Change Of Blog Address:

Thank you for visiting www.eyeingheaven.blogspot.com!

If you are attempting to reach the blog of Drew & Amber Hutcheson, this is their old web address. You can now find their blog and family updates at:

www.thedrewreview.wordpress.com

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

First Baptist Jax, Where Christ is First: From the Watchdog Blogger to Ezekiel’s Watchman

In a time when the chaos of culture promotes everything our flesh feeds off of, there remains some sanctuaries where the call to feed the soul and live out Christ remains a concrete priority. One of these places so happens to be my home church – The First Baptist Church of Downtown Jacksonville, Florida (FBCJax).

FBCJax, as most other churches, has undoubtedly gone through the perpetual ministry tension of figuring out how to remain faithful to the gospel while the world around them is constantly changing.



Nevertheless, FBCJax, by God’s grace has had an upstanding history when it comes to church leadership, as well as church members who have volunteered over the years. As a result of this, FBCJax has been able to remain the Christ-centered, gospel proclaiming beacon in Jacksonville – and the SBC – it has always been.

In recent times, however, FBCJax has received a few scrappy punches here and there via the blogging world. Perhaps it goes without saying that for a blogger or bloggers to model such incredible discipline in writing divisive posts, it may just say more about themselves than the subjects they are writing about. There are some things a certain blogger writes which I agree with, while other things he writes I obviously do not. Regardless, we have a command to uphold unity in the faith and being a causation of exclusion more so than a cause for embrace is not a hallmark of Christianity.

Ephesians 4:1-3 is an alarming call to resist division and strive for unity. The placing of the conjunctions by Paul in these three verses makes it very clear in the original text that Ephesians 4:1-3 has an imperatival force to it. Hence, this is not written to be a choice, rather a command to be obeyed. In fact, in verse 3, the beginning word – σπουδάζοντες – is typically translated as “eager to maintain the unity.” A better translation is “making every effort to maintain the unity.” What has this to do with blogging in a divisive way? In an age when the internet is the primary means by which explicative material is broadcasted to our living rooms, the last thing we need broadcasted are Christians making candid divisive remarks, only for the lost world to see we are no more gossip-laden than they are.

Furthermore, in defense of the members of FBCJax, Pastor Brunson, and the staff - First Baptist may be Baptist by denomination, but the staff who work there, the senior pastor, and the teachings are undoubtedly Christ first. One of God’s great mediums by which he has saved and healed countless lives and still is, has been through the ministry of FBCJax. It has become even more of a gospel lighthouse in recent years with Brunson becoming the captain of this gospel ship and the global vision God has given him to set sail.



When it comes to the history books of God’s faithfulness at FBCJax, there is a long hallway of memories of people and families who have come through FBCJax at one time or another, and others who are still there who have faithfully lived out Christ. From Lindsay to Vines, Barton and Carr, Elkins and King, and so forth on the staff. What about Jimmy Scroggins and countless others who went off from FBCJax to seminary and are now in full-time ministry? What about the congregation? Families such as the Hamricks, Tebows, Carrs, Beltons, McNeils, and several others who testify of the congregation’s devotion to Christ. These are only but a few of seemingly countless other families who are from FBCJax who could be named – the list is too long to make. Needless to say, when it comes to wanting to have the rippling effect of the gospel cause a tidal wave of devotion in the local church, FBCJax has always had its current stirred and Lord willing, the gospel tsunami of revival is on its way more than ever before.



Regarding watchmen and Ezekiel’s message: In a nutshell, Ezekiel is about a man God chose to become his watchman amongst his people, proclaiming God’s promises, and warning the people regarding their evil ways. It was the norm in ancient times for a nation to choose a watchman to sound the trumpet when they saw danger coming their way. In like manner, God chose Ezekiel to proclaim the trumpet of God’s promises to the people, warning them that lest they repent, they would be judged. In other words, Ezekiel is a type of evangelist.

FBCJax has been graciously given watchmen over the years who have remained faithful to the gospel, to the people in the congregation, and most of all, to the Lord. As a result of this, the old church in downtown Jacksonville with the lighthouse has been, is, and will remain a church family where the presence of the Lord can be found.

COMPASSION'S REACTION

Jesus allowed his heart to be the handle which the needs of others turned to open the door of healing.




Mark 1:41
καὶ σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἥψατο καὶ λέγει• θέλω, καθαρίσθητι.
"And being filled with compassion, he (Jesus) wholly extended his arm touching him and said, 'I am willing - be healed.'"

There is much we can glean from this lone verse. We first realize that Jesus first saw the leper and then was filled with compassion.

σπλαγχνισθεὶς ("being filled with compassion") is in what is called the passive voice. This simply means that it was the physical state of the leper which filled Christ' heart with compassion.

APPLICATION
1 - If we have our eyes upon others and their needs, we will become burdened for them.
2 - Jesus opened his heart to the world allowing the needs of others to evoke him to take action and do something for them.
3 - Jesus moved moved toward this leper. The world promotes people coming to you, to serve you. Christ modeled going to others, to serve them.



Next, Jesus wholly extended (ἐκτείνας) his arm out to apply his healing touch to the leper. This word ἐκτείνας can literally mean to extend to full length. This says much of how we are to reach out to those around us. Jesus went against the norm in reaching out to someone who otherwise was overlooked and forgotten by society. Furthermore, he reached out all the way to this person!

APPLICATION
4 - Hold nothing back when it comes to serving others and may we not be afraid to go the extra step and do what we can, whether little or much for others, despite how we look in the eyes of modern culture.


Finally, through Jesus' touch, this man is healed. Today, we live as God's healing hand in the world, with him touching lives through us.

For Jesus, helping someone could mean, as it does here, healing them from their disease. God could still do this through someone today, but for the most part, helping others could be anything between faithfully praying for someone or going to help orphans in Africa. The needs of those around us are great and many. However, like Jesus, we must allow those needs to fill us with compassion which in turn, will lead us to do something.

Who is the friend you know who just found out they have cancer? Who do you know who just lost their job or is still looking for one? Who is the young person who is struggling in a home recently ransacked by divorce? A little encouragement, a meal offered, a listening ear, or even something as simple as faithfully praying for them may just be the healing touch of Jesus in their life.

Some Urgent Applicative Gleanings From Matthew 20:28

“ὥσπερ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.”
"Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, rather to serve and to give his life a ransom on behalf of many."

Some urgent applicative thoughts on Matthew 20:28

To serve is to give.

ἦλθεν “[he] came”
- In English this is the word for “come/came.” Standing alone in Greek it literally is “he came.” The “he” of course is referring to Jesus.
- Jesus went to the people.
- Jesus approached people where they were in life: some where political figures, others were homeless beggars.
- He came to us, that we may go to others.

οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι “came not to be served”
- Jesus announces that he, the Messiah who is the King of kings, is a servant, not the one to be served.
- Overly so, this is antithetical to our world and culture. It is often a glamorous thing to be waited on and served and our culture deems famous and longs to be like those who are being served.
- Jesus calls us to serve and not to be served.

ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι “but to serve”
- “but” denotes a contrast
- The contrast is between being served and doing the serving.

διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι “to serve and to give”
- Hereon is where we find the climatic call in life from this verse and where I will close our discussion on this verse.
- διακονῆσαι “to serve” means more literally to be someone who gets something done on behalf of another, for another.
- καὶ “and” is a conjunction joining “to serve…to give” together implying here that they are one and the same --> to serve is to give.
- Hence, to serve is a call to give. But to give what?
- To give of yourself, your time, resources, energy, thoughts, words, and so forth.
- It is a call to sacrifice.
- Furthermore, this is a call to humility. If the King of glory is by far to One who should be served, but he announces he came to serve, then here is where we find in our ever proud culture the call to be humble.

A Man's Highest Calling --> Fatherhood

It is an often discussed question in our current culture regarding whether or not a woman's highest calling is to be a wife and mother. There is, however, another side to this coin which has seemingly been left un-discussed: Is not the highest calling of a man to be a father? Does not ministry begin in the home?

Of course in asking this question, fatherhood would need to be defined. However, here I am simply attempting to raise some thoughts about men being fathers in the world today. Furthermore, both for men and women in Christ, as a people, our highest calling is to live our lives unto the One who calls us to himself, making him our supreme desire. Fatherhood is but one of the great ways men - who are fathers - get to live out this highest calling.



This past Father's Day I was privileged to speak to a youth group in Michigan regarding their call to be a part of God's team and pursue his mission of the Great Commission. During the hours of preparation I spent for the message, I found myself for the first time as a expectant father realising that some day - Lord willing - my son will be faced with the decision to follow Christ and his claims.

This thought left me dumbfounded, but humbled. I realized anew and afresh the need to prepare to embrace fatherhood with the same passion Amber and I share for the Lord and his service.

In a world desperate for good fathers, may it be that I and others are equally as excited and passionate about the home front and our need to be there as we are about the sea of people around us, their need for the gospel, and where we think our specific place in all of that is.



One thing I have been reading up on lately is communication with your child while he or she is still in the womb. Amazing as it is, the unborn child is alive and well in the womb and can hear the outside world. As a result of this, Amber and I have been attempting to read a Proverb each night aloud to our little handsome squirming gummy bear. As we do this, my heart overflows with warmth in realising the dialogue between a father and son - as seen in the book of Proverbs - has already begun. Will our early attempt at training up our child in the way he should go reap a manifold blessing of a child who walks the straight and narrow? Regardless if so, may we continue to passionately embrace parenthood, realising that as our heavenly Father makes us the center of his love and care, so too are we called to do with our child.

I believe ministry begins on the home front as parenthood, being the highest calling for a husband and wife. Could this mean hard work and self-sacrifice? Duh. Is it worth it? Of course.

For the Dad out there who feels as though he has blown it and wasn't a good father, be encouraged knowing there is still time to work toward making the most of what is left.

For the new Dad or those with me who are expecting Fathers, may we seek the wisdom of Dads who serve as good examples of fatherhood. Pray for me as I do for you as we strive together to figure out how to be fathers in our world today, for our children - to the glory of God.

For Am and I, our blessing from the Lord will hopefully have arrived by this time in October. Surely there will be plenty of diapers to minister to - all in love.

Cell Theory & The Reality of the Centrality of Christ

What has the cellular theory to say about Christianity? Not a whole lot. BUT if you will return with me for a moment to Biology class, the parallels we can glean from the theory do help us better understand our basics as Christians.

The Cell theory is as stated:
1 - All living things are composed of cells.
2 - The cell is the fundamental unit of life.
3 - All cells arise from previous cells.

I would like to take this as instead of talking about a theory, talk about truth - God's truth.

For Christianity, the above three hallmarks of the cell theory may look like this:
1 - All Christians find their identity in Jesus Christ. This means we are to live in such a way that who we identify ourselves with (Christ) is evident in any way possible to those who do not (Eph. 1; 1 Pet. 2).
2 - Christ is the fundamental Builder for all of life and existence (Prov. 8; Col. 1). If you read through Proverbs 8 and Colossians 1 (as well as other passages) it will be evident that Christ is supreme in all things. And, at this, that we turn to him through his word for counsel on how to live life.
3 - All Christians became a Christian by hearing the gospel from another Christian (at best and at most).

The third one has a huge implication. If all Christians became a Christian from hearing the gospel from another Christian, then it follows that part of being a Christian involves sharing the gospel.

Perhaps this analogy will help us better grasp the picture of being in Christ and his centrality in all things.

It is crucial to know one more thing about cells: if a virus enters the body which cannot be controlled, cells will begin to die off. If too many cells die - the body dies.



This is what cancer does to the body. In like manner, when spiritual cancer - sin - enters the spiritual body - our inner person - at less we stand firm and resist (Eph. 6), we will be taken over and Christ will play a less prominent place in our life. This will lead to at least three things:
1 - Greater detriment of the Christian body as a whole (the church).
2 - God's glory being displayed less to other people who do not know him.
3 - We ourselves will walk in conviction and contradiction from our identity - Christ.

May we strive to make Christ and his commands central to our life, family, relationships, job, home, and so forth.

The Proof's in the Pudding

When it comes to our God, I believe it is safe to say that the proof is definitely in the pudding. A man once said “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.” God’s extraordinary claim of loving us is backed by his even more extraordinary proof.

Romans 5:8

but God proved his love to us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The word for “demonstrate” [συνίστησιν] means to provide evidence of a personal characteristic or claim through action.

For God, his claim is that he loves us. His action – Christ' sacrificial death. God’s characteristic which is seen here is his love. As Christians, demonstrating our love in anyway through action demonstrates the gospel. This leads to sharing the gospel.

APPLICATION:

1 - We are called to prove our love to the others through action. God did this and we are called to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1).
2- Think of some ways you often show love to others. Maybe it’s writing a love letter to your spouse every now and then. Perhaps it’s working at a soup kitchen in your city.
3 – Now think of some ways in which you are not the best at demonstrating your love to others and resolve to work on them. For example, how do you think about others? Are you constantly criticizing them? How do you respond to conflict with your friends and family? We can always find ways to demonstrate our love, that the world may know his love.

In English, συνίστησιν is in the past tense, whereas in Greek it is in the present tense. This is what we call the present progressive which means God is continually proving his love to us. Thus, we should continually be demonstrating our love to him and others.

APPLICATION:

1- Think of ways God continually shows his love to you. These can be even the most common things in life such as food, a job, and so forth.
2 – Think of ways you could show your love to a friend, to your spouse, to a stranger.

God provided evidence for his love and this evidence is the cross of Christ. The cross implies a sacrifice. So it follows that showing love can often call for a sacrifice to be made by the one trying to show love to someone.

But what type of love is demonstrated here? The word used in this verse is ἀγάπην and it is the unconditional love of God. But why is it unconditional?

Typically we love people we like or know, or who are nice to us. This is not merely God’s love. God loves even his enemies, those who hate him, those who never come to him. If you look back a few of verses, you’ll read in v. 5 that we, that is, you and I, we were God’s enemies before he called us to himself. Yet, God still loved us and proved it to us. People can ignore the cross, but God's love will never ignore them.

APPLICATION:

1 – Think of someone in your life who you typically do not appreciate or are not that fond of. Regardless of the reason, talk to God about him working in your heart to work toward loving this person and accepting them.

One way we could re-read this verse to gain a more intimate feel for it is to substitute the word “us” with the word “me.” Hence, “God proved his love to me, while I was a sinner, he died for me.”

Lastly, we must realize that during the days of Rome, heroes died for their fatherland and for people who loved them and they were celebrated. Christ died for people who did not know him, others who hated him, and he died for those in a foreign land. He came to earth to die for people who knew him not. We are called to leave our comfort zones and prove God loves other with our actions and by sharing the gospel.

Perhaps today this opportunity may present itself.

Below is a music video which shows members of the Billy Graham Association proving God's love to people. May you and I be encouraged to do the same.

Inheritance: Earthly or Heavenly?

What would you do if you knew you had millions of dollars in inheritance awaiting you?


Inheritance is a prime way many people in our culture today bank on receiving extra money at some point in their life. There are cases when some children long look forward to the death of their parents so that they can inherit their money. These folks we usually see on a funny television show or scene in a movie. Sometimes it is an old friend who may leave something behind for another. At best and at most, those who are receiving some sort of inheritance usually care more about their loved one who is leaving them their inheritance, but in the back of their mind, they know that when they croak, there’s something coming their way which may help out paying for that forty or fiftieth wedding anniversary cruise!

To help safeguard against wasting time dwelling on one of the many earthly things such as supposedly guaranteed money, and to instead focus much more on heavenly things, may we now learn of a much greater inheritance.

Paul makes an interesting statement in Ephesians 1:18

that you may know what is the hope of his [God the Father] calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

One of Paul’s many metaphors which he uses is this word “inheritance.” In this lone yet wreaked with depth verse, Paul says that part of his multifaceted desire is for Christians to know what is the wealth of God’s inheritance in the saints. Usually, when we think about God, we think often about what he can do or has done for us, about our inheritance in heaven. However, this verse is claiming something the other way – what we do and are for him.

The use of the word “wealth” [πλοῦτος] can also be “riches” or “abundance” and is used usually to describe someone’s accumulation or quality of material possessions. It was the same for people back then as it is today. In this verse, it is used as an adjective describing God's inheritance. Because it is used of God and is a word which the culture then would have understood, it is drawing a contrast between earthly wealth and heavenly wealth. Because it is dealing with God who is infinite, it follows that this wealth is not merely more abundant than earthly wealth, but also lasting.

People then, as today lived in a consumer like environment and money held its sway in things. So, when Paul used this word, the readers of this epistle were overly familiar with it. Paul was being relevant with the culture. And, surely, anyone in the church at Ephesus who may had been a business person perked up and listened more attentively as Paul was using an economic term. However, Paul was talking about a heavenly economy, about heavenly wealth which he made clear was worth far more than earthly wealth.

But what is this wealth in connection with? It is connected with “inheritance” [κληρονομίας]. This word appeared in 1:14, but there it refers to our home in heaven. Here in 1:18, it refers to God’s inheritance. Wait a second, God who already owns everything has an inheritance?

Yes, God does have an inheritance and his inheritance is us - his children.

Much of understanding this verse hangs and falls on how one understands the little word “in.” In several Bible translations - the New English Bible, the Holman Standard Bible, and even the New Revised Standard Version Bible - this verse does not have “in” there, rather the word “among.” This is a tragic translation! This would imply that we as believers have an inheritance waiting us in heaven. Trust me, there will be know homes we inherit or investments which become ours in heaven. Our inheritance is God and he alone satisfies all.
So, 1:18 is saying that God has an inheritance and we, his children are that inheritance.

As a result of God’s choosing, redeeming, adopting, and sealing of us (vv. 3-5, 13-14) – we are his possessions. As his possessions, he will fully inherit us when we pass on to heaven and are welcomed into his presence. Therefore, it follows, we have an inheritance - God - AND - God has an inheritance - us.

Now for the parallel to today: If you knew you had millions of dollars awaiting you in inheritance money, whether through property, CDs, stock or bonds, or just cold cash, would'nt you familiarize yourself with it and know exactly what was there awaiting you, even think about it often, and know thoroughly well the details? Of course. How much more should we pay attention to, think about, and thoroughly know the details of our heavenly inheritance which we have – the King of glory himself.

We are valuable to God, this is not merely seen in that he purchased our redemption, but also that he longs for us to come home to him calling us his inheritance. We have a wonderful inheritance we can hope in and look forward to.

This makes evident and emphatic that the pursuit of the things of this world such as wealth above the pursuit of God leads to a hopeless end. Whereas the pursuit of the richest inheritance ever, the pursuit of our heavenly inheritance leads to an endless hope. Wealth is not bad, nor attempting to increase one’s wealth. It is only when heavenly wealth through our inheritance of God begins to dim in its splendor compared to earthly items does it then become evil.

Desmond, LOST, & Hebrews 13:8

My wife, Amber, and I finished another episode of the one of a kind show LOST. We are in the middle of the fourth season and just watched an episode which left me breathless and clinging to the Christian parallel which was so easy to see.

For those of you who have never watched LOST: reading this post will not ruin the show for you. Also, if you are trying to go against the tide of those who watch LOST, I would encourage you to give LOST a chance for it has many Christian parallels. Amber and I do not own a television, but if the only way we could watch LOST was on t.v., I would greatly think about buying one.

In this particular episode, Desmond and Sayid (pronounced Si-eed) are being transported off of the island and back to the freighter. During their flight, Desmond's mind begins to play tricks on him and he is now going back and forth in time between a part of his life in the past and then back to current time with Sayid. Each time he goes back and forth in time, his body remains in both places being unconscious in one place and both conscious and utterly confused as to what is happening to him in the other. When he returns to current time, Desmond no longer recognizes Sayid and has no idea where he is and why he is there.

When those left on the island found out about Desmond's condition, Daniel Farraday calls him from the island telling Desmond the next time he goes back in time to find Daniel at Oxford University.

When Desmond finds Daniel and meets him, Daniel tells Desmond if he wants to fix this he has to think of a constant, that is, something which is important and dear to Desmond that is in both places: his past and present.



Desmond's constant is his true love, Penelope (Penny). Desmond was going to ask Penny to marry him until he broke off their relationship, but he was still in love with her. He has been separated from her since he has been on the island.

Desmond finds Penny and tells him he needs her new phone number. Penny thinks he is crazy, but gives it to him. He tells her he will call her eight years from that moment, on December 24 - Christmas Eve. While this is happening in past time, in present time Sayid and unconscious Desmond are now on the freighter and Sayid fixes a broken phone to a battery, making it possible for Desmond to call Penny. Desmond calls and ring upon ring the suspense en-captures us until finally, Desmond hears Penny's voice for the first time in years.

She believed that he would call. They exchange words and Penny assures Desmond she is going to find him. Desmond is filled with more hope than ever before and no longer goes back and forth in time chaotically, but is now alert, focused, and full of assuring peace.

As children of God, we also have a constant. Our constant is the supreme Constant - Jesus Christ. Christ is the only one who is a guaranteed constant in an ever changing and chaotic world.

He is our promised aid in time of need, our ever present helper in moments of despair (Psa. 46:1).

We find this promise in Hebrews 13:8:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, this very day, and even forever

For we who believe in the One True God - the Lord Jesus Christ - He is to be our one true love. He is our one and most true constant, who defines our life.

He is our defining reference point in Whom we find our identity, our past, our present, and our future. He is who fills us with hope in times of despair as Penny did for Desmond. He is who brings us back to focus when we are seemingly falling in and out of life as Desmond was. Jesus Christ and His promises, amidst an ever changing world is the One who does and always will remain constant. Christ alone is the One whose history of faithfulness always fills our memories when we recall a hard time in life and know He was there for us then, carrying us through.

Jesus Christ, He and He only, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Integrity, Church Discipline, & Ergun Caner

Although we may not understand entirely why Dr. Caner may have done what he did, we can say we have been victim of the same thing: fabricating the truth. I grew up going to church camps where Dr. Caner spoke and also heard him speak at an annual conference at my home church. We were always encouraged by his passion for Christ and ability to hold our emotions with his messages from the pulpit. We never would have thought that as he was sharing with us about his Islamic upbringing that any of it would have been invalid. Neither would Liberty University, until recently.

Dr. Mehmet Caner is being investigated by the Lynchburg, Va. under allegations that he has embellished the truth of his past, particularly his Muslim childhood. There are several different articles giving basically the same general information on where the progression of this investigation currently stands, but here are a few to read for yourself:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i96cPQE
_WX5ctKCpHLWQyXPSnDaQD9FOENTO0

http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/walid-zafar/ex-muslim-evangelical-exp_b_582225.html

It is interesting though, the media seemingly lives to feast off embarassing a leader in a conservative circle, especially someone in a religious vocation. They feast off of making sure everyone knows of their downfall or sin while athletes and movie stars seemingly receive a pat on the back or at least positive attention for committing adultery or some other crude incident.

Personally, I hope and pray that these allegations will return showing Caner's innocence, but if not, then there will need to be church discipline. If it is true that Dr. Caner has fabricated his past, this serves as an example that integrity is often at the core of the testimony of the gospel. There are a lot of people who are disturbed and upset with Dr. Caner, both unbelievers and Christians, as well as evangelicals, many of whom are in the Southern Baptist Convention. But may they and we join in prayer for brother Caner and his family as his days of ministering at Liberty may be numbered.

Orphans + Adoption = the Gospel

Orphans + Adoption = the Gospel

Children have become nothing more than consumer products for people. Roughly a month ago a Tennessee family adopted a 7 year old Russian born boy and after a little more than a year, the child became what the parents thought was more than a handful to take care of. Apparently, according to both the adoptive mother and grandmother, the boy began to act in a violent way raising concerns about pre-existing conditions which the Russian government failed to let the American family know about. Finally, the mother had enough and decided to send him back to Russia on a plane, by himself, with simply a letter of refund with him. If this story is not jaw-dropping enough, just a few days prior to this, a doctor in an abortion clinic in South Florida was asked to perform an abortion on one of the twins inside a mother's womb. The twin to be aborted apparently was said to have signs of down syndrome and the parents did not want it. To the parent's utter horror, the doctor mistakenly aborted the wrong baby, killing, the other one who did not have down syndrome. Children have become nothing more than a pair of Nike shoes: if you don't like how they look, how they act, or how they feel as your child, send them back, return them, or have them aborted.

As horrendous as these stories are, there exists an equally horrendous ongoing story on a global level which prevails throughout every continent - the crisis of orphans. Christians are inextricably linked to the orphan crisis around the world. Whether it is foster homes here in the States or children being abandoned by the thousands throughout Somalia, the call to serve orphans and even adopt is starring Christianity in the face and is a call to take action.

Some may say we have heard enough about the need to take care of orphans, that a child around the world going hungry has been a perpetual issue for both the United Nations as well as the local church. May it be clear that Christians can never hear too much about the need to act upon the orphan crisis and to do all they can to help – but why? Orphans around the world, whether adopted or not, testify to the gospel and it’s unsurpassable power in the life of someone who places their trust in Jesus Christ. Orphans, and thus adoption are both central to the gospel.

It would do us well to recall that all Christians were once in what the bible calls our “former ignorance” (Eph. 4; 1 Peter 1:14). That is, we were “dead in our trespasses and sins” and were once “enemies of God” (Eph. 2:1; Rom. 5:5). We were spiritual orphans, dying a slow agonizing death. But then, we were “adopted as sons” (Eph. 1:5).

Although the word adoption is not found in the Old Testament, there is nonetheless a link between the concept of adoption with Israel serving as the child to be adopted, and her God Yahweh serving as the adoptive parent. Ezekiel 16:1-7 says:

This is what the Lord says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was and Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut on the day you were born, and you weren’t washed clean with water. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one cared enough about you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. But you were thrown out into the open field because you were despised on the day you were born.

Then the Lord spoke,
I passed by you and saw you lying in your blood, and I said to you as you lay, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you as you lay ‘Live!’ I made you thrive like plants of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful.

What continues is how the Lord took care of His once abandoned child –Israel.

When God saw us in our destitute state, we could not have profited Him in any way. Yet, out of His great love, He chose to adopt us. Likewise, when you and I chose to serve orphans or even adopt, we are welcoming someone into our life and family out of our love, not because they can profit us in any way. The irony is, we end up receiving the blessing from the joy they bring us. In like manner, for God so loved us, that He adopted us and, as we read in Ephesians 1:18, we see that we are God’s inheritance. That is to say, that we inherit heaven and righteousness in Christ, and God receives us as children to live with Him in heaven. The blessing is seen on both ends – all part of His sovereign plan.

For a working definition of heavenly adoption, we turn to John Murray, author of Redemption, Accomplished and Applied: adoption is when the redeemed become sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty; they are introduced into and given the privileges of God’s family – John 1:12.

Being adopted by God staggers our imagination, for who would have thought that God would see fit to adopt us when He knew our every thought, word, and deed. Like earthly adoption, heavenly adoption is also a legal act. Hence, when someone places their trust in Christ, they are justified and adopted instantaneously. Now, as a result of this, our new relationship as God’s child can never be separated. God chose us, intimately and personally. With all the past baggage we have, He still said “I want you.” What we must glean from this is simply, we in the eyes of God are anything but mere consumer products. He did not choose us only to give us up, regardless if we as His children do not act accordingly. God, like a good father, will discipline his children as He sees fit, but He will never give up on His children. Hence, adoption is at the center of God’s unconditional love, at the center of the gospel. We, who once were in a spiritual orphan like state, have been adopted by God through Christ by way of the gospel.

May we be encouraged to look at the orphan crisis around the world more affectionately in light of realizing an orphan in the child brothels of India and us have more in common than we previously supposed. May we realize the gospel is not merely a call to preach, but to serve. May we grow in our burden for orphans in a destitute state, a state which gives us a visual as to what we were spiritually before Christ, and be moved to take action on their behalf as God did on ours.

A Prayer from Pastor Brueggemann

In "Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth" we find a collection of prayers from professor and pastor Walter Brueggemann. They are inspiring, yet convicting and serve the soul well with practicalities and thoughts which call us to action on behalf of our Lord.

This prayer is titled With All the Graciousness We Can Muster:

God of our times, our years, our days.
You are the God of our work, of our rest, or our weariness.

Our times are in your hands. We come to you now in our strength and in our weakness, in our hope and in our despair, in our buoyancy and in our disease.

We come to pray for ourselves and for all like us who seek and yearn for life anew with you and from you and for you.

We pray to you this day, for ourselves and others like us in our greed.

We are among those who want more, more money, more power, more piety, more sex, more influence, more doctrine, more notice, more members, more students, more morality, more learning, more shoes.

Be for us enough and more than enough, for we know about your self-giving generosity.

We pray to you this day, for ourselves and others like us in our disconsolation.

We are not far removed from those without, without love, without home, without hope, without job, without health care.

We are close enough to vision those who must check discarded butts to see if there is one more puff, who must rummage and scavenge for food, for their hungers are close to ours.

Be among us the God who fills the hungry with good things, and sends the rich away empty.

We pray to you this day, for ourselves and others like us who are genuinely good people, who meditate on your Law day and night, who are propelled by and for your best causes, who are on the right side of every issue, who wear ourselves out in obedience to you, and sometimes wear others out with our good intentions.

Be among us ultimate enough to make our passions penultimate, valid but less than crucial.

We are your people. We wait for you to be more visibly and palpably our God.

So we pray with our mothers and fathers, "COME, LORD JESUS."

We wait for your coming with all the graciousness we can muster.

Amen.

From Desparation to Joy

Some time ago, Amber and I had one of the scariest nights of our marriage. We were returning from Bible study with our small group when suddenly my pregnant wife began to bleed. We were caught by surprise and were quickly moved to tears as we both sat in the bathroom and all we could think about was that our baby had just went on to be with the Lord before ever being with us. As in the midst of all times of desperation, the child of God is faced with a choice: to trust in Him or not. That night, we were faced with this decision to trust God or not.

That long night, Amber and I resolved together to let God know loud a clear that if He wanted to take our child into His presence we would accept it, but we were earnest it telling Him our preference to spare our child. I remember kneeling next to Am as she lay on our bed and saying that I believed our baby was going to be okay, that I could not explain it, but I was choosing to believe it. Under God’s providence, we just so happen to have our first prenatal appointment scheduled the next day. Hence, we only had to wait less than 24 hours to discover whether or not we would be parents this October or not. As a result of the bleeding, the doctors scheduled Amber for an emergency ultrasound. After a long night, and much intense prayer, we were relieved with inexpressible joy to both hear a healthy heartbeat and see our little peanut moving around inside Amber’s stomach. We went from desperation to joy as we confided in the Lord, trusting His will for our child. Most of the time this is easier said than done.

God heard our prayers and acted on our behalf as He longs to do for His children. Of course not every story as such ends the same way, but nevertheless, in our time of need and desperation in all situations, as God's children, we are to yield our wants and preferences to the God's plan, whatever it may be and turn to Him in prayer. During the next week I began to either stay up late or arise earlier than usual to plead with God to preserve our baby. Though the bleeding has persisted to some degree since then, we nonetheless have a healthy baby. Prayer is powerful and effective not because of who is praying, but because of Who one is praying to – the Lord. My wife is quite the amazing woman, and one of my heroes for enduring through this, carrying our baby for us.

What is it you are facing today which is causing you to lose sleep? What person or obstacle in life is causing you to grow in anxiousness? I encourage you to have faith in your prayers and turn to Him with your every concern. If God cared about the rain falling on behalf of Elijah's request and because Elijah was "like us in our nature," surely we can be comforted God is here with us and for us.

If Amber and I can pray for you in any way, please comment and let us know how.

I hope you will look over the scriptures below regarding Elijah which James gives us.

Effective Prayer
James 5:16b-18
16b πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη 17 Ἠλείας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν, καὶ προσευχῇ προσηύξατο τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι, καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ• 18 καὶ πάλιν προσηύξατο, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ἔδωκεν ὑετὸν καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐβλάστησεν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς.

“16b The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three years and six months on the land. 18 And again he prayed, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.”

“The results of prayer in your life will be effectively seen in God’s timing.”

16b
πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη
“[the] prayer of [the] righteous is powerful and effective”
- ἐνεργουμένη (“effective”) is in the middle voice emphasizing that praying has significant power.
- prayer causes things to happen because God responds to it (cf. Psa. 116).
- we pray to God who is all powerful, and who takes action on our behalf (cf. Phil. 4:6).

17
Ἠλείας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν
“Elijah was a human being, like us”
- Elijah was a sinner as we are
- yet here, he is the example of a righteous person whose prayer was effective
- it is the faithful person who is motivated and oriented to faith, and who is righteous in the Lord’s sight whose prayer is effective.
- ὁμοιοπαθὴς could be also translated as “like us in experience.” Hence, although Elijah had many occurrences in his life which most do not have, he still had a normal everyday life like us today.

καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ•
“and it did not rain for three years and six months”
- Remember, sometimes in a time of need or trouble, we must wait and pray patiently for some time before God’s answer is seen.
- prayer is a call to patience and endurance

18
καὶ πάλιν προσηύξατο
“and again he prayed”
- may we never be timid about praying “again”

ἡ γῆ ἐβλάστησεν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς
“the land bore/produced its fruit”
- the Lord acted on Elijah's behalf
- what are the concerns in your life?
- patiently pray and await God to act

A Biblical Theology on the Ethics of Speech

Intro
Our choice and use of words in everyday life comes at a great, albeit, forgotten challenge if we legitimately follow the guidelines given to us throughout the biblical corpus pertaining to what I call the ethics of speech. Through both testaments, there are passages and certain verses tracing a theme speaking to us regarding how we are to use our words, how we are to choose our words, where our words come from, the power undergirding our every word, and the effects our words can have on others. Dynamics such as humor, wittiness, sarcasm, edification, and frustration are all evinced by our words and the Bible, though unbeknownst to most, speaks directly to each of these.

Furthermore, what we say with our words is how we communicate the word of God and his gospel to others. I will be examining differing texts regarding what they say specifically to our use of words, and will argue that the Bible is specific in its insight of what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. A study on the ethics of speech in our day and age is crucial for the Church, for this is one way we can be set apart and heard as distinct from unbelievers. Today’s culture and sadly, even Christians will often go as far as they can to get a laugh from others, despite what may be said to evoke a laugh; e.g. sarcasm, boorishness, or immoral humor. Furthermore, as certainly any husband and wife can testify along with others who are not married, there is no rewind function on our words. We can never truly take back what we say, as much as we might wish to from time to time. Thus, how important it is to glean from the commands and imagery wrought in the Bible pertaining to what we say and how we say it.

Thoughtful Words
The Psalmist in 37:30 speaks wisdom and on his tongue justice. The law is written on his “heart” (v. 31). Thus, in harmony with his “heart,” he speaks wisely (49:3) and thus establishes justice. When adverse times arise and when under expressions of hostility, the wise man knows how to speak wisely and righteously. This is reiterated in Proverbs 10:31-32 when the righteous are known to be those who speak distinctly with wisdom, in contrast to the wicked. Waltke comments on this saying:

“Wisdom” here is a metonymy for speech that brings the addressee into harmony with the Lord and with his eternal government and so yields eternal life. The speech of the righteous which is implicitly likened to fruit (see Prov. 25:11), revives whoever feasts on it. The perverse speech of wicked people, by contrast, seeks to overthrow this ethical order upheld by the Lord and expressed by his revealed wisdom. This verse (v. 32) now defines people’s character by the nature of their speech. Here rāṣôn is a metonymy for speech that finds favor with the Lord and possibly with humanity.

Hence, there is an ongoing theme that the righteous are to have distinct speech compared to the wicked.

Proverbs 15:28 speaks to our use of words in light of where they come from and how we use them out towards others: The heart of a righteous person יֶהְגֶּה (ponders) [its] answer, but the mouth of wicked people blurts out harmful things. יֶהְגֶּה - hgh - carries meanings such as “to think about,” “to meditate,” and “to weigh.” In context, v. 28 encourages the youth to think before he speaks. The following then explains why this is so important: the Lord answers the righteous, but excludes the wicked. In v. 30, the imagery of “light of the eyes,” and “fatten the bones,” highlights the content and positive effects of a message. V. 28 contains a contrast between hgh in the sense of “thinking,” and speaking. It also pairs together “heart,” which rehearses words and “mouth” which delivers them. The implication derived from the meanings of “to weigh,” and “to meditate,” is that Christians can mentally choose more appropriate words to respond with to a given situation in contrast to impulsiveness. Luther sheds light here translating hgh as bedenkt which can mean reflection and also consideration. In the NT Peter demonstrates the opposite of this more than once (Matthew 16:22-23; Mark 14:29). The antithesis to the above is rash talk, blurting out, or to gush forth with “evil sayings.” Application gleaned from this is we are not to speak with haste, but with contemplation. Furthermore, our words, though this may go without saying, are to be truthful. This would include one’s use of gossip. Regarding gossip, Tremper Longman says:

Rumors are negative reports are negative reports about other people based on uncertain evidence. They are spread to injure people, not to help them. Gossip may ultimately turn out to be true, but that does not exonerate those who speak it to others. If true, then the report is being given to inappropriate people at an inappropriate time.

A Word of Edification
If we are to meditate on our words realizing we are called to use different words in different circumstances which will make us more distinct as God’s people, then it rightly means our words are also not to be used for things such as gossip or sarcasm, which can do the opposite of building up and edifying.

Paul, in Ephesians 4:29 uses πᾶς μὴ, a different Greek form of Semitic root to emphasize that “every, each” word that comes from the mouth is to be wholesome. And, though he is speaking to a group, στόματος is singular which means this command pertains to each person of the group. The adjective σαπρὸς is used in antiquity of rotten wood, withered flowers, and rancid fish. It generally refers to things which are worn out or useless or that which is of little worth. Though, there is no real parallel in the OT it is seen elsewhere in Matthew and Luke. However, here it is best to translate it as “unprofitable” or “unwholesome.” Victor Pfitzner believes this may find its root in Jesus when he asserted what comes from a person’s mouth defiles him (Matt. 15:11). This may not be too far off as it is seen elsewhere that Jesus lived this out as the one who redefined Israel as people on whose hearts God wrote the Law. This adds further depth to the theme of the righteous being called to speak differently by way of what has been written on our hearts, the Law, and by way of our supreme example, Jesus.

Concerning specificity of word choice, Ephesians 5:4 tells us what to stay away from. Αἰσχρότης does not appear in the LXX, but does in classical literature where it means “ugliness, deformity,” but here it means obscenity. The adjective form in classical literature means something which “causes shame, dishonoring,” and occurs 11 times in the LXX. In Genesis 41:3, רָעֹות means “evil, bad.” It is used four other times in the NT, all by Paul. Colossians 3:8 sheds light on Eph. 5:4 using αἰσχρολογίαν, a more specific word meaning “foul language, obscene speech.” Mωρολογία pertains to “silly, foolish, senseless talk.” Not found in the LXX, it refers to empty and speculative speech; it detracts from issues of faith and edifying discussion. Pertaining to sarcasm, εὐτραπελία was used in classical times meaning “witty, wittiness.” Furthermore, it is alluded to as laughter characterized by the youth and also as buffoonery and boorishness. However, probably not the best to interpret it that way, since people are will do anything to get a laugh. In context, Hoehner sates:

It most likely indicates jesting that has gone too far, thus becoming sarcastic ridicule that cuts people down and embarrasses others who are present. It is humor in bad taste. Believers should build up and not destroy, even in humor. Or, since in the context the preceding words were concerned with sexual sins, εὐτραπελία could even have reference to dirty jokes or humor with suggestive overtones. This does not mean humor cannot be used by Christian. However, it should not be employed at someone’s expense this running counter to Paul’s injunction to edify each other (4:29).

Thus, we are called to οἰκοδομὴν one another, that is, to build up each other, speaking beneficial words, contributing to spiritual growth, not hindering it. Therefore, as discussed above, we are to meditate and weigh our words then use them to build up one another.
The Power of Words: James 3:5-6

In James 3 there are many figures one loses sight of the ground, for the “tongue” itself is figure for human speech and tongue and body as synecdoche for speech and conduct. As is generally the case with James, his meaning is painfully clear: make every effort to keep control of the tongue. (emphasis added, see above cf. Eph. 4:29) Furthermore, in v. 5, comparing the effects of speech to those of fire is well attested as are analogies about fire spreading in a forest (Isa. 9:18). Controlling a fire sometimes cannot be possible. Is this what James is saying about the tongue? I think James is referring to how momentous it is to be able to control the tongue in light of how small and dangerous it can be. However, looking at καθίσταται in v. 6, the exegete must discern whether or not it is a true middle or a passive. If one takes it as middle, then we have to accept some degree of volition on the part of the tongue itself. If passive, then we need to ask who sets the tongue in our members. Does one blame God for this evil in our midst, or is there someone else to account for this unruly member? The middle voice makes more sense, for God did not make us to be sinful. The tongue is the embodiment of our sinfulness.

The things of which the tongue boasts of can be bad and pessimistic things. The metaphor of small fire burning an entire forest is similar to Plutarch, which sheds comparative light. The effect of the tongue on the whole of existence is portrayed with the participle “setting on fire” (φλογίζουσα), and is traced back to Satan. For that is the sense of the last part of the sentence, involving a word-play with the antithesis of active and passive: “being set on fire by Gehenna.”
Conclusion

As the righteous children of God, we are to be choice in our words so when we speak, we will speak at the right times, and in such a way that our words will be like fruit for the listener to feast on, reviving them. Furthermore, it is with our words that we can greatly damage others, even to the point of turning them away from God and his Gospel. It can rightly be said, the fruit of our lips (speaking) may be ripe enough for the hearer to bite from (hearing) and come to know the one, true, and living God.

Walking Worthy of the Worthy One

A few posts ago I mentioned from time to time I would post a devotional from a particular scripture(s). Below is from Ephesians 4:1-3 and as some may know, I have been studying through Ephesians, using Harold Hoehner's commentary on Ephesians to help me do so. Some of the below is directly from Hoehner. Remember, the devotional below is supposed to be used as a handout to accompany a small group, preaching, or a classroom setting. As a result of this, there are some incomplete sentences which serve only as key points. May this serve you in your walk with the Worthy One.

Walking Worthy of the Worthy One
Ephesians 4: 1- 3

1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love,3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds [us].

v. 1
“walk”- a figure of speech called metonymy. This is when one word is put in place of another to more clearly illustrate its meaning.
- “walk” is in place of the word “live”
“worthy” (ἀξίως )
- Has the idea of equivalence; emphasizing that one’s conduct is to be in balance with or equal to their calling.
- “therefore, I the prisoner of the Lord, strongly urge you to walk in a suitable manner equal to your calling.”

v. 2
“humility” (ταπεινοφροσύνης)- mentioned first because humility promotes unity, pride causes dis unity.
- a hallmark of a leader is being aware of their shortcomings. Typically, as human beings, one of our shortcomings can be our pride.
- not a self- seeking way of life, but others first. Jesus was best at this (Phil. 2).
“gentleness” (πραΰτητος)
- the man who is gentle is angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.
- this is a consciousness effort on our part to not reply to a situation in anger, but to chose to calmly confront something. Not to retaliate toward a person, rather to work at eliminating the problem.
- this person does not seek revenge.
“patience” (μακροθυμίας)
- an attitude of endurance which does not abandon hope; waiting, even without results.
- God is best at this, as he withheld his wrath from us who sinned against him.
“accepting” (ἀνεχόμενοι)- This is the idea to withhold our initial response and reaction to people and situations, exercising restraint.
“love” (ἀγάπῃ)
- this is the kind of love which seeks the highest good; a you before me kind of love.
- If these things are not done out of love, than there could arise resentment, anger, regret, or bitterness. This kind of love wants to do these things.
- To walk worthy of the Worthy One, we must aim to do all of these, not just one or another. Remember, this is a process, not a product. So, may our goal (to walk worthy) determine our conduct.

v. 3
“making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”- according to this, unity is not brought about by humans, but by the Spirit.
- believers are to make every effort to preserve the unity (bond between Jews & Gentiles) which has its origin in the Holy Spirit.
- we have a bond with all believers which is at peace until disrupted. May we strive to keep it.

9 months of marriage, 5 months till the baby carriage

Nine months ago today I joined in a covenant before God and man with the most beautfiul being, both inside and out, my eyes have ever laid upon. Amber and I met at the Moody Bible Institute (MBI) and had I known she was the one I'd marry some day, I would've asked her the day we met!

Amber, Am, or Angel grew up in Africa. She grew up in several different countries and she brought all of those often thought of memories back with her to the States and eventually to MBI. How was I ever going to join those memories and be one which was thought of more often than not? I never thought this side of heaven I would marry such an angel and delight as Am, but God's grace abounds and God lavished me in it by granting me this woman.

Now here we are, nine months later, with our first child on the way, due in October. Today, this moment, I'm more in adoration of my Am then ever. She brightens my day without fail. Her godly discipline warms my heart - o, how I love this woman who reads her Bible often. Her beauty radiates from her, turning the head of every man on the street, until I give them an eye and their heads stop turning.

My betterhalf she truly is, and life without her would not be life. We have yielded our marriage and one another into the hands of the Lord, and we look for Him to do as He may with us.

Amber Christine, thank you for being you.

New A-theists = Old A-Theism

There are new players in the same old game of atheism. Some new plays, some new sayings and cheers, but nothing mind blowing and definitely nothing spoken or written, published or publicly viewed which is not at its core from an old naturalistic worldview. A naturalistic worldview which is definitely not built on any grounds of authority. However, the "a" in "Atheism" whether capitalized or not may just as well spell "Attack on Christendom." But, with this so called "New Atheism," the attacks go beyond Christendom and into having intolerance toward all faiths: Islam, Judaism, others, but there remains, nonetheless, a strong vitriolic leaning toward Christianity.

Why is any of this important? Why should it be the least bit concerning to you? In a biblical nutshell, we are commanded by Peter to

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.

Hence, as Christians we need to have a response ready to give to things such as this new wave of atheism. Although the majority may never read a book by one of these authors, many still will and as more delve into a naturalistic worldview, the tighter the noose will get around the neck of Christianity and in turn, religious freedom.

Furthermore, at work in the office, at the park with the children, a friend who is struggling with their walk in Christ, or any ol' joe who is lacking direction and picks up one of these writings off the coffee table - these folks are those we need to have a response for. Whether they accept or reject Christ, do you not want to be informed with skewed views they may have already been experienced to before the gospel? We need to be equipped to explain why Sam Harris and others are spiral downward in their thinking and how it reflects a purely autonomous life which is ultimately contrary to all of Christ' claims. How can we give a response if we are not even informed?

To get a quick taste of what this New Atheism brings to the table, pick up Sam Harris' book "Letter to a Christian Nation" and breeze through his 91 page monograph onslaught against Christ and anything else having do with with belief in a deity. Harris, who was raised in a secular home where the Bible nor God was discussed has written another piece, one much longer, called "The End of Faith." In this book he highlights what he believes is man's lack of reason and radicalism in religious belief which in turn, historically led to violence. Hence, it is a call to the end of faith.

In "Letter to a Christian Nation" he takes shot after shot on Christianity, as well as Islam and other religions, but no doubt Christianity takes the brunt of it. Regarding Islam, though, he does say of all the beliefs out there that it is uniquely dangerous to civilization.

To take a different, less venomous approach than Harris, I will extend appreciation toward him saying I'm thankful for his display of courage and willingness to write. However, Mr. Harris, your approach is anything but new, and it just makes the pile of attempted attacks on Christendom climb higher.

Harris dropped out of Stanford University only to to later return and finish his B.A. degree in philosophy. He received his degree on anything but the fast track. Taking eleven years to finish a four year degree, Harris spent much of this time experimenting with MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) inducing euphoria and intimacy which he claims helped him receive insights into psychology and spirituality. FYI, this is the same drug given to patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as though suffering from depression. The only things Harris suffered from was godlessness. He finished at Standford and then invested in a PhD. program in neuroscience at the University of California.

One of the hallmarks of this New Atheism which Harris clearly makes apparent in his writings is the need to freely question the idea of religious faith and ideas, saying this is the root of society's troubles. At this, they [Harris and others: e.g. Dawkins] claim that atheism is not so much a worldview as it is the destruction of bad ideas. Simply put, this is a deafening call for people to believe in secular humanism, a life, worldview, and thought process devoid of God, faith, and community. If you want more information, surely you can search any atheistic website, but one particularly keen is www.newatheism.org. Here you will find a nice little mantra, more like their statement of faith:
"Intolerance of ignorance, myth and superstition; disregard for the tolerance of religion. Indoctrination of logic, reason and the advancement of a naturalistic worldview."

This is not merely an attack on faith, but directly at history, not taking note of any biblical history. It is a direct attack upon the cross, upon the Christ - God will not be mocked.

A few things regarding "Letter to a Christian Nation." The book was poorly footnoted and having many sentences and propositional facts without any referencing. It seemed as though Mr. Harris was simply making up whatever he wanted to regarding religion. Also, there did not seem to be anything too "new." It all seemed to stem from a traditional naturalistic worldview which atheists for years have been attempting to use to dissipate religion. Lastly, any Christian and even any Muslim who reads this book would be appalled at all the scripture Harris uses and how they are wildly out of context in order to prove his points. Or should I say, attempt to prove his points.

Furthermore, there is one thing different about these new atheists which is clearly seen in Harris' book. They are much more outspoken and clear it what they are trying to do. They have taken an approach which is less philosophical in their choice of language and have decided to speak simple and clear in their statements which are wreaked with anti faith propositions. So, don't be surprised in reading it if you catch your jaw dropping a time or two. Harris has a third book coming out this year titled "The Moral Landscape: How Science Will Determine Human Values." This will no doubt be a more captivating read as Harris will evidently attempt to ground morals in science.

Our response? It's a call to prayer, a call to return to diligently studying God's word, a call to return to being informed with what worldviews and writers are attacking Christianity; it's a call to return to sharing our faith and being aware of things such as this new atheism to be an ongoing part of our conversation. We need to be relieved that the Bible has authority, not merely historically, but all the more in its Author.

What will result from these new atheists? Probably we will see an rise in atheists being more outspoken, more verbal in their worldview. Probably also we will see people who are lacking direction just jump aboard the atheism bandwagon. These are those who are in are our midst's in the market place of life, these are those who need Christ and we are those who can give him to them.

Be encouraged dear believer! I recently was overly encouraged by one of my dearest friends who just finished his time studying at the University of Central Florida. As an outspoken Christian he lived and shared his faith throughout his fraternity. More recently, though, a gathering of his friends began watching a documentary on Stephen Hawkings new book which inquires of extraterrestrial life. This quickly turned in to a more than four hour discussion on faith and how you one can believe. My dear friend stood upright with his shield of faith, not wavering despite being out numbered and was "ready to give a response," defending his Lord and in turn, helping his lost friends come closer to the Cross. Giving a response is doable.

God will not be mocked and his word and Son will indeed prevail. For the time being, we are caught in this typical culture battle. May we be faithful, doing what we are called to do, giving a ready response, regardless of the outcome.

The Sluggard Craves

During my days at the Moody Bible Institute I was taught many a thing. Most of which dealt with differing ways to study scripture as well as both retain it and help others grow in knowledge of the holy writ. My Greek professor, Dr. Ron Sauer taught and modelled before my peers and I how to study scripture from the original languages, internalize it, and help others learn it. How he did this began with first praying through and over a text, then to study and exegete a text by way of the original languages, usage of a good commentary or commentaries (sometimes he personally uses up to 40 on a given text in one sitting!), only to then prepare a version of an easy to understand devotional which could be used both in a small group/ class setting, or in the event of preaching. I have begun to give what I was taught a shot and thus far it has proved ever fruitful.

So, from time to time I may post a devotional as the one below on a certain verse or passage. It should be noted that not everything on them may be clearly understood nor even written in complete sentences. This is because often times there is simply too much to put on a single sheet of paper, and thus one must summarize the high points of a text which has been studied.

Below is my work on Proverbs 13:4 which speaks to the theme in Proverbs of the "sluggard." I must confess I know less than half the amount of Hebrew as I do Greek, and hence, I had to get help from a dear brother (Jake) to walk me through the original text. The commentary I used is one any Bible student could use as well. It is Bruce Waltke's NICOT commentary (New International Commentary of the Old Testament). It is said to be the best available on the book of Proverbs, and although there is a settle amount of Hebrew in the commentary, with the way Waltke is known for writing, any Bible student could work through it just fine without a working knowledge of Hebrew.

Just some good biblical truth to feed the hungry soul.

Proverbs 13:4
מִתְאַוֳּה וָאַיִן נַפְשֹׁו עָצֵל וְנֶפֶשׁ חָרֻצִים תְּדֻשָּׁן
“The sluggard/ slacker craves and grasps nothing (lit. is never filled; has not). The soul of the diligent is made fat (lit. abundantly satisfied).”


“The sluggard craves”מִתְאַוֳּה (mitaveh) עָצֵל (astel)
- the sluggard is one who has wants, but is slack/slow/lazy/slothful in their work (21:17).
- the sluggard is unreliable and procrastinates, making him a constant source of irritation (cf. 10:26; 26:6).
-Biblically, laziness is not a character flaw, but a moral issue: leads to frustration, getting nowhere, and a loss of life (24:34; 6:6-11).
- the sluggard is never satisfied for his cravings are never filled.

“has not”וָאַיִן (va’ayin)
- refers to everything the sluggard aspires to.

“But the soul of the diligent is made fat/ made satisfied”חָרֻצִים תְּדֻשָּׁן וְנֶפֶשׁ (ve’nephesh harustim tedushan)
- figure of speech called antithesis
- denotes contrast to emphasize what the sluggard wants and lacks, the diligent has in abundance.
- Every appetite of the diligent is abundantly satisfied, including his hunger for God (Psa. 42:1-2; 128).

- Application: May we learn from the life of the sluggard that a life of discipline and diligence has its benefits, mainly in the area of being abundantly satisfied in the daily needs of life, especially in one's hunger for God. A lack of diligence and discipline will result in the opposite - an attitude of discontentment and and want for everything.

Cross - Shattered Christ

This past weekend while my better-half was in Michigan, I worked through a few books, one of which was Stanley Hauerwas' Cross- Shattered Christ. This is one of Hauerwas' smaller works and one he is less known for. However, it was still full of his gripping insights and ethical gleanings which Hauerwas is known for. For those of you who enjoy a short and very quick read, the book is only seven chapters long and just over a hundred pages. Despite the book's short length, there is, however, embedded within these short chapters some serious depth revealing the fruit of one who has spent some time and contemplative energy over the cross of Christ.

In chapter two titled "The Second Word," Hauerwas focuses on Jesus' words from Luke 23:43 where the Christ says to the criminal beside him "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Hauerwas calls these words both "silent" and "enigmatic" as these words are so settle, yet so filled with hope. These words do not merely reflect the saving power of Christ, but also highlight the faith the criminal had upon his death bed towards our Lord.

For those of you who have yet to read a Hauerwas book or article, usually he puts into writing the hard questions we normally only think about and keep to ourselves. As he does in this chapter by saying

our desire to say and know more than the silence scripture forces on us manifests our uneasiness with the mystery of a God who would be known through crucifixion. Our attempt to speak confidently of God in the face of modern skepticism, a skepticism we suspect also grips our lives as Christians, betrays a certainty inappropriate for a people who worship a crucified God.

Hauerwas goes on to say that as Christian we often fear the habits of our imagination, and too often the way we live betrays our fear that we are "but bubbles on a stormy sea." What Hauerwas is getting at is that often we have a fear of dying without anyone remembering us and that no one will be able to trace our existence back to anything great or anything at all. This is how we are like the thief upon the cross, all of us having the same plea, to be remembered.

There is a strange paradox resting hear as the thief, like so many of us, wants to be remembered for something, however, ultimately there is only One person who we should all aim to ensure being remembered by - Christ.

In closing Hauerwas says

Here, in this crucified Messiah, we see the love that moves the sun and the stars. To be 'with Jesus' means we are not 'lost in the cosmos,' but rather we can confidently live in the recognition, with faith, that God is not other than the one found in Jesus of Nazareth. How could we ever think we need to know more than this thief? Like the thief we can live with the hope and confidence that the only remembering that matters is to be remembered by Jesus.

Are we or are we not a people who live and breathe by way of memory? May we live this day remembering Jesus, being assured with the grand hope that He remembers us and with such, go forth towards others sharing with them our greatest memory - our Savior.

Christian Psycology & the Doctrine of Human Being Part 2 of 2

Back and forth the pendulum swings for Christian psychologists who muse over the paradox that we as humans are in the divine image, yet fatally flawed by sin. Having Genesis 1:26 as part of the foundation, we can bank on the fact that we have been created in the image of God, but from thereon in Genesis, there is nothing but a downward spiral of sin becoming the predominate "god of this world." Thus, so much of understanding what the Bible says about human beings and much of what Christian psychology is doing today and why it all matters rest heavily on what an understanding of "image" means. To understand we turn now to two church fathers to see what they understand to be the "image of God."

In his De opificio hominis, Gregory of Nyssa tells us that humanity is the summit of creation. Hence, to disrupt biological science and the hallmarks of natural selection, humanity is distinctly different from other creatures, for only we can draw near to God, attempt to have morality and virtue.

Ellen T. Charry writing in The Dictionary of Theological Interpretation of the Bible comments saying:

Being the Image of God is a psychological and moral likeness, not a physical one. It means that only we resemble the beauty of God and experience the bliss that he is when we are alienated from all evil, free from unruly emotions. That we manifest the divine beauty is evident in that we have the gift of understanding and are capable of love.

Nyssa says there are three parts to this image: physical, sensual, and rational. Furthermore, he says the soul is created with the body at conception. Because God said his creation is good, there exists then the fact that the mind can attempt to return to this original "good" that it was prior to sin. As Christians we know, contrary to the Buddhists, that we cannot attain this state, but can attempt to live a life of holiness and walk with God. Hence, there is a standard by which a person mentally can aim toward daily which will keep him or her from sin, and if they depart from this standard, the mind loses its beauty and is temporarily hijacked with mental consequences. As we humans can be unstable in our emotions, our ability to understand can thus be distorted and our desires can be swayed. Nyssa calls this the

evil husbandry of the mind.

How do we handle this hijacking of the mind from happening? Living a rightly ordered life. One of my old professors use to say that "right doctrine makes right living." His point was if we attempt to live in accordance with the Scriptures, we will live rightly toward God.

Augustine of Hippo understands the work of the mind, body, and soul to be progressively growing in sanctification, that this is one of the highest priorities of life. Charry says Augustine is calling us to understand that the human calling is to discover that we long for the goodness and wisdom that are of Christ. Here is another foundation to Christian psychology, that we exist for goodness and can only move toward this by becoming more dependent upon the only Good One. And thus Augustine's most noted saying:

we cannot understand ourselves unless we first know and understand God.

Three points of comparison are worth mentioning between Nyssa and Augustine. Charry says Augustine divided humanity into saints and sinners. Whereas Nyssa believed that good would overtake evil naturally and that human freedom remained untainted enough to restore us to God. That is, that we in and of ourselves would choose God if given the opportunity. Secondly, Nyssa saw the struggle Augustine saw not merely in two kinds of people - the elect and non elect - rather, Nyssa saw it in the heart of everyone. All people desire both good and evil at the same time. Perhaps this is true in the sense that even an unbeliever may appreciate orphans being given food, but at the same time are very selfish. Lastly, one of these views is more dependent upon Christ, while the other does not.

Why is this important? Why does any of this matter? Today Christians are being bombarded with psychology which is at the least, wreaked with secular ideals, never mentioning God. If we are to adequately understand our current state and helps others receive healing for any area of life, we must have a place to start which is not from the opinion of men, rather under the authority of God. Hence, to be informed about the roots of Christian psychology de facto lead the Christian to know where to turn in need of assistance. Otherwise the Christian may be led down a wrong path, adhering to anything which sounds good from the voice of secularists.

Furthermore, in a world and time when our minds are having constant attempts of hijacking from external things such as media, fads, trends, and sex, lest we have a general working knowledge that our emotions and desires are easily swayed to such things, we will adhere to them. We must recollect over our call to grow in sanctification, examining our hearts and minds, and realizing are dire need for dependence upon Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible.

Fundamentally, we must realize we have desires and emotions which can easily give way to evil, thus making us unable in and of ourselves to resist such things. Where does this lead us? Where do we go from here? Back to a daily, perhaps hourly visit to Calvary, at the foot of the Cross, casting ourselves on the grace of God for the restoration of our minds. I'm thankful such men as Nyssa and Augustine laid some historical framework for us today to turn to. May we diffuse between who we are, and Whose we are, and therein, live accordingly.

Christian Psychology & the Doctrine of Human Being Part 1 of 2

When we come to the doctrine of human beings, which typically is known in theological circles as anthropology, we de facto also enter into the world of Christian and secular psychology. Great tension exists both between these two field, as well as between differing views and opinions within each field, respectively.

As Christians, it is an important mental note to make that the Bible has no single theological psychology nor doctrine on human nature. Hence, these normally are philosophical generalizations. Herein is the need to know one’s Christian history and differing philosophies so that one can come to differentiate between modern secular views and understanding of mankind and the historical Christian understanding.

Even though the Bible is not a philosophical book, it nevertheless has key texts which do embody philosophical concepts which were prominent at the time of their writing.

When speaking of theological or Christian psychology there exists an ever deepening gap between the Christian understanding of mankind over and against a secular view. Why is this important? Those you work with, converse with, and meet on a typical day more than likely adhere to one if not many of the secular views of mankind, lest they be a Christian. As Christians, have we not an obligation to at least know what we believe regarding such a biblical theme such as the topic at hand, so that we may both give a response, explicate it to others, as well as perhaps even let our lost friends and neighbors know there is a correct view which has the authority of the Bible as its basis?

Beginning with Christian psychology, it differs from secular psychology mainly in that it “posits and undeniable and indestructible link between God and humanity” (Charry). Hence, for the Christian, humanity can never be separated from his or her Creator. One ideal and hallmark of so called post modern thought today is autonomy. This is latent with secular though undergirding it, for at its core, it comes back to an understanding of humanity. Thus, secular psychology will say humanity has a right to be autonomous, whereas as Christianity says this is impossible. Proverbs 15:3 heralds that the “eyes of God are in every place.” For the Christian, this guides our morality, how we live and breathe. Secular psychology bucks this and yields freedom to the autonomous individual to make up and create their own morality.

Could you imagine every individual creating their own morality? Having total freedom to judge that which they believe is right and wrong? This is the state of modern man. Understanding this and having an understanding of the Christian view of man will aid us the furtherance of the Gospel. For, in knowing these differences, we will live and breathe differently which in turn may reflect Christ.

We are left with a need for direction which we will turn to next. We will look at two prominent historical figures in all of Christendom who’s views are generally discussed in the realm of Christian psychology and its view of humanity: Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine of Hippo.