Hope in an Age of Hopelessness

I woke up this morning to news of yet another fatal shooting in our country, this time at the Empire State Building in New York City. In the past few weeks, there have been horrific shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, Washington D.C., and now New York. Within the past year, there was also a mass shooting in my hometown of Carson City, Nevada. Every time these unfortunate events take place, we ask the question, “Why?”

            I cannot answer that why question, other than to reaffirm that the Bible says that humankind’s sin has brought disorder into our world. I also know that the Bible states that these events will continue until Jesus comes again. In fact, it seems probable that the “wars and rumors or wars,” and violence will intensify as time goes on.

            Many will ask the question, “What is the cause of this increased violence, and how can we stop it?” People will point to many culprits. It’s worry over a troubled economy. It’s hopelessness over our political landscape. It’s the result of callous, dehumanizing violence in video games, cartoons, and movies. It’s the result of a de-sensitzing media. It’s the result of incivility in our culture. All of these answers could be explanations to the shootings. We may never know.

            I am raising two young children in today’s world. I worry about the world in which they will live in twenty or thirty years. What world will my grandkids, or great grandkids live in? Will it be a world in which violence is commonplace? Will people become so de-sensitized to violence that news of shootings like we hear now will be ignored or treated with disdain? Will they avoid speaking to neighbors for fear of violence, or ridicule, or uncivil speech?

            I know that God is sovereign. He has knowledge of all things, and knows the future, and what our world will look like in the years ahead. And He is in complete control. He is all powerful. He is not the author of evil, and He will even work through the present evil for ultimate good (see Genesis 50:19-20, Isaiah 10, Acts 2:22-34).

            We, though, are responsible for our actions. We are accountable for those things we do that are just and unjust. As such, we can make a difference in our present world.  I am just one person. It is unlikely that I can change the world. But, I can change the dynamic of my family. You, too, are just one person. But, if we choose to make positive changes in our lives and the lives of our families, we could leave this world a somewhat better place. How can we change our speech so that what we say is exhorting, rather than crippling? How can we leave a legacy of hope in an age of hopelessness? How can we change the tenor of incivility in our cultural rhetoric? It’s worth contemplating answers to these questions, and it’s worth making real efforts to change the dynamic in our lives.

The Place of Honor

It seems that the American woman has been called every name in the book over the past several weeks. It also seems that much of the recent American political debate is focused on womens issues. However, at the same time, there has been a lot of verbal rhetoric and disparaging remarks made about women, from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh and liberal television personality Bill Maher (to name the most notorious personalities of recent days). We are rightly appalled as we hear the toxic language used when describing women in our society.

            There has been an ongoing battle in this country about the role of women. Our media inundates us with images of women that should make most people blush. Our commecials, our television programs, our magazines, our music, and our news media outlets create an image of today’s woman that is often demeaning and belittling. We criticize female executives. We caricature female politicians. We devalue the stay-at-home mother. Our daughters are told that their role in this world must either be as a opinionless prude or as a radically outspoken loose woman. Our little girls are presented with indecent clothing options in retail stores that make them look and feel like there are at the mercy of men.

            As a Christian man (who has a wife, a sister, a mother, a daughter, a mother-in-law, a sister-in-law, and many female friends), I am alarmed by the objectification of women in our society. When a radio host, a television pundit, or a musicican calls a woman a four- or five-letter ephithet, he is allowing for my wife, my daughter, or my mother to be called the same name. There used to be boundaries of decency which humorists or artists did not cross. Not so anymore, and it is at the expense of our women. Now please do not misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that those persons should be prohibited their constitutional right of free speech. The American government and judicial system have firmly established a right to free speech. However, as a consumer of the media, I can make a choice to take to task those people who say and do things that are clearly wrong. I can call for an end to their vitriolic words. On this issue they are wrong. Do female politicians like Nancy Pelosi, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton open themselves up to more scrutiny because of their public roles? Certainly. But, do they deserve derogatory name-calling because of their public roles? Certainly not. We must be wary of those that would say it is acceptable to subject these women to toxic words, because soon, it will be acceptable to call any woman a derogatory name.

            What can we do? We can stand up and object to the continued use of this type of language. Yes, stop listening, stop buying, stop watching. Let those people who promote such language know how much we dislike the choices they are making. We can counteract the negative influence with a positive influence. Make a pledge to treat and speak of women with respect.

            Looking at the issue from a biblical perspective, I would argue that the language and objectification of women in our culture is contrary to God’s design. From the beginning, God created man and woman in His image. In the garden, God tested Adam in order for Adam to recognize his need for a soulmate. As Adam watched the animals pass by him in pairs, he realized that there was not a suitable helper for him, at which point God created Eve. She was not created as an afterthought. And she was not created as a lesser person. She was created to be the soulmate and companion of Adam. In fact, you could say that in Eve, Adam found the one who “completed” him. She was his complement. In another Old Testament text, the noble wife of Proverbs 31 is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a teacher, a mother, and one who is wise.

            In the New Testament, we see many indications that women are to be treated with respect and honor. Jesus was a friend to Mary and Martha and was supported during his ministry by many women. Jesus also heals many women (including Peter’s mother-in-law) and speaks to many women with compassion (including the woman at the well who was in an adulteress relationship). Paul writes that gender is not a deciding factor in who may receive the salvation and favor of God. Paul also writes that men and women are to be subject to each other (Ephesians 5:21), that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) and that he is not to be harsh with her (Colossians 3:19). Peter tells men to be considerate and respectful of their wives (1 Peter 3:7) since they are the weaker partner. Some misunderstand what Peter is saying when he calls a woman the weaker partner. His language and imagery is beautiful. He is not saying that the woman is weak and less than a man, but that she is precious. His imagery suggests that she is the prized possession of the house that deserves the place of greatest respect and honor. We might say that Peter says the woman is the finest china that we place in our curio cabinets and take out for the most special of occasions. She is not common. She is not our everyday dinnerware, she is the most special thing in the household. God tells us clearly to honor the women in our lives.

            There is no denying that the genders are different. Men have more physical strength but women have a stronger threshold for pain. Men are more driven by performance and work, but women are more driven by relationship and connection. As a result, men’s brains physiologically operate in ways different from women’s brains. Scientific research has shown more interconnectedness in a woman’s brain than in a man’s brain, resulting in women being more intuitive and aware of danger and dishonesty. This is how we are designed by God. However, our society has shamefully disparaged the differences in women and inappropriately demeaned the value and worth of women with disparaging remarks and course jesting. Let’s rise above this inappropriateness.

Please Hear Me

            There has been a lot of discussion lately concerning the White House policy requiring religious organizations to supply birth control to employees, even if this requirement violates that religious organization’s basic doctrine. I have remained silent on this issue, although it is an issue that is very near to my heart. I have seen and heard many of my friends make comments regarding the unsophisticated stance of those religious leaders. I have heard the jokes that a bunch of middle age white men are making decisions regarding a woman’s body. At the risk of sounding like one more neanderthal middle-aged white man, may I be given an opportunity to express my opinions on this subject? You do not have to agree with me, but I ask that you listen to me.

            First, I think we must be very clear that the White House strategically chose when and how to announce the mandate to religious organizations. While they claim that they were surprised by the reaction of religious leaders, I find those statement duplicitious. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Helath and Human Services, made the initial announcement on January 20, 2012. That is the anniversary date of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade  decision that leglaized abortion in this country. It is highly suspect to suggest that the announcement was made innocently on that date. The Obama administration has used that date more than once to announce decisions that upset the pro-life proponents in this country.

            Second, let me state that in my mind, this is not a Democrat versus Republican, or a liberal versus conservative issue. By choice, I do not speak publically about political issues. But, this is not a political issue. This is an issue in which the Federal Government is legislating people to perform in ways that directly violate their conscious and religious sensibilities. This is an issue regarding my core beliefs regarding the sanctity of life in all its forms. I would find this decision objectionable no matter who was in office. Our government is asking people to violate core beliefs and religious convictions. The government should in no way be allowed to force a person to violate basic beliefs. Don’t we object when the North Korean government forces its citizenry to violate their core beliefs?

            Third, the issue is not about birth control. While many religious leaders who are objecting to the law are opposed to all forms of birth control, that is not the case of all Christians. There are many Christians who do object to all forms of birth control. As a whole, all Christians do not find contraception to be wrong. The issue, is however, about some forms of birth control, and the facts regarding their use as an abortifacient (which is any method used to terminate a pregnancy after conception). While some may argue that woman should have access to birth control, the fact is that some of those forms of birth control the government would ask religious organizations to provide, include abortifacients. Yes, the Morning After Pill (RU 486) would be one of the forms of birth control covered under the policy. While the media has labelled this as a simple argument about birth control, it is much more than that. We are not debating who is for or against birth control. We are not debating whether birth control is right or wrong. The issue is about certain forms of birth control that are abortifacients.

            Fourth, I am not trying to legislate a woman’s sexuality or sexual practice. I think Christians are quickly depicted as anti-sex and prude. While I may not agree with all of your choices, include sexual choices, this is not an issue about legislating sexual practices.

            Fifth, many forms of birth control, including “the Pill” and others can be abortifacient. The scientific evidence is inconclusive in this area. While it is likely that most forms of birth control prevent conception, it cannot be proven scientifically that the Pill and other birth control methods prevent conception every time. One of the other purposes of these birth control pills is to thin the lining in the uteran wall so that if an egg is fertilized, it will not be able to implant in the uteran wall. That means, that one can conceive, but because of the birth control method, be unable to sustain that pregnancy. This is what is at issue in this debate.

            Let me tell you what I believe fundamentally, in the core of my soul. I believe that life begins at the moment of conception. I believe this because of my religious beliefs and I believe it to be true at every level of my being. So, I find it unconscionable that a life may be formed and then prevented from maturing because it cannot grow in the mother’s womb. It is a life, and taking away the environment for that life to survive is murder. It is, in my conscious, no different than the killing fields Cambodia, the mass exterminations of people in Nazi Germany, the Cultural Revolution of Maoist China, or the genocide in Rwanda. I believe that, at a fundemantal level, we all know that life begins at conception. That is why we celebrate the announcement of a pregnancy, looking forward to the baby to be born. That is why nobody ever tells someone grieving a miscarriage that they should not be emotional because they were carrying a mass of tissues rather than a life. That is why people have been convicted of double murder for killing a pregnant woman. But, my government is now telling me that I must provide something that violates my beliefs and conscious at the most base level. How is that right? How is that admirable? Most religious organizations and leaders in this country will share a similar view and stance on conception and abortion. That is why they have objected so vehemently to this government mandate.

            But, you say, that woman working for a religious orgnaization does have a right to birth control. I can truly understand that position and belief. And I do know that there are some women who receive medical benefits from birth control, including a elimination of ovarian cysts, etc. In fact, some dear women in my life have been prescribed the Pill in their early teens to prevent medical complications. So, shouldn’t they have access to those medical benefits? Certainly. But why does it have to be provided through a religious organization? Couldn’t the federal government provide a way for drug manufacturers to provide these medically necessary prescriptions at low cost, or no cost, to women who need them? If people can receive blood pressure medicine at next to no cost, couldn’t the same be provided to women without those birth control pills being provided through the religious organization?

            The government is mandating that religious leaders like me and many of my comrades do something that is morally objectionable to us. Why is that acceptable? The government does not mandate that someone who objects to the public education system place their children in that same system. The government does not require a pacifist to put on army fatigues. The government does not mandate that one opposed to hunting buy deer tags for a hunter.

            This is a personal issue for me. My wife and I have used various methods of birth control, including the Pill. However, when we read and were told by her OBGYN that we could not be completely confident that the pill prevented conception, we chose other forms of birth control based on our conscious. God forgive us if our uninformed choices destroyed a life. Ultimately, when we realized the toll taken on my wife’s body during her two pregnancies, we knew that we needed an effective form of birth control because I was unwilling to have my wife go through the pain she experienced with pregnancy. So we chose for me to have a vasectomy. I know that some Christians would find our decision objectionable, stating that we should not prevent the possibility of conception. It was a decision that best met with our consciences. If for some reason, God blesses us with another conception, then we will go through the process again. But, I could not morally face the possibility that conception occurred and that our child was lost through a method of birth control.

            I realize that I do not speak for all Christians. Also understand that all Christian voices in this debate do not speak for me. Rush Limbaugh does not speak for me, nor does any other radio personality (conservative of liberal). Hear my voice, and please do not label me as a religious fanatic, or misogynist, or bigot, or puritan, or any other moniker you might be tempted to place on me. This is a serious issue that requires serious thought and discussion. I am disappointed that we are so quick to label someone and thus dispel their argument. I do not condemn those who use birth control. I do not hate those who have had abortions. I am, however, troubled that those who have beliefs similar to mine are ridiculed and discounted as backward and a threat to national welfare. Please hear me, and respect what I feel is a violation of my core beliefs and morality.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 31

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer each question. Here is the last question, and my answer.

1.      In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year? If I am brutally honest, the area that most needs change is my trust and reliance on Jesus. Please do not misunderstand. I do trust in Jesus, and I do rely on Jesus. But, my initial inclination is to trust and rely on myself and my abilities rather than turning first to Him. I see the temporary rather than the eternal. The fact is that during these 31 posts, I have outlined a plan for getting organized and prepared for the future. One of the great benefits of those plans is that I can trust in Jesus more. You see, when my world seems in chaos, I am more likely to seize the reins and try to direct the stagecoach. And I know that I should be able to fully rely on Jesus whether or not my world is in chaos. But, the honest truth is that stability does (for me anyway) lead to more dependence on Him. I also think that establishing these objectives and planning for the future honors Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that He is a God of order rather than chaos. So what can I do to more fully rely on Him. First, clear the clutter in my head, so that I can focus on Him. Second, turn to Him for direction in all things. Finally, trust in a God of Promise, who is unfailingly true to His word and His character. Some struggles over the past five years have made it clear to me that God is in charge even when it seems I cannot see His work. And If He has led through those times, I can trust that He will lead through future “challenges.” So with great earnestness, I place my life, my goals, my family, my all, in the trust and loving care of Jesus.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 30

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided to answer each question. We're almost at the end.  Here is question thirty, and my answer.

1.      What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year? Well, since I am the pastor I cannot be a blessing to myself. Haha. But, I can be a blessing to some of the congregation who are on our ministry team. I would like to take some of our key leaders out to lunch, or have them over for a meal at our house, in order to get to know them better and grow in friendship. Also, I feel a strong sense of being a mentor, so I would like to mentor some in church leadership who are willing to enter into such a relationship.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 29

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer each question. Here is question 29, and my answer.

1.      If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? I think those who know me best would encourage me to enjoy the moment, rather than worrying too much about the future. I can become overwhelmed by where I want to be, what I want my children to become, how I want to grow professionally to such an extent that I fail to enjoy the present. I find that I do not enjoy spending time with my kids as I should because I worry too much over character traits that I would like to grow or fix in them. I can forget to enjoy the here and now because I am thinking about the future too much. I am sure my closest friends would give me the advice that every parent has received: “Enjoy them while they are young, because in a blink of an eye, they’ll be all grown up and out of your house.” There is such truth in that advice. It is true for how I deal with my kids, and it’s true for how I should live my life generally. There is obvious value in planning and preparing for the future. But, if it becomes all-consuming (as it often becomes with me), then it is unhealthy. So, here’s to stopping and smelling the roses. Here’s to enjoying that spilled milk in the kitchen. Here’s too embracing that Kool-Aid stain on the carpet. Here’s to sitting down to let my daughter “make my dinner” from her play kitchen and shooting pucks at my son’s end-table goalie net.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 28

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I would answer one question each day in January. So, it's February, and I'm still answering questions, I know, but I've almost reached the end. Here is question 28, and my answer.

1.      To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year? I am not sure how to answer this question, yet. I recently read that the great English preacher C.H Spurgeon, in addition to being pastor of his church, was the director or on the board of 66 social or charitable organizations. I don’t know if he served on those concurrently, or if he served over the course of his lifetime. It did make me consider what kind of community impact I would like to have in my life. And, in recent weeks, I have become increasingly concerned with the poverty within my community. During this economic downturn, my town has been expecially hard hit with above-the-national-average unemployment. I receive calls for assistance from people on weekly basis. I would like to give in this area, but I am not sure how at this point. I do not want to duplicate effective efforts or programs already established in my city. So, I need to do more research on what resources are available in my town, and then either join in with one of these programs, or find a niche of my own.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 27

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January OK, so it's February and I'm still answering. At least I tried. Here is question 27, and my answer.

1.      What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it? When I first read this question, I thought I would respond with the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. But, after some contemplation, I think I want to better understand the doctrine of last things. I have to admit that I am hesitant to forge into this doctrine because there have been so many who will look at end times passages and read into them what should not have been there. Everyone can think of abuses made by those who say they have the truest understanding of eschatology. And I do not want to be one of those who abuse the doctrine. But, I do think it is important to look at the doctrine biblically. I know that God gives us end times prophecy so that Christians can be assured that God is victorious and that His perfect will shall come to completion. I think He also gives us these prophecies so that we can persevere in spite of persecution. And since end times doctrine is so debated and discussed in our time, it is important that I understand it (as far as possible) and am able to discern false statements. So, with prayer, and with the understanding that I will not see each current world leader as the antichrist, I will spend some time trying to better understand this doctrine.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 26

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty six, and my answer.

1.      What's the most important new item you want to buy this year? We want to buy a new mattress for our bed. I know it sounds crazy. However, my wife has been having difficult pain resulting from our mattress. She wakes up with pain throughout her body. The pain is non-existent when we have slept on other mattresses. So, it is important for us to make this purchase so that she can be restored to health.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 25

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty five, and my answer.

1.      What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year? I actually do not have a long commute. I live two miles and less than five minutes from the church office. However, I do pick up my children from preschool three days a week. That is a 30 minute drive. Sometimes, I listen to the radio and relax. Sometimes, I listen to podcasts of sermons during the drive. However, this year I want to add two things to the mix. First, instead of listening to the radio and zoning, I can redeem that time by praying during my drive down to the preschool. And, I want to engage my children more in conversation after I pick them up from school. We have started to play some car games (“tell me what you see that is the color red”, or my son’s favorite, “the silent game” which I admit I enjoy as well). We can also use that time for my kids to work on their catechism. But, we can also use that time for me to learn about my childrens’ joys and fears. The commute can be a time for me to be fully engaged with God and the kids.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 24

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty four, and my answer.

1.      What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year? The blessing I most want to seek is the blessing of peace. Peace is such a rich biblical concept. It conveys the idea of a compatible melding of body, mind, and spirit. Peace conveys the idea of the whole person resting and trusting in the Lord. Paul begins so many of his letters by praying a blessing of grace and peace to those whom he is writing. However, peace is elusive in my life. I can worry, worry, worry about anything and everything. I can spend nights restlessly wondering what’s going to happen. It is important that we be prepared. But, I sometimes go beyond being prepared to worrying rather than trusting and resting in the peace of God. And, it does have an effect on body and mind and spirit. So this year, I want to seek the peace of God and allow His peace to wash over me and comfort me.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 23

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty three, and my answer.

1.      What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year? The skill I most want to work on is gaining knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. I have taken elementary classes in both language, but I have not retained most of that training. I would like to review and advance in my knowledge of both language in order to be a better pastor. I think if I better understood the syntax and grammar of the biblical texts, I would be better able to teach the Bible. If nothing else, I would have a greater appreciation for the nuances of words and sentence structure. I know, I sound like a theological geek. If the reading glasses fit …

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 22

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty two, and my answer.

1.      What's the most important trip you want to take this year? I want to take my children to the town where my mother and father grow up and graduated high school. I still have aunts who live in the town, and my aunts have never met my children. I want to take my children on the trip with my parents, so that my parents can show us around town and the places they went as children. I know that my children probably won’t understand the import of this trip, but it is something I want them to be able to experience.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 21

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty one, and my answer.

1.      In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year? I need most growth in being giving rather than being selfish. It seems that my natural born sinful nature and selfishness acts out more often than not. Having children has only made me more aware of this struggle in my life, as they need things from me, and I am sometimes resentful that they need my time, my energy, etc. It is difficult to be one who gives. Often we can say that we are givers, but when we truly look at our motivations, we see that we are only giving in order to receive something (praise, kudos, return on our investment, tax write-off, etc). To give of yourself, as Jesus gave of himself, is something difficult. How to remedy? I think first, I need to look at the motivations behind everything I do. Why am I acting in this way? What purposes might I seek to be gaining by acting in this way? Second, I constantly need to remind myself of the intrinsic image of God in every person with whom I deal. They are all created in the image of God, and as such, are worthy of repect. Third, I need to remind myself and claim the words of Scripture – “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourself” (Philippians 2:3). Finally, I need to take the gods of comfort, selfishness, personal time, and possessions off of the altars on which I have placed them in order to give Jesus the place He should rightfully occupy.   

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 20

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question twenty, and my answer.

1.      What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren? I want us to have a family story. One of the things I really appreciate about my wife’s family is that they have a family story. They spent a great deal of time together when my wife was growing up. They have inside family jokes, great memories of vacations or every day events, and fond memories of family traditions. I want to be the leader in my family in establishing for my children (and someday, my grandchildren) a family story. Of course, in addition to inside jokes, and fond memories, I want us to have a grounding in faith and our walk with Lord Jesus. I would love for us to have a legacy of faith. I would love for us to have a strong understanding of who we are as a family. I would love for my children to wear our family name with pride. How to do this? Intentional planning of family meals, family nights, vacations, weekend outings, camping trips, holiday practices, bedtime stories, etc. The key ingredient in leaving such a legacy is investing time in my family.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 19

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is question number nineteen, and my answer.

1.      What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? The question asks about quality, not quantity. I guess the most important thing I could do is to seek out resources, books, and tools of quality. I love to read, research, and use tools in preparing for sermons and Bible studies. I read all the time. But, I do find that I sometimes read to the end a book or resource that has little quality or value. The most productive use of my time and ministry would be to put down the book and resource instead of reading it to its conclusion. Along the same vein, I need to be circumspect in choosing those books and resources of the highest quality. Instead of reading the latest book from a current theologian, why not read from Augustine. Instead of listening or reading a sermon from a pastor currently serving in ministry, I’ll try to take time and read a Jonathan Edwards sermon. This does not mean that the current theologians, pastors, and writers lack the quality of those in the past. I need to seek out those quality writers and theologians to read. But, there must be more discernment in my selection process for both me and my congregation.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 18

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the eighteenth question, and my answer.

1.      What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year? The autobiography of Mark Twain. I received this last year, and have not yet found time to read it. I am interested in what Twain has to say about himself, his life, his beliefs.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 17

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the seventeenth question, and my answer.

1.      What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year? My biggest regret from the last year is hiding from financial issues and family issues. That is a painful thing to say, but it is true. I avoided dealing with our finances and bills. I did not have the foresight and the vision to plan financially for the future, or to look at our debt. I did not plan ahead and come up with a plan for how we would spend our money. Instead, I made the choice to spend too much money, to eat out without considering the cost, to make purchases without thought. I showed the same neglect with my family. I found ways to avoid and ignore my family instead of engaging with my family. Now last year was a difficult professional year for me, but that should not have been an excuse for ignoring some of these issues. So this year, as has been made clear through the answers to some of these questions, I am fully engaging in finances and family this year. I am making those decisions that I avoided or fled from last year.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 16

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the sixteenth question, and my answer.

1.      What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it? The most important financial goal for this year is to pay off our consumer debt and use the freed resources for savings. When we moved for me to serve as pastor at my current church, we took on some consumer debt when we bought furniture and other resources for our new home. And then life happened. The cars needed some unexpected repairs. We had to make an emergency trip to visit family. Our son needed some medical and dental work done. While our intentions were to quickly repay our consumer debt, we have fallen behind in our objective. So this is the year when we are consciously choosing to pay off those debts. Once that is accomplished, we’ll be able to place resources in savings. We need to save for the day when we need new vehicles. We need to save for our childrens’ educations (although please keep this quiet. Our plan is to save some money for them which we’ll give to them as a surprise gift once they are in university or college). We need to save for that day when we’ll retire. We need to be prepared for the unexpected, such as a disability. Getting rid of that debt will allow us to better save and prepare for these things. Our consumer debt is not a great amount, but it is still a burden to us that we want to clean up this year.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 15

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the fifteenth question, and my answer.

1.      Who do you most want to encourage this year? My wife and my son. I know that’s cheating since I picked two persons, but I find it critical to encourage both of them. I am not the most encouraging person. I don’t build up those I love enough. I don’t give out enough encouraging words. And, I am ashamed to admit it, but I often hurt my wife and son more than I encourage them. For some reason, I don’t have the same difficulty encouraging my daughter. I do see so many good things in both my wife and son. I am so proud of both of them. Recently, I wrote a letter to my son, telling him how proud I am of the four-year-old boy I see. I must do that more frequently. I also want to praise my wife more. I can praise her publically, but I am less likely to praise her on a one-on-one basis. So, I need to work on that. Both of them mean the world to me. My wife is my best friend and constant companion. I value her opinion more than any one else I know. And I love her beyond words. But, I resolve to find the words that I can tell her to encourage her this year.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 14

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the fourteenth question, and my answer.

1.      What habit would you most like to establish this year? I don’t know if you would call it a habit, but I would like to be much better about being in contact with family. I am in constant contact with my immediate family. But, I do want to make great efforts to reach out to extended family this year. Recently, my wife lost her grandfather. While we traveled to the funeral, I became more convinced of the need to reach out to family. There may be some burned bridges that need to be repaired. I need to start rebuilding those bridges. There may be some forgiveness that I need to extend to family members. There may be some apologies I need to make to family members. For the sake of my children, my wife, and me, I will make every effort to improve in this area.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 13

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the thirteenth question, and my answer.

1.      What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year? The most important need I feel burdened to meet this year is the burden to share my faith in Christ more frequently and more effectively. I am overwhelmed by the grace Jesus has shown to me in bringing me into a relationship with Him. I struggle with so many issues and sins, yet, Jesus died for me. Jesus died that my sins though they look like scarlet appear white as snow before God the Father. Jesus brought me into a relationship with the King of kings, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God. I am not worthy of such love and grace, nor could I ever earn such love and grace as has been given to me by Jesus. Yet, having said this, I am stingy in sharing this Good News with others. I can find so many excuses for why I cannot share Christ. I’m busy. I need to get this form filled out. I need to get my yard cleaned. The excuses pour in. I have prayed for a long time that God would give me the burden to see people as He sees them, to love people the way He loves them, to show compassion to people as He shows compassion for them. And I do feel that burden more and more. Now, I need to act on that burden and share some Good News with people. Jesus died and conquered death for me and for you. If you do not understand what I am saying, please, read the Bible where this is addressed in a way greater than I could ever voice it. If you want the mercy and grace of  God that I have received in Christ, please contact me and ask me.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 12

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the twelfth question, and my answer.

What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area? The area of my life that most needs simplifying is organization, and the best way to simplify in this areas is to handle things one time. I like to look at something, put it aside, think about it for a while, and then come back to it, sometimes repeating the process over and over. How many times have a picked up a professional journal, started to read it, put it away, and then picked it up again in a couple of months only to reread articles, etc? How many times do I move that bill from the mailbox, to the place where we store our mail which needs addressing, to my computer bag before paying the bill? Just pay the bill. How many times do I move an item from one room of the house to another rather than finding a permanent place for it? How many times do I wrestle with giving something away or throwing it out before I actually give it away or throw it out? In my professional life, how many times do I return to consider a decision I need to make instead of just making the decision? Patience in some matters is appropriate, but at times it would be far simpler and simplifying to deal with something once and move on. Will my desk be less cluttered? Will my inbox be smaller? Will my to-do list grow shorter? Will I feel less burden about making decisions because I have already made many decisions? Who knows, but it’s worth finding out.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 11

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the eleventh question, and my answer.

  

   What's the most important decision you need to make this year? The most important decision I need to make is to get over past hurts and move on with my life. I can be trapped in the past. I can allow the past to affect my present and my future. I can allow the past to dictate how I react to people and circumstances in the present. This sounds simple to overcome, but in reality, it is difficult. The key is to trust in Jesus. I do not mean a superficial trust. And I do not mean that I have not commited my life to Jesus. What I mean is that while I pay lip service to placing trust in Jesus, I do not trust Him to deal with all the aspects of my life. I must make the decision to let Jesus deal with those past issues and choose to live in the present. I must let Jesus heal past hurts and trust Him to guide me in the present. I need to stop taking bask things that I have given to Him and let Him deal with it. Did my son tell me last night that he doesn’t love me? This morning, is a new day, so I cannot harbor that thought. Am I still reacting based on something that happened to me while I was a teenager? It’s time to move past it and react appropriately based on the present circumstance. I do not mean to bury issues. I am saying that I need to deal with those issues and the feelings they bring up in my life, offer forgiveness or seek forgiveness, and then move on. “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, let those who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:13-16).

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 10

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the tenth question, and my answer.

1.      What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? The plan that will matter most in 10 years is my commitment to spend real, quality time with my family. We have in the past tried to have a “Family Night” in which we learned a Bible story and participated in a fun event, such as a board game, a trip to the local ice cream store, etc. As anyone who has tried “Family Night” can attest, these nights are often failures. We’ve had the Family Nights where our children are more interested in running around the room than sitting down for a Bible story, or our minds are stuck on work rather than focusing on Family Night, etc. And we have ceased Family Nights because it becomes more of a chore than a time of bonding. However, now that our kids are a little older, we are better able to do some focused activities. Our kids have been learning an age-appropriate catechism, and they are really good at it. Our son really seeks to make links between things, and he is ready for some good Bible stories. But, we as a family are also in need to spending time together and having fun, and Family Night should be fun. I think what will matter most in 10 years time, and in eternity, is leading our children in the path of Christ. I pray that they one day place faith in Christ, and I pray that they do so partly because of watching their parents’ expressed love of God.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 9

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the ninth question, and my answer.

1.      What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? It is really an issue of time. Often, I spend time praying to God and giving my list of needs, requests, etc. But, I frequently don’t spend time to listen to Him. I don’t spend time to reflect on His character, His word, what He might be trying to tell me.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 8

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the eighth question, and my answer.

1.      What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? This year, I want to focus time and attention on my family. Last year, I had to spend too much effort, thought, and energy on my job. That was important during that season. However, my family was neglected during that time. So this year, I want to be the leader in our family, and I want to be a leader who leads by demonstrating love and spending quality time with my family. I want to pray with my wife, read books with her, dream for the future with her, and play games and have fun with her. I want to listen to my children, understand their joys and pains, play with them, build them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I want our family to have time together, and also share meaningful times with just one or two of us together. I want to spend special time alone with my wife, with my son, and with my daughter. I will leave work at the office and really seek to engage in my family and with my family when I am with them.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 7

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the seventh question, and my answer.

1.      For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? I will pray most fervently for the salvation of my son and daughter this year. I put my daughter to bed almost every night. We often read a story book that speaks about praying for what we are thankful for that day. At two years old, my daughter often repeats the same list over and over, and then I pray for her list. But, I also pray that she and her brother will come to be in a relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They are both too young at this point to understand and make such a commitment, but I can and will pray fervently for them to one day make that decision.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 6

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the sixth question, and my answer.

   

  What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Since I am the pastor of the church, I have to direct the vision for the church family. There are two ways I have told them I want to do that this year. First, we are going to spend the year developing a mission statement, a vision statement, and a purpose statement. We want to be able to have a clear path showing where we are going as a church family and how we plan to get there. Second, I have been developing a very intentional strategy for discipleship. I want our family to be trained and confident to share their faith. I want our family to be strongly rooted in God through the observance of the spiritual disciplines. I want our family to always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks them for a reason for the hope found in them (1 Peter 3:15). I have been developing, and will continue to develop this discipleship strategy so that our church family grows and shares our faith in Christ.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 5

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the fifth question, and my answer.

5.      What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? I am sure that there are a multitude of time-wasters in my life. I would have to say, however, that the biggest time-waster is a lack of organization. I would guess that most of the other time-wasters are directly tied to disorganization. In fact, there are many times when I find myself making to-do lists, and then misplacing those to-do lists. Sometimes I can get so overwhelmed by the amount of obligations I have that I can be crippled by inaction. What should I do first? What has the highest priority? What can be left for another day? The problem is that I become so caught up in listing the things I have to do, that I rarely get around to doing those things. So they remain on the list for another day. Another problem is not following things through to completion. Yes, I may start a project (and it might even be the project which should have highest priority in life at that moment), but then I get distracted (often thinking about other tasks) and do not finish the task at hand. It seems that every few months, I am developing a new strategy for getting organized. It seems that I am “spring cleaning” three or four times a year. But I am painfully aware that God is a God of order. His creation is ordered. His word (the Bible) is ordered. His word calls His followers to be disciplined and ordered. If I could just stick to my guns and follow a prioritized to-do list to completion, I would feel a much greater sense of peace. If I could organize my office, or my car, or the junk drawer, or the garage, I think I would be much more effective as my mind is not distracted by the disorder and can better focus on the tasks at hand.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 4

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the fourth question, and my answer.

4.      In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? I want to work on the discipline of meditation. By meditation, I do not mean the emptying of my mind of all things so that I am meditating on nothingness. I mean meditating on God and His word. One of the things I am trying to do this year is to focus my Bible reading on four Bible books – Proverbs, Isaiah, Matthew, and Acts. I expect that I will read these four books at least ten times this year. So, in re-reading these books, I want to slowly take the time to meditate on the words, thoughts, and commands of God in these books. I want to take the time to slow down and really reflect on His word. I also want to spend more time meditating through prayer. It is so easy for my mind to wander during times of prayer. I think about tasks I need to accomplish, or conversations I had last night, etc. I really want to become more focused on God in my prayers as I consider His character and attributes.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 3

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the third question, and my answer.

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3.      What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? This has a simple answer, although putting it into practice will be more difficult. The single most important thing we can do to improve the quality of our family life is to eat dinner at the dining room table more frequently than not. We need to spend time with each other as a family and have discussions as a family. We need to talk about what happened during our days, our frustrations and triumphs, our dreams for the future. While it sounds simple, it may be more difficult to do. We need to get ourselves organized better for this to happen. We need to plan and schedule meals better. We need to decide to do what is best rather than what is most convenient. It sometimes is easier to eat a microwaved meal in the living room around the TV than prepare, cook, set the table and pull the kids away from the TV. But, we need this face-to-face time of bonding.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 2

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the second question, and my answer.

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2.      2) What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? I know that God can help me 1) take control of my anger and 2) relieve my stress or worry over little things that do not really matter. I can get myself so worked up over my children ignoring me, or something someone said to me to which I took offense. I can worry about people’s perception of me. I can get angry over the slightest thing, and lash out unjustifiably. I really struggle in these areas. I know I cannot change them on my own  because I have tried. But God can do these things that are humanly impossible for me.

31 days, 31 questions, 31 answers - Day 1

I read an article by author, professor and theologian Don Whitney that listed 31 questions to consider for a new year. I decided that I will answer one question each day in January. Here is the first question, and my answer.

1.      1) What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? I do not think that I take enough time to stop and see the greatness of God’s creation. If I take time to see the intricacy of the world God created and the majestic scope of all He created, then I think I will enjoy Him more. So this year, I will take time to stop and see the beauty and the intricacy of the created world. I will spend an extra moment looking at the sunrise or the sunset and notice the hues in the sky. I will marvel at the flower as it sprouts, buds, blooms, and goes to seed. I’ will take time to notice the underside of the flower, or the tree leaf, or the pine cone. When it snows, I will marvel at the fact that every snowflake is unique, and also think about the fact that every fingerprint is unique, that every zebra stripe or giraffe skin is a unique pattern. I will take time to gaze at the stars and wonder at the distance between the stars and the galaxies. I will see the beauty of an unfaceted gemstone. I will marvel at the power of the waves as they crash against the rocks and the shore. I will strive to see the image of God in every man, woman, and child I see. I will contemplate the energy produced by fire, and the destruction that it can bring. I will seek to notice the variety of animal and plant life.