Talk to the Greats

Who would you talk to if you could? I mean, a heart to heart conversation--just the two of you. My wife used to imagine what it would be like to sit on the porch with Billy Graham and a glass of lemonade. You and Abraham Lincoln? Queen Elizabeth II? Martin Luther? And of course, there's King David, Daniel, and Mary Magdalen. 

And there are those modern icons you might find interesting. Whether you see the world as they do or not, you could have some interesting chats. Imagine asking Warren Buffet what it's like to know the financial markets hang on your words. Or asking Billy Joel what he felt the first time he heard Piano Man on the radio. Or asking the Duchess of York what was her favorite moment with Queen Elizabeth. 

The limitations of time and space often make these conversations impossible. It's so much about who you are and who you know. 

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7 NLT)

It sounds redundant; getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do. Yet that's what the book of wisdom teaches. Go after wisdom. Not just information. Anyone can scroll through information on google for hours. But wisdom? It takes some getting. It takes a pursuit. 

Maybe you and I can't sit down for an hour with Abraham Lincoln and ask about leading in crisis times. Or ask Larry Burkett about managing money and investing. But in another way, we can. When you sit down with a book and read what Lincoln did during the civil war and what his priorities were, you are gaining wisdom. When you read what Burkett did during a recession, you are pursuing wisdom not just information. This is more than knowledge. It's learning from the experiences and mistakes of others. 

Can I challenge you to read a little bit every day? Here at the beginning of a new year, commit to just 10-15 minutes a day and you'll have read about 12-15 books this year. Imagine the difference it would make in exchanging 10 minutes of doom scrolling for the wisdom of Solomon or Billy Graham! Instead of comparing your life to the rich and famous who haven't finished living, consider the experiences of lives well-lived--like Elisabeth Elliot, C.S. Lewis, or Hudson Taylor.

 You can talk to great men and women. Read their books.    

Worry-Free Zone

I'm not sure where I learned it--the desire to be prepared for everything. If things are going well, get prepared for bad times. If there hasn't been an emergency in awhile, get ready for one. If it's the ending of a year, forecast all that could happen in a new year. 

Maybe it's being the firstborn of four and the frequent reminders to watch out for my brothers. Or it's the perfectionist trait of being a musician. "Do it right or don't do it." 

Can you relate? While you look forward to a new beginning and a fresh start, is there a worry track running in the background? What if this year includes job loss, a health scare, or a downturn in the economy? What if your child fails to graduate or the daycare closes? What if there's another world war or a financial meltdown? "Better to be prepared."

Remember that bad news sells better than good news. Whether it's your favorite news channel or the threads on your social media, worry gets more clicks. Don't forget that Fox News, CNN, and CBS are there to make a profit. If they fail to make money, they will cease to exist. Their number one priority is not your mental health. News and social media profit from worry.

Yesterday, we stood in line at the local UPS store to return a few items. The line was long and behind the counter were mounds of packages. On top of that, I could hear the staff discussing problems with software and their internet platform. All around me were the sounds of stress and worry. And we were one of those customers who lacked the right packaging. We were unprepared. 

But when it was our turn, the shift manager met us with a smile. She asked a couple of questions and my wife apologized for not having the plastic bag the item came in although we had the return label. In a steady voice she said, "No problem. You're all set. This is the worry-free zone." Then she put her thumb and forefinger together, "Smell it. Enjoy it. Savor this worry-free moment." We walked out with a smile, talking about the power of being a peaceful presence. And for that moment we relished the feeling of the worry-free zone.  

There's nothing inherently wrong with preparation. Worry has its place. No good leader fails to prepare. Hard times will come unexpectedly. There will be surprises. The Proverbs remind us to prepare for winter, to save money, and leave an inheritance for our children. But the drive to prepare for the worst with a mind full of worry is no way to live. At the base of such worry is the refusal to accept God's sovereignty and the lordship of Jesus. 

Jesus says to His followers, "Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (Matthew 6:26,27 NLT)

I think the lady at the UPS counter was on to something: "This is the worry-free zone. Savor it." Being prepared is wisdom. But keep worry at bay. Let God be God and be satisfied to be His child. You're more valuable to Him than the birds. Seek His kingdom first and as often as you can today savor the worry-free zone. 

Making Your Mark

My wife and I were driving to the airport through downtown St. Louis and I noticed all the graffiti on a new crosswalk over the highway. I didn't understand it and most of the time I don't. It's hard for me to understand why someone would so quickly mar new beautiful construction. 

They tell me that graffiti is about self-expression. As if to say, "I don't have a voice. No one is listening so I'm doing something out loud here in this art." Sometimes it's marking territory with gangs, "Just letting you know who is boss around here." Other times it's flat out rebellion, "You make the rules. I break them. And you can't stop me!" 

At it's fundamental level though, I think it's a way to say, "I was here. Here's the proof." That's why the oldest form of graffiti was usually three words, "Sam was here." "Tracy was here." Hollywood may not know my name, but you will. I'm leaving my mark here so you'll know and you won't forget me.

Remembering Germaine

A few days ago, a woman from our church drew her last breath, said her last prayer, and closed her eyes for the final time. At her memorial, stories were shared about her life. Though her body weakened with age, her zeal for faith only seemed to strengthen. She lived with a faith that was always visible—never subtle, and she often spoke her mind, but never in a mean or unkind way.

Often, after Sunday gatherings when I had preached, she would catch me and say, "Shawn, you know what? You're getting better. I'm praying for you and it seems to me that God is on the move around here and He is using you!" I never took offense at the "you're getting better" part, as I am intentional about improvement. I would tell her, "Germaine, thank you for praying. Please, keep it up!"

Paul's Words on Legacy

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul writes in self-defense, responding to those "super apostles" who claimed superiority. He asks, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?" (2 Cor. 3:1, ESV). Paul's point is clear: he doesn't need a publicist or to in some way leave an obvious mark, nor does he seek to overshadow others.

Paul continues, "You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Cor. 3:2-3, ESV). There is no need to leave behind physical evidence. You are our graffiti. My legacy is found in transformed lives—faithfulness and devotion to Jesus are the greatest evidence.

The Mark We Leave

That is the legacy Germaine left for me and for us. The evidence is undeniable. She does not need a plaque in the church, a memorial stone on our campus, or a letter in the paper to mark her life. (Not that those things are bad.) God, by His Spirit, has written graffiti on our hearts: "Germaine was here."

I hope to live in the same way. What kind of graffiti is your life painting today? Jesus does His best artwork through the Spirit, painting on the hearts of human beings.

WAKE UP TO THE WAR

"The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of".

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

 

In my 20’s, I served under a senior pastor who had his share of war stories. Not so much those about church wars, but what it was like to be a boy while WW2 was raging. He would tell of scrap metal drives and victory gardens, of women riveters and uncles coming home permanently dismembered or never coming home at all. What I heard running underneath his accounts was the American mindset of the time: “We were in the war together. We saw ourselves united in the struggle.”

Peacetime came and America entered a season of greater prosperity. Boys came home, houses were built, and babies were born. We’ve had wars since then, but none would come close to spawning the level of national unity America experienced during those years.

As Christians, we often fall prey to the peacetime vs wartime mentality. When things are going well, we may think, “Oh, this is my breakthrough. The battle is over for now.” When unrest comes or a family faces opposition within or without, we think, “I guess we’re in another battle.”

This is a faulty mindset. Truth? We are always in a war. In fact, the battle may be more severe when it seems things are going great. Money in the bank, numbers up, strong friendships, even momentary euphoria--all of these can make you relax and think, “So these are the good days of blessing.”

Someone remarked recently, “Man, it seems like you guys, the leadership, all get along so well. There's a lot of unity and pride doesn’t seem to be a problem.” I told them it was no accident.

It isn’t just that we have a great team of leaders, which I think we do. Nor is it that we don’t have any big egos (which we probably do!). It’s that we get up and fight for what's good. We remind ourselves often that we are in a protracted war. An insidious force is fighting against us every day; unseen spirits, angels led by a dark lord, and a world with its agenda, also in league with my human flesh, are all conspiring against the work of Jesus. These dark powers are cooperating together to destroy unity, to spout constant discouragement, to fight for independence against our great God, and to spread lies about His goodness, faithfulness, and character.

“Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory.”

When I forget this, I am vulnerable. Every step toward faithfulness is warfare. Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory. The prayers of the saints in the pre-service intercession on a Sunday morning. The office team prayer at a weekly huddle. The growing of ourselves in leadership and the acknowledgment of our blind spots. The prayer circles in the Wednesday prayer meeting when there are voices that say, “This makes no difference” or, “You’re not very good at prayer. Don’t embarrass yourself by praying with others.” The prayer before a Celebrate Recovery meeting. The news I received this morning that a women’s Bible study feels prompted to begin praying for our children’s camp. News that a man was freed from demonic oppression in a recovery meeting. When we listen well. When we lay down our iPhones to read scripture. When we ask a friend for forgiveness, when we confess our faults. In all these things, we are fighting the good fight. All of this is a reminder: this is the nature of war.

I’m not being negative. It’s our reality as Christians. And yet in all this, I am encouraged. I remain hopeful. God is with us. Jesus is interceding for us. The Spirit is helping and empowering us. The ultimate victory of Jesus and His kingdom is certain. But get out of bed. Put on your armor. Pick up the sword of the Spirit and keep your eyes open. If you're a Jesus-follower, we’re in this battle together. 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, BE ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV, empahsis added)

Preacher/Teacher: Let's Lose these Words

I'm not a health nut. But people think I am because some of my favorite foods are salmon, brussels sprouts, and sliced tomatoes. I've been known to order the "all vegetable" plate at Cracker Barrell, too. Gasp. This will send some of you because you're saying, "There's nothing of nutritional value left in those vegetables cooked for 10 hours with bacon drippings." Exactly. Still, when I enjoy a Boston Creme donut on occasion, the food police are on the spot to smirk and say, "Wha?? How could you?"    

So this is dangerous. Whenever you offer advice publicly, beware. People remember and will hold you accountable. 

This is why I'm hesitant to warn about words that we preachers and teachers say. At the same time, I'm writing this in the hope that it will cure me of some of my bad habits by writing them down in a post. There's nothing like public warnings to make you more aware of your faults. 

So here goes a short list of words I'm trying to lose from my public speaking...

1. Use the generic "God" sparingly.  

In a pluralist society like ours, you can no longer assume that when someone is talking about God they are Christian. Any quick Google search of "famous Christians" will pull up actors and politicians who quote a verse or say, "I want to thank God for the opportunity to win the Super Bowl." I hope and pray it’s true. But there are many public figures who pray before an event or thank God for an award who also reject biblical Christianity. In this day, we need to be clear. I don't mean veins bulging and stern faces. But we must preach Jesus as the way to God. Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus as God with skin on. Jesus as the One of whom the Spirit speaks (John 1:1, 1:14, 14:6, 16:13). Consider John, the beloved friend of Jesus who says this, "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22 ESV). This is a solemn warning to we who preach and teach. God help me! 

Speak of God, yes. But along the way, make clear that you are talking about the God revealed in the scriptures, and in the end, the One who gave His Son to redeem us.   

2. Lose "things." 

I don't remember the actual source, but I thank H.B. Charles Jr. for this one. I either read or heard him telling preachers to quit preaching about "things." 

I did this often when I started speaking and still fall into the trap. It goes like this: "The first thing we notice in this verse" or, "The first thing we need to do in prayer is..." or, "I'm going to point out three things Paul says about marriage." Why use "thing" when there are so many better words to choose from? Instead of talking about "three things," talk about three ways, benefits, warnings, threats, guardrails, strengths, weaknesses, attitudes, or outcomes. Which sounds more interesting as a talk or an article: "Three things about friendship" or "Three roads to healthy friendship"? 

How much more as we teach or preach the gospel should we use words that evoke emotion and spark interest? Did God give His Son to simply give us some tips on having a better life? Or to help my day go smoothly? God gave His Son so that we can have a relationship with God the Father and align our human relationships with others. A gospel-shaped friendship is about love and love is more profound than tips, things, or points. Though it certainly includes them. Consider Jesus' way of teaching the gospel: two houses, two sons, or a bride and her wedding. Lose boring words like things, points, tips, or thoughts. 

3. "Right? "Alright?" "You know?" 

This is a tough one. Public speaking is much more conversational than 20 years ago. Overall, I don't see this as a problem. Styles and rhetoric change and in our culture people prefer conversational over rhetorical. HOWEVER, I can resort too often to words that have more to do with my discomfort than with a conversational style. The temptation is to elicit a response rather than let the statement hang for full effect. This bad habit frequently reveals itself in our attempts at humor: "So, I'm on a road trip with my wife and the night before we are both doing that last-minute rush before leaving. Right? I get no sleep because it's a short night, you know. And then we're driving and my wife asks if I want her to drive and I think yes or maybe, but say no because I want to be the self-sacrificing gentleman. Alright? But then she's snoring and sawing logs, you know, and I'm soon driving on those bumps on the side of the road to wake her up because I'm jealous. Right?" 

For a different way to tell a humorous bit, consider how Nate Bargatze lets funny statements hang without constant solicitation for response. (Here's an example in a story about a horse. Watch from about 2:35-5:33.) Or consider the serious expositor, David Platt, who uses humor without the filler words of "alright" or "right." (Watch this clip from about 8:15-9:15.)

4. The ambiguous adverbs: actually, literally, really and just.

One of the longest short flights I ever had was sitting beside two high-school or college-age girls while preparing a message for the weekend. Even with headphones on, I found myself counting the words 'like' and 'really' in their conversation. I lost count after 40. I couldn't concentrate after a while and instead started counting the minutes before we could land and I could escape. It was awful. 

So go the ambiguous adverbs: actually, literally, really, and just. What do these words ACTUALLY mean? I'm not sure, but I use them all the time and they aren't helpful. It's a hard habit to break because these filler adverbs leak into our conversations and public speaking to promote a more casual feel. 

And the deeper reality? I fight insecurity and the pain that comes with it because of my great need for the gospel. If I believe the gospel deeply, I will lose some of my fears of silence, pregnant pauses, and the need to fill in the gaps for God. 

Yes, adverbs are necessary, but they are like salt: a little goes a long way. I am actually one of the worst offenders and I really need to break this habit. (Smile.)

  

There are many more useless words I use in my speaking. But here's my stab at getting better. How about you? What words in conversation or public speaking distract you? 

WE'RE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT

Kelly Kapic in his excellent book, "You're Only Human," tells about asking students to describe themselves in a few words without using anything that relates to community or others. The students stammer and stutter, realizing that it's nearly impossible. We are tethered to community whether we want to admit it or not. 

This flies in the face of current thought. We think we are completely our own. Our identity is self-determined. Culture says, 'If you don't like who you are, look within. Find who you want to be. Reinvent yourself. The power is inside you.' 

Some have found this to be exhausting. The weight of self-discovery is unbearable if I'm the only one worthy to decide my identity. If we are merely atoms randomly held together by scientific laws, who I am to then take this brain given to me by the universe and figure out who I am and why I'm here? 

Kapic speaks to this: 

“Any attempt to live as my own center shows that I need others to understand myself and I need them even more to be a healthy and thriving human creature. This is how God made us. Because we have our being in relation and not apart from it, knowing one’s self rightly can only occur in the context of being known, of being in relationships, of being loved. The self alone, the isolated ego, is a contradiction in terms. Pursuing that contradiction leads not to life-giving knowledge but to suffocating loneliness and unending self-doubt.” 

I think he's right. Do you? 

For example, I used to think that small groups were for those lonely people out there. "Pastors like me, don't need to be in a small group with ordinary people. Maybe a group of pastors or high-level leaders would be better?” How wrong I was! My self-view was so distorted by looking within and seeing myself as a leader who should be around other "leaders” that I was overlooking my sameness.

Instead, what I've found is that being around other people with different interests and vocations than my own has brought me joy. It's pride that makes us think, "I'm not like other people. I'm unique." Yes, there are some unique things about me. But I'm more like everyone else than I'm not. And you are too! We all get tired, sleepy, restless, hungry, and even dare I say, gassy?! You're not that unique. 

Occasionally in our church, we will get a request from someone new that goes something like this: "Do you have any small groups with people my age who are urban professionals? I'm also interested in clean-earth policies and want to be around people who share that view. It would be nice, too, if there were other vegans in the group--since I have strong feelings about eating things that have eyes." 

Okay. So I'm exaggerating. But only a little. 

I want to ask them as well as you, what might you discover about the world and yourself by being in a group of human beings--some who will share your likes but others who will see the world differently? You may find that the human condition is universal---that you are more like those "other people" than you think you are. Here's what I know for certain: if you dive into the risky adventure of knowing other human beings and being known, you will get hurt. You may get angry. But you will also likely discover what it's like to be loved and to escape the chronic loneliness of this divided world.  

"We are not self-made people, we are not separate islands, we are not merely rugged individuals. Instead, we’re inevitably and necessarily bound together with others: it has been so from the beginning and will always be." (Kelly M. Kapic)

Go to a church where other human beings are. Find a group of other human beings who want to know God and each other. Do life. Your identity will reveal itself in the context of community. Not without it. 

My Top Books of 2023

There are great lists out there from much brighter minds than mine, for sure. But I do like to share books that have helped me. Since I am receiving input on a constant basis from media and God’s enemy, I need to counter that messaging. Also, reading is simply good for the mind rather than being passively entertained. 

So here goes!

These are in no particular order of importance but culled from the 30 or so I read this year. 

ON GETTING OUT OF BED BY ALAN NOBLE. Vulnerable and helpful. I recommend this for anyone who deals with mental illness and anxiety or loves those who do. Alan is a professor at OBU and he makes clear that he is not a mental health professional. However, he comes alongside as a helpful fellow-traveler. It’s also a short read at just over 100 pages which is a bonus!

WHY THE REFORMATION STILL MATTERS BY MICHAEL REEVES. I’ve read several by Reeves and no disappointments here for me. St Louis is often called the Rome of the West with its strong Catholic presence. Hence, I am frequently interested in understanding both the Catholic tradition and the Reformation for the purpose of dialogue with my Catholic friends. Even though evangelicals have much common ground with Catholics, Reeves shows why the Reformation was and is still a big deal. He writes convincingly, yet not arrogantly. I also love hearing his knowledge of church history. 

RUN WITH THE HORSES BY EUGENE PETERSON  I like to read a couple of commentaries on books of the Bible every year and I chose this one because a friend of mine said he “cried nearing the end because he hated to see it come to a close.” While I didn't share that strong emotion, I was frequently moved as Peterson walked through Jeremiah, showing him to be a real man who often felt inadequate for the mission. I felt like I met a new friend in this OT prophet and it was a big help in our series on Jeremiah in 2023.

HUDSON TAYLOR’S SPIRITUAL SECRET BY F. HOWARD TAYLOR.  I try to read at least one biography of a dead missionary every year and while I’ve read about Taylor before, this one was the best. If you want your faith to grow, check this out. The ways that Hudson trusted in God as a missionary and saw countless answers to prayer will inspire you.

STRANGE NEW WORLD BY CARL TRUEMAN. Trueman is one of the best at understanding this cultural moment as well as discovering ways of engaging it. His writing is a bit heady but this one is shorter and more accessible than some of his other works. 

ON THE EDGE OF THE DARK SEA OF DARKNESS BY ANDREW PETERSON. One of our pastors reads this series to his son, and I kept hearing about it from different men. It’s a juvenile work but I chose it to give my mind a break while reading Carl Trueman’s “Strange New World.” I wasn’t disappointed and loved the ending. I highly recommend this for reading with children above the age of 7 or so but even for you adults who like me just need an easy book to read that will raise your hope in dark times.

Honorable mention:

Gospel: Recovering the Power that made Christianity Revolutionary by JD Greear

Unmasking Male Depression by Archibald Hart

Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger and others

The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall

Pride: Identity and the Worship of Self by Matthew Roberts

To better reading in 2024!

~Shawn

PREFERENCES: When Christians Disagree

Respected pastor and author, John Piper, caused a minor firestorm when he posted a question about whether sipping coffee and reverent worship go together. You know you’ve touched a nerve when something like this goes viral:

As of today, it’s been viewed nearly 3 million times[i] with 3,000+ likes. And I have to admit something about his question resonates with me. But I’ve been examining my own heart.

When my wife and I prepare couples for marriage, we begin a conversation about expectations. Right or wrong, good or bad, every couple bring expectations into their relationship. These are largely based on experience, often from their family of origin. We don’t tend to think about these expectations because everybody thinks their normal is normal. (i.e. The guy works on things that break down and the wife does most of the housework.) The sooner you can identify those expectations and talk through them, the better.

These stereotypes can be the source of strain in a marriage:

“I just assumed she had the accounting under control.”

“My Dad was super handy around the house, so I expected my husband to do the same.”

These expectations don’t have to be a problem if you discuss them in advance and identify what is an absolute and what is a preference.

The same thing is true in spiritual matters.

If you have no spiritual heritage, there aren’t many expectations. Not much to compare to except bad flicks and sitcoms. But if you do, these expectations can turn into heated arguments that divide friendships and churches. The sad part is when we can’t discuss them in a reasonable way.

“The pastor should visit me in the hospital.”

“Everyone on the platform should wear business casual dress.”

“It is irreverent to wear flip-flops while preaching.”

“Suits and robes symbolize false superiority.”

“Church is not a building. Worship is more authentic outdoors.”

What comes up when we read these statements is related to our beliefs, expectations, assumptions, and experiences. What is hard for all of us is to discern when something is simply a preference.

It’s helpful to pull back from the emotion if we can and ask, “Is my expectation based on my unique experience? Is this a preference or is this an absolute?”

Some like Erik Thoennes have distinguished between these by dividing beliefs into categories like absolutes, convictions, opinions, and questions. 

I have tweaked his diagram to look like this:

1.     Absolutes - theological truths that are timeless. They are true in every place and every time. For me, and for orthodox Christians, these are scripturally clear doctrines.

2.     Convictions - beliefs we hold, based upon principles in scripture. They may have strong implications depending on the culture.

3.     Opinions - knotty theological matters that Christians have debated for centuries. If we’re wise, we don’t divide friendships and fellowship over these.

4.     Preferences - things we prefer. They may be loosely based on scripture, our experiences, or our cultural context.

Let’s take flip-flops for example. One person in a conservative church in the United States may say:

It’s so disrespectful and irreverent to read scripture or lead worship in flip-flops.

But scripturally this is impossible to defend as an absolute. If anything, we could argue the opposite---that we are being more like Jesus when wearing flip-flops because he wore sandals. This is also cultural. I have a friend in India, who asked us to take off our shoes before preaching because they consider the platform to be holy ground. (i.e. Moses took off his shoes before the burning bush.)

Then there’s the question of whether it’s appropriate for a minister to wear footwear that cost more than $100 USD. One might argue that wearing expensive shoes should disqualify one from leadership when it’s obvious that style or comfort has become more important than gospel ministry. (i.e. Shouldn’t the money spent on those Carhartt boots have been spent on the poor or for missionary work?)

What if we could simply admit that many of these are preferences? Not absolutes. If not preferences, could we at least admit these are convictions that we hold? Not absolutes?

Some people prefer classical music, organs, handbells and choirs. Some prefer guitars and exuberant settings. Some think that robes and suits reflect more reverence. Others see these things as ostentatious or, at least, pretentious.

Bottom line? The scripture doesn’t prescribe some things for all places and all times. And we should be careful not to call those things, absolutes.

For example, there is no scriptural mandate that worship should be done by candlelight, sunlight, or LED lights. We may prefer candles. Others may be triggered by candles because of association with austerity rather than simplicity. Others say good lighting helps them to focus on Jesus rather than the “charismatic waver” in the third row.

Congregations, elders, and leaders should sort out what communicates reverence within their own cultural context. What symbolizes reverence in one tradition is irreverent in another. What is sacred space in one culture is impossible to achieve in a poor neighborhood.

At the same time, we should beware of our fallenness. Pride is subtle. We are blind to our…blind spots. To truly worship requires dying to something. Can we say we are truly worshipping if it costs us nothing? Sometimes what it costs us is our preferences.

Some of the same people who say, “It is irreverent to worship with flipflops, t-shirts and jeans” are the same ones who say, “I can get just as much out of worship at home.” They see no problem worshipping at home in sock feet and bathrobe, eating Rice Krispies or scrolling on their phone while the minister prays.

Let me be clear. I am not condemning the person who can’t attend a worship gathering because their body hurts, or they find it dangerous to walk on an icy parking lot for fear of falling. What I am questioning is how quickly we divide over our preferences considering them as non-negotiable absolutes.

Disputable matters

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. (Romans 14:1 NIV)

As a pastor for 40+ years, what is sad to me is how often people divide a congregation over preferences or opinions on disputable matters and how rare it is for someone to leave over truly theological matters.

It is honorable, although not commanded in every case, to divide over absolutes or convictions that have strong implications for culture and the future of the church.

Here are some good reasons to leave a fellowship:

· When the statement of faith is no longer rooted in scripture.

· When the church pivots simply because “we don’t want to offend anybody”

· When the leadership team is more concerned about seeking a crowd than seeking God.

· When the pastor talks more about good behavior than the good news (the gospel)

· When the pastor or elder’s personal life doesn’t match his pulpit life

There are more. But let’s not imitate the popular worldview that says, “If you disagree with me, you are hateful.”

Let’s also beware of our own pride that slices both ways. Do we make our preferences holy just because we like them? Are our efforts to “be authentic” simply an exchange for a different style that we happen to prefer? Do we sneer at someone who worships in dress shoes as if they are pretentious or arrogant? God knows the heart. The hipster who wears his sandals can be more proud than a guy in a suit who straps his guitar too high and still perms his hair. We can become “proud” of our authenticity.

For those of us who grew up in a Christianity with big screens, suits and permed hair, it’s easy for us to look at our jeans, candles and contemplative moments as holy and authentic. But I should beware.

Remember the worshipper Jesus describes who stands and prays, “Thank you, God, I’m not like that guy over there. He’s a sinner but I’m in good-standing with you” (Luke 18:11). This can happen just as easily in jeans as a robe. For some, this happens with a sneer from a lady in the back row who wears a dress and an expensive broach. For others, it’s a snicker as we scroll Instagram and see that guy in a suit singing “Shout to the Lord” in the wrong key. I can be the Pharisee in jeans and Birkenstocks just as easily as I can in a suit and black wing-tipped shoes.

 

---

[i]https://twitter.com/JohnPiper/status/1708240310495527147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1708240310495527147%7Ctwgr%5Ead361f7596f92e43e32377fdc6405e1cc05f44cc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.premierchristianity.com%2Fopinion%2Fjesus-java-and-john-piper-should-you-drink-coffee-in-church%2F16454.article

 

 

THE INFINITE WISDOM OF GOD

 

This past Sunday, I wrapped up a series on the life of David called "Heart Matters." Our goal over these many weeks was to think about David's victories and failures as originating in his heart. 

The toughest talk for me, by far, was the one on 2 Samuel 24. It has so many challenging facts that make today's readers struggle: 

• Why was God angry with David for counting potential soldiers? 
• How could God be angry about something it appears that He prompted Him to do? Does this make God culpable? 
• How could God allow 70,000 people to die from a plague that was the result of one man's sin? 
• What's the deal with the death angel and a sword at a threshing floor of some dude named Araunah? 
• Why does the writer end the book of 2 Samuel this way? Seems like a weird ending.

I didn't attempt to answer all those questions. Up until a few days before, I had a completely different theme. But finally landed on this big idea: "It's a small step from counting your blessings to counting ON your blessings." 

David had a conflict in his heart that we often have. We know when God says, "Don't" or "No." But we doubt His wisdom. We forget what Tim Keller calls, the "wisdom differential”—an infinite gap between God’s wisdom and ours. Then, there’s a choice we come up against: Do I trust God's wisdom on "x" even when I don't understand? Or do I go with what seems right? 

David decided against Joab's (his military commander and adviser) advice which was more in line with God's. The narrator doesn't give us the full detail behind how Joab knew this was not a good idea. He just assumes that we will trust that Joab knew. 

Timothy Keller is really helpful on this part. He says David's real sin behind the sin was his rejection of a theme of Israel's prophets: 'Woe to the one who trusts in chariots and horses. Trust in God. Not in military might. Don't be like the other nations.' (I'm paraphrasing Keller, but you can hear him talk about this HERE at about 11 minutes in.)

But we like David struggle against God's wisdom when it doesn't make sense. We think if it's bad or if it's sinful, we would understand why. If it doesn't seem like sin to us, then it can't be sin. Even though, we know this kind of thinking didn’t turn out well for Adam and Eve, we can't seem to learn. (The fruit looks great to me. Why would God say such a thing?)

A parent in our church after listening to the message related the message to parenting. I thought it was excellent. (Thanks, Grace, for sharing this!)

LORD, SCOOP ME UP
By Grace Fico

 My baby slowly wakes up from a nap, And immediately begins to cry.
 His hunger is confusing and sharp, He looks as if asking why?
 So, I scoop him up and hold him close, While his bottle is being made.
 I try to explain but he doesn’t understand, That everything is going to be okay. 

 I hear my toddler cry out in pain, After a good topple down the stairs.
 He had smacked his head against the tile, And angrily said it wasn’t fair.
 So, I scoop him up and hold him close, As his sobs begin to fade.
 I try to explain accidents can happen, And that his pain will soon go away. 

 I stroke my daughters silky hair, As she tells me what happened at school.
 Tears slowly roll down her freckled cheek, As she recalls how the kids were so cruel.
 So, I scoop her up and hold her close, And confirm its hard in 2nd grade.
 I try to explain that people can hurt, But it’s going to be okay. 

 I pull close to my son as he starts to speak, His face is low and worn.
 Anxiety and stress have smothered his light, He doesn’t think he can do it anymore.
 So, I scoop him up and hold him close, And know there is nothing I can say.
 I try to explain to myself that this won’t last, And that everything is going to be okay. 

 I look up to God and ask Him why, He allows such suffering and pain.
 So many people are hurting and scared, What could we possibly gain?
 So He scoops me up and holds me close, And tells me I was wonderfully made.

 He tried to explain He created the world, But He did not make it this way.
 There was no hunger, or accidents, and no disease, And people were kind and obeyed.
 “Stay close to me.” He whispers in my ear, And everything will be okay.

THE SECRET SAUCE

It's that time of year in the Midwest when the avalanche of zucchini is in full force. This moss-green squash finds its way into everything: zucchini lasagna, zucchini bread, zucchini spears, casseroles, and frittatas. There's even a recipe for zucchini punch. The reason is, when zucchini starts producing, it comes on strong. On a Monday, you may spot one on the vine that is four inches long. Two days later, it's the size of a baby hippo. 

If they could figure out how to grow it everywhere and in all seasons, world hunger would disappear. Especially if they could genetically engineer it to taste like beef or mac cheese. 

But growing zucchini, like anything, takes patience and diligence. You plant the seed in the soil, water it, and with the right amount of heat, it will sprout. But getting it to live through to harvest is another thing altogether. There are squash bugs, squash borers, blossom end rot, deficiencies in soil composition, deer, groundhogs, and of course drought. Any one of those can prevent harvest. (Maybe that's a good thing if it's zucchini?)

Growing fully-devoted followers of Jesus is like that. There is no guarantee that all your efforts will result in:

• your daughter never walking away from the faith
• your friend staying in their marriage and working through difficulties
• your husband becoming a more gentle, responsive human being
• or you being an emotionally-healthy Jesus-follower.

Years ago, there was a super-fused compound sold by a well-known company that sells home-care products. The pitch was that this secret formula could do it all. Clean your floors, make your chocolate cake moist, and even help digestion. Forget eating bad-tasting stuff like kale and broccoli. No more apples and bananas. It's all right here in this elixir--the key to great health and beautiful floors. 

Sorry. Some things can't be found in a bottle.  

I've been helped by many studies and programs. I was deeply impacted by the ministry of Promisekeepers. I know guys that experienced a real turning point through PK events and training. I have been greatly helped by The Navigators and their discipleship series. The study, Experiencing God (Henry Blackaby), is etched in my memory as the moment I changed my ideas about God's will for my life. I devoured the leadership books of John Maxwell when they were hot off the press and every church leadership team was reading them. I witnessed the renewal of many men through the network of the Christian Businessmen's associations. 

Each time these movements began there was a groundswell of support and followers that would tell me, "This is the key to discipleship. God is working through this like nothing I've ever seen." In other words, the secret sauce is in this study, this conference, this retreat. 

But not everyone who experienced or studied those books and attended those events is a strong Jesus-follower today. Truth: there is no secret sauce for making disciples. Through the decades, God has used various methods like the holy clubs of John Wesley or the steps of Celebrate Recovery. But there is no formula to the harvest of a godly life. It takes patience and diligence. More than that: it takes the work of the Holy Spirit. Yes, these tools, these studies, and parachurch movements can be super helpful. But there are no fail-proof methods for discipleship. It has always been and always will be about men and women in genuine community, submitting daily, then moment by moment to the Lordship of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So if you've been helped by a retreat, a conference, a series--talk about it. But realize it's only a tool. There's no secret sauce to growing up into the kind of man or woman that God created you to be. It's still all about Jesus changing lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes there's a quantum leap forward. But spiritual growth will always require a steady commitment to daily, pick up the cross and follow Jesus. As it's often said, "The secret is there is no secret." 

      

DOES YOUR BELIEF IN THE ENDTIMES MATTER?

Are you pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib? Premillenial, postmillenial, or amillenial? 

Maybe these terms don't mean much to you. But for many American Christians, these are deeply held beliefs. What seems to get the most press and provide the most intrigue based on the number of books sold, is the pre-tribulation, premillennial view. This is the view that Jesus will rapture the living and dead believers before 7-years of trouble, known as the great tribulation, followed by the return of Christ before a 1,000-year period where Jesus will reign on the earth. Others will show how this is a relatively new belief, not having many adherents until the mid-1800s. That's 1800 years of a majority of Christians who did NOT believe in a pretribulation rapture. 

I think these discussions are interesting. I have friends that hold various positions on these views regarding the second coming of Christ. Most of them see these discussions as secondary issues. In other words, when it comes to the priority of things to know, the timing of these events is further down the list. 

What is of primary importance is that Jesus IS coming again. Why? For starters, in the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus says, "I am coming soon," three times. One of the earliest statements of belief apart from the Bible, the Apostles Creed, (120-250 AD) says this: "I believe...in Jesus Christ...who will come again to judge the living and the dead." Virtually anyone who calls themselves a Christian would agree with that statement. But from this point, the tribes split into various views. 

We just finished a series at Crosspoint called, "How Jesus' Return Affects You Now." If you're thinking of digging to find that series and see if I or one of our elders preached our views on the tribulation and the millennial, you will be disappointed. It's not that those subjects have zero importance. It's that they are of lesser importance. Of primary importance is this: Jesus is coming back in Person. 

I think it's good for Christians to study the scriptures and determine what they believe about the tribulation and the millennial period. But it's wrong to have deep divides over those beliefs. Study. Be passionate about the scriptures. But the good test regarding the importance of a doctrine is how is it changing your life. 

• Are you loving Jesus more because you believe in a post-millennial coming?
• Would those closest to you say you are becoming more like Jesus as a result of your deeply held belief in a pre-millennial rapture?
• Are you a more effective witness of the good news of Jesus?

Can you say you are living as Peter says, honoring "Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)? 

Certainly, these aren't the only tests to determine if a doctrine is important. But what does it say about our theology if it makes us less patient, less gracious, more divisive, and just downright mean? Surely that can't be the goal of good theology. 

If you are a man or woman who honors Christ as Lord, who walks in the Spirit, who is generous with encouragement to others, sharing the gospel with gentleness and respect, I will want to know what faith led to such an exemplary life. You don't need to convince me of your theology. I'm already curious! If your wife can't stand you, your kids don't respect you, and you can't remember the last time you shared or served, who cares what your view is on the end times?

Rather, preach the gospel to yourself until it changes your heart, your relationships, and your attitudes. Study until you are so much like Jesus that it leaks out of you everywhere you go. You won't have to strive for inquiring minds. Someone will ask you for a reason "for the hope that is in you."    

 

IT ISN'T JUST THE PASSION OF CHRIST

I had a pastor friend tell me that if he wants to know what God is trying to help him see, he reflects on the words he is saying to those who come to him for help. I realize that could get you off track if you always followed that advice. I certainly know that, in my case, the words I speak aren't always spirit-led! Yet, my pastor friend had a point. 

I was talking with a young man some time ago and felt prompted to ask him, "How much do you think about God as your Father? Is that important to you?" He probably said something like, "Oh yeah. I know I'm born again." I kept drilling. "Yes. But how big of a deal is it that the Father is thinking about you right now?" I could tell he just didn't think about God like that. 

And a few hours later, I heard the same question in my own heart: "Shawn, how big of a deal is it that I'm thinking about you right now?" 

I find myself slowly drifting from this reality. Like an elementary kid that graduates from reciting the ABCs. "I don't need that anymore. It's time for higher learning." But is there anything higher or more important than this? The Father of Jesus Christ loves you and is thinking about you right now. This should stop us in our tracks. This should melt us and cause us to drop to our knees. But we get bored with it. Like the Gateway Arch in my city, St. Louis, I can drive by it and stop seeing what a massive structure it is. Or like that toddler in your house that exasperates you, although when he was born, you held him, examined the tiny fingers, and cried. We drive by the everlasting love of God and don't even see it anymore because "there are more important things to learn." 

But listen to a couple of guys who were captured by God's love: 

David, the warrior king, the man after God's own heart, penned these song lyrics: 

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand." (Psalm 139:17,18 ESV)

And in the words of John, the beloved friend of Jesus:

 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1, NIV)

How much do you make of that? Is it boring to you? Think again. 

As we enter Passion Week, it's fitting that we reflect on the cross of Christ, Jesus' self-sacrificial love displayed through the torture of Roman crucifixion. But Jesus didn't do it by Himself. It wasn't like Jesus had to convince the Father that you and I were worth it. God the Father loved you. He wanted to be with you. He was thinking of you when He ordered the events leading to the birth of His Son in a stable. He thought of you when He handed His Son over to the torturers. How much is that on our minds during Passion Week? To paraphrase John the Beloved, "Listen up! Look again at the kind of love this is! The kind that causes the eternally self-existent, all-powerful One, who needs nothing, to go to extreme measures so that you might be called his beloved boy, his precious girl."  

In Knowing God, the late J.I. Packer writes, 

"If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all." 

Don't make the mistake this week of thinking that Jesus loves you, but the Father puts up with you. That the angels got the attention of that cranky God of the Old Testament and said, "You really need to do something to improve your image among human beings, to spice up your reputation. Jesus, can you talk to your Father?" And then God the Father agreed and came up with the idea of sending Jesus. No. It's not just the passion of Jesus Christ. It's the passion of God, the Father that motivated Him to give His only Son because He so loved you. 

How much will you make of that today? 

THINGS I'D LIKE TO NEVER HEAR AGAIN:

I have a few songs that if I never heard again, I would be fine:

"I've Got Friends in Low Places" by Garth - How many hotels have I been in while trying to sleep with this song playing in the bar downstairs?!!

"Pachelbel's Canon in D" - Every wedding and every music station in the doctor's office has used this song. Pachelbel's estate must be worth a zillion dollars with all the royalties.  

"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine - I never saw the movie TITANIC and will never see it. So don't start. This song gives me major cringe. 

Delete them. To think that those writers are getting royalties for those awful songs. It's a waste of hard-earned money. Okay. I'll stop ranting. 

Things Christians say that they need to stop: 

"Sending out prayers and wishes to you..."

Or....

"You're in my thoughts and hopes."

Vague. Bland. Unhelpful. 

Don't send any prayers to me. I appreciate your wishes. It shows you care and that you think kind thoughts about me. I'm glad you have hopes for me now and then in the middle of your thoughts about what you're having for dinner or how disgusted you are with the weather. 

But if you really love me? If you really care? 

Tell me you'll get on your knees even for 60 seconds and plead that God will have mercy on me. Pray that He will shower me with grace and enable me to be the man God wants me to be. 

Or pray the blessing that Aaron prayed, "Shawn, may the Lord bless and keep you; make His face to shine upon you and give you peace."  But don't give me platitudes. Don't flatter me with affection that has no diligence behind it. 

I'm not inferring you need to be a pro at prayer. 

The apostle Paul is helpful with this very thing when he wrote, 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18a  NIV)

There is room for all kinds of prayers and requests: childlike wonder, simple questions, pleading, cries, intercession, or an emergency "Help!" I also believe this includes praying with spiritual languages we don't comprehend. 

What is clarifying is the next directive: 

"With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Eph 6:18b)

When he says, "keep on praying for all the Lord's people", he is calling for perseverance and passion. Why does he remind us of this? Because of our tendency to give up, to lay it aside, to defer prayer in favor of "thoughts and wishes." Or because it takes faith and effort. Circumstances and the battle in the mind have a way of numbing us to the power of prayer. Voices that say, "It doesn't matter. God is going to do what He's going to do." Or even worse: "Everything happens for a reason." 

Yes, God is sovereign. His ultimate purposes will not be derailed. But as followers of Jesus, we are partners in intercession. When we stay alert to this and persevere, we are joining in the work of the Holy Spirit who "prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26 NLT).     

FOUR REASONS THE WORLD IS NOT AS CRAZY AS YOU THINK

On a gray Monday I sometimes dream about a different life. As a pastor, I may lament over the indifference of people, the "I wish I wouldn't have said that" moments in the sermon, the volunteers that don't show up, or the lower offerings one week. Even though I know those kind of thoughts do nothing to change life, it's a real temptation to wallow in disillusionment, disappointment or any number of "dis" words. I rarely stay there long. But now and then I wonder what it would be like to have a working farm, somewhere in the rolling hills of Tennessee with a 1,000 acres, a spring-fed creek with trout, a few cows slowly munching on grass while wandering a spacious pasture, and several border collies protecting my orchard from squirrels and deer. I picture myself making the morning rounds in a dependable used pickup with a cup of stiff coffee in my hand--talking with Jesus about all the things I have to be grateful for while the morning mist is rising on the open fields. But somewhere during those five minutes of dreaming, I'm interrupted by another email or notification on my phone about one more reason why the world is crazier than ever. 

I don't know if I can prove it but it seems like I hear it more often, "This world has gone crazy." A quick web search of those three words, world-gone-crazy, will immediately pull up countless articles on why the world is more crazy today: 

- We're more divided than ever
- Children's stress levels are skyrocketing
- The church is more apathetic
- Politicians are more corrupt
- Racism is at an all-time high

But I wonder if it's true. I think our memory is sketchy at best. 

For example: 

"Racism is at an all-time high." I vividly remember school during desegregation with daily riots between blacks and whites. Razor blades tucked in afros. Whites using the "n" word all day long. One steamy afternoon in my Louisiana middle-school, I recall the teacher asking us to put our heads on the desk while we could hear the screaming and fighting going on outside our door. 

I hate racism. But it's not new. Watch West Side Story. Immigration has always brought tension. It's not new. Tribal warfare in the middle East? It's gone on for centuries. People acting like barbarians? Read Churchill's history of Great Britain. People acting like animals? Read about the early history of your city. The things that happened in St. Louis, my home, between settlers and native Americans will make your skin crawl. Abuse? Read "Twelve Years a Slave" and the treatment of slaves in the South will make current racism seem like a walk in the park. Human neglect and child abuse? Consider how upstanding everyday citizens in the Roman Empire would put a newborn baby outside their door, exposing it to the elements until it died. We're shocked at that behavior today but then it was common. 

When I say these things, I'm not saying that current abuse, racism, and mistreatment of human beings doesn't matter. I'm saying the world has always been crazy. 

What's different? 

1. We have instant access to everything that's happening in the world. 

A few decades ago, it took weeks to find out what was happening on the other side of the world. Now we know in seconds. And not only do we know it quickly, we have access to all of it: a new strain of virus in Africa, an earthquake in India, a kidnapping in Seattle, a Ponzi scheme in Minneapolis, four murders in a college frat house. That's all at your fingertips in ten seconds. 

2. Our memory is short. We may laugh about how we can't remember where we put our keys five minutes ago, but we also forget what happened five years ago. We prove this by the way we keep repeating the same dumb mistakes like selling when the market plunges and buying when it's overpriced. We forget that what goes up like a rocket will land again soon and it likely won't be pretty. Whether it's the internet bubble or the real estate market. 

3. We have insulated ourselves from death and suffering. This isn't true worldwide, but it's certainly true in the Western world and especially in America. While we have the bad news in seconds, the worst of it is rarely seen up close and personal. While the third world still gets a front-row seat to death and suffering, here in America, suffering loved ones are often out of sight in a facility that specializes in care. Dead bodies are quickly put in refrigeration, made up, dressed up, and buried or quickly cremated so that we never see the worst of what death does to bodies. Our predecessors had "wakes" when they stayed awake all night with their dead loved ones in the living room, laid out, until the memorial service the next day. Stillborn babies were buried in shoeboxes in the backyard. Today, funerals and wakes are becoming obsolete in favor of celebrations of life with no actual dead body present.   

4.  We've normalized comfort. My home is temperature controlled 24/7. The car has seat warmers for the winter and air-cooled seats for the summer. We have memory foam mattresses and pillows. Instant hot water and indoor plumbing. I can buy groceries and have them on my front porch in a few hours without ever leaving the couch. Pain meds are over the counter and I can enjoy the best coffee in the world in my own kitchen. My parents grew up without all of those things and considered themselves blessed. My normal would be considered the life of the rich and famous just 50 years ago. Not having those things today is called suffering.  

So I'm not saying the world isn't crazy. But this Thanksgiving and beyond, maybe we can have a moratorium on that phrase for awhile. How about a thirty-day break from, "This world's gone crazy" and rather thirty days of gratitude? Let's challenge one another to be grateful for everyday comforts. Let's pause between swipes on our screens and pray. Let's take a break from counting likes and count blessings.