Praying for Obama
Madelyn Payne Dunham, Barack Obama’s grandmother, died today, she was was 86 and had been battling cancer. She died peacefully in her sleep.
The prayers of our family are with Mr. Obama and his family.
Psalm 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Jesus Can't Kick a Field Goal
Brian Cuban has good article on a very touchy subject. Church leaders, like me, are concerned about the growing anti-Christian bias in American culture. The ‘Establishment Clause’ has strong legal standing but my concern is that the media, schools, courts, etc. have moved far beyond the intent of the Constitution.
The Founders clearly did not want a State Church or State Religion. The ‘Wall of Separation’ was intended to keep the government out of the church’s business. Given the recent, sweeping accomodations we are making for Muslims, I have the sense that we are straining at gnats while swallowing flies elephants.
Brian’s legal analysis should be helpful to everyone.
Anyone who has seen the movie Hoosiers will remember this scene where the coach of the small town and over-matched Hickory Huskers watches while his team is lead in prayer by the team chaplain right before they slew the big city Indiana-South Bend high school team dramatizing what in real life has gone done as one of the biggest upsets in high school athletic history. Even in deep in the heart of ultra-religious Baptist country Coach Norman Dale must have known what was coming down the road by not joining in on pre-game prayer.
East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden must not have seen Hoosiers. The coach has asked the court to review a ruling from the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in April in which an appeals panel reversed a 2006 ruling that permitted Borden to silently bow his head and “take a knee” with players as the team prayed. The judges said the school board’s policy barring school staff from joining in student-led prayer was constitutional. Coach Borden later quit the team rather than be prohibited from participating in team prayers. Classic Establishment Clause separation of church and state issue. Should the Supreme Court take a new look at this issue? Can the coach add his prayers to the mix for Jesus to help kick the game winning field goal? If you look at previous Supreme Court decisions, it appears that Jesus will shank this one “wide right” when the Supreme Court rules.
Can Jesus Kick A Field Goal?
Cry Out To Jesus
Whatever your concern, burden, hurt, obstacle, weight – Cry Out To Jesus
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqhEWpGVJSs
New ESV Study Bible
Many in the Christian community have been eagerly awaiting the new ESV Study Bible. Demand has already been a bit overwhelming for Crossway. Pre-publication demand exceeded 100,000 copies. This is a true study Bible combining dozens, even hundreds, of resource materials for in-depth examination of the Word of God. Personally, I have enjoyed the ESV translation immensly. My friend David Porter had a review up on his website within 24 hours of receiving his copy.
Look what I just received yesterday! I just received my first copy of the new English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible! I was so excited to receive it, the first thought that came to my mind was to photograph it for my blog. For this first post, on the new ESV Study Bible, I thought I would share with you my first impressions. 1.) Wow! This is a huge text! According to my blue Chinese desk ruler, this text, lying on its back, it is 2 1/8 inches deep! That depth competes with the copy of Dr. Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" that also sits on my desk. 2.) 2,750+ pages! 3.) Another reason for my enthusiasm, is affinity. Dr. Wayne Grudem was the General Editor of this project. Wayne is also my Sunday School teacher. There are two other contributors, to this project, that I know from my home church: Dr.(s) Paul Wegner & John DelHousaye. Further still, there are many contributers who are my mentors from afar. Examples include, J.I. Packer, Vern Poythress, Darrell Bock, John Piper, and quite a few more. Additionally, there are many scholars, from all over the world, who I look forward to getting to know. With the Internet, it is incredibly easy to plug right into their minds! 4.) Content! Of course, first and foremost, this is God's sacred text. But as you all know, this text can be difficult to understand. With this study Bible you literally have scores of the world's most brilliant minds, holding your hand all along the way. I noticed also, that this study Bible also touches on some of our culture's most difficult challenges such as abortion, world religions and cults, foundational doctrines, and much, much more. 5.) On-line ESV Study Bible website. I haven't perused this additional value as of yet, but I did get, with my new Bible, a secret password that unlocks features that evidently allow me to personalize the site. For example, evidently I will be able to keep notes, on the web, of my studies. My mind reels with the possibilities of such an on-line resource and the possible community that could be formed around the study of God's word.
Whatever your translation preference, the ESV Study Bible will be a worthy addition as you grow in your understanding of God's Word.
The Language Of Prayer
My friend David has been writing some wonderful stuff lately. He may be a Boomer in the Pew, but he captures a deep truth about the helplessness of prayer.
Many recognize that there are times of great stress and strain when speech fails us as we seek God’s counsel. Our vocabulary is impotent to frame the words to express our love, faith, doubts, pain, and joy.
In like manner, when the sky is blue and the clouds are wispy white, one does not barge into the presence of the Eternal King. Appearing before the throne of Grace is a privilege purchased by the shed blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. It should leave you speechless on occasions.
There are times when words completely fail me in my attempts to communicate with my heavenly Father.
These may be times of great affection and praise, as God’s Holy Spirit stirs within me, or times where I am feeling completely lost, and long for my Father’s loving presence.
When these deep feelings arise, God instructs us to allow the Holy Spirit to speak on our behalf.
Romans 8:26, “…but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.“
Thanks David. This post refreshes my spirit.
A Boomer in the Pew: Prayer and Praise to My Sovereign King.
McCain Talks About Personal Faith
I have read several stories over the years about John McCain’s Christian faith. He is of a generation of men that were taught to let their actions do the talking. I am pleased he is beginning to verbalize his faith in Jesus Christ and how that faith helped him as a POW.
John McCain has finally begun to talk his walk with Jesus. Until recently, the details about the Republican presidential nominee’s Christian convictions were missing in action. Starting this summer, McCain and some of his closest Vietnam War-era buddies began pulling back the narrative curtain.
These war stories reveal McCain’s stoic, generically Christian spirituality and his honor-driven self-discipline. During his five-plus years as a prisoner in Hanoi, McCain had many defining religious moments.
Talking the Walk | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.
Theological Studies For Pastors And Others
Between Two Worlds has a great post on how pastors can keep current with theological study. After almost 30 years as a pastor, I can attest to the difficulty with moving forward in this area. Staying up with current works on culture and biblical study is challenging. Finding time for personal reflecction is hard when you have read the passage many times before. The press of daily duties always looms large.
1. Build it into the things you’re already doing. (QT, sermon prep, discipling, etc.)
2. Stop wasting so much time on the internet. (pick just 2 or 3 blogs to read, and look at them once a week; stop wasting time updating your Facebook, Linkedin, and MySpcae pages, etc.)
3. Always have a book nearby. (capture the spare moments)
4. Build time for reading and reflection into your schedule. (you’ll be amazed how much time is freed up if you do #2! But beware, a pastor’s schedule abhors a vacuum, so if you don’t block out the time, something else will fill it in.)
5. Have a plan. (if you aim at nothing you’re sure to hit it.)
6. Read primary sources, not commentary. (you don’t have time to waste on the commentators. Read the Bible and the people who have written important theology. You can do it. You don’t need a PhD to read Luther, Calvin, Augustine, Edwards, Grudem, Frame, etc)
7. Don’t do it alone. (cultivate a theological conversation among your leaders. They will correct your idiosyncrasies and keep you accountable. It will also create a culture of theological seriousness in your church, which will benefit everyone.)
8. Let the Scriptures, not our culture, set the agenda. (Trying to keep up with our culture’s agenda is a chasing after the wind. On the other hand, if the Scriptures set the agenda, you’ll be ready for anything the cultures blows at you.)
9. Church History and Historical Theology are the pastors Cliff Notes to theology. (Other people, smarter than me, have already faced the stuff I face and have figured a lot of things out. I can stand on their shoulders and look like a genius! The cultural package may have changed, but there’s nothing new under the sun.)
Between Two Worlds: How Busy Pastors Can Work Theological Development into Their Schedules.
Peace in the Meltdown
My friend David has a wonderful post this morning. He points out the fundamental need to trust Christ during the storms of life. It is significant to me that for many, the primary storm they recognize is financial.
“The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” c 1633, by Rembrandt van Rijn.
Mark 4:35-41: “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Therein lies the question for us to ponder: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
I awoke this morning at 4:00. I have to be honest with you, I am wondering where the bottom of this financial mess is. Certainly no one saw this storm coming. I knew a storm was coming, but not this storm.
It seems to me that this is the perfect picture and verse for us to consider at these times.
Turn your eyes to Jesus, the one true rock … and read David’s blog.
A Boomer in the Pew: Falling Stock Markets, $700 Billion Bailouts, and Jesus Christ.
Fireproof – the Movie
I always like to comment on things happening in American culture and evaluate them from a Christian worldview. While politics has dominated my recent posts, I am not in any danger of becoming a ‘political’ blog. Fireproof was released in theaters recently and is a movie you will want to see. It deals with the type of marital conflicts that I have talked with couples about for years; stress, conflict, values, intimacy, work, etc. Joyfully, it diverges from the typical film describing a marriage with problems and shows how one couple overcomes their difficulties by applying Christian values.
Focus on the Family said:
As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb’s father challenges his son to make a 40-day commitment called, "The Love Dare." Caleb becomes frustrated throughout the process and finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?" When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to God. He then faces his toughest job ever: rescuing his wife’s heart.
MovieMinistry.com also had a great review
Firefighter Caleb Holt is willing to sacrifice his life to save strangers from death in burning buildings, but his reluctance to sacrifice anything at all for his wife, Catherine, is tearing their marriage apart. As Caleb struggles with his anger and his addiction to pornography, Catherine is drawn to the romantic advances of a colleague at work. Neither of them seem very interested in saving their marriage, until Caleb’s father steps in and challenges his son to take The Love Dare: forty days of exercises in unconditional love that may or may not change Catherine’s decision to file for divorce, but will certainly change Caleb forever. Fireproof is from the studio that made Facing the Giants.
The NY Times says, It’s a Healthy Marriage of Faith and Filmmaking
An almost all-volunteer cast and crew, including a star who was an ’80s teen heartthrob, and a plot about a firefighter who saves his marriage by turning to God — it hardly sounds like a recipe for box office success, let alone a best-selling book. But that’s what the film “Fireproof” has spawned. The movie features Kirk Cameron, an alumnus of the television show “Growing Pains,” as the firefighter, and it cost just $500,000 to produce. Yet it opened two weekends ago with $6.5 million in ticket sales, good for No. 4 at the box office, just a few spots behind the No. 1 big-budget action thriller "Eagle Eye" and five spots ahead of Spike Lee’s World War II epic, “Miracle at St. Anna.” This past weekend “Fireproof” made $4.1 million more and so far has about $12.5 million total, according to estimates by Media by Numbers, a box office tracking company.
Enjoy the trailer:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5lSu6GkC2k
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