Reforming Students

A few random thoughts and things…

Vacation Bible School in Lakeshore, Mississippi was fantastic. The Lord truly blessed us with a great opportunity to serve approximately 35 children and their families while we were there. I had the opportunity to preach the gospel at our commencement last Friday evening, and then it was in the vehicles to drive home through the night… I think everyone is almost recovered now! VBS at Ephesus Church went off without a hitch as well — I couldn’t be more happy about that! I am very, very pleased with Childern Desiring God curriculum for all things children’s ministry (Sunday school, VBS, etc.)

I’m working hard this week to prepare for camp next week. On Monday I’m leaving until Friday with 60 students (middle - college) and our student ministry team to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia for our yearly summer camp. I’ve been busy setting up service projects, preparing 5 sermons, getting all the little details worked out, collecting forms, etc. It’s a lot of work, but well worth it. I love doing our own camp! This year’s theme is Align:: Everything is Nothing. I will be preaching 5 messages through the book of Philippians with a major emphasis on Philippians 1:21 and 3:7-8a. I’m excited, the students are excited, and the parents are excited.

Christianity Today reported that the United States Congress and President Bush have passed a $48 billion bill for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa. I don’t usually blog about political things. I am also probably one of the most vocal individuals that a lot of people meet when it comes to the Church serving the country of Africa when it comes to HIV/AIDS — it is a huge problem that the global Church should be spending a lot of effort on… we have a responsibility in this, and I think Christians are failing for the most part. But the answer is not for the United States government to spend $48 billion… It’s the church’s responsibility, not the government. Ever wonder why the value of the dollar is so low? Ever wonder why the national debt is so high? Ever wonder why it seems that no matter where you turn it seems as though the government is taking over more and more while our freedoms become less and less? This country’s greatness was based on the Constitution — I wish our government officials would pay attention to the fact that it exists, and is supposed to have some bearing on how they make decisions. We can pray that more and more Christians will begin to think globally about their faith and responsibility to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with [our] God” (Micah 6:8). Find out how you can get involved in a gospel centered, Christ-honoring, God-glorifying ministry that addresses the AIDS crisis in Africa.

The 2008 MIT puzzle mystery hunt puzzles are now online. If you figure one out, I’d love to know… that’s pretty amazing!

A good brother from Ephesus Church, Micah Thornton, has been blogging some great thoughts at his (fairly) new blog, Micah 7. Go check it out.

A woman from Ephesus Church, and a good friend to Felicia and I, just finished her book entitled How to Move Without Losing Your Mind or the Remote Control. Kathryn Trainor is the mother of 3 boys and 1 girl, and the loving wife of Ted Trainor, the headmaster of the school at Ephesus Church, Effingham Christian School. She’s hilarious, and has a lot of personal experience in the subject matter on which she writes — check it out!

The 2009 Gospel Coalition conference registration is now open — it will be April 21-23. Looks great. I’m contemplating attendance.

Joshua Harris posted a picture that I couldn’t pass up. John Piper is throwin’ down the “W” for the “Word of God” — NOT “Westside.” Redemption in all things, I suppose!

Everything is going very well in Lakeshore, MS as a group of us lead Vacation Bible School in the community. We have partnered with Lakeshore Baptist Church who has been hard at work to Rebuild Lakeshore after Hurricane Katrina almost 3 years ago. It’s a great blessing to be here once again.

We have had around 35 kids attending each day, and almost all of them have stayed into the afternoon as well! We have had great success in talking to the children about the Call of God and irresistable grace — they are developing a clear understanding of the gospel that many of them are able to articulate. We are excited about all that God is accomplishing through us, and are humbled by the fact that He has chosen to use us in this way.

I was honored to have the opportunity to preach for last night’s worship service. Pastor Don Elbourne had previously asked me to preach on mercy ministry. I spent some time unfolding Romans 8:18-25 and God’s subjecting the creation to futility in hope. A proper understanding of the mercy of God and the mercy ministry of the Church must first begin with a proper understanding of sin, the fall of creation, and total depravity. I was blessed to be able to talk about the missionary mandate of the church and the missional focus that every Christian and local community of faith should have. We all await a complete revealing of the glory of God in the future — until then, we must be about the business of the Kingdom in providing mercy ministry to tangibly love our neighbors, as we show them the hope of future glorification, offered to us by a loving and merciful God.

I’m leaving with a wonderful group from Ephesus Church to Lakeshore, Mississippi at 6am tomorrow morning. I spent some time with Don Elbourne (pastor of Lakeshore Baptist Church) at Together for the Gospel in April, and after going to Lakeshore in January, 2008 to Rebuild Lakeshore, I told Don I would gather a team to lead Vacation Bible School this summer. I’m excited to return, and expect that the Lord will do great things while we are there serving. I am particularly excited about having an opportunity to preach while I’m there this time — Don and his family will be on a much needed vacation, so he has asked me to fill his pulpit on Wednesday.

While our team is conducting VBS in Lakeshore, it will also be going on at Ephesus Church for our local community. This year, we are using (and very impressed with) the Children Desiring God VBS/Backyard Bible Club curriculum. We are using the Call of God study, which is very straightforward in its presentation of the gospel, and age appropriate in its explanation of the irresistable grace of God. I will write a blog post sometime this week on the great benefits of this curriculum, Lord willing that I have time to do so. Suffice it to say that the depth of the biblical truths, and the no nonsense approach to teaching registers high on my value scale — in this regard, it differs greatly from most other VBS curriculums that I know of. The same goes for the Sunday School material from CDG, of which we gladly use.

I will try to provide regular updates from Lakeshore. Until then, please pray that God would be glorified in our efforts as He continues to Rebuild Lakeshore through the labors of His people, and in the hearts of those whom He still desires to call unto Himself.

Soli deo Gloria!

This is the third year in a row for me to post this article on my blog. I believe it to be an important issue in the Church in America, and an issue that is never given much thought.

I am reminded once again this week why I wrote a post 2 years ago entitled “God’s Chosen Land?” The prevailing evangelical conservative opinion of patriotism equals devotion to Christ, or non-patriotism equals non-Christian, is troubling to say the least. As a combat veteran and voting citizen of this country, I have many opinions about the nation’s direction, objectives, actions, and governance, yet at the end of the day I am happy that God chose to give me life in America. Nevertheless, I am deeply troubled by the opinion of those who equate citizenship in this country with citizenship in God’s Kingdom. The Church has made great advances that have stemmed from the United States in our nation’s short history, but the Church is not, nor was it ever uniquely American. One does not have to be an American patriot to be a Christian. Likewise, just because a person is not a patriot and doesn’t support every action of their country, doesn’t mean they don’t love their country.

As I think about this week in celebration of American Independence, I am grateful for several things. I am grateful for my freedom: not to do what I want, but to do as I ought. I am grateful for all those who have given so much for the preservation of our country’s freedom, to include blood, sweat, tears, and life. I am grateful that I was healthy enough to serve my country in 6 combat tours over a 4 year period of time with Special Operations forces. But with all that said, I am troubled by a typical American notion that we are somehow God’s chosen nation.

In the Baptist Hymnal used in most Southern Baptist Churches, both “America the Beautiful” and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” are subtitled with Psalm 33:12 (KJV): “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” I question: is America’s God the Lord?

At his inaugural address, the first in our nation’s history, George Washington was compelled to acknowledge God’s role in the founding of America:

It would be peculiarly improper to omit in the first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being… No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some…providential agency…We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

In the context of 1700’s culture, George Washington’s words, I believe, were particularly true. I cannot doubt that America is a country founded on Christian principles (although it has been compellingly argued otherwise). Nor could I ever infer that God was absent in the fight for independence - our American forefathers were successful, against all odds. Too often, though, we equate military and economic power with blessings from God. In today’s context, do we see the “invisible hand” in the “Affairs of men… Every step by which [we are] advanced” as a nation?

There have been some nations that consider themselves to be chosen to lead the world. Jewish believers consider themselves to be God’s chosen people — with reasonable support — and nationalism forces Zionists to consider Israel as an expression of this status. There are very few, however, who would consider Israel the apparent leader for the world in its entirety.

The French had a revolution leading many of them to a feeling of obligation to civilize and liberate various nations — not drastically different from the ideals of many Americans. Ancient civilizations often felt compelled to consider themselves chosen and forced their ideology on nations of lesser strength. It seems that every nation has seen itself with “special” eyes, perhaps making it better or more suitable for the purposes of God… but has it ever been to the extent of the American mentality?

Many of the early colonists and political leaders of America had a lot to say about God’s providence in the founding of our country. America has, for the entirety of its existence, been regarded by most (Americans) as the new Israel. America has done many wonderful things. Twice we have freed Europe from tyranny. We have brought peace and eliminated genocide in foreign lands. We have provided countless opportunities for individuals to live successful lives with less suffering. We’ve offered liberty to millions of immigrants. These and other accomplishments should not be under-valued, even though many of them were done in direct contradiction to the role of government as laid out in the United States Constitution. But does all this make us God’s chosen nation?

I say no.

There is an undeniable danger in assuming God’s election resides solely in the heart of our nation. America is an incredible place to live. I have traveled the world, mostly to third world countries, and can say from experience that we are truly blessed to have the freedoms and opportunities that are available. Sadly though, I believe many of the freedoms and opportunities we have make America a fertile soil for the seeds of Satan. If America was God’s chosen nation, would we then be the third largest recipient of foreign missionaries? Our lawmakers consistently manipulate our founding documents and legal precedent to deny anything that may have once been formed with Christian roots. Various organizations have successfully convoluted the American mindset to believe in absolute tolerance and conditional truth. 45 Million + unborn children have been killed to the tune of American freedom to choose, at the hands of American doctors (4 times more deaths than Adolf Hitler was responsible for). Our values consist of more money, bigger houses, faster cars, and better, more promiscuous sex. Our “heroes” play sports, make movies, and sing songs while living lives comparable to Jezebel and Judas. The American dream is bigger and better.

The American dream is a lie.

A chosen nation that openly invites sin and consistently acts against the will of one true God? Reprehensible.

I love and have fought for America. I thank God for the blessings of this wonderful place. But I will never make the mistake that America is God’s chosen land. His Kingdom is much greater than our country — it pains me to see that so many have lost sight of that and have made America their heaven on earth.

Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Some of the greatest words that Derek Webb has offered express my point very well — from his song “A King and a Kingdom”:

So my first allegience is not to a flag, a country or a man;
No, my first allegience is not to democracy or blood;
It’s to a King and a Kingdom.

There are two great lies that I’ve heard;
The day you eat a fruit of that tree you will not surely die;
And that Jesus Christ was a white middle-class republican;
And if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him.

So my first allegience is not to a flag, a country or a man;
No, my first allegience is not to democracy or blood;
It’s to a King and a Kingdom.

Read this brilliant article: Three Hymns for Red, White, and Blue: Thinking About Patriotic Worship Services

Abraham Piper posted a list of “22 of our favorite picture books for pre-schoolers” at his blog, 22 Words. If you are the parent of a pre-schooler, or soon to be pre-schooler, take a look!

God has put me on a track of thinking through my reading, situations in counseling and ministry, comments made by others, etc. that leads me to ask: Is Christ really enough?

While I ponder the things around me and the ambitions and affections within me, I am more and more drawn to ask this question. Intellectually and Scripturally, I certainly know that He is. But does my ministry show it? What am I and the people I minister to each day consumed by? Is it Christ? What about my marriage — Is Christ really enough to sustain it day-in and day-out so that I continue loving my bride more and more than the day we got married? My finances: what does the way I spend my money say about the way I value Christ? If I took an inventory of my time, would it reveal that I was living as though Christ were the most important reality in all the universe?

I am certainly better at some of these things than others. Nevertheless, since “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11b), I must joyfully examine every fragmentation of my heart to determine if this rings true throughout. Will I be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7), because Christ was, is, and always will be enough?

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

~Colossians 1:15-20, ESV

Two of the greatest and most challenging things I’ve read all week:

“In a heated moment all of us are quite capable of treating a minor detail of life as if it were a major thing. We are all capable of fighting for what has little value while forgetting things of transcendent value” (26).

“It is so hard for us to make the truly important things functionally important to us” (27).

Paul Tripp, A Quest for More (Greensboro: New Growth Press, 2007).

I have made several edits and additions to my “Philosophy and Function of Student Ministry.” It is available in pdf for anyone who is interested in reading it. Included are several recommended resources for student ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

Click here to download the pdf.

Last night during our evening gathering at Ephesus Church, I gave a very breif biographical sketch on Jonathan Edwards and then preached through the entire text of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Needless to say, I was physically and emotionally spent! Many people have heard of Sinners, but have never heard the entire sermon. Most people that know nothing else of Edwards other than a few lines from Sinners, think of an angry puritan that was slightly deranged. Nevertheless, when coupled with the full bredth of Edwards’ theology, it is clear that Sinners was an amazing work that has actually been used to instill great joy in Christ in the hearts of thousands throughout the past 300 years. I was honored to enter the pulpit with Edwards’ text in hand — a bold task of which I was humbled by. We also provided everyone a copy of John Piper’s CD Men of Whom The World Is Not Worthy, which is “a collection of reflections on the lives and ministries of significant men of church history.”

One of my favorite lines from Sinners:

It is no security to wicked men for one moment, that there are no visible means of death at hand. ‘Tis no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he don’t see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect to his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows that this is no evidence that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step won’t be into another world. The unseen, unthought of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotton covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they won’t bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noonday; the sharpest sight can’t discern them. God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending ‘em to hell, that there is nothing to make it appear that God had need to be at the expense of a miracle, or go out of the ordinary course of his providence, to destroy any wicked man, at any moment.All the means that there are of sinners going out of the world, are so in God’s hands and so universally absolutely subject to his power and determination, that it don’t depend at all less on the mere will of God, whether sinners shall at any moment go to hell, than if means were never made use of, or at all concerned in the case.

I wish I could know, like Jesus, when it’s appropriate to use a harsh tone with strong words. But I don’t. He did:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).

“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:33).

“Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation” (Mark 8:12).

I say “I wish I knew” because my tendency is often to go to harsh tones and strong words instead of a gentle spirit and encouraging words. I’ve thought a lot about my words lately and have listened to others a lot as well. Perhaps I’m slow, but it’s just now paying more attention to the fact that I can say the same thing in 2 different ways: My words can be like cast stones — they hurt, leave a bruise, and don’t really help anything. My words can also be like bridges: I want another person to see what I see, so I’m going to put the bridge in place to get them on my side of the gap. So, I can get my point across by hurting someone with it, or I can show them that our conversation is an attempt to show each other what exists on both sides of the bridge, knowing that there’s a safe way across. It’s the same, but different. It’s easier to attack and injure, but the results are never rewarding.

Certainly, I can probably name a few instances when I feel like harsh words like Jesus’ might be appropriate, but I’m not wise enough to know when that is. I want to work more on building bridges and keeping the stones on the ground. It seems elementary, I know, but I haven’t really done much of it. I need to work harder at being “respectable…not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome…” (1 Timothy 3:2,3).