Word of Faith Part 2

The second major error of the WOF movement is a dualist tendency. A strict dualist would differentiate consciousness including subjective experience and the physical world. He or she would claim that consciousness is a metaphysical concept and does not belong to the merely physical.

Word of Faith dualism is the idea that there are two great forces struggling in opposition to each other and all the world hangs in the balance. On the side of good is God and the force of faith. On the side of evil is Satan and his tricks and demons. God and Satan are engaged in a universal struggle for the world, and we stand in the middle as empowered beings who can sway the balance. This is obviously the seductive part. I am powerful. I hold the key. I. I. I. Me. Me.

The WOF scenario goes something like this:

God created the world with certain rules. He gave the world to Adam. He gave Adam dominion over the earth, and Adam bowed his knee to the serpent thereby giving legal title of the earth to Satan. God connived a way to get it back though. He brought forth Jesus who never sinned. Now Satan was allowed to kill anyone who sinned because the wages of sin is death. Jesus never sinned yet Satan still killed him and violated the rules. Christ took back the deed or title (or keys) over the earth and presented it to us. So, once again, we are in control. We need to learn to use these laws of faith in order to effectively battle the works of darkness.

The first problem with this WOF doctrine is that when God gave Adam dominion over the earth he didn’t give him an irrefutable title or ownership which could supersede God’s powerfully irrevocable claim to the world.

Gen 1:26
(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

I am the Operations Manager at MAISCO. In practicality Dan, the owner, allows me dominion over the daily operations of the business. However, I’m not free to give the business away or to supersede Dan as the owner. The Bible repeatedly asserts the Lord God’s absolute ownership and control over the earth.

Psa 24:1
(1) The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

This verse is after the fall of mankind through Adam, but before Christ’s redemptive work, and the WOF doctrine falls flat before it. The truth is that God knew Adam would fall.


Rev 13:8
(8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

God has a chosen people who He has redeemed by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Satan is not a combative force that resists the will of God. He can do only what God allows and in fact ordains. It must be so. The story of Job is evidence of this, and the fact that Satan’s very existence is completely dependant upon God’s active will.

Speaking of Christ:

Heb 1:3
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

I’ll finish by stating that the Bible never once says that Satan killed Christ. There was no deception. Isaiah states very clearly that it wasn’t Satan who killed Christ.

Isa 53:10
(10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

What was Christ’s work? It was to assuage God’s anger toward man for their sinfulness. It wasn’t to trick Satan into making an illegal move.

So here is the difference. WOF is about tricks and technicalities resulting in a teeter-totter effect with us swaying the balance between good and evil. The truth is that God created, owns and rules everything.

2 pictures of me at the Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis in 2004.


































A picture of the hotel where we stayed on our honeymoon years ago. It wasn't a Motel 8 then and it wasn't nearly as nice as it is now. However, we didn't seem to notice.

Jen in front of the Pyramid in Memphis in 2004.

Jen on Beale Street in Memphis in 2004.

Jen at the Patton Museum again in 2004. I kinda like this tank.

This is a picture of my beautiful wife at the Patton museum in 2004.

She thinks that it is phallic.

This is us unloading a 5000 ft roll of span wire that was damaged from Valmont.

Word of Faith Part 1

The defining doctrine of the word of faith movement is Gnostic idea of the God’s power. It goes something like this:

God’s power in this natural realm is called electricity, and God’s power in the spiritual realm is called the force of faith. Just like there are natural laws which govern the force of electricity there are spiritual laws or principles of faith which govern God’s power in the supernatural. As we learn these principles of faith and put them into practice we can further God’s kingdom here on earth.

What are the errors here? First, there seems to be a design here to draw a wedge between God and His power; however, scripture draws no such division. God’s power is not a force to be harnessed, rather it is something intrinsic within Him. The best translations of God’s power or the power of God should be something like “God powerful”. God’s power is himself. He doesn’t use His knowledge of his power to harness it. He is it.

The idea that God would punish or reward people for slight and exacting terminology and formulas for prayer or confession is an anathema to me. The thought of an absent minded “I’m sick of this” making one ill or “Ahhh… that just kills me!” leading to one’s death isn’t a Christian or Biblical idea. It is rather a superstitious and witchcraft like idea. Get our formulas and our mantras just right and God must act on our behalf.

The subtle appeal of this is that while we credit God for our victories and our blessings we really know that it is a direct result of our ability and knowledge to do or say the right thing. The movement is not God centered it is man centered. The negative side is that when we are in a state of suffering or affliction, it is our own fault. We are either in sin or we don’t have enough faith. Rather than suffer with the afflicted among us, we point at them like Job’s friends and discuss their failings.

My God is a sovereign, loving, jealous, consuming fire who holds me in the palm of his hands and provides for my every need whether or not I say just the right thing or have just enough faith. Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief.

I had to stop for the train on the way home. This is the train crossing on Fairchild Road near Constantine Street just south of Three Rivers, MI.

Jesus loves you.
He died for your sins.
God has a wonderful plan for your life.

I was disappointed to hear this lame and rather overused jargon again today. If good theology is the meat of the Word of God and if some are only able to drink milk because of a lack of maturity, then this is the marshmallow of the Bible. Not any marshmallow, mind you. This is the marshmallow that as a kid I shoved onto the end of a stick and held over a fire. I’d invariably hold the mallow right in the flame and I would be rewarded with a huge fireball on the end of my stick. Ten seconds later it was over and I had a huge, puffy, blackened gob that was crusty, then gooey, then raw. The mallow would then end up as a sticky mess all over my hands, shirt and especially my face… That’s the marshmallow I’m talking about here.

I guess I have a couple of questions. Does John 3:16 say that God loved everyone in the whole world equally, or does it tell how God showed his love to those whom he had chosen?

If Jesus actually died for the sins of every single person, why won’t every person go to heaven…or will they? Was Jesus death only able to bring about the possibility of the remission of sin or did it actually complete that remission?

Is God the great planner in the sky whose wishes are constantly thwarted at every turn by people who can arbitrarily decide their own destiny? Wow. We really are powerful then. It is we who stand in the balance. I have this vision of God. He’s pacing. He’s wringing his hands. He’s visibly concerned. He’s muttering as he paces. “Why did I spend all that energy making all these plans?” “Why can’t people just go along with what I’ve planned for them?” “I wish they’d just do what I want?” “It’s just so frustrating.” I guess the real question is if God is all powerful and if every molecule is upheld by the word of his power what difference would there be between God’s plan for us or God’s will and reality?

Another thing that I heard today was that the devil had conquered, or supposedly conquered, Christ for the short term, but Christ won when he was resurrected from the dead foiling Satan’s plan. Hmmm. I guess Isaiah’s writing that it pleased the Lord to smite him wasn’t really true. I guess God’s releasing his wrath toward sin on His son isn’t really how we are made righteous.

Anyway. Whatever.

Picture is of a wagon way back in a field over by Mendon, MI.

Farming

Today I was thinking about how the physical earth and my physical surroundings are the medium (and perhaps the only medium) by which person to person interaction goes on and person to God interaction takes place. I’ve said before that my Christianity is very, very physical, maybe even grimy and difficult.

I was thinking of this as I drove to work this morning, and in our area every farmer is out in the field from dawn ‘till dusk (or more) turning the soil to plant. I wondered as I passed field after field and watched them work if farming is a special or unique interaction with God in this physical space. We work hard. We prepare the soil. We plant the seed. We water and fertilize. But, it is still God that germinates and brings the crop out of the ground. It is truly something of a mystery to watch. It is awe inspiring year after year as I watch the cycle of life.

We use his soil. His water. Machines that were invented through His grace. And we use energy granted by Him. But beyond even that. In the end, it is God himself that produces the crops in the field. It is only by his grace that we ever harvest one kernel of corn, one bean, one potato, one tomato, one grain of wheat, one bale of hay, or a single pickle (or any other crops grown here). I think farming allows one to see so clearly how hard we work yet still we’re not as in control as we think we are. We are totally dependant upon a benevolent God.

Picture is Ben Russell tilling before he plants tomorrow.

A Fine Balance
Rohinton Mistry

This has got to be the darkest, bleakest, lowest book I’ve ever read. The book is moving, passionate and emotional. It is shocking.

No matter how low Dina, the tailors or Maneck sink in their life situations, Mistry finds a way to just crush them. Stories of class struggle, riots, corruption, deception, death, murder, beatings, forced sterilization, revenge castration, and maiming are par for the course, but so are stories of friendship, sacrifice, selflessness, love and solidarity. There is a lot packed in this book which ends with…no I can’t ruin it for you.

If nothing else, the book is incredibly ironic.

The story is set in India and develops with Indira Gandhi’s corrupt rule. The cast system is stifling. The corruption coupled with governmental reforms leads to crushing oppression of the lower casts. Population control becomes forced sterilization. Beautification projects become forced slavery and homelessness. Homelessness becomes criminal and is punished with slavery, death, and even forced political action. And through it all, the characters of this book are especially and ironically oppressed beyond what they deserve.

I loved the book. I think it was important for me to read. I never want to read it again.

As a note, I read it because I met a young lady of Indian descent on Southwest Airlines from Detroit to Baltimore reading it. She liked it but said it was very hard (graphic and dark).

I'm not sure which of these two I like the best. So I'll post them both. I took them from slightly different vantage points...one closer and one further.

I stopped on the way home tonight to take some pictures at the dam in Constantine. There was a guy fishing there at the dam, and he asked if I wanted him to get out of the way so I could take the pictures. I asked him if I could include him in the pictures instead. He said that was cool, but he got a call on his cell phone and took off when I was across the way and didn't get a chance to get his name or talk to him any more. Maybe I'll see him around.

This dam is really cool. It channels some of the St. Joseph River water to a canal that is about 500 yards long. At the end of the canal is a power plant and the water ejects from underneath the plant underwater. Also, there are boat races here some weekends in the summer. It was very peaceful today though.

The Banner Really Missed It

The Christian Reformed Church’s official publication, the Banner, recently devoted an issue to the problem of global warming. I had several reactions to items in the issue ranging from world view concerns to simple issues of common sense. Here are just a few:

First, amongst all the rhetoric the issue contained one fact upon which all of this seemed to be hinged. The fact was that the “past nine years were among the warmest 25 on record in the contiguous United States.” The author then goes on to state that the record began in 1895. My questions are: Has the method of measuring temperature changed in any way? Has the data source change? Are there more reporting weather stations now than there were in 1895? Is the methodology exactly the same? Has the technology changed in any way (better or worse)? If any of this is true, then what value is their data? Also, what value is knowing that within the last 25 years nine of the warmest years of the last 115 years have occurred? One can hardly project a global trend from this.

The article states that this statistic is “unprecedented in the historical record.” Of course it is. There is almost nothing of a historical record. Remember figures never lie…but liars sure can figure.

Second, much was made over the fact that lots of climatologists think there is a climate crisis. So, because lots of people think that it might be true, then it is true? Wouldn’t a climatologist tend to inflate the importance and crisis of his or her life work? We are all myopic and wish to have people listen to our crazy ideas. We all want to tell others how they should live their lives, and climatologists are no exceptions.

I should note that I absolutely love the insanity of arguing like this. “I did a web search and found lots of people are concerned.” If this kind of drivel substitutes for real meat of argument, then every position on every issue has plenty of backing.

Third, the issue stated that if we don’t accept the climatologist’s dire predictions and drastically alter our lives, we will “undermine the foundation of a sustainable world.” When I read that I had to close the magazine and read the cover again just to make sure it was Christian and Reformed. I can’t imagine any Christian let alone one with a healthy view of God’s sovereignty saying something like that. Of course, I guess that calls into question the author’s world view and his theology. Would God allow us to destroy the world? Hardly.

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psa 24:1

This is our block...the back side of Main Street (East Side) from South (on the left) to North. We live on the North end in the corner (the reddish darker building in the corner just over the top of the white pickup in the picture). This is in Three Rivers, MI.

I should note that there is a lot of construction going on. The parking lot that I stood in to take the photo is brand new, and it raised the level of the street by about 15 or 20 feet. There is a narrow alley of sorts between the parking lot and the buildings with catwalk like suspended sidewalks. Meyer Ventures bought 13 (I think) buildings and completely renovated them in the last year or two, and we live in one of Meyer's buildings. Also, I should note that my great grandfather, Isaac Null, built most of these buildings over 100 years ago.

This is how the river looked (real foggy) on Saturday morning as I went to work. This is at the intersection of Constantine Street and Mintdale Road near Constantine, MI.

Bad Boys

Yesterday, Jen and I were driving around town in her convertible, and we watched a police officer pull over a white Dodge 4 X 4 in a driveway. We drove by twice. The second time the cop was in his car looking up info on his computer, and we drove about a block to the intersection of Michigan and Wood Street where Pauls Pantry, a run down, little, party store is.

We saw 15 or 20 people fighting at the party store. I don’t mean shouting and poking fun at each other. I mean beating the daylights out of each other in the parking lot. I did a quick U turn and raced back north to the cop who slowly rolled down his window when I pulled up beside him.

“Yeah”

“You know there’s a huge fight going on down there?”

“Where?”

“The party store. There must be at least 15.”

He just took off. The guy in the truck was visibly upset lifting his arms in the air like “what about me?”

As we drove off we heard sirens all over the city, and when we drove by a couple of minutes later there were four police cars there.

Did I feel good about myself? I don’t know. It was kinda fun.

The Smiling "G"

Anyone remember the Smiling G? My mom used to take us kids to the Smiling G (or Goodwill) on occassion), and my wife has adopted the same passion for getting slightly used clothing and things at bargain prices.

Yesterday, I came home and she ran up to me with a huge plastic bag. I didn't realize they made plastic bags that you could take home a pool table in. Anyway, she says, " Look what I got for only $30!" And, she starts taking out clothes...pants, shorts, etc...

I looked at her proudly holding a very unique pair of black and white checkered dress shorts with that goofy smile on her face, and I couldn't help myself. I said, "You know the great thing about shopping at the Goodwill in a small community like Three Rivers?" She squints and the smile begins to fade. "It's only a matter of time before you meet the previous owner."

So... she refused to show me the rest of the contents of the bag. Hmmm.

I should note that my mother once had a dream where she bought used popcorn from the Smiling G. It was the unpopped corn that always sits on the bottom of the bowl.

The photo is out our living room window at night. There is a tree in front that is blooming.

Dave

This is Dave.

We were at the "Tap Room", a neighborhood bar about a block from our apartment, tonight, and while I worked on my computer, Jen talked to Dave. Dave ended up confessing that he believes and God and is terrified by that belief. He also confessed to holding on to the anger from his wife's suicide 20 some odd years ago. It has crushed his life and brought him to a real low point. He openly cried as Jen and he spoke. He is afraid of trusting God and going to heaven because he believes that there is no forgiveness for suicide since the offender can't ask forgiveness. If he goes to heaven, he'll never see his wife again. Wow. That's a real struggle. I believe that my sins are covered by Christ's work not my asking forgiveness.

If Dave ever sees this, I hope he knows that I have a lot of respect for what he's gone through and where he is in life. Dave isn't really any different from the rest of us. He is struggling. I struggle. You struggle. The church is full of Dave's in one form or another. I pray the Lord opens his eyes just as I pray the Lord opens mine.

I found myself thinking about how little difference there is between Dave and I. Wow. I struggle with issues that are just as core and unsettling as Dave does. I feel like crying openly sometimes as I thrash about in this world. I wonder if Dave is an evangelistic opportunity or a vist of an angel unawares...

The Rise of the Romanists

There’s a new trend with young people today. We all need an authority over us in order to feel secure in our place, and we live in a maturing anti-authoritarian age. Parents have allowed children to do whatever the children want. Schools have labeled behavior problems “learning disabilities” and we reward the anti-authoritarian attitudes. The majority of evangelical protestant churches have taken a very anti-authoritarian approach in order to attract attendees. The gospel has been relegated from the central authority of our lives to a nice social and emotional addition to our lives.

I see the children of this era as wanting a solid foundation that is outside of themselves, and they are turning to institutions which are willing to provide it. They end up in prison, the military, the Jehovah Witnesses, and the Roman Catholic Church.

I know several friends who have ventured to the Roman Church as a means of finding definition and authority under which they might flourish. One of them in particular can be found at http://paleocrat.blogspot.com/

I’m not sure if this makes sense? Any comments?

The picture is a photo I took of the Roman Catholic Church in Mendon, MI.

This is Three Rivers Christian Reformed Church from the air. This is the church that God has chosen to bless us with.

Valley centerpivot on M-60 on my way from Three Rivers to Battle Creek. I thought it looked pretty cool. These are the machines that MAISCO (where I work) designs, sells builds and maintains.

Downtown Three Rivers, Michigan. We live just to the left of this photo. The sky is, freakishly, the actual sky...weird. I've seen similar photos taken 50 or 60 years ago, and this is my first attempt to replicate that with today's storefronts etc... Visit sometime.

An abandoned church in Parkville, MI. Wasn't sure how this will turn out. Parkville is just North of Three Rivers.

Reasonable Service (or Such a Price)

This Sunday I preached at our church, since our pastor was away. I spoke on Lord’s Day 16 of the Heidelberg Catechism which refers to the passage in the Apostle’s Creed about Christ’s suffering, death, burial and descent into Hell. I read a lot of Calvin on the subject and it changed my view which I had learned from other commentators and preachers.

Calvin basically says that the physical suffering and death of even a God/Man (God of very God, man of very man. Fully God and fully Man) could hardly have paid for the contemptuous nature of our sin. Calvin points out that the wages, which must be satisfied, are the second death or Hell; and Christ surely had to receive in himself the recompense for that sin in his very soul in order to satisfy God’s jealous anger. He goes on to point out just how terrified Christ seems to be in the Garden of Gethsemane. I always tended to downplay the fear in his voice, but Calvin accentuates it. All of this leads to a fuller understanding of: My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?

That was the price He paid. That was the dowry this Bridegroom paid for His bride. As the bride of Christ, how does this awesome and terrible price that was paid for us effect our lives, our decision making, and even the simple and easy to see parts of our life? How does it effect my budget? How does it influence how I spend my time?

He paid for us. I am His child in the palm of His hand and no one (even myself) can remove me from his protection. I don’t have to fret, but what is my reasonable service?

To glorify Him with all I have.

Tim Wagner's Valley at Fawn River Road and Mill Pond Road near White Pigeon, MI.

John Miller Farm on Engle Road between White Pigeon, Constantine and Centreville, Michigan. Somebody is plowing with the John Deere articulating tractor.

Jerry Jones' farm on Sevison Road.

My wife and I were walking over to Piasano's for a little food and beverage the other evening and I snapped a picture of one of the cooler old buildings in town. This home is being used as an insurance company. This home is about 500 ft. from our place.

Redemption Question:

My pastor asked me a question the other day, and we had a lively discussion about it. I would like to hear views and opinions on it. I'll weigh in eventually.

"Are the redemption of souls and the redemption of the world separate or are the synonymous? If they are two different things, how are they related and do they necessarily involve eachother at every turn? Is our life work to strive toward the redemption of souls? The whole world? How do these interact for us?"

Thought you all may want to comment.

Grandpa Joe

I have a lot of respect for my Grandpa. He left to make his own way in life. He fought in World War 2 and was wounded severely in the Pacific. He recovered, married my Grandma, bought a farm and raised a large family. I respect his decisions, his successes, and his determination. This is a picture of him at our Easter family get together today.

This is a picture of my wife (barely visible in the middle under the bridge) a couple of blocks away from our apartment.

Here's a crazy (and not very good poem) that I wrote. I actually dreamed this, and thought of writing a poem about it when I woke up this morning. Enjoy... or at least tolerate! LOL.

Flog

A crazy yell and spill the beer
Through the hedge, o'er the rise
Club held erect without fear
To hole eighteen for the prize
Ball on the ground flat and sheer

Push it to the fair with a plow
Smack and it sails up to a clou’

Race in the night for the find
Look and look; there it is
No, just a nut of some kind
Despair, anger; what ‘bout this?
Drop another no one’ll mind

Whack! Wood on the ball
Hopin’ near to the tee it’ll fall

Once more then it’s close
Put dimpled round on the pole
Three more swings the mos’
Start ‘gain... prize in the next hole
All are runnin’ to see who’ll boas’

Better exercise than taking a jog
A backwards game we call flog

Joe hasn't updated his blog, so I will. This is Jen.

Joe and I recently went on a great week-long trip to DC, MD, and VA. We saw a lot of wonderful things. I think that he may reflect upon something about this trip... I'm sure that this un-authorized post will draw some sort of response.

For those who watch Joe's blog, stay tuned for something... soon!

Signing off for now! Hoping for some sort of respnse!

Jen

PayPal Questions

I have some questions about PayPal that I haven’t found answers to. Maybe someone can help me.

Most of the money converted from real dollars to PayPal funds isn’t withdrawn. When I sell things on eBay, I usually use the PayPal funds to buy other things rather than converting it back into dollars in my bank account. So, how much actual cash does PayPal have to have on hand in order to make the system work?

I’ve seen figures of $12 billion or more in transaction volumes performed on PayPal. But the real question is how much new money is being put into the system versus what is taken out. My sense of dealing with eBay and PayPal is that about 1/3 of what is added in a given year is taken out. This could be way off, but I tend to keep my PayPal money in PayPal for other transactions.

If this is true, then a couple of things:

1. PayPal is able to keep most of the cash converted to PayPal money.

2. What would keep PayPal executives or employees from just creating PayPal money and putting it into their own accounts to purchase whatever they desire?

3. PayPal is creating inflation by printing more money exactly the same way the Federal Reserve does.

4. How is PayPal regulated? Is it a bank? Credit Union?

I’m just wondering about this. Maybe someone can help me with some answers.

“There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.”

In the middle of the 16th century, a Protestant, English roving chaplain named John Bradford had occasion to watch several criminals led to the gallows and executed. As the criminals were led up to the scaffold, Bradford uttered the famously quoted, albeit generically, saying. Bradford’s words are well known, but they are not well understood.

Without the God of the universe acting in particular on my own heart… Without Jehovah God opening my eyes to see the truth and opening my ears to hear and understand… Then I am like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Who were blind, and although the Lord Jesus stood before them, walked the same dirt path, talked with them, even ate with them and discussed scripture with them, were unable to comprehend Him.

We are blind and stupid. We suppress the truth in unrighteousness. We are all criminals against God. We assert our own right to be like him, judging for ourselves what is right and wrong. We desire to be the determiner of our own destiny. We fight for the right to let our will be done. We are sinners. We deserve the gallows and much worse. There is no righteousness in us. It is filthy rags.

But, Christ opened my eyes, just like He opened the eyes of the disciples on that road. He changed me, revealed himself to me, and I in return could naught but bow my head and humbly submit to the King of Kings.

Without Him changing me in particular, I could never see Him. Once my eyes were opened I could not help but see Him. Without God’s particular grace towards me, I was lost. All that I am is because of His condescension towards me.

So you see… “There but for the grace of God goes Joe Graber.”

On January 31, 1555, John Bradford was burned at the stake as a heretic, in opposing the papacy, by the Roman Catholic Queen Mary. It was written that he endured the flame "as a fresh gale of wind in a hot summer's day, confirming by his death the truth of that doctrine he had so diligently and powerfully preached during his life."

I should note that William Bradford, who came to the New World aboard the Mayflower and was governor of that settlement for 30 years, was likely a relative of John Bradford.

Update: Upstairs Music

Ok! Ok! I couldn’t take it any more.

At 10:30 PM, I was trying to go to bed, but the beat of the music just went on and on. Finally, I got up, put on my jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. I put on my shoes and grabbed my stainless steel, 40 caliber, Taurus Millennium. I strode quickly and confidently outside. I almost couldn’t hear the music at first, but then when I got up the stairs and stood in front of the door. The beat was coming right through the door, and I hammered my fist against the door, the gun in my other.

The music instantly ceased. I waited impatiently. Finally, the door opened, and the little man stood before me. “Yes?”

“I’m from down stairs, and…well…we’re going to bed now.”

“Oh, we’ll turn it down.”

From behind him I hear, “Is it too loud?”

“We’ve been listening to it since 5 O’clock.”

“Ok”

“Thanks.”

Then, I went down and went to bed

-----------

I was thinking that I should apologize to them later… What do you think?

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Just a special little "thank you" to the homosexuals living in the apartment above us for playing their music really loud at certain times. Lord knows what sounds we'd hear if they didn't play the music. Ewww!

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
(2Co 13:5-8)

It is much easier, and much more appealing to our humanity to portray the appearance of something rather than create the true. For instance it is much easier to portray substance, either in business or personally than it is to create real substance. It is often much easier to give the appearance of knowledge or skills than it is to actually develop such skill or acquire such knowledge.

We went to a minor league sports game the other day, and the arena was posh with expertly designed decorations, exciting displays of fireworks and flame as well as all sorts of themed accoutrements. Before the game began, the setting was truly awe inspiring and gave a sense of magnificence. Unfortunately, the teams took the field, and we all quickly discovered that the home team was amateurish. They were severely beaten, pounded, rather rubble-ized. It was embarrassing. The truth took about 30 seconds to be discovered on the playing field.

We all attempt to generate appearances on a personal basis. We all, either consciously or sub-consciously, want others to think about us in a certain way. What way is it that you try to fool people about yourself? Most of us want others to believe that we are of the highest moral integrity. We want others to think that we are productive and generous. We want people to admire our wealth generation abilities, or perhaps our self control. There are a myriad of ways that we try to keep up appearances, as the British comedy television show lampoons so well.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians that we should pray to God that we would do no evil, not in order to keep up appearances but to be honest and live truthfully.

What is it that most children who are raised in the church and then leave say? They tired of the appearances, the hypocrites, the deception. We put on masks and become actors, but we don’t understand that everyone sees through it. It takes about 30 seconds of reality before everyone knows exactly who you are.

Roy Williams, the world’s leading advertising guru, says that my generation that the next want one thing…reality. We are disgusted with the hype, the flash, the perfect appearances. Give us reality. Maybe the church should listen. Glitz is out. Real is in.

Capitalism of the Socialists

I recently had the honor (hmph!) of covertly observing two men, one young and one old, conversing in a coffee shop.

The young man had a Verizon cell phone which he used several times during the hour or so I watched them. He had a brand new, top of the line HP laptop computer decorated with pretty stickers from coffee shops he frequents. He was wearing a suit coat and a dress shirt with terribly worn blue jeans. Birkenstocks adorned his mostly hidden feet. He had gelled his hair and took great pains to look a certain way with his necklace and $200 backpack computer case. The young man, a boy really, was reading Erich Fromm’s The Same Society published by Henry Holt and Company, Inc. He probably bought it from Barnes and Nobles. He was smoking Camels and drank tea made by the Lipton Company.

The older man, who left first, was using a sleek new Dell computer and wore a posh wind breaker. He wore a newer ball cap with some kind of symbol on it.

The young man noticed that the man had a socialist newspaper sitting next to him, and struck up a conversation. It turned out that they were both hard-core socialists who detested the modern capitalist state and all it represents. They opposed the war in Iraq and discussed what demonstrations they had been to. They discussed various socialist writers and lamented the demise of the socialist party in America.

Finally, the man said goodbye, packed his things, put on his Kenneth Cole sunglasses and made his way out of the coffee shop to his awaiting Subaru B9 Tribeca.

UPDATE!

We went to a professional sporting event last night, and, as truth is stranger than fiction, we ran into the older man from the coffee shop. This professed socialist critic of all that is capitalistic was scalping tickets in front of the stadium. He actually asked me to buy and then asked if I had tickets to sell. What a country! (Could I make this up?)

A Confederacy of Dunces

I recently finished reading John Kennedy Toole’s masterpiece, A Confederacy of Dunces. The comedy of the book is rivaled only by that in Catch 22, another all-time great novel.

I find myself identifying with the writer as he observes the asinine logic and twisted fates of those around him. Every character, Ignatius, Myrna Minkoff, Irene Reilly, the woman named Santa and the accidental police hero.

On a serious note, Ignatius does represent our personal duality of abhorrence and fascination with evil and moral turpitude. He loudly decries nudity, debauchery in every form, but he also partakes heavily in all of these. He is also propelled forward in life by an intense hatred towards Myrna Minkoff; yet he is oddly seeking her satisfaction. He detests the demon which he must feed.

The marriage of the Levy’s has degenerated to a battle of personal pleasures. Mrs. Levy adores bludgeoning her husband’s ego at every opportunity, and Mr. Levy retaliates by scorning and deserting her at every possibility. As usual the kids are caught in the middle as the parents battle for their affections.

The rollicking fun by which this story is unrolled is gut wrenching. Tears of laughter make the book difficult to read at times. Reading of the lumbering Ignatius in his half hotdog vender/ half pirate outfit pushing a paradise vending cart down the street , and the reaction of society women horrified at the sign “12 inches of paradise” taped to the front is just too much. Officer Mancuso’s daily disguises as he attempts to root out evil on the streets of New Orleans and his eventual relegation to a public restroom for weeks in search of a criminal is just tearful hilarity.

Ignatius’ filing system which he institutes at Levy pants is truly revolutionary. He was a man before his time!

Read the book. I guarantee you’ll love it.

I should note that the book was published 12 years after John Kennedy Toole’s death. Toole was depressed with his lack of literary success, and the book probably contains some of that depressed view of life, and he committed suicide at age 32. His mother pressed the book on Walker Percy for years, and he ended up championing its publication in 1980. Such a sad story.

Good People

The truth is that good people are hard to find. The further truth is that good people are impossible to find.

And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me good? None is good except One, God.
(Luk 18:19)

Let me give you my list of proofs for the week:

1. I have used a printing company called 48 Hour Print (www.48hourprint.com) to print numerous, to numerous to list, publications. They used to do a pretty good job; however the last job (and the second from the last) was screwed up. I ordered the print job on March 1st because I needed it on the 8th for a show.

When I hadn’t received them on March 6th, I called and talked to a man who apologized. He said that he didn’t know why the job wasn’t printed yet because it was all ready. I should note that the place is called 48 Hour Print because they guarantee a 48 hour turn time. He promised me that they’d print the job that day and send it next day air on the 7th. I’d get it on the 8th. When I asked for his name so that I could talk to him in the future, he said that I could talk to any

So, it wasn’t here on the 8th. I called and talked to Laura at 48 Hour Print who told me the job hadn’t been printed (again…no reason), and that she had no evidence that I had even talked to someone on March 6th. She told me that the earliest I could get the printing was on March 13, after the show was over.

I’d be more than happy to post a response from 48 Hour Print; however, an apology is unacceptable. The job needed to be done, and the lies ensured that I didn’t make alternative plans. I guess at this point, everyone should know that this company lies to you, makes promises they don’t intend to keep, and dealing with them can seriously sabotage your business.

2. The following is a news article regarding a Christian Counseling center that our church has been distantly associated with.

March 7, 2006 - 6:25PM KALAMAZOO (NEWS 3) – New allegations are being levied against a Kalamazoo marriage counselor.

Steven Roskamp had his state license suspended in January after admitting having sexual contact with a patient during therapy sessions. Now, a second complaint has been filed against Roskamp, who worked at Desert Streams Christian Counseling. The new complaint, obtained by News 3 through a Freedom of Information request, outlines alleged relationships Roskamp had with two married women. Relationships that the state says amount to "negligence" and "incompetence."

Roskamp worked at Desert Streams for 14 years. He was fired last year after what the clinic's president calls "serious ethical and moral violations." In a statement, Doctor David Wagner says, "That one of our employees chose to disregard and violate all that Desert Streams stands for, grieves us deeply." Desert Streams notified the state and, in January, authorities suspended Roskamp's license.

The complaint says that between 2002 and 2004, Roskamp had sexual contact with a client. That they would "lie on top of each other" and that he would touch her, saying that he did so to "bring the strength of God as a male to female." A state investigator says the woman alleges that Roskamp also touched her more intimately.

Count two, filed recently, involves a second woman. The complaint says the client had a dual relationship with Roskamp - social and professional. The client admitted developing intimate feelings for the counselor and that Roskamp did not refer the client to another therapist. Sessions continued in which the therapist asked the alleged victim questions about her sex life and he suggested ways she could make herself more inviting.

Roskamp's license has been suspended temporarily. A state panel still must decide whether to revoke his license permanently.


A strong grasp of the total depravity of man is essential to understanding life. Without the work of the Holy Spirit in suppressing our sinfulness, we can do nothing but sin.
Thank God for His provision, and Christ’s righteousness.

1984

In The Napoleon of Notting Hill, GK Chesterton writes about a futuristic king who as a joke turns each suburb of London into its own country. The new countries adopt formalities, royalty and quickly come to arms with each other. Adam Wayne, the provost of Notting Hill is most dedicated to the new ways that the king has established, and he beats all the other suburbs as they battle to put a road through the small, poor suburb.

The end result is a severe patriotism, and a real improvement in the way of life for the citizens.

At the end of the book Wayne learns for the first time that the king had established the countries as a joke, but that Wayne had pursued the end result whole heartedly. Chesterton seems to wonder if God hasn’t created the world as some kind of joke that we take just way to seriously.

This book was written in 1904 and referred to a world 80 years later, or 1984. Later Chesterton gave a struggling young writer named Eric Blair an opportunity to publish his first essay in GK’s Weekly. Blair wrote under he pen name George Orwell, and later wrote a futuristic book entitled 1984.

Cartoons

Which is the greater: the man who ignores the child taunting him, or the man who becomes enraged over the taunting?

Which is the greater god: the god whose followers carve him out of wood, paint him, prop him up and then bow to him or the god who is self existent?

Which is the greater god: the god who must be defended at all cost or the god who needs no defense?


The recent publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in blasphemous situations and ways has created a simple yet effective test to observe the strength of the god being worshipped. There are throngs of Islamic people protesting and enraged in their zeal to defend the Prophet. When even just the dignity or the civility of the Prophet is questioned or impugned, the followers find it necessary to take up arms and lay down lives in defense of the beloved Mohammad.

My God is greater, much greater, than I, and He is much more capable of defending himself than I could ever hope to realize, and therefore, He is not in need of my defense. I may grieve or be annoyed with blasphemies such as “The Last Temptation of Christ” or other equally disgusting rot coming from the entertainment community, but I don’t have to take up arms. God will jealously protect His name, and doesn’t rely on my feebleness to protect it.

I am reminded of the Huns’ sacking of Rome nearly 1500 years ago. As Attila entered the city the heathens made haste to their temples to protect their gods, and were rightly ridiculed by the Christians. Why? Because…

ANY GOD IN NEED OF MY PROTECTION IS UNWORTHY OF MY DEVOTION!

I took a puff on my cigar and blew it up into the cool air of the library. I glanced out the window at the snowy, crowded street in front and turned intently to my long time friend. "Jerome, we've been friends for a long time."

"That's why I came to you Fin. I just don't know what else to do. I'm kinda at my whit's end. If one or even two of these had hit, but all this at once...I really need some help."

I watched him, and we sat in silence for a decade it seemed. "Jerry, that's what friends are for, to help each other out, you know." Another long pregnant pause filled the air.

"See here Jerry, what I really could use to get back on my feet is a car. I need transport in order to attend to a job.” He nervously darted his eyes around the room, and his fingers played concerto’s on the handles of the stiff wooden chair. “So what is old chum?”

I drew heavy on the cigar, and let the smoke gently escape my mouth as I stared at him. “Fin, I’d love to help you out. I have an extra car, actually two extras, but I can’t let you have either of them…”

“Oh, of course not, Jerry! I’d just borrow one for a week…maybe two.”

“Emm… As I was saying… The Fiat is not available since it technically doesn’t belong to me.”

“Doesn’t belong to you?! Jerry, I was with you when you bought it.” Fin’s face glowed red as he choked out the words.

“Fin, I promised the car to the salvage yard down the street when I’m done with it. I’m helping out that worthy institution by allowing them to have it when I am done and no longer have any use for the car.”

Finnigan just stared at me, but I had to attend to the ash. Finally, he quietly, and with great enunciation, said, “Do you feel some special satisfaction at giving them what is useless to you? That is quite a sacrifice.”

My head was down, and I was trying to relight the cigar when he spoke. I glared at him from over my glasses. “No. My real satisfaction is that I willed the other one, the Rolls, to them upon my death.”

“Doesn’t your son want it?”

“Of course, but I’m giving it to the business there at the end of the block. They’ve been good to me.”

“No your not, Jerry.”

“Not what?”

“Jerry, you’re not giving the car away. You’re stealing your son’s inheritance and giving that away.”

I ushered Fin out, and as I watched him walk away down the street I thought that some people can really be self centered.

The Man Who Was Thursday

I just finished reading G.K. Chesterton's "The Man Who Was Thursday", and as usual Chesterton is maddeningly funny in the story.

A young man, a recently recruited police detective, named Syme infiltrates the anarchist underground in Europe. There were seven members of the central committee led by an intimidating figure who went by the codename "Sunday." Each of the other members, invariably, used the names of the days of the week as undercover aliases. Syme took the position of Thursday.

In the end, it is eventually discovered that each and every member of the central committee is in fact a police detective bent of infiltrating the organization. The notion of an anarchist organization is actually antithetical and rather humorous in and of itself, but the process of getting to the point is hilarious. In the end it is found that Sunday himself is the police recruiter who sent them in pursuit of himself.

The story takes a wild turn as Sunday ends up being a metaphor for God and we are those who he recruits to pursue himself. Each man pursued Sunday alone; however, they were all pursuing him together.

Syme explains why each man must struggle, working out his own salvation:

So that each man fighting for order may be as brave and good a man as the dynamiter (referring to a nonexistent suicide bomber). So that the real lie of Satan may be flung back in the face of this blasphemer, so that by tears and torture we may earn the right to say to this man, “You lie!” No agonies can be too great to buy the right to say to this accuser, “We also have suffered.”

Dinner

We arrived for dinner at Shnauzers Bar and Grille in Schoolcraft at about 8:00 pm and consequently had to wait for a table. The only others waiting were a young family…obviously a mom, dad and two young boys, one in school and one not yet. We talked for a little while. Mom had just taken a really hard test for nursing school and they were going out to celebrate. They were all excited, and mom was glad to get her nose out of a book for the first time in a quite a while.

They were seated just shortly before us, and we we watched them celebrate. Dad was just a normal looking balding guy, prematurely, who just seemed sincere and responsible. He was just nice enough to not be weird. Mom was in her twenties or early thirties and was quite attractive even though it was obvious that she was a mother. The kids were fairly well behaved, but they were still boys.

While we watched, Jen, my wife, blurts out that we could pay for their meal. I don't reply, but I just mulled it over for a while as I watch them. Jen and I just split a small order of nachos, and while Jen had a large Blue Moon white wheat beer, I had a small Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat.

Our waiter, a young and slightly immature kid named Jamie who picked on the waitress Jamie constantly, came and asked us if we needed anything else. I asked him to do something for me on the sly, and pointed out the table real undercover like. I told him to bring me their bill and tell them nothing.

He brought it back, but said their waitress wants to know what and when to tell them. I reply that they should wait until the family is finished and then just tell them that it's all taken care of. I paid the bill and we left.

We returned the next day, and waitress who waited on the family the night before waited on us. She said they were astonished and didn't know what to think. They really couldn't believe it. I'll admit that I did feel some little bit of self satisfaction.

I thought later that this would be a great evangelism tool, but we prefer other less productive and cheaper evangelism systems.

Success

I've heard from business people, and I've seen proof in many areas, including sports, business, pastoring, and politics, that it isn't talent that brings success. It isn't know how, abilities, or even common sense. There are two ingredients: discipline and drive.

By discipline I mean the ability to force yourself to do what needs to be done rather than what you'd like to do. By drive I mean a never ending stamina and determination to just keep pounding away at what you want. This combination necessitates a certain humility.

I am taken to the story of the Akron Zips' head coach, J.D. Brookhart. I watched Akron play Memphis in the Motor City Bowl, and the announcers told the story. He was a successful software salesman making a very comfortable living, but he felt that he wanted to coach football. Finally, he quit and became an unpaid intern for Mike Shanahan simply to learn the game. He washed cars, ran errands, and did functions that a high school kid might do. But, soon he had an assistant's job. Brookhart became an assistant coach at Pitt for seven years. Now, he's the second year head coach of Akron, and he's turned the program around...making a name for himself.

My question is: "How badly do I want to write?" Am I spending my spare time watching TV or just chillin' out when I should be relentless in my disciplined writing? I should be writing more every day.

It's easy to be an arrogant, prideful nothing. We can easily see how poorly others succeed, but what do we do?

There are many times more mutual funds than there are stocks. There are many more analysts than mutual funds. There are more critics than movie producers. There are more sports writers and commentators than football players.

The point is that it's far easier to live comfortably without real discipline and criticize those who are humbling themselves to discipline themselves and plod endlessly toward their goal.
To whom much is given much is required

The Godfather

I was watching the Godfather the other day, and I was struck by something Marlon Brando, as Don Corelleoni, said. "Men cannot live carelessly. Women and children can live carelessly, but men cannot live carelessly" (paraphrased).

We men should live careful lives of circumspection and planning. We should take the cares of the women and the children and deal with them. We should be providing carefree and tranquil environments for our loved ones. Our spouses and children shouldn't have to worry about food, clothing, housing, violence, or unattainable expectations.

Another aspect of this careful living is our attention to what our spouses and children are taught. It is the father's and husband's responsibility to oversee the catechising of the children and the wife. If he, through poor choices or through laziness, allows for a poorly educated and poorly groomed family it is a shame to him.

His example in godliness in personal matters, faithfulness in financial and contractual matters, and honesty in matters of integrity are the building blocks of the future.

The Urban Redneck Christian


Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing. I am taken back to Al Wolever's comment that perhaps the weakest of Christians are the ones chosen as clergy. Perhaps if they were not clergy they would not be living Christ like. When I was pastoring, I was astonished more than once at the piety and devotion of laymen. It is humbling to supposedly lead others who are more devout that yourself. It is even more humbling to be called on the carpet by laymen for legitimate mistakes or poor judgements that result from a lack of piety.

Here's my bottom line though. My Christianity isn't a neat, well dressed, pants pressed, hair nicely groomed, soft spoken and tender touching Christianity. My Christianity has always been big boned and mis-shapen. It has wrinkled clothing, flaws and poor workmanship. My Christianity has always been hard,messy and even a bit neanderthal. I practice a knuckle dragging Christianity. My Christianity is one of sin and forgiveness. It is one of mistakes andrepentence, and it is based solely on mercy. I hate the sin in my life, but I still sin. I especially hate the fact that sometimes I love the sin that I'm supposed to hate...I feel trapped. I can only plead as Paul for Christ to deliver me from this body of death.

I despise the cookie cutter, pressed pants, limp wristed, soft spokenChristianity. When I meet one of these androgenous Christian men, I leavefeeling like I picked up a leaky syrup bottle and I've got the soft, gooey half dry syrup all over my hands. The sappy, soft, sweet Christianity is vile and destestable to me. I may dry heave.

My questions are thus: Is it wrong for me to feel this way about an emasculated Christianity? Why do I feel like taking the average, modern, let's just sithere and love the whole friggin' world, and giving them the finger while I tell them to take a long walk off a short pier.

Radu No.2 (the Moldovan)

I met the second Radu of my life today. I had a professor in college named Radu Teodoresku from Romainia. He claimed to speak 12 languages, but I gathered that he spoke none of them very well.

Radu, today's Radu, came up to me at a restaurant and asked me to make a donation for "international learning programs" or some such thing. He would give me a fancy homemade card or picture in return for said donation. He spoke with a thick Eastern European accent (Moldovan), and he wore a stocking cap. Radu was most gracious and even when turned down time and time agian he wished each person a great holiday season.

After he left, I wished I had bought a card.

The Good Earth

Pearl S. Buck was well rewarded with the Pulitzer Prize for her masterful prose in The Good Earth. I have just finished reading the book, but I'm sure that I'll be continuing to discover the impact of the book on my life for years to come.

I was particularly struck by Buck's themes which set a series of dicotomies.

The vitrue of productivity and of saving versus the evil of waste and consumption is a prominent theme. And, Wang Lung, the protagonist of the story, is set in his thrift and work ethic against the laziness and constant spending of others such as his uncle and the Lords of the House of Hwang. Wang Lung ends up climbing from abject poverty to a position of riches and prominence largely because of his values...this is not discounting providence.

The cathartic and healing virtue of the land is set against the corrupt and vile nature of the towns and cities. Wang Lung returns time and again to the Land in order to clear his mind and heal all that ailed him. The land possesses a mystical quality. Even in the very end, Wang returns to the land in order to die in peace; however, the tragic truth of the future overshadows the goodness of the Land. The land possesses true value and is the true measure of wealth for Wang Lung.

The difficulties and trials that women go through in this life as a result of poor decisions and a lack of self control on the part of men is made clear. Olan, Wang Lung's wife, is, while not a supermodel of beauty, a vitruous and dependable wife. After bearing Wang Lung children, significantly contributing to the wealth of the household, and enabling the family to survive the drought, Olan is forced aside by a dainty beauty who stirred passion within Wang Lung. I'm not sure if the lessen here is for men or women. I think that while men should obviously treat there wife with dignity and truly love her, wives must recognize the ongoing importance of her desirability. The dicotomy between the physically desirable and the self sacrifice of love is a hard thing. Throughout the book, the physically desirable wins horribly again and again, and Buck states again and again that men are not unique.

I would heartily recommend this book set in pre-revolutionary China for it's insights on life and it's superb readability. I look forward to seeing how the book impacts my life.