2) The Ted Haggard story is a continually sad story. I'm amazed by his wife's devotion. I'm saddened by his precipitous fall and the people who fell with him. I'm sobered by the compartmentalization of a public image and a private life.
3) I never thought I'd love carpet so much, but the new carpet (given free by American Floor Show in Gurnee) looks awesome in our church.
4) I really love the wonderful people of Gages Lake Bible Church
5) My Birthday was more wonderful than I imagined with kindnesses shown me that I don' t come close to deserving.
6) The story of the women at the well in John 4 (I'm preaching it tomorrow) may be my favorite story in the Bible.
1) I'm reading a great new book just released by Moody Press entitled, Pastoring Men by Patrick Morely. I'm not sure there is a more biblically succint author out there on the subject of men. He had an incredible point about brokeness in men, which I hadn't quite caught. After a lenghty section discussing most Christian mens' feelings of inadequacy and failure, he says these feelings may actually be a God-directed thing:
The feeling of futility is the chief tool by which God sovereignly draws men to Himself of their own free will. The Apostle Paul explains:
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:20-21 (KJV)
In other words, God soveriegnly introduces futility into the world so that men might come to their senses and be liberated and redeemed.
I read that today while riding the stationery bike and nearly fell off. What a powerful thought! God actually moves events intentionally so we fail in order that we might be humbled and look to him. And in that way, our failure leads to our liberation and victory. Wow.
2) A thoroughly convicting article in the latest edition of Leadership Journal by John Ortberg. In an article titled, "Your Hidden Cirriculum", Orberg says there is a difference between what we teach and preach (formal cirriculum) and how we live (hidden cirriculum). Its a sobering article that call us to reality in our ministries and our parenting and our relationships. People may long forget what we say, but they'll never forget how we act. Do those two match up?
3) Lastly, in the same issue of Leadership Journal, the always reflective Gordon MacDonald encourages us to "rake leaves." He shares a recent experience had speaking at a conference. It was one of those moments where everything went right and he felt on top of the world. That night he called his wife and shared with glowing terms just how well he did. His wife listened and praised him and then continued on to the mundane details of his travel home. Then she said, "Oh, good, you'll be home in time to rake the leaves." Raking the leaves? For an accomplished speaker and Christian leader? Gordon encourages leaders to keep their loved ones close because it is often those loved ones who keep us close to the ground and humble. A great read.
At Gages Lake Bible Church, we're going thru a Sunday Morning Series entitled, Resolved. This week we're talking about being Resolved to Raising Families in the Lord. Unlike 99% of my messages, I won't be centering on one particular passage, I'll be looking a few passages. Some thoughts that have bubbled to the surface:
God's plan is for generational faith--passing the from generation to generation. It is a theme spread throughout the Scriptures. Psalm 78 is a great text for this principle.
We live in a culture that desperately wants to capture our children and yet we can be successful in raising children in the Lord. Timothy grew up in a very godless culture with a father who wasn't a believer! And yet his mother and grandmother consistently and systematically taught him the Scriptures.
Every generation must hear the word. There is no guarantee. Every generation must decide to follow Christ.
All the church can be a part of raising godly families. Singles, childless couples, grandmothers, grandfathers--we all have a part and should all take responsiblity.
85% of believers came to faith between the ages of 4-14. This is why Jesus said, "It takes the faith of a child to enter the Kingdom."
On a sad note, I'm upset by President Obama's immediate restrition of abortion laws. I know he campaigned on this so we shouldn't be surprised, but I weep for the children who will not see life and the lost potential. We believers must work even harder to win the lost, disciple them in the faith, and teach the Scriptures. We are the salt and light in this world.
Last night we began a new Bible study on Wednesday Nights. Its called, "The Truth Project" and its a series from Focus on the Family. Its led by Del Tacket, a brilliant teacher. Here is a clip of this. We'd love for you to join us on Wednesday Nights:
Unlike most, I didn't get to watch the Inauguration of Barrack Obama until about 11:00 pm last night. But I recorded CNN's coverage and stayed up late last night watching.
I was thoroughly moved and inspired. It is something to live in a country such as ours, that makes a grand and beautiful spectacle of appointing its next leaders. As I saw the images of the people and the Capitol, I was reminded of our history. A history that is unique in the world, where bitter rivals come together on the same stage to celebrate the appointment of the President.
What is rare about America is that America has grown. On the same site, the U.S. Capitol, built by slaves stood an African American President. He will occupy the White House, also built by slaves. He rose from nothing, the product of a broken family: an African father who deserted him and a mother from Kansas. Only in America can a man rise from nothing and be its President.
I was also pleasantly surprised by Rick Warren's Inaugural Prayer. He unabashedly prayed in the name of Jesus. He shared a beautiful and eloquent and heartfelt appeal to God on behalf of Obama. I find it amazing that in the 21st century, in a largely secular country, with a Democratic and liberal president, we still get a Biblical prayer like that.
Now, I'll be the first to say I didn't vote for Obama. I don't agree with his positions on the social issues. And I believe believers should speak out on these issues loudly and without fear. But I will say this. I'm impressed by the man and I believe Christians should celebrate and recognize the this moment in history. God never promised us perfect leaders. Obama is far from perfect. What God promises us is that the leaders who are installed are not installed without His knowledge and consent. He also asks us to pray for them and obey them and respect them.
In closing, I'd like to state two things that worry me about Obama and two things that excite me about Obama.
The worrisome items: 1) He is coming into office with such high expectations. People are projecting onto him changes and hopes that are unfounded and unfair for one man. He is only a man with feet of clay. He will disappoint some people and that will be a hard fall. 2) He is coming into office with a grave set of challenges unlike any president in modern history. I think he's a good man and a right man for the job, but his plate will be full and his job will be tough.
The positive items: 1) Obama seems to have a cool tempermant and sound judgement. He is not hasty and he is not caught up in the emotions of moments. At this time we need a steady hand at the helm. He seems studious and wise. 2) President Obama seems to want to govern by listening to all sides, even those who bitterly opposed him. He is pushing back against the far left of his party. He seems genuine in his attempt to do what he feel is the best course of action, regardless of party.
I was working late last night and so I didn't get a chance to watch President Bush's last address to the American people. But I wanted to comment on his leaving office.
I'm going to miss him. And I think the American people will miss him, over time. He presided over 8 tumultous years of our history. 8 years that presented him with unprecedented challenges. Many want to blame him for all of our trouble, but that's not only false, its foolish. The truth is, I'm glad we had such a man of character, faith, and resolve during these trying times.
As I was driving home last night, it occurred to me that the President will be more appreciated as time passes. Happens with all of our presidents. Ronald Reagan was vilified while in office, but now they name airports and highways after him. President Clinton was shamed (rightfully so) and sometimes wrongly vilified by his critics and now he's a respected elder statesman. When Presidents leave, we begin to realize that their tenure wasn't as bad as we thought, that most of our fear is chalked up to hyperpartisans in elections that seek to stoke fear.
I liken it to a teenagers relationship to the parent. Right now America is tired of George Bush and many think he can't do anything right. But as time passes, we'll begin to realize that he made a lot of wise decisions, just as a teen who turns 30 and has children (me) suddenly realizes how great and wise his parents actually were.
Yesterday, Tony Dunghy retired. Tony has quickly become my favorite coach, in any sport, because he is a man of great character and integrity. But what attracts me most to Tony is his solid faith, lived out in almost impossible conditions. Professional sports is an arena filled with temptations. And yet Tony has not only managed to keep his walk with Christ intact-he's become an influence on the lives of hundreds of young men.
Last year I read his book, Quiet Strengthand came away incredibly impressed. As a sports fan, I've read countless biographies. I've seen Christian athletes. Many of them are good, but there are also many who profess Christ, but live very ungodly lives, to say the least. Some have a Christianity that I would characterize as "flaky."
But not Tony. He knows the Lord. He follows the Lord. He knows His Bible. He follows His Bible. His book was so good and I learned a lot from it. Mainly: integrity, hard work, quality, excellence, and humility.
So as Tony retires from football and into ministry work, I wish him all the best. The NFL's loss is the ministry's gain.
Today I'm watching the NFL wildcard game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals. I was surprised to see on NBC's coverage a man universally hated in Detroit, Matt Millen. For nonfootball people, Matt Millen was a start player for the Oakland Raiders, a man who went to Pro Bowls and won Super Bowls. He then spent 10 years as one of the best analysts on TV and radio.
8 years ago he became President of Football Operations for the Detroit Lions. He signed a huge contract and came with great promise. But earlier this year, his tenure ended in abject failure. He was fired after mostly losing seasons. This year was the worst, it was 0-16. During the last few years, it was pretty ugly. He hired and fired coaches. He traded players away. And the fans scapegoated Millen for the whole thing. There were websites and columns and TV shows that begged the Ford Family to get rid of Millen. Finally, they did.
So this was his first opportunity in months to set the record straight. Dan Patrick asked him some pointed, hard questions about whether or not it was all his fault, etc. A worse man would have blamed others, put it on the coaches or management or players. But he sat there, took the hard questions, and took the blame.
I thought to myself, Wow, that's the way to deal with failure. Deal with it head-one. Look, we all fail. Some of us fail miserably. The easy way out is to blame everyone else. The easy way out is to not take responsiblity for our choices. Millen didn't. We shouldn't either. Failure has a great way of cleansing us, of making us better people. We're more humble, more pliable, less full of ourselves after failure.
I hope Millen has a long and distinguished career in broadasting and perhaps in football. I will always think highly of him, however, for having the courage to take the heat.
Chuck Colsen hits the nail on the head with a very pointed column. It echoes something I've been saying for a while. Values matter in a society. I'm a big free-market guy. I'm a capitalist. I'm for democracy. But none of these function well or succeed without a basic foundation of values.
America's problem won't be fixed with an infusion of money or new leadership. We need a spiritual awakening. People's worldviews are upside down. And now is the time for the Church to rise up and fill that void.
The media and politicans have shouted down the need for values. We've been told that character doesn't count anymore. Remember? Its the economy, stupid! But the economy ultimately fell because of the eroson of integrity at all levels, from everday individuals to high-ranking Wall Street guys to government officials.
