can I get an “amen?” -DAN

Raising The Flag

2010-02-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

This past week on the 23rd marked the 65th year remembrance of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. Immortalized by combat photographer, Joe Rosenthal, this actual second raising of the flag captured the heart of the struggle against Japan and underscored our nation’s resilience and persistence. A foreign flag had not been raised on Japanese soil in over 1000 years. Of the seven involved in planting the flag only three (Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes and John “Doc” Bradley) survived the battle to come home. This heroic but tragic story of the toll of war is captured in the film and book entitled, “Flags of Our Fathers.” Rosenthal who created the iconic photo of the event received a Pulitzer Prize. Very few are unfamiliar with the dramatic and poignant poise of these soldiers struggling to raise the American flag signaling victory and valor. This photo is part of our historical conscience and a reminder that victory always comes with a cost!

A prominent theme in John’s gospel is that the Son of Man would be lifted up (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32,34). Jesus most profound declaration being, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Like the flag of salvation’s victory Jesus held suspended between heaven and earth by the cross reveals God’s grace and unshakeable plan of redemption! Jesus earlier compares it to the brass snake that was raised to heal the children of Israel in the wilderness. Healing, redemption and reconciliation procured in the most unsuspecting flag of victory… a cross! No combat photographer was there to capture the moment on film but the witness of four gospels and countless lives have made the cross a part of our historical conscience and reminder that victory always comes with a cost!

Now, if the cross is a greater icon than the flag rising on Iwo Jima, then what is the challenge of the cross? Is it mandatory decoration and accessory? Is it hallowed and sacred art to be regaled by master artisans? Or is it as Scripture plainly reveals (1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 2:13-15) that which shapes our lives and impales our hearts with a never-to-forget consciousness of our sinful ways? The cross is more than iconic it is divine irony that draws us to Jesus. The once heinous emblem of Roman tyranny and torture is now the image of victory and redemption. The cross is no longer the harbinger of pain, fear and defeat but now raised high it is the banner of the Christian faith and the undeniable sign that God reigns in a fallen world! -DAN

Good Without God

2010-02-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

Recently 10 billboards went up in the Sacramento area that read, “Are you good, without God? Millions are.” These ads are sponsored by a coalition of atheist organizations who want their message heard that morality is not the product of religious history or influence. The response has been as anticipated… as divided as our country continues to be over the issue of the separation of church and state. I for one am glad to be a part of a diverse community that gives voice to all its citizens. Not because I like such offensive and superficial in your face propaganda but because I know that open dialogue allows truth its best chance to surface. It often finds its sway in outlandish irony. One of the participants in the billboards is FACTS (First Atheist Church of True Science). This group meets at full moon once a month, sings, has a special drink, wears special clothing and discusses the meaning of life. Yet, doesn’t (ironically) see the influence of God/religion on their practice or rhetoric. Hello there!

To say you can be good without God is at best hypothetical because we all live in a world highly influenced by God’s presence! The atheist may chortle at Adam and Eve’s story in the garden but it’s their story. They want to eat of the tree of knowledge not for enlightenment or closer connection to their world but to displace God the Creator. Mankind in many ways, in many times and in many cultures has buried its head in the sands of its self-proclaimed knowledge to deny its need for God. At the altar of Science many a modern has relegated God as an emotional need or social pawn for the greedy or power hungry. They make broad and unfounded caricatures of believers and what they believe. They attack the Bible by reinventing it as the product of propaganda and legend devised to scare and coerce simpletons into blind belief and devotion. But the irony is their claim to rational and critical thinking is far from fair and balanced.

So where does this leave us? Hopefully, with open dialogue that asks even deeper questions… like, “Why should one be good?” And… “If we all fail to be good consistently –what are we to do? You see I’m not interested in a contest about whom is the most moral among us but rather how can I overcome my sinful ways! The cross was an unexpected place to find the answer to sin but it is there I’m redeemed and humbled so that I never again enter an argument about my goodness based on my own righteousness. Sorry billboard but I’ll never be good without God! -DAN

Valentine

2010-02-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

If you want to get into big trouble forget to ask your significant other to be your valentine accompanied by the traditional Hallmark hype of card, candy and flowers. Who is this Valentine guy and what’s he got to do with me telling my sweetheart that I love her? And is he really a saint or is that just cupid arrow shooting, frilly heart stuff? Well, the answer is that nobody really knows how this all came about. Guesses range from the Christian response to the pagan Roman celebration of Lupercalia (or Wolf Festival) that celebrated fertility, to a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II edict that young men remain single and secretly performed marriages. Reality is nobody knows except that during the ever so romantic Elizabethan period the Valentine business took off and we have been stuck holding heart shaped boxes of candy and flowers ever since.

Now, don’t get me wrong… I think celebrating love, relationship and fanning the fires of romance are noble and worthy causes. I’m just fascinated once again that much of what we do we have no idea why we do it. Well, we know that we do it because that’s the way it’s always been done… we say. But we don’t have a sense of its history or genesis. So, here’s my Valentine challenge… let love always be our tradition (“All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 14:35).”). But in our exchange of love may it never be out of tradition, formal celebration or commercialization… but let it be sincere and passionate! Let love not only reign supreme but let it be the first option, the last stand and the abiding principle by which all that we say and do may rest. If God is love then let us aspire to be like Him. If the cross is the ultimate act of love then let the cross guide us and challenge us to higher heights. And last of all may we never fail to be passionate about the object of our love and keep the romance going.

I’m still going to ask (actually already have) my lovely wife to be my Valentine! We’re ooie gooie like that but it’s because we know how blessed we are to have each other and to be united in our love and our faith that is in the true object of our love… our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Happy Valentine’s Day! -DAN

Much In A Name

2010-02-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare queried through the heart sick and forlorn teen, Juliet, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Yet, she a Capulet and Romeo a Montague meant their warring families would not let this romance blossom and like the rose it would be a thorny affair. Solomon said, “A good name is more desirable than great riches… (Proverbs 22:1).” There is something in a name! Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Idi Amin, Osama Bin Laden and a host of others fill the air with ill will and collective disgust. “Your name is mudd” is an expression vilifying Doctor Samuel Mudd who aided John Wilkes Booth in his escape attempt by treating his broken leg and wounds. Yes, there is much in a name. Thus Peter surmises, “Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” And Paul adds, “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess the Jesus Christ is Lord… (Philippians 2:10, 11).” Yes, there is much in a name!

Now sometimes we exalt a name because we are either ignorant of the facts or overlook certain transgressions because one’s cause is greater than himself. Let me illustrate by asking you a question… “Who would you add to this list? Judas, Brutus, Benedict Arnold, Robert Hannsen…???” May I suggest, Josephus whose given name was Joseph Ben Matthias but was legally adopted by Emperor Flavius Vespasian thus his name changed to Flavius Josephus. Josephus was not only a turncoat advocating Jews become Roman Jews but quickly abandoned anyone who got in the way of his success. He went through four wives, three emperors and his most famous betrayal was in the small town of Jotapata in Galilee where he hid in an underground cave with forty others as the city was being besieged. When they were found out he wanted to surrender but to avoid being killed by the others suggested that they commit suicide. Since it would be wrong to take one’s own life they would kill each other by every third person killing the other. Josephus strategically placed himself so he with a servant were the last two alive. He then surrendered. What a swell guy!?!?

We speak highly of him because he mentions Jesus possibly twice lending historical witness to the life of Jesus. His antiquities offer information about the fall of Jerusalem though speculated to be highly exaggerated. But none-the-less, Josephus was no rose and his name should be Mudd! Now, I said all of that to say this… We should guard the name of Jesus with profound reverence and wear it with great pride! His name is above all names and brings dignity and life to all who wear it. Yes, for those who are redeemed there is much in a name! -DAN

Two Brown Hair Beauties

2010-01-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

My wife swiped her “Mema card” in my “what were you thinking” meter and with a bewildered and peering looked asked me, “Why didn’t you say anything about your two new granddaughters?!?” I didn’t have an answer and shrugged my shoulders. I had thought about running their pictures at the beginning of my PowerPoint but somehow didn’t get it done and then I had intended to include them in the announcements but forgot… woe, with me, who will deliver me out of this body of forgetfulness and failure? So, too little, too late but on the 19th our tribe increased with little Miss Trystyn Marie Crutcher who weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces and sporting 19 and a half inches crowned with long brown hair. Then, just a little more than 12 hours later on the 20th little Miss Finnley Pearl Johnston arrived weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces and matching her cousin with 19 and half inches and long brown hair. Yes, Mema and Pappy have two brand spanking new brown hair beauties and we can’t wait to have our chance to hold them!

These babies are not only beautiful because they are our granddaughters but they are babies that parents worked hard for. Both moms suffer with PCOS infertility problems. Forget the initials and medical mumbo jumbo… it’s a Sarah thing. Both Taina and Leah are persistent moms that had to pray a lot and pay a lot to bring these girls home! And now that they are here their Pappy shouldn’t have forgot to announce their arrival to one and all! They are gifts of grace and proclaim the wonder of our Maker! He is to be praised for their safe arrival and His presence in their lives until He brings us all home! In the midst of such terrible events like the earthquake in Haiti it’s a refreshing reminder that God is Creator when we hear about two brown hair beauties!

Now, if you thought this was just about a make-up test for a senile grandparent let me suggest this about our two new gals: “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise… (Psalm 8:2).” New life reminds us all of the wonderful spiritual, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands!” Yes, He’s got you and me and the little bitty baby in His hands! Could there be a better place to be? Aren’t you glad that God watches over us all and receives His greatest praise from the coo of an infant… the cry of two brown hair beauties! -DAN

Virus Protection

2010-01-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Early last week I discovered that I acquired a vicious computer virus that presented itself as a virus protection program. This cunning virus scanned my computer effectively infecting my files with a death grip that shut off any avenue to halt its annoying blue shield popping up taunting me! I never found out its name but discovered that many people I knew had been infected as well. I took it in to Office Depot hoping for a rescue mission to only have it returned with condolences and a refund. Art Armstrong told me he had met up with this blue shielded menace and discovered that at the end of the week all was well on the home screen front! So, I held out hope and to my surprise found my demon possessed computer dressed and in its right mind this morning. (Yes, I now have new virus protection installed and hopefully poised for any blue shields!).

Lesson learned: Never be without virus protection that is up to date! Spiritual application: Never forget “a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6).” That is, never forget to keep up to date your Satan protection plan by walking in the light and staying as close to God as you can get (cf. 1 John 1:7; James 4:7-10). And never, ever forget this about the enemy: “…Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).” That is, spiritual protection is fully aware that evil often presents itself as good. It might look like a protective shield but it’s really weapons of mass destruction!

For the life of me I will never understand what drives these computer hacking dweebs (and yes, I said “dweebs”) to create these destructive programs! What’s the thrill here? I think the answer might be one that explains the connection between computer virus and sin. These hackers are motivated by the same degenerate and malevolent motives Paul describes in Romans 1:29-32. They follow their sinister path because they disregard what is right and delight in others following their path. It’s the demented side of 15 minutes of fame. It is all about telling the story that I’m the one who took the cookie from the cookie jar! Sin is not just about taking a wrong turn or missing the mark but sometimes is about becoming a cancerous agent to spread evil. Yes, “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” -DAN

Preacher of Righteousness

2010-01-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

I often joke with Pam by asking her if she ever in her wildest dreams thought she would be playing house with the preacher. People have such a wide variety of ways they view and think about the preacher. My favorite will always be the youngster in Ukiah who on his first Sunday there came up to me and said, “I know who you are… you’re the creature!” Those who proclaim the good news have brandished many a title from evangelist to pastor to the common but encompassing label, minister. Truth is, they are just labels and ultimately every preacher is who he is… me, I’m Dan. However, I am both challenged and intrigued by Peter’s reference to Noah as a “preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).” I’m intrigued by it because it not only suggests that preaching is about a message but about living. Now, don’t get me wrong… by living, I don’t mean preachers exude some superior behavior and model citizenship (I’m with Paul that righteousness comes from God –Philippians 3:9) but I do believe in mom’s advice: Practice what you preach!

The mettle of ministry and the art of preaching are in the balance between preaching and practicing. You see, righteousness is about faith in God’s good work in transforming, shaping and developing lost souls. It’s a resolute determination to rest in God’s grace while we work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12, 13). Our rightness is neither self-guided or personally powered but relies on God as He calls our faith to task. We really do need to “trust and obey.” Noah was at the preaching business for a long time while he built the ark. Nothing is said of doomsday homilies or gopher wood placards inscribed with, “turn or burn (oops! I mean repent or sink like cement).” The only thing the text tells us is the repeated refrain, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him (Genesis 6:22; 7:5). His righteousness was in his trust and obedience, or as the text describes it, “he walked with God (6:9).”

So, preaching and preachers are about claiming and proclaiming the good news that in Jesus is found the righteousness of God. Preachers get their beautiful feet (Romans 10:15) not from pedicures but from a message of good news that victory is in Jesus. Victory over sin, victory over arrogance and delusions of self-grandeur and victory that will not let go of the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39)! I’d like to think that such is walking with God and that’s the kind of “creature” I want to be! -DAN

Disabled

2010-01-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

The other day as I was driving to work the vehicle in front of me caught my eye. It wasn’t because it was stylish, though it was, or because it was maneuvering like batman on the way to a crime scene, as it was… it was because it had a disabled person license plate and a ski rack on the top. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t those two items seem to be mutually exclusive? As I cocked my eyes to the side gesturing my puzzlement, my imagination took over and I wondered if I was in the presence of the world’s greatest handicapped skier? Or possibly this disabled person had felt a social burden to assist struggling snow bums with rides to the mountains? Or could it be that a disabled mom took enormous pleasure in driving her brood to the snow to vicariously watch her family have great fun skiing? And then in midstream of my ever flowing sarcasm I came to a screeching halt and realized what was in front of me was the gospel!

The good news had opened my eyes to see that I was the disabled one because I didn’t have the full story. The Pharisees couldn’t understand why Jesus would eat with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11), so Jesus chides them because they ignorantly assumed he was a glutton and a drunkard who chose his company poorly (Luke 7:34). The kingdom of God was not the one-sided law keeping exclusive club they had perpetrated but rather a rebirth and spiritually transformed community that enabled the disabled to see beyond the external. The gospel is “good news” because it speaks of reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, mercy and understanding. The gospel never looks to the story as one-dimensional but coaxes one to look deeper, to dig deeper and to expect deeper meaning to the story to which we can never be outsiders. The gospel is not exclusive but inclusive for the single purpose to draw all men unto God.

I’ll never know the full story of my disabled ski rack toting friend but I thank them for reminding me not to disable my vision by jumping to conclusions. And I am thankful that the gospel is good news the enables the disabled… especially me! May God bless us all with eyes that see beyond the moment and measure all things by heaven’s intrusion into our myopic world! -DAN

Invictus

2009-12-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

During vacation I read John Carlin’s book, “Playing The Enemy,” which to coincide with the recent movie by Clint Eastwood has been published by Penguin Books under the title, “Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation.” The book not only recounts the events leading up to South Africa’s rugby team, the Springboks, victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup but also allows the reader inside the mind and life of Mandela who united a nation fragmented by apartheid and racially intense fear. This fairytale but true story not only is inspiring but gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation for one of the most moving experiences we had on our mission trip to South Africa. After we had finished building a house for habitat to replace the shack the family had been living in we gathered in their new home and sang. First we sang then they sang to us. We were so moved but now I know how truly moved I should have been… they sang to us their new national anthem, “Nkosi Skelele iAfrika.” The words in Xhosa mean, “God bless Africa, May her glory rise high, Hear our pleas, God bless us, Us your children, Come Spirit, Come Holy Spirit, God we ask you to protect our nation, Intervene and end all conflicts, Protect us, Protect our nation, Let it be so, Forever and ever.” The chorus sounded to us like, “happy turkey,” so we called it the happy turkey song. Now, I just feel like a turkey because I had no idea how much this anthem meant to those who not only survived apartheid but conquered it with forgiveness and hope!

Invictus is the title to a William Earnest Benley poem that Mandela read often during his incarceration on Robben Island for 27 years. It sustained his harsh and inhumane treatment with such words as, “It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” Mandela embraced invictus (Latin for unconquered) by choosing to know his enemy and forgive his ignorance while grasping the hope that the road to victory was unity not war. Against all odds he united a divided nation with inspiring a rugby team to do the impossible by winning the world cup that no sports analist thought they had the slightest chance to win. And that no political analist thought would be supported by angry blacks that traditionally cheered the other team because they saw the “Boks” as the emblem of white Afrikaner tyranny. But in the end victory was complete while the crowds of blacks and whites chanted in tears, “Nel –son, Nel –son!”

I have no idea what challenges lay before us in 2010 but I do know that because of the love of God that is in Jesus we are invictus! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39). -DAN

Dawn

2009-12-15T12:27:00.000-08:00

It dawned on me in worship as we were singing, “Silent Night,” how meaningful and yet eloquent is the word “dawn.” In the third stanza of Joseph Mohr’s lyrics it proclaims, “…love’s pure light, radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace…” The Christmas gleam was not from a guiding star or angelic chorus but the Christ-child’s countenance, an innocence announcing the dawn of redeeming grace! This inauguration of the Kingdom realized, was the joyous reality of Immanuel, God with us, issuing a new day, a new age that was illuminating the world with grace and truth! As 2010 stands waiting in the dawn of a second decade in this new millennium its radiance will once again be found and founded in the face of Jesus. The Savior of the world as John’s gospel proclaims is, “The true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world (John 1:9).” David had earlier understood, “For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light (Psalm 36:9).” Yes, Jesus was and continues to be our dawn.

In the competition for most dramatic or colorful skies people usually speak of great sunsets that have saturated the horizon with postcard moments. I don’t think any of us would deny being moved beyond words by a great sunset but there is something reviving and subtly stirring about a sunrise at the dawn of a new day. The crisp morning air and the yawning joy of a sleepy world roused to greet a new day. Hope revisited, energy renewed and the pristine landscape of life ready for us to blaze new trails. Wait, wait, wait there a minute, Mr. butterfly chaser… how about a dose of reality and a rousing chorus of, “You load sixteen tons, what do you get, Another day older and deeper in debt, Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store.”

I won’t say that life doesn’t have cloudy days that make it hard to see the dawn, or for a moment forecast that 2010 will be a year without repeated tragedy and failed endeavors but I won’t back down for a moment from the joyous realization that in Jesus is the daily dawning of redeeming grace! Faith is a foundation that provides solid ground for hope for every day –for every day is filled with the love of Jesus! That’s why Paul reminds us that there now abides three: “faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). A love that rises with every dawn! –DAN

Manger

2009-12-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

My grandson, Payden, was a cow in the nativity scene in the church Christmas play in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Leah informed me that during rehearsal Payden improvised with some non-bovine dance moves while they sang “Silent Night.” Who knew that Franz Gruber’s classic melody was a dance track? None-the-less, it was a “moo–ving” performance! Nativity scenes were initiated by Saint Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century to remind the masses that Jesus was the reason for the season. It seems Jesus being marginalized is an issue for every generation. I believe that some of this is because mankind has a hard time keeping Jesus arrival in the manger. We’ve unwittingly marginalized Luke’s poignant words, “there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).” Jesus was swaddled in an animal trough so he might underscore His arrival as the promised Messiah with the paradox of redemption. That is, He who was glory from on high made His debut not in jewels, fine linen and palace walls but in hay, stench and stable surroundings. Why? Because there was no room… no reception or fanfare and though heaven and strangers from afar worshiped at His feet, Herod plotted to take His life! The Apostle John’s nativity declaration is, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him (John 1:11).” Jesus began a manger guy and continues to be a manger guy!

Let me explain, the redemptive paradox is that God reconciles mankind not with high and exalted staging but in the weakness of a cross that declares victory in surrender! Jesus didn’t hang out with or band together with the religious elite but chose His company with outcasts and the common. His teaching was about everyday things not the theological musings of the rabbis. He spent the majority of His life in a small town with work that left Him with rough hands and sawdust in His lungs. And during His ministry He had no place to call His own but rather depended on the service of a handful of protective women. To an outsider Jesus look more like riff raff than like a Messiah. You see, Jesus has always been a manger guy… a son of man who illuminated that the glory of God was not in the vessel but the content! That every soul coming into this world can embrace the true light no matter if they are born prince or pauper. The gospel is for ALL!

Just curious… but where did we get all those animals and where does it say the Magi came to the stable? Easy enough… as Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof says, “Tradition!” I kind of like a nativity crew of characters –it makes it interesting and colorful. However, I hope we never lose sight of the manger that reminds us, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:3-5).” -DAN

Dancing

2009-12-07T12:36:00.001-08:00

One of my absolute favorite things to enjoy these days is to see my granddaughter Makaiya dance to the music of her electronic toys. Makaiya isn’t standing or walking yet but she bobs her head side to side to the beat of the music and to the delight of her Pappy. Her sheer joy and exuberance is contagious as well as entertaining. I hope her life is filled with moments of dancing! Now, those words probably until the day I die will always stick about half way up because I grew up in a household that was dead set against the devil’s tool of dancing that lured so many innocent youths into debauchery and illicit affairs of the flesh (we weren’t sure what debauchery was but we knew it was bad stuff)! So, in elementary school I had to explain to my teacher that I couldn’t circle with the other kids singing, “B*I*N*G*O, and Bingo was his name’o…,” because well, we don’t dance. Now, don’t get me wrong… I appreciate my parent’s desire to instill holiness into how I viewed the world (even when I got my mouth washed out with soap a few times) but the end result is it gave a skewed view of what the Bible actually says about dancing and left me and many of my generation rhythmically challenge and card carrying left footers! But somewhere in the mix of all of this I landed with two feet squarely on the dance floor with the same wish for myself as I have for my grandchildren… a life filled with moments of dancing!

Now, before you get irate about the thought of a dancing preacher let me remind you of what Scripture actually says about dancing. The words translated dance (and its various forms) total less than thirty references in Scripture. The majority of them are positive references that range from Miriam and the Israelite maidens dancing with tambourines and singing praises for being rescued from Egyptian pursuit, to David dancing before the ark in praise and adulation over the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Jesus uses dancing to illustrate joyous celebration in the story of the prodigal son and the Psalms end with an exhortation to praise God with dancing. Yes, the Israelites were dancing before the golden calf and Herodias’ daughter danced before Herod for John the Baptist head and yes, yes, yes, the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 include revelry which is drunken dancing. But by far the idea of dancing in Scripture is just as Makaiya already knows… it’s an expression of joy… a rhythmic exuberance that is in tune with praise, adulation and appreciation.

Dancing is joyous and natural! Can there be “dirty dancing?” Yes, even Hollywood knows that! This Sunday I guarantee that there will be dancing at church… that is, toes will be tapping to music, kids will unplug their joyous energy and bust a move and the hearts that we celebrate our Lord with will beat to a rhythm! May all this dancing be great adulation for the one who created us, sustains us and calls us to His side! And may all our lives be filled with moments of dancing! –DAN

Christmas Spirit

2009-12-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

It’s the time of the year that people start talking about trimming trees, watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music while they warm up to the Christmas spirit. That Yule tide feeling that has you breaking out in a chorus of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” even when you know the climate you live in makes such imaginings less than likely. Never-the-less, you’re up for a jolly, holly, Christmas! Unless you suddenly are blindsided by the reality of the commercialization, opulent indulging, consumer overloaded greed that drives overspending, gadget insanity and a spirit of not Christ worship (basic meaning of Christmas) but rather Stuff worship that Jesus says drives a spirit of building bigger barns (i.e. boxes to hold our stuff –Luke 12:18)! Hey, wait a minute preacher… did your grandma get run over by a reindeer or something? Christmas spirit is all about giving and sharing the blessings we have with our loved ones and neighbors!

I agree, I agree… but not at the expense of fiscal responsibility and good stewardship of not only the physical but the spiritual spirit of the season. My mother would always counter our ungrateful spirits when we complained about receiving only one toy for Christmas, with a lecture about how she put a remnant of a flour sack around a brick for a doll and nailed a tin can lid to a stick to roll around as her car. Christmas spirit was not in the status of the gift, or the price tag but rather in the joy of sacrifice that unlocked the imagination of a little girl that turned bricks into dolls and tin can lids into cars. Okay, preacher… now, you’re meddling and jeopardizing my chances for an I-pod Touch, so let me quickly remind you that the Magi brought gifts to the first Christmas party that were not only expensive but specialty gifts!

I agree, I agree… the Christmas spirit is about bringing the best to the party! I’m just suggesting we need to think long and hard about what brings the best! We need to see not just gold, myrrh and frankincense but swaddling clothes, manger tainted straw and desperate quarters that are warmed not by expensive gifts but by worship lit up by heaven’s star. That’s the spirit of the Christ mass… that’s the joy of giving! It’s not about whether we have designer dolls or brick dolls designed by a child’s imagination… it’s about the spirit of giving not receiving. Weigh your gifts with love and meditation on a spirit that will last a lifetime. Make memories that last beyond forgotten toys that can only nurture a moment. Share gifts that are from the heart that are filled not just with Christmas spirit but the Spirit of Christ. And by the way, thanks mom, for brick dolls and tin can lid cars that fill my spirit every Christmas! -DAN

Thankful

2009-11-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

In our Life group we are studying the psalms. We have challenged each one in our group to write his or her own psalm with the idea that psalms are an important way to express faith and relationship with God. Our challenge is not a poetry contest nor is it an exercise in theological understanding. We want to join David, the Sons of Korah, Asaph and the others with giving words to our faith, our anxieties, our hurts and our praise. So, here’s my ‘tis the season psalm:

Psalm 151*
For the director of music. To the
tune of, “Joyful Thanksgiving.” Of Dan.

O God and Father of Whom joy surrounds
Your majestic throne;
My soul thirsts for Your presence
as one longing in a desert place alone.
Yet never solitary in these arid places;
deceptive wells are many; ever bitter.
I am a lost child in a crowded marketplace;
too easily sold to the highest bidder
and too quickly branded another’s servant.
But I will offer praise from lips parched;
thanksgiving from a heart that knows
its true master;
I will mount high upon the morning’s sunrise;
and in the bright of day,
proclaim the Lord’s sovereignty.
He is worthy of all praise,
He is the rising and mighty tower,
that provides safety, in a world adrift.
So sing with thanksgiving all ye people of God;
Sing with heart, soul and mind
for He is gracious to his children.
Sing, sing, sing…
O God and Father of Whom joy surrounds
Your majestic throne;
Our souls thirst for Your presence
as a people longing for the Water of Life.

* There are 150 Psalms… so, I figured mine to be 151 not as an addition but as a follower, longing to praise God! -DAN

Baby Pew

2009-11-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

Most Sunday mornings I’m sitting in the baby pew… no, that has nothing to do with the olfactory senses or a miniature version of a pew –rather, it is a reference to a gaggle of toddlers that are lovingly held by their relatives and friends that surround me. These fresh eyes see the world of worship in an interesting way. They tilt their heads in curiosity while their loved ones belt out hymns of praise and in frustration squirm while communion emblems are cautiously circumvented around them as the juice and crackers are being passed down the row. Their first vocal response in worship is an echo “amen” they heard. They can’t figure out why they are asked to be quiet or why the adults seem to put their heads down and pretend they’re asleep only to be awakened by an “amen.” They can’t understand for a moment why adults can’t see that pews are great for jumping, crawling under and drawing on. They have no patience whatsoever for songs books staying in the rack and are completely baffled why attendance cards should not be eaten. They’re happy however that it seems they share their adult wards assurance that once the sermon starts it time for a nap. Yes, I’ve learned much from the baby pew about the nature of worship!

So, what have these babes in arms taught you Preacher McWitty? I’m glad you asked because they’ve taught me much. First, they have reminded me that Jesus said of them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).” The kingdom of heaven invades our lives to restore a child’s world that is driven by imagination and curiosity. In the innocent eyes of youth is reflected the longing for knowledge and the joy of discovery. A child leads the way because such are not jaded by past failure or intimidated by the unknown future. Babes in arms are armed to tackle any task because they trust they will be protected by those who love them. My child like prayer is for the Lord to revive in me a daily longing to know Him and serve Him. My petition humbly submits that I oft fail because I haven’t come to the task with fresh eyes… a child’s eyes that are filled with imagination and curiosity.

So, if you see me on the pew playing with my young mentors be assured I’m learning… learning to see God and His people with fresh eyes. Learning to trust and obey because it’s fun and never boring on the baby pew! -DAN

Panoply

2009-11-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I challenged you to look up the word “panoply” if you were unclear of its definition. I suggested that if we are to sing to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs it works best if we know the vocabulary we are using. I also suggested that the dictionary is a delightful read even though the narrative is a little thin on plot. Charles Wesley’s stirring lyrics in “Soldier of Christ, Arise” recommends that if we are “to arm (ourselves) for the fight” we’ll need the panoply of God. This song was originally entitled, “The Full Armor of God.” It also included 19 more stanzas in addition to the 5 we have in our hymnals (Powerpoint slides). My favorite of the edited out portion is the concluding stanzas in Wesley's original song. He rallies the troops in the spirit of historic battle cries with the emotive lyrics:

From strength to strength go on, wrestle and fight and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down and win the well fought day.
Still let the Spirit cry in all His soldiers, “Come!”
Till Christ the Lord descends from high and takes the conquerors home.

You see God’s panoply is as Webster defines it, “2. Anything protecting completely or forming a magnificent covering.” As soldiers of Christ we are armed not with our wits or military precision but rather with truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation and the most powerful weapon known to man… the Word of God. These are property of the divine (i.e. the armor of God) and form a magnificent covering when we are alert and keep “on praying on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Our battle is not with flesh and blood but Satan and his substantial resources. We are in the battle of our life. We may be only foot soldiers but it’s not about rank but rather assurance that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Every generation needs the panoply of God. No matter when you were born or where you reside the battle is on. It may be as fierce as death knocking on the door or as personal as internal struggles of a relentless sin. You may be hoary headed or wet behind the ears. You may be a seasoned veteran or a recent recruit. But everyone and I mean everyone needs the armor of God, the panoply of His magnificent covering to make it through everyday! -DAN

Tribute Tattoo

2009-11-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

The headline caught my eye and the eerie nature of it evoked an unsettled feeling but a genuine curiosity. A British tattoo artist was designing a tattoo to memorialize his young son who passed away from a rare disease at the age of two and half. He planned to use an ink mixture that included ashes from his cremated son’s remains. After a little research I discovered that ancient Middle Eastern people memorialized their dead this way and I uncovered many headlines of a variety of people who have these very personal tattoos. It made me wonder if this was more than just trying to hang on to the physical presence of past loved ones. Was it as simple as the funeral remarks that loved ones will live on in our memories? Or was this an act of denial that death can not separate us from our loved ones? Whatever the answer might be to these questions it is obvious that once again we are reminded how precious life is and our longing for immortality underscores the reality of a God who created us in His image and put eternity into our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

No doubt there may be some who’s first reaction is that this is more than bizarre behavior and is a blatant disregard for the sacred in both the living and the dead. I grew up in a household where we were not allowed to put bubblegum tattoos on because the bible strictly forbade tattooing the body (Leviticus 19:28). Besides, only riffraff sported tattoos that more often than not were lewd, crude and unrefined (as the saying went). However, even a brief glance at the text reveals that to be consistent you would also have to be adamant about forbidding certain hairstyles and beard trimming. The scaring and tattoo prohibition in Leviticus was a warning to Israel to not indulge in pagan religious practices. In verse 19 one of these miscellaneous laws is not to wear clothing woven of two kinds of material (raise your hand in you are presently in violation of this one). Again this is a reference to pagan religious practices that was wrong by association not by nature.

So, are you suggesting one should get a tattoo that mixes inks with cremation ashes? I’m reserving my judgment even though it still seems eerie and bizarre. What I believe to be important is that we never forget that the sting of death has been swallowed up in the Christ victory of the cross (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). Thus, what I desire is the ultimate marks… the marks of Jesus (Galatians 6:17). Then we can honor those who have gone before us by sharing the faith that they shared with us. Now, that’s a tattoo! -DAN

The Best

2009-10-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

What makes your “best” list? Is the list populated with incredible experiences ranging from gourmet meals to dazzling vacation destinations? Or is it more cerebral with outstanding literature or media? Are you enthralled more by Mozart and Van Gough or sunsets and panoramic views? Is the best for you more relational and what you immediately think of is your loved ones? Maybe you find the best as the product of skilled competition whether on the sports field or the Home and Garden Network. Whatever makes your best list not only tells something about you but reminds you that in the midst of a chaotic and fallen world there are reminders of the Garden of Eden. Innocent and nascent beauty survives and even from the garbage heap springs forth new life. In a world where we think we settle for the proverbial “whatever” it’s nice to experience the best here and there.

The best is always dependent upon its source. James writes in his letter, “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring (James 3:11)?” His point is that bitterness and divisiveness are “of the devil” but wisdom from above produces a “harvest of righteousness.” That is, if we draw from the best we can expect the best. No wonder when Jesus turns water into wine to keep the party going the result is the best wine (I would assume ever made)! Your mom’s cooking was “the best” not because she was a gourmet cook but because she was mom! That memorable sunset was “the best” not because its magentas and vermilions were superior but because for a moment it was clear to your heart and your eyes how beautiful is God’s creation. Mankind longs for the best when their hearts are set toward Zion and paradise regained. What constitutes the best is that no greater fulfillment or joy can be imagined and therefore heaven is realized.

I want to suggest that heaven realized is truly the best and yet assuredly quite simple. Heaven is resting in God’s presence with a heart full of praise and wonder. It will not find its ultimate completion until God calls us home… however, we can have a taste of heaven… a taste of the best even now. Resting in God’s presence can happen in church, it can happen in a moment shared with nature or in private meditations. The possible places are only limited by our imaginations. The door to moments of “the best” are always awaiting our arrival. So, where will you find your next best? Best wishes to you in your journey. -DAN

Random

2009-10-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

As a lifetime victim of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) I liked it better when we were called day dreamers. Being distracted from daily tasks by a dream almost sounds biblical where deficit disorder sounds like there’s a short in my wiring. I’d like to think of my ADD more as single minded (again more biblical sounding) as opposed to task driven. That is, I find following the rabbit down the hole much more entertaining than staying on the path. Alice and I are often treated to a world beyond the looking glass that offers new insights. I know for those who are dedicated to well worn paths our tendency to run in different directions is not only frustrating but perceived to be random wandering and less than productive. Truth is, that often that is the case but none-the-less there are times that random thoughts and the road less traveled open up new worlds of adventure and blessings. Now, I’m not abandoning staying on task or the Pauline avocation to let all things be done decently and in order… but I am suggesting that freeing the body, soul and mind to follow some random thinking, praying and acting might be a healthy thing to do from time to time.

So, here are some random thoughts… Worry more about inviting people inside the church doors than about if the church doors get locked. “Do this in remembrance of me” is much broader than the events of the cross. Heaven is more heavenly when pearly gates and golden streets lead not to a mansion but a place at the table of the Lord. The Holy Spirit settles for nothing less than a temple to dwell in so clean up, straighten up and open up what’s between your temples. If God is love (and He IS) then godliness is not about cleanliness –it’s about loving. Church is about coming together not just assembling… it’s togetherness in heart, purpose and care. If you don’t like the way something is being done spend more time thinking about how I can help than you do on whom I can blame. I think opportunity knocks all the time. Try your best not to be an oxymoron. Always be the voice of love and kindness. Let the name of Jesus always put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. Finally, all that you do in word or in deed do in the name of the Lord Jesus!

Wouldn’t it be random if R.A.N.D.O.M. was an acronym? If it was I think it would be Remember And Never Doubt Our Maker! Of course, that’s the random thinking of a random preacher. -DAN

XPO FERENS

2009-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue… so goes the mnemonic we learned in school. His three ship (the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria) fleet set sail from Spain to discover and claim the “New World” for Spain. Much has been argued as to Columbus’ motives and countless details of his life debated so that volumes of revisionist history books have been written. Yet, without exception on the second Monday of October our nation celebrates the one to which we attribute the discovery of the Americas. A Columbus Day sale raises the flag that once again Columbus sails into our memory and history. What is often missed is the convincing argument that swayed Queen Isabella of Spain to finance Columbus’ voyage. The answer is discovered in the cryptic way Columbus signed his name, Xpo Ferens (the cross bearer). This distinctive mark joined Greek and Latin to hail Christopher Columbus as an ambassador of Spain to bring Christianity to the New World (i.e. carry the cross and its message to the natives). Evangelizing the New World was the convincing argument that captured the Queen’s favor.

If truth be known, mixed in with this holy calling was probably the all too human elements of greed, exploitation via slavery and territorial domination. Religion has and will continue to be used to exploit others for financial gain and control but none-the-less the cross carried will ultimately win out. “Xpo Ferens” should be the signature that we all address our lives with. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14).” As cross carrying ambassadors we reaffirm the enigma of the gospel… the good news is that death produced true life and weakness affirmed real strength. The cross shaped message is one that conquerors new and old worlds with a message of redemption through sacrifice and surrender. God has reconciled with His creation by giving His one and only Son to purchase mankind’s pardon with His blood. This act of love and grace happened on the unlikely mast of a Roman cross where innocent blood was shed. It at once underscores the depth of man’s sins and the unfathomable expanse of God’s love!

So, how do you sign your name? Are you a cross bearer? Has the message of the cross financed your life? I believe that most would affirm that they wear the name of Christ proudly and do their best to share the good news. I also believe that most would confess that all too often we have either put the cross down or reshaped it to make it more comfortable for our journey. We’re not proud of it… we just own our failure. However, let us all unite to sing, “God is Love!” And may we encourage one another to be cross bearers! -DAN

Why?

2009-10-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

Bill Cosby’s 1965 Album entitled, “Why Is There Air?” answers the question in a humorous but insightful way. Cosby quips, “Any Physical Education major knows that the reason there is air is to inflate volleyballs and basketballs.” Cosby’s college girlfriend, the Philosophy major with an IQ of 300… thousand had queried, “Why is there air?” Within the humorous imagination of Bill Cosby is the sardonic insight that much of what we question is overkill at best. We often not only ask too many questions filled with pointless platitudes but often we ask the wrong questions. This is more than curiosity gyrating into cat extermination but rather a reflection of our inability to see the obvious or comprehend the bigger picture. Like insatiable children asking why at every juncture we fail to stop and reflect on what we know before chasing after the unknown. Okay, but isn’t curiosity the road to higher education and the foundation of both the sciences and the arts?

I’m glad you asked! Yes, man’s questioning nature has led him to many important discoveries and inventions. No doubt, that sometimes curiosity has built the cat instead of executing it. Light has replaced darkness. Understanding has dispelled ignorance. However, there seems to me to be one “Why?” that alone deserves our allegiance. It is valuable to our faith and our discipleship. It is the question, “Why do I do what I do?” Forget about why there is air and who’s full of it and reflect on what motivates us to be Christ followers. In our text this morning the religious elite sent representatives to question John the Baptist (John 1:19-28). John had no reservations about who he was or what he was doing. He was a witness to something greater than himself. His venue was the desert, his successor’s the temple. He was a foot servant unworthy to unlace the sandals of the one who would be King of kings. His voice was a summons to make ready for the Lord of lords. He was a witness, not a prophet nor the Christ. He was John the baptizing one calling people to repentance.

Such clarity of identity and purpose is why we are here! It is the answer to why we do what we do. It is the big picture that brings into focus all the other whys we often impale ourselves upon. We are witnesses of the Christ. Our testimony is that we are not worthy and our voice is a summons for all to make ready for His place in their hearts. I’m not trivializing the harrowing “whys”… why do the innocent suffer? Or why do the wicked persist while the righteous fail? Or why hasn’t Christ returned? What I am saying is that the very personal answer to the question, “Why do I do what I do?” Is the answer that witnesses to the one who is the answer! He alone makes sense out of the nonsense and He alone bridges the gap between God and man! That’s why I’m His witness! -DAN

Buried

2009-09-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Girl 27 is a documentary about Patricia Douglas who as a 17 year old movie extra found herself buried in a horrendous shroud of deceit and sexual violation that not only robbed her of her innocence but shattered her life into shards of ill fate. Thinking she was an extra on a new film the young Douglas discovered she was part of 100 girls hired to entertain at a wild salesmen party sponsored by MGM studios. This was the studio’s way of saying thanks to these salesmen who had made MGM the only successful studio in 1937. After being held down and forced fed from the abundant source of MGM supplied liquor, Douglas stumbled outside to purge her stomach of the unwanted intruder only to find she was followed by a salesman who ultimately violently defiled the youth. After a grand jury trial being dismissed and a federal court appeal buried by an attorney who was in MGM’s pocket, the young Douglas found she couldn’t fight the studio giant. MGM even paid her mother off with hush money. Her case was buried but more tragically her life was buried until a journalist and film director inadvertently stumbled across it while researching a book on Jean Harlow.

We would like to think that life is more like David and Goliath where the little guy fells the giant but all too often the malevolent magnates of life crush the innocent under their mammoth resources. “You can’t fight city hall,” we regale as we acquiesce to our self imposed retreat. O, we believe that the bigger they are the harder they fall but we’re convinced that they hardly fall. Patricia Douglas is both victim and reminder of the triumph of injustice and the reign of corruption. She’s not an exception but a tragic reminder of how dark is the degradation of mankind. So, do we curl up in a ball and wait for the Second Coming? Doesn’t Paul say something about being more than conquerors? Now, let’s put the fight back in the dog!

The cross is a reminder that one can take that which is devised for destruction and turn it into an emblem of victory! What makes the difference is how one views the world. If our fate is circumstantial or scripted by the master of the moment then truly we will be victims and not conquerors. However, if our destiny has been shaped by the divine then as Paul simply puts it, “If God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?” In God’s hands we find death leads to life, last puts us first and when buried we are raised! Does this mean we are invincible or that Giants won’t crush us beneath their weight? Hardly… but it does mean, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known (Luke 12:2).” Why? Because God is in charge… even on a cross! -DAN

The Big Finish

2009-09-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

More often than not when I’m on the telephone with Leah I can hear Payden in the background singing. Recently, Leah asked me if I heard him and if I could understand what he was singing. He was singing one of his favorite church songs but unfortunately he doesn’t quite know the lyrics. No problem however, for our adolescent troubadour, he simply makes up his own lyrics. Apparently, the lyric of the day was that God had gone to the store where He was rock-a-bying a baby. Leah is entertained but sometimes it’s a bit much. She informed me that His very favorite church song is Dennis Jernigan’s song, “Thank You, Lord!” (781 in our song books). Now, to understand why this particular song might lend itself to a you-got-to-love-the-kid moment you have to understand two things. First, that the song as you recall has a dramatic sustained note in the chorus where the men sing, “And I thank You, thank You, Lord (with “Lord” being a high sustained note).” And second, that Payden is the aficionado of the big finish… that is, he likes to belt those sustained notes with unabashed pubescent punch! He often has a giggling audience in church when the Spirit moves him to offer up one of his big finishes. Mom loves it and bears it at the same time… and Pappy chuckles at imagining the scene.

Now, there’s something I want to say about big finishes but first I want to commend us all to make up our own lyrics. You see, God singing “Rock-a-bye Baby” in the grocery store is exactly what leads the soul to big finishes. When one sees God’s presence wherever they find themselves and know that He’s involved in rocking babies as much as He’s involved in state affairs… then, we have a God as big as the one the Bible reveals! If singing is heart melodies that speak to one another then let us never forget to affirm His presence in all that we say and do. Now, if we keep this lyric alive I believe we ought to give it a Payden finish. We need to belt it out with child-like exuberance! We need to… sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song (Psalm 95:1,2)!

And Here’s the big finish… and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6)! Jesus suffered the little children to come to Him to remind the disciples and you and I that the nature of the kingdom of God is more about imaginative play than it is about rules and regulations. It’s about those unafraid to belt out the big finish because they know the one who is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end… the Big Finish! Their lyrics are full of His presence and His place in their lives. So, what’s your favorite song to belt out? -DAN

Fish Who Answer the Telephone

2009-09-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

“Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body (Ecclesiastes 12:12).” So quips the ancient wisdom of Solomon who I have no doubt would yet be impressed with the hundreds of thousands of books published each year. From textbooks updated, to vampire teenage romance, stories, data, commentary and imaginings have found their way on to the printed page. Few if any destined to be classics but all with a message someone is passionate about. So where would you place my new favorite title published in 1937 and authored by Pavlov’s student, Yuril P. Frolov, entitled, “Fish Who Answer the Telephone and Other Studies in Experimental Biology?” At first glance one might think this is book not from a Russian professor but rather a doctor… Dr. Seuss that is! Frolov like Pavlov studied animal conditioned responses. Pavlov got dogs to salivate and Frolov conditioned a certain species of carp to gather for feeding when an electric bell was sounded. Hence, fish who answer the phone.

My interest here is not in answering some trivia question about bizarre book titles but that often we make quick judgment about things by reacting just to the surface of things. I have no doubt that Frolov was trying to provoke interest in his book by implying fish were answering telephones. I also believe that the inspired Word of God often wants to grab our attention by making statements that take a deeper understanding. The first will be last and the last first (Mark 10:31) is a statement that begs for more explanation. Prohibition of shaving off the edges of your beard (Leviticus 19:27) has got to be more than a fashion statement. God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac is unsettling and turning the other cheek to an attacker just seems cowardly. But each of these have a deeper meaning and a richer story that makes phone answering fish child’s play.

So what are we to do with God’s Word that refuses to let us be casual or superficial with our reading of the text? Exactly… study to show ourselves approved! Meditate and delight over these words of life! Listen intently to not only the words but the silence, the history, the drama, the context of meaning then and now. Such requires our imagination as well as our scholarship. It depends on our common sense and employs us to see both tree and forest. And I believe it beckons us to join heart and mind in an adventure that seeks to not only understand God’s will but delight in the journey. Like little kids discovering fish that make phone calls we are adventurers discovering we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us! -DAN

Golconda

2009-09-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Can you name a famous poet? I can hear you –Robert Frost, William Wordsworth, E. E. Cummings, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, John Donne and maybe somebody might throw in Shel Silverstein or Maya Angelou and the word lovers toss on Shakespeare and Rumi. But who’s missing? Think greeting cards… yes, Emily Dickinson! What a fascinating woman who wrote over 1,500 poems but only published reluctantly a handful during her life time. She was by her own admission eccentric, recluse and detached. However, her insights though often shrouded in an obsession with death and eternity have made many stop and ponder life and love. In her poem entitled, “Your Riches Taught Me Poverty” she writes, “I ’m sure it is Golconda, Beyond my power to deem,— To have a smile for mine each day, How better than a gem!” That is, true riches of love is not in physical gifts like gems but gifts of the heart like a smile. But if we are sure it is Golconda… then what in the world is Golconda?

Golconda is a word that means “a source of great wealth.” It’s based on an ancient city in Southern India that was known for its wealth from nearby diamond mines. Dickinson a very humble spirit knew that the wealth of love was discovered in the poverty of spirit. Having attended a seminary for women Dickinson’s poems are full of theology and religious references. Though single all her life she knew that loves’ riches were best taught in poverty. Jesus began His Sermon on the Mount with, “Blessed, are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).” The nature of God’s sovereignty and covenant relationship with His creation ensues from an awareness of our own poverty and a hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Thus we acknowledge God is the true source of great wealth! This is one of those facets of the radiant glory of God that reveals itself in paradox… the first will be last, the least the greatest, in dying we live and in weakness is our strength. None of it makes sense unless we recognize that His great riches have taught us poverty! He is Golconda… our source of great wealth!

Another great line from a Dickinson poem about books is, “our kinsmen of the shelf.” It reminds me of the C. S. Lewis line, “we read to know that we are not alone.” The Bible is a wonderful library that reveals sometimes in narrative, sometimes in poetry but mostly in confession of men and women of faith about the struggle to lay up treasures in heaven not on earth! And because our kinsmen are on that shelf the struggle continues in you and me. May God bless us with clarity of soul to know that our God is the only true Golconda! -DAN

Jesus Lives Forever

2009-09-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

I love why the writer of Hebrews says, “Jesus lives forever.” The simple idea is that like Melchizedek He is a priest forever (in contrast to a come and go priesthood made up of those who live and die). Such never changing permanence introduced a better hope and promised intimacy with God through a covenant relationship with the divine secured in Jesus forever nature. The writer of Hebrews wraps this up in the most magnificent phrase, “He always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25).” Wow, Jesus omnipresence, that is, His I am that I am, alpha and omega, sameness today, yesterday and forever nature is eternally designed to assure us of His advocacy and efficacy in salvation. In a world that seems to be beaten, battered and baffled it’s nice to know that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for those who “come to God through Him.” Now, as great as that eternal truth sounds… what does it mean for my every day walk of life?

It reminds us that we are in a partnership with the divine. If we are seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms and have been made partakers of the divine nature because God has called us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord… then, we are conscious of living holy lives not because we think we’re all that and a bag of potato chips BUT because we refuse to take grace for granted or redemption as anything less than ultimate sacrifice! We are the redeemed who love because He first loved us. We are soldiers of Christ because we are freedom fighters who war not with flesh and blood but “against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).” We are more than conquerors! Jesus lives forever is a spiritual adrenaline rush that rallies believers to shout His name from the mountain top!

Okay, so we live out our faith and we are challenged to live bold and brave because Jesus is our mentor and our inspiration! But why do I let my passion for His presence go cold? On the nosey! That is exactly why He lives to intercede for us. Jesus knew that our flesh was weak even though our spirits were willing (Mark 14:38). He knew we would need a constant reminder of His presence… “Do this in remembrance of me.” He knew that sin could only be conquered by grace! So, He lives forever so He may always intercede in our behalf! Now that is good news… that’s the gospel that finds us ever returning on bended knees to worship and to repent as we reach out to be lifted up in His protective care. So we sing with ardent hearts, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today …He lives within my heart.” (P.S. A Jewish student asked Alfred H. Ackley who wrote the hymn “He Lives,” “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” Ackley quickly affirmed, “He lives!”) -DAN

On the Outskirts of Hope

2009-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have a few pet peeves that mount me on my high horse so I can ride off on a tangent (I freely admit here that I have no idea what a peeve is and I’m pretty sure a tangent is one of those math concepts that I really never quite understood). None-the-less, one of those pet peeves is the misnomer “reality” TV. I’m nauseated by their proliferation and their pretense to simply be a slice of life caught on film. Yes, the people aren’t actors (hello, captain obvious) and there is no script. However, we all know that they are riddled with contrived, manipulated, product placement enhanced, drama driven situations orchestrated by cagey Hollywood types that know how to paint these willing victims into expected corners of human reaction. In short, reality… my foot! The only reality has been in the harrowing news of late about Ryan Jenkins, who allegedly murdered, mutilated and disposed of his wife and then ended his fleeing from authorities by hanging himself in a Canadian motel room. Now that’s reality… the reality of sin!

I don’t usually pay attention to such startling reminders of the darkened hearts of this wicked and evil world that surrounds us but my eyes latched on to an ironic phrase in the AP report of this story. In identifying the location of where Jenkins met his demise the article located the motel as being “on the outskirts of Hope.” Now, we are talking about reality, the reality of life enslaved by sin where it truly is on the outskirts of hope! Paul wrote to the Corinthians brethren who certainly had their own dramas that in the face of an imperfect world and imperfect knowledge three things remained (i.e. are worth holding on to)… faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). He also later tells them, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Yes, hope anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19) and keeps our eyes on the horizon of time when Christ will return in ultimate victory, the penult of reality shows!

Yes, but reality is that even Christians can find themselves on the outskirts of hope. Yes, walking in the light as He is in the light doesn’t mean we will be sinless and often at loss for the assurance of hope. But our very real frailty keeps bringing us back to the light that redeems us and the hope that secures our faith and champions our obedience. Assured of our weakness we keep seeking our strength in our Lord and cognizant that our righteousness is in Him and Him alone! Hope is brightened by the one show of reality that the redeemed share by grace… without Him there is no hope and with Him there is life! -DAN

Call It Macaroni

2009-08-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently retired on disability was being teased by his wife that he was hooked on watching A&E’s edgy show, “Dog the Bounty Hunter.” He admitted that he was fascinated with Duane “Dog” Chapman’s rugged Wild West meets Billy Graham capture and convert stories but what he was really hooked on was old movies. Like an anxious school boy I raised my hands a blurted out, “Me too!” One of my favorites is the 1942 James Cagney movie about George M. Cohan, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” But I must admit I’ve always been puzzled that a patriotic song would have lyrics like, “Yankee Doodle went to town, A riding on a pony, Stuck a feather in his hat, And called it macaroni.” This Yankee Doodle guy sounds to me like he’s a few noodles short of a Kraft’s Mac and Cheese box.

It seems that this song that came to be a Revolutionary war theme song was first used to make fun of the American troops. The song's origins were in a pre-Revolutionary War song originally by British military officers to mock the disheveled, disorganized colonial "Yankees" with whom they served in the French and Indian War. The word doodle first appeared in the early seventeenth century to mean a fool or simpleton. 'Macaroni' was a contemporary slang for foppishness. One version of the Yankee Doodle lyrics is attributed to Doctor Richard Shuckburgh (I include this only because if your name is Shuckburgh you shouldn’t mock anyone), a British Army surgeon, who wrote the song after witnessing the unprofessional appearance of Colonel Thomas Fitch, Jr., the son of Connecticut Governor Thomas Fitch, who arrived in Albany in 1755 with the Connecticut militia. There are records of British troops singing this song outside of church services to mock our troops. What a wonderful irony that in a short period of time the song became a rallying cry and symbol of American freedom.

Many in scholarship believe that “Christian” (Acts 11:26) was originally a derogatory term for disciples of Christ but that the early church turned it around and wore it with pride. Sometimes macaroni is a delicious thing to call the hat you wear! The foolishness of preaching proclaims that what the world calls weak or silly is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)! So, here’s to macaroni! -DAN

Keene Insight

2009-08-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

History is at best a guess. The last of the four gospels reminds us, Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 21:25). History’s blurred edges and fudged facts were corralled by God’s breath (2 Timothy 3:16) and His divine intervention so that which is important might be preserved. I grew up hearing Will Rodgers sardonic quip, “I only believe what I read in the papers.” But then again, do we really know that it was Will Rodgers that said it? Yes, we all lament with Dragnet’s creator and star, Jack Webb, as Sergeant Joe Friday saying, “Just the facts, Ma’am.” However, history has a way of making facts and artifacts specious and speculative when all the puzzle pieces worn by time seem not to fit anymore. For example let me offer a Keene insight.

If you know who Laura Keene is then you probably are somewhat a history buff or Lincoln devotee. This mid-nineteenth century actress and business woman was the star of the play, Our American Cousin, that Abraham Lincoln and party was watching the fatal evening that John Wilkes Booth both shot and stab the 16th president of the United States. Miss Keene made her way from the stage up to Lincoln’s box and convinced the doctor to cradle the fallen president’s head in her lap. It was and will be an historical oddity that the usually hyper-jealous Mary Todd Lincoln allowed this spectacle. But Miss Keene’s blood soaked dress, now just fragments, has survived the ages and secured the actress’ place in history. But there is a Keene insight to this story.

Historians debate whether or not Keene actually was in the box or made up the story and if she was in the presidential box was it Lincoln’s blood she contacted or Henry Rathbone whom Booth inflicted deeply with a stab wound. Additionally, the fragments of Miss Keene’s dress that have been collected don’t all match. You see the Keene insight is that history at best is a guess. Just the facts ma’am are skewed by time and prejudice. Which leads me to this insight… I’m glad God didn’t leave His last will and testament up to historians but rather trustworthy men and women who testified of their faith. I’m elated that God saw fit to preserve the text by His providence and His servants that assure us that there is no other body of literature, no other recounting of history that is as sound as the library that came to be known as “The” book… the Bible! Now that’s keen! -DAN

Festival Seating

2009-08-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, ‘O Israel who brought you up out of Egypt.” When Aaron saw this he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” Exodus 32:3,4.

Mike read the above text last Sunday night and then challenged us all to holster our pointing fingers and confess the reality of our own golden calves that we have fashioned carefully with the tools of greed, pride and envy. He identified the golden calves of his own life and affirmed that he knew he wasn’t alone. Mike challenged us to rid ourselves of the stuff we keep overstuffing and make room for the LORD! His resonate confession was: “If we spent as much time as we do watching TV reading our Bibles or working for the church what would our lives look like?”

All this reminded me of festival seating. No, no… not concert seating where it’s first come, first row but rather an important twist in the text above. You see the text says the children of Israel said after Aaron fashioned the golden calf, “These are your gods.” Not this is your god but the golden calf and Yaweh (God demoted to god and lumped in with a calf god) have brought you out of Egyptian slavery. Aaron seeing this tries to sway their allegiance back to Yaweh by saying, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” You see the real teeth of idolatry whether in ancient Israel or in your living room is religious accommodation. That is, making the LORD fit into the many lords that reign in this life. When the Ten Commandments were given, the first commandment (You shall have no other gods before me), is explained by telling us not only is God a jealous God but Yaweh considers idolatry as an act of hate toward Him. An act of hate because idolatry thumbs its nose at God by relegating Him to lucky charm status. He no longer is Creator, Sustainer and LORD! He’s a bit part in our life instead of the way, the truth, and the life. We minimize His presence instead of maximizing it. We take our seat at His festival and celebrate at the altar of self!

So, what should we do? Refuse to be anything less that radically, vibrantly and deeply in love with the one who is the way, the truth and the life! Have no other gods before Him… not Oprah, not Dr. Phil or Dr. Laura or even Dr. Dre. Instead, find that there is festival seating at church every week so the true Israel of God can celebrate the victory of the cross and rest in the grace of God! -DAN

Half-Brained Idea

2009-07-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

Our last visit to our beach house in Oregon afforded us an opportunity to see a lot of wildlife including spotting a whale from our deck. Pam in a moment of reflection asked me, “How do whales sleep?” As an air breathing mammal the question of how does a whale sleep without drowning seems like a good question. So I googled. My internet quest revealed a few important facts and scientific speculation based on observation in controlled environments like the zoo as well as in the wild. Scientist would first remind us that whales and dolphins unlike humans are conscious breathers. Breathing for them is a twenty-four seven decision. They must make a conscious effort to surface for a breath. Since sleep is necessary for all living creatures then how does a conscious breather survive the unconscious state of sleep? Scientist have theorized from observation and tests that both dolphins and whales sleep with half of their brain while the other half stays semi-conscious and able to breathe and watch for predators. In fact, they have been observed with just one eye opened. So, what can we learn from this half-brained idea?

The most obvious lesson is that once again God’s marvelous design of creation reveals His presence in all things! The Creator of all things leaves us marveling at His handiwork as all creation sings praises to His name. But I think there’s an even more wondrous lesson. The brain which I believe seats the soul is an organic mechanism that God created with abilities far reaching anything we ever imagined. The old adage is that humans only use 10% of their brains but science and common sense have exposed this myth. The brain is fully functioning but what is true is that the intellectual capacity of the mind has such far reaching potential that some believe the brain has unlimited capabilities. One might want to take a healthy spoonful of humility with such statements yet, also acknowledge that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)! God made us a little lower than the heavenly beings (Psalm 8:5), that is, we have remarkable mental and spiritual potential. There’s nothing half-brained about this idea but rather an awesome and humbling challenge for each of us to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Let’s take our cue from the dolphins and the whales to keep one eye open always looking to Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Let’s vow to strive to allow God to use us up in His service and keep us useful to the kingdom even when we are at rest. May God bless our voyage with alert eyes and receptive hearts and may He find us faithful servants! -DAN

Signed

2009-07-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

While on vacation I vacated the busyness of routine and everyday expectations to finish reading a book on the “Manhunt” of President Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth… I went hiking and walked our beach to commune with God… I ate all too well… I played phase ten dice with my lovely bride until we rounded off the corners of the dice… and I wrote a couple of poems because the ocean stirs me. Here’s one:

Signed

When I focus with my heart,
In each vista I see His design,
Before me is heaven’s art,
Each one God clearly signed.

The ocean sings its constant roar,
There God forever clearly seen,
In sunset bathing wave and shore,
His presence signed in ocean green.

Upon the mountain top towering high,
The Ancient of Days cathedral lies,
An eagle swoops to perch nearby,
God’s signature streaming in the skies.

From mountain top to ocean sunset,
His majestic sovereignty is cast,
Ruler, Maker, Sustainer, Perfect,
Signs His work future, present and past!

- Dan 2009

Diary of a Wimpy Preacher

2009-07-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

On my birthday I received a gift from a creative soul and professional educator who sized me up and selected a book entitled, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Now one could take that personal but knowing the giver I was delighted because to tell the truth I had been eyeing the book every time I passed it on the bookshelves. Author Jeff Kinney has fun with middle schooler Greg Heffley’s journal (it’s not a diary Greg wants us to know and though he told his mother not to buy a book with “diary” on it she did… but it’s not a diary!). I’ve enjoyed the insightful revisiting of sophomoric days gone by and the reminder that no matter what age you are you don’t want anyone to think you’re a wimp or at least that’s what we might think at first.

The irony of the book is that even though Greg tries his best not to have the wimp reputation he ends up sacrificially rescuing his best friend Rowley from the ultimate horror of being shunned by the entire Middle School. It involves touching some discarded cheese but best understood in the universal untouchable status of those who have cooties. Greg spares Rowley by claiming he touched the cheese and thus takes on the sins of Rowley in an act of true friendship.

I pray that in my life I might be the wimpy preacher who in the spirit of Christ takes on the sins of others so they might become more than conquerors. I want the Spirit of Christ that empties self and takes on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-11). I want to be bold enough like Paul to be considered the fool for Christ’s sake (1 Corinthians 4:10). I want to be wimpy enough as a preacher to be found nothing more or less than a clay jar filled with the treasure of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:7). I want my reputation to be assayed by the scales of true friendship (Romans 5:7, 8) not popularity or admiration. I’m ready to go wherever the cross will lead me for it is in weakness not strength that God’s power is delivered (2 Corinthians 12:9)! I guess this is the diary of a wimpy preacher. -DAN

Closer To The Son

2009-07-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Call it global warming, an El Nino effect, or urban radiation from the proliferation of pavement, concrete and traffic… whatever you call it, the reality is that the weather is hot! There are some of you out there that are like the classic movie title, “Some like It Hot.” But most of us gather around the air conditioner sipping cold drinks and fanning ourselves with junk mail. Somewhere between sips and fanning we take a deep breath and confess, “O well, it is summer.” Yes, the reality of hotter weather is and always will be proximity to the sun. The closer we orbit to the celestial incinerating center of our universe the warmer the temperatures. This won’t cool anyone down but I think there’s a wonderful spiritual parody in that the closer we get to the Son the more we are on fire for the Lord! Proximity to the divine heats things up!

I’ve always felt that the challenge of James 4:8 (Come near to God and he will come near to you…) was how close to God do you dare to get. The lifelong quest is how do I accomplish that challenge for my life? O, we know the standard list of: Bible study, prayer, church attendance/fellowship and spiritual meditation. But there’s this spiritual longing that just keeps one thinking, “I’m just not there! I want to be closer but I seem to be in a rut.” Well, I don’t have THE answer but I do think that what helps is a tall cool glass of beatitudes to let one know how high their spiritual flame burns.

Jesus prefaces His role as fulfiller of the law and prophets (Matthew 5:17) by recounting God’s blessings for His people. The surprise is it’s not the spiritually elite or sanctified satisfied nor the religious know-it-alls but rather the poor in spirit, the mournful, the meek and those that hunger and thirst after righteousness! Getting closer to the Son doesn’t generate self heat that blinds others with our spiritual brilliance but rather reflects humbly the Lord’s glory (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:6). Spiritual fires burn best with a longing to be closer to God even though we feel poor, lament our woeful nature and cower at the realization that we are not worthy of His grace. Yet all of that is met with God’s assurance that He’s looking for the thirsty and hungry not the satisfied! So brothers and sisters let’s keep on hungering for His word, longing for His presence and parched for the Spirit’s living streams of the water of life… and each day we’ll find ourselves closer to the Son! -DAN

That Got Blown To Bluey

2009-06-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Okay class… if my dog is 9 years old today how old is he in dog years? And the ever so intelligent student on the front row with his hand raised high says, “63… seven dog years for each human year!” And Professor Dan says, “Sorry, the answer is 50 in dog years.” Now, before you question my math let me tell you what blows the 7 to 1 ratio we’ve always heard of to Bluey! It’s simple, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who lived to be twenty-nine years old, would have been 203 years old in human years by those calculations. The ever so bright Bluey raises his paw high and says, “I was old but not THAT old!” So then, Professor, how do we calculate dog years to get 50? The answer factors in the accelerated growth of puppies over babies in becoming adults… thus, the first year is equal to fifteen human years, the second year would be 10 and the third 7 and each following year would be 3 years for each human year.

Okay, I get the idea and even can see how 110 years old for old Bluey makes more sense… but how in the world are you going to make any spiritual application out of such Bluey? Much indeed Professor Dan responds. Often we are prone to formula, statistics and empirical measurement to determine how we view both physical and spiritual reality. Bluey reminds us that what we need to keep in perspective is the principle not the facts. Principle challenges us to see personal application not sit in judgment of history or galvanize formula driven religion. Let me see if I can illustrate by using a personal experience from my puppy years.

When I was a young teen in Modesto like most young men I was encouraged to participate in services by serving at the Lord’s Supper. One Sunday evening it all fell into my lap and I was sole officiate at the table. Unfortunately I started off by offering a prayer for and distributing the fruit of the vine. Afterwards a “Church Lady” chewed me out for a full ten minutes for messing up the order and then stormed off. My father later told me I should have asked her what the order was in Luke 22:14-20 (cup, bread, cup if you didn’t notice before). You see, the issue here is not formula but principle. It’s about celebration and proclamation of Jesus in remembering Him and His sacrifice and life. The Eucharist is a sacred call to recognize the body (1 Corinthians 11:29) not nick pick its youthful members! It’s about principle not formula… about mercy and grace not law… about God’s will instead of ours! And that’s what counts! -DAN

Singing Bible

2009-06-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Camp is always such a joy for us not only because we are privileged to share a week with young people with eyes brightened by God’s creation but we get to spend time with our out of state grandkids. Our granddaughter Tia is at the age where she is filled with a myriad of questions and overflowing with non-stop requests. One of these requests held the charm of both laughter and rumination. Tia inquired, “Poppy (for some reason this year she chose to call me Poppy instead of Pappy), can you get me a singing Bible?” Now you must understand that I am extremely visual and I immediately picture in my mind a human sized Bible down on one knee with arms spread wide singing, “The B*I*B*L*E, O, that’s the book for me…” Now, of course on second thought I realized that she meant a songbook… but it’s the third thought that crystallized this anecdote in my memory and got me thinking. The Bible really does sing!

It has often psalmed its way into my heart lifting my spirits; commiserating with my misery and reminding me that my doubts are ever embraced by a faith that will not let me go. The Bible has sung to me in moments of reflection when like Moses for the briefest of moments I have glimpsed the glory of my God. My singing Bible has lullabyed me to sleep yet left me in wonder searching my soul. My singing companion has oft left me with the refrain, “Woe, with me for I am a man with unclean lips in the midst of a people with unclean lips!” Yet, it never fails to cheer me up, ground my cynicism and challenge me to sing on key. While I personally sing to the tune of one note selfishness it calls me to harmonize with God’s will and concern for my fellow man.

Yes, my Bible sings with the exuberant and melodic affirmation that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so! It sings of a homecoming that will right the wrongs and unite the separated. It belts out not a big finish but rather a still small voice that has never failed or left us… but has been singing all along of the wondrous grace of Jesus! It has been an unchained melody that soothes the soul and lifts the eyes toward heaven longing for that great and glorious day when Christ returns! O, yes… O, yes… my Bible sings! -DAN

Dad Or Pop

2009-06-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Whether you call him Dad or Pop it is a palindrome. Palindrome is a word coined in the 1600’s by English writer Ben Jonson and is a word that is spelled the same forward and backwards. The first known palindrome was a Latin phrase discovered in 79AD: "Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas". This is known as the Sator square, since it can be written out as a five x five square and is the same whether read across the squares or down. So, whether you called him Dad or Pop at some point you probably thought he was a square! But if you are like most of us you discovered like Mark Twain did, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he'd learned in seven years.” Yes, my Dad was and is the wisdom that I return to time and time again. You see, I promised myself as a youth that I would never say to my children the things that my Dad said… like: You call that music –that’s just a bunch of noise or You’ll understand more when you get my age. But I did and I suspect that they will too. All this brings me to the forward and backward point I wanted to make about Dad.

The legacy of our fathers, the faith of our fathers, the resonate voice of our fathers is that life must be lived consistently. Oh, we will all fail and oft find ourselves exposed by our hypocrisy. But what will prove the depth of our faith and the value of our word will be our effort to be the same whether going forward or backward. Good Dads say what they mean and mean what they say. They’re not afraid to apologize when they are wrong or put their foot down when they’re right. They are known for their mercy but respected for their rules. Their bark is never worst than their bite because if you are going to get a chewing out it’s going to leave marks. But it is those very marks that have formed our honesty and shaped our compassion. Like our heavenly Father our Dads have grounded our souls.

I know some of you have not had a Father around or that the Dad that held your family hostage with his tyranny or his addiction was far from the image of our heavenly Father but I also know that you have met godly men that you wish were your Dad. God chooses to reveal himself as “Father” because consistent Dads who are the same forward and backwards are not only a blessing but vital to a fallen world that needs their strength and their wisdom. So, thanks Dad or Pop for all you do and all that you are! -DAN

I Dream In HD

2009-06-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

From the insightful Joseph to the wistful Jacob, dreams have been a feature of God’s revelation and invasion into reality. Dreams often are mere outlets for unresolved issues, hidden fears or fantasy conduits to a nonsense world where one suddenly has talents, supernatural abilities or sudden fame. One is either a vivid dreamer or so sporadic that one claims they don’t dream. During a recent dream I had an epiphany that I voiced out loud (in my dream). Struck by the sharp details and vivid colors I exclaimed, “Hey, I’m dreaming in HD!” Yes, you are correct… that’s 10 milligrams short of a full dose of Ambien. However, I believe my dream musing might offer an important insight to the challenge of living a spiritual life in a world driven by technology and information.

The High Definition world advances so fast that a student studying a four year technical degree will find half of what they learn the first year of their studies will be outdated by the third year of their course work. We are now seeing hard drives in computers that have multiples of a terabyte (i.e. 1,000 gigabytes). What’s next? Well, there is petabyte, exabyte, zettabyte and finally yottabyte (I guess if needed they’ll add harpo or groucho bytes)! The point is that the techno world is growing exponentially so that information and possibilities seem endless. It is in this ever changing environment that one stops to take a breath and exhales the resolve, “But it doesn’t hold a candle to the God who created all things and hold all things together.” I may dream of an advanced HD dream world but the true highest definition is not in pixels or new technology but in a God who waits to share heaven with all who will call on His name!

The question is not whether because of the June 12th deadline I’ve gone digital with my dreams but rather will I find higher definition in my faith whether awake or asleep? I hope that in all that I say and in all that I do that I never forget that what centers my life is the God I worship and adore. Oh, I’m appreciative to live in a world that has such advances because I love me some man toys but I hope in this techno-flood that I never forget that the kingdom of God is not a matter of terabytes or HD, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)! -DAN

We Didn't Say A Prayer

2009-06-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

While in Monument Colorado this past weekend at my oldest sister’s house we were having a relaxed Saturday late-morning brunch. The night before we had celebrated my niece’s 40th birthday. Sitting on my sister’s deck drinking in the beauty of the mountainside view Pam and I were at a table with my sister, brother-in-law, one of their friends and our grandson, Payden. Payden looked up from his plate and surveyed the table then spoke up and said, “We didn’t say a prayer.” After a few hem and haws and a reference to saying a private prayer my sister suggested that Payden say the prayer. As you can guess he thanked God for mommy and daddy and list of things I’m sure must have included the food and then he sealed it with an “amen.” Then raising his bowed head he looked over to my sister’s friend and said, “Now, your turn.” I love not only what kids get away with but their unobstructed view of God!

As precious as that moment was for me and even though it warmed my heart that Bryan and Leah are doing such a fine job raising my grandson… I pray that his faith grows beyond saying “Grace.” That he cultivates a heart of prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) that lives the “amen” life where affirmation of God’s blessings is not limited to meals, church, and night time prayers. I hope his horizon is expanded to say, “We didn’t say a prayer…” when he shares a sunset, or visits an elderly friend, or starts a journey, or laughs with a friend. I would be bold enough to pray that he laments missing a prayer for his enemies or praying for present trouble. I pray he finds the most pedestrian, boring, common, unattractive things to give thanks for or to ask for God’s care and grace to wash over them and him. I pray that his prayers are as many as his steps and that the presence of God and the longing to hear His voice and His will are the driving force of Payden’s life! Yes, I pray that prayer fills his life so that when it is absent he says over and over again, “We didn’t say a prayer!”

To all of this I hope and pray that Payden will find himself drawn back to the prayers of Jesus. That a Savior who prays, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” –becomes a exemplar for his life not only so he may forgive as he has been forgiven but that Payden’s heart becomes as compassionate as it is strong. On top of all that I hope he becomes an NFL star and buys his Pappy and Mema a mansion to live in (just kidding, I think)! No, I’m sure that the only mansion I want is that place of much room where we all will share residence with the divine! Now, that’s the prayer I hope I never forget! -DAN