Pastor Dean's Blog
Fifth Week of April 2008
Some of you know I am a Red Green fan and also a fan of the handyman’s universal helper---duct tape. I carry a roll of it in my car all the time. In a recent NASA article I was reminded the duct tape played a crucial role in the space program. The date was Dec. 11, 1972. Astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt had just landed their lunar module Challenger in a valley named Taurus-Littrow on the edge of the Sea of Serenity. Jack Schmitt, the first geologist on the Moon, could hardly wait to get started. But in his enthusiasm he bumped and damaged the rear fender of the lunar rover. You would not think that would be a big deal, but the lunar dust is so fine it can cause real problems. In the end the astronauts along with their earth bound engineers came up with a solution thanks to a roll of duct tape that had been placed under the seat of the lunar module. Red Green would be proud.
Duct tape can fix a lot of things. It is quick, available, and anyone can use it. I think there is a kind of spiritual equivalent to duct tape---its prayer. It is the universal repair and can be used for almost anything that ails you. Do you have a temptation that is plaguing you? Pray about it. How about a personal relationship that has gone south? You can pray about that too. Maybe there is something that just scares you to death right now. Turning to God in prayer works. In fact I can’t think of a life challenge or really any situation that could not be repaired or improved with prayer.
Prayer is available to everyone. You don’t have to be particularly talented or have any special theological training. So anyone can apply prayer to any problem. You can carry it with you where ever you go. It takes no time at all to bring it out ready for use. Prayer is the duct tape of the spiritual world. I wonder if the astronauts and NASA engineers thought to use it. It would have worked equally well on the moon.
Fourth Week of April 2008
Recently I ran across an article with the headline “Prayer No Safeguard Against Adultery”. My reaction was, great another study claiming religious faith is irrelevant. The article reported on a study of people’s religious practice and its affect on moral behavior---specifically adultery in marriage. It stated that the fact that people reported they were very religious or that they prayed a lot did not correlate with any decrease in the frequency of adultery in their marriage relationships. But the report went on to state that people who actually worship regularly did have a decreased incident of adultery in their marriages. In other words people who actually put their faith into practice increased their chances of faithfulness and success in marriage. The bottom line as reported in the article was that actual religious practice did have a positive impact on life and marriage.
Here’s the deal. The person who wrote that headline obviously did not want people to read about the positive impact of religious faith. They selected out the one aspect of the report that seemed negative and highlighted it. They were probably hoping that most people would react the way I did and not read any further. The article actually affirmed the relevance and impact of religious practice. An honest headline for the article would have been, “Regular Worship A Safeguard Against Adultery”. But many do not want to acknowledge Christian truth even when it is demonstrated by actual research.
I am not one for conspiracy theories. But there are people with strong anti-Christian biases. They are not above distorting the truth. Christians have to be careful not to be deceived themselves and vigorous is seeing to it that others are not deceived.
Third Week of Apruil 2008
I was listening to the radio this morning and heard an announcement about a private individual who had given millions to a charitable cause. For a split second I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to be so well off and secure that you could give millions of dollars. Fortunately the Holy Spirit immediately jumped into that little dialogue and reminded me that I am secure and well off enough to give something right now---maybe not millions but I can contribute. Then the Spirit started to pile it on a little and called to mind the people I know in Namibia who are neither well off enough nor secure enough to even know where their next meal is coming from. I was cut short---what was I thinking? I have food and clothing, and shelter, the ability to contribute and to even treat myself once in a while, what am I longing for?
It seems no matter how much we have the temptation always arises to imagine what it would be like to have more. I say temptation, because that is truly what it is---a temptation. Satan wants us to feel and consider ourselves some how disadvantaged or even victimized. Because when he can get us thinking that way he can twist our thinking to justify all kinds of feelings and actions. When we constantly focus on what is missing in our lives and live with the glass always half empty there is always a nagging dissatisfaction with life and resentment toward those we perceive to have more. Approaching life from that perspective dooms us to a life of that will never be satisfying.
When we approach life from the blessings side it sets free in us a natural tendency toward gratitude, humility, and compassion toward others. There is so much strife in the world, in our families, and yes even right here in Zion because we are too often focused on what we don’t have (or the special thing or advantage we think someone else has) rather than what we do have and enjoy. When someone says, it is unfair, or not right, I seldom see them pointing the finger at their own advantages or special privileges. We hardly ever see things from that perspective.
If you truly want to be a more humble, more grateful, and more compassionate person look at your life from the blessings side. You will actually become a better person and you will be a happier person too.
Second Week of April 2008
The Great Wall of China is the only man made structure you can see from space and even from the surface of the moon. Have you ever heard that one? This legend even appears as an erroneous Trivial Pursuit question. The legend is simply not true. The myth originated in Richard Halliburton's 1938 book Second Book of Marvels which said that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the moon.
From a low orbit of the earth, many artificial objects are visible on the earth, such as highways, ships in the sea, railroads, cities, fields of crops, and even some individual buildings. While at a low orbit, the Great Wall of China can certainly be seen from space but it is not unique in that regard.
However, when leaving the earth's orbit and acquiring an altitude of more than a few thousand miles, no man-made objects are visible at all. NASA says, "The Great Wall can barely be seen from the Shuttle, so it would not be possible to see it from the Moon with the naked eye." Furthermore, from the moon, even the continents are barely visible.
NASA astronaut Alan Bean is quoted in Tom Burnam's book, More Misinformation... "The only thing you can see from the moon is a beautiful sphere, mostly white (clouds), some blue (ocean), patches of yellow (deserts), and every once in a while some green vegetation. No man-made object is visible on this scale. In fact, when first leaving earth's orbit and only a few thousand miles away, no man-made object is visible at that point either."
We see our own works as dominant and awesome, but if you step back a bit all you see are the works of God.
Luke 14:16 - 20
Your dog can’t eat your homework if you haven’t done it. That is one of those truths that we sometimes forget when we contrive lame excuses. I can’t remember actually using that one, but I have certainly cooked up my share. Why do we pretend this way? Usually we don’t want to face our real reasons or actual motivations. We don’t want to be honest and so we create a fictitious reason or rationalization that is intended in no small measure to deceive ourselves. But that self deception doesn’t really work and frankly it doesn’t work on the people we try to deceive with it either. You can spot a lame excuse a mile off, as Jesus’ parable illustrates.
The irony of all this is that lame excuses are an attempt to retain some dignity because our real reasons for our actions are not worthy in our own sight and we feel they would not be seen as worthy by anyone else either. So we go for something cooked up that seems more acceptable. But in the process we add deceit to whatever other fault we are trying to cover up and so just multiply our guilt in our own eyes and our falsehood in the eyes of others.
Fourth Week of March 2008
This coming week I will be traveling to Nashville to interview with Servant Group International seeking approval to participate in their mission project in northern Iraq in partnership with the Evangelical Christian Church in Iraq. The project involves helping with Christian schools for mostly (90%) Muslim children and to plant Christian churches in Duhok, Arbil, and Sulaymania. You can learn more about this mission at csmedes.org. This is a troubled area. Al-Qaeda has been increasing pushed north during the current troop surge and Turkish troops have invaded this area from the north. Christians have been persecuted and killed there. Many have just disappeared. Most recently the Arch-Bishop of Mosul was kid napped and killed and three of his aids were killed in the process. Some have questioned my reason for going to an area where there is some danger.
Nevertheless most people have been supportive of this effort. It turns out that reflects a broader feeling among active Christians. Christianity Today recently asked active Christians the following question, “If an adult family member close to you planned a short-term mission trip to a country where Christians are routinely persecuted, jailed, or killed, how supportive would you be of your family member’s decision?”
Here are the results: 40% very supportive; 36% somewhat supportive; 5% neither supportive nor unsupportive; 12% somewhat unsupportive; 6% very unsupportive. There are certainly good reasons for people to be hesitant about such mission efforts, but it is good to know that the vast majority of people are supportive and understand that the stakes for Christianity in Iraq are very high right now. It is hard to imagine a place on earth more in need of the light and truth of the gospel.
I hope you will pray for me this next week and if I am able to be a part of this mission that you will continue your prayers.
Third Week of March 2008
Pastor Derik sent me a video link to a new movie coming out next fall called “Fireproof”. It is by the producers of “Facing the Giants”. The link sent me to the trailer and it looks like a pretty good film about a firefighter and the struggles he is having in his marriage. I have to confess that when I watched the trailer I looked for the same things most firefighters look for in a film about firefighting---the mistakes in firefighting technique. There weren’t too many in the trailer so that was encouraging. In most films you can point to all kinds of errors from hose placement to the way they wear their gear to the characteristics of the fire. Firefighters love top sit and watch firefighting films and pick at all the technical errors. Of course when you do you miss the impact of the story.
As a pastor it is easy to do somewhat the same thing when you are visiting another church. Instead of worshipping you spend time critiquing the worship service, or the sermon, or something. There have been times when I have been as guilty of that as anyone, but years ago I vowed to resist that temptation and just worship. Instead of asking myself what is wrong with this service, or what is missing from this message I try to ask what is it the Lord is trying to get through to me? Since I have been doing that I have never had a worship experience where God did get through to me about something I needed to learn or some way I needed to grow.
I sometimes hear people complain that they didn’t get anything out of a particular worship service. And I admit some services are more engaging than others, and some messages more inspiring. But if worship is between you and God and you keep that in mind there will never be an occasion when you will not hear him speak if you are listening. But you won’t be listening if your mind is already engaged in looking for all the shortcomings. Research has shown that we find what we are looking for and if all we are looking for is how some service or preacher fell short that is all we will find. On the other hand if we are looking for God He is the one we will find. Jesus put it this way, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Second Week of March 2008
Recently I heard an interview with Van Cliburn who fifty years ago at age 23 won the Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition. It was the height of the cold war. Russia had just launched sputnik. They were riding high and the U.S. was looking for something to celebrate. I can remember hearing about this triumph. The contest was loaded and designed to showcase Soviet cultural superiority. But to their credit the Soviet judges after receiving approval from Nikita Khrushchev himself awarded the top prize to Cliburn. The judges reportedly asked Khrushchev if they could actually give the prize to the 6 foot 4 Texan. Khrushchev asked, “Is he the best pianist?” They affirmed he was. “Then give the boy the prize!” Khrushchev responded.
Cliburn became an overnight star. A few years later Murielle was thrilled to met him briefly. In the interview Cliburn talked about the contest and about music noting that classical romantic music like that of Tchaikovsky was not only technically challenging but also required emotional investment. Then he said something that struck me, “You have to remember that you are a servant.” He went on to say that he was only a pianist whose job it was to serve those who had come to hear the performance. I thought that was an extraordinary observation coming from someone that most people would be thrilled to hear and meet. I would imagine that a person with his fame and notoriety would think just the opposite and assume that the people were coming to the concert for the privilege to hear him. But Cliburn had a servant perspective and that is a window into his character and his greatest.
I would submit to you that most of the great people of history from all fields, art, government, business, and the military have considered themselves servants. I remember another great pianist Arthur Rubinstein explaining one time that the reason he practiced was so he would not embarrass his wife. He was her servant. Others too express similar sentiments. Congressional Medal of Honor winners seldom consider themselves heroes. “Just doing my job.” is usually their comment.
This of course was also Jesus’ perspective. Even God strives to be a servant. True greatness is only found in serving. It is built into the fabric and nature of creation.
Recently I met a young couple that impressed me very much. They are friends of my daughter Nicole and have been a real support to her during some stressful times. They are both charming people, but what really impresses me about them is their equanimity and ability to rise to almost any occasion with grace. No matter the crisis or demand they seem to be able to handle it in a gentle and quiet way. Nothing is too small or too big for them, and nothing is beneath them. Whether it was cleaning up a mess that was spilled or running off to take a flat tire to be repaired. They are just ready to help in any way that is needed and do it with eager kindness. Their attitude is, ‘How do you need me to help?”
I have rarely met people with such a genuinely sincere servant spirit. People usually have their emotional limits and will help or support you just so far. Often people have in their mind how they want to help or how you need help but are less inclined to just help in whatever way is needed.
They set an inspiring standard of servanthood and maturity that I have seldom seen in people their age. Usually that kind of emotional maturity is only seen in people who have been seasoned by many years of crisis and difficulty. They were an encouraging reminder of how much blessing we can bestow upon others when we are just eager to help in whatever way needed. I consider my daughter to be extremely blessed to be surrounded by such people.
I could not help but wonder what the world would be like were it filled by such people. Imagine a community of mutual support and kindness everyone eager to do whatever was needed. Imagine a community of people like God originally intended for human beings. It is simple really. Jesus put it this way, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Fourth Week of February 2008
This is the time of the year when the winter starts to drag. It can be a bleak time of year especially if there is no new snow and all that covers the ground are the drab remains of December and January. One of the blessings of the many recent snow falls is they have kept things bright and fresh. Nevertheless the unremitting cold does eventually wear us down. So how does one keep one’s spirits up through a long and cold winter?
The answer to that question is the same as how one keeps a positive and optimist attitude through any season, or through life for that matter. Many studies have confirmed what people of faith have known for years---count your blessings, rather than focus on what you don’t have. Then we focus on our blessings it just naturally points us in a positive direction. When we think about what we have rather than long for what we do not have our lives always seem full. When we concentrate on what we do not have our lives always feel empty or at least lacking.
I have heard people describe a financially challenging times of life in their childhood or marriage and then add, “But we were happy, I guess because we did not know we were poor.” In other words they did not focus on what was lacking, but rather on what they had.
Paul reminds us of one more step and that is to pass those blessings along to others (see, 1 Corinthians 9:23). When we share the blessings of our lives with others, especially the blessings of God it makes our lives seem all the more rich, because we have blessing upon blessing---blessings to spare.
So isn’t it great that we have had all this snow to keep things bright and fresh. What a blessing during what could be a drab part of the year.
Third Week of February 2008
Recently I was talking to a friend about organizational skills. He commented that he needed to be more organized and was rather sloppy around the house. We both commented about our need for better organizational skills. Then I was caught up short by a simple thought. My friend was very organized when it came to his collection of baseball memorabilia---in fact almost compulsively so. And it did not take me long to think about areas of my life were I was organized too. The truth was neither of us really lacked organizational skills---we just lacked organizational will in certain areas of our lives. The things that were important to each of us and required organization were in great shape, but the areas of less concern were a jumble.
It is easy sometimes to give yourself an excuse like the lack of a particular skill when it fact you don’t lack that skill at all, you just lack the will to consistently apply it. The same thing applies to our spiritual lives and spiritual disciplines. Take prayer for example. I have heard many people say they don’t know how to pray. The implication was the reason they did not pray is because they lacked some skill or familiarity with prayer. And yet when a crisis arose (like the illness of a loved one, or some other intense need) they did not hesitate for a minute to ask God to intervene. It wasn’t knowledge about prayer for even skill at praying that was stopping them it was the will to pray when they should.
Think about yourself. Have you been giving yourself an excuse based on the lack of knowledge or skill when in fact what was lacking was the will to do what you already knew how to do? I find I have to sometimes give myself a little kick to wake up to that is really going on with my motives and actions. Do I really lack the knowledge or skill or is it more true that I lack the will and the desire?
Second Week in February 2008
Well I guess I am not destined to rule the world. Latest reports suggest that the people who rule the world get by on little or no sleep. That would not work for me. Actually researchers and health experts say skipping sleep is not a good idea. It not only negatively impacts performance and judgment, but also has direct physical health consequences. Come to think of it given the shape of the world today it does seem to be run by the sleep deprived.
More and more research points to the need for a full eight hours of sleep a night. And yet the same studies show that the average American is getting far less sleep than needed and far less sleep than 50 or 60 years ago. Electronics is probably partly to blame. Midnight shopping on the Internet may be convenient, but is it good? Life styles have also changed. People are trying to cram more into a day and so cheat sleep. It’s actually considered macho to go without sleep in some circles. But the impact on productivity and judgment can be quantified.
It’s really the same old story. People think they can some how cheat on the nature of the created order. They create an illusion that they are getting extra out of life, but they really are not. God created us with a design and when we don’t follow that design whether it is trying to cut back on sleep, performance enhancing drugs, so called multi-tasking, or what have you there are always negative consequences.
We are created and designed to function in keeping with how God has told us to live. When we try to follow a different life-style or different set of principles we inevitably run afoul of our nature. In twenty years I think going without sleep will be like smoking today. Everyone will realize it is stupid and dangerous for you and the people around you. God’s way really is best.
First Week in February 2008
As I write this it is snowing outside. I look out and millions of snow flakes are drifting through the artic air that has blown down from
That’s just for the State of
When we consider God in these terms we gain a bigger perspective on the grandeur and greatness of the almighty. It is a very humbling experience and it makes me feel like the Psalmist, “what is man that you are mindful of him.” Yet at the same time it seems an incredible honor that such as God knows me, talks to me, and ultimately chose to die for me. What does that mean? What does it say about who and what I should be and do?
.