Thoughtful treatment of a rarely treated subject

While checking out the landing page at The Gospel Coalition I came upon an article who's subject line caught my eye. "End of Sexual Identity". The book being reviewed, ' The End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex Is Too Important to Define Who We Are' by Messiah professor Jenell Williams Paris suggests that within the Christian community we allow too much identity to be wrought from sexual labels. The author purports that we do this so much so that we usurp the identity which we are to find in God and diminish and marginalize the homosexual community because of it, and do the same in the opposite direction with the heterosexual label though to a lesser extent.

Over the past year and a half my wife and I have befriended a homosexual coworker of hers from her last job, and have since developed a relationship not just with him, but his boyfriend as well. In all honesty I wrestle frequently with the reality of this friendship. Is it healthy or not? How long and how many times should we witness to them before we disengage? Is that even the right way to think about it? If there's any segment of evangelism I'm unqualified for having been a vocational missionary for three years, it's to homosexuals. However, this article helped clarify some of the questions I wrestle with as far as identity is concerned.

If someone were a drug addict I wouldn't unfriend them on the evangelical facebook. Sure, they'd know I don't agree with their drug use and I'd get them help if they'd take it, but I wouldn't tell them we can't be friends anymore simply because they refuse to stop doing drugs. So far as I see it. why should it be any different for someone who struggles with homosexuality.

I'm not sure I stand with the reviewer of the book and author of the article in that using the label 'gay' is a good thing for a celibate Christian to do, but I do think on the identity discrepancy from the label homosexual gets in the way of ministering to an entire subculture of broken, lost souls who God loves.

I'll be interested to hear from the rest of you since for the most part we all come from similar cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Left...Left...Left...RIGHT!

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her by the washing of water with the Word." -Ephesians 5:26-27

Lately the Lord has been bringing Ephesians 5:25-26 to mind. I've been thinking more seriously about how to love my wife so as to pour myself out in leading her to greater holiness. In other words, I want to do more than simply make her feel loved; I want to be a crucial part in her sanctification. To be honest, I hadn't come up with any groundbreaking ideas, and I certainly have not transformed into Super Husband. Nor has this passage occupied every spare moment of my life. It's just been there, replaying in my head every few days.

Also, I've felt a burden of sharing Jesus with my brother (again) and with my dad (for the first time) when we visit them over Easter. Usually when I pray to share the gospel, I feel guilty because I'm so weak and scared about sharing in an awkward manner. Lately, I've been feeling strangely empowered by God by the simple message of the gospel and my responsibility to be an ambassador of God.

Also, my wife and I are expecting our first child at the end of August.

I now perceive all these things to be a series of left jabs. The Lord was setting me up for the right hand, and I think He just hit me with it:

"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord."

-Psalm 128:3-4

To be honest, I have a lot of fear of man issues. I'm good at blending in with people, and adapting myself to match a dynamic that I'm presented with. I'm a bit of a chameleon, but certainly not in the double life sense (I'm not doing drugs with the addicts or watching porn with the perverts). But I do seem to always try to blend in, and a big part of it is because I care too much what other people think. The Lord connected with His right hand in Psalm 128:3-4 to tell me that my wife's and kid's fruit-bearing in righteousness is related to my fear of no one else but God.

In other words, my purity is crucial to lives of my wife and kids (did I mention that He "randomly" brought to mind "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" to mind today?)

I have to cling to Him and His guidance and stand up amidst the opposition that will come as I seek to share the gospel with non-believers. I have to cling to the bible despite the ridicule that may come as my wife and I seek wisdom about how to raise this child in the Lord. The Lord is telling me to revere Him above all else; to take Him more seriously, and to confidently and consistently obey every last little thing that He instructs. I sense the Lord desiring that I spend more serious time in His word to help overcome what I perceive to be "normal."

So, why post this?

It seems to me that Psalm 128:3-4 states that a fruitful family begins with a father's reverence for God. Men, are we taking this seriously? Do we comprehend how our prayers, Bible-reading, discipleship, and obedience to the word of God is linked to fruitfulness in our families? Is our time with the Lord of the absolute utmost of importance to us, or has it all become a To-Do list? Are we doing what He commands? Is God's word transforming us internally and externally? Will we if we understand that our families depend on it?

I say these things as the man with a plank in his eye. Maybe you've got merely a speck; but don't be deceived by pride. The bottom line is that God created us, bought us at the great cost of His Son, owns us, and deserves our absolute reverence and obedience; and our wives and kids likewise need such a man if they are going to flourish.

Men, let's stop playing around. Let's spend hours in prayer. Let's spend hours in the word. Let's spend hours in worship. Let's invite our families into it. And let's revere the Lord above all things and do all that He says.

Ezra 1, Big Idea 4

4) God is not tolerant!

Cyrus was not a true believer in God. He was a mere instrument who was used for a good purpose; however, due to his unbelief, God didn’t know him (Isaiah 45:4), and therefore, though he was good, is not saved.

God does not think that if you do the best you can on whatever path you choose to take that you deserve eternal life – as if He were some kind of self-help guru trying to enrich your disobedient life. No, He is holy, and to disregard this is to spit in the face of your Creator. It is roughly equivalent to having loving parents who desire nothing but good for you, and have worked endlessly to that end, and you say to them that they are as good as dead to you. No, God does not tolerate sin. He loves diversity – people from every tongue, tribe, and nation are His children; but He upholds the truth and despises what is false.

Romans 2:5-11 puts it this way:

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

To say, “I do good, the very best I can; so I should get eternal life” is just silly. God’s response to that is no one is good (Romans 3:10-12), and the good that you think you do is equivalent to a soiled menstrual rag (Isaiah 64:6). Also, we can only be righteous if regenerated and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus. It is sobering to know that God will judge everybody’s actions, and that the standard for heaven is perfection. How assuring it is, as Christians, to know that Jesus merits our eternal destinies, and not ourselves. How assuring it is to know that when we are judged for our works, it is for reward, not destination (1 Corinthians 3:10-12). How foolish it is to assume tolerance on a God who does all things for the glory of His name when we do otherwise.

Ezra 1, Big Idea 3

3) God provides spiritual wealth for His people. The world is not enough! (1:2)

The Israelites received a bunch of gold and silver; however this was so that the temple would be a worthy location for the presence of God. It was not for them to be wealthy. Furthermore, notice how they were not delivered in order to follow their own desires. God delivered them in order to commission them to rebuild His Temple – the place where He would meet with them, and they would worship Him.

A few things should be noted.

First, we don’t have such a place in the New Covenant. There is not a single place where we must go to be in the presence of God. We are more blessed – we have Him constantly in the temples of our bodies. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 – the “you” is plural, indicating that the body of believers is the new Temple where God dwells); “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 – this one is singular). Jesus also referred to His own body as a temple in John 2:19, which makes sense, seeing as how Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4:1, 14, 18, for example)

Second, just as the temple was adorned with gold and silver, so ought our bodies to be adorned with righteousness. Paul finishes this thought in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” See also Colossians 3:9-10, 12-13: “…seeing that you put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator…. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and…forgiving each other.” We are to be adorned – not with gold and silver, but with Christ! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). How blessed we are to have the substance of the New Covenant and not that foreshadowing of the Old!

Lastly, our true spiritual richness given by God is the adornment of the new man that God so desires to give us. Ephesians 3:16-17 says, “According to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Notice that this is not so that we can be made much of, but that we can see the glory of God and honor Him: “But God, being rich in mercy…made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4, 5, 6-7). Just as the Old Temple is for worship, so the New Temple of our bodies is meant for worship. God seeks to glorify Himself in us (Ephesians 1:6).

Ezra 1, Big Idea 2

2) God works effectually in believers and non-believers for His glory (1:1, 5; Isaiah 45:1)

Notice how the events of rebuilding the Temple begin: “God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus…. Everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord…” (Ezra 1:1, 5). This was not man’s idea, nor was it presented to men for agreement. God wanted this done to fulfill His own Word, so He spoke and it came to pass. God’s present reign over the universe continues just as it began: He speaks, and it is.

Notice He does not just use the men of His household. God may use non-believers to accomplish His purposes. Here Cyrus, an unbeliever, sets into action what God’s eternal decrees.

It seems as if Cyrus may be a believer, for he even gives the God of heaven the credit for allowing him to conquer so much (Ezra 1:2-4). However, this guy is very manipulative or very misinformed. He actually did a very similar thing to the Babylonians and their false chief god about a year before this. The Cyrus Cylinder recounts the time Cyrus took over the Babylonians, and describes how he restored the city and, unlike their former King, he respected their false god Marduk. Yes, he is very tolerant; but that only means he either deceives all people with false conviction (manipulation) or he truly thinks that many gods exist (misinformed). Either way, Cyrus doesn’t truly believe in the one true God of heaven (notice Cyrus says in verse 3, “may his God be with him,” and in verse 5, “He is the God who is in Jerusalem.”). Rather, he is manipulative (trying to please people) or polytheistic (believing that different gods reign in different areas/peoples). Cyrus tried to please them all, and in the end, God concludes, “I name you, though you do not know me” (Isaiah 45:4).

In the end, God uses whoever He wants to accomplish His purposes (even vile sinners like His grace-received children), and He gets all the glory.

Ezra 1

Hi everyone,

When I'm really studying a book of the Bible, I try to write out some thoughts, applications, comments, etc. I've actually only completed this process for Ezra, and am closing in on completing my study of Nehemiah in this manner. Since a lot of the content of those two books deal with church planting, I thought I'd try to share some of my thoughts on here. Basically, I just plan to post my way through Ezra and Nehemiah from time to time. Sometimes I'll post everything, sometimes only a bit. Here is some stuff from Ezra 1:

Background on Cyrus

Cyrus, King of Persia, was a very good guy. According to his Wikipedia, Cyrus was a master leader and administrator. He set up a phenomenal government. He set up governors called satraps to help rule his people. Cyrus’s motto was “Diversity in counsel, unity in command” – meaning this guy sought guidance so that all might be united in his decrees. He’d win in a landslide if he ran for office in the US.

Cyrus was a lover of diversity. He proclaimed a freedom of religion. He helped the Jews rebuild their temple as well as reestablishing many cult sanctuaries. He helped the homeless and freed slaves as a leader in human rights. This guy was generous and turned conquered victims into loyal supporters. Cyrus was even pleasing to the Babylonian chief god Marduk (the chief god of the people he conquered!). Cyrus’s legacy is that he replaced his contemporary cruel cultures with a “humanitarian” love for people. One of the artifacts from his conquests, the Cyrus Cylinder, proclaims how much he respected all peoples and their gods.

The Bible is clear on Cyrus’s purpose in Isaiah 47:28 – 45:4; 45:13: Cyrus is God’s instrument to glorify God’s name – even though “[Cyrus does] not know [God]” (Isaiah 45:4).

Big Idea 1) God’s word is true (1:1)

Notice how God’s purpose in raising up Cyrus was that His word would be true. He gave Jeremiah His very word to preach to the people in regards to their enslavement to Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11) and His subsequent restoration of His people (Jeremiah 29:11). The repentant nature of His people is not given for His reason of acting, for God need not have man’s approval or agreement to do anything. Rather, God said it, and so He will do it. It is true what He said through Isaiah: “I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it” (46:11).

This is why there is no need to question anything in the Bible. We may be amazed, or shocked, or dumbfounded, or unsure; but we ought not to disbelieve. To disbelieve the Word is to “make Him a liar” (1 John 1:10), for we are saying to God that what He has said is wrong. To think that a finite creature can say to the infinite Creator, “You are wrong!” is absurd. If ever tempted to disbelieve what the Father has said, we should humble our finite selves in presence of the Eternal God and ask for wisdom or repent of disbelief.

Under the Law

I just read this in John Stott's The Cross of Christ. It is a succinct and clear explanations of what it means that we are no longer under the Law if we are in Christ:

"First, through Christ we are no longer under the tyranny of the law. It comes to many people as a surprise that the law, God's good gift to his people, in itself 'holy, righteous and good,' could ever have become a tyrant that enslaves us. But that is exactly Paul's teaching. 'Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.' The reason is that the law condemns our disobedience and so brings us under its 'curse' or judgment. But Christ redeemed us from the law's curse by becoming a curse for us. It is in this sense that 'Christ is the end of the law' and we are no longer 'under' it. It emphatically does not mean that there are now no moral absolutes except love, as the advocates of 'the new morality' taught in the 1960's, or that we now have no obligation to obey God's law, as other antinomians teach. No, since the tyranny of the law is its curse, it is from this that we are liberated by Christ, so that we are not 'under' it any more. The law no longer enslaves us by its condemnation.... The first four verses of Romans 8 bring these strands together. They say that for those who are in Christ there is 'no condemnation' (Rom. 8:1), for God has already condemned our sins in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:3), and he did it in order that 'the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us' (Rom. 8:4). So the same cross of Christ, which frees us from the law's condemnation, commits us to the law's obedience."

The Meaning of Jesus' Temptation

This morning I read in Luke 4 about the temptation of Jesus. A few things stuck out to me that I thought I'd pass along:

1. Jesus is very clearly being portrayed as the 'New Israel'. Israel was tempted in the wilderness by the Evil One and failed miserably because of their fallen, human nature (Exodus 34, Deut. 9). Jesus is the New and Greater Israel.
2. All of the temptations that come at Jesus are in some way tied to his identity. The first temptation begins with the phrase, "If you are the Son of God..." Satan is tempting Jesus to miraculously satisfy his hunger because he has the right to as the Son of God, instead of living on every word of God. The second temptation is for Jesus to take his proper inheritance, the nations, now, before he goes to the cross. The final temptation strikes at Jesus' identity as the Son of God by tempting him to put God to the test.
3. All of our temptations are analogous to Christ's temptations. They in one way or another question our identity and tempt us to disobey the first command: Have no other gods but God.
4. Our hope for fighting temptation is the same as Jesus'. We must set our minds and hearts upon the truth of who we are according to the Bible. For example: when I am tempted to be anxious, my hope is setting my heart upon the fact that my Savior is risen and that he promises that he will keep me in his love forever.

Church Planter's Wives

I hope you don't mind me jumping in in an attempt to sort through some thoughts. I have been on a spiritual retreat of sorts, while Matt is out of town. This time has been hugely beneficial and rejuvenating. Interestingly enough, I found myself reading blogs by church planter's wives. I really tried to sort through and only read/watch things that would be beneficial. Meaning, I watched topics such as: Dealing with Criticism in Leadership, Expectations/Being Yourself in Leadership, Finding Community in Leadership, and Encouragement for Pastor's Wives. These topics are truly so very important and I know that I am completely inexperienced and naive when it comes to these topics. However, I left my time of learning with a feeling of confusion. I am not sure where I stand--not on these topics or issues...but regarding the general culture of church planter's/pastor's wives. Well, wait, I know where I stand on Christian culture in general.... But, now I'll be honest, it seemed to me like a whole lot of old stuff repackaged. You know? Ok, something concrete. I admit/confess, that I dread the idea of becoming a frumpy old pastor's wife--piano playing, doiley wearing, -mousey person. I don't think that that will ever happen, but I almost feel I have something to prove against it! I really want to be "cool" and "hip." Not that I am even close to either of those things, or that I really even think about it that much, but when I think of being a church planter's wife, I know that I must do something so as not to be that mousey pastor's wife that we often despise! Which brings me back. All of these women are not only beautiful, trim, and stylish...but they are cool! They have the coolest clothes, technology, graphics and their husbands always have the hippest haircuts! (I am even thinking of trying to convince Matt to try a cool haircut!) Gosh, there is so nothing wrong with being cool. I just feel a little funny. I guess these blogs hit close to home on one level, because I can easily see myself becoming just like one of these women. But, there is another part of me that knows that I am different. My goals aren't quite the same as some of these truly Godly women. I'm not sure what about me feels different, but I know there is something. This is strange and exciting at the same time. On one hand, I think of all the possibilities that perhaps someone different could bring to the role of a church planter's wife. On the other hand, though, I bet all these women think that they are different and unique and are bringing fresh new perspectives to their roles as church planter's wives. Honestly, they probably are in some ways...(bearing in mind that there is nothing new under the sun). I want to give them credit where credit is due. I know that God must be working through them and changing lives and bringing people to know and love Him.

I guess that is my peeve. Sometimes I wonder if church planter's wives typically get many evangelistic opportunities outside of their families/kids. I know for me, evangelism opportunities are a must. Unless God has me cooped up as some church administrator or something, I think, maybe, that God is leading me to be in the secular world. But, how do you maintain that as a pastor's wife? I think one of my main idea's has been through work/further education outside of the church. But, how do you balance life with church planting...and then maybe kids? Is it crazy that I think that God might open a door for me to achieve all of these things? I certainly don't see how it can work out from a practical human perspective.

Overall, though, I have been nothing but pumped about the church plant. I realize that God very distinctly put Matt and I in the role of church planters for specific reasons and I am PUMPED! I feel more confident than ever before that this is the path that God has for us. I have grown so much since we've been here in State College! It seems that Church Planting is a part of what's going to keep me on a trajectory of growth for many years to come.

Sorry, I know mostly guys read this blog and this is highly introspective. Really, you don't have to read my rant. I just needed to get these things out. :-)

A Man Crisis

Here is a powerful clip by Darren Patrick on the necessity for men in general, and pastors in particular, to lead their churches.

Reflections on John 16

I wonder how many of us really believe Jesus statement: “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you?” Do we really believe that the Spirit so empowers and directs us that we are personally better off, as were the disciples, with the Spirit being poured out rather than Jesus being personally present? Do we realize that the Spirit has regenerated us and circumcised our hearts in such a way that we will not fall away? Do we really believe that we can walk in the fullness of the Spirit and be empowered to live in progressive victory over sin? Do we really believe that the Spirit will personally convicts us of sin and glorifies Christ by making the gospel sweeter and sweeter to us? Do we really believe in the magnificence of the Spirit’s objective leading through scripture and His subjective leading in our hearts? Do we really believe that the Spirit gives us supernatural gifts to serve the body? I think very few of us, writer included, really experience the ministry of the Spirit in our lives and, therefore, we find Jesus’ statement utterly unbelievable. Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit in power upon me and upon the Church. I pray that I would know the fullness of intimacy, conviction and power that you give through the Spirit. Help me to walk in all that you intend for me.

I also wonder if we really believe Jesus when he says: “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you...ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full?” Do we really pray as though this is true? Do our prayer lives display that this has resonated in our hearts? Do we really believe that prayer is a means to a greater end and that greater end is joy? Do we really believe we are loved by the Father?

Jesus clearly sees the persecution coming for us. We, however, are not like those who have no hope. He has overcome the world. He has poured out the Spirit. The Father hears us because we come in his name. Take heart, be joyous, persevere.

Sexual Sin

Hello all,

I'm helping a Christian friend with his addiction to porn. He's convinced that it is wrong and sincerely grieves his sin. He approached me for accountability, but every time I ask about it there is no good news on that front. What advice can you guys give me to help encourage him and spur him on to good works? Anything will help: discipline recommendations, theological foundations, anything. What works for you? What works for others? Have you encountered a situation where a fellow believer cannot seem to overcome sin? If so, what did you do? This also happened to another friend in college - addiction to porn and no victory over it. Since this is a huge issue for boys and men, so I would like to hear some good counseling strategies. I'll respond soon with some things I've said to him once I get some feedback. Thanks!

Wise Words from Billy Graham

Here are some wise words from Billy Graham about effective pastoral ministry. I intend to heed his advice.

Reflections from Iowa

The Iowa Evangelistic Biking Trip was one of the most physically grueling and spiritually beneficial experiences of my life. I loved almost every minute of it! Upon reflection, there are several important lessons I learned over the course of a week that saw us bike nearly 500 miles and converse with dozens of people who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of my reflections have to do with evangelism in particular, while others are spiritual and life lessons that the Lord opened my eyes to along the way.

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned while pounding the Iowa pavement into submission is that I am incredibly small. It’s true, I am not even five and a half feet tall, but that is not what I mean. Each morning of the trip my sweet wife and I would wake between 5:15 and 5:30. We would pack our camping gear into the van as the sun was breaking through the horizon and the grass was still soaked with dew. As we climbed on to our bikes, again and again, all awareness of time seemed to be removed from my mind. The morning part of the rides were crowded. I felt like I was in the middle of a school of fish swimming up stream. We simply peddled along, quickly riding out of town and into the endless Iowa corn fields. It seemed like just a blink of an eye and the first ten miles were already done, my mind had been lost gazing at the fields and weaving in and out of the massive crowds. There is nothing quite like the combination of a large crowd and the vastness of creation to make you feel small and insignificant. I often live under the illusion that I am extremely important and indispensable. Certainly, all human beings are valuable. We are created in the image of God and those who have been redeemed through faith in Christ are children of the Father. We are valuable indeed. However, we are at the same time so small and insignificant. Where were we when God laid the foundations of the universe and the plains of Iowa? History is like a movie and I am not the main character. I am but an insignificant extra in the story of our great God. Riding through Iowa reminded me of his grandeur and sovereignty and it reminded me how foolish I am to worry and be anxious. God is big, I am small and my future hope is certain in Christ. Iowa taught me the joy of being tiny.

Another lesson the Lord taught me in Iowa is the incredible importance of kindness. I went to Iowa to talk to people about Jesus. I make no apology for that. The 500 miles was just a leg-thrashing detail. As I sought to engage folks in conversation and talk to them about the love that God extends to us in Christ I was reminded how important it is to simply be kind to people. Most of us are too busy or to proud to be very nice. We have way too much to do to bother with kindness. It was incredible to see how open people are to hearing about Christ once they are shown basic kindness. The people on my team were genuinely interested in each and every person with whom they spoke. This sort of simple kindness opened countless doors for the gospel to be explained, especially on the day that we rode sixty-five miles in a torrential down pour. Most of us were tempted to be pretty crabby that day.

I learned another important lesson while trying to ride 88 miles on a day that had a heat index of 105 degrees. Actually, I learned two lessons that day. The first is that water is a miracle. The second is how encouraging it can be to other Christians to see someone sharing their faith. On this particularly horrendous day I was riding along talking to anyone I could and happened upon two sisters. They were both Christians and desperately wanted to see their third sister come to know Christ. They, however, felt inadequate to share Christ with their sister because she is a successful doctor and they are so imperfect. I explained to them that it is more often the way we handle difficulties, not great victories, that speak volumes about our God and our faith. The rest of the conversation is a little bit of a blur because I was focused on simply staying conscious, but apparently what I said and the fact that I was out sharing my faith was a great encouragement to these two women. Iowa taught me that boldness is encouraging and contagious.

The final lesson I learned in Iowa is that Iowa is not flat. It just isn’t, I don’t care what you say. It may feel flat in a car, but when you are in the saddle of a bicycle four to seven hours a day for seven days straight it might as well be the Rockies. Now please excuse me, I have some icing to do.

Asleep in Gethsemane

I was reading through Matthew as part of the ESV Study Bible reading plan when I came across the familiar Gethsemane part in Matthew 26. Jesus brings Peter, James, and John with Him and asks them to keep watch with Him. He goes and prays and comes back to find them asleep. He then makes the following statement,

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Sure enough, they slept again. The results? Our Savior, strengthened by the Father, endures the cross. The chief disciples, weakened by the flesh, abandon and renounce their Lord.

This struck me as it never has previously. In reflecting on the above verse, I've found that I really long to glorify God in what I do, but I often seem to come up short or do not glorify Him as I think I ought to. My spirit is so utterly willing to do so, but my flesh is utterly weak. My discipline is weak. My flesh battles to lead me to laziness and self-regard. How desperately I must be on the lookout for these temptations...and how desperately I must pray! I must abide in the Lord through prayer to bear the fruit of my God-glorifying desires.

I share this with you guys as many will be taking part in planting a church in Philly. Though our desire to do much God-glorifying good in loving and serving Jesus and Philadelphians through biblical depth and outreach, our flesh is so terribly weak. We must throw ourselves before the throne of God in fervent and abundant prayer if we want to bear fruit. Having a willing spirit is not enough; we must depend on God in prayer, just as the God-Man did on the eve of His cross.

Please friends, do not be like me in neglecting prayer for so long! Please do not believe in God's sovereignty to the detriment of communing with our Lord in prayer! Thanks be to God: my heart finally believes what my mind always knew - the value of prayer.

Thoughts on the Wedding at Canaan

John chapter two marks the beginning of the Lord Jesus’ ministry of work, word, and signs. D.A. Carson sees the early ministry of our Lord spanning from 2:1 through the end of chapter four. 2:1 also marks the first of several somewhat successive events where John displays how the Lord fulfills and surpasses Judaism. Chapter two is also part of the ‘sign chapters’ in John in which Jesus’ glory is displayed through his works. John’s purpose here fits his overall purpose of evangelizing Jews and Proselytes.

The first event that John appropriates to display Jesus’ superiority over OC Judaism is the wedding at Canaan where Jesus performed his first public ministry. This is a bit of a mysterious scene. Jesus, his mother and some of his disciples are taking part in a several day wedding celebration. The groom was financially responsible for the wedding and he is in the grave danger of running out of provision and shaming himself and his family. Jesus’ mother tries to step in, perhaps she was coordinating the celebration for the family. She tries to enlist Jesus to fix the situation. As a, likely, now single woman she has gotten used to relying on her oldest son. I suspect that even at this point she has some idea that he is a powerful man of God, perhaps a prophet. Jesus, however, protests the enlistment. His time or hour has not come. In John’s gospel this phrase is almost always a reference to the Jesus’ passion. The Lord knew that his exaltation would only come through suffering and was careful to protect himself from too much public or political notoriety (See Mark’s gospel).

Though Jesus at first protests, his mother prevails over him. He turns the ceremonial washing water into wine, the best wine. Though wine in that day was not as strong as it is today, it certainly contained alcohol, probably slightly less than the modern beer, this passage alone should silence those Christians who prohibit alcohol consumption outright.

The result of the Lord’s sign was that his glory was displayed before all, but only those who had eyes to see believed.

A complete understanding of this passage is predicated upon recognizing the OT background. The water was used for ceremonial washing, but Jesus does away with this water and turns it into wine, which John will later use a symbol of the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. Below the surface of events the Lord Jesus is pointing toward the cross where he will die as a ransom for sin and inaugurate a New Covenant where ceremonial washing is no longer necessary because we can be cleansed by the Savior. Who else is worthy of worship than this one who is greater than Abraham and Moses? Who else is worthy of the devotion of our lives than this one whose exaltation came through suffering on our behalf?

Dwell 2008 Conference

Gents,

Here is a link to a blog post from the resurgence blog. It's all of audio/video from the conference held by Acts29 at the Redeemer Church planting Center in NYC.

I've not yet partaken of any of this content as of yet, but I'm guessing that it would be well worth our time as we pursue planting a church in Manayunk late next year.

Feed back would be great!

The Generosity Matrix

Matt and I have been discussing Ministries of Mercy by Keller, and I've just been full of guilt for not giving nor doing enough to help the needy. This is not to be the motivation for giving, nor is it what Keller is promoting. We ought to be generous givers motivated by the gospel of Jesus.


...But what does that mean?


Here is a blog post about generous, uncompulsory giving. Justin Taylor summarizes another's post, and though it is quite long, I recommend reading the original post. I think JD Greear does such a good job of taking much of what the Bible has to say about money and possessions and balancing them so that we can be generous but not guilt-driven. This has been a burden for me lately, and I'm excited to discuss this with my wife!

Incredibly encouraged

I just wanted to share with you some things a general superintendent from the Church of the Nazarene shared with us today in church.

He was talking about his visits to foreign countries. He was speaking of outbreaks of faith in Ethiopia, and how he had feuding tribes hearing him preach under the same roof with great rejoicing in the Lord. He spoke about how people were rising to leadership quickly and how everyone there was memorizing the whole bible since few are literate. He spoke about God's movement in Bangledesh, where about 20 or so years ago there were 10 Nazarene churches and about 400 Nazarene believers, and now there are over 1000 Nazarene churches and 65,000 members, along with 900 non-officially organized bodies with a preacher and common meeting time each week. He spoke about how Cuba's 2nd in command, the lady under Raul Castro (though I cannot find out who she is), asked a Nazarene leader to send more Nazarenes to Cuba because they were making Cuba a better place, though she didn't understand how they did it. He also spoke about 100,000 missionaries from an unnamed, non-Christian country rising up to head through many countries, preaching the gospel, to eventually arrive at and preach in Jerusalem.

It was incredible to hear how God is working in other places around the world. He then posed the question, "Why is it happening there and not here?" The jist of his answer was, I think, was at least part of the correct answer: we live too safely here in America.

This fired me up to continue working towards planting a church in Philly. I've lived too safe in the Lord, and I'm looking forward to serving the Lord there and ministering to the community. And I know that if anything is going to happen, it's not going to be because of me, but because Jesus changes hearts. I pray that we would effectively lift up the name of Jesus.

A Helpful Answer to a Very Tricky Question

With typical clarity and grace John Piper answers the question: "Why is homosexuality wrong?" The answer is not perfect or exhaustive, but extraordinarily helpful as a place to start.