Tribute to Tio Bobby

My uncle is with Jesus today.

I have a great family. However, the circumstances of my life have dictated that I rarely saw my extended family growing up. New York and Puerto Rico, after all, are not close to the Heart of Dixie.  However, the advantage to this reality I appreciate especially on days like today. You see, my mind has stored these precious few memories like a vault. Wonderful details of visits to Puerto Rico… details normally one might forget… I value as one might a rare keepsake. Another benefit (if you could call it that) is that the drama associated with mundane life… interpersonal conflicts… were literally thousands of mile away. Only good memories. Only happiness, wonderful smiles and bellowing laughter.

What I remember about my Tio Bobby is his wonderful smile and contagious laughter. I hear his unforgettable laugh in my ear as I write. It was not just a regular laughter and sense of humor… it was special. Of course, I remember musical talent and passion. In one memory, I remember a trip in which he took us to his home and we walked outside with him simply to watch the stars… and sing. All this added up to something so basic in my brain… My Tio was “cool”. He was an uncle I was proud of… “he is my uncle, how cool is that!”, my mind pondered. I loved my uncle and thought he was the most “hip” uncle a boy could have.

In my adult years I did not know my uncle well at all. In fact, I feel certain that my feelings for him, and my view of him, certainly would have changed from my simple, childish memory. This both makes me sad and, at the same time, glad. However, this I know for absolute certain: the things that I admired about him when I was a child are things that surely never changed. In this way my uncle will always be one I am proud of. Today I am filled with such blessed pride that he was my uncle and I am so thankful for the memories. You see, a man who smiled so fantastically… and from who’s smile such beautiful laughter came… a man like that was deep, deep down a good man. It is that simple! He lived a full life, from the inside out. A good man I could be proud of!

To my wonderful uncle… go in peace and laugh on glory’s side… and dance to Jesus… and live!

Being Lavished

I preached Sunday a message that, frankly, was perfect in it’s timing. In the first chapter of Ephesians Paul uses one of his longest sentences. This sentence runs from 1:3 to 1:14. One amazingly long sentence in Greek (though in English, regrettably, it is broken into separate sentences)!!!! The sentence is a God sentence all the way…. containing 7 verbs in which God is Subject. These words are, in effect, a cosmic look at how God so wondrously makes us part of His plan. The Verbs:

Blessed, Chose, Destined, Bestowed, Lavished, Made Known, Gather Up.

The part of the message I needed was God’s use of “bestow” and “lavished”. The word “bestow” (“grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved”) only appears two times in the New Testament and never anywhere else in any Greek literature. It is basically an invented word coming from the noun “grace”. It is a verbal form of grace. Maybe “begraced” would do it as a translation. Many translations use “bestow”. But these translations do not seem to show the force or uniqueness of the Greek. Some believe that Paul is using it with the force of “drenched”!!!!!!! I love that! God drenched us with grace. Paul then uses “lavished” (according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us”. “Lavished” is used almost 50 times by Paul alone. It is common, “bestowed, drenched” is rare. Both speak of the goodness of God and His grace imparted to us.

I can hardly remember the last time I lavished. Can you? “Lavish” is so extravagant and over-the-top. Lavish!!! Oh, to think of God’s amazing grace that He so freely lavishes to us. Some believe Paul uses this word “lavish” a bit much, but I am inclined to think that with God’s grace in mind, Paul could not have used it enough. His grace reaches the highest star with not a thought. It is lavished on us.

In trying times focusing on the goodness of God is as a good medicine. Remembering that we are blessed to overflowing even on the worst day is a source of strength not lost on Paul’s opening thoughts in Ephesians. We are so blessed. May we bear this in mind through our walk.

Peace

Wow… it has been over a month since I blogged. Today I write, and I have alot to say but very little desire to say it. I am both sad and happy, tired but motivated…. confused but convinced…. all at the same time.

It does not take much for the world to be flipped upside down, as my world has recently been. When those moments come of turmoil it is so hard to gauge up from down. Circumstances of life shake the temporal world just out of whack. When that happens, for me, I have to find what I know is steady, true and unmoving…. eternal things.

Without saying more than needs to be said, I am glad there is an eternity, and that eternal things, once mysteries, are mine upon which to rest. These are God things. God Words. The Word. When all else is questionable and uncertain, there is eternal truth. And this truth gives peace and foundation… structure in times of temporal crumbling. And so I am diving head long into a Divine Book to find a sure footing in midst of troubled waters. And there you might find me asleep, in the bottom of the ship, resting in the one who made the sea.

Church and State (Pt. 2)

There are two things that seem to be pillars upon which we can all agree: 1) We (the church) ought to stand up against all that dishonors God, and 2) we ought to be good citizens (in our case…. of the United States). Both of these comments are about citizenship. We are citizens of the Kingdom of god with all the responsibilities that this implies. We also are citizens of the United States, with all the responsibilities that this implies. This very basic starting point is, i think, common ground for all of us.

Jesus said that  we are to render to Caesar that which is Caesars. We can read that we ought to pay our taxes, but more broadly Jesus is speaking of citizenship. As a Roman citizen, people were to have paid their taxes as part of their responsibility. Similarly Jesus continues: and unto God the things that are God’s. Yet again, this is not a commentary merely on tithing, as it is a commentary on citizenship to Heaven. A good Christian Roman citizen had obligations both to Heaven and to Rome. Jesus does not dissect the two or minimize one for the other. He assumes that both are true, embraced and lived out to the best of one’s ability.

Now, we live in a Christian culture where it is becoming en vogue to say that Christians ought not be part of the political process…. that we ought to dissect our realities. Indeed, we live in a culture where Christianity is pushed out of the public square… where we are dissecting what is at our core away from our political realm.

May I suggest that this is folly. How is it that, even if I wanted to, I could be less of a Christian when I am discussing political issues? It has been established that we are to be involved (good) citizens. How can I be a good citizen without bringing to the fore the best part of who I am… the thing that makes me truly good? A Christian who is involved in politics from this vanilla standpoint is ceding the best ground.

Christians have been involved in the political process as outspoken Christians since this country was founded. One can hardly look through history’s founding documents without reading reference to God. The Constitution may as well be considered a religious document, and the founding fathers ministers. Today, however, if we insist that “Christmas” is “Christmas”, that Christians pray wherever they deem necessary, that we insist that “In God We Trust”, or that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life… if we insist these things it is Christians who take offense. The problem is that if we are going to confront and change culture we must speak truth in public squares and in places of worship. We must inter the political sphere as it is in government that much of “culture” is formed. Government and it’s policies lay the ground work for culture, both good and bad. How, then, do we change culture without addressing forces (often governmental) set to make it godless.

As I see it, unapologetic involvement in all spheres is necessary. Further, there is no more pertinent sphere into which we can enter than the one assaulting God’s Kingdom most aggressively.

I might add one small note that unbelievably we have allowed political correctness to dampen: we here in this country are a Christian nation. You may not like it, but it is what it is. America was formed with such a purpose. In large part, we owe the prosperity of this land to a couple hundred years of this reality. We are losing that identity in large chunks. I wonder what some of the prophets of old might do about that?

God’s Grace

Recently we had a scare (as of this blog yet unresolved) with respect to our 5 year old daughter, Chloe.  I don’t know what God’s plan is, but I am certain He has one. So we pray for grace.

Chloe’s middle name is “Grace”, you know! As God would have it, she has been our greatest lesson for experiencing God’s grace. Grace is not some trivial generality or abstraction that God spreads indiscriminately to everyone. God’s grace shows up in personal ways, unique to every believer’s context. And so it has been with us.  God has been in the middle of Chloe’s life from day one, healing, growing, keeping and loving. Nothing abstract or general about God’s hands on approach with His children. For me God has spoken peace quietly into my heart as I have jumped to every anxious thought. Nothing abstract about God’s peace speaking.

God’s grace, in the end, is strength more than it is “unmerited favor”. It is the fuel that keeps us running the race… the protein, Gatorade. It is the means to live a full Life-filled life. I have an unbelieving/lost friend with whom I shared Chloe’s troubles. This was yesterday. My friend has seen me live Jesus out for 3 years. I have shared my faith, my story and love for Jesus for these years. But, for now this effort has been seed on rocky ground. Yesterday he said, “Jesse, I know you believe in God and everything, but for all your effort look at what is happening to your daughter. Bad things are happening to you despite your belief”. His idea is why give God your life when there is no real payoff? You are having hard times like everyone else! And, of course, this is true: rain falls on the righteous and unrighteous all the same. But (and he would not understand this) the unrighteous don’t have a deeply embedded source of strength to endure. There is no Comforter, no Way, no Life when death is present. When you are in the Valley of the Shadows, without God you enter blindly and without comfort. My friend will never understand this Grace, and it makes me sad.

God for me is not so much an answer for my troubles, neither is He an escape from trials. In many ways, he is quite the opposite. Jesus is the strength through the trials, all the while lovingly guiding me throughout the journey. That is God’s Grace.

Church and State (pt 1)

As a minister by calling I find this topic especially interesting. In seminary I took a course by the title Theology and Politics… the beginning for me of years of thought, shift and change on the subject. In this course I was assigned Reinhold Niebuhr for my research project.

Niebuhr was a philosopher/Christian in the 1900′s who basically took the position (especially in his early years) that the church ought never be involved in political discourse. I remember that in his early writing he said, in effect, that the “pulpit” is weakened by the mention of the political. Odd that I read these words on the campus of Liberty University. I found myself, at that time, convinced and constrained to this principle. After all, if one just changes the heart, morals and a moral government are sure to follow.

Confession: in the past year or so I have come to challenge that position. Now, we must dissect the Christian as an individual and the church with the pulpit. These two things (individual and church message) are entirely different and I suspect that they address “church and state” questions in different ways. In our previous election season I did not speak of my position (though it had moral import) from the pulpit but did strongly as an individual. But, even this poses an obvious question: if it had moral import, is it not important for the pulpit? Tough question! But still, the challenge I have comes from the study of God’s word. Nary can you read a page from Holy Writ and not see godly men and women stand boldly against the governmental structures that be. The prophets of old (notably Daniel) rang clarion calls against oppressive government structures that hindered the free worship of Yahweh. New Testament examples are prevalent as models of confronting anti-Christ systems.

I understand those who argue that we are too worried about establishing morals, “prayer in school”… not so concerned about prayer in the closet… hypocritical, and (they argue) ultimately we use the moral platform to substitute for real life in Jesus. I know the argument. I also know that persecution is good for the church. Ok, I get it. But, as I have come to see it, if the church (me and you) don’t stand up for right and morality in this world we leave a vacuum  which gets filled by every wind of platitudinous political correctness and moral relativism. Like the prophet of old we must confront moral decline and oppose those who usher it in. What does that mean for you? I don’t presume to know.  I just know that we are headed entirely in the wrong direction in this culture… and a lack of righteous indignation seems to me to be a leading indicator of compromise (and lack of moral fortitude) in the church. Positions that says “we ought to just pray” or “we ought to be known for our love not our politics” fall terribly short. These people, I’m afraid,  may be betraying a lack of vision of the holiness of God, desire to please men not God and a cowardice in confronting the worst of what we have become as a nation. This sort of distortion is foreign to the pages of Scripture and far from the examples of our Christian heritage.

Rise up, people of God.

Thank You Mr. President

Yesterday (April 15th, tax day) President Obama was in Miami mocking the tea party goers, shocked he was not being thanked for all he has done. I am on record as being sad at the turn the country has taken for the worst since his inauguration. My sadness has moved to madness and now to resolve to do everything I can to help stop the ship. Rush Limbaugh today, however, wanted to send his personal thank you to the President, since he wants to be thanked more. Here is what he said:

“I’d like to thank you, Mr. President, for targeting and destroying private health insurance companies.  I want to thank you, Mr. President, for pushing for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to stand trial in New York City and receive full constitutional rights at a cost of $200 million per year.  I want to thank you for that.  I want to thank you for helping to destroy the housing market, Mr. President.  And, Mr. President, I would love to thank you for your arrogance, because arrogance is part and parcel of an authoritarian leader of a regime.  I would like to also thank you, Mr. President, for your divisiveness.  I would like to thank you for ignoring the public union pension time bombs waiting to explode out there.  I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for mocking and disrespecting the American people.  And I’d like to thank you for your never ending support of the New Black Panthers and for ACORN.  I’d like to thank you, Mr. President, for embracing our enemies and snubbing our allies.  But most of all, Mr. President, thank you for arousing the sleeping silent majority because we have been asleep too long.  November is coming, Mr. President.  That is when we will really thank you.”

Amen to that.

Triple Coupon

I have been to the store 3 times in the last two days taking advantage of triple coupon week. Crazy savings, freebies and great deals. Got my coupons set out for the next super double (where they double 1 dollar coupons!!!!) event and I am ready to score huge. Coupons are great. Better would be not having to use them, but either way, I’m happy.

Health Care and Christianity

Two sides have emerged: those who are saddened and disgusted at the passage of healthcare reform, and those who are elated. I am decidedly in the first camp.  I am convinced that this is terrible for our country and goes against the principles of what has made it great. Still, I don’t want to talk too much about that, as much as address how Christians ought to deal with it.

There are those Christians who believe that since the goal is “good” we must therefore be in support.  But it seems to me that  ”means” is as important “goal”. I am going to defend a position that states that a punitive tax on the wealthy and middle class to support the poor is an unjust means to reach a good goal. I have read the opinion that this measure has become necessary because the church has not stepped up to the plate to meet the needs of the poor. Ok, I am not sure about that, but to put it on the government places responsibilities certainly where it does not lie. The governments role is not to provide anything other than opportunity and protection…. not welfare. If a Christian believes that this is necessary because of the church’s cumulative failure, then petition the church to correct the course. But, don’t impose taxes on one group for the consumption of another. This redistribution of wealth is not the way that is “Christian”. Neither should the church give all their possessions to the poor. Christian scholars, indeed, attest to the reality that parts of the early church gave up all they had to feed the poor. This led to the Jerusalem church in poverty by AD 43 in the book of Acts.

The church ought to do more. But, it ought to recognize two Biblical principles: 1) “the poor will always be with you” 2) “a man who does not work should not eat”. These are biblical writ that are foundational. Nothing, apart from God’s return, will set the course right on injustice. Certainly we ought to do what God leads us to do (namely, help those “we see”…. 1 Peter), but we can’t fix everything. Further, people have a responsibility to work and care for themselves. Any system that encourages slothfulness is not God’s best. Entitlements and welfare are not systems that work well…. especially when they encourage further bad behavior.

I am not going to fall into the mushy sentimentality and hyper piousness that says this legislation is good, moral and just. It is not. Christians ought to do what they can but not use the government to push agendas that are not attainable, Christian or the responsibility of a government governed by the United States Constitution.  We also ought not put our faces in the ground and not be politically involved. Those days are over. Clearly elections have consequences and this legislation is exhibit number one. Anyone who says that “abortion” is not influenced by presidential or congressional elects just got the terrible memo that it does. And this is my final point. This legislation makes it mandatory for federal funds to be used to pay for abortions. My tax dollars to pay for this outrage. God help us. The President’s executive order is not worth the paper it is written on and won’t stand up in court. Eventually every Christian in the land will work to cover people’s abortions. God forgive us for not being outraged and treating this like a civics class (we must all respect one another and be gracious….. blah, blah). If the church does not stand for life and fight like crazy to protect life, then we have lost our “salt”. We are in big trouble…. and Christians who are happy today are… well let’s just say “God help us all”.

Addison’s Birthday

Addison turned 2 yesterday, our sweet little daddy’s girl. We had the party at the church (Summerfield Community Center) with friends and family and we had a good time. Dora themed and decorated, the place looked like a Nick set… and Addison dressed in a Dora outfit to round out the feel.  Toys were gifted that Addison wanted and she wore herself out playing with them. All in all the party was so great.

Addison, our only Greensboro native, is the epitome of cute (like her brother and sister) and it is amazing to see how quickly she is sprouting up. Time does not stop for us to take in all of the blessings that God has given us, for time can’t capture all of His grace. And, our kids are our special treasure. As treasures go, Addison is bright as a diamond and very precious. May God grow her to be the most that she can handle of her infinite potential. Happy Birthday sweet Addison.