Surrounded By A Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  (ESV Translation)

It was a night that testified to the potential of the individual and yet the power of a Biblical community. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed as I participated in another blessing ceremony for a family at my church. This one was for Adam Watkins – the youngest of the Watkins boys. I have participated in three of these ceremonies with this family. And they have all been special. And as great as it is to see how these young men are turning out, I can’t help but think this didn’t happen by accident. These guys are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. They know that they are part of something bigger than themselves. They know the legacy they come from and the potential that lies ahead of them. They are loved and accepted not because of what they do but who they are.  

Thinking specifically about Adam, here’s a kid with a God-loving heart, a creative mind, a truckload of potential, a friendly face and a big supporting cast. Adam is a goofy genius of sorts. All you need to do is check out the Cheese Grows on Cows clips(http://www.youtube.com/user/cheesegrowsoncows) on YouTube to see what I mean. He has a lot of musical talent and is picking up new stuff each day. From his service as a worship leader for the youth group to the way he dispenses hugs and smiles to everyone he meets, here’s a young man who is moving in the right direction. Yeah… he’s had some very difficult times, especially the death of his father at a young age. But he has found a way to write hopeful melodies despite his losses and struggles. While he’s far from perfect, I get the sense that he knows that he doesn’t have to be because Jesus is the author and finisher of his faith.

While at the ceremony, I was struck by the power of story in our lives. When we know the story of those who came before us, we can be free and encouraged to live our story the best way we know how.

The ceremony is fairly basic and yet quite profound. A group of people come together in a surprise party to speak works of affirmation over a young person who is reaching a milestone. In this case, Adam was turning 16. Some people come with an object lesson. Others come with a prayer of blessing. Some bring a gift or make something to show how much the person means to them. Frequently, adults will tell stories about when the person was younger. Some of these can be kind of embarrassing. Others are just good times remembered. Adam’s mom had put together a slide show of pictures showcasing some major moments of this young man’s first 16 years. We ended the entire thing focusing on Jesus by taking communion together. This helped to make sure that Adam knew his story is first about Christ not himself.

Every time, I attend one of these ceremonies I am reminded of the power it can have to help a young person know that they are not alone. It may seem simple. But it provides a marker that they likely won’t forget. If you have a teenager in your house, consider celebrating a major life marker with a moment of affirmation, blessing and celebration. These moments come and go. You will never get them back.

The older generation needs to speak words of affirmation. I’m not talking about flattery or undeserved praise. We need to let young people know the truth. We need to let them know that their actions have consequences. We don’t need to sugar coat life for them. Yet, we also need to remind them that their choices matter and that they are not alone. Life is a story, and we all have an opportunity to live better stories.

It’s Been A Long, Long Time

Sorry it has been  several months since my last post. Life has been beyond busy. I need to get back to my blog because I have some intellectual constipation. This blog has always been a cheap form of therapy for me. It’s the place that I can vent. Hopefully, it helps other people too.

Today,  I saw an interesting CNN piece on the differences between boys and girls in education. The concepts are very simple and obvious. I have generally thought that many classrooms are setup to make some students fail. Honestly, can every other middle school boy really be ADD? Or do we just like to label boys as classroom problems because they can’t stay still?

View the CNN video spot and see what you think.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/12/09/am.chetry.single.sex.class.cnn

Arrows for Israel – Part 1

The following is a brief description of the first part of my current trip to Israel. It covers my time with a group of intercessors and worshippers as we went throughout the land. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this team, which was led by my good friend Jim Pociluyko. Check out the team blog at www.arrows4israel.com.

Our trip started in Tel Aviv. We stayed two days in this major city, which is quite a contrast to Jerusalem. Tel Aviv is modern in every sense of the word. From skyscrapers to skimpy sunbathers, the city is the New York of the Middle East. We spent time praying for more Messianic Jewish Believers to enter the land and to help bolster the Church in Israel. 

While in Tel Aviv, we met with Elana Cantor. She told us some very gripping stories about the difficulties that young Jewish Christians face in the land. Hearing the heart of this godly mother and teacher was enough to make us all cry. The next day we visited Caesarea on the way to Haifa. Caesarea is important because this is where Peter met with Cornelius. The first real outreach to Gentiles took place here. The apostle Paul spent time in Caesarea before heading to Rome. This was a major port built by Herod to showcase the importance of his kingdom to the Roman Empire.

We then went North to Haifa, a major port city. Haifa is also the home of the Baha’i Faith religion. We visited the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa, which were eerily beautiful. I sensed while I was there that the gardens suggest a false peace and tranquility connected with the Baha’i Faith. I spent some time praying that false religions would be revealed as lifeless without the power to cover sin. Later that night, we prayed around the ports for Israel and its economy. A few of the team members also had some wonderful conversations with some Jews on the roof of our hotel. This was one of many casual conversations that the team had with Israelis about our visit and love for Yeshua.

The next day, we fellowshipped with a large congregation called Tents of Mercy in Haifa. This was an incredible time as people there represented a number of nations from around the world, including Israel, USA, Korea, Russia, etc. I really felt this was a picture of what heaven will be like as people gather from around the globe to praise the name of Jesus. From Haifa, we headed to Megiddo, the site commonly know as Armageddon. This ancient fort city is located along a major trade route overlooks the Jezreel Valley. It is some of the most fought over land on the planet. We prayed about  the impact of prophecy and wars on the land as well as the End Times. It was a powerful moment of prayer as we asked for wisdom to understand how this site speaks to us today. How are we challenging the forces of evil in our hometowns?

As we made our way North, we went to the Galilee region, which has always been my favorite spot. Not only is this where  Jesus did most of his miracles and teaching, it is also a beautiful location. It is less secular than Tel Aviv and Haifa and less religious than Jerusalem. We met some locals as well as some Jewish guys from New York as we sang worship songs along the beach our first night in the Galilee. We visited Capernaum the next day and spent time praying for the region. Capernaum is the city where Jesus did a number of major miracles. It is the hometown of Simon Peter. We had a strong time of praying for the people in Galilee along the shore. Later that night, we met with a group of Messianic Jews who leader a small congregation in Tiberias. This was a highlight of the trip for many of us on the team. The Holy Spirit really flowed through our worship and prayers. We could really sense the exchange of grace that took place between our team and the local church leaders. Pastor Claude from Tiberias spoke some very frank words about the importance of Israel in God’s plans. I really felt this was a confirmation of my call to help the American church realize that God is not down with the Jewish people or Israel.

A number of the young folks on the team were baptized in the Galilee the next day. It was a very moving experience for Jim who had worked with many of these young people for a few years. Later that day, we went to the Golan Heights to see and pray over the Northern border of Israel. This is always a moving experience because you can look out on Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

We then went to an IDF Artillery Base and spent some time talking with a handful of soldiers. This was one of the most moving experiences for many of us on the trip. We really feel like we connected with them and lifted their spirits. Debbie directly talked to a number of them about Yeshua. It was a divine moment. This base was supposed to be visited that day by a group of important dignitaries. At the last moment, the group had to cancel. The entire base was really down about it, but our visit lifted their spirits. I hope to keep contact with a few of the soldiers that we met. I know that our conversations were a highlight for me so far. I was really impressed with the IDF soldiers, which makes we wonder if the IDF gets a bump rap in the mainstream international press. I think so.

There is more to tell about the first part of my trip. I will leave that for the second update. Please pray for me as I get ready to go serve on an IDF base as a civilian tomorrow. I will be put on a facility to do non-military activities that help the state of Israel. This is a secular program that fosters relationships with Israel and its friends abroad. I look forward to the challenge. But I a honestly a bit nervous about it too. Godspeed!

Driving Tips in Israel

Okay, I am writing this just in case I ever drive in the Holy Land again. It may be somewhat humorous to others.

• The police tend to drive with their lights on in Israel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have been pulled over for a traffic violation.
• There are some roads in big cities that are restricted to buses and taxi cabs only. All others cars may be fined $500 NIS for being on those roads. Especially watch for this in Jerusalem.
• They don’t call it the Old City for nothing. Jerusalem is not the best place to start your experience driving in Israel. Old City = Small streets, lots of traffic + angry taxi cab drivers.
• Highway 6 is a toll road. You won’t know it until after the fact because there is no toll booth.
• Lots of people hitchhike in Israel. But that doesn’t mean an American should do it.
• Get a GPS device. It is worth the money. Don’t rent a car without getting a GPS device.
• Israelis love to give directions based on either the route  name or proximity to their favorite falafel stand. Get detailed directions based on route numbers. That is much easier than trying to read Hebrew.
• Israelis don’t like for you to stop at a caution sign. Caution means Go!
• You have to enter a national ID number or passport ID number to pump gas in Israel. The gas station attendant hit so many buttons that I thought he was ordering lunch for everyone in line to get gas.
• Israeli radio sounds like American radio. The only difference is Hebrew.
• The Israelis are great folks. And it wasn’t really that bad driving in the land if you have a sense of humor.

Shalom

From the Israeli tourism homepage to casual conversations with strangers, “Shalom” is the most common greeting used in Israel. It can mean a number of things from hello to goodbye to peace be with you. In Hebrew, Shalom means peace. I once heard in a seminary class that “Shalom” is not just any peace. It is peace in the midst of conflict not in the absence of it.

Yet, it is interesting that many Israelis don’t believe that peace will ever come to their country. From Christian Arabs to IDF solidiers to secular Jews, if they are honest, most don’t believe the age ole differences in the country will ever be solved. Every political “solution” seems to make it worse. I haven’t met any Hamas fighters. But I guess they probably feel the same way as the Israelis. There is too much at stake for either side to ever allow the struggle to die down. Neither side would be willing to give what would be necessary for “peace.” And I strongly doubt that any “peace” would be lasting.

I find it ironic that the word used as a generic greeting in Israel describes a condition that many residents don’t believe will ever take place. I wonder if hidden beneath every “Shalom” is a cry for a solution. Is this really a call for the Prince of Peace?

Shalom from Israel.

Disciple Makers WANTED

Pastor Carter Goolsby, lead pastor at MCC, preached last week on making disciples of Christ. He said that many Christians believe that you have to be seminary trained or a seasoned Christian to disciple others. But he insisted that almost anyone can get in on the act. Making disciples is something we are called to do. Even the novice Christian can find someone else that they can encourage or at the very least hold accountable as peers.

Pastor Carter said that too many Christians hide behind the claim that they don’t know enough to disciple others. They are afraid of making a mistake. But this mindset fails to recognize that the original apostles were far from perfect. The whole concept is not to clone ourselves but to encourage others to be like Jesus. We are called to make disciples of Jesus not ourselves.

One of the biggest reasons that Christians shy away from disciple making is the fear of rejection. We should not be surprised when others reject us. Jesus said that this would happen.

Have you answered the call? See what Matthew  28:19 has to say about the original mission of the early disciples.

Common Sense Comedy Tour

Wow! I saw Glenn Beck’s live stage show in Richmond tonight. Beck was awesome. He was funny, profound, entertaining and inspiring. He just made sense.

Beck called his audience to join the revolution of common sense ideas with their passion and voice not guns. I loved it when he said that people need to find their voice and not depend on his. He preached personal responsibility mixed with perfectly timed jokes.

Beck said, “Big government can only be dismantled by individuals.” He said that we can’t depend on either major party to fix our problems. It takes people doing the right things and calling for “REAL” change.

His common sense message called for his audience to demand more from their elected representatives. The problem is that we elect people and forget to hold them to their promises. We don’t do our part to ensure that our political leaders really reflect our ideals.

Beck said, “When the government isn’t afraid of nothing, there is tyranny. When the government is afraid of you, there is freedom.”

Enough is enough. Somebody has to tell our political leaders in Washington to STOP!

My favorite joke of the night had to deal with the current clean energy legislation in Congress. Beck said that the current bill is more than 900 pages making it larger than the New Testament. He joked, “The government’s effort to regulate the weather is longer than the story of Jesus, the guy in the New Testament who actually controlled the weather.”

That about  sums up my attitude toward government fixes. Appeal to Heaven!

How Patriotic Is Your Bible?

Thomas Nelson Publishers has released a New Bible called the The American Patriot’s Bible. It combines the New King James with patriotic commentary that attempts to imply associations between the American story with the Biblical narrative.

Any special interest Bible risks misapplying the Scriptures. Critics contend that this Bible takes that concern to a whole new level. I have not read it and will withhold judgment until I do. One thing I will say is that readers tend to look at commentary notes as if they are part of Scripture or at least authoritative. But that is not the case. Even translations are in an essence commentary because you can’t make a translation without adding some commentary in the process. In translating, you have to make word choices and reconcile differences between major manuscripts. Very few people read the original languages and judge the meaning of the text itself. Plus, we may know the words and not understand the nuance of the ancient context in which it was originally written.

This new patriotic Bible points to a major concern for those focused on Scriptural purity. The more stuff we add to the Bible, the more cloudy the core of the text may become for the average reader. We have all these “helps” and special resources today. Yet, society is less aware of what the Bible actually says than ever before. If we are supposed to be a Christian nation, why do so few know much about the Bible?  Sixty percent of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments. That’s a failing grade in my book. See this article from 2007 to understand just how little we know.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-03-07-teaching-religion-cover_N.htm

Here is what the Out of Ur blog had to say including a critique of the new patriotic Bible. I am all for being a patriot, and I am a very proud American. However, I think that all these special interest Bibles may lead to confusion and get in the way of a clear understanding of Scripture.

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/05/ur_video_the_am.html

Fine One, Make One

How should a church go about discipling the flock? Are programs and workshops enough? How do you really change the culture of a people? Ho do people really become fully devoted to Jesus? These are tough questions with very demanding answers.

I believe you can’t rush perfection. And the process of becoming the Church takes time and intentional movement to strip away what is not necessary to reveal the masterpiece underneath. I am reminded of the process of sculpting a giant statute.

I recently visited the Next Wave E-zine, an online magazine dedicated to the Emerging Church and its leadership. It carried a flashback article by Stephen Shields on  developing church leaders. The article is titled, “When the Church Is Its Own Worst Enemy.”

Stephen made some great points. He basically said that a church can’t just setup a Christian education program and expect it to work without first modeling out the behavior we want to see replicated. It’s not a matter of teaching as much as showing. That is how Jesus made disciples. And it takes a long time. The key is replication.

Read Stephen’s article to see how churches can get in the way if they do the wrong thing and ignore the core problem.

http://www.the-next-wave-ezine.info/issue124/index.cfm?id=47&ref=ARTICLES%5FFROM%20THE%20ARCHIVES%5F640

Rebooting the Gospel

Here are a few videos that make you think about how we spread the Gospel today. Should we reboot our systems?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0R6oAJCVvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcWu5IMjxAw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvYFvhx1dcY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgxGK2GOcQQ