What's it mean to be "born of the Spirit?"

I was recently asked by someone on Facebook for a brief summary of what it means to be "born of the Spirit." Here is my response....

...the phrase "born of the Spirit" comes from John 3 when Nicodemus visits Jesus Christ and Jesus tells him that no one can see the kingdom unless he is "born again".

3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus [1] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [2] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [3] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You [4] must be born again.’ 8 The wind [5] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Jesus is basically saying that Nicodemus should know that the only way anyone is made "right" and "acceptable" to God is not by morality and by keeping the 10 commandments (since we've all broken them) but by receiving new life from Jesus himself.

1 Peter 1:3 says, "According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

So, basically to be born again (or "born of the Spirit") means to be given new life from Jesus--a "living hope" in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us. It means that you have a living and loving relationship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Review of David Platt's "Radical"

I recently finished reading Radical by David Platt. I have to say—I was greatly stirred by this challenge to consider the responsibility we have to a waiting world in need of the gospel. I went on to read a great review by Kevin DeYoung on this book—as well as David Platt’s humble reply. After reading the book, and their reviews here is what I came away with regarding this book.

1. The hard sayings of Jesus. The value of any book is not in the author’s thoughts but in the Bible—the source of all faith (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, Platt is wise to root radical living in the hard sayings of Jesus. He points to Jesus’ warnings to “take up your cross (Luke 9:23), “let the dead bury the dead (9:60),” “sell everything you have (Matt 7:11),” and compares this message of discipleship with the American easy-believism of “pray this prayer, sign this card, bow your head, and repeat after me (11).”

2. Staring hell in the face. One especially powerful part in the book is Platt’s illustration of a deacon from a church who shockingly admits, “David, I think it’s great you are going to those places. But if you ask me, I would just as soon God annihilate all those people and send them to hell (62).” He goes on to illustrate how close we are to believing this in our hearts when we do nothing to take the gospel to those with no access to it. We are no different when we turn our eyes from the needs of the unreached to hear the gospel. In reading this I realized that I simply don’t consider eternal suffering like Jesus and the apostle Paul did.

3. Demystifying the mission call. Let’s face it. When we think of the personal cost involved in sacrificing for an unreached people or leveraging our lives to sending people out—we tend to look away to the extraordinarily burdened or the extraordinarily gifted. We don’t assume that God would have ordinary people like us in mind when he commands, “make disciples of all nation.” Without denying that God uniquely calls individuals to unique places—Platt emphasizes that the burden for the unreached should be the burden of every believer and every church.

4. Real life examples. I appreciate that Platt uses examples from his own life but also from the church he serves at. He points to a number of people who have taken the “Radical” challenge and invested their time, talents, and resources to reaching people in creative ways with the gospel.

5. An emphasis on Christ's power in the church. This may be a personal one--but I appreciated how Platt walks through the book of Acts highlighting the power of the risen Christ for the church through the Holy Spirit. Several times in the book he reminds the reader that Christ lives "in" his people to empower them for the mission. This is a crushing blow to the American mentality that creativity, planning, leadership, and "pop" can do what only God can (and must) do in and through us.

My concerns since reading the book and the reviews…

1. The illustrations for what it means to live ‘radical’ can seem at times too narrow. I don’t think Platt intends for this. He does use several examples of people who have abandoned their original financial goals to serve in the inner city, do short-term trips overseas, and engage in orphan care, but a few more examples of those who live faithfully to make disciples and have no disposable income would be helpful. What about the family that struggles to make ends meet—who would love to go—or give more money—but simply can’t? Would they read the book and conclude that they aren’t radical? I think I know Platt’s answer but the illustrations seem to be from those who have means—and not the single mom, the two-job dad, the handicapped, or the elderly.

2. He doesn’t give enough illustrations for good uses of material blessings for the local church in America. In an effort to distance himself from the church-growth baptized American Dream Christianity, he doesn’t show what gospel-advancing things church property and building can do. Although he points to families in his church that are freeing up space in their homes for orphan care—there doesn’t seem to be examples of churches that have leveraged their buildings for radical discipleship. Maybe because there are so few! But the dearth can leave you with a sense that all churches are equal in motivation when it comes to building, and should be suspect when it comes to owning property.

3. This may lack a pastoral word. Obviously with a subtitle “Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream” we should expect a charge—a challenge. It is that! However, just like any challenging call to risk you need a pastoral word to be given to those who after hearing this needed word could feel overwhelmed by the needs of the world and can’t seem to risk enough to reach them. DeYoung mentions that this may simply be an over-emphasis on imperatives (we ought to) without a balance of the indicative (…because Christ has done). It can leave you thinking I need to do more—and less on what Christ has done. This can be seen when Platt gives strong statements like, “…the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves (7).” Yes and no. If by “message” we mean the message we send to the world, and if by “abandoning” we mean exercising true faith in Jesus alone based on what Christ has done—absolutely. The context makes this clear. But without a nuanced qualifying statement like “to the watching world…” we can miss the central message is what Christ has done—not what we do. DeYoung points this out and Platt responds to this concern very well. Again--I think the goal of this book is one on imperative--so it makes sense that it would be weighted that direction.

In closing I would recommend this book to every believer. You will be provoked, stirred, and motivated to make the making of disciples your ambition. When I finished reading it, I leaned over to my wife and said, “the biggest problem I have with this book is the title ‘Radical.’ You should put a line through it and write ‘Biblical.’”

However, I wouldn't recommend this book with equal weight to every believer. To those who feel cold to the lost and dying because they have fallen in love with the world I would say, read this instead of the Osteen-like dribble that keeps you chasing after the world. Let it be the spark that it is.

To those who love heroic challenges but struggle with faithfulness in small things (i.e. the the proverbial college student who wants to change the world but not pick up his clothes out of the bathroom) I'd say read this book alongside the very biographies that Platt mentions in the book. Read about the ongoing--daily--weekly sacrifices of those who have gone before us. You will discover that living radical involves the obscure, repetitious, unglamorous, and unknown moments of endurance that Platt doubtless has experienced in his personal journeys around the world.

This Halloween Serve your Neighborhood...

If you haven't already planned something for Halloween think about this weekend as an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and serve your community by resisting the isolationism of suburbia.

Tom Stack, a friend from church recently stepped out of the comfort-zone and served his neighborhood in a mission-minded way. Here's his story...

"Our family has lived on this block for 8 years (come February), and we have been really bad about getting to really know anyone on the street. We "know" the folks on either side of us and across the street, but that's about it (and not very well at that). We just thought that there are others on the block like us, we need to fix that and get to better know who's on our street. And with the weather as nice as it's been, it was just the right thing to do.

So we printed out a little flyer that we handed out, door-to-door, talking to each of our neighbors, and inviting them all to join us out in front of our house last evening. We said, "we'll bring the dogs, you bring your appetite."

We had a number that brought cookies, homemade crab cakes, a plate of nachos (covered in been and cheese), a platter of sushi, and some corn on the cob to throw on the grill. We were out there from 6 to around 8:30. Everyone was standing around, talking, eating, and I think really enjoying the chance to meet for the first time or reconnect with their neighbors. My wife and I both were surprised to overhear so many introduce themselves to neighbors they've never met. (our subdivision has all the garages in the back, on an alley, and that makes a difference).

But we found out that one family has a daughter in 4th grade at the same school as our kids! The wife is a believer, but the husband, a great guy, is not. I had a chance to chat a lot with him last night - about where we grew up, what work we do, their decision to homeschool, etc. Also found out that two families (one was not able to make the gathering) on the block both attend a large Chinese church here in Plano. One of the couples is our next-door neighbor (I did not know they were believers). Sylvia had a good opportunity to speak with the wife, and found out that they were Christians, and are very curious to talk to Sylvia more about homeschooling (they have two little ones under 6).

All this to say we had a long overdue chance to reach out and make connections with our neighbors - and just be good neighbors. Showing them care and kindness, and an interest in them and their families. If the Lord leads us to openings to share Him and His Gospel with any of them as we build relationships with these neighbors, great! We'll take it! Hopefully, as the old song said, "they will see we are Christians by our love," and we'll stand out as a light, and as friends upon whom they can depend."

God Loves Us, Really?

Yesterday Craig Cabaniss preached a message from Psalm 115 about the faithfulness of God in honor of our 5 year anniversary of a church plant.

His reference to the "steadfast love of God" (from the Hebrew word 'hesed') as the unique love of God in Christ Jesus made me think of a particular verse in Eph. 2 that has brought clarity and focus for me regarding God's love. It comes in verse 4.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us"

This verse is tucked between towering phrases of us being "children of wrath" (v. 3), and being "dead in our trespasses," followed by the momentous reality that we are "made alive together with Christ (v. 5)."

Those two realities: our being justifiably objects of God's wrath and the good news of being "alive," "saved," "raised," and "seated" in Him (v. 5-6) can demand such clarity in a day where they are being dismissed that you can miss why God would ever do such a thing in the first place.

Did you miss it?

Why does he do that with people who left to themselves could care less? Why does he raise the dead when "like the rest" they aren't looking to be alive to anything else but what the world offers?

Notice the reasons why God makes dead people live again:

1. "Being rich in mercy" Notice that God doesn't discover mercy. He doesn't go searching for it somewhere. There is no place outside of himself where a treasure trove of mercy exists that replenishes his supply. Rather--he IS merciful "being" rich in mercy--never "becoming" rich in mercy. God is not becoming merciful with time. He is mercy. Moreover--he's RICH in mercy. All mercy demonstrated in the world today find it's source in him alone.

2. ..."with which he loved us" Before we get to the middle part of the verse notice that God loves us. Don't move past that like you've heard that enough from TV evangelists and we need to get to something more objective and sturdy--and less emotional. There is no greater news than that God loves us. If God comes to us through a Christ that deeply hates us and rewards us with a heaven in which he exists irritated and distant from those He made alive we worship a God of deism. Holy and terrifying and logically distant--cold--and ultimately needy to serve him. Because he doesn't love those he redeems he lacks something they must provide through service. But God lacks nothing and loves freely the unlovely.

But how does He love us? Of what kind of love is this? Catch the middle phrase...

3. .."because of the great love.." Notice that Paul qualifies God's love with the phrase, "the great love." I believe Paul wants to separate in our minds the love that we operate from and the love that God operates from. God loves of a particular kind of love. A "great" love. This love is not a small love. A temporal love. A love you are familiar with. It's not a love that is similar to our love and finds it's reflection from us. It's a love that wholly and completely "other" and set apart. It comes from him in an overflowing and ultimately downward direction. We call this "grace."

It's unique.
It's different.
It's strange.
It's lasting.
It's eternal.
It's His alone.

John used language similar to Paul when he wrote...

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him (John 3:1)."

And what is this "kind" of love we are to behold? Where do we see it most clearly?

Let John Owen answer this question for us...

"[Jesus Christ is the] medium of all communication between God and us. In him we meet, in him we walk. All influences of love, kindness, mercy, from God to us, are through him; all our returns of love, delight, faith, obedience unto God, are all through him."

Look at Jesus Christ and you see the embodiment of God's love to us.

The 2 Obstacles of the Religious South

As a pastor it can sometimes feel like I go from one circle of Christians to another to another to another. I am reading Christian books, reading Christian tweets, thinking and talking about the church world all day long. I am aware of mega-churches in and near my city I respect and some of the things they're doing. I am aware of the church-planting movement I'm a part of and others around the country as well. So, given my default mindset--I can operate with some false assumptions about how people in the South have heard the gospel.

I was recently reminded of this on a trip to a sister church in Midland of the desperate state of the religious South to hear the gospel for the first time.

As we did a kind of prayer ministry around the homes of the church a person from my team and I found an open door to talk about Christ with a worker in his 20s.

He was a bright, intelligent, hard-working guy. He was easy to talk to--just "good-ole-boy" for those who enjoyed the Dukes growing up. I liked talking to him. His thoughts concerning religion went something like this.

"Hey I appreciate what you guys are doing...I'm a Christian too...I was saved and baptized as a kid. I don't really have any interest in going to a church--but I know I'll see St. Peter at the pearly gates when I die...I'm good."

Although our mission was to demonstrate the love of Christ through prayer and inviting people to a gospel-class a month away--he seemed open to talking.

"How do you know you'll go to heaven--how do you have confidence of that?"

"Because I'm a good person." [confidently]

He went on to explain that he had never murdered anybody--and that being a good person was all that you needed to be sure of eternal life.

"Why did Jesus die on the cross?"

"For our sins...." [confidently]

But how do you know that you're going to heaven?

"Because I'm a good person..." [confidently]

We asked him if someone can be good enough to earn their way to heaven--why he thought God would ever allow his Son to be killed for sins.

Although he did express that he had never considered that--his thoughts stayed fixed in dual objects in his mind. His hope being grounded in two religious activities. 1. He was a good person based on the moral standards of our time. 2. He did believe in Jesus and performed what was required as a child to know he'd go to heaven when he died.

For the majority of people who live next to us and drive past our churches--never forget the power of these two religious activities in our land. These are the greatest obstacles to overcome in the religious South.

1. I believe in Jesus (and performed a religious activity to prove it).
2. I'm a good person.

I was reminded even if for a moment--to forget the fact that their is a church on every corner in my city.

Forget the thought that people in my neighborhood must have heard the gospel by now--surely!

Forget my assumptions that someone's told them or that they know the gospel--and are just hardened to the truth.

Forget that they're probably on someone's prayer list--and someone must be praying fervently for them.

Rather--assume they've never heard.

Assume they have never heard the good news that a holy God created them in His image--fashioned them for his glory and sent His one and only Son to live, die and rise for them--because in their rejection of God as King could do absolutely nothing else to be redeemed, restored, and made alive again.

Assume no one has ever told them the real gospel. Assume that they've heard a message of religious activity and morality cloaked in Christian jargon.

Now let's go one step further on the mission and assume God sent us as missionary ambassadors to tell them the refreshing news they've never heard before. Assume we're called to live strategically, intentionally, and sacrificially so that they might be rescued from deep fried Southern religion.

Lord--send us out with urgency and desperation to the religious South and help us to lovingly and graciously demonstrate and declare that You rose from the dead to save us from our religion.

Car Scam

My wife and I just started looking for used cars. Since we're new to Craigslist we've discovered that there are a number of deceptive scams to "ship" very expensive vehicles sold ridiculously low cloaked by a story of urgency and sympathy.

This is the second car scam we've encountered. This conversation picks up where I've just asked for a phone number. Here is the response from "Anna" and my email back.

Hi again Rob,

Please understand that I just moved here and I don't yet have a phone. Until then please understand the situation and carry on with this by e-mail cause I don't have any other way yet. And again I'm truly sorry we can't talk over the phone. But please understand.

The car is located in Honolulu HI. Is already crated at the shipping company ready to be sent to any location anywhere in the world, like i told we will use eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection, so we can both be protected and insured. The price for the car is $3,000 with shipping included.

1. Buyer, seller reach an agreement (price and delivery conditions)

2. Buyer sends money to eBay.

3. eBay confirms to seller that the amount has been received.

4. Seller performs the required services (shipping, insurance).

5. Buyer accepts delivery and informs eBay about the acceptance.

6. eBay releases the money to seller.

As you can see, you will receive the car BEFORE any money is released to me. You will get the chance to inspect it, test drive it and everything you like while your money is still safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm to eBay that you agree with the vehicle, they will release the money to me.

If, for some reason, you disagree with the car (I assure you that is NOT going to happen since my 2006 Acura TL is in IMMACULATE condition inside and out) it will be shipped back to me on MY EXPENSE and eBay will send you your money back.

If you wish to proceed further, I will need your complete name and address so I can start the transaction with eBay's Vehicle Purchase Protection Program.

Let me know if we can get the ball rolling.

Regards,

Anna Parker

no. thanks.

praying for you friend that you will turn from this sin and find new freedom and life in Jesus Christ.

We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23) but God came to us in Jesus Christ to set us free from sin. If you turn your life to him recognizing your sin and need of Him by faith--He will forgive you--and give you new life (Acts 3:19-20).

God will provide for your needs if you become His child--we are not all children of God by birth. But we become His children when we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ by faith alone (John 1:12-13).

He can provide for your financial needs. But you must turn from this and trust in Him.

Praying that you do that this hour.

Broken Down but Not Broken

Friday before last I was in Garland having lunch with a guy new to the church. As I was driving off I was grateful for how the conversation went. It was almost exclusively about the gospel--and encouraging to talk about the grace of God.

So when my car died just 5 minutes down the road I was at peace. My mind was filled with thoughts of God's grace. Can you hear a Tomlin song in the background?

However, 3 hours later, and 3 mechanics in--my peace melted off my conscience and onto the pavement outside of Peachtree Food Mart to join the pools of sweat. Nobody could figure out the problem of my Nissan mystery machine.

Questions filled my mind.

"Am I going to get home?" "Will this be the end of my car?" "Can I afford another one?" "Can this be salvaged?" "Am I going to get mugged?"

Long story short--the mobile guy discovered the non-fixable problem I had the the car towed and we are still praying about what to do with it. But one thing that did happen was an opportunity to share the gospel when I was at the end of my rope emotionally and physically tired.

One of the mechanics was a friend of the guy I met with. He called him and this man came to help. But he didn't just stay for 20 minutes in the 102 degree temperature, or 1 hour, but for over 3 hours!

At one point I was on the phone juggling calls with AAA, my wife, and another friend who works at a dealership and I looked over at him. There he sat--next to my defunct car--waiting patiently for me to see if I needed his help for anything else. He was an amazing example of compassion and generosity.

I was floored. As I asked him questions I learned that he was born in another country--and had a Christian upbringing--and some interest in church.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed--so after 3 hours in the sun--mostly of us silently starring down at the sea of gray under my hood--I thought it may be a good idea to share the gospel.

We talked about the peace of forgiveness through the death of Jesus--and new life through His resurrection. As I surrendered to the Spirit's desires--I found the words to say and sensed His power. I am convicted that it has been a while since I've stepped out in faith at an open door.

It was a great reminder not only that God uses inconveniences as open doors--but more than that for me. This reminded me that He will see to it that His message of reconciliation be shared with all people--and even when we're not actively going into the world--He will bring the world to us.

Just give us eyes God.

5 Reasons I Love You Joel (on your 5th Birthday)

1. I love your joy. Your smile and your laugh is contagious—and you suffer from the same thing your Daddy does—the ability to smile at the most inappropriate times.

2. I love your mind. The way you can enter a whole world through your imagination. You love to pretend—and we love to watch you pretend (and spray the sound effects all over the living room).

3. I love your personality. You enjoy taking the smallest and most random part of a toy and focusing all your energy and enthusiasm on it for hours. Very strange—but very cool.

4. I love that you sing. I love hearing songs come out of you when your playing—and hearing you ask for music when we’re driving.

5. I love that you are mine and I get to enjoy you every day. I will never stop loving you Joel.

Posted via email from robtombrella's posterous

Global Prayers for a Local Church

Every Thursday morning we have a prayer gathering of Grace Church from 6:30am to 7:30am. Although it's an early hour, I've grown to really love these times together.

Something brand-new we just started this morning is to take the first Thursday morning of the month and dedicate the whole meeting to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). In a sense, all prayer orbits around our call to "go and make disciples" but on these mornings we will try to discipline our praying for specific areas of gospel break-through.

After a brief meditation on Matt. 4:12-25, here are some things we prayed for this morning...

1. A local outreach to our city at Frisco Square. We are seeking to give away 6,000 glow-in-the-dark bracelets to children and demonstrate the love of Jesus this Saturday night.

2. Our Sunday gathering. We asked that God would empower the preached word to draw the listener to Himself and bring change through His grace.

3. Our ministry to Rambling Oaks. A retirement home we've partnered with through faithful men in our church. Every Sunday someone from our church is preaching there and leading worship. A friend named Shayne heads this up. We asked that God would stretch out his hand to heal many for His glory according to Acts 4:30.

4. Every Orphans Hope. We prayed for Gary Schneider and his ministry to orphans in Zambia that office at our church building.

5. Political and Social Tragedy and unrest in Mexico. Through our partnership with Sovereign Grace Ministries we prayed for a church to be strengthened with power and boldness in Juarez, and for the orphanage they support called Rancho 3m to be protected in these days.

6. Gospel for Asia. We have a few members of our church that serve at Gospel for Asia as self-supported missionaries in a full-time capacity to see churches planted among the unreached. We asked God would empower them and their efforts for his glory.

7. An evangelical Russian church that will begin meeting in our church this Sunday. We are seeking to be a part of a church ministering faithfully to Russians in the Dallas area.

8. Iraq. Through Operation World, we united with the global church in praying for the country listed for this day which happened to be Iraq. We prayed that God would reach the unreached Bedouin, Persians, and Gypsies.

Cab Drivers at T4G...(2)

If you're like me--sharing the gospel with Muslims can be intimidating.

What do I say?

Well, in short--be loving--ask questions--and talk them about God's love in Christ and the promises we have in Jesus--in particular of atonement for sin in the death of Jesus and of assurance of eternal life in Jesus.

On the return trip to the airport I shared a cab with Craig and Aaron from the hotel to the airport. Once again we jumped into a cab that was driven by a Muslim. One difference was that this man seemed to be a practicing, much more serious Muslim. A stack of religious books were on his dashboard.

"Are those religious books?" Craig asked.

"Oh yes" he said, "they are--books about the Koran to help explain it."

For about 10 minutes Craig asked him questions about his beliefs, what he thought of the Koran, and his understanding of God. He was eager to share. As we pulled up to the airport to get ready to get out we asked about who gets to go to heaven as a Muslim. Good people.

"Do you think you'll go to heaven?" Like the previous Muslim he only hoped he'd go--he insisted that no one can really know.

"The Bible says you can know" we said. He recoiled at the mere mention of that and as we got our bags out of the trunk he wanted to know how we were so sure.

Craig shared the gospel with him--told him about the love of God in the death of Jesus for sinners and told him about the gospel of John and encouraged him to read (1 John 5:13). He said he had a Bible--but this seemed new.

When we reflected on the conversation and getting into the cab Craig mentioned feeling a sense of darkness in the cab--before noticing the books.

Thankful God placed us there to shine the light (2 Cor. 4:4-6)

Don't be intimated to share with Muslims. If you know the gospel--you're ready.

Cab Drivers at T4G....(1)

One memory I have from T4G was the drive to the airport.

With 7,000 men from around the globe descending on Louisville, I was a bit cautious of being a clanging cymbal of white evangelicalism to an Indian cab driver just doing his job. But, when I found myself taking a cab solo it seemed like an open door.

On the drive to the airport the man I spoke to claimed to be Muslim and had taken his trip to Mecca. He didn't seem very strong in the teachings of the Koran, and he didn't know what his standing was before God, but he did believe that he held to the Law as written in the Koran. He believed in the Law of Moses and the 10 Commandments.

"Do you think you've kept all the commandments?"

"Well...yes."

"Like what about lying? Have you ever told a lie?"

As we raced to the airport he told me several times that he had lied to his friends a couple times. "But every time it was only a joke. I was just kidding--and told them later."

He shook his head 'no' with confidence when I asked him, "Is your god of the Koran a god of love?" He later said he didn't know where he was in his standing with God.

"I....I don't know....I...don't know...." He said in a kind of hopeful way.

Out of the jet-lag I found the Lord gave me His compassion for Abib. Out of what can only be Christ's love for him I shared the good news.

Have You Quit?

My apologies for a long time in posting. I've been recently encouraged by folks to keep the posts coming. Some of the reason for the delay has been...

1. Relational. I've found it difficult at points to "quickly" blog interactions I have with folks if it hinders a long-term relationship in some way. In other words--without permission from the person I've wondered about the wisdom of posting something too quickly. I think you get that.

2. Busy. I've been a bit busier than a year ago.

3. Desire to write other things. For better or worse.

4. Lazy. Let's face it. This is what gets all of us. If you fail to plan to reach out to people--you plan to fail. I can make excuses till I'm blue in the face but it doesn't change the fact that I can get very lazy in interacting with people who need to hear good news. One of the very reasons I started this blog.

So...please pray for me. I need to get back at it. Maybe you do too?

FYI...next post will be on Craig Cabaniss and the interaction we had with a cab driver at T4G.

Would You Move to a Miserable City to Plant a Church?

One enjoyable memory that will stay with me from the T4G conference in Louisville was going with a friend from the church to eat sushi for the first time with some of his friends from Detroit Michigan.

The memory will stay with me for at least 2 reasons.

First, it was my first time to go sushi I decided to really go for it. I feasted on raw fish and even ate an eel ninja role that tasted just like it sounds. Unfortunately I made it through about 20 minutes of Al Mohler’s session before I got sick and spent the rest of the evening in my hotel room. Sorry Al. It really was the sushi.

Secondly, I learned a little bit more about Detroit. My new friends talked about the difficulty the city has experienced for years—how racial tensions still cast a dark cloud over the city—about how all of them would love to move out but are upside down on their homes because of the depressed economy (I’m talking about a lot folks). I also learned that Detroit has huge pockets of cultures including one of the highest Arab populations in the country helped along by the auto industry for years.

What struck me about this conversation was that I was recently talking to my wife about a recent Forbes listing of “Top Cities for Jobs.” Texas has the top 5 on their list (Starting with Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio).

While discussing what this means for Texas in years to come we discovered their list of “America’s Most Miserable Cities” with Detroit coming in #7 among major cities. Among the reasons given are the scandals surrounding its mayor, continued decline of the auto industry, and the highest crime rate of any major city in the US. Only the success of the Red Wings and the winnings of the Pistons seemed to knock it off of its 2007 crown of Most Miserable City.

So, with all the people moving out of the city, and the growing rise of urban church planting, I wondered if anyone was moving IN to this city. I discovered this article and was encouraged by the families that have partnered together at great cost to advance the good news of Jesus to a city in need of joy.

So, I asked myself the same question I ask you.

Would you move to a miserable city for its joy in Jesus?

Along the Silk Road

Fascinating video journals on a project that is revealing in regards to observations on culture and challenging in regards to mission. Great thoughts from Carolyn McCulley about this project.

Chile

Gospel Revolution

Agnosticism in the Bible Belt

With the Launch of REACH--our college ministry at Grace Church--we've been going on campus inviting people out to our Thursday night "non religious" Bible study.

One conversation I had recently was with a very open and friendly student who held to a general belief in God (who he referenced as the Omega), but had serious issues with the biblical portrayal of God. Specifically, he took issue with the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, and the tower of Babel. Although he was missing some details he recalled stories from his Catholic upbringing well and was able to articulate his concerns thoughtfully.

His questions came raw and real. His vision of God is distant and uncaring.

"I mean, why would God put a tree in the middle of the garden just to set us up for failure? Like...thanks a lot."

Regarding the tower of Babel, "Why would he get so mad at people for building a tower to get to heaven when we all end up there anyway?"

His concerns echo the thoughts of an unbeliever at REACH last night. In discussion groups one visitor understood Jesus only as "hope" for people who believe but didn't hold to the Christian understanding of Jesus as a resurrected, real, and returning.

Agnosticism, cynicism, and unbelief aren't isolated to the urban wilderness, but live in the brass buckle of the Bible belt. Moreover, it may thrive in a culture that easily touches religion, and where having some experience or connection with a myriad of churches comes easily--but just as easily comes to reject what they've seen as an uncompelling witness to Jesus.

Is There Gonna be Beer?

We went out on campus at Quad C this week to invite people to REACH--our college ministry Bible study at It's a Grind. We had a great time doing it. It had been a while since being on a college campus so it was refreshing in a lot of ways. Both UNT and Quad C reveal the same desperate needs college students face that I remember from over 10 years ago.

One of the funniest encounters was what seemed to me to be the a-typical response to a Bible study invite from someone on a college campus to my friends humble invite. When he mentioned there would be burgers etc. he asked,

"Is there gonna be beer?"

Okay. Let's assume the best of intentions in this question for a moment. Maybe he felt that beer would be as effective as burgers as a free commodity for a Bible study in the buckle of the Bible-belt hosted by a church to largely under-age students. Maybe he felt it's pointless to invite college students to something without it and this is helpful information. Or maybe he really, really, really likes beer. I get that. I don't have anything against beer. Honest.

But maybe not.

Maybe, just maybe, after 30+ years of Hollywood glamorizing the fullness of the college experience as a 5+ year keg party it still sells tickets for movies in August and makes it's way to the lips of students at times to deflect the idea of pursuing anything of seriousness. Maybe it's still an effective trump card to out-awkward a potential threat to freedom.

Maybe the world, the devil, and the flesh still encourage people to hide behind false images and turn this poor drink into a weak, unfit, and useless god.

No. No beer at the Bible study. But lots and lots of the best vintage wine (Acts 2:13; Eph. 5:18; Matt. 9:17)

Col. 1:15-20 and Jehovah's Witnesses

I recently had the opportunity to preach on Col. 1:15-20 on the supremacy of Christ.

One attribute that Paul highlights about this cosmic Christ is his supreme place as the "first born (1:15)." One thing I tried to share was how Paul's use of this word is unique in distinguishing Christ as the "highest authority" over all creation (as vs. 16 summarizes).

A very good question from a friend in our church was, "The JW's would respond to the verse you quoted from Colossians with "well, God created Jesus first, and then everything else that existed was created through Jesus."

Can you explain how to defeat that argument that Jesus was the agent of creation of everything that he could be the agent of creation for - but not for himself?

Here's my understanding to this very good question...

thanks for asking. the first place I'd go in Colossians is verse 16. Even though a JWs would say he's exalted and created all things, can they agree that all things were created "through him AND for him"? The question they haven't settled in that verse is how all things the Son creates for his praise doesn't compete with the praise of Jehovah. If he's the goal--he puts himself in direct competition with God--unless he is equal with God.

Of course if I'm talking with a JW I'd want to go to John 1 and show that "..and the Word was God" and point to the fact that you cannot make the Word be "a god" as their translation says. The Greek doesn't allow that. It literally says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and 'God was the Word.'" I'd also want to show all the other places Jesus puts himself equal with God (John 14) and the place where he says, "before Abraham was, I am."

As for him not being created himself I'd want to show every place in Scripture where the Son is described as "eternal." The Son took on human flesh and "became" Jesus of Nazareth at a point in time, but the Son's eternality makes his incarnation so glorious. If he's eternal he can't be created--infinity can't have a starting point--and infinity is an attribute only a being who is fully God can have. The Father has ALWAYS existed, but if the Son has ALWAYS existed as well he is fully God--though distinct from the Father--they exist as one God for all of eternity.

Titus 2:13 says, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” In John 10:30 it says, “ I and my Father are one.” Revelation pictures Jesus as eternal throughout. Isiah 9 describes Jesus this way, "for to us a child is born, to us a son is given...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." How can Jesus be called both "child" and "everlasting Father?" Because of his oneness in essence with the Father, and his eternality.