Swine Flu

Redeemer’s New Website

We’ve launched a new website!  Please click on www.redeemercommunity.com to go there.

Bye Bye Blog

Yep. I’m pulling the plug.

Why? God has really expanded our ministry lately. Redeemer is growing and my involvement in Acts 29 and Coaching has increased to the point that I have to let something go (i.e. this Blog).

We’re launching a new website for Redeemer. So, check in there occasionally to see what’s up. Also, you can email me at anytime.

U23D

I’m so pumped!  I’m in Chicago & am going to see U23D tonight on an IMAX screen with some other Acts 29 pastors.  Here’s the trailer:

Evangelism & the Missional Church

A couple of Acts 29 guys have been talking about Reid Monaghan’s article on evangelism and the missional church.  Click here to read it.  Reid is from Fellowship Bible in Nashville
& is planning to plant an Acts 29 church in New Jersey.

Oops

I saw Sterling reading a book yesterday called “The Sign of the Beaver.” He was about half-way through the book.

I said: “So, have they told you what the sign of the beaver is yet?”

Sterling said: “No.”

To which I replied: “Dam.”

We had a good laugh.

Today, I found out that that joke is making it’s way around Sterling’s 6th grade classroom. Alas! Now, I’m a little worried that the teacher is going may just call me on it. But I’ve worked out in my mind how I’m going to handle it. I’ll say that I’ve learned my lesson & I won’t repeat it in public.

Omazing Grace

A friend of mine showed this to me recently. I’m still laughing over it!  And at the heart level, it’s really sweet.

My Hot Date

I went on a great date tonight. It’s become an annual Christmas tradition. I take Kate out on a date & Lindsay does the same for Sterling. Here’s what happened on our end:

The night began with dinner at Carrabba’s. I had my favorite (Pasta Weesie) & she had her’s (spaghetti with a big fat meatball on top). We talked about our day, colored & played tic-tac-toe. She won again… darn!

Next we went to a card store. Basically, the idea was that we read cards. And any card that we would normally buy for the other to express our love we would give it to the other – right then & there. And then we put the cards back on the shelf. I promise after almost everyone Kate exclaimed, “Aww… that’s sweet!” We both gave each other at least two dozen cards & hugs. It was cheap & she loved it so much that when we left she said that she wanted to make it into a tradition.

After that, we walked down to the craft store to pick up something she’s making for Sterling’s stocking. Then on to Petsmart & she picked out a ball for her to give our dog for Christmas. That was followed by a quick trip to Marble Slab Creamery. We laughed & licked the whole time.

If that wasn’t enough, we voyaged on to Barnes & Noble. I stopped by the military history shelf on the way to the Children’s section. Kate read Clifford & Bernstein Bears books. I sat on a miniature stool & read the introduction to “Hitler’s War on Russia.” Oh, what a pair we are!

And then finally… we came home… all by 9pm. Whew! What a date.

Oh… I’ve got to add that at 10pm Lindsay came home after being out with Sterling. They had done two things: eat at Cracker Barrel & go to the Bristol Motor Speedway to see the Speedway in Lights… for a second year in a row. She said the good news was it ONLY took them 1 hour to get through it. That was half the time to see the lights as it did last year. Needless to say, she was exhausted… yes, again. Lindsay & anything NASCAR are polar opposites. She wouldn’t do it for anyone else. But she’ll do anything for her boy!

Launch Your Life

When we talk about “People Launching” this is what we envision for your life…

Well… kind of.  To understand your unique design, email me or contact Jim Fickley.

For more base jumping videos like this, click here.

Three Conversions?

I used to believe in only one conversion. I don’t anymore. I now believe that there’s at least three. Let me explain.

The first conversion is what I’ll affectionally call the “Deep South” conversion. Sooner or later we all experience it. On day, we wake up & realize that we’re very, very naughty. We’ve done all kinds of things like turned our backs on our family & friends. We’ve realized that we’ve hurt others.

So, we convert. We convert to moralism; to “doing good.” The extremists in this camp are the fundamentalists that walk around like they’ve “figured it all out.” Of course, most of us are not that extreme. When you & I convert to this belief system, we “wrestle our sin to the mat,” “pull ourselves up from our bootstraps” and “wise up!” We see the world through a lens of truth & cast our conservative vote. We settle into a “Christian” ghetto & volunteer at church.

The second conversion is what I’ll laughingly call the “West Coast” conversion. Just about all of us do this as well. This conversion comes when we’re so exhausted from doing our duty & trying please others with our very best. But we end up making this change because it’s just not working & we cannot keep up appearances anymore.

So, we convert to relativism. The extremists in this camp rebel against authority, party hard & walk around like they’re the center of the universe. But these are just the extremists. More often than not this conversion says, “all of those moral religious folks are hypocritical!” (Of which, they’re right.) It also defines truth as being authentic about my junk to others, tolerating other people’s junk & yet loving them unconditionally. When we experience our “West Coast” conversion, we often avoid religious types, “live and let live” & help the needy.

Now before I move on to the third conversion, allow me to make a few observations on the first two: at first glance they appear to be polar opposites. The first emphasizes truth over love and the second emphasizes love over truth. But on the heart-level, they’re almost identical. They both are merely an outward change; worldly drugs that deceitfully promise survival & success through the behavior. In a word, both are an attempt to save oneself. And although there may be an outward conversion of the behavior, inwardly there is no conversion of the heart.

The third conversion is Christ’s. This conversion makes an impact because it originates in our

innermost parts and then spreads to our behavior. It is a conversion that involves a heart-level repentance that results from a realization that my efforts to save myself are fruitless. It’s an acknowledgment that my efforts to promote truth or to love well are merely the survival techniques that I erroneously use to justify my existence. And so this conversion humbly looks beyond ourselves to the work of Jesus Christ to justify, open our senses to God & empower us to live (both inwardly & outwardly) according to His truth & love.

My question for you today is:

Which conversion best describes you?

Don’t click away to the next page too quickly.

Think about it.

To reflect on this more, click here.

The Joys of People Launching

Jim & I have been spending some time with two guys that have been praying about going into missions (Ben & Aaron Gentiles). Our hope is that we will be a part of a launching them into God’s vision for their lives.

So far so good. Check out Ben’s personal statement about himself:

“It is my desire to illuminate the work of Christ and God centered living with innovative renderings of the gospel for the edification and growth, in all facets, of Christ’s body and for the gathering of all people groups for the sake and glory of God’s name. Whatever I learn or strive to obtain a better knowledge of I will present to all people through artistic and systematic diction in preaching and writing from various angles for a fuller understanding to live boldly for Christ.”

What were you writing at age 19? Wow! Now that’s a guy!

I absolutely love working in this way with people. It’s so rewarding. And I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Yesterday… and… Today

Yesterday was the great “day in sports.” Fly fishing, soccer, I had it all!

So, this morning I woke up with a huge smile on my face. I can’t exactly remember what I said, but with a cheery voice I was big about it all (Something like: “Sure, Lindsay, you go to Atlanta, I’ll take care of my sweet, sick precious little girl. You go have a good time with the boys.”)

But tonight reality has sunk in. The day has quickly diminished, the smiles are gone & the emotional vault at my “sports bank” has quickly been drained. Here’s a log of what’s happened tonight:

7:15pm – The phone rings. I pause the “Cheaper by the Dozen” DVD that Kate & I are watching at home. It’s Lindsay. She’s calling me from the Philips Arena where she is about to watch the Atlanta Hawks take on our Dallas Mavericks (with Sterling & my nephew, Alex). She’s already apologizing profusely for OUR DECISION, while she is nibbling on her pasta & sipping her wine in the Center Club. I hang up the phone & look up the Philips Arena online. I find this -

“The Center Club is an exclusive fine dining establishment for Club Seat and Suite Holders. The Center Club is an excellent place to entertain clients, celebrate special events, or simply relax before and during an event.”

7:41pm – Lindsay calls but I miss it. I call her back. No answer. I’m sure she’s sitting in her seat & cannot hear the phone ringing amidst all the pre-game hoopla.

7:46pm – I called again.

7:52pm – I called again. Oh, what’s the use!

8:02pm – My sister-in-law called me to ask me if we get Turner South. I said “no, why?” She said that Alex and Sterling are waving their arms at the camera.

8:22pm – Lindsay called me from her seat. But she clarifies that it’s not a seat… IT’S A FOLDING CHAIR… on the court! (The chair formerly known as “my chair.”) The noise is too loud for her to hear Kate & I screaming in the phone. So she begins to give us the play-by-play. She says that they are sitting directly behind the owners of the Hawks. She keeps commenting that there’s a lot of “cush” on this folding chair & that it’s really comfortable. She then says that Dirk Nowitzki just hit a three-pointer directly in front of her. She says that the players are all really, really big.

(We hang up the phone and stare at it for a minute. I look at Kate & she looks at me. We both sigh over the fact that Kate is sick. Well, I guess we both are now.)

9:36pm - Lindsay calls and tells me it’s a 1-point game. She still can’t hear me so I just have to listen to it all.

Yesterday was the great “day in sports.”  But now…

So… it was the “Day in Sports”

Yesterday was a “trophy” day. It started out with one of the best fly fishing days that I’ve ever had. Not to brag… but… I caught 20 trout in 3 hours. And one, whom we’ll call “Big Bertha,” was 20 inches long! (Don’t give me that… I have witnesses.)

Follow that up with one great championship game last night by Sterling’s soccer team. When the game ended the score was 1 to 1. After 10 minutes of overtime, it was still 1 to 1. Next came the shoot out where they pick 5 players to shoot 5 times on our goalie & we do the same. After that it was 4 to 4 (thankfully, Sterling made his shot). Next came a sudden death shoot out. Our first player stepped up and shot & made it. Their first player stepped up & missed his. So, WE WON 5 to 4 – CHAMPS! I’m so proud of those guys. They had a great season.

I guess my great “Week in Sports” has turned into a great “Day in Sports.” Kate got sick yesterday & we decided that it was best for me to stay home with her this weekend & send Lindsay, Sterling & Alex (my nephew) on ahead to Atlanta for the choice NBA & NFL seats (see below). Poor Kate – she’s feeling so bad. As for me, God filled up my “sports bank” yesterday so I’m still smiling.

This Week in Sports

I’ve got nothing to complain about. My parents are moving this weekend in Texas & I’m stuck here in the eastern part of the country playing the victim to what I’m calling “sports-fever.” Here’s my schedule this week:

Thursday during the day – Flyfishing in Boone, NC with an old friend (and the leaves are at their peak here!)

Thursday night – Coaching Sterling’s soccer team in his league’s championship game

Friday night – Sitting only a couple of rows* behind the Atlanta Hawks as they play our Dallas Mavericks

Sunday afternoon - Watching the Atlanta Falcons play the S.F. 49ers from a sky box* in the Georgia dome

*Absolutely no joke on these!

Sorry, that I can’t help Mom & Dad!

For the rest of you, here’s one sports event that may interest you. Once Sterling saw that this happened last week… we’re declaring this the craziest college football play that we’ve ever seen.  How ’bout you?

Their Role & Mine

They’ve got their role & I’ve got mine.

Their role is to play like a team. And WOW – do they ever! There is more passing, talking & assisting than any other group that Sterling (on left) has ever played with. This group of 5th & 6th graders is fun to watch. And the teamwork is paying off! They’re in 1st place with a record of 8-1-1.

Humbly speaking, I think I’m doing quite well at my role well too. Shouting orders, yelling at refs, pumping my arms, slapping butts & trying my best to go hoarse. You may ask: “So what is your role?” Well, I guess not everyone agrees on it. I call myself “Coach.” The other coach calls me “Assistant Coach.” The parents call me “Sideline Commentator.” And the kids just say, “Hey you.” Whatever it is, I’m giving it all I got.

They do what they do best. And I’m doing what I do best. That’s what it’s all about.

(And winning.)

Praxis: It’s No Longer Theoretical

I’m so pumped! Praxis is having its first gathering this Sunday night (6:30pm at Redeemer’s building). You may ask: “What is Praxis?” Praxis is our new ministry that has been developed by six God-dependent, risk-taking leaders in our church (Tony, Rebecca, Kyle, Megan, Luke & Kristin – need a link Kristin). They’re going after the least reach people in the Tri-Cities: younger adults and young families (though anyone can come) with a highly creative, energetic & relational approach.

I’m so proud of these leaders that I’m about to pop. There’s nothing like watching people lean into their God-given dreams! And, for me, there’s no way around it: launching people is what I live for.

Anyway, I want to go but realize that my time to go may come a bit later. Besides, I heard that Longhorns aren’t invited. We’ll just see about that.

BTW – Every once in awhile you read a post & think, “Ok, that’s why we’re all in this blogging thing!” Well, Rebecca Marr just wrote the funniest one about her husband, Tony. Click here to read it.

Theological Journey

Ok… I’m just going to be upfront with this one. If you say you’re not into theology (even though everyone is a theologian!), just skip this post. If you are, read on…

(I know that’s a terrible way to market anything… but I just know this is only going to hit a particular audience here. I’ll get to my usual topics next week.)

I’m basically a denominational mutt that grew up in Texas (I don’t want to talk about OU right now, ok!). My parents started two Bible churches (w/Dallas Theological Seminary pastors). In middle school, we attended a charismatic church & I was discipled in a large Presbyterian church in high school in Dallas. I got a Bible degree from King (a Presbyterian school) & was taught Dispensationalism from the Bible Exposition department at DTS and Progressive Dispensationalism from their theology department. I’ve been employed at both Presbyterian churches & Scofield Memorial Church in Dallas. And with that background… yes, I still have to repeat “baby steps to the bus” often to myself.

Growing up in Dallas & in those circles you probably could guess what theological issue was most debated: Covenant Theology vs. Dispensationalism. I was introduced to the debate not in the classroom, but in the Church hallway. What I heard was not a presentation on the various views, but upon how DTS students wouldn’t be hired in the recreation department of my home church. Seriously. Of course, it didn’t take me long to hear how the Dispensationalists had the same animosity against those who believed in Covenant Theology. In other words, I was introduced to the ugly side of the debate… first.

I don’t know what your introduction to this subject has been, but I’ve found that the majority of people were first introduced to it as you’re either in the “good” or the “bad” camp. I often find that those who still think of it that way over-label and sometimes are ignorant about the “other side.” It’s so sad how things like this can polarize. Maybe you share a certain passion with me: a particular passion to bring brothers and sisters back together. After all, even though it is an important issue to work through (esp. for one who teaches regularly), most of us would certainly agree that it is a “B” issue (when compared to the Gospel, the Trinity, etc.).

I think this is why Progressive Dispensationalism stuck out to me at seminary. It was more of a “middle ground” approach. But something funny has happened this past year: I’ve realized that I might be closer to another “middle ground” approach that’s being developed right now: New Covenant Theology (don’t read it as Covenant Theology 2.0 but Jeremiah 31’s description of a new covenant). Douglas Moo, Tom Schreiner and D.A. Carson have a lot of sympathy for a NCT viewpoint (esp. in relation of the Christian to the law), but none of them label themselves that way to my knowledge.

NCT is less of a perfected system than it is a hermeneutic. I like that. Although I don’t see the need to fully “land” in one particular camp (like I used to think), NCT articulates a lot of what I have believed in this debate for a long time now. I especially like its view on the “law of Christ,” baptism and treatment of the biblical covenants. I still need to do a bit more investigating on Israel as time allows. Of what I’ve read so far, NCT seems to be consistently biblical and Gospel-centered. That’s one of my most precious values & is probably the chief value that is guiding me as I look at these different takes.

If you would like to find out more about NCT, click here. If you are a newcomer to the discussion & you would like to learn more about the issue & see these views compared, go here. Keep in mind that if you were creating putting these on a continuum of views, most scholars would present it as looking something like this:

(Looking at the continuum, I guess I would be in the middle somewhere right now. Ha! Actually, that’s a subtle but dirty fighting technique – labeling others & then putting yourself in the middle – thereby implying that you’re the balanced one. Howard Hendricks says that the only balanced people he knows are the ones that are in the middle of swinging from one extreme to the other. I digress…)

What I most want to say is that it’s nice to see that the polarized positions have been softened, in part because of the “middle ground” positions that have arisen. That was needed. And in my opinion, these views more biblically fair than the more extreme positions.

Hey, if you like to give me your take on these issues… feel free. Post a comment (& include your background too, to help me understand where your coming from on it).

Leading the Secular to Christ

Continuing on with great links to helpful articles on Christ & Culture – I just found a great article called, “Deconstructing Defeater Beliefs: Leading the Secular to Christ” by Tim Keller.  To read it click here.

Recommended Books & Media Tab

Frequently, people ask me to recommend a good book on a particular subject.  So, I just added a “Recommended Books & Media” tab above.  Click it if you dare.

Welcome Scott & Allison

I’ve just added Scott & Allison Ball to my links to the right.  Maybe Allison can keep Scott writing this time.