|felix culpa|

What is Advent?

2011-12-08T12:53:00.003-05:00

If you're anything like me, you grew up never really hearing the term, or only hearing it in the context of a wreath or a calendar of some type around Christmas. But Advent is so much more than that; it's a time to celebrate something we most often look upon as an inconvenience: waiting. Here's Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, with a wonderful reflection on the meaning of Advent.

Prayer Alert: Yousef Nadarkhani

2011-09-29T10:26:00.007-04:00

I don't usually post things like this, but since hearing about this story yesterday, I have felt so burdened by this brother and fellow pastor. Please join me in prayer for him. Below is an excerpt explaining his situation:

Naderkhani, who maintains he has never been a Muslim as an adult, has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith in Jesus Christ, the 11th branch of Iran's Gilan Provincial Court ruled. Iran's Supreme Court had ordered the trial court to determine whether Nadarkhani had been a Muslim prior to converting to Christianity.

The judges, according to the American Center for Law & Justice, demanded that Nadarkhani recant his Christian faith before submission of evidence. Though the judgment runs against current Iranian and international laws and is not codified in Iranian penal code, the judge stated that the court must uphold the decision of the 27th Branch of the Supreme Court in Qom.

When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam," the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice.

"I cannot," Naderkhani said.

Yousef Nadarkhani is 34 years old, has a wife and two boys under the age of 10, and his only crime has been refusing to renounce Christianity for Islam. From the accounts I have read, his court appearances have been designed not to administer justice, but to pressure him to recant his faith. The most recent information I have read seems to indicate that his lawyer has been able to secure some confidence that the sentence will be overturned, but that even that "doesn't mean that Naderkhani will be set free without some additional punishment, potentially a long jail sentence or worse."

Please pray for Pastor Yousef, for his family, for his church and for all the believers in Iran. It is a very difficult place to be a Christian, and the government and legal system is heavily stacked against believers in Christ. Pray that Yousef will have confidence and strength through the working of the Holy Spirit, that he might continue to echo the words spoken by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:

"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Sources and More Information:
CNN
Independent Catholic News
Fox News
Washington Post

Preaching

2011-09-13T10:50:00.002-04:00

I read this in the morning, and it has stuck with me.

"Similarly, mature Christian preachers will not construct sermons whose primary purpose is to gain renown for their erudition, humor, oratorical skill or exegetical finesse. They will construct sermons that are designed to help people - to nurture them, instruct them, admonish them, rebuke them, encourage them, challenge them."
- D.A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation

It's a never-ending challenge to continue to write and preach with the ministry of the Word as the only purpose in a world that loves to exalt the gifts over the giver.

The Harvest and Our Response

2011-08-02T09:53:00.007-04:00

Kristen and I have begun reading Charles Spurgeon's magnificent work Morning and Evening before we go to bed each night. It has already been a huge blessing to us, and I wanted to share what we read last night, as it spoke to me deeply.

- Evening -
"You crown the year with your bounty" - Psalm 65:11

All the year round, every hour of every day, God is richly blessing us; when we are asleep and when we are awaken, His mercy waits upon us. The sun may leave us a legacy of darkness, but God never ceases to shine upon His children with beams of love. Like a river, His loving-kindness is always flowing, with a fullness as inexhaustible as His own nature. Like the atmosphere that constantly surrounds the earth and is always ready to support the life of man, the kindness of God surrounds all His creatures; in it, as in their element, they live and move and have their being. Just as the sun on summer days gladdens us with warmer and brighter rays than at other times, and as rivers in certain seasons are swollen by the rain, and as the air itself is sometimes filled with fresher breezes than at other times, so is it with the mercy of God; it has its golden hours, its overflowing days, when the Lord magnifies His grace before the children of men. The joyful days of harvest are a special season of abundant favor. It is the glory of autumn that the ripe gifts of providence are then generously bestowed; it is the mellow season when we enjoy all that we had hoped for. The joy of harvest is great. The reapers are happy to fill their arms with the abundance of heaven. The psalmist tells us that the harvest is the crowning of the year. Surely these crowning mercies merit a crowning thanksgiving! Let us render it by the inward emotion of gratitude. Let our hearts be warmed; let our spirits remember, meditate, and think upon this goodness of the Lord. Then let us praise Him with our lips and honor and magnify His name who is the source of all this goodness. Let us glorify God by offering our gifts to His cause. A practical proof of our gratitude is a special thank-offering to the Lord of the harvest.

I can't wait for this...

2011-05-25T12:31:00.001-04:00

But wait...THERE'S MORE!!

Being a Good Pastor

2011-05-21T08:30:00.005-04:00

Reading this post was exceedingly helpful for me as I close out my first month of being a pastor. Thanks to Jared Wilson for it.

10 Simple Things Good Pastors Say

1. Please forgive me.

Better than "I'm sorry," which can often be followed with an "if" or a "but," these words indicate a humble heart. Bad pastors hide their faults behind the cloak of their authority, practice self-defense against all charges, and basically pretend. Good pastors know they're sinners and admit it.

2. You're right.

Good pastors know they're not always (not usually?) the smartest, most "spiritual" person in the room. They are zealous to give credit and acknowledge achievement and intelligence, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it encourages and empowers others.

3. You're wrong.

Bad pastors chicken out when it comes to calling people on sin or biblical ignorance. Good pastors brave potential conflict and hurt feelings and say "You're wrong" in gentle but firm ways when necessary.

4. Jesus loves you.

Why did we stop saying this? I think because it became cliche. I'd love to see a recovery of the art of "Jesus loves you." Strategically said at times of others' admissions of failure, sin, or trouble, "Jesus loves you" is a fantastic way to speak the gospel into people's lives.

5. I love you.

I think one reason we stopped saying "Jesus loves you" to people is because we don't really love them ourselves. Might as well save the hypocrisy, eh? But good pastors lay their lives down for the sheep. Telling people you love them is a reminder to them and to you that sacrificial love is your calling.

6. Me too.

Next to "Grace is true" (see below), these might be the most important words in pastoral counseling. Bad pastors trade regularly in "Not me." In the pulpit and in the office, bad pastors set themselves apart from their congregations with tales of adventure, spirituality, and personal holiness. In the pulpit and in the office, good pastors talk of sin and trials and utter ineptitude and say, "Me too." I have seen entire countenances change when I've said some variation of "Me too."

7. Any time.

Of course you don't mean it literally. But you kinda do. Good pastors are available.

8. Thank you.

Bad pastors think they're owed. Good pastors know everything is a gift.

9. Grace is true.

I think deep down we all want to hear "You're approved" (see below), which is why we find "Grace is true" such a radical statement. You probably won't use the words, of course. But good pastors take the opportunity to glorify God by "talking up" his amazing grace every chance they get. Just 30 minutes ago, my writing of this post got interrupted by a visitor who wanted to talk about works and grace. I relished the chance to confirm his suspicion that grace is true. Bad pastors may say grace is true but the context of their teaching and the expectations in their leadership say "Your works must be this high to ride this ride." I know some of my friends hate it when "gospel" is used as a verb, but I just have to say it: Good pastors gospel their people. :-)

10. You're approved.

Everyone wants to believe they have what it takes, which is why it's such a bummer to hear the first half of the gospel and learn we really don't. Don't leave your people hanging. Be a good news pastor. Bad pastors beat their people up with their failures. Bad pastors are always disappointed. Good pastors know grace is true and Jesus is Lord, so they are ready to challenge every self-despairing soul with the wonderful truth that in Christ we are approved by God. Good pastors tell people they do have what it takes when they have Jesus' righteousness. Do you trust Jesus? You're all set, then.

It's been...

2011-05-08T21:00:00.003-04:00

...too long since I posted last. Sorry about that. It's been a busy couple of weeks to be sure. There's plenty I could post about that (and I will) but for now, I'll let a few pictures do the talking.

Sunrise

2011-04-18T05:38:00.003-04:00

As I write this, the sun is rising on a new day for me. Of course, every day is a new day, but what makes today so significant is that this is the last time I watch the sun rise from work. After nearly 6 years on this job, working more than 1,100 night shifts, I'll get to sleep at night again. It's only the first in many new things to come, but it feels good. It feels very good.

The Truth of Temptation

2011-04-12T22:33:00.003-04:00

Dr. Russell Moore, dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary, is one of the most brilliant and articulate men I have ever met. He's also one of the most humble and loving. Below is a post from his blog Moore to the Point, adapted from his new book Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ. It spoke to me and is well worth the read.

Why You're Tempted
Monday, April 11th, 2011

I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Maybe you tear up when you think about the words you screamed at your kids this morning. Maybe you’ve deleted the history cache of your computer this week, again, promising yourself that you’ll never access those images again. Maybe you carry that empty snack bag in your purse to throw away later, so people in your office won’t see it in the wastebasket. Maybe the prescription drugs in your desk drawer right now are the only things keeping you sane, and you fear they’re making you crazy. Maybe you just can’t stop thinking about the smell of your co-worker’s hair, or the clink of the whiskey glass at the table nearby.

Maybe what you’re tempted to do is so wild that I wouldn’t feel comfortable posting it on this page, or maybe it’s so tame that I wouldn’t even think to mention it. I don’t know. But I think I know what’s behind it all.

You’re being tempted right now, and so am I. Most of the time we don’t even know it. And, in every one of those moments, we want either to overestimate or underestimate the power of that temptation. We overestimate it by thinking something along the lines of, “I have these feelings, so therefore I’m predestined to be this kind of person.” We underestimate it by thinking something along the lines of, “I’m not tempted to do anything terrible, like adultery or murder. I’m just struggling with this small thing, say, bitterness over my infertility.”

But it’s there, and it’s wild.

Temptation is so strong in our lives because it’s not about us. Temptation is an assault by the demonic powers on the rival empire of the Messiah. That’s why conversion doesn’t diminish the power of temptation, as we often assume, but actually, counter-intuitively, ratchets it up.

If you bear the Spirit of the One the powers rage against, they will seek you out. They want to tear down the icon of the Crucified One that they see embedded in you (1 Pet. 4:14; Rev. 12:17). We’re targeted because we resemble our firstborn brother, Jesus.

We all, whether believers or not, bear some resemblance to Jesus because we share with him a human nature, the image of God. As we come to find peace with God through Jesus, though, we begin a journey of being conformed more and more into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The demons shriek in the increasing glory of that light, and they’ll seek even more frenetically to put it out of their sights.

Aiden's Day at the Zoo

2011-04-03T16:59:00.010-04:00

With spring upon us, Kristen and I decided that it was time to take Aiden to one of our favorite places: the zoo! We've been before, but it was definitely a whole new experience with our 6 month old son!

Here is Aiden and his beautiful Mom, ready for a day of adventure.

He seemed unimpressed by the giraffes, perhaps because he has one of his own at home!

The lions were another story, however. As we approached the enclosure, all three began roaring loudly. This seemed to worry Aiden!

At the elephant enclosure, Father and son had shared awe at the incredible elephants, then mugged for a picture.

Aiden and Mom enjoyed a walk through the bamboo forest...but he wanted to grab everything in sight!

He was a good boy, content to ride in his stroller and take in the sights and smells of the zoo.

Aiden enjoyed the gorillas and we all enjoyed an afternoon with each other.

By the time we finished, the poor guy was worn out. But it was a great day at the Louisville Zoo!

In the Immortal Words of Charlie Sheen...

2011-03-26T12:33:00.001-04:00

Winning.

Living as the Gospel is True

2011-03-24T11:30:00.005-04:00

A humbling and challenging word from Pastor David Platt of The Church at Brook Hills.

Do We Really Believe What We're Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

(What kind of) Love Wins?

2011-03-22T19:37:00.005-04:00

A lot has been made over the last few weeks about the new book from Rob Bell, Love Wins. I'll be the first to say that I haven't read the book, but I've read a number of people who have, and what I hear doesn't really jive with what I see in Scripture, or in honest theological discourse. Maybe I'm way off, but it's worth reading some reviews and, as always, thinking about what you read. One of the biggest issues I hear about this book is that there are bold assertions made as fact, not supported by exegesis, theology or history (here's a discussion of one example). This, I fear, is not a good thing.

In any case, here's a very insightful review from Tim Challies. It's long, but worth reading in it's entireity...

Questions matter. They can help you to grow deeper in your knowledge of the truth and your love for God—especially when you’re dealing with the harder doctrines of the Christian faith. But questions can also be used to obscure the truth. They can be used to lead away just as easily as they can be used to lead toward. Ask Eve.

Enter Rob Bell, a man who has spent much of the last seven years asking questions in his sometimes thought-provoking and often frustrating fashion. And when he’s done asking, no matter what answers he puts forward, it seems we’re only left with more questions. This trend continues in his new book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, where Bell poses what might be his most controversial question yet:

Does a loving God really send people to hell for all eternity?

Continue Reading...

Additionally, here's an interview between Bell and MSNBC's Martin Bashir. Now, I'll be the first to concede that Bashir is pretty hard on Bell (perhaps this could be characterized as unfair) but what bothers me more is the logical incoherence in Bell's answers.

Maysville, KY

2011-03-21T09:30:00.005-04:00

First, my apologies for slacking off on the blog. I wish I had a good excuse, but I don't. More often than not, I feel like there's not much interesting in my life, or I'm not feeling particularly profound. In any case, there is some news that I am excited to now be able to share with all of you who read the blog. Over the last month, we've taken a few trips to a quiet, beautiful town on the Ohio river.

Maysville is a town of about 9,000, located about an hour north of Lexington. It's definitely smaller than Louisville, but it has a great feel about it; the people are incredibly friendly and the town has all kinds of unique and fascinating characteristics. Kristen and I both fell in love with it the first time we saw it.

The reason we've been in Maysville so much over the last month is because of a little church on KY Route 11. Lewisburg Baptist Church has met in the same spot, in the same building since 1843. The church has a rich and faithful history and is probably one of the most loving and welcoming families either of us has ever met. Our first visit was just that, a visit to spend time in a service and chat with the search committee chair about their opening for a pastor.

But last week, we drove back with a much more focused purpose: I preached in view of a call. We spent a packed day and a half with the search committee, the deacons and a number of the members of the church. Over coffee, sitting at Frisch's and across a committee table, Kristen and I saw over and over the faithfulness of God. We saw it in the members of Lewisburg as they sought not to find the man that they wanted, but the man that God wanted to lead their church. We saw it in their joking and laughter and in their serious concern for the Gospel's forwarding in Mason County. And we saw it in ourselves, as the Lord confirmed over and over again that our waiting for a church had not been a fool's errand, but instead it had been preparation for something incredible.

That was Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th. But we had to wait until this week for the official vote from the congregation on whether to call us. Last night at 8pm, the call that we have been hoping and trusting the Lord for since November of 2009 came. Lewisburg Baptist Church formally called me to be their pastor. We are thrilled at the prospect of what the Lord will do through us as we move into this new stage in our lives. There will certainly be a lot more updates over the next days and weeks, but for now, we ask you to pray. Please pray for all the details (including Kristen finding a good, part-time job) and for all that will go into this transition. And pray for both of us as we step into this awesome responsibility, that we will be faithful to allow his strength to be manifest through us that we and all the people of Lewisburg Baptist Church, might grow in godliness and be agents for the Gospel in Maysville and all of Mason County.

Life and likesuchas...

2011-02-12T09:58:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted in a while because I'm going through one of those periods where I feel like there's nothing to post. Inspirational thought has left me for the time being, and there's no real news to report. Right now, it feels like we're somewhere in here:

We're just waiting, waiting, waiting. Something might be coming soon, but for now, we're still just standing in line.

Shut Down all the Garbage Mashers!

2011-01-21T07:56:00.002-05:00

You know that scene in Star Wars: A New Hope when Luke and Han Solo have just rescued Princess Leia from the clutches of Darth Vader? In their haste to escape, they find themselves in a giant trash compactor, filled with all manner of filth and some sort of one-eyed, tentacled thing that wants to eat them. Just as Han defeats it with a shot from his blaster, the walls begin to close in.

"SHUT DOWN ALL THE GARBAGE MASHERS ON THE DETENTION LEVEL!" Luke screams to C-3PO and R2-D2. Just as their fate seems sealed, R2 comes through in the clutch and our heroes live to fight the Empire another day.

Someone asked me recently how my life has been going, and I responded that I feel just like Luke Skywalker must have in that moment. The walls seem to be closing in on all fronts, and right now it seems like there is nowhere to go. We were talking the other day about our little boy, now four plus months old; he'll be crawling soon and walking before we know it (he seems to want to now!) and there's no room for it. We can't baby-proof anything...there's nowhere in our apartment for it. We only sleep in bed together one night a week, and when we do have a day together, one of us is exhausted from working the night before.

We could move to a larger apartment, but that would cost more money that we don't have, and would mean that we would have to commit to a year-long lease. One of us could look for a new job, but that would mean new insurance and some of the jobs I have looked at require commitment to hang around, at least for a little while. We've maintained an uncomfortable flexibility for a while now in the hope we would soon be moving, but nothing has yet materialized. Now we're faced with a decision...should we make some commitments (maybe a new job and a new lease) to stay here? Or should we hold tight, hoping that an opportunity with a church comes through soon?

I don't know, but I know that the Lord is faithful, and that at some point, the walls will stop closing in. I just wish I knew when that will be...

It's Official

2011-01-17T13:38:00.001-05:00

I feel old. I know I'm not old, but I feel like it. More on this later.

My New Year Resolution

2010-12-26T17:09:00.007-05:00

I'm not big on New Year resolutions. Too often, I find that I'm trying to externally patch some problem by simply resolving to stop rather than dealing with whatever deeper root cause. This being the case, I too often fail at whatever I am undertaking because I'm attempting to treat a symptom rather than the problem.

All that to say that I have a New Year resolution of sorts this year, and it's one that I would recommend to everyone. Timothy Brister, in collaboration with The Resurgence, has begun a project called "Partnering to Remember." The goal this year is to memorize the entire book of Philippians beginning on January 1, to be completed by Easter Sunday (April 24). The Resurgence has created a very helpful PDF that divides the text up into small chunks of 5-8 verses for each of the sixteen weeks. The sections of this PDF are sized so that they can be cut and taped into a Cahier Moleskin for maximum portability and ease of study.

I know that memorizing and entire book of the Bible seems daunting, but what more worthy way to spend your spare time? I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to stick it out for 4 months, but why let that stop me? Come January 1, I'll start on the most ambitious memorization project I've ever undertaken. Tim Brister:

Let’s face it. Memorizing Scripture can be a difficult discipline, especially memorizing long passages of Scripture. In our fast-paced lives of multi-tasking with any number of things vying for our attention, there is a real danger for the Word of God to get squeezed out of our daily lives. More than any other time, Christians need to partner together for the purpose of internalizing Scripture, encouraging one another to abide in the words of Christ, and remembering the weighty truths that center us in God’s work in our lives.

I encourage you to join me on January 1 as I begin to memorize the book of Philippians.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed this...

100 days and counting...

2010-12-16T23:39:00.005-05:00

For those of you who follow our baby blog, you'll know that yesterday marked the end of our first 100 days with Aiden. We've been chronicling the journey in pictures, and so I thought I would post the entire slideshow here for everyone to see. I can't wait to see the Lord's faithfulness in all of our lives over the next 100 days, and beyond.

Hobby Lobby Heresy

2010-12-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure this isn't what Paul meant when he wrote this in his letter to the Romans. Just sayin...

Road Trippin' with the Boy

2010-11-28T19:48:00.005-05:00

Last week, we drove from Louisville to Chambersburg, PA to spend Thanksgiving with the Locke side of the family. Normally a not-so-ambitious undertaking, the drive is a beautiful tour through West Virginia and Western Maryland that takes about 8 hours. But this time, we had a complication...it was the first trip for our boy, just a week shy of 3 months old.

The packing was excruciating: did we remember burp cloths? Do we have enough diapers? Are the wipes where we can reach them? Then there was the planning. When will we feed him? What about stopping to change him? What will we do if he just screams his head off for 8+ hours?

Fortunately, our fears were without merit. As it turns out, Aiden loves to ride in the car (or more accurately, loves to sleep in the car). Kristen had to wake him up to feed him, and he was otherwise happy as a little clam.

Thinking ahead, Kristen bought this toy bar so that in his rare moments of wakefulness, he could entertain himself. He seemed to enjoy it once he realized he could hit the various parts and they would spin and make sounds.

He did great with feedings too! We ended up scheduling it so that he only had to eat twice on the trip, and once was with a bottle while the other coincided with a lunch and gas stop (I could see in his eyes that he wanted my Hush Puppies at Long John Silvers). Of course, the last hour of the trip, he was fussy, but who doesn't want to wail and scream after 9 hours in a car? As it turned out, the trip only took us an hour longer than sans Aiden, and we consider that a victory to be sure.

It was a great trip, and when I say that, I'm including the traveling. We were blessed with safe driving and a great time with family. And now Aiden has been inducted into the tradition of the Groves Family road trip. There will be many more to come!

Turkey Psalm

2010-11-25T08:35:00.009-05:00

Thanksgiving inevitably brings about the question: "What are you thankful for?" While I could fill pages and pages with my answer this year, I was struck this morning by my daily reading in Psalms. Perspective is critical in any discussion of thankfulness and blessing, and this Psalm brings it to me. Have a happy thanksgiving, remembering the unending faithfulness of God!²²for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

²³The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.

²⁵I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
²⁶He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

²⁷Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
²⁸For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever...

³⁹The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.⁴⁰The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

- Psalm 37:22-29, 39-40

Psalm of the Day

2010-11-16T09:05:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed reading this Psalm late last week and dwelling on the symbolism in my thoughts over the next few days. So I thought I would post it for all of you to read and think about as well.

1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over many waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11May the LORD give strength to his people!

May the LORD bless his people with peace!

- Psalm 29

Paul, Prayer and Persecution

2010-11-13T02:58:00.001-05:00

A week ago, I preached on Philippians 1:18-26. If the reference doesn't automatically jog your memory, it's the passage where Paul proclaims "to live is Christ and to die is gain." I spent a great deal of time unpacking that main idea, but it's what Paul says just before this famous quotation that I've been thinking about this week.

"Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:18b-20)

In this long sentence spanning two and a half verses, Paul states that he will rejoice and have confidence despite his circumstances (he was writing this while imprisoned, most likely in Rome and possibly awaiting execution) because all was being worked out for his deliverance ("salvation" is a better translation, to mean something like "the Gospel is being worked out in me") and that ultimately, God would be glorified. But I think what is most interesting (and applicable) is how Paul knows all this will turn out for the Gospel and God's glory.

Paul says "through your prayers and the work of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." The English translation seems to separate these two things, simply listing them as a series, but Paul was expressing a much closer relationship than that. Both the prayers of the Philippians and the work of the Spirit are grammatically organized to emphasize their unity and interrelation. As Gordon Fee says, "the Philippians...are inexplicably bound together with him [Paul] through the Spirit. Therefore, he assumes that their praying, and with that God's gracious supply of the Spirit of his Son, will be the means God uses yet once more to bring glory to himself through Paul and Paul's defense of the Gospel."

This Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Across the globe there are thousands of believers who are facing persecution; they are imprisoned, beaten, separated from the ones they love all because they claim the same God for their Father that we do with relative ease. They are living today the same life that Paul was living when he wrote this letter to the Philippians, and we are those bound inextricably together with them. Our prayers are not just an expression of our sadness at their predicament or a plea to the Father for their comfort, but much more than that.

The work of the Holy Spirit allows them to rejoice in their circumstances and have the surety that Paul expresses: the Gospel is being worked out in their lives, and God is being glorified. And the means that we have a critical role to play: we are called to pray for the persecuted church, knowing that our prayers are a means by which the Holy Spirit works in their lives. As Moises Silva says, "The Spirit's help itself is...manifested through the koinonia [common fellowship, unity] of fellow-believers." They are not just people we don't really know, but a part of the same body that we belong to, members of our family, our brothers and sisters.

So pray, not just on Sunday, but begin to pray daily for the part of the body of Christ that suffers daily for the Gospel. Pray knowing that your prayers have an effect, that through the Spirit, the joy your persecuted brothers and sisters have in the midst of these dark hours and their certainty of God's glory in their situation is directly related to your prayers. And pray that He would hasten the day when their faith shall be sight and all that is broken will be made new.

For prayer updates, click here or go to persecution.com to sign up for email prayer updates.

Parenthood

2010-11-12T04:10:00.000-05:00

"I'm becoming pretty obsessed about parenthood right now," said my wife yesterday. Was she referring to the all-consuming, late night feedings, or the constant stream of laundry, or perhaps the way a baby takes over your entire schedule? An involuntary obsession with parenting might be a good way to characterize our lives right now. But that's not what she was talking about...she was talking about the show Parenthood on NBC.

We've watched it from the beginning (it's in the second season now) and I have to say that it is without a doubt one of the best shows on television. It follows the lives of four very different siblings and their children as they navigate the crazy world of parenting. One of the siblings is a single parent, another has just recently met his 6 year old son for the first time, yet another has an autistic boy and the last struggles to balance her high-powered career and her family.

It sounds a little formulaic, right? Maybe a little cheesy...well, it's not. Check out this video clip:

Parenthood has an authenticity to its writing and a depth of talented acting that is rare on television, especially on NBC. Nevertheless, the show has underperformed in ratings. So, watch it. The multiple plot lines and large cast mean that it migh take an episode or two for you to really get everything that's happening, but it will most definitely be worth it. Parenthood has all the ingredients for a good, solid show with talented actors and excellent writing. But it also has the intangible that takes the show from good to great; it has a moment. The drama draws you in an compels you to continue watching...you will laugh, cry, struggle along with the characters. It really is a great show. Check out Parenthood at 10pm Tuesday nights on NBC.

Ad of the Year (or Century)

2010-11-05T00:11:00.005-04:00

In a season of campaign ads that were at times as vitriolic as they were laughable, as irrelevant as they were aggressive, this ad for the 2010 Winnipeg mayor's race stands alone. (by the way, I did a little research and I'm pretty sure this is the real-ish deal)

One Year

2010-11-02T08:33:00.004-04:00

It was a year ago today that I started sending out resumes for ministry positions, and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about that. In the last 365 days, we went from a family of two to a family of three, I added an M.Div to the end of my name and we've seen the nature of our ministry in Louisville change and taper off. The last year has been a mix of incredibly exciting events and difficult challenges, a pattern that I am sure won't change much in the coming months.

It's tempting to be discouraged when I remember how optimistic I was as I sent off my first resume on November 2, 2009 to New Hope Baptist Church in Pelzer, SC. It really does seem like that was forever ago, and in moments of weakness I wonder when this time of waiting will ever end. But God has been so faithful in our lives over the past twelve months. I think about the incredible ways that God has provided for us financially, the deep and enriching relationships that have ministered to us in the last year and the story of Aiden's birth.

When I look back all of this, how can I not trust that the Lord will continue to be faithful? As we begin to face the possibility that Kristen may have to return to work in a few weeks and wonder how we might be able to make that work, He is faithful. As I wait to hear back from the many churches still holding and considering my resume, He is faithful. As this time of waiting stretches past one year, God will continue to be faithful. Please pray with us that we would remember, celebrate and trust in this truth.²³Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
-I Thessalonians 5:23-24

Psalms

2010-10-30T01:29:00.005-04:00

For a long time, I didn't really like asparagus. It's not that I really had any experience with it, but it was green and a vegetable, so I pretty much rejected it out of hand. But a few years ago, I ate some and all of the sudden I realized that not only do I like asparagus, I love it. Now, I look forward to every time I get the chance to have some.

I tell that story because reading Psalms has followed roughly the same trajectory for me as my relationship with the delicious green stalk. I have always gravitated to the epistles for their theological and didactic nature and to narrative because it so beautifully illustrates the unfolding of the message of the Word. But I'm not really one for poetry, and I had never really gotten into the book of Psalms.

Per usual, the impetus for me to step out of what I was comfortable with was my wonderful wife, who has been enthusiastically enjoying the Psalms on her second read through the Bible in a year. I was skeptical, but I had finished an epistle and a narrative recently, so I took the plunge and started with Psalm 1. I was stunned...how had I been missing this the whole time?!?! The beauty of the text is intertwined with great theological truths about the nature of God, man, sin, redemption...I could go on and on. I'm not sure that anything I have read so clearly reveals so much about the nature of God.

I've been reveling in Psalms ever since. It's been an incredible encouragement in this time of uncertainty and Kristen and I have decided to memorize this passage to keep our minds and hearts focused on who our mighty God is:

6Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
8The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

- Psalm 28:6-9 (ESV)

I encourage you to check out Psalms if you have not already. And keep your eye on this blog, as I intend to start up blogging with more regularity in the coming weeks.

I'm still around...

2010-09-20T23:52:00.002-04:00

I realize that I haven't posted here in a long time, and for you two people who still read this, I'm going to get back to it soon. I've been busy over on our baby blog since Aiden was born, but I'll be back here soon. For now, I'll direct you to the newest feature on our baby blog, 100 Days of Aiden. We're taking a picture of him every day and posting them up for 100 days. It should be interesting!

The Reckoning

2010-08-22T02:19:00.008-04:00

Recently, I saw one of my favorite artists, Andrew Peterson, live in concert. His new album, Counting Stars was released recently, and it's been my most played album of the last two weeks. I would highly recommend it and any of AP's music; he's talented and insightful, and his heart for God shows through in his work. This particular song is the final song of his new album and probably my favorite.

It catches me off guard each time I hear it...I find myself choking on the words as I am reminded of the transitory reality of all that I too often trust as permanent. I've often struggled with articulating my feelings about what Andrew calls "the reckoning" but this song gives words to the desires of my heart. I can't be reminded often enough that there is a great coming reality when the curtain will be lifted and we will look God full in the face, and I too long for that day.

I can see the storm descending on the hill tonight
Tall trees are bending to your will tonight
Let the mighty bow down
At the thundering sound of your voice

I can hear the howling wind and feel the rain tonight
Every drop a prophet in your name tonight
And the words that they sing
They are washing me clean, but

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

And I know you hear the cries of every soul tonight
You see the teardrops as they roll tonight
Down the faces of saints
Who grow weary and faint in your fields

And the wicked roam the cities and the streets tonight
But when the God of love and thunder speaks tonight
I believe You will come
Your justice be done, but

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

You are holiness and grace
You are fury and rest
You are anger and love
You curse and you bless
You are mighty and weak
You are silence and song
You are plain as the day,
But you have hidden your face—
For how long? How long?

And I am standing in the silence of the reckoning
The storm is past and rest is beckoning
Mighty God, how I fear you
How I long to be near you, O Lord

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

And I know that I don’t know what I’m asking
But I long to look you full in the face
I am ready for the reckoning

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-08-03T08:09:00.004-04:00

No, it's not Christmas, although that's great too. It's SHARK WEEK on the Discovery channel. For 23 years, Discovery has been paying homage to the apex predator of the ocean, the creature that strikes fear in the hearts of us mere humans.

I love sharks...I love their beauty and raw power. Watching a Great White breech is possibly one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I still grab Kristen and say, "Look at that!" every time they play a slow motion shot of one, flailing in the air after jumping fully out of the water. It truly is amazing.

So tune into Shark Week, all this week on Discovery, and enjoy one of the most stunning works of God's creation.

The Facebook Movie

2010-06-26T10:06:00.004-04:00

Those of you who know me know that I am the anti-Facebook. I realize that it allows people to more easily keep up with one another, but I suspect that it is more often responsible for the proliferation of useless information and faux relationships rather than a tool for genuine human connectedness (see Neil Postman's books Amusing Ourselves to Death and Technopoly for further thought on that).

In any case, my aversion to Facebook doesn't really have much to do with my excitement about the upcoming movie, The Social Network. Rather, I am interested in it because the film was written by Aaron Sorkin, one of the most talented and creative people out there today. I've talked here before about my love of all things Sorkin, but I won't rehash a sonnet of wonder for Sports Night or a lament of loss for Studio 60 here, I'll just say that if anyone can write a great movie about a website (or anything), it is Aaron Sorkin. Additionally, the director is David Fincher, the director of such critically acclaimed films as Se7en and Fight Club. Needless to say, I am intrigued.

Facebook has a sordid history, with allegations that the founder, Mark Zuckerberg, stole the whole idea from some fellow college co-eds (the reality is that the claimed founders received a huge out of court settlement after suing Zuckerberg). Sundry co-ed malfeasance, ruthless conniving and general meanness are all rumors that surround the founder and his compatriots during the early days of Facebook. Some of it is true, some of it isn't and most of it is both...but it's all apparently in this film. Whatever this movie is about, it will be quite the interesting piece to watch.

The first trailer was released yesterday. Check it out below, and watch for The Social Network, hitting theaters on October 1, 2010.

Sources:
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/techtonic-shifts/2010/05/13/as-facebook-takes-a-beating-a-brutal-movie-is-set-to-make-things-much-worse.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Network

Quo Vadimus

2010-06-19T08:31:00.001-04:00

Where are we going? That has been the question in this last week and a half; it has been such a roller coaster. We've been talking to a church in Missouri for the last few months, and I have been super excited about the opportunity. They're a 2 year old church plant affiliated with Acts29 and the Southern Baptist Convention, and situated in a unique area with a lot of needs and tons of potential for ministry. I had probably completed 2/3 of the process when I called them last Tuesday (the 8th) and they told me that they were going to go with another candidate. They encouraged me a great deal, but at the end of the day, it meant that we were back to square one.

I've really wrestled in the last week with getting back on the horse and searching for new ministry opportunities. For a few days I was just angry and frustrated, and then that gave way to discouragement and apathy. Kristen just moved into her third trimester, and while I am so excited about that, it makes the lack of any ministry opportunity loom more ominously in the foreground. I'm struggling once again with the reality that this will happen in God's timing, not mine, and that ultimately he is the one who will make it happen.

But, as always happens, the Lord put several reminders of his faithfulness in my path. My very good friend George emailed me after I sent him a discouraged email and reminded me that God is teaching me through this time, and that these minor difficulties will ultimately culminate in his glory. He said, "And you know that you can trust Him as He's never proven unfaithful. Not once." Of course I know this, but too often I don't really believe it. I need to believe it. Thanks for reminding me of that George.

Then, early this week, I sent my resume to several pastors that I had not contacted up to this point. The response was humbling and amazing...one of them immediately forwarded my resume to a church, another has a connection to a big church in this area that he was going to contact, and still another said he would even consider creating an internship for me until I found something more permanent. On top of all this, we got two incredible notes from my Grandmother on Thursday, offering to help us buy a pack n play for the baby, and encouraging us to persevere and remember God's faithfulness.

I am my father's son. I love to fix things, solve problems and do serious planning far into the future. I like to be prepared. But what that means for me is that too often I try to plan for God, to direct him in what I think is best rather waiting and listening to his leading. It's a lesson I have to learn over and over again, but God's faithfulness and his plan aren't always what I think or even want. Asking myself "Where are we going?" is a fruitless exercize in my own pride; I am learning once again that I have to ask the one who knows and patiently wait for his answer.

Here's lookin at you, kid

2010-05-19T09:55:00.002-04:00

Our most recent doctor's visit allowed us to finally get some ultrasound pictures of our baby's face. It was awesome! We are so blessed that the baby continues to develop right on schedule, and the doctor confirmed that everything looks perfectly healthy and normal. This will most likely be one of the last baby-related posts on my blog for a while, as Kristen and I have started up a new baby blog: littlebabygroves.blogspot.com. Head over there for our latest updates, pictures and to vote in our gender poll. But for now, enjoy these pictures of our little one.

What does this MEAN?!?!

2010-05-17T06:59:00.002-04:00

I came across an article recently that I honestly think every Christian should read. It's short and not too difficult, but it addresses an all-too-common failure that is evident in many churches and in the lives of many believers. The failure is this: reading a Bible verse.

Let me explain: it's not that people fail to read the Bible, although that is a problem as well. This problem is at the root of the common lament of struggle to understand what one is reading in Scripture, especially in the Old Testament. Too often, we read the Bible in individual segments, leading to a myriad of questions. Why is this here? What significance does this seemingly boring passage have? What does this mean for me?

But there's a key, one that almost universally unlocks the most confusing and difficult passages in the New Testament: context. Here's the article:

Never Read a Bible Verse
By Gregory Koukl

If there was one bit of wisdom, one rule of thumb, one single skill I could impart, one useful tip I could leave that would serve you well the rest of your life, what would it be? What is the single most important practical skill I've ever learned as a Christian?

Here it is: Never read a Bible verse. That's right, never read a Bible verse. Instead, always read a paragraph at least...read the entire article here.

Scripture memorization is a very valuable thing, but too often the one or two verses that are memorized, whether it be as a child in Sunday School or during personal study as an adult, foster within us the idea that verses and stories are divorced and divided from one another. This couldn't be further from the truth! Not only do verses have immediate context (the paragraph and idea that surrounds them) but they have context within the book, within the writer's corpus, within the history of God's interaction with his people, and this is merely the beginning of the contextual issues.

Now it seems overwhelming...how is one person supposed to remember and account for all of those things? Well, relax...and just read. Pay attention to what you just read. Think about what's happening in the story or letter. Ask yourself why something just happened, and what it means. If you walked outside one morning and were surprised by tomato plant growing in your garden, context would govern how you understood that event. Did you plant it a few weeks earlier? Did you just buy the house without knowing it was planted by the previous owners? Is your spouse gardening and not telling you? Answers to all of these contextual questions help you understand why the tomato plant is there, and give you an idea of what could be coming next.

Scripture is a marvelous tapestry of interwoven events, themes and ideas. When you find yourself struggling to understand a verse, read the context and apply it to what you are studying. It will give you a refreshing understanding of how the whole of the Bible fits together, and ultimately will help you better apply the Word of God to your own life.

A few excellent resources for growing in the way you understand the Bible:

ESV Study Bible (by far the best study Bible on the market today)

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible by Robert Stein (more technical, but still an excellent resource)

It's all a shell game...

2010-05-03T04:11:00.012-04:00

I've always loved Ford Motor Company, but my affection for them has only grown recently as both Chrysler and GM took massive bailouts from the government to basically subsidise their failure to remain competitive in the marketplace. Ford made a number of smart moves financially just before the recession began, and that, coupled with their star CEO implementing massive product development, manufacturing and quality control changes has left them in a great position to not just weather the storm, but expand their market share.

But GM announced a week or so ago that they too are now back on the straight and narrow road of capitalism, repaying their government loans back early, in full and with interest. Here's the heart-warming commercial I'm sure you've already seen:

Unfortunately, it's all a farce. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was the first to call it simply a "TARP money shuffle." The official response from the Treasury department seemed to initially contradict this; the statement claimed that GM properly used escrow funds to repay the loan, and that this escrow was not held by the US Treasury, but by GM. That's all well and good, except that the New York Times revealed that this is all merely a game of semantics on the part of the Treasury and General Motors.

According to the Times, the inspector general overseeing the bailout program noted in a Senate Finance Committee meeting that the money being used to pay back the Treasury was "other taxpayer money." The Treasury noted last Tuesday that the money used to repay the bailout was in an escrow account held for General Motors by the US Treasury. This is probably the most troubling quote from the NYT article:

Emphasizing that the cash in the account was “the property of G.M.,” Mr. Allison said that the department had approved the company’s use of the money to retire the original debt because it was “consistent with Treasury’s goal of recovering funds for the taxpayer and exiting TARP investments as soon as practicable.”

Why should you care? The issues are twofold: first, the money isn't "the property of GM" in the first place. It's the taxpayers' money, and represents what comes out of your paycheck every two weeks that is supposed to go to legitmate financial needs of the government. Second, while the Treasury has backed off of their original claim that taxpayer money was not used for the payback, GM deceptively continues to claim they have payed back their loans and are somehow more prepared to survive in the market, while this is clearly not the case. GM used government money, paid by you in your taxes, to repay the bailout money they owed to the Treasury.

How can GM be "a company America is proud of" as CEO Ed Whitacre states in the ad, if they can't even pay off their bailout with their own funds? GM is no more out from under the bailout now than it was before it paid off its loans, it only wants you to think it is. Taxpayers should be embarassed and angry at this charade, and disgusted at the misleading tactics of the US Treasury and General Motors. It's not the taxpayer's job to support a failing business, and until GM can actually turn a profit, that's exactly what it is.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/business/02gret.html
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-28/gm-properly-used-escrow-to-repay-u-s-treasury-says-update1-.html

AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME...

2010-05-01T07:47:00.007-04:00

This will most likely be my last Derby in Louisville, and it promises to be an interesting one. With a flood advisory looming for today and tomorrow, the track is sure to be very sloppy at the 6:24pm post time. There are few things more amazing than watching thoroughbreds run in the mud, and a fast horse on a dry track can be a monster in the wet or get bogged down in the muck. All bets are off.

I've had trouble choosing a horse this year, mostly because I haven't paid very close attention to the pre-Derby buzz and predictions. So I went with a trainer I like...Bob Baffert. The jockey is Martin Garcia, and this is his first mount in the Kentucky Derby. And my horse? Conveyance.

His odds are 12-1, and he's recently won The Southwest Stakes; many of those horses are here now for the Derby, so Conveyance knows the competition. Bred here in Kentucky, Conveyance is a quick out of the gate horse and stamina has been a weakness in the bloodline...if he's back at the start, that's bad news. His pedigree includes a sire and broodmare sire who were both Derby favorites but failed to win. On this track anything can happen, but today, I'll be rooting for Conveyance in the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby!

A Must-Read Coming in August

2010-04-29T08:16:00.007-04:00

My mother walks where few women dare to tread. She raised four boys- stitches, wrestling matches, tree climbing- and lived to tell about it (and, remarkably, so did we). She held our feet to the fire with our homework, took us on trips to the library and sat in the stands for our football, wrestling, basketball, swimming and track competitions. Now she's written a book, to be released in August, about the whole, wild experience. You're going to want to check this out.

From the publisher:
Boy #1 is a blessing. Boy #2 is a joy. But what happens with boy #3? And what if there is a #4? Or more? Suddenly, Mom is outnumbered. Throw Dad into the mix, and you have enough testosterone to chase Mom out the front door and keep her on the run from dawn to dusk.

My mom is not only a great mom, but an excellent writer, so this will definitely be a great read. Keep an eye open in bookstores for I'm Outnumbered in August, and read more about my mom, her book and raising boys at www.outnumberedmom.com.

On a personal note, I couldn't be more proud of my mom for writing this book. It's always been her dream to write, and now that she's got the creative juices flowing, I can't wait to see what else is coming in the future. Congrats mom!

The Search for Love

2010-04-27T13:29:00.002-04:00

Here's a short film my brother stars in that just won best audio, best music and best comedy at the Highbridge Film Festival. It's hilarious, clever and definitely worth a watch. Enjoy!

A Baby Update!

2010-04-25T02:19:00.001-04:00

So, I know it's been a while since I posted, and I'll work on getting back on track, but for now, here are a few pictures of our ultrasound from Thursday. It was 30 minutes of just ultrasound, and it was awesome. I can't wait to be a father!

And, for those of you who are wondering, we didn't cave. We're still not finding out the sex of the baby. It's going to be one amazing surprise.

Here's a great profile shot...you can see the spine, legs, all kinds of cool stuff.
In this one you can see our little one raising a clenched fist...they're already sticking it to the man!
This is by far my favorite...you can see both feed (look where the arrows ar pointing) as well as toes, the back, spine and a little bit of a rear end. I love it!
These last two are the 3D ultrasounds. The baby was wiggling all over the place, but would not turn over, so when we go back in three weeks, we'll have some 3D face shots to post. Looking forward to that!

First or Last?

2010-03-29T05:14:00.001-04:00

There are phrases and ideas that have worked their way into common discourse. "A bird in the hand" or "when in Rome" are two that come to mind. But as I read through the book of Mark a few nights ago, I came across another common phrase: "The last shall be first, and the first shall be last."

This phrase appears not only in Mark 10:31 (where it is actually phrased "But many who are first will be last, and the last first") but also in Matthew's complementary account of Jesus' encounter with the rich, young man. In both cases, Christ's teaching and his main point are the same. But what exactly does this phrase mean, and when people use it, do they really mean what it says?

Too often, I hear this phrase used as an implicit reminder of a reward for those who are nice to other people. Let that pregnant lady on the elevator and catch the next one...the last shall be first. Give some money to a homeless man you pass by on your morning commute...the last shall be first. For many, this phrase is really just a moralistic proverb, a reminder of why you should do good things. Sadly, for Christians it is often the same. But that isn't what Jesus is saying at all.

As is always the case with Scripture, reading the context helps understand the meaning. Here's the passage in its entirety:

17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." 21And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." 28Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Mark 10:17-31 (ESV)

Christ clearly ties being one of the last-made-first not with some kind of moral do-goodness, but with the consequences of a life devoted to following him. If that seems like a subtle distinction, think about it again. Common usage would suggest that the one that does the most sacrificial "good things" somehow gains placement "first" in virtue of their "last" nice-guy standing. But Christ clearly points out just a few verses earlier that this is the complete opposite of his meaning. Consider his conversation with the rich, young man; the man said that he had kept all the commandments, but Christ asks him for more. The mere keeping of the law, the doing of good things, is not enough to save him. He must be willing to sacrifice the thing that is most dear to him in order to follow Christ.

The reality of this passage is not that money is the obstacle to following Christ. For this man, it was. The reality is that being "last" means loss, sacrifice and persecution because of faithfulness "for [Christ's] sake and for the gospel." You can do all the good things that you like; you can give and help and sacrifice until you are blue in the face, but if it is only for your sake and not for the sake of the Gospel, then it means nothing. Truly being one last-made-first means being one that will give up anything for the call and furthering of the Gospel, and being one who will follow Christ above all else. To simply do good deeds for the sake of being last (made first) is as void as the rich, young man's willingness to keep the commands but hold on to his wealth.

So the phrase isn't really about doing good deeds at all- it's about the reality that those who truly follow Christ will have to give up and suffer for it, but that the lastness of this suffering translates into the firstness of communion with believers here on earth and ultimately, communion with God forever. It's not what you do, it's who you're doing it for.

OK Go

2010-03-15T03:38:00.000-04:00

This is simply amazing.

Our (fur) Baby

2010-03-14T00:17:00.004-05:00

It occurs to me that it has been a long time since I've posted any pictures of our adorable puppy Paisley, and a few weeks ago she got to spend some playtime in the snow. It's probably her favorite thing ever...well, second only to peanut butter. Here are some action shots of our crazy pooch:

Our sweet puppy, calm and enjoying the snow...

Graceful as a deer, bounding through the snow...

This is probably my favorite picture of her...she's got the crazy eyes.

Paisley's not super agile, but that doesn't stop her from trying.

Recently, Paisley's had a bit of drama in her life. What was supposed to be a short pedicure for her turned into an impromptu first aid session when I accidentally cut the quick of one of her nails. I know, I should have been more careful...I felt awful about it. A quick tip: when you do this to your dog, sticking her foot in a bowl of flour coats the nail and helps staunch the bleeding. Unfortunately, you also have a dog tracking flour all over the house. At least it's better than her tracking blood all over the house.

Paisley wanted to lick all the flour off her paw, resulting in a restart to the bleeding, so before it was all said and done, her foot got a second dip in the flour and she got a stylish sock to keep her from licking her nail. She was none too pleased about this.

Finally, she settled down from all the excitement and made peace with the fact that she was going to have to wear this sock (for a little while, at least).

That's all the canine news for now, but I'm sure there will be plenty more fodder for future posts since there will be many new and exciting things coming in her (and our) lives.

Brian McLaren & Whole Foods

2010-03-12T04:42:00.001-05:00

Here's a short parable, written by Dr. Jim Hamilton of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, about the new book by Brian D. McLaren, entitled A New Kind of Christianity. I haven't read the book yet, but I've heard response from many who have, and I think this short story hits the nail on the head.

Brian McLaren decided to open his own Whole Foods store. He started small, and the business grew. After a struggle through the early years, he had his own storefront with the sign in the parking lot and everything: Whole Foods.

More and more, though, people complained about the high prices, and they were a little disappointed that while the food was supposed to be healthy, it just didn’t taste as good as what they were used to eating. McLaren wrestled with the problems of price, access, taste, and image, and after much turmoil he began to move toward a solution that he was sure would address the issues.

The change didn’t happen all at once, and McLaren didn’t announce what he had decided to do. In fact, there are some indications that this was, we might say, an organic development, a slow transformation. Once it had happened, though, the results are clear for all to see...(read the entire post here).

Old-New News

2010-03-05T23:26:00.009-05:00

Note: This post was originally written a week ago, but I've just gotten around to publishing it. Sorry for the delay.

It's been one of those weeks, and yet, I find that God has been teaching me quite a lot. To be more precise, it was the end of last week and the beginning of this week that were so rough. I've been sick, which is no fun in and of itself, but I was teaching a class on Saturday (a week ago) and felt horrible the night before, so I took the night off to sleep. I am not sure if I was feeling better or worse than our puppy, who got bit in the face by some insect and looked like a Shar-pei for the evening.

It turned out to be providential that I was at home, sick on Saturday morning, because at 6am, as I was laying awake in bed, feeling awful, I heard water running into our apartment from the burst hot water heater in the apartment above. I was able to move everything out of the way in time, but if I had been at work, the water would have run for at least 2 hours, probably ruining furniture, important files and our brand new computer.

Paisley still had a swollen face when I finally got her out of the kennel, so Kristen took her to the vet while I went to teach this class. The vet was unconcerned, and after a few more doses of Bendryl, she looked much better that evening. The rest of the week was pushing furniture around, a new carpet pad and shampoo and generally a lot of re-organizing everything that was hastily pushed away earlier.

But the small adversities I faced this week reminded me of two very important realities that I too often take for granted. First, the scope of difficulty that I face pales in comparison to the lives that so many people live daily. The day all this happened was also the day that a 8.8 earthquake struck the country of Chile, and the perspective on our little inconvenience is humbling. Please continue to pray for the people of Chile, and I once again recommend Baptist Global Response to give to relief efforts.

Second, I was reminded of the faithfulness of God. Sure, last weekend was rough, but it could have been many times worse. We weren't faced with a major vet bill, nor did we have to worry about replacing any of our stuff. And, in the grand scheme of things, our possessions have no everlasting value, and yet God was faithful to protect us from further difficulty and loss. A conversation with the pastor of a church that called me recently only affirmed again the faithfulness of God, as he was used by God to further make clear the direction of his call on our lives.

I'm grateful this week for God's grace and love. I'm grateful for his work in my heart, the shifting of my desires that changes my outlook on our material possessions from anxiety and fear to peace and comfort, even in the midst of difficulty. I'm thankful for the reality of the Gospel in my life this week.

What's New

2010-02-18T14:34:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about and listening to this song a lot lately. Check it out.

Here's why...

September 8, 2010, it will be a new pair of eyes that I'm looking through!

Faith in the Midst of Trial

2010-01-31T13:18:00.006-05:00

Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, is a man with an incredible gift for preaching and calling from God on his life. I posted a message he preached a few months back that challenged me and hit me in the stomach. He is a faithful pastor, father and friend. He also has a brain tumor. His focus during this time: suffer well for the glory of God. The AP spent time with Chandler, and his words and witness are nothing short of amazing. Here is an excerpt:

Chandler says learning he had brain cancer was "kind of like getting punched in the gut. You take the shot, you try not to vomit, then you get back to doing what you do, believing what you believe.

"We never felt — still have not felt — betrayed by the Lord or abandoned by the Lord. I can honestly say, we haven't asked the question, 'Why?' or wondered, 'Why me, why not somebody else?' We just haven't gotten to that place. I'm not saying we won't get there. I'm just saying it hasn't happened yet."

... Chandler never thought such a trial would shake his faith. But until now, that was just hope in the abstract.

"This has not surprised God," Chandler says on the drive home. "He is not in a panic right now trying to figure out what to do with me or this disease. Those things have been warm blankets, man."

Chandler has, however, wrestled with the tension between belief in an all-powerful God and what he, as a mere mortal, can do about his situation. He believes he has responsibilities: to use his brain, to take advantage of technology, to walk in faith and hope, to pray for healing and then "see what God wants to do."

"Knowing that if God is outside time and I am inside time, that puts some severe limitations on my ability to crack all the codes," he says. "The more I've studied, the more I go, 'Yes, God is sovereign, and he does ask us to pray ... and he does change his mind.' How all that will work is in some aspects a mystery."

Read the full article here.

He Will Rise Up

2010-01-18T14:26:00.007-05:00

Ben Shive is a phenomenally talented artist. His first album, The Ill-Tempered Klavier, was released last year, and it showcases his musicianship in wonderful ways. It was given five stars by Christianity Today, a very uncommon occurrence, and unheard of for a freshman album. He's also a great guy- I've met him twice and both times he seemed more than interested in talking with Kristen and I (he even gave her some great recommendations for keyboards).

Before I go any further, here are two shameless plugs for Ben:
His Website
The Best Place to Buy This Album

All that said, this song has been on my mind and in my ears over the last few days. It's good perspective on my life and the events of the world happening all around us. Take a listen, and enjoy!

Every stone that makes you stumble
And cuts you when you fall
Every serpent here that strikes your heel
To curse you when you crawl
The King of Love one day will crush them all

And every sad seduction
And every clever lie
Every word that woos and wounds
The pilgrim children of the sky
The King of Love will break them by and by

And you will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end
I know the night is cruel
But the day is coming soon
And you will rise up in the end

If a thief had come to plunder
When the children were alone
If he ravaged every daughter
And murdered every son

Would not their father see this?
Would not his anger burn?
Would he not repay the tyrant
In the day of his return?

Await, await the day of his return

Cause he will rise up in the end
He will rise up in the end
I know you need a savior
And he is patient in his anger
But he will rise up in the end

And when the stars come crash into the sea
When the high and mighty fall down on their knees
When you see the sun descending in the sky
The chains of death will fall around your feet

But you will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end

Haiti

2010-01-15T01:51:00.006-05:00

A few pieces of information regarding the terrible disaster in Haiti and how you can help.

First, my brother Andrew (who has been to Haiti previously) has an excellent blog post that you can read here.

Second, I am glad that the question on many peoples' minds is not whether to give, but how. Even the poorest among us does not compare to the abject poverty that is the norm for these people, and the absolute collapse of an already poor excuse for infrastructure has literally left them with nothing.

There are a number of excellent organizations that are already working to aid the people of Haiti. Compassion International, Living Water International and World Vision are three that Kristen and I have given to in the past, and three organizations that have the people and resources to make a difference.

However, Baptist Global Response is the organization I would recommend giving to in this case. Subsidised by giving of Southern Baptist churches to the International Mission Board of the SBC, 100% of giving goes directly to Haiti disaster relief, as overhead is absorbed by the IMB. You can read an IMB article about their response to the disaster here, and this is the link that will take you to a page to give. You can give via credit card through a secure page after entering your billing information- designate your gift to "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund."

Please join me in prayer for the people of Haiti as the initial shock of this terrible tragedy gives way to the difficulties they will be facing in the coming hours and days. Here is a prayer update from the IMB website:

URGENT PRAYER UPDATE
IMB
JANUARY 14, 2010 HAITI.
As we are all aware, Tuesday evening before dark, a catastrophic earthquake rocked the island nation of Haiti, with the epicenter being ten miles west of Port-Au-Prince, the capital city of two million people. As the news has brought this catastrophe into our homes and heanrts, we have all been praying. We know to cry out to the Lord immediately, to beg for His mercy throughout these earliest days as initial responders work diligently searching for the injured, recovering those who have died. And we give humble thanks for those Haitian Christians that we do not know by name, nor have we heard their stories. We give thanks that they are there expressing the love of Christ to those who are frightened and confused.
David Brown, who with his wife, Jo, directs Baptist Global Response work in the Americas has said, “Please pray for us as we assess and monitor the situation in Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks…The initial information indicates 2 million people in Port-au-Prince are directly affected. Please pray for victims and their families. Pray for wisdom as responses are initiated.” Personnel in the Dominican Republic have requested help in post-trauma counseling and training in the area of spiritual support. Since this is such a critical need in Haiti, training for nationals will be held next week in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for the trainers as they travel and prepare the materials for the conference. Ask God for the emotional health of personnel as they confront the dire needs. Pray also for those who will receive counseling and training as they share God’s love with a nation that is in deep spiritual darkness.
Please continue to pray for God’s mercy and compassion on this country, interceding with steadfast prayers for the thousands who are suffering in the midst of untold destruction. Additional information and prayer updates can be found at http://imb.org.

**Thanks to Alexis Bednar for the info on BGR and the IMB prayer update.

Waiting like Habakkuk

2010-01-10T00:38:00.006-05:00

Now comes the waiting...

I've graduated from seminary, been ordained and finished polishing my resume and cover letters. Now I'm scouring newspapers and websites for openings. Every day I look somewhere, and rarely does a week go by without me sending out a resume or three to a church somewhere.

South Carolina, North Carolina, Indiana, Washington, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Iowa...I'm starting to lose track of who I have sent what to, and when. A friend of mine who just took a church in South Carolina told me that he sent out 120 resumes before he got the church he is at now. I'm about 1/10 the way there I suppose.

It's early, but I'm already fighting the temptation to doubt, wonder and question. When is this ever going to happen? Is this ever going to happen? What if our lease runs out and then we have to make a decision on another? These thoughts have been swirling about my head for quite some time.

A few days ago, I was struck by the reality of my time of waiting as I read through the book of Habakkuk. The purpose of the book has everything to do with the uncertainty of circumstances and the assurance of the faithfulness of God. Habakkuk voices two complaints: "why does God not answer his prayers?" and "why does evil against God's people go unpunished?" Israel was in ruins during this time, and unfaithfulness was commonplace among the people of God.

God responds:

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if I told you." (1:5) "For still the vision awaits its appointed time: it hastens to the end- it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it: it will surely come: it will not delay." (2:3)

And the book closes with the questioning prophet now affirming and rejoicing in the sovereign will of his all-powerful God:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on high places." (3:17-19)

In the midst of great trial and turmoil for the people of God, he reminds them that despite the appearance that all may not be well, he is an continues to be faithful to them. If God is so faithful in so much, how can I not trust him in this little thing? The reality of my situation is made clear by the greater context of God's history of faithfulness to his people. Just as he was at work to move the nations for Israel's sake, so he is at work in search committees and church meetings as churches all over the country seek His will for a pastor. And so is he at work in my life as I wait for the appointed time, to see such things that I would not believe if he were to tell me now.

News for a New Year

2010-01-02T03:21:00.021-05:00

Happy New Year! A new blog for a new year marks not just a change in appearance of this blog, but a number of significant changes in my life over the last month. God has been so faithful to me:

I finally graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Four and a half years of study culminated on December 11 when I walked across the stage to receive my Master of Divinity. My parents, aunt, grandmother and one of my brothers was there, as well as almost all of my in-laws. It was a joyous occasion not just because of the graduation, but because of the time spent with family.

Then, Kristen and I took a trip down to S. Florida to spend Christmas with my family. We decided to drive it straight, which in hindsight I think we will do again. While down there we spent some great time with my brothers and my parents and enjoyed a Christmas in shorts and sandals.

The trip included a Heat Game for the four of the Groves boys, with seats 9 rows from the floor. It was a great time, made even better by the victory by the Heat over the Jazz. Matthew was excited about our seats...

This picture is what happens when you leave a camera with me and Matthew...

We also went bowling. Here's an excellent picture of us brothers again. Kristen and my parents rounded out the group, and a great time was had by all. I also got 3 strikes in the last frame for the second time in my life.

But the capstone of this last month was my ordination at First Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale on December 27, 2009. I have been working through the process for several months now, collecting letters of recommendation and completing a very extensive theological questionnaire, as well as communicating via email with one of the pastors.

Sunday morning, the pastor called both Kristen and I up and spent some time reading portions of some of the letters that leaders in my life had written about me. He attested to my fitness for ordination, and then Kristen sat and I knelt while pastors, deacons and leaders surrounded us and, after anointing both of us with oil, ordained me for Christian ministry. It was an incredibly moving experience, and a reminder of the call that God has put on both our lives. The whole experience was such a blessing for me, being back in the church I grew up in, the church where I first began to feel a call to ministry, in the midst of so many who had taught and led me as I grew up.

So much has happened in the last month, and yet there is so much to come. God has been and continues to be so very faithful, and we're excited as we wait for the Lord to lead us to the church where we will serve. Keep us in your prayers and stay tuned for the exciting things that the Lord will be bringing us in 2010!

The Good Ole Days

2009-12-06T22:41:00.009-05:00

I have a good friend who likes to repeat something his brother often says about the good ole days: they weren't really that good. Sure it would be cool to be a sheriff in the old west, but never taking a bath and not having access to a decent cup of coffee doesn't sound like paradise. Elizabethan England holds great romance for many, but no indoor plumbing and a street that doubled as a sewer is no good either. So, in most cases I would agree...the good ole days really weren't that good.

There are, however a few exceptions, and one of them comes from the sport of Rally Car Racing. Since we in the US are mostly unfamiliar with rally racing, here's a quick primer: rally racing is the racing of cars in variously modified states on track surfaces of any combination of dry dirt, mud, gravel, pavement or snow. The track is in many places only about a car and a half wide, and can wind through narrow city streets, mountains, forests and a variety of other challenging environments. The track is so challenging that the driver has a navigator whose job it is to call out the upcoming turns so that the driver can be prepared.

In 1982, FIA sanctioned the Group B series of rally racing. Unlike Group A (production vehicles) and Group C (limits on weight and fuel), Group B had very few limitations on materials used, power levels and required very few production versions of the car to be built to qualify. This meant the series was as close to "anything goes" as possible- cars produced insane amounts of horsepower and were some of the most technologically advanced of the time. This also meant they were extremely difficult to drive, and that margins of error were even smaller than that of other classes of rally racing. The combination resulted in some of the most exciting racing in the history of motorsports.

Sadly, Group B was abruptly dissolved just 4 years after its inception after a series of high-profile accidents painted it in a bad public light. This included a collision with spectators (who routinely stand at the edges and even on the track at rally races) and a terrible accident that killed the 1986 championship leader and his navigator. Group B was both a thrilling an unforgiving racing series, and its abrupt cancellation only adds to its allure as a pinnacle of motorsport. Here is some must-watch raw footage from those four years of glory:

Nothing like Group B has been seen before or since- but if you ask those who would know, they''ll tell you about the good ole days when insanely powerful Pugeots, Lancias, Audis and many others fought it out in the mud, streets and snow of Europe. It really was better back then.

A Contextualized Christmas

2009-11-27T08:04:00.006-05:00

The time for Christmas music has finally come. Yes, I'm one of those people who believes the tree should not go up and the smooth tones of Bing Crosby should not be heard until the holiday that has become just the last hurdle to Christmas is over. Well, whether you agree with me or not, it's time for some Christmas music.

Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tale of the Coming of Christ is far and away my favorite Christmas album, and was one of the first that I have listened to this year. Besides the stunning talent evident in the album, what makes Behold the Lamb shine is the way that it tells the story of the coming of Jesus Christ.

You see, too often we function like the heretic Marcion did when it comes to the coming of Christ. He held that the Old Testament of the Bible was incompatible with the New Testament writings, and so he rejected the old in favor of the new and around 144 AD, posited that there must be two gods, the Yahweh of the Old Testament and the Jesus of the New Testament. Now, modern Christians today don't just toss out the Old Testament in favor of the new, never reading it or consulting it. But too often when someone asks "where's the important stuff in the Bible?" we point right past the Law and the Prophets (maybe pausing to stop at Psalms, Proverbs and some of the neat stories) and directly to the New Testament.

But the reality is that the Bible is one big story of God's redemptive history, the redeeming of his people. The story of God's working among his people does not begin in Matthew, but even Matthew points back to what has come before in his genealogy, reminding us that born of Abraham, from the line of David, came the one who would take upon himself the sins of this world. When the Israelites called for deliverance from the slavery and bondage they were enduring in Egypt, their waiting for a deliverer is ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. The history of the kings of Israel beginning with Saul and then David is not just history, but a pointing forward to the coming of the King of Kings, the one who will rule and reign forever. The passover ritual, the sacrifice of an unblemished animal for sin and the callings forth of the many prophets like Isaiah all point forward to with great anticipation the coming of Jesus Christ.

Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb reminds us of the scriptural reality that Christmas did not start in Matthew, but God's plan to provide a way for the sins of the world to be forgiven began long ago, as he gathered together his people through Abraham. The King that we have, the King that has come, was anticipated with deep longing, pleading and prayer for many generations. The words of Simeon from Luke 2 should move us as we recognize the reality that we have something that many waited for a very long time to have:

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ²⁹"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

Behold the lamb of God, who takes away our sin...

Must Hear Preaching

2009-11-25T10:19:00.001-05:00

My good friends George Bednar and Stephen Farrior have both posted some excellent sermons as of late. They both posted a recent message by a pastor named Matt Chandler, and George also posted a message preached by Dr. Chuck Lawless, a dean at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. These messages are some of the finest and most impactful preaching I have heard recently, and so instead of reposting, I will link to George's post because it has both messages. Take some time to listen and be challenged by the words of these faithful men of God. It will be well worth your time.

The Reality of Following Christ

2009-11-23T05:10:00.003-05:00

This video, from The Voice of the Martyrs website, is an important reminder that we have brothers and sisters throughout the world who do not enjoy the freedom that we as Americans have to worship. An account from several of the church members follows.

Church members reported: On Sunday, August 23, 2009, we were still gathering together for service meeting since this is necessary spiritual need. At 3 p.m., many district security officers came into my house. At that time, we were having service meeting, they came and stopped and dismissed us. We stopped and explained to them we had made the application of permission already, but they still blustered. Several of them towed Brother --- out to the house and had him sit on their motorbike. They did the same way to ---. They oppressed him ruthlessly and towed him; they did not allow for him to speak a word. And other women were towed away also. They did take away one guitar but they did not make a report to taking away guitar. After arriving at the district police station, they made the report with the accusation: “They are gathering together illegally.” They used the abuse words and threatened Brother ---: “If you came back this place again; you will be beaten.” … and at 6:30 p.m. they released us.

Continue to pray that our Vietnamese family will not succumb to the pressure against them. Pray they will continue to meet together and encourage each other, so they can continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Source: VOM November 2009 Newsletter

T - 7 and counting...

2009-11-12T20:41:00.010-05:00

No, not T - 7 seconds, minutes or hours...days. Yeah, I know, it seems a little less exciting when I put it that way, but imagine that the rocket about to launch is twenty-two plus years in the making. It then seems a little more exciting, huh? Well, there's no rocket, sorry about that; I hope you didn't have your hopes up. Rather, I'm taking about T - 7 days of classroom instruction left in my long educational career.

When I was just a curly-headed ankle biter in Mrs. Metzger's preschool class, I wanted to be a train engineer. That's right, a man who drives trains. I liked the striped engineer's cap, although I don't think they wear them anymore. I suppose I could still wear one if I kept it to myself.

In second grade (I promise I am not going to go through all my classes and teachers) I took Miss McMellon. She was a lot of fun, and she was dating this guy at the time named Dr. Sellers. He would come to class from time to time and teach us Greek, as he was a professor of some type. They eventually married, and at the time my long-lasting concern was that I now had to call her Mrs. Sellers, which sounded like a lot less fun than Miss McMellon.

In sixth grade I looked funny, had acne and met Rich Gaus. If you've never met Rich, you don't know that he's really tall- and I'm really not. And he had a locker below me. We probably should have switched lockers, but instead we became the best of friends. I think I was probably selfish about the top locker and didn't want to give it up. He and his wife just had a baby last week, by the way...here is a picture of Isabella Florence Gaus. The other thing I remember about middle school was Mrs. Fagley's amazing Civics class; I'll never forget the day she rolled up the sleeve on Frankie Buzzo's shirt and started talking about the second ammendment.

In high school I didn't want to be a train engineer any more, but instead thought I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I wanted to go into the Navy and fly F-14s. I was serious about it, but being Red/Green Color Deficient isn't very conducive with reading the red and green lights on the sides of ships and planes, so I was out. I had a good time acting in and directing theatre productions, and had the best teacher ever for Sophomore English and Drama 1...my mom.

College brought a change of scenery: the cramped concrete jungle of Ft. Lauderdale for the rolling hills of Kentucky. The leaves fell from the trees at the end of the summer and there was a little snow, so I was happy. I studied television production, but wasn't all about it; but what else was there? A summer at home working at my home church was all God needed to call me to ministry (and a change in my major); Digital Field Production was supplanted by Dr. VanArragon's Seminar on Moral Responsibility, et al. I loved working through Philosophy and challenging my mind (although I was at times distracted by this girl I met), but I knew there was more to come.

After visiting two seminaries, I chose the classroom that has been my home for the past 4 1/2 years. My time at Southern has brought me a deeper understanding of Scripture through classes like Hermeneutics and Greek (the Greek that Mr. Sellers taught me in second grade came in handy after all!), and the preaching and teaching of my professors has had a profound impact on me personally, as well as on my still developing call to ministry. Parables, Pastoral Ministry and Preaching have been some of my favorite classes not just for the content, but for the growth I have seen in my own life. God has used my time here in amazing ways.

There you have it...22 and a half years of educational history and all of it comes to a close next Thursday. At 2:15pm I'll walk out of class for the last time. Maybe not forever...perhaps one day I'll be crazy enough to get my PhD, but for now, classes will start in the Spring and I will not be there. It's exciting and sobering at the same time. As Kristen and I wait for God to reveal the next step in our lives, this one quickly passes. I suppose now it's time to use all that stuff I learned, huh?

Theology of Swine Flu

2009-10-30T07:03:00.006-04:00

Now I'm just a statistic. A little more than a week ago, with a fever running over 102, I went to the doctor and was told that I had the dreaded swine flu. Not to worry, no cloven hooves appeared and my desire to eat bacon is no stronger than it was before (which is, admittedly, disturbingly strong). Nevertheless, I noticed on Thursday (my first day back to class in a week) that many of my classmates were missing, doubtless also victims of H1N1 (which my father refers to as "hinie"). As I reflect on some comments my professor made regarding the flu, I can't help but restate and expand upon what the swine flu reminds us of.

We live in a broken world. From the moment that Adam and Eve decided their plan was better than God's, we have suffered. The pain of childbirth, the sweat required to gain fruit from the land and even the microbial assault that keeps us on the couch for a week are all as a result of sin. The world is broken and so are we...we need someone who can put all of our shattered pieces back together.

We never know what tomorrow will bring. In our culture, the illusion of control is strong. We manage meetings on Blackberrys, schedule our family dinners and plan our vacations to maximize our relaxation. But the control that we take for granted every day is just an illusion. We never know when the flu can interrupt our plans, just as we never know when a car accident or heart attack can take one that we love, or leave our loved ones without us. We spend a lot of time imagining that we're guaranteed tomorrow, but we do not know the plans of the Lord, and it is arrogance to think that we, in our finite fallenness, have the control.

So, if the swine flu taught me anything, it has reminded me that I'm a lot weaker than I would like to think. My self-reliance crumbles in the face of a microscopic virus, and I am reminded of the words of Paul in II Corinthians 12:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Why I Hate the Peacock

2009-10-09T03:05:00.008-04:00

I'll just come right out and say it- network television as it stands now is horrible. I realize this is a well-worn soapbox for me at this point, but I can't help myself. I'm tired of mindless, sanitized drivel mixed in with reality tv trash. I want to be moved by television- it should make me laugh, make me cry...make me feel something. But it's all market research and being all things to all people now.

NBC, once the network of networks, announced today that it is cancelling the critically acclaimed drama Southland after delaying the second season premiere. You've heard me talk about this show on here before; it's a tough and interesting crime drama with unique characters in real situations. Certainly the first seven episodes were bumpy, juggling a large cast and complex, dark subject matter on a non-cable network isn't easy. But it is one of the few shows that had promise, one of the few shows I was looking forward to this year.

It's just the latest in a long-developing pattern for NBC. From the cancellation of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip a few years back, a show that was the best thing NBC had in years, to their tireless promotion of the over-hyped and seriously unfunny 30 Rock, to the overrunning of ER into jump-the-shark oblivion, NBC consistently shows they couldn't spot talent if it walked right up and bit them in the focus group. Shows like The Office continue to do well, but for how long? The marriage of main characters and resolution to so many story lines leaves one wondering where else the show can go. Meanwhile, NBC clings to worthless shows like Heroes despite a ratings plunge, pitches a ridiculous Trauma, and Conan loses every night to someone with an audience 9 years older than his own.

I realize I am probably skewering some sacred cows for some people, but seriously...have you watched these shows? They're junk food, all of them. I realize 30 Rock just won a 3rd Emmy, but that seems to be more of a testament to the intellect of the Emmy voters than the quality of the show. Tracy Morgan isn't funny...he's just Tracy Morgan. Alec Baldwin is talented, but does not shine in this role. Tina Fey has never been funny...ever. The situational comedy is one exaggerated plot twist after another, each more unbelievable and banally ridiculous than the last.

Southland was cancelled because NBC executives felt that the show was too dark and gritty for network television- never mind that shows like House and ER have excelled in this area, telling the story of raw human experience with emotion and authentic realism. John Wells, the producer of such NBC hits as ER, The West Wing and Third Watch, had this to say:

“I’m disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically acclaimed series that was for so many years a hallmark of their success. We remain extremely proud of ‘Southland,’ and are actively looking for another home for the series.”

Until NBC realizes that cheap does not equal good, art like Southland and Studio 60 will continue to be cast aside in favor of shows that insult our intellegence. So the next time you are channel surfing, skip the Peacock...there's nothing there for you. Maybe one day NBC will get the message.

Sources:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33234601

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/nbc-cancels-well-regarded-southland/

America's Best Idea

2009-09-29T17:09:00.008-04:00

I posted about this a while back, but Ken Burns' documentary National Parks: America's Best Idea is upon us, playing this week each night on your local PBS station. I've been watching it this week as it chronicles the settling of the West and the battle for preserving the most beautiful parts of our nation before they were lost forever. It is amazing to hear how the idea of a protected national park, a concept that seems logical to us today, was revolutionary for this time. Men like John F. Lacey, Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir fought to protect places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mt. Rainer and Crater Lake from being overrun and their wildlife destroyed. The story is both amazing and inspiring- I want to go and see all these places for myself!

The documentary playing in 2 hour increments through the end of the week, and although two hours seems like a long time, it is such a visual and informational feast, you will find yourself drawn in, longing for more. Check it out tonight at 8pm.

President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir together in Yosemite National Park ca. 1903

A Little Late to the Party

2009-08-31T07:39:00.003-04:00

A musician I have always liked said not too long ago that he didn't like the band Coldplay for a long time. The reason? He just could not believe that a band that popular could make good music...then he listened to them.

I've admittedly jumped onto the very crowded bandwagon late, but I really like this band. I downloaded their free live album about a month ago, and after that decided I should try and get more of their music. My good friend George (who has sadly closed down his blog) has been nuts about Coldplay for a while. He hooked me up with X&Y, which I enjoyed, but it didn't quite pull me in on its own. But after purchasing A Rush of Blood to the Head and then the Viva la Vida/Prospekt's March set recently, I can't help myself...I love this band.

If you were like me and never really listened to Coldplay, give them a try...you'll be surprised. I haven't turned an album up that loud in my car in a long time as I have Viva. It's one of the most musically enjoyable albums I have ever heard. It's official: I have become a fan of Coldplay.

The System is No Longer Down!

2009-08-23T05:01:00.002-04:00

Just in time for the second week of the semester, our laptop is finally operational again. A Master Boot Record Error left us without the ability to load, so after removing and backing up data, a hard reformat and a long reinstallation process, we're back on the internet. Does this mean you'll see more blogging from me? Hopefully, although with the semester starting, we'll just have to see.

I realize that I promised months ago to get this blog in order, and that it is still a mess. Not sure at this point what to do about that...I may just go with another template. Stay tuned for more posting!

Women, Men and Abortion

2009-08-13T23:20:00.000-04:00

Below is an article I read a few weeks ago in First Things magazine. Don't be put off by its length...it's worth a full read. It offers a unique analysis of the implications of abortion on-demand on the cultural view of pregnancy and the responsibility (or lack thereof) that males have in such circumstances. Regardless of your view on abortion, Stith makes some interesting points that are worth considering.

Her Choice, Her Problem
How Abortion Empowers Men
Richard Stith

This summer, President Obama proclaimed again that we “need fathers to recognize that responsibility doesn’t end at conception.” In a sense, of course, he is absolutely right. But the problem is that, in another sense, he is completely wrong: Male responsibility really does end at conception. Men these days can choose only sex, not fatherhood; mothers alone determine whether children shall be allowed to exist. Legalized abortion was supposed to grant enormous freedom to women, but it has had the perverse result of freeing men and trapping women.

The likelihood of this cultural development was foreseen by the radical feminist Catherine MacKinnon, one of the critical voices responding to Roe v. Wade’s extension of the right of privacy to cover abortion. In an essay called “Privacy vs. Equality,” MacKinnon argued that “abortion’s proponents and opponents share a tacit assumption that women do significantly control sex. Feminist investigations suggest otherwise. Sexual intercourse . . . cannot simply be presumed coequally determined.” Indeed, she added, “men control sexuality,” and “ Roe does not contradict this.”

“Abortion facilitates women’s heterosexual availability,” MacKinnon pointed out: “In other words, under conditions of gender inequality [abortion] does not liberate women; it frees male sexual aggression. The availability of abortion removes the one remaining legitimized reason that women have had for refusing sex besides the headache.” Perhaps that is why, she observed, “the Playboy Foundation has supported abortion rights from day one.” In the end, MacKinnon pronounced, Roe’s “right to privacy looks like an injury got up as a gift,” for “virtually every ounce of control that women won” from legalized abortion “has gone directly into the hands of men.”

At the time, MacKinnon’s work may have seemed little more than a curiosity on the left, but, as the years have passed, some of the essay’s claims have proved prescient. I recall a law student who would admit when pressed, “I’m in favor of keeping abortion legal because I don’t like using condoms.” Since abortion could now come between conception and birth, he saw no benefit to missing any portion of sexual pleasure, even though it imposed a risk of surgery on his partner. He may have assumed a rational partner would choose abortion either freely or under pressure. With less deliberate callousness, under the influence of passion almost any male may think quite simply: “At least there’s a way out if the unlikely happens and pregnancy occurs.”

I’ve also met a clever female undergraduate student living with her boyfriend, who thought she had solved this problem. When I asked whether she was for or against abortion, she answered: “I’m pro-choice, but you can bet I tell him I’m pro-life!” She reasoned that, in light of her warning, he would be careful not to fool around in ways that could lead to pregnancy.

Such a lie may not provide protection for every young woman in her situation, however. If she says she is pro-life so that he thinks abortion is not an option for her, he might decide to keep her from getting pregnant by leaving her for someone more open to abortion, a woman who doesn’t insist on his using a condom. That is, the presence in the sexual marketplace of women willing to have an abortion reduces an individual woman’s bargaining power. As a result, in order not to lose her guy, she may be pressured into doing precisely what she doesn’t want to do: have unprotected sex, then an unwanted pregnancy, then the abortion she had all along been trying to avoid. Even though her abortion in this case is not literally forced, it would be, in an important sense, imposed on her. And, far from alleviating her overall situation, it would merely return her to the same sexual pressures, made worse by a new assurance to her boyfriend that she is willing to take care of a pregnancy.

Perhaps it was difficult to foresee such cultural trends back in 1973, when Roe v. Wade was handed down by the Supreme Court. But they simply track the inner logic of choice and the market. Economists have shown that such scenarios have in fact become common since abortion was legalized in the United States. Easy access to abortion has increased the expectation and frequency of sexual intercourse (including unprotected intercourse) among young people, making it more difficult for a woman to deny herself to a man without losing him, thus increasing pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. (See, for instance, Jonathan Klick and Thomas Stratmann’s 2003 study, “The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Sexual Behavior,” in the Journal of Legal Studies.)

Furthermore, if a woman attempts to choose birth instead of abortion, she may well find the child’s father pushing the other way. Her boyfriend’s fear of fatherhood would once have been focused on intercourse itself and could have led him either to be careful to avoid conception or else (overcoming that fear) to commit himself beforehand to equal responsibility for the child. His fear now will turn to getting her to choose abortion. One investigator, Vincent M. Rue, reported in the Medical Science Monitor, that 64 percent of American women who abort feel pressed to do so by others. Another, Frederica Mathewes-Green in her book Real Choices, discovered that American women almost always abort to satisfy the desires of people who do not want to care for their children.

Catherine MacKinnon seemed to suggest that abortion leads to greater male sexual aggression only “under conditions of gender inequality,” which implies more equality for women could reduce the male exploitation caused by Roe v. Wade. That makes sense in theory. To the degree that individual women are economically, educationally, and in other ways empowered, they should be more able to stand up to male pressures to have unwanted sex (and to have unwanted abortions in order to give the guys still more unwanted sex).

But counteracting the negative forces of sexual competition is difficult. Even if women were universally to agree to refuse sex without condoms, for example, enforcement of this agreement in such an intimate sphere would be nearly impossible. Women would always be tempted to increase their individual sexual competitiveness by consenting to sex without a condom, while relying on abortion as a backup, thus causing female solidarity and power to collapse. Only women strong enough to forgo boyfriends altogether might be likely in the end to resist.

Furthermore, if MacKinnon is right, wherever women have not yet overcome gender inequality, involuntary sex and involuntary abortion will tend to be more frequent, precisely as a result of abortion’s availability. To the degree that a culture is built on machismo, for example, the legalization of abortion will make women relatively worse off by giving men another tool to manipulate women as sex objects. Again, to the degree that an economy employs mainly men, leaving women dependent on economic handouts, women will be much less likely to resist male pressures to make use of abortion. Wherever men make women’s decisions for them, the option of abortion will be a man’s choice, regardless of how the law may label it.

Human-rights activists in developing nations must learn to consider this fact. In those countries, only a thin, elite layer of truly independent and powerful women may be relatively unharmed by the availability of abortion, because only for them is the abortion option more nearly their own. Proclaiming a right to abortion in developing countries may mean just adopting the viewpoint of these well-to-do professionals—which ought to be no surprise. Those elites are often the only voices for women heard in the transnational political arenas where abortion is debated.

Moreover, the availability of abortion may make all societies less open to empowering women in other ways. MacKinnon may well be right that stronger women would more often resist male pressures to risk pregnancies and have abortions. But, perhaps paradoxically, the option of abortion actually makes sympathy and solidarity—and thus women’s empowerment—less likely.

When birth was the result of passion and bad luck, some people could sympathize with a young woman who was going to need help with her baby, though the stigma of bastardry was genuine. If money or a larger place to live were going to be necessary for her to stay in school, a sense of solidarity would likely lead friends and family to offer assistance. The father would feel strong pressure as well, for he was as responsible as she for the child. He might offer to get a second job or otherwise shoulder some of the burdens of parenting.

But once continuing a pregnancy to birth is the result neither of passion nor of luck but only of her deliberate choice, sympathy weakens. After all, the pregnant woman can avoid all her problems by choosing abortion. So if she decides to take those difficulties on, she must think she can handle them.

Birth itself may be followed by blame rather than support. Since only the mother has the right to decide whether to let the child be born, the father may easily conclude that she bears sole responsibility for caring for the child. The baby is her fault.

It may also seem unfair to him that she could escape motherhood (by being legally allowed to prevent birth), while he is denied any way to escape fatherhood (by still being legally required to pay child support). If consenting to sex does not entail consenting to act as a mother, why should it entail consenting to act as a father? Paternity support in this context appears unjust, and he may resist compliance with his legal duties.

Prior to the legalization of abortion in the United States, it was commonly understood that a man should offer a woman marriage in case of pregnancy, and many did so. But with the legalization of abortion, men started to feel that they were not responsible for the birth of children and consequently not under any obligation to marry. In gaining the option of abortion, many women have lost the option of marriage. Liberal abortion laws have thus considerably increased the number of families headed by a single mother, resulting in what some economists call the “feminization of poverty.”

The mother is even worse off if, during pregnancy, tests show that the child will have a disability: Doctors often press for abortion, in order to be sure that she does not later blame and sue them for the costs of raising her child. Some have suggested that health-care plans should provide no postbirth coverage for a handicapped child whose mother refuses a paid abortion. If she does not abort, after all, she will be causally responsible for the costs and the alleged burdens that the child brings. Even her friends and neighbors may make her feel ashamed for not choosing to abort her child.

Employers may likewise react negatively to maternal needs where abortion has been available. If they (or the state) pay for abortions, they may feel less obligated to shape labor practices to the needs of mothers. If maternity causes problems with work routines or job schedules, the employer may well consider these to be private or personal problems that female employees brought on themselves. The availability of abortion makes women’s claims for better working conditions lose a measure of legitimacy.

Throughout human history, children have been the consequence of natural sexual relations between men and women. Both sexes knew they were equally responsible for their children, and society had somehow to facilitate their upbringing. Even the advent of birth control did not fundamentally change this dynamic, for all forms of contraception are fallible.

Elective abortion changes everything. Abortion absolutely prevents the birth of a child. A woman’s choice for or against abortion breaks the causal link between conception and birth. It matters little what or who caused conception or whether the male insisted on having unprotected intercourse. It is she alone who finally decides whether the child comes into the world. She is the responsible one. For the first time in history, the father and the doctor and the health-insurance actuary can point a finger at her as the person who allowed an inconvenient human being to come into the world.

The deepest tragedy may be that there is no way out. By granting to the pregnant woman an unrestrained choice over who will be born, we make her alone to blame for how she exercises her power. Nothing can alter the solidarity-shattering impact of the abortion option.

Richard Stith teaches at Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana.

Article reposted from firstthings.com.

Recommended Listening

2009-08-09T22:56:00.004-04:00

My brother Andrew just completed his first EP entitled Summer Musings. In a folk-acoustic style similar to Andy Gullahorn and Andrew Peterson, he ruminates (sometimes humorously) on life and Summers past. It's a great first effort from someone who is very talented, and I highly recommend the album.

You can listen to previews for free below, and download it through NoiseTrade. The website has a unique approach to music...you can download the full album it for free if you email 5 friends about it through their website (it doesn't put anyone on a mailing list) or you can pay what you like ($1-$25) and get the full download.

Check out Summer Musings by Andrew Groves!

Hudson Taylor

2009-08-04T05:48:00.007-04:00

Upon Kristen's urging, I read a chapter from a biography of the missionary to China, Hudson Taylor. Below are some words of his that impact me deeply even as I read them now. Read them carefully and ponder the meaning of identification with Christ in your life.

I thought that holiness, practical holiness, was to be gradually attained by a diligent use of the means of grace. There was nothing I so much desired as holiness, nothing I so much needed; but far from in any measure attaining it, the more I strove after it, the more it eluded my grasp, until hope itself almost died out, and I began to think that- perhaps to make heaven the sweeter- God would not give it down here. I do not think that I was striving to attain it in my own strength. I knew I was powerless. I told the Lord so, and asked Him to give me help and strength...

I strove for faith, but it would not come; I tried to exercise it, but in vain. Seeing more and more the wondrous supply of grace laid up in Jesus, the fullness of our precious Saviour, my guilt and helplessness seemed to increase. Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word, but rather made Him a liar! Unbelief was I felt the damning sin of the world; yet I indulged in it. I prayed for faith, but it came not. What was I to do?...

But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting in the Faithful One. As I read, I saw it all! "If we believe not, he abideth faithful." I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He had said, "I will never leave thee."...I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me- never to leave me, never to fail me?...

The sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient.

40 years later

2009-07-20T04:21:00.002-04:00

Forty years ago today, Neil Armstrong first set foot on the surface of the Moon. It was a spectacular technological achievement, and a victory for America in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. Not before or perhaps even since, has such a triumph inspired as the Moon landing did in 1969.

But there are some that continue to insist that this amazing feat did not actually occur, and the footage that so many hail as authentic was really shot in a desert or on some soundstage rather than the Lunar surface. A government conspiracy of nearly unimaginable magnitude is necessitated to cover the tracks of this colossal hoax.

So, on the 40th anniversary of the landing of man on the Moon, I thought it would be appropriate to look at a few of the most common hoax arguments regarding the Moon landing and evaluate them in accordance with the facts.

There are no stars in any of the Moon photographs. This is because the pictures were taken in a studio rather than the Lunar surface, where stars would have been visible.

Cameras, set for daylight exposure, did not detect the relatively faint points of light from the surrounding star field. Additionally, it was "day" on the Moon (the astronauts were on the light side) and the light of the Sun would most likely overpower the faint light of stars, just as it does during day on the Earth.

The flag planted by the astronauts in the Lunar environment waves as if being blown in the wind, despite the lack of atmospheric wind. This is most likely caused by the massive air-conditioners needed to keep the astronauts cool in their bulky suits while in the studio.

Numerous tests (including one by the Mythbusters) prove that the "flag waving" is easily explained by free swinging of the corner of the flag in a low-gravity environment, as a pendulum would. The waving only occurs after the astronauts move the flag, casting further doubt that the flag was fluttering in the air currents of a studio air conditioner. Additionally, analysis of over 30 minutes of Moon footage shows no further movement of the flag whatsoever.

The Moon rocks match exactly rock samples taken from Antarctica.

While there is a ring of truth to this argument, it still doesn't support any moon hoax theory. Lunar meteorites are not an unheard of phenomenon- Lunar impacts eject rocks from the surface of the Moon, and some of these rocks survive entry into the atmosphere and crash to Earth. Furthermore, some of these rocks have been found in places like Antarctica. However, there are only about 66 lbs. of Lunar meteorites known to exist since the first was identified in 1982. The largest robotic Moon rock/soil return thus far is 326 grams by 3 Soviet Luna missions. The total weight of recovered Moon rocks from the Apollo missions is 840 lbs. Under a hoax scenario, either more than 12X the official number of Lunar meteorites exist as hoax Moon rocks, or at least 300 robotic rock return missions (based on the most modern plans for robotic rock collection) must have been flown to account for all the rocks collected.

The hoax proponents allege that the Moon landing was staged. There are, however, a myriad of problems with this suggestion. Just one example: low gravity and the vacuum of space causes dust to settle differently than it would in the Earth's atmosphere, and the footage from the Moon landings shows physical behavior of dust inconsistent with the Earth's gravity and atmosphere. Implicit in this suggestion is that there are at least a sizeable number of people who hatched and continue to hide the most massive government conspiracy in the history of the United States at a time when it is no longer critical we maintain the illusion of having gone to the Moon. The argument for faking the Moon landing made some sense during the time of the Soviet Union- it makes no sense now.

Allegations of missing telemetry data tapes and original video recordings abound, and sadly, a great deal of the original data from the Apollo 11 landing has been lost, though copies remain. But this is not proof of anything substantial, just that someone wasn't smart enough to preserve the tapes or observant enough to check what was being erased. Even if this argument did disprove the Apollo 11 landing, it doesn't hold water with regard to later missions for which all or almost all original data and video is accounted for.

Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke states: "We've been to the Moon nine times. Why would we fake it nine times, if we faked it?" Perhaps to throw us all off the scent of the massive government conspiracy? In the end, I find that allegations of a Moon landing hoax are probably some of the least logically consistent and most poorly-supported ideas I have ever come across. Suspicion of the government is often cited as a presuppositional motive for the 6% of Americans that still hold to some Moon hoax view. I can sympathize with this idea, but not in this case- there's just too little evidence, and I can't believe that so many people have kept quiet, lying about one of the greatest events in human history, for so long with no exception.

My approach has been to rationally and scientifically evaluate the arguments...Buzz Aldrin took another approach when he was accused of lying about landing on the Moon by Bart Sibrel, maker of the film A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon. Here's Aldrin's response:

40 years ago today we took one small step for man...how much longer before the next giant leap for mankind?

***Check out my brother Andrew's Apollo 11 blog here. He includes an excellent video clip also.

The Most Beautiful Place on Earth

2009-07-11T02:59:00.007-04:00

I've been fortunate in my life to have traveled many places. I've seen the Grand Canyon, driven the Pacific Coast Highway, sailed beautiful Lake Michigan and watch the ocean smash against the rocks off the coast of Newcastle, Australia. I've even been to Fiji. But of all the places I've been and the things that I have seen, nothing compares to a slice of wilderness in Northwest Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park is, at least for me, the most beautiful place on earth.

My family took a trip there when I was in my teens, and I still remember the vast expanse of beautiful wilderness. Bison dotted the plains and waterfalls carved into the yellow rock from which the park gets its name. The sulfur springs and geysers like Old Faithful are some of the most prominent reminders of the massive geological activity in the Yellowstone Caldera upon which the park sits. Yellowstone has it all- mountains, plains, geysers, lakes, forests and massive rock formations, the combination of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Yellowstone is America's first national park, but it is only one of 54 featured in Ken Burns' upcoming 6-part PBS documentary entitled The National Parks: America's Best Idea. The fruit of 5 years of production, this promises to be both a historic and visual feast. My brother Matthew first brought this documentary to my attention on his blog, and I join with him in anticipation of the September premiere. You can (and should!) watch an amazing 25 minute preview, with finished footage from the film as well as the crew at work, here.

Too often our tunnel vision prevents us from seeing the wonders of the world around us. We can recite the details of our work day but cannot name the species of tree in our back yard. Getting outside, both literally and figuratively, does us great good as individuals and collectively. If you've never been to a national park just to be there, then I would encourage you to consider going. The experience is both perspective-altering and awe-inspiring, and should be on the must-do list for every family and individual. And if you haven't been, go to Yellowstone- you won't regret it.

*Black and White Photos by Ansel Adams

A year ago today...

2009-06-22T19:05:00.009-04:00

Today, our Paisley turns 1 year old. Here's a little photographic trip through her life. I know it's a little obsessive, but we don't have any kids, so she's our baby!

One year ago today, June 22, 2008, she emerged, an "oops" puppy in a litter of a black mother and a harlequin (black and white) father. There were some recessive genes in there somewhere!

Our first visit with the puppies had me holding the little three week old puppy that would become our Paisley.

At six weeks the puppies were playing outside for the first time, and loving all the new stimuli. Look at that cute face!

After a hard day's play, they were anxious to climb into Kristen's lap for a nap. This one always wanted to be close to her, even if it meant squashing her brother!

Still struggling to decide which puppy was the best for us, we went out again that weekend to make our final decision. It came down to me asking Kristen the question. "When I say Paisley, which puppy pops into your mind?" It was this sweet but independent little fawn.

Here's a cute shot of Paisley and her beautiful mom Bella around six and a half weeks...we felt bad taking her away!

Paisley came home at exactly eight weeks old, and the first day was quite the adjustment period. She was uncomfortable with the unfamiliar surroundings, and did a lot of moping and staring and sleeping. All that would soon change!

Her first playdate with other dogs she would soon outgrow came at 10 weeks, and so did her first encounter with stairs!

Trips to the park like this one at twelve weeks became routine for our growing puppy.

Soon she began to develop new habits...staring out the window at fourteen weeks was one of them!

Her first official photoshoot came at seventeen weeks...she loved playing in the leaves.

She took well to her first big snow at seven months, frolicking and rolling in it and loving every minute of it!

More of her new habits emerged and by 8 months, she was more than comfortable sitting on the couch with (or on) us.

Her spay and stomach tacking surgery at just past 9 months was a setback for her energy level- she was down and out for at least a week, and we had to try and keep her calm for much longer than that!

At eleven months she enjoys some of Kentucky's finest...

Here are picture from our most recent outing to the seminary lawn just a few days ago. From 5 pounds at birth to 20 pounds upon arrival at home to 100 pounds as of right now, she's grown quite a bit, shedding her rolly-polly figure, turning into the lithe and muscular adult puppy she almost is. But she's still a puppy at heart!

Happy Birthday Paisley!

I left my heart...

2009-06-17T03:01:00.000-04:00

This is the third time I have traveled to San Francisco, and each time I go I find that I love the city more and more. Despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of urban sprawl, the beautiful architecture and the rich, unique character of the city leaves me yearning for more. Kristen and I noted that despite the fact that our time has been full during both our visits to San Francisco, we still have a very long list of things we want to do and see there.

Our trip began at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, an art museum that can be seen in the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo. The museum has a great collection, a few pictures of which can be seen below.

Center in the courtyard is a cast of what may be French sculptor Auguste Rodin's most famous work, The Thinker. Known as a symbol of philosophy, this cast was made under the direction of the artist around the turn of the century, and is the most visible part of the museum's Rodin collection, the largest outside of the Musee Rodin in France. Though I know a lot less about sculpture than I should, I was moved by the beauty of his work.

The Kiss, 1884.
The Prodigal Son, 1889.

Here are two other works of art that I enjoyed:

Forest Interior, Cezanne, 1898-1899.

After the visit to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, we ate lunch at an Indian Restaraunt. Those of you who know me may find this surprising...I am, after all, someone who prefers my cheeseburgers with cheese and meat only. But Kristen has been pushing me to experience new kinds of food, and I must say that our visit to the India Clay Oven was a great experience. The atmosphere was great and the buffet allowed me to try a number of different dishes. If you're ever in San Francisco, check it out!

One of the best things about our visit to San Francisco was the fact that we spent time before our visit researching and locating the best cheap eats in the city. Instead of eating at chains or whatever was closest, we had our meals at some of the best hole-in-the-wall places in the city. I told Kristen that it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I would recommend the ahead of time research to anyone planning a trip to San Francisco.

Next, we visited the botanical gardens in Golden Gate Park. Because of San Francisco's mild climate, plants from all over the world can be grown there. The park is huge and is laid out by country and region, so you can walk through native Australian flora and next experience an Asian bamboo forest. Here are just a few of the many pictures we took.

On our way back to the hotel, we had to stop and visit the famous "Painted Ladies." Featured on the intro to Full House, these Victorian mansions are beautiful examples of the architecture of the city.

Our second day began with a visit to Grace Cathedral, an imposing Episcopal church between Nob Hill and Union Square. It's a beautiful church, and a landmark of the city.

We're kind of dorks when it comes to Alfred Hitchcock movies, and Vertigo, filmed in San Francisco, is one of our favorites. We spent a little time in the afternoon looking for a real-life piece of the film- the apartment where "Scottie," Jimmy Stewart's character, brings the character played by Kim Novak after she nearly drowns in the bay. Here's the door, painted a different color but mostly unchanged from when the movie was filmed in the mid 50s.

Much of our second day was spent just walking around. We spent some time at the infamous tourist trap Pier 39, and walked through the neighborhoods of North Beach, hiking up to Coit Tower in the afternoon.

Finally, this is what I love about San Francisco so very much. The steep neighborhood streets, unique city skyline and beautiful Victorians are just beautiful in the late afternoon.

So the trip was great, and we did a lot in 2 days. But it was still all too short... I guess now's the time to start planning trip #3!

Discouragement

2009-06-12T02:09:00.009-04:00

Some days just don't contribute to the type of positive attitude that one with the hope we have in Christ Jesus should exhibit. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It's tiring and discouraging; it feels like nothing is turning out as I hoped it would, both in a broad sense and personally. And try as I might, I just can't change anything about the outcomes.

For me, this often comes from caring too much about something. Its failure or languishing in mediocrity (one in the same in my book) that leaves me feeling as though I have failed. What is often even more frustrating about this kind of despair is that it is difficult to pull out of, and failures there lead to further frustration and discouragement.

There are days when I wonder if it's all for naught, and yesterday was one of those days. I know there's truth and hope in the Word, but it isn't ringing true for me right now, even though I know it is. I also know that this kind of despair smacks the blessings God has given me (like my wonderful wife, a job and good health to name just a few) in the face. It smacks God in the face as I get down over temporal difficulties despite knowing that I have ultimate triumph in Christ.

I know all these things...but sometimes it's still hard to see through the fog.

City of Angels

2009-06-10T11:53:00.002-04:00

Although I am not personally a fan of the City of Los Angeles, we had a great time there spending time with family, watching Matthew graduate and catching up with an old friend. First, pictures of the happy graduate:

I love this picture of Matthew!

And here is the whole family together! It's been too long since we were all in one place. For anyone who doesn't know all of us, here's the lineup from left to right: Andrew (brother number 3), Me (number 1!), my lovely wife Kristen, Benjamin (brother number 4), Matthew (brother number 2), my Dad, John and my Mom, Laura.

After the graduation, we went and had a party for Matthew with an old friend of the family. Danny knew my parents before I was born, and we've been able to catch up with him intermittently as we grew up. The home we went to was in Carlsbad, CA, about an hour South of LA. The view was amazing (click to see a larger version of the picture).

Here is the family again, plus Danny and his son Adam (top row on the left).

The day after graduation, Matthew took us on a tour of Los Angeles. It was difficult getting pictures by car, but I managed to get a few good ones.

The infamous Chinese and Kodak Theaters...

Here's Sunset Boulevard with a nice view of the Hollywood sign in the background.

I'll close with some human interest/ridiculousness. First, a few nice pictures of Kristen and I.

Finally, the ridiculous. We flew into John Wayne Airport, so naturally there was a statue of John Wayne. So naturally we all had to pose in front of it...

It appears that the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile was also on vacation in LA, because it was parked in the lot of our hotel the whole time we were there. Here is my family (sans Matthew, Kristen and I) basking in the glory.

And last but not least, the "silly picture" that invariably occurs whenever you get the four Groves boys together...

I hope you enjoyed part II of our trip to California. Coming soon part III will be all about San Francisco!

The Tax Man Cometh...

2009-06-07T02:17:00.006-04:00

Love it or hate it, the Microsoft Corporation is one of America's most successful companies. Despite a rise in the use of other operating systems, Windows continues to boast a market share of approximately 88%. As a vital part of the American economy, the company continues to be successful, with a hotly anticipated new operating system, Windows 7, set to come out at the end of the year. Employing 56,000 Americans, Microsoft is no small business. Unfortunately, all that may change, at least here in America.

Announced in early May, the Obama administration plans to close a loophole in business tax code that will cost Microsoft millions of dollars. Currently, Microsoft's effective tax rate is just over one quarter of profits at 26%. This is due in large part to development and licensing practices that allow it to avoid paying rates as high as 35%-40%. This rate, higher than many European and Asian tax rates, means that Microsoft can save potentially as much as 15% of their profits by moving overseas.

Thankfully, that's not Microsoft's plan as of now, at least not completely. However, Microsoft's CEO notes that these tax changes mean that US jobs are more expensive to Microsoft, and that adjustments will have to be made. He notes, “We’re better off taking lots of people and moving them out of the U.S. as opposed to keeping them inside the U.S.” Other companies, like software giant Symantec, maker of Norton AntiVirus and other programs, agree, stating that tax policies such as the one proposed would, "hurt domestic investment, reduce shareholder value and increase the cost of employing U.S. workers."

John Thompson, chairman of Symantec, noted that he personally felt that raising taxes was counterintuitive to the government's stated desire of fostering an economy of innovation. He stated, “It is a little bit ironic that most of our most significant trading partners and partners globally have taken the tack that they’ll reduce corporate tax rates to stimulate economic growth and not raise corporate tax rates.”

It's in vogue to demonize business in the current economic climate, and at times with good reason. But it's poor economic policy to increase taxes on responsible businesses that contribute both to our economy and to innovation. Higher taxes mean lower profits, and lower profits are a demotivating factor in job creation. Lower profits also mean less incentive and fewer resources for innovation. In an economic climate such as this, with unemployment hovering above 9%, the last thing we need is more jobs moved overseas- the last thing we need is more taxes.

Sources: pcmag.com; bloomberg.com

The Scenic Route

2009-06-03T14:26:00.001-04:00

It is often said that the Grand Canyon is one of the few things that, when you see it with your own eyes, it doesn't disappoint. Having seen the Grand Canyon, I must agree with that assessment. However, on our recent trip to California, I found myself with that same feeling as Kristen and I drove down California Highway 1, otherwise known as the Pacific Coast Highway. Beginning in Los Angeles and extending North to Olympia, Washington, the PCH merges with several other highways on its scenic journey northward. We knew it was going to mean a longer trip, but we figured it would be worth it. We were right.

Leaving LA, we came upon the scrubby hills as valleys of southern California. I was reminded of the geography described by the incomparable John Steinbeck in books like The Pastures of Heaven and East of Eden. In fact, the whole trip showed me the California that's beautiful, the California that Steinbeck loved.

I thought these mountains were beautiful, not realizing the stunning views that were to come.

After driving through the scrubby foothills for a while, we emerged along the coast near Santa Barbara.

We stopped at this spot to take a few pictures. It was postcard material for sure!

Next we entered the more wooded and rocky section of the highway. The road was one lane each way, and some of the curves were very sharp. Nevertheless, the view was unbelievable.

This section brought us through the Los Padres National Forest and the Big Sur area. We passed Redwoods and perched high along ocean cliffs. The view was stunning.

My parents were gracious enough to allow us to use their rental car for the trip to San Francisco and to find our way around the town. While it was a great vehicle for moving 6-7 people around, the heavy, wide GMC Yukon was a chore to drive on the narrow mountain roads. It made the trip all the more interesting!

Our last stop before heading inland at Monterey was at the Bixby Bridge near Carmel, California. When I was researching the PCH to determine if it would indeed be worth driving, I came across a picture of this bridge, and was convinced by that photograph that the scenery of the drive was worth the extra time.

This is probably my favorite picture from the drive. Views like this made the 10 hours completely worth it.

This was only the beginning of this section of our trip. I'll post pictures from San Francisco and Los Angeles sometime soon. When I think back on this trip, I can't help but be reminded of the importance of taking the scenic route. Most of the time we move to fast and bury our free time with a barrage of electronic messages...it's worth it to take the time to get away from it all and see the beauty of the Creation of God.

To all my faithful readers...sorry for the long absence in posting. I will be posting more this summer, and hopefully I'll finally get this blog template put together.

My Old Kentucky Home

2009-05-02T00:13:00.008-04:00

I've lived in Kentucky now for almost 8 years, and the longer I am here, the more I fall in love with the commonwealth. The rolling hills, twisty country roads and hometown cities make this the kind of place that I really like to live.

Every year on the first Saturday of May, a field of horses from all over the world comes together here in Louisville, Kentucky on one afternoon to run for the roses, each one hoping to become the next winner of the Kentucky Derby.

I remember even as I kid in South Florida, watching thoroughbreds run in the warm Kentucky afternoon. I remember the chill that went down my spine as the pack rounded the fourth turn and the announcer shouted, "AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!" It's something that, for as long as I can remember, I waited for and watched with great anticipation. There really is nothing like watching horses run like they do at Churchill Downs.

Today the Derby runs for the 135th time, and although I will be sleeping during the day, I'll set my alarm and get up early, just to watch horses trained by Bob Baffert, Nick Zito and D. Wayne Lukas do what they were born to do. Will we see the start of the first triple crown run since Affirmed in 1978? Or perhaps Secretariat's track record of 1:59:40 from all the way back in 1973 will finally be broken. That would be a shock considering the probable condition of the track, but if time has taught us anything about the Derby, it's to expect the unexpected.

I'm picking Pioneerof the Nile as the horse I hope to win. With a race record of 8-5-0-1 and a recent win at Santa Anita in California, the colt is no slouch, but has never run on anything but synthetic and turf, so he's a bit of an underdog in the dirt (make that mud) of Churchill Downs. He's Bob Baffert's horse, a trainer synonymous with horse racing, and one I've always liked.

Nevertheless, the field is crowded with low-odds favorites: Friesan Fire, Dunkirk and I Want Revenge all could easily win the Derby, with Hold Me Back, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the jockey that rode Big Brown to victory last year, a possible spoiler.

But Pioneerof the Nile is my ride, and I wish him all the best today. If the current weather is any indication, the track will be sloppy at best, so they'll be plenty of mud flying as they tear for the finish. Post time is around 6pm EST on NBC so tune in to watch the 2009 run for the roses!

What Holds My Attention These Days

2009-04-27T07:41:00.003-04:00

Despite my almost uncontrollable urge to blog, I will most likely be absent for the next week and a half. There are so many things to blog about: the swine flu, GM's impending bankruptcy and my reading in I Samuel to name just a few. Unfortunately, all you'll get to read right now is the list of things I have to complete by the end of next week:

Biblical Counseling:
Response Paper (2 pages) - 5/8
Case Study (4-6 pages) - 5/8
Final Exam - 5/8

Greek Syntax:
Learn Bibleworks (2 hours minimum) - 5/5
Textual Criticism Worksheet - 4/30
Analysis of Phil 2:5-11 - 4/28
Final Exam - 5/5

Preaching:
Complete Reading - 5/7
Final Exam - 4/28

Person of Christ:
Complete Reading - 5/6
Kenosis Paper (12-15 pages) - 5/6
Final Exam - 5/6

It's going to be a long week and a half!

Must See TV

2009-04-20T15:32:00.007-04:00

There's very little good television left on the networks these days, and if you can find your way through the morass of reality television garbage, what remains is scant, and quality is virtually nonexistent. No network more exemplifies this than the great NBC. Gone are the early days of ER and Law and Order, when NBC ruled the ratings with a bevy of well written dramas with top-notch acting. Now, across all the networks, cheap thrills and jumping the shark are the order of the day, with most Americans preferring the dissonant tones of American Idol auditioners, the flat jokes of 30 Rock or the emaciated forms of Survivor contestants over the few tired or overwrought dramas left. One of NBC's more recent offerings, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, was one of the best shows NBC has had in a long time, but it was quickly canceled after a ratings drop resulting from NBCs lack of faith and patience.

Enter John Wells' newest drama, Southland. Wells' record has been spotty as of late, running ER off the rails the last few seasons with ridiculous stunts passing for drama, draining the last three seasons of The West Wing of decent writing, but having relative success with his show Third Watch before it too moved from the sublime to the ridiculous. Nevertheless, Southland shows more promise than anything else NBC is airing this season.

The show follows a rookie, training officer, beat cop and several detectives in South Central LA. The premise seems too stock to be interesting, but Southland has a grittier edge than has been seen on network television in quite a while. Additionally, the show is character-driven, a distinctive all but lost in modern television. It has a story that is told so that it grabs you, and the moment that pulls you in. The characters are dimensional and varied: a kid with something to prove, a detective balancing life and work, a woman trying to become something no other has and a quiet detective with a lot going on inside. I'll admit that I enjoyed the first episode with anticipatory reluctance; I wanted the show to succeed, but didn't really believe that it had the legs to do more than put together a good pilot. Episode 2 proved my fears wrong, and while it's certainly too soon to tell, I think it could easily develop into an excellent example of what television could be. Whether that means it lasts beyond a season and can find an audience is another matter all together.

The show's not perfect, but it's compelling, and that's enough for me. If you're not already watching Southland, check it out Thursday nights at 10pm on NBC. Support the good TV that's out there, and enjoy the drama of a good story with developed characters told well.

Stephen Colbert the Unlikely Apologist

2009-04-13T07:10:00.014-04:00

"If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck and raises the dead like a duck, it probably is a duck."

Bart Ehrman, New Testament Scholar and Textual Critic, has published a new book entitled Jesus Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions of the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them). It contains no really new data, but instead apples-to-oranges comparisons based on poor hermeneutics and flawed presuppositions. In any case, it's popped on my radar a number of times today, so I thought I would blog about it.

My buddy George posted this video on his blog, and I noticed that Dr. Albert Mohler also posted a response and some brief analysis on his blog. So I decided to bring them both together here, for your enjoyment.

First the ridiculous...

Now the sublime...

Fighting Words about the Bible?
R. Albert Mohler

The Monday "On Religion" feature in USA Today is consistently interesting, even if often expasperating. That is what should be expected of an opinion column -- strong opinions in both the column and the reaction it prompts. Well, get ready to form your own opinion about today's feature, for it is likely to make a lot of waves.

Tom Krattenmaker, a Portland, Oregon based member of the paper's Board of Contributors, levels a broadside attack on the unity, inspiration, and veracity of the Bible as the Word of God in his column, "Fightin' Words".

Krattenmaker first celebrates what he describes as "a year of retreat and retrench" for conservative Christianity. Now, he says, "here come more challenges to traditionalist views of the Bible and Christian faith from a lineup of big-name, liberal-leaning scholars and theologians."

First up on Krattenmaker's list is Bart Ehrman of the University of North Carolina. As Krattenmaker explains, Ehrman "mounts evidence against literalist conceptions of the Bible as factual history and a divinely transmitted testament to an afterlife-focused religion called Christianity."

Further:
If the Bible is the literal word of God, Ehrman asks, how could it be inconsistent on so many details large and small? Let's start with an example appropriate to the just-concluded Easter season marking the Savior's death and resurrection: As Jesus was dying on the cross, was he in agony, questioning why God had forsaken him? Or was he serene, praying for his executioners? It depends, Ehrman points out, on whether you're reading the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Regarding Jesus' birthplace of Bethlehem, had his parents traveled there for a census (Luke's version) or is it where they happened to live (Matthew's version)? Did Jesus speak of himself as God? (Yes, in John; no, in Matthew.)

Bart Ehrman has established himself as the media's go-to professor in terms of denying the truthfulness and unity of the Bible, especially the New Testament. Ehrman, who has written several best-selling books seeking to debunk and discredit the New Testament and classical Christianity, is a popularizer for many accusations long alleged against the Bible. He takes passages (such as the passion passages from Mark and Luke) and sees contradictions where the church has always seen complimentary accounts. Christ did indeed utter the cry of God-forsakenness recounted by Mark, but this was itself a citation of the Psalms that points to a much different purpose and meaning than Ehrman implies. Which is the true account, Mark or Luke? It takes very little imagination to understand that, in the crucible of the crucifixion event, Jesus experienced both the agony of the God-forsakenness he experienced (and knew He was meant to experience on behalf of sinners) and the serenity that He also experienced, given his faith in the Father's purposes and power to raise him from the dead.

Of course, if you are coming to the Bible from the perspective of one who has rejected Christianity, you are likely to see the kind of pattern Ehrman alleges. Of course, if he did see the Bible as the perfect and completely truthful Word of God, he would not remain a rejecter of the Christian Gospel.

No one comes to the Bible without presuppositions and a basic intellectual disposition. That is true for Bart Ehrman, and it is no less true for the evangelical believer. In both cases, the presuppositions assign the way each will read the Bible. Krattenmaker simplistically cites Ehrman as his authority for suggesting that Jesus spoke of himself as God in John's gospel but not in Matthew. But this facile assertion, offered without any supporting argument, does not take in to account that throughout the Gospel of Matthew Jesus speaks and acts as God. When Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, He cites Scripture with the formula, "you have heard it said." When Jesus then continues by saying, "but I say unto you," He speaks as God in a way that any first-century Jewish person would have readily understood. Nature obeys his command, and he performs miracles (even bringing the dead back to life) that show his providential control over the created order.

The believing church has always understood that we need all four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in order to understand all that we need to know about Jesus, his words, and the events of his earthly life and ministry. What sets the church apart from Bart Ehrman (and others who make such arguments) is that the church sees these four witnesses as complimentary and mutually supportive. Where we have difficulty understanding how one gospel relates to another we face a basic question -- one tied to the presuppositions we bring to our reading of the Bible. We will see the problem as lying either in our inability to understand the Bible or in the Bible's inability to offer a consistent and consistently truthful message.

The crux of Krattenmaker's argument comes here:
Ehrman's book has met with a fierce reaction from some quarters, which is understandable. Who among us isn't inclined to fight back when our deepest, most cherished beliefs are challenged? But there is no need to demonize him as a "wolf" on the prowl against the church, as one critic has. His ideas, like so many other new thoughts and new insights that keep coming around with the surety of the seasons, need not be regarded as insults against God or bids to prove the Bible false.

Krattenmaker argues that Ehrman's efforts to debunk the New Testament, along with other "new thoughts and new insights," "need not be regarded as insults against God or bids to prove the Bible false."

This claim makes sense if, and only if, Krattenmaker does not believe that "false" is the opposite of "true." Ehman openly and extensively makes his claim that the Bible is filled with error -- false information. Krattenmaker may wish to use euphemisms ("varying perspectives and changing interpretations"), but there is no way to reconcile Bart Ehrman's proposals with any claim that the Bible is, in any meaningful sense, true. Just in case anyone missed this point, Krattenmaker circles back to assert that "there is no denying the inconsistencies [Ehrman] surfaces between the various Gospels and letters that form the New Testament."

Krattenmaker also warns that defenders of "the conservative faith" face yet more -- including a new book by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Again, Krattenmaker signals his glib affirmation of the argument put forth by Borg and Crossan by stating that the authors "point out that Paul didn't really write the more conservative teachings attributed to him." Point out? This is the kind of expression appropriate for some settings ( such as "Professor Smith pointed out that deceased people are dead") but not to the simple assertion that these two authors -- both of whom reject classical Christianity -- "point out" that Paul didn't write many of the letters assigned to him.

Borg and Crossan don't like what Paul writes in his letters about the roles of men and women, about homosexuality, and any number of issues. So, they propose that Paul actually didn't write those letters, and that a conservative conspiracy within the early church successfully changed Paul into a conservative himself. Like the infamous Jesus Seminar did with Jesus, Borg and Crossan do with Paul -- they create him in their own image, ready for tenure review at the local college's religious studies faculty.

The agenda of the biblical revisionists is clear. If the Bible is a collection of merely human documents that are internally contradictory, indicating an underlying diversity of conflicting interpretations of Christ and the Gospel, we are left with no authority for knowing what Christianity is. Accordingly, we can now make it in our own image.

USA Today bills the "On Religion" column as a means of "illuminating the national conversation." Well, Tom Krattenmaker's column is certainly illuminating. But what it illuminates is what Tom Krattenmaker, Bart Ehrman, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan believe about the Bible, and thus about Christianity. Consider yourself illuminated.

Watching a House Burn

2009-04-01T17:38:00.003-04:00

Today, as I was returning Slumdog Millionaire to the Redbox at our local McDonalds, I happened upon a sight that every little boy dreams to see. Along Westport Road here in Louisville, they're working on a road widening that involves the demolition of several homes along the road. For weeks the St. Matthews Fire Department and Louisville Metro Police Department have been training in the now vacant homes, kicking in doors and punching holes in their roofs. Today they used the homes for the only thing they were still good for...fire training.

Here are a few pictures of the fun. I stood with a crowd of about 20 people (adults and kids...what a great Spring Break outing!) and watched this house from ignition to embers.

This is when it got REALLY HOT. From across the road it felt like I was standing next to a bonfire.

Here it looks like the fire is about to go out, but this was not the case..not yet anyway.

Finally, with the home reduced to scorched brick, I headed on my way, my inner boy fulfilled and happy.

Here's a short video of what I saw:

Fiscal Responsibility

2009-03-27T08:19:00.003-04:00

This speech, given by Daniel Hannan, a member of the European Parliament, on March 24, 2009, has been all over the news in pieces. Here is the speech in its entirety. In three and a half minutes, Hannan makes one of the clearest cases I have heard for fiscal restraint in the face of the overwhelming urge to throw money at the current financial crisis. His rhetoric rises above its British context- these are words that every world leader, every politician and secretary, should hear and heed. We can't spend our way out of a recession, only deeper into one.

What I've Been Reading

2009-03-23T07:37:00.000-04:00

I've been reading I Samuel in my personal devotions lately, and greatly enjoying it. The first 5 chapters (all I have read thus far) cry out with the testimony of a faithful and powerful God who blesses immeasurably those who love him while casting his wrath upon those who thumb their noses at his very being. I am moved by the gentle love God has for his servant Hannah, the working of his plan for his people through the calling of Samuel and his jealous wrath upon the unfaithful sons of Eli. The theme of redemption continues to reoccur, woven throughout the story of the unfaithfulness of God's people. Here's what I read a few days ago:

1 Samuel 5 - The Philistines and the Ark

1When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.

4But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god." 8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.

9But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people." 11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.

12The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Who's Your Daddy?

2009-03-14T03:43:00.004-04:00

I realize that the blog is still a bit of a mess, and I also confess that I don't really consider simply reposting articles "blogging," but with a Greek Syntax midterm, a Biblical Counseling midterm, counseling observations and an Exegesis paper all due on or before Tuesday, I thought this might tide you over until I can actually start blogging again. Enjoy this piece from Dr. Russell Moore (henryinstitute.org), the Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary and a preacher that I very much respect and enjoy. This short post by him fits into a lot of things I have been thinking about lately, about which I will post soon.

Your Birth Father Has Fangs
Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Imagine for a moment that you’re adopting a child. As you meet with the social worker in the last stage of the process, you’re told that this twelve-year old has been in and out of psychotherapy since he was three. He persists in burning things, and attempting repeatedly to skin kittens alive. He “acts out sexually,” the social worker says, although she doesn’t really fill you in on what that means. She continues with a little family history. This boy’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather all had histories of violence, ranging from spousal abuse to serial murder. Each of them ended life the same way, dead by suicide–each found hanging from a rope of blankets in his respective prison cell.

Think for a minute. Would you want this child? If you did adopt him, wouldn’t you watch nervously as he played with your other children? Would you watch him nervously as he looks at the butcher knife on the kitchen table? Would you leave the room as he watched a movie on television with your daughter, with the lights out?

Well he’s you. And he’s me.

That’s what the gospel is telling us. Our birth father has fangs. And left to ourselves, we’ll show ourselves to be as serpentine as he is.

That’s why our sin ought to disturb us. The “works of the flesh,” jealousy, envy, wrath, lust, hatred, and on and on, ought to alarm us the way a tightness in the chest would alarm a man whose father and grandfather dropped dead at the age of forty of heart disease. It ought to scare us like forgetting the next-door neighbor’s name would scare a woman whose mother was institutionalized on her thirty-fifth birthday for dementia.

It’s easy to deceive ourselves though. The chest pains? They’re just indigestion. The forgetfulness? It’s just a hectic schedule. Even this self-deceit shows us our similarity to our reptilian birthfather. He, after all, “knows his time is short” but rages away against God and his Christ anyway (Rev 12:12).

The New Testament addresses these former Satan-imagers with good news. It’s not just that we have a stay of execution, a suspension of doom. It’s not simply that those who trust in Christ have found a refuge, a safe place, or a foster home. All those in Christ, Paul argues, have received sonship. We are now the “offspring of Abraham” (Gal 3:29). Within this household–the tribal family of Abraham–all those who are in Christ have found a home through the adopting power of God.

Under Construction

2009-03-08T06:46:00.002-04:00

I'm updating some stuff on the blog, so you'll see things vanish and reappear for a while...don't worry, it's all under control. I think.

What the Budget Means to You

2009-02-27T08:16:00.002-05:00

President Barack Obama released his 2010 Fiscal Year budget yesterday, and the numbers don't look good. Here's a crossection of stats about this budget bill:

A $3.55 trillion budget plan for 2010, with additional immediate changes that would push spending to $3.94 trillion in the current year. Total Expenditures: $7.49 trillion.
A projected deficit of $1.75 trillion for 2010, projected to be reduced to $1.17 trillion next year and tapering to $533 billion in 2012. This would still be $78 billion more than last year's record-breaking deficit of $455 billion.
The $1.75 trillion deficit would be 12.3% of America's GDP. This is the second highest percentage for a deficit ever behind the post WWII 21.5% in 1945.

Where will the deficit reduction after this drastic run-up come from? Here are a few sources (all are currently in the budget except for raising the maximum tax rate):

Taxpayers in the current top tax bracket of 35 percent would see their tax deduction for every $1 given to charity drop from 35 cents to 28 cents.
$636 billion will come from a hike in the capital gains tax, the elimination of itemized deductions and expired tax cuts for people making over $250,00 a year.
The President has also stated his desire to raise the top tax rate to 39.6% from the current 35%, although this is not currently in the budget.
Taxing carried interest (the primary source of income for the manager in private equity and hedge funds).
A number of taxes and the repealing of deductions for various energy production costs, mostly related to petroleum and natural gas drilling.

What does this all mean to you? Perhaps the most shocking numbers are the simplest math. Taking into account only the $3.55 trillion for 2010, with a US population is 304,059,724, a little more than a third of which filed returns (138,893,908), here's the math for the 2010 $3.55 trillion:

$11,833 spent per American
$25,573 spent per taxpayer (Unfortunately, this assumes all return filers are taxpayers and not just return recipients, which is not the case. Some estimates have the amount of actual taxpayers only about 60% of that number.)

It's a lot of math, and reading this post most likely made you a bit drowsy. But it's important. We're about to embark on one of the most massive spending plans in American history at a time when our industry is faltering, credit is impossible to secure and homes continue to be forclosed upon at an alarming rate. But this budget doesn't just include money for more bailouts and partial government takeovers- more than $600 billion is earmarked for a fund that will be used to begin a changeover to universal healthcare, and the budget also anticipates revenues from a CO2 cap-and-trade program that is only in the concept phase.

This budget is not what we need. It imposes taxes or allows to expire tax cuts on industry that contributes to the GDP in important ways while socking away money for socialized medicine. Cap-and-trade is not the best way to work toward reducing industrial emissions, the rise in capital gains tax discourages profits for businesses and it doesn't seem to me that reducing the tax deduction for charitable contributions is ever a good idea.

I will not pretend to suggest that the Republicans haven't recently "found" their love for fiscal conservativism partially in opposition to President Obama's policies, nor did they protest as George W. Bush racked up deficits during his presidency. But this massive increase in the national deficit is too great a risk for too little reward and the Republicans are right to stand against it. In a era where we all should be spending less and saving more, the government should be leading by example, not exhibiting reckless spending.

The party's over, it's time to tighten the belt and we all need to stop before we spend ourselves into a depression exacerbated by increasing foreign-held debts and ask if throwing money at the problem is going to work. It's not- we need a new solution.

Sources: Reuters, ABCNews, Breitbart, Telegraph

Lent

2009-02-25T10:18:00.003-05:00

Just Give It Up (from Firstthings.com)
By David Mills
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 9:07 AM

Our eldest, then about two years old, one day announced “I want . . .” but did not finish the sentence. My wife and I waited for her to tell us what she wanted — to be picked up and rocked? a cup of milk? her stuffed bear? — but again she said only “I want” and let her voice trail off. She said it a third time, still sounding equally unsure about what she wanted. And then, with a look of enlightenment on her face, said in a loud, firm voice, “I want!”

There, I thought, was the fallen human condition expressed. We are creatures of ravenous, indiscriminate desire. We want this and we want that, but most of all, We Want.

Hence the value of Lent, which begins today, and of an old discipline that seems, even among Catholics, to be now somewhat neglected: the traditional discipline of giving things up for Lent. Bookish people being as fallen as anyone else, we might take a brief break from the pressing issues and interesting intellectual questions to reflect on the value of this discipline. Giving things up for Lent has, in my experience, two obvious benefits.

The first is that you very quickly find out how much a hold the world has on you. This is a lesson to which the Christian will give intellectual assent, but few of us really see what it means. We like to think of ourselves being happy to give up anything for the Lord just like that, with a snap of our fingers, even our lives, but most of us find it hard to give up something that really doesn’t matter. You dream of standing up to the lions in the coliseum, and find yourself snapping at the waitress because the restaurant is out of your favorite dessert.

We are not in shape, and we are also delusional. Spiritually, we’re like the pot-bellied middle-aged guy in the speedo swimsuit at the beach, who is just shocked that the twenty-year-old girls in bikinis are not hanging all over him and cooing. He would have a better idea why were he to hit the gym.

I gave up coffee one Lent. I thought I could handle it. I wanted to feel the pinch, but I didn’t expect (or want) to feel walloped with a bat instead. I gave it up, and I found that I really missed it.

For one thing, I soon realized that I didn’t like coffee only for the taste, or for the caffeine, but for the rituals, of getting up from my desk and wandering to the faculty lounge to get another cup, of chatting with the colleagues on the way, of wandering back to my office to settle in again after a pleasant break. It just didn’t feel right, not getting up for coffee.

And there was the caffeine, or the sudden lack of it. For maybe three weeks I found myself with a sudden craving for Classic Coke, something I rarely drink, and getting up from my desk to walk across the seminary quad to the soda machine in another building, even when it was pouring rain, and I did so without the slightest idea why. Then I realized I’d only found, through some subconscious sense, a substitute source of an addictive drug and was happy to risk illness to get it.

The second benefit of giving things up for Lent is that you also find, at the end of Lent, how good are the things God has given you. The things you’ve given up come to you afresh, almost as if you’d never enjoyed them before. When you can have them any time you want, and do have them any time you want, you don’t enjoy them as God meant them to be enjoyed. At least I don’t.

I sat down at breakfast on Easter morning—we’d gone to the Vigil the night before, so that I really was breaking my fast at breakfast — and drank a big cup of very strong coffee. And it was really, really, really good. I haven’t enjoyed coffee that much for years, decades even. I suddenly had some idea how heroin addicts feel.

Now, after that Lent, I drink much more tea than coffee, but every coffee I have is a treat. It’s a far greater pleasure now, coffee is, than it was when I knocked the stuff down all day.

That’s one of my experiences with the discipline of giving things up for Lent. I learned something about myself, and not just how much a hold the world had on me but my subconscious ability to satisfy my worldly cravings even when I didn’t realize I was doing so. And I learned something also about the pleasures God has given us, which really are great pleasures, until we take them for granted because we have so much of them.

Even bookish types are addicted to the world’s pleasures, and perhaps more deeply so because we believe our tastes intellectual and refined. So just give up something. Almost anything will do, because once you give it up, you’ll want it. Start small, but start.

Snow Day, Part Deux

2009-01-28T15:14:00.008-05:00

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Our morning began with the beauty and grandeur of 6+ inches of snow, a peaceful and serenely calm morning...

Suddenly, the peace was shattered by a crazed Great Dane puppy, romping through the first big snow of her life...After she had burned off all of her excitement, she posed in all of her regal beauty, for some winter portraits.
That was our morning...quite a a fun and exciting experience. No school again today, so another quiet and enjoyable day with my wife. Here's to snow days!
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