Too often. Too true.

Evolution says
man descended from monkey.
Wife says from donkey.

“It will change your life”…one for my wife.

Time is running out for my friend.  While we are sitting at lunch, she casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of “starting a family.”  What she means is that her biological clock has begun its countdown, and she is being forced to consider the prospect of motherhood.
“We’re taking a survey,” she says half joking.  “Do you think I should have a baby?”
“It will change your life,” I say carefully, keeping my tone neutral.
“I know,” she says. “No more spontaneous vacations….”

But that is not what I meant at all, and I try to decide what to tell her.  I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes: that the physical wounds of childbearing heal, but that becoming a mother will leave an emotional wound so raw that she will be forever vulnerable.  I consider warning her that she will never read a newspaper again without asking “What if that had been my child?” That every plane crash, every fire will haunt her.  That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her manicured nails and stylish clothes and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of bear protecting her cub.  That an urgent call of “MOM!” will cause her to drop her best crystal without a moment’s hesitation.

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.  Oh, she might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think about her baby’s sweet smell.  She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her child is all right.  I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine.  That a 5-year-old boy’s desire to go to the men’s restroom rather than the women’s at the restaurant will become a major dilemma. That issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that men’s restroom.  However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.  That her life now, so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.  That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also hope for more years–not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish his.

My friends relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.  I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is always careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his son or daughter.  I think she should know that she will fall in love with her husband all over again, but for reasons she would now find very unromantic.  I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to hit a baseball.  I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the first time.  I want her to taste the joy that is so real it burns.

My friend’s quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes.  “You’ll never regret it,” I finally say.  Then squeezing my friend’s hand, I offer a prayer for her and me and all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of calling.

– Article take from Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood, Grudem & Rainey

Sacraficial Giving 101

Making Peace Is A Call to War (Part IV)

PEACEMAKING: THE CALL TO WAR TO LOVE THE CAPTIVE SOUL

Brothers, speaking specifically to those who feel called to be leaders in the church and in the communities in which we live, many of us conceal a proud attitude under a demeanor of humility. And we’re good at disguising a divisive, rebellious, and deceitful heart. How often are we inclined to consider those with whom we disagree better than ourselves? How often do we tend to devalue the thoughts and interests of others before considering them as highly as our own (Phil. 2.3-4). Humility sincerely welcomes critique and correction, no matter who brings the “observation” (Prov. 13:10, 17:10). Christ-exalting peacemakers enthralled by the gospel of grace are those who are able to identify with all that God affirms and condemns in Christ’s crucifixion. We are called to be men who are able to stand under the pressure of scathing criticism, knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ has bore the condemnation of God’s critique of us upon himself, and triumphed over it making peace by the blood of his cross (2 Cor. 5.19; Col. 1.20).

As leaders, we are charged “not to be violent but gentle, not quarrelsome” (1 Tim.3:3). So we need to ask ourselves, “What practices do I have in place in my home, workplace, and spiritual community to train and ensure that I recognize and practice gentle leadership? This is a question that each of us need to consider. We, as sons of God, lose credibility in our witness to Christ when we display to the world our inability to resolve conflicts within our own spiritual family. Brothers, without a holy zeal to see our loved ones enjoy peace with God and with others all our peacemaking efforts will sputter. Impotent, lackluster peacemakers bring reproach upon the name of Christ—not glory. View peacemaking as an evangelistic endeavor. If you have experienced the peace of Christ, follow his lead and extend that peace to others. If a brother has sinned against you or you’ve been convicted by the lack of peace in your relationship with God or with others, be convicted, repent, and go make peace.

Making Peace Is A Call to War (Part III)

PEACE: WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Yet, none of us can bring to others what we do not currently possess. If a brother is at war with God, how could he be trusted to bring peace to others? What if he was at war with his spouse or his father-in-law? But those outside of Christ, the man who has yet to taste sovereign grace, wrangles with God. There is a war going on. Before a man can be used to bring true peace anywhere, the Lord must bring true peace into his heart. This is accomplished through the gospel of Christ, and nothing else.

The Good News is: though all humanity is dead in rebellion and sin (Eph. 2.1); Christ, through His death, secured the redemption of many of these men (5.25); these men are initially set apart from others through one thing only, and that is their faith in Christ (2.8-9). Those who have been brought forgiveness through this gospel have peace with God (Rom. 5.1). This is the foundation of peace within, which in turn is the foundation of peace with others.

The life of a biblical peacemaker is rooted and grounded in this universal expression of God’s truth. He shares the Spirit and mission of Christ. Listen to Paul: “For he himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, broke down the barrier of the dividing wall…that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace” (Eph. 2.14). Jesus hung on a cross that we might find peace with God through his blood. Our Captain was making peace through his suffering and death, and he issues the same call to each and every one of his men.

Yet, sometimes it can be hard to gauge whether or not one is actually involved in peacemaking as God would have it. Right? With so many differing perspectives on the essence of “peace,” we need to be reminded that God’s peacemakers don’t just stop wars–they replace the sin that causes war with the righteousness of God. A peacemaker confronts violence and brings it into the light of God’s judgment. Whatever the case may be—he is relentless in his pursuit of reconciliation; always understanding the potential of God’s mercy and grace. Peacemakers sing one note, and that note is “Be reconciled to God!” Peacemaking begins and ends with Christ—flowing into every nook and cranny of your life and redirecting it Godward. It begins now as the Holy Spirit stirs you to repent and seek reconciliation at work or at home or at school.

Making Peace Is A Call to War (Part II)

WHY?
The story of God is a story laced with peace. The theme is penned on every page. It begins with peace in the Garden of Eden and it ends with peace in the New Heavens and New Earth. The entirety of human history could be threaded with the needle of peace. There was peace on earth before the Fall. When man sinned, peace was interrupted. At the cross peace became a reality again—Christ became our peace (Eph. 2:14). Today there can be peace in the hearts of those who know Him. And one day Jesus will come again and His title will be “the Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). He will then establish a kingdom of peace forevermore.

And so here we come to the greatest sermon ever preached, by the greatest preacher who ever lived—Jesus Christ—and we read these words from Matthew 5.9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Brothers, we need to hear, with new urgency, the words of Christ we just heard: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Not peace-hopers. Not peace-yearners. Not peace-wanters. Peacemakers. Peace doesn’t just come. It has to be made. This is hard business, and it is no shock that peacemakers are few. Every man who has ever sinned knows that it is easier to nurse a grudge than to seek reconciliation. Amen? It isn’t easy. No man enjoys admitting he is wrong. None of us are naturally inclined to make peace with our enemies and those who have caused us harm. Yet Christ calls us to peace. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12.18). A man who truly seeks peace may be called “soft” or a coward or worse. But Christ counts him among the “sons of God.”

Making Peace Is A Call to War (Part I)

This is the first in a four part series over a sermon written on Matthew 5.9.

MAKING PEACE MEANS RAGING AGAINST THE CAPTOR FOR THE CAPTIVE SOUL (MT. 5.9)

Every pastor faces conflict. Conflict at home, in the church, in his studies, in his marriage. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Conflict has been a part of the human condition since the First Family. We can’t hide from it, nor should we care to. It’d be like a firefighter—in the heat of the moment, when everything is ablaze—somehow losing interest, dropping his axe and walking away. If you care about godly character you have to care about peacemaking. And if you desire to be a godly man or train godly men, you will be a peacemaker. Pastors, what will you do to prepare your church members for resolving conflicts peacefully? Have you a concern for peace—lasting, abiding peace—in your church family? You should.

Lost in Translation

When I talk about Bible translation issues it is helpful for me to break it down into categories that are easy to work with: composition, canon, transmission, translation, and incarnation.

Composition: The Scripture we have was written between the time of Moses (1500 BCish) to shortly after the death of Christ (90 ADish). Interesting to note is that the vast majority of the Bible was written during 4 major periods: the time of Moses, the time of David and Solomon, the exile into Babylon, and shortly after the resurrection of Jesus.

Canon: This area would focus on why we have the books of the Bible that we do. It would be important to note that Scripture is not merely God’s revelation to man, but God’s revelation to man that is specifically intended to be the standard of faith and practice for God’s people through the ages.

Transmission: We don’t have the original pieces of papyrus that the scriptures were written on, so scholars throughout history have used a literary science called “textual criticism” to compare the copies that come from various dates and times. They then use these to assemble the complete Hebrew and Greek text that resemble the errorless original. The evidence we have supports an astoundingly accurate transmission of the Bible. Every scholar, believer or not, is in agreement on this issue.

Translation: To keep it simple, the reason we have so many translations is because we desire to meet the needs of so many people. Many people use multiple translations depending on their area of interest at that particular time–more literal translations for study and more paraphrase translation for big picture themes (as an example). Also, folks whose reading levels are elementary at best require translations that are accessible to them. We would do well to keep in mind that no translation, in any language, for any text, is able to result in a one-to-one correspondence with the original. Having multiple translations helps us see the meaning of the original from many varying points of view.

Incarnation: The analogy with Jesus Christ and the Bible is one we need to keep central. Jesus wasn’t just dropped from heaven with the wave of a magic wand. He was incarnated into our world, took on flesh, and lived among us. People welcomed him into their homes and dined with him. They asked him questions and sat under his authoritative teaching. The Bible is very similar. Though we are removed from the original culture in which it was written, it is divinely inspired and still speaks today. As we learn to read it with eyes opened by the Holy Spirit, we will learn to read the Bible in a way that results in it reading us like a mirror! When this happens we will begin to see ourselves transformed and Jesus Christ will become to us like a close friend…and nothing is greater than a close friendship with the Savior of the world.

To those of you who read this until the end waiting for the moment I turned this blog post on a dime and started talking about the genius of Bill Murray, well here it is.

Get Impatient

World: broken and marred.

Me: longing, aching, praying

that his kingdom come.

Revolution is…

Jean-Paul Sartre said, “Revolution is seeing each other a lot.” I believe him. These past ten days have been well spent: serving, confessing, praying, reading, studying, and laughing together.

Jean-Paul Sartre may have understood the power of a cohesive church more than most Christians…

Acts 2:42-47.