I will remember...

Today is given many names in various cultures. I grew up hearing the church folk call it "Holy Saturday." Early in my faith walk, I began calling it "Silent Saturday." (A couple of the best days of my entire life were celebrating today by remaining silent and reflective all day.)

Some people call it "Easter Eve." In the Philippines it is called "Black Saturday." In Slovakia it is called "White Saturday" and is traditionally a day in which many are baptized.  

In many Eastern Orthodox traditions, today is called "The Great Sabbath" because it is held that Jesus rested in the grave from all His work of obedience in His life and with His death. 

I like these perspectives and I love the idea of "The Great Sabbath." God is resting (again) after doing a great work. 

We all know when God finished six days of creation, He rested (Genesis 2:2). Creating the universe was easy work for God. He hovered over the void and simply made everything by the word of His power, and He made it for Himself and He Himself sustains it (Genesis 1:2, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:3). Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." All created things are a work of His hands. He crafted it with His word and with His fingers. 

Then, He rested. God made all that is, and He rested from His work and said it was very good. 

It's a beautiful thought to think God was pleased with His work of salvation. I like the image seen in Isaiah 53:1, "Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" I love this thought: in Creation, God did a work of His voice and hands and fingers, but in salvation, He rolled up His sleeves and bore His strength in defeating sin, hell and death!

It makes sense to me that Jesus rested. His work was good. His work was VERY GOOD. He ran the race. He indeed did finish His course. He could say, like no one had ever said, "It is finished."

Whatever I do today, I want to remember His good work. I thank God that it is finished. I thank God that He created life and rested. Man has created death and remains in toil. Jesus killed death, and rested. Whatever I do today, I will remember and honor this great work and rest of Jesus. Thank You, Father. 

Faithful much?

Something missing today is "faithfulness." In a culture where we demand the next-new-best thing NOW, we are rapidly losing the value of working and waiting patiently. It's evidenced everywhere.

For example, I often counsel would-be-wise soon-to-be-married young people not to fall for the trap that they must through debt today have the same things their parents have attained over the course of 25 years; then, promptly, many don't listen and buy a house and car and _________ they cannot afford and get into the rat-race-stress-cycle of trying to afford it all (not to mention, forgetting we weren't even created to be leisure-hogs or mass consumers).

Other examples abound. We can't wait in traffic without losing our cool. We get hot food in less than 5 minutes and complain about how "long" it takes. We have phones that allow us to talk to people on the other side of the planet, but get angry when the signal is imperfect (HELLO! they are MILES away from you!). On and on and on...

God values faithfulness. We need to consistently do the right thing and patiently wait for the right result.

"Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored." (Proverbs 27:18 ESV)

When we plant, in due season, we will reap. Water. Till. Pray. Wait. Repeat.

For those who have ears to ear...a reading for today:

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:35-48, ESV)

Blink, blink

Are you familiar with the tradition of blinking or flashing your headlights to warn other motorists of a trooper or law enforcement officer? I'm familiar with it. I've appreciated just such a warning many times in my life. I've given that warning to other motorists, too. (It's illegal in some states, and always illegal on multi-lane highways, by the way. North Carolina does not currently have any position on it, except for the multi-lane rule.)

I'm not the law. I do not think I am the law. I am not the judge. I do not think I am the judge. I am not a law enforcement officer. I do not think I am a law enforcement officer.

I'm simply a traveler warning of potential scrutiny upon one's actions. I'm a traveler; I'm simply saying, "There's someone up ahead looking into what we are doing on the road."

Are you ever angry at someone for giving you a warning like this? Do you consider it "judging" you?

Why then is there anger in us when someone warns us of moral law? Why then is there anger when someone would give a warning of impending judgment?

I know why...

We might say, "What right have you to tell me that your understanding of moral law applies to me?" We might say, "I do not believe in your moral law. I do not care about your moral values."

I'm learning to appreciate the warnings and the opportunity to consider my actions.

In life, I am a traveler. I'm fairly certain there's someone up ahead looking into our actions as we travel along the roadway of life.

Blink, blink.

"My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide." -- 1 Corinthians 4:4, New Living Translation

Refusing to Reconcile?

Christians in conflict are a burden to each other and a block to lost people coming to Christ.

What's worse, it gets swept under the rug more often than it gets dealt with. Shame. I mean, I know why...we'd rather have our pride than victory in Jesus.

"Reconciliation"
(sculpture at Duke University)

Now, what often is going on is that one believer says the other one is not a believer, and vice-versa. That's the "cop out" version of reconciliation. It's childish, too. I mean, hey, I know we're children of God, but GET OFF THE BOTTLE and grab a fork; meat's a waiting!

You treat someone like a believer if that's their testimony until they absolutely prove they are not one. Sometimes, people are really immature, not lost. Sometimes, people are struggling, but not lost. Either way, let's treat each other according to our testimonies -- like  I said -- until it's absolutely clear we cannot. Perhaps refusal to attempt reconciliation is a sign. Maybe?

Hmmmm...

Okay, so conflict happens. Let's not pretend it doesn't. We are sinners. We are imperfect. Sure, we're perfectly forgiven, but we are not perfect people. That day will come for us, but it ain't today. Conflict happens.

For example, something caused conflict between two women among the believers in Philippi: I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2 ESV)

It doesn't tell us what the conflict was about. We do know both of these women had served with Paul in gospel ministry (Philippians 4:3). And, apparently the church at Philippi was fairly healthy. So, here we are, in a healthy church with people pursuing the gospel and there's conflict. Imagine how much more often conflict happens in unhealthy churches.

I think the same can be said of Christian relationships. Where the gospel is the focus -- both in living it out and sharing it -- there is less conflict. The gospel is God-oriented when so many other things are self-oriented. I almost digress (one cannot digress when one is talking about the gospel!).

Conflict happens. I am appalled at the number of believers who get divorced. Very few even try to reconcile. It's a shame, really.

I am amazed at the arguments by believers in social media. Very few ever reconcile.

It's a disgrace how many believers argue about sports. Very few ever see that sports absolutely do not matter at any level, and very few ever reconcile their differences (that little annoyance lies hard between "serious" fans).

Have you ever juxtaposed the amazing truth we preach with the pitiful way we live? Consider this one point: we tell people we really believe God is going to resurrect our decayed bodies from the grave, BUT we don't believe a relationship can be mended. Hmmmmm....

What may be the biggest shame is how all these broken relationships ruins our witness as the church. Jesus said that our unity would cause the world to believe He came from God. Consider this:


“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:20-23 ESV, emphasis mine)

Earlier in John, Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV) Love covers a multitude of sins! God is love! Between faith, hope and love, the greatest is love!

Where's the love? Where's the humility? Where's the faith that believes God can work miracles?

I've been studying 1 Corinthians lately. It's full of conflict! That's the entire reason the letter was written to the church at Corinth. I'll blog on that, too.

What conflict is there in your life that you refuse to reconcile? Who is that person that you absolutely will not humble yourself with? Look, don't ruin your witness!

I know, you might be saying, "I've tried! I've tried! They won't reconcile." Okay, I've seen that. When we've done all we can, there is usually something left we're unwilling to try. There's usually pride or failure to act in accordance with Scripture somewhere (such as fasting and praying -- you know, for more than a lunch). I know this much; when we've honestly pursued every course possible, our hearts rest.

A provocation, brought on by Psalm 119:89

In the local church body in which I fellowship, we are chronologically reading the Bible.

I sat down to begin today's reading and was doubly encouraged by Psalm 119:89. I must share something, here, today. First, let me begin with four translations of the same verse.

"Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89 ESV)
"Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven." (Psalm 119:89 NLT)
"For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89 KJV)
"Lord, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven." (Psalm 119:89 HCSB)

The word of God is eternal, for it is uttered from Him who is eternal. His word is fixed, stationed, erected, established and standed in heaven.

As soon as I read those words, my heart jumped! I had the image of Jesus -- the Word, the Logos -- standing in heaven, as when Stephen died (Acts 7:56). I had the image of Jesus returning to the Father, as was His rightful place (John 16:28). He received His glory back upon Himself and took up His eternal place, having finished the work the Father sent Him to do. These images thrilled me.

But, God's "word" here in Psalm 119:89 does not refer to the Logos / Word that is Jesus. The "word" means "speech." What God says is fixed in heaven. It is established there. His speech, what God says, is erected in a place where man's hands cannot alter it.

Many times, dear friends, I've exhorted our body to "say the same thing" as God. We must, in our lives, come into agreement with God. To agree with God is to say what is established and unchangeable in the heavenlies.

When it comes to sin, we must agree with God.
When it comes to righteousness, we must agree with God.
When it comes to purpose, we must agree with God.
To walk in His promise(s), we must agree with God.
To know His freedom, we must agree with God.

His word is settled. His word is firmly fixed. His word stands firm.

Mr. Gilliam told me once that he began the practice of saying aloud that he agreed with God when he encountered something in God's word. He told me he did that because his heart did not already have that practice as habit. He shared how when his mind and mouth began to be in the habit of agreeing with God, his heart followed.

I do not know if you need that practice of speaking agreement aloud, but perhaps you do. Perhaps that discipline will teach us new affections.

We agree with so much that is temporal, but, as the Word says about His word, "...earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35 HCSB), so we should be wise and agree with the eternal.

Be a man!

Be a man! 
But, how? 
What is a man? Shall I curse? Shall I smoke? Must I make money, money, money? Does it lie in accomplishment? Shall I fight? Will trophies help? Must women be the object of my conquest? Must I kill? Will voting make me a man? Is it age? 16? 18? 21? 
Just tell me. 

"Be strong, and show yourself a man" (1 Kings 2:2b ESV) 

Aaaah! I get it! I've got to be strong! MUSCLES! Superiority! Never cry! I shall do it.

No.
What? What am I missing?

"The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man." -- (Psalm 147:6 and 10 KJV)

It's not physical strength that makes a man, nor is it strength that keeps one from being a man.

"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." -- (Psalm 147:11 KJV)

So...okay...what does that look like? What does it look like to fear God and hope in His mercy?

Be strong! Be a man! David said to his son, Solomon, "Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies..." (1 Kings 2:2b-3a ESV)

A man walks with God. A man keeps Gods word. A man's real strength is not found in his weapons or his muscles, but in God. A real man's strength is not found in his weapons or his muscles, but in God. A strong man walk with God and honors God's word.

Be a man!

Freedom Ringing

Freedom was not born in the heart of man, nor was it won on any battlefield, nor gained by any law.
It is lingering among men as a testament to God's original glory.
We were created free from sin; free from war; free from controversy; free from strife.
We created free among each other.
We were created free before God.
Man did not create freedom; man only surrendered it.
It lingers because of original glory.
It pulses across the world because the full cross and the empty tomb make it possible once again.
Freedom is not the right to vote or speak or curse or drink or any American notion.
Freedom is the blessing of God to walk before Him and others without shame.

Girl looks like a Lady: Provide and Train

I love old movies. I love stories. I love good acting. With the enduring old movies, it seems, one has to be a good actor, because they have good stories, and there's no "effect" to save the actor.

I like the stories and I like thinking through what's been said through the ideas and images. "A Day in the Sun" is full, for example, of social struggles: class, propriety, selfishness, death / murder, and the possibility of abortion. One of my favorite old movies, "12 Angry Men" is all about justice and the refusal to profile and the failure of not thinking through something and the success of thinking it through. I could go on and on.

I like connecting the dots, too. For example, I watched "Victor / Victoria" -- I did NOT like that movie; reasons aside -- and BEGAN to watch "Alfie" -- didn't like the premise, so I stopped -- but, I like being able to recognize people appearing in different / small roles in different movies. In the former, Graham Stark plays a snarky waiter and in the latter, though only watched for a few minutes, I could tell Mr. Stark was playing the lovelorn Humphrey. There was 16 years between the movies, but Mr. Stark looked the same and it was obvious he was honing his craft with age.

Anyway, enough of that. If I carry on, I will carry on and on. And on.

I recently watched "My Fair Lady" for probably the 3rd time in my life. It's a great movie and no one can doubt the fantastic acting jobs of Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. ----- An aside: I did learn from Robert Osbourne that Hepburn did not do her own singing in this movie; rather, it was Marni Nixon who dubbed over Hepburn. Nice, huh?

Anyway, enough of that...

"My Fair Lady" makes an interesting point; training people up in their actions does change them, but relationship trains them more. Over the course of her training, she learns to talk and carry herself like a lady. She learns that. What also happens is she falls in love with her instructor.

Training can make a lady, but love makes a woman want to be a gentleman's wife.

One can be trained, and one ought to be trained in many things. However, if love does not make the training desirable to us, most likely it will not stick, nor will it mean much.

I also, for the first time, watched "Lady for a Day." It's hard to beat a Frank Capra movie for simply being entertained.

It was an interesting movie. A common, seller of apples, for the sake of her daughter's possible engagement, wants some people to think she is a lady of society. For various reasons, many people get behind her, and they pull it off. What is amazing is how many people get behind the effort. May Robson's character, Apple Annie, gets treated like a lady and starts to act like a lady. There's something to be said for that.

There are a powerful bunch of females in the world that are definitely women, but not ladies. (The same could be said of men and gentlemen, too.)

Be that as it may, what stops us from treating women like ladies, whether they "deserve" it or not? We stop us! It is true that a male is born, will become a boy, may become a man, but must choose to be a gentleman. And, to loosely quote Chaucer, "He is a gentle because he wants to be a gentleman." We ought to want to be gentlemen!

I know, I know, it's hard enough to be a man, and harder still to walk as a Christian man, but there's a call to it and need for it.

Now, I don't owe Hollywood a thing, and they certainly teach any male very little about the most important things in life. More so, they teach males less about being men every year. I look to God's word for that. I look to the perfect Man, Jesus. That's where I'll take my cues from.

So, sure, I'll train girls to be ladies (I do have two daughters!). Sure, I'll love them and pray they respond to my love. Either way, I receive this call to be a gentleman. If for no other reason, this: "love bears all things." I've been loved, so I'll live it now that I know it.

Some thoughts about parenting and how vital it is to society

A word to myself that someone else might enjoy...

"Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart." (Proverbs 29:17 ESV)

This verse has rattled around in my head all day. I can speak for both Care and myself and say, we really do desire our children to be disciplined disciples as they go through life. We pray for that. We know God must make us finer folks, growing constantly in both who we are as disciples and as parents. We know the only way to help our children grow is to be growing right along with them.

Two things...

I know my children have free will. I know they are sinners. I know they need to be responsible, be held accountable, make decisions for themselves at times and must, themselves, have a growing relationship with the Lord. I know we / they will constantly be pushing back against the enemy, the world, the culture and the flesh. I know people tell me the teenage years will change everything and I'll lose those sweet little girls into bitter teen years (I don't receive that!). I am aware of the realities, but I am looking unto the Lord, from whom my help comes.

I work with young people. I see a lot. It's tough being young. It's tough being a family. It's tough parenting. I am aware of these realities, too. Many folks in our culture aren't parenting very intentionally. Sure, young people eat and have a place to sleep (for the most part), but many aren't being trained unto righteousness.

Discipline is missing in our culture. I don't mean yelling and beating people. That's alive and well. I mean formative shaping of someone's life. Education is alive (maybe not well). Leisure and pleasure are going strong.

The word "discipline," as found in Proverbs 29:17, means "to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish." It also means to "chastise" and to "correct." It's a full word.

I went to the ESV Study Bible notes and they made an interesting observation about verses 15-18. The notes say, "Verses 15 and 17 both insist that parents should teach their children, and vv. 16 and 18 both describe a society in upheaval. The chaos of a child out of control is comparable to the chaos of a people who have abandoned integrity and revelation."

Is that not much of what we see these days? Our society is in "upheaval" and folks are continually living more and more undisciplined day by day.

Here are the verses together: "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:15-18 ESV)

I think my parenting is constantly growing, and much of what I believe is being reinforced by the teens I work with. I also feel like I am still in school; I'm still learning. I feel I have much to share, but much to learn.

Between the battle of being a parent to my own and being a student of parenting, I am loving the adventure of growing.

Being a youth minister, and a student of the age in which I live, I see Proverbs 29:15-18 as a reality. The "wicked increase" and "transgression increases." There is no vision and "the people cast off restraint."

I am convinced more than ever that the change our society needs comes from the Lord. I am convinced more than ever that He will deliver generational change through families. Not through politics or through the school house, but through homes and families. Just read those verses together again. See for yourself; think it through.

In my work, I am going to begin praying about how I can reach more families. Not just children and teens, but families, too. Lord, help me...

Asian Chicken Chunks?

My wife asked me to look up the school menu and see what was for lunch tomorrow. I did and discovered something I've never heard of: "Asian Chicken Chunks." Hmmmmm...

My kids said they are great. Okay. I've traveled the world. I've been to multiple parts of Asia, and can appreciate the vast cultural differences in each place. I never knew there was a "chicken chunk" that represented the entirety of the Asian peoples. Apparently, there is. And, Person County Schools has them, or so I'm being led to believe.

I recently heard a This American Life article on National Public Radio that asserted pig bung is a suitable doppleganger for calimari. That being said, I suppose "Asian Chicken Chunks" are safe in comparison.

I wondered exactly what "Asian Chicken Chunks" looked like, so Google images is where I headed next. Having heard about the aforementioned bung, looks don't mean much to me.

Oh that I had time to investigate the great mysteries of life!