Thursday, July 28, 2005
Excellent
An excellent editorial from Youssef M. Ibrahim in the Middle East Times. He did a good job skewering Islamic terrorists.
Compassion and Politics
Those two words together seem like an oxymoron. Today politics is as cut throat as its ever been. What's more, Christians, particularly evangelical Christians, have become much more engaged in politics. The rhetoric used by all can get pretty ugly. However, Christians ought not respond in the same manner as the rest of the world. Our engagement with government and culture should be filled with compassion, mercy, and love. We shouldn't be sarcastic or uppity or self-righteous.
John Piper preached a four part series (Subjection To God and Subjection To The State) on Romans 13:1-7, it was good. He also wrote an article that discusses more on the Christian response to cultural engagement. His article is what got me thinking about this topic.
John Piper preached a four part series (Subjection To God and Subjection To The State) on Romans 13:1-7, it was good. He also wrote an article that discusses more on the Christian response to cultural engagement. His article is what got me thinking about this topic.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
This Week's Sign That The Apocolypse Is Upon Us
Hillary says she will support Bush's Supreme Court nominee! Oh yeah, she's definitely running for President.
On a side note, I'm beginning to like The Killers.
7 Things You Need To Have A Successful Ministry
Ronnie shared the above titled message at church this evening. Very good and thought provoking. It is based off of Matthew 14:13-21. So here we go...
1. Compassion: verse 14a. Jesus had just found out that John the Baptitst was dead. He wanted to rest, but there was a crowd that needed help. Jesus had compassion on them even though He needed compassion after hearing of the death. Compassion is different than sympathy and empathy. Sympathy asks: "how do you feel?" Empathy asks: "how would I feel?" and Compassion asks: "what can I DO?"
2. Be sensitive to/minister to physical needs: verse 14b. We are to meet people where they are. Must meet both physical AND spiritual. Jesus was very sensitive to physical needs.
3. Meet needs to honor Christ not honor the state or any other entity: verses 15-18. The disciples thought somebody else should take care of the hungry. So often we think somebody else other than the Church ought to meet the needs of the needy, often times we expect the state to do the job (welfare and other social programs). We should not send people to the state, but rather the Church ought to meet those needs. People often look toward those who meet their physical needs for other needs (which is why we have become so dependent on the state: the state gives us food and then we look to the state to provide us with emotional well-being as well as further physical well-being).
4. Prayer: verse 19a. Everything we do must be undergirded by prayer. We must pray God will work through us.
5. Give the love of the Gospel: verse 19b. We need to be a giving body not concerned with reciprocity. The Gospel was freely given to us, so we ought to freely give to others whether they have the potential to be useful to us or anyone else in the future.
6. Minister with impartiality: verse 20. EVERYONE ate and EVERYONE was satisfied. Not just the poor, not just the rich, not just the smart, not just the ignorant, not just the potential church members, not just the potential missionaries (get the point?).
7. Minister by faith: verse 21. Must trust God to provided what is needed. When we minister, we grow in faith. When we are needing compassion and someone else needs it also, we must rely on God to give us the strength needed to minister.
I thought this was a great message, worthy of sharing. I felt conviction with every point!
1. Compassion: verse 14a. Jesus had just found out that John the Baptitst was dead. He wanted to rest, but there was a crowd that needed help. Jesus had compassion on them even though He needed compassion after hearing of the death. Compassion is different than sympathy and empathy. Sympathy asks: "how do you feel?" Empathy asks: "how would I feel?" and Compassion asks: "what can I DO?"
2. Be sensitive to/minister to physical needs: verse 14b. We are to meet people where they are. Must meet both physical AND spiritual. Jesus was very sensitive to physical needs.
3. Meet needs to honor Christ not honor the state or any other entity: verses 15-18. The disciples thought somebody else should take care of the hungry. So often we think somebody else other than the Church ought to meet the needs of the needy, often times we expect the state to do the job (welfare and other social programs). We should not send people to the state, but rather the Church ought to meet those needs. People often look toward those who meet their physical needs for other needs (which is why we have become so dependent on the state: the state gives us food and then we look to the state to provide us with emotional well-being as well as further physical well-being).
4. Prayer: verse 19a. Everything we do must be undergirded by prayer. We must pray God will work through us.
5. Give the love of the Gospel: verse 19b. We need to be a giving body not concerned with reciprocity. The Gospel was freely given to us, so we ought to freely give to others whether they have the potential to be useful to us or anyone else in the future.
6. Minister with impartiality: verse 20. EVERYONE ate and EVERYONE was satisfied. Not just the poor, not just the rich, not just the smart, not just the ignorant, not just the potential church members, not just the potential missionaries (get the point?).
7. Minister by faith: verse 21. Must trust God to provided what is needed. When we minister, we grow in faith. When we are needing compassion and someone else needs it also, we must rely on God to give us the strength needed to minister.
I thought this was a great message, worthy of sharing. I felt conviction with every point!
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Breath of Fresh Air
A friend from Missouri is in Norman this weekend. He was on my FOCUS team last summer. Hung out with him and a few other Missourians tonight. Had a great time! Am glad I was able to see him. He's a great brother! Good friends are like a breath of fresh air!
Thursday, July 21, 2005
What A Difference
I am reading a great book called Flyboys. It is about nine American airmen shot down over the Pacific during World War II. It's a really neat book, and provides quite a bit of background on what led Japan to attack Pearl Harbor. I wanted to share a brief paragraph depicting just one difference between industrialized America and not-so industrialized Japan:
"For the Allied air forces it was a priceless advantage that Western economies were firmly in the era of the internal combustion machine. World War II military aircraft would be complex, expensive, and of vital importance. These warplanes would require many tinkerers to serve as pilots, air crews, and maintenance workers. Floyd working under the hood of his thirty-five dollar investment or a farm kid fixing the family tractor would later help America win the air war. Japan, by contrast, was much less mechanized, exposing many fewer of its young men to machinery. It was a bad omen when on March 23, 1939, the originial Zero prototype [the airplane that struck Pearl Harbor] was disassembled, loaded into ox-carts, and moved over poor roads to the large naval air base at Kagamigahara prior to its initial flight." Flyboys, page 81.
I found that rather humorous. To think, the Japanese were able to build such a plane, but they had to take it apart and haul it via oxen because they didn't have trucks to carry it.
Anyway, in other news, I like Classic 50s Happy Hour, it is HOT outside, I am a regular Emeril Lagasse, I wouldn't want to face Condi Rice in a dark alley, and I don't have classes to get ready for in August!
"For the Allied air forces it was a priceless advantage that Western economies were firmly in the era of the internal combustion machine. World War II military aircraft would be complex, expensive, and of vital importance. These warplanes would require many tinkerers to serve as pilots, air crews, and maintenance workers. Floyd working under the hood of his thirty-five dollar investment or a farm kid fixing the family tractor would later help America win the air war. Japan, by contrast, was much less mechanized, exposing many fewer of its young men to machinery. It was a bad omen when on March 23, 1939, the originial Zero prototype [the airplane that struck Pearl Harbor] was disassembled, loaded into ox-carts, and moved over poor roads to the large naval air base at Kagamigahara prior to its initial flight." Flyboys, page 81.
I found that rather humorous. To think, the Japanese were able to build such a plane, but they had to take it apart and haul it via oxen because they didn't have trucks to carry it.
Anyway, in other news, I like Classic 50s Happy Hour, it is HOT outside, I am a regular Emeril Lagasse, I wouldn't want to face Condi Rice in a dark alley, and I don't have classes to get ready for in August!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Currahee! (Reprise)
I just finished reading Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers. Phenomenal! Though there is much to share, I wanted to pass along this status report of a member of E Company, 101st Airborne. So without further adue, here is an update on Sgt. Skinny Sisk (yes, this excerpt would make more sense if you had read the book, but it is still good if you haven't):
"Sgt. Skinny Sisk also had a hard time shaking his war memories. In July 1991, he wrote Winters to explain. "My career after the war was trying to drink away the truckload of Krauts that I stopped in Holland and the die-hard Nazi that I went up into the Bavarian Alps and killed. Old Moe Alley made a statement that all the killings that I did was going to jump into the bed with me one of these days and they surely did. I had a lot of flash backs after the war and I started drinking. Ha! Ha!
"Then my sister's little daughter, four-years-old, came into my bedroom (I was too unbearable to the rest of the family, either hung over or drunk) and she told me that Jesus loved me and she loved me and if I would repent God would forgive me for all the men I kept trying to kill all over again.
"That little girl got to me. I put her out of my room, told her to go to her Mommy. There and then I bowed my head on my Mother's old feather bed and repented and God forgave me for the war and all the other bad things I had done down through the years. I was ordained in the latter part of 1949 into the ministry and believe me, Dick, I haven't whipped but one man since and he needed it....The Lord willing and Jesus tarrys I hope to see you all at the next reunion. If not I'll see you on the last jump. I know you own't freeze in the door."
Wow! How cool is that? Anyway, I just wanted to share that...it's neat to read stories of how God works in the lives of people.
"Sgt. Skinny Sisk also had a hard time shaking his war memories. In July 1991, he wrote Winters to explain. "My career after the war was trying to drink away the truckload of Krauts that I stopped in Holland and the die-hard Nazi that I went up into the Bavarian Alps and killed. Old Moe Alley made a statement that all the killings that I did was going to jump into the bed with me one of these days and they surely did. I had a lot of flash backs after the war and I started drinking. Ha! Ha!
"Then my sister's little daughter, four-years-old, came into my bedroom (I was too unbearable to the rest of the family, either hung over or drunk) and she told me that Jesus loved me and she loved me and if I would repent God would forgive me for all the men I kept trying to kill all over again.
"That little girl got to me. I put her out of my room, told her to go to her Mommy. There and then I bowed my head on my Mother's old feather bed and repented and God forgave me for the war and all the other bad things I had done down through the years. I was ordained in the latter part of 1949 into the ministry and believe me, Dick, I haven't whipped but one man since and he needed it....The Lord willing and Jesus tarrys I hope to see you all at the next reunion. If not I'll see you on the last jump. I know you own't freeze in the door."
Wow! How cool is that? Anyway, I just wanted to share that...it's neat to read stories of how God works in the lives of people.
Back To Cambodia
My roommate left this morning. He is headed back to Cambodia. I'm going to miss him. Pray for Cambodia.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
The Faith Of Londoners
GetReligion reports this from veteran religion journalist and European Uwe Siemon-Netto talking about the differences between Washington DC's response to 9/11 and London's response to the recent bombings:
"But here’s the difference: in Washington, people poured into churches and synagogues. In London, they rushed to the pubs by the hundreds of thousands.
Now, I am no teetotaler. Drowning one’s grief in ample amounts of beer or wine is no exclusive English trait but simply a very human reaction, though not exactly the wisest.
Yet I was appalled to find only four other people kneeling in my favorite London church, Saint Paul’s, Knightsbridge, when I went there that bloody Thursday afternoon, saddened even more when I discovered that these four were not even English but faithful visitors from Ohio."
"But here’s the difference: in Washington, people poured into churches and synagogues. In London, they rushed to the pubs by the hundreds of thousands.
Now, I am no teetotaler. Drowning one’s grief in ample amounts of beer or wine is no exclusive English trait but simply a very human reaction, though not exactly the wisest.
Yet I was appalled to find only four other people kneeling in my favorite London church, Saint Paul’s, Knightsbridge, when I went there that bloody Thursday afternoon, saddened even more when I discovered that these four were not even English but faithful visitors from Ohio."
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
TR's Hymns
My political hero is Theodore Roosevelt. In case you were wondering what his favorite hymns were, look no further! "How Firm a Foundation," "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Jersualem Golden," and "The Son of God Goes Forth To War."
A Modest Generation
Al Mohler points to a great essay by historian David Halberstam published in the Harvard Magazine. Halberstam discusses his generation and how different it is with today's. Here are a few tasty morsels:
"We are children therefore of the Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the atomic age. We are part of an era where Americans tended to live in one place and have one job with one firm for most of their lives. I think that's important because in some ways our values evolved from that, and are involuntarily more traditional. We have, for a variety of reasons, what I would call slower values, less given to fad and to change. We are stodgier, more cautious; in our dress codes I suspect we still prefer the tweed jackets, blazers, and grey flannel pants that we wore when we were young; we are more likely than generations that have succeeded us to be--in dress, and in thought process, and in cultural attitude--what we were when we were younger. That does not make us better or nobler than those who followed us, but perhaps we are more careful and more wary of change, possibly more aware of the consequences of events. We did, after all, grow up with the dire consequences of other people's miscalculations."
"The change in our country in those 50 years, so much of it driven by technology, is startling. We have gone from a semi-Calvinist society, or at least a society that still paid homage to Calvinist values, to a modern, new-entertainment-age culture where we all have television sets which are close to being de facto movie screens in our homes, often with hundreds of channels. It is a society where, because we are supposed to be entertained at all times, the great new sin is not to sin, but to be boring. As such we have reversed our values—something quite obvious now to anyone watching sports on television. The more provocative your behavior, the more you violate the existing norms of the sports society, the more everything is about you, the more handsomely you are likely to be rewarded. If we are a society with a higher level of energy than that of our youth we are also, for a variety of reasons, one with a much lower level of basic civility."
"We are children therefore of the Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the atomic age. We are part of an era where Americans tended to live in one place and have one job with one firm for most of their lives. I think that's important because in some ways our values evolved from that, and are involuntarily more traditional. We have, for a variety of reasons, what I would call slower values, less given to fad and to change. We are stodgier, more cautious; in our dress codes I suspect we still prefer the tweed jackets, blazers, and grey flannel pants that we wore when we were young; we are more likely than generations that have succeeded us to be--in dress, and in thought process, and in cultural attitude--what we were when we were younger. That does not make us better or nobler than those who followed us, but perhaps we are more careful and more wary of change, possibly more aware of the consequences of events. We did, after all, grow up with the dire consequences of other people's miscalculations."
"The change in our country in those 50 years, so much of it driven by technology, is startling. We have gone from a semi-Calvinist society, or at least a society that still paid homage to Calvinist values, to a modern, new-entertainment-age culture where we all have television sets which are close to being de facto movie screens in our homes, often with hundreds of channels. It is a society where, because we are supposed to be entertained at all times, the great new sin is not to sin, but to be boring. As such we have reversed our values—something quite obvious now to anyone watching sports on television. The more provocative your behavior, the more you violate the existing norms of the sports society, the more everything is about you, the more handsomely you are likely to be rewarded. If we are a society with a higher level of energy than that of our youth we are also, for a variety of reasons, one with a much lower level of basic civility."
Monday, July 11, 2005
God's Sovereign Choice
Do you ever think why God has placed you where you are? I mean, out of all of the places He could have picked, He chose to put you here. Kind of amazing when you think about it. I think that there must be an eternal reason that I am where I am. After all, I could have been born in France and drink wine and eat cheese while smoking a cig in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Or I could have been raised in Sudan and be fleeing the Arab militia--the Janjaweed--while scrounging for food. Instead, I'm in the heart of prosperous America with a great college education, a terrific church with challenging Christian training, and friends and family who love me. Some strange twist of fate? I think not.
Yes, here in America we've got it good. America is the richest, most powerful country known to mankind. Our government has the ability to change the course of history. We can save lives and we can take them. We can spread freedom and liberate millions from oppression. The United States government has global power. How should we use that power? Should we close off from the rest of the world protecting ourselves as best as we can by not getting involved in anything outside of America? Should we cease promoting freedom and liberty and pull out of places like Iraq and Afghanistan? I don't believe so. I think God has specifically blessed America to be a beacon of hope and light to others. Yes, I believe, along with John Winthrop and Ronald Reagan, that America is a city upon a hill (Matt 5:14). I don't think that we have become what we are by just happenstance--by Darwinian evolution. As Uncle Ben exhorts Peter Parker in Spider Man, "with great power comes great responsibility." I think God has given us great power for a reason. We ought to use it for good. I don't mean we should become a theocracy and promote Christianity throughout the globe while fighting a holy war with Islam. Rather, I think there are good deeds we can do as a country. We can show mercy and act justly not only to our citizens but also to the world. We can fight for justice and encourage freedom to flourish as we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can work to prevent genocides so that we do not have another Rwanda or Sudan occur on our watch. There are many things our country can do as we seek to be good stewards of what God has given us.
As individuals we have tremendous power. Of course, because we are a republic in America, we can become involved in the political process, working for change through the government. However, there's more outside of government. As I think of being blessed with great training at the OU BSU and Trinity Baptist Church, I think there is a special God-ordained reason for that. Why am I the one who received this and not somebody else from my hometown? A special responsibility or gift has been given to me. Now I must be faithful with that gift. Whether its taking the Gospel to the Middle East or to neighborhoods in Norman, God calls me to be faithful to Him.
The point I mean to make is that we are not just here in this place by chance. God has a reason to place us here. It is our job to serve and be faithful. I have been given so much, and much will be expected of me. Will I accept the call?
"'Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.'" Luke 16:10.
Yes, here in America we've got it good. America is the richest, most powerful country known to mankind. Our government has the ability to change the course of history. We can save lives and we can take them. We can spread freedom and liberate millions from oppression. The United States government has global power. How should we use that power? Should we close off from the rest of the world protecting ourselves as best as we can by not getting involved in anything outside of America? Should we cease promoting freedom and liberty and pull out of places like Iraq and Afghanistan? I don't believe so. I think God has specifically blessed America to be a beacon of hope and light to others. Yes, I believe, along with John Winthrop and Ronald Reagan, that America is a city upon a hill (Matt 5:14). I don't think that we have become what we are by just happenstance--by Darwinian evolution. As Uncle Ben exhorts Peter Parker in Spider Man, "with great power comes great responsibility." I think God has given us great power for a reason. We ought to use it for good. I don't mean we should become a theocracy and promote Christianity throughout the globe while fighting a holy war with Islam. Rather, I think there are good deeds we can do as a country. We can show mercy and act justly not only to our citizens but also to the world. We can fight for justice and encourage freedom to flourish as we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can work to prevent genocides so that we do not have another Rwanda or Sudan occur on our watch. There are many things our country can do as we seek to be good stewards of what God has given us.
As individuals we have tremendous power. Of course, because we are a republic in America, we can become involved in the political process, working for change through the government. However, there's more outside of government. As I think of being blessed with great training at the OU BSU and Trinity Baptist Church, I think there is a special God-ordained reason for that. Why am I the one who received this and not somebody else from my hometown? A special responsibility or gift has been given to me. Now I must be faithful with that gift. Whether its taking the Gospel to the Middle East or to neighborhoods in Norman, God calls me to be faithful to Him.
The point I mean to make is that we are not just here in this place by chance. God has a reason to place us here. It is our job to serve and be faithful. I have been given so much, and much will be expected of me. Will I accept the call?
"'Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.'" Luke 16:10.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Interested In The Supreme Court?
Laura Ingraham had Judge Robert Bork on her program last week. She was gracious enough to post the audio on her website. Listen to it. Also, this is a good article that Bork wrote. So, if your are interested in this whole Supreme Court nomination stuff, you ought to check these little gems out.
Friday, July 08, 2005
So...About That Africa Place...
Live8 has come and gone, the G8 is winding down, the ONE campaign continues, and 30,000 people still died today in Africa due to disease and hunger. One can debate whether Live8 and ONE were successful. In my estimation, the success comes from the awareness that has been raised. I supported the ONE campagin--signed the petition. I didn't neccessarily agree with the policy recomendations because I believe, like others, that it is corrupt regimes that allow poverty to thrive. What I liked about the ONE campagin and Live8 was the fact that the horrible state of Africa was brought to the attention of everyday Americans. I have read many articles on African poverty and what the right solution is, and spoken to average Joes about Africa. The awareness is there. Now, we must capitalize on this awareness and act. Pulling countries out of poverty involves more than just an influx of money. As scholars have noted, it requires governments that are friendly toward economic growth--friendly toward freedom.
Poverty, disease, hunger, and genocide will be with us until Jesus Christ returns to earth. However, that does not mean that we should not fight these scourges. As Christians we ought to be on the front lines--in fact, we already are. But we must continue to reinforce these lines. People must give, people must pray, and people must go. But we don't go just to do good deeds, but rather to testify to the saving love of God through Jesus Christ. As we are going to do good we must tell the Good News--make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)!
Sure celebrities and concerts can attract attention and governments can enact policies and people can give money, but it is only the Church of Jesus Christ that can really bring relief to the suffering in Africa and elsewhere. Let's do what we can to help those with physical needs. But we mustn't forget that neither poverty nor AIDS nor corrupt leaders send people to hell. It is only through Jesus Christ that one is able to escape an eternity in suffering and anguish. They've lived a lifetime in earthly hell, let's pray they don't spend an eternity in spiritual hell.
Here is an article from World Magazine that details work already being done in Africa.
Poverty, disease, hunger, and genocide will be with us until Jesus Christ returns to earth. However, that does not mean that we should not fight these scourges. As Christians we ought to be on the front lines--in fact, we already are. But we must continue to reinforce these lines. People must give, people must pray, and people must go. But we don't go just to do good deeds, but rather to testify to the saving love of God through Jesus Christ. As we are going to do good we must tell the Good News--make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)!
Sure celebrities and concerts can attract attention and governments can enact policies and people can give money, but it is only the Church of Jesus Christ that can really bring relief to the suffering in Africa and elsewhere. Let's do what we can to help those with physical needs. But we mustn't forget that neither poverty nor AIDS nor corrupt leaders send people to hell. It is only through Jesus Christ that one is able to escape an eternity in suffering and anguish. They've lived a lifetime in earthly hell, let's pray they don't spend an eternity in spiritual hell.
Here is an article from World Magazine that details work already being done in Africa.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
London, Huh?
So London will be hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics. I've never been to London, but it doesn't strike me as a place to host Olympic games. It is not a very "summerry" city. I picture clouds, rain, smog, and coolish temps. I'm sure I'm wrong. But seriously, think about Wimbledon...there are so many rain delays. Oh well, I'm sure it will be amazing.
Monday, July 04, 2005
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