Warm your hearts for prayer

I keep a file of quotes and articles about prayer, and review it from time to time. My heart needs to be encouraged and reminded about prayer, or else I grow cool and slack. Here are two quotes that should warm your heart. Walking in the path Christ lays out for Christian husbands and fathers means lots of prayer!

"What the church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations, or more novel methods; but men whom the Holy Spirit can use-- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer." – E.M. Bounds

"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness." – Martin Luther

Good resources from NavPress

I recommend you sign up for the free newsletters from NavPress. They have newsletters for small groups, Bible studies, and disciplemakers.

Satan doesn't waste time on the trivial

"Satan always fogs in the area of the crucial, not the trivial." -- Howard Hendricks. What is the crucial thing in your spiritual life? Authentic worship of God and authentic relationships with your wife and children. Whatever fosters this authentic vertical and horizontal relationships will be Satan's target.

Definition of Mentoring

I heard this yesterday from a CCBT speaker, who is very interested in demystifying mentoring: "Mentoring is a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage." So a mentor is a spiritual friend, a human paracletes.

Thank God for C.S. Lewis!

Chuck Colson has a nice tribute to C. S. Lewis, born November 29, 1898. Lewis is certainly one of the most influential Christians on my life.

Read the Chronicles of Narnia series to your kids if you haven't already. In fact, I recommend them to adults. Lewis' novels are like the best children's sermons -- he's speaking to the parents, too.

Is Arafat in Hell?

Dennis Prager has an interesting column defending the belief that Arafat must be in hell. His belief is based on a rational discourse and a just God:

"One, therefore, need not be a conservative Christian to believe in some form of hell for the evil. All one need be is a rational believer in a just God. For if there is a just God, it is inconceivable that those who do evil and those who do good have identical fates. A just God must care about justice, and since there is little justice in this world, there has to be in the next. ... So, of course, I hope Yasser Arafat is in hell. It means that a just God rules the universe. If you think that is hard-hearted, consider the alternative, that one of the most corrupt and cruel human beings of the past half-century is resting in peace. Whoever isn't bothered by that is the one with the hard heart."

Christians can go further, and with more confidence. Jesus warned about hell (a lot!).

This is a good dinner topic with your family. Challenge family members to look up relevant Bible passages.

Good thought for moments of temptation

"Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he isreally selling himself a slave to it." --BenjaminFranklin

Marketing to weak minds

I enjoy reading Seth Godin's material, very stimulating ideas. Check out this blurb about his upcoming book: Seth Godin is coming out with a new book in May called "All Marketers Are Liars: But Great Marketers Tell Stories We Want to Believe."
This from the Portfolio summer catalog:
Every marketer tells a story. And, if they do it right, we believe them. We believe that wine tastes better in a $20 glass than a $1 glass. We believe that an $80,000 Porsche Cayenne is cooler than a $36,000 VW Touareg, which is virtually the same car. We believe that $225 Pumas will make our feet feel better than $20 no-names...and believing it makes it true.Seth Godin argues that it doesn't matter if something is actually better or faster or more efficient. What matters is whether the consumer believes your story. Godin teaches readers how to create a powerful story (even if it's a fib).Marketers succeed when they tell us a story that fits our worldview, a story that we intuitively embrace and the share with our friends. Think of the Dyson vacuum cleaner and the iPod.Marketers fail when they are selfish and scurrilous, when they abuse the tools of their trade and make the world worse. Think of telemarketers and Marlboro.This is a powerful book for anyone who wants to sell things people truly want, as opposed to commodities that people merely need.

This gets me to thinking about the message of the Gospel. (Two parts -- 1. You are far worse than you can imagine. 2. You are far more loved than you ever dared to hope.) Mr. Godin would argue that it only matters that the sales message align with people's desires, not whether it is needed or even true. The Gospel aligns not only with the desire of our hearts -- to be loved, to be known, to matter, to understand our place and purpose -- but is also objectively true. A clear winner!

Godin's ideas here also make it easier to understand why we settle for such lousy substitutes that the world offers us, no matter how pricey.

Make It Your Business

Thomas Brooks' dedicatory to his wonderful book, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, ends with strong words of encouragement, purpose, and request for prayer. This book belongs in your library, but should be well-used. Study this (don't get hung up on the style of English, this is from 1652), and see how a man of Christ loves others.

"My desires to you are, That you would make it your business to study Christ, his word, your own hearts, Satan's plots, and eternity, more than ever; That ye would endeavor more to be inwardly sincere than outwardly glorious; to live, than to have a name to live; That ye would labor with all your might to be thankful under mercies, and faithful in your places, and humble under divine appearances, and fruitful under precious ordinances; That as your means and mercies are greater than others', so your account before God may not prove a worse than others'; That ye would pray for me, who am not worthy to be named among the saints, that I may be a precious instrument in the hand of Christ to bring in many souls unto him, and to build up those that are brought in in their most holy faith; and 'that utterance may be given to me, that I may make known all the will of God' (Eph. 6. r9); that I may be sincere, faithful, frequent, fervent and constant in the work of the Lord, and that my labor be not in vain in the Lord; that my labors may be accepted in the Lord and his saints, and I may daily see the travail of my soul.
But, above all, pray for me, that I may more and more find the power and sweet of those Things upon my own heart, that I give out to you and others; that my soul may be so visited with strength from on high, that I may live up fully and constantly to those truths that I hold forth to the world; and that I may be both in life and doctrine 'a burning and a shining light,' that so, when the Lord Jesus shall appear, 'I may receive a crown of glory which he shall give to me in that day, and not only to me, but to all that love his appearing.' (John 5. 35 and 2 Tim. 1. 8).
For a close, remember this, that your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.
I shall now take leave of you, when my heart hath by my hand subscribed, that I am,
Your loving pastor under Christ, according to all pastoral affections and engagements in our dearest Lord, THOMAS BROOKS "

About Civil Unions

Midge Decter delivered an excellent speech about the problems with compromise on civil unions. Worth y0ur time.

The Same Man -- Public and Private

Heard recently: "I don't want to hear your message if your wife doesn't want to hear your message." Men, let us take care that our life at home is consistent with our life on the platform, in public view.

It's Thanksgiving!

Some time back we were at a get-together at a friend's home. He was called upon to ask the blessing for the meal. He quieted all of us with this question: "Is everyone thankful? I wouldn't want anyone to perjure themselves." Let us be thankful, grateful men!

I'm grateful for a President who does not flinch from reminding us that our liberties and freedom come from God. See the text of his official proclamation. Here's a part:

"All across America, we gather this week with the people we love, to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our freedom, grateful for our families and friends, and grateful for the many gifts of America. On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come from the Almighty God. Almost four centuries ago, the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast to thank God after suffering through a brutal winter. President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, and President Lincoln revived the tradition during the Civil War, asking Americans to give thanks with "one heart and one voice. Since then, in times of war and in times of peace, Americans have gathered with family and friends and given thanks to God for our blessings.
...
On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for His blessings and ask Him to continue to guide and watch over our nation."

"This is a health crisis, not a sin!"

Joe Carter takes the evangelical church to task for not addressing the sin of gluttony.

"While many churchgoers have heard sermons warning against the dangers of sexual sins such as adultery or fornication, they’re not likely to have heard their pastor speak out against gluttony. It’s doubtful that many Christians would even consider it a sin. An openly homosexual couple attempting to join the congregation would be looked down upon by the obese deacon showing them to the door; and no one in the pews would even recognize the irony. The stink of our hypocrisy is so overwhelming that it’s amazing we can hold down our order of Super Size fries.
Gluttony was once listed among the seven deadly sins. But now it's considered, when it's thought about at all, as a private health matter. We may realize that overeating has led to weight gain, a change in appearance, or diminished health. But we never recognize it as a spiritual problem."

Read the whole column. You don't have to be overweight to guilty of gluttony.

"Lest we start to feel superiour to the obese, though, we should remember that not all gluttons are overweight. I’m 5’10”, 165 lbs and, thanks to the Marine Corps preoccupation with physical activity, in relatively good shape. But while my waistline may not expose my shame, I’m prone to overindulging in food. I eat several snacks between meals. I eat when I’m in my car. I eat when I’m bored. I eat when I’m restless, when I’m frustrated, when I’m watching TV, when I’m on the computer…I eat constantly for no other reason than that I can.
In stuffing my face, I neglect my spiritual life. I turn to the refrigerator instead of turning to prayer. I pause at the vending machine instead of pausing in meditation. I seek out a piece of bread instead of seeking the Bread of Life. I fill my life with food in order to avoid filling it with God. "

Good thoughts for men who would live out Jesus' style of eating -- fasting with prayer, eating what's appropriate, and unafraid to feast with celebration.

Focus on the Word

How wonderful -- it's National Bible Week!

"The Bible is the rope God throws us in order to ensure that we stay connected while the rescue is in progress." -- J.I. Packer

Pit bull or Poodle?

The passivity of men in the Church and the majority of homes is a primary spiritual problem. This blog is named "Be Bold, Be Gentle" because Christian men should reflect the toughness and tenderness of Jesus Christ. That's the combination that the Holy Spirit will bring out in us as we obey the clear commands from the Word.

I encourage you to read Doug Giles' latest column "Do You Have a Pit Bull Attitude?" He contrasts biblical pitbulls with biblical poodles in his usual ascerbic style. Here's an excerpt:

"God intended His believers—especially Christian leaders—to be spiritual warriors, to be pit bulls who smash demonic strongholds, stand for truth and bring life, light and healing to this great planet.
As I see it, a Christian without a Pit Bull Attitude is a Poodle Christian. What a terrible fate, to be a poodle Christian. A pit bull Christian is a hero and a champion, braver than the bravest, one who laughs at difficulties, dangers, and death.
The poodle Christian runs to his air-conditioned doghouse when it starts to get “hot in the kitchen.” Sweetie poodle Christians fear they might lose the curl in their hair if they get too close to the flame … too close to the front of the major spiritual and moral battles of the day. Therefore, the poodle Christians choose to hang out within the stained-glass-tinted windows of the Church instead of going out into the real world to confront secular monsters. Yes, the call to battle always seems to find them at covered-dish dinners. "

There are those who fear strong men. In my experience these people want tamer men, "sissified men." They believe that strong men will harm women, children, and the weak. Strong men have throughout history. But not men strong in Christ. Men strong in Christ have changed the world so that women, children, and the weak have nothing to fear. Men strong in Christ hear God's voice and obey it. They are rich in grace and mercy because God has redeemed them from the pit of hell. They provide for and protect others because God's character has been worked into their hearts. They discern good and evil, and act appropriately towards both, because the Holy Spirit indwells them.

Be bold, be gentle. Be strong in Christ.

Parenting tip

Dads, let's remember that we're raising kids who belong to God. Our aim is for them to grow up strong in Jesus and be Christ-like, not [in my case] Glenn-like.

May God bless the Marines!

We should be very grateful to the Marines for their victory in Fallujah. I'm grateful men this tough and disciplined and honorable defend my family and our country. As for NBC's videotape purportedly showing a Marine shooting a defenseless Iraqi lying on the floor... get the right picture. See the excellent Semper Fi editorial in the WSJ.

Confusion about Theocracy

There's plenty of fear-mongering from ill-informed writers about the President's re-election pushing America into a theocracy. Joe Carter posts some useful perspective on the meaning and history of theocracy. Here's his hook starter:

"Living in a country where 34 percent of the population believes in UFOs and ghosts, I shouldn’t be surprised to find that Americans will believe just about anything. Still, it is rather disconcerting to discover so many people think that our nation is turning into a “theocracy.” "

Building Mighty Men

A friend recently pointed to 2 Samuel 23:8-39 and said we needed to be builders of mighty men. Read the stunning descriptions of David's mighty men, and consider who are the mighty men in your family, church, and community today.

Who will be the mighty men in the next generation? And the next?

How are mighty men built? Does this give you some ideas of how to inspire your sons and the young men in your community?

Recommended reading: Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle, a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon.

Insecure

Linda Lawson spoke briefly at CrossTrainers yesterday. She lost her husband and three other family members in a plane crash earlier this year. She had several good things to say to the men, but here's the best:

"Every women I know is insecure. You need to remind your wife that she matters."

Don't Waste Your Life DVD

I just watched the Don't Waste Your Life presentation by John Piper on DVD. Get it. I know some of you just aren't readers. Get it and watch it. $11 for a book and the DVD. I believe this message, internalized in you and your family, can change the world.

Where there's a cross, there's a touchpoint on the cultural war

I recommend Dennis Prager's column defending the small cross on the Los Angeles county seal. He closes with this:

"In 1834, 99 years before Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power, the great German poet Heinrich Heine, a secular Jew, predicted what would happen if Christianity ever weakened in Germany:
A drama will be enacted in Germany compared to which the French Revolution will seem like a harmless walk in the park. Christianity restrained the marshal ardor of the Germans for a time, but it did not destroy it; once the restraining guard is shattered, savagery will rise again . . . the mad fury of the berserk of which Nordic poets sing and speak.
That is what this American, this Jew, and millions of others believe is at stake in the Left's attempt to impose a redesign of the Los Angeles County seal and thereby redesign America."

Right statements on faith

Give Star Parker for hitting the nail cleanly with her hammer in We All Have Faith in Something. She correctly identifies the traditional Democrat faith -- in government as a solution. "The Democratic gospel preaches an all-encompassing faith that politics and government will solve our personal problems. ...check out what they call values: Government-run health care, government-run schools, government-run personal retirement and a politically defined and managed overall sense of social justice. "

Now, men, let us be careful to place our faith in the right Person.

What would it look like if...

Here's a good dinner conversation starter for your family. Read this passage from Acts 19, The Message translation of the unexpected result of some exorcist's attempt to use the name of Jesus:

13Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time
tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul's "game." They pronounced the
name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, "I command you by
the Jesus preached by Paul!" 14The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high
priest, were trying to do this on a man 15when the evil spirit talked back: "I
know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the possessed man
went berserk--jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes.
Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.
It was soon news all over Ephesus among both Jews and Greeks. The
realization spread that God was in and behind this. Curiosity about Paul
developed into reverence for the Master Jesus. 18Many of those who thus believed
came out of the closet and made a clean break with their secret sorceries. 19All
kinds of witches and warlocks came out of the woodwork with their books of
spells and incantations and made a huge bonfire of them. Someone estimated their
worth at fifty thousand silver coins. 20In such ways it became evident that the
Word of the Master was now sovereign and prevailed in Ephesus.

Encourage your family to imagine the scene in all its details.

Then ask these questions:

How is authentic faith different than “Jesus talk”?
Can you think of “secret sorceries” that may be present in our midst today?
What would our city look like if the Word of the Master were sovereign and prevailed? What would your family look like?

Don't be surprised if the responses to the third question begin to describe a sinless state. Help them realize that sin and its effects will still be here, but that we would be quick to reconcile and forgive, and so the effects of sin would be much less.

Greeting one another

I'd like to promote an idea: when you talk with people, write emails, and letters, use biblical language of blessing people. The letters of the New Testament usually begin and end with statements like

"Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 1)

"To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude)

Why not do this today? Are we afraid this kind of blessing is "old fashioned?"

I've been enjoying new kinds of closing greetings in emails. Feel free to use any of these:

Under His Mercy,
Serving the best King ever,
Your fellow-bondservant, ,
May the Lord open our eyes and hearts ,
Enjoying Christ together,

Renewed plug for online resource

There are some new readers of this blog since I last mentioned Bible Gateway. Great free resource, I use it frequently.

Even in the "blue" states

Curious data about % votes for President Bush in the states he lost to Senator Kerry:

39% - Rhode Island, Vermont
40% - New York
44% - California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland
45% - Hawaii, Illinois, Maine
46% - New Jersey, Washington
47% - Oregon
48% - Michigan, Minnesota
49% - New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

The "blue" states are less uniformly blue than some think.

Have you noticed the uptick in conversations with your friends and extended families about "moral values?"

Fighting the Sin of Pride

Print off a copy of this article and read it...weekly. Great stuff from John Piper. And if you haven't already, sign up to receive [free!] sermons and writings from DesiringGod.org.

About those exit polls

Much heat but little light has come from the infamous exit polls that so many have written about. Check out Charles Krauthammers' column which logically debunks the "it's moral values, stupid white evangelicals!" story. Key excerpt:

Its origins lie in a single question in the Election Day exit poll.
The urban myth grew around the fact that ``moral values'' ranked highest in the
answer to Question J: ``Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted
for president?''
It is a thin reed upon which to base a General
Theory of the '04 Election. In fact, it is no reed at all. The way the question
was set up, moral values was sure to be ranked disproportionately high. Why?
Because it was a multiple-choice question and moral values cover a group of
issues, while all the other choices were individual issues. Chop up the
alternatives finely enough, and moral values is sure to get a bare plurality
over the others.
Look at the choices:
-- Education, 4 percent --
Taxes, 5 percent -- Health Care, 8
percent -- Iraq, 15 percent --
Terrorism, 19 percent -- Economy and Jobs, 20
percent -- Moral Values, 22
percent
``Moral values'' encompasses abortion, gay
marriage, Hollywood's influence, the general coarsening of the culture, and, for
some, the morality of pre-emptive war. The way to logically pit this class of
issues against the others would be to pit it against other classes: ``war
issues'' or ``foreign policy issues'' (Iraq plus terrorism) and ``economic
issues'' (jobs, taxes, health care, etc).
If you pit
group against group, moral values comes in dead last: war issues at 34 percent,
economic issues variously described at 33 percent, and moral values at 22
percent -- i.e., they are at least a third less salient than the others.

Managing the incoming information artillery barrage

There's a critical skill that we need to master, and we need to help our children master: handling the multiple firehoses of information available to us today. There are email, blogs, podcasts, cell phones, beepers, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, snail mail, and (gee I almost forgot :-) books. How do you practically sort it out? What's important? How do you focus? What would Jesus do!?

First, let's make sure we cultivate a love for God's Word in ourselves and our families. Work with your wife, and teach your children how to read the Bible -- both devotional and study methods -- and apply it. I'm learning that we need to weave prayer into this work, or else we'll cultivate dry theologians rather than wells of living water that can minister to others.

Second, make time and space for relationships. These are more precious than most books, and certainly more than almost anything that's on TV. The books Margin and Making Room for Life are particularly recommended here.

Third, there are particular skills for processing information that I believe will be increasingly essential for people. I recommend Surviving Information Overload and Getting Things Done in this category. If you are only shooting to help yourself, that's too low a goal. Purpose to teach your whole family about this.

Arafat dies

Arafat dies in Paris at age 75. A few days ago Rich Tucker had, to my mind, appropriate commentary about Arafat's legacy and how the "intelluctual elite hailed him."

Let us pray for the leadership of the "Palestinian" people, shameless and horribly manipulated like pawns in a lousy chess match. A fraction of the people are brothers and sisters in Christ. (Don't be taken in by simplistic media reporting that all Palestinians are Muslim and support Hamas.)

Remember Genesis 12:3, brothers. God is still looking after His people.

Christians and Government

I believe Christians should stay engaged in civics because it is both good citizenship (which honors the Lord), and it is an avenue of influence to limit the damage of sin (through law).

But I also know that involvement in government is a dangerous allure. Some evangelicals are "expecting" the Bush administration to "repay" for their votes. This is hazardous and manipulative, and not in the way of Christ.

Cal Thomas has reminders for us, also. See "Focus on the wrong families?"

The Wives of Weinsburg

Doug Phillips shares this story.

The wives who lived within the walls of the Weinsberg Castle in Germany were well aware of the riches it held: gold, silver, jewels, and wealth beyond belief.Then the day came in 1141 AD when all their treasure was threatened. An enemy army had surrounded the castle and demanded the fortress, the fortune, and the lives of the men within. There was nothing to do but surrender.

Although the conquering commander had set a condition for the safe release of all women and children, the wives of Weinsberg refused to leave without having one of their own conditions met, as well. They demanded that they be allowed to fill their arms with as many possessions as they could carry out with them. Knowing that the women couldn't possibly make a dent in the massive fortune, their request was honored.

When the castle gates opened the army outside was brought to tears. Each woman had carried out her husband.

The wives of Weinberg, indeed, were aware of the riches the castle held.

Encouragement

Husbands, Fathers, I want you to do two things today. First, go to God's Word, start anywhere familiar and comforting, and then read aloud until you feel God's encouragement and strength in you.

Second, ask God to show you another man who needs encouragement. Then follow-through, phone or email him with some encouragement.

Tomorrow, repeat this process. Get in the habit of seeking God for encouragement, and passing it on to others. That's being bold and being gentle.

This is telling

Eleven states had referendums about same-sex marriage on the ballot. All eleven state voted against same-sex marriage by very wide margins -- 2:1 or higher! Praise God, men.

Still working to be salt and light

I appreciated Chuck Colson's comments in his most recent column:

The kingdom of God will not arrive on Air Force One no matter
how good the president’s character or great his ability. Don’t get me wrong:
Elections are important; the law is a moral teacher. But all the laws and
political victories will not help us if we lose the culture. Our job is the same
no matter who is in office: that is, to make serious disciples and to bring
Christian truth to bear in all of life....To paraphrase the Scriptures, what
will it profit us if we win the presidency—but lose our children to a corroded
culture? The election is over, and now it’s time to get down to our job, to be
steady at our posts—discipling our children and transforming culture, the only
way cultures are ever changed: from the bottom up.

Armstrong Williams echoes this truth and calls for political leadership that will facilitate moral striving " to rekindle in our children a sense of moral striving, so that they may realize something greater than a popular culture that glorifies violence, sexual promiscuousness, same-sex unions and disintegrating family structures. "

What happens in your house, men, is more important than what happens in the White House.

What will we do if John Kerry is elected?!

I’ve heard this question from several Christians lately, with gasps and mutterings. There’s a simple answer: We should do the same things we would do were President Bush re-elected.

Pray for kings and all those in authority. (1 Tim 2:2) Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:7)
Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. (Deut 6:5)
Love others as yourself (Lev 19:18). Serve others in the power and name of Jesus.
Sing spiritual songs in your heart. (Col 3:16) Be joyful and hopeful (1 Thess 5:16-18; Col 1:11), glad for a redeemed life, ever-looking forward to heaven.
Be in the world without being of the world. (John 17:6) Be salt and light in your neighborhood and workplace (Matt 5:13-16
Talk about the Word of God all the time with your family (Deut 6:7)
Wake up every day astonished that you are alive (see Luke 13:1-5)

And we can count on our Risen Lord to guide us into all truth and wise living, for the sake of His Name.

Now I have strong preferences about which candidate should be President, and what Presidents and other elected officials should do and not do. (Here's a start -- let every citizen be familiar with The Constitution!) But men, we need to be sober-minded, and pay attention to clear instruction from Scripture. Whomever is elected President is not our Savior. Let us not ascribe to any man more than what God ascribes.

What are you called to?

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God (Ephesians 1:1)

Paul fully understood that he was an apostle by the will of God. It was his calling, his purpose, his endeavor – everything was subject to this.

You are not outside the will of God, brother. What are you called to be and do? Put your name and purpose in that sentence. , _____________ by the will of God.

I’m a husband, father, teacher, encourager, and spiritual leader by the will of God. That's an incredibly encouraging reality!

What about you?

About lies

The only thing that God cannot do is lie. Satan is the father of lies – his crummy kingdom is built on a foundation of lies. Lies are his native tongue.

How much different would the world be if people were incapable of lies? No matter what, you could only tell the truth – to others, and to yourself. This will be a key difference between our numbered days here, and heaven.

Suddenly, Deeply Religious

Several buddies have noticed that Senator Kerry is really lacing God-talk into his speeches lately. Check out Jacoby, Olasky, and Piper for some useful perspective on this.

Walking by Sight

Great truth shared yesterday about a fellow CrossTrainer who was called home: "He is walking by sight now." May we be found steadfast, faithful men who walk by faith.

Four More Years

I enjoyed John Ellis' recommendation to reelect President Bush.

Someone asked me the other day why I supported President Bush, "aside from the
family thing" as he put it. I said I was supporting him because I thought he
understood the issue at stake better than anyone alive. And because he cared
about that issue completely. And that he was on the right side of that issue
from day one and every day thereafter. And that he was devoted to committing
this nation to a course of offensive engagement with the terror apparatus that
might, just might, save us all here in the United States. The President Bush I
read about in the papers and the newsweeklies and the blogs bears almost no
resemblance to the President Bush I know and visit with from time to time. (I've
never seen media as blatantly dishonest and biased as we have all seen this
year.) The man I know is smart, extraordinarily disciplined, enormously
hard-working, open to new ideas and approaches, decisive, shrewd and gifted with
a keen sense of the possible. He is decent and honest and true, which cannot be
said of many of his critics. Has he made mistakes? Yes he has. Do they warrant
his retirement. I don't think so. Because over-riding everything is the Big
Issue and on this issue President Bush has been steadfast and strong and right
as rain, while his opponent has rambled and waffled and weaseled every which
way. Our enemies will brace for four more years of hell if Bush is re-elected.
They will celebrate if Senator Kerry wins. Here's to four more years of hell.

How would your relatives and friends describe you?

Album of the Year?

Lots of good albums this year -- my vote goes to Casting Crowns. Just outstanding theology woven here!

Bias in headlines

Newspaper headlines are sound bites, and often reveal bias. Consider this report from the Des Moines Register yesterday, "Majority of profs lean left at Iowa schools," about the political affiliation of faculty at Iowa colleges and universities.

Overall, counting multiple Christian colleges as well as secular schools, faculty: "Of the more than 2,400 faculty registered to vote, 55 percent are Democrats. Independents make up 28 percent and Republicans about 16 percent."

The story features the University of Iowa, however. "For every eight Democratic professors at the U of I, there is one Republican....Faculty in some disciplines, such as business and agriculture, are more conservative than professors in education or liberal arts, Knight said. [Iowa State University's] College of Business is the only unit in the Register's review in which Republicans outnumber Democrats. In that department, there are twice as many Republicans. In comparison, the U of I's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a dozen registered Democrats for every Republican."

Check the headline again -- 16% Republican overall, only one unit in the entire state where Republicans outnumbered Democrats, the U of I ratio at 8:1 -- this is lean left? Keep in mind, too, the state population is almost exactly 50-50 Democrat-Republican, with less than 3% registered Independent.

Not everything that hinders is sin

Eric Evers offers some excellent insight here. Pay attention to this.

"Today in my Hebrews reading (I know I haven’t blogged on Hebrews for a while, but I have been studying it, and loving it!), I was at 12:1: “Let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles…” Notice that division: “everything that hinders,” and, in addition to that, “the sin that so easily entangles.” Not everything that hinders us is sin. Some of what hinders us from following Jesus full-out with freedom and devotion is, in fact, good stuff. It’s good, but it’s not what God is calling us to do. It’s good, but it’s not the point. And so it hinders us, slows us down, restricts our range of movement, in our pursuit of the point of life.
So what hinders you? If you’re a preacher or teacher, ask that of your presentations: “What hinders this talk from being relentlessly focused on the point I need to get across?” Whether you’re a preacher or teacher or whatever, ask that of your life. What (other than, obviously, unbelief and sin) hinders you from full-throttle, unrestricted pursuit of the race of faith? What clouds your focus on the point? And how can you lay it aside?"

Christians and political affilitiation

There have been several articles recently about Christians and political affiliation. I've found two articles today worth reading. Doug Giles has some blunt statements in his column, titled "A Christian Can Be a Christian or a Liberal, But He Can’t Be Both." Richard Foster won't indicate who to vote for or against, but has an October perspective outlining four convictions for civil responsibility.

Two types of accountability partners

I strongly believe that every Christian man needs accountability partners. We should be very close to our spouses, but these dear women cannot be our only accountability -- our role is to be God's minister to them.

In the past few years I've set up two types of accountability partners.

The first is to guard against the downside. I have one brother whom I meet on these issues of sexual purity, time in the Word, serving our families, matters of integrity at work. We have very specific lists to check one another.

The second is to encourage to reach more for Christ. For me, this is a small number of men who are asking questions about what God is teaching me, my teaching ministry, and encouraging me to keep working towards excellence. I don't need to go over basic danger issues with them, because I have this covered by another man.

The division between the two types of accountability is helpful. It would be a rare man who could cover all areas well. I share this in hopes you can benefit, also.

The US Must Continue Supporting Israel

Charles Krauthammer suggests that John Kerry would weaken US support for Israel to gain more international support for other US interests.

Think about it: What do the Europeans and the Arab
states endlessly rail about in the Middle East? What (outside Iraq) is the area
of most friction with U.S. policy? What single issue most isolates America from
the overwhelming majority of countries at the United
Nations?
The answer is obvious: Israel.
In what currency, therefore, would we pay the rest
of the world in exchange for their support in places like Iraq? The answer is
obvious: giving in to them on Israel.

May it never be!

What's Really Important?

It's been said that you know what people think is really important by evaluating their actions more than their words. Watching Boston Red Sox fans is instructive. In the final three games of the playoffs before their astounding victory over the Yankees, fans pulled out all the stops. Wiccans came to Fenway park and performed favorable spells. Any number of clergy prayed for their beloved team to achieve victory. The faithful, decades-hopeful fans arrayed in front of their TV sets with their lucky shirts on.

It's a great athletic performance, but it's a game.

When will we see the same outpouring of "spiritual energy" to address the problems of divorce, lonely old people, kids dropping out of school, and acts of lawlessness? Oh, yeah, those are supposed to be fixed by the government.

Book Recommendation: Elders and Leaders

I'm not done reading this yet, but am already prepared to recommend it to leaders. Gene Getz writes carefully about a subject that matters a great deal to the Church today. There are about a gazillion books and articles on leadership for the business community now. But they often ring hollow, ego-stroking more than challenging to serve others. Pastor Getz accomplishes something in Elders and Leaders that I have not seen elsewhere -- a picture of leaders working together to lead a local fellowship.

Click on the image below for more information about Elders and Leaders.

The Lord is with us

“Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Numbers 14:9)

We tend to say “The Lord is with us” casually, almost as one syllable, as throwaway as a Hallmark card. We must remind ourselves frequently of the truth and power of what is being said here. Dissect it one word at a time:

The There is only one Lord, unique, supreme

Lord He made all things, holds all things together, and is the focal point of creation. You don’t get to say “No, Lord.”

Is Present tense! We have been given today, a special day, and He is Now.

With We are in Him, He is with/among/connecting/enabling us

Us There are no solitary Christians. Elijah whines that he the last prophet left, and is gently rebuked by the One who has reserved 7000 in Israel. (1 Kings 19) How many tens of thousands are reserved in central Iowa? Where you live? One of our central tasks in local fellowship is to be a fellowship and be together.

Taken together, this is AWEsome stuff. Let’s boldly go forward, confident that The Lord is with us – for His purposes and His glory.

Good article on US Law Supporting Definitions of Marriage

Jeff Jacoby: Why marriage can't be left to the states

We the Citizens are the Problem, Not the Politicians

Every election cycle we hear people say that they are weary of the division, the acrimony, the harsh and overy-simplistic political spin, the ads, the name-calling, etc.

Examine history and you'll see that political campaigns are probably no worse now than in the early colonial days of this country. The campaigns against Jackson and Lincoln were harsher than against Bush today, though there were fewer media outlets and news did not travel as fast. So perhaps there is merit to the argument that it's worse now because it's accelerating.

I do not believe election campaigns are like this because of The Media (another "they" group), or because of campaign financing laws, or because of technology options, or because politicians have lower character and many advisors shoving them into spin mode. The real reason that our election cycles will continue this way is because we like it. (After all, we sin because we like it.) The root cause of all this is that citizens and non-citizens in the US are shallow. The political process is simply responding (effectively) to our behaviors. We

• prefer soundbites to detailed information
• prefer not to analyze complex situations, nor seek to understand interconnecting systems
• prefer to separate government from "us"
• prefer to operate from preferences than principles
• prefer easy to hard

Yes, there is a small percentage of citizens who study the issues carefully and look beneath the surface with a carefully principled worldview. But campaigns will not be won by tailoring their approach to this group, because only a small minority have worked hard to overcome the endemic slothfulness of our human nature.(Interestingly, most people would put themselves in this minority, but their behavior belies it.)

There are some wonderful distinctives of the American nation that yet survive this slothful instinct. For it is not all about deep thinking. In this season, the quote below is helpful perspective:

"America has always been about freedom. Despite our flawed history -- slavery, our treatment of American Indians, our failure to initially grant suffrage to women, our internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII -- we have fought hard to correct these failures. We fought those who would enslave other nations and then we helped rebuild the nations of our former enemies. Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen are stationed in more than a hundred nations throughout the world to ensure that the enemies of freedom will not succeed. I suggest this is not a time bashing America. This is a time to recognize and celebrate our commitment to freedom and, like our Founding Fathers, pledge our lives, our property, and our sacred honor to advance freedom throughout the world." -- Alan Caruba

Unity is Paramount

Our unity in Christ is a precious treasure for us to steward.

We are one Body, with one Spirit (Eph 4:1-6). It is God who causes growth (1 Cor 3:5-9). Our one body has many parts (1 Cor 12:12-31). It is the Lord who makes us one in Christ (Eph 2:11-22). We should live as new people in love (Col 3:3-17), and look to the interests of others (Php 2:1-11).

How are you doing as a steward of the King?

The Right Perspective

Remember, men -- it's not my story...it's the part God has arranged for me in His unfolding story.

Lord, Send Sap!

We need to persist in praying for the salvation of extended family members, neighbors, and nations. We desire that everyone would "taste and see that the Lord is good." We long for these dear ones to be rescued from the black pit where they blindly stumble along, and find the heart-filling joy that following Christ will bring to them.

How long must we pray? We will boldly ask until God answers (Matthew 7:7-12; Luke 18:1-8), confident that He hears us (1 John 3:21) and delights to give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). These prayers for salvation are congruent with His heart for the world adn every person He has created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

Here is a picture that might help you as you pray.

Jeus tells us that He is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5-6). The branches have no life without the vine. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing, and are like dead branches only good for burning. Paul describes how we Gentiles are branches grafted into Israel, the tree of life (Romans 11:17-25). God has caused His life (the tree sap!) to flow into each believer, giving new life and bearing fruit for the glory of God in Christ.

These dear people, these loved ones we pray for, are lifeless branches now. Ask the Great Lord Gardener to graft each person in, and send life-giving sap flowing into them. Can you see it with your eyes of faith? Oh, how the Lord is magnified when He grafts in completely-dead-in-their-sin branches (Ephesians 2:1) to the family of God! We cry out, "Lord, send sap!"

My brothers, may we be found diligent, imaginative people of prayer.

Strength and Honor!

Men, we could do far worse than encourage one another frequently as Roman soldiers did before battle : "Strength and honor!"

Our strength come from Christ and is in Christ. Our honor is the honor of adopted sons, inheritors of the glorious One. Let us be remarkable (meaning, others will be compelled to speak well of us) in strength beyond ourselves, and remarkable in honor.

Nehemiah's model for family leadership

Dads, check out Doug Phillips' Nehemiah 1-6 outline as a model for family leadership. "Wise and blessed leaders accomplish great things at remarkable speeds when they stay remarkably focused, humble, and courageous before the Lord God."

Recommended blog

Check out The Evangelical Outpost. Excellent work, and a diverse set of commentary that makes for thoughtful reading.

Kerry has serious chutzpah

John Kerry repeats the outrageous claims about blacks being denied the right to vote in 2000:

Before traveling to Arizona last night to begin preparations for the de bate in
Tempe, Mr. Kerry campaigned yesterday in Florida, where he reminded
African-American voters of the closely divided 2000 election. At tending two
church services with African-Americans, first with Haitian Catholics and
then
with black Baptists, Mr. Kerry cast the disputed 2000 recount in
civil-rights
terms, the Associated Press reported. "We have an
unfinished march in this
nation," Kerry said at Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church. "Never again
will a million African-Americans be
denied the right to exercise their vote in
the United States of America," he
said, promising to respond aggressively to any
allegations of
disenfranchisement. The Reverend Jesse Jackson and the
Reverend Al
Sharpton joined Mr. Kerry to help mobilize the African American voters.
"November 2, the power is in your hands, hands that once picked
cotton," the AP quoted Rev. Jackson as saying. "Everything we have fought
for, marched for, gone to jail for - some died for - could be reversed if the
wrong people are put on the Supreme Court," Rev. Sharpton said.

It takes some serious chutzpah to claim African Americans were denied the right to vote in Florida in 2000. A six month investigation by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission found no evidence of this. An independent investigation by the Civil Rights division of the Department of Justice also found no evidence. No one has stepped forward with credible evidence that he was denied the right to vote. No one calls John Kerry on this? See Larry Elder's column about this issue for more commentary.

Also, I would imagine that George Bush giving a speech in any church would create quite the media stir and outrage. This story was on the back page of the Des Moines Register, without any critical commentary.

Self-control, focusing on the greater good

Jesus' self-control is a good lesson for us. He is falsely accused by the Jewish leaders, brought before the Sanhredrin (which operated like a kangaroo court), then sent to Pilate. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod. Look at Luke 23:9-10:

"[Herod] plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him."

Jesus had submitted Himself to the Father's plan. Consider what Jesus could have done and said to his accusers -- being fully righteous in it! -- and chose not to. Jesus chose to be the Lamb of God who would not cry out or defend Himself. He was focuses on the greater good, not lesser justice of this moment.

Men, when do you and I need to exercise self-control and restraint in small things, seeking the greater good? Let us be watchful for these opportunities with our families, neighbors, and co-workers.

Be staggered by Christ

Be encouraged by these strong words from John Piper:

Little souls make little lusts have great power. The soul, as it were,
expands to encompass the magnitude of its treasure. The human soul was made to
see and savor the supremacy of Christ. Nothing else is big enough to enlarge the
soul as God intended and make little lusts lose their power.
Vast starry
skies seen from a mountain in Utah, and four layers of moving clouds on a
seemingly endless plain in Montana, and standing on the edge of a mile-deep drop
in the Grand Canyon can all have a wonderfully supplementary role in enlarging
the soul with beauty. But nothing can take the place of the supremacy of Christ.
As Jonathan Edwards said, if you embrace all creation with goodwill, but not
Christ, you are infinitely parochial. Our hearts were made to be enlarged by
Christ, and all creation cannot replace his supremacy.
My conviction is that
one of the main reasons the world and the church are awash in lust and
pornography (by men and women—30% of internet pornography is now viewed by
women) is that our lives are intellectually and emotionally disconnected from
infinite, soul-staggering grandeur for which we were made. Inside and outside
the church western culture is drowning in a sea of triviality, pettiness,
banality, and silliness. Television is trivial. Radio is trivial. Conversation
is trivial. Education is trivial. Christian books are trivial. Worship styles
are trivial. It is inevitable that the human heart, which was made to be
staggered with the supremacy of Christ, but instead is drowning in a sea of
banal entertainment, will reach for the best natural buzz that life can give:
sex.
Therefore, the deepest cure to our pitiful addictions is not any mental
strategies—and I believe in them and have my own. The deepest cure is to be
intellectually and emotionally staggered by the infinite, everlasting,
unchanging supremacy of Christ in all things. This is what it means to know him. Christ has purchased this gift for us at the cost of his
life. Therefore, I say again with Hosea, let us know, let us press on to know
the Lord.

Being Men of Integrity

A man of integrity…
Believes what Jesus believed (a transformed mind)
Lives what Jesus lived (a transformed character)
Loves as Jesus loved (transformed relationships)
Ministers as Jesus ministered (transformed service)
Leads as Jesus led (transformed influence)
(From Choose the Life, by Bill Hull, 2004)

Framing the Discussion

Here's an important work for understanding better how to communicate truth to others. George Lakoff is a linguist, and makes compelling case that we need to communicate in an appropriate frame of reference for a message to be heard. Facts outside a person's frame of reference have very little effect.

Now you need to understand that Professor Lakoff wrote this to help "progressives" argue better against "the conservatives who are destroying America." I about choked on the themes he chose for illustrations. But I encourage you to get past that and learn about the ideas about framing discussions.

And remember that God can change frames!

Are You Busy?

Gerry McGovern challenges us to change our vocabulary. Instead of saying we're "busy," we need to think about being productive and effective.

Building below the water line

Gordon MacDonald writes eloquently about leadership. You need to read this, and then apply it.

"David McCullough's The Great Bridge (Simon and Schuster, 1972). As usual McCullough (among the best of modern writers) tells a great story, this time of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, which arched the East River and joined Manhattan to Brooklyn.
In June 1872, the Chief Engineer of the project wrote: "To such of the general public as might imagine that no work had been done on the New York tower, because they see no evidence of it above the water, I should simply remark that the amount of the masonry and concrete laid on that foundation during the past winter, under water, is equal in quantity to the entire masonry of the Brooklyn tower visible today above the water line" (italics mine).
The Brooklyn Bridge remains a major transportation artery in New York City today because, 135 years ago, the Chief Engineer and his construction team did their most patient and daring work where no one could see it: on the foundations of the towers below the water line. It is one more illustration of an ageless principle in leadership: the work done below the water line (in a leader's soul) that determines whether he or she will stand the test of time and challenge. This work is called worship, devotion, spiritual discipline. It's done in quiet, where no one but God sees.
Today there is a tremendous emphasis on leadership themes such as vision, organizational strategy, and the "market-sensitivity" of one's message. And it's all great stuff (stuff I wish I'd heard when I was real young). But if it is all about what's above the water line, we are likely to witness a leadership crash of sorts in the coming years. Leaders blessed with great natural skills and charisma may be vulnerable to collapse in their character, their key relationships, their center of belief because they never learned that you cannot (or should not anyway) build above the water line until there is a substantial foundation below it. A re-read of the life of Moses (which I've just done) is the best example of this. The man spent 80 years preparing for his more visible work.
My opinion: the test of a leader is less what he or she accomplishes before 45 years of age and more what happens after. Call it sustainability! The trick is to last and grow stronger, wiser, more focused with the years. "

Great quote
"When a problem appears to have no solution is means we are asking the wrong questions." -- Star Parker

Fahrenheit 9/11 vs. Lord of the Rings

Kathleen Parker nails it:

The nation is essentially divided into two cinematic camps: (1) those who
believe that America's story was best told in Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11,"
and (2) those who think Peter Jackson pretty much captured the essence of
current events in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's
literary masterpiece of the same name.

What would you do as a Christian in Iran?

Read Jonah Goldberg's column on protests inside Iran.

One of the best books on discipleship

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction should be in your library. Eugene Peterson packs this book with insights and wisdom that will serve you well.

This fact should humble us

According to Bob Tepper, President of R&D at Millenium Pharmaceuticals, based on what researchers have gathered from sequencing the human genome, all humans are 99.9% identical to each other, but we're 50% identical to a banana.

Cleanup after Hurricane Ivan

We spent a few days with my inlaws cleaning up damage to their home after Hurrican Ivan swept through. The wind damage was relatively mild compared with the effects of the storm surge.

I was also challenged several times to consider God's sovereign power, even in a devasting hurricane. "There are no maverick molecules in the universe." I'm looking at Psalm 46 in a new way again.

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According toalamoth. A
song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall
into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains
quake with their surging. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the
city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she
will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar,
kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with
us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the LORD
, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends
of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields
with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the
God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

A category 5 hurricane brings considerable desolation to the earth. It's fearful and awesome. And our calling is to be still (another translation has it "cease striving") and "know that I am God."

We are under His great mercy, and daily astonished that any of us are alive.

Whatever your position on Iraq, John Kerry is your man

The post-debate spins are impressive. I appreciated Dennis Prager's thoughtful insights about why Kerry could get away with his self-contradictory statements. An excerpt:

I believe that this debate can lead to only one conclusion: Either John Kerry is a man of few principles who will say almost anything on the most vital
issues of life and death in order to get elected; or he is personally so
confused on this issue that he will repeatedly make self-contradictory
statements.
There is no other explanation for this unassailable fact: John Kerry won the debate because he sounded better; and he sounded better in large measure because he got away with saying whatever any voter wanted to hear.
That is one reason President Bush looked so annoyed at times. It is very hard for the principled to listen to the unprincipled.

Read the rest of the column.

Kudos to an Eagle Scout

I applaud this Eagle Scout's project: reprinting his grandfather's WWII prayer book for current military serviceman and women. Stay strong under the flack, young man!

Move off oil energy?

The Rocky Mountain Institute proposes a 30 year plan to get the US off an oil-based energy economy. I have a few concerns about the details, but I'm intrigued by the audacity of their suggested approach. It would require a sustained political will, considerable change by individual consumers, a cooperative military and industrial base, and many changes to the our infrastructure.

It took about 30 years for Patrick to evangelize Ireland. Pagan practices were almost completely abandoned in one generation. That historical event is considered the fastest and most peaceful religious conversion of a nation.

What could happen in your family or community in 30 years? We tend to greatly overestimate what could be done in a year, and underestimate what can be accomplished in five years. Men, let's start thinking in terms of generations, as the Bible does.

Pray and Contact your Representatives

The US House of Representatives has an important vote Thursday, 9/30, on the Marriage Protection Amendment. Focus on the Family has useful information about the amendment.

Book recommendation: The Divine Conspiracy

From time to time I'm going to recommend books. The Divine Conspiracy is not an easy read, and far too many copies are collecting dust on shelves rather than being opened again. (I like to recommend books that are rich enough for more than one reading.) Our Lord has used Dallas Willard's writing to expand my understanding of what God is doing, and I know it will help you.

God opens a hole for his runners!

Here's a great story from Leadership Weekly:

High School Football Player Scores Touchdown of the Year

Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly called it the "Play of the Year." A local newspaper called it "the touchdown heard around the world." Sports shows everywhere told the story. Jake Porter, 17, a member of the Northwest High football team in McDermott, Ohio, was born with chromosomal fragile X syndrome, a common cause of mental retardation. He couldn't read. He could barely write his name. But he loved football, and he faithfully attended every practice.Northwest coach Dave Frantz wanted to do something special for Jake. So before a game against Waverly High in the fall of 2002, Frantz called his friend Derek Dewitt, the head coach at Waverly. Frantz suggested that both teams allow Jake to run one play at the end of the game, assuming the game wasn't on the line. Jake would get the ball and take a knee, and the game would end.So, with Waverly leading 42-0 and five seconds left in the game, Frantz called a timeout. Jake trotted out to the huddle, and the two coaches met at midfield. Sports Illustrated's Reilly picks up the story:

Fans could see there was a disagreement. Dewitt was shaking his head and waving his arms. After a ref stepped in, play resumed and Jake got the ball. He started to genuflect, as he'd practiced all week. Teammates stopped him and told him to run, but Jake started going in the wrong direction. The back judge rerouted him toward the line of scrimmage. Suddenly, the Waverly defense parted like peasants for the king and urged him to go on his grinning sprint to the end zone. Imagine having 21 teammates on the field. In the stands mothers cried and fathers roared. Players on both sidelines held their helmets to the sky and whooped.Apparently when the coaches met before the big play, Frantz had reminded Dewitt of the plan, that Jake would simply take a knee. But Dewitt wasn't satisfied. He said, "No, I want him to score." Frantz objected, but Dewitt insisted.Dewitt called his defense over and said, "They're going to give the ball to number 45. Do not touch him! Open up a hole and let him score! Understand?"Jake had the run of his life, scoring the touchdown heard round the world, on the Play of the Year. All because of Dewitt's unselfish decision: "I want him to score."

Like coach Dewitt, God has high purposes for each of us. God wants us not just to get the ball and touch a knee to the ground. He wants us to score a touchdown.

Citation: Mark Moring, Elburn, Illinois; sources: Sports Illustrated (11-18-02), The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W.Va. (11-10-02)

Be strong, and get to work

The Lord gave strengthening commands to the people of Israel through Haggai. They had paneled houses, but the Temple was still in ruins. Here's the Message translation of Haggai 2:1-7:

1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of GOD came through
the prophet Haggai: "Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest
Joshua son of Jehozadak 2and all the people: 3"Is there anyone here who saw the
Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much,
right?4""So get to work, Zerubbabel!'-GOD is speaking.""Get to work, Joshua son
of Jehozadak--high priest!'""Get to work, all you people!'-GOD is
speaking.""Yes, get to work! For I am with you.' The GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies is
speaking! 5"Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt.
I'm living and breathing among you right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back.'
6"This is what GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said: "Before you know it, I will shake
up sky and earth, ocean and fields. 7And I'll shake down all the godless
nations. They'll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with
splendor.' GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

Note that God speaks to the leaders (Zerubbabel and Joshua) first, then to all the people: Get to work! I like verse 5 -- "put into action the word...I'm living and breathing among you right now."

God didn't call them to pray, sing, or give money. He called them to work. And not work at filling their own grain bins, but for the building of His Temple.

So men, what is God calling you to work at today, for the sake of His kingdom?

Sabbath rest

I appreciated these comments about Hebrews 4:9. An excerpt:

To be a Christian and live in the Sabbath rest of God doesn't mean ceasing
all activity. It does mean, though, asking: "Why do I do all these activities
that keep me harried, distracted, etc.?" What are you trying to prove? What are
you trying to accomplish? What, perhaps, are you trying to atone for?
When
you realize that God is giving you, in Jesus Christ, all the righteousness in
the universe, your own efforts in that direction suddenly seem a lot less
important. When you realize that it is the Holy Spirit's job to re-make you into
the person you really are, and not your own, the need to be harried and hectic
may just start to subside.

Spurgeon!

God used Charles Spurgeon, again and again. Check out his sermons online.

How is God working through you today? (It's not a question of if He is working in you and through you, but how.)

Don't miss this story

God's love for an Kurdish Iraqi boy is powerful!

Freedom from, Freedom to

Paul Jacob has an excellent column on freedom and liberty. Read it, then pull out your Nave's topical bible and check out what the Bible says about liberty.

Book recommendation : The Heart of Anger

Many dad are prayerfully parenting children who express a lot of anger. Here's an excellent resource. If you're looking for a book on how to "fix" your child, don't read this one. But if you're looking for insight into the sources of anger and biblical responses, and are willing to own up to your own behavior, get it.

Religous hatred in Saudia Arabia and Iran

Men, we need to be in prayer. Let us seek the Lord for his divine power to open doors for the Gospel in Saudia Arabia and Iran. We also need wisdom for our leaders in dealing with these nations.

While the path forward in Iraq will be difficult, I believe our nation can muster the perseverance to see it through. But our president will be faced with challenging decisions about Iran's pursuit of nuclear power/weapons, and Syria's fomenting terrorist groups.

If you look at the globe, there is a curious fact of geography -- by changing regimes in Afganistan and Iraq, both Iran and Syria find themselves completely surrounded by countries friendly to the US and willing to host US military forces.

But I say again, we need to pray. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD ; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Prov 21:1)

Recommending the Q

Many of us had musical tastes shaped by 70's and 80's rock. Some of the Christian radio stations feel stodgy -- the content is ok, but deep inside you feel like your great grandmother would approve of the rhythms. If you're in that situation, check out KZZQ radio. Or if you're a parent of teenagers, get them listening to KZZQ. (They have a great KZZQ online.


The song, "Who Am I?" by Casting Crowns is getting a lot of airplay now. Here are the lyrics:

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt,
Who am I?
That the Bright and Morning Star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart,

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are,
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean),
A vapor in the wind,
Still You hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling,
And You've told me who I am.. I am Yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin,
Would look on me with love,
and watch me rise again,
Who am I? That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me,

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are,
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean),
A vapor in the wind,
Still You hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling,
And You've told me who I am... I am Yours,
I am Yours.I am Yours,Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours,
I am Yours.

Why Demonize Homeschooling?

I'm still surprised at the animus towards homeschooling -- check out this story about a terrorist drill in Michigan that features wacko homeschoolers.

Is Time Managing Us or are We Managing Time?

Russ Lipton shares good insights on managing time .

Pilgrimage

The fundamental reason why it's difficult to be a good husband and father is that you have to pour out yourself and die for others. Men, that's our purpose.

Do not be like the Pharisees who rejected God's purpose for their lives (see Luke 7:30).

Drop the distractions, and set your hearts on pilgrimage through these shadowlands. Your heart won't be satisfied with the sawdust of this pleasure planet, anyway!

Where Strength Comes From

Every worldview, every way of ordering information and events so they make sense, includes a basic sense of where strength comes from. Dennis Prager's column "The Left Thinks Legally, the Right Thinks Morally" looks at two worldviews on authority and strength. An excerpt:

To the Left, legality matters most, while to the Right, legality matters
far less than morality. To the Right and to the religious, the law, when it is
doing its job, is only a vehicle to morality, never a moral end in itself. Even
the Left has to acknowledge this. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to
a white man on a Montgomery, Ala., bus in 1955, she violated the law. Therefore,
anyone who thinks she did the right thing is acknowledging that law must be
subservient to morality. Why, then, must the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein be
subject to international law as determined by Communist China, neo-KGB Russia,
amoral France and the thugs who rule Syria?
The answer is to be found in the Left's substitution of legal for moral. And why is the Left so enamored of law?
First, the Left, which is largely secular, regards morality not as
absolute, but as relative. This inevitably leads to moral confusion, and no one
likes to be morally confused. So instead of moral absolutes, the Left holds
legal absolutes. "Legal" for the Left is what "moral" is for the Right. The
religious have a belief in God-based moral law, and the Left believes in
man-made law as the moral law.
Second, whereas they cannot change God's laws, those on the Left can and do make many of society's laws. In fact, the Left is intoxicated with law-making. It gives them the power to mold society just as Judeo-Christian values did in the past. Unless one understands that leftist ideals function as a religion, one cannot understand the Left.
Laws are the Left's vehicles to earthly salvation. Virtually all human problems have a legal solution.Some men harass women? Pass laws banning virtually every flirtatious
action a man might engage in vis a vis a woman. Flood legislatures with laws
preventing the creation of a "hostile work environment." Whereas the religious
world has always worked to teach men how to act toward women, the secular world,
lacking these religious values, passes laws to control men.
In fact, since it lacks the self-control apparatus that is a major part of religion, the Left passes more and more laws to control people. That is why there is a direct link
between the decline in Judeo-Christian religion and the increase in governmental
laws controlling human behavior. Of course, the more laws that are passed,
the less liberty society enjoys. But to the Left, which elevates any number of
values above liberty -- e.g., compassion, equality, fairness -- this presents
little problem.
All this helps to explain the Left's preoccupation with controlling courts; passing laws; producing, enriching and empowering lawyers; filing lawsuits; and naming judges. Laws and the makers of laws will produce heaven on earth.

Are you talking to yourself too much?

All of us have lots of "talk" going on in our heads. For years I've heard lame advice to follow "inner voice." I don't have a voice, I have a committee in here, and half of them are whiners. Besides, I still have to deal with my heart, which the Word of God tells me is deceitful and cannot be trusted.

One of the keys to an abiding life in Christ, a life that approaches the command "pray continually" (2 Thess 5:17), is to convert all this self-talk into dialogue with the Lord.

Brad Stine

Brad Stine, a hilarious Christian comedian (without a puppet!) is worth checking out. He claims he's one of two conservative comedians on the planet. He slides strong messages about gratitude and character through the openings his jokes make in your ribs. Check out his website or the "Brad Stine church promo" at the PK website to get a taster.

Register to Vote

Surveys show that evangelical Christians did not vote in large numbers in the 2000 National elections. Men, register to vote if you have not already done so. Christians must be good citizens.

Jeff Jacoby explains his concerns about the voter registration system. Being able to register to vote by mail without producing identification invites corruption.

A Suggestion to Combat Unrighteous Anger

Many of us struggle with strong feelings of anger. Anger is a God-provided emotion that surges when we perceive a gap between what should be (or what we'd want, anyway) and what is. Often that anger is unrighteous -- it's not going to lead us to act to save another life or pray, inviting the power of God to come into a situation.

In the spiritual realm, who is delighted with our surge of unrighteous anger? Satan is. So let's not make him any happier!

Here's my suggestion that will take the wind out of the demonic sails. When you realize that you have feelings of anger that are not right, give thanks to God. Yes, I'm serious. Don't try to deny the anger or beat yourself up because you were angry again (and real Christian men would never get angry, right?) Lift up your heart in prayer, saying, "Thanks Lord for bringing this awful anger to the surface so it can be dealt with through your power. I agree with You -- this is coming from a heart not yet fully sanctified. Please work in me and through me by Your power, because I can't do this without you."

The first benefit of this approach is that you invited God's power into the situation. The second benefit is that you'll find you can't stay angry anymore. Unrighteous anger is like a fire -- if you deny it fuel, heat, or oxygen, it goes out.

Let this Blog come to you

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http://boldandgentle.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Get the right songs in your head

Our Creator wired us for music. Take advantage of this by getting the right kind of music going in your head and heart, and you'll be able to resist more temptations to sin. It helps immensely to "take every thought captive."

Pick a few praise songs or hymns and memorize them. I was thrilled with the Newsboys performance at PK Des Moines last night.

Here's one you should have in your arsenal:

Here I am to Worship

Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes
Let
me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life
Spent
with You

Chorus:
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am
to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether
worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven
above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake
became poor

Chorus

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that
cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Chorus X2

Zell-za!

If you enjoyed Zell Miller's speech at the RNC, then you will want to read his editorial response to his critics in the Wall Street Journal.

Book Recommendation: Making Room for Life

Lyle Schaller has noted that "the biggest challenge for the church at the opening of the twenty-first century is to develop a solution to the discontinuity and fragmentation of the American lifestyle."

If you're busy and stressed out trying to deal with suburbia life and be a busy Christian at church, then I recommend you check out Randy Frazee's book, Making Room for Life. The subtitle is "Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships." The author has practical advice on recoverying a Hebrew day:
6pm - 10pm time for relationships, with the family meal prominent
10pm - 6am sleep
6am - 6pm work (production)

I was very skeptical when I heard about what Frazee was outlining. A zillion excuses came to mind why this was a practical impossibility for my family. But I also heard whispers of "wouldn't that be nice?"

Frazee emphasizes that changes will take significant time and courage. He doesn't water anything down, and provides advice on smaller and larger changes your family can implement. He has some useful ideas about dealing with kids' sports, homework, and church meetings in the evening. It's a pretty fast read, too, guys, almost devoid of the dreaded "theory" chapters that men stall on.

Can the Brooke family make the change? Will the Brooke family make the change? We're going to make a few steps in this direction, and trust God to lead us.

Never doubt the goodness of God

"The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it." --James Madison

Terrorism shows us that evil exists. But looking to Jesus' example, we never lose our confidence in the goodness, grace, and mercy of God. John Piper writes:

Never, never did he doubt the goodness or power of his Father while confronting
the worst evils in the universe. And this did not make him “inhuman.” It made
him perfectly human. His combination of compassion for people and confidence in
God is the call on our lives for how to respond to suffering. It is unthinkable
that Jesus would make doubt in his Father the test of compassion for suffering
Russians.
Never did he teach us, or even hint, that we should doubt the
reality of God’s goodness and power when facing unspeakable evil. When people
confronted him with the slaughter of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled
with their sacrifices, he spoke very differently from the Archbishop: “He
answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all
the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but
unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Luke 13:2-3).
For those
who are saturated and shaped by all the words and ways of Jesus, not only does
horrific evil today not bring doubt of God, it does not even bring surprise.
Jesus labored to help us be ready for the worst of evils, even Islamic
terrorists. He taught us that there would be “terrors” (an amazingly relevant
word for what “terrorists” cause—Luke 21:11). He said that there would be
terrible famines and plagues. Betrayal would become common and even parents
would hand over children, “and some of you they will put to death” (Luke 21:16).
People will be “fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the
world” (Luke 21:28). And, perhaps most relevant of all in this day of religious
terrorism, Jesus said, “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he
is offering service to God” (John 16:2).
But in spite of all this evil and
suffering, Jesus did not even remotely suggest that we should have a flicker of
doubt toward the goodness and sovereignty of God, or that somehow it would be
less humane to hold fast to God with unshakable hope and undoubting faith.
Rather Jesus did the opposite. He strove to help us maintain faith in the face
of horrifying evil: “When you see these things taking place, you know that the
kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31). This is not the suggestion of doubt, but
the certainty of hope. Again he says that when you see these unspeakable evils
happening around you, you should “raise your heads, because your redemption is
drawing near” (Luke 21:38). This is not a time for weakening faith, but
unwavering hope.
The gift that followers of Christ bring to the suffering
world is not the empathy of doubt, but the power of hope. We do not join the
world in their anger at God or their questioning of his existence or justice or
mercy. The very thing that survivors of suffering need most is hope in God
through Jesus Christ. This will not be given by those who make its uncertainty
the measure of our compassion. It is unbiblical and unmerciful to say that what
suffering people need most must be doubted in order to prove our love for them.