The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Most people enjoy certain seasons more than they do others. For outdoors types, summer is a magical time when each day seems to be extended by several hours because the sun does not set until 9:00 pm and they are able to continue their leisure activities for longer than they are able to in winter. On the other hand, those who are fond of snow appreciate late winter, when the ski slopes are covered in powder and (at least in places geographically north of Athens, AL) yards and roofs become invisible. Personally, I love the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Sure…I cannot remember ever seeing snow in Alabama during this time period and acknowledge that there never seem to be enough hours in the days to take care of shopping or school exams or cooking, but for those four to five weeks the entire world focuses on what could accurately be called the best in human nature. Adults spend much of their free time considering what gifts would make their loved ones happy and then battle crazy shoppers and disgruntled store clerks to pay amounts of money which took months to save all in the hope that their efforts will make someone else happy. Families who live thousands of miles apart load up in planes, trains, and automobiles to navigate through long lines and heavy traffic just so that they will be able to share a single meal together (an event which they know will not happen again until the same time next year unless there is a death). Most importantly, people of every nation turn their collective attention to the most pivotal event in history: the birth of a Savior sent from heaven to rescue mankind.

As humans, we are trapped by our finite minds and at times have trouble comprehending all that took place in that manger a couple thousand years ago. We struggle to understand how God can be fully divine and fully human. We wrestle with questions about the Holy Trinity and how a virgin-born man can function as the third participant in such an almighty entity. Even the idea of a virgin-born man brings up problems that neither science nor logic can solve. We read that the angel of the Lord explained the birth of Jesus to local shepherds by saying, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”(Luke 2:9-11). We read this verse and we accept this verse, but I often wonder if we understand this verse.

In his book The Shack, Wm. Paul Young explains the deity and role of this “Savior, who is Christ the Lord” in a way that would make C.S. Lewis appreciative. This explanation is offered during a conversation between a guy named Mack and the God of heaven who has in this instance taken the form of a large black woman cooking dinner:
“Jesus is fully human. Although he is fully God, he has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in a relationship with every human being. He is just the first to do it to the uttermost—the first to absolutely trust my life within him, the first to believe in my love and my goodness without regard for appearance or consequence.” (pp. 99-100)
In other words, Jesus truly emptied himself of his divine nature (Phil 2:7) and did everything, miracles and all, by depending on the Father just as the Father wants us to do. While, as God, Jesus could have done any number of things, he chose to limit his own abilities so that we might see perfectly what it means to be lost in the Father’s love and power.

When we reflect upon the birth of Jesus, especially during this time of year, let us truly understand his mission. Yes, Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), but he does so by exemplifying the kind of faith that he proved can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). That baby in swaddling cloth shows us how to become perfect. We become perfect by becoming like him, who did nothing except through the Father and for the purpose of bringing glory to Him. Jesus answered critics by saying, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God’. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:50-51). In this upcoming year, let us try to do just that: keep his word by mimicking the relationship he had with the Father.

Hail to the Chief...and All Those in Authority

After two years of campaigning and millions of dollars being spent, the United States of America has elected a new President, Barack Obama. The Senator from Illinois will move into the White House as many new members of Congress move to Washington, D.C. Certainly, they will all have difficult work ahead when they take office in January. Many Americans are anxious about the economy, the conflicts overseas, and the security of our nation. Our nation is looking to our newly elected leaders for direction. As Christians, we are called to have a special attitude toward our government and how it deals with world events.

In writing to his young apprentice, Paul instructed Timothy to do his part as it related to the government of his day:
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
Christians are to make requests, prayers, and intercession for their government leaders, those who are in authority. This essentially covers every type of prayer. However, Paul goes a step further in saying that we should thank God for the men and women who have, in the case of the US, been elected to positions of power.

The way in which many Christians pray about government is somewhat peculiar in light of this passage. We go before the throne of heaven asking that God “lead our country to elect leaders who follow Him” and “help those leaders return America to the God-fearing nation it once was.” The Old Testament provides ample proof that God rules in the affairs of men and punishes nations that wonder away from Him. Thomas Jefferson even “trembled” for his country when he “reflected that God is just and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” Perhaps, our genuine but fervent desire to see America return to its Judeo-Christian roots causes us to misunderstand the roles that governments and Christians should play in making that change possible.

If we follow Paul’s instructions the end result should be “that we may live quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” We sometimes forget that “the authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Each and every one of us should first thank God for our new leaders and also ask that He help them to make decisions, not based upon our own political philosophies, but based upon what will allow us as His children to live our lives quietly in His service. The answer to America’s, indeed the world’s, problems is not a Republican or a Democrat in the White House (depending on your party affiliation). The answer is Jesus Christ. The risen Savior of the world is the only One who can bring change that we can believe in. But to bring that change, He relies upon us to be His ambassadors. Instead of putting country first, we should put His cause first, reviving our nation in our neighborhoods and not necessarily in Washington. The government’s job is to give us safety and tranquility. Our job is to change the world. Government leaders come and go. As they do, God remains on His throne and therefore we always have reason to be optimistic and thankful regardless of who our leaders are and whether they be good or bad.

Expect More, Do More

Fall has officially begun and transformation can be seen all around. Temperatures have cooled off nicely, giving us many pleasant afternoons with the promise of more to come. Airstream trailers have brought to town fiddlers from across several states indicating that the first major celebration of the season is about to take place. Within weeks the leaves will be changing colors, giving the Tennessee Valley an orange, red, and brown tint. Most importantly, however, snare drums can be heard in towns across the state meaning that it is once again time for what is in my opinion one of the south’s finest traditions: high school and college football.

I never cease to be amazed by the college football pundits who decide (whether it be on TV or in their polls) who the national champions will be even before the first play has been run. They base these predictions on last year’s results along with recruiting stats and somehow manage to rank teams even before seeing them on the field. We have already seen this year, as we usually do, how wrong pre-season polls can be. Number 1 USC recently fell to unranked Oregon State proving that no matter the expectations, anything can happen. Being expected to win and winning are two different things.

But before we write expectations off altogether we need to realize that they can decide the outcome of a game if the teams competing allow them to do so. Here, the University of Southern California provides a perfect example. They expected to win against Oregon State University. These expectations were based on the very realistic and logical assumptions that they had better players, a better coaching staff, and a better team dynamic. Perhaps someone should have explained this logic to the Oregon State players and coaches because they obviously did not assume that they were marching toward an unavoidable and humiliating defeat on national television. To the contrary, they expected to have a chance to win. So, when the whistle blew and the first kick sailed into the air, one team started playing to win and the other believed they already had.

There are two types of expectations: those other people have of you and those you have of yourself. The first category does not matter too much, but the second will determine what course your life eventually takes. As the USC-Oregon State game proves, people usually meet whatever expectations they set for themselves, whether those expectations are good or bad. If we set the bar high and always try to jump higher, we will be able to shake things up in the world around us. However, if we lower the bar and assume that we’ve already accomplished great things, we will fall short of our full potential.

In the church at Ephesus, members set the bar low for the young evangelist Timothy. They believed he was too young and therefore could not do much. But Paul tells him to have a higher standard for himself, saying, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” In essence, Paul is telling Timothy to prove them wrong, to set an example which nobody could question. As Alex and Brett Harris point out in their book Do Hard Things, setting this kind of example is not easy. Their book challenges teenagers to do just as the title suggests and step out for God even when it hurts.

American society typically does not appreciate the potential that lies within the souls of so many young people. Because society expects less of teenagers, teenagers begin expecting less of themselves. The challenge is simple: expect more, do more. Do not let others set the bar lower for you. Instead, do the hard things necessary to raise the bar to the level God would have you attain.

I Want It All

On September 18, 2007 Randy Pausch gave what would be his final lecture to his computer science students at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died in July of this year, however his farewell address has been much publicized and even made into a bestselling book. In recalling one teaching job, Randy said that his students surprised him:

"I had been a professor for a decade at that point, and when I started BVW, I didn’t know what to expect. I gave the first two-week assignment, and ended up being overwhelmed by the results. I didn’t know what to do next. I was so at sea that I called my mentor, Andy can Dam.

‘Andy, I just gave my students a two-week assignment and they came back and did stuff that, had I given them an entire semester to complete it, I would have given them all A’s. What do I do?’

Andy thought for a minute and said: ‘OK. Here’s what you do. Go back into class tomorrow, look them in the eyes and say, ‘Guys, that was pretty good, but I know you can do better.’’

His answer left me stupefied. But I followed his advice and it turned out to be exactly right. He was telling me I obviously didn’t know how high the bar should be, and I’d only do them a disservice by putting it anywhere.” (The Last Lecture, p.122-123)

Randy learned a lesson that day about potential and how it can be stifled when individuals do not recognize it.

We all have the ability to do great things, but when the bar is set too low we often jump only high enough to clear those low expectations. Nowhere is this truer than in our relationships. In Genesis 2:18, God makes the observation that “it is not good for man to be alone.” While this statement specifically refers to Eve, it also tells us something about human nature. Both men and women were created for relationships, but for some reason we often seek only the minimum benefit from the people with whom God has surrounded us. Perhaps we are shy or scared. Maybe our culture prevents us from discussing things beyond pleasantries because certain subjects are not meant for “proper conversation.” It could be that we simply do not appreciate the blessings which God desires to pour out upon us through our friends and family.

The New Testament is full of admonitions about doing the things that promote healthy Christian relationships. The Hebrews writer asks how we can make our love and good deeds increase and then explains that we do so by spending time together (Heb. 10:24-25). James advises to confess our sins to one another, not because we need to get things off our chests, but so that we can pray for each other and be healed (James 5:16). Paul explains that differences can be healthy in a relationship when he says that members of the church are like parts of a body…all different, but all necessary. Where one person is weak another will be strong (1 Cor. 12). As we look at the relationships in our lives, romantic and platonic, let us strive to get everything out of them that God intended.

Back to School

The beginning of a new school year brings both excitement and dread to students throughout the country. The eagerness to see friends with whom they have not spent much time over the past two months is only subdued by the dread of homework, tests, and lunchroom food (my apologies to those reading this who work in a school cafeteria-- you can only do so much with the food they send to you—it’s not your fault). The enthusiasm that goes along with extracurricular activities such as football, Beta Club, and band provides the only antidote to the boredom which seems to be endless in classes taught by teachers like Ben Stein from Ferris Bueler’s Day Off (in all fairness, texting helps get through those kinds of classes too). I often expressed the idea behind this paradox by saying, “High school is great, as long as you don’t let classes get in the way of the important stuff.”

Looking back, I am amazed at some of the things I considered to be “important stuff.” As you get older, your priorities have a tendency to change and you begin doing things that you never thought you would do. For instance, I have recently bought clip-on sunglasses for my prescription lenses and sometimes I will actually use my front shirt pocket to hold things I may need during the day. Just last month, I caught myself saying, “The last time I saw you, you were this big.” I can relate to a piece of flair on Facebook which said, “We’re adults. When did this happen and how do we make it stop?” Now in my early 20’s, I do things that would have utterly embarrassed me as a high school senior. I fear that this is only the beginning.

With a new school year comes new opportunities, and recognizing that those opportunities have an expiration date can give you a unique perspective on your activities as a high school or middle school student. In the not too distant future your life will change, becoming much different than it is now. Time will go by quickly. Goals will become clear. Purpose will overshadow form. Acknowledging that a transition will eventually take place empowers the young Christian to take full advantage of King Solomon’s advice: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them…’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). The admonition is to be mindful of the tasks that can be done better when a person is young, so that once that person grows old he or she will have no regrets. I thank God daily for the passion which exists among the members of our youth ministry for bringing others to Jesus and becoming more like Him ourselves. Allow that passion to enable you to do something amazing with the special time you have before high school graduation. Stay focused on the “important stuff” and live in a way that will produce no regrets.

We Hold These Truths...

July 4^th has long been a favorite holiday of mine. American flags ripple in the hot summer breeze. The smell of charcoal grills permeates virtually every neighborhood. Local townships invite their citizens to gather for illustrious (and sometimes not so illustrious) fireworks shows often timed perfectly to Lee Greenwood, Ray Charles, and marching bands of the various branches of our armed services. We salute our country and its founding by taking a day off from work and gathering with loved ones to enjoy the liberties which our forefathers declared to be ours in 1776. Fifty-six men risked their lives by signing their names to the document we now refer to as the Declaration of Independence. In doing so, they announced to a mostly unsympathetic world the principles which would guide this nation through its infancy and into adulthood. However many Americans, in the midst of their traditional celebrations, fail to fully appreciate what those principles are and how they relate to American citizens even in a time which is radically different from the one in which they were first expressed.

In The Second Treatise on Civil Government, John Locke proposes that in their natural state, all men are equal, none having the right to govern another. As evidence, he argues that Adam had no “natural right” to govern the world. Even if he had, we are all his descendants and therefore all have equal claim to inherit that right. Locke further explains this reasoning by invoking the name of God:
“The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of the one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property, whose workmanship they are made to last during His, not one another’s pleasure.”
John Locke claims that all men, having been created by God, are bound to serve him and not dominate each other.

Locke’s influence on Thomas Jefferson and the other designers of our republic is apparent in the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence which references the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” as the justification for dissolving political ties with Great Britain. Examine the most widely memorized text of the Declaration in light of what Locke wrote:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As followers of Jesus we must recognize that our American liberties originate from the same place as our Christian liberties: our divine Creator. It is God who gives us our rights, not the United States Government or any other man-made institution. Jefferson drove this point home in his Notes of the State of Virginia by asking, “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?” Far from being the Deist that many modern historians like to accuse him of being, Jefferson believed that God was alive, active, and ruling in the affairs of men. So much so, that he was afraid God would smite the United States for perpetuating slavery.

As the flags go up and the sparklers are lit, let us take a moment this Fourth of July to reflect not just upon our nation’s birthday but also upon the religious principles which, in the view of our founders, necessitated it.

"The Unclouded Day"

Imagine a place where the sun always shines bright. There is no grass and about one tree per acre. Imagine a place where everything is covered in dust, thick blankets of dust, and the few trees which produce fruit are only able to produce food for a few people at a time. Those of you who have been out west would say this sounds like Arizona or Nevada. But unlike those southwestern states, the residents cannot afford insulated houses or air-conditioning. A middle class family may own one bicycle. An upper middle class family might have a dirt bike. And only the very rich can manage to operate an automobile made in the early 1990’s. Consequently, women walk one to two miles each day with five gallon buckets on their heads to bring home barely enough water to sustain their husband and children. The water is not filtered and, because of it was taken from a small stagnant pond, is likely filled with parasites. This describes the simple realities of life in northern Ghana.
As most of you know, I recently traveled to this desolate part of the world with two other people from the Central Church of Christ: Tommy Abernathy and Joan Watkins. As we were being driven to southern Ghana from a town in the north called Bolgatanga, I was listening to old southern gospel hymns on my ipod. Spending half of my youth at a small country church in Oakman, Alabama, I truly appreciate the words of these “classic” songs. Eventually, a song came on that caused me to pause and think about my surroundings. It was written in 1880 by a man named Josiah K. Alwood and was sung by Willie Nelson at Farm Aid in 1987. The Unclouded Day begins, “O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies, O they tell me of a home far away; O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise, O they tell me of an unclouded day.” This song is a favorite of mine because they played it over the public address system in Bryant-Denny Stadium after 80,000 people and I sat through a thunderstorm awaiting kickoff of an Alabama-Arkansas game. That day, like many in Alabama, we were all hoping for the storm to go away, leaving us unharmed and allowing us to continue with the events planned for that day. In Ghana, however, storm clouds are a glorious sight. It means that life-giving rain is about to pour down from heaven and give sustenance to plants, animals, and people alike. Simply put, it means that life can go on for a little while longer.
I imagine it is uncommon to hear The Unclouded Day being sung in church buildings in northern Ghana. The meaning of the song does not hold up as it is carried over into that culture. I experienced other such differences between Ghanaians and Americans (believe me, they were many). However, one thing remained constant: Christians there love God and each other just like Christians here. The more I travel around the world the more amazed I become at the gospel’s ability to hold its meaning regardless of the culture, country, or continent. People in every corner of the globe respond the same way when they hear the Good News that Jesus Christ has died to save them from their sins. They let that thankfulness motivate them to live as they know they should and, like Paul, to “learn to be content” regardless of the circumstances in which they find themselves (Philippians 4:11). Let us work every day to be a little more like Christ. Let us learn from our brothers and sisters overseas and refuse to let minor differences cause us to overlook our major commonality. Let us remember that we are Christians and allow that fact to influence every aspect of our life.

"What Use Is That?"

A man was walking down the street one day and suddenly fell into a deep pit. The walls of this pit were so tall and slick that he was unable to climb to the top. He could however, see people passing by on the sidewalk above him. He called out to a priest saying, “Father, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” The priest said, “Bless you my son. May God be with you,” and continued walking. The man then saw a city councilman and again called out, “Your honor, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” The councilman looked down and responded, “My heavens. This is indeed a severe problem. I shall make a motion at the next council meeting to appoint a committee to assess your situation and make recommendations on how to proceed with your rescue.” The councilman then continued handing out campaign buttons. Finally, a friend of this man walked by. A third time he called out, “My friend, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” Without hesitation his friend jumped down into the pit. The man criticized his friend’s action shouting, “You fool! Now you and I are both in this pit!” to which his friend replied, “Yes, but I have been down here before and I know the way out.”
Many people have a tendency to say what they know they should, but do only what they want. The priest and the councilman gave lip service to this man who was in trouble. They said things that sounded good, but they did not back up those words with tangible action. James asks the question, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16). This statement comes just after he essentially says that pure religion is to help those who cannot help themselves (James 1:27). James, here, is trying to get across the point that Christianity is just as much about doing as it is anything else. This brings us to the book of Galatians.
After explaining how we are to “walk by the Spirit”, Paul recommends that we “not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” He continues “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…bear one another’s burdens…for if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself…so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 5:25-6:10). The point here is simple: help each other out, but in doing so do not think that you are better than everyone else.God has given us as Christians the responsibility to serve the world, especially those people who belong to Him. We cannot serve with arrogance, thinking that we are superior. Remember that the friend was only able to save the man from the pit because he had once been trapped in the pit himself. It is only when we realize that everyone can contribute to God’s family and that everyone is just as important as we are that God can truly use us to bring glory to Him and save a lost world. Let us pray that God develops within each member of Central’s youth ministry the humble heart of a servant.

Will

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Hearing Jimmy Gilliam give a presentation about his trip to India brings back memories of long flights in crowded cabins, dilapidated roads with crazed drivers, and fervor for the Lord’s kingdom that is rarely seen in the United States. Sure, Americans get excited about church, but we do not depend on church. We do not depend on God and His people simply to survive. Our jobs typically pay the bills, our cars get us where we need to be, and we have food for dinner each night. The jobs may pay less than $100,000 each year, the cars may be unable to park themselves, and the meals may be hamburger steak instead of prime rib, however, we are easily fooled into believing that we are self-sufficient. Very few people in the developing world are under this illusion.
My first trip into Eastleigh, an area of Kenya’s capital city, was terrifying. The dirt roads had massive potholes, puddles, and crowds of people making our commute a very drawn out process and a quick getaway impossible. Being able to leave in a hurry would not have been a big deal if every other person on the street did not look like Osama Bin Laden and glare into our large bus which was full of Americans. Some streets were obstructed by piles of garbage which had grown taller than the tin shacks people called their homes. In Eastleigh, there was no garbage pickup, or sewage service for that matter. So, in addition to trash, human excrement contaminated the puddles where people were walking. I was beginning to understand what is meant by the phrase “God forsaken.”
After arriving and the church/school compound, we were escorted inside the main auditorium where there were two giant, hand woven tapestries, one with the words “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Rejoice? What did these people have to rejoice about? Compared to us, they had nothing! But then I realized what was really going on: they thought they had everything. They had found salvation in Jesus Christ and therefore considered themselves to be among the luckiest people in the world. They did not love Jesus despite their poverty; they loved Jesus partially because of their poverty. When a person has virtually no worldly possessions, the riches that come through a relationship with Jesus are much more meaningful. Much like the rich young ruler of Luke 18, most Americans are able to live comfortable lives without a relationship with their creator; we simply can get by without God. That’s why Jesus made the very key observation after the rich man had left, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” (Luke 18:24). May we always remember that despite our wealth, lifestyle, and possessions, we are still spiritually poor being in need of salvation, and just like people in the third world, we have but one hope.