What reasonable person's up at this hour?

Went to bed early last night at 9 PM, then woke up even earlier at 2:15 AM.

What's that old saying ... "Early to bed, early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise"?

How about "Early to bed, earlier to rise, Makes this blogger grumpy, irritable and red-eyed."

Notes on Memorizing the Entire Bible

I don't have the gift of memorization.  I don't.

So instead of memorizing verses I'm left with trying to live them instead ... and this one's at the very top of my list:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

- 1 John 4:8

When I've got that one nailed down, this one comes next:

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

-John 3:17

The "Who's More Holy" Lights Out Grudge Match

Wow, such anger in the blogosphere among believers.

OK, stop it.

The Challenge:

Imagine if Faith was like pro wrestling, and Big John Calvin challenged "Nature Boy" Free Will to a Loser-Must-Leave-Town grudge match. 

"Hey Free Bird, I'm calling you out.  Let's move to the same community, and live under the same roof.  We'll witness and preach the gospel as each of us believes Christ commanded, reaching people for Christ in the way we know best ...  for one month.  Then we'll see who's right, because no one's more holy than me and my traditions."

Maybe a handful of KJV-only folks would be at ringside, waiting to browbeat someone upside the head (literally, of course) .

Doest thine actions and confrontationalism proveth thine righteousness?

Nope ... and neither doest attacking other believers for thine own sake.

Fireworks at Fort McHenry

Quotable

"It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them."

- Alfred Adler

Friends, Fellowship and T-Bones

About a year ago I pulled out of my driveway and thought, "What if I ignored every stop sign on the way and just rolled on through each intersection, without even looking?"

What would happen?

Uh, as I drove on and mentally played out the experiment, I was shocked- not by how often I'd hear screeching brakes or the number of minor fender benders my bodywork would sustain- but by how many times I woulda been cleanly T-boned and knocked sideways  outta my seat, while merrily going my way.

Obeying traffic laws seems to make good sense, and keep me outta trouble.

-- --  --

Having fellowship with friends who love Christ is good.

Brent Sears gave me an overview of the message he'd be presenting this weekend at a FCA event down in Jacksonville: while wandering around the desert, the Israelites began grumbling and rebelling because of the hardships they endured on their way to Canaan.

They wondered why God put so many delays and obstacles in their path when, being sovereign, he already knew their final destination.  So why couldn't they just "pick up, go on and get there"?

Uh, could be because the Israelites weren't ready to receive the Promised Land ... as evidenced by all their suspicion, doubt and mistrust.

Or simply because God, in his infinite wisdom, had other plans.  Which points back to the Israelites' failure to stop whining and Trust.

--   --   --

Do we obey Christ because we expect him to keep us from getting T-boned in life's intersections, or because that's what he commands?  Do we look for our advantage first, or wait for satisfactory explanations, before deciding whose will to obey?  

Why are we willing to trust ourselves ahead of the Almighty?  Is it because we're eager to take short-cuts to get what we want ... even if it means short-circuiting God's plan?

--   --   --

How often do we find ourselves asking for explanations in our prayers?  "OK Lord, I'm ready to go.  It's time something changed, so what's the hold up?"

If we feel stuck in the desert of life*, and haven't yet arrived, figuratively, in the Promised Land ... could it be because we think we're willing to trust God ... so long as we see how trust benefits and satisfies ME?

* - Brent's term

Notes on Failing

While talking to Brent Sears last night on the phone, I realized that despite taking 3 posts to write "Church Ain't What It USED to Be" I'd still managed to miss the point I was trying to make when I started.

The first churches didn't have steeples, the members didn't dress up for services, didn't have organs or sing from hymnals, didn't organize protests, didn't burn scolls, didn't endorse political candidates, didn't boycott certain resorts on the Mediterranean and certainly weren't country clubs where believers bought pews, dug holes and hid out.

And I sincerely doubt that anyone became a member and joined the early churches because it was the cool, popular thing to do.

I believe the first churches were formed by ordinary people who'd seen Christ alive, crucified and resurrected and that the first churches were composed of followers who believed, and could not be dissuaded from believing, in Christ ... not to benefit or glorify themselves, but because they knew he was alive.

Imagine a church today filled with people who're convicted that Christ is alive because they had witnessed his love with their own eyes.

Nope ... church sure ain't what it USED to be.

Whatcha Watchin'?

Hello, Hemingway (1990)

"A young girl's academic asperation conflict with her family's struggle against poverty. Both these aspects are made all the more potent by the clear view they have of Ernest Hemingway's mansion in their home town just outside Havana." - imdb.com

Saved, and Out: What does "Church" mean?

What does "church" mean?  What's church all about, anyway?

I wonder how many believers think something like this:

1. The world is an evil place, and the Bible says we're to set ourselves apart from the world.  So we go to church to get away from evil and distance ourselves from sinners, because sinners keep sinning and deserve going to hell.

Well, you and I deserve hell too, and it's not our works or our righteousness that saved us.  We're also instructed in scripture to be like Christ, and Christ didn't hide from evil and Christ didn't run away from sinners: Christ closed the distance and loved. 

Other believers might answer: 

2.Church is where we go to be reminded that the only reason we're here on earth is to suffer and endure misery.  

But does the worship service also have to be a miserable event, and heap an extra hour of suffering on top of everything else we're here to endure?

If you enjoy sitting in the exact same pew every Sunday, being miserable and scowling at strangers and frowning at visitors, please Smile- I'm just asking  :-)

Thes next two answers might be my favorites:

3. Church is Heaven's waiting room

These folks believe church is Christ's waiting room ... a great place to huddle up, discuss what's wrong with everybody else (and their politics),  find fault with and gossip about each other, and just generally stand around smoking spiritual cigarettes.  In short, doing nothing.

Their approach seems to be, "Now that we're saved and safe doesn't that mean it's time to pack up our stuff, find a comfortable seat in the auditorium and wait for the Heaven Bus to take us home?"

No.  Scripture doesn't say that turning the body into a waiting room is what Christ commanded of his church.

4. Church is where God put me to straighten other people out

These believers are convinced that their spiritual gift is Being Critical and Condescending to Others.  They have all the answers without even needing to hear the question: just ask and they'll tell you they're not always right ... but they've never been wrong, either.  

These Big Shot Brothers can hardly wait to get to Heaven, and help God straighten things out there, too.  Folks like this tend to be selfish with contributing their money to the church, but quite generous with their unsolicited advice and opinions.

But generally, free advice is worth what you pay for it.

Maybe instead of trying to answer What does church mean? we could try asking,  What should church BE?

Let's go church-shopping for Insurance. Just in case.

[parody]

Eternity lasts for an awfully long time: you'll sleep better knowing your investment there is secure.

Let's face facts: lots can go wrong in life between today and the hereafter.   Maybe you've been wondering whether Grace Is Enough ... or do you need a little "Extry" insurance to feel secure and at peace?

Why not play life safe?  Let's go church-shopping and see what kinds of insurance are available, and determine which policy offers the most value and protection: 

Backrow Hell-Fire and Casualty

"Because who knows?  You might've missed something."

This is a traditional policy designed for believers who suspect they're saved, without ever being sure.  They're afraid they might sin (or read from the wrong translation), worry about overlooking some small legalism, and face the fiery furnace for falling short.  Note: each policy renewal requires rededication

Premium: Fluctuates with guilt    Deductible: Basic    Maximum Benefit: Minimum

Hole Life

"Do what Scripture says when you want to, but cover your assets when you have to."

A church-offered policy for today's successful, upscale customer who's interested in protecting their wealth and possesions, yet whose life constantly seems to keep leaking ... from the holes in their faith.  

Premium: Very High    Deductible: N/A    Maximum Benefit: lifetime asset protection

Term Life

"For the part-time believer who wants God there, just in case."

Who's always righteous, and never trips or stumbles?  If you're one of the millions of believers who like having their faith and denying it too, this policy is guaranteed to put a fat happy smile on your face --- and isn't 'Making Me Happy' what life's all about?

Premium: pay when coverage needed   Deductible: always   Maximum Benefit: pays per incident

Good Works and Righteousness Compensation

"Design your own deeds: finally a policy that allows you to save yourself!"

A customized church policy for the believer who wants others knowing he's more saved, worked harder and is more righteous than anyone else.   Insist on having the best: You're in good hands with your own hands.

Premium: custom      Deductible: Custom      Maximum Benefit: Allowed by Law

True Cross, True Shield

The total policy that answers every emergency and fits every need.  Only plan offering Eternal Salvation and Assurance.

Premium: Paid in Full    Deductible: infinite Grace period     Maximum Benefit: YES

Any vessel, any vessel in the area please respond

For the past two months I've been living on a 28-foot boat in one of the downtown marinas of a large mid-Atlantic city.

Even though I'm technically 160 miles from the ocean, it's still salt water with unpredictable weather, and the inner harbor is regularly navigated by tankers, freighters, warships the length of two football fields, tugboats and world-cruising mega-yachts.

But there's more ordinary folks in boats than anything else; regular people with unremarkable boats who're out on the water just trying to mind their own business, and have a good time.

--   --   --

No one goes leaves the security of dry land intending to have an emergency at sea.  But it seems you can turn the VHF radio to Channel 16 most any weekend, especially when storms or other hazardous conditions are forecast, and hear the badly frightened voices of boaters calling the Coast Guard for urgent assistance.

The vessels in distress aren't calling from the other side of the world: marine VHF radios have a very limited range under the best of conditions, which means the guy calling for help is close ... almost near enough to be in sight.  But even then, help isn't automatically on its way.

There's lots of legitimate reasons why the Coast Guard can't be like the pizza delivery guys and respond to every call in 30 minutes or less: when the wind starts howling and conditions get rough, there's ususally more than one guy foundering in a boat who needs immediate assisstance.

In the past eight weeks I've heard broadcasts similar to, "Coast Guard calling any vessel, any vessel in the area, please respond to [the emergency] at coordinates X, Y Z" almost a half-dozen times.  

The Coast Guard does not come on the air and announce, "Any vessel in the area please respond ... but only if you know the folks who're sinking and their skin's the same color as yours."

Nor does the Coast Guard ever say, "There's plenty of time, so discuss the situation and create an Action Committee.  Feel free to have a vote and offer suggestions before responding.  Don't worry about responding if you're uncomfortable getting involved, or not quite feeling up to responding ... and there's nothing selfish about turning off your radio and locking your doors if you'd rather not be disturbed."   

Never.

  

By law, any vessel capable of responding is required to show up and offer assistance ... and the penalties for failure to provide assistance reflect the serious nature of life-threatening emergencies at sea.

The Federal government doesn't fudge or back down from the seriousness of rendering assistance to folks in danger of being lost.

Which is the long way of getting around to the point:  Shouldn't churches be at least as serious about responding and rendering assistance to folks in danger of being lost?

VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION RULES AND REGULATIONS (33 U.S.C. 1608)

§2304 Duty to provide assistance at sea

1. A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.
2. A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

Church Sure Ain't What It USED to BE - Part 3

Folks who complain about churches "not being what they used to be" or accuse congregations of "changing and becoming wordly, just to attract people" probably forgot that steeples and stained glass windows weren't part of the original churches' equation.

At least, believers fixated on "having old time church services, like we used to" seldom mention how pews, choirs, organs and dressing-up for church actually originated:

"Contrary to popular opinion, medieval Christians had no common practice of dressing up for church because nice clothes were only afforded by the wealthy.

"The growing prosperity of the middle class cultivated a craving for bigger and better houses, church buildings, and clothes.  Denominations with a greater proportion of wealthy members (e.g. Episcopal, Unitarian) began selling pews to wealthy families to fund elaborate church building improvements. 

"As the Victorian enculturation of the middle class progressed, fancier and more formal worship houses began to draw the influential people of society, so that the more populist congregations (e.g. Baptist, Methodist) had to work hard to try to keep up with improvements to their own facilities.  

"Borrowing from the Episcopalians, Methodist and Baptists began to bring choirs and organs into their worship services."  - source here

Funny, isn't it, how believers will fight any kind of Change to the last deacon standing, and argue themselves out the church door rejecting change, insisting upon "keeping things like they always have been."

Without once recognizing that steeples, pews and dressing-up for church are actually recent, modern changes incorporated to reflect and "keep up with the times."