Here is my December submission to "River Region's Journey" magazine. I trust you'll find it thought-provoking as we examine how our religious liberties are being challenged across America, especially during the Christmas season...
Could this possibly be the point of view of a non-Christian in December of 2050?
Recently, the signs of that December holiday began to be apparent again – yes, the ol’ orange and black retail decorations were swiftly replaced as if a magic wand had run amok in certain establishments. Brightly colored lights have begun to adorn yards and houses around our neighborhood, and the dates have already been set and invitation lists crafted for certain festive occasions.
It’s fun to celebrate, to spend happy times with family and friends. There once was a time when this season used to be known as Christmas. That was before certain retailers decided that it was too costly to offend customers who did not adhere to a certain set of religious beliefs. Slowly, but surely, the ads that used to say “Merry Christmas” were replaced by the more tolerant, “Happy Holidays”. Now no one even needs to specify which holiday – because they figure everyone knows. Society has a more sanitized, generic celebration, and those church people, well, they can have their ancient rituals celebrated in a more appropriate place – the church, inside their four walls, where no one has to be exposed to their archaic incantations.
I was, to say the least, quite pleased when our government got out of that “endorsing-of-religion” business a while back. Those scenes of Jesus in a manger, surrounded by the so-called, “holy” family, were an affront to those of us who wished to live our lives without being reminded that there are people who want to pass judgment on those of us who are not Christians. Christians claim they celebrate the birth of a baby who they say came to save the world – sure, he was a popular teacher in his day, but this mystical, “mind-over-matter” stuff was just a bit much for a reasoned society. So, those nativity scenes are no longer native to city hall grounds and courthouse squares, and those Christmas trees have become treated as symbols of family, friendship, and fun.
Sure, there are other holidays, which still retain their original names and personalities – Valentine’s Day is a celebration for lovers, the 4th of July has become a great reminder of tolerance and freedom of expression, and Halloween is just plain fun, with a dalliance or two with the dark side thrown in for good measure. But, none of these compare with THE holidays, the season, the winter festival, a way to break the monotony between the finality of fall and the promise of spring. It’s become much more carefree without the religious overtones – no more “war on Christmas”, when Christians would try to coerce retailers to put some mention of Christmas in their advertising, back when 95% of people in our country said they celebrated Christmas. It’s good that intimidation no longer rules the day and Christians keep their outdated religion to themselves.
When the courts began to enforce the Establishment Clause of the Bill of Rights, our governments, from Washington to cities and counties across our land, set a tone that church and state were to be absolutely separated. Even though for a while, certain high-profile Christians screamed that we were a “Christian” nation and that their freedom of expression was being limited, nevertheless there became so much hostility toward these people that their voices eventually were silenced. So now we don’t have to drive by a government building and be reminded of those 10 Commandments or walk into a store and have someone wish us “Merry Christmas”. We can now eat, drink, and be merry, and not pay a bit of attention to who we might offend. Freedom is a wonderful thing…
But, I’m really wondering why I end up rolling up a huge credit card debt this time of year to buy gifts for others, when I could be saving for that boat that I want so badly. Why am I looking for the right electronic gadget to enhance my light display? Why do we spend the time in preparation for a party that will be forgotten this time next year, or next week? Oh, yes, it’s THE holidays, the happy holidays, that are supposed to be bigger and better every year…but at the end of it all, after we shout “Happy New Year” (there’s that word, “happy”, again), it’s time to put it all back in the box. Is that what this has become – some instant gratification, some modicum of happiness that comes and goes as we load and unload boxes full of…glass…and cords? Wait a minute, I have a text, got to go pick up that holiday ham – there’s plenty to celebrate, isn’t there? You know, in a way, I miss those Christians and all there revelry this time of year…it just doesn’t seem the same without ‘em.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Toward a More Civil Society
Here is a copy of the November column that I submitted for "River Region's Journey" magazine.
The tone is unmistakable. We see it in the gestures made by drivers who feel like their fellow road warriors have gotten just a bit too close. We observe it in the children who show disrespect for parents and other authorities in their lives. We sense it on the athletic field, as the spirit of competition morphs into a spirit of outright cruelty. And then, there are those politicians who engage in mean-spirited attacks and change their focus from issues to personal nuances.
These examples, I believe are symptomatic of the type of society in which we’re living, where anger and rage have replaced honor and respect. But, it gives us as Christians a unique opportunity to provide a strong contrast to the behavioral norms that have developed, practicing the words of our Lord, as He told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
I would like share a few principles on cultural civility, rooted in the Biblical ideals of the Golden Rule (which is not, “do unto others before they do it unto you”!) and the answer to the question, “who is my neighbor?”.
First, recognize that we have a unique opportunity. These are days in which the Scriptures can be tremendously relevant. In the midst of angry people and attitudes, we can reflect peace and longsuffering. People are upset these days over a wide range of circumstances, whether it be the economy, issues at home, or an overstressed schedule. To go against the grain and reflect the fruit of the Spirit can attract others to the presence of Christ within you.
A smile is an outward expression that cannot be underestimated. If I had to describe the general emotion of our culture today, I don’t think “happy” or “joyful” would be two of the adjectives I would use. A smile can be contagious, reflecting an attitude that stands in contrast to what many are experiencing these days.
Kind words diffuse emotional upheavals. I had the chance several months ago to talk with Dr. Gary Chapman, perhaps best known for his association with the 5 Love Languages. He lamented the lack of civility in our society, saying, “We’ve forgotten…how to dialogue and how to be civil to somebody, even if you disagree with what they’re saying.” Dr. Chapman essentially said we could recapture a sense of civility if we as Christians learn how to treat people kindly and courteously, and demonstrate all the other traits of love. In his book, Love as a Way of Life, he identifies 7 characteristics of authentic love: kindness, patience, forgiveness, humility, courtesy, generosity, and honesty. This conversation is posted on the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Acts of kindness are living examples of Christ’s mercy. I believe that the faith walk is more than just talking the talk, but it involves walking in Christ’s steps. I think we practice His love and mercy by not only toning down our rhetoric and choosing our words carefully, but also engaging the culture by doing acts that back up our words.
Be intentional about people to whom you can lend a helping hand.
Last year, I interviewed Dr. Crawford Loritts, Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in the Atlanta area. Several years ago, after concluding a series on giving, church members were given a total of $30,000 in small bills to use in a “Kingdom Assignment”. The people were told to invest the money in advancing the cause of the gospel. Dr. Loritts said that, “God did some remarkable things”. Examples included families giving out packets to the homeless in downtown Atlanta, providing an eye exam and glasses for a special needs child in a single-parent situation, drilling wells in Third World countries, and the purchase of an ad for a website for prayer – the word of that purchase spread through the newspaper office and landed the church on the front page of the newspaper!! I believe that we can identify special people and projects, in addition to being ready in and out of season to reflect His nature.
And, remember, you are an ambassador for Christ. Our family has learned this in special ways over the last few months. The four of us went on a missions trip to North Carolina to help in the building of a camp that will serve inner city youth. We participated in a service day with our church, and helped paint a house and do other chores at a special lady’s house. Plus, my wife and daughter ministered to the fair workers by assisting in serving them breakfast. It is in serving that we begin to lose ourselves and truly love our neighbors, and that brings joy to us personally and spreads the light of Christ to a world that needs to see the difference that is in us.
The interview with Crawford Loritts, to which I referred in the column, can also be found at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
The tone is unmistakable. We see it in the gestures made by drivers who feel like their fellow road warriors have gotten just a bit too close. We observe it in the children who show disrespect for parents and other authorities in their lives. We sense it on the athletic field, as the spirit of competition morphs into a spirit of outright cruelty. And then, there are those politicians who engage in mean-spirited attacks and change their focus from issues to personal nuances.
These examples, I believe are symptomatic of the type of society in which we’re living, where anger and rage have replaced honor and respect. But, it gives us as Christians a unique opportunity to provide a strong contrast to the behavioral norms that have developed, practicing the words of our Lord, as He told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
I would like share a few principles on cultural civility, rooted in the Biblical ideals of the Golden Rule (which is not, “do unto others before they do it unto you”!) and the answer to the question, “who is my neighbor?”.
First, recognize that we have a unique opportunity. These are days in which the Scriptures can be tremendously relevant. In the midst of angry people and attitudes, we can reflect peace and longsuffering. People are upset these days over a wide range of circumstances, whether it be the economy, issues at home, or an overstressed schedule. To go against the grain and reflect the fruit of the Spirit can attract others to the presence of Christ within you.
A smile is an outward expression that cannot be underestimated. If I had to describe the general emotion of our culture today, I don’t think “happy” or “joyful” would be two of the adjectives I would use. A smile can be contagious, reflecting an attitude that stands in contrast to what many are experiencing these days.
Kind words diffuse emotional upheavals. I had the chance several months ago to talk with Dr. Gary Chapman, perhaps best known for his association with the 5 Love Languages. He lamented the lack of civility in our society, saying, “We’ve forgotten…how to dialogue and how to be civil to somebody, even if you disagree with what they’re saying.” Dr. Chapman essentially said we could recapture a sense of civility if we as Christians learn how to treat people kindly and courteously, and demonstrate all the other traits of love. In his book, Love as a Way of Life, he identifies 7 characteristics of authentic love: kindness, patience, forgiveness, humility, courtesy, generosity, and honesty. This conversation is posted on the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Acts of kindness are living examples of Christ’s mercy. I believe that the faith walk is more than just talking the talk, but it involves walking in Christ’s steps. I think we practice His love and mercy by not only toning down our rhetoric and choosing our words carefully, but also engaging the culture by doing acts that back up our words.
Be intentional about people to whom you can lend a helping hand.
Last year, I interviewed Dr. Crawford Loritts, Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in the Atlanta area. Several years ago, after concluding a series on giving, church members were given a total of $30,000 in small bills to use in a “Kingdom Assignment”. The people were told to invest the money in advancing the cause of the gospel. Dr. Loritts said that, “God did some remarkable things”. Examples included families giving out packets to the homeless in downtown Atlanta, providing an eye exam and glasses for a special needs child in a single-parent situation, drilling wells in Third World countries, and the purchase of an ad for a website for prayer – the word of that purchase spread through the newspaper office and landed the church on the front page of the newspaper!! I believe that we can identify special people and projects, in addition to being ready in and out of season to reflect His nature.
And, remember, you are an ambassador for Christ. Our family has learned this in special ways over the last few months. The four of us went on a missions trip to North Carolina to help in the building of a camp that will serve inner city youth. We participated in a service day with our church, and helped paint a house and do other chores at a special lady’s house. Plus, my wife and daughter ministered to the fair workers by assisting in serving them breakfast. It is in serving that we begin to lose ourselves and truly love our neighbors, and that brings joy to us personally and spreads the light of Christ to a world that needs to see the difference that is in us.
The interview with Crawford Loritts, to which I referred in the column, can also be found at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Friday, October 17, 2008
7 Leadership Labels
I wanted to pass along my latest column from "River Region's Journey" magazine. It's so important that men and women of character are elected to public office, and that the leadership characteristics that are consistent with Scripture are demonstrated by God's people. So here are some thoughts that I submitted to Journey.
The 2008 elections will be here practically before we realize it, and it is definitely time to be praying for the choices that we will make. As I’ve said on my radio program, The Meeting House, on Faith Radio, it’s important that we exercise our right to vote and make prayerful and informed choices.
I have crafted a list of 7 characteristics – “leadership labels”, if you will, that can be qualities that each of us would want to emulate and that we can look for in the leaders we choose.
Character.
One’s character is the essence of his or her personality. I’ve heard it said that character is who a person is when there is nobody watching. I think that a person of good character is someone who can be trusted, who takes life seriously and soberly, and has a keen sense of his or her life’s purpose. I believe that one of the key elements of character is one’s…
Core Beliefs.
When examining candidates for public office, I think it’s critical that, whenever possible, we determine what drives a person – not merely what someone will say in order to get elected, but what activities in which he or she has participated, and with whom or what the person has associated. If one’s motivation can be discerned, then it can go a long way in determining how someone will behave when assuming the mantle of public trust. How willing is someone to govern based on those core beliefs? Do those beliefs become…
Convictions.
Convictions are solidly held principles that provide a strong foundation for how a person behaves. Unfortunately, some politicians say that they hold a certain set of beliefs, yet do not believe they should impose those beliefs on others. If one holds to his or her convictions, then that person will do the right thing, regardless of the political fallout. I believe respect can be gained if someone is willing to make policy decisions that reflect deeply-held convictions. I believe that faith has a key role in the development of public policy, and an important question for people of faith who aspire to high office is: how does your personal faith influence the decisions you make? And a person who has convictions will allow themselves to be governed by…
Conscience.
A conscience is grounded in a sense of right and wrong – a moral compass that helps one to make good decisions, even in the heat of the moment. A good leader, I believe, has an intuitive sense of how to act when leadership is needed or desired. And, if someone is dedicated to following one’s conscience, then it will be reflected in his or her…
Communication.
Words have meaning. A person of ideas is well-served if those ideas can be communicated in a clear, concise, and sincere manner. People who share candidly, from the heart, can make a distinct impression and use their influence for the good of others. Jesus was such a communicator – He understood the power of ideas, was able to relate to people on their level, and used words to paint effective pictures of the truth He desired for people to embrace. A person with good communication skills alone is not necessarily a good leader, but a person who backs his speech up with quality, consistent action is someone to whom we should pay attention. And we can be drawn by…
Creativity.
The ability to speak and act creatively helps someone stand out from the crowd - Not flashy, but fresh…not mundane, but motivational. If one is content with the status quo, then complacency can set in. But, if one is constantly evaluating, looking for ways to improve, some creative energy can be generated that can bring about the desired results. And, at all time, the good leader keeps in mind that it’s not all about him or her, but the focus should be…
Centered on Others.
Jesus came to earth, becoming one of us so that we might be saved. He said in Mark that He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Does a politician, someone aspiring to hold public office, recognize the calling he or she has to be a servant-leader? A quality leader is not looking to rule, but to serve…not to dictate, but to illustrate what it means to help other people.
Of course, issues are very important, and in examining potential leaders, I encourage you to evaluate the positions on a variety of issues, consistent with a Biblical worldview perspective. I believe that we are a country that has a tremendous leadership void, and that statesmen – quality leaders - are required in the future to address the significant challenges of our public entities.
The 2008 elections will be here practically before we realize it, and it is definitely time to be praying for the choices that we will make. As I’ve said on my radio program, The Meeting House, on Faith Radio, it’s important that we exercise our right to vote and make prayerful and informed choices.
I have crafted a list of 7 characteristics – “leadership labels”, if you will, that can be qualities that each of us would want to emulate and that we can look for in the leaders we choose.
Character.
One’s character is the essence of his or her personality. I’ve heard it said that character is who a person is when there is nobody watching. I think that a person of good character is someone who can be trusted, who takes life seriously and soberly, and has a keen sense of his or her life’s purpose. I believe that one of the key elements of character is one’s…
Core Beliefs.
When examining candidates for public office, I think it’s critical that, whenever possible, we determine what drives a person – not merely what someone will say in order to get elected, but what activities in which he or she has participated, and with whom or what the person has associated. If one’s motivation can be discerned, then it can go a long way in determining how someone will behave when assuming the mantle of public trust. How willing is someone to govern based on those core beliefs? Do those beliefs become…
Convictions.
Convictions are solidly held principles that provide a strong foundation for how a person behaves. Unfortunately, some politicians say that they hold a certain set of beliefs, yet do not believe they should impose those beliefs on others. If one holds to his or her convictions, then that person will do the right thing, regardless of the political fallout. I believe respect can be gained if someone is willing to make policy decisions that reflect deeply-held convictions. I believe that faith has a key role in the development of public policy, and an important question for people of faith who aspire to high office is: how does your personal faith influence the decisions you make? And a person who has convictions will allow themselves to be governed by…
Conscience.
A conscience is grounded in a sense of right and wrong – a moral compass that helps one to make good decisions, even in the heat of the moment. A good leader, I believe, has an intuitive sense of how to act when leadership is needed or desired. And, if someone is dedicated to following one’s conscience, then it will be reflected in his or her…
Communication.
Words have meaning. A person of ideas is well-served if those ideas can be communicated in a clear, concise, and sincere manner. People who share candidly, from the heart, can make a distinct impression and use their influence for the good of others. Jesus was such a communicator – He understood the power of ideas, was able to relate to people on their level, and used words to paint effective pictures of the truth He desired for people to embrace. A person with good communication skills alone is not necessarily a good leader, but a person who backs his speech up with quality, consistent action is someone to whom we should pay attention. And we can be drawn by…
Creativity.
The ability to speak and act creatively helps someone stand out from the crowd - Not flashy, but fresh…not mundane, but motivational. If one is content with the status quo, then complacency can set in. But, if one is constantly evaluating, looking for ways to improve, some creative energy can be generated that can bring about the desired results. And, at all time, the good leader keeps in mind that it’s not all about him or her, but the focus should be…
Centered on Others.
Jesus came to earth, becoming one of us so that we might be saved. He said in Mark that He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Does a politician, someone aspiring to hold public office, recognize the calling he or she has to be a servant-leader? A quality leader is not looking to rule, but to serve…not to dictate, but to illustrate what it means to help other people.
Of course, issues are very important, and in examining potential leaders, I encourage you to evaluate the positions on a variety of issues, consistent with a Biblical worldview perspective. I believe that we are a country that has a tremendous leadership void, and that statesmen – quality leaders - are required in the future to address the significant challenges of our public entities.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
"Fireproof" Catching Fire
Have you heard? The Kendrick brothers from Albany, Georgia and Sherwood Baptist Church are at it again - their next project is called, "Fireproof", and it's due in theaters on September 26th.
These are genuinely humble individuals who desire to touch the world from their hometown of Albany, and through the movie, "Facing the Giants", they presented a powerful gospel message against the backdrop of high school football. The miracle story of how a church-based production company made a movie for $100,000 and grossed $10 million at the box office is an incredible testimony to God's greatness.
Now, they are attempting to share a message of the sanctity of marriage and God's ability to save and revolutionize marriage through their film, "Fireproof".
A pastor and church leader screening is in the works for the Montgomery area, and I encourage you to visit the website at http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/. Here's a source for information on "Fireproof":
You can hear my interview with Stephen Kendrick of Sherwood Pictures, Producer of "Fireproof" at: www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
These are genuinely humble individuals who desire to touch the world from their hometown of Albany, and through the movie, "Facing the Giants", they presented a powerful gospel message against the backdrop of high school football. The miracle story of how a church-based production company made a movie for $100,000 and grossed $10 million at the box office is an incredible testimony to God's greatness.
Now, they are attempting to share a message of the sanctity of marriage and God's ability to save and revolutionize marriage through their film, "Fireproof".
A pastor and church leader screening is in the works for the Montgomery area, and I encourage you to visit the website at http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/. Here's a source for information on "Fireproof":
You can hear my interview with Stephen Kendrick of Sherwood Pictures, Producer of "Fireproof" at: www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Religious Freedom Scorecard - Liberty 2, Suppression 1
I like to think that by tracing some of these instances where religious liberties are being called into question and...carried into court, that it will serve to embolden Christians to take a stand for our constitutional rights and to recognize the rich religious heritage that we have, which our laws were designed to uphold.
I have 3 situations to share -
#1 - Gainesville, Florida. A Christian-based fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi ("Brothers Under Christ"), desired to be recognized officially on the campus of the University of Florida. However, the university refused to do so. Recently, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling in favor of BYX, and the fraternity's Executive Director, Jason Hoyt, came on The Meeting House to talk about it.
Listen
You can find out more about the fraternity by going to www.betaupsilon.chi.org.
#2 - Fredericksburg, Virginia. In this Southern city, a city councilman, who also is a local minister, desired to participate in the prayer rotation at the council meetings AND close his prayers in the name of Jesus. The council adopted a policy allowing only non-sectarian prayers, and the minister filed suit. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, including former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, ruled against the minister. I was joined by former navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, who discussed this case with me:
Listen
You can discover more about this and the case I am about to highlight by going to www.prayinjesusname.org.
#3 - Baker City, Oregon. The City Council in this city took a look at its policy allowing only "non-sectarian" prayer to open its meetings, and decided to strike that requirements. Here again is Chaplain Klingenschmitt:
Listen
To download these 2 full interviews, you can go the Intersection Download Center at www.meetinghouseonline.info and find the .mp3 on the alphabetized list. Stay tuned to The Meeting House for regular updates concerning our religious liberties in America.
I have 3 situations to share -
#1 - Gainesville, Florida. A Christian-based fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi ("Brothers Under Christ"), desired to be recognized officially on the campus of the University of Florida. However, the university refused to do so. Recently, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling in favor of BYX, and the fraternity's Executive Director, Jason Hoyt, came on The Meeting House to talk about it.
Listen
You can find out more about the fraternity by going to www.betaupsilon.chi.org.
#2 - Fredericksburg, Virginia. In this Southern city, a city councilman, who also is a local minister, desired to participate in the prayer rotation at the council meetings AND close his prayers in the name of Jesus. The council adopted a policy allowing only non-sectarian prayers, and the minister filed suit. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, including former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, ruled against the minister. I was joined by former navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, who discussed this case with me:
Listen
You can discover more about this and the case I am about to highlight by going to www.prayinjesusname.org.
#3 - Baker City, Oregon. The City Council in this city took a look at its policy allowing only "non-sectarian" prayer to open its meetings, and decided to strike that requirements. Here again is Chaplain Klingenschmitt:
Listen
To download these 2 full interviews, you can go the Intersection Download Center at www.meetinghouseonline.info and find the .mp3 on the alphabetized list. Stay tuned to The Meeting House for regular updates concerning our religious liberties in America.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Great Expectations
One of the real challenges that I considered when starting this blog was making sure I kept it updated - sometimes I've gone to sites that may have had their most recent post from the previous year or two. So, that's not what I had in mind. Actually, the fact that I haven't updated the blog in a little over a month bothers me a bit, so I'm going to try to be real good and play catch up here. I wanted to include my monthly column from the current issue of "River Region's Journey", and to enhance that reading experience, I will insert some audio from a recent interview with Randy Singer, an author and pastor who is mentioned in the column. So, here goes...
Supernatural?!
The novel’s protagonist labored under a cloud of suspicion – you see, she had contacted law enforcement officials to share with them that she had been having these visions that revealed possibly incriminating evidence in a string of horrific murders. The recipients of this information concluded that since she knew so much, she had to be the perpetrator.
This is my attempt to summarize the basic premise of a new novel by attorney and pastor Randy Singer called, By Reason of Insanity. This novel certainly raises questions about the realm of the supernatural. In fact, when Randy joined me on The Meeting House on Faith Radio recently, he made reference to a legal proceeding documented in the book of Acts, where the Apostle Paul was told that much learning had made him “mad”.
Unfortunately, in today’s culture, the realm of the supernatural is something that is explored, and even glorified, as long as it does not involved Christ or Christians. It is acceptable for horror movies and creepy novels to journey into the paranormal, UFO’s become a cute diversion, and the existence of space aliens a source of curiosity. But, if it deals with miracles, well, there seems to be an element that just tosses it away as “insanity”.
Here are some of Randy Singer's comments now from a recent edition of The Meeting House radio program:
Supernatural?!
The novel’s protagonist labored under a cloud of suspicion – you see, she had contacted law enforcement officials to share with them that she had been having these visions that revealed possibly incriminating evidence in a string of horrific murders. The recipients of this information concluded that since she knew so much, she had to be the perpetrator.
This is my attempt to summarize the basic premise of a new novel by attorney and pastor Randy Singer called, By Reason of Insanity. This novel certainly raises questions about the realm of the supernatural. In fact, when Randy joined me on The Meeting House on Faith Radio recently, he made reference to a legal proceeding documented in the book of Acts, where the Apostle Paul was told that much learning had made him “mad”.
Unfortunately, in today’s culture, the realm of the supernatural is something that is explored, and even glorified, as long as it does not involved Christ or Christians. It is acceptable for horror movies and creepy novels to journey into the paranormal, UFO’s become a cute diversion, and the existence of space aliens a source of curiosity. But, if it deals with miracles, well, there seems to be an element that just tosses it away as “insanity”.
Here are some of Randy Singer's comments now from a recent edition of The Meeting House radio program:
Is God still working outside of our human understanding – today, in our midst? We hear the obligatory references to God’s hand of protection when a disaster might claim fewer lives that we would have expected, but is a fascination with how He is working - beyond our senses – something that Bible-believing Christians should be involved in? The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention reports that a number of Muslims are coming to Christ through – yes, dreams and visions!! A note here – God’s primary method of communication is His Word, the Bible, and a person’s claim to have heard from God must line up with the principles and edicts of Scripture. If the Holy Spirit is truly leading us, then we certify His leading by ascertaining how it is lining up with God’s Word. But we also recognize that His Spirit is in the earth today, and He is capable and culpable in doing work that is outside the boundaries of what we can readily explain. He is moving in the hearts of believers, and He is communicating to us – and we can be challenged to discern whether are not we are truly hearing and listening.
Randy Singer, in that Meeting House interview, elaborated on being sensitive to the supernatural in a Christian sense:
Listen
The Bible depicts a spiritual realm in Ephesians 6, telling us that we are not waging “war” against flesh and blood, but against various legions of supernatural, evil forces. Angels and demons are truly all around us. In fact, the prophet Daniel was told by a powerful angel that an evil entity called, “the prince of Persia” hindered him for 21 days in attempting to bring a message to Him. So, what do we do with this information? I believe that we should be emboldened as believers to walk in a manner that certifies that, as 1st John 4:4 says, greater is He who is in us that He that is in the world.
Some final thoughts from Randy Singer on how to know that we are hearing God's voice or sensing His direction:
Listen
Super Potential!
I’ve been thinking about the notion of expectations – we’re promised in Scripture, in Ephesians 3:20, that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. So, we acknowledge the supernatural realm and allow God to increase our level of expectation in Him. We also recognize the God-given abilities that He has placed within us – the gifts and talents that He desires to use for His glory.
And, there’s no better time to see these innate abilities developed than during the teen years. This was driven home by a recent Meeting House interview with Alex and Brett Harris, founders of a movement of teens called The Rebelution, and the authors of the book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. They are taking aim at, as Alex put it, “the modern notion of the teen years as really a vacation from responsibility.” In fact, they refer to something called the “myth of adolescence”.
I believe when our young people are challenged and energized, they can do amazing things and bring honor and glory to their Creator. It’s important that they are reinforced (lovingly, of course) in using those God-given abilities, and that we find ways to engage them in productive activities that take their minds off themselves and a sense of self-indulgence, and place it on God and others.
For more information on Randy Singer and his resources, you can visit his website at http://www.randysinger.net/. The brothers Harris have a website called http://www.therebelution.com/. Great and mighty is the Lord our God!!
The Harris brothers were featured in an earlier post here on the blog. Check out the May post, "Toward Higher Expectations", which has some .mp3 audio to which you can listen.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Who's Your Idol (from River Region's Journey)
The current edition of River Region's Journey magazine contains more Christian cultural commentary - in this piece from the June edition, I attempted to tie 3 threads from recent Meeting House programs together, and I hope it gives us all some thoughts upon which to reflect:
Around our house, Tuesday nights had morphed into quite a ritual – dinner in front of the tube, eyes and ears transfixed as the next “Idol” attempted to win the hearts of America. And while I’ve never been so crazy about the name, nevertheless the search for talent, the sense of competition, and the sharp comments of the judges make the program a regular part of life between March and May.
It’s funny what and who society tends to idolize and even place unrealistic expectations upon. I have to admit, as I wrote in my Meeting House blog, the finish to "Idol Gives Back" was absolutely incredible. I was thrilled that the end of the program featured the worship favorite, “Shout to the Lord”, and I wrote this:Yes, it stung that the name of Jesus was edited out of the first line of "Shout to the Lord", but I don't think that changes the meaning of the song to embrace some sort of Oprah-type generic religion…Sure beats some generic, so-called inspirational song like "We are the World".With regard to the choice of "Shout to the Lord" and the editing of the name of Jesus to "shepherd", I think we have to realize that the job description of the world is not to evangelize - that's our job...and we as Christians have been given a great opportunity to talk about the "Idol" show and perhaps get someone thinking about spiritual things and a relationship with Christ.
So, the inclusion of “Shout to the Lord” does not signify some sort of cultural epiphany, but I do believe it recognizes a place for faith in American life. And, I was glad that Jesus’ name was put back in when the contestants sang it the next night. Bob Kauflin talked about the event on The Meeting House and wrote about it on his blog at www.worshipmatters.com.
And, speaking of an “idol” in America and someone who has great expectations placed upon her, a moment about the whole Miley Cyrus/Vanify Fair deal. That high-profile story really gave Christian parents a dilemma – Do you show the pictures or even tell your teen or tween girls about the inappropriate photos that were shot by a Vanity Fair photographer who had a background in suggestive poses for her subjects? Well, I think that the whole situation becomes a teachable moment with our children as we can discuss issues of making right choices. When you get to be someone of Miley Cyrus’ stature, you have a greater responsibility – the stakes are higher, and it’s important that you remember that people are watching. Miley says her faith will keep her from ending up like Britney or Lindsay – let’s pray that she will be a good ambassador for Christ. To her credit, she was humble in apologizing for the Vanity Fair pictures and some Internet photos that circulated.
The practical lesson for each of is that as Christians, we are being watched closely – I just want to make sure that my life is a good representation of His glory…and that’s a great lesson to pass on to the next generation. For some insight, read recent Meeting House guest Kristen Fyfe’s piece, “Miley Media Mania” on the Culture and Media Institute website at www.cultureandmedia.com. Her colleague, Colleen Raezler, highlighted another subject that we can relate to the Miley meltdown - how society is bombarded with sexual messages, as she reviewed Carol Platt Liebau’s book, Prude: How the Sex Obsessed Culture Damages Girls (and America too!). Raezler, in paraphrasing Liebau, says that, “In consequence we are tolerating, even normalizing, sexual behavior among teens, to the detriment of girls above all.” It’s important that we as parents are cognizant of the messages that are being sent to our young people so that we can help them gird their minds with Biblical truth with regard to what is pure and appropriate.
And, finally, one of our longtime American idols – Oprah Winfrey – has bought into New Age spirituality, which Craig Branch of the Apologetics Resource Center and I discussed on the air. Some of latest higher-consciousness-we-are-all-part-of-God philosophy is seen in books such as The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, who has been recently been featured in web seminars through Oprah’s website. Oprah herself discounts Jesus’ teaching that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Marianne Williamson (A Course in Miracles) are just two more of the teachers who embrace mystic self-as-God teachings. Truly, everything that’s spiritual is not necessarily Biblical. It’s critical that Christians evaluate what we see and hear in light of God’s word.
Idolatry comes in many personalities and philosophies, but it’s God who is the only One who can fulfill all our expectations.
You can visit the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info to learn more about some of the topics being discussed on the program. I attempt to approach a variety of topics, including current issues, from a Christian worldview perspective, and I invite you to listen on Faith Radio and www.faithradio.org weekday afternoons between 4 & 6pm Central Time.
Around our house, Tuesday nights had morphed into quite a ritual – dinner in front of the tube, eyes and ears transfixed as the next “Idol” attempted to win the hearts of America. And while I’ve never been so crazy about the name, nevertheless the search for talent, the sense of competition, and the sharp comments of the judges make the program a regular part of life between March and May.
It’s funny what and who society tends to idolize and even place unrealistic expectations upon. I have to admit, as I wrote in my Meeting House blog, the finish to "Idol Gives Back" was absolutely incredible. I was thrilled that the end of the program featured the worship favorite, “Shout to the Lord”, and I wrote this:Yes, it stung that the name of Jesus was edited out of the first line of "Shout to the Lord", but I don't think that changes the meaning of the song to embrace some sort of Oprah-type generic religion…Sure beats some generic, so-called inspirational song like "We are the World".With regard to the choice of "Shout to the Lord" and the editing of the name of Jesus to "shepherd", I think we have to realize that the job description of the world is not to evangelize - that's our job...and we as Christians have been given a great opportunity to talk about the "Idol" show and perhaps get someone thinking about spiritual things and a relationship with Christ.
So, the inclusion of “Shout to the Lord” does not signify some sort of cultural epiphany, but I do believe it recognizes a place for faith in American life. And, I was glad that Jesus’ name was put back in when the contestants sang it the next night. Bob Kauflin talked about the event on The Meeting House and wrote about it on his blog at www.worshipmatters.com.
And, speaking of an “idol” in America and someone who has great expectations placed upon her, a moment about the whole Miley Cyrus/Vanify Fair deal. That high-profile story really gave Christian parents a dilemma – Do you show the pictures or even tell your teen or tween girls about the inappropriate photos that were shot by a Vanity Fair photographer who had a background in suggestive poses for her subjects? Well, I think that the whole situation becomes a teachable moment with our children as we can discuss issues of making right choices. When you get to be someone of Miley Cyrus’ stature, you have a greater responsibility – the stakes are higher, and it’s important that you remember that people are watching. Miley says her faith will keep her from ending up like Britney or Lindsay – let’s pray that she will be a good ambassador for Christ. To her credit, she was humble in apologizing for the Vanity Fair pictures and some Internet photos that circulated.
The practical lesson for each of is that as Christians, we are being watched closely – I just want to make sure that my life is a good representation of His glory…and that’s a great lesson to pass on to the next generation. For some insight, read recent Meeting House guest Kristen Fyfe’s piece, “Miley Media Mania” on the Culture and Media Institute website at www.cultureandmedia.com. Her colleague, Colleen Raezler, highlighted another subject that we can relate to the Miley meltdown - how society is bombarded with sexual messages, as she reviewed Carol Platt Liebau’s book, Prude: How the Sex Obsessed Culture Damages Girls (and America too!). Raezler, in paraphrasing Liebau, says that, “In consequence we are tolerating, even normalizing, sexual behavior among teens, to the detriment of girls above all.” It’s important that we as parents are cognizant of the messages that are being sent to our young people so that we can help them gird their minds with Biblical truth with regard to what is pure and appropriate.
And, finally, one of our longtime American idols – Oprah Winfrey – has bought into New Age spirituality, which Craig Branch of the Apologetics Resource Center and I discussed on the air. Some of latest higher-consciousness-we-are-all-part-of-God philosophy is seen in books such as The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, who has been recently been featured in web seminars through Oprah’s website. Oprah herself discounts Jesus’ teaching that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Marianne Williamson (A Course in Miracles) are just two more of the teachers who embrace mystic self-as-God teachings. Truly, everything that’s spiritual is not necessarily Biblical. It’s critical that Christians evaluate what we see and hear in light of God’s word.
Idolatry comes in many personalities and philosophies, but it’s God who is the only One who can fulfill all our expectations.
You can visit the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info to learn more about some of the topics being discussed on the program. I attempt to approach a variety of topics, including current issues, from a Christian worldview perspective, and I invite you to listen on Faith Radio and www.faithradio.org weekday afternoons between 4 & 6pm Central Time.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Toward Higher Expectations, Part II
Yes, I had to do it...I started out my interview with John Rosemond for May discussing keeping kids occupied during the summer, and before I knew it, I had changed tracks and begun to follow-up on a conversation highlighted here on the Meeting House Blog with Alex and Brett Harris, founders of The Rebelution and authors of Do Hard Things, about increasing the expectation level for teens and exploring some of the negative aspects about what is now called adolescence. John weighed in on that topic and provided plenty of fodder for thought and conversation:
Listen
When we look at some of the attitudes and aptitudes of American teens, John actually puts some of the blame on parents and their leadership styles. He provided this insight:
Listen
John Rosemond is a regular guest of The Meeting House on Faith Radio, and you can regularly download our conversations in the Intersection Download Center at www.meetinghouseonline.info. His websites are www.rosemond.com and www.parentingbythebook.com.
Listen
When we look at some of the attitudes and aptitudes of American teens, John actually puts some of the blame on parents and their leadership styles. He provided this insight:
Listen
John Rosemond is a regular guest of The Meeting House on Faith Radio, and you can regularly download our conversations in the Intersection Download Center at www.meetinghouseonline.info. His websites are www.rosemond.com and www.parentingbythebook.com.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Returning to Narnia
It did over $744 million at the box office since it was released during the Christmas season of 2005, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe became one of those classic movies, based on the book by C.S. Lewis. The film gave Christians the opportunity to not only be inspired in their own faith walk, but to engage in conversations that could arise from those Biblical themes that ran throughout the book and the film.
Now, the partnership of Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures has teamed up yet again to bring the 2nd movie installment, Prince Caspian, which is based on the 4th book chronologically in the Narnia series. It's over a thousand years later in Narnia, but only a year hence for the Pevansee children, and things are a bit askew in the magical land. Aslan has been away, an evil king is reigning over Narnia, and the rightful heir, Prince Caspian, is having some trouble assuming his rightful place. Enter the 4 children, who are legendary in the realms of Narnia, but in archival history. So the stage is set, and Christians once again may find plenty to talk about, within their spheres of influence, and even within their families.
Recently on The Meeting House, I talked with author Christin Ditchfield, who has written a number of "family guides" related to Narnia, including her latest, A Family Guide to Prince Caspian. Here's a highlight from that conversation:
Listen
You can download the full interview from the Intersection Download Center at the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Christin's website is http://www.takeittoheartradio.com/. Her Guide is also available at Focus on the Family's website at http://www.family.org/.
The main Prince Caspian movie website is at http://www.narnia.com/.
You can also get some info. at http://www.narniaweb.com/.
For Christian resources, you can check out http://caspian.interlinc-online.com/ or http://www.outreach.com/.
In addition to Christin's Family Guide, there are some other books that have been released that are designed as companions to the book, and could be used with the movie:
Finding God in the Land of Narnia by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware
The Keys to the Chronicles by Marvin Hinten
Finding Purpose in Narnia: A Journey with Prince Caspian by Gina Burkart
A Reader's Guide to Caspian: A Journey into C.S. Lewis's Narnia by Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Mead
Here's some more stuff to help you get ready for Prince Caspian!!
Now, the partnership of Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures has teamed up yet again to bring the 2nd movie installment, Prince Caspian, which is based on the 4th book chronologically in the Narnia series. It's over a thousand years later in Narnia, but only a year hence for the Pevansee children, and things are a bit askew in the magical land. Aslan has been away, an evil king is reigning over Narnia, and the rightful heir, Prince Caspian, is having some trouble assuming his rightful place. Enter the 4 children, who are legendary in the realms of Narnia, but in archival history. So the stage is set, and Christians once again may find plenty to talk about, within their spheres of influence, and even within their families.
Recently on The Meeting House, I talked with author Christin Ditchfield, who has written a number of "family guides" related to Narnia, including her latest, A Family Guide to Prince Caspian. Here's a highlight from that conversation:
Listen
You can download the full interview from the Intersection Download Center at the Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Christin's website is http://www.takeittoheartradio.com/. Her Guide is also available at Focus on the Family's website at http://www.family.org/.
The main Prince Caspian movie website is at http://www.narnia.com/.
You can also get some info. at http://www.narniaweb.com/.
For Christian resources, you can check out http://caspian.interlinc-online.com/ or http://www.outreach.com/.
In addition to Christin's Family Guide, there are some other books that have been released that are designed as companions to the book, and could be used with the movie:
Finding God in the Land of Narnia by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware
The Keys to the Chronicles by Marvin Hinten
Finding Purpose in Narnia: A Journey with Prince Caspian by Gina Burkart
A Reader's Guide to Caspian: A Journey into C.S. Lewis's Narnia by Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Mead
Here's some more stuff to help you get ready for Prince Caspian!!
River Region's Journey - Whatever Happened to Sin?
I do like to share my monthly column from River Region's (formerly Montgomery's) Journey magazine here on the blog. In May, I revisited a topic that I had explored here, in addition to giving a thumbnail sketch on how God is working around the world. Here is what I submitted for May:
In the 80’s, Christian musical artist and philosopher Steve Taylor gave this description of moral relativism:
Morality lies within
Consciences are restin'
Please repeat the question again
Whatever happened to sin?
Not only can we ask that question, “whatever happened to sin?” but we can also explore concepts such as, “What is sin?” and “What behaviors are defined as sin?” I have been a bit fascinated by a new study by Ellison Research that shows that a majority of Americans surveyed believe in a concept of sin, but differ widely on what activities actually can be defined as sinful. For the purposes of the study, sin was defined as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective".
So 87% of Americans believe in the concept of sin, and there were 30 behaviors that were listed for those taking the survey to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" regarding whether they believe that behavior (or lack of behavior) was sinful. Only 7 out of 30 were described as sinful by a majority of those taking the survey. Among those making the cut were adultery (81%), racism (74%), using hard drugs (are you kidding? - 65%), having an abortion (56%), and homosexual activity or sex (52%).
The surprise comes as we look at some of the items that were classifed as sinful by 50% or less of those surveyed - reading or watching pornography (50%), sex before marriage (45%), getting drunk (41%), and gambling (30%). You can find the results at www.ellisonresearch.com.
I think as we look at the whole notion of sin, we see that while there still may be a sense of right and wrong generally in our culture about some things, what defines right and wrong is often up to the individual. As Christians, we can have moral clarity as a result of the teachings of the Scriptures - we have a bearing for our lives. And as Christians, we can bring the world an antidote to the problem of sin through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I had a fabulous conversation the other day on The Meeting House with Dr. Mark Roberts, who serves now in leadership at Laity Lodge in Texas, after pastoring a Presbyterian church in California. He made the excellent point that, “We are in a place where increasingly people are going to define for themselves…right and wrong…even if they acknowledge God and even if they acknowledge that they’re Christians. And that is troubling, but I think it also gives us our marching orders – in the sense that we need to engage with people, not merely to just go out and say, ‘Hey, this is sinful’; that’s not going to get us very far. But to live our lives in such a way that people are drawn to Christ, to live both individually and in the world together as we’re God’s people.” You can read his blog at www.markdroberts.com. Certainly, God has a moral code by which we are to live, not just to be prevented from doing certain things that we may want to do, but to participate in the “divine nature”, walking in the very best way of living for us.
And people all over the world are experiencing this new and abundant life in Jesus Christ. One of the exciting aspects of hosting The Meeting House radio program on Faith Broadcasting each weekday afternoon is to trace the hand of God at work around the world. William and Amy Stearns, authors of the book, 20/20 Vision: Amazing Stories of What God is Doing Around the World, have joined me previously on the show, and they publish a “Global Report”, available on their website at www.billandamystearns.info. Citing the Generous Giving website (www.generousgiving.org), they report that each day 166,000 people hear the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time, and that each year, 27 million people profess faith in Christ as Savior for the first time. A great example of the church’s growth is that the current 81 million believers in China are expected to swell to 135 million by 2025. By the year 2050, the 50 million believers in India are expected to swell to 125 million. Recently, author Joel Rosenberg appeared on the show, and reported the dynamic spiritual growth taking place in the Middle East. You can read about his research at www.joshuafund.net.
The light of Christ is shining throughout the world, as the burning torch of God’s righteousness is illuminating the darkness. As we embrace the truth that God’s way is best, we find we have the power to turn away from sin, and we can have a penetrating influence in our culture.
In the 80’s, Christian musical artist and philosopher Steve Taylor gave this description of moral relativism:
Morality lies within
Consciences are restin'
Please repeat the question again
Whatever happened to sin?
Not only can we ask that question, “whatever happened to sin?” but we can also explore concepts such as, “What is sin?” and “What behaviors are defined as sin?” I have been a bit fascinated by a new study by Ellison Research that shows that a majority of Americans surveyed believe in a concept of sin, but differ widely on what activities actually can be defined as sinful. For the purposes of the study, sin was defined as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective".
So 87% of Americans believe in the concept of sin, and there were 30 behaviors that were listed for those taking the survey to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" regarding whether they believe that behavior (or lack of behavior) was sinful. Only 7 out of 30 were described as sinful by a majority of those taking the survey. Among those making the cut were adultery (81%), racism (74%), using hard drugs (are you kidding? - 65%), having an abortion (56%), and homosexual activity or sex (52%).
The surprise comes as we look at some of the items that were classifed as sinful by 50% or less of those surveyed - reading or watching pornography (50%), sex before marriage (45%), getting drunk (41%), and gambling (30%). You can find the results at www.ellisonresearch.com.
I think as we look at the whole notion of sin, we see that while there still may be a sense of right and wrong generally in our culture about some things, what defines right and wrong is often up to the individual. As Christians, we can have moral clarity as a result of the teachings of the Scriptures - we have a bearing for our lives. And as Christians, we can bring the world an antidote to the problem of sin through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I had a fabulous conversation the other day on The Meeting House with Dr. Mark Roberts, who serves now in leadership at Laity Lodge in Texas, after pastoring a Presbyterian church in California. He made the excellent point that, “We are in a place where increasingly people are going to define for themselves…right and wrong…even if they acknowledge God and even if they acknowledge that they’re Christians. And that is troubling, but I think it also gives us our marching orders – in the sense that we need to engage with people, not merely to just go out and say, ‘Hey, this is sinful’; that’s not going to get us very far. But to live our lives in such a way that people are drawn to Christ, to live both individually and in the world together as we’re God’s people.” You can read his blog at www.markdroberts.com. Certainly, God has a moral code by which we are to live, not just to be prevented from doing certain things that we may want to do, but to participate in the “divine nature”, walking in the very best way of living for us.
And people all over the world are experiencing this new and abundant life in Jesus Christ. One of the exciting aspects of hosting The Meeting House radio program on Faith Broadcasting each weekday afternoon is to trace the hand of God at work around the world. William and Amy Stearns, authors of the book, 20/20 Vision: Amazing Stories of What God is Doing Around the World, have joined me previously on the show, and they publish a “Global Report”, available on their website at www.billandamystearns.info. Citing the Generous Giving website (www.generousgiving.org), they report that each day 166,000 people hear the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time, and that each year, 27 million people profess faith in Christ as Savior for the first time. A great example of the church’s growth is that the current 81 million believers in China are expected to swell to 135 million by 2025. By the year 2050, the 50 million believers in India are expected to swell to 125 million. Recently, author Joel Rosenberg appeared on the show, and reported the dynamic spiritual growth taking place in the Middle East. You can read about his research at www.joshuafund.net.
The light of Christ is shining throughout the world, as the burning torch of God’s righteousness is illuminating the darkness. As we embrace the truth that God’s way is best, we find we have the power to turn away from sin, and we can have a penetrating influence in our culture.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Toward Higher Expectations
Recently on The Meeting House, I had the opportunity to interview brothers Alex and Brett Harris. These guys are the sons of Gregg Harris, who is known as a homeschooling pioneer and someone that brings challenging messages to families. Their brother is Josh Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and now a pastor of a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Maryland. So there is a great pedigree here.
I was thrilled to learn that the brothers Harris had served, at the age of 16, as interns in the office of Justice Tom Parker of the Alabama Supreme Court. They had attracted the attention of a staff member at Justice Parker's office as a result of the website they had launched called, "The Rebelution", and were brought on board. They made clear that no considerations were given to them based on their age - the expectation level was not compromised just because of their youth.
In their conversation with me, Alex and Brett recounted how their father had brought home some books, which helped to expand their horizons and begin to think about raising their level of expectation.
Listen
They learned quite a bit from their experience in Montgomery, Alabama, and teens are being impacted by the Rebelution website. They continue to challenge teenagers to make this time period known as adolescence a time to seize opportunities and "do hard things", and have written a book called, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. Here, Alex discusses what they term "the myth of adolescence".
Listen
Well, I'm on board with this one...I think parents can be motivated to help our teens live productive lives, even during the junior high and senior high school years. This is especially relevant with the summer months coming up - what grand opportunities young people to work on their spiritual lives and to allow God to use them doing acts of service - it sure develops their character and spirit much better than watching TV, playing video games, or catching rays by the pool all summer long.
So, it was a pleasure to talk with Alex and Brett and to be inspired by 2 young men who have definitely risen to a challenge and are working to motivate teens all across America to passionately serve God!
The full interview is available at the Intersection Download Center at the Meeting House website...check out www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
I was thrilled to learn that the brothers Harris had served, at the age of 16, as interns in the office of Justice Tom Parker of the Alabama Supreme Court. They had attracted the attention of a staff member at Justice Parker's office as a result of the website they had launched called, "The Rebelution", and were brought on board. They made clear that no considerations were given to them based on their age - the expectation level was not compromised just because of their youth.
In their conversation with me, Alex and Brett recounted how their father had brought home some books, which helped to expand their horizons and begin to think about raising their level of expectation.
Listen
They learned quite a bit from their experience in Montgomery, Alabama, and teens are being impacted by the Rebelution website. They continue to challenge teenagers to make this time period known as adolescence a time to seize opportunities and "do hard things", and have written a book called, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. Here, Alex discusses what they term "the myth of adolescence".
Listen
Well, I'm on board with this one...I think parents can be motivated to help our teens live productive lives, even during the junior high and senior high school years. This is especially relevant with the summer months coming up - what grand opportunities young people to work on their spiritual lives and to allow God to use them doing acts of service - it sure develops their character and spirit much better than watching TV, playing video games, or catching rays by the pool all summer long.
So, it was a pleasure to talk with Alex and Brett and to be inspired by 2 young men who have definitely risen to a challenge and are working to motivate teens all across America to passionately serve God!
The full interview is available at the Intersection Download Center at the Meeting House website...check out www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
God at Work - Canada, Korea
One of the exciting aspects of The Meeting House radio program is to trace the hand of God at work around the world. I recently had the chance to sit down with two church leaders from two totally different parts of the world, as they shared the evidence of God's presence in their respective ministries.
Rick Lamothe serves as Lead Pastor of Sequoia Community Church in Ottawa, Canada, and has a vision for an Eastern Canada Ministry Centre that is designed to reach what is regarded as the largest unreached people group in North America, a corridor in Eastern Canada, to which Ottawa, Canada's capital city, is a key gateway. In a recent Meeting House conversation, he described the mindset of Canadian culture:
Listen
To learn more about being involved in this vital ministry, you can go to www.sequoiachurch.org or contact Montgomery's First Baptist Church at www.montgomeryfbc.org.
Dr. John Hong serves at Seoul Theological University, and was part of a group of some 2 dozen South Korean church leaders and their spouses, who are currently touring a number of churches across America. Their stop included Montgomery's Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, and Dr. Hong, along with OMS International's President Emeritus Dr. J.B. Crouse, sat down with me for a conversation. I asked Dr. Hong to describe the work of the university there.
Listen
Stops on their American tour include Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Saddleback Church in California, Briarwood Presbyterian and Frazer Methodist in Alabama, Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, plus Willow Creek Community Church and Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. To learn more about the work of OMS, go to www.omsinternational.org.
Pastor Rick Lamothe has a bright future, as he is determined to share passionate Christianity in an innovative way. Dr. John Hong can celebrate a rich history of God at work in his nation, as this group of pastors gains information and inspiration to move forward in faith. We can be motivated in our service to Christ as we hear stories of how He is moving!
Rick Lamothe serves as Lead Pastor of Sequoia Community Church in Ottawa, Canada, and has a vision for an Eastern Canada Ministry Centre that is designed to reach what is regarded as the largest unreached people group in North America, a corridor in Eastern Canada, to which Ottawa, Canada's capital city, is a key gateway. In a recent Meeting House conversation, he described the mindset of Canadian culture:
Listen
To learn more about being involved in this vital ministry, you can go to www.sequoiachurch.org or contact Montgomery's First Baptist Church at www.montgomeryfbc.org.
Dr. John Hong serves at Seoul Theological University, and was part of a group of some 2 dozen South Korean church leaders and their spouses, who are currently touring a number of churches across America. Their stop included Montgomery's Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, and Dr. Hong, along with OMS International's President Emeritus Dr. J.B. Crouse, sat down with me for a conversation. I asked Dr. Hong to describe the work of the university there.
Listen
Stops on their American tour include Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Saddleback Church in California, Briarwood Presbyterian and Frazer Methodist in Alabama, Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, plus Willow Creek Community Church and Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. To learn more about the work of OMS, go to www.omsinternational.org.
Pastor Rick Lamothe has a bright future, as he is determined to share passionate Christianity in an innovative way. Dr. John Hong can celebrate a rich history of God at work in his nation, as this group of pastors gains information and inspiration to move forward in faith. We can be motivated in our service to Christ as we hear stories of how He is moving!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Screens of Society (River Region's Journey ~ April 2008)
One of the things that I try to do with The Meeting House radio program and with my column in "River Region's Journey" magazine is to try to apply a Christian worldview perspective to cultural instances and trends. I was challenged by the recent Oscar awards to think about the nihilism that permeates society and potentially can negatively impact our minds. This was my submission for April's edition of the mag:
The images that penetrate our brains on a systematic basis can provide the building blocks for our worldview. I imagine that is why the movie theater has been described as the sanctuary for today’s culture. And the moviemakers are the ones who have the story to tell – with the endgame apparently being one of hopelessness and despair. Such was the case in the recent Academy Awards ceremony, as the Best Picture award went to the movie “No Country for Old Men”, which could be characterized as vile and violent, with little or no redemptive message. But, according to Dallas Jenkins, a filmmaker whose father is novelist Jerry Jenkins, this is generally the mindset of Hollywood – and he cites films such as his most recent, “Midnight Clear”, as a movie that shows real people in real situations, but also offers a theme of hope and redemption. In a recent interview on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, accessible at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download, he said that basically all the Best Picture nominees, with the exception of “Juno”, had a dark premise and a lack of a positive message. “Juno”, interestingly enough, was the best box office performer of all the nominees, featuring a look at some of the real consequences of teen pregnancy, not glorifying births outside of marriage, but dealing with some hard truths, but apparently, things turn out alright in the end.
The allure of the big screen…
And isn’t that why we used to go to movies, not only to be absorbed in the characters, but also to be uplifted in our lives? A trip to the theater can affect us in so many ways, and while life is not always full of happy endings, it does the soul good to not feel like taking an emotional shower when you leave the theater. But, as Dallas pointed out, the people voting on the Oscars are part of the Hollywood subculture, and become disconnected from the real consumers…this explains why some of the big box-office draws (such as, “Ratatouille”) didn’t come home with the awards. Furthermore, the big screen of the cineplex can reflect to the small screen of our heart, and that can have some dire implications on our culture as a whole.
…and the argument about a smaller screen…
Now on to a screen of a different size – a smaller screen, but highly significant. The second highest rated television program of all time was shown in homes and sports bars recently – but not many churches. Churches have seized an outreach opportunity by using a Super Bowl party to attract people to come into their buildings and perhaps hear the gospel. Resources have typically been made available as a tool to effectively share the gospel at an opportune moment before or during halftime of the game. Last year, it came to light that the National Football League had a policy that churches who hosted or sponsored viewings of the Super Bowl broadcasts on large-screen televisions infringed on the league’s copyright of the broadcast. NFL attorneys had reportedly warned officials at Falls Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis against hosting a “Super Bowl Bash” to which church members and guests were invited to watch the game on a wall projector at the church.
According to media reports, NFL officials sent the church’s pastor John Newland a letter demanding that the party be cancelled. They objected to the church’s plan to charge partygoers a fee to attend, the use of the words “Super Bowl” in its promotions, the church’s plan to use a projector to show the game on a 12-foot-wide screen, and the church’s plan to show a video in conjunction with the game highlighting the Christian testimonies of coaches Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. According to the legal organization The Rutherford Institute, which spoke out strongly against the NFL’s policy, a league spokesman defended the league’s actions, pointing to its longstanding policy against “mass out-of-home viewings” of the Super Bowl, even if they don’t charge admission, and requirement that hosts of parties only use one TV no bigger than 55 inches.
Well, the good news is that the NFL has revised its policy. In a Feb. 19 letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that the league will not object to live showings of the Super Bowl by religious organizations, regardless of screen size, as long as the viewings are free and are on premises that the church uses on a routine and customary basis. The NFL intends to implement the policy starting with next year’s Super Bowl. It’s good to know that there are organizations that speak out for our religious liberties, and in this instance, the voice of the people of faith was heard and heeded.
It’s important that Christians are strong and courageous, and allowing God’s word to show on the screen of our hearts so that we can be resolute in being an influence in the culture.
The images that penetrate our brains on a systematic basis can provide the building blocks for our worldview. I imagine that is why the movie theater has been described as the sanctuary for today’s culture. And the moviemakers are the ones who have the story to tell – with the endgame apparently being one of hopelessness and despair. Such was the case in the recent Academy Awards ceremony, as the Best Picture award went to the movie “No Country for Old Men”, which could be characterized as vile and violent, with little or no redemptive message. But, according to Dallas Jenkins, a filmmaker whose father is novelist Jerry Jenkins, this is generally the mindset of Hollywood – and he cites films such as his most recent, “Midnight Clear”, as a movie that shows real people in real situations, but also offers a theme of hope and redemption. In a recent interview on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, accessible at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download, he said that basically all the Best Picture nominees, with the exception of “Juno”, had a dark premise and a lack of a positive message. “Juno”, interestingly enough, was the best box office performer of all the nominees, featuring a look at some of the real consequences of teen pregnancy, not glorifying births outside of marriage, but dealing with some hard truths, but apparently, things turn out alright in the end.
The allure of the big screen…
And isn’t that why we used to go to movies, not only to be absorbed in the characters, but also to be uplifted in our lives? A trip to the theater can affect us in so many ways, and while life is not always full of happy endings, it does the soul good to not feel like taking an emotional shower when you leave the theater. But, as Dallas pointed out, the people voting on the Oscars are part of the Hollywood subculture, and become disconnected from the real consumers…this explains why some of the big box-office draws (such as, “Ratatouille”) didn’t come home with the awards. Furthermore, the big screen of the cineplex can reflect to the small screen of our heart, and that can have some dire implications on our culture as a whole.
…and the argument about a smaller screen…
Now on to a screen of a different size – a smaller screen, but highly significant. The second highest rated television program of all time was shown in homes and sports bars recently – but not many churches. Churches have seized an outreach opportunity by using a Super Bowl party to attract people to come into their buildings and perhaps hear the gospel. Resources have typically been made available as a tool to effectively share the gospel at an opportune moment before or during halftime of the game. Last year, it came to light that the National Football League had a policy that churches who hosted or sponsored viewings of the Super Bowl broadcasts on large-screen televisions infringed on the league’s copyright of the broadcast. NFL attorneys had reportedly warned officials at Falls Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis against hosting a “Super Bowl Bash” to which church members and guests were invited to watch the game on a wall projector at the church.
According to media reports, NFL officials sent the church’s pastor John Newland a letter demanding that the party be cancelled. They objected to the church’s plan to charge partygoers a fee to attend, the use of the words “Super Bowl” in its promotions, the church’s plan to use a projector to show the game on a 12-foot-wide screen, and the church’s plan to show a video in conjunction with the game highlighting the Christian testimonies of coaches Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. According to the legal organization The Rutherford Institute, which spoke out strongly against the NFL’s policy, a league spokesman defended the league’s actions, pointing to its longstanding policy against “mass out-of-home viewings” of the Super Bowl, even if they don’t charge admission, and requirement that hosts of parties only use one TV no bigger than 55 inches.
Well, the good news is that the NFL has revised its policy. In a Feb. 19 letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that the league will not object to live showings of the Super Bowl by religious organizations, regardless of screen size, as long as the viewings are free and are on premises that the church uses on a routine and customary basis. The NFL intends to implement the policy starting with next year’s Super Bowl. It’s good to know that there are organizations that speak out for our religious liberties, and in this instance, the voice of the people of faith was heard and heeded.
It’s important that Christians are strong and courageous, and allowing God’s word to show on the screen of our hearts so that we can be resolute in being an influence in the culture.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
"Idol" Gives A Lot to Think About - UPDATED
I have to admit, to me, the finish to "Idol Gives Back" last night was absolutely incredible.
Yes, it stung that the name of Jesus was edited out of the first line of "Shout to the Lord", but I don't think that changes the meaning of the song to embrace some sort of Oprah-type generic religion. And (in the words of Randy Jackson), CHECK IT OUT - the final 3 songs: a rather thought-provoking song by Daughtry (Christian radio artist), then Mariah Carey's song where Jesus did show up - I read the lyrics online last night...that could be a song used as a special in many churches in America. (Don't make too much out of Mariah doing a gospel song - "Fly Like a Bird" appears on the album, "The Emancipation of Mimi", which also includes "Stay the Night", which definitely does not present the same worldview, to say the least.). And, finally, "Shout to the Lord"!! Sure beats some generic, so-called inspirational song like "We are the World".
With regard to the choice of "Shout to the Lord" and the editing of the name of Jesus to "shepherd", I think we have to realize that the job description of the world is not to evangelize - that's our job...and we as Christians have been given a great opportunity to talk about the "Idol" show and perhaps get someone thinking about spiritual things and a relationship with Christ.
Now, the Ben Stiller piece at the very end did take some of the shine off...quite inappropriate. And, as the father of a BIG Miley Cyrus fan, I thought her second performance was a bit edgy, to the point of being suggestive in places. Miley has a tremendous platform, and needs our prayers.
Bob Kauflin, who serves as Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries appeared recently on The Meeting House program on Faith Radio and shared some of his thoughts...
Listen
That complete interview on worship can be downloaded at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download. Bob has written a book called, Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. You can also read his blog at www.worshipmatters.com.
Want to see the "Shout to the Lord" finale?
How about Jason Castro singing at his home church in Rockwall, Texas?
That's all for now...I think it's Carly or Syesha getting the sendoff tonight.
Yes, it stung that the name of Jesus was edited out of the first line of "Shout to the Lord", but I don't think that changes the meaning of the song to embrace some sort of Oprah-type generic religion. And (in the words of Randy Jackson), CHECK IT OUT - the final 3 songs: a rather thought-provoking song by Daughtry (Christian radio artist), then Mariah Carey's song where Jesus did show up - I read the lyrics online last night...that could be a song used as a special in many churches in America. (Don't make too much out of Mariah doing a gospel song - "Fly Like a Bird" appears on the album, "The Emancipation of Mimi", which also includes "Stay the Night", which definitely does not present the same worldview, to say the least.). And, finally, "Shout to the Lord"!! Sure beats some generic, so-called inspirational song like "We are the World".
With regard to the choice of "Shout to the Lord" and the editing of the name of Jesus to "shepherd", I think we have to realize that the job description of the world is not to evangelize - that's our job...and we as Christians have been given a great opportunity to talk about the "Idol" show and perhaps get someone thinking about spiritual things and a relationship with Christ.
Now, the Ben Stiller piece at the very end did take some of the shine off...quite inappropriate. And, as the father of a BIG Miley Cyrus fan, I thought her second performance was a bit edgy, to the point of being suggestive in places. Miley has a tremendous platform, and needs our prayers.
Bob Kauflin, who serves as Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries appeared recently on The Meeting House program on Faith Radio and shared some of his thoughts...
Listen
That complete interview on worship can be downloaded at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download. Bob has written a book called, Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. You can also read his blog at www.worshipmatters.com.
Want to see the "Shout to the Lord" finale?
How about Jason Castro singing at his home church in Rockwall, Texas?
That's all for now...I think it's Carly or Syesha getting the sendoff tonight.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
The Greatest Story Ever Told...Keeps Getting Told
One of the exciting aspects of hosting The Meeting House radio program on Faith Broadcasting each weekday afternoon is to trace the hand of God at work around the world. One of my consistently intriguing guests brought back a first-hand report of observing the growth of the church in the nation of Iraq, plus on the blog site of a ministry he founded, he showed how people are coming to Christ in phenomenal numbers across the Middle East.
Joel Rosenberg is an author of nail-biting, page-turning fiction that it set in the future and revolves around Biblical prophecy. His titles include, The Last Jihad, The Ezekiel Option, and his latest, Dead Heat. He is the Founder and President of The Joshua Fund, which is designed to minister in Israel and the Middle East. You can go the the blog site at joshuafund.blogspot.com and read the March 23 (Easter Sunday) entry and prepared to be inspired. Here are some of staggering and inspiring statistics, according to the Joshua Fund blog:
Joel Rosenberg is an author of nail-biting, page-turning fiction that it set in the future and revolves around Biblical prophecy. His titles include, The Last Jihad, The Ezekiel Option, and his latest, Dead Heat. He is the Founder and President of The Joshua Fund, which is designed to minister in Israel and the Middle East. You can go the the blog site at joshuafund.blogspot.com and read the March 23 (Easter Sunday) entry and prepared to be inspired. Here are some of staggering and inspiring statistics, according to the Joshua Fund blog:
Afghanistan. In that nation, there were only 17 known evangelical Christians in the country before al-Qaeda attacked the United States. Today, there are well over 10,000 Afghan followers of Christ and the number is growing steadily. Church leaders say Afghan Muslims are open to hearing the gospel message like neverJoel Rosenberg's website is http://www.joelrosenberg.com/ and the Joshua Fund site is http://www.joshuafund.net/.
before.
Uzbekistan. There were no known Muslim converts to Christ there in 1990. Now there are more than 30,000.
Iraq. There were only a handful of Muslim converts to Christianity back in 1979 when Saddam Hussein took full control of that country. Yet today, there are more than 70,000 Iraqi Muslim background believers in Jesus (MBBs), approximately 50,000 who came to Christ as refugees in Jordan after the first Gulf War in 1990-91, and another 20,000 who have come to Christ since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, there were only three known evangelical Christian believers before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today there are more than 15,000 Kazakh Christians, and more than 100,000 Christians of all ethnicities.
Egypt. More than 1 million Egyptians have trusted Christ over the past decade or so, report Egyptian church leaders. The Egyptian Bible Society report that they used to sell about 3,000 copies of the Jesus film a year in the early 1990s. But in 2005 they sold 600,000 copies, plus 750,000 copies of the Bible on tape (in Arabic) and about a half million copies of the Arabic New Testament.
Iran. In 1979 when the Ayatollah Khomeini led the Islamic Revolution, there were only about 500 known Muslim converts to Christianity. Today, interviews with two dozen Iranian pastors and church leaders reveals that there are well over 1 million Shia Muslim converts to Christianity.
Sudan. According to church leaders, more than 1 million Sudanese have made decisions to follow Jesus Christ just since 2001. Since the early 1990s, more than 5 million Sudanese have become followers of Jesus.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A Shelter in Financial Storms
On a monthly basis on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, Mark Biller, the Executive Editor of the Sound Mind Investing Newsletter and Website joins me to discuss financial issues from a Christian worldview perspective. In light of the financial news that we are hearing as of late, in the midst of the talk of recession, high gas prices, the mortgage loan crisis, and the fire sale of Bear Stearns, this could cause anxiety from a financial point of view.
But Jesus addressed the topic of finances frequently during His earthly ministry, and gave a poignant passage in Matthew 6, telling us basically to "chill out" about our finances and seek first the Kingdom of God. I trust Mark to share with us that strong, solid Biblical perspective on our finances, and recently he discussed, "3 Keys to Change Your Financial Future". Here's the skeleton outline, along with audio files addressing each point.
The first key is to create a written spending, plan, otherwise known as a budget.
Listen
The second key is to start contributing to a retirement savings plan.
Listen
And the last key, which actually is the cornerstone of our financial matters, is to give.
Listen
An American Enterprise Institute study (to which Mark refers in the audio clip) illustrates the correlation between giving and one's financial well being. An article can be found here.
I encourage you to visit the Sound Mind Investing website at to download the full conversation with Mark Biller. That address is http://www.soundmindinvesting.com/.
But Jesus addressed the topic of finances frequently during His earthly ministry, and gave a poignant passage in Matthew 6, telling us basically to "chill out" about our finances and seek first the Kingdom of God. I trust Mark to share with us that strong, solid Biblical perspective on our finances, and recently he discussed, "3 Keys to Change Your Financial Future". Here's the skeleton outline, along with audio files addressing each point.
The first key is to create a written spending, plan, otherwise known as a budget.
Listen
The second key is to start contributing to a retirement savings plan.
Listen
And the last key, which actually is the cornerstone of our financial matters, is to give.
Listen
An American Enterprise Institute study (to which Mark refers in the audio clip) illustrates the correlation between giving and one's financial well being. An article can be found here.
I encourage you to visit the Sound Mind Investing website at to download the full conversation with Mark Biller. That address is http://www.soundmindinvesting.com/.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Whatever Happened to Sin?
I have been a bit fascinated by a new study by Ellison Research that shows that a majority of Americans surveyed believe in a concept of sin, but differ widely on what activities actually can be defined as sinful. For the purposes of the study, sin was defined as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective".
So 87% of Americans believe in the concept of sin, and there were 30 behaviors that were listed for those taking the survey to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" regarding whether they believe that behavior (or lack of behavior) was sinful. Only 7 out of 30 were described as sinful by a majority of those taking the survey. Among those making the cut were adultery (81%), racism (74%), using hard drugs (are you kidding? - 65%), having an abortion (56%), and homosexual activity or sex (52%).
The surprise comes as we look at some of the items that were classifed as sinful by 50% or less of those surveyed - reading or watching pornography (50%), sex before marriage (45%), getting drunk (41%), and gambling (30%). You can find the results at http://www.ellisonresearch.com/.
I think as we look at the whole notion of sin, we see that while there still may be a sense of right and wrong generally in our culture about some things, but what defines right and wrong is often up to the person. As Christians, we can have moral clarity as a result of the teachings of the Scriptures - we have a bearing for our lives. And as Christians, we can bring the world an antidote to the problem of sin through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Be sure to tune in The Meeting House weekdays from 4-6pm on Faith Radio or http://www.faithradio.org/.
So 87% of Americans believe in the concept of sin, and there were 30 behaviors that were listed for those taking the survey to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" regarding whether they believe that behavior (or lack of behavior) was sinful. Only 7 out of 30 were described as sinful by a majority of those taking the survey. Among those making the cut were adultery (81%), racism (74%), using hard drugs (are you kidding? - 65%), having an abortion (56%), and homosexual activity or sex (52%).
The surprise comes as we look at some of the items that were classifed as sinful by 50% or less of those surveyed - reading or watching pornography (50%), sex before marriage (45%), getting drunk (41%), and gambling (30%). You can find the results at http://www.ellisonresearch.com/.
I think as we look at the whole notion of sin, we see that while there still may be a sense of right and wrong generally in our culture about some things, but what defines right and wrong is often up to the person. As Christians, we can have moral clarity as a result of the teachings of the Scriptures - we have a bearing for our lives. And as Christians, we can bring the world an antidote to the problem of sin through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Be sure to tune in The Meeting House weekdays from 4-6pm on Faith Radio or http://www.faithradio.org/.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Dealing with Design (from Montgomery's Journey)
God has opened another door for me to express myself in writing, in addition to the radio stuff! Jason and DeAnne Watson run Montgomery's Journey magazine, which is published on a monthly basis, and have asked me to write a monthly column dealing with what I might call "worldview" issues, as we think about how our faith can influence the culture.
Here are some excerpts from the original of my first offering, "Dealing with Design":
Where did we as human beings come from?
That is a fundamental question that has become a flashpoint in the scientific and academic communities, and our response to the question of origins can determine how we think toward a variety of other issues as well.
As I see it, there are basically two schools of thoughts overall with respect to the issue:
The first is the no-God (NG) approach – that life came from non-life, at random; through a series of scientific events over scores of years, our universe was formed, species evolved through random selection and mutation, and ultimately humans came from non-humans.
The second is the designer approach – which has three tracks:
The “young earth” camp. This group, including a number of evangelical Christians, believes that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, and that if you track the Biblical timeline and genealogy back to Adam and Eve in the Garden, you’ll find the earth is about 6000 years old.
The “God’s hand in evolution” camp. These are the folks that believe in a non-literal “six days”, and adopt a view allowing for some of the principles of evolution, but with a more governed approach - God guided the process, which could have taken millions of years to come about.
The “ID” camp. These people subscribe to an increasingly popular belief system called “Intelligent Design”, advocating that aspects of life itself, including human life, are so complex that the chances of these taking place randomly are beyond the realm of possibility. Examples would include the formation of certain bacteria or the intricacies of the DNA molecule.
I went on to present some evidence of how science and the Bible are complementary, not contradictory:
The Access Research Network, in its 2007 "Top 10 Darwin and Design News Stories" list, reported in The Christian Post, cited some top stories it considers a "growing burden" to Darwinists. For example, an increasing level of complexity has been discovered in small biological systems such as “ribosomes” - molecular machines inside living cells, plus discoveries of the human genome show a greater “biological jungle” that has been imagined. Newly uncovered jellyfish fossils in Utah that were dated much earlier than the oldest specimens of the modern jellyfish showed the same or even greater complexity as modern types.
World Net Daily reported on a “Who’s Who” of hundreds of leading scientists who are questioning the long-held beliefs in the Darwinian theory. The names include top scientists as MIT, UCLA, Ohio State, University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, Duke, the British Museum and others. "Darwinism is a trivial idea that has been elevated to the status of the scientific theory that governs modern biology," said Michael Egnor, award-winning brain surgeon and professor at State University of New York, Stony Brook.
In conclusion, I highlighted a disturbing trend in the world of academia:
Some examples of this unprecedented assault include:
Richard Sternberg lost his job at the Smithsonian for “allowing” a pro-intelligent design paper to be published,
Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure at Iowa State University because of his intelligent design affiliations, and
The Baylor administration shut down Robert Marks' Evolutionary Informatics Lab and website for similar reasons.
On The Meeting House program on Faith Radio recently, David Gibbs of the Christian Law Association discussed the case of Nathaniel Abraham, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who claims that his 2004 dismissal resulted from his religious beliefs.
A new documentary film, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, featuring Ben Stein, is scheduled to appear in theaters nationwide this spring, and will expose instances of employment termination based on …worldview!
As evidence proving that science supports faith is discovered and reported in the future, it’s important that we as Christians are knowledgeable and prepared to speak out on behalf of our Master Designer!
Recently, at National Religious Broadcasters, I had a chance to interview Mark Mathis, one of the producers of the film, "Expelled"...
You can link to the .mp3 of the interview by going to www.meetinghouseonline.info/download/NRB2008 and scrolling down to Mark's name. The website for the film is http://www.expelledthemovie.com/.
Here are some excerpts from the original of my first offering, "Dealing with Design":
Where did we as human beings come from?
That is a fundamental question that has become a flashpoint in the scientific and academic communities, and our response to the question of origins can determine how we think toward a variety of other issues as well.
As I see it, there are basically two schools of thoughts overall with respect to the issue:
The first is the no-God (NG) approach – that life came from non-life, at random; through a series of scientific events over scores of years, our universe was formed, species evolved through random selection and mutation, and ultimately humans came from non-humans.
The second is the designer approach – which has three tracks:
The “young earth” camp. This group, including a number of evangelical Christians, believes that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, and that if you track the Biblical timeline and genealogy back to Adam and Eve in the Garden, you’ll find the earth is about 6000 years old.
The “God’s hand in evolution” camp. These are the folks that believe in a non-literal “six days”, and adopt a view allowing for some of the principles of evolution, but with a more governed approach - God guided the process, which could have taken millions of years to come about.
The “ID” camp. These people subscribe to an increasingly popular belief system called “Intelligent Design”, advocating that aspects of life itself, including human life, are so complex that the chances of these taking place randomly are beyond the realm of possibility. Examples would include the formation of certain bacteria or the intricacies of the DNA molecule.
I went on to present some evidence of how science and the Bible are complementary, not contradictory:
The Access Research Network, in its 2007 "Top 10 Darwin and Design News Stories" list, reported in The Christian Post, cited some top stories it considers a "growing burden" to Darwinists. For example, an increasing level of complexity has been discovered in small biological systems such as “ribosomes” - molecular machines inside living cells, plus discoveries of the human genome show a greater “biological jungle” that has been imagined. Newly uncovered jellyfish fossils in Utah that were dated much earlier than the oldest specimens of the modern jellyfish showed the same or even greater complexity as modern types.
World Net Daily reported on a “Who’s Who” of hundreds of leading scientists who are questioning the long-held beliefs in the Darwinian theory. The names include top scientists as MIT, UCLA, Ohio State, University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, Duke, the British Museum and others. "Darwinism is a trivial idea that has been elevated to the status of the scientific theory that governs modern biology," said Michael Egnor, award-winning brain surgeon and professor at State University of New York, Stony Brook.
In conclusion, I highlighted a disturbing trend in the world of academia:
Some examples of this unprecedented assault include:
Richard Sternberg lost his job at the Smithsonian for “allowing” a pro-intelligent design paper to be published,
Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure at Iowa State University because of his intelligent design affiliations, and
The Baylor administration shut down Robert Marks' Evolutionary Informatics Lab and website for similar reasons.
On The Meeting House program on Faith Radio recently, David Gibbs of the Christian Law Association discussed the case of Nathaniel Abraham, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who claims that his 2004 dismissal resulted from his religious beliefs.
A new documentary film, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, featuring Ben Stein, is scheduled to appear in theaters nationwide this spring, and will expose instances of employment termination based on …worldview!
As evidence proving that science supports faith is discovered and reported in the future, it’s important that we as Christians are knowledgeable and prepared to speak out on behalf of our Master Designer!
Recently, at National Religious Broadcasters, I had a chance to interview Mark Mathis, one of the producers of the film, "Expelled"...
You can link to the .mp3 of the interview by going to www.meetinghouseonline.info/download/NRB2008 and scrolling down to Mark's name. The website for the film is http://www.expelledthemovie.com/.
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