Grace and Peace

This Blog Has MOVED!

2011-09-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

For many reasons, I've chosen to move my blog to WordPress.com. You can visit the new blog directly by clicking below:

http://tonywolfe.wordpress.com

If you have been a subscribing member of my blog and would like to continue as such, please sign up under the new site.

Many blessings,
Tony

You Talk Too Much

2011-08-30T10:32:00.001-05:00

Be honest. Is there a person with whom every time you have a conversation, it's really more of a monologue? If you're lucky enough to get a complete sentence in, they take what you've said and give an in-depth example about an experience from their own life that exemplifies your point. You listen... and then open your mouth, only for the oxygen to be vacuumed from your oral cavity by their rapid inhalation and quick-fire chattering which completely redirects the conversation. How can they lock, load, and fire that fast anyway?! After 30 minutes, you find that a wide variety of topics have been covered, but you are still loaded with unspoken thoughts which you were unable to voice.

Or maybe it's the guy in Sunday School or Board Meetings who always has an opinion on everything. Before the presentation is made in its completion and the floor is open for discussion, you know how he feels about it all. During the discussion time, if someone else offers an opinion or a thought, he is usually the first to rebuttal or clarify. Many times, his words have put himself in an un-defendable position, but he is unwilling to bend. Or perhaps you "misunderstood what he said" at first. Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly someone can form an opinion and fire it off. Like a quick-draw, rapid-fire fully automatic Bla-Gun.

The biblical book of Proverbs has some advice for us here:

"The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding. Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips." (Proverbs 17:27-28)

- Did you get that? Even a fool is sometimes considered wise if he'll keep his mouth shut long enough.

- I can think of quite a few people for whom I have the utmost respect in this area. They are incredibly wise, and biblically knowledgeable. But they don't talk a whole lot. In fact, it's almost like these people get great pleasure from hearing others work out the truth themselves, instead of offering quick answers and advise. I can't remember many, if any, times when these individuals have flipped their lid or gotten extremely angry over anything. They listen. They evaluate. And when they are sure of their convictions, they speak them with brevity, precision, and clarity.

"A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating. A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life. A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being." (Proverbs 18:6-8)

- An old line I've heard in many different sitcoms and movies throughout the years goes like this: "That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble some day!" Okay, okay... maybe my parents have said it to me a time or two as well... It is amazing how words can absolutely destroy someone. Take Nancy Pelosi's infamous line from recent political barrage: "We have to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it." She'll never live that one down. So many examples, so little space here.

- And gossip... can we touch on this?... at the time of delivery, it seems so satisfying. But it will consume you. It will infect even your "inner-most being." If you've ever gotten sucked into gossip with someone, you will probably admit that it has a profound affect on your relationship with him or her, as well as on your own psychological and physical well-being. Pretty soon, every time you are around your fellow gossiper, all you can talk about is the news surrounding the object of your gossip. Soon enough, every time you see the person about whom you are gossiping, or ever hear her name spoken, you are filled with animosity and negativity. Surely there is something more relationally - and even physically - healthy to discuss.

"The one who gives an answer before he listens - this is foolishness and disgrace for him." (Proverbs 18:13)

- Giving instructions before a 2nd grade assignment, there are usually two or three hands that pop up during the teacher's explanation. And what does she say?... "Please hold your questions until I am finished explaining the assignment." Many times in a conversation, the "listener" (and I use the term lightly) will ask questions, make statements, and interject thoughts while the "talker" is delivering. Not only rude, says Proverbs 18:13... but foolish. Listen for understanding.

- I love reading words like "disgraceful" in passages like these. If you look up synonyms for "disgraceful," you'll probably find words like "shameful," and "blameworthy." Let me give you a clue, friend... when you speak before listening, it drastically reduces your level of perceived intelligence. You often look foolish. And many times, you are put to shame because of your arrogant ignorance.

"From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:20-21)

- Usually, we think of words as something that come FROM our body, and not INTO it. That is true. But what we say has its fruit, and this fruit is that with which we fill our stomachs. If the words of your mouth are slanderous, impure, malicious, or deceitful, you are being satisfied with the consumption of those traits. Your heart and psyche are being fed by these appalling victuals. However, if your words are loving, kind, empathetic, and considerate, you are feasting on the delectable cuisine of righteousness.

- Life and death. The most basic certainties of this world. They are in your tongue. Do you speak life, or do you speak death? The one you allow to permeate your speech will be the one which characterizes your existence on this planet. It's your choice.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Church Fellowship & Normality: 5 Reasons to Get Plugged In

2011-08-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

Summer is fun, but sometimes it's hard on churches. Members are deservedly here-and-there... vacationing, working, and spending every moment possible with their families before the "grind" resumes in full-force. Early June to late August in churches is usually characterized by spotty attendance, low giving, and less organized activity across the board. It is a great couple of months for family time. But a difficult couple of months for church-family time. That being said, at the end of May each year, most church members are ready to embrace a less structured and less demanding church environment while they invest every free moment they can find in their personal families. But for this church minister, late August always breeds a similar level of anticipation for regularity in church functions. Summer break is good. But toward the end of it, I really start missing my church family.

This past Monday, school started again. This year, I put my youngest son in Kindergarten. I don't care how old you actually are... that makes you feel a good 5-10 years older. With school starting back, church activities reverted to their normal schedule again last night. Women's Bible study, Men's Bible study, Children and Youth activities, and Music Ministry rehearsals... they all resumed their normal school-year schedule yesterday, and as far as I'm concerned, it could not have come soon enough. Last night was like a Red Bull to our church's adrenaline levels. I'm so glad to be back into regular fellowship with my church family, and to have some level of normality in our schedule again.

That being said, I would like to offer you:

-------------------------------------------------

FIVE reasons you should get plugged in to a local Bible-believing church.

1. Ephesians 3:10-11. The local church is God's instituted design both to display His wisdom in the heavenly realm, and to accomplish His purposes on Earth. When we function as a part of a church family, we are (1) showing God wise and (2) following His plan for world gospel-saturation. The world needs to know that Jesus saves. And the local church is God's agent for that mission.

2. Galatians 6:1-10. Mutual accountability and encouragement. (1) You need someone to hold you spiritually accountable. I do too. Together, we function as symbiotic organisms, coming together as one for mutual benefit. Lone-Ranger Christians, flying solo in their faith, are at an incredible disadvantage here. Yes, the Holy Spirit testifies within us when we sin against God. But if we are quenching the Holy Spirit, then His proddings will not always be felt. Sometimes, a verbal word of accountability is necessary. I alone am responsible for my sin, but it is your job to help restore me (through admonishment and encouragement) when I fall. (2) You need someone to lift you up. Life is hard. We should do it together, as a team. The burdens you have - death of a loved one, familial difficulties, financial strain, health problems - are too much for you to carry alone. Let your brothers and sisters help you bear that load.

3. Hebrews 10:23-25. Spiritual depression brought on by the recognition of spiritual oppression can be softened through spiritual fellowship. Look around. The world is decaying. Degrading. Dying. It is getting more and more difficult to live out the Christian faith. More and more, believers around the globe are being spiritually oppressed. If you're trying to stand alone, you'll be more apt to spiritual depression. It manifests itself in thoughts like, "What's the use in evangelizing? - Jesus is coming back soon anyway." Or, "There's just no hope for these godless individuals." Or even more seriously, "Why should I worry so much about living a holy lifestyle if I'm covered by the blood of Jesus anyway?" Spiritual depression. But if you're part of an active body of believers, encouragement finds you. Just as the Holy Spirit speaks to you about you, He also speaks to your brothers and sisters about you. I often find the encouragement I need from a church member who knows absolutely nothing of the situation I'm facing or the thoughts I'm entertaining. God's SSRI prescribed for spiritual depression is encouragement from other believers in the church body.

4. Psalm 68:24-26, 35. There is just something about corporate worship. When believers gather together to praise and worship God, His power and strength is imparted to them. God is "awe-inspiring" in His sanctuaries. In the fellowship of His children and in the corporate worship of His majesty, God "gives power and strength" to His people. A pep rally, of sorts. It reminds us of our position in Christ. It reminds us that because of our adopted sonship or daughtership, we have the exclusive privilege of capitalizing on the victory that belongs to us as children of the King. Sunday mornings are good. For a top-off, come on Sunday nights! And for a mid-week fill-up, come on Wednesday evenings.

5. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Being active in the local church is vital to its success; not only do you need the church, the church needs you. Upon receiving Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit imparted to you spiritual gift(s). When all the members of the church body are using their spiritual giftedness for the edification of the church and the advancement of the gospel message, the local church is a well-maintained, fitly healthy organism. Each part of its body is vitally important to its mission. If one part of the body becomes dead weight, the rest of the body feels it. If one part of the body thinks of itself more highly than it aught, the rest of the body feels that too. Don't just go to church. Be the church.

I pray you'll capitalize on the newness of this season by taking advantage of the opportunity to join in regular fellowship with a local church body, and by allowing its schedule to become a normal part of your family's routine. Don't fly solo. Don't be a Lone-Ranger. Plug in.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Personal Faith

2011-08-21T15:48:00.005-05:00

Name-droppers. You know who I'm talking about. In normal conversation, they seem to be able to work in the name of some famous (or quasi-famous) individual they think you might know. The conversation could be about the internet, and somehow you learn in its course that he knows someone who knows Al Gore. Or maybe the conversation is about worship music, and she drops the name of her personal friend, "Lincoln Brewster," in there a few times. Sometimes it's a sprinkling on the top of the conversation. And other times, the conversation takes a 90 degree turn, becoming more about the name-dropper's relationship with their friend (the dropped name) than about the original topic at hand.
The funny thing is that the dropped name is usually "a good friend" of the dropper's. "Yeah, we used to hang out." Or "I know his family real well." When in actuality, if you pry into their relationship, you find out the name-dropper delivered desk-mail to the droppee at some point. Or shook their hand after a conference. Or maybe they're friends on Facebook (which, we all know, means that their friendship is firmly established, of course).

Why do they do it? Because they honestly believe that dropping the name of a famous person makes them seem more intelligent, informed, or significant. For some reason, just being who they are doesn't speak loud enough. They think that by connecting themselves with someone more established, they'll be able to fabricate more respect in their relationship with you.

I've met people who use the name of Jesus in that way. They're Name-droppers. When things seem to be beyond their realm of control, they'll drop the name of Jesus (or more frequently, "God"), and expect that everything will magically get better. Their parents or grandparents were strong believers. And according to the Name-dropper, that gives him or her the privilege of dropping the name of God into any conversation - thereby automatically increasing their level of significance and faith. It's like a lucky charm. "I know someone who knows Him. That gives me the privilege of claiming personal relationship."

In Acts 19, we read a story of some Jewish exorcists (magicians, more than likely) who tried to drop two names at once in order to capitalize on Gods power over demons. Ephesus was home to a 400 foot tall by 200 foot wide statue of Artemis, the Greek multi-breasted goddess of fertility. Thousands of pilgrims came to her regularly to receive the blessings they thought she could give. These Jewish exorcists had allowed Greek mythology to infect their historic belief systems, and began to assimilate her into their religion.
Along comes Paul (Acts 19:11-17). God was doing some crazy amazing stuff through Paul. Just touching a garment Paul had worn was bringing healing from disease and freedom from demonic stronghold. The Jewish exorcists saw this, and they wanted a piece of the action. So they became Name-droppers. To a demon, they said, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!" Somehow, they thought, the demons would be impressed by their imagined relationship with Paul and Jesus. Somehow, they thought, saying what Paul said and sprinkling on top the name of Jesus would give them authority over evil. Somehow, they thought, if they could just throw the name of Jesus and a great Apostle in there, the demons would bow at their feet and pay homage to their power and ability. They thought they would be more significant. More authoritative. More effective... if they just dropped the names of Jesus and Paul in there.
Well, reading on, we see that the demons overpowered the seven Jewish exorcists and made fools out of them. They said, "Jesus we know, and Paul we recognize. But who are you?!" Of course the demons knew Jesus. He created them as angels, before they rebelled against Him. And of course they knew Paul. God was using him like they had never seen before. But the seven sons of Sceva, these Jewish exorcists... to the demons, these guys were just Name-droppers. They had no personal relationship with Jesus. Not really.

---------------------

Simply speaking the name of Jesus, or appealing to an authoritative church figure will never help you overcome evil. If it is evil you are facing... if it is sin you are battling against... if it is direction and wisdom you need... victory comes from a PERSONAL relationship with Christ. You can drop the name of Jesus wherever you'd like. You can name and claim everything you can possibly imagine. But don't expect evil to gravel at your feet in submission unless you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

That means Christians too. Some of us have been sucked into the erroneous belief that if we'll just speak the name of Jesus over our problems, they will magically vanish, and we'll capitalize on the power He has over circumstances and sin alike. But God's desire is for us to know Him. (See John 17:3.) Not to walk for months without studying or considering His word, then suddenly drop His name when we feel it will give us more significance, security, authority, or power.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, those who drop His name have one thing awaiting them. Shame. That's what happened to the seven sons of Sceva. They were overpowered by evil, and they ran away naked and ashamed.

---------------------

1. Your relationship with some spiritual giant is not enough to overcome evil. Heaven won't be filled with spiritual Name-droppers. It will be occupied by those who KNOW Jesus.

2. Overcoming evil can only be accomplished through the power of God by way of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. Attempting to overcome evil without the power of God by way of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will result in failure and shame. Count on it.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

The Response

2011-08-07T16:22:00.001-05:00

As multitudes of nay-saying skeptical Christians as well as slews of anti-Christian activists come out with their slaughter of the Response event in Houston yesterday, I wanted to offer some positive feedback. I wasn't able to attend in person, but my wife and I were blessed to have been able to watch nearly the whole event on their live web feed. Vanessa and I watched. We smiled. We cried. We prayed. We worshipped. We listened. All from our own sofas in our home. The next-best-thing to being there in person, I suppose.

There has been much skepticism and disillusionment surrounding the event. And I would like to offer a quick thought regarding this... I think every Christian in their right mind would agree that we NEED public, elected officials to call our Nation to prayer and repentance. We should (and I'm going to assume that we all DO) long for the day when we see a Nehemiah 8-10 revival... public confession, repentance, scripture reading, and prayer - in our own cultural/national setting. But what would happen if this ever occurred? Two things:

1. Non-Christian secular activists would try everything in their power to stop it. They would sue, protest, and bad-mouth those who organize, publicize, participate in, or support the gathering. They would label the event as unconstitutional, offensive, and a step away from reality. Newspaper editors and broadcasters would shrug their shoulders at the idiocracy implied in the idea that an All-Powerful diety can really be the answer to our economic problems.

2. Many Christian leaders would disregard the event as nothing more than a politically motivated candidacy rally. They would tell all of their Christian friends that this rally is bound for spiritual failure because its motivation isn't pure. They would make fun of the speaker selection. They would dissect every word spoken and every idea presented (or NOT presented) and use it as fuel for their nay-saying fire. They would take offense that their specific denomination wasn't represented more visibly.

I don't think you need me to tell you this... but this is EXACTLY the fog that has surrounded the Response event in Houston. I wonder if we are going to miss out on a real God-lead revival because we (the Christians) are skeptical of a leader's motivation or party affiliation.

--------------------------------

I think on the Nehemiah revival at the Watergate of Jerusalem and I remember that the people of God's promise first separated themselves from those not covered under the promise. One cannot be revived unless he or she has first been vived, so to speak. So I am not very concerned with the non-Christian public's response to the historic event in Houston this past weekend. No, what really concerns me is the activity, blogosphere, leadership murmurings, and publicity (or lack of it) from the Christian community.

In Philippians Chapter 1, Paul teaches us what really matters is that Christ is proclaimed. And whether that is out of false motives or pure, as long as Christ is truthfully represented and His kingdom is expanded, God will receive glory. I can't tell you how many times I heard the name of Jesus Christ preached, read from scripture, sung, shouted, proclaimed, or prayed in yesterday's event. I heard three U.S. Governors proclaim the name of Jesus boldly and unapologetically. I heard two of them read scripture and pray in Jesus' name. I heard one of them PREACH to the Christians in America!!! Paul would stand before us today and say, just like he said to the church in Philippi almost 2000 years ago, "Their motivation doesn't matter!" What matters is that Christ is highly honored, His truth is proclaimed, and His gospel is presented.

On a side note, how are we to know the intentions of anyone involved? Was Rick Perry using this to promote his candidacy for the office of President in the 2012 election? I don't know. Maybe. But only time can tell us the answer to that question. And that, only if Perry reveals it in his speech or actions. It is my assumption that the nay-saying Christians will pick apart any word he speaks in upcoming months/years to prove their point that he was not sincere in his calling the nation to repentance and prayer. Is it possible to discern from his future speeches and actions if this was true? I believe so. But let us be very careful about projecting our observations of someone else's inward motivation onto them, regardless of party or denominational affiliation. Far-be-it from me to have the ability to discern the inward thoughts of a man's heart. That task is left rightfully to God alone.

Was this revival? Again, only time will tell. A big prayer-and-repentance provoking event without continual obedience to God's directives and fervent supplication/intercession for those in leadership is like a great golf-swing with no follow-through. Nice form. Nice contact. And the ball goes in the right direction. It just doesn't get very far. Yesterday was a great swing - now it's time to follow through.

--------------------------------

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Instead of me making thoughtful suggestions, let's pull our ongoing obligations for revival straight from the Nehemiah revival. After weeping, repenting, and singing, the leaders got together to study the Word of God. They found very specific areas in which they were not being obedient to God's commands (yesterday, the themes of abortion, racism, and homosexuality continuously surfaced). So if we were going to follow the Nehemiah revival for direction from here - if we're serious about revival, that is - then our next step is for our leaders... political, ecclesiological, and familial... to study the Word of God intensely with relation to our current predicaments. What are our obligations? Are there areas of direction from God's Word in which we have been disobedient? How should we address these issues?
Next, all of the people made a covenant. The areas of sin that God had revealed to them... the specific things they were to address... the nation made a written agreement to relent and turn from. They were very specific in their naming of each sin. Without a firm commitment to obedience, yesterday's rally will amount to little more than a peppy one-day conference. We must assemble and agree affirmatively and stately that we (Christians) will practice righteousness from now on. At one point in yesterday's activities, Dr. Tony Evans called the church to "stop playing hide-and-go-seek" in the middle of our culture. It's time the church of God boldly and lovingly BE the church of God. That means you. And me. Firmly taking a stand for Christ. Among our friends. Our coworkers. Our representatives. Our family. Speaking truth in love. Not hiding from controversy in shame.

Was yesterday the beginning of a third Great Awakening? I believe that is left up to us. I honestly think it can be. But it requires more than one assembly. More than reverence for God's Truth. More than singing. More than repentance. It requires follow-through.
Do you want to experience revival? I sure do. Instead of dividing ourselves over motives or party lines, let's unite over a common purpose... that Christ is highly honored wether in our life or death. That the Church BE the church God has called us to be. That Christians begin to stand for Truth in a culture that is in desperate need of what we have found.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

LGBT Education in California Public Schools

2011-07-19T12:56:00.004-05:00

   Recently, the California Legislature has adopted legislation that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender education be added to the curriculum in its public school system. Click here to read a discussion between NPR's Robert Seigel and California State Senator Mark Leno (the author of the bill).

   Years ago, when the homosexual agenda was starting to be pushed through our culture, I remember warning (along with many other Christian brothers and sisters) about this happening... That if the Christian community didn't start addressing the issue biblically, individuals practicing a homosexual lifestyle would be equated to a race - and as a race, they would be treated the same as Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Caucasians, etc. If homosexuality is genetic, then being homosexual would be equivalent (for legal purposes) to being of a specific cultural background. Now, see yesterday's quote below from Senator Mark Leno:

"Our current education code requires that the role and contributions of African, Asian, Mexican, Native, European Americans, women and other traditionally overlooked communities be included in our school curriculum. All this bill does is adds that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Americans, along with those from the disability community, also have their roles and contributions included in our curriculum."

   Do you see what has happened? Being LBG or T is now equated with being an ethnicity or another form of genetically assigned characteristic (such as disabled, "male," or "female"). However, scientific study and homosexual activists have yet to prove that gender preference is strictly genetic or biological in nature. For my thoughts on homosexuality from a biblical perspective and on the social, spiritual, and biological angles on the topic, please read these blogs from an earlier date:

Part 1

Part 2

   I obviously have some biblical problems with this new curriculum. But over the past two weeks, I have heard numerous commentators and interviewees speak for the legislation on the basis that many "Christian" communities have adapted their historic stands on homosexuality to fit the culture in which we live. "Christian" denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Metropolitan Community Church, various breakaways from the Pentecostal denomination, the United Church of Christ, and the Episcopal church in America take pro-homosexual stands in the name of Jesus. By their conformation to the standards of our culture, they are misrepresenting the text of the Bible and the Savior of mankind. When the pages of the Bible are edited, reinterpreted, or ignored in an effort to make its message more palatable or acceptable among any culture, the authority of the Word of God is compromised and the repercussions are dire.
   Shame on us Christians for allowing the message of the gospel to be so grotesquely miscommunicated that pseudo-intellectuals in the biblical realm can twist the message about God's redemptive plan into a politically correct, inclusive, excusatory treatise on all things "ex-sinful." How are we to blame? By not standing for Truth in the midst of error. Things like this don't happen overnight. At first, we didn't see homosexuality as a serious threat to the message about Christ. Then, we were confronted by the reality that our friends and family members were the ones practicing homosexuality and we were tolerant of its sin without communicating the salvific truth revealed in scripture. And now, we are sleeping in the bed of inclusion that we began to make so tolerantly years ago.

   I also have some cultural uneasiness with this legislation. Firstly, the new curriculum is to span the entire public school system from grades K-12. I don't see the need to teach Kindergarten children about sexuality on any level. It has never been a priority that these children (or ANY children spanning the gamut of age or grade level) learn the heterosexual practices of historical figures, and I don't see how it is beneficial, other than to promote a pro-homosexual agenda, to teach these children the sexual practices of historical figures now. And I don't think I'm alone on this...
   Because secondly, I believe the exponential increase in the number of children being homeschooled or private-schooled should reveal the discontent over practices, policies, and curricular content of the public school system within the average American home. I have dear friends who are public educators. I myself obtained a degree in public education and was certified to teach in Texas schools at all levels. It is a profession I hold in high regard. But if the liberal agenda is continued to be shoved through our public school systems, the American public WILL (I would hope anyway) respond with conviction by providing a different avenue of education for their children.
   Thirdly, if sexuality has a place in public education, it is definitely NOT in the History department. I disagree with sex education in the schools. I believe it is the job of the parents in the home to educate their children on these matters. But if sex education has a place in the school system, it would more appropriately belong in the Health or Biology departments. Why is the legislation putting this curriculum in the History department? - Because biologically and anatomically, homosexuality does not make sense. The proof to which they are appealing is that certain popular historical figures practiced homosexual behavior on some level. Through this legislation... on the basis of historical and societal appeal, demoralization of a culture will occur.

----------------------------------------

   Where does this leave us now? Christian, it's time you stand for your biblical convictions in the face of opposition and even societal estrangement. I have many friends who are homosexual, some of them, whom I'm sure, are reading this blog. And I have tried very hard to convey to them my heartfelt convictions about their lifestyle. They know where I stand on the issue, and we are able to have dialogue about it. I, nor any other true Christian leader, would ever endorse violent or uncivil actions against homosexuals or any other person living in sin against God. We are to love... and to speak the truth out of that love.

Christian, allow me to let you in on some insight for our future...

1. The homosexual issue is not going away.
   Quietly hiding behind a veil of "love and tolerance" and turning a blind eye or a deaf ear toward the homosexual agenda is not working. My children and your children will be faced with the imminence of the homosexual lifestyle and debate. If we are going to reach our lost world and offer them real hope that can only be found in Christ Jesus, we need to accept that the LGBT issue is present and real. Maybe that should shape the way we address sexuality with our children. Maybe that should bring new levels of conviction concerning the TV shows we watch or the places we frequent. Whatever the implications, know that the emergence of these kinds of legislations - as coupled with a generally universalistic approach to spirituality in America - is quickly bringing the homosexual issue to its apex.

2. Because the issue is increasingly intrusive, we should know what we believe and why we believe it.
     God has called us to be salt and light. If the salt loses its flavor, what good is it? If you hide your light behind anything at all, it cannot be seen. What do you believe the Bible teaches about homosexuality? What did Jesus teach? And how do you reconcile that truth with the claims of our culture? You WILL BE confronted with the issue multiple times in the future (if you haven't already been). What will you say when one of your best friends reveals that he has homosexual tendencies? How will you react when your daughter defends homosexuality in a History project? We must live in reality. We should always be aware of our own cultural tendencies and what the Bible teaches about them. And we should be ready, in season and out of season, whether convenient or not, to give a reason for the hope that we have in Christ. Are you ready?

3. In the very near future, Christians in America will be persecuted for their stand against homosexuality.
   Because homosexuality is being equated with genetic traits, any word against it will be considered hate speech. Telling someone that homosexuality is wrong and sinful will VERY SOON be met with the same resistance as telling someone it's wrong and sinful to be brown. Many of us will be fined or tried, convicted, and incarcerated for hate speech or for denying equal rights to homosexual couples. At the very least, many of us will be ostracized from our own culture. We will be the quack jobs of the post-postmodern world. And at that time we will have to choose either to stand on biblical truth or to conform to the culture around us.

----------------------------------------

   In closing, I would like to re-post the last paragraph of my earlier blog, Homosexuality, the Biblical Perspective (Part 2). It was a short letter to my homosexual friends:

The Bible is the standard of truth for Christians... therefore, it is inconsistent and hypocritical for a Christian to support or agree with homosexuality.

However, I would like for you to know that God loves you with an everlasting love. He created you specially and wonderfully for His glory. You are significant to Him. So significant in fact, that He gave His own life to satisfy the penalty for sin - yours and mine alike. I was a liar. I was a thief. I was an adulterer at heart. But now I'm a new creation. I still struggle with those desires sometimes, but I have a God who is faithful to walk along side me as a Counselor, and who is also able and willing to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness if I'll only confess it, and agree with Him that it is indeed sin (1 John 1:9).

I don't hate you. And no true Christian would. In fact, I'm not "wierded out" by you or angry with you either. I love you. Really, I do. And if the Bible is reliable and accurate, then the perfect plan that God has for your life will never be actualized until you rid yourself of what He declares to be sin, and place your life in Him. He offers you eternal life, and an abundant, purposeful life here. Becoming a Christian doesn't magically take away our sinful desires, but God does promise the gift of the Holy Spirit who will dwell within you and provide you with truth, comfort, and conviction to help you along your journey.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Predetermination

2011-07-13T16:12:00.000-05:00

   We talk about determination fairly often as Christians. We should be determined to do God's will. To conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of our calling. To cast off sin and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian determination is an attitude of the heart that is fueled by a passionate love for the Lord Jesus. Sometimes, though, as determined as we are to live properly and to walk in fellowship with God, we find ourselves stuck in the middle of that which we are determined to avoid. Our minds are convinced, but our hands and feet are not.

   I've been reading in the book of Daniel in my morning Bible study time recently, and I am in awe of Daniel's determination. But as I continue to read, I am struck by something timely for my own Christian walk. Not only was Daniel determined to obey God. He had PRE-determined to obey God.

   Daniel is an historical figure to be admired, no doubt. A Judean exiled among the Babylonians, then the Medes and Persians - the very people who captured and overruled Jewish establishment, religion, and institution in the land given to them by God Almighty. Yet, even in the face of dangerous religious difference and godless political activists, Daniel arose to be in several different positions of authority in the governing realm... even among the heathens who had disestablished his people and dispersed them among the nations. There was something about Daniel that set him apart from the rest. Something kings and kingdoms, peoples and rulers admired. Something that God blessed over and over again.

   There is nothing wrong with drive. Self-control. Stick-to-it-iveness. Determination. That quality should be yours and increasing, as Peter posits (1 Peter 1:5-8). For in this way, you will guard yourself from being useless and fruitless in the kingdom of God.

   Daniel had that. Determination. But his determination was evidently more than a situation-by-situation appraisal of the goods vs evils that may result from a particular course of action. He was pre-determined. His mind was made up without a weighing of pros and cons...

"Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank."

- Daniel 1:8.

   The King James translates the Hebrew suwm ("determined") into "purposed in his heart." The Hebrew verb is in the imperfect Qal tense, meaning it is possible and likely that this was something Daniel had already done. More literally, "Daniel had determined in his heart..." His mind was already made up.
   Daniel lived in reality. He knew that being transplanted into the Babylonian court, raised and educated in their customs, and pampered as a showpiece of their society, he would be tempted with defilement by eating food of which God had instructed him not to partake. The Babylonians did not follow Judean customs concerning dietary restrictions. Daniel knew that. So he pre-determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food. And what happened? - God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the authority over him (v. 9).

   Later, in Chapter 6, Darius of the Medes was made king after taking the land from the Chaldeans/Babylonians. Daniel, having already been well-established and renown for his wisdom in dream interpretation among the rulers of the preceding empire, was instituted as second in command over the region. His predetermination to follow God's law rather than seek the approval of men had continued to be occupationally beneficial for him.

   Some other jealous leaders tricked King Darius into issuing a decree for everyone in his empire to pray to or petition only him (the king) for 30 days. Of course, that didn't fly well with the Judeans in exile under the governing authority of the king. But Daniel, undeterred, continued in his predetermined, daily exercise of praying to God and not the king. How do I know he was predetermined?...
   Verses 10-11 of Chapter 6 show us that Daniel had a daily practice. Three times a day, at the same time every day, he prayed to God. The men who tricked King Darius knew exactly where and when to find Daniel on his knees in prayer. Daniel received the news concerning the contemptuous decree. He knew what was at stake. But it really didn't matter. Because he had already predetermined that He was going to be a man who lived a lifestyle of prayer before God. When adversity came, he didn't have to evaluate anything at all - his mind was already made up.

You know the rest of the story - the lion's den and all.

From reflection on this truth in my studies recently, I have learned a few things:

1. God desires leaders and followers who will be informed of His timeless standards, and will predetermine to live them out regardless of consequences.
   Governmental, Ecclesiastical, Familial, Societal... you name it. Wherever you find yourself as a leader or follower, God desires for you to know His Word. To know His truth. To know His standards. And to live them out. Without regard for their consequences. His way is always best.

2. God will bless your non-acquiescent actions when they are grounded in a predetermination to live a lifestyle worthy of your calling as a believer in Him.
   Established authority, culture, peers, family, and friends all have their own expectations of you. Don't get caught up in what is politically correct, socially correct, or historically correct. But rather, predetermine to be biblically and spiritually correct. When you conform your walk to the character of Christ, and when you predetermine to live by His standards, blessing will come. Material blessings? Not always. Political blessings? Not guaranteed. But spiritual blessings - 100% of the time. See Romans 8:28.

3. To live with purpose and lasting impact, walk in close relationship with the Lord.
   Daniel set daily times to seek the face of God. He studied the scriptures to know what God required of Him. He walked in close, obedient fellowship with His Lord. He saved his displaced nation from the sword numerous times. He influenced two different kings of two different nations in such a way that they turned to the One True God instead of their idols. And we are still regurgitating his story today. Think about it.

Grace and peace,
Tony

Just Like You

2011-06-28T10:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we (my family and I) were walking out of a shoe store and I spit in the grass. Immediately, Aaron (my youngest) spit in the grass, and then Ethan (my oldest) did exactly the same. Vanessa and I got a kick out of it, and I was reminded of an instance not too long ago...

About a month or so ago, Ethan came up to me after a Sunday morning service. He gave me a big hug, as he always does, then looked straight into my eyes and said, "Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be just like you." My eyes immediately swelled with tears. Definitely not tears of pride... No, tears of fear. While I wrapped my arms around his thin little body and squeezed lovingly, I thought, "Son, if you only knew." So many thoughts I wanted to convey. Half a lifetime worth of mistakes and regrets. I wanted to say, "Ethan, when you grow up I hope you are one-hundred times the man I am, or ever have been."

I took some time that night before we prayed to tell him that I'm not perfect. I make mistakes all the time, and my goal is to be more like Jesus every day that I live. He knew that. How? - because I try very hard to relate that simple truth to him and Aaron as often as I can:

I apologize to them a lot. I think I put this in a blog a number of months ago, but it is absolutely worth repeating. Sometimes, I mess up and my children pay for it. To be specific, when I'm stressed or anxious about something, I often fly off the handle over the silliest things. More than once, I've been known to raise my voice in anger when stimulated by a petty offense. Shame on me. When it happens, I apologize to the boys. Face to face. And it's not, "I'm sorry, but..." No, it's just, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice like that - there's no excuse for it." My boys need to know that I mess up, and it is my prayer that I'll provide them with an example of owning up to their own mistakes and swallowing pride long enough to admit those mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

During our prayer times together, I confess sin. Teaching my children how to confess sin before God and walk in fellowship with Him is something I'm passionate about. If it was an angry outburst, I apologize to my kids, and then I confess that sin to God in prayer while they are listening. There are other sins that I don't confess in front of my children, of course... but as a general rule of thumb, if I committed it in front of them, then I confess it in front of them. Likewise, when they commit sin against God, they are encouraged to confess it before Him as well. Not to bring guilt and shame - but instead, to REMOVE guilt and shame. After this prayerful confession, I remind them that God is always faithful and just to forgive our sins every time we confess (1 John 1:9). We can be assured that confession of sin results in restoration - every time.

I am anything but the perfect father. I don't want my children to put me on a pedestal or have some lofty, unrealistic expectation or opinion of me. When they "grow up" (whatever that means - I'm still waiting to grow up myself), it is my prayer that they'll be much more godly than I ever will be. Sure, they'll have to make their own mistakes. But I plan on helping them learn from mine - and on teaching them that there is a forgiving God who is ready to restore. And He is only a confession away.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Five Reasons I Attend A Southern Baptist Church

2011-06-21T13:07:00.000-05:00

Reason #1. The Cooperative Program.
   When I give my tithe to our local Southern Baptist Church, a percentage of it goes through the State Southern Baptist Convention (SBTC) to the National Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), where it is combined with that of members from over 37,000 other churches in the United States. Through the combination of these funds, in cooperation with other Southern Baptist Churches, I help fund close to 10,000 missionaries world-wide who are daily proclaiming the Word of God and the good news of the Gospel message to billions of people across the globe. Acts 1:8 fleshed out.

Reason #2. Congregational Polity.
   Throughout Church history, congregations ruled by a presbyterian form of government or some other form of regional administration have been oppressed... their effectiveness minimized... their focus and vision overshadowed by the needs of bureaucratic authority. Because Southern Baptist churches are ruled autonomously by their own members, each church decides for itself how to best use its funds, resources, and time. They call their own pastors in their own time frame. They program and direct activities and ministries which directly fit the needs of their communities. But most importantly, this is the kind of church polity set forth in the New Testament: Acts 6:1-6, 14:21-28, Titus 1:5-9, Matthew 18:15-20. Every member of a Southern Baptist church has an equal voice in church polity.

Reason #3. Centricity of the Word.
   Other Christian denominations hold the Bible up next to church history, leadership, or emotional hype, ascribing equal value to those things and the Scriptures. This is often the cause of great confusion, and always results in depreciation of the authority of God's Word. Southern Baptists regard as paramount the truth found in the sixty-six books of the Bible - canonized and widely accepted as the supreme authority for the Christian's life in matters of both faith and practice. Since its inception, the Southern Baptist Convention has suffered innumerable blows because of this strong stand. Even when unpopular, and regardless of the consequences, the Southern Baptist Convention stands on the authority, inerrancy, infallibility, and inspiration of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 is nonnegotiable. It is not difficult to understand. And it does not change with the seasons or the centuries.
   In keeping with this high view of scripture, Southern Baptists are not a creedal people. They are a confessional people. Some Christian denominations adopt, memorize, recite, and canonize a creedal statement of belief. This statement becomes central to their faith and practice. While the Southern Baptists adopt a statement of beliefs, it is not canonized, is not recited, and is always up for amendment as Southern Baptist constituents grow in understanding of the Scriptures and as new cultural difficulties present themselves. You may view the most recent version of the Baptist Faith and Message here: http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp. In the Southern Baptist denomination, no man-written document will ever be held to the same standard as scripture. The Bible holds its place as the sole authority for Baptist faith and practice.

Reason #4. Focus on Evangelism AND Discipleship.
   Historically, as the Free Church grew it divided into those churches which emphasized either evangelism OR discipleship. Although many Southern Baptists would heartifully claim that our denomination has arisen uniquely from the Sandy Creek (evangelistic) tradition, it is apparent to me - and I believe will also be to all who will non-discriminately seek the truth - that Southern Baptists have historically placed equal emphasis on both evangelism AND discipleship. Without a doubt, waves of Southern Baptist life have arisen which accentuated one or the other more predominantly, but the tides have changed periodically as the pendulum has swung more toward the center, and then the opposite end of the spectrum, and then toward the center again... where I believe it to be at our present day. The Great Commission given to us by our Lord, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 among other places in Scripture, places equal emphasis on both evangelism and discipleship. I am honored to be a member of a denomination which, in spite of our many variances regarding techniques and methods, adheres to the instruction of our Lord by both evangelizing the lost and discipling believers.

Reason #5. Not A Competition.
   For whatever reason, many believers in Christ find themselves drawn to one particular evangelical congregation moreso than another. Southern Baptists do not consider themselves in competition with other Bible-believing, truth-proclaiming, gospel-preaching fellowships of the Christian faith. Instead, we partner with various other churches, denominations, and groups when our values are not compromised and our integrity is not minimized - working together with anyone and everyone who would heed the call to reach a lost and dying world with the life-changing truth of the gospel. You will not usually find a Southern Baptist congregation whose aim is to steal believers from other churches or to have a bigger building, a greater number of bodies, or a wider selection of ministries than the church down the road. Southern Baptists believe that we can, and should, work together for kingdom purposes. In keeping with the truth of Ephesians 4:1-5, we seek the glory of only One - that whether by our life or death, our construction or decay, our success or our failure... that Christ would be highly honored (cf. Philippians 1:20).

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Blessed By the Best

2011-06-13T20:22:00.000-05:00

"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.

But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” - Luke 7:47.

   Last Saturday, Vanessa and I were on our way to a dance recital to watch two of our friends' girls perform. (Side note: they were absolutely phenomenal!) We were running a little early, and had just eaten, so we decided to stop at a convenient store and pick up some gum on the way. I have to admit - for the sake of the other 400 people in the audience that night... I needed it.

   We pulled up on an Exxon, and it was less than inviting from the outside. It didn't exactly look like a family-friendly place, but I really needed the gum. So we pulled up and parked. As soon as I stepped out of the car, Vanessa locked the doors, and I didn't blame her.

   I walked in, and got in line behind this rough, suspicious-looking older gentleman. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "How you doin'?" I said, "I'm doing pretty good, man. How about you?" To my surprise, he responded, "Blessed by the Best." And for the next five minutes, he gave me a testimony/sermon on how God had delivered him from an addiction to cocaine.
   He had lost his wife of 35 years, his family, and his job. But he found Jesus and new life. He had been clean for a number of years now, and was telling me about all of the connections he still has from his days of addiction - and he calls these people, stops by, and seeks them out just to tell them that giving their life to the Lord can free them from their physical addiction and from their depraved lostness. In five minutes, he quoted more scripture - book, chapter, and verse - than I had quoted all week long.

   I learned quite a few valuable lessons last Saturday evening. In a place I did not expect to find any trace of God, I was smacked in the back of the head with God's presence and His goodness. In a man in whom I expected to find depravity, I found riches. In a life torn by travesty, addiction, and regret, I found hope. This man had been forgiven much. And he was not ashamed to tell me about it.

   Now that I'm reflecting on it more seriously, I think he was looking for someone to talk to about Jesus. He couldn't keep it in. The grace and mercy he had been shown was emanating from every pore of his tiny, elderly body. What a witness. How dare I judge so frivolously. This man blessed my heart with his infectious love of the Lord.

   It makes me reflect on what I've been freed from. The horrible things I am ashamed to admit that I've done. The awful person I've been. The insults I've caused God via my own sin. And to know - that He has forgiven me... wow. How amazing is His love. How wide is His grace. How nondiscriminatory is His mercy. Thank you, Jesus.

   I have not been able to get this guy out of my head. God has shown me so much through him. I hope to come across him again one day, just to let him know how much he blessed my heart. If not on this side of heaven, perhaps I'll meet him on That Great Day - where his rags will be riches, and his humility will be exaltation.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

5 Easy Ways to Lose Your Husband

2011-06-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

1. Be negative. All the time.

   Men and women both deal with negativity a lot. It seems to me, though, that women have a greater capacity to endure it. You probably won't notice, but if you're constantly negative, he'll completely shut you out. He won't listen to anything you're saying, and you will become little more than a live-in complainer-in-residence.
   It is likely that he endures much negativity at work every day. Bosses complaining that his work doesn't live up to their standards... coworkers complaining about their wives and jobs... finances (personal and business) looking bleak at best. After so much negativity, he becomes immune to it. He'll just file away what you're saying with every other depressing thing he's heard today, and retreat to his inner, self-sustaining "man-zone" where he is the king of his own impenetrable emotional castle.
   If you hope he'll shut you out of his life, and ignore everything you say... be negative a lot. But if you want him to value his time with you, smile. Be positive as much as you can. Encourage him. Or you'll lose him.

2. Solve his problems for him.

   Many times, you'll know exactly what he needs to do to solve his problem. But communicating this solution is nothing shy of a fine art - one which most women have not learned.
   Men, in general, do not want you to solve their problems. They want you to side with them. If he is bearing his soul to you and pouring his emotions into you, the ABSOLUTE WORST THING YOU CAN DO is to minimize his problem by offering a quick, easy solution.
   Has your husband ever said something like, "You just don't understand..." or... "I don't know why I tell you my problems..." or... "That's easy for you to say..." OR does he even share his frustrations with you anymore? If any of those things are characteristic of your conversations or your marriage, then you are probably minimizing his problems by offering quick solutions.
   Autonomy is essential to men. We like to solve our own problems. And if you constantly offer quick solutions to your husband's Kilimanjaro-sized problems, he is slipping away from you fast.

3. Deny him in bed.

   When men are rejected, they feel defeated. And I don't know many men who will keep fighting the same battle that they have lost over, and over, and over again. If you constantly deny his advances in bed, he will stop advancing. He will be confused over the signals you send, and he will rather not have sex with you at all than be embarrassed by your refusal even one more time.
   In every case (except for one) that I've encountered concerning the infidelity of a husband, he rates his sex life at a 1 or 2 out of ten. Of course, that does not give him an excuse to seek out personal physical pleasure elsewhere. But I'll tell you what... If you want your husband to sleep with another woman, constantly deny him in bed. Works like a charm.

4. Nag him.

   Sure, he hasn't mowed the grass this week. Yes, the light bulb in the bathroom needs changing. There is a leak under the kitchen faucet. He's known about all of these things for a week. And he still hasn't done them.
   If you want to lose your husband, make sure you tell him every day how difficult it has been for you to live in "this house" with all of "these problems." Work these things in to every conversation. Have the kids hit him up about it.
   Because us men are so prideful, the more you nag him about it, the less likely he is to get it done. He wants to accomplish those tasks not necessarily when it's convenient, but rather, when they are on HIS WATCH. He will feel much more productive around the house if he is the one who sets his own schedule.
   Sometimes, we forget. A simple reminder in a non-threatening tone-of-voice is okay once a week or so. But it is more likely to get done if you'll mention it once and then let him decide when to fix it. What's so strange about this is that if he notices you struggling to work around these unaccomplished tasks - instead of you constantly TELLING him how you are struggling - he will most likely be motivated to get things done for you. A wife in quiet deliberation tugs at the heart of a loving husband every time.

5. Override or undermine his instruction to the kids.

   Kids... you would think they are always loving, and would do anything at all to encourage your relationship with your spouse. But you would be wrong. Children live in me-land. They are largely narcissistic. And when one parent tells them something they don't want to hear, most of the time, they will ask the other parent and hope to get a different response. You don't have to teach your children this. It is innate.
   Because the husband/father depends heavily on respect in his home, it is imperative that the children respect their father. If they don't he is left unfulfilled, and they grow up with a disastrous interpretation of the father's role in a family. When the wife/mother overturns or undermines the husband/father's instruction to the kids, he feels betrayed. If you disagree with your husband's decision concerning your children, ALWAYS take it directly and exclusively to your husband. Your children need to see a unified front. And you will do more good for them by upholding your husband's decisions than by disagreeing with him in front of them.
   If you would like your husband to perceive a two-sided war between himself on the one side, and you with the kids on the other... go ahead and override or undermine his instruction. If you want him to regard you as an enemy rather than a partner, hook it up. And no doubt... the war will come. Except... there will be no winners. Only losers.

THINK ABOUT IT.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

5 Easy Ways to Lose Your Wife

2011-06-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

1. Spend more time at work or with the kids than with her.

   Relationships take time. Many people don't realize the incredible damage done by simply NOT spending time with their spouse. If you feel like you're not "connecting" or like you can't seem to communicate effectively, it's probably because your conversations with her are few and far between, OR they last about a minute or two each.
   Often, when relationships have degraded significantly, the last thing you want to do is spend time with each other. Maybe the bulk of your conversations with her have more often than not been negative or nonproductive. That's no reason to not communicate. Things will NOT get better without spending time together.
   This means you'll (Yes, YOU!... not her) have to plan a date night. Schedule a babysitter. Spend some money. Yep, even after a hard week at work. Invest in your marriage. SCHEDULE time alone with your wife. Don't ask her to do it. You take the initiative.
   It is alarming how many marriages end in divorce after the children leave home. One day, your kids will be grown, independent, and out of the house. One day, you will be retired. And you're going to have a LOT of time with your wife. The question is, "At that point, will you even know her?" Spend time with your wife. And lots of it.

2. Don't ask her opinion or include her in decisions.

   Yes, the husband is the head of the household. Yes, the wife should be submissive to him in all things. Yes, "The buck stops here" (at your feet). BUT that does NOT give you license to disinvolve your wife. She has valuable insight. Most of the time, she will see a problem from a completely different perspective than you. If you include her and honestly consider her thoughts, you may be shocked at how often she can save you from making a stupid decision.
   For some reason, men usually think of asking their wife's opinion or suggestion as a sign of weakness. Guess what - that's not how your wife sees it. If you ask, listen to, and honestly consider her opinion, you will be amazed at how your marriage will grow... and at how much more respect she will give you.
   Swallow your pride. Include your wife in all decisions. Honer her opinion. Value her insight.

3. Talk about your marriage problems with another woman.

   Triangulation. The only three people that belong in a marriage are husband, wife, and God. You should know better than to discuss your marital problems with another woman. I know, I know... "But we've been friends for as long as I can remember." Even. Worse.
   Generally speaking, men find significance in autonomy and women find significance in relationship. I can't tell you how many couples I've counseled where the husband had been having an emotional affair with another woman. No kissing. No touching. No sex. Just talking.
   Many times, for a woman, this is even more difficult to get over than a physical affair. Why? Because she values your emotional connection. If you lose that emotional connection with her, and especially if you invest those emotions in some other woman, count your wife as good as gone.

4. Make jokes about her figure.

   It's not funny. At all. Every day, your wife spends more time worrying over her figure than you do working. There is such a huge cultural push for women to be unhealthily skinny. Next time you go shopping with your wife, look (but don't stare) at the women on the posters and signs. That is who she compares herself to. Daily. She shouldn't. I know. Those women are airbrushed, shape-shifted representations of reality. But it's just the truth.
   What do you consider your weakest area? What do you worry over the most concerning your own personal abilities?... Got it?... Now what if your wife constantly made facetious or sarcastic remarks exploiting that weakness? Not cool, huh?
   You should encourage your wife over her figure. And you should NEVER joke about it. It's not funny. It's not cute. And even if she is smiling, she doesn't get the joke. It's hurtful. It's insulting. It's disrespectful. Keep it up, and you will lose your wife.

5. Don't help around the house.

   Yeah, I know - you work "all day long." And when you get home, you just "need to relax and unwind." Guess what? At that time of day, she does too. She has either been at work all day herself, OR she's been taking care of the kids and the house (working) all day. By the time you get home, she is just as worn out and frustrated as you are.
   "But she's a 'HOME-MAKER.' That's her job!" True dat. But how would you like to come home from work every day, and keep working? You can help with dinner. You can help with dishes. You can help getting the kids baths and in bed. You can do those things. Consider them deposits in her love bank. They will take you a long way.
   However, you are free to come home, sit in your chair, watch TV, and let your wife do all of the work. That's your choice. But don't get used to it. Because one day, you'll come home, sit in your chair, watch TV, and dinner won't be there. You'll notice the kids aren't screaming. And your devoted wife doesn't answer your every beckoning call. Because she'll be gone.

THINK ABOUT IT.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Husbands, Love With Your Eyes

2011-05-18T10:14:00.001-05:00

In ministry, it is a blessing and an honor to come across older men and women of God who have learned such incredible wisdom through their years. I am very often blown away by something an elder saint speaks. A few weeks ago, I was talking to one of the fine women of our church (Mary Ann Almendarez) who recited something her husband (Max) always tells young couples in turmoil... This gentleman says to the young husband - "You need to love with your eyes."

   HUSBANDS (and young men) - Be honest with yourself... how often do you let your eyes wander? Any given day, you are enticed hundreds of times to take your eyes off of your beautiful bride and fix them on another woman. What is it about this other woman that rips your gaze away from the one whom you love and drags you into a curious glance? Most likely, it is the unknown...

   I counsel lots of couples in marital crisis. If the husband is the one having offended (adultery, extra-marital emotional attachment, etc.), 99.9% of the time, he is a wanderer - metaphorically speaking. And what is so awful about this is that he usually doesn't even realize it, or he thinks there is no harm in it. Men, let me give you a clue - YOUR WIFE NOTICES and SHE IS HARMED. Women have a sixth sense (or maybe it's a seventh or eighth sense) about these things. Many times, they won't say anything... probably because it causes them to feel less attractive and insecure in your relationship. But if you think you're getting away with it, you've got another thing coming.

   The Unknown - mysterious, curious, enticing, tantalizing... But never fulfilling, in this sense. Men, when your eyes wander, you are being suckered in to a fictional, unrealistic fantasy. Men who have extra-marital affairs (both physical and emotional) are blind to reality because of their curiosity toward the unknown. The relationship they have with the other woman is not real. They enjoy the emotional attachment (they once had with their wife) and the physical pleasure (they once had with their wife) but are not affected by the things that can bring difficulty and conflict into a relationship (they still have with their wife). What kinds of things?...

- shared financial burden
- children
- daily house chores
- long periods of time together
- in-laws
- spiritual/religious differences

... and many more. The extra-marital relationship is void of these things. It is not real. It is fake. Fantasy. Dream-world. What is so sad about this is that these very things that are absent from extra-marital affairs are the things which can potentially draw a couple together. Conflict is opportunity:

   In a conflict management class by Dr. Mike Smith of the SBTC, I learned that the Chinese word for "conflict" is made up of two independent words... "danger" and "opportunity." The very things that we allow to drive us apart have the potential to pull us together, when dealt with appropriately. Conflict is not something from which to run. It's something we need to embrace and commit to resolve. That's how marriages/relationships grow. To live in a fantasy relationship where there is little potential for conflict is to live in a destructively fictitious world void of opportunity.

   David allowed his eyes to wander (2 Samuel 11). Instead of marching into battle with his troops (like he should have), David stayed home during war-time. He got up from his bed and went up to the rooftop and... you guessed it... let his eyes wander. He saw Bathsheba bathing, and was filled with curiosity of the unknown. In Psalm 51 David cries out to the Lord because of the immense pain he has brought on himself. Pride --> Wandering Eyes --> Disobedience --> Pain.

   "But it's just looking and that's okay." "You can look but you can't touch." I hope I'm not the first one to break it to you, husband, but those phrases are not in the Bible. Many men think that wandering eyes are not sinful, and do not affect their marriage. Wrong.
   Jesus says in Matthew 5 that if you look at a woman with lust in your heart, you have committed adultery. Yep, really. I'm sure you've heard this before. But have you really applied it to your own life? If you've looked at a woman with lust in your heart, have you confessed that sin to God? That prayer might sound something like this: "God, I confess that I am an adulterer. Please restore me." Have you ever confessed to God that you are an adulterer? You might think that seems kindof harsh... "I'm not REALLY an adulterer... it's just a look." Not according to Jesus. Maybe your spirituality is better defined than Jesus'. Maybe you know more about what sin against God is than He does. Perhaps He should ask you to repent only when you've violated your own moral standards.

   PRACTICALLY, men, this may be a challenge for you. But that doesn't change the imperativeness or urgency of the matter. In order to be restored, and to begin living a lifestyle of loving with your eyes, allow me to offer a few tips:

1. Confess. Call sin exactly what God calls it. Agree with Him that allowing your eyes to wander is sin. 1 John 1:9 says that He is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you of unrighteousness, if you'll only agree with Him that it is sin. Check your pride at the foot of the throne. Fall on your knees before Almighty, All-knowing God, and confess.

2. Pray. Constantly. Ask God to restore that sense of wonder and excitement toward your bride. Ask Him to show you how incredibly beautiful she is - to see her as He sees her. Get a God-sized perspective. Ask God to constantly remind you not to let your eyes wander. If you are really committed, ask Him to reveal your sin to you at the moment of its birth, so that you can get a grip on it before it drags you down to its destructive pit.

3. Look. At your wife, that is. Many guys are too caught up with their cell-phones, TV programs, and newspapers to get their eyes on their bride. Rediscover the intricacies of her gentle eyes... her flowing skin... her lush lips. What is it about your bride that used to make you stare and drool? We all did it. Good husbands still do.

4. Catch Yourself. If you've read this blog, this topic will most likely be on your mind the next time you see a woman. Seeing is one thing - "looking" is another. When (not if) you notice that your eyes are wandering, return them directly to your bride. If she is not there, put your eyes on the ground. Practice some self-control. Sometimes, calling your wife immediately will help. Whatever works for you - do it... quickly.

Husband, love your wife with your eyes.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Narcissistic Christianity: An American Epidemic

2011-04-18T22:37:00.001-05:00

   A couple of weeks ago, a high school junior came to our guys' Monday night Bible study. He and his entire immediate family are self-proclaimed agnostics, and have absolutely zero Christian influence in their lives. He had so many questions. Good questions! And it took some time to answer them all... but at the end of the Bible study, I had a very encouraging conversation with him.
   He said that his past experiences with Christians was one of great disappointment. He asked honest questions, and instead of taking the time to answer them, they (the Christians) would just tell him he had to "have faith." In his mind, it created a dichotomy of sorts - this pitted faith against reason. It was either have blind faith in God and be saved or ask questions and stay lost.
   He went on to describe his experience at several churches in our area over the past few years. I paraphrase here, having asked his permission:

   "I would go in to church and it was like the youth weren't really allowed with the adults. We had to stay separate. That was okay with me, but as the evenings progressed at these different churches, I noticed some trends... I was expected to hang out with my friends that were there, play some crazy games, listen to a band play some Christian music I had never heard before, and listen to a motivational speech that was ambiguous at best. I didn't feel like I learned anything. I had the same questions when I left as I had when I went in. And I certainly didn't feel like I had experienced the God that I came to church looking for. I was looking for something to change my life. Something big and meaningful. I stopped going to all of them because I knew of plenty of places I could hear a motivational speech, or hang out with my friends, and listen to music that I actually knew and liked."

   You know why he came to our Bible study? Because of personal interaction and invitation from friends. He has not attended a church service of ours. He has not come to our youth group. He wants to study the claims of scripture and evaluate for himself the message of the gospel.

   "Isolated case," you say. I beg to differ. In fact, I believe whole heartedly that people in our culture today are desperately seeking for a truth they can hold onto when their lives are broken and everything else in their world is shaken beyond recognition. I believe they ask difficult questions because they really want answers. I believe they try a church because they recognize a need for something they're lacking. I believe that the only thing which will satisfy their longings is the unadulterated truth of the gospel message.

   I might take some heat for this one - but it seems to me that our churches (yes, our Southern Baptist ones) have spent much time, energy, and resources into developing the "come-and-see" model of ecclesiology. Catch-phrases like, "We have something for everyone," "Come and experience the love of Jesus," and "The best children and youth programs around" saturate our advertisements and dialogue. We have completely revamped our sanctuaries and musical styles/instrumentation to attract and "draw in" all that will come. After all, we want them to feel comfortable when they enter our doors.
   Not that there's anything wrong with being comfortable. Or with dynamic music programs, technical savviness, or well-planned children and youth departments. But I fear we are creating a subculture of narcissistic Christians in our American churches. Allow me to explain.

   First of all, there's the biblical problem with this ecclesiology: Namely, that the church was never meant to function as a "come-and-see" attraction. The church is a "go-and-tell" organism (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, etc.). In the biblical model, believers were made OUTSIDE of the church walls and then assimilated into the body. We, however, have adopted the opposite as "ordinary" and "normal" - namely, that we invite the lost to church, and hope they accept Christ during the invitation time. Are invitations bad? No. Should we refrain from inviting the lost to our churches? No. But the primary methodology for evangelizing the lost and defending the faith should be done outside of the church walls. Every believer should be mission-minded. Every church member should be spreading the gospel message during the week. This is the primary method of cultural gospel saturation as prescribed in the New Testament scriptures.
   In the 19th century, Charles Finney and later, D.L. Moody, pioneered the concept and practice of an "altar call" or "invitation" at the end of every service. I know that the idea of giving the listener an opportunity to respond is present in scripture. But the actual invitation as we know it (at the end of a sermon in a worship service) was not widely used until Finney. Was the invitation/altar call an incredible innovation? Absolutely. Is it still a good idea to utilize this methodology in our churches today? You bet. But I believe that to some extent, our church members have subconsciously taken advantage of this innovation, and because of this, have become less and less likely to share the plan of salvation with their family, friends, and coworkers.
   I know many church members (and lets, be honest, you do too) who did not share the plan of salvation with even one person last year. I've encountered many church members who don't even know how to present the plan of salvation. BUT - - - they invite their friends to church and that's where they hear the gospel and are offered an opportunity to accept Christ. That's good enough, isn't it? No. God has given every Christian a circle of influence - a specific group of people, however small or large, and each are more likely to listen to and trust him or her than anyone else on the planet. A thousand sermons and invitations don't measure up to one sincere presentation of the gospel message from someone you know intimately cares about you. We must reclaim the responsibility of personal evangelism.

   Secondly, there's a psychological problem with our American ecclesiology. Again, we spend innumerable amounts of time, money, and resources developing an attraction model of church. The old phrase rings in my head right now, "The method changes, but the message remains the same." As true as that may be, at what point can we determine if we are message-centered or method-centered? What kind of church members... what kind of Christianity are we creating?
   Those who come to church and accept Christ because the music is awesome, the people there are fun, or the pyrotechnics are "dynamite" - are they really accepting a Matthew 16:25 Christianity? Are they really being set up for a Romans 6 lifestyle? Will they be able to separate a preference-grounded faith from a faith-grounded worldview?
   The psychological difficulty with attractional ecclesiology is that it connects secular pleasure and unwavering preference with Christianity. It is almost as if to say that Christianity can be "cool" by the world's standards. That I don't have to change to become Christian. That my church can feel just like the culture - accepting, tolerant, and contemporary. But if someone has made this psychological connection and has been grounded in it, what will come of his faith when the popular culture changes? The answer - Narcissistic Christianity. And it is spreading like wildfire. It's an epidemic.
   "Worship Wars." That three syllable phrase makes me cringe every time I hear it. Why in the world would CHRISTIANS be "war-ing" over Worship???!!! I'll tell you why. Because our "worship" has become more preference-centered than God-centered. Our preaching has become more method-centered than message-centered. Our churches have become more culture-centered than Bible-centered.
   The difficulty here is that preferences change with every generation. What we did to "draw people in" in the 50's is different from what we did to "draw people in" in the 70's. And neither of those approaches look like what will "draw people in" now. The solution?: Stop being so focused on drawing people in, and concentrate our energy on sending Christians out. Will this stop all controversy over preference? Nope. Will it fix every problem with the method of worship or gospel delivery? Probably not. But will it reach people at their place of personal need? Yes.

   My friend whom I paraphrased at the beginning of this post was visiting churches looking for something real. I am embarrassed for my sister churches (knowing that for some in our community, it has been our church that has failed in the same capacity) to say that he did not find what he was looking for. Tonight, I had the privilege of visiting with another young man who recently accepted Christ. He echoed the same sentiments. He had been in several churches over the past few years, but never found anything of substance.
   What won this young man over? Do you think it was the awesome music? No, that wasn't it. The fancy lighting? Still not it. The dynamic programs and excursions in the youth group? No. You know what won him over? Truth. The need of a Savior, and the gift of a loving God. That is the gospel message. That is what will effectively change lives. That is what will transform our culture and our world. The good news. Maybe we should stop focussing so much on how we can draw people in, and start focussing a little more on how we can send our church members out to saturate their circle of influence with the truth of the gospel.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

The God of the Bible Makes Sense.

2011-03-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

   This is my 50th blog post. I've enjoyed immensely this outlet for the conveyance of biblical truth and perspective. And I have equally enjoyed interacting with many of your thoughts in the comment threads and in personal emails or Facebook notes. In no way do I pretend to have all of the answers or the uniquely biblical perspective in any given situation. But so far, this experience has been one of great advantage for me. It has forced me to dig deeper and study harder than I ever have before. For that especially, I am grateful.
   When deciding on the topic for this blog, I wrestled with may possibilities. But after much deliberation, I decided to address the perspective of fallaciousness toward the biblical account, as applied by the popular culture. Over the past one-hundred years or so, and exponentially increasing by the year, there has been suspiciousness, and even outright denial of biblical truth. The idea that the Bible could contain the historical account of the beginning of life, and even more suspiciously, an accurate historical narrative concerning the plan and involvement of God for the salvation and restoration of mankind, has been deemed illogical. In academia, it is largely believed that the Bible and science don't mix - That faith is pitted against logic - That to believe in the God of the Bible is to turn away from reality.
   In this blog, I would like to demonstrate that the opposite is true. Namely, that science and all of its discoveries leads us to the God of the Bible - That to believe in scientific claim in place of Scripture is illogical - That God Himself is the ultimate reality, and that which denies Him is fallacious itself.

Part I. There Is A God.
   Academia would have us believe that all of life that exists and has ever existed has come about by pure chance. The alignment of certain criteria at just the right time throughout history has ultimately formed us as we are today - and in this same manner, we continue to evolve. Instead of attacking all the specifics here (because there are MANY good books which address these issues in their entirety), I would like only to address the logic behind the claim.
   First, we must establish a clear understanding of worldview. Worldview is how we "view" the world. It has been metaphorized as the "glasses through which we see the world." I am a biblical Christian. Every event that takes place in the world, I see through the the lens of scripture. An atheist would see the same events in a completely different perspective, or at least to a different degree.
   Short example: A powerful earthquake hits Japan. I see it as part of God's historical narrative - and ultimately as a sign that Jesus is coming back soon (based on several passages of scripture from the Bible). An atheist would see it as tectonic plates rubbing at fault lines and nothing more. I also believe in these mechanics. No question there... but I see it as part of a bigger picture.
     Allow me to also testify that science is a GOOD THING! I believe that the God of creation instituted these scientific laws and facts (which we discover from time to time) in order to allow the universe to function as He desires. Discovering God's scientific laws leads us into a deeper understanding of His order, design, and omnipotence.
   That being said, there is a significant problem with a purely scientific worldview. The general, overarching conviction of a purely scientific worldview is that nothing comes from nothing. Matter does not generate itself; it can only be formed from other matter. Logically, this presents a big problem...
   According to the theory of evolution (secularly held as fact now, although there are immense holes in the theory), humans and monkeys evolved from a common primate - which evolved from Amniotes - which evolved from Tetrapods - etc., etc., etc... until we get back to some ambiguous single-celled organism - from there, scientists are unsure of the process by which carbon-based life began. The biggest difficulty with this theory is the problem of a "First Cause."
   Let's say the universe was created by a "Big Bang" of sorts... What existed that produced this bang? I know, I know... Nitrogen and Hydrogen in space. Well, where did the Nitrogen and Hydrogen come from? And where did the space come from? At some point, one must believe (have faith) that something (possibly elements, some matter, or minimally - space) "just was." This belief is logically inconsistent with the purely scientific worldview. In other words, it is illogical to hold a purely scientific worldview. Essentially, the scientific statement would be something like, "I believe in evolution, and that matter only comes from matter. But I believe that the first matter came from nothing." Science cannot explain the problem of the "First Cause." It is impossible.
   Instead, from scientific discovery, we can determine that it is more logical to believe in creation. Einstein's Theory of Relativity is an incredible example of this. There are many aspects to this theory, but one conclusion (widely - almost uniformly - accepted by scientists) is that time, space, and matter must have all come into existence at the same point - because they cannot function independently of each other. Following this to its logical conclusion, if all three of these elements came into being at the same point, the undetermined "First Cause" who/that would be responsible must be outside of their (the elements') restrictions. He/it cannot possibly be restricted by the aforementioned elements because He/it existed before they came into being.

A purely scientific worldview is inherently illogical.

It violates its own bases of conviction.

However, if I believe in an all powerful God who created the universe (those elements of time, space, and matter), then it is perfectly logical for me to believe that He formed the world and everything in it in six days, as scripture describes. There is no logical inconsistency there.

A biblical worldview is logical.

It does not violate its own bases of conviction.

   At the very least, it is undeniable that holding any given position on the origin of the universe takes some amount of faith. Those with a scientific worldview have faith in their logic, their ability to understand the natural world, their theory, nature itself, or some combination of these. Those who hold a biblical worldview have faith in the God of the Bible.

Part II. He Is The Ultimate Existence.
   Since, as above proven, it is more logical to have faith in a supernatural Being than to not have faith in a supernatural Being, we should at this point deduce some things about this Entity - so that we can more clearly understand our own purpose.
   The unmitigated nature of this "First Cause's" creation (the bringing about of time, space, and matter) reveals some important qualities of It. Firstly, It is omnipotent (all-powerful). It created everything that we know. The Creator of something is not confined by its limitations, thus, It is more powerful than the natural world's restrictions.
   Secondly, It is orderly. Its creation functions within and through systematic order - elements, physical and natural laws, rotations and revolutions, etc. Whatever this Being is, It is obviously orderly.
   Thirdly, there is an element of design. This Being created time, matter, and space to work together and purposefully. Since the three (according to the accepted Theory of Relativity, as above mentioned) elements of time, space, and matter work together purposefully, there is a personal dimension to the creation. There was a reason that the creation was brought about. And since they work together so essentially, it is logically deducible that the Creating Being designed them to function in that manner.
   Fourthly, this Being is the owner of existence. If It created existence, It is the rightful owner of that existence. All that there is, which has been made under Its authority, rightfully belongs to It.
   Lastly, this Being is eternal. Not only pre-existent, but also ever-existent. Remember, time was one of the elements brought into existence by the Creator. Therefore, It (the Creator) is not confined by its (time's) limitations. The Creator has always been, and always will be.
   If this Being, the "First Cause," is eternal, omnipotent, orderly, and purposeful, then it is the highest, and most absolute representation of reality that exists. Since It is before all, and has the power to end all, then there is nothing more "real" that Itself. It is the ultimate expression of what power is. It is the ultimate expression of what design is... of purpose, of order... of existence. It is more real than anything else that exists. This Being is the ultimate existence.

   Thus, if this Being were to reveal more of Its nature or character, then It would also be the most perfect representation of whatever aspect it reveals. If love is part of Its character, then It is the purest representation of love. If morality is part of Its character, then It is the purest representation of morality. And so forth. In every aspect, It is "holy" - meaning, set apart.

Part III. His Creation Messed Up.
   If this Being made everything for Its pleasure, and put incredible thought and creativity into the intricacies involved, then how grand it was for It to enjoy Its perfect creation! It must have been glorious to interact with, hold, and enjoy what It had purposefully made. But what would happen if this creation rebelled against its Creator? That which the Creator had made perfect would become stained, scarred, and fallible.
   The Bible tells us that creation was made with freedom of choice. And because that creation chose imperfection over perfection (selfish desire over the Creator's perfect plan), it is now fallen to a degree. Adam, the first created human, walked and talked with the Creator. This is perfectly logical - seeing that Adam was an unstained representation of the Creator's being. Adam and Eve came to call this Creator "He," and "God." And who would know the Creator better than one who walked and talked with Him? But Adam chose to rebel against God. He disobeyed because of his temptation to be like God. Adam sinned against his Creator.
   Because of this single event, creation is no longer what the Creator made it to be. If the Creator is the ultimate expression of morality, then that which rebelled against It would inevitably be immoral. If the Creator is the ultimate expression of love, then that which rebelled against It would inevitably be unloving. Its perfection - creation's imperfection. Its purity - creation's impurity. It's holiness - creation's unholiness. This presents a catastrophic problem. How can That which is the purest expression of perfection condone or entertain imperfection? How can That which is the purest expression of morality condone or entertain immorality? Enter the great divide. An all-powerful Creator separated from His creation by its rebellion.

HOLD ON A MINUTE... Time Out, Tony! What about the countless evidence that humans evolved from a primate? And the evidence for an earth that is billions of years old? And since the Bible was written a few thousand years after it claims creation happened, how can we be sure of its accuracy?

EVIDENCE for human EVOLUTION - What evidence? Show me the remains/bones of the various stages between primate and humanity. There are none. We have remains of primates (maybe even extinct primates), and we have remains of human-figured people. We do not have remains of anything between. Surprised? This is one of science's greatest fallacies. The evolution of humans from primates is speculatory at best.

EVIDENCE for an old EARTH - "Carbon Dating." Scientists, for 50-65 years now have believed they can determine the age of carbon-based organisms by determining the breaking-down of carbon in their remains. First of all, let me say that this is also a theory, not a fact. There have been multiple credible scientists who believe that carbon breaks down at differing rates in reference to the age of the remains. For instance... it may break down twice or ten times as fast once it passes two thousand years old as it does once it passes fifty years old. There is no proof. Secondly, let me assure you that carbon dating has had its own laughable mistakes. I CHALLENGE YOU - if you don't believe me, please click HERE to read an article which explains some major mistakes of carbon dating, and gives objective examples of its carbon dating mistakes made recently. (Here is an interesting, but short, article from the New York Times testifying to these assertions - just in case you are interested.) (Here is an article revealing some of the mistakes with carbon 14 dating and dinosaurs.)

ACCURACY of the biblical ACCOUNT - Adam walked and talked with God. He got his information from the Source. According to the historical data in Genesis 5, Adam walked and talked with Methuselah for 243 years (243 years of telling the creation account first hand). Methuselah walked with Shem for 98 years, and Shem with Abraham for 150 years. That's only three generations between Adam talking with God Himself and Abraham fathering the nation of Israel. The Hebrews were an oral culture, priding themselves in storytelling. There is very little chance of inaccuracy here, and if an inaccuracy was taught, it would have quickly been corrected by someone who had heard the story from an earlier source.
   Are the old ages a difficulty for you? In Psalm 90, Moses writes that God limits a man's years to 70 or 80 years. This tells us that he knew exactly what he was writing when he recorded (in Genesis, as its author) the ages of these men of old. Why do we no longer live for that long? - the influence of sin has scarred every aspect of creation. Death entered the world because of it; as sin's and imperfection's influence perpetuates, its effects multiply.

Part IV. God Reveals Himself More Fully to His Creation.
   With humanity fallen, and God's perfect creation only a shadow of its former self, the Creator
of all things decides to reveal Himself more fully to His creation. As time, which God created along with matter and space, elapsed, He would show more and more of His character and reality to His creations. The individuals with whom He spoke recorded His words on scrolls and tablets. They were hand-copied over the years with incredible accuracy, as archaeological studies have shown, and are more reliable than any other document from antiquity...

   Over 5,500 original manuscripts of the New Testament books exist, having been handwritten over a 50 year period (50A.D. to 100A.D.) in their original language, Greek - at 99.5% accuracy. For a comparison to how this compares with other documents widely accepted by academia as accurate and reliable, click Here. <--- But I warn you, it is difficult to deny their accuracy after you read this stuff.

   Well, there you have it. Believing in the God of the Bible is logical. He and His revelation to mankind (the Bible) can be and have been upheld by scientific discovery, archaeological finds, historical records, and mathematical statistics. What else do you need?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Two to Tango

2011-03-28T20:10:00.000-05:00

   A friend of mine came up to me the other day and (jokingly) said, "Hey, we [he and his wife] need some counseling. When can she start?" Funny, I thought... He was joking about it, but I think this is usually the mindset of many of my clients. Especially in crisis marital counseling (CMC). In CMC, there is, situationally, an offender and an offended. Because the crisis is usually very recent, the offended feels like he or she has every right to be offended, and that the counseling process is mostly for the offender. It's almost like the offended is saying, "We need counseling. When can he (or she) start?"

   The first one or two sessions (depending on the breadth of the presenting conflict) is usually spent on the presenting problem. What happened? How long has this been going on? How did it start? How does it make you (offender) feel? How does it make you (offended) feel? It almost feels like the old game, Twenty Questions. One of my first goals is to get the offended to see what pushed the offender to this action. I haven't had even one offended come to me expecting to be counseled on how he or she contributed, or is contributing, to the problem. But alas, it takes two to tango.

   This is one of those "general" concepts. There are a few cases where the offended party has done absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, I'm thinking of one right now. A woman whose marriage is obviously damaged by things her husband has done, but who herself, has no fault as far as I know. It happens. But almost always, there is fault on both sides.

   Never does this fact (that fault can be found on both sides) excuse the offender of what he or she has done. Throughout life, circumstances will change, people will "do you wrong," ups will become downs, and downs will become ups. No circumstance can "MAKE" you react in any given manner. You can choose to respond to any stimuli biblically or un-biblically. Your actions are your own responsibility - even in the least desirable of situations. But that's a different blog...

   So with whom are you experiencing a relational conflict of some kind? Has he offended you? Do you feel like you have every right to feel offended? - Careful, because once you've given yourself license to feel offended, it's only a short trip down the same road to bitterness and revenge. Emotions are good. They give you insight into your thought patterns. If you "feel" offended, ask yourself why. Why do I feel this way? What has he done that is not sitting right with me? Why does that action/word/attitude offend me so? Then comes the "BIG QUESTION."

   Why did he act/speak in this manner? Or why is his attitude this way toward me? There are infinite possibilities. Perhaps what you are perceiving is a part of his personality structure. Does he have a dominate personality while you have an interpersonal personality? If so, the way he relates to you will be different from the way you relate to other people. Maybe he's not trying to be offensive at all. Maybe it's just his way of communicating. Have you considered the option that whatever he did to offend you could possibly have not been directed toward you at all? Maybe you were hit by stray fire.
   In any case, answering this question involves empathy. A walk in his shoes. A reversal of roles. It may be scary, but get into the thoughts and feelings of the offender. Does the negative action/speech happen after a certain stimulus that may trigger a certain negative feeling (pain, anger, resentment, confusion, threat, etc) in the offender? Can you do something to suppress this stimulus? Are YOU the stimulus? Is there an aspect of your personality that you need to put in check when dealing with him or her?

   Very rarely (not "never," but very rarely) is there fault on only one side of a conflict. Especially if it has escalated into a battle. One of the first things you need to do in conflict resolution is explore the possibility that you may be contributing (or have contributed) to the problem. After all, it takes two to tango.

ROMANS 12:

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord...

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Be Still and Know (Psalm 46)

2011-03-23T16:34:00.000-05:00

   I am blessed to have such an incredible working relationship with the high school right down the road from our church. Their Choral Director is my church pianist... and is absolutely phenomenal in both capacities. More than an excellent choir director, this woman is a true witness for the Lord right where He has placed her. Our church choir is going to sing a new piece entitled Be Still this Sunday. She (the HS choir director) is doing the same piece with her varsity choir for UIL this year, and invited me to come work with them a bit today during class time. This Sunday, several of their choir members will join our Worship Choir here at Calvary to present Be Still together.

   Today during the High School choir's rehearsal time, I was moved by the Spirit of God. I read to them the Psalm from which this phrase "Be still and know that I am God" comes (Psalm 46). They are incredible musicians. But more than that, I could honestly feel the presence of God as I saw many of them worshipping Him and approaching His throne of grace while they sang. An incredible feeling to experience in a High School choir room, for sure.

   We use this phrase quite often, as Christians... "Be still and know that I am God." It is directly applicable to countless situations. Especially when calamity strikes. However, it is necessary to understand that we only have part of the picture. As humans, we only see in tunnel-vision.
   When catastrophe comes, whether in my family, my church, or somewhere far removed, I am inclined to first think of how it affects me personally. Then, I can branch out to how it affects those closest to it. And eventually - if I'm big-pictured enough - I can see how it affects people/conditions all over the world. However, I can never see the complete picture. Tunnel-Vision is part of our human nature. Even if I am the most empathetic of humanity, that only means that my tunnel is slightly larger than most others'.

   When catastrophe hits, people have many questions. The one I hear the most is something like, "Why would a loving God let this happen?" Have you ever heard someone ask that question? Have you ever ASKED that question? I know I have (heard and asked). The most truthful answer I have for that question is always, "I don't know." I cannot pretend to be God. His ways and His thoughts are much higher than my own (Is 55:9). At best, I might have an educated guess or presumption about what God might gain in any given situation, but what seems right to me often proves useless (Pr 14:12 and 16:25). After all, who can declare God guilty of anything (Job 34:29)?

   Often times, we have to remove ourselves a bit from the grand complication. There must be something greater going on. Surely there is a greater purpose, a larger picture of which this disastrous instance is only but a stroke on the canvas. Is it possible to not understand, yet have peace and comfort at the same time?

   Psalm 46 is too long for me to post in its entirety. And I don't want to do it injustice by selecting verses or snippets. I'd rather you read the whole thing yourself. So, here, read Psalm 46 from your Bible... or if you wish, follow this link to read it online... then come back and finish the blog:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46&version=NIV

In light of recent events... especially considering the earthquake and tsunami in Japan this year, the earthquake in Haiti last year, and the tsunami in Indonesia a few years back... this Psalm, if you'll let it, can do your heart a world of comfort. Well, it has for me anyway.

In a world scarred by confusion, disaster, and calamity, God is our refuge and strength. Ever-present. Even when the earth trembles, mountains tumble into the sea, waters roar ferociously, and war encompasses the nations... God is at work.

His plan is unscathed.

His character is unchanged.

His grace is unyielding.

His love is unmoved.

The Hebrew word translated "Be Still" in verse 10 is the word raphah. Here are the definitions:

1) to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake

2) to let go

3) to refrain, let alone

4) to be quiet

   I can't imagine being a father looking out over the rubble that once was my home - with my wife and children at my side... or possibly not even knowing if my wife and children were alive. I just can't fathom the depths of that situation. My heart hurts for those in every country who are scarred by recent tragedy. My children and I pray for them every night.

"Let go," says God. "Relax." "Be quiet." "Be still." "And know that I am God."

   When we're right in the middle of a stressful, frustrating, or dangerous situation, it is very difficult to just "let go." By nature, our tunnel-vision kicks in and leads the charge against the knowledge that God is still God. We focus on the immediate. The imperative. And the unknown. In this passage, God is saying to back up and get some perspective.
   This is not an uncommon concept. We have many techniques, such as counting to ten, taking deep breaths, or reciting a favorite poem, that help us to slow down a bit and gain a bigger perspective. We apply these techniques constantly in our lives. Massive catastrophe takes the same diligence. Instead of allowing our anxious, confused minds to dictate our thought processes and guide our movements, we muse learn to "be still, and KNOW that He is God."

   In every given disastrous situation, there are many uncertainties. If there is nothing stable on which to ground ourselves, we lose track of reality. I was conversing with an ex-airplane pilot this week who reiterated to me at one point the importance of the phrase, "trust your gauges." When you're in a stall or lost in clouds as pilot, you can't always trust intuition, sense of direction, or feeling. But you can always trust your gauges. Much like this, God is always trustworthy.

   The ultimate reality is that God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And when everything else in your world is shaken, moved, toppled, or washed away, He remains stable. When everything else is questionable, God is constant. Because of that, even in the most dire of circumstances, when we just don't understand what's happening or why, we can "be still." We can back up from the situation and gain a God-sized perspective. As Paul put it in Philippians chapter four, we can have peace which passes understanding.

   He is present in our pain. Available in our distress. Strong when we are weak. A refuge when we need shelter. Give of your time and resources in aid, yes. Be empathetic, absolutely. Pray, imperatively. But above all else... Be still, and know that He is God.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Reality Check

2011-03-13T21:27:00.001-05:00

Aaron (my 4 year old son) is in this stage where he wants to know what's "real" and what's "not real." He asks about things like dinosaurs, bank robbers, super-heros, China, volcanos, and a long list of other random things - - - "Is _______ real, Daddy?" And if it is not real, I'll respond in the negative and he'll follow it up with the statement, "But _________ is real." I'll agree and affirm his differentiation. You would think this game would be simple, but I assure you, it's not. Here's a sample conversation:

"Are dinosaurs real, Daddy?" - - -
"Well, they are real, yes, but they're not alive anymore."
"Well if they're not alive, they're not real."
"That's not necessarily true, son. Things can be real but not alive."
"Are you sure, Daddy? That doesn't make any sense." - - -

Some of my deepest existential discussions are with my four year old son.

-----------------------------------------

We were in a discussion in Sunday School this morning about "other gods." It was only a minor portion of our lesson, and it didn't last very long, but I haven't been able to shake it yet. There are many religions out there. Many things, persons, entities, and images that people either consider or treat as "gods." You've heard it, and I've said it... "The god of Islam is not the God of the Bible." "The Hindus have many gods." "Humanists believe we are our own god." I'm not trying to get caught up in the difficulties of language here. But every time I say something like that, I kindof cringe a little. Why?...

The God of the Bible is the ONLY God. There is no other. Put simply, the "god of Islam," the "gods of Hindu," etc, do not exist. They are not "REAL," as Aaron would say. They are, in reality, not gods at all. Isaiah communicates God's words very clearly on this subject:

"I am the first and the last. There is no God but Me... Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any." - Isaiah 44:6, 8

   I've heard famous preachers, teachers, and even presidents say things like, "The gods of Islam and Christianity are the same." No, they're not. And I've encountered a growing number of people who believe, with all sincerity, that many of the world's religions serve the same god, but call him by different names. In fact, I specifically remember hearing Oprah Winfrey say on her show one time, "... there are many paths to what you call God... her path might be something else, and when she gets there, she might call it the 'light'..."

   I teach private lessons on the side. Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba to be specific. Every student of mine, at some point (usually when working through scales and the Circle of Fourths) calls the key/scale of "Eb" by the name of "E" or the key/scale of "Ab" by the name of "A." I tell them, "No, that's not right." Sometimes it takes a few minutes before they see what's going on... but in the end, they begin to understand that you can't call "Eb" an "E." They are two different notes. Two completely different key signatures; one has three flats, and the other has four sharps. Not even close to the same. If they persist in the error of their ways, I'll start calling them (the students) by the wrong name. If his name is Terry, I'll call him Tom. They never like that much. But they eventually learn.

   It's more than semantics. It's about reality. No matter how many times you call an Eb an E, the Eb does not change into an E. And if you call it by the wrong name one hundred and fifty three times, you will be wrong one hundred and fifty three times. An Eb is not an E. An Ab is not an A. Reality is not dependent on your perception or your understanding of it. It is what it is.

-----------------------------------------

   Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is the only God. There is no other. You can call someone or something else a god all you want, but that does not make it a god. You can build a monument, start a religion, carve a figurine, erect a statue, and worship something tirelessly. But it does not become a god. I can't change reality. There is a God. He is the God of the Bible. And there is no other.

   This is not to get you to stop using the phrase, "the god of Islam," or the "gods of Hindu," etc, etc, etc. I understand completely the limitation of language. But sometimes, we as Christians need to back up from these arguments a little bit and participate in a reality check of sorts. Let's get the larger picture here:

     People are worshipping non-gods. They may be worshipping a figure from history, a statue, a carving, an idea, themselves, etc... but whatever it is, it is NOT God. In fact, it is not "a god." There is but One.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Start to Finish

2011-03-03T13:31:00.000-06:00

   I'm not a runner. I tried earlier this year, but it's just not my "thing," you know what I mean? I'd like to say it's because I have bad knees or an aching back or something, but really, it's just because I'd rather read or do something (anything) less physically demanding. That's awful, isn't it? However, the sport does provide some significant parallels for the Christian's spiritual walk. Paul uses the running analogy many times in his letters.
   I've learned - from my extensive running habits (*cough, cough*) - that there is significance in merely finishing the race. It provides a sense of accomplishment at the very least. We've probably all heard the Derek Redmond story from the 1992 Olympics. He tore something while running, and his dad met him on the track to help him finish the race. If you haven't heard the story, look it up sometime. It's very inspiring.

   In any case, when we start something, the goal is to finish it. There are those of us who sometimes get half way through a project and never complete it... but that is probably not the plan from the beginning. Most commonly, when we start a task, we have an end product in mind.

   Christian, do you know that this is exactly how God sees you? He has begun something amazing in you. He has been molding and shaping you. Guiding and directing you. Providentially acting on your behalf. And the day He started this work, He had an end in mind.

"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

- Philippians 1:6

You've heard this verse before, no doubt. But have you really thought about what it means? Recently, this verse has been my life support. There are times when I look at where I am and think, "Where am I going?" There are other times when I look at where I am and think, "How did I get here?" Not that where I am is bad or undesirable. It is my pleasure to serve the Lord faithfully wherever I am and in whatever stage of life I find myself.

But, like everyone else, there are times when I wonder why exactly God chose to call me "out of darkness and into His marvelous light." What am I worth? Why me? Is this where I'm supposed to be? Am I in the center of Your will for my life, God? Or am I missing something?

Then I'm reminded that it was not I who started this race. It was God. The race I'm running is God's race. He is the one who started it, and He is the one who will finish it. That gives me incredible comfort. On my own, I tend to fall down, ease into the lane next to me, tear a ligament, or sometimes even run the wrong way on the track! But when God is the one running the race... when He is in charge... when I allow Him to run the race He started in me, things seem to make a lot more sense.

I can't pretend to have any of the answers. And the simple thought that this is God's race doesn't exempt me from feeling uneasy or eager at times. You know how it is when you're reading a good book; every chapter you read fills you with anticipation for the next. When I allow God to carry out the work He has begun in me, His plans always leave me excited and curious about the next chapter.

Paul was confident that God, who began the good work in the church at Philippi - as well as in the Christians who formed it - would carry on to completion that which He had started. You know what that tells me? God has a finished product in mind for me. When He began His work in me, He did so with a picture of the finalized result in His head. He knows how my race will finish. So who better to let run it than Him?

Every step of this race leads me progressively closer to that final product... that day when Jesus Christ will greet me at the feet of my Heavenly Father... that day when the race of my life will have been run, and when I will desire nothing more than to hear those words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant." What a glorious day that will be.

I trust that God's plan was not to run my race halfway through and then give up on me.

I trust that He desires more for me than stagnation or complacency.

I trust that what He has started in me, He will finish.

What about you?

Grace and Peace,

Tony

I Missed the Potty.

2011-03-01T10:20:00.002-06:00

I wish I could have been there. Then again, maybe I don't. Just a picture would have been nice. Hmmmm... no, a simple narrative was definitely best. My youngest son, Aaron, is so resourceful. One day last week, Vanessa called me at work and told me a story that still has me laughing today. Allow me to share:

   In the middle of the day, Aaron came down the stairs with just a shirt and underwear on - a rather normal occurrence in our home, really. Vanessa noticed that his underwear had been changed, so she asked why. He said, "I was using the bathroom, and I missed the potty." Once again, a normal occurrence in our home - if you have boys, you understand. Almost reflexively my wife asked, "Did you get it on the floor?" To which Aaron replied, "Yes ma'am - just a little bit." So Vanessa really didn't think anything about it. She decided she would go up there later on and clean it up.

   Not too much later, Ethan used the bathroom (in their bathroom), came downstairs and said, "Mommy, our bathroom stinks!" She decided she would go clean it before it made the entire upstairs uninhabitable. As she's walking up the stairs, she almost loses it over the rancidity. She walks in the bathroom to see two separate little pieces of toilet paper lying on the floor covering a dual surprise. Yeah, that's right... Aaron hadn't missed while going "number 1." He missed while going "number 2." GROSS!!! <-- There, I said it for you. There were two pieces of excrement lying on the bathroom floor with a single strand of toilet paper gently covering each. My son - again - so resourceful.

   I imagine you have the same question I had after I recomposed myself and recuperated from the splitting pain in my side wrought by incessant laughter: "How do you 'miss' the potty while going number 2?" Friends, the world may never know.

   "Tony, are you going to form this into an analogy that exemplifies a scriptural truth?" I must admit that I'm tempted. In fact, as I began to write this blog, I had every intention of doing just that. But I think this one can just stand on its own. Hard to follow that act.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

I'm Busy, God - Leave a Message at the Beep.

2011-02-23T15:09:00.000-06:00

   I'll never forget the first time it happened. I had just started ministry in Denham Springs, LA and needed to talk to this guy asap about something important. The conversation I needed to have with him was the only thing on my mind at the time. So I dialed the phone. It rang... and rang... and rang... and finally, an answer. It's been so long ago, I can't remember what it was that I needed to tell him, but I remember the phone call with clarity...

ring... ring... ring...

Voice: "Hello?"
Me: "Hey, it's Tony. I was wonde..."
Voice: (interrupting, and a little more persistent) "Hello?"
Me: (louder this time) "Hey, ______... it's Tony! Can you hear me?"
Voice: "Hello?"
Me: (about to hang up and try again)
Voice: "Hey, I can't hear you, but, uh... just leave a message after the beep." ("beep" sound)

   I had been duped. I felt like such an idiot. I had been talking to an answering machine the whole time. He got me good. Of course, as gullible as I am, I've had the privilege of being fooled by the same exact ploy probably a good thirty or forty times since then as well. Has that ever happened to you? How embarrassing.

   Sometimes we just get so caught up in what we "have to get done" that we are totally oblivious to anything else happening around us. We do this with God all the time. Heaven forbid He try to speak some kind of spiritual truth into our lives while we're reading a book, washing clothes, or working. It's like we just say, "Hello?... Hello?... Can't hear ya - not now God, I'm busy. Leave a message at the beep." How many spiritual discussions with the King of kings and Lord of lords have I missed this week because I was too preoccupied with my own business?

Luke 10:38-42:

   Martha missed out one day. She was a worker. I would imagine that if it had been around in the first century AD, she would have been diagnosed with OCD. She was a work-a-holic. Jesus came to her house for a visit. She liked to entertain people, so she had invited him in with her and her sister Mary.
   Martha, being the good hostess, was making sure everything was just right. I mean, after all, Jesus was here. There were foods to be cooked, dishes to clean, clothes to wash, neighbors to appease, feet to be washed, kids to entertain, bills to pay, and the list goes on. And Mary, her sister, just sat down and listened to Jesus talk. THE NERVE! How could Mary just sit there and relax while Martha did all the work?!

   I grew up with four older brothers. When we were old enough, we each had our chores to do. They would probably argue that they had more chores than I did, but actual history gets shaky when siblings' versions are involved. Nevertheless, we each had to work to some extent. I remember thinking like Martha: "He's not working, why do I have to work?" "How come he gets the easy job and I have to do this?" "His job only takes ten minutes, while mine takes twenty." Yep, I remember conveniently getting sick on chore days... and running to be the first one to answer the phone or door so I could get out of work for a little while. (Mom, if you're reading this, consider it "true confession" time.)
   And then came the bickering. Yes, even among a pastor's children: "Mom, Joey's not vacuuming!" "Dad, Jimmy didn't fold my clothes right!" "Mom, tell Adam to stop telling me how to do my job!" "Dad, you don't care when Terry's not working, but when I'm not working, I get in trouble!"

   Martha had a rotten attitude: "Lord, don't you care that I'm working hard and my sister, Mary, is not doing anything? Tell her to help me out a little!" Every time I read this verse (Luke 10:40), I think... how immature?! How old is this woman?! Is she seriously asking Jesus to "tell her sister" to do some work around the house? Wow.

   Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about many things. He says, "Martha, you've got a lot going on. But think about what is most important. Think about what is necessary." Jesus was in her house, imparting priceless spiritual truth. He was pouring into their lives. He was investing eternal wisdom into all who would listen. But Martha was saying, "Lord, I'm busy right now... leave a message and I'll get back to you."

   I know, right?! How silly of Martha! Well, you can go ahead and say, "How silly of Tony!" too, because I am often in that same boat. I am a task-oriented individual. I like to have rules, and to follow them. I like to have my list of things to get done, and to know the time frame in which they will be accomplished. But what if God wants to do something unscheduled? What if He wants to show up when I'm busy with something else? What if He wants to pour into me when it's not on my calendar?

   I've got a beautiful wife to love on. Two wonderful kiddos to take care of. A church family to serve. And so on and so forth. Our schedules can fill up so quickly that we just don't have time for the Lord. I think this story in scripture gives us two important truths about hearing from God...

1. Invite Him in. Schedule time with the Lord, and block out all other distractions. Even if other things on your list haven't been taken care of, give Him the time you've allotted for Him. Do it daily. Do it often. And guard that time sincerely.

2. When you're busy with other things, be sensitive to His voice. Many things are important. But hearing from the Lord is necessary. When His call doesn't fit your schedule, and when it comes at an inconvenient time, don't send Him to voicemail. Take the call.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Gender Roles In Marriage

2011-02-15T15:04:00.001-06:00

   Our culture has a lot to say about gender roles. Independent, unmarried women are celebrated for being "on their own" and just fine. It is popular among the secular crowd for a man to be "metrosexual" as they call it - viz. "in touch with his feminine side." There are entire translations of the Bible that take out the masculine terminology for God and the human race. It is politically incorrect to label trade positions as "mailman," congressman," "garbage-man," "fireman," or "policeman" because there are many mail-women, congress-women, garbage-women, fire-women, and police-women. We have gender-discrimination laws, sensitivity training, and sexual-harassment workshops. The culture is hardly silent concerning gender roles and differences.

   Let's look at the family... Most obvious is a societal shift from one-man, one-woman, for one-lifetime marriage to same-sex marriages. And equally as damaging are the rapidly increasing divorce rates and percentages of those who "shack-up" without ever getting married. Our young boys are disciplined for being too aggressive and competitive, while our young girls are taught to be more athletic. We suppress the natural tendencies of gender and encourage that which is unnatural. Gender is no more than a "biological 'X' or 'Y' factor," so they say. Environment has everything to do with perceived gender roles. Right?

   While it is inescapable that society and environment has much to do with gender roles and behavior, it is not necessary that society and environment determine that which is moral or ethical concerning the same. If society decides moral absolutes, then slavery would have been morally justified (by society's standards) in colonial and early constitutional America. I don't know many people who would say that since slavery was socially acceptable during that time period, it (slavery) was morally justified. Do you? Then what gives us the inclination to justify a reversal or blending of gender roles based on the current whims of society? No, there must be some absolute. Something more foundational on which we can base something as serious as gender roles and behavior. Since gender (male or female) has not changed with time (since creation), why should we deduce that its functionality or roles have? Surely there is something more stable than the roller coaster ups and downs of society on which to base a solid view of gender-specific roles...

   Lucky (blessed, really) for us, God has done just this. There is a solid, timeless truth on which we can and should base gender roles. A principle of sorts that transcends culture, era, and popular opinion. I would like to focus only on the biblical roles of Husband and Wife for now. Perhaps a blog at a later date may venture into the controversial realm of gender identification, tendencies, and behavior on a more general level.

Biblical gender roles in marriage...

   There is a plethora of biblical text that shapes this doctrine. But I will spare you, and only focus on one in this blog. Ephesians 5:22-28.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (NIV)

We start with an ugly word... "submit." Every time I have ever taught on, spoken about, or counseled from this passage, at least one woman in the room curls her nose at that six-letter curse word... "SUBMIT." It gives some of you chills just reading it. I have heard pastors, teachers, and seminary professors tip-toe around this six-letter word like it was a vat of broken glass on a running track: "It doesn't really mean 'submit' like you're thinking of the word. It's more like a mutual understanding of direction in a marriage." I've taken the liberty of looking up the Greek word:

(ὑποτάσσω)

...and pasting its possible definitions for you below:

1) to arrange under, to subordinate

2) to subject, put in subjection

3) to subject one's self, obey

4) to submit to one's control

5) to yield to one's admonition or advice

6) to obey, be subject

   I don't see anything confusing here. Do you? It seems pretty clear that wives are to willfully submit themselves under the authority of the husband. "Yeah, but to what extent, Tony?" - "In Everything," Ephesians 5:24 says. "What does that look like?" Just as the Church submits herself to Jesus, so the wife should submit herself to her husband. Can I just tell you how unpopular this teaching is? I bet I don't have to tell you - I bet you're on the edge of your seat right now, just waiting for me to come back with something creative to put your heart at ease. But I refuse. I will not water down the Word of God. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands in everything. And their model to follow is to be the picture of the New Testament Church's submission to Jesus. Period.

   Well, if you're still reading, you're probably wondering how this goes over with my counselees when it is brought up. It's a little tense, I have to admit. It is rather difficult to hear - especially if the wife has a strong D or DC personality type. But I haven't had anyone walk out on me yet.

   Maybe this will give you some consolation. Let's move to the husbands. Husbands are to love their wives "as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for her." When we get to this part, the women (stereotypically a little 'quicker' than us men-folk) start to get a little more wide-eyed. They know something good is coming.
   First of all, let me debunk the myth that since this passage says that women are to be submissive and men are to love, that means that women don't need to love, and men don't need to submit. Hogwash. This is about primary goals and responsibilities. It would be ridiculous to say that women don't need to love their husbands, or that men don't need to submit to their wives (see Eph. 5:21 for cross-referencing).

   Now, let's get to the hard part for us macho-husbands. The model that we are to follow when loving our wives is the same as above, but with reversed roles... namely, we are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. How did Christ love the church? He gave His life for her.

   What Jesus Christ did for the church was the opposite of pride. It was humility. He demoted Himself from His throne in heaven, took on the likeness of His creation, died an ignominious death on a cross, and by this, saved his bride from an eternity of pain and disgrace separated from God (Phil. 2:6-11).

He gave up His status and reputation

to be taunted, teased, spit on, publicly humiliated, and unjustly condemned.

He suffered immense physical, emotional, and spiritual pain

so that she might receive benefit.

He offered His physical life - HE DIED -

to give her what she needed the most.

Husbands, we are called to give everything that we are for our wives. To lay it all down for her benefit. To give up our very essence so that she might be rewarded. To break ourselves of our pride, thereby exalting her.

Suddenly, being submissive doesn't look all that bad. When I finish this teaching, I always end with this statement:

"Not many women will refuse to be submissive

to a man who lays down his life for her."

Why is this important? Because God's design is always best. You can choose to model your marriage after some other structure. God has given you that choice. But if you expect His blessing... if you expect His favor and His benefits... if you desire for the finished product to look like what He has designed and declared beautiful... then you must follow His plan.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Dreams and Visions

2011-02-10T12:02:00.000-06:00

   It amazes me how quick our culture is to accept spiritual things other than scriptural truth. It's okay to be "spiritual." It's okay to believe in "God," to have "spiritual experiences," and to believe in a "higher cause," but it's not okay to identify the Bible as God's source of Truth.

   In the past few years, it seems like everywhere I turn, I'm hearing about these "visions" and "dreams" so-called "spiritual people" are having. One is concerned with exactly what heaven is like. Another about how God wants to bless her family with riches and worldly prosperity. And yet others about God revealing new truth, "appropriate for our time," through dreams and visions of specially chosen individuals.

   I don't want to linger in this post for long, but I have something to say about "new revelation" that comes through dreams and visions in our day. More appropriately, it's not something I have to say, but rather, something that God has already said.

   When Jeremiah is prophesying to the people of Judah about how they have not been obedient to God, and how God is going to punish them if they do not repent, he speaks of these kinds of dreams and visions. In fact, God directly addresses the issue...

"I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said: I had a dream! How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit in their own minds? Through their dreams that they tell one another, they make plans to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship. The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain? Is not My word like fire... and like a sledgehammer that pulverizes rock? Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets who steal My words from each other... who use their tongues to deliver an oracle. I am against those who prophesy false dreams, telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people."

-Jeremiah 23:25-32

   There's some heavy stuff in there. There are entire religions - false religions - founded on the dreams of an individual. Bahai, Islam, and Mormonism to name a few. And then there are those individuals who don't necessarily establish a religion, but who write books and teach thousands of people on the sole basis of a dream or a series of dreams they've had. What does God say about this? "If it is not coherent with My word, it is not from Me."

   This has enormous application for your own life. No matter where it comes from... no matter who is telling it... no matter how convinced they are of its authenticity... test it against scripture. Don't be swayed by dreams and visions. Be grounded in the Word of God. In this passage, the Lord says that even if you've had a dream, it is better for you to speak the Word of God instead of your dream. For, "What is straw compared to grain?"

   What changes lives? What is able to save someone from eternity separated from God? What is of utmost importance to be communicated? What do "they" need to hear in order that "they" might believe? Your dream? No. The Word of the Living God. Speak His truth. And test everything you hear against it.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Anxiety

2011-02-02T15:26:00.001-06:00

   I'm a thinker. I think a lot - very often, too much. And many times, if I don't catch myself, I will get completely lost in my own thoughts... so much so, that I'll totally miss everything else that's going on around me (makes you want to ride with me while I'm driving, huh?). In fact, most people don't know this, but after a big day at church or a major performance, sermon, project, or what have you, I sometimes meditate on the event for quite some time. I'm worthless in anything else. Sometimes after one of these events, it takes me hours to go to sleep - if I go to sleep at all. My wife puts up with more than you know :)
   A few years back, I sat in a professional counselor's office as he explained my anxiety to me. He said that instead of parallel and perpendicular lines, my thoughts look more like a big plate of spaghetti. Besides making me hungry for pasta, that really cleared things up for me. Many times, I couldn't even trace a thought back to its origin because it had gotten so tangled in other thoughts and ideas. Since then (with that counselor's help), I have learned to manage my anxiety a lot better. It still creeps up on me every now and then, but by the grace of God, it no longer consumes me.

   There's another kind of anxiety. One that weighs people down, and all but debilitates them. It is usually coupled with fear. Fear of what? - the unknown.

   Do you remember those precious years in your child's life when he would ask a bazillion questions every day? How about when he was insistent on playing the "Why?" game? You know the "Why?" game, don't you? It always ends with "Because I said so." Or at least it did in my house anyway.

   I've only been counseling formally for a little over two years. You may be surprised to know that most of my counselees (yes, that's a real word) present with some form of anxiety. Usually just situational anxiety brought on by a current crisis in their lives, but sometimes even more chronic. I've heard pastors preach about anxiety before...

Philippians 4:6-7 - "Don't worry about anything [or; Be anxious for nothing], but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This really is an excellent passage. And when exegeted properly, can give the anxious Christian powerful tools with which to combat a worry-some attitude. Allow me to list those tools quickly:

1. Pray to God. He is the One who can give the peace you need.
2. Pray with a spirit of thanksgiving. Yes, let your requests and concerns be made knows to God, but do so with a thankful heart. What has God done for you? For what can you be thankful? Being thankful reminds you that God has not abandoned you, and that He has always and will always have your best interest at heart.
3. The peace that God gives is not equivalent to understanding. God doesn't promise to give understanding. But He does promise to give peace that passes understanding. And not only is this peace incomprehensible from a human perspective, it is also an umbrella of covering. It transcends all of your worrisome thoughts. Those thoughts may still be present, but if you follow the prescription in this passage, you will be at peace in their midst.
4. This cure for anxiety is only available to Christians. The peace that guards hearts and minds is only found "in Christ Jesus."

BUT... these four points are not usually what we hear from this passage of scripture. It more frequently boils down to something like: "Get over it! Don't worry! Don't be anxious! Forget about your problems and focus on God!" Most likely, the pastors who make these kinds of statements have never sincerely struggled with anxiety. I've heard so many Christians beating themselves up over not being able to "just forget about it," or to "get over it and focus on God." If preachers only knew the damage this causes. Instead of curing anxiety, this approach actually worsens it... anxious Christians may begin to wonder why they can't "just get over it," and doubt their salvation, devotion to God, or belief in His Word.

If a person has a biochemical imbalance - a disturbance in the functionality of neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA's), adrenaline, and cortisol - then a really powerful, heartfelt sermon is not going to cure it. Sometimes, medicine is necessary (only when time-limited, and accompanied by professional counseling services), and almost every time, strategic intervention is necessary. Do you have to see a counselor? No - but there's nothing wrong with or degrading about getting some help to assist you in overcoming difficulties in your life.

-----------------------------------------

   If you're struggling with some form of anxiety and just can't seem to get over it, I want to give you a few tips... First of all, the biblical passage mentioned above, with its proper exegesis, is paramount. I pray you can use that information, and that the Holy Spirit guides you into a more secure relationship with God as you study and reflect on His Word. Scripture is first. But I do have one more practical piece of advice for you...

   One thing I've learned about anxiety - through my own personal struggles and counseling practice - is this: Anxiety is fueled by unanswered questions. Fear of the unknown. Clients presenting with anxiety usually let their mind race with questions to which they do not know the answer. "What if..." "I wonder what 'X' was like..." "Why did he/she do that..." "How is 'X' going to affect me for the rest of my life..." These are all examples of questions that feed anxiety. While there are no improper questions, per se, there are times when questions are unnecessary, and even unhealthy.
   Questions aren't bad. But there are times when they, as mentioned above, are unhealthy or unnecessary. If you are finding your mind racing with thoughts, your eating habits are being affected, your amount of sleep is deprived, or you feel sick to your stomach often, turn your inquisitive mind into something that might benefit you by asking these questions:

1. What am I worried about? - Identify a single thing/item/problem/thought on which you are dwelling.

2. What question(s) am I asking myself about this problem? - WRITE THEM DOWN - ALL OF THEM! You need to physically look at the questions you are fantasizing over.

---> SIDE NOTE: Sometimes, Numbers 1 and 2 need to be reversed. If you can't identify the source of the problem, list the question on which you are dwelling. Do those questions have a common theme? A common person? A common idea? A common time period? A common event?

3. Is there a way I can find out the answer for sure? - Most of the time, the answer to this question is "no." Thinking back over the years, I had a couple in for crisis marital counseling, after a suspected affair on the husband's part. One of the questions driving the wife insane was, "Did the other woman love him like I do?" There is no possible way that she can find the answer to this question. To constantly consider it was unfair to herself (and everyone else affected by her anxiety). If a question is unanswerable, identify it as such [write "unanswerable" beside it, or scratch it out], and move to the next question. It will not help you to project your fantasies onto unanswerable questions.

4. If I find out the answer, will it change the way I feel? - If you're reading this blog post and you've never dealt with anxiety, this probably seems like a stupid question. But I assure you, it isn't. Sometimes we worry over things that really are unnecessary. Playing off of the last example: "What kind of car did she drive?" "Does she have any children? "Was it raining, sunny, cloudy, etc?" If those questions are on the list you've written, then label them as unhealthy, or scratch them out.

5. If the question is answerable, and not unhealthy, then who can I ask to get the correct answer? - This is the hard part. If there are questions left on your list (and I'm sure there are), then you need to address them. Not by going to your friends and having them speculate about the answers. This will certainly make matters worse. No, go to the person(s) who can give you a correct and definite answer. Now we anxious people don't like this part. Why? Two reasons.
   (a) It means that we have to face what we are afraid of head-on, and accept the consequences. Your worst fear may be truth. But if you don't find out for sure, then the vicious cycle of anxiety will continue. One thing that usually characterizes anxiety is the thought that, "If 'X' is true, then life will be horrible." You may find out, to your surprise, that even if "X" is true, life still goes on. But you won't find it out if you don't ask. On the flip side of this, many times when you ask the difficult question to someone who can answer it truthfully, the answer is not what you fantasized about at all. It's completely different, and you've allowed the question's possible answers to steal your joy for a long time.
   (b) It means that we have to stop being anxious. If anxiety has consumed you for some time, it has become a way of life for you. It is a sure-fire, fool-proof way to isolate yourself and your feelings from the rest of humanity. If you ask the question and get a truthful answer, that means you may have to give up your fantasizing and open up your emotions. It means you may become emotionally vulnerable. Can I tell you a secret? - I've been there. It's sensational. I know it's scary, but it really is a catharsis of sorts. When those emotions start coming out, instead of being locked inside your body among a spaghetti-like blanket of interweaving thoughts, there is great relief.

6. If you are still struggling with anxiety, go see a counselor. There is nothing wrong with getting help. If you let your anxiety nest within for a considerable amount of time, it dredges itself deeper and deeper, and eventually affects every fiber of your being - emotional, physical, spiritual, interpersonal. If you don't get a grip on it within a couple of weeks, go get help.

Should you want to read more about your anxiety, a couple of really great books I recommend are (and IN THIS ORDER)...

Worry-Free Living. By Frank Mirth (M.D.), Paul Meier (M.D.), and Don Hawkins (Th.M.).

Telling Yourself the Truth. By William Backus (Ph.D) and Marie Chapman (Ph.D.)

The Anxiety Cure. By Dr. Archibald Hart.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Abortion: Human vs. Person... Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life

2011-01-25T21:21:00.000-06:00

   No time for fancy jokes and cute stories here. Abortion is one of the hottest issues in American (and arguably, world) life today. Since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade, the American public has been engaged in a grueling battle. Doesn't the woman have a right to decide what is done with/to her body? But doesn't the unborn child have the right to live?

   The most recent development in this 38 year conflict has to do with humanhood vs. personhood. Recently, pro-choice advocates realized that they have no choice but to accept that a human fetus is a member of the human species. At conception, the fetus possesses human DNA which differentiates it from any other species on the planet. So now, the argument has had to shift directions in order to support the pro-choice viewpoint. The new question is "At what point does the human fetus become a 'person?'" It is undeniable that the fetus is a member of the human species. But that fact does not, as they claim, make "it" a "person."

   This question is a dangerous one. Who decides, for instance, when a member of the human species is or is not a person? You might think that personhood is established when brain activity is evident (about 6 weeks into the pregnancy). Someone else may decide that a human gains the status of personhood when "it" is conceived... or when "it" can prove beneficial to society... or when "it" exhibits desire, volition, or cognitive reasoning abilities... the possibilities are endless. I believe that pro-choice advocates are quickly seeing the subjectiveness in this argument as well.

   I say that because I recently read this article by an agnostic columnist. He is one of those guys who uses his words so eloquently that his point of view, if not meditated upon, can seem convincing. However, his argument breaks down very quickly. Feel free to read...

http://atheism.about.com/od/abortioncontraception/p/PersonhoodFetus.htm

Cline believes he has found a loophole. You know what a loophole is... it's one of those magic avenues that transcends all responsibility. It is a look-over-the-real-problem-and-provide-an-easy-answer scapegoat. He says that the personhood or non-personhood of the fetus really doesn't matter. In fact, it also does not matter whether or not this is an ethical, moral, religious, or societal problem. The answer is simple... A key line in his article is quoted below:

"A woman could assert a right to control her body such that even if the fetus

is a person, it has no legal claim to use it."

Cline is saying that if we're going to get all "legal" here, we should take into account that even if the fetus is a bona-fide person with "human rights," as they are deemed, "it" has no right to mooch off of the physical body of another person who is unwilling to provide the nutrition it is in need of. He goes on to make a distinction between abortion and the rights of the so-called "brain-dead." They (the brain-dead) are dependent upon human services for life. He claims this does not impose upon the physical bodies of the care providers.
Isn't that great?! He's found the answer! Abortion is okay because the mother carrying the "it" has the right to decide what parts of her body can and cannot be used for the support or care of another human life.

----------------------------------------

SIDE NOTE: He goes on to label anti-abortionists as "anti-choice." You may not think there's a lot of weight in semantics, but I assure you, there is. Labeling pro-life advocates as "anti-choice" superimposes a conception of suppression and bigotry over the pro-life position. It refocuses the pro-lifer's position from support of the unborn child to subjugation of the expectant mother.

----------------------------------------

   In case you don't know me very well, I was being facetious. Cline has not found the answer. In fact, his position is just as flawed as all the others. Allow me to provide a parallel, hypothetical scenario:
   Mary is a school teacher. She notices that Jane, a 12 year old girl is exhibiting all the signs of physical and sexual abuse. She speaks to another teacher about it, but does not report it because she's busy with school work and other things. Three days later, Jane is found dead - raped and beat to death by her father in her own home. LEGALLY (not to mention ethically and morally), Mary had a responsibility to report the suspected abuse to the appropriate legal authorities. Because she did not use her feet to walk to the CPS office, or her mouth and fingers to call the police, she is arrested, tried, and convicted for assisting in child abuse, a felony.

   As gruesome as this example is, it is fitting for this discussion. Mary was required ethically and morally to take action on this child's behalf. She was also required BY LAW to take action on this child's behalf. That meant she would have to use the various parts of her body required to report the suspected abuse. Likewise, she would probably be inconvenienced by the amount of time she may lose in court hearings, and she may have possibly been ridiculed by other teachers or friends of Jane's parents. But it was her legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to use the parts of her body to save this innocent child. However, because she chose not to use the parts of her body to protect and care for Jane, Jane died a horrendous death.

   How about this example: An expectant mother is a drug user. She does crystal meth once a week and smokes weed about every other day while pregnant. The baby is born premature, but survives. Traces of the drugs are found in both the baby and the mother. She is arrested, tried, convicted, and imprisoned. Yes... this happens.
   Why is it legal for a woman to end the life of an unborn child, but not for her to use drugs while it is developing? If Cline's position is that the woman has the right to do with her body as she wishes while she is pregnant, then she should not be arrested for harming the baby with her drug use.

   I don't think you need me to flesh out the analogy in full. If the child is a human, it has legal rights as such. And not providing sufficient care for the unborn child, or opting to end its precious little life are both unethical and should both be illegal.

   Can I ask a more serious question here?... What are we doing???!!! We're arguing about whether a human fetus is a "person" or not! We're claiming that even when someone's life is dependent on us, it is perfectly fine for us to choose not to provide care... and even worse than that, we're promoting, assisting, and funding the death of unborn children who are incapable of standing up for themselves.
   We spend trillions of dollars on humanity efforts at home and overseas. We provide an intricate system of welfare for those who are disabled and in need. We distribute funds through a social security network to Seniors who have worked all their lives and are now retired. We fund government unemployment for those who can't find a job. But we MURDER the ones who can't speak for themselves. And we pat ourselves on the backs, gloating over our compassion for those less fortunate than us. What are we doing?

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."

- Jeremiah 1:5

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I

praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

- Psalm 139:13-16

Rape, Incest, and Danger to the Mother's Life:

I'll make this short and sweet. Cline, in his article, brings up abortion in the case of rape, incest, and danger to the mother's life. And if we are going to defend the unborn child's life, we must defend it even in these cases. Yes, I know that deformities are possible. Yes, I know that it may mean a 12 year old girl having a child. Yes, I know that the mother may lose her life. But who is to decide when a life is relevant, worthwhile, or important? It is decided already. If the child is a human/person at conception, then he or she deserves to be protected as such, even in difficult circumstance.
To put it bluntly... abortion is NOT okay, even in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life. Let's let God be the One who decides who lives and who dies. Let's trust Him in difficult situations. Let's protect that which He creates in His image.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Dirty Underwear

2011-01-19T17:54:00.000-06:00

   I usually start these blogs with some kind of personal story for illustrative purposes. I doubt any of you want to read a personal illustration I may have concerning this specific blog title... so I'll spare you (this time).

   Have you ever had a pair of underwear for so long that the waist band doesn't cling to your hips anymore? I had this pair of Adidas sport pants in the top of my closet. They came with us in the move to Rosenberg almost three years ago, and to my knowledge, I haven't worn them even once since we've been here. The other day, I grabbed them and decided to put them on to wear around the house. Well, they slid on nicely, but after just one step it was obvious that their waist band was no longer as efficient as it once was. They had lost their elasticity. Now, I would really like to think that I had just lost so much of my gut that they couldn't hang onto my new thin self. But it takes me a while to step back out of my fantasy world once I've delved in that deeply, so I revert back to the realm of reality in which the pants had just lost their "cling."

   Underwear is something that is most personal. Has your carry-on suitcase ever been opened and checked in a public airport? Mine has. I didn't care when they were rummaging through my pants, t-shirts and socks, but when they got to my underwear, it just made me uncomfortable. Maybe even a little embarrassed. (And to think - that's NOTHING compared to what they do now!) Underwear is a covering of the most private part of your body.

Did you know that Israel was God's underwear? Yes, really...

Jeremiah 13:11 - "Just as underwear clings to one's waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel

and of Judah to Me - this is the Lord's declaration."

I wonder if God ran that analogy by the people before He used it? I'm guessing probably not. This is at the end of a most unusual analogy in the book of Jeremiah. Unusual, but strikingly effective. God had told Jeremiah to buy a brand new pair of linen underwear. Linen because that's what the priests wore under their garments. He made sure to tell Jeremiah not to wash them. So now he has a brand-spanking new pair of super-cool underwear like that of an Israelite priest. God's next instruction? - Go hide it by the river. Yep, you read that correctly. Hide it by the river. Jeremiah did just that. And to make sure no one could find and steal his new, shiny, nicely starched pair of skivvies, he buried them.

After some time, the Lord told Jeremiah to go back and find them. He dug them up and as you've probably guessed, they were dirty, rotten, and of no use whatsoever. I can't imagine Jeremiah trying to put them on after this - but if he had, I bet the outcome would have been similar to my experience with those Adidas sport pants last week. This is the Lord's commentary on the analogy:

Jeremiah 13:9-10 - "Just like this I will ruin the great pride of both Judah and Jerusalem. These evil people, who refuse to listen to me, who walk in the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who have followed other gods to serve and worship - they will be like this underwear, of no use whatsoever."

I've been called a lot of things in my life, but I can't recall ever being called a dirty, rotten, useless pair of underwear. On a more serious note, it may not seem kosher to us, but God calling Israel His underwear was legit. His people were closest to His most secretive parts. They were given the privilege of knowing Him better than anyone else on the face of the planet. But because they allowed themselves to be infiltrated with the rubbish and filth of pagan practices, and because they turned their backs on Him following their own pride, He says they are withered... dirty... and useless.

You know what I did with my Adidas pants? I threw them away. Why? Because they were useless. Israel lost their elasticity. They lost their cleanliness. They lost their priestliness. They lost their usefulness.

How about your underwear? Is it dirty and rotten? Is it effective? Is it hidden in the dirt somewhere? Is it securely fastened and fully functional? Of course, I'm not talking about your literal underwear... so please don't comment with TMI!

What I mean, Christian friend, is... are you stained with the filth of sin? Is your life serving its indented purpose for God's kingdom? Are you some distance away from where you were made to be?

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Entertain Me

2011-01-13T20:21:00.003-06:00

   We live in an age of entertainment. It's difficult to teach a child the importance of reading when her other option is to sit in front of a giant rectangle that flashes thousands of pictures before her eyes every second... challenging to teach a young man the importance of diligent practice on the guitar when he can pick up Rock Band or Guitar Hero and instantly become a rock star. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a beast at some Guitar Hero. I could shred a plastic, cordless, stickered-up, 5-button guitar all day long without breaking a sweat. And as I type this, my kiddos and I are watching a movie on our very own giant picture-flashing rectangle. It's not the technology that is the problem. It's the mentality. Let me explain further.

   A few days ago, we were at a fast food restaurant with some friends, and I didn't even realize it, but I was in "fast-food-restaurant" mode. I was impatiently waiting at the counter for my long overdue order when a young man bounced in the doors. He was in his upper teens, and had obviously just gotten off work at the grocer store nearby. He immediately struck up a conversation with the cashier. I thought he was hitting on her. They laughed, and he ordered. All the while, I'm becoming more and more impatient. After the cashier walked away, he turned to me and said, "You can come too. We'd love to have you." At that moment, I realized I hadn't even heard a word he was saying because I was so caught up in my own grief concerning my not-so-fast fast food. I said gently, "Come to what?" He proceeded to invite me to his church, obviously a place that he cared deeply about. He might as well have slapped me across the face. That's what I felt like had happened anyway. He had been inviting the cashier to his church.
   So I introduced myself as one of the pastors at our local church, and he was delighted to meet a brother in Christ. Before he walked away, I asked him, "Tell me, Isaac, what do you love so much about your church?" I was expecting something like, "I like the music," or "They have something for everyone." But I was pleasantly surprised when he responded: "That's where I found Jesus, and was filled with the Holy Ghost."

   Obviously, Isaac was a Pentecostal. But that didn't stop my mouth from hitting the floor in delightful astonishment. This young man wasn't trying to sell a we-have-something-for-everyone, feel-good, the-music-is-awesome church experience. He was selling a life changing experience with the One True God. He had been saved from His sin. Guaranteed New Life here, and Eternal Life in heaven with Jesus. He had been transformed. And the excitement of His new life could not be contained within. It was overflowing from his lips.

-----------------------------------------------

   I wonder sometimes, with all of the church programs that we fund, staff, and promote... and with all of the dancing (we're Baptist, so it's "choreography") we do around people's preferences and traditions... and with all of the time we spend making sure the "needs" of every one of our church members are met... I wonder if we're concentrating more on entertaining our house-guests instead of reaching out to the rest of our community and the world.
   Music is the hot-button issue. We do hymns because "that's what the older people like" and we do contemporary songs because "that's what the young people like." I wonder if God prefers hymns or contemporary music? Or maybe Classical, Fourth Species Counterpoint, or Sonatas. Perhaps He is most "moved" by Gregorian Chant or Centrific melodies. Honestly, I don't think He cares one single bit about the style... He cares about the heart.
   The opposite of entertaining the house guests musically would be to decide what kind of music would be relevant to the culture around us. If we Christians are after God's own heart, perhaps we should seek to worship Him in a way in which our community can join without adding another barrier to the message itself. BUT THIS BLOG IS NOT ABOUT MUSIC...

   How about programs? Now listen, it's important to have good programs. And I really believe our church does a fantastic job at this. But since when was the number of programs "your church offers for me and my family" the main deciding factor in whether or not I join "your" church? When we sell our programs, what kind of members does that attract? I'll tell you - - - that attracts people who are introspectively motivated. They are concerned with their own feelings, and their own needs. Likewise, they will be the first to tell you when your programs aren't meeting those needs or stroking those fragile emotions.
   A better characteristic to be evaluated when considering a prospective church would be something like, "How is God moving in this church?" or "How are they reaching their community for Christ?" Again, programs are good. But what is their purpose? To satisfy church members' desires and preferences, or to reach new people for Christ and to educate believers in God's Word? I would hope for the latter.

   My prayer is that people would walk away from our church with a contagious zeal for Christ. That they would invite every cashier and bystander they encounter to our church... not because "We have something for everybody." But rather, because "God is doing amazing things there."

   Consumer-based church programming will not satisfy the ultimate need of the lost in our community. And honestly, it will not satisfy the deepest needs of the saved in our community either. People are looking for reality. They are desperately searching for something that will change who they are. Something they can hold onto when everything else in their lives is shaken. Something they can believe in when emotions tear their hearts in two. They don't need to see a church that's got a hundred different mediocre programs running. They need to see changed lives that are unquestionably altered by what they believe. They need Jesus. And lots of Him.

Lost people may be saying, "Entertain Me." But they're seeking "Love Me."

So how would you answer my question to Isaac? Why do you love your church so much?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Strange Hymn Titles

2011-01-07T10:17:00.000-06:00

   Some people collect precious stones or gems, fancy cars, or coins from mints past. My mom collects Moonstone - beautiful glassware - and has plenty of it! Many of these things, after you've accumulated quite a spread, could possibly rake in thousands of dollars if sold. My fetish isn't quite so monetarily rewarding.
   I'm the weird guy who collects hymnals. Yes, that's right... hymnals. I have almost every Baptist Hymnal published, plus some Methodist, Catholic, American Baptist, "Non-Denominational," Church of Christ, and Salvation Army hymnals. Whatever flavor you prefer, I probably have one or two for you. In fact, I recently scored a Christian Science hymnal from the 60's at a local antique shop in town.

   Sometimes, a church member will ask me if I have music for some off-the-wall hymn I've never heard of before. Then I get to break out my hymnal collection and go to work. If it has been published in a hymnal, I probably have it.

   My pastor and I were recently talking about some of the strange hymn titles from our history. I've got to tell you, there are some that will just blow your mind. This short blog is my list of:

TOP TEN STRANGEST HYMN TITLES...

10. Lord, I Can Suffer Thy Rebukes (Isaac Watts, 1719)

9. Let the Round World with Songs Rejoice (R. Mant, 1837)

8. A Charge to Keep I Have (Charles Wesley, 1762)

7. All Men Living Are But Mortal (J. Albinus, 1652)

6. In Christ there is No East or West (W. Dunkerly, 1908)

5. Blest Hour, When Mortal Man Retires (T. Raffles, 1823)

4. Fondly My Foolish Heart Essays (John Wesley, 1889)

3. We Cannot Think of Them as Dead (F.L. Hosmer, 1882)

2. God of Earth and Outer Space (T. Roberts Jr., 1970)

1. If Men Go to Hell, Who Cares (E.M. Bartlett, 1939)

- Well, did you see any you've never heard of before?

- Did I leave one off that you think qualifies?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

A New Thing (Sermon Audio)

2011-01-04T20:34:00.000-06:00

Sermon Audio from January 2, 2011:

"A New Thing" (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Grace and Peace,

Tony

The Way

2011-01-02T20:24:00.001-06:00

I had the privilege of preaching at our church again this morning in the absence of our pastor. We delved into Isaiah 43:18-19. Here's the text:

"Do not remember the past events. Pay no attention to the things of old. Look, I am doing a new thing. Will you not see it? Even now it is coming. I am making a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."

   I'm not going to re-hash the whole sermon (I plan on posting the video to my blog sometime this week), but I do want to explain something a little more in depth than time permitted this morning. Let's take a deeper look at the language for "a way in the wilderness."

   This past week, we took the boys to see Tron Legacy on Christmas Day. It was a pretty neat movie, and no, I didn't see "the original one." Apparently, or so I'm frequently told, I'm missing out. In any case, there is a really intense action scene close to the beginning of the movie. Ethan and Aaron (my boys) were just glued to the screen. The action sequence was building and building, as they often do, and the music was getting louder and louder... Then... BOOM! The action stopped with a bang! And Aaron, 4 years old and never one to keep his thoughts to himself, pierced the silence in the theater as he screamed out, "THAT WAS AWESOME!!!"

   Well, that's how I felt when I was studying for my sermon this past week. At one point, when the proverbial "lightbulb" *dinged* in my head, I just wanted to shout out, "THIS IS AWESOME!!!" In fact, I did immediately tell Vanessa (my wife) what I had just discovered because it was so amazing to me. Either she was interested as well, or she is getting good at faking excitement when I spout out some crazy theological truth I discover... the world may never know.

If you've heard the sermon, you can skip this next section.
   The Hebrew word Isaiah uses for "way" is derek. Our English word "way" is an abstract, intangible concept. But the Hebrew word derek is very concrete. It literally is translated, "road" or "pathway." That's important because a road, when traveled, will get you from Point A to Point B.
   Fast-forward 700 years to Jesus in John 14:6. He describes Himself as the "way," the truth and the life. I made the claim that Jesus uses the same word in John 14:6 that Isaiah uses in Isaiah 43.

Okay, sermon listeners, jump back in here.
   The problem is that we all know the New Testament was written in Greek, and the Old Testament in Hebrew. How could Jesus possibly have used the same word as Isaiah? This is where I explain my "lightbulb" experience...

   During the Intertestamental Period (the period between the last book of the Old Testament and the story of Jesus, which amounts to some 400-something years), the city of Alexandria and the Greek language/lifestyle greatly influenced the entire world, including the Jewish people. Jewish scribes decided to translate the Hebrew Old Testament into classical Greek, since that was the language most commonly spoken among the people. It was the first Bible translation ever! It is called the "Septuagint" (most likely abbreviated as "LXX" in your bible notes).
   Jesus' word in John 14:6 that we translate "way," is the Greek word odos. If you looked back into the Septuagint at Isaiah 43:19, you would see that the Hebrew word derek (most likely translated as "way" in your English Bible) is translated as odos in the Greek Septuagint.

WHAT'S THE POINT??? - Jesus was saying to the Israelite people, "Look, God promised you that He was making a way... I'm telling you, I am that way. There is no other." The challenge in the passage is the difficult question, "Will you not see it?" Will you be so caught up in your past, whether victorious or disastrous, that you won't see what God is doing in your life right now?

It's a new day. A new year. And God is doing a new thing.

Will you not see it?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Jesus - Yahweh Saves

2010-12-22T19:05:00.005-06:00

   I had the privilege of preaching at the nursing home again this week. It's a wonderful ministry our church has - every Monday at 3:30, one of our church's pastors is at the nursing home leading singing and preaching. You would think that the residents were the ones who are invaluably blessed, but most of the time, it's us. It is such an honor to sing and preach the Word of God to those delightful people. I often walk away filled with joy, comfort, and encouragement just from the 45 minutes or so that I'm around these friends. They bless my heart. This week was our Christmas service. I had the privilege of speaking on the name of Jesus... what does it mean, and why is it important?...

   'Tis the season, so they say. The "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," as the familiar song goes. We have been - and will be over the next few days - singing familiar Christmas carols, gracing the doors of shopping malls and specialty stores, sending and receiving Christmas cards, wearing the clothes/jewelry we only get to wear once a year, decorating our houses with Christmas cheer, and visiting with family and friends. We'll experience the Christmas story a hundred times this year via many different mediums: songs, decorations, church services, family Bible reading, you name it. It is the greatest story ever told. There's a song that says, "Love came down at Christmas." Exactly.

   You know the story of the manger. You know the story of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the trip to Bethlehem, and the shining star ("But do you recall the most famous..." - kidding. Hahaha). But do you know the story of the Name? That's right - the story of the Name - the name, Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name 'Jesus,'

for He will save His people from their sins."

God hatched the plan and carried it through. The Angel's job was to deliver the news. The Holy Spirit's job was to conceive the Boy. It was Mary's job to birth Him. It was the shepherds' job to announce His birth. It would be Jesus' job to do the saving. What was Joseph's job? Where did he fit in? He had only one job. A very important one, at that. It was Joseph's job to name the Boy, "Jesus."

Why "Jesus?" Ever thought about that? Why not Jeremiah, Josiah, Jairus, Jacob, or Jehosaphat? We know that in scripture, Jesus has many names: Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, the Christ/Messiah, Son of David, Son of God, Lord, Master, etc. Why was Joseph to name Him "Jesus" instead of one of these others?

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ = Ἰησοῦς = Jesus

(Yĕhowshuwa`= Iēsous = Jesus)

The three names above are a progression. The first name is written in Hebrew, the second in Greek, and the third in English. Our English word "Jesus" is basically a transliteration of the Greek name written before it. And that Greek name is basically a transliteration of the Hebrew name before it. Go ahead and pronounce the Hebrew name out loud, woth a soft "o" for the fourth letter (the pronunciation is in italics below it). What does this name sound like? Yep, you guessed it... Joshua. Jesus' name is the same name we translate "Joshua" from the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Why is this important? Well, the name Joshua has a very special meaning itself...

The name יְהוֹשׁוּעַ means "Yahweh saves," or "Yahweh is salvation." Who is Yahweh? Yahweh is the name God chose for Himself. Jesus' name literally means, "God saves." Now read the Matthew 1:21 text again...

Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name 'Jesus,'

for He will save His people from their sins."

Simple leading questions:
1. Who will do the saving in Matthew 1:21?
2. Who does the saving in the meaning of the name "Jesus?"
3. What does this imply about the relationship between Yahweh and Jesus?

   As we used to say in Middle School... "Winner, winner, chicken dinner." You guessed it. Jesus is God. When referring to the Old Testament Joshua, never does the Bible say that he would "save his people from their sins." Only Jesus can do that. Only Yahweh can do that.

WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS:
   From eternity passed and especially in the birth of Jesus, we can see God's plan for salvation through Jesus. You may see a Baby in a manger on a hundred different lawns in your neighborhood this week. But whenever you do, you need to know that without the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, it would just be a pretty picture. Without the propitiatory work of Christ in the reconciliation of mankind with God through blood sacrifice, that Baby in a manger would be nothing more than a yard decoration.

   You will hear the name "Jesus" countless times this Christmas season. What does it mean? Why is it important? Yahweh saves. This baby in a manger is God's wonderful plan to reconcile you to Himself. When you hear the name "JESUS" this season, think... "Yahweh saves."

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Let 'em Fly!

2010-12-01T16:35:00.000-06:00

   I am constantly reminded of how great a joy it is to have two handsome, healthy children. About a year ago, Vanessa, Ethan, Aaron, and I were in Guitar Center. We were doing some reconstruction on our stage at church, and I took my family to look for some microphone cable to run underneath the stage. We had been there for about 30 or 45 minutes, and the boys had been excellent. But you know how little boys are - they started to get bored.
   If you've never been to guitar center, men, you are missing out on one of the great pleasures in life. There are so many instruments to pick up and play, drums to hit, cymbals to crash, and buttons to push... it's like a massive candy store for men. Even if you're not musical, it's fun just to go push the buttons and drool on the electronics. Well, Aaron (three years old at the time) had resisted long enough.
   There was a giant mixing board which controlled four massive speakers in a little tiny room. Soft music was playing in the background as people were shopping and dreaming. This sound board was invitingly positioned in the center of this relatively small room. Vanessa, Ethan, and I were at the checkout desk in the same room - me, a little perturbed by the amount of time it was taking. All of a sudden, I hear the music getting louder and louder and LOUDER!!! And very soon, it was so loud I thought my eardrums were going to bleed. In a split second, all kinds of thoughts raced through my mind... "That's loud enough, you idiot!" "I can't concentrate - turn that mess down!" "Whoever is doing that needs to be kicked out of this store!"

So I turn around in anger and frustration to see my handsome, healthy three year old Aaron with his fingers on the yellow "Main" sliders of this mixing board in the center of the room. The other hand had become a plug for his left ear, and his eyes were ten times the size they normally are. So I did what any good, calm parent would do. I yelled at him. And then it clicked, "Oh, he doesn't know he's making the music do that..." So I raced over to the mixing board, grabbed his hand and threw it off the sliders, and abruptly turned the music down to a more sensitive level. I don't know if Aaron was more in shock because of the loud music or my evil-penetrating eyes that had become fixated on his childlike innocence. After a few seconds of bewildered speechlessness, I looked up to meet the eyes of three different couples who still had their hands over their ears and their jaws on the ground.
"I'm so sorry," I mustered up. Making eye contact with each individual... But none of them said a word - or even moved for that matter. I told myself their reaction was probably because they couldn't hear me... then I had one of those light-bulb moments. First of all, I hadn't been watching my three-year-old son - he could've been anywhere in the store at all. Secondly, I had been so frustrated with the amount of time my trip was taking, and my perceived incompetency of the staff, yet my child was the one who made everyone else's shopping experience horrendous that day. And lastly, I looked back to see my three year old Aaron resembling a frightened little puppy-dog in the corner, who had just been beaten by his unforgiving master. My ears hurt. My pride hurt. But that was no excuse to let loose on Aaron the way I did. I held him for a while. He's such a blessing - my reaction was my problem, not his.

Psalm 127:3-5a says:

"Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, children, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them."

   In that moment, I forgot that God had blessed me with these two adorable children. They are a heritage from the Lord. A reward of which I am obviously unworthy.

   As I continually reflect on what this passage means, I am reminded that arrows in the hand of a warrior are not very productive, useful, or valuable if a few things do not become reality.

1. These arrows have to be constantly cared for. If the same arrows sit in a quiver for eighteen years, unattended, un-oiled, and largely neglected, their feathers will fray, their points will dull, and their shafts will bend or become weak. My children are needy and deserving of my constant attention, affection, and direction.

2. It is one thing for arrows to be in a quiver. It is something completely different for them to be "in the hand of the warrior." The warrior who hold arrows in hand is ready for battle. His arrows are not just "with" him. They are part of him. Without him, the arrows would be useless. And without them, he would be weapon-less. If his arrows are not in hand, he's not really an arrow-wielding warrior. He's just a guy who owns some sticks with points and feathers on them. Children are an extension of who we are as parents. It is impossible to be good parents without children. I have to hold them "near and dear." It's not the rest of the people in Guitar Center that need my apology, attention, empathy, and affection the most. It's Aaron. It's Ethan. They, for this period of time, are a part of who I am.

3. At some point, the warrior will have to let the arrow fly. If he holds his arrows in hand, or in quiver, and never lets them fly, he has done an injustice to what they are and their inherent purpose. The day will come. At some point, my boys will be ready to fly. I'm actually tearing up just thinking about it. Will I have trained them astutely? Will I have cared for them sufficiently? Will I have wielded them truthfully? It's difficult for me to think about right now, but one day, these handsome, healthy arrows my God has blessed me with will be ready to fly. Their time will come, and I will not be a true warrior if I don't let 'em fly.

   I have the best two little boys in the world. I'm thankful for every second God gives me with them. And I pray that He gives me the wisdom to be thankful, the ability to be educative, the passion to be effective, and the faith to be obedient. Thank you, Lord, for Ethan and for Aaron.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

2010-11-10T13:18:00.003-06:00

This weekend, my wife and I will venture down to Corpus Christi to gather with thousands of other ministers, denominational figures, and church members from across the state of Texas. It is an event to which we look forward all year long, ever year. It gives us that "boost" we need to continue with the strenuous work of ministry. We get to hear powerful sermons from the Word of God, enjoy heartfelt worship with brothers and sisters in Christ from across the state, and collaborate with friends and ministry partners who are encouraging, uplifting, and sincere. We'll hear reports from the Southern Baptist schools in our state, vote on issues that direct the future of our convention and our denomination, and this year... we'll take part in the SBC North American Mission Board's commissioning service.

   Very often, I hear church members who are confused over the importance of belonging to such an organization. Perhaps we (I) don't do a good enough (or frequent enough) job explaining the dynamics of the organization, and why we belong to a denominational group like this. In this blog, allow me to clarify some things of which maybe you are unaware, or maybe you just haven't thought about in a while...

I. Global Impact.
   Acts 1:8 challenges the local church to be Jesus' witnesses to our immediate community, our region, and to the ends of the earth. This is a tall order. Hopefully, as a local church, we are passionate about reaching our community for Christ. In all honesty, it takes most of our income to realize this goal. We pour money, and rightfully so, into our immediate context - people right around the corner from us are desperate for someone to meet them at their need and share the life-changing truth of Jesus with them. It is both time-consuming and resource-consuming.
   But what of the other areas in Texas that do not have a strong local church to reach out to their community? Who will bear witness to those communities? And what of the un-evangelized regions of the world like Myanmar, North and Central Africa, Peru, Asia, Russia, and so forth? Who will take the light of the gospel to those spiritually darkened places?
   Through our cooperation with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), our little church in Rosenberg, TX is able to join with other little churches in Texas to fund missional efforts in the least-reached parts of our state. The moneys we give to the SBTC are combined with the moneys of other convention churches to optimize evangelistic impact where witnesses for Christ are few and underfunded.
   On top of that, our church's giving to the SBTC helps fund world-wide efforts for gospel saturation...

II. The Cooperative Program.
   The Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is an agreement between State Baptist Conventions (like the SBTC) and the national Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). When local churches send funds to the state conventions, those state conventions send a percentage of the funds to the SBC. The SBC divides these funds between the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB). That means that through the Cooperative Program (me giving to the SBC through my local church's gifts to the SBTC), I am able to support over 5100 missionaries in North America, and over 5600 missionaries in every other part of the world.
   By itself, our church would be hard pressed to fully support even one missionary. But through our cooperation with the SBTC and the SBC, we support over 10,700 missionaries worldwide. A Side Note: NAMB and IMB commission new missionaries into the field. This year, at the 2010 SBTC, NAMB will be commissioning new missionaries into the field... and anyone is invited to come see the ceremony. Two years ago, at the SBTC's annual meeting in Houston, TX, the IMB held its commissioning service. It was an amazingly inspiring event - and I'm expecting NAMB's commissioning service to be equally as inspiring.
   PERCENTAGE of funds passed should be inquired of. I'm very pleased to tell you that 54% of everything given to the SBTC from local churches goes straight to the SBC (national convention to support NAMB and IMB). That is more (way more) than any other state convention. Our convention leaders are pioneers in cooperative funding. They have worked tirelessly to keep local, national, and international mission work a priority.

III. Standing for Truth.
   In an American culture (and arguably, even in a world culture) where truth is rapidly being viewed as relative, unstable, and subjective, the SBTC takes an unwavering stance on the inerrancy, efficacy, and infallibility of the Bible. You may not be aware of this, but there is a movement - even within the Southern Baptist Convention - away from the Bible as the center and source of truth. Entire state conventions question the authenticity of the Bible as a whole, and the accuracy of Genesis chapters 1-11. Instead of standing up for truth, and being the salt of the earth, these individuals and organizations are profaning what it means to be Christian. They are undermining God's revealed word to us, and replacing His truth with what is convenient for them and acceptable in the culture.
   But not the SBTC. Our convention stands firm in the midst of great opposition. Dr. Jim Richards, the Executive Director of the SBTC, and the other elected and employed leaders of the convention uphold the traditional biblical values of Christianity, and the supreme authority of the Word of God.

   These are just a few points I thought I would share with you concerning the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. It is my privilege to be a part of this extraordinary organization. This weekend will be a much needed time of ministry rejuvenation, network connection, and spiritual renewal for my wife and I. May God receive the glory and the honor that He is due as we work to share His truth with a truth-deprived world.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Elections, Government, and Christian Obedience

2010-11-04T22:56:00.001-05:00

   Last Tuesday night, I watched waaaaaay too much of the election coverage. I'm pretty sure I should've gone to bed much earlier than I did. But it captivated me, really. I've always been fond of the election process. Not many countries in this beautiful world have the opportunity - the privilege - to choose for themselves the ones who will represent them in their government. And of all those countries who do have this privilege the United States of America is the pioneer. What a concept - a democratic electoral process in a constitutional republic. Amazing.

   I've been hearing all kinds of things about this election. How it has sent an undeniable "message" to the current leadership of our great country. Even from his own mouth, President Obama has admitted that the American people, through this electoral process, have sent him a firm message. The exact nature of that message, and how that message should affect political strategy are up for debate - but one thing is admitted of all sides... that a message has indeed been sent. How amazing is that? That a message of political and governmental nature can be sent to one person, or a small group of people, from 300 million Americans?

   Along with all the talk about what this "means" and how it is going to affect policy and strategy in the coming months and years has come some rather disturbing utterances from my fellow Christians. I'm beginning to get the feeling that we really believe a political party (one or the other) is going to be the salvation of our country. I've got news for you, Christian brother or sister - it's not. While economic policy and political purity is important for many reasons, and while it has the potential to prod a people in a positive direction, it cannot and will not even come close to addressing the deepest need of our country - the individual salvation of souls.

   I'm praying that we don't, spiritually speaking, sit back on our haunches (donkeys' or elephants') and wait for the government to "fix our problem(s)." A common biblical theme, throughout Old Testament and New, is that the greatest blessings - individually, corporately, and societally - will come when God's people are obedient to His Word, and are mobilized for His cause.

"Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: there will be a blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God, and you turn aside from the path I commanded you today by following other gods you have not known." - Deut. 11:26-28.

   Here, Moses is speaking to the Israelites about being careful to obey God's commands so that they may receive blessing. Of course, we all know what happened. They Israelites did indeed "turn aside from the path" (Jer. 2: 17) in disobedience to God. I could be speculating here, but I'm sure the Israelites believed the priests, Levites, and national leaders (judges, lawmakers, and kings) were the focus of this warning. Surely God was issuing this statement to the politicians and governmental authorities. After all, THEY'RE the ones who need to be righteous, and careful to follow all of God's commands. If THEY will do that, then surely God will bless the nation.

   Yes, I'm being facetious. God's desire was, and still is, that obedience and devotion to Him and His Truth be central in the life of every one of His children. In this Old Testament passage, the blessing the nation will experience is directly correlated with individual obedience and consecration. If we want to be blessed as a nation, Christians must focus their energy on being obedient to God. He's called us to speak Truth in a truth-decayed world. He's called us to bear witness to His glory and His salvation to the ends of the earth. He's called us to depend upon Him for all that we need as individuals and as a nation. He is our Hope. He is our Salvation. He is our God. And no politician, political party, or elected chamber can bring what He alone is capable of bringing - blessing.

   We must vote. No doubt about it. And we must consider Biblical morality and ethicality when voting - they should guide us in our electoral decisions. But elections and political parties are not what will save this country. They are not what will bless this country. I've seen more on FaceBook, and heard more in person over the past few days (even in church) about politicians and parties than I have about the saving grace of Almighty God. Christian friend, let's keep "Number One" number one.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Homosexuality: The Biblical Perspective (Part 2)

2010-10-28T12:57:00.013-05:00

   My last post (click to see) explored the biblical instances where homosexuality is considered a sin. It would also be helpful to note that there is never a biblical instance where it is NOT a sin. Also, we looked at some secular thoughts on homosexuality, and came to these conclusions:

1. The Bible declares homosexual activity as sin, just as it does lying, theft, adultery, etc.
2. The culture's arguments for genetic causation and progressivistic justification are lacking.
3. The Bible offers hope for freedom from sin through the person of Jesus Christ.

In this post, I'd like to discuss how this information should affect Christians, and also, I would like to offer a word to homosexuals who read my blog...

CHRISTIANS:
   What started this blog topic was a link to a facebook page where a self-proclaimed "Christian" indicated (publicly, mind you) that he wished all homosexuals would catch AIDS and die. I don't think that's the way Jesus would've handled it...

Jesus: Maybe you don't realize this - Jesus was harsh toward Pharisees and Sadducees. NOT sinners! He scolded, debated with, drove out, and embarrassed the religious elite who claimed unique authority on scripture and spiritual things, but lived in a constant state of hypocrisy (see Mat. 23:1-7). These people were more concerned with their own positional security and pious elitism than with representing God and being an example and a channel of His blessings, love, and truth to the people around them.
   The only other group of people (that I can think of) with whom Jesus got a little upset were the disciples. In Matthew 26:40-46, Jesus seems a little agitated with the fact that they couldn't stay awake to pray for Him. Another instance of Jesus' frustration with His disciples is in Matthew 16, when they didn't quite understand Jesus' allusion concerning the yeast of the Pharisees. He calls them, "ye of little faith!" (v.8).
   But we don't see examples of Jesus being harsh, angry, or agitated with the lost. In fact, we see the opposite. In John 8, we read the story of a convicted adulteress - a reprehensible sin/crime - whose sentence is stoning. But Jesus says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Then, he speaks to her, "I don't condemn you... Go and sin no more." He told her what she was doing was a sin - but He offered forgiveness.
   Luke 7 tells a short story of a woman who "was a sinner" that brought fragrant oil and poured it out on Jesus' feet, then continued to wipe his feet with her tears and wash them off with her long hair as he was reclining at the table with a Pharisee. The Pharisees were upset that Jesus would let someone so disgusting, so stained by sin even come close to Him - But we read His words to Simon in vs. 44-46, "you gave me no water, but she washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing my feet. You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with fragrant oil."
   Jesus met sinners, even the ones who were social refuse, at their place of need. He offered them forgiveness. He addressed their sin as such, but displayed unconditional love, hospitality, kindness, and heartfelt compassion at the same time.

The New Testament letters also tell us a great deal about how to treat sin (including homosexuality), as well as how we should feel about it.

The New Testament Letters: In Part 1 of this subject, I stated that we would revisit 1 Corinthians 6:9. Paul lumps homosexual offenders together with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, greedy people, etc. and the judgement is that "they" will not inherit the kingdom of God. Let me take a brief pause here to say that the greatest damage that is being done by these individuals is not to our society, is not to our family, and is not to our legal system. It is to their eternity. Our first, most heartfelt response to any kind of sin should be that those without Christ will spend eternity separated from God in a real place called Hell. Secondly, let me point out that there is a dichotomy represented here. Two "kinds" of people... (1) those labeled as "thieves, homosexual offenders, liars," etc., and (2) those who are "justified in the name of Jesus" (v. 11). Just as it is impossible for someone who is a practicing, non-repentant homosexual to be part of Gods family, so it is for a practicing, non-repentant adulterer, greedy person, or swindler. Homosexuality is not "the sin" that disqualifies one from being saved. It is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ that leaves individuals unregenerate, unjustified, and bound for Hell. If one accepts Christ, he or she becomes a completely new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). He or she is no longer defined by sin, and likewise, will not seek to unrepentantly participate in it. Instead, he or she is defined by position in Christ, and will now seek to participate in His righteousness and holiness.

   There are plenty of NT passages that deal with this subject specifically. Let's move on to something a little deeper. Read this from Paul:

"I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - by no means referring to this world's immoral people... otherwise,you would have to leave the world... But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater... drunker... swindler. Don't even eat with such a person."

(I Cor. 5:9-11)

I hope you're reading this with an obedient heart. Would you be okay with going to a homosexual's house, reclining at his table, and letting a convicted thief wash your feet? Jesus would. Why? How are we going to communicate biblical truth in a loving way if we disassociate ourselves from the lost? Keep in mind that we are to speak the truth - that homosexuality is sin - but we are also to speak it in love, and finish the story... Yes, homosexuality is sin. But through Jesus Christ, that sin and all others can be cast as far as the East is from the West, and a new standing of righteousness and justification can be applied to the sinner.

Christian, God has called you to be a beacon of truth and love to the world around you. When you start to swell with religious elitism, you'd better put yourself in check and realize that you too were once a sinner in desperate need of someone who would love you enough to meet you at your need and speak words of life, hope, and truth.

And then, you hate the fact that sin is separating this individual from God. You hate the fact that if he doesn't place his life in Christ Jesus, he will spend eternity in Hell. You hate the repercussions - physical, social, emotional, relational, and spiritual - that come from a world/life scarred by sin. But you LOVE the person committing the sin. You go out of your way to be kind, compassionate, and useful to him. Get your eyes off of your pride, and onto your calling.

HOMOSEXUAL FRIEND:

The Bible declares homosexuality sin - as it does adultery, lying, theft, murder, etc. The Bible is the standard of truth for Christians... therefore, it is inconsistent and hypocritical for a Christian to support or agree with homosexuality.

It boils down to this: Either the Bible is reliable and homosexuality (along with a long list of other things) is sinful... or the Bible is not reliable, and there is some other standard by which to measure morality and truth. What is your take on all of this? If you're a Christian, has your perspective on any of this changed? If you are not a Christian, do you have a better idea why Christians see homosexuality as a sin?

COMMENTING: I've opened this post up to comments. I pray we can all be loving and honest in our conversations and interactions here.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Homosexuality: The Biblical Perspective (Part 1)

2010-10-27T15:19:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week, I clicked on a link to an article which displayed a Facebook page of someone who claimed to be a Christian, but was hurling hatred toward homosexuals. It infuriated me. I feel a need to clarify the biblical perspective on homosexuality. There are non-Christians in our culture who are seeing all of this hate-speech, and rejecting the God of the Bible because of His followers' idiocracy. And there are Christians who are honestly confused over how they should feel about homosexuality, and how they should treat homosexuals.

This will be a two-part attempt at clarifying the biblical stance on homosexuality. In this post, I'll discuss the biblical position and compare that to some current secular claims. In the next, I'll discuss how this information should affect Christians.

Let it be first understood that I am a biblicist. I believe that the Bible is true, reliable, and accurate, and that it is, on its own, "profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work," (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is not a god, but it does reveal "the" God.

Many times, when discussing the issue with Christians and non-Christians alike, I hear that the Bible "doesn't condemn homosexuality." Section I here will be dedicated to the instances in scripture (both Old Testament and New) that treat homosexuality as a sin...

Section I. The Bible on Homosexuality.

OLD TESTAMENT:

Genesis 19 - This is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels visit Lot, outside the city and the men of the city demand that Lot hand them over so that they may "know them." Many translations even read, "so that we may have sex with them." Some more recent translators argue that the men of Sodom just wanted to understand who the men were, but that is not consistent with what the rest of the context says. Verse 8 tells us that Lot offers his virgin daughters as a substitute for what the men of Sodom were wanting. Whether that substitution was "right" or "wrong" is not the issue here. Sodom's men wanted to have sex with the men in Lot's home. So why is this bad? Verse 7 describes what the men of Sodom were wanting to do as "evil." (In the New Testament, Jude vs. 7 recalls this event, and the common practice of sexual immorality in Sodom and Gomorrah, and re-testifies that homosexuality is a sin against God.)

Leviticus 18:22-24 - Part of the Law given to the people by God Himself, through Moses: "you are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable. You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal... ...a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it..." Verses 23 and 24 says these things "defile" a person. Verse 22 says it is "detestable."

Leviticus 20:13-21 - This part of God's OT Law puts man-with-man sexual relationships in the same category as incest and bestiality.

Judges 19:16-23 - A story that is either a repeat of Genesis 19 from above, or more likely, another incident describing the same basic thing. The men of the city want to have sex with the men in the house, and the Bible calls it "evil" and a "horrible thing" (verse 23).

I Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46, and II Kings 23:7 - These are instances where the Hebrew word קָדֵשׁ describes men (it is a masculine noun) who have consecrated themselves to the worship of Astarte or Venus (ancient Serian gods of sex and pleasure) by prostituting themselves to other men for money in pagan temples. The word is translated "sodomite." In every instance, the act is considered an "abomination" to God.

NEW TESTAMENT:

Romans 1:26-27 - Perhaps the most convincing of all the biblical text that homosexuality is a sin. Men were "inflamed with their lust for one another... ...committed shameless acts with males" and women "exchanged" natural intercourse with what is unnatural. In verse 28, God deems this "worthless/reprobate" (ἀδόκιμον) and "morally wrong/shameful," (καθήκοντα).

I Corinthians 6:9 - Paul, here, lumps homosexual offenders and those "male prostitutes" from earlier with thieves, drunkards, greedy people, liars, and adulterers who will not inherit God's kingdom. We'll come back to this verse in the next post. It tells us that homosexuality, though a sin, is not a "greater" sin than any other.

I Timothy 1:9-10 - In this letter, Paul tells us that God's Law (from earlier in this post) condemns those who are sexually immoral ( πόρνοις) and those who are homosexual (ἀρσενοκοίταις). Once again, these two sins are not singled out - they are lumped together with those who are unholy, irreverent, murderers, and liars.

FYI - These are examples of CON-HOMOSEXUALITY. There are also countless examples of PRO-HETEROSEXUALITY (as the "right" way of living, and as God's design for sex and family).

Now, Section II in this post will discuss some of the secular/scientific argument(s) for PRO-HOMOSEXUALITY. Then, of course, I will raise some questions/concerns with these arguments.

Section II. The Culture and Homosexuality.

THE BIOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Much of the modern-day biological debate for homosexuality is founded in the work of D.F. Swaab and M.A. Hofman (1990 research). So that we can be on the same page, and so that you have a fair chance to view both sides of this argument (theirs, and mine), I've included a link where you can download the .pdf file. You can download and read Swaab and Hofman's research, article, and conclusions here: http://depot.knaw.nl/668/.

The general principle here is that deceased homosexual men showed an increase in size and volume of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - a section of the brain known to be involved with one's "biological clock," but now (after this study, mind you) thought to be involved in sexual preference and reproduction as well. The primary, overall conclusion of the authors of the paper is that "the SDN data do not support the global hypothesis that homosexual men have a female brain." NOTE: The "SDN data." Their official conclusion did not even address the SCN. It addressed the SDN - sexually dimorphic nucleus - a completely separate part of the brain. Unofficially, however, the authors allude to the assertion that an enlarged SCN is the biological reason for homosexuality in men.

Firstly, let me present some scientific problems with this research. (1) The sample size was hardly enough to make this important of a conclusion. Only 14 individuals (it says 18 at one point, and then in the same paragraph and for the rest of the paper, it says 10 homosexual men and 4 heterosexual men) were studied. There needs to be much more research on this with samples from all over the globe (or country at least) that are representative of the entire population, not just one small geographic area. (2) The control group consisted of 4 heterosexual males, and the variable group of 10 homosexual males. Every good scientist knows that the control should be at least equal to the variable. For instance, what if those four heterosexual males are not representative of the entire population (close to 3 billion worldwide, I'm estimating) of heterosexual males? (3) Every one of the subjects (both heterosexual and homosexual) died of AIDS. The scientists themselves admit in the last section of this article that this could seriously hinder the results of experimentation. They suggest that "homosexual men who did not die of AIDS should certainly be studied in the future."

Secondly, let's look at other possible conclusions. One possibility brought up, but quickly glossed-over in this paper is that during early years of development, different interactions with sex hormones could affect the size and matter of the SCN. Why is this not a HUGE topic???!!! Even secular Behavioral Psychologists such as B.F. Skinner would agree that the amount of and kind of interaction with a child/adolescent during developmental stages seriously affects an individual biologically, emotionally, and socially. While Skinner would conclude this means it is not the individual's "fault," at least he recognizes the influence of the outside world on behavior and sexual orientation. If this idea were to be concluded, it would indeed mean that individuals are NOT "born" with an enlarged SCN. Another possible conclusion is that (if we approach it with a biblical world-view, agreeing with the Bible that homosexuality is sin) sin corrupts the emotions, spirit, and biology of an individual. As a supporting note here, it is proven through research that schizophrenia and other health issues also cause enlargement in different regions of the brain. Children are not born schizophrenic. It is a learned, developed behavior/mental health problem.

Thirdly, let's take this to the next level. If homosexuality is a genetic response to a biological or biochemical deformity (which is what this boils down to), then is excessive aggression also? Have we done a study on death-row inmates' corpses in which we examine the amygdala and prefrontal cortex of the brain (thought to be related to aggression)? If these areas are abnormal when compared to the control group, would we then justify the aggressive behavior as a biological deformity, as these scientists are attempting to justify homosexuality?

I don't want to get too caught up in the biological argument. I just want you to see that there is no solid evidence for a biological cause of homosexuality. Let me move on to the Postmodern argument.

THE POSTMODERN ARGUMENT

This is a more recent development which assumes that "This is how I am because this is how I feel." It leads to questions like, "Why would God create me this way (or let me 'feel this way') if it's a sin?"It is an argument based on personal emotion/feeling which is grounded in experience and a humanistic/relativistic idea of truth.

I have no doubt that many people are inclined toward homosexual tendency. I have never said that homosexuality doesn't exist, or is a figment of the imagination. I believe some people really struggle with same-sex attraction. "Well then, how can you argue against it, Tony?"...

We all have our struggles... spiritual struggles, that is... Some struggle with the sin of gluttony. Some are compulsive liars. Some are inclined to theft, lust, or rage. Each of these sins is real, and repugnant to Almighty God. Christians who constantly struggle with lust, for instance, must set boundaries for themselves and put their actions and feelings in check. When we're struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction, we join a support group. When we are constantly angry at others, we go to counseling in an attempt to control our fits of rage. Why do we do these things? Because we are genuinely struggling with sin.

The Bible, throughout its pages, tells the story of an originally perfect creation which has been almost completely disfigured from the effects of sin. People hate each other. Disease and sickness take lives. Beautiful creation withers and fades. Individuals are influenced by sin and enticed to rebel against God and His standard of holiness. Seems hopeless, right? Well, it's not.

Just as the liar is offered forgiveness and salvation if he confesses it as sin, repents, and places his life inside Christ Jesus... so is the murderer... so is the adulterer... so is the thief... so is the homosexual. The battles we face, the sin we so desperately must elude, are conquerable through a relationship with Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION: The Bible declares homosexual activity as sin, just as it does lying, theft, adultery, etc. The culture's arguments for genetic causation and progressivistic justification are lacking. The Bible offers hope for freedom from sin through the person of Jesus Christ.

You'll notice that I've disabled comments for this post. I do want your comments - but I want you to read all of Part 2 (my next post) first. Comments are allowed on the Part 2 page... but only in a constructive, collaborative, non-condemning manner.

You can go straight to the Part 2 by clicking HERE.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

"Where Is the Lord" (Sermon Video)

2010-10-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

I was privileged to fill in for our Pastor at Calvary in Rosenberg, TX on Sunday, September 5, 2010. This is the video from that sermon...

A link to Jon Meacham's article from NewsWeek, April 2009 - not "Times Magazine" as I said in the sermon... oops... wrong magazine. Many apologies.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Home, Heritage, and Heart

2010-10-19T19:52:00.003-05:00

   Vanessa likes to move things around in our house. Especially in the early years of our marriage, I'd come home, and the entire bedroom or living room would be flip-flopped around, or certain pictures, tables, or other furniture would be taken from one room and put in another. It keeps things interesting, for sure. I'm sitting in "my chair" right now. She moved it from one side of the living room to the other about a week ago. I like it here - because every time I look up now, I can't ignore the various Christian-themed decorations on the wall directly across from me.
   I'm looking at them right now - a 14x16 matt of John 3:16 with the words "for GOD so LOVED the WORLD" boldly embossed on top of the verse - surrounded by two delicate crosses... ...and adjacent to that elegant presentation, a beautiful plate-rack looking fixture housing three tablets respectively displaying, "Faith," "Hope," and "Love." It's an encouraging, yet sober reminder of who God is in my life, our home, and our world.

   Very often, I'll write a Bible verse on my home screen (computer). I usually don't write out the whole verse, but just the reference. It's often a verse I'm trying to memorize, that is directly applicable to where I find myself at that specific point in life. For instance, a few months ago, it was Romans 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the desires of the flesh."
   I saw Ethan (my oldest) with a cross-necklace on going to school the other day. He's had it in his room for a while, but has only worn it a few times. I was proud that he decided to put his faith on display that day... and was not ashamed of who he is in Christ.

   Very often, I hear people criticizing the wearing/displaying of religious symbols and paraphernalia. I understand that many times these things are displayed for the wrong intentions or in an improper manner. But I do enjoy subtle reminders that help Christians recall Whose they are. Have you ever walked into a house that has Joshua 24:15 written over the entryway, or stitched into a matt outside their front door? It encourages me. When I walk in a house that is gently ornamented with biblical reminders, a feeling of comfort and trust consumes me.

   The Jews, from millennia past, hold dear what they call the Sh'ma or Sh'ma Yisrael. Sh'ma (or, shema) is a verb meaning "listen," or "hear." It is the first word in Deuteronomy 6:4 - an imperative addressed to Israel (Yisrael, from above) by God through Moses. Here's more of the verse...

Hear, o Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your strength. - Deut. 6:4-5

What an incredible reminder of Who God is, and how we should live.

   I know you've heard this verse before. In Matthew 22 (as well as Luke 10), a Pharisee asks Jesus how he might inherit eternal life. In Jesus' answer, He identifies the Sh'ma as THE most important commandment. It is arguable that even the "second, which is like it," stems from the first. Viz. if you love God, you will in turn love others. You've heard this more recently in the phrase, "Love God, Love People." And you've even heard it described in the shape of a cross: Vertical line (Loving God), and Horizontal line (Loving people).

   What's so interesting about Deuteronomy (to me anyway) 6:4-5 is what follows it - in verses 6-9...

6:6 - These words I am giving you today are to be written in your heart.
We see here that from the earliest of commandment giving, it was God's desire that living for Him be from the heart. His word isn't to be obeyed out of habit or ritual. It is to be a matter of the heart. This verse also forms the basis of so many of your favorite scriptures: Psalm 119:11, Proverbs 2:1, Deuteronomy 10:16, and Romans 2:29 to name a few.

6:7 - Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
Do you know that your children will learn more between the ages of 1 and 6 than they will for the rest of their lives? Capitalize on this crucial time in their development to instill within them something more important than worldly expectations. Teach them scripture. And don't just expect them to learn about God at church. This verse says in your house, when you're walking on the road, at bedtime, and in the morning. Every moment that passes holds irreplaceable teaching opportunity. When your children disobey you, what do you tell them? How about mentioning Ephesians 6:1? Not ever to demean them, but rather to teach them God's Word and how they can bring Him joy by being obedient to you. We're so proud when our 4-6 year olds ask questions about math, science, or language - and we immediately explain to them the concepts involved. What about when they ask about sickness, church, God, death, or ghosts? Let the Word of God be a normal and regular part of the interaction you have with your children.

6:8 - Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.
"Tie a ribbon around your finger!" I always thought that was a little ridiculous when I was a kid. But I never "tried it," so I guess I can't "knock it." But I'll tell you what - those yellow ribbons around the oak trees... every time I see one, I think of our soldiers who are fighting for our freedom all over the globe. It's a symbol of reminder. Years ago, the WWJD bracelets became popular. And as soon as they came on the scene, so did the critics' ranting about their invalidity and how they relegated the gospel message. But I know for a fact that wearing something like that on your wrist affects the way you act. It's a gentle reminder of our position in Christ. You don't have to wear a WWJD bracelet. But sometimes, especially when we're struggling in a specific area, a tangible reminder of Whose we are is very helpful.

6:9 - Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Identify your home as one belonging to God, and dedicated to His purposes. "Play Like a Champion" - the sign painted between the locker room and the tunnel leading to the field at Notre Dame, is one that every football player slaps on his way into battle. It reminds them of the approach they are to have on the field they're about to enter. It's a sign marking a respectable truth on their home territory. It's more than a sign - it's a commitment.
   What commitment does your home display? If you invited someone into your house for the first time, would they identify you as a Christian by the decorations in your house? A better question... ...are you constantly reminded by the pictures on your walls and the trinkets in your display cabinets that your home is dedicated to Christ? I'm not telling you how to decorate your home. The good Lord knows that is NOT my calling! But I am telling you that the Bible tells us to put reminders in our home that will prompt memories of His love for us and of our devotion to Him.

What does your home say of your faith?

What does your heritage teach of Christ?

What does your heart reveal of God's Word?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Soap Box: The First Amendment

2010-10-07T22:38:00.003-05:00

There is a serious misunderstanding over the first amendment in our country right now. I was reading the news today and came across this article (linked below). It's not the first time I've read about this kind of thing happening, and I'm guessing it won't be the last. But is this really a matter for the ACLU to pursue? Is this really a violation of the First Amendment - the "Separation of Church and State?" Go ahead and read the article...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/07/aclu-threatens-lawsuit-nc-town-does-remove-christian-flag-war-memorial/

The Logical Argument:

   It is incredibly telling that the ACLU's and the protesting local citizens' only solution to this disastrous problem was to take down the Christian flag. After all, we can't "show favoritism" for one religion over another," right? That would be a violation of the First Amendment. WRONG.
   If it's equal rights for other religions that the ACLU wants, then why not propose putting up flags of other religions at the memorial? The council was not showing favoritism by displaying the Christian flag. It was showing honor, and reflecting the interests of the community. If the community wants other religious flags to be displayed, then so be it. But forcing the removal of the Christian flag is not a logical solution to this problem. It's a biased, bullied scare tactic.
   And what of the cross that is being argued over? Did you read that about 2/3 of the way down in the article? Well, if you didn't make it that far, I understand - because I was boiling by the time I got there too. The council is going to have to remove a cross from one of the memorials? Really? Come on. What if burial sites were sacred to a certain religion? Wouldn't the forcing of the cross's removal be a violation of the First Amendment? And even if burial sites are not sacred... why, again, is the only answer to remove the cross? Has anyone suggested that their loved one be memorialized by a goat's head? A nine-point star? A peace sign? A Buddha statue? If so, then by all means, add it to the memorial site.
   But let's be honest here - this is not really about being equally tolerant of all religions. It's about being universally INtolerant of Christianity.

The Historical Argument:

   The pilgrims came to America seeking freedom from the religious oppression of Europe. They had seen in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and England how a nationalized religion destroys the supremacy of scripture, and how in a marriage of church and state, the church is always the abused spouse. They settled, and later established America as a country where the government would have no control over or "say" in the religious affairs of the people.
   When you read our founding documents, or even the personal letters of the Founding Fathers, you would be blind to conclude that religion did not influence government. Specifically - the Christian religion. Who is it that "endowed us with certain unalienable rights?" The government? The collective ideas of society? Nature? Philosophy? Nope - that would be our Creator. My friends,

the point wasn't to keep Christ out of the government,

it was to keep the government out of the church.

Oh my, how far we've come. I'd like to think that maybe we've just started rolling down a steep, unforgiving hill of some kind. Taking prayer out of schools, refusing to allow people to pray in Jesus' name at public gatherings, fighting over whether or not we can put our national motto "In God We Trust" on our currency and on state license plates. Now look where we are... We can't even hang a Christian flag in a public cemetery.

But I know better than that. I know that our battle is not against legislators, lawmakers, supreme court justices, presidents, or the ACLU. It's against the powers and principalities, the forces of this world (Ephesians 6:12). We're in a spiritual battle against an enemy who has blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) the ungodly of this age. It's not them we're fighting against. It's him.

Am I the only one who sees this as an attack on Christianity? Am I wrong by asserting that taking down the Christian flag is NOT the logical option here? Somebody help me out...

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Spankings: When, and Why?

2010-10-02T19:51:00.002-05:00

   I was eleven or twelve years old. I had been at baseball practice for about an hour and a half at a local Jr. High's field, and practice was over. As I waited for my mom and dad to pull up in the blue Astro-Van to pick me up, I can remember getting a little bored. All my friends' parents had picked them up already - all except one or two... If you have sons, like I do, you know that the most opportune time for young boys to endanger their lives is when there is no one around but a couple of friends their age. Oh yes - it was a formula for disaster. So, I did what every bored little boy trying to impress his friends would do. I climbed on the school's roof.

   It was a pretty neat little world up there. I found all kinds of fun stuff - some tennis balls and frisbees... a couple of plastic bottles and pens. Not to mention the extreme rush of being 25 feet up in the air where I KNEW I was not supposed to be. I was so cool. Well, until my parents drove up. Somehow I missed the big blue house-van coming down the road. Fatal mistake. My mom jumped out of that van and some how, even though I was 25 feet off the ground, she made me feel like I was about 2 feet tall. She was yelling at me all the way across the roof, the slide down the support poles to the ground, and every mile of the way home. I was busted. And I was in trouble... ...So my dad came in my room, gave me a good talkin' and then, a good spankin'. And if I told you that was the first time OR the last time I ever got a spanking, I would be lying. But I'll tell you this: that WAS the last time I climbed on a school's roof.

I don't beat my kids. I don't hit them, and I don't abuse them. But I do spank them.
When? Two specific times:

1.) Direct disobedience. When I have told them not to do something and they do it anyway, it's a spanking, and they know it. Likewise, when I tell them TO do something and they choose not to do it, you guessed it. Spanking.

   - WHY, Tony? It's not about a power trip, it's about safety. Children very rarely see the dangers around them. They need to know that when Mommy and Daddy say something, it is to be obeyed immediately. Where we go wrong is by separating the "little" offenses from the "big" ones. We say, "No, you can't have a cookie right now, but you can in 10 minutes." They go grab a cookie immediately and start to eat it - (direct disobedience)... "BUT, I was going to give him one in a few minutes anyway. That's really not worth a spanking." Wrong.
   Vanessa and I often observe interactions between parents and their children. One day not too long ago, a couple's daughter was running out into the road, and cars were coming. The parents said "Sarah (not her real name), stop!" And you guessed it... Sarah turned and acknowledged her parent's order, but did not stop. Thanks be to God, the driver of the approaching vehicle saw Sarah and stopped while the indignant parents ran to her rescue in the middle of the road. Why didn't Sarah stop? Because she did not associate direct disobedience with immediate repercussion. She has gotten away with disobedience all her life, so why should this time be any different?
   I have a great friend who is an excellent woodworker. One day we were in the shop together and his little boy was in there. Something happened, and a dense cloud of sawdust shot down from the roof around the boy. My friend immediately said, "Tommy (again, not his real name), close your eyes!" Tommy immediately shut his eyes because he knew that his dad's commands were to be obeyed without question. That saved him a lot of pain.

2.) Disrespect. The second reason I spank my children is for disrespect. Disrespecting me, my wife, their teachers, other peers, and other figures of authority in their lives. And we don't play around with this one either. My youngest was yelling at me earlier today. I had already told him once today that if he talked to me like that again, I was going to spank him. There aren't three strikes in our house. Only two. Aaron got a spanking today. You can only imagine... when he did it the second time, he knew it was coming. After he realized what he had done, he immediately said, "I don't want a spanking, Daddy." As touching as that was, I followed through with my promise.

   - WHY, Tony? two reasons. [REASON A] Aaron wasn't sorry for what he had done. He was sorry that he got caught, and the only reason he was sorry was because he knew that a spanking was coming. Take away the spanking, and the remorse would be gone. [REASON B] I believe our world today is absent of respect for authority. Just ask any school teacher or police officer you know. They'll tell you very quickly that kids (and even adults) today are much less respectful than they were 10 or 20 years ago.
   God institutes authority in our lives for a reason, He is the God of order and institution. We see numerous times in scripture analogies of Christ as the "head" of the church, the husband as the "head" of the family, governmental officials as being empowered and instituted by God Himself, and infrastructural organization such as heads of clans, tribes, cities, and peoples. It is a fact that children in early developmental years perform and develop best when they are in a structured environment. Children need authoritative parents who stand by their word and teach them to submit to instituted authority over them.
   These skills will shape the rest of their lives. One day, your son will be employed, and he will have to follow orders from his boss. He will need to respect his boss as authority over him. Also - it promotes the character trait of humility. The bible tells us that if we will humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:7-10). Kids don't learn that from the culture. They need to learn it from their parents.

That's It! Those are the only two times I spank my children. And believe me - that's enough!!! We were in the movie theatre about a year ago and a "bad word" was said in the picture. Ethan (my oldest) repeated that word loudly and proudly, so everyone around us could hear - including the 70-80 year old woman who stared right through my bone and marrow to my very soul in utter condemnation. Did I spank Ethan then and there? Nope. He had never used or even heard that word before. So I made sure to explain to him that was not a word we used. We came up with the solution, "If you've never heard Mommy or Daddy say a word before, ask us before you use it." That seems to work pretty well. He's never used that word again - but if he does... now he knows it will constitute a spanking.

Then what about when spanking doesn't work???!!! That is a VERY relevant question. I believe authoritative spanking is an excellent way to instill respect in and foster discipline in our children's lives (Proverbs 13:24). But for some couples, spanking just doesn't seem to be working... and that is very frustrating. Let me first ask a couple of questions:

1.) Are you consistent? If you say, "Do that again and you will get a spanking," then you MUST follow through with it. If you don't you're teaching your child that you are inconsistent, and then they never know whether they can expect a spanking or not. NEVER threaten with a disciplinary action if you are not willing to follow through with it.
   Also in this category is the degree of the spanking. A quick pat on the butt one time, and a full-fledged "take-em to the room and wear-em out" at others is NOT consistency. Spankings are meant to be consistent disciplinary action. If it is deserving of a spanking, it is deserving of a spanking, there are not degrees of spanking. Let your child know that each offense is a serious one, no matter how "little."

2.) Are you angry? I make it a point NEVER to spank my children when I'm angry. After all, it's not their fault that I'm angry - it's mine. I can't control their actions, but their actions also can't control my emotions. I can choose to respond in a number of different ways - and my anger is MY problem, not theirs.
   When parents spank their children in anger (especially dads), the intensity of the spanking is usually compromised. If you need to cool down a bit, then send him to his room while you chill out.

3.) Where do you spank? Seems like a silly question - but it's a good one. We never spank in public. The goal is never to humiliate the child - only to be consistent with the disciplinary action. If the offense is done in public, we go to a bathroom.
   At home, we spank in the kids' bedroom. It provides a private atmosphere where our children are not put on public display (even amongst each other or the other parent), and where, after calming down a bit, we can talk to him briefly about the offense and reassure him of our love.

4.) Have you clearly defined offenses after which spankings will come? Aaron (our youngest) doesn't know the terminology yet, but he knows when he's done something that constitutes a spanking. I don't have to tell him. He just knows. Ethan, on the other hand... he can tell you that he will get a spanking if he is disobedient or if he is disrespectful. Clear as day to him.
   This is part of the disciplinary structure your child needs to develop emotions properly. If spankings are dependent on your mood or your physical stamina, the child will learn two things: (1) He can get away with certain things when you are acting a certain way. Later in life, this can develop into usery or manipulation. (2) Sometimes it is right to do a certain action, while at other times it is wrong. It is confusing for the child, and can seriously interrupt the process of learning moral and ethical standards.

5.) Are you being concise? We had friends at one time that had incredible difficulty with their children. They spanked, but before the spanking and after the spanking, there was a monologue on how the action was bad, who all it affected, why it should not be repeated, and how it was going to affect the child for the rest of his life. Notice the word "monologue." It's one thing to dialogue with your kids - that keeps interest and promotes meaningful understanding. It's something completely different to monologue.
   In our college education classes, the teachers and books told us that children between 2 and 8 have about a 30 second attention span. 30 SECONDS!!! If you don't change the inflection of your voice, solicit a response, or make some physical motion to keep/regain their attention, you'll lose them faster than you can sing the alphabet song.
   Be concise. Tell your child everything he needs to know in as few words as possible. It was wrong. Do it again, and there will be another spanking. I love you so much. The end.

BUT - what if I'm doing it all right, and it's still not working???!!! Stop. Try something else. But use the same principles. Be consistent, be communicative, and be concise.

I know how frustrating it is to raise a stubborn child - and my Mom tells me that I was pretty stubborn myself. Keep in mind that this child you are raising is an amazing creation of God. He or she has infinitely more going on physically/emotionally/spiritually/biochemically than you or I could even imagine. But as I'm finding out very quickly, they grow up so fast. Your child will learn more between the ages of 2 and 6 than he or she will the rest of his or her life. Capitalize on that, and instill Godly morality and biblical principles within now.

Oh yeah, and don't forget... to ENJOY him. They're so much fun. And most of the time they want nothing more than to spend a little time with you. So here's your chance. Get off the computer, and go play a silly game with him. That's what I'm about to do.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Righteous vs Rebellious (Hosea 14:9)

2010-09-24T14:31:00.001-05:00

What is the standard of truth? How do we know what is "right" and what is not "right?" Is "what is right" subjective to our circumstances? Is it subjective to our health? Is it subjective to our happiness?

For the Christian, these questions should be easily answered. The Bible is the standard of truth. What it says is true, and what it commands is good/imperative. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through human authors who have recorded His divine revelation in the books of the Bible. Its truth is truth 100% of the time; there is never a time when God's truth is not truth. And there is never a time when His commands are mere suggestions. Some of us read things like this and say, "well, it's not important to think about all of this logic stuff... we just need to live right and love God." Jesus said "if you love me, you'll obey my commands," (John 14:15).

But do we really believe that? There's a difference between intellectual ascent (knowledge/belief) and active obedience (wisdom). James 2:19 says that even the demons believe in God... Christianity is about much more than belief - it's about surrender. "Surrender what?" Keep reading.

If we believe that God's word is truth, then what do we do with it when it reveals sin in our lives? For instance... what do you do when you come across a passage like James 3:10 (the tongue)? It tells us not to let filthy talk/cussing/curses come out of our mouths. So when we read that, what do we do with it? If it's truth, then it is to be obeyed. And it is impossible to "love Jesus" and not obey His commands.

"But Tony, sometimes it's just not that easy." I know - and I agree. Many times, being obedient to God's commands is just down-right hard... but that doesn't change the imperativeness of the command, or the degree of the truth. Let's take an excerpt from Jesus' sermon on the mount into consideration. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus tells us that if we look on someone with lust in our hearts, we've already committed adultery. So how many of us, when we lust after someone (who is not our spouse) repent, confessing the sin of adultery? That's what I thought. "But Tony, you can't be serious! Really??? Adultery?!" Yep - not my words. Jesus' own words.

Here's the big one... Same passage, but now verse 32. You know the one... no divorce except in the case of sexual unfaithfulness.

side note: ---------------------------

"But Tony, do you mean to tell me that I'm supposed to stay in this relationship even if it is making me miserable?" Matthew 5:32. "But Tony, what if she's spending all of our money and sending us into bankruptcy?" Matthew 5:32. "But Tony, he keeps telling me that going to church is a waste of time, and that God doesn't really love me." Matthew 5:32.

Now let me throw in a disclaimer here... Sometimes, it is necessary to set boundaries in relationships. Henry Cloud and John Townsend co-authored an excellent book entitled Boundaries in Marriage, which I recommend to any of you who is dealing with this concurrently. I don't want to take the space to explain the concept here - if you are experiencing a great challenge in marriage, I suggest reading it. I'll let you borrow my copy if you'd like.

HOWEVER - divorce is not the answer. In fact, even in the case of sexual unfaithfulness in marriage, I don't think divorce is the best answer. God is the God of restoration, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and He CAN restore your relationship. I've seen it many times.

----------------------------------------

Back to the point - - -

Why, then, are some Christians okay with divorcing their spouse because they "just aren't happy anymore," they "feel like he doesn't care about me like he used to," or, "I just don't love him anymore?" This is where the -surrender- part comes in. "Surrender what?" you ask... Surrender your desires to His commandments.

"Why are you harping about marriage, Tony?" Because I believe that Satan is on a ravenous binge, seeking whomever he may be able to devour (1 Peter 5:8). I think he's playing on our American-culture's obsession with our own happiness, and using it to destroy family after family, and Christian influence after Christian influence. Marriage is under attack - and I don't mean just legally, or philosophically. I mean spiritually. Satan is attacking our families, and it breaks my heart to see marriages - especially Christian marriages - fall apart because of our Western-world claim to happiness above all else, even above God's truth.

I know, I know... this seems so barbarian. "Surrender my desires?" "Doesn't God WANT me to be happy?" Sure - but, as I've written in other posts - more than wanting you to be happy, He wants you to be holy. And why? Why doesn't God just want you to do your own thing and pursue your own happiness above all else? Because He knows that your happiness will result when you are pursuing His holiness.

"How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the law of the Lord! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart." - Ps. 119:1-2

God knows that true happiness doesn't come from indulging ourselves in our own desires. He knows that true happiness comes from delighting ourselves in Him. Does He want you to be happy? Oh yes... but He wants you to be REALLY happy... and He knows that can only happen when you surrender your own ways, stop explaining away His truth, and become obedient to His commands.

"For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." - Hosea 14:9.

What are you? - - - righteous, or rebellious?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Command or Proclamation? (Acts 1:8)

2010-09-14T18:38:00.001-05:00

I am easily distracted. Any member of our Sunday School class, my lovely wife, my private lesson students, and even my children can attest to this fact. Most of the time, when I'm really "on-a-roll," I don't even notice distractions... but when I do - well... let's just leave it at "I'm easily distracted."

Unlike the dogs in the funny little clip above (From Disney's movie UP!), when I'm distracted, I very often have a difficult time returning to whatever it was I was doing. In fact, if it's a significant distraction, I may even completely forget what I was saying or thinking prior to its invasion. I think a lot of us are like this. Especially men! Then after the interruption, I have to think for a minute and get back on track... I'll remember the words that were said, the conversation I was in, and then eventually (on a good day)... the whole scenario.

I imagine this to have been the case when the disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. He could have been giving them the quadratic formula, or the cure for AIDS before His miraculous departure, but I bet it would have taken them quite some time to recompose after that significant of a ~~squirrel~~ - oops, I mean... event.

Acts 1:8 is paramount to Christianity. It has so much impact, so much truth, so much vitality, that it permeates every area of the Christian faith and practice. But as Jesus finished those words, I bet the disciples were a little distracted by His next feat - ascending into the heavens on a cloud. I can imagine their jaws on the ground, and pools of saliva accumulating for a while when... all of a sudden... squirrel #2!!! Two angels speaking to them about eschatology - and at the time, who cared what they were saying?! There were TWO ANGELS IN FRONT OF THEM!!! I suppose it took a little while for the disciples to regain their composure after those two major distractions. I wonder exactly how much time lapsed between verses 11 and 12. Minutes? Hours? Days?

And then... the remembering began. "What was it we were talking about before those distractions? Something about... power, Holy Spirit, Samaria???!!! WHAT?! SAMARIA?!" Yeah - it may have taken a while for those guys to fully understand the implications of Jesus' last words to them. And I think we still don't quite "get it."

-------

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Let's divide this verse up into two sections. Firstly, "You will receive power," and secondly, "You will be my witnesses."

PART 1: You will receive power...

Most obviously, the Holy Spirit had "come upon" the disciples on the day of Pentecost, as evidenced by the sound of a violent wind, tongues of fire, and speaking of foreign languages (Acts 2:1-4). A miraculous event, indeed, and a fulfillment of Jesus' proclamation. [side note: it is extremely interesting to compare this miraculous language division gift with the miraculous language division punishment of Gen. 11 (Tower of Babylon).]

"What do you mean by 'Jesus' proclamation,' Tony?" You saw it in Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit WILL come upon you. Jesus proclaimed that. It was a statement. He also proclaimed that the disciples would receive power on this occasion. When you get a chance, cross-reference Acts 6:8, 18:19, Micah 3:8, and Romans 15:19. The gift of the Holy Spirit came with power. Now to the biblically-literate Christian, this should be no surprise. After all, it was, again, proclaimed by Jesus. You WILL receive power.

PART 2: You will be my witnesses...

This is the part we miss. Let's start by looking at the Biblical and early Church historical record of this proclamation's fulfillment. Jesus told them they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Historical Church tradition and literature reveals some missionary endeavors about the disciples after Jesus' death:

Peter - Rome.

Andrew - Russia and Greece.

James (brother of John) - Jerusalem, Judea.

John - Asia Minor.

Philip - Western Turkey.

Bartholomew - Eastern Turkey, India, Egypt, Arabia.

Thomas - Southern India.

Matthew - Ethiopia.

James (Son of Alphaeus) - Egypt.

Thaddaeus - Assyria, Persia.

Simon the Zealot - Egypt, Persia.

Matthias - Caspian Sea area.

Paul - All of Ancient Near East, and as far westward as Spain.

Other early church literature tells us that most of their contemporary nations/cultures/regions had been evangelized by the end of the third century A.D. So in history, we see the fulfillment of Jesus' proclamation that they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Most of the time we look at this verse as a command - and it should be taken as such, in a way... BUT... let's look a little deeper into the grammatical structure. Jesus proclaimed that the disciples would receive power. He also proclaimed that they would be His witnesses. Jesus wasn't asking them to do this. And He wasn't suggesting that they do it. He was proclaiming that they WOULD do it!

As sure as the power that accompanies the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

is the assurance of it’s objective… you WILL be My witnesses.

What does this mean for you? Glad you asked.

Local and global missions is a package deal with Christianity. If you are a born again believer in Christ, you WILL be His witness. It's not optional. It's not subjective. It's a done deal. What are you doing to advance the gospel message? How is Jesus being exemplified, testified, and glorified in your life?

- Oh yeah, and one more thing. I would really like for you to know that... "SQUIRREL!!!"

Hmmm... well, I forgot. :)

Grace and Peace,

Tony

"The Name"

2010-09-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

What's in a Name?...

Have you ever considered what is in a name? I know that in our western culture, we've lost some of the dynamic here, but even with that considered, names are powerful.

       Think about when you chose names for your children. There were certain names that you might have suggested, to which your spouse said something like, "Not in my lifetime," or "No way!" Why??? Because names bring memories to our minds. Memories that can be pleasant, or not-so-pleasant. When I meet a new person, I always try to remember his or her name. Sometimes it's easiest if I relate that person to someone else I know by the same name.
       For instance, I have a few friends named Brandon. When I meet a new person named Brandon, I try to make some connection between the Brandons I already know and the "new" Brandon. Something like, "Oh, he has brown hair like the other Brandons I know," or "He's about the same age as Brandon _____." HOWEVER... there are some times when I meet a new person and his name brings back some not-so-pleasant memories. You know exactly what I'm talking about... Heaven forbid you meet a man with the same name as your wife's ex-boyfriend. Haha!!! Now you see where I'm going with this.

       Whether we like it or not, even in our Western culture, names mean something. If I just say the name "Obama," I'll bet many thoughts come to your mind. Or how about "Bush," "Jackson," or "Shaq?" When we hear a name, it is representative of the whole person - culture, belief system, ethnicity, religion, personality, character, family - all of these things immediately come to mind when we hear a name we know and relate it to a person.

       The Hebrews knew very well the impact a "name" had on cognition. Every Hebrew name given (both in Old Testament days and in modern Israel) means something. And when the name is spoken, everyone who hears it (and knows the language) recognizes not only the vocal inflections and consonants/vowels involved, but what the name actually means. Vanessa and I were discussing this around the lunch table today. I know, I know... some couples talk about their children or their relationship - we talk about Hebrew names. Go figure.
       Take "Nathan," for instance. This Old Testament prophet's name means "to give." How about "Adam?" - it means "man." Here's an interesting one for you - Noah's son "Shem." His name means "name." Can you imagine? I wonder if he was picked on in school for that one.

-----------------

       There's one name, however, which has (and has had) such impact/meaning that it isn't spoken or written among it's people. It's the Hebrew name, "YHWH" (Yahweh). You probably recognize this as God's name for Himself. It was spoken by and among the Patriarchs in early Old Testament history, but over time, it became the name no one spoke or wrote. Their reasoning was faulty, but honorable, in a way; they didn't want to take the name "YHWH" in vain, so they just stopped speaking and writing it altogether.
       This word was written in the Torah, and Old Testament scrolls, but when the reader came across it, he would pronounce "Adonai" instead. It would be equivalent to us coming across "Jesus" in scripture, but saying, "The Lord," or "God," instead - every time. In addition to these oral restrictions, the Hebrews also would not (and still won't) write "YHWH" outside of scriptural texts. For instance, if they were writing a letter about YHWH to a friend, they would replace YHWH with "Jehovah," "Adonai," or some other substitute.
       In fact, this extends even into transliteration (from Hebrew to other languages). For instance, take your Bible and turn to Isaiah 1. In verse two, you'll most likely find the word "LORD." However, in the Hebrew text, this word is "YHWH" (in Hebrew, as pictured below in this blog). As far as I know, the New Living Translation is the only translation which transliterates this word into "Yahweh." (If you know of a different translation that transliterates into "Yahweh," I would really like to know. Comment on this blog and let us all know.)

       I'm in my Hebrew Language Tools class in seminary right now. I know, I know... it's just a language tools class. I DO NOT speak or read Hebrew anything close to fluently, but I am really learning a lot and enjoying the language immensely. There is something amazing about writing and pronouncing the words of scripture in the same way that Elijah, Moses, Jacob, Isaiah, and David did. I don't really know why - but it is simply captivating. Let me give you an example.

       Today, as I was learning some vocabulary words in Hebrew, I was encouraged to recognize, pronounce, and write "YHWH" (in Hebrew, as pictured above). Knowing the deep sincerity and reverence this name carries, I was moved with emotion as I pronounced it. Then, I wrote it. For the first time, I wrote God's name for Himself using the language in which He gave it. With every brush of my pen, I couldn't help but picture Moses and Hebrew scribes in 1400 or 1000 B.C. using the same exact strokes as they inked the Name that would come to be the most powerful, most feared, most respected Name there ever has been. But why? Why is this Name so revered?

-----------------

       Every time I think of God's name, Joshua 7 comes to the front of my mind. Joshua was to experience epic victories for the sake of God's kingdom. He (Joshua) had already seen God do some amazing things in his lifetime, and was now appointed to lead His armies in conquering the land they were promised. In Joshua 6, the Israelites conquer Jericho. 6:27 says that Joshua's "fame spread throughout the land." I've had the privilege of reading ancient Babylonian and Mesopotamian literature and have seen first hand where the leaders/kings of the pagan establishments in the land of Canaan and around were just scared out of their mind of Israel's armies. Yes, Joshua's fame was spreading throughout the land, but so was YHWH's.
       But in chapter 7, we read that Achan's sin caused the Israelite army to be defeated at Ai. It's really a tragic picture - YHWH's own army running like cowards as the soldiers of Ai gruesomely slaughter them. It was nothing shy of heartbreaking. But what is Joshua's cry in the wake of all this? His prayer to YHWH ends like this:

"When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will you do about Your great Name?"

- Joshua 7:9

Joshua was concerned about God's "great Name." We could sure learn some kingdom lessons from this one, no doubt. But let's focus on the Name. Remember... to the Hebrews, someone's name was a representation of everything they were. YHWH wasn't just a "label" for God. It encompassed all that He was. To Joshua, the idea of running away from Ai like antelope from a pack of lions was a slap in the face of God. And what if God didn't fix this? What if all of Israel - Joshua included - was wiped out by the men of Ai? Then what would God do about His glorious reputation? His name would be scarred for ever.

I wonder - Christian... Whose name do you bear? What does that name represent? You are a child of Yahweh - the same God Whom Joshua revered more than his own life and accomplishments - the same Name that Hebrews to this day respect so much they are afraid to even pronounce or write it. You bear His name. How are you representing Him?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Revealed

2010-08-28T13:20:00.000-05:00

It's so beautiful outside today. After the crazy thunderstorm we had a few days ago, things are finally starting to cool down a bit in Southeast Texas. That is, instead of highs in the 100's, they are now in the mid-90's. But in the mornings, between 7:00 and 10:00 or so, it is just so incredibly beautiful outside.

I am constantly amazed at God's creation. During that wicked thunderstorm that terrorized our little community Monday, Vanessa and I stepped outside and just gazed into the clouds. We watched the lights dash across the sky, listened to the sound of millions of tiny rain droplets drumming on the ground, and smelled the freshness of the air in the breeze. The colors in the sky were just phenomenal. We observed wind strong enough to bend our two-year-old trees almost 90 degrees over, but then those trees just popped right back into their places. We heard the heavens speak in rumbles and swift cracks - it was like they were just declaring the glory and authority of God Almighty. I even remember making the comment to Vanessa, "It's like we're in a movie or something." I pictured an elegantly dressed God on His podium, conducting this symphony of nature - a drizzling foundation, wind-blown arpeggiations, and climactic strikes, rolls, and flashes. It really was amazing. It gets me every time.

I bet that's what David pictured too...

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands."

(Psalm 19:1)

   It baffles me how some can take a look into nature, into creation, and NOT see the presence of an Almighty God - chalking its beauty and precision up to chance, devoid of purpose or design. It's not an angry feeling on my part, but a longing feeling. Sometimes I wonder, "Are they looking at the same sky I am? Do they see/hear/smell the same things I do?" I wish they could see what I'm seeing. I wish they could understand what I have come to understand. Nature displays the "Presence of a Hidden God."

   Right now, I'm reading Dr. Kennedy's (with Jerry Newcombe) "The Presence of a Hidden God." In Chapter One, the author tells the true story of a Christian astronomer (Athanasius Kircher) and his aitheist friend:

   Kircher constructed a working model of the Solar System in his study - it was intricately and precisely built. His atheist friend walked in and exclaimed, "WOW! That's amazing! Who made it?!" Kircher replied, "No one. It made itself." "That's absurd," the friend said. "You don't really expect me to believe that do you?"
   Kircher said, "No I don't. But what's even more absurd is that's what you believe about the real solar system which is vastly more complex than this simple little model."

   Many times we think of God as unsearchable, unknowable, or "hidden." But He has plainly revealed His eternal attributes through what He has made. Now don't get me wrong - nature is NOT God, and God is not contained within it... but He is generally knowable through what He has made. Paul wrote about this in Romans 1:19-20:

"What can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made."

The point of this blog is not to refute atheism. It's to make an appeal... When you get a free moment, step away from your computer. Walk outside. Look up in the sky and observe what God has made. Think about the power He must have to accomplish this. Then think about the creativity and beautiful imagination it took to conceive it. Look around at the trees and the grass. Close your eyes and feel the breeze. Smell the freshness of His creation. Listen to the birds and other animals singing and making their distinctive sounds. "Take it all in," as they say. Then just think - all of this - all you can see, hear, feel, and smell - declares His immense glory.

It is the presence of a revealed God. Isn't it amazing?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Cleansing

2010-08-20T12:41:00.002-05:00

   This is my dog, Boudreaux. Of course, this picture is from when he was just a pup - he's a little over a year old now. He's a good dog... I like him a lot - Vanessa isn't really an "animal lover," but she likes him too (even if she won't admit it).

   I think he's a "good dog" mostly because he doesn't use the bathroom on the floor. Nothing quite like getting your kids all potty-trained, and then taking in a dog who isn't. No, no... Boudreaux only potties outside. It's a beautiful thing, really.

   He's an inside dog, but sometimes, like when we have company, or when we're cleaning house, he stays outside. He FREAKS OUT when we vacuum. He'll go nuts barking and biting the wheels. Quite funny, actually.

   I remember not too long after we got him, we were having a tough time keeping him in the fence. He was a "digger." Most of you know what I'm talking about. One particular day, it was rainy, wet, and muddy, and you guessed it... he dug out. You can see his beautiful bright white coat in the picture. Well, when I spotted him from my truck, he was black - not brown - black. I could barely even recognize him! Funny thing (and I might lose my "man-card" here), I love to work with my hands, and I enjoy working on my truck, small engines, and stuff like that - but I can't stand dirt or anything sticky on my hands or under my fingernails. I hate it!

   So here I am, giving him a bath and I'm just disgusted. I don't like being dirty - and Boudreaux is covered in filth. As I poured the cup full of water on his back, I was overwhelmed by how dirty the water was flowing off of his underside, and into the drain in the bathtub. And you know, all the while, it's getting on my arms and under my fingernails... I wanted to throw up. But, I kept filling up the cup, pouring it over his back, and marveling at the grossly tainted water flowing off of him. Eventually, I could make out the little white dog I knew was under all that filth. And with every cup full of water, I could recognize him more and more.

   I imagine that to be a lot like when we come to God for forgiveness. I bet if He didn't know all of the hairs on our head, He probably wouldn't even be able to recognize us underneath all the filth, grime, and muck. I bet He's disgusted. But when we come back to Him in confession, He's got to clean us up.

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

   Can you imagine??? The holy God of the ages, perfect in righteousness and sanctity, getting His hands dirty washing the filth off of us? Cleansing us from all unrighteousness? Maybe even wanting to throw up in the presence of such sin and impurity? The holiness he pours over us perfectly clear in His cup, but stained with filthy unrighteousness as it runs down the drain? What a disgusting, embarrassing picture.

   Earlier in verse 7, we see that it is the blood of Jesus that "cleanses us from all sin." It's more than a water bill that God had to pay for our cleansing. It was the blood of His own Son - it was God's own blood! And yet, we rebelliously dig out, thinking there's something better on the other side of the fence, and come to find out that apart from our home in Christ, there's only danger, dirt, and discontentment.

   The beauty in this picture can only be seen in the graciousness of our loving God. He is glorious. We are filthy... that is, until His precious blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

   You know, when I first saw Boudreaux all filthy, I wanted to kill him (not literally, PETA). But then I realized how glad I was that he hadn't gotten hurt, stolen, or lost. I don't think God wants to kill us - I think He is overwhelmed with joy when we are once again safe in His arms. I think it is His pleasure to graciously "cleanse us" when we rebel against Him. What love is this. What a wonderful God we serve.

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Dressing Up

2010-08-18T19:19:00.000-05:00

   I have come to the point where I just don't like to wear ties to church. They are so INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE!!! I have a closet full of them, and don't get me wrong - I certainly will wear a tie on a special occasion or to a church where it is generally expected of me. But that doesn't mean I have to LIKE it!
   Now even though I don't like ties, I still like to "dress up." I enjoy wearing nice clothes and shoes/belts that match (thanks to my wife, because without her, I would be hopeless). I like the feel of looking excellent to meet my God in worship. I know that not everyone shares my sentiments, and I am okay with that. My choice of attire on Sunday mornings is about me - no one else. And if you are okay wearing shorts (modest ones, ladies) and a T-shirt to church, I'm good with that.
   There is also the truth that many people in church expect me, as one of their pastors, to dress the part. When they come to church, they expect me to look a certain way. And if I don't meet those expectations, something feels awkward, dysfunctional, or "off." There is nothing wrong with these expectations, and I am happy to meet them.

   In Colossians 3, Paul talks about how all believers should dress. This attire is not something you're going to put on just for Sundays or Wednesdays, and it's not something you're ever going to take off, either. In fact, Paul says that we are to put on these things "as" God's chosen ones, holy, and beloved.

Something we often miss in this passage is in Paul's addressing the audience. He calls his readers, “eklektoi tou qeou, agioi kai hgaphmenoi,” or “chosen ones of God, holy and beloved.” All three of these Greek words, "Chosen ones," "holy," and "beloved" were words that originally belonged to Israel. But when Paul transfers that terminology to the Gentile believer (Colossae had a Greek/Gentile population), he is doing something amazing... There is no longer one specific nation or group of people that God favors or blesses more than others. In fact, in verse 11, Paul explains that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, circumcision and uncircumcision for those who are in Christ. "Christ is all and is in all."

Christian, do you realize that you are God's "eklektoi?" Have you thought about the fact that you are loved of God? That He has set you apart and made you holy? When we hear the great stories of miraculous things God did for the nation of Israel, there is something childishly exciting that stirs within us. Know what?... God does the same for you. You are just as holy, just as loved, just as chosen as the nation of Israel ever was. You are chosen, holy, and beloved of God.

Paul’s use of “wj,” (translated "as") as an adverb of comparison, implies that the outward identity of the born again Christian should be fitting to the calling and election he has received. The word we translate "holy" in verse 12 is the same word we translate "saints" in 1:2. As a child of God, you are a saint. And because of that calling on your life - because of your calling in Christ Jesus - because of your redemptive status with God Almighty - you should look the part!

-------

Paul says in verses 5-9 that we should put off the clothing which is fitting for an unbeliever: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, greed, anger, wrath, malice, lying... What do you think of when you see someone wearing all that stuff? You certainly wouldn't expect that person to be a Christian.

Conversely, Paul encourages us to "put on" heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and forbearance. These articles of clothing are not only fitting for the believer, they are expected of the believer. But there is one piece of clothing that must go on top of all the rest:

"Above all, put on love, the perfect bond of unity." (Col. 3:14)

Now I've been studying this passage for about six weeks... and if I'm honest, the hardest question I had to ask myself about this text is this: "What exactly does 'love' unify?" There are many theories and interpretations out there. But after looking into most of them, I believe Paul to be writing that love, or "charity" as your translation might say (the Greek noun here is “agaph” - you might recognize it as "agape" love - it is an active, self-sacrificial love, so "charity" is also an acceptable translation) is the outer garment that holds all of these in place. It's like a belt or a girdle. It keeps everything else where it needs to be.

Cross-referencing 1 Corinthians 13:1, you'll find that all of these articles of clothing, when worn without love, are as "resounding gongs, and clanging cymbals." I imagine this kind of embarrassment to be like putting your pants on in the morning, but leaving them unbuttoned. I hate it when that happens... Paul says, "On top of all these things, make sure to put on love, which will hold them all together and keep them from shifting or falling off."

-------

Just as you expect me to look a certain way as one of your pastors, God expects you to look a certain way as one of His children. Put on the things that are exemplary of a Christian. Clothe yourself with the characteristics of a life saturated with and immersed in Christ Jesus. I don't expect you to wear a tie or a dress every Sunday morning... but I do expect you to dress up in Christ every day.

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Doers of the Word

2010-08-13T17:26:00.000-05:00

We're in the middle of our study of James in our Sunday morning young adult Bible Study class. Last week, we discussed James 1:19-25, where we are challenged to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers also. There is an interesting analogy found in verses 23-25. A man who looks in the mirror, but forgets right away what he looks like. Here's an extension of that:

This man looks into the mirror in the morning, sees that he is an 86 year old married man with wrinkles and arthritis. He then leaves the house, and hits on 20 year old super-models while attempting to ride a skateboard to and from his job as a shipyard cargo loader. At the end of the day, he wonders why his back, knees, and hips hurt so bad and why his wife of 45 years is angry at him. He looks in the mirror again before he goes to bed and it all clicks, “Oh yeah - I’m an 86 year old married man with wrinkles and arthritis.” The next day, the cycle repeats.

When we approach the Word, as Children of God, we are exposed. His glorious truth reveals the innermost wickedness of our hearts and demands confession and repentance. But those of us who choose to ignore the utterings of the indwelling Spirit of God are only fooling (deceiving, James 1:22) ourselves. When we suppress the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we are choosing to live unnaturally as God's chosen. Read Lewis Chafer's words on this from his 1922 work, Grace: The Glorious Theme:

"The carnal Christian is abnormal. His position is perfect in Christ, but in character and conduct,

he violates the most precious principles and provisions of grace," (346).

Being BORN AGAIN (John 3:3), CITIZENS OF HEAVEN (Philippians 3:20), it is only natural that our character and conduct would exemplify that of the One in whom we "abide," (John 15:1-8). Anything less is abnormal, perverted, and unusual. So where do we get off being "hearers of the Word," but not "doers?"

Earlier in Chafer's work, we find these words:

"No Christian may hope to live well-pleasing to God who does not know the facts of the revealed

will of God for his daily life... appalling ignorance exists on every hand

concerning these vital truths and distinctions in the Word of God."

I. I think the first problem is that we don't really even know what the Word of God says. We are biblically illiterate, and to tell you the truth, I think we'd like to stay that way. The more we learn from scripture, the more we, as Children of God, are obligated to conform our walks to God's desire. But again, Christian friend, we are DECEIVING ourselves! We cannot walk in God's glory or victory if we don't subject ourselves to His truth, His character, and His commandments. Once again, Chafer's words:

"The way to a victorious life is not by self-development; it is through a 'walk in the Spirit'"

II. Secondly, I believe that when we look in the mirror of God's Word, which reveals us as we truly are, we are likely to distort the image we see somewhere between our eyes and our minds. Viz., when we read something in scripture that demands a change from us in character or conduct, we are apt to excuse ourselves from it by our own reasoning. We tell ourselves things like, "Well, it wasn't really 'sin,' it was more of a fault. It's God who made me this way." Or perhaps, "I wouldn't have done that if 'X' hadn't happened, or if 'Y' person hadn't provoked me." Again, we are only DECEIVING ourselves! Read Matthew Henry's words from his commentary on James 1:19-21:

“We must therefore yield ourselves to the Word of God, with most submissive, humble, and tractable tempers; this is to receive it with meekness. Being willing to hear of our own faults, and taking it not only patiently, but thankfully - desiring also to be molded and formed by the doctrines and precepts of the gospel.”

The Word of God is a gracious gift to us. It reveals what He requires from us as His children. It gives us standards by which to live, and examples to follow. It provides counsel and truth applicable to every occasion. Why do we shun it so?! Why do we approach it with such contempt and fallible presumptions?! Can't we come to it expecting to see a clear and accurate picture of who we are?! Can't we trust the One who has revealed, written, preserved, and delivered it for us?!

We seek blessing from our God. Every Sunday, we walk into church desiring a "blessing" from God. "I'm here to be blessed!" "I want God's blessings on me and my family." Do you really? Because God has revealed to you how you may live a blessed life. James 1:25:

"The one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts - this person will be BLESSED in what he does."

Grace and Peace,

Tony