Jeremiah 37 -- The Original EF Hutton

By this point in the book of Jeremiah I think what fascinates me is the love/hate relationship that Jeremiah inspires. The people seem to hate Jeremiah. The priests and prophets mock him at every turn. And kings continue to imprison him.

Yet, the kings in particular repeatedly wear out a path to whereever Jeremiah is staying at the time (often in prison) and to ask if he has a word.

It is odd. You would think a person this despised and derided would simply be ignored. They disagreed with everything he said. They ignored his pleas and his prophecies. They found other people to say the exact opposite of whatever Jeremiah had preached.

Yet they kept coming. "Do you have a word from God?" they would ask. As much as they hated him, they could not help themselves from wanting to listen. The truth does that. It is so rare that people will lean in to hear it.

A temptation for Jeremiah would have been to cater to that crowd. Afterall, he too was hungry for a good word for his own people. Yet twice in this chapter he is asked for a word and twice the word is not good, going so far as to say that even if all that was left of the massive Chaldean army was its wounded they would still take the city and burn it to the ground.

Again Jeremiah finishes the day in prison. The truth will do that too! People want to hear a word from God, but they are not always ready to accept a word from God.

May the power of your message this week be its truth.

A Distracted Church

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7 A timely variation of this verse could be "some trust in Republicans and some in Democrats...."

It is my fear that nothing distracts the people of God in our country quite like a presidential election. [At this point I might have to grant some of you permission to determine to no longer read this blog.]

This is not to say that people of faith should not prayerfully take their faith into the voting booth and carefully and diligently make sure no chads remain. But the bluster of the campaign pulls us away from our true call and worse causes us to abandon our truest positions of power. When we occupy ourselves with politics it is often at the cost of the gospel.

To make matters worse the chariots and horses before us are not really in that great a shape. Somebody should get a carfax report on these rides. A recent report from Lifeway Research reported that 80% of Southern Baptist pastors intend to vote for a particular candidate and only 1% intend to vote for the other. Now, I may or may not be in that majority but I find it a little puzzling that there would be such a sweeping support for a man whose lifestyle has been made possible by his wife's beer distributorship empire (I think there have been some SBC resolutions concerning alcohol), who criticized leading evangelicals as "agents of intolerance" and whose marital fidelity at least in the past has been questionable (an issue that in other administrations has been very important to us).

Please do not take this as an endorsement of his opponent, because it is not. It is just to point out that our state of distraction causes us to develop enthusiasm in places we never would imagine. But we do so because we must win!

If we don't win, the world will come to end. (Don't believe me, just check your email in box for anything that begins with FW:FW:FW:FW:FW.) Our people are frightened about what will happen if "our guy" loses. But I have checked...Our Guy does not lose!

May we be ready before and after the election to help our folks stay focused on that which has the greatest impact in all circumstances -- Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

Invited to Speak

I do not often get invited to speak outside of my own church, but right now I have two invitations before. Neither of them are likely to impress you, but they are invitations still the same.

I count it a large privilege to share God's Word in any setting possible, but I am much more comfortable doing so within the context of an existing relationship. Speaking or preaching to strangers has always been a bit uncomfortable for me (and the same can likely be said for my listeners as well).

I don't know them. They don't know me. And I won't be with them next week to stand with them as they seek to apply His Word to their lives. I feel deeply called to be a pastor. Not so much to be an evangelist.

This morning I will be bringing a devotion to the Baptist Campus Ministries group at our local community college. (The reason I was invited to speak was because our ladies are providing lunch!) These students (and staff) hear from a different preacher every week. I think that most weeks the typical message leans toward an evangelistic presentation. If this is the case, I worry that these students may be developing an immunity to the gospel they have not yet fully heard or understood.

My goal this morning is simply to help them know Jesus a bit better. I will be sharing from Mark 2 and plan to encourage the students to consider that their spiritual needs are actually greater than any other part of their life. I would like them to be caught by the wonder of God's Word to their lives. That will, in time lead to their becoming fully devoted followers of Christ.

But like I said, I don't get out much.

Teaching The Books of Numbers -- Update

Several weeks ago I shared that I was starting a new midweek teaching series on the book of Numbers. We are still in the earlier chapters and have not yet encountered much narrative (ok, none at all so far). But the book has provided a wonderful emphasis on the centrality of God amongst His people.

The sections concerning regulations do not quite preach with the ease of say Philippians or James. For instance chapter 5 spends quite sometime describing what amounts to an "adultery smoothie". If a woman is suspected of unfaithfulness she is to take a drink that has been prescribed by the priest. If she is innocent, nothing will happen. However, if she is guilty.....let's just say it is not good.

What does this mean? For one thing the husband is to bring his concerns and suspicions to God and not deal with them himself. But what I found interesting was that while we think of sexual immorality as a thoroughly modern problem brought on by "Sex in the City" mindset of our day, it turns out that promiscuity is "old school", requiring entire chapters of the Bible even for the veil and head covering set.

There is nothing new under the sun. All the more reason for us to build our lives with God at the center.

Jeremiah 35 -- A Counter Cultural Family

The Rechabites are less than famous. (They only appear on one page of your Bible.) The Rechabites were less than wealthy. (They owned no homes, land or crops.) It is quite likely that the Rechabites were hardly noticed by their neighbors after taking refuge in the city.

But God knew them. He noticed them and was pleased by what He saw.

He sent Jeremiah to find them and as usual He gave Jeremiah an unusual assignment. Find the Rechabites, bring them into the temple and offer them a big bowl of wine. (Jeremiah had to be wondering how many more facets of his call still remained to be discovered….he was now God’s sommelier!)

But they refused the wine. Instead of seizing the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s “finer” things, they quietly declined the offer. You see their father had vowed that his family would drink no wine, build no houses, and sow no seeds. Instead they would live in tents and enjoy many days in the land. It seems this man did not want the bonuses of the land to get in the way of the blessings of the LORD.

Their faithfulness to their father’s vow served as an indictment to the rest of the people of Jerusalem. But it also serves as a reminder to Jeremiah (and the people) that it is possible to live faithfully before God. It can be done. It has been done! God gives a special blessing to this family.

What do see these days? A culture living in defiance of God. A church that is much less than it should be. Believers who disappoint.

Yes, all of that is out there.

But there are Rechabites out there too. Simple families and individuals who have quietly committed to not let the bonuses of life distract them from the blessings of the LORD.

May you see them. May you grow them. May you bless them.

Balancing Spontaneity and Strategery?

It is that time of the year when our church council begins to work on the calendar for next year. This past Sunday evening we gathered to give the calendar a first run through. Before we began I asked the Council to give thought to some of the most significant/meaningful events of the past year.

The list was interesting. Several items mentioned were annual events such as our women’s conference and Vacation Bible School. Other items were new things we planned at this time last year like our community 5K run. But some of our best moments came together as the year unfolded, including a visit from our governor, Bobby Jindal who gave his testimony in our church.

So as we plan for next year we will work on some of our standard events, we will give thought to some new ideas. But we will also leave room to be flexible to the Lord’s leading.

One idea that we are looking forward doing again this year is promoting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering with live phone interviews during our morning worship service with missionaries on the field. We patch the phone call through our sound system and use google earth on the screens to travel to the place the missionaries live and work.

Last year, we were able to have a couple of these missionaries with us in person later in the year. This year we are planning a bit further ahead and several groups in the church are putting together care packages for the missionaries to help deepen our connections with our missionaries. It is our goal to introduce our church to some of the new missionaries that have joined the board since Lottie!

What are you planning these days? Do you have a part of your church life that you would like to emphasize? How will you keep annual events fresh?

Mark 9:43-48 Illustrated

Today, Tom White is learning to run for the third time in his life.

The October 2008 issue of Runner's World tells his remarkable story. White, a medical doctor by trade arranged to have his left leg cut off. While over 3,500 limb amputations are performed every week in the United States, this one was different. You see it was not medically necessary. It is unlikely there was a doctor in the land who would have recommended it and I really doubt that insurance covered it.

A couple of decades ago White was a competitive runner, achieving a measurable amount of success at the collegiate level. But everything changed when he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which nearly severed his leg. Remarkable for the time of the time accident, his leg was saved.

Several years later, he met and married a runner. He cheered for her as she competed, but he ached to run again himself. Eventually he taught himself how to run all over again.

However, the long term damage from his accident made running more and more difficult over the years. Even to the point that walking was becomiming painful at times. So much so that White became convinced that he would be better off without the leg. His desire to run again was so strong that he "he decided to pay a man to cut off his leg with a power saw." (The man was a noted surgeon, but you still get the point.) Today with the use of a high tech prostheses White is back on the road, running again.

Tom White would rather be a runner that have both his legs.

I am impressed by Tom's commitment....and to be honest, a little concerned about mine.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell,to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and

the fire is not quenched.'

Mark 9:43-48 ESV

Quick Ike Update

We are watching local Houston coverage (Direct TV channel 361) and things look pretty rough. I don't know Houston well, but occasionally I visit MD Anderson hospital and I did run the Houston Marathon this past January, so I recognize some landmarks.

Personally, we seem to have weathered our distant edge of the storm quite well. Ike seemed a little noisier at home than Gustav did at church. (Storms in the night always seem worse than daylight ones.) But a quick look around this morning shows much less damage than Gustav. Gratefully, I do not hear the cacophony of generators that filled the air in the days that followed our last storm.

Thanks again for your concerns and prayers.

A Favorite Resource

For several years one of my favorite resources was the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Set. (http://www.amazon.com/Zondervan-Illustrated-Bible-Backgrounds-Commentary/dp/0310217407) While I rarely used it as a primary reference work, I often used as a supplement to "meatier" commentaries.

But alas, the set did not belong to me. It belonged to the church library at my former church. However, in recent months the church I currently serve has begun a new church library. And it should come as a surprise to no one that one the first items I recommended was this four volume NT commentary set.

I had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances this week as I prepared a message from Ephesians 6 concerning God's Expectation that we be battle ready believers. In the ZIBBCS (the initials just shortened that right up didn't they) I learned about the Ephesia Grammata, six words commonly used by Ephesians as a verbal talisman when they sought extra strength and power. This could possibly color Paul emphasis on "being strong in the Lord" not in some pagan power.

What are some of your favorite resources that you consistently find meaningful?

Here we go again....

For the third consecutive weekend, we prepare for Sunday worship with storms close to the forefront of our minds. (If you are tired of reading about the storms, imagine how we feel living it.)

Two weeks ago we spent Sunday afternoon making final preps for Gustav. Last week we had just gotten our power back and were concerned about this storm named Ike that was headed our way. This weekend, it turns out Ike is not going to come directly to us. But we will be close enough to feel the inconveniences. I will be amazed if the storm passes and we do not lose power, possibly for a few days again.

Once again our little town is a major evacuation route, this time the traffic is heading east instead of north. We still have a major National Guard deployment in town and last night we noticed dozens of power trucks filling up an empty parking lot, presumably ready to leap into action after the storm. It was just in the last couple of days that our stores had finally restocked their perishable items. You can't help but wonder if we will go another week with empty shelves.

But like I said, this storm does not seem to have our name on it. But as those of you who live in the hurricane zone well know, there is a mental fog that eventually invades the mind in these days. So much to do. So little to do. Focus seems out of the question. (It is possible that is not true for vast numbers of people, but it seems true for me.) I am grateful for a couple of good days of study earlier in the week.

The up side is that our family will spend some extra time together, since there is not much else to do. And that's not bad at all.

Jeremiah 30 -- Hope for the Embattled Preacher

"Write these things down." That is God's Word to Jeremiah. This is interesting because to this point, all of the oracles Jeremiah has been given have been spoken words.

Even a cursory reading of the text demonstrates that these spoken words have not been well received and understandably Jeremiah has at times been wearied by the process of preaching to unresponsive people.

The funny thing is, a preacher rarely gets the response he believes the message deserves. In his hours of preparation and study the preacher has often been powerfully taken by the Word of LORD that has been revealed to him. It is not unusual to emerge from the study with the conviction that this week's message may be the most important or most timely message you have ever preached. You can not wait to break these words for your people. (If this is not happening in your life, I pray it will this week.)

But then we preach...and await the floodgates of response.

And at times nothing visible ever happens. Even when there is a trickle of response we are deeply grieved and puzzled that there was not more. Jeremiah knew the feeling well. In fact, he didn't seem to know any other feeling. (The stadium crusade with countless streams of people coming down the aisle would have been unfathomable for him.)

But God told Jeremiah, "write these words down."

It was a powerful reminder to Jeremiah (and to us) that we don't always just preach for today. God was telling Jeremiah that even though the people were not ready to listen then, a time was coming when his words would be heard, needed and deeply cherished. His preaching was not in vain. The Word would not return void.

We do not have any way to know how God's Word is used in the lives of those we preach to. We do not know how God will use those words years down the road. We do not just preach for today.

Jeremiah would likely never see that day himself. But it is likely that several million people read his words this week alone. And people responded.

So as you preach this week, remember we do not just preach for today. But also keep in mind as you prepare this week....you are not just preaching for today!

Preaching the Story of God

Ever since visiting my IMB missionary brother Andrew in Bolivia several years ago, I have been fascinated by “chronological Bible storying”. CBS is a strategy for communicating the gospel, using story primarily for those who are low in literacy and or have very little experience with the message of the Bible. The missionary/church planter will tell the story of God’s Word week by week culminating in an invitation to not just hear about this God, but to know Him through His Son Jesus.

Ironically, I think what attracts me to chronological Bible storying is the fact that I am literate (though this was a topic of debate in the halls of higher learning at one point) and I am very familiar with God’s Word. The truth is, I envy the experience of discovery and excitement that must unfold each week as new truth is unveiled about who God is as people hear it for the first time.

What would creation mean to me if I heard about it as though it were some just released secret? How would I relate to the trials, triumphs and failures of the people of Israel? What would I think of the incarnation of God as Christ…and his death? And then His resurrection! Would I even believe that a guy like Saul could become a man like Paul?

This past Sunday evening I began a new sermon series entitled “The Story of God” which will attempt to use the principles of CBS to help my literate and somewhat Biblically aware congregation be caught once again (or for the first time) by the wonder of God’s story. Working with my fellow staff members, we selected thirty eight key Biblical narratives that we will be sharing between now and the spring.

Here is the list I am using.



How would your list look? What would you include that we did not? What would you drop from the list?

Ministry on Cardboard

I found this at http://www.twelvewitnesses.com/.

Powerful.

The Return to Normalcy

It is Friday morning. Power finally came on at church yesterday afternoon and this morning we are back to work. We are working toward having the building and ourselves ready for a regular
Sunday this Sunday.

I will be back to preaching on God's Expectations. We have a baptism scheduled for Sunday morning and our first choir rehearsals for our Christmas musical begin this week.

I look forward to returning this blog to "musing about ministry" instead of "muttering about meteorology". Thank you for your interest, concern and prayers for Eunice, LA.

God bless you as you prepare to lead and feed your congregation this Sunday.

Life After Gustav -- Wednesday Night

Power is slowly returning to our town. Our house got power back yesterday afternoon, but as we went to bed yesterday it was reported that 91% of our town was still without power. We sort of felt guilty for having power when so many others did not.

Meanwhile, our church still has no power. This afternoon the staff met at church and using a small generator for lights and gas to cook, we cooked up everything in our church freezer then delivered it to folks still without power.

But this lack of power, this 19th century life, is not all bad. In the aftermath of several storms I have witnessed a very unique bloom of community. Having been cooped up for several days and now without electricity people emerge from their homes. Neighbors seeking breeze begin to shoot that same breeze with one another. They check on each other and seek to help in any way possible. Damaged roofs are tarped even when the homeowner has evacuated and is not home. Generators are shared. Yesterday a neighbor whom until this week I have only waved to from my driveway to his, walked across the street to invite my family to take showers at his house since he had functioning hot water. It is really a wonderful thing to watch.

Then the power comes back on and we return to our cocoons.

We have begun to hear some sad stories in the wake of the storm. We have had several fatalities from tornadoes following the storm. One of these, a twenty one year young lady, is related to several folks in our church. Another church member worked with a man who was killed cutting down a tree in advance of the storm.

Tomorrow we will continue to address storm issues and also begin to think past the storm.

Cleaning up after Gustav

We are back home now. Gustav was a messy guest. We still are without power but that is to be expected. Just got cell phone service back.

We were very safe at church. Felt secure enough to sit by the windows and watch the winds. On the way home we did see some fairly large trees down. But the ones we saw fell away from homes. We almost got lost a couple of blocks from church because things were so unrecognizable!

But we are safe. A church came by with a generator and small room ac. We are very grateful today.

Now we get busy cleaning up home and church. Thank you for your prayers.

(As soon as we get power I will post some pictures.)

Not much more waiting now -- Gustav

Via handheld.

No more Jim Cantore. I mean for us...I assume he is still fine. We lost power about an hour ago. From texting other people it seems that half of folks have power, half don't.

Wind is really starting to pick up. I am glad that for now this is a daytime event...though we are just getting started.

Still feeling quite safe, but knowing it is going to get interesting before we are finished.

Waiting for Gustav in SW Louisiana -- Monday Midday

Our little storm posse stands at 9 people here at the church.

Outside the rain is getting heavier and the we expect to really see some weather deterioration in the next hour. The really rough stuff comes later. Forecasters seem to be telling us that we are going to get hit harder by the backside of the storm as it comes through.

Inside, we have a pretty good little spread of snack foods. Seems like the thing to do. Folks have also brought little "busy work" projects to keep occupied. I think we are going to start focusing on lunch and anything else that we can do while we still have power.

The wind howls every once in a while and the lights flicker.

Still waiting. But not complaining.

Top 10 Things to Do Riding Out a Hurricane at Church.

It is going to be a long day here at the church. So here are some the things our family will be doing to pass the time.

1. Play capture the flag in the youth department.

2. Put the cry room to good use.

3. Take a bath in the baptistery.

4. Mark yourself present for the next quarter of Sunday School.

5. Finally teach yourself to play the drums.

6. Read the entire Mitford series in the church library.

7. Don’t worry what ye shall wear tomorrow – fresh choir robe as needed.

8. Find all the storm related hymns in the hymnal.

9. Snack on all the circle cookies and apple juice in the preschool.

10. Watch Jim Cantore on the sanctuary screens.

Waiting for Gustav in SW Louisiana -- Monday Morning

It is early, but we have arrived at church. We announced that the church would be open if anyone wanted to ride out the storm here instead of on their own. I do not know if anyone will show up.

The most recent forecast is that later today our town will experience 80 mph sustained winds. Right now it would still be considered breezy, but it is picking up. I think there are predictions of high rainfall amounts, but maybe not as much as would TS Fay left in Florida.

I drove down the main drag this morning on my way to church and it is pretty quiet out there. Many businesses were boarded up. People here seemed to wait longer to board up than they did when we lived in Florida. For a while we were amazed nobody was boarding up. I did not get our house boarded up, since I figure this far inland people didn't do that. Then all of a sudden out came the plywood. Oh well. We expect to learn a bunch from this experience.

If nobody else is coming to church, I think we would rather be at home. But I don't want to "close the door to ark" too soon or wait too late to get back home. We'll play that by ear.