tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57268950702956109062024-03-05T09:18:04.355-06:00The Bobosphere - Bob's BlogThe Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-31564850932995727192015-08-17T09:00:00.001-05:002015-08-17T09:00:32.043-05:00Recently, I delivered a couple of messages from Philemon, Paul's Post Card. Paul is seeking to bring out the best in his friend, Philemon, asking him to forgive a runaway servant named Onesimus, whom Paul recently led to Christ. It is a letter that is pregnant with instruction on how to bring out the best in one another. Part of becoming a growing community of grace is that we think hard about how to stir and inspire one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
The points from the messages were to engage each other's hearts following certain principles:
Practice Humility
Prioritize Prayer
Show Respect
Communicate Love
Express Affirmation
Model Selflessness
Promote Vision
Inspire Execution
Exercise Faith
You can listen to these messages here: http://www.oakmountainchurch.org
One of those elements we can all seek grace from God to apply is to Express Affirmation. Our God is the abundantly affirming God! Hebrews 6:10--God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love that you have shown for His Name in serving the saints.
I happen to believe that most of us don't see God as the Supreme Affirmer. I fear that most of us see God as The Reprimander. The Corrector. The Fault-Finder. Of course, if He were that, there would NEVER be a moment He could not find something to reprimand us for or correct us over and find fault with us about. And, of course, that's how many of us indeed see Him...and experience Him...in our own imaginations.
I read a letter to the congregation that has been widely circulated over the years. It's called, "Father Forgets." It's written by a father to his son. It exposes our own fault-finding ways. But, I hope, it will also expose the low view we tend to hold of God...we tend to see our Father in heaven as this fault-finding dad. He. Is. Not. That.
Sure, sin is a reality. Of course, God doesn't condone sin. But what if...God is more patient and more affirming of His children in union with Christ than we give Him credit for? Just. What. If??
Here is the letter:
W. Livingston Larned—Father Forgets—a piece that has ended up being reprinted in every type of magazine that’s been published. One reason so impactful is b/c of the way it nails us on our tendency to criticize and condemn before we affirm and appreciate.
Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside. There were things I was thinking, son: I had been cross with you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor. At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and yelled, “Goodbye daddy!” And I frowned, and said in reply, “Hold those shoulders back!”
Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before your friends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive—and if you had to buy them, you would be more careful. Imagine that, son, from a father. Do you remember later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. “What is it you want?” I snapped. You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.
Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding—this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.
And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. Your little heart was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills as evidenced by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt here, ashamed. It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours.
But, tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual; “He’s nothing but a boy—a little boy!” I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby. Just yesterday, it seems, you were in your mother’s arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-86070188214989296422015-06-13T10:27:00.000-05:002015-06-13T10:31:48.734-05:00The 3rd song of the U2 concert at the L.A. Forum on May 27 was Vertigo. Vertigo, of course, is dysfunctional dizziness, often resulting from certain movements or motion. Flying vertigo is disorientation because you’ve lost a true understanding of the horizon.
Bono has explained the song:
“In the case of 'Vertigo,' I was thinking about this awful nightclub we've all been to. You're supposed to be having a great time and everything's extraordinary around you and the drinks are the price of buying a bar in a Third World country. ...you're just looking around and you see big, fat Capitalism at the top of its mountain, just about to topple. It's that woozy, sick feeling of realizing that here we are, drinking, eating, polluting, robbing ourselves to death. And in the middle of the club, there's this girl. She has crimson nails. I don't even know if she's beautiful, it doesn't matter but she has a cross around her neck, and the character in this [song] stares at the cross just to steady himself”—Bono, U2 by U2.
My take as Bono shouted the opening line, “Uno, dos, tres, catorce” is that U2 sings of how dissonant this world is because of brokenness due to Adam’s Fall into sin and rebellion…that resulted in our own sin and brokenness. 1,2, 3…14? That makes no sense…and neither does this world many times. Just turn on the news. Or…just look around you…OR…just look WITHIN you. The wonder of the Biblical Christian World and Life View is that we have an answer as to why the world is so messed up. Sin and Satan are real.
Thus Bono’s lyric in Vertigo…that he always sings with such clarity…
“All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want
And no one gets hurt.”
Bono is clearly reciting the devil’s words to Jesus during His temptation (Matthew 4:8-9).
But not only does the Christian World View have an answer as to WHY the world is upside-down. The Gospel offers a solution..Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The only answer to the world’s Vertigo? Christ’s response to Satan: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”
Look at the Cross...and steady yourself.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-24901486815765969542015-06-04T18:27:00.000-05:002015-06-04T18:39:51.318-05:00U2 Out of ControlThe second song of the concert at the LA forum on 5-27-15 was their first single, Out of Control. Bono has clearly explained the origin & meaning of the song. Bono: "Out Of Control is about waking up on your eighteenth birthday and realizing that you're 18 years old and that the 2 most important decisions in your life have nothing to do with you - being born and dying." The passing of U2's tour manager of 30 years was on my mind as I listened to the song...I would think it had to be on the mind of U2 as well. Bono sang the song with great passion and energy. At times, as he was swinging the mike on the mike stand, it almost seemed to me like he WAS feeling "Out of Control." He almost seemed...ANGRY. And why not? We SHOULD be angry at death! As he'd say later in the concert before the song, "Iris," U2 is family...and when they lost Dennis earlier in the day, they lost a family member. As Christ-followers, we OUGHT to be angry over death. Jesus was. In John 11:35, Jesus wept as He observed the grief of Mary & Martha over their brother's Lazarus' death. Lazarus was also a very dear friend of Jesus. I believe if Christ's tears could speak, one of the emotions they would claim is anger...anger at death...anger at the world as it is and not how it was originally created to be by the Father. As Christians, we have an explanation as to why death is so universal, yet so feels so painfully foreign to how we know that we know things should be. Death came into the world because of sin. But as followers of Christ, we also have hope because we know that death has been conquered. In this life, though, death is still hard. It hurts. It makes us ANGRY! It makes us feel...Out. Of. Control. I wonder if Bono experienced the frustration of being out of control when it comes to death. Another thing struck me as Bono sang the words of "Out of Control." Even as he sang the words and acted almost "Out of Control," the audience was NEVER Out of Control. Not even close. There's something different about people who attend U2 concerts. They're...well...nice. I struck up several conversations as we waited for U2 to come out. We all respected each other. Were kind to each other. Throughout the concert we even looked out for each other. Bono at times during concerts, has been known to say, "God is in the house!" As I looked around at the audience, some people (including me!) were seemingly in an attitude of worship (not of U2...but of the God Who is often behind U2 lyrics). Most, I'm sure, were just enjoying the concert...but somehow U2 attracts people who know that being truly "Out of Control" is uncool. Even when the song is Out of Control.The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-81038702558710105972015-06-02T07:06:00.001-05:002015-06-02T07:06:36.824-05:00U2-ie 2015 LA ForumU2ie (not the abbreviation for Ireland...or is it?), but the abbreviation
for the Innocence-Experience Tour. I'll be blogging on the recent show
I attended on May 27, in Inglewood, CA at the L.A. Forum. I'll take my
time and share one song at a time.
The concert begins. No warm up band. This is U2's Story. The stage is
traditional on the one end, attached to a very long runway with a HUGE
2-sided screen that hangs over the runway. The long runway connects to a
mini, pod-shaped stage at the other end. While the band sings certain
songs, there is either animation or actual home video or pictures of
home life while Bono and the lads are young that are shown.
It was the most intimate and transparent of all the U2 shows I've seen.
What made this show even more unique was the passing away of U2's
long-time tour manager, Dennis Sheehan, the morning of the Show.
Saddleback Church pastor and author Rick Warren described Dennis as "a
calm and kind Christian man." I wondered throughout the day as I
prayed for the guys: how would they be affected? I figured they'd
either be flat...or flat-out crazy! Uh...they were not flat (I
learned later that Rick Warren had been called in by U2 just
before the show, to counsel with them, read Scripture to them and pray
for them). So afterward, it all made sense. They were flat-out crazy
this night! Bono told Warren: "We choose joy."
These reflections are my own. I have never met Bono, so I don't know
whether these reflections would fit with what he the rest of U2 may
think. However, I have read a lot of Bono's own words and have read
some great books chronicling their faith in Christ. I have also
poured over the lyrics of their songs, blogging on many of them.
"For those who have ears to hear..."
Bono walks out singing "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone). Right from the
start I can tell that there is a special "energy" among U2 this night.
Mystery is Present and The Spirit Moves in Mysterious Ways...
I find it interesting that even the title of the first song reveals
some mystery. It's called, simply, "The Miracle." Then, in
parentheses, "(of Joey Ramone)." So, on one level, it is a tribute to
Joey Ramone of the Ramones. Bono heard Ramone's voice and listened to
his lyrics and something wonderful happened inside of him. Bono and
the lads of U2 snuck into a Ramones concert and Bono was greatly
encouraged by what he heard.
But on another level, a level similar to the hidden meanings of the
parables of Christ (another illustration Bono has used for his
lyrics), the song speaks to me about The Miracle of Grace.
I remember reading on several occasions where Bono says "U2 must be
smart" about their faith in Christ. He once compared U2's approach to
the early Christian church's symbol of the fish (IXTHUS). The Greek
word for "fish" is used as an acrostic--IXTHUS=Jesus Christ God's Son
Savior.
A fish was often traced out on the sand or dirt by believers to reveal their
faith, yet done in order to be smart and subtle. One person would
trace the upper half of the fish symbol...and if the other person
noticed it (and they would notice it if they were looking for it!)
they would complete the other half. As a result, they would be able to
engage in conversations about the Savior. Bono has said that U2 just
sort of draw their fish in the sand. It's there for those who have
eyes to see. For those who don't, they just enjoy the music at a
different level.
Hear are some of the key lyrics to me:
I woke up at the moment
When the miracle occurred
Heard a song that made some sense
Out of the world
Everything I ever lost
Now has been returned
In the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard.
Sure, on one level this is about a young Bono resonating with the
gifted artistry and power of Joey Ramone. Some say the lyrics refer to
the Sirens' Song of Greek mythology and their power to entrance. But
on another level, Bono is constantly singing about the "Song" and
miracle of Grace. There are beautifully redemptive lyrics here: a
song that made some sense out of the world. I couldn't help but
wonder, that as Bono processed Dennis's death, whether these words
took on even more depth..."I heard a song that made some sense out of
the world." The Song of Grace for the Christ-follower can even make
some sense out of death. Death for the Christian is not final, but
has been overcome by Christ...."the most beautiful sound I'd ever
heard."
In other songs, U2 sings of "the sound" of grace, of the Gospel.
Also, when one is "born again" in Christ, Scripture calls it The
Miracle of the new birth. It is a "waking up" from the dead. I
couldn't help but reflect upon my own conversion, "when the miracle
occurred," and I "heard a song that made some sense out of the world."
Then the beautifully redemptive lyrics that even remind me of the
hymn, Amazing Grace: "Everything I ever lost, now has been returned."
I once was lost...but I have been found. All that has been broken by
the Fall is now being redeemed by grace. Near the end of the song Bono
sings, "I get so many things I don't deserve." That. Is. Grace.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-3272498176282707692015-03-18T07:53:00.000-05:002015-03-18T07:54:23.570-05:00March Madness and "Playing Loose"As the NCAA Basketball Tournament approaches, watch for teams that play loose...and notice teams that play "tight." The teams that play loose are fun to watch. They are simply enjoying the game...and they often win. But, if they lose, they usually lose having played their best.
As I make my way through the Old Testament in my daily readings, I came across Judges 5:2 this morning. It is a song written after the female judge Deborah encouraged a Jewish solider (a general perhaps?) to lead Israel into battle against the enemy. Deborah encouraged Barak and the troops that God promised the victory. As a result of such encouragement, Barak and Israel, "played loose," fought valiantly and won the battle.
Judges 5:2 is an interesting verse: "That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD." The Hebrew is difficult. Literally it says something like "the long-haired ones let their hair hang loose." Israel let their hair down! They didn't play tight. They weren't afraid to fail. The knew they would win so they trusted God's promise and played loose. And as is often the case when we play loose...we experience victory.
How are you "playing the game" of the Christian life today? Are you playing tight because of fear? Are you afraid to fail or afraid to make a mistake? Or, basking in God's grace and the promise of His favor, delight and power, are you playing loose? Are you letting your hair down and going for it? That's what Deborah encouraged Israel to do in Judges 4:14--"Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the LORD go out before you?"
Does not the LORD go out before you today? Take courage! Be of good cheer! Play loose! And maybe even take in some "March Madness."The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-632914713139272622013-01-29T10:24:00.003-06:002013-01-29T10:24:48.697-06:00Hope Floats!This past week, we began a 2-part series, "8 Reasons to Leave Your Umbrella at Home" (tied in to the Travelers Insurance Commercial with Chopper the dog worried about all the troubles of life that might cause him to lose his bone).
This short series addresses why we as Christ-followers can experience HOPE even in the midst of pain, suffering, confusion, heart-ache, grief and loss in this broken world.
But before we can talk about WHY we can experience HOPE or HOW we can experience HOPE, we need to understand a bit about WHAT HOPE IS.
Through my study of 1 Peter 1:3-12 and other Scriptures, here are some definitions I've put together:
•--Hope is a disposition of the heart that experiences the joy of a buoyant faith toward both the present and the future based on the Person, Promises and Pledge of God. Hope is the attitude of the soul resulting from believing that God’s heart toward you in Christ is good and that He is always working good. Hope is the glad expectation of certain good, even in spite of, and especially in light of, all evidences to the contrary.
•--Hope anchors the soul to Christ resulting in peace and joy, no matter the currents below the surface or the storms above the surface. Hope sees good when it is not seen and acknowledges redemption is moving forward "behind the veil."
•--Hope is the “Power of Positive Faithing” applied to your tomorrows. Philippians 4:8 applied to the next 5 minutes as well as the next 5 weeks, months, years, decades…”Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
•--Hope is a favorable assessment of the future based on the Person, Promises and Pledge of God, recognizing that circumstances may not change, and may indeed worsen, but at the same time recognizing that “Aslan on the move!” This hope is BOTH a divine gift of grace AND a human responsibility.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-22572635841858558652012-10-05T14:34:00.004-05:002012-10-05T14:35:59.619-05:00The Hunger Games?Ok. I’ll admit it. I’m a U2 freak! One of my bucket list items is to sit down with Bono and discuss U2 lyrics and the Kingdom of God. I say that because I’ve been so intrigued by his apparent connection of faith with the real-world problems, which the Bible reveals Jesus came to address when He inaugurated the Kingdom. Hunger is one of those problems.
Listen to these statistics that Richard Stearns presents in his transparent and insightful book, “The Hole in our Gospel:”
•Roughly 1 of 4 children in developing countries is underweight
•Some 350 to 400 million children are hungry
•About 1 in 7 worldwide—854 million people—do not have enough food to sustain them
•Approximately 25,000 people die each day of hunger or its related causes— about 9 million people per year.
These are NOT just statistics…they are PEOPLE who share the same longings, dreams and love for their children and for life as we. You need to know that as a pastor, I have often failed to educate and equip my congregation to help the world face this problem.
Bono says, “How in a world of plenty, can people be left to starve? We think, ‘It’s just the way of the world.’ But if it is the way of the world, we must overthrow the way of the world. Enough is enough.” That statement is so in line with the revolutionary heart and words of Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God…
Jesus said He came to earth to “proclaim good news to the poor…to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19).
Jesus taught that at the end of the age, when the fullness of the Kingdom of God will finally visit earth (Matt. 25:31-46), one of His main concerns will be whether or not we fed the hungry (and gave clean water to the thirsty, clothed the naked, cared for the sick and diseased and visited the oppressed). Jesus taught that IF INDEED we have been impacted by the Good News, that IF, in fact, we have been gripped by grace, one of the telltale signs of godliness will be a sensitive social conscience.
World Food Day, celebrated on October 16 of each year, “is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed-year-round-action to alleviate hunger.” My aim in this brief paper, is to help preachers and teachers in the church equip their congregations to become more aware of the problem of hunger and to consider what it means to usher in the Kingdom of God through doing our part, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to alleviate hunger in the world. Surely one responsibility we have as pastors and Christian workers is to teach on this critical subject.
We are asking you to make the focus of your sermon/teaching time in your churches on October 14, alleviating hunger as a Kingdom Value.
Specifically, THIS year’s Focus for World Food Day is on Agricultural Cooperatives and Agricultural Development as critical to alleviating and eventually ending hunger.
Clearly, our Creator calls us to care for the Hungry of the Earth. God even lays out multiple methodologies for us to consider as we seek to address the issue:
First, in the Old Testament, God commands the Church to NOT make an idol out of efficiency, productivity and profit, but rather to care for the hungry by actually NOT harvesting every single grape (Lev 19:10), and to leave them for the poor. When we reap the harvest of our crops, we are not to reap right up to the very edge of our land (how inefficient!), but instead we are to leave them for the poor to glean—that is, to obtain food through the work of their own hands (Lev 23:22).
Second, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul takes up an offering of cash from less-needy churches during a severe famine and delivers it to the suffering so that they could buy food (Acts 11:27-30).
Jesus seems to leave it up to our God-given creativity and imagination concerning the various ways we might alleviate hunger: He simply says to the “sheep” who were consistent in living out the Amazing Gospel of Grace, “I was hungry and you gave Me food.” Jesus doesn’t go into any detail as to HOW the sheep feed Him through feeding the hungry…it could be through providing work (Lev 19; 23); It could be through sending money or food (Acts 11:27-30). The point Jesus is making is that if we have been gripped by grace--if we have been shown favor in our desperate spiritual hunger--we will, in turn, SHOW GRACE to those who are both spiritually and physically hungry through a variety of means.
In Acts 6:1-7, the very issues of food supply and distribution (the emphasis of World Food Day this year) confronted the early church. The apostles faced the delicate situation of meeting both “spiritual” and “physical” needs with wisdom and grace. The solution was that the elders would give their primary attention to the ministry of the Word and to prayer; deacons would be created and organized to make sure that there was proper supply and distribution of food. Notice that an entire group of officers/leaders in the church was created SPECIFICALLY to address peoples’ physical needs. The Bible knows nothing of a church that is only focused on the so-called spiritual needs of the soul while neglecting the “real life” needs of the body.
As James points out: “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘God in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16)
Again, this focus on supply and distribution is the focus of this year’s World Food Day.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul says that the church then and the church now must remember the poor (surely including the hungry). So, what does it really MEAN to “Remember the poor”? It can’t mean to merely send money or temporary food supplies, so that they can eat today and starve tomorrow. It can’t mean entitlement programs that often put only a Band-aid on their deep hunger-wound without addressing the real disease. Surely “remembering the poor” MUST include remembering them not only in prayer, not only in giving, but also in equipping the poor themselves SO THAT they can feel and experience the full dignity of reflecting their Creator through work and productive contribution. We must teach our people about the REAL NEEDS and the REAL SOLUTIONS…and not mere band-aids.
Remembering the poor must involve agricultural development; it must include practical mechanics and education: knowledge, wisdom and training that will help the impoverished become productive “image bearers.” This is the “glory and honor” of being human (see Psalm 8, especially verse 5-6).
When it comes to humanitarian service, we must guard against dehumanizing others in seeking to salve our own consciences. I must confess that for too long I have responded as a pastor to Christ’s call to show compassion toward the hungry, the thirsty, the sick and the naked by merely encouraging our congregation to give money. Thankfully, we are now looking at supporting agencies and teams that are more geared toward helping the hungry learn how to feed themselves, and others as well.
In Genesis 1:26-28, God says that He made humans in His image. What does it mean to be an “image bearer?” It means to be able to reveal, reflect and represent the glory and honor of the Creator God. God also says in this passage that He gave humanity dominion over the planet (not ruling out of selfishness and self-indulgence; but ruling out of wisdom and care and concern).
What methods and strategies remember the poor, feed the hungry AND do so in a manner consistent with enabling and empowering image bearers to rule and subdue the earth, allowing them to experience the full dignity, honor and glory of reflecting and representing their Creator? Surely equipping them to work and provide for themselves, enabling them to alleviate their own hunger AND the hunger of those around them, is critical.
In Genesis 2:15, the Scriptures present work as a pre-Fall element of a purposeful and significant life that honors and reflects God. After the Fall of humanity into sin, work, like every other area of life, became corrupted; work is now accompanied by sweat, difficulties, “weeds” and troubles. But part of experiencing the significance of being image bearers is the privilege and responsibility of engaging in redemptive, restorative work.
The apostle Paul emphasized this privilege and responsibility when he wrote that “if anyone is unwilling to work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess 3:10). If in our “remembering the poor” and “feeding the hungry,” we fail to keep in mind our responsibility to others in not hindering them in their call to productive work, we fail completely! It is those who are UNWILLING, not those UNABLE, to work who should not eat. The world is filled with folk who are willing to work. How can we make them able? I am so thankful for books like Roger Thurow’s “Last Hunger Season” which help me as a pastor understand what is being done and what can be done.
Recently, our church sent a group to India as an “Advance Team” to investigate how our church can help meet both the spiritual and physical needs in a particular city. They came back with ideas on how our congregation can help these people by equipping them in the areas of business practices, health-care and agricultural development. It was a “mission trip” in which folk in our church who don’t typically see themselves as “missionaries” felt incredibly useful in meeting some of the real needs of the world.
Paul also wrote that one of the ways followers of Christ are to adorn the Gospel of the Kingdom with beauty and attractiveness before the watching world is through “working with our hands” (1 Thess 4:11). Surely we are to do all we can to empower all our brothers and sisters in Christ to adorn the gospel they dearly believe with beauty and attractiveness.
We are not merely to relieve suffering; we are to relieve suffering IN THE MANNER that most preserves the dignity, the glory and the honor of fellow image bearers. We are not to relieve suffering to soothe our guilty consciences or to take pride in our “do-gooding.” We are to relieve suffering in a way that honors God, dignifies His creation and most redeems and restores the cosmos.
Finally, the Gospel also surely calls us to political engagement. We are called to honor the King—the government and those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-4; Titus 3:1-2). Part of honoring those in authority is engaging with them (across party lines) concerning the needs of others. Honoring those in authority must involve informing them of problems and opportunities and kindly and winsomely “pressing” them to do what governments can do to promote mercy and goodwill in the most effective means possible.
The Church MUST be willing to set the pace in ending world hunger; but to think that the governments of the nations should be unengaged and uninvolved is both illogical and detrimental. Old Testament Israel was both Church AND State…and she was commanded by God to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of her citizens…and of the stranger.
As pastors and teachers, we must “study to show ourselves approved, handling accurately the Word of Truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Clearly, it is critical that we put aside our commitment to political parties, “camps” and “labels” and get back to the LARGENESS of the Gospel. And in this LARGE Gospel, we must indeed confess that the Work of Jesus Christ is about ushering in the Kingdom of God. Ushering in God’s Kingdom is about inviting people from every tongue, tribe, nation and language into citizenship of the New Jerusalem, but it encompasses much more than that as well. We are to communicate and live out the reality that the Work of Christ and the Call of Christ engages us to nothing less than full restoration of the entirety of creation.
We must guard against a “Titanic Christianity” that sees meeting the physical needs of food, clean drinking water, clothing, sanitation and health as “re-arranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.” Godliness and Christ-likeness surely includes personal piety (Christ-like character, engaging in the spiritual disciplines of Bible Study, Biblical Meditation, high moral behavior, offering the Good News to people of all nations, tribes and tongues), but godliness ALSO includes a social consciousness and feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and bringing clean water to the thirsty. For far too long, Christ-followers have neglected either one for focusing on the other. On all sides, from all quarters, our Gospel has been TOO SMALL.
This is clearly taught in the prophetic message of the Old Testament. For all the appropriate concern over immorality and personal piety, the Old Testament tends to give us a BIGGER GOSPEL than many Christ-followers hold to in our day. One illustration of this is the difference of perspective concerning what caused the particular fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. In most peoples’ minds today, fire destroyed those cities because they failed to follow the “holiness ethic” of the Epistles and engaged in various sorts of immorality. But when we look at Ezekiel, we discover a different disease:
“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).
How many suffering moms and dads around the globe are indeed crying out to God for help, for deliverance, yet fail to see their prayers answered? How are WE to become the means of God for answering their prayers? How many hungry people in the world are willing to believe, but have not seen the evidence of God’s goodness in the feeding their children? How are WE to be the help they desperately seek from God?
We must caution our people against a creeping fatalism that adopts a “let go, let God” attitude. God’s people are His instruments for good and for change in this world. If God is going to end hunger, He intends on moving His people to create or to support the means for doing so. We cannot rest content in grieving the plight of the hungry, yet do nothing (again, James 2:15-16). We must give our money; we must send our food; AND, as we are emphasizing this year, we MUST become aware of, support and engage with organizations that are on the cutting edge of “exporting” agricultural development.
Jesus says that He desires MERCY, not sacrifice (Matt 12:7). Simply put, Jesus is not as impressed with as much of our Christian spirituality as we might like to think. Certainly He desires true, heart-felt worship; clearly He enjoys our quiet, reflective, contemplative personal devotional commitments. He rejoices over faithful stewardship as it relates to giving of our money and possessions. But we must remind ourselves that what He truly DESIRES is mercy. He has shown us what God requires of us: but love mercy and to do justly and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Part of loving mercy and doing justly is to do all we can to alleviate and eradicate world hunger…may God establish the work of our hands and establish the work of the hands of those who are hungry as well (Ps 90:17).
There is more and more taking place through various agencies that are making agricultural and business development as well as other practical foci some of the means of changing our world. I am confident that there are individuals in our faith families who are very passionate and burdened over the problem of World Hunger. May we identify those people…and engage those people. May we help educate and equip our congregations to get involve in these wonderful and necessary approaches to eradicating hunger in our world.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-16974755138063279932012-10-02T10:05:00.000-05:002012-10-02T10:05:02.045-05:00Is God Still "Writing" Psalms?Honest. Transparent. Hopeful.
Those three words that come to mind as I try to describe the heart and soul of Michael Flayhart’s debut album, Sound Manifesto. Michael sings about relationships, with all their messiness, being misunderstood, the beauty of love, the brokenness of life, the hope of grace, learning to see from someone else’s perspective as well as growing pains and hard lessons.
Michael wrestles honestly and transparently about all these issues. Yet, even as his lyrics reveal some of his own (and our own) struggles and experiences, there is an overall note of hopefulness. The melodies themselves have a “groove” that play the rhythms of hopefulness. I think a lot of people will find the music itself “catchy,” upbeat and redemptive. I’ve found that not just the lyrics, but also the melodies get “caught” wonderfully in my head.
It reminds me of the Psalmist. The Psalms are all songs! Lyrics and melodies. Honest. Transparent. Hopeful. Many of the Psalms begin with honest struggle. Wrestling transparently with the brokenness of life. But throughout the Psalm, and especially as the Psalmist brings his complaint or issue or experience before the Throne of Grace, he gains a new perspective…and he is changed.
May Michael’s album lead us all to places of fresh honesty, contagious transparency and most of all…unquenchable hope. I hope you’ll buy it. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Buy it TODAY! Go to michaelflayhart.com
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-30523169726915587742012-09-28T15:07:00.002-05:002012-09-28T15:07:47.778-05:00Who is REALLY Narrow Minded?It is unfortunate and tragic that the unbelieving world tends to look at Christ-followers as “narrow minded.” Ironically, in my conversations with atheists and agnostics, as well as with others who follow other religions, I’ve found that non-Christians can be very close-minded. However, believers are not beyond the temptation to close our minds to other perspectives either.
One of the elements of the song, “Dream Within Your Dreams” on Michael Flayhart’s debut album to be released on Tuesday, October 2 (see michaelflayhart.com), is that he challenges narrow mindedness…and I love the creative way he does so.
He is dialoguing with Edgar Allen Poe, who “had a lot of bad days,” and asks the question: if our life is not what it seems, could it be our perspective that needs to be challenged?
The song contains these lines:
“If life’s not what is seems, you might/Be looking at it from an angle/That’s got no degrees.” An angle with no degrees. Hmmm. Quite a picture, huh. In other words, “Broaden your horizon…open your mind to other possibilities.” One of our most stubborn faults as fallen humanity is that we tend to despair “when our hope is lost” and fail to believe that we “can catch it crossing” our path again. We can begin to look at life from an angle that’s go no degrees.
How is your life not what you think it should be today? How might it be the case that your angle of perspective is closed…that there are no degrees of consideration in your perspective?
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-41075773794595553532012-09-23T17:20:00.001-05:002012-09-23T17:20:09.262-05:00Come on, Church, Get Real!I’m Blogging on the eighth track of Michael’s soon to be released cd, Sound Manifesto, a song called “Dream Within Your Dreams,” a song that is a response to Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, “A Dream Within a Dream.”
As Michael moves from empathy at the start of the song, to meaningful response, he writes:
“We’ve all walked a path ahead/Of where we knew its passage led/When our hope is lost./It’s hard to find/But you can catch it crossing.”
One key element of redemptive living and redemptive lyrics is being authentic. This is indeed a broken, fallen world. We are, as CS Lewis once wrote, “glorious ruins.” It will do no good to pretend that pain and heartache and suffering and loss are worldly experiences that Christ-followers somehow magically escape.
We ALL walk paths where are our hope seems lost. We ALL face seasons where hope is hard to find. But living with redemptive hope means living in the hope of hope rediscovered.
If we truly are gripped by the Gospel, we are able to face hardship without falling into ultimate despair. Michael captures this hope of hope in the line:
“It’s hard to find, but you can catch it crossing.”
As we continue to walk the path God has for us, as we continue to live by faith, hope will once again cross our path. This is not only important for us to “preach” to ourselves; we must preach it to others…not in a “preachy” way, but in a way that truly offers them hope and strength…even as Michael presents hope to Poe.
Unfortunately, many believers do more harm than good by being quick to dish out spiritually-sounding platitudes to fix people, without taking seriously the pain of hope lost and the frustration of hope difficult to find. Christ-followers also do harm to the Kingdom when we try to give the impression that we never struggle with walking paths where hope seems lost.
Redemptive lives are authentically honest about the brokenness of life. We acknowledge the struggle to hope in seasons of loss and pain.
If the Church would be more authentic, more real, more honest…perhaps the world would find more hope as well.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-63362879391511982472012-09-21T15:57:00.001-05:002012-09-21T15:58:16.368-05:00Singing about Jesus without Singing about JesusCan you write a song that is redemptive without mentioning Jesus?
Well, actually you can.
Our youngest son releases his debut album, Sound Manifesto, on October 2 (available for download on iTunes or available on CD through Amazon…I know, a shameless plug). I personally love every song on the album (shocker there, right?!). But there are a couple songs that are particularly redemptive...without even mentioning Jesus. One of those songs flowed out of a literature assignment from The Westminster School at Oak Mountain, where Michael was classically educated before heading to Belmont.
Edgar Allen Poe published a poem in 1849 called “A Dream Within a Dream.” The theme of the poem focuses on the insignificance and brevity of an individual’s life and experiences, especially when considered in light of the continuum of time. In particular, Poe seems to be somewhat despairing that neither his life, nor any of his experiences or “dreams” have any ultimate meaning whatsoever.
In the eighth track on his upcoming album, Michael redemptively tackles the question raised by Poe: “O God! Can I not save/One [dream/experience] from the pitiless wave?/Is all that we see or seem/But a dream within a dream?”
Before he tackles the question, however, the song begins with Michael addressing Mr. Poe: “Hello Mr. Poe/I’d like to know/Where were you goin/When you wrote that poem?/The one that says life’s just a dream/Well, your despair is bursting at the seams./You seemed to have a lot of bad days./So now I have some things that I would like to say."
The song is redemptive right from the start. How? Because Michael makes clear he is taking Mr. Poe seriously, man-to-man, image-bearer to image-bearer, whether Poe acknowledges a Creator or not. Michael affords Mr. Poe the dignity of knowing he has been heard by another. His lyrics say to Poe: “I care about what you wrote. I want to understand you. I hear your despair.” There are few postures we can take before our fellow man that treat them with more respect and honor…and love.
Then, in a line that shows incredible empathy and understanding, Michael writes: “You seemed to have a lot of bad days.” Sometimes the greatest act of love toward another is to identify with their pain and suffering. I am often guilty of trying to “fix” people instead of simply acknowledging their “hard days” and empathizing with them.
See, you really can write a song that is redemptive without mentioning Jesus…reflecting Him and representing Him will do just fine.
The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-18151593949242561602012-02-25T10:37:00.004-06:002012-02-25T10:43:51.897-06:00Together, we can make a difference. Seek Justice.The week of February 27-March 1 is Justice Week at Auburn University. A time to learn. A time to see. A time to act. A time to make a difference. <br /><br />On the Auburn IJM Facebook page this week, you can read this...<br /><br />This Minute, 27 million innocent people are being beaten, abused, raped and enslaved. They are waiting. <br /><br />Waiting For Freedom.<br />Waiting For Rescue.<br />Waiting For You.<br /><br />Join us for a week dedicated to learning all we can, to stop slavery across the globe. <br /><br />**Schedule-<br />Monday Feb. 27- @ 6 p.m. Sex + Money documentary showing and discussion (Student Center Ballroom)<br /><br />Tuesday Feb. 28- @ 8 p.m. Prayer Night (Student Center Room 2326) <br /><br />Wednesday Feb. 29- @ 8 p.m. Dessert Night (Girls only, please!) Come hear about your part in the fight; Libby from IJM will speak.<br />(Student Center Ballroom)<br /><br />Thursday March 1- @ 8 p.m. Praise and worship led by the First Baptist Opelika band, followed by Libby (who works for IJM and campus crusade) speaking to Auburn students about empowering us to take action and practical ways to do so. (Langdon Hall)<br /><br />Follow us on twitter @ijmau and #AU4FREEDOM<br /><br />Together, we can make a difference. Seek Justice.<br /><br />standing for Freedom with @IJMAU for Justice Week #AU4Freedom<br /><br /><br /><br />On IJM's main web site, we learn a little about the organization:<br /><br />IJM seeks to make public justice systems work for victims of abuse and oppression who urgently need the protection of the law.<br /><br />IJM investigators, lawyers and social workers intervene in individual cases of abuse in partnership with state and local authorities.<br /><br />By pushing individual cases of abuse through the justice system from the investigative stage to the prosecutorial stage, IJM determines the specific source of corruption, lack of resources, or lack of good will in the system denying victims the protection of their legal systems. In collaboration with local authorities, IJM addresses these specific points of brokenness to meet the urgent needs of victims of injustice.<br /><br />IJM seeks 4 outcomes on behalf of those we serve:<br /><br />1. Victim Relief<br /><br />IJM's first priority in its casework is immediate relief for the victim of the abuse being committed.<br /><br />2. Perpetrator Accountability<br /><br />IJM seeks to hold perpetrators accountable for their abuse in their local justice systems. Accountability changes the fear equation: When would-be perpetrators are rightly afraid of the consequences of their abuse, the vulnerable do not need to fear them.<br /><br />3. Survivor Aftercare<br /><br />IJM aftercare staff and trusted local aftercare partners work to ensure that victims of oppression are equipped to rebuild their lives and respond to the complex emotional and physical needs that are often the result of abuse.<br /><br />4. Structural Transformation<br /><br />IJM seeks to prevent abuse from being committed against others at risk by strengthening the community factors and local judicial systems that will deter potential oppressors. <br /><br /><br />Together, we can make a difference. Seek Justice.<br /><br />standing for Freedom with @IJMAU for Justice Week #AU4FreedomThe Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-51295038301621948732011-11-18T07:00:00.001-06:002011-11-18T07:00:09.254-06:00Thanksgiving: A Season of Mobilization, part 4[be sure and read the previous posts<a href="http://www.bobflayhart.com/search/label/thanksgiving"> HERE</a>]<br /><br />What can be done? At the very least we can lift up our voices to others and we can lift up our voices to God. We MUST begin to pray for solutions.<br /><br />We may not know what to do, but our eyes can be upon the LORD. We are called to pray for governors and those in authority, that <br />they do right. We are called to pray for rain like Elijah prayed. We are called to act to help people in famine like Joseph did. We are called to bless our enemies and pray for them. We are called to pray for the Church, that she rise up and become a blessing to the nations.<br /><br />In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat of Judah is in a tight spot. The enemies of Judah are aligning against her. The king is afraid, so he calls the people to seek the LORD in prayer. In 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 we read one of the most beautiful and effective prayers in Scripture. Jehoshaphat ends his prayer with these words: “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”<br /><br />It’s time to celebrate Thanksgiving in a new way: “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.”<br /><br />What will YOU appear before the LORD with this Thanksgiving?<br /><br />This season, let’s mobilize.The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-35874407611337255652011-11-17T07:00:00.001-06:002011-11-17T07:00:01.192-06:00Thanksgiving: A Season of Mobilization, part 3[be sure and read the previous posts<a href="http://www.bobflayhart.com/search/label/thanksgiving"> HERE</a>]<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok_F0mGZVz2H78M2mceejf_1SHrZgm1pA8ACa3TjMTOZEwAABc8EbaoUuF8-Lms64-n5SDNFkHEIHuhDh-rksggtATbss_PfNtt6DFPLV16OLgNxsYME11Pc2iyP33VD3BlqgeM7f6l47/s1600/4a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok_F0mGZVz2H78M2mceejf_1SHrZgm1pA8ACa3TjMTOZEwAABc8EbaoUuF8-Lms64-n5SDNFkHEIHuhDh-rksggtATbss_PfNtt6DFPLV16OLgNxsYME11Pc2iyP33VD3BlqgeM7f6l47/s320/4a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670755541507660418" /></a><br />In Isaiah 59:14-16, we are told of a day when justice was turned back, when righteousness stood far away, when truth stumbled in the public squares, when uprightness couldn’t enter a town, and God was amazed that there was no one to intercede...so His Own Arm worked deliverance! Is today that day! God is sovereign... we are responsible. We need God’s Own Arm to work deliverance...but WE must do all in our power to usher in justice and righteousness and truth and uprightness! <br /><br />Jesus, obviously, had the oppressed, distressed and downcast on His heart as well.<br /><br />In Matthew 25:31-40 we read: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit<br />on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’<br /><br /><br />A season of Harvest Preparation gives us the opportunity to practice these words. We MUST find a way!<br />In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that we might be one. We are called to love one another. We are called to pray for one another. We are called to suffer with one another...<br /><br />1n 1 Corinthians 12:26 the apostle Paul writes: “If one member suffers, all suffer together.”<br /><br />There is a rare condition called anhidrosis, or CIPA, a genetic disorder that makes people unable to feel pain. It is a very dangerous condition. Pain serves an important function to preserve health...and life. If we don’t feel pain, we could die of internal injuries and not even know we are hurt.<br /><br />I wonder, does the contemporary church have spiritual anhidrosis? Are we able to feel the pain of the Body? If I hit my thumb with a hammer, my whole body knows it...and it springs into action to DO something about it. My other hand reaches for anti-bacterial ointment, or a band-aid...or my legs take me to a car where I drive to the Emergency Room.<br /><br />Part of the Body is suffering in the Horn of Africa.<br /><br />Do we feel the pain?<br /><br />Are we doing something about it?<br /><br />If we don’t feel the pain, something is wrong. Very wrong.<br /><br />Is it out of sight, out of mind? Are we so self-absorbed, we are unaware unless it impacts us?The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-71676396451868663492011-11-14T11:17:00.006-06:002011-11-14T14:16:34.820-06:00Am I My Brother's Keeper?"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke, Irish philosopher and politician<br /><br />As I continue to process the recent events at my Alma Mater, I have been struck by the many comments related to the belief that more should have been done. If THAT isn't the master understatement! The Penn State Graduate Assistant who witnessed the sexual abuse of a child should have stepped in. And Penn State coach Joe Paterno should have done more as well...even according to his own words, in hindsight. Everyone is stepping up saying that if it was them, they would have said/done more. Good.<br /><br />However, it sure is easy to SAY we would have acted differently...after all, we weren't in the situation. Again, as I've said in another blog: it's easy to SAY I wouldn't have denied I knew Christ (like Peter did) as He was being abused; it's easy to SAY I would have spoken up if I was in Adam's shoes in the Garden and told the serpent to "beat it" and encouraged my wife to not eat the fruit. And...it's easy to SAY I would have entered the shower and rescued that child from his alleged abuser. Talk is cheap. How do we forge a character that does the right thing at the right time? We need to be prepared in advance!<br /><br />I was sent an editorial that ran several years ago, written by a dear sister in Christ in our church family. We would all do well to read it with the Penn State scandal in mind.<br /><br />"My heart aches for the young generation who watches the suicide of a teen without considering responsibility to rescue. Upon reading the Nov 22, 2008 article by Rasha Madkour, AP “Teen Commits Suicide before Web Audience,” I immediately gathered my teenage sons and spoke to them, urging courage into their lives to step forward when something seems wrong. I committed to be there to help them seek the help that is needed. I assured them that if they see something happening, they ARE involved. Aren’t we all? I took a good hard look at the Levite, the priest and the Samaritan in “The Good Samaritan” of the Bible. I revisited the behavior of on-lookers in New Bedford, MA at Big Dan’s Tavern that birthed the “Duty-To-Rescue” laws. Do I wait for someone else to act? Did Oskar Schindler or Mother Teresa wait for “someone else?” Was it easy for Dr. Martin Luther King to be the “someone else?”<br /> <br />As humans, there is an innate ownership of one another that we carry in our hearts. We all felt it after 9/11. Involvement is messy and inconvenient, sometimes sacrificial. Have we done the same thing these viewers did to the Miami college student who committed suicide… signed off from fellow humans, assuring ourselves that someone else - authority, government, agencies –will rescue...? Possibly the young man, Abraham Biggs, would be alive today receiving the help he so desperately needed if more web-viewers had stepped forward and chosen to become their brother’s keeper."<br /><br />Well said!<br /><br />We need to meet with each other, eyeball to eyeball, and commit to each other and to abuse victims and say now, before the situation arises: "No matter what the cost; no matter who is involved; no matter the awkwardness or tension that may arise; I WILL speak up! I WILL act!"The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-28470963699187122642011-11-11T10:55:00.003-06:002011-11-11T11:01:25.811-06:00The Apostle Paul Attends Penn StateWhen the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a group of Christ-followers in Rome, he made a point of telling them: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Paul would say the same thing today if he visited Penn State...or your home!<br /><br />What has allegedly transpired at Penn State can be faced in one of two ways: we can be overcome by evil; OR, we can work toward overcoming evil with good! How do we overcome the evil of child sexual abuse?<br /><br />On a website called Darkness2Light.org I found a section called “7 Steps to Protecting Our Children from Sexual Abuse.”<br /><br />Step 1: Learn the Facts and Understand the Risks<br />It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before they turn 18! In almost 90% of the cases, the child AND the child’s family know and trust the abuser! “People who abuse children LOOK and ACT just like everyone else.” <br /><br />Step 2: Minimize the Opportunity<br />“If you eliminate or reduce one-adult/one-child situations, you’ll dramatically lower the risk of sexual abuse for children.” It is estimated that more than 80% of abuse takes place in situations where one child is left alone with one person. Think about THAT!!<br /><br />Step 3: Talk about it.<br />Most abused children do NOT talk about their abuse. Learn WHY children are afraid to talk. Learn HOW children communicate. Know WHAT can break down the barriers of talking openly. “One survey showed that fewer than 30% of parents ever discussed sexual abuse with their children.”<br /><br />Step 4: Stay Alert.<br />Do NOT expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused. LEARN the signs! Emotional or behavioral signs are often more common than the physical signs.<br /><br />Step 5: Make a Plan<br />“Learn WHERE to go, WHOM to call and HOW to react.”<br />As hard as this sounds…try not to PANIC or OVER-react. Offer support. Seek professional counsel and guidance. REPORT or take action in ALL cases of suspected abuse (see www.childwelfare.gov).<br /><br />Step 6: Act on Suspicions<br />“Very few reported incidents are false.” Err on the side of caution. “By acting on suspicions of child abuse, you will save not only one child, but perhaps countless others.” Make use of Child Abuse Helplines: Darkness to Light—1-866-FOR-LIGHT; Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD; National Children’s Alliance at www.nca-online.org or 1-800-239-9950.<br /><br />Step 7: GET INVOLVED<br />“Volunteer and financially support organizations that fight the tragedy of child sexual abuse.”<br /><br />As we read on the Darkness2Light.org website: “A child’s safety is an ADULT’s job…we make children wear seat belts. We walk them across busy streets. We store toxic household cleaners out of reach. Why then, would we leave the job of preventing child sexual abuse solely to children?”The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-77919705344379374742011-11-10T08:58:00.003-06:002011-11-10T09:20:26.454-06:00YOU are the man!After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and tried to cover it up, the prophet Nathan came to him and told him a story about a rich shepherd who stole a poor shepherd's one sole lamb. David was irate over the actions of the rich shepherd and immediately called for swift and firm justice. And then Nathan revealed to David that he himself was that very man. We can all become so angry and self-righteous over another's sin and be guilty ourselves of the same sin yet fail to see it.<br /><br />I am appalled at what is unfolding at my alma mater, Penn State, in the very town where I was raised. I am so angry and disgusted by the alleged actions of a past assistant coach. And if Joe Paterno knew what had happened and didn't do enough, I am disappointed in him as well AND I actually believe, as much as I respect the man, that the Board of Trustees was right in firing him.<br /><br />I am ALSO appalled at the moral and spiritual blindness of many, of those weighing in on the issue. I am not at all appalled that people are irate and disgusted over what has allegedly transpired...I am shocked at the spiritual and moral blindness I sense as people point fingers WITHOUT considering how they are guilty of similar transgressions. What has happened at Penn State ought to humble every single one of us...we are free to voice our anger and disgust, but we MUST look within our own hearts as well.Hear me: I am not in any way throwing a rescue rope to Paterno...I am simply asking all of us to look within our own hearts.<br /><br />I think about Peter. He stood silently by and watched the Son of God be abused by the Romans. Actually, he was worse than silent. He positively denied he even knew the Man. I think about Adam. He stood silently by and watched the serpent tempt his wife and then positively rebelled against the command of God...and that's why we face the kind of world we face today. Outside of Scripture, I think about a nation, Germany, which had citizens, many of whom were silent and did nothing in the face of one of the greatest atrocities performed upon human beings (I say "one of the greatest atrocities" because what Stalin did in Russia was numerically even worse.)<br /><br />I think about my own heart...how often have I been guilty of the sin of silence...or of doing nothing...or at least of not doing enough. I think about the fact that every day of my life I have been entrusted with the Good News of the Gospel...the ONLY message of hope for a broken world, the ONLY message of LIGHT for people lost in a dark world, the ONLY message of eternal life for all doomed for eternal torment and abuse apart from Christ...And. I. Am. Often. Silent.<br /><br />Do we have a right to be angry over what has happened to these children? You bet! We better be angry at sin and our hearts better break for those children and their families. Do we have a right to be angry if it is indeed true that Paterno should have done more? You bet we do! But I sure hope we don't express our anger before we express our prayers for the children. And I sure hope we actually DO something about sexual abuse in our world and not just express anger about what has happened at Penn State.<br /><br />But we better be just as angry and heart-broken and humbled over our own sins of omission and sins of silence and sins of not doing enough in our daily lives. <br /><br />After all, as Nathan would say: YOU. Are. The. Man...or Woman.The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-88598947147452282342011-11-10T07:00:00.001-06:002011-11-10T07:00:02.914-06:00Thanksgiving: A Season of Mobilization, Part 2[be sure and read the previous posts<a href="http://www.bobflayhart.com/search/label/thanksgiving"> HERE</a>]<br /><br />I think we should add a preparation time called Harvest before Thanksgiving, just like we have preparation times called Advent and Lent before Christmas and Easter, respectively. I think we should prepare our hearts to celebrate Thanksgiving by considering “going before the Lord” with an offering of praise and faith. We, too, can add to our Thanksgiving festival by making sure we don’t “appear before the Lord empty-handed.” Everyone in the Old Testament could participate in this Festival. If you were able, you could bring a lamb; if you were too poor, you could bring a bird. People were to bring what they were able; it wasn’t the size of the gift but the condition of the heart before the Lord. So...if you’ve stuck with me so far, how can we begin this new holiday/Holy Day tradition of preparing for Thanksgiving through a season of Harvest?<br /><br />Well, since Thanksgiving involves expressing gratitude for God’s gracious provision in our lives, especially the provision of crops and food in general, why not celebrate Harvest each year by focusing on a spot in the world where crops, food and other provision is not as plentiful as it is for us? I would suggest that this year’s Harvest Season be engaged in by considering Somalia and the Horn of Africa. One of the greatest droughts in decades has destroyed crops and prevented harvest. In addition, the drought has turned into a full-fledge famine because of religious and political turmoil in the area. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8ra6osjQm6uWblFqbsSsa9Xotaz-4MOF9JKQPAnfff7hvy9piBY5qZ5RIkbf9HDcdtvypKAh-TmqfxRqqvvck1g1LBWtPPMGJNCBJItTUd6DwV-Hg2YUaUQwgFUDKr3Vg8uNQR8mHuGt/s1600/2b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8ra6osjQm6uWblFqbsSsa9Xotaz-4MOF9JKQPAnfff7hvy9piBY5qZ5RIkbf9HDcdtvypKAh-TmqfxRqqvvck1g1LBWtPPMGJNCBJItTUd6DwV-Hg2YUaUQwgFUDKr3Vg8uNQR8mHuGt/s320/2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670754585990206082" /></a><br /><br />Tens of thousands have died in recent months. Experts believe the drought could continue through first quarter of 2012, and possibly until August of ’12! It is estimated that up to 750,000 could die in coming months. During the summer months of 2011 it is estimated that over 29,000 children under the age of 5 have perished due to starvation. We are told that another 640,000 children are malnourished suggesting the death toll could dramatically increase. I’ll never forget watching the movie, “Hotel Rwanda.” <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8TRGjFqLcfsen-ZOIjBDG5nw1e0pHaXGdJHRl6_DwyZJEUKG5O3fqeqKmICOTevfLkp2s27c2rkQXJ-JgidJC3qyjkfzpDcT_sDbTQMlXGFk3w5FlFb4BH8mqK_fM_Fa5-aDrEp0YMgn/s1600/3a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8TRGjFqLcfsen-ZOIjBDG5nw1e0pHaXGdJHRl6_DwyZJEUKG5O3fqeqKmICOTevfLkp2s27c2rkQXJ-JgidJC3qyjkfzpDcT_sDbTQMlXGFk3w5FlFb4BH8mqK_fM_Fa5-aDrEp0YMgn/s320/3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670754590962489762" /></a>When I saw the film I was outraged. I was shocked. I was embarrassed...I had noticed just a little of what was going on from watching the news, but I was embarrassed that I had no clue as to what was really happening. The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 Tutsi’s by the Hutu population. <br /><br />Well, my own face is red...again. It is only through some dear friends at ONE that I was made more fully aware of<br />all that is happening in Somalia. It is, admittedly, a VERY complicated situation. There are certainly issues of governance, transparency and accountability regarding local leadership, but also centuries of back story we are only beginning to comprehend. There are also long-term problems that are agricultural: developing drought-resistant seed, proper fertilizers and early warning systems for coming droughts. There are short-term problems like increasing awareness and providing safe passage and delivery of aid to where it’s most desperately needed. There is also a need to ensure that aid is not “hijacked” and then sold at prices the desperately needy and impoverished can’t afford.<br /><br />Recently, on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, Bono spoke to this horribly complex situation: “It’s hard to believe that<br />this is the 21st century and you know, we mustn’t let the complexity of the situation absolve us from responsibility to act. That’s really the message...when you hear stories...of women leaving the dead children on the road to come beg for food; [women having] to choose between children...’Inward’ I have to leave this one (he looks the weakest or she looks the weakest), I’ll take this one.’ <br /><br />This is outrageous!...And it’s not our intentions, it’s our actions...it’s our priorities that define us. This is a defining moment.”<br />What would it be like for YOU to have to choose which child you will feed and therefore which one you chose to let die?!<br />If we begin to put into practice the Harvest Season preparation for Thanksgiving, there are a couple extremes we must seek to avoid: the one extreme is sticking our heads in the sand and remaining ignorant; the other extreme is seeing so much evil and complication that we get overwhelmed and paralyzed; so discouraged and depressed that we are immobilized; so cynical that we consider any option as meaningless.<br /><br />Hundreds of thousands with no voice in places of power need our voice. They need our voices to tell others who remain in ignorance about what is happening. They need our voices to keep telling our governing officials that something must be done. They need our voices to be lifted up to God that He Himself might intervene by His great mercy and grace. Imagine a child falling into a pit, crying out, but no one comes. Imagine a girl being abused sexually, wondering where help is, where daddy is, where God is. Imagine 640,000 Somali children facing starvation. How are these children any different?The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-50248774517905986432011-11-08T15:56:00.003-06:002011-11-08T16:02:52.305-06:00Not-So Happy ValleyAs a State College native, a Penn State grad and a pastor, I've been asked by many, many people over the past couple days about recent events in Happy Valley. Here's what I've said:<br /><br />First: the safety and protection of children is more important than an institution or even an icon.<br /><br />Second: we don't know all the facts...yet.<br /><br />Third: If people knew more, even if it was JoePa, and they didn't do EVERYTHING possible to protect the children and warn their families, no matter how much good he's done, he was wrong. VERY wrong.<br /><br />Fourth: as if we need reminding...there is only ONE Hero, His Name is Jesus; and there is only ONE Team, His Church. EVERYTHING else is just a small part of a Much Larger Story.<br /><br />Fifth: we live in a broken world.<br /><br />Sixth: pray for the victims and their families.<br /><br />Seventh: fight against all forms of oppression and sexual abuse.<br /><br />Eighth...and I'm sure I'll get flack for this...pray for the abusers and those who would engage in cover-up. We are all really big sinners and are ALL in need of a REALLY BIG SAVIOR! As offensive as it may seem to us, Christ came for even the chief among all sinners (among whom the Apostle Paul considered himself the worst).The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-80770539653881816792011-11-03T08:10:00.000-05:002011-11-03T08:10:00.878-05:00Thanksgiving: A Season of Mobilization<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ijs2X6y625Iw2u_5tHSuz0vC5JyLQQrJWx4j6-B0WE3c3a7VFEDUgtHEJE3ShuhbiMC4J2C3Ub_Pa4BjS0XVL3dSYWbdADcgh4jTtLnKw9X-E2b0kLh4W3Pdo8F2nnYZ6ZzzFi8RIm_5/s1600/1a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ijs2X6y625Iw2u_5tHSuz0vC5JyLQQrJWx4j6-B0WE3c3a7VFEDUgtHEJE3ShuhbiMC4J2C3Ub_Pa4BjS0XVL3dSYWbdADcgh4jTtLnKw9X-E2b0kLh4W3Pdo8F2nnYZ6ZzzFi8RIm_5/s320/1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670753535329549250" /></a><br /><br /><br />Many Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. It may be debated whether it was started by the Pilgrims in Massachusetts with the help of Native Americans, or whether it started in Virginia or in Florida, but there is no question it began somewhere at sometime in North America because we celebrate it! Other important holidays, like Christmas and Easter for instance, are anticipated by the more traditional (or more serious) by times of preparation.<br /><br />Advent is a time for preparing hearts to celebrate the Birth of Messiah, as well as a time of reflection preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. Lent is a time for preparing hearts to celebrate the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. Lent often involves a time of fasting, a symbol of mourning over our own brokenness and sin that sent Jesus to the Cross. I wonder...what would we call a Preparation Season for Thanksgiving? Some have called it Harvest<br /><br />I like that. Advent...Lent...Harvest. A time to prepare our hearts for... what? Thanksgiving<br /><br />How much prep work does that take? Perhaps more than we may think. “Thanksgiving” was practiced by the Jews under the leadership of Moses long before the Europeans ever thought of the concept. The Jews celebrated the Feast of the Harvest or the Feast of Weeks in May/June every year. It was one of only THREE annual festivals celebrated by the people of God in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 16:16, Moses records, “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.”<br /><br />Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by, well, supposedly giving thanks...usually around a dinner table set with turkey, gravy, mashed-potatoes, sweet-potato casserole, corn, eggs, dressing (or stuffing if you’re a Yankee like me), cranberry sauce, cheese soufflé, green beans...and who knows what else! Family...friends...food...and let’s not forget... football. I know, it sounds so...trite. It is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr2yAaqxcJoVhbNu6ysW7BcF3ql0pZg8msrnlvr6l1_fW3Ka6TEg_tMCqGq8j3SgYUHpcwLdemMistE-1eLaaY1A0funxzcbKROPnmqbFufU3fanL1tbyfso4JiKwNxGDmVG4v0dehczQ/s1600/2a.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr2yAaqxcJoVhbNu6ysW7BcF3ql0pZg8msrnlvr6l1_fW3Ka6TEg_tMCqGq8j3SgYUHpcwLdemMistE-1eLaaY1A0funxzcbKROPnmqbFufU3fanL1tbyfso4JiKwNxGDmVG4v0dehczQ/s320/2a.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670752606572179986" /></a><br /><br />Notice that when the people of God in the Old Testament celebrated the Feast of Harvest (a time to thank God for the crops that were able to be planted by His grace, that grew by His tender mercies, that survived by His providence, that were harvested by His kindness), they didn’t just “return thanks” but would not dare “appear before the LORD empty- handed.” What does THAT mean?!<br />It means that when the people thanked God for the Harvest, when THEY celebrated Thanksgiving, things were different...more different than just celebrating at what we call Pentecost while we celebrate in November. Celebration involved participation. Gratitude involved engagement.<br /><br />Thanksgiving involved mobilization.<br /><br />The people of God were to go before the Lord at the Feast of Harvest/Weeks with a SACRIFICE. A SACRIFICE of Thanksgiving. A SACRIFICE of Praise. A SACRIFICE that was not only expressing gratitude for the Lord’s provision in the past; but also an offering of faith expressed by giving God hard-earned and desperately needed sustenance that revealed trust that God would provide in the future, so a gift could be given with all confidence and peace.<br />I think we should try that.The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-75374233223403662532011-08-05T07:22:00.003-05:002011-08-18T09:18:31.035-05:00The Delightful, Advantageous, Full-Blown Will of GodIntimacy with Christ is only possible as we surrender ourselves completely and totally to the purposes of God. But to do THAT, we must believe that God's heart toward us is good and that whatever He calls us to let go of or to embrace is good. I've been meditating on Romans 12:2 to help me get to that place of trust.
<br />
<br />Here's how I would paraphrase it:
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<br />Don't be pressed into the mold of the world or the spirit of the age. Don't adopt their perspective of this life. Don't buy into the world's blueprint for fulfillment, security or significance. Rather, like a caterpillar in a cocoon, be metamorphisized, changed, transformed by the renewal of your mind, by a fresh approach to thinking patterns; get rid of all those old tapes and upgrade to a new sound system, and start listening to new songs with better lyrics; with this new approach to your thought life and the new melodies and lyrics coursing through your brain, prove to yourself both experientially and existentially that God's ways, methods, plans, purposes and all His sovereignly ordained circumstances for our lives (both His revealed will in Scripture with all its promises and commands; as well as His secret, mysterious will that just happens) are good, beneficial, advantageous, acceptable, well-pleasing, delightful and perfect and complete (nothing could be added or subtracted to make it better!). Embrace this perspective and world-view by faith in God's character!The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-30769041699615277552011-05-29T08:57:00.003-05:002011-05-29T09:04:13.928-05:00How do we "see" God?At our Officer's Meeting the other night we reviewed our church's position paper on the roles of men and women in the church. It was a healthy reminder of our need for one another. We need each other to reveal and reflect God's image to one another in the church and through the church! <br /><br />http://www.oakmountainchurch.org/Websites/ompc/Blog/855105/WRWeb.pdfThe Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-54282692197785514752011-02-18T08:47:00.002-06:002011-02-18T09:12:45.769-06:00Sounds Like a SquirrelYou've heard the old Sunday School joke. The teacher comes in to a class of 4th graders and asks,"What is gray and furry, climbs in trees, has a bushy tail and likes to eat nuts?' The class was silent for a few moments when one brave little girl said, "Well, teacher, it sounds to me like a squirrel, but since this is Sunday School, I'm going to be safe and say the answer is Jesus!"<br /><br />Why is it that the Church thinks that the answer to everything has to be reduced to the simplistic answer of "Jesus"? The evangelical community seems to believe that unless any book, movie, song and conversation mentions the actual Name Jesus, it's not really Christ-centered. Nothing could be further from the truth.<br /><br />I'll never forget that when sweet, little Amy Grant, just coming out of Vanderbilt University and have already released albums that were focused on praise, worship and love songs mentioning the Name of Jesus, decided to become a little more "subtle" and write songs about redemptive love or other redemptive themes that unbelievers could relate to or songs with a positive message without mentioning the Name jesus, received a very cool response from the evangelical community. It's like she was turning her back on her Christian faith and compromising in the minds of many.<br /><br />I have a friend that I've known since college, a fraternity brother, who leads an organization that seeks to build bridges between thoughtful Christianity and culture. The name of the organization is The Clapham Group. On his web site, http://claphamgroup.com/, we read that the Clapham Group "is committed to promoting the good, true and beautiful in the public arenas of politics, policy and pop culture."<br /><br />In a recent post, my friend Mark quoted CS Lewis when he said, "What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects - with their Christianity latent." We have reduced conversations about squirrels to artificial conversations about Jesus. Believers are to seek to speak thoughtfully and in a relevant fashion about all areas of life and we're to bring a Biblical world and life view perspective into the conversation...or song, or film, or book, or essay...and we might not ever mention the name Jesus. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life...to speak true truth is to speak Jesus.<br /><br />Now, are there times when we need to bring the truths of the Gospel to peoples' hearts so that they can see their need for the cross? Of course...but so much of what needs to happen in our day is really "pre-evangelism." In addition, Christ is in fact exalted when we speak about beauty, goodness and truth and never mention the name Jesus.<br /><br />I was listening to XM radio 32, The Message, yesterday. There were two songs in a row...one by the popular singer and ex-American Idol star Daughtry...it didn't mention the name Jesus, but it was truth and it was redemtive in focus...I thought it was great. It was followed up by a song by JJ Heller entitled Who Will Love Me for Me...again, no mention of Jesus, but it was filled with the gospel. It seems that some people are starting to "get it."<br /><br />I hope my friend Mark doesn't mind me quoting him some more, but he shares about a conversation he had some time back with Bono from U2 and his frustration with the expectations of the super-spirituality of Jesus songs by Christian artists instead of just allowing them to "preach truth." <br /><br />Mark writes: "In preparation of a meeting with contemporary Christian music (CCM) artists to talk about global AIDS, he wrote me a note: "If the truth sets us free and it does ... Why aren't Christian singers allowed to ring true?" What Bono meant, of course, is that the Church often stifles the creativity and voice of an artist to conform to its own sense of propriety and (in our American context) "family friendly" fare. <br /><br />The questions is a good one. Do we let the truth shape us and our culture, or do we let our culture shape us and the truth?<br /><br />Later at the meeting, Bono remarked to the group that they probably couldn't put Song of Solomon (one of only two books of the Bible which does not reference God) to song and sell it in a Christian bookstore. Why? Not enough Jesus' per minute. Too sensual. Not "on message." <br /><br />So, next time someone asks you, "What is gray and furry, climbs in trees, has a bushy tail and likes to eat nuts?' Tell the truth! It's a squirrel! After all, Jesus would look funny with a tail!The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-15107309705544606492011-02-15T07:42:00.007-06:002011-02-16T17:41:09.541-06:00Christian Meets OscarThe Academy Awards show is Sunday night, February 27. The Oscars will be given out to actors, actresses, directors, producers, photographers, fashion designers, etc. The biggest night in Hollywood. What should a Christian's response to the Oscars be? I'm a firm believer that the Gospel calls us to find ways to BUILD bridges with our culture rather than constantly looking for excuses to BURN them! That's why I'm really excited about one of the small groups in our church. One of our small groups has come up with a beautiful plan for their meeting that week. <br /><br />Their discussion that night is going to be about why movies matter for those in our culture who are seeking, sharing and showing grace (our church Mission Statement). What would your brief response be if someone asked you, as a Christian, "Why do movies matter?" Here's my very brief response...<br /><br />First, it connects us with what is going on in culture. Usually art and film are WAAAAY ahead of the curve of the general population...the film industry tends to SET philosophy, not react to it. The "person on the street" can think they are coming up with their own opinions all they want...the fact is that the educators, the philosophers, the "intelligentsia" are constantly influencing the world-views of others. The next group to process the world-views of the intellectuals, also the group that begins to "popularize" such world-views...are the artists...those leading the way in music, film and literature. The people on Hollywood Boulevard are constantly influencing the people on Main Street. <br /><br />I am always surprised to discover that most people really don't understand that few artists aren't absolutely intentional about what they are doing. Almost all art, film and literature is presented precisely to make a point...to influence world-view. Christians who thoughtfully watch and process films can learn a lot...and then think through a Christian response.<br /><br />Second, most POPULAR films are record-breakers precisely because they touch a nerve of the human soul...popular films are usually popular because they are simply an echo of the Larger Story of God's plan of redemption. So, movies matter to thoughtful Christians because we are reminded of the Plan of Redemption...not just our redemption in Christ but our role in being agents of redemption in all of life and culture. Heroes in the great films usually bring redemption to those in need. Villains in the stories remind us of the great battles we face in life and that evil is real, not imaginary. Those who go about doing great good call out that which is in us by God's grace. <br /><br />Third, knowledge and awareness of popular films enable us to engage our neighbors, friends, work associates in conversation. There are many themes of "Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation" that can lead to Christ-centered discussions.<br /><br />Few things get me processing the gospel like a good movie. I love Oscar time. My bets are on The King's Speech. A GREAT story with many echoes of the Larger Story. I'm excited about the great time that small group in our church is going to have that Sunday night...may their tribe increase!The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5726895070295610906.post-92097559494398960462011-01-22T11:16:00.006-06:002011-01-24T15:25:04.788-06:00The Gospel Pipeline Creativity Challenge!The Gospel Pipeline is a tool we've developed that helps us flow, as CS Lewis wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, "Further Up and Further In" to Christ and His amazing grace! It's sort of a spiritual GPS that helps us discern our location in the Gospel by presenting the typical flow to Growth in Grace. What I want to present you with is the Gospel Pipeline Creativity Challenge. Before I issue the challenge, however, we need to understand more of the Pipeline itself...<br /><br />Here is an Executive Summary of the Gospel Pipeline using verses from our key passage: Titus 2:11-3:8 (one of the most balanced, integrated passages on grace in all of Scripture!):<br /><br /><br />1. Gospel Conversion<br /> Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5--Supernatural Grace regenerates the heart<br /> Grace for the entire Christian life is defined by grace at the start!<br /><br />2. Gospel Diversion<br /> Titus 2:12, 14—The “Basics” often divert the emphasis from Christ to behaviors<br /> There is a tendency to “leave” the Gospel of Christ and focus on efforts of man<br /><br />3. Gospel Perversion<br /> Titus 3:1-2—focus on behaviors often lead to a performance paradigm<br /> We look to Christ for heaven but look to self for daily status/standing<br /><br />4. Gospel Reversion<br /> Titus 3:7—grace leads us to revert back to focus on Union with Christ<br /> We revert to the TRUE Basics of the Christian life--Identity in Christ<br /><br />5. Gospel Aversion<br /> Titus 3:8—our flesh resists grace on many levels <br /> We’ve a built-in aversion to looking to Christ alone for spiritual growth<br /><br />6. Gospel Insertion<br /> Titus 3:8—insistence upon grace leads to an internalization of grace<br /> Grace overcomes our resistance and we eventually adopt a grace paradigm<br /><br />7. Gospel Immersion<br /> Titus 3:4—soaking in the truth of God’s love leads to the “Hot Tub” <br /> “Getting used” to grace becomes comfortable…sometimes TOO comfortable<br /><br />8. Gospel Incursion<br /> Titus 2:11-12—grace leads to a hostile invasion against sin by “Waltzing”<br /> We discover grace is not merely unconditional love but transforming power<br /><br />9. Gospel Emersion<br /> Titus 2:14—A Gospel lifestyle begins to truly emerge from right motives<br /> Grace leads us to make full use of the Gospel Pipelines/Disciplines<br /><br />10. Gospel Dispersion<br /> Titus 2:14--The Gospel begins to flow outside ourselves toward others <br /> Grace leads us to mission: we share grace with the Least and the Lost<br /><br />11. Gospel Assertion<br />Titus 2:13; 14—grace leads us to assert that the ultimate aim is God’s glory <br />Grace, ultimately, is not about me or even mission, but the honor of Christ<br /><br />12. Gospel Recursion<br /> Titus 2:12-13—grace teaches us we never “arrive” in this life<br /> Grace is how broken people with broken lives live in a broken world<br /><br />OK, here's the Gospel Pipeline Creativity Challenge: I have a dear friend who took each of the phases of the Pipeline (God's 12 Step Program to recovery!!) and picked a song that reminded her of what each phase represents. I would like to enlist the universal creativity of The Church to help us all understand and remember the Gospel Pipeline better. <br /><br />What I would like us to do is find our OWN songs that come to mind when we think upon each phase of the Pipeline, and share the results with one another. IN ADDITION, why not consider movie clips that would fit each phase, or paintings, or literary works or Broadway plays, etc...anything in the creative arts that would further give us a picture of what each phase of the Pipeline is and help us better remember it.<br /><br />Here's my friends list to get you started in your thinking:<br /><br />Gospel Conversion--Beautiful Things by Gungor (emphasizing the power of regeneration)<br />Gospel Diversion--Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (emphasizing how we turn to determination to grow instead of to Christ)<br />Gospel Perversion--Get On Your Boots by U2 (emphasizing how we develop a performance paradigm and try to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps!)<br />Gospel Reversion--In Christ Alone by the Oak Mountain Worship Team (emphasizing Christ from first to last)<br />Gospel Aversion--It's My Life by Bon Jovi (emphasizing our lust for independence and doing things My Way--another option for a song!)<br />Gospel Insertion--Grace upon Grace by Sandra McCracken (emphasizing internalizing our need for continual grace)<br />Gospel Immersion--Be Okay by Ingrid Michaelson (emphasizing we often just want to feel ok and sit and soak in the Hot Tub of Grace)<br />Gospel Incursion--Hip-Hop Waltz in G Flat Minor by Young Mozart (emphasizing attacking sin by the 3-step Dance with Christ consisting of Repent! Believe! Fight!)<br />Gospel Emersion--The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News (emphasizing that the power of grace transforms us, enabling us to live in godliness)<br />Gospel Dispersion--Arise by Third Day (emphasizing that Grace leads us to die to self, get out and serve in mission)<br />Gospel Assertion--Glorious by Paul Baloche (emphasizing that grace is ultimately about the glory of God, not about my own personal growth or even mission, but the honor of Christ)<br />Gospel Recursion--Dancing in the Minefields by Andrew Peterson (emphasizing we never arrive but will always be battling the world, the flesh and the devil until we go home or Christ returns)<br /><br />Maybe the best way to go about this is by creating a Note and posting it on Facebook, tagging me...then we'll all have access to your "creation!"<br /><br />Be creative! Have fun! Serve the Body!The Bobospherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469732747403957795noreply@blogger.com0