The Musings of an American in Canada

Update on Life

2011-04-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hello folks. I don't often say much about what's going on in life, so I thought, "Hey, why not?".

After finally getting my Work Visa in January, and job hunting for 2 months, I landed a decent job at a locally owned upscale furniture store here in Kelowna. After a month on the job I can honestly say it's mostly very enjoyable. It's fairly stress-free, I was a really quick study into the furniture field, and I seem to have an acceptable knack for sales at this level. I say "this level" because it's quite a far-cry from even the priciest stuff at Toys R Us. I'm hoping after the next month or two to re-evaluate my current compensation and maybe add a little commission. That would be nice.

I had the joy of working with a genius retail consultant my first 3 weeks here. He and I got along really well and he was pretty successful in convincing me that I could be more ambitious in my work-life. It was encouraging and humbling at the same time to hear that I was really bright, creative, personable, etc. but that I perhaps have not challenged myself enough. Those 3 weeks with Geoff the consultant-turned-career-coach were really inspiring. I'm thankful to be able to maintain that friendship.

Last night Carly and I made it out to a movie (thanks to Elizabeth's Canadian Grandparents). We saw The King's Speech. I thought it was a pretty good movie, but my perspective on it is different than some because I grew up a "stutter-er" (it still challenges me to this day, however slightly). I guess maybe I wanted the film to shed light on some old-fashioned-but-effective cure for stuttering, but it didn't. It was the same ol' "healthy, confident, people with no emotional problems don't stutter, but people who do stutter have Daddy-issues and blah blah. I'm over-simplifying it, I know, and the King may have had a tough time with his family, but I didn't. ANYWAY...This isn't supposed to be about stuttering.

It was an excellent movie. I highly recommend it.

Speaking of Elizabeth (parenthetically at least), she is doing great. I believe she's verging on teeth, so that's really the only challenge other than keeping up with the black-hole known as laundry. Carly and I are enjoying being parents. I love just working a regular ol' job, and Carly is enjoying being at home and taking care of the family. We're so domesticated. But to keep the creative juices flowing...

Barnett Photography (name subject to change) is coming along. We purchased some equipment this spring, and we've booked some couples, some children, and a wedding...It's a good start and we're really enjoying it.

Anyway, that's about it. Sorry I didn't get all theologically long-winded or politically esoteric, or blah blah...Sometimes your own life is enough to deal with.

See ya' next time.

OH, and I re-designed my blog a bit. It's more of an update. But here it is. The picture at the top was taken at my work. I sincerely believe we sell the coolest couches.

Barnett Photography

2011-02-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

A photograph is like the recipe - a memory the finished dish. ~Carrie Latet

My wife and I have begun a small business over the last few months. Barnett Photography has been building itself slowly through a little work here and there. I'm really proud of what we've accomplished lately and I feel like it's getting a bit of a groove. Anyway, our blog launched this weekend, so we're promoting it through the various and sundry outlets available on the internets. I thought I'd spread the word to you, the blog readers. I know things have been slow here, but it's because things have been happening elsewhere. So with that...Go enjoy the fruits of our labor, and email us if you're interested in some work being done for you or your family....or your friends...or your dog....you know...whatever.

This is our blog.

This is our facebook.

This is our twitter.

Add us. Follow us. Be our friend. Spread the word. Thank you. I am in your debt.

Bubble Creek Canyon

2011-01-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

I saw this floating around the interwebz today.

I think I've met people who think this would be a good idea.

Stephen Colbert proves himself wrong while proving Bill O' Reilly wrong.

2011-01-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Shane Rosenthal gets it right.

Wikileak this!

2010-12-07T01:29:00.000-08:00

"In a free society, we are supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, we are in big trouble." -Ron Paul
"They're closing in on the wikileaks guy, but not Osama Bin Laden. That's really all you need to know." -Blaine Capatch

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." -Albert Einstein

I'm somewhat fascinated with this Wikileaks drama. I'll say from the outset that as it stands now, I'm supportive of Julian Assange and what he's trying to do. But, I can be swayed. So if you disagree, please, sway me. But I think there are some questions this drama brings up. I'd like to ask those questions.

Will the increase of information available on the internet force openness within governments? Or will governments just go to greater lengths to hide their actions?

What if a government could no longer "cover-up" because the accurate information would be readily available soon enough anyway?

How long before the internet becomes so tightly controlled by governments that it becomes useless for anything other than propaganda? Is Wikileaks moving us in that direction?

Could the internet be regulated in that way even if they tried? Wikileaks is a good example of the proliferation of information despite opposition. Just check out how many servers are now hosting Wikileaks.

I'm not just talking about America. But I do think America should be an example of openness and honesty in governance. The sad truth is that American history is rife with examples of secrets, deception, covert operations all over the world. Just doing our share, really. Every developed nation is partaking in the fun.

But what if more and more, our knowledge is increased because someone wasn't afraid to tell us what's going on? I guess, all government operations could be done word-of-mouth with no incriminating documents. But perhaps not. And if not, would that force honesty within world governments?

I understand that some people are upset. Bill O' Reilly has called for Julian Assange to be executed. But I also understand that exposing what's done in the dark is the only way to hold the "doer" accountable. Governments aren't accountable to the people at all. Because we can't know what it is that they do. Until now.

Right now, I couldn't care less about enemies and wars and terrorists. What Americans don't seem to understand, is that terrorists do not have to kill anybody do their job. We just have to live in terror. If we live in terror, the terrorists win. Every time we let another one of our rights be subverted in the name of safety, the terrorist wins. Airport body scanners. TSA employees feeling you up. Color-coded terror alert systems. The Patriot Act. Homeland Security. It's as though the terrorists have employed these measures themselves. What do they do? They keep us afraid.

We live in terror.

(I live in Canada. Substantially less terror here. I ask myself why? Canada is free. Canada has bikinis and Baby Gap and rock n roll. Why don't they hate Canada?)

Where was I? I've heard it said that information made available through Wikileaks puts us in danger. To much openness puts us in danger of losing military advantage. Losing lives. That remains to be seen. I can tell you that we've lost 5,644 military lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's more than 9/11, The U.S. Embassy Bombings, and the USS Cole attack put together (Osama Bin Laden is believed responsible for all those attacks).

I am more interested in honesty. Openness. Information. Not just in the U.S. In the world. I'm ready for a disgruntled Brit to unlock the U.K. A smart Jew to expose Israel. I want the information on Iraq, Russia, Canada, Sweden, China, Greenland... If you can't hide anything, then there is nothing to hide. What would happen if documents from all over the world were released? World War 3? Perhaps. I certainly wouldn't want that. But, I can't stand government secrecy. Maybe if they did what I voted them in to do, but by-and-large...they don't. So I want to know what it is that they do...Do.

Until they can tell me, I'll keep perusing the Wikileaks files.

You Are Not David!

2010-09-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

From 1 Samuel 17

"And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled."

When I was in Jr. high and high school, I used to go nearly every year to a Christian week-end retreat camp called Sky Ranch. It happened every March. I have many fond memories of this place. Water slides, canoeing, rope swings...it was pretty fun.
Of course, this Christian camp was not all fun and games, right? We had "services" in the afternoon and at night. And after the Saturday night service (the last one), we would all walk down to this big fire pit and sit around discussing our weekend.

One year, the Saturday service must have had a sermon on 1 Samuel 17. I don't remember the sermon at all. Not a word. I don't even remember if 1 Samuel 17 was the text. What I do remember is that when we all walked down to the fire pit, we walked with a piece of paper in our hands that contained a word or two about some "giant" we were facing. In a word or two, we wrote down some thing, some Goliath in our lives, some situation or sin that was causing us to have a difficult time at home or at school. Once around the fire, we were given the chance to get up in front of everybody (if we wanted to, or better yet, if we "felt led" to) and (tastefully) talk about our "giant" and how, with God's help, we would slay the mighty beast. For a bunch of ninth and tenth graders, this type of thing is generally a mention of a boyfriend/girlfriend we needed to dump for God's Glory, or how we needed to be a better Christian at school, or how we needed better friends because bad character corrupts badly (or something). Of course there were some truly heart breaking stories of abuse, illness, busted families. I do not want to make light of sad situations so I'll move on...
The point was that in this story, we play the part of David and our troubles play the part of a formidable foe named Goliath.

That story is not this story.

About a month ago I read a wonderfully titled article in a favorite magazine of mine called, "You're So Vain You Probably Think This Text Is About You". That idea was the theme of the issue. I read it and was reminded of a sermon I heard (and remembered!) from 2007. This sermon came fully 10 years after the Camp experience. My pastor was preaching through 1 Samuel. When he got to chapter 17, we all got to hear another sermon about David and Goliath. But what he said was quite the opposite of what we learned(?) at camp. I can summarize in 4 words.

YOU ARE NOT DAVID!

This was a mind blower for me. He said if we must compare ourselves to anyone in this passage we must compare ourselves to the fearful and unable Israelites. I learned that the story of David and Goliath is a story of rescue and redemption. David plays the part of Christ who fights and wins for us. We do nothing to contribute to the victory. Christ alone is victorious. Goliath doesn't represent a promotion we seek, or a brake job we can't afford, or even a broken family. He played a part in a story that demonstrates the power and effectiveness of our Lord's salvation for His people. If a lesson must be found, let it be this lesson.

When we read old testament narratives we are tempted to look for the "moral lesson". What can we learn from this? How can we apply this to our lives in a modern way? Keith Mathison said,

"However well intentioned such preachers may be, handling the Scriptures in this manner conditions people to treat the stories of the Bible in a way not unlike Aesop's Fables."

To be sure, there are "moral lessons" to be learned from Scripture and I don't mean to take away from that. But injecting life application where it isn't takes away from the greater purpose of Scripture. That purpose is to teach Christ and Him crucified. The salvation for God's people.

Sometimes God is not saying "Here's a lesson for you." Sometimes God is showing His great love for for us that while we were still sinners He sent His son to die for us.

P.S. If you've never read the old testament looking for the types and shadows of Christ, I encourage you to do that. For example, Abraham and his son Isaac is less about how we need to be faithful to God even to the point of killing our own children. Abraham learned that God provides the sacrifice our sins. Abraham's son would never be able to pay the debt. The story is a shadow of Christ. How God sends His own Son, a spotless Lamb to die in our place. Try reading the Bible this way. I think you'll like it.

Child Raising

2010-07-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

I will be the first person in my family (at least in the last couple hundred years) to raise my children in a solidly Reformed Christian home. I realized this a few weeks ago. It got me excited. I was raised in a good Christian home. I love my parents and we've always had (and enjoy even more to this day) a good relationship. I'm thankful for all their sacrifices and hard work put into raising three boys. But by the providence of God, our house, growing up, was not reformed. We just weren't aware of solid orthodox Christianity. We are now, as adults, just not when I was growing up.
So I have a unique opportunity to begin a great and Godly tradition. A tradition with solid reformed principles, of Soteriology, Eschatology, Apologetics, Biblical interpretation, Corporate Worship, Family Worship, and the myriad of ways that Reformed Theology can influence a home and a person.

Our Gracious God and Father,

I pray that even as You form my child in the womb, You would be pleased to perform a saving work in that child's heart and mind. I pray that when my child is born, You would convict them of their sin, show them their unrighteousness and their need of Christ as the substitutionary atonement of their sin. I pray that You would help Carly and I to raise them in fear and admonition of You. I pray that they would obey Your commands and that their obedience would be wrought of love for You and Your law. I thank You, our Father, for the covenant You have instituted with Your people. I pray You would honor Your covenant and draw us nigh to Your throne, be it at our death, or Your return.

In Christ's name I pray.

Amen.

Life, The Bible, and Zach Payne

2010-06-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

"You can take wretch and make it beautiful, can You take a wretch like me? You can take whore and make her white as snow, can You take a whore like me? Write Your name on my heart so I cannot forget."

-Zach Payne

There's this record by a guy named Zach Payne. I don't know many people that know of Zach Payne, and if I hadn't been at the right place (Oklahoma) at the right time (March 2007) I wouldn't know who he is either. I was playing drums for a band in Oklahoma at the time and our guitar player's brother was working on this record for a guy named Zach Payne.

Commuting back and forth between Beaumont, Tx and Oklahoma City, Ok was terrible. I spent too much money on gas, too much on car repairs, and there was often too much downtime while I was there, so I wasn't playing shows, but I couldn't be home working either. But I had a great time. Played a ton of shows throughout the United States and met some really spectacular people who I'm proud to call my friends.

View Larger Map

Highlights include the first show I played for them. We were the opening act of a decent sized festival. We were on the bill with bands like, Reliant K, Grits, Remedy Drive (<--ok not that big of a deal), etc. I had only learned the songs at home to a cd. Then I drove the 8 hours so the band could practice twice, then we left for Iowa for the festival. Our singer got super sick and basically lost all that makes his voice good, I barely knew the songs, I was nervous of course...then I walked on stage to play at 11am in the morning to see three thousand people looking at the stage.

Looking at us.

Expecting us to be...well...good.

To say we were good would be generous. Poor singer was really sporting a raspyness reminiscent of Kathrine Hepburn, so we had to cut a couple songs, which meant to fill the time spot we would have to jam on a couple songs for longer than we'd practiced. I gooyed only one part of the entire set. And it was one of those "musician's mistakes" so regular folks wouldn't have caught it anyway. For that I'm proud. ANYWAY....

So I got myself a copy of Zach Payne's first record. Before it was "released", though that would be a generous term considering there would be no record label, no promotion, no CD's in stores...you would pretty well have to know someone who knew someone to get it anyway. I knew someone, who knew someone, who knew Zach Payne, so I burned myself a copy of it (later I got it again, only this time on Itunes).

The album (titled simply, Zach Payne) kinda blew me away. It wasn't quite modern worship music (for that I was thankful), but it was certainly thematically "Christian". Musically, the record shifted easily between indie rock, acoustic, indie whatever...There are as many real instruments used as there are programmed sounds. From anthemic U2 esque sounds to simple acoustic numbers, to elements of a drum & bass sound. Vocally, Zach Payne sounds like kinda like a broken, dirty, indie Leeland Mooring. This is a complement. There is a lo-fi quality in his singing and it's entirely refreshing.

Each song stands well enough alone, but (like most albums) the songs sounds best in context of each other.

Theologically, I have zero issue with entire record. There isn't a line in it that I couldn't sing with conviction. He takes the subject of our Christian life and breathes honesty into it without reserve.

So yesterday, I turned on this record and was reminded of all the reasons I love it. I listened to it at least 3 times yesterday and once today...so far (listening right now).

"Who can restrain the voice of Justice? Who can deny His mighty deeds? Who can bring about a charge against Him? Who will set us free from sin and death? Who will turn our shame to righteousness? Who will turn our mourning into dance?"

The themes throughout the record are close to my heart. He tackles the Sovereignty of God and his own inability do good. But it's the daily struggle I think he hits right on the head. One song he energetically sings, "I will not be silent, till praise goes before You." and on another singing, "When I'm drowning, lift my head above the wave so I can breathe."

And this is honestly, how we feel. My Christianity is certainly a roller-coaster. I get bad attitudes I lose my temper. I do selfish things. I say mean things. I think mean things. My own depravity surprises me sometimes. Truly each of us is perfectly capable of committing even the most heinous acts.

Except for one thing...one thing that prevents complete and utter hell in our hearts. And that is the faithfulness of our Lord.

I have heard one-too-many sermons in my youth dealing with the unfaithfulness of humans. This is a given. Up and down is the way it is. It is the grace of God that we ever experience "up".

In one or two hundred (feels like) of these sermons I was told, I needed to "make a commitment...Summer camp is over and it seems some of you aren't as 'on fire' for God as you were at Summer camp!"

To which I reply, DUH. That was Summer camp. It's easy to be faithful when there's a thousand of you there for a week, all trying to see who can glorify God the most. Never, growing up, (at least not until 11th grade) did I hear a youth pastor say, "Hey guys, let's look the apostle Paul for an accurate account of what to expect from from us and from God."

So hey guys, let's look at the apostle Paul.

When Paul said in Romans, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?" I don't think he was at summer camp. I don't think Paul ever went to summer camp.

Prison, yes. Summer camp, No.

What I think, is that Paul understood that humans, even himself, are not faithful. We are not faithful to God nor each other. But God is faithful to us. Paul said,

"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

Our lives are a roller coaster because our hearts are a roller coaster. There is sanctification, and God does wonderful things to our hearts when He puts His Holy Spirit in our hearts. But like the hymn writer said, "Prone to wonder Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love."

But God is rich in mercy. God is faithful. God is good.

P.S. Summer camps are awesome. I look forward to the day I can send my children to a wonderful, solidly reformed, summer camp.

P.S.S. You can buy Zach's album here on ITUNES. He has a new record out, that's not available online (that I know of). You can write him and request a copy. Zach says every dollar he makes goes to Missions to further the Gospel and into his music fund to make more records.

The "Heart" of Worship

2010-05-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

" Relevance is not achieved by conformance to the world, it is achieved by conformance to God's Word."

-Gabriel H

There is a very funny and convicting video that is circulating the web "viral style" among Christians. It's called Sunday Morning.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

I saw this exactly a week ago, I think, from a Presbyterian friend of mine. If I were a good blogger I would've commented on it then. But I'm a little slow on the trigger sometimes so here I am.

Anyone who knows me, knows I do not attend a church even remotely like this. My opinion is that this type of service comes across as vapid and hollow no matter what the heart's intention.

Don't get mad.

Just my opinion.

It's not "my style".

But I do think a video like this can remind us that Church can so easily become about the church goer exclusively. We say what we want, how we want, when we want (Saturday night service for the weekend late sleeper). The completely un-ironic earnestness of this attempt at relevancy is not in question. We know that these people truly desire to have their "heart" in the "right place" when it comes to the worship service.

But is the question of the heart's motive the only question?

Is God concerned with both the ends and the means?

We are required to worship God.

Does God require us to worship Him a certain way?

It's not in question that this was true for the Israelites. I've been reading Exodus and God has been instructing the construction and design of His temple.

God was very precise.

The size, shape and materials were all dictated. Later I'll be reading precisely what was expected to take place and how the people were to approach a Holy God.

How do you think Church should look today?

Do you think God has instruction for the Christian believer?

Does only the "heart" of the worshiper matter?

Do the means by which we worship God matter as well?

I have my thoughts. But I'm asking you.

The Kingdom of God

2010-05-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

I heard yesterday, that no matter what system of Government you live under, whether Democracy, Republic, Parliament, Monarchy, Dictatorship, etc. the Government is only as good as the individual(s) who holds office. America, for instance, has arguably the freest and most noble system. The reality is that the leaders are rarely not more than depraved sinners, even who's good deeds are motivated by selfishness.

It is commendable to be active in your country's Government. Run for office. Vote your conscience. Be aware of the issues. Humbly fight for the rights of both the rich and the poor. The slave and the free.

But do not confuse your earthly citizenship with your spiritual citizenship.

A Christian lives in a Monarchy. Our King is Christ, and He is truly the best ruler to serve. Christ is at once, a royal leader, and a humble servant. Making the wisest judgments, and kneeling to wash the dirtiest feet.

-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

I have been out of The United States for 8 months. In principle, I believe that British Columbia "suffers" from a completely socialized insurance program. It's not just Medical, it's Auto as well. The system of Government is Parliamentary. There are leaders here who are appointed and elected. Legislation is totally skewed in favor of the more populated areas of the country.

But the nitty-gritty of it, is that I'm having a great time. These people do not feel oppressed and neither do I. We drive on paved and organized roads. We enjoy (in BC) at least a functional health care system. My wife is pregnant and I'm glad the health care is serving us so well.

But here's something I really love about Canada.

Canada is generally non-interventionist in the world (Esp. compared to the US). Reportedly, in 2011 Canada will pull all their troops from Afghanistan. Also they officially didn't support the Iraq war. Yes there were some personnel there, but it was some of the lowest troop numbers of any country in Iraq. And guess what? Canadians do not live in horror of impending terrorist attack.
So despite the differences in the system of government, Canada is much closer to to the correct way as far as Foreign Policy is concerned.

Now excuse me while I stroll down a road lined with flowers, to a huge lake nestled in a valley, surrounded by mountains. Where it hardly rains and we enjoy four complete and perfect seasons.

I'll Always Appreciate Your Attitude, But A Good Attitude Does Not A Theologian Make

2010-04-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are. I just read Donald Miller's latest blog. I used to link his blog on here, but I removed the link because his theology just seems to be getting worse. He loves Jesus, I have no doubt. But he theorizes like a deist. His attitude toward truth has slipped into a place where it's hard for me to find the "worthwhile" in the midst of the "please ignore".

Miller asks the question, "Does God have a specific plan for your life?" Then he answers with, "Probably not."

Proverbs 16:9 says,

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

If all we had to go on was this verse alone, it's enough to surmise that Miller's idea is false.

This idea of his seems to fly in the face of the teaching's of Paul who stated clearly (quoting the old testament) that God creates with PURPOSE.

The logical end of statements that support the idea of a "purposeless God" is that God is no more than the great winder-upper of creation's entropic clock. I find this, firstly, not biblical, and secondly, offensive.

Sorry Don. Lost me on that one.

Marital Advice

2010-04-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Husbands love your wives. Brad Paisley tells us how...

She says not to buy her flowers
Or big expensive gifts
She says she don't want jewlery
And she doesn't need another dress
If I want to show her how much I adore her
The best way that I've found
Is to make sure when I'm finished
I put that toilet seat down

We've been to counseling
To try and see the ways we could improve
This thing between us
And different ways to show each other "I love you"
Forget about those getaway vacations
To romantic coastal towns
If you want to say "I love you"
Then put that toilet seat down

'Cause in the middle of the night
It's cold and it's dark
And when I hear my name in vain
I know I haven't done my part
She just wants me to support her
And the best way that I've found
So with a gentle hand and a loving touch
I put that toilet seat down

I know it's kind of funny
You can teach a little puppy
But it's very hard to train a grown man
When I'm all about my buisiness
And the path of least resistance
She's the one that suffers in the end

In the middle of the night
It's cold and it's dark
And when I hear my name in vain
I know I haven't done my part
She just wants me to support her
And the best way that I've found
So with a gentle hand and a loving touch
I put that toilet seat down
Down, down

The State of the Biz

2010-04-23T01:51:00.000-07:00

I'm nearly convinced that music as we know it is dead.

I should clarify.

I'm nearly convinced that the music industry (at least as we've known it for 50 years) is dead.

There are two reasons why I believe this. If you have another idea, please, let me know.

Number 1. There are too many artists trying to make money from the same pool of people. Every artist or band shares fans with another artist or band. Both of you are trying to get money and support and loyalty from the same people. The market has become over-saturated. I can't tell you of all the bands people tell me I need to listen to. Bands that are going to change my life. Well, I just don't have the time. Don't get me wrong. I'm a music lover. I have enough music to press play, and it won't stop for weeks. Gigabytes and gigabytes of music. Literally, Thousands and thousands of songs. I've got entire albums I've never listened to.

As of 2008, old info, there were over 8 million Myspace Band pages. 8 million...2 years ago.

And there's more music every Tuesday.

Number 2.

In June of 1999, Shawn Fanning developed an online service devoted to "sharing" music. It's legality was questionable. It was revolutionary. It was popular. But most important of all...

It was free.

In 2000, Metallica discovered that their entire catalogue of music was available for free download. They sued. Dr. Dre, discovering the same thing, also sued. And those two artists brought to the court the names of their own fans. In 2001, Napster went offline. In 2002, it declared backruptcy.

But by then, it was way too late.

Music had become available to anyone savvy enough to look for it and understand how to download it.

Lawsuits became the norm for Record Companies who were not really trying to win back lost revenue (what 16 year old could pay thousands of dollars in fines?) as much as they were trying to scare the population straight. It kinda/didn't work(ed). You see, fighting a war on downloading is futile. There is always a supply and there is always a demand. The market had changed. The product delivery was also going to change.

But, new websites sprung up. Music became extremely easy to download for a reasonable price. Apple's iTunes holds the corner on that market. But how long will it work? Just recently Apple raised the prices on many of the songs available. How high can Apple go?

This free music phenomenon also inspired the Artists themselves. As many as were against Napster and free downloading, there has been a strong voice encouraging the free distribution of music. Public Enemy's Chuck D supported the site, and Radiohead saw exponentially better album sales after their record Kid A was shared, fully 3 months, before it's official release.

Shawn Fanning also started SnowCap in 2002, and launched it in 2004. SnowCap was a legal online music store that was able to be coded onto existing websites, most notably, Myspace. I used SnowCap myself in 2006 to spread the music of my own indie band. The bands could upload their music onto the store and sell individual songs for a buck a piece. I remember when I first saw the service I thought it was revolutionary, user friendly, and a way to profitably spread your music. In retrospect, it's easy to see that there is no future idea for music distribution I predict as being game changing. The game changed 10 years ago.

In 2007, on the 10th of October, Radiohead released their album In Rainbows independently and for free. They set up an online system where the fan could choose exactly, if anything, he/she wanted to pay for the record. I wasn't really a Radiohead fan, but I certainly wasn't going to pass up being a part of this great music experiment. Naturally, I didn't pay a dime for In Rainbows (it was pretty good, certainly worth getting for free). While sales numbers were never released from the experiment, after all was said and done, Radiohead fared pretty well on the generosity of their die hard fans. Over 1 million downloads that first day. Imagine if only half the downloaders chose to pay for it. Imagine they only chose to pay 50 cents. With virtually no overhead, Radiohead would still make a ton of money. When the band released the album 3 months later officially in stores and whatnot, it charted number 1 in both the US and the UK. Their best sales since Kid A, which ironically was also available online 3 months prior to it's release. The difference was that with In Rainbows, Radiohead just went with the flow of the industry. No suing fans, no legal hoopla, just gave it away, and still made money.

Record labels are collapsing. Over the last few years, the number of job cuts has been incredible, but expected. In 2008, EMI, the biggest and the baddest, cut 2000 jobs worldwide. They are said to be planning more cuts this year.

While the labels fire themselves, the internet is thriving. In 2006, Derek Webb gave away his album Mockingbird in exchange for, not money, but information. For giving your name, email address and postal code he gave you his record. And he told you to tell all your friends to download it too. In the end he gave away over 80,000 copies of Mockingbird. But he certainly gained quite a bit. With his new information, he emailed fans about his shows. He knew your name, how to contact you, and where you lived. And the fans showed up. He began playing sold-out shows all over America. People started buying his records (including the one he gave away), they purchased shirts and other things. By all accounts it was a success. (He recently gave away his latest work, Stockholm Syndrome, in the same manner. I downloaded it for free and it's great.)

Based on that success, Webb started a new kind of website. Noisetrade.com became a place for bands and artists to give away their music in exchange for a little info and a little promotion. There are now hundreds of bands using the site. Many of them are my personal friends. Shoot, one of those bands is giving away a song that I played drums on. My own work is being given away.

And this is what I'm talking about.

People aren't going to pay for what is free.

I believe the only reasonable way to monetize music in the future is through a different kind of music product. The live show. Now it's also well known that live music has suffered. Ticket sales have slumped, true. But the live show is one of the few things you can't share online. Been to see a good band lately? You can't beat that experience. You can also monetize your music through the limited release of hard copies of the music. And get creative. If a 16 year old loves your band, they might also love the 20 page booklet you provide in the case of the 10,000 copies you release. Release on vinyl. It sounds better that way anyway. For something to have value, it must be rare. Creativity is the only thing that's going to work if the artist wants to continue his profession and pay his rent.

Anyway, just my thoughts today.

Baby

2010-04-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I'm having a baby.

Not me personally.

My wife is having a baby.

I'm having a baby in the sense that my wife is going to have a baby.

This is exciting.

I promise this blog isn't going to turn into one of those...

"Baby Blogs."

Where all I ever talk about is my baby.

But I'm still pretty excited about it.

In Summation

2010-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

"If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly."

- Martin Luther

"No true Christian is his own man."

- John Calvin

"He came to set the prisoner free, a message of simplicity."

-Ted Kirkpatrick of Tourniquet

I hope that through these last five posts it has become clear just what I believe. It is no secret that I am a Calvinist through and through. Make no mistake. I don't think John Calvin was some sort of crazy prophet. But I do think he pretty accurately systematized the theology of the Gospel. What I'm saying is that I'm no follower of Calvin. I'm a follower of Christ. Calvin just understood the words of Christ better than most back in his day.

But what we know today as Calvinism, the theology itself, predates John Calvin, the man. Another name for Calvinism could be classical Christianity, or true Christianity.

The will of man has always been hotly debated among...well...men. For every group of orthodox Christians, through the ages, there seems to be group of people on the fringe, claiming "freedom of the will". At times this group of outsiders has had control. Catholicism before the Reformation had nearly snuffed out true Christianity. And even now, Arminianism has a good grip on the hearts of men once again. Charles Spurgeon quoting George Whitefield said,

"We are all born Arminians." It is grace that turns us into Calvinists."

Ultimately, if we can learn anything from a solid study of the Bible, we can learn that God is in complete and utter control. To the lost, who hates God, this is dark news indeed. I would wish the Wrath and Judgment of God on no man.

But to the believing sinner.

The one that God has saved.

His great goodness and mercy know no boundaries. There is no limit to the blessing for those in Christ Jesus. His glorious grace has saved you. His love is set upon you. Unconditionally and without merit.

Paul said,

"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

Do you number yourself with the elect of God? Have you learned of your sin? Do you put your faith in Christ for the removal of your guilt? If you have not, then do not delay. Christ will return for His church like a thief in the night. At a time when no man may know. Do not be bogged down in debates and arguing. Flee at once to Christ. There is no better time than now and there is no better God to serve.

He is truly the most gracious and good God-only-wise.

Sola Deo Gloria

Perseverence Of The Saints

2010-04-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

"Our perseverance is not dependent on our good works but on God's grace."

-Loraine Boettner

"I shall lose none of them."

-Jesus Christ

I used to argue with my friends about this idea.

The idea commonly known as "Once saved, always saved".

Honestly (humorously) , it was always my Baptist friends.

There are a surprising number of people who would disagree with nearly everything I've written here, but would confidently assert that once you are saved, you cannot lose your salvation.

I didn't get it.

At least not back in those days.

It wasn't logical to me. It didn't make sense to believe that we are free to choose or reject God at anytime, until we become Christians. Then we are stuck. In my head it sounded like this:

Say we're all criminals (we are, so that's not hard). And say that in between our heinous crimes we sometimes run into a cop who tells us of our crimes, or we step in the Police Station every now and then just feel a little better about it all. But sometimes, some of us, the ones who aren't quite as bad, make the decision to actually step in the jail cell. We let them lock us up. We stare through the cold bars as we watch them throw away the key. Of course once we've settled into our caged life, we realize that it's not so bad in jail. It's actually quite wonderful. The bed is more comfortable, the friends are nicer, we all pray for each other, and it turns out the the "jailer" is really our savior. He loves us and we love Him, so we stay there forever, because once we're jailed, we're always jailed.

But you see, in my confused head, I thought that if we're choosing go to jail, we should be able to choose when to leave. We can be saved for as long as we want to be saved. I thought, we turn the key to lock ourselves in, but we put that key in our pocket, and if at some point, we decide we like our heinous crimes again, or we stop loving our savior, we just pull that key out of our pocket and we leave. Back to our life of crime and sin on the street.

This is a terrible analogy.

Here's a better analogy.

The reality is that we are born "dead" in that jail cell. Captive. Our sins have put us there. We all deserve to be there. We are lifeless rotting corpses. To our captive eyes the cell looks nice. We can't see the maggots eating everything around us. We don't even know that everybody sits on death row. We are happy, but we are chained. Blissfully waiting to be put to death for our crimes.

Bound.

Enslaved.

Dead.

Together we are worthless.

Then.

Our Savior comes.

He pulls us out of that cell. His Spirit breathes life into our spiritual lungs. We see the maggots and death as He brings us out of captivity. We have life. Our Savior tells us of how He served our jail sentence for us. He sat on death row. He died in our place. Death on a cross. Our will is changed. Where it was bound to sin, now it is bound to Christ. We are led out to freedom never to see that jail again. Never to feel the wrath and consequence of our crimes.

Free.

Alive.

Servant of Christ forever.

There is no going back once God has saved you. He has done the work of freeing you. You have no glory to share. It's all His doing. It's all for His glory.

Jesus said,

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Italics mine)

Once God has given you to Christ, Christ will not lose you. Period.

The Book of Jude in the Bible is really quite short. It's one chapter. One page. Jude finishes his letter by saying this,

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever."

Jude knew that the power of Salvation lay with God alone. Jude knew that man was not able to keep from stumbling, but that God is able to keep you from stumbling. God will present you blameless in the Glory of Himself.

There are 3 predominate ideas concerning this issue.

1. We decide when we are saved. We decide if we are not to be saved. (ultimate free-will)

2. We decide when we are saved. God keeps us from deciding not to be saved. (mix-n-match)

3.God saves us. We are saved. (God is the author and finisher of our Faith)

You should know by now I believe the 3rd option.

There are certainly sad situations of folks who professed faith, attended church, only to leave, and ultimately reject Christ in their heart. To these poor people Christ will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you." The wool was still over their eyes. If you know somebody who has left the faith, pray God would be pleased to draw them to Christ. Share the Gospel with them. It is the power unto salvation.

If you have forsaken the field of Christ's sheep, remember your first love. Peter said,

"...brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Seek the Lord. Only He has the power to save.

So once saved, always saved.

I still dislike that moniker. I don't feel it accurately represents the Gospel that is found in the Perseverance of the Saints. The Gospel is this...That while we were still sinners, Christ laid down His life for us. The penalty has been paid. Our sins are covered.

Christ has removed the guilty stain.

There is no new guilt.

If you can say this of your sins, then you can be sure of your calling and election. You can be sure of your salvation. You can be sure that because of God's mercy and grace, you will always be saved.

Coming Soon: In Summation.

It's Science Really

2010-04-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

"Don't think you'll get away, no one ever has. Don't think He'll turn His back. It doesn't work like that. You're caught just like me, but it's not really all that bad."

-Scott Stiletta of Plankeye

"Twas blind but now I see"

-John Newton

The regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.

That is our subject today.

When we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in our pre-christian existence we usually believe one of two things.

1. That the Holy Spirit tugs our heart strings in an effort to convince us we want Jesus.

2. That the Holy Spirit renews our heart and mind making us alive and finally able to actually see and believe that God is good and that Christ is our savior.

I'll go ahead and say from the get-go that I'm in favor of the latter of the two.

It's the only option if you've followed the logic thus far.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says,

" All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."

When some folks discuss God's sovereignty in salvation, they talk about "free will", and they think God would never encroach upon our will and things like this. I guess my issue with that is that the Bible does not teach that man's will is absolutely free. It does, however, talk about man's will being slave to sin and Satan. This is because of the curse of sin.

If I'm born with a will that is slave to sin, I want nothing to do with God. Sure is nice that He changed my mind.

Regeneration allows us to to love God. Without it we are hopelessly lost.

I've spent quite a bit of time during these discussions in the Gospel of John. It's served me so well, I'm going there today as well. I quoted some verses in John 6 a couple weeks ago. This is a great place to start. Jesus said,

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (Italics mine)

Christ is making a point here. The point that God the Father must draw sinners unto Christ. Jesus says no one can freely choose Salvation.

Often I get asked (as often as I discuss this with people who don't agree with me), "If a person can't choose God and God chooses the person, why do you pray for anybody? Isn't God going to do whatever He's going to do anyway?"

This is an excellent question. It's actually two questions. I'll answer the second one first.

Yes.

God is going to do whatever He wills to do. We can be absolutely sure of this.

Job said,

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

God purposes are the surest bet you can make. He created the universe with a word. He destroyed Pharaoh's entire army in one fell swoop of the biggest wave they ever surfed. He's coming back for His church and He's not going to miss a single person. Jesus said,

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

It has been said that "The Mountie always gets his man".

Well, maybe the RCMP will get his man. Maybe.

But I assure you, God will ALWAYS get His man.

The first questions asks "Why would you pray for anybody if God has already chosen?"

Well I ask you, Mr. Freewill Chooser, If God has limited His power in such a way as to never bend the will of man, what then, is the point of praying? Why would we pray that anybody be saved? God can't save them. At best He could influence their decision, but He can't do something to them they don't want Him to do.

That is not a biblical idea.

We pray because we're instructed to pray. We need no other reason. You can "logic" you way out of anything.

God MUST do a work that we don't ask for.

He MUST make us alive.

In my last post, I said that we are not saved because of our faith, we have faith because we are saved. If you have faith in Jesus Christ and believe that God has shown you grace on Christ's behalf, you have this faith because it was granted to you. Paul said,

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

It was a gift.

You don't deserve it.

You're not special.

But God, in His infinite Wisdom, has exercised His free will to save you. He has lavished his grace upon you. He gave you faith to believe and having believed you received grace. He did it just to make His power known and to show His great love for you.

One of the most dramatic examples of the irresistible call of the Holy Spirit is the story of Paul the Apostle.

Paul used to be called Saul. Saul was a very smart man. He was learned in Old Testament law and he counted himself a believer in god. His thing was that he didn't believe Jesus was anything special. In fact, he persecuted Christians for a living. It is generally agreed that Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen. Saul was happy to see him die. Saul hated Christ and all Christ's followers.

And this is how Saul lived.

Most of us (on the outside) were never this bad. We may have hated Jesus, but we weren't really going about killing people who do love Jesus.

Then as Saul is traveling toward Damascus, walking along, (probably keeping an eye out for any Christians he could kill or put in jail) Saul is met by the risen Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus spoke to him, asking him why he is persecuting the church. It was a pretty big deal. Saul was blinded by a crushing light, led by the hand to Damascus, met up with a dude named Ananias who touched Saul's eyes and Saul could see again. It's a great story, if you haven't read it in a while you really should. The point is that only after literal scales fell off his eyes did he get his vision back. And at the same time spiritual scales fell off his heart and he believed.

This is the regenerative work that the Holy Spirit does in every true Christian's heart.

When this work is done, your heart is no longer blinded, you are no longer dead in you sins.

You can see.

And you'll never be blind again.

It's science really.

What I mean to say, is that when the Holy Spirit calls you, melts the ice on your heart, and opens your eyes to the goodness of God...

You believe.

Coming Soon: Part 5. Perseverance Of The Saints.

Love Of Christ So Rich And Free

2010-04-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

" Hard words, if they be true, are better than soft words if they be false."

-Charles H. Spurgeon

"She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

-Angel of The Lord

Hmm...

This one is interesting.

But it's important, and this is the week of Easter, so it's also timely.

If you've been keeping up you know that we've discussed how sinful we all are and how God must do the work to save us because of that sin. Today our thoughts turn to Christ and His work and what it accomplished for us.

When we talk about Christ's death and resurrection I suppose we need to really get into what it means for God's people. I'll try to explain the greatness of this as best as I can. I'll probably end up using some multi-syllabic words that don't get used enough these days. I'll include definitions for each. When I studied this subject 7 or 8 years ago I had to look them all up because I grew up in a church that didn't really get terribly "explanational" in their teaching of Christ's work on the cross so I'll try to be more in-depth.

ANYWAY...

God's Wrath.

This may seem a strange place to start when we want to talk about Christ. But I think it's a perfect place to start.

We don't hear too much about this today. Or if we do, it's from some unqualified person yelling about God's wrath against the gays or against New Orleans because of the gays. This is unfortunate because there is so much to be said about the subject that doesn't get said.

Let's try to say some of these things.

God's Wrath is a product of His Holiness and Justice. Where there is sin, it is in opposition to God's Holiness. When God's Holiness is opposed, his Justice is made known through His Wrath.

The best part about this news is that God's children are not subject to His Wrath. Because we have been justified in Christ through the substitutionary atonement of Christ's sacrifice. Since Christ died in our place, I believe His death actually secured something for me, not just made something possible. Christ's death has removed the curse of sin for the believer. His death did not remove the curse of sin for the non-believer. If this were a "universal" removal of the curse of sin then God would have no reason to send anyone to hell.

Rob Bell said something that really irked me. I quote:

"Heaven is full of forgiven people. Hell is full of forgiven people. Heaven is full of people God loves, whom Jesus died for. Hell is full of forgiven people God loves, whom Jesus died for. The difference is how we choose to live, which story we choose to live in, which version of reality we trust. Ours or God's."
- Velvet Elvis, p.146

Well...where do I start?

I think the only true thing about this statement is that Heaven is full of forgiven people whom God loves.

The reason Hell is not "full of forgiven people whom God loves" is because if somebody is forgiven then they have no debt to pay. Bell justifies this statement by saying it is up to the person to "live" in the correct "version of reality." You know...God's version of reality.

Hmm...

I believe the Bible teaches that if God has set His love upon you, and His Son has paid the price for your debt, and literally removed the curse of sin, you should not expect to find yourself in Hell paying for a debt that has been paid.

God is Just. This would be horrifically unjust.

We believe that the Bible teaches about Hell. We believe that people go there to pay the price for the curse of sin. So we must believe that some people's curse has not been removed.

But I can yack about this all I want. Let's see what Jesus said.

In John chapter 10, Jesus is speaking to some Jews. It was at the time of the Feast of Dedication and Jesus was teaching in the Temple so there were probably a pretty good amount of people listening to Him. These Jews argued about Christ's words. Some even wanted to stone Him. Let's not be confused as they were.

Here's are some of Christ's words: (Edited for brevity and clarity by me)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd. I know My own and my own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not part of My flock. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

Like I said, I cut out some of the questioning by the suspicious Jews and some other stuff, but feel free to read the whole passage. I linked it up there. I think you'll agree I haven't changed the meaning of any of Christ's words.

So Christ has likened Himself to a shepherd. This means He has a flock. This also means that there are people who are not in His flock. He says this in Verse 26. That some do not believe because they are not part of His flock.

I think we should nitpick a little here. Jesus does not say they are not a part because they don't believe, He says they don't believe because they are not a part of His flock.

We're not saved because we have faith. We have faith because we are saved.

There's a difference.

So Jesus says in Verse 29 that His Father has given Him these sheep. This goes right along with John 6:37. In chapter 6 Jesus talks about who is the author of salvation (God). In chapter 10 He's talking about how these people will be saved (Christ Himself).

In Verse 15 Jesus says He lays down His life for the sheep. This is the point.

Jesus does not need to lay down His life for unbelievers. The sin of their unbelief will be paid for by their life. Jesus lays down His life for His sheep. Their sins are covered by His blood. He has paid the penalty for them.

The apostle Paul confirms this in his letter to the Ephesian church.

Paul says that Christ's love is for His church and He gave Himself up for His church. He says,

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Edwin H. Palmer comments on this passage. I didn't think I could beat it so I'll quote it.

"If the Arminian view was correct, that Christ loved the whole world equally and gave Himself up for the world, then the parallel between the bride of the husband and the bride of Christ would fail. For then the injunction would be that a husband should love and give himself up for other than his wife, just as Christ gave Himself up not for the church -His bride- but also for those outside of it. But this would be contradictory to Scripture, which teaches that man should have one wife."

Basically this means that because Christ's sacrifice is for His church only, then it makes sense to compare it to a husbands sacrifice for his wife.

What I'm saying is that Christ has died for only those that His Father in heaven has given to Him. This seems to be what Jesus is teaching throughout the Gospel of John. The Gospel of Matthew confirms this in the first chapter, verse 21, that Christ will come to save His people from their sins.

Why is this important?

Why would we even want to discuss this most divisive teaching?

Because Christ has taught this.

It is important to understand that God's love is so great for the world that He gave His only Son so whoever believes will have eternal life. When Christ died it actually secured the salvation for these people who would believe. Christ didn't die in hopes that some would believe. He died for His sheep knowing God had promised to draw them to Him.

No one can snatch them out of the Father's hand.

God always wins.

Remember up at the top when I mentioned the Wrath of God?

Christ's sacrifice is Christ suffering the wrath of God on the behalf of His people. If Christ died for all, then I believe all would be saved because God's wrath would be satisfied for all. It would be illogical and against God's Justice to punish both Christ and the non-believer. The non-believer is punished. But Christ is not punished for the non-believer. Christ is punished for the believer. It is Christ's sheep who He lays His life down for. Christ didn't die for the goats.

Matthew 25:31-34

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (italics mine)

This is God's election made known through His salvation plan.

I've been accused of some interesting things when I've talked about this idea in the past. I remember one well-intentioned friend telling me that I was "raping God of His purity". Well, my response to things like that is that I truly believe Christ said this is what He came to do.

To save His people.

His sheep.

His church.

To die for them because He loves them.

He did not waste His blood.

Not a drop.

So this Easter season remember that Christ died with a specific group of people in mind. If your faith and trust is in Christ, if you believe that His blood has covered your sin, then count yourself among those He calls His sheep. Let His praises fill your heart for the sacrifice that has satisfied the Wrath of God on your behalf.

Ah...

Good ad infinitum.

Coming Soon: Part 4. It's Science Really.

Undeniably Lost Without God

2010-03-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

"All that the Father gives to me will come to me."
-Jesus Christ

"I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree. We shall never be able to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination - the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people unto eternal life."
-Charles Spurgeon

This isn't easy.

Sometimes there isn't a very palatable way to explain God.

But God is very good. Eternally good. That's good ad infinitum.

Once when I was in high school, someone asked me if predestination was true. My response was that if predestination is true, and my actions don't matter, then why am I trying to do good? What's the point of following God's law at all if He's just going to do want He wants anyway?

I wish I had read the Bible instead of opening my dumb mouth. But I opened my mouth and I confirmed my rampant Arminianism to a tee.

I hope to affirm through these posts that predestination is true and that my actions do matter.

There are truly two reasons only why the idea of Predestination is hotly debated among Christians. Those reasons are because we naturally do not want it to be true. We want to choose. We want to commit to Him. We want to do something in favor of our Salvation. Secondly, we do not want a God who does not freely relinquish His control. We want our God to be of our making.

We want Him to be fair on our terms.

We want Him to love on our terms.

We want Him to save on our terms.

Reading the first post in this series we must come to a conclusion. That conclusion is that we as humans are sinful. And that our sinfulness separates from God. And that the wages of our sinfulness is our own death.

If we were to receive the just punishment for our sinful nature we would receive death.

Everybody.

No one can save themselves.

It would be to the praise of God's holiness and justice to sentence the entire human race to eternal death.

But obviously He doesn't do that. I am saved. I am sure of it. I am positive that God has saved me from my sins.

God is good.

So once I found out how terribly corrupt my human nature was I began to wonder. How does anybody "find" God.

If the Apostle Paul said that, "No one seeks God" and people are finding God, then it must follow that God sovereignly seeks sinners. One step further, He pre-ordained these particular sinners to eternal life. I could honestly stop here. The logic and reason make sense.

Everyone is a sinner.

Sinners can't save themselves.

God must save sinners.

Not all sinners are being saved.

God must save only some sinners.

But no theology may be accepted without Biblical evidence. So let's talk about what we know the Bible says about God.

God is absolutely, eternally Sovereign. He created this World and all that is in it. God has a plan for His creation. From the "foundations of the earth" He has set about accomplishing His will. I think this is the fundamental lesson we need learn about God. God has a plan. God is having no trouble at all accomplishing His plan.

God always wins.

Let's see what Jesus had to say about His Father.

"All that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out...This is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

It seems to me that Jesus is making a point here about God's salvation plan.

When I read this the first time with questions in my head about this subject, I felt like my head exploded. It was like, here I am, I've grown up in church, faithful attender for 18 years and I've never heard an explanation or a sermon on this passage. I felt way behind the times. Like 2,000 years behind.

I want to break this section down a bit, but let's start with what's going on and how it is that Jesus even got this crowd excited.

John 6 is a great chapter that is jammed to the brim with goodness and doctrine. It begins with Jesus feeding thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish. It became apparent, to many people there, that Jesus was indeed the Prophet sent into the world. They were so stoked, they wanted to make him king by force, but Jesus slipped away. Later the disciples are crossing the sea by boat, to Caperaum, and they're having a rough time of it due to a strong wind. Jesus walks out across the water and hops in the boat. The disciples were scared when He first appeared, but Jesus said, "Do not be afraid." So they were glad when He joined them. Then they appeared at the other side of the sea immediately. The next day a crowd of folks had searched Jesus out on the other side of sea at Caperaum. That's when Jesus starts getting serious about teaching truth to these bread and fish eating followers.

Let's get serious.

Jesus begins to make the distinction between regular ol' bread and the bread of life that comes from God. The people were quite on board with this idea at first. They said, quite politely, "Sir, give us this bread always." But when Jesus said explicitly that He was the bread of life, that's when the people began to grumble. Their biggest problem was not with God being Sovereign over salvation, they understood that. They took issue with Jesus being the bread sent from God for salvation. These days, we don't have nearly as much issue with Jesus being sent by God and Jesus Himself being God, we have more issue with God's sovereignty over salvation. Let's dig into this most divisive teaching...

Jesus said, "All that the Father gives me..."

So right off the bat Jesus makes a distinction between those given to him by God and those who are not given to him by God.

Further He says, " ...will come to me."

So Jesus teaches that those given to him by the Father will come to him.

And later, "And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all He has given, but raise it up on the last day."

So the people given to Jesus by God, will come to Jesus, and Jesus will lose none of them.

Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."

Now this makes perfect sense in combination with the idea that we are so very corrupted by sin that we do not seek God.

God Himself must draw us to Christ. God gives us to Christ. When God gives us to Christ, we go to Christ. When we go to Christ, we are raised up on the last day.

God always wins.

Let's rewind the tape back to Moses and the exodus from Egypt.

Here's a little scenario where Moses and Aaron are going back and forth to Pharaoh trying to get Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of slavery and to the land God had promised them. Moses is operating under strict instruction from God on how to do this. Basically the two guys, Moses and Aaron, are going to Pharaoh and telling him that if he doesn't let the people go under some certain stipulations, God's wrath and power will be made known through a series of nasty plagues. Nasty plagues. You've got blood for water, frogs, gnats, flies, dead livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and finally, all firstborn of Egypt, man and beast, were killed. Then later, as Pharaoh and the Egyptian army chase the people of Israel across country, God drowns the whole army in the Red Sea. Nasty.

Let's examine Pharaoh. He was a stern and terrible leader. He was fairly tough on his own Egyptians, but he was hell to the Israelites. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. They were not allowed to offer worship and sacrifices to the LORD and they were pretty much just making bricks and stuff all day. They had wicked daily quotas to meet and when Moses was stirring things up the slave labor got worse the for Israelites. It was a tough time.

But God had a plan to accomplish concerning Pharaoh. Pharaoh existed only to show the might, power, and glory of God. This is same reason we exist. God's will is not bound by His creature's will. God has purposed Himself to be free with His creatures. So different vessels (creatures) get different uses.

Like I said, Pharaoh was quite sinful. His heart was full of nothing but sin all the time. So Pharaoh wasn't used against his will, but his will was used for the glory of God. Explain?

If you read through the book of the Exodus in the Bible you will read about some exchanges between Pharaoh and Moses. Moses would go to Pharaoh and say, "Thus says the LORD, let My people go or I will afflict you with a plague of ____. Pharaoh would not relent. It says, Pharaoh hardened his heart. It actually mentions a number times in the English Standard Version of the Bible, either that Pharaoh's heart was hardened or that Pharaoh hardened his heart or that The LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart. Here's the countdown:

2 Times - Pharaoh hardened his heart.

5 Times - Pharaoh's heart was hardened.

5 Times - God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

1 -Time - God will harden Pharaoh's heart. And He did.

What are we to make of this?

I believe it would be an error to say that God looked down the corridor of time and saw Pharaoh's evil heart and made His plan accordingly. This would be an error because the Apostle Paul quite explicitly states the opposite. Paul said in his famous letter to the Romans,

"For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then He has mercy on whomever He wills and He hardens whomever He wills."

God's plan with His creature Pharaoh, was to raise him up, to harden his heart, and make him a display of God's power to the Israelites, and to the world. Pharaoh had no problem with this. Pharaoh was born sinful. His desires were evil all the time. God's perfect Justice is satisfied in His dealing with Pharaoh, while God's perfect Love is satisfied in His dealing with the people of Israel.

These are just two examples in Scripture where the sovereignty of God is displayed in detail. There are so many places in Scripture where God makes his power known. I could easily write for an eternity and not exhaust fully the richness and detail that is God's sovereign control over His world.

But let's finish on a really "up" note.

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus...

"...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will..."

God showed us through Pharaoh.

Jesus explained it to us.

Paul assured us of it.

God's will is made known in the election and predestination of His saints. His love is poured out on His elect in a way that no man can measure. Paul says God is rich in mercy. He said God has loved us with a great love. He made us alive when we were spiritually dead. We, who could not choose Him, have been chosen by Him. His love and mercy abound. He has taken dead dumb slaves and set them free. Free to love Him. Free to serve Him. Free from the slavery of our sins and set apart for glory with Him in the Heavenly realm.

Good ad infinitum.

Coming Soon: Part 3. Love Of Christ So Rich And Free.

Totally Unfamiliar With My Own Sin

2010-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

"So she took of it's fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
-Genesis 3:8

"Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?"
-The Apostle Paul

I remember talking about it.

Before I believed it.

I talked about it.

But mostly I talked about things like the old "age of accountability" and "how much sin is too much sin?" and "if a Christian commits suicide does he go straight to hell?"

You ever ask that one?

You ever hear about someone making it to heaven "by the skin of their teeth"?

I mean, you know, just barely. Like, if that guy had committed one more sin he would've been toast.

So inevitably, the conversation becomes a discussion of "how far is too far?" Once I'm a Christian, when does God say, "That's enough. Too much sinning. You've back-slidden too far. Repent once more or be doomed. Rededicate your life or lose your salvation. You choose."

You would think if anybody needed to rededicate their life, it would have been King David. Humble beginnings but God raised him up, blessed him and made him king. Then while David is enjoying the high life, he has sex with Uriah's wife. Then he sends Uriah into battle to die. And Uriah died. Do you think if David had slipped on a banana peel and died at the moment he had murdered another man after sleeping with that man's wife, do you think he would have died with sin in his heart and gone to hell?

If you had asked me that 10 years ago, I honestly do not know exactly what I would've told you. I would have certainly said something about it being "a tricky situation" or spouted something about not judging another man's heart in an effort to not have to answer.

But let's talk about sin itself.

David himself said something about sin that completely changed my view of sin. He said,

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (psalm 51:3&5)

It seems to me that David had an idea about the fall of man that I didn't have. That idea was about the curse of sin itself.

I had previously thought people were born basically pretty good. We pop out cooing and being cute till one day...boom...we become accountable for our actions. And overnight our lives change. Sin is corrupting us. Tempting us. Now, if we hit our brother and then lie to our parents about it, God is mad at us. And we are held accountable. That's where we get the idea of an "age of accountability". It's just a terrible way to say, "at this age, God begins to judge you".

I don't think this is what David was talking about. David understood that he was sinful from birth. He said so. "Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin I was conceived." This did not mean he was born out of wedlock or that he was the bastard son of a man on the move. It means he was born with sin in his heart.

He was sinful from conception.

This was his condition.

Let’s go to the Garden of Eden.

When God created Adam and Eve He gave Adam the job of tending the garden. Eve had the job of Adam’s companion and help-mate. This was a good job. I imagine it was quite a satisfying vocation.

Adam and Eve had one rule. Do not eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. He said as soon as you eat of it you shall surely die. God didn't mean "instant death from the poison apple", but that physically they were going to grow old and die. Also, their soul's suffered a kind of instant spiritual death.

For the first time, a human felt shame.

Regret.

The garden didn’t feel the same way after that.

What God meant was that through this sinful act, sin would enter the world. When Adam and Eve committed that sin, sin's curse distorted everything. The world became warped. Ever wonder why work isn't tending, it's toiling? Sin. Ever wonder why it hurts to bear children? Sin.

The societal decline was instant. After eating that fruit, Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden. They went to toil the ground and bear children. The effect of sin entering the world was so fierce that the first family was extremely dysfunctional. Their first child killed his little brother.

Not too many steps between taking fruit, and taking someone's life.

Cain wasn't taught to murder. He didn't watch violent movies or play Grand Theft Auto on his PlayStation 2. He was born under the curse of sin.

It was his condition.

Fast forward to David.

David was "a man after God's own heart." Yet David was born cursed and sinful.

The effect of this curse is the same today. I see it in myself.

I was born sinful...

So were you...

So were all of us. Every person starting with Cain (minus Jesus), has been born with sin corrupting his heart. So how bad is this corruption?

This corruption is best characterized with one word.

Inability.

We can't do it. We try to do good. But we can't. Even the things that seem good. Those things are tainted by sinful desire. Why is it that what we want to do is the wrong thing? It's because sin is in our heart. We do the wrong thing because we want to do the wrong thing. And when we want to do the right thing, we still find ourselves constantly doing the wrong thing.

Why do you suppose the Apostle Paul cried in anguish, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?" Paul knew his problem. He said once in a letter,

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."

Catch that at the end? He said, "sin that dwells within me."

The corruption of this sin is strong enough to make us want to do evil. You don't have to teach us. We know all about it from the get-go. And it separates us from God. We are far away.

Paul says we are dead in our sins.

There's an old metaphor that gets tossed around that speaks of our situation as sinners. It is said we are drowning in sin. We can barely even keep one nostril above the surface. We're treading water, gasping for breath, looking for help, going nowhere because of the ocean of sin in our hearts.

I don't believe this for a second.

I believe we are stone cold dead on the bottom of that ocean. Lifeless, rotted, eaten by sea creatures with no ability to move at all.

Hopeless in ourselves. Desperate and dead.

Paul said,

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned..."

We're all guilty. We've all done it. We were all born with it.

What does this say about our relationship with our Creator? What happened to us when were kicked out that garden? How badly does this sin separate us from a holy God?

On this Paul doesn't mince words. He said,

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

What are we supposed to do? This is quite the hopeless situation. How can somebody believe after reading these things that people are "basically good"? Paul quotes the Old Testament saying that no one is righteous.

Not one.

No one understands.

No one seeks God.

Coming Soon: Part 2. Undeniably lost Without God

An Introduction

2010-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

"A careful study of the Bible would convince many people that it is a very different book than what they assume it to be."

-Loraine Boettner

"I don't want another dedication. I don't want another invitation. I just wanna know that I'm Yours."
-Paul Carpenter

I've wanted to write a bit about my journey into Orthodoxy for some time. Since I started writing things here, the desire has been quite nagging. So this is my attempt. This is where I will discuss the changes and shifts in my worldview. I'm not talking about my conversion to Christ. I'm talking about how my perspective concerning this conversion changed. There are a few people who would be interested to know how I can explain my beliefs and how I came to understand soteriology from the reformed perspective.

So over the next few weeks I will be posting 5 blog entries. Each dealing with a certain bit of theology that shook my doctrine to it's core. I hope to explain why my theological box got completely dumped out, and how (through the grace of God) I examined each piece, adjusted for Biblical accuracy, and then placed back in the box that is my brain. I know I'm no longer a Charismatic in the popular sense of the word. But I also hope it's understood that I believe "charismata" is essential to the Christian faith. I will say from the outset that I have many friends and family in many different denominations and I have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for each denomination. I believe there are certain attitudes and ideas found in them that could inform many in my own tradition.

But the issue is God.

Who He says He is. His relationship with His creation. And the salvation He provides for His children. He is truly a good God. Worthy to be worshiped. May His kingdom come on earth.

Coming Soon: Part 1. Totally unfamiliar with my own sin.

Calvinism and Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

My better half and I finally made it to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. I enjoyed this movie. I felt like it was fun and dark and had plenty of that creepy secret sauce Tim Burton injects into his films. The 3D experience was decent at best. The last 3D movie I saw was Spy Kids 3D. Alice in Wonderland was quite a bit better. I still think the technology for 3D has some ways to go before it's truly a worthwhile experience. Though I must admit that the 3D glasses have improved greatly. I found that sometimes the 3D image was quite fantastic and nicely done. Other times it seemed to completely fall flat. The effect being so poor that it took away from the movie itself. During a scene very early in the film I noticed a pixalated green-screen pop in view at the base of Alice's father's neck. It only happened in that one shot. But it was one more thing that distracted me causing my disbelief to lose it's suspension. Also, sometimes the action was a bit too fast for the 3D effect to really have an effect, so it seemed lost at times. I'm not fully sold on 3D yet. Stu Maschwitzhe said, "How exactly is 3D "immersive?" Is there stuff behind me? Should I turn around? You know what's immersive? Good movies."

As for the story...

This was a good movie. I didn't care that it didn't follow the original story. In fact, I'm glad it didn't follow the original story. I liked this story. It reminded me of a certain theology I believe. You see, Alice falls down a hole after being drawn to that hole by a Rabbit. She finds herself being told who she is, what she's there to do, and how she's going to do it. Of course, Alice's natural reaction is to reject the notion that she is who they say she is, and that she will do the things they say she will do. For the next hour and a half we watch as Alice is "circumstantially" placed in situations that drive her toward the goal that is laid out before her. The entire time she is making decisions that she believes are contrary to the path that leads to her slaying the dreaded beast, Jabberwocky.

I don't believe Alice is Jesus, or that the Jabberwocky is Satan or even Sin. I just think this was colorful movie that dealt fairly with the idea that we all believe this is "our dream" and we can do whatever we want but that in the end, if we're honest, we can look back on our life and see the work and guidance of something else. This is Calvinism as I believe it.

I am called to an end.

Daily, I make decisions concerning my life. I decide whether or not I will go to this town or that town and if I will do business there. Yet, I also say, "Only if the Lord wills shall I do these things."

Do not misunderstand me. I am no more a robot or a puppet anymore than Alice is in her dream. But whatever happens and wherever I go, The Lord must receive the credit for all of it. This is, I assure you, His world. Nothing goes on in His world beyond or outside of His control.

Alice was shown a scroll that quite specifically laid out Wonderland's history and her slaying the Jabberwocky. Alice then goes "her own way" only to find herself facing the Jabberwocky in the end. I propose had she studied that scroll, she would have seen her own rebellion, her decisions, and the path that led to the end (of the movie). I think if we saw a scroll of our lives, we might shudder and reject the notion that God would direct our actions. We might run in the other direction. We might say repeatedly, "This is my dream. I decide the end." But, in the end, if we were to see the details of that scroll, we would find our situations and decisions written down. We would see that God has worked out every detail in favor of His glory and our good (if you are a Christian. If not, seek Christ. The work He has done on the sinner's behalf redeems every portion of sinner's sin who puts their faith in Him. That is truly good).

I recommend the film. The 3D experience is truly not necessary, but it's novel. You choose.

Or do you?

* I must admit that the preview for Tron looked mighty good.

Communion by Persecution

2010-03-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Last night at my church's Bible Study, we looked at some verses in 1 Peter 4. Specifically we looked at verses 12-19.

There were a couple of comments I wanted to make regarding Christian Persecution. A couple of things I find to be somewhat overlooked in conversation today.

But let's talk about persecution as we experience it today.

For most of us (at least most of you reading this), we don't really experience persecution. This, I believe, is for two reasons.

1. We live in a wonderful part of of the world that allows us to worship, or not worship, as we see fit. North America is truly free in regards to freedom of worship.

Sure, we have talking heads on every news channel with an opinion on what is right or wrong regarding the presence or absence of God in various institutions (school, government, work-place, etc.). There are name-calling activists in every camp. But Christopher Hitchens, or whoever, is probably not knocking on your door and hitting you in the face, shooting your child, and taking your Bible.

2. We don't talk about God very often.

We don't want to offend people. We think, well, I'm not going push my ideas on anybody. I'll let them learn through a relationship with me. I agree. They ("they" being the person who does not share your Christian worldview) should learn that way. Your life should testify to the greatness and glory of God.

But so should your voice. Your voice should be the primary means of spreading the Gospel. Your voice should be trained to boldly spea k the truth of God in any appropriate situation. I say "appropriate situation" because there are times when it would be disrespectful. An argument with a co-worker about the next project proposal would be a bad time. Gentleness and respect is the key. And when I say "key" I don't just mean that gentleness and respect will illicit the best response (though it will), I mean that God is most glorified through right-actions. Gentleness and respect is the key to glorifying God in conversation.

So if we're being vocal about our faith in a gentle and respectful way, regularly in our lives, we may encounter backlash. Name calling. Contempt. You may get shunned. Not Invited. Excluded.

But you are not alone.

And this is what I want to talk about. Communion by persecution.

Dr. Nelson D. Kloosterman said a few things that caught my attention regarding this section of 1 Peter 4.

"Every Christian following in (Christ's) steps can expect abuse and affliction for His sake...Rather than be surprised or bewildered, persecuted Christians should practice joy....The basis for this joy is not the persecution itself, but participation and bonding with Christ...In their suffering God's children experience His presence, not His absence." (italics mine)

I found this to be very encouraging. When we are mocked for our
stupid,
un-scientific,
intolerant,
fun-hating,
societal non-conforming,
sexually inexperienced,
boring,
trite,
uneducated,
devolved,
troglodyte ways...

we are suffering with our Saviour. When we are shunned by the world, we are accepted by Him. When a Christian meekly presents the truth about God and is laughed at, Yahweh is present. You may be alone, but you are never alone. Your suffering increases your closeness to Christ.

So count it all joy.

Manly Dominion - Book Review

2010-03-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Some number of years ago I read the book Wild At Heart by John Eldridge. I'm sure you've heard of it. It's one of those slightly annoying "stop being a sissy and be a man" type of books for Christian men. After I got over the fact that Eldridge related everything to hunting and grunting, I enjoyed the book. I will now grant that it's better than "slightly annoying." But I feel no need to recommend it to any male reader interested in Godly man-hood.

I have since discovered a different book by a thoroughly reformed author. His name is Mark Chanski. He wrote a book called Manly Dominion. Already, by the title alone, you can see that it's on a different level than "Wild At Heart". Where "Wild At Heart" related manly life to adventure and danger and fairy-tale stuff, Manly Dominion is full of actual advice that packs quite the pragmatic punch.
Anyway, the advice is so practical and relevant (even to my situation where I'm not allowed to work, the manliest of all things, due to my immigration status), that I thought I would tell a few friends about it regardless of whatever step in life they are.

My one reserve: In the beginning of the book Chanski sings the praise of George W(MD's?) Bush. That irritated me.

1. Because I dislike George Bush and his word inventing ways.
2. Because I think it's sloppy to praise such a polarizing figure. If he wanted to raise the American flag of leader worship he should have praised John Adams, who nearly always chose the higher, better, more honest way in regards to his country even when nobody liked him. If we can say anything about Bush, it's that honesty and open-ness were not his strong points.
3. Maybe modern politics should have stayed out. Then nobody could be irritated about anything. He could have just as easily praised Obama for sticking to his guns in a racially charged presidential bid. (only problem? Published August 22, 2007. So we didn't know Obama was going to go all the way. But praising Obama would have irritated me too. But maybe I'm too irritable.) Okay. Done. That's for a different blog on a different day with different themes.

ANYWAY, that's really my only negative critique.

As reformed people, we're quite familiar with the concept of ignoring the "quivers in our livers" when it comes to decision-making. Chanski pulls no scriptural punch in making sure we understand why we believe this. His chapter on providence found (even) me wanting for biblical Christian decisiveness in certain situations. Either way I was reading this and smiling at his words, and highlighting some of them, and re-thinking some things I got used to thinking.

So I began pondering about my youth all the way to my ripe adulthood. I haven't been very manly all the time. At least not by conventional (worldly) standards.

By the conventional standard, one only has to look at me and see I'm no threat. What, with my skinny-jeans and v-neck shirt and scarf around my neck it's easy to see I project the image of a soft-spoken wimpy sissy man. But manliness has nothing to do with skinny-jeans and scarves and everything to do with biblical principles.

If I read your book about manhood and you tell me life is like football or big game hunting I'm likely to throw your book across the room in protest because, "You don't know me." (The author Donald Miller gives account of doing this very thing the first time he tried to read Wild At Heart. You can read about that in Miller's own book To Own A Dragon.) But, if you use the Bible and it's own metaphors for our existence (put on your armor, slay the enemy), then, well, okay...you got me there.

Time to suit up.

I'm not interested in condensing Chanki's book into blog form so you can read this and then say "Cool...that sounds good". I want you to read it. It's challenging. It's inspiring. It caused me to want to lead my household in manner pleasing to God. It made me want to do away with Cheeto's eating, channel surfing, slothfulness when I know I could spend an extra 30 mins talking with my wife while she prepares dinner (or ¡gasp! even help her).

It made me want to be where my church was. If there is Sunday School I want to be there. Bible study? Be there. And not just myself, but to encourage my household to faithfully support the church. Nay...to order my household to support the church and pursue Godly endeavors.

Someday (Lord willing) I'll have children. And they're gonna crap on stuff. And keep me awake. They'll probably break things that I thought were very important material possessions. That's going to tick me off and teach me Godly principles at the same time. (nothing quite like learning a lesson grudgingly) But having received biblical parenting advice via Mark Chanski I've never been more excited about it.

Manly Dominion. Sounds scary? Maybe not. Kinda in-yo-face. But it's absolutely necessary for the Godly man. We've been feminized and metro-sexualized and told to follow. Told to step aside. It's time to follow Christ. Then step in front, and lead by His example.

*Please read my wife's blog. It's interesting to read about her own journey into Biblical womanhood.

**And if you're a woman interested in your own journey into Biblical Woman-hood I recommend Mark Chanski's book Womanly Dominion.

***There is nothing wrong with a man who maintains a good skin-care regimen. So if you kinda fall into the metro-sexual stereotype, then I say, boldly lead your family in a good skin-care regimen.

The Separation of Church by Age.

2010-03-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

There is an article in Relevant Magazine addressing age separation in churches. The first half of the article deals with young people, the second half with old people, and the whole thing is wrapped up by pointing us, not toward The Bible as inspiration, but to a modern business model as a possible guide. I'll grant that the article was not written to answer any questions, but merely to ask questions. Hopefully, we can come up with the right answers to these provoking questions.

I'll assume at this point you went back to read the article so you know a little better where I'm at.

So there are questions raised about the appropriateness of age/situation based programs and services in the modern church. Here's my favorite quote:

" I don’t know what happens, but we get lost when we transition from middle school ministry to high school ministry, from high school ministry to college ministry, from college ministry to single adult ministry, from single adult ministry to the young married ministry, etc. For those of you who are fortunate enough not to slip through the cracks, you end up spending your church life exclusively in relationship with people who are just like you. And relationships formed over a lifetime with people who are just like you is, honestly, a form of self-worship."

I found that to be (somewhat surprisingly) an honest and hard-hitting critique. Then they spend a couple paragraphs bashing the oldies for not incorporating the "new" in effort to appeal to the younger generation. Okay...maybe I'm still with it, maybe not, but the real problem begins at the end of the article. My least favorite quote:

"Creps admits the most troubling part of the research he did for his book (Reverse Mentoring) was discovering how open people in the secular market—in technology, culture and business—have been to insight from younger generations and how slow the Church has been to follow suit. He points to examples in business literature where companies like Texas Instruments, General Electric and Proctor & Gamble advise inviting the ideas and leadership of younger people. Creps goes on to say that “Christian literature doesn’t begin to point this out [as necessary] until the 21st century.”

Since when is the church instructed to study the ways of the world and follow suit? I thought that the new trend in churches was to abandon the mega-church/seeker movement. You know, the church-as-a-business trend.

So why are we again studying business models? Where is the Bible? Isn't that our instruction? Isn't that our guide? I found it hard to believe that throughout the course of the article the Bible isn't mentioned one time. It also doesn't address the church as a place for family. Just a place for you...or maybe not you, if you don't like what you see/hear.

Now, when I talk about "see/hear", I'm not referring to doctrinal disputes, or questions of theological importance. If you're at a church espousing some heretical view, by all means, flee for your sake and your family's spiritual well-being. Find a solid church that presents the person and work of Jesus Christ without reserve and in a manner pleasing to God.

But, see? This is my issue...The church is never to be self-serving on an aesthetic level. It is to be soul-serving on a spiritual level.

I've been having a grand time commenting back and forth with the other folks who have read the article and have something to say about it. The problem is that most of these folks merely tell of some personal situation where the church failed to meet their aesthetic standard. Allow me to quote myself:

"That's a sad story, but it causes me to wonder what were those young adults placing their faith in? Why did the church "experience" for them need to be so self-serving? You said yourself that as soon as the "music", "ministry", and "programs" were gone, so were they. The issue, I think, is that music, ministry, and programs will never be able to replace the true work of the Holy Spirit through the means of the Gospel presented through the sound preaching of the Word. If a church faithfully proclaims the Gospel, presents sound doctrine by exegetically preaching the Bible, thoughtfully administers the Sacraments, and approaches the throne with reverence and awe, I'm inclined to not give a hoot about the volume level of the music or the variety of programs."

The saddest part of some replies I've gotten to my call to return to the Gospel-as-standard has been to equate "Gospel-standard" with "Gaither Style". So the discussion always descends to the level of "style". Never ascending to the level of "substance". Allow me to quote myself again in response to another comment:

"Though I've given no comment on my personal musical tastes I will say that The Gaither's do not produce music that I find particularly interesting nor helpful (some of my opinion is based on style) . I will say that in a worship service I don't believe the style matters nearly as much as the lyrical content. You wanna rock in church? Ask yourself a couple questions. Is it edifying? Is it distracting? Where is your attention? Are you thinking about your heart's response to the words you sing? Are you interested in that guitar solo? I am all in favor of modern music in church. I am also in favor of traditional music in church. But I am most in favor of intelligently singing the wonder and works of God in a manner that is reverent and truthful. If a person wants to go "Gaither style" in The Lord's worship, they should ask the very same questions. But I truly think a style discussion is a surface level discussion. The Psalmist worships in his style, the Reformer's in their style, and the Hillsong's in their style. I have found songs, hymns, and Psalms in every style that I like. But I like them, because they say something meaningful. Not because they sound a certain way.
I just think that age/situation based groups should, at the very least, join the whole community every Sunday for corporate family Worship."

Is this hard to understand? The church is not a place to make our unsaved/tattooed friends feel comfortable. They should feel uncomfortable. The church is about Jesus and until they become "about Jesus" it shouldn't make any sense to them.

But what about our tattooed friends who ARE Christians? Did one show up at your church? Then you better not stare at them like they are some circus freak. Because if you do, you are doing nothing but going back to the "style" over the "substance" of their heart. Respect that Christ, through the Holy Spirit has done a genuine work in the heart of the young/modern.

The older generation is called wise counsel and they are to be respected and learned from.

And hey, the kids are okay.

But the Gospel is what is important.

So "seek" a church that presents the Gospel faithfully every Sunday. Forget what you think this should look like or sound like or feel like. Remember the multitude of instruction we have in the Bible and let that be your guide, and don't let your style influence your substance, but let your substance influence your style.

*NEW ADDITION - If you are interested in promoting the Church service as a place for families to come together I recommend this excellent article from John and Noel Piper.

The temple veil has been torn and Lent?

2010-02-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

"It's Cadbury season*." Otherwise known as Lent for our Catholic friends. It is also known as Lent for our confused Christian friends. A group of myself and some christian friends of mine have a joke we tell around this time year.

"I'm giving up Lent...er, for Lent"**

I can never help but to think to myself, "Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to redeem the "world" and you, my friends debate giving up Pepsi (or sugar, or smoking, or drinking, or TV -thank God for TIVO-, or -gasp- the internet, or whatever) for 40 days."

Hey, give up water and salad and multivitamins for what good it'll do you.

You could try recording your favorite late night show and spend the time praying with your wife before bed. But not for 40 days.

For the rest of your life.

"There is no "season" to repentance. We are to live a life of repentance and repent every day, our whole life long. This whole idea of a season of repentance is wrong headed in my opinion. We die to sin and self and serve the Lord everyday throughout our entire life."***

I don't mean to sound harsh by this post. I only mean to sound true. If you want to give up some luxurious thing and spend the new found time or energy focusing on dying to self and bettering your understanding of heavenly things then, by all means, go right ahead. And if this endeavor coincides with a famous Roman Catholic practice, then well, great timing, I guess.

But if you require the misguided practice of "seasonal repentance" as promoted by a non-christian institution to motivate you to your knees, you should probably look beyond your diet or your TV and look to your heart.

I propose that Christ is more concerned with your life-long obedience to Him rather than to a calender.

*Cody Wells
**Everett Henes
***Mark Gibson

Hector Skector

2010-02-13T14:02:00.001-08:00

So I hunted out Hector’s Casa last night for Mexican food on the date with Carly Barnett. Hmmm. Thoughts.
#1. Had a great time.
#2. My chicken enchiladas were served on corn tortillas, shaped like tacos, and swimming in a some weird red tomato suace.
Did it taste good? It wasn’t horrid. Did it make me sick 4 hours later and wake me up in the night?
#3. Yes.
It’s strange to think the best Mexican food I can get here is served at Taco Bell. Two words:
Beaumont. Carmela’s.
Take me down to the Paradise City please, Where the Mexicans still remember how to cook.
Honestly, I could go on and on about the wonderful Mexican food I’ve enjoyed all over America. I’ve had some delicious meals in
Beaumont, TX
Houston, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Nashville, TN
Los Angelas, CA
Sante Fe, NM
and of course
MEXICO.
Sorry Hector. I’m not trying to put you down. You are obviously a Mexican. I met you. But you traveled a little too far from the nest. But I don’t blame you. So did I. So did I.

Slushiness

2010-01-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

Today it snowed.
Finally…
I've been waiting all week. I was so excited that I would watch out of the window waiting for the driveway to be covered with snow, then I would go out and shovel it.
Then I’d go back inside.
Sit on the couch.
Wait.
Fast-forward an hour and I would be back out shoveling the next bit.
I can’t wait for it to really dump. Like a foot of snow or something. I wanna get snowed-in. I wanna hate shoveling snow. I want to want summertime. I want to get so sick of this snow I can’t stand it any longer.
Until then, I’ll just stand around shoveling every little bit that makes it’s way to my driveway. Because that for me,
right now,
is a good time.

Snow Run

2010-01-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

I went for a little jog today.

I have to be careful because late last year my IT Band really started bothering me. Anyway I barely took a step that wasn’t sinking in snow. That made me tired quite a bit faster than normal.

Before I moved here I started running while I lived in Houston.

Flat terrain.

Blistering heat.

But I loved it.

When I got here I found that there aren’t many level roads and paths near my house. Everywhere you go you run up or down. The temperatures began to drop. It was heck on my knee. I went from running 6 or 8 miles a day to maybe getting out once a week, to nothing at all.

Blah.

I started some new stretching and I’m feeling better in the knee area but my endurance is back to naught.

Here’s to getting it all back this year.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

I’m glad it’s turning 2010 because I’m ready to start saying “twenty” instead of “two-thousand and”. I do enjoy to shorten words and names whenever possible.