23 Years of Ministry

Today marks 23 years since I was “set apart” or formally “ordained into the ministry” by my home church in Three Oaks, Michigan. I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing about the things that God has allowed me to do for Him over the years. I don’t deserve to be saved, let alone serve as one of God’s messengers. Yet, because of His grace, the Lord grants me the wonderful privilege of proclaiming the Good News.

In 1987 I never could have imagined that I would have the privilege of serving a little country church in Michigan (those dear saints endured a 21 year old rookie minister learning how to preach); then moving to a wonderful church in Virginia, winning many to the Lord, developing deep friendships, and ordaining several young men into the ministry. Nor did I have any idea that I would come to Fort Wayne, Indiana to serve with another great church. God has blessed me with the privilege of preaching in many places, (Revivals, Campmeetings, etc.), meeting some great saints along the way. Thank you Jesus!

I’m just as “fired up” today as I was 23 years ago. Like the prophet Jeremiah, I can say, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot!” With the apostle Paul, I say, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and supported me through the years.

Pulpit Provocateurs

I listen to a lot of sermon podcasts and have noticed a disturbing trend. That is the language that some preachers are using. Words like crap and pissed and screwed; or euphemisms like flippin’ or frickin’; or scatological humor – these are becoming commonplace. Seriously.

Perhaps this is an effort to be cool or relevant, but I believe we are losing the power and authority of the Word of God and the role of the pulpit (whether you have a literal pulpit is not the point). Preachers will point to the Apostle Paul’s use of scubalon in Phil. 3:8 (a shocking word that some contend should be translated crap or sh*t in our vernacular), or his wish that the Judaizers would emasculate themselves (Galatians 5:12).

The argument goes something like this: “Paul used shocking words, so I can do so also.” But the reason these examples are notable is that they are so rare! And I've got a news flash for you bro – you are not an inspired apostle!

I’m not a stuffed shirt or a prude, but c’mon guys! Really?

Young, Restless, and Restorationist

As a minister I often read and sometimes travel in circles outside the Restoration Movement, in what is broadly called evangelicalism. I have noticed an interesting phenomenon occurring among this group , a resurgence in Reformed Theology (i.e. the teachings of men like John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Knox, and others). In 2009, Time Magazine listed The New Calvinism as one of the Top 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now. Young people who have been attracted to this have been called, “Young, Restless, and Reformed” in numerous articles, books, and blog posts. Dissatisfied with the status quo that they are experiencing in their congregations, they are starting to read, study, and promote some of the core doctrines that launched the Protestant Reformation.

These facts may fascinate some folks, but why am I writing about them in a column that is supposed to promote Restoration Movement principles? The answer is simple. I’m wondering whether the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ can demonstrate a similar rebirth. Does our movement have significant numbers of people who can be identified as, “Young, Restless, and Restorationist”? If so, how can we motivate and mobilize them to spread their enthusiasm among our churches and the world? If not, can such a passion be created, and how can it be done?

The plea of our forefathers to restore New Testament Christianity needs to be rediscovered by a new generation (actually, multiple generations are good candidates for exposure to this subject). The very principles that once made the Restoration Movement the fastest growing movement in North America are just as valid today as they were 200 years ago. The early slogans still ring true:

Where the Scriptures speak we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.
No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.
Do Bible things in Bible ways; call Bible things by Bible names.
In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion liberty; in all things, charity.

Surely there are people in their 20’s and 30’s who have grown weary of the “same old church thing” and would be eager to embrace a return to the church as depicted on the pages of the New Testament. Our Calvinist friends have demonstrated that young people are not averse to things of a spiritual/biblical nature. I urge you to pray for the Lord to raise up leaders in our movement who are able to capture the imaginations of our young and bright believers. The purpose is not simply to perpetuate the movement or to elevate human leaders like Alexander Campbell or Walter Scott. Rather, the goal should be to promote the truth that has eternal value.

Ouch!

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Ernie Harwell

I didn't start listening to Ernie Harwell until I went to college. But wow, that guy was an outstanding broadcaster. The Tigers were very good in those days (mid 80's) winning the world series in 1984, so I listened to a lot of games. Several of my college friends were Tigers fans, so it was hard to avoid. They don't make 'em like Ernie anymore.

Happy 15th Birthday Luke!

Little Kids in the Adult Service

Sloth

I’m preaching about laziness on Sunday. Actually the sermon is entitled Valuing Your Work, but the unspoken subtitle is:“Quit being a lazy bum, sitting on your butt, eating Cheetos and playing video games while living in your Mom's basement." I’m in a series call Got Wisdom? It’s from the book of Proverbs -- perhaps is the greatest "how-to" book ever written. God’s Word has much to say about the rewards of work and diligence; as well as the consequences of sloth and laziness. No wonder the ancients listed it as one of the seven deadly sins.

T4G Wrap-Up

One of my friends asked me how I enjoyed T4G. I told him (half-jokingly) that it was great, except for the Calvinism. Obviously, I didn't agree with everything I heard, but the sessions encouraged my soul. I especially appreciated the last sermon by C.J. Mahaney -- it was a call to preach the Word -- certainly something I have heard before, but it's good to be reminded from time to time.

Another thing that sets this conference apart is the number of books that are given away. At each main session we found four new books on our chairs. I volunteered a couple of times to help with the distribution (two or three hundred volunteers fanning out to place chairs on 7000 seats is a sight to behold -- and it was fun!).

Here is the list of books given to us:

•R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God
•Michael Reeves, The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation
•Mark Dever and Michael Lawrence, It Is Well: Expositions on Substitutionary Atonement
•Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything
•The ESV Study Bible
•Thabiti Anyabwile, The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence
•Greg Gilbert, What Is the Gospel?
•John MacArthur, The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ
•Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters
•John Piper, Finally Alive
•Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards on Beauty
•Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Plight of Man and the Power of God
•Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney, The Essential Jonathan Edwards Collection
•Christopher Ash, The Priority of Preaching
•Albert Mohler, He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World
•Ligon Duncan, Fear Not! Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective
•T4G, Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology
•D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus
•J.I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
•Jonathan Leeman, The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline
•J. Mack Stiles, Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel

Together for the Gospel

I am attending the Together for the Gospel Conference in Louisville this week. Day One was great. Mark Dever had an outstanding message. And they are giving away books galore. At the beginning of each new main session there are four new books on the seats. The worship is wonderful. 7000 men singing In Christ Alone -- wow! But the highlight of Day One was was meeting my old friend Derek Penwell for supper. Derek and I have known each other since elementary school days (we attended church camp together). We reconnected in college (playing on the baseball team and rooming next door to each other). He was one of the groomsmen in my wedding. We haven't seen each other in over 20 years. It was great to catch up.

I'm looking forward to Day Two with heavy hitters John MacArthur and John Piper.

Ouch!

via Mark Driscoll

Opening Day -- Go Cubs Go!

Were You There?

John Piper Rethinks Long-Standing Belief

After announcing his upcoming 8-month leave-of-absence, Calvinist John Piper also released the following statement concerning his position on the atonement:

"After much study of God's Word, I have come to the conclusion that the Calvinist position concerning the doctrine of the atonement is outside the teachings of Scripture. For many years I have taught that the Calvinist position on the atonement was absolutely correct. I taught that the atonement was the elect. Jesus died to save the elect to the glory of God. I taught that God the Father sent the Son to glorify His name by dying in place of the elect and through His Spirit He now draws them unto Himself. I was incorrect.

I now teach that the atonement was for all and this truly brings glory to God. For many years I have sought to exalt God through faithful teaching of His Word. I have tried to emphasize that the Westminster Confession of Faith is correct when it say that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is accomplished best through the unlimited atonement of Jesus Christ. God is glorified and His honor is proclaimed when we declare that Jesus died for all men and that all men can be saved through His atonement. What a wondrous work is Jesus' death and resurrection! How mighty is our God!"

I must say that I was shocked to read such a statement. You can more about the Piper statement here.

A Matter of Opinion?

Have you ever been in a discussion about a particular teaching of the New Testament and heard someone say, “Well that was just Paul’s opinion”? I have heard people say this with regard to homosexuality. And the qualifications for elders. But most often it is used as an attempt to refute the biblical teaching about the role of women in the church, particularly 1 Timothy 2:12: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” There is similar teaching in 1 Corinthians 14.

Ignoring a biblical command due to the belief that it is merely “Paul’s opinion” is fraught with theological pitfalls. It seriously challenges the doctrines of inspiration and apostolic authority. It puts one on a slippery slope toward biblical irrelevance. If a doctrine can be ignored and written off as someone’s opinion , then almost nothing is off-limits (except perhaps the red-letter words of Jesus).

The Holy Spirit anticipated the “matter of opinion” issue. In 1 Corinthians 14:37 (in the context of women being silent in the churches), Paul writes, “If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.” In other words, he is saying “This is NOT merely my opinion.”

However, for the sake of argument, let’s imagine that the teaching in 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 is simply Paul’s opinion. The opinion of the apostle Paul should carry much weight with those who want to follow the Lord. We are talking about a man who was perhaps the godliest person to ever walk the earth (next to Jesus). He was someone who preached the gospel, healed the sick, raised the dead, and penned two-thirds of the New Testament. He was imprisoned for his faith; stoned, beaten, shipwrecked, and left for dead. Isn’t his opinion something that should have great influence over us?

The person who says, “That was just Paul’s opinion” wants me to reject what Paul says and listen to what she says. As former President Bush used to say: "Not gonna do it!"

For the Love of Books

My brother-in-law came to town for a visit today. He brought me a present -- a big box of books. He has a lot of "preacher books" that he no longer wants/needs. He brought a variety of commentaries, books about preaching and a few other topics. I already had a few of them, so I passed them along to some staff. We were all happy. Thanks Barry!

Restoration History

I have been teaching about the history of the Restoration Movement during the winter session of The Well (the mid-week program at our church). It is one of the elective classes we offer for adults. Ever since my Bible College days, I have been a Restoration History buff. The principles and plea of our spiritual forefathers resonates with my spirit. The idea of taking the Bible only and being a Christian only, eschewing denominational divisions makes sense to me.

It has been fun introducing these concepts to some of the new believers in our congregation. Some of my brethren have suggested that it is time to bury the Restoration Plea. They are simply wrong.

Coming Back

Hey everybody! I've been a bit of a slacker lately. I'm going to try to post more regularly again. What's new with me?

I'm REALLY looking forward to the warmer Spring weather.

I'm enjoying the study for the sermon series I've been preaching from the Gospel of John. Check it out here.

I can't believe I have a senior graduating less than three months from now.

In a couple of weeks I will be returning to my old stomping grounds, the Virginia Peninsula, to preach at the Olivet Christian Church.

Winning the Prize

We have been watching and enjoying the Winter Olympics. These are sports that most people (including me) don’t follow regularly, but every four years we can get totally engrossed in the competition. And we can become “experts” about things we have never even tried (snowboarding, luge, skiing downhill at 70mph). The games have reminded me of the old Wide World of Sports motto: “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

They have also reminded me of the words of the Apostle Paul: Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27.

Let’s win the prize, eh?

Le'Go My Ego

Remember the old Toby Keith Song?
I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number one
Oh my me my
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see
I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about meeeeee

This past week I read two articles that had contrasting premises. The topic was preaching and the amount of time preachers spend talking about themselves. One writer suggested that preachers do not talk about themselves enough. Therefore, the congregation rarely gets to hear what is close to its minister’s heart. The other author opined that many preachers talk about themselves far too often. This happens through illustrations, personal anecdotes, and humorous stories. Mark Galli wrote, "The sermon has inadvertently become the showcase of the pastor’s life and faith. Less about the centrality and greatness of Jesus. “

I think Galli is right. I listen to a lot of preaching (via podcasts, CDs, conferences, etc.), and many times I have heard too much about the preacher and too little about Jesus. My wife tells me that I don’t share enough personal stories and illustrations. She might be right, but I would rather leave people wanting to know more, rather than rolling their eyes, saying, “Sigh, here he goes again. What an egomaniac!”

I think it would be better to follow the lead of John the Baptist. He had the proper attitude about Jesus: "He must increase, but I must decrease.”

How about you? What’s your opinion of this issue?

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Senior Pictures

We just got Lindsey's senior pictures. These are a some of my faves.

Amen!

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Passing the Baton

The Bible says that we are to teach the commandments of God to the next generation (Deut. 6:6-9; 2 Tim. 2:2). Serious believers must ask themselves how well they are passing the baton of faith to those who will come behind them. This includes not only the Bible, but also the principles of interpreting and practicing the Bible. Historically, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ have promoted what has been called the “Restoration Plea” – a call for people to return the faith and practices of the church in the New Testament.

Not long ago, I read an article that suggested it might be time to rethink or rename the Restoration Movement. The writer gave anecdotal evidence that our plea was becoming increasingly irrelevant to the younger generation. One young leader commented, “I still have a place in my heart for the Christian churches, but my friends ask why I bother. They think the Restoration Movement is dying…” I began to wonder if young people who have been raised in our churches are even aware that they are part of a larger fellowship of believers with a rich history and a tremendous plea. Previous generations spent their lives seeking to model the church and faith after the example given in the New Testament, without many of the creeds and rules of the denominational world. I wanted to test the theory that we might be losing this emphasis, so one night I asked my teenage children, “What do you guys know about the Restoration Movement?” My son responded, “It’s a group of people who are trying to do church like they did it in the Bible.” I was pleased with his answer, but I still had uneasiness in my spirit that perhaps we (church leaders) were not doing enough to educate church members about the principles of the Restoration Movement.

I’m not suggesting that every Christian needs to be able to identify Alexander Campbell or Barton W. Stone. Nor must one be familiar with Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address in order to be saved. I would much rather see people indentifying with Jesus and the apostles, and being familiar with the Word of God. However, our forefathers were on to something when they encouraged people to “take the Bible only, and be called Christians only.” I believe it is a plea that is worth sharing with our children and folks who are new to the faith. Even some who are not part of our movement have noticed this. Evangelical professor and author Scot McKnight writes, “I'm convinced one of the most untapped sources of evangelical theology and ministry today is the Restoration Movement, sometimes called the Stone-Campbell Movement, and known to others as the Christian Churches and the Churches of Christ. My experience confirms to me time and time again that these folks are quietly at work in the gospel.” It was a good reminder to me that our churches and organizations are setting an example for others in the religious world.

Recently I started teaching a class called “Principles of the Restoration Movement.” We are covering a lot of Bible. But the class members (new believers and long-time church members) are embracing these principles. I’m trying to pass the baton. Are you?

Pants on the Ground

For those who haven't see it yet...

Preaching at Lake James

Last night I had the privilege of speaking to several dozen high school students at Lake James Christian Assembly. They are at the camp this weekend for the Winter Retreat. I always enjoy seeing students worship – they do so with sincerity and abandon. The Pulse Band (Cedar Creek’s student praise team) did a great job leading in worship. I preached on the assigned topic of forgiveness. I have wonderful memories of Church Camp from my teen years. I'm glad I was asked to participate in this. Extra Bonus: Both of my kids were there.

Dawson Going to Hall of Fame!

The Hawk gets his due.

Good Advice from a Seasoned Veteran

Mark Driscoll posted this on his blog a couple of days ago. I thought it was great:

I was recently visiting a friend who serves another church and he introduced me to an older minister who has encouraged him for many years. This eighty-six-year-old preacher had lots of gas still in his tank, and speculated out loud whether he thought he could take me at racquetball. He was a genuinely happy man filled with joy and still dreaming new dreams for ministry.

At one point in our brief conversation, I asked him what the “secret” was to his lifelong ministry, good health, and joy.

Of course, the old preacher rattled off three points:

1.“Read the Bible every day.” I asked him how many times he had read the Bible, and he said he was finishing up his 358th reading of the entire Bible!

2.“Mumble prayers throughout the day.” He explained that it is vital to pray in the morning to connect with God and confess sin, but that we also need to mumble prayers throughout the day, talking to God about everything.

3.“Refuse to have any enemies.” He said that if you choose to forgive everyone of all their sins, then no matter who or what is against you, your heart will not become hard and bitter because you treat everyone like a friend.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Partridge in a Pear Tree

Mythbusters: The Final Episode

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

I've written about this before, but it's the time of year for the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" debate. You have probably received at least one email or Facebook request ("We say 'Merry Christmas'") that bemoans the fact that "Christ is being taken out of Christmas" or some such. Really? Is this the hill we want to die on?

Jon Acuf writes a blog called Stuff Christians Like. I think his take on this issue is excellent:

I wasn’t going to write about this one. ...Until I saw the billboard.

Sunday night, driving home from vacation with my family outside of Atlanta, GA, I saw a new billboard.

On a background of festive red, with big white letters I read a simple message:

I miss you saying “Merry Christmas.” – Jesus

And that’s when, much like the mafia, just when I thought I was out, they dragged me back into the conversation.

I don’t have a problem with that billboard, but there are three things it calls to mind:

1. We invented the phrase “Merry Christmas.”
I’ve only read the Bible from front to back one time. I read it a lot, but from a “read through it straight in 2 years point of view” I’ve only taken one spin. But when I did, I swear I couldn’t find the phrase, “Merry Christmas” anywhere. That billboard kind of makes it seem like Paul said that while he was making tents before he went on his wild missions. “Making tents on Christmas Eve. That is completely bogus. No one even said ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. All these heathen tent makers all say, ‘Happy Holidays.’ So whack.”

2. How do we know Jesus misses that?
Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. I honestly don’t know. Maybe Jesus would say things like “I miss hearing you say, ‘Let’s play some Frisbee golf’” or “I miss hearing you say that you pre-ordered the ‘Stuff Christians Like’ book.” I’m not certain, but I am certain that the times I’ve misquoted Jesus or put words in his mouth, in my mouth I’ve felt that feeling you get when you chew aluminum foil with metal fillings in your teeth. God isn’t technically striking me with lightning but He’s definitely firing up the lightning bolt 300 for imminent release.

3. We would be upset if someone else quoted Jesus for their cause.
If some other group made a billboard that quoted Jesus and that quote was not solidly based in the Bible, we would go spider monkey crazy. (You might rock out squirrel monkey style, but that’s really a personal preference thing.) If someone, even just for emphasis, quoted Jesus as supporting their cause and it wasn’t straight up Bible, we would be straight up upset.

I will see that billboard everyday during my commute, but I’m at peace with it. And there’s a pretty simple reason – It’s not belligerent. I always get a little weirded out when people aggressively make the distinction between “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” I completely understand the frustration with a culture that is actively and deliberately removing Christ at every given opportunity, but when we angrily say, “It’s ‘Merry Christmas, not happy holidays!’” we might as well say, “It’s ‘Merry Christmas,’ not happy holidays you jerk!” And that makes people want to celebrate winter solstice instead of whatever those grumpy, fight you on a vernacular level Christians are down with.

I promise.

O Holy Night -- worst rendition ever

I heard this several years ago. It still makes me laugh.

Pfft You Were Gone

Happy Thanksgiving!

"O give thanks to the Lord for He is good." I think Thanksgiving is in the running for my favorite holiday (Christmas is the other contender). I woke up this morning at my parents house with the aroma is turkey in the air. Homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee were on the breakfast table. Lots of family members are coming over later for Thanksgiving dinner. (I'm starting to see a theme here, and it revolves around food).

But I like the intended focus of the day -- thanking the Lord for His blessings(one of my pet peeves is when people call it "Turkey Day" rather than "Thanksgiving" -- I'm not a jerk about it, I just think people are missing the point).

So I encourage you to spend some time reflecting upon the Lord's goodness to you. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Just Saw This -- Thought It Was Funny

Top 10 Reasons you DO NOT want Jack Bauer as your accountability partner.

I thought this was funny (courtesy of Bryan Allain's blog):

10. He refuses to speak until he’s patted you down for hidden weapons or wiretaps.

9. Tough to keep his attention when he’s constantly downloading building schematics on his phone.

8. He can’t really sympathize with your “tough week at home with the kids” because he almost died 6 times last week, and actually did die once but was revived by a stray power line that landed in his mouth.

7. He’s got television cameras following him everywhere. And insane terrorists. And the government. And an unlucky daughter.

6. He cancels half of your meetings with text messages like “Sorry cant make mtg. Undercover in Iraqi Prison making a shiv out of stale bread. Breakfast Monday?”

5. He’s always got the scent of danger and B.O. going, and it kind of makes you throw up in your mouth a little if you get too close.

4. Impossible for him to get through a meeting without jamming a needle full of truth serum into the base of your neck, which kind of hurts.

3. Too much yelling.

2. Tough to know how to respond to, “How I’m doing with God? HOW AM I DOING WITH GOD??? I KILLED 18 PEOPLE LAST NIGHT WHO WERE TRYING TO SMUGGLE A DIRTY BOMB INTO MIAMI, AND ONE OF THEM WAS MY FATHER! THAT’S HOW I’M DOING WITH GOD!”

and finally, the #1 reason you do not want Jack Bauer as your accountability partner…

1. When he finds out you’re lying to him…and he will…you’re dead.

Race Day

We had a lot of fun today, running and watching our friends/family run. The weather was perfect (cloudy and low 50's). Here are a few pics:

Richmond Race

I'm back in my old stompin' grounds in Virginia. I'll be running in the McDonalds Half-Marathon with some friends. Tracy is running the ntelos 8K, and my cousin Dave is doing the full marathon.

We have been here before (I did the full marathon in 2002 and the 8K in 2007). This is a very well organized race. We are looking forward to spending time with friends and family.

Thank a Veteran Today

Ed Stetzer

I recently started following Ed Stetzer on Twitter. This guy has some amazing insights:

* We've jazzed up the music, spiced up the sermons, and spruced up the buildings but the wheat still isn't harvesting itself.
* In church life, the people that are rocking the boat are hardly ever the ones rowing it.
* We can't experience the power of the gospel if we don't adhere to the teachings of its King.
* One cannot value the Kingdom of God & devalue the church. The church is the sign & instrument of the Kingdom.
* If you can learn to order at Starbucks, then you can learn theological language at church.
* Many churches never experience a comeback because they want the community to change while they remain the same.

Foxworthy Quote

If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty.'
- Jeff Foxworthy

Talking Heads

So I'm siting home alone (Mrs. Soren is at a ministers' wives retreat and the kids are at a school function). Not many sports on tv (although that psycho soccer chick from New Mexico was "must see tv" on SportsCenter). So I'm channel surfing (mostly between the news channels). Some stations are overtly conservative and others are obvious mouthpieces for the DNC. I don't think I could take of steady diet of this every night. It gets old very quickly.

Some Good Thoughts Here

excerpts from a post I liked (from Stands to Reason):

Halloween Worries, Doctrine Apathy

I'm surprised each year by the amount of concern and attention given to whether Christians should participate in Halloween, especially when the same amount of concern and attention isn't given to issues at least of equal weight and what I think have more weight. Many Christians delve into the details of the history of Halloween in a sincere effort to try to make a good decision about what's pleasing to God; I just don't see the same time and attention given to studying the details of central Christian beliefs like the Trinity or justification…

I'm not talking about the decision Christians make about what to do about Halloween. That's a matter of conscience each has to make. I'm talking about the inordinate energy, attention, thought, and focus spent on what to do about Halloween and the polar opposite apathy about theology, doctrine, church history… What I'm talking about is the level of energy and attention given to it and the contrasting lack of it given to arguable more central issues of Christianity. Christians can be shocked that another Christian will go trick or treating, but not blink an eye of awareness or concern when another Christian distorts…doctrine.

I'm not sure what this inordinate worry over Halloween and apathy about doctrine says about contemporary Christians, but I think it says something - and it's not good. One friend's theory is the inordinate emphasis in modern Christianity on application and therapeutic teaching to the near exclusion of theology and Bible study (not just Bible reading). That sounds like a pretty good theory to me.

Sunday's Sermon

I'm currently preaching a sermon series from the book of 1 Timothy. This coming Sunday's message will deal with the topics of modesty, gender roles, and elder qualifications. I probably should have planned a sermon for each subject, but they are sequential in the text and I will deal with them as we work through the passage. It is amazing how much material has been written about these topics, particularly gender roles and the eldership. But the plain reading of Scripture seems to leave no doubt about God's point of view. But like my friend John Mitchell says, "Some people need professional help in order to misunderstand the Bible."

Trolls

From Seth Godin's Blog:

Lots of things about work are hard. Dealing with trolls is one of them. Trolls are critics who gain perverse pleasure in relentlessly tearing you and your ideas down. Here's the thing(s):

1. trolls will always be trolling
2. critics rarely create
3. they live in a tiny echo chamber, ignored by everyone except the trolled and the other trolls
4. professionals (that's you) get paid to ignore them. It's part of your job.

"Can't please everyone," isn't just an aphorism, it's the secret of being remarkable.

Lifelong Learners

When I was in Bible College, a guest spoke in chapel and remarked, “One can visit the average minister’s study, glance at his library, and know what year his brain died.” Although he intended the line to be humorous, it has stayed with me all these years later. That day I determined to never reach the place where I thought I had “arrived” or reached the pinnacle of biblical knowledge. I wanted to be a lifelong learner.

One of the many traits to admire about the early leaders of the Restoration Movement is that they never stopped searching for a more accurate understanding of the Scriptures. It was this thirst for knowledge and hunger for truth that led them to challenge the traditions of their denominational upbringing. Even after determining to forsake sectarian names and be known as “Christians only” and follow the Bible only, they continued to modify, develop, and deepen their theological convictions as their understanding of God’s Word increased. For example, Alexander Campbell’s views of important issues like baptism, communion, and church polity were developed over a period of several years. Biblical truth did not change, but he did, as he consistently asked the question, “What does the Bible really teach about this particular doctrine?” Others asked the same question in their quest for truth. For 200 years, Restoration churches have been encouraging people to follow their example. When one asks that question, and seeks a truthful answer, a change of mind in sometimes in order.

The fact that lifelong learners sometimes change their convictions should come as no surprise. Biblical faith is more accurately described as a journey rather than a destination. New Testament teaching about discipleship and faith development commands believers with terms like grow and strive and add to your faith. Hebrews 6:1 says, “…let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” Some of the epistles were written with the purpose of correcting improper or incomplete beliefs about Christ and His church. Prominent biblical characters are shown that their thinking is not quite right about a given topic (e.g. Peter receiving a vision about God accepting the Gentiles in Acts 10; Apollos being taught more accurately about Christian baptism in Acts 18).

Those that want to go deeper in their walk with the Lord would do well to follow the example of the Berean Christians mentioned in Acts 17:11, “…they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” We must be willing to do the very thing that we encourage our religious friends and family members to do – look to the Bible for the answers. Lifelong learning is a challenge, but it is also a joy. And it is our responsibility: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
(2 Peter 3:18).

Burglar Busted After Checking Facebook During Crime

FORT LOUDOUN, PA - Add burglars to the list of people that are addicted to the social networking site Facebook.

Pennsylvania police busted 19-year-old Jonathan Parker after he broke into a home last month and accidentally left his facebook page open on the victim's computer.

Investigators said Parker likely squeezed through a bedroom window and while inside swiped two diamond rings worth $3,500.

When the victim came home, she alerted authorities after finding her home ransacked and her computer on with an unfamiliar Facebook account on the screen.

Turns out, the victim and the suspect had a mutual friend, who later confessed to authorities that Parker had asked him to help carry out the crime.

Parker remains in police custody on $10,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years behind bars.

Revival Time

I’m in Shoals, Indiana this week preaching at a Revival Meeting with the Shoals Christian Church. My friend Matt Sullivan is the preacher here. I have not been to this part of the state before. It is beautiful. Driving down here this afternoon was a gorgeous sight. Rolling hills, fall foliage, sun shining – it made for a scenic trip. Pray for me, that I might preach messages that will be encouraging and challenging to the people. I’m looking forward to the fellowship with Matthew and his family.

Fort-4-Fitness

This morning I ran the Fort-4-Fitness half-marathon. I ran pretty slow, but I was glad to finish. It was overcast and cool -- perfect running conditions. The support at this race was amzing (water/gatorade, encouragers, bands, extras, etc).

How Long Should You Preach?

Years ago I heard someone ask John Maxwell, “How long should I preach?” Maxwell responded with, “How good are you?” There is probably some truth to the old adage, “there’s no such thing as a bad short sermon” (although I think I have heard a few, and probably have preached some). I once heard Bob Russell share his sermon length formula with a group of preachers. He said: Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. Now subtract 2 (since most preachers overestimate their ability). And multiply by five minutes. So if a guy estimates that he is an “8”, he drops it down to a “6” and multiplies by five minutes – that equals a 30 minute sermon.

We are told that people have short attention spans these days, so we should preach short(er) messages (my sermons average about 25 minutes). Yet I listen to preaching podcasts of some of the fastest growing churches in America – guys like Andy Stanley, Mark Driscoll, and Perry Noble, and they regularly preach for nearly an hour – sometimes even longer than that (well, mostly Driscoll). These lengthy sermons don’t seem to be hindering the growth of their churches. What’s the deal?

What say you? What is the perfect sermon length?

60th Anniversary of my Alma Mater

Tonight I will be traveling to Great Lakes Christian College to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school. I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends and former professors. It's hard to believe that it has been 22 years since I left the halls of learning and began an education that can only happen in the real world of ministry. Still, I have fond memories of GLCC (after all, that's where I met Mrs. Soren!).

We're on iTunes

If anyone is interested, you can now subscribe to my sermons via iTunes. Simply go to the iTunes Store and enter Cedar Creek Church of Christ into the search bar. It will give you the option Cedar Creek Church of Christ (Eric Bass). Click that and you are good to go.

God Bless America

Never Forget

Eight years ago, I was in Missouri preaching at a Revival. I remember hearing on the radio that a plane had hit one of the twin towers. Thinking it was a small plane, I thought, “That’s strange.” My host gave me a tour of the area that morning. It wasn’t until lunchtime that we heard what happened. We scrapped the Revival plans and simply has a prayer service that night.

This morning I thanked God for protecting our country over these past eight years, grateful for the men & women who serve to ensure our freedom and safety. America, don't take anything for granted. And don't forget September 11, 2001.

Warren Woods

Yesterday while visiting my hometown of Three Oaks, MI, I went to Warren Woods. I actually went twice – the first time, I ran through the woods, remembering my Cross Country days (the woods was part of the High School CC course). I returned later for a leisurely walk with Mrs. Soren. I wondered how many times I had run through those woods without pondering the beauty of God’s creation. This time I took the time to wonder at His Majesty.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; Psalm 96:11-12

Garage Sale

Mrs. Soren has been wanting to have a Garage Sale for some time now. We finally got a lot of stuff ready (clothes, CDs, old couches, TVs, etc). There has been a steady stream of people all morning long. One man's junk is another man's treasure, right? It's amazing what people will buy. I said to her last night, "I hope we make some decent money." She replied, "What do you mean, 'WE'? Oh, right. It must have someone other than ME who lugged a couch and loveseat up from the basement (with the help of a reluctant 14 year old boy). But I'm over it now :-)