Nepali Tea and the Story Beyond

Making, smelling, and drinking this tea brings back a flood of memories for me as I think back to a trip to Nepal in 2008 to visit a close friend and brother in Christ, Shashi Bhandari.  Shashi is an indigenous missionary to his home country and founder of the Barnabas Mission of Nepal.  He and his staff work full time ministering in the villages of the 13th poorest country in the world.  Their focus is on health and sanitation education and spreading the gospel of Christ to the "untouchable" cast.  I recently received a care package from my friend, which included two bags of black tea.  Among the few words in English, the package reads "export quality."

Traveling the broken roads and walking the steep (leech infested) trails of the rural mountain and lowland villages of Nepal, I was far from the comforts of life and familiarity back in the USA.  It was as though I had stepped into another world.  Although I had previously visited the slums in Mexico and thought that experience would help prepare me for the sites and experiences which awaited on the far side of the world.  Each new day began with a stark contrast of realities and a strong cup of black Nepali tea steeped in buffalo milk over open flame on a stove made of clay.  Most of the time, the tea was served without any spice - only a few spoons of raw sugar and a piece of flat bread, called roti. 

I saw leprosy for the first time on the city streets of Nepal.  I saw the body of a young woman floating lifelessly down the flooded Rapti river after a mudslide destroyed a village during the night.  I witnessed political confusion as the passing of a monarchy made way for the hammer and sickle of a Moaist regime.  I saw a bus burned in an act of vigilante justice in the middle of a street because the driver accidentally struck a pedestrian.  I saw people worshipping idols in the very literal sense, even performing ritualistic worship of a car.  Orphaned cows roamed the streets like pigeons in search of an easy meal and monkey's crossed the street as we passed through the Nepali jungle preserve.  The electricity was touch and go most of the time and the bathrooms...well, let's just say they did have one in some of the villages.  Running water was not common.

But I took note of the amazing riches in beauty found in the wild and majestic landscape of Nepal.  The Himalaya's were so tall and grand they hardly seemed real.  The faces of the many precious children, many of whom were neglected, touched me.  They called me "uncle" and stared through the windows to look at this strange barefoot American.  I have never been greeted with such honor and hospitality in all of my life.  It humbled me to tears.  I witnessed the paradox of extreme poverty and contentment walking hand in hand.  I met people whose lives had been transformed - their sense of self worth restored because they learned that God made them in His image and was willing to die for them on a cross.  They are not untouchable but of great worth.  In the churches, they sat on dusty floors singing many familiar tunes of praise in a capella and reading from the Bible with attentiveness.  I was honored to be among such committed brothers and sisters.

It is for these reasons, I still see a story behind every cup of Nepali tea.

Prayers of Great Americans

During these tumultuous times, many have rightly called our nation to prayer.  Aside from any politicizing of such appeals, I thought I would share a few famous prayers from presidents in our nation's history as well as a few from men who prayed boldly and humbly for this country and it's need to corporately and individually acknowledge God.

Before I share these quotes, it is important to acknowledge that one must be very cautious when re-quoting history.  There are a great many falsely attributed quotes out there.  That said, the prayers below have all been thoroughly vetted to ensure historical accuracy and legitimacy, so I hope you can be inspired as I was by some of these words:

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."
~ excerpt from a proclamation appointing National Day of Prayer and Fasting - Abraham Lincoln, March 30th, 1863

"And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment – let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.  With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace – a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.  Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen." except from D-Day radio address calling the nation to join him in prayer ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt, June 6th, 1944

"Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings--let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals--and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world. 

On that day (referring to Thanksgiving Day) let us gather in sanctuaries dedicated to worship and in homes blessed by family affection to express our gratitude for the glorious gifts of God; and let us earnestly and humbly pray that He will continue to guide and sustain us in the great unfinished tasks of achieving peace, justice, and understanding among all men and nations and of ending misery and suffering wherever they exist." - Thanksgiving Day proclamation, ~ John F. Kennedy, November 5th, 1963

"To preserve our blessed land we must look to God. It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us. We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.

The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America. Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.  If I had a prayer for you today, among those that have all been uttered, it is that one we're so familiar with: 'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.' And God bless you all." - speech to the American people ~ Ronald Reagan, February 6, 1986

"My first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads.
Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: 'Use power to help people.' For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord.

The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways that all peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other." - inaugural address ~ George H. W. Bush, January 20th, 1989

“Our Father and Our God, we praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation's leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.” ~ written prayer by Rev. Billy Graham

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy Glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name,  Amen.” ~ The Pursuit of God - an excerpt prayer from Chapter 1 by A.W. Tozer

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..." Psalm 33:12

The Mystery of Divine Personality

The paradox of the Lion and the Lamb.  Every time I see this image, like many others I think about the life of Jesus and his many seemingly paradoxical traits.  How is it the God of Heaven, Author and Giver of Life, would care so much for mankind as to lower himself to become like one of his creation?  It is an astounding thought.  The glory of the throne of heaven for a humble home in Nazareth. Jesus called the Christ - arguably the most influential and controversial person in history, and while our very calendar is centered around the timing of his birth, the world continues to misunderstand the purpose of his coming just as it did more than two thousand years ago.

Jesus life was foretold in startling detail throughout the OT.  Arguably the most direct and undeniable of these prophetic writings are found in the book of *Isaiah.  Most scholars agree these writings were penned 700+ years before the birth of Christ.  The point is, the Jews and many others had anxiously awaited the promised Messiah who they expected would appear on the scene as a king, military leader, priest, and prophet to establish an earthly reign of sorts marked by Israel's freedom from foreign rule (at that time the Romans) and bring restoration of world peace and a holy nation.  So when Jesus arrived as a seemingly ordinary man, you could say this was marked by a bit less fanfare than they were anticipating.  After all, who would've thought the great I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would come into the world in the way Jesus did: born of a virgin in a lowly stable, raised by earthly working class parents, taught by his earthly father the trade of carpentry, assembling a band of disciples who were not among the religious elite, even washing feet, ministering among sinners, tax collectors, and the unclean - even associating at times with Samaritans, whom the Jews of Jesus day despised.  He did not place himself in defiance of the law or the authority of the government, nor did he attempt to abolish the law of the prophets, but to fulfill them.  He ultimately submitted himself to public scorn and a torturous death on a Roman cross, although he had committed no crime.

Of all the mortal men in history who have claimed to be gods - who died never to live again - it strikes me that only the true God of creation would come as a humble man and live, die, and be raised again in the way Jesus did.  The Lion of Judah in that he retained the full divinity of his Godliness, yet submissive to the will of the Father becoming the spotless sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world.  It is this and so many other startling contrasts in his personality that reveal the truth as to who Jesus really was and what made him unique from any other person that would ever live. 

As the Scottish theologian once put it:

"He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with him, and the little ones nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine.

No one was half so compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed he would not break, his whole life was love, yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our stark realists soundly beaten. He was a servant of all, washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully He strode into the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell over one another to get away from the mad rush and the fire they saw blazing in His eyes.

He saved others, yet at the last Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality."

– James Stewart

Christ taught of love and compassion, that's the teaching from Jesus people like to remember, but he also taught of righteousness, holiness, and judgment.  He scorned the "religious" leadership for their legalism and hypocrisy but embraced the lowly sinner who believed and the ones who demonstrated faith in Him.  He forgave the wounded sinner but spoke a stern warning to the self righteous.  He healed the lame and made the blind see, yet his truth was hidden from those who refused him and the truth of God.

As he said in his own words following the conversion of the tax collector Zaccheus, "The son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost."  (Luke 19:10).  That is why He came and because he was obedient to that purpose, all those who believe on the name of Jesus can be free.

*To read a sample of the prophesies in the OT, and specifically those in the book of Isaiah concerning Jesus, see Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 35:4-6, 40:1-5,9, 50:6, and of course 53:1-12.

Lords of the Fly - Christian Advise for Fly Fisherman and Sportsmen

I’ll admit it. Pretty much everyone who knows me also knows about my passion for the sport of fly fishing. In fact, it’s usually among the first things people learn about me. If I spend days on the water, I spend more at the vise tying up new creations. I also devote a fair amount of time talking, writing, and recruiting stories about fly fishing as an editor for Blood Knot Magazine.  Because of all this, I've found myself, on occasion, tempted to refer to fly fishing as an obsession. Others probably say so often. To be sure, it’s a well established fact that I love the sport, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences I’ve had while pursuing it. Given any legitimate excuse or opportunity where I could manage to provide for my family I would, without hesitation, trade a successful career and much I’ve worked for in exchange for a simplified existence as a fly fishing guide. At least in my mind, it would be about as near to heaven as one could come in this life, under the sun. 

As I reflect on fly fishing as a beloved hobby, which for some becomes an obsession, I find something disturbing lurking in the shadow. There are many stories of fanatical sportsmen we hear or read about. For them, the love of thrill or game or mastery has come at a price far beyond purchasing loads of expensive gear. For them, fly fishing has been at least partly responsible for neglected and frayed relations, botched careers…even divorce. I’m speaking of extreme cases here – the ones that eat, sleep, breath, and dream it. Fly fishing, in this context, has gone from hobby to passion to all consuming. While it's rare and obsessive behavior, it can and does happen.  Among these professionals are those who unashamedly wave a banner of agnosticism while claiming fly fishing as their god and a favorite body of water the sanctuary where they worship this god. Beyond the tongue-in-cheek humor of it all, there is a disturbing truth.  It is something all sportsmen (and women) must be wary of. I dare say it is a pink elephant about whom no one speaks of among my fly fishing brethren (least of all retailers).

Human nature dictates that we are made to worship something. This is because, according to the Christian worldview, God made humans for a relationship with Him.  Some project this nature in rebellion by worshipping other things.  Things like self, other people, money, careers, education, possessions, and even fly fishing. At least for me, it’s on this point I have to take pause concerning my favorite hobby and the enjoyment and amount of fulfillment I get from it. I say this because for all the love I have for fly fishing, it is a poor substitute for a relationship with the God of Heaven.  This is perhaps why I get an instant gag reflex when a person takes an otherwise healthy enjoyment of sport and turns it into a twisted form of religion. It's sick and I mean that quite literally. While they may claim to be "Lords of the Fly" and god of their own destiny, they are in fact bending their knee daily to the temporal and the created, rather than to the Creator.  It might sound strange to brand it, but what we’re talking about is idolatry – so for fly fishing, instead of a block of wood carved in the image of a god, it’s made from high modulus graphite.

Famous Christian evangelist and pastor, Billy Graham, once said, “Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is…” That wasn’t sneaky innuendo to say all your money should be going to some big haired TV evangelist huckster selling “holy water” - it just means people will invest in the things they hold dearest. It also means that while I may love fly fishing, it isn’t something that I should allow to consume me. Arguably, there is nothing more tantalizing than the allure of fly line drifting atop gin clear waters, over rock or sand or grass, with a life-like fly drifting in the current - the inner sanctum of our query. But for all the love of fly fishing, it can never love in return.

I realize the majority do not fall into this categorically obsessed state, so perhaps by now you think I am being melodramatic or bigoted, but you and I would likely have an engaging conversation. If you met me at a sea side lodge, I imagine we would enjoy one another’s company a great deal. Statistics say we likely come from a similar socio-economic status and have attained higher than average levels of education. We enjoy fly fishing because we are drawn to its artistic nature and like the challenge. We don’t care much about what others think, but strive to excel at our craft (whatever that might be). Yet, at the end of the day, some of us worship the sport and others merely enjoy it immensely. If you are convinced I am contriving this and fly fishing can’t become idolatry, then I challenge you to spend a few hours reading the profile of the fly fishing enthusiasts you’ve befriended on Facebook, talk to the guys in your local fly shop, and get back to me when you finish your investigation. Perhaps in your mind, not being fully consumed and immersed in the waters of fly fishing fanaticism means I will never enter into the holy of holies that is fly fishing mastery. If that is true, then so be it. I can only be broken hearted by such irony, since no one being controlled by obsession was ever master of anything for long.

The question is simple, so judge for yourself: do you think more about fly fishing than God? Which would you be willing to let go of? It is not a comfortable question to ask even myself sometimes. It will likely invoke a lot of stuttering and stammering and if it sounds like a loaded question, that's because it is. It’s loaded with an inescapable and piercing reality check. For folks like me, it’s a sobering reminder that everyone worships something. Even sports like fly fishing.  Does the one who created our beloved lakes, streams, and oceans deserve less of our attention and admiration than the fish that swim in them? If God is real, then He alone deserves our worship. If we put anything above Him, we are guilty of idolatry.

As for fly fishing, I know I will always be passionate about it, but at the end of the day, the flies in my box are for catching fish. Fish were created for our pleasure, whether by giving a tug at the end of a line or by putting food on the table. It’s as simple as that.  I have been told on occasion by a salty old fly fisherman or two, that while my church meets in a stuffy building (he’s never been to my church by the way), his church is on the water among creation. Confidently and defiantly he says, “I can worship God anywhere I want, man.” And my response is, “I couldn’t agree with you more friend…but in your church do you find that you spend more time worshiping God or fish?” I’m thankful that God doesn’t care where I worship, but I'm still mindful that He cares about the object of my worship. Love fly fishing, love sports, and love life...but remember to be thankful enough to love the One who gave it all.

Has Religion Caused the Most Death & War?

Everyone has heard this argument often posed by atheists and critics who claim religion (and specifically Christianity) is to blame for most of the injustice, death, war, and suffering through history.  Reference is usually made to the Christian Crusades, radical Islamic extremist groups, and similar dark times when, in the name of religion, men have tried to justify their horrific deeds.  Those who are familiar with the atheistic scientist Richard Dawkins and those of his same ilk are familiar with these tired arguments.  But are the arguments factual to begin with?  On a more basic level, are they philosophically sound?  Ravi Zacharias answers these questions in a brief and succinct way.

The Moving Story of David Livingstone

I was moved by this story the first time I heard it and I've been moved by it each time I've heard it since.  David Livingstone was a Scottish native who dedicated His life to exploration and missions on the continent of Africa.  He was an explorer, a scientist, an anti-slavery crusader, and a dedicated Christian missionary.  He became one of the most popular and heroic figures of 19th century Britain.  He was later accused by critics for neglecting his family because of these exploits, but as always, there are two sides to every story. 

The following story about the life of David Livingstone is an excerpt from a message delivered by Dr. Ravi Zacharias from RZIM's "Let My People Think":



Although Livingstone saw relatively few converts as a result of the missionary efforts during his own life, the lives of the thousands of people he influenced and those who did accept Christ have been countless.

Missionary to Nepal - Shashi Bhandari

My very dear friend, Shashi Bhandari, is a full time missionary in his home country of Nepal.  I had the pleasure of traveling there to visit with him in September of 2008.  Shashi and I spent three weeks visiting remote villages where Shashi has established churches and focus areas.  It was an unforgettable experience and I look forward to the day I can return with my wife, Amber.  This is a video Shashi and I put together as a trailer about his ministry in Nepal. 

Shashi is a registered nurse and teaches children and adults about maintaining their health and the importance of good hygiene.  Shashi and his staff have saved the lives of several people through their medical outreach, but most importantly, they tell people about Jesus Christ and the Bible.  Shashi explains to men, women, and children that Jesus came for all people, even those the Hindu cast system deems "untouchable."  Because of Shashi's obedience to his call, hundreds of people have now received Jesus Christ as Savior.  Shashi is one of my hero's and I love him like family.  He is one of the most joyful and selfless human beings you'll ever meet.  The only time I've seen him unhappy is when he was crying over his burden for the lost.  If you are interested in helping support Shashi and his ministry, please visit his website at Barnabas Project of Nepal.  God Bless you Shashi and staff!

Unadulterated Truth of the Bible

As much as I enjoy reading the works penned by great thinkers, scientists, historians, theologians, and philosophers regarding their defense, or even skepticism, toward the Christian Faith I often find, as I read the Word of God, I am reminded God's thoughts are higher than mine, that God's word is perfect, and that it is a living word (meaning that it is literally as though God were speaking and revealing Himself to me.  Because He is alive and with me, He speaks and reveals himself to me through that word).  What was wisely said once by a respected teacher, I find to be most certainly true - the Bible is the best and most reliable authority on itself. 

I believe this is singularly true of the Bible.  If it is the Word of God, as it claims, there is a higher truth and revelation to be found within - from an unadulterated source.  God, as my Heavenly Father, desires most that I should know Him and therefore believe and obey Him.  He is constantly working in my life and in the lives of humanity, to this end.  He desires our obedience not because He is a dictator, but because He knows and wants what is best for us.  In short, He loves us.  But He will not and does not force himself on us.  The act of belief is a concious choice, although the faith and ability are given by God to all men.  As our father, He does not wish that His will be some great mystery to us.  This is why He has given us His word and His incarnate son Jesus.  Like a good earthly parent, God desires to share with us His will for our lives.  Now some would be very likely to protest were I to now mention infallability of the Bible, but my point in using that term would be to merely point out that God, unlike man, by definition must be an infallable being in all respects.  God's words are in every sense righteous and eternally true, as God by nature does not change.  The Bible is then, a compilation of divinely inspired works penned by men as God's chosen instruments.  The point of this word is to convey God's personality, truth, will, and salvation to man.  To do so, he chose men, as you or I might choose a pen, but the pen cannot claim any accomplishment beyond the fact that it was our choice medium for recording our thoughts, ideas, desires, beliefs, and so on.

It is for these and many other reasons, I find, that most skeptics of the Bible have not actually bothered to read the Bible.  This is a fundamental flaw in judgement.  They are fearful.  I have met many skeptics who seemingly know a lot about the Bible, but this is always based on perhaps mountains of information they have gathered second hand, not conclusions they have made for themselves.  They find their investigation satisfactory because it supports a foregone conclusion.  They then parrot their skepticism without having actually understood in context or in truth.  They are willingly ignorant of God.  They believe by blotting out belief, they are freed from any accountability, if what they dread were to turn out to be true.  As the Bible says, "their thinking has become futile and their foolish hearts darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools."  You see, if a man or woman encounters the words of the true God, they cannot be left unchanged by it.  This is the source of fear.  Not of finding truth, but of being changed.  They are comfortable in their sin and ignorance.  They may well refuse to acknowledge Him, as the Romans of Paul's day did, but despite their best effort, they cannot claim to have not been introduced to evidence of Him.  Whether through His word, His creation, His witnesses - all of man will leave this life having encountered the true God.  This is why the Bible explains that "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

All this said, in reading one of my favorite books from the scripture, the book of Isaiah, I wish to share the following passages free of any commentary. They speak for themselves. These words were written approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ and describe with incredible detail, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Even when read to a non-believer, an honest person must acknowledge this prophetic passage as having proclaimed the life of Jesus of Nazareth:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:1-6

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”  Isaiah 42:6-9

"Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.” “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."  Isaiah 49:6b

"But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."  Isaiah 51:6b

"See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—so will he sprinkle many nations,and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."  Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-12

"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear...The redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord" Isaiah 59:1&20

How Heroes are Made...and a Few Words to Mothers

When I think of stories like the one portrayed in the movie 300, it touches a nerve in me somewhere. I dare say all men, perhaps even women, would agree. It makes us men want to go to the gym and learn to handle a sword or something. I think it is because we all understand and admire the virtues of courage and intestinal fortitude. The strength to stand against whatever evil would threaten the people and freedoms we hold dear. We all like to think we would face such an adversary against whatever odds. However, I cannot fathom, especially in this day of modern warfare, standing on a field of battle, armed only with a sword, spear, shield, or other primitive weaponry to face a countless army - knowing I am all that stands in the way of almost certain destruction.

And then I read in the Bible about men who faced just such challenges with no mention or even hint of fear. Men whom no movies have ever portrayed to my knowledge and no books have glorified. These men faced even more inconceivable odds than these popularized stories and ultimately became the great heroes of their time. They are mentioned in the Bible but not often talked about or even known among Christians. Sure, we've all read of Sampson who was given supernatural strength as one of the great judges of Israel. This was before the time of Saul and the Kings of Jerusalem. And who has not read or heard the story of David, a young shepherd boy who defeated the giant Philistine, Goliath with a sling, a stone, and the ultimate weapon: God's hand of favor?

But then we read of David's Mighty Men in 2 Samuel Chapter 23, whose exploits made them the heroes of old among the Israelites. They were the great warriors among the great. How fearless they must have been and how unfathomable the victories that God, no less, delivered into their hands against evil men according to His great mercy on Israel. Josheb-Basshebeth raised his spear (a spear...seriously??) against 800 men in a single encounter and killed them all. What about Eleazar son of Dodai who stood his ground against an entire Philistine army while his own army retreated in fear. He single handedly defeated the Philistines that day, striking men down until his hands were so tired the sword was as if frozen to his hand. The troops returned, but only to strip the dead. Then Shammah son of Agee, stood in the middle of a field, again while his army retreated from the Philistines and the Bible simply says, "He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory." Abishai son of Zeruiah, who became chief of the other three, raised his spear (I'd like to see one of those spears) against three hundred men and was victorious. There are others you can read of in this passage, but I think you get my point. I can't imagine trying to fight two men at once, much less hundreds.

As I read these accounts and think about stories of victory in the face of tyranny and evil, it is easy to forget who the true deliverer is and how heroes are made. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They are not all great warriors, they do not possess great wealth or power, and the paparazzi do not stalk them. Heroes are people of strong faith and great courage. They stand when others would run. They fight, when others would fall. They are loyal where others betray and they have no fear because they do not stand alone, but alongside something much greater than themselves. This is how a hero is made. When Paul wrote to the Romans he penned this: "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Today is Mother's Day and I know this is a funny way to parlay into paying my deep respects, but how can we deny the fact that mothers are often the unsung heroes of our day? So many women have been looked down upon for carrying out such fundamental duties of raising their own children, caring for their home, and being committed to their husbands. This is no easy task. It requires great personal sacrifice and a love beyond measure. It is a sad time we live in, that such a noble calling would be looked down upon. How twisted our priorities become when we convince ourselves that an improved standard of living would be of greater worth to our children than the time and love we could have otherwise afforded them. By comparison, such sacrifice has paid greater dividends in the making of great men and women, than any other gift we could give. Let's not forget the love of our mothers today and show them a sincere thanks for the debts we can never repay. To all you mothers out there, you have my greatest respect. My life is one example, of many, to the great patience and love only a mother could have.

The Great Questioner

As I read in the gospels about the ministry of Jesus, I find it fascinating how Christ engaged with humanity during His earthly life.  The impact He made during only three short years of active ministry are hard to deny even for the non-believer, but so many of the things He said and did were controversial.  No matter where He traveled, people were amazed by Him and the course of lives forever altered by even brief encounters.  Jesus spoke both with compassion and authority; the parables he told astonished even the most educated and versed in the scripture.  Because of the seemingly radical nature of His claims and the people Jesus often associated with (sinners and social outcasts) caused many to question Him.  Even His closest companions had many questions and no doubt reservations prior to the resurrection.  After all, they left everything in order to follow Him.

Jewish boys in Jesus' day would begin their education around the age of 5, learning to read, write, and study the written Torah (or Pentateuch - the first five books of the Bible).  By the age of 10, Jewish boys would have memorized the Torah (unbelievable) and much of the Talmud studying under a Rabbi in the temple.  Formal education would be completed around the age of 13 for most, at which point they would take on their father's trade.  For others who were especially good students would continue their study of the Halachot (rabbinic legal decisions), they would marry around 20 and then take on some vocation.  Men who sought to become scholars of the highest order would go to a renowned teacher and ask to become their disciple.  By around the age of 30, the scholar would then begin his own teaching ministry.  In the Bible, we read in the book of Luke that at the age of 12, Mary and Joseph could not find Jesus and “They (Jesus’ parents) found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at his understanding and His answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)  We also know that Jesus earthly ministry began around the age of 30.

As Jesus began this ministry, He met a lot of nay-sayers.  The Pharisees and Sadducees (religious leaders) often questioned Him.  What is interesting was the way Jesus responded to their questions, which were often worded in such a way as to try and trap Him into saying something that would give them cause to condemn Him.  But Jesus, being God and all, usually responded to such questions by asking his questioner a question.  Now why did He do this?  As Ravi Zacharias has adeptly pointed out, by responding with a question, Jesus forced the person to open up and be aware of their own assumptions - the ones loaded into their question.  Jesus was clearly no fool.  This was not a tactic Jesus used to deflect the questioner, but a way of demonstrating His understanding not only of the question, but of the intent behind it.

A perfect example of this is found in Luke 20:20 -

"Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius (Roman coin). Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” "Caesar’s,” they replied.  He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

You see how if the question is flawed, then it becomes self defeating.  Let's bring this into a modern application.  So often times Christians are questioned by non-believers in this same way.  It is often a parroted type of question which the non-believer often finds cannot be answered.  So many non-believers I meet have latched on to one unanswered question which they routinely toss into the face of every Christian they meet as a sort of self reassuring "gotcha."   They will then point to this as the reason for their inability to accept the Christian faith.  Interestingly enough, what they are really saying is that unless you can demonstrate for me exhaustive and authoritative knowledge about all questions relating to God, I cannot accept it as truth.  The problem with the rationality then is the inequitable manner in which the logic is being applied - after all, does anyone have this type of authoritative knowledge on any subject?

To illustrate my point let me give you a common question posed by the skeptic.  "If God is real and really perfectly good like the Bible says, then why is it there is suffering and pain in the world?"  Think about it...how would you respond??

My response might look something like this (please understand I am oversimplifying a deep theological issue for the sake of illustration):

- When you refer to God being "good", aren’t you saying there is such a thing as wrong or evil?
- If we can agree there is such a thing as good and evil, then aren’t we assuming implicitly there is an objective moral law by which to distinguish between the two (right and wrong)?
- If we agree there is an objective moral law (that rape is morally wrong even if tomorrow every person decided it was ok), then doesn't that necessitate a moral law giver? 
- Wouldn't the moral law giver have to be outside of humanity, perfect in order to create such a standard, all powerful in order to invoke it, and eternal in order to enforce it?

You see, by asking a few basic questions of the questioner, we have unveiled the fundamental flaw in the line of questioning itself.  By asking how God could be real while simultaneously invoking the concept of moral law is to contradict oneself.  The question is a self defeating one.  Objective moral law is not possible apart from God.  Morality or "values" as they are called today in an attempt to value meaninglessness, is not a universal standard if it is relative to popular opinion and whatever happens to be socially acceptable.

This question does raise some legitimate questions such as the free will of man and why God chose to create a world in which there is free will rather than a world where choice and evil were not possibilities.  This is a whole other discussion, but if you are interested in more on the topic, C.S.Lewis has dealt with this issue quite well on an existential level in his book "The Problem of Pain."

Jesus truly is "...the way, the truth, and the life" John 14:6 just as He claimed.  Because we are on the side of truth, defending that truth is made easier.  Be encouraged by this.  In a statement to Pilot, Jesus said "all who are on the side of truth listen to me."  If Christ was truly God as He claimed, then the statement is a logical qualification.

What if Jesus Came to Church on Sunday??

I often consider what Jesus thinks about my life and what it would be like if instead of having come 2,000+ years ago, what if He had come in the present day instead? What if he came strolling in....walked right up and called us by name? What if Jesus came to church on Sunday?? Would I have recognized Him, received Him...believed His message? What does He think about our worship, our teaching, our lives?

As a person who loves the Lord and has a relationship with Him, I think about these things. Now some of you are jumping ahead already. Yes, the sheep know their shepherd.  Those who are in Christ and have received His salvation are no longer dead but alive to Christ, meaning we are under grace and are forgiven. He is a God of infinite love and grace, receiving the prodigal son a thousand times over. We are human, born into a fallen world and stricken with a sin nature; prone to wander, like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord knows this and illustrated it in His teaching. The Bible makes it clear that even the children of God are prone to stray and fall short, and this grieves the Holy Spirit until we are reconciled to Him.  The apostle Paul struggled with sin noting that often the things he did not want to do, he found himself doing.

I wonder how Jesus would react if he were to physically walk through the doors at a worship service in one of our worship gatherings today. Would people greet him and welcome him in? Would he be wearing a suit or jeans? Would he hear gossip and idle chatter as he walked through the halls? I wonder if he would stop off at the nursery to play with the children? Would we hand him a bulletin outlining the order of worship and rush him in? Would people stare if he walked in a little late? Would we have him fill out an attendance card and ask him if he wanted to join our Sunday School Class? And, what if he stood up to speak, pray, or even teach? Would we look at him like he was a lunatic for interupting the service?  Would we hear him out? What if in the midst of the move of the Spirit, the service were brought to an abrupt close because a football game starts at noon? If He looked at the budget, would outreach be a line item or a way of life? If he tossed in a few dollars to the collection plate, would a deacon sneer, not knowing it was all the money He had? I just wonder, would he and his friends feel like they were in a worship service or would we let them know in subtle ways that they were out of place and unwelcome.

I wonder because the Jesus I read about in scripture was heartbroken and angered in the outer courts of the temple when he saw the hucksters and moneychangers who were turning His Father's house of prayer, into a den of cheap robbers. Now most churches are not filled with robbers of this sort, but I see how things like worldliness and complacency have robbed our churches of faith and how a "Jesus our way, right away" mentality has crept in.  Our worship is often lacking in sincerity and the power that comes when the Holy Spirit is at work. We rob God in our tithe, we rob him of our time, and our talents. We speak at God in our prayers but offer no chance of rebuttal because we talk more than we listen. Yes, I dare say, He is a God who can, and perhaps should, be angered by our disobedience, stubbornness, and immaturity. We misconstrue and misrepresent the life He came to demonstrate because we have not taken the time to truly know Him. We sell love and forgiveness but forsake justice and holiness.  You know, Jesus may not attend church in person, but he is there in Spirit, if indeed we are gathered in His name.

He wants to be near and he is just as real as if he were standing right next to us. I often think of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her own hair as she shed tears. She recognized Jesus for who He was and anointed His feet with an expensive gift of perfume -  the most precious thing she owned. The scripture says:

"When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.' Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have something to tell you.' 'Tell me, teacher,' he said. 'Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?' Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.' 'You have judged correctly,' Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.' Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  Luke 7:36-50

Many lifetime church goers do not love much because we do not think we had much to be saved from to begin with....or at least we were not nearly as bad of a person as a dozen others we could name. But according to the scripture, those who are apart from Christ all share a common destiny. It does not matter how "good" you think you are. I can't help but think that if we really knew just how desperately lost and hopeless we were apart from Christ, if we could only see a glimpse of the separation from God that is hell, we would fall on our faces before the King of Kings who so graciously and humbly left the glory of heaven to die for you and for me. And not even the gates of hell would be able to stop us from sharing the good news of Christ and His salvation to those around us.  I'm talking about the need for an awakening.

In some respects I think Malcolm Muggeridge was right in his book "Christ and the Media" - there is something very sacred about the image of God; so sacred that Christ’s coming in our time would have been violated by the inevitable coverage of his life and ministry by the media. No television cameras where present for the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the transfiguration, or to witness the passion of our Lord at Golgotha. Instead "the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." His life's record is the one that would transcend the millennia and speak to our hearts. For although Jesus walked upon this earth in a body of flesh, it was not in the glory He deserved. It was a walk of honesty and humility. A life of love poured out unto death, and "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" Isaiah 64:4.

I do not mean to be overly critical and I do not intend to imply that all churches are so spiritually deprived. I just think we, meaning I, often forget who it is all about. The "church" has become synonymous with a place Christians go, rather than a way of life.  I'll just end this post with the words of the Scottish clergyman, James Stewart concerning the life of Jesus:

He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable, that the children loved to play with him and the little ones nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine. No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin.
A bruised reed he would not break. His whole life was love. Yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they were expected to escape the damnation of hell.
He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism, he has all of our self-styled realists soundly beaten. He was the servant of all, washing the disciples' feet, yet masterfully he strode into the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell over one another to get away in their mad rush from the fire they saw blazing in his eyes. He saved others, yet at the last, he himself did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels; the mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality.

Completely Forgiven

I can't speak for you, but I know I fail the standard of perfection every day.  Despite my best efforts even on my best days, perfection escapes me.  When I realize I have failed yet again to live up to God's standard, I often find myself going to the Lord in prayer and saying, "Father, please forgive me..."  But then I think about Jesus, the cross, and the blood He shed there and I find myself asking, what am I saying??  We do this because in human terms, when we offend another person, we know that to make it right, we need that persons forgiveness.  But how about Jesus and what about the cross?  I find there is a balance I am walking between this idea of grace and righteousness.  I am constantly learning the difference between the forgiveness, which comes at the moment we accept salvation, and confession that takes place as we walk with Christ in salvation thereafter.  We grow in righteousness because He is our righteousness.  That sounds like symantics, but I hope to convey an important theological distinction that I think is important.  Salvation and forgiveness walk hand in hand and both are a complete work, as far as Christ is concerned.  Despite the fact that the Bible teaches us that Christ will never leave or forsake us, that nothing can pluck us from His hand, we have a difficult time believing this truth.

You see, when I first turned to Christ, it wasn't because all my questions or doubts had been dealt with concerning God and His word.  It wasn't because I had settled on the perfect place of worship or because I had gotten my life straightened out.  It was because I knew I was NOT the person God wanted me to be.  Further, I knew there was nothing I could EVER do to be "good enough" for God because I always failed in my effort to be good.  So, I was burdened because I knew I was separated from God; I did not know Him and I prayed and admitted to the Lord that I was not perfect and that I was a person inclined to do the things I knew I ought not to do.  I was a sinner by nature and I knew, without God's help, I could never change that.  So I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life and to do what I couldn't do - give me a new nature.  To substitute my will for His will and to save me from myself.  In accepting, believing, and confessing I became a new born Christian and I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior.  I knew immediately that I had been changed.

It was a new beginning and I understood well enough to know that sin carried a heavy penalty, not because God is unfair, but because God is righteous and just.  I deserved any due punishment for my willful disobedience to God.  That is why I was so greatful.  Not because I got a get out of hell free card, but because the penalty for my sin was no longer mine to bear.  My sin had been paid for, once and for all, by Jesus in His death on the cross.  His death was a substitutionary death and His sacrifice was a perfect one because it paid for all sin for all time (past, present, and future).  He being the only perfect being, God incarnate, made for the only perfect and complete payment for the punishment of sin.  He was the last sacrifice that would ever be necessary to attone for the sin of man, doing away with the need for Old Testiment sacrifice.  He took that burden upon himself, not just for me, but for anyone who would accept it.  When He said, "It is finished" that is exactly what He meant and because Jesus overcame death and was resurrected, death was defeated in a supernatural work only God could do. 

Okay, so follow me closely now because I don't want you to misinterpret what I am about to say.  In realizing Jesus died for me and forgave me of all my sin (past, present, and future), I came to realize that asking Him to forgive me for my sin was kind of silly and maybe even insulting.  After all, am I forgiven or aren't I??  If not, then His salvation is not complete and we are in constant danger.  Again, if this were the case, then how could anyone possibly be sure of their salvation.  Although there are sins I commit anew in life, sin is no longer my nature and Christ inside of me rebels against that sin and reminds me I am not the same person.  My sin was forgiven and they cannot be forgiven any more completely than they were the day I came to Christ.  What I must do is to confess with my mouth and with my heart that I have sinned.  This is simply a way of agreeing with God that I have done wrong, but I am no less forgiven and no less saved than I was.  Now the Bible is clear that Christ sacrifice is not to be taken lightly nor is God one to be mocked.  If we simply ask for forgiveness and salvation with our mouth and never accept Him as Lord in our heart, than we have not genuinly experienced salvation.  God does not accept part of us, for a complete work, He must have our full commitment.  Otherwise, we attempt to reduce God to a fire insurance genie.  It does not work that way.  Those who claim to be Christians and experience no transformation are not likely Christians at all.  As the scripture says, "You will know them by their fruit."

So in short, I simply want Christians to know that you are forgiven - completely.  If we are in Christ, sin will burden our hearts because Christ and sin cannot coexist.  They are oil and water.  So in this light we must confess our sin to God and ask Him for the strength to walk in His way, but to ask His forgiveness is no longer necessary.  If it makes you feel better to do so, then do, but understand "It is finished."

"Heaven is the Face" - The Story Ahead

Music is such an amazing form of expression because it touches our soul.  Music can be light hearted or deeply emotional.  It can be uplifting or depressing.  It can help us remember or make us forget and a million other responses it can invoke.  So often I hear songs on the radio and never really think about the story behind the lyrics.  Many songs have amazing stories that inspired the writer.  But how about songs with a story ahead?  With most songs, I think more about my own experiences and how the song applies to my life or the people in my life and with most songs, this is intentional.  They are written to be marketed in a way that applies to everyone, and that makes perfect sense.  But every once in a while, you hear a song that you know is different.  It was not written to be sold as much as it was someones soul poured out on paper and expressed using music as a medium.  Like a deeply inspired painter on a canvas.

Steven Curtis Chapman (one of the most beloved Contemporary Christian music artists ever) recently recorded a song that meets this description for me.  It is called "Heaven is the Face" and was released on his 19th album "Beauty Will Rise" and was written by Chapman after the tragic death of his 5 year old daughter, Maria Sue (pictured above).  She was the Curtis' sixth child and the youngest of three Chinese girls the family adopted.  She was playing on the monkey bars outside and wanted someone to lift her up, so she ran toward her teenaged brother who was leaving in his SUV.  She was accidently struck while he was backing out of their driveway on the way to host a high school graduation party.  After Chapman administered CPR, she was airlifted by parametics to nearby Vanderbuilt hospital, but was pronounced dead upon arrival.  Chapman's son said as they left for the hospital, the last thing his father said, was "I love you son."  He would later recount her passing was like an earthquake that made him question his faith and cast doubt on whether he would ever even sing or write again.  As time and prayer helped heal the family's wound, he found a faith stronger than ever before, and he began to write.

I have to tell you, I am not an overly emotional guy, but underneath the callus exterior is a guy who can be a little sensitive.  Don't tell anyone.  I have an extremely difficult time listening to this song, especially as the father of two infant girls of my own.  I cannot even begin to fathom what it would be like to lose one of them.  As a musician, I cannot imagine trying to sing this song, especially from Chapmans vantage point.  As you listen to the words of the song, there is so much more to this than the story behind the song.  There is a story ahead as well.  Chapman tells about his longing to see his little girl again, unimaginable, but it reminds us of some powerful truths about life and about God.  It is a story of hope, love, grace, and divine purpose.  It demonstrates how amidst even the greatest challenges we face in life, God is with us.  There are things we cannot understand - things we cannot explain.  And when life seems unfair, makes no sense, and we doubt everything we thought we believed, God is still God.  He shows himself to be the great Sustainer and Comforter.  As you listen to this song (recorded in a hotel room believe it or not) I think you will see what I mean (click here).

Can Man Be Good without God??

I have decided to make a post each Sunday with some discussion on matters of the Christian faith. I am deeply compelled, as a Christian and person who desires to see the truth of God revealed to those who are living under the pretenses of some false reality, to employ whatever means possible to make God known to those who do not have the inexpressible joy of life and relationship with Him. This is why I take such a great interest in the discipline of Christian apologetics. While I do not think that through mere academia or argumentation we can necessarily change the minds of someone who is willfully opposed to truth, but we might perhaps help "clear the bushes" as we defuse their objections and perhaps cause them to consider or reconsider Christ and the ultimate reality He offers.

As you are probably well aware, the world views of atheism and existentialism have been flourishing over the past century or so and have been gaining a lot of steam in the past half century thanks to the movement of postmodernism. These world views have long been in conflict with Biblical Christianity, but most recently the debate has been posed not so much as religion (and specifically Christianity) vs. atheism but as Christianity Vs. science. This is very deceptive as these ideas are not at all in contradiction. In fact, the truth of the claims made by the Christian worldview are only better confirmed so long as science is not employed in a way that is bias against the Bible before the scientific method is employed. This is why the works of men like Richard Dawkins, Victor J. Stenger, and the like have been so popular.

The stigma that Christianity is an outdated myth which science has in some ambiguous time and place disproved, has invaded many of our university campuses and therefore has created a real challenge in terms of the voracity and hold of its indoctrination - not of the categorically ignorant but of those who are of an educated and relatively intelligent background. They would like to think that education or intelligence is what somehow separates the Christian mystic from the atheist (in a nutshell - pride). In reality, it must be admitted that men of great intellectual capacity and education have been on both sides of this argument. The result of this bias, however, in our educational system is being fueled by the common belief that to have no God, and therefore no ultimate accountability, is a liberating thing. Ironically what it has done is lead many into a life of captivity by placing a false limitation on reason and logical thought - a life without any real meaning, truth, or ultimate destiny. The end result is despair, depression, and moral bankruptcy. While claiming to consider all the possibilities, the atheistic worldview and it's various manifestations must contradict it's own basic premise by discounting the very possibility of the divine. Religion, in their mind, is the ultimate evil and the equivalent of superstition.

I am thankful that in the face of such widespread challenges to real absolute truth, morality, and theism, that God continues to make Himself known. Men specially equipped and empowered by the Spirit to deal with these modern critics and answer the difficult questions posed by the secularistic worldview are being raised up and they are of the highest levels of educational background and expertise. I encourage the entire Christian community to be awakened to the reality of such challenges to truth and reality in our culture which face not only the young and vulnerable, but the entire generation. It is our duty to make God's truth known and not to harbor it, like a lamp that gives its light can dispell the darkness, so is the duty of the church.  I think of the words in 1 Peter "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." 

Since I did not have much time on my hands this evening, I decided to simply post links to two lectures dealing with these subjects by two very capable men, one delivered by Dr. William Lane Craig and the other by Dr. Ravi Zacharias.  These lectures speak on the worldview of atheism and it's viability at a very introductory level.
The first lecture is by William Craig and is called Can We Be "Good" without God?  He does a wonderful job of articulating this issue in a way that is easy to follow.

The second lecture is called Why I'm Not an Atheist and was delivered by Ravi Zacharias at the Veritas Forum and deals specifically with the existential question of whether Atheism as a world view is coherent and liveable.  Since this is on YouTube, you'll need to bear with him through the first video or so as he is laying out a foundation.

The Vine and The Branches

When I took an interest in viticulture (the growing of grapes), it was really just to better understand what it takes to produce superior wine grapes. As any chef would tell you, there is no substitute for using the highest quality base ingredients possible. As I investigated, I quickly realized several things. For one, growing grape vines is a complex pursuit. The vineyards that produce the best fruit will be located in special regions of the world where ideal conditions consistently allow for maximum growth. This means rainfall occurs during specific times of the growth season, humidity is balanced, where micro-climates and breezes keep away unwanted disease and mold, a place where temperatures are typically cool in the morning and warm during the day. Beyond this, the grower makes considerations for elevation, soil type, and choice of the ideal varieties that will grow with the longest ripening season possible in their region. But perhaps most importantly, the proper amount of sun exposure. This is so important that most vineyards are planted in rows running North and South. Then to further ensure efficient sun exposure, vineyards are usually planted on Southern facing slopes with the most prized grapes growing at the top of the slope. Trellising and pruning techniques are also geared toward ensuring ideal exposure to the sun so branches collect light and grapes will mature properly. There is always a single main branch which forms the base of the vine. Then several main branches are trained to grow from the main vine on a trellis. These fruit bearing branches are always one year old and will be removed after the season is complete and replaced with new one year old branches. During the season, branches that are not fruit bearing and shoot away from the main vine or branches are removed so more of the vines energy can be devoted to the maturing the grapes, instead of being wasted to support the excessive branching and foliage.

All these facts I found most intriguing because they reminded me of something I had read many times before but not fully appreciated. I thought about the words of Jesus when He said, "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5.

As I thought about these words with a new perspective, I had a new found appreciation for the illustration and its meaning. Jesus used an illustration of the cultivation of grapes to describe our relationship with Him. It was an illustration his disciples and followers could easily understand because of the role of the vineyard and it's importance to the culture of their day. It was also an illustration that could be applied and related to through the ages. As I read the words again, I was reminded that an abundant harvest requires work and a diligent and caring vineyard keeper (the Father). Jesus is the main vine (planted on the earth intentionally by Father), we are the branches, and the support system or trellis (the Church). It also reminded me our walk as Christians is not a solitary thing, it is growing along side others that will help encourage our growth. All the while, Jesus is the source of life for the main branches and He will be the source for the new branches - they will not be grown from the old branches. Also, while Jesus said He was the vine in the illustration, I can't help but think about how the branches and fruit need the sun. The sun is absolutely vital to the life of the vineyard. The entire growing process is inextricably dependant upon maximizing exposure of the branches to the sun so the fruit will be abundant, mature properly, and be full of flavor. As Christians, we must remain in the Son. Our relationship with Jesus is vital to our growth and maturity. Apart from him, we cannot produce fruit and we cannot live life as he intended apart from Him. Branches that are separated from the Son or Main Vine will wither and die. The truth of God's Word is truly amazing.

Apologetics & Recommended Reading List

As mentioned in my very first post, I have a keen interest in Christian Apologetics. That said I want to tell you a little about what that term means to me and give a recommended reading list for anyone who might be interested.

First, my interest in apologetics means that while I am a person of committed faith and believe that without such faith one cannot experience true salvation and communion with God, I also believe the Christian world view is legitimate because it is rational and holds up to the tests for truth. I believe it is my duty, as a Christian, to be able to tell other people not only what I believe, but why I believe. While faith remains an inextricable part of the Christian world view and experience, one thing we as Christians should emphasize more often (IMHO), is the overwhelming evidence and rationality that makes our faith in Christ not just one way but the way to God and salvation.

Most Christians can tell you with a minimal amount of trouble and stress what they believe, but far fewer can explain to you why. I have a bit of an issue with this. In the world I live in, fewer and fewer people will seriously consider what they interpret as a blind faith (as real and legitimate as it may be for you) sufficient to address the puzzling questions they have about life, meaning, purpose, and ultimate destiny. Faith is scary to those who lack it and this means some very tough and legitimate questions rooted in general skepticism, misinformation, lack of study, or even some tainted experience are going to be raised. This is further reinforced by a fiercely secular university system that does everything in its power to ingrain a purely humanistic and naturalistic view of the world on it's students. Interestingly and thankfully, most come out on the other end of their experience admitting they are not convinced the world came to it's current state by purely naturalistic causes and the attempt to erase "God" from our thinking has not been successful. I believe this is because, contrary to what some would have us believe, all who believe in an intelligent creator are not dim-witted mystics who hold to an empty, groundless faith.

I think there are things we Christians have done that have been wrong headed in addressing these challenges over the years by not being more proactive in understanding human nature and the importance of critical analysis on the claims of our faith. Since the claim is the Christian world view is the truth, there can only be value in it withstanding criticism and the highest level of scruitiny. For the person willing to examine the evidence, there is more to be gleaned from archaeological, scientific, philosophical, and historical scrutiny than can be conceived - upholding the Christian world view. It is true, attempts to suppress these facts are hard at work but where there is truth, whether men choose to acknowledge it or not, it will remain the truth. We live in a world governed by truth but are surrounded by a popularized notion of relativism. The problem is that most people think it is better to live out life in ignorant bliss (regardless of their faith or lack of it). This is called apathy - deep down, those folks will have unexplored and unreconciled questions, doubts, and fears. We cannot live a life of agnosticism with any real comfort and peace.

It only stands to reason then that if there is a Creator who made the world and those in it, that they will ultimately be accountable to that Creator and the rules created by Him. In my experience, those who deny this do so not so much for lack of evidence, but because they do not want it to be so. They do not want to believe in a creator because they understand the ramifications. They think ignorance and denial will somehow save them from accountability. For this person, there is little that can be done in terms of convincing, for their lack of faith is not grounded in rationality but irrationality. I believe that if Christians would choose to become even just a little better informed - asking and understanding the tough questions about our faith in their own lives - perhaps we could help answer some of the questions being asked by contemporary society and give the ultimate answer to meaning in life - the person of Jesus Christ. A future generation of people are being raised in ignorance of God because they think such belief is foolish. Romans 1:21 - 32 says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

The Bible offers prescriptive truths for modern living. I want to help people who were not raised in faith or have become faithless to find answers as I have. I want them to know God and understand that real freedom and peace comes not from things attained by our own efforts but from God alone. When Christ was asked, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?" He responded with the first, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind." All of these elements deserve equal emphasis.

Some recommended reading for those who may be interested in understanding more of the why behind the what of Christianity:

Orthodoxy - G. K. Chesterton
The Rationality of Theism - Paul Copan and Paul K. Moser
Mere Creation: Science, Faith, and Intelligent Design - William Dembski
Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins' Case Against God -Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist - Norman L. Geisler
Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary Answers to Crucial Questions about the Christian Faith - Norman L. Geisler
God, The Evidence: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason in a Postsecular World - Patrick Glynn
God, Revelation, and Authority - Carl F. H. Henry
The Confessions - Augustine of Hippo
Darwin on Trial - Phillip E. Johnson
The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism - Phillip E. Johnson
The Reason for God - Timothy Keller
The Richard Dawkins Delusion - Daniel Keeran
The Abolition of Man - C. S. Lewis
Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain - C. S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters - C. S. Lewis
Evidence That Demands a Verdict - Josh McDowell
Evidence for Christianity: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith -Josh McDowell
Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life - Alister E. McGrath
Christ and the Media - Malcolm Muggeridge
Christianity and the Nature of Science - J. P. Moreland
The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning - J. P. Moreland
Does God Exist: The Debate between Theists and Atheists - J.P. Moreland and Kai NielsenPhilosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview - J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig
Warranted Christian Belief - Alvin Platinga
Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics - R. C. Sproul
Reason to Believe: A Response to Common Objections to Christianity - R. C. Sproul
A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism - Ravi Zacharias
Beyond Opinion - Ravi Zacharias
Can Man Live without God? - Ravi Zacharias
Jesus Among Other Gods - Ravi Zacharias
The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists - Ravi Zacharias