Sometime God just amazes me

This has been a strange semester for me. While I was away at Nazarene Theological Seminary in January, a couple body-blows landed pretty hard in just a couple of days. The first was news that an elderly neighbor that we have known since we moved to Monroe in 1996 had fallen, hit her head, and ruptured a blood vessel in her brain. At that time she had brain surgery and was on life-support with a very uncertain prognosis.. The other was that the economy here in Michissippi had caught up with one of my largest clients and they were giving up on the state, PR-wise. And would no longer need my services. The combined weight of those staggered me pretty hard while I was in Kansas City.

I felt so helpless being 800 miles from home and unable to minister to my neighbor and her family. I prayed, and asked my classmates to pray as well, but I so desperately wanted to be there. But I could not. Needless to say I was a bit distracted during class.

What I am excited to say is that in just 2 months, my neighbor has recovered enough to be out of the hospital and living in her daughter's home. I pray that she will recover enough to come back to our neighborhood, but if not, God has been exceedingly gracious to her thus far. She still has a ways to go with her speech and mobility, but she could have easily ended up like Natasha Richardson who died from a similar injury.

I can't say why God heals some people and not others. That is a decision made way above my pay grade. But I am grateful for the mercy he has shown my neighbor. And I am grateful for the prayers of my fellow students and my church in praying for a dear lady who has been a part of my life for quite a while.

This Holy Week I have something to celebrate beyond the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I am so grateful for that.

The times in which we live

Watch the video link first. It is an amazing presentation about the times in which we live. We do not have the luxury of choosing the times we live in and the challenges they present. But we do have the task to taking a timeless message from God into each new challenge.

We have a lot of work ahead of us.

Breathing again

I just finished my exegetical paper on Philemon. It seems strange to write 4500+ words on a book that has only 355 words in its original Greek language. But that is the joy of seminary.

I love Philemon. It's a fascinating story about a runaway slave, the Apostle Paul, the slave's master and Paul's attempt to get Philemon, the slave master, to take back Onesimus, his slave and cancel the debt. It is applied Christian ethics in a nutshell, and the background of slavery appeals to my love of history. I encourage you to read Philemon when you have time.

Here is my concluding paragraph from the paper:
Paul’s intimate and extraordinary letter to Philemon allows us to glimpse the view of the kingdom of God that Paul held. In this kingdom, we are called to forgive as we are forgiven, and there is no distinction based on gender, class, slave or free. Just as we have been set free from spiritual bondage, Paul is asking Philemon to free Onesimus from his physical bonds, and to do it in the Lord so that the church may benefit. Paul is not making a political statement and attacking the institution of slavery outright. Rather, he is counseling a believer on how to handle a former slave who is now a brother in Christ. And he is implying that the “proper” thing to do is to set Onesimus free so that he can minister to Paul. It is an extraordinary request from an extraordinary man. And we benefit by having it available to us.

If you want to have a little fun with hermeneutics, then go here. (thanks Signe for the tip)

He's back

Justin Laiply is back with the Evolution of Dance 2 video.



Here is the original if you haven't seen it.



Just click on the links and enjoy.

It is a little out of season...

But pretty funny. Just click on the link and enjoy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This prayer is often called "St. Patrick's Breastplate" because of those parts of it which seek God's protection.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

___________________________

How to tell nothing is going on in your town

When this is what dominates a local government meeting.

Sheesh

The excitement in our neck of the woods this week

Click on the link to see some of the flooding in Dundee, Monroe, and the surrounding areas. Beginning at the 1:20 mark, my office is just off the screen on the right side of the image. Thankfully our church and my office were spared, but many in the area have flooded basements and sewers that backed up into their homes.

Say a prayer for those folks who have been damaged by this. It's a big mess.

A moving version of Amazing Grace

Click on the player below and enjoy a performance at the Coliseum in Rome.

Some provocative thoughts on North American Christianity

Thanks Roxann for the tip. Click on the links below to Hear Drew Marshall's appearance on a Canadian Christian show. He is spot on in many of his diagnoses of the state of the church, especially as a place where the spiritually struggling can find peace. Cultural Christianity is killing us is a statement we should wrestle with especially during Lent. There is a lot we need to repent from in our churches, and I am part of the problem. Lord forgive us for taking your sacrifice and making it into something that does not reach out the the people that you died for. God help us to see the people as you see them.



Here is part 2 of the interview



You can find Drew's response to the interview here. I encourage you to listen.

The coming evangelical collapse?

I don't buy everything this article says, but I do agree with a couple of his points.

We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.

Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism. This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society.

The evangelical investment in moral, social, and political issues has depleted our resources and exposed our weaknesses. Being against gay marriage and being rhetorically pro-life will not make up for the fact that massive majorities of Evangelicals can't articulate the Gospel with any coherence. We fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith.

There is a lot of truth in what he says. What are your thoughts?

The problem with American Christianity

This excerpt from this article, encapsulates much of what is wrong with the American church:

However, I remain unconvinced that the right question is, "What's the most important thing you want from your church?" This emphasis on an individual's expectations and preferences reveals a core problem in American Christianity—the unchallenged assumption that people can accurately evaluate their church based on whether or not it meets their needs. How does this prevailing attitude alter the biblical purpose of the Church in the world? We are a culture of Christ-followers who pay far too much attention to whether or not our needs are being satisfied. And we have become a culture of church leaders who spend far too much time orienting our ministries around the ever-changing preferences of our people.


A few years ago I was listening to WMUZ FM in the afternoon. The host of the show was asking for a full hour what people looked for in a new church. I heard the entire hour, and never once did a person talk about what the church was doing in the community, how it was fulfilling the Great Commission, or how it was meeting the needs of the dispossessed. It was all about how it met their needs, entertained their kids etc. It was a full hour of narcissism, and it drove me crazy. Side note - I have not listened to that show since.

The consumerist mentality that is rampant in the American church is horribly destructive. It is what leads people to shop for a church like the pick a television. Does it look good and make me feel good? We roll through pastors because they "aren't meeting my needs." Could it be possible that your needs are contrary to the Kingdom of God? Could it be that your pastor is trying to fulfill the Great Commission, not massage your ego?

I have precious little time for people who continually voice this objection. By and large, the people who aren't having their needs met are treating the church like a lawn service- once a week is good enough. A better metaphor might be that of the gardener, who is out there every day looking for bugs, pulling weeds, training plants, straightening crooked stems, watering, feeding and tending. Not someone who shows up with a bunch of flashy machinery and is done in an hour.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

Only 10?

Read this list and shake your head. It's no wonder our state is in a fiscal crisis. The largest city is governed by the gang that couldn't shoot straight and a collection of folks who just can't seem to stay out of the news, for all the wrong reasons.

And the Band Played On

If you wonder why Detroit is in decline, read this. Remember, Barbara Rose Collins was a member of Congress from Detroit who was voted out of office largely because she didn't show up for the job. In one year, she had the third-worst voting attendance record in Congress.

I guess you do get the government you do elect. God help the City of Detroit.

Political thought for the day

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to
public office." --Aesop

There might be a little truth in this

Though I don't harbor delusions of grandeur, I'm sure there are a few out there who do. Enjoy the video clip.

The Day of the LORD

A Lenten reading:

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

¹ Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming.
It is close at hand-

² a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was of old
nor ever will be in ages to come.

¹² "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

¹³ Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.

¹⁶ Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.

¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "

What do you make of verses like this? I know they were written for a people about 2500 years ago in a very different place. But why were these words preserved as scripture for believers in the LORD?

Maybe the key lies in the possibility of vv. 12-14. That if we return to him with all of our heart, that the calamity can be avoided. I'm going to camp out there for a bit in my prayers. Last night at the Ash Wednesday service I attended, we were challenged to examine our own lives to see if the sins of Pilate were in us? Were we in too much of a hurry? Did we fear loss of our own prestige when we ignored the words of the Lord Jesus. Are we unwilling to look at his truth?

Those are hard words to chew on, and a bitter meal to digest. But that is the beauty of Lent. It's a season of reflecting on what Christ has done for us. It's a time to measure ourselves against what God expects of us. It's a time of sacrifice and penitence for us.

This year, let the LORD speak to you during Lent. Quiet yourself before him and let his words penetrate your inner being as you "seek first the Kingdom of God" in all that you do. I won't promise you exorbitant blessings for doing it. But you will draw closer to the one who loves you, created you, and redeemed you.

Join me in this prayer focus. I think God has something to tell us, individually and corporately.

A good source for fasting information

If you are thinking about fasting during Lent, here is a good source of fasting tips and information that you will find useful.

I encourage each of you to think about fasting for a portion of the Lenten season.

Support?

Sadly, this is all many people get at home and at work.

Lent? Fasting?

Are any of you feeling led to take on a Lenten Fast? If so, I would like to share that experience with you. I'm at a point where I feel like God is deconstructing my life and I cannot understand what he is doing. So many things are in flux, and I'm just tired of trying to hold this all together.

I'm going to use my fast to wait upon the Lord for answers to whatever it is He is trying to do. I'm praying for some clarity and resolution, one way or another.

If you want to join me in a fast, drop me a note. You don't have to divulge details. But the encouragement of knowing others are in there with me will help.

Cognitive Dissonance

Note: I'm not making light of the gruesome death of a human being.

How can a guy who creates a TV station designed to counter negative portrayals of Muslims think that beheading his wife is a good idea? This is a disgusting story, and one that makes me ill just thinking about it.

Somewhere along the way, he lost sight of his goal if he thought this was going to help.

I'll be praying for his soul and for mercy for her soul.

I've had projects like this

The drunken monkeys with a jigsaw puzzle is just a great mental image. Thanks Dilbert. These videos are available for free as podcasts via Itunes.

Cue up the Barry White tunes

I can't even begin to think that this is a good idea. I know zoos need to attract winter business, but this?

Sometimes you just fall into a place like this

I'm there right now.

I can empathize with this guy

I felt like this at the end of my most recent 2-week modules at Nazarene Theological Seminary. My Hermeneutics class about made my head explode.

This is pretty funny

I'll confess I've never watched the Ellen Degeneres show, but this clip is pretty funny. I know people like her caller. Heck, some of them are relatives.

Free copy of Vintage church

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

One church I will not be attending

Just click on the player.

Something to keep an eye on

The Obama administration is reviewing the faith-based initiative created by President Bush. How he handles this will give some insight into how much power the MoveOn.org and other left-wing groups have in his administration.

I truly do miss his work

Berkley Breathed is a tremendous artist who created one of my all-time favorite characters in Opus. Sadly, he has retired Opus and moved him on to his eternal reward (details are on his website). This is one of my favorite comics from the Bloom County era. I may go pull those books out of the attic and revisit the genius that was Bloom County.
For those unfamiliar with Bloom County, Opus is the penguin.

Enjoy.

It's no wonder that our federal budget is out of kilter

When you are this bad at math, and you are the Speaker of the House, what else can happen?




FYI - there are only slightly more than 300 million Americans total.

Something worth revisiting

If you never read anything else that I write, this series was probably the most lucid series of posts that I have composed. Plus, if the networks can get away with repeats, so can I :)

#1 Missional Churches

#2 Missional Churches

#3 Missional Churches

#4 Missional Churches

#5 Missional Churches

Concluding thoughts

Something fun to do

Go here and enter your last name. It will show you a map of where your last name is frequently found and how your name ranks nationally.

What do you want me to do for you?

Last night in church at Jacob's Well in Kansas City, Tim Keel was preaching on Mark 10:46-52. It is commonly known as the story of Blind Bartimaeus. The text is:
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road

The question "What do you want me to do for you?" may seem almost ridiculous on its face. Bartimaeus is blind and living as a beggar. Of course he wants to be healed. But Jesus makes him articulate it, and you have to wonder why.

One thought, that rings my bell, is that Jesus wanted Bartimaeus to articulate his need so that he would "own" it. If he were to be healed, his life would dramatically change. He would have to find a job, since begging would no longer be an option. I think Jesus was asking Bartimaeus if he was ready to give up his limited, but familiar, lifestyle for one that would be dramatically different.

When we ask God for things, we would be wise to walk through this in our own heads. Are we prepared for the consequences of what we are asking for. The miracle we are requesting may change our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, in ways we cannot predict. Are we ready to say that whatever God brings, we are willing to go along with his will?

Something to mull over.

Why can't we be friends?

At least like this pair. If they can overcome these kinds of differences, we can take a clue and overcome some of our differences.

It's a cute story.

Things I have done

Thanks to Bishopman for the link.

I believe the idea is to boldface the ones that one has actually done and comment as one wishes, so if any readers haven’t entirely lost respect for me and wish to take this on, go ahead.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower –the mountains of North Carolina was the site
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm –Michigan and South Dakota are great venues.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch –does building trebuchet’s count?
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning – never want to do that again
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill –

24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community – grew up near Shipshewana
36. Taught yourself a new language - and forgotten it
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby – Deb has twice.
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day –Several times every year. –Unfortunately.

A New Year wish for all Detroit sports teams

May his wish come true for all of us.

The Grandeur of God's Creation

Just sit back, watch and listen to the video clip as you take in the magnificence that is the heavens.
túrána hott kurdís by hasta la otra méxico! from Till Credner on Vimeo.

Saddle up boys

Wild Bill's Goat Rodeo is back in town, playing indefinitely at Ford Field. With yesterday's announcement that the coach of the 0'fer the season team has been put out of his misery, and the assistant GM and finance guy of the worst team in NFL history have been promoted, this should be a great show. Throw in lots of high draft picks, an incompetent owner, a clueless management team, and players who don't know what it is like to win, and you have a full-fledged rodeo on your hands.

Yeee Haaa!



P.S. - The shirts are available here.

Prayer for the day

Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.

— St. Philaret of Moscow

This is one way to say Merry Christmas

This is why I want the Lions to go 0-16

This article summarizes much of the frustration that I have felt with the Lions during my lifetime. I'm 41 years old and they have won 1 playoff game since I have been on the planet. During that time, Mr. Ford has been either 1) grossly incompetent and unable to find competent front office personnel and coaches; 2) unlucky; or 3) indifferent to the plight of the fans and unconcerned about winning, just making money.

I do feel bad for the players on the Lions. It's not their fault that Mr. Ford gave Matt Millen a 5 year extension at $5 million/year when it was apparent that he didn't know how to run a team and the fans were marching in the streets calling for Millen's dismissal. The Lions just don't have talent, and Mr. Ford just doesn't seem to care. Before last week's drubbing at the hands of the Saints, he announced that he is bringing his current management team back next year. Obviously he is pleased with their performance, so much that he isn't willing to interview anyone who might be considered a "genius" or even above average.

So, I'm going to follow the lead of my younger daughter and become a Dolphins fan. She switched because she cannot handle the losing and she likes Jake Long and Chad Henne, who were drafted by the Dolphins.

At least I can leave with a clear conscience and say that I have never given the Lions any of my money. The games I have attended were as guests of suite holders, and I didn't pay for anything, including parking.

Adios Mr. Ford. You have made it clear that you are indifferent to the fans, and either don't care about building a winner or don't know how. Either way, I'm taking the energy I have as a fan and giving it to a team that actually tries to win. Not one that is the plaything of a rich kid who wasn't allowed to play in the family game of auto manufacturing.

I'm embarrassed that it has taken me this long to get to this point. Maybe I'm just a slow learner. But, at least I learn.

One of the oddest high school football games you will ever hear about

* Warning* Have Kleenex handy before reading this.

This is one of those touching, true stories that just makes a lump appear in your throat. Enjoy.

I can use your help

I am preaching this Sunday at our church, and would like your thoughts on the following text. Just let me know if anything jumps out at you.

Luke 2:22-40 (New International Version)

22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"^[a]), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."^[b]

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss^[c] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Bullies in the Church

Sadly this is a phenomenon that we have to endure in many congregations. I've encountered them in my life, and I know of other pastors who have them in their own congregations. They go by different titles in different congregations - Church Boss, Head Deacon, Biggest Tither - you get the picture, but they have an agenda that is theirs and theirs alone.

This article offers some sound thoughts on the matter. This thought really struck me (excerpting from article):

Few of us are surprised that we frequently encounter bullies beyond the church walls. We realize that, out there, brutal power moves are the order of the day. We expect the unredeemed to stop at nothing to gain advantage, even preying on the helpless and disenfranchised, such as children, senior citizens, and the homeless.

But to encounter such folks using strong-arm (and subtle, manipulative) tactics under stained-glass windows (often with a smile) can cause a seismic jolt to our hearts. We wonder why bullies haven't grasped biblical teaching such as Paul shared with the Ephesians: "Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:1-2).

How could followers of Jesus—who taught and modeled respect, compassion and self-giving love—resort to such despicable behavior?

We ponder why they've even been tolerated, considering the damage they leave in their wakes. Why do other Christians, well aware of these intimidating control freaks and their victims, become tongue-tied bystanders who are unwilling to confront these people in their tracks? We're especially puzzled and devastated when we discover that they are our leaders, bosses, board members, and coworkers.

Why do we tolerate people who stir up dissent, seek to control others, and destroy those they cannot control? Why do we become silent and watch as good people are driven from the church? Pastors are churned if they don't kow-tow to the bully's demands. Lay leaders who challenge the bully are subject to intimidation and character assassination and usually leave because the price of staying is too high. Yet we sit idly by and allow it to happen. Are we like Neville Chamberlain and want "peace at any price" realizing that the illusion of peace means that someone other than us is being subject to the abuse?

This is a sensitive subject, and one that I have some experience with. I pray for congregations that are in the grip of bullies. I also pray for those with the courage to stand up to them and endure the strife that may break out as people let the bullies know that their behavior is not OK.

Join me in praying for them please. Peace on earth should be more than a slogan at Christmas time.

A Christmas Prayer

As Advent draws to a close and Christmas nears, I love the thoughts in this prayer. Let them draw you closer to the Lord on the anniversary of His Birth.


Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

I quit (I don't really mean it but it feels good to say it)

This story is driving me nuts. A team that hasn't won in a year is talking about retaining the guys at the top who helped get them to this point. This is Mr. Scrooge (er, William Clay Ford Sr.'s way of saying Merry Christmas to Michigan). I seriously wish I knew how to quit this team. The only way I can think of is to move far away. Come to think of it with Michigan's economy...

I've posted the video clip before but it bears repeating.

I'm not one for class envy

But this video clip is pretty funny. I generally despise populism, but this bailout frenzy does strike a certain chord.

Memo to men before the holidays

Watch the video clip and learn.

And the band played on...

The band on the Titanic is legendary for continuing to play as the great ship sank. We are witnessing a tragedy on a more massive scale here in Michigan with the Detroit Public Schools board, which is churning through superintendents on average every 19 months.

This is a school district where, at best, 70 percent of the students graduate. It is a district that has lost an incredible number of students, yet doesn't want to close school buildings, and keeps pouring money into dilapidated facilities. It is a district that was just allowed to have its own school board within the past few years after the state had taken control of the financially and performance-troubled district. Now the state is poised to take control again.

The tragedy is that thousands of children are recieving a substandard education, which will hamper them for the rest of their lives. The school board seems more interested in getting themselves in the news and running for higher office (City Council) than they do about properly educating the youth of Detroit. How can a superintendent accomplish anything lasting in 18 months? Or 20 months, which was the previous superintendent's tenure.

If this isn't a case for vouchers, I don't know what is. Give these kids a voucher that would let them take the state aid that accompanies each child and let them go to to whatever school district they want, where they can at least have a fighting chance at a decent education. Otherwise, we are creating a permanent underclass of people with poor education and low job skills.

That is just immoral.