On God's Revelation

We come to know God through God’s revelation.  The creator discloses some of his character and his purpose to his creation, radically changing his creation in the process (Milgore, 2004, p. 22).  We can only know God in part.  God is revealed through general revelation (nature and human history) and special revelation (the Word of God) (Milgore, 2004, p. 29). 

General revelation is limited and is subject to special revelation.  Milgore (2004) states, “special revelation repeatedly challenges, corrects, and transforms all of our earlier knowledge of God, from whatever source, as well as confirming what is good and true in it” (p. 32).  Additionally, Tennett (2007) states that God’s revelation both transcends (“pilgrim” principle) and penetrates (“indigenizing” principal) cultural context (p. 13).  

Milgore (2004) argues that even scripture is subject to the revelation of God through the life, death and resurrection of his son.  He states “the truth is that neither ‘scripture alone’ nor ‘scripture plus church tradition’ is sufficient to communicate the gospel of Christ effectively” (Milgore, 2004, p. 41).  Christians then, both as a community, and as individuals, are called to make themselves available to be a part of God’s revelation to the world.  That is, I think, what the great commission is all about.    

Milgore, D.L. (2004).  Faith seeking understanding: An introduction to Christian theology.  2^nd Ed.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. 

Tennent, T. C. (2007).  Theology in the context of world Christianity.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 

Ecclesiastes, Robin Williams, and the Urgency of The Great Commission

When I heard about the Robin Williams tragedy Ecclesiastes 1 instantly came to mind:
"3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content." 

I see parallels between Robin success and the kind of life Solomon must have experienced.  I know Robin Williams was battling depression - and I am not one to minimize the impact of mental illness - but clinically depressed or not, Solomon's lesson for us is that a life without God is meaningless...is HOPELESS.  I believe (and of course this is just an educated guess) that in addition to his struggles with depression, Robin Williams realized that all his work, all his accomplishments, all his success were simply meaningless.  Having it all, but still having nothing, that must have been a terrible realization.  

Ecclesiastes goes on to share that the presence of God in our lives gives us meaning, but it seems that Robin Williams never got passed the first chapter, and the meaningless of life it proclaimed.  So the Bible is clear, that life without God is bleak. 

And so, to those Christians who would be quick to judge Robin, and those who have committed suicide before him, I say, judgment is in order when we learn that someone has committed suicide, but I believe that the judgment should be placed on the church.  Robin Williams is accountable for his decision, I suppose, but he is NOT accountable to me, nor any other outside party who would "throw stones."  The Christian community, I think, is accountable for failing to bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.  That is after all, the Great Commission, in a nutshell.  Go and be the Good News, bringing hope to a seemingly hopeless world.  

So Robin Williams' tragedy convicts me.  It leaves me asking, how must my Christian witness be different?  How can I proclaim to all around me that there is hope in Christ, even in this seemingly meaningless existence?  To those quick to judge, I ask, what are your doing to be the Good News to God's lost children? 

Book Review: The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family

I had the honor of getting a sneak pick of Kara Powell's newest Sticky Faith resource. Here is my review of the product.

As a parent of three and an employee of a local church congregation I have been a believer of Kara Powell and Fuller Youth Institute's Sticky Faith Cohort for quite some time.  I believe the movement successfully addresses the problems causing young people to step away from the Christian faith after high school.  The challenge has been how to take the information and flesh out practical application for specific families.  This book has masterfully addressed this challenge.  Kara Powell compiles and lays out wonderful ideas for fostering “sticky faith” within the home.  Some will fit your context beautifully, some will clearly miss the mark, and that’s OK.  Powell wisely suggests that the reader attempt to incorporate five or less suggestions from the book.  What makes this book so wonderful – the best Sticky faith resource to date, in my opinion - is that you are sure to find yourself with realistic, helpful sticky faith ideas to try with your own children.  This is a resource I will be passing on to families in my church -both as a book, and specific ideas within the book, and using in my own home.  If you only read one book about Christian parenting, read The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family.  

Pre-order the book here or here 

Remembering Pastor Riley: Because Everybody Loves a Story!

Remembering Pastor Riley

Here are two quick stories about Pastor Riley that 1) share his heart and 2) I will never forget.

In 2011 while we were considering changing the number of worship services, their times, and offering Sunday school independent of any worship services Pastor Riley shared something that I will never forget.  Pastor Riley stated something along the lines of “there are children in this church who don’t know who I am!”  I looked into that man’s eyes folks, and let me tell you something, that reality broke his heart!  His lament shared two of the passions of his heart, that children are important to him and that he longed to have relationships with all of our children.

On Sunday, June 1, 2014 when I saw Pastor Riley come off the stage during a song, pick up a dancing four year old, and dance with her-I saw his longing fulfilled!  RUMC has become a place where the pastor is not a stranger, but a friend of our children!  Just as important, RUMC has become a place where worship is a comfortable place for our young people.  Praise God! 

I thank God for the legacy of Pastor Riley, and I think God for the coming of Pastor Bremer.  He too is a man who loves God and who loves Children.  We have a very bright, and a very “sticky” future ahead of us, one that includes our beloved Children.

Amen- me it be so!   

Be Careful What You Say (and What You Don't Say)

I am currently staying onsite at a Christian college campus in order to take a week long onsite seminary course.  Since God has a wonderful sense of humor, a huge denominational youth gathering is also happening on campus this week.  This morning I had breakfast with a table of high school students and adult leaders.

I took this opportunity to do some eavesdropping and the two male adult leaders (in their 40's) each said something to a male student that really disappointed me:

1) One male student was telling a story about how he (wrongly) thought they were supposed to tip a parking attendant at an event.  Like a typical male adolescent he concluded his story by mentioning that the parking attendant was cute.  One male leader ran with the theme and said "you just wanted to tip her because she was cute."  And I thought "and your telling this young man that the value of this young woman is defined by how she physically looks."

2) Shortly after this incident another young man said hello to a young women, who looked like she would have been 25...(that's another issue-curse you artificial light and your supposed effect on the maturation of adolescent females).  The adult leaders quickly ran with the idea that he was "talking to another girl."  He apparently has a girlfriend.  Apparently, flirting with other women (or falsely accusing someone of it) is a laughing matter...

Here's the thing, these are "little things," but the little things add up.  So the question is, what are we saying (or not saying) to young men about the way they interact.  Is OK to flirt with girls while you have a girlfriend (or to flippantly falsely accuse someone of doing so) as long as you are young?  Is it OK to determine the way you treat someone of the opposite gender based on whether or not they our cute/attractive?  What are we telling young people about the opposite gender and what will it mean as they enter early adulthood?

A Theology of Grace.

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:31-32

This morning I had to confess to God, I was ungracious and judgmental when the driver of a Lincoln MLK used a turn lane to zip around me and cut in front of me (without using his signal).  After throwing my hands in the air and grumbling some God placed a memory in my head.  Earlier this week I was guilty of my vary own (unintentional) bone head driving incident.  Ouch, busted.

I had been said that "We judge ourselves by our intentions, and others by there actions" (I do not know the origin of this saying, I heard it from Dr. Scott Cormode during a personal correspondence).  I think part of the issue is that, in our own eyes, our feelings and inconveniences are more important than the other person/people involved.

This morning God challenged me to try "to see the face of Christ" in all those I encounter (even those making my life "painful").  I think doing so makes grace and forgiveness a necessity in our daily lives.  That driver stopped being a "jerk" and started being a beloved child of God.

This ones for Mike

"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" - Matthew 25: 40 (NLT)

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! - Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)

I met Mike a couple of weeks ago on the an on ramp to a local interstate highway.  Now you might be wondering "How do you meet someone at an on ramp?)  Well, Mike was soliciting a ride and he wasn't having much luck, probably because people assumed he was panhandling.  I stopped to hear what Mike wanted, mostly because he was physically in front of me.  When I found he wanted a ride to a hotel so we could get some sleep (God, we all need rest!) I let him in.  Mike has some physical ailments and it took him two solid lights to get in the car, the cars behind me, and myself got impatient (God, forgive me!)  

As we traveled along on our brief journey together Mike shared his passion with religous literature.  I suspected he was "trying to put one over one me (God, forgive me!) so I asked him to list some books he had read.  The list was impressive, and we suggested various books to read to one another.  

As we got closer to the hotel I began to suspect that Mike intended to talk me into paying for his hotel stay.  I wrestled with what to do and came upon I would pay, but I would go in and pay directly so I would know that the money was going to the hotel.  Not long after I had come to this conclusion Mike turned to me and asked if I wanted gas money (Lord, forgive my arrogance and judgmental attitude!).  

As I was dropping Mike off and we said our good byes I said I would pray for him.  I haven't done that as faithfully as I should have (God, forgive me!).  I don't know just how much that ride meant to Mike, but I do know that meeting Mike meant to world to me.  He humbled me, he taught me so many things and I will never forget him.  I don't know if he was "an angel in disguise," he definitely seemed like "the least of these," and i know that he was a ministry to my soul.