I come from long line of broken marriages. Other than my brother, I can’t think of a single instance in my family tree where faithfulness in marriage can be found. I don’t say that to judge those in my family, just saying that it’s part of my heritage.

That’s why, in part, I’m deeply convicted about seeing marriage be what Yahweh intended, and to give my daughters a real and lasting biblical view of marriage. To that end, I had, until today, intentionally avoided explaining divorce with my six year old. But, as all kids do, she finally realized that something was amiss. She was writing notes of thanks to those who sent her birthday gifts when she sensed it was a little weird that daddy’s mom and dad live in different states. She’s a lot brighter than I was at six, so after I made sure my sweet wife was ok with me bringing the concept of divorce into our child’s thinking, I had the talk.

I explained that when daddy was a little boy, his mommy and daddy decided they did not want to be married any more. Her eyes got as big as the moon and her mouth dropped. I explained that that’s why they live in different states. I also had to explain that they both decided to marry new people. At that she got a bit indignant and informed me that such a move was wrong and they’re still married to their first husband/wife. She had no idea of the theological depths of her words.

Part of me was really pissed off. It’s one thing that I had to deal with the divorce of my parents…but I now I had to see their sinful choices reverberating a generation later and landing upon my own daughter. It seems we can never overestimate the lasting impact of choosing paths that run from Jesus.

The greater part of me is so grateful for grace (not my daughter…the Lord’s character trait of grace…though I am thankful for Grace too). It’s by mercy that the wounds of divorce can heal, but it’s by grace that those same wounds can be used by God for good. I pray as my girls learn more of our shared heritage, they will also gain a God given desire for marital fidelity and vitality. I’m so thankful that my girls have the umbrella of marriage in their lives. I remember with crystal clarity the awkwardness I felt as a kid when I was around friends whose parents were both there, married and under the same roof. I’m thankful my daughters are not stained by that and I pray they never will be.

One ingredient in the deception of sin is the notion that sin just won’t have much impact, that somehow nothing will come of it. Nothing is farther than the truth. My parents broke covenant almost 30 years ago and today that sin came back to bite, in my heart and my daughter. Our first parents put aside faith in Yahweh for one action and all humanity fell. Reverberations are unending apart from grace and until Jesus returns.

Ahh, good intentions and boneheaded execution…how often they are bed partners.

If you’re not aware, a group called the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is trying to pick a fight with the IRS. They have started something called the “Pulpit Initiative” (link is to their PDF summary statement of the initiative).

Short background: as part of the separation of church and state, the government is prohibited from taxing religion/religious entities, i.e. churches. In the 1950’s an amendment was passed which prohibits non-profit organizations (that includes churches) from participating in political campaigns. Longer background here.

Well, the ADF folks wants to challenge the legality of that amendment. Their strategy for initiating the legal process is to bait the IRS into filing a lawsuit against a church or multiple churches. They’ve found a group of pastors (around 30 nationwide) who have agreed to speak about the political candidates. Next, the ADF will send (perhaps has sent already) recordings of those sermons to the IRS, essentially thumbing their noses at them, double-dog daring the IRS to file suit.

While I’m certainly not a legal authority, this seems to me to be a seriously bone headed move.

At the minimum they seem to be risking the tax exemption for churches which, if removed, would likely put the majority of “churches” out of business. By that I mean that most congregations could not afford their property or the salaries of their pastors without the considerable tax breaks for churches as religious non-profits in the eyes of the government. Personally, I think if a church stepped up and voluntarily paid property tax etc it would send a huge message to the city that they see themselves as part and parcel to its livelihood instead of as a parasite to the city, which most are. That’s why Stafford doesn’t allow new churches…they eat up all the good real estate, don’t pay tax, and then do nothing for the community. Hardly salt and light.

The greater issue I take with the “Pulpit Initiative” (the name alone grates on my nerves) is that it is a prostitution of the venue where the Scriptures are to be primarily taught. There’s nothing sacro-sanct about the puplit itself, but the public preaching of God’s Word to the church is foundational to Christianity, a God given responsibility. They are actively seeking pastors to use their pulpit for political action in order to further their legal aims. Prostitution of the pulpit.

I will grant the ADF that their intentions seem fine. When you read through their site regarding this initiative, it’s sounds like they just want more 1st amendment freedom in the pulpit. But has it really been lost?

Pastors are free to speak to any issue they choose from the pulpit. The legal limit, in my amateur understanding, is that churches may not participate in political campaigning. Thus, a paid pastor who endorses (or is openly against) a candidate is essentially campaigning and in violation of the 50’s amendment.

But here’s the deal - there’s no limitation on speaking about issues. The ADF info makes it seem like it’s all about being able to speak about issues, but that freedom is in place now. When you read some of the comments of the pastors participating in this initiative (Example 1, Example 2), they’re not worried about addressing issues, they’re just pimping themselves out to their candidate.

The Bible and societal issues intersect all over the place. Where God takes a stand in Scripture, Christians should take a stand as well. Where the Bible is silent on an issue, Christians should use discretion and wise counsel, and encourage others to the same. For example, murder is clearly not ok with Yahweh. Drinking (without getting plastered) is fine. So don’t murder, ever. If having a Mackeson’s Triple Stout doesn’t go against your conscience or hurt anyone else, have at it (and call me so I can join you).

But using your pulpit to endorse a specific candidate is foolishness. Pastors, the goal is making disciples. That means, in part, to teach the truth, to educate and train people in wisdom and bring this culture into focus through a biblical world view, challenging people to think critically, prayerfully, biblically, and to decide based on Scripture and conscience. It is not to spoon feed their lives to them.

Derek Webb has a line from an older song, “I Want A New Law” off of the Mockingbird album that goes,

Don’t teach me about politics or government, just tell me who to vote for.

If we had one candidate who was openly opposed to Christianity, seeking to harm the work of the gospel, etc, that’s good grounds for breaking the law and encouraging people to vote against him/her. But in this election, like it or not, we’ve got two guys who both claim to be Christians and supposedly are seeking Judeo-Christian values for our country. So slice through the issues and think, pray, and discuss. Don’t start an Obama or McCain cult in your church.

For those of you who are reading this trying to peg which candidate I’m for, let me be real clear that I think they both suck and on their merit alone the US is pretty much screwed. This gives me great joy in the sovereignty of my God because he appoints leaders and sways the world to his decree. So even sucky presidents may turn out to be a blessing.

Like a lot of Christians, I have been struggling deeply about the Church. What I see in Scripture and what I experience around me are in many ways very different. There is a great and fiery tension in my soul.

On one end I see that all fellowships at all times everywhere were full of messed up people (including the first disciples and the Acts 2 church). From Scripture I see that Christ’s bride will be dirty and unfaithful in varying measure until He returns to purify her. This is part of God’s design. As my pastor puts it, “The church is God’s gymnasium for sanctification.” The great “one another” passages of the Bible necessitate that we will in fact incur offense and harm at the hands of one another, thus providing us opportunity to bear with, forgive, and love one-another. The same sovereign God who is able to employ Leviathan as His rod is able to employ our self-destruction to our own sanctification. Providence is so often simultaneously beautifully lived yet utterly beyond comprehension.

Yet, I also see from Scripture that we, Yahweh’s adopted children, those He calls His own, are tasked with striving to present Christ a beautiful and pure bride. We are given, in part, a futile task it seems.

Music can often give voice to things which the soul otherwise struggles to express. This is partly why poetry is such a great medium. Figurative language stretches the mental landscape enabling it to better grasp those things which are beyond its natural bounds.

I recently grabbed an album by Disappointed by Candy. I had never heard of them until I got an email ad about them from NoiseTrade. The whole album is lyrically poignant. One song in particular, “Broken Machine” really spoke to me about the tension I feel regarding the Church.

Have a listen. Lyrics below.

Is it a dream, I heard you say “I want you to come over”
You want us to see all of the plans you made for one and no other

It’s easy to see that everybody else has this down to a science
but not you and me I can’t believe we sell our selves into silence

To follow the line of empty hearts beating to a machine that never stops to know that it’s broken.

It’s turning around and seeing that we are walking into a fire
that’s circling ’round ’cause we don’t need to stand here and feed this desire

To follow the line of empty hearts beating to a machine that never stops to know that it’s broken.

Like many, I have found John Piper’s writings and preaching deeply helpful on several occasions. What I didn’t know until about six months ago was that he is prolific at writing poetry as well.

The Desiring God site has a huge amount of Piper’s poetry available in written and audio format, both for viewing and download.

My buddy Jason gave me a CD awhile back which contained a four part series of poems Piper wrote on the life of Job. It was an audio CD, with Piper narrating the poems personally.

I highly encourage you to listen to them for two reasons. First, poetry in general is wonderful art. I have grown increasingly captivated by it over the last two years, and in my amateur opinion Piper’s work is outstanding. Second, the account of Job’s life, as recorded in Scripture, deals with many issues which are as troublesome for people today as they were when it was originally composed.

Why do good people suffer? Don’t the good prosper and the evil perish? What is God’s purpose in my pain? The list could go on and on.

The whole four part series is about 45 minutes (rough guess…I was too enthralled in listening to be distracted by a petty thing like the length of the poems).

Remove the noise around you, get some tissue and soulfully enjoy.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four

I’m fond of saying that “worship is always the right response”. Though it’s certainly not unique, I don’t recall having read it anywhere. So apologies if I do not give credit to some known source of the quip.

I’ve used that phrase in wonderful times and in tragic ones. It has been a comforting reminder. Sometimes it has been an unwelcomed friend knocking at the door of my pride.

As things continue to fall in place after Ike, I realize that the saying is wrong. At least in part.

What I should say is “worship is always a right response”. The distinction is that in times of difficulty, as with hurricanes, worship is a right response but not the only right response.

When tragedy comes, it is right to mourn. It is right to weep. It is right to lament. And it is most certainly right to worship Yahweh.

Surely, mourning and sorrow can be done in a way that is faithless, sinful. Emotions are not neutral. But there is a way to express them which is genuine, healing, and open to God. When expressed this way, even grief and sorrow become a form of worship. In this sense, worship is always a right response.

…because he was a baaadd mutha-shut ‘cho mouth.

I’ve been in Houston since ‘99. Without really checking, I think Ike was the fourth hurricane I’ve dealt with in that time. There are been many more in the region, but only a few that really threatened my county.

I grew up in southern California and I’ve been through a bunch of earthquakes, and some pretty serious ones at that. I’ve seen freeway overpasses tumbled down, glass sticking in walls which broke from a window across the room, sidewalks undulate like waves, etc. Ike’s aftermath is a close comparison to those earthquakes.

My time during the storm itself wasn’t too bad at all. My family was very blessed to be able to stay with my brother’s family in Richmond. It was just far enough west that there was little more than wierd sounding wind. We never even lost power. My street however, is another story.

Apparently a tornado touched down in the park behind my house. My neighbor on one side was sitting in a chair in his driveway watching the storm (why…I dunno). He said it was like a sci-fi movie seeing the various transformers in the subdivision blow and light the sky up green, pink, purple, and orange. He also saw a tin shed come flying up over the house at the end of my cul-de-sac, land in the street and then rocket out to find a final resting place somewhere else in the subdivision. He was then thrown out of his chair and against his garage door. He’s goes about 230, so I’m guessing it was no small wind.

I took a closer look today and could see the path of the funnel/tornado/whatever that passed through. It’s was odd to see a clear line of destruction winding around the park and through my subdivision and into the next one. It went pretty much right around my street. One of the commune members lost a beautiful tree, but thankfully it only took out their gutter…a great relief because it fell at their front door.

Other than that we lost several sections of fence, a gate ripped off, and another commune member had half a giant oak take up residence in his backyard. Earthquakes typically don’t do much exterior damage, but they tend to really tear up the inside of your home. Anything that’s on shelves, in cupboards, on walls…it all comes down. Hurricanes seem to typically be the opposite. Inside my home, I sit here comfy and cozy. Outside is another story.

Like many, I prayed quite a bit about this storm and have been reflecting on the lessons to be learned. I’ve already heard one sermon on how God was demonstrating his greatness through Ike, letting everyone know he’s in charge. I’m guessing a lot of sermons will be preached with that emphasis. I do serve a sovereign God, all-knowing and all-powerful. But saying God caused Ike to show off his power is not a conclusion I can come to biblically.

The truth is, we don’t know why God allowed Ike to happen. We know that all of creation is under his control. We also know at times he allows his adversary to effect the elements (God allowed Satan to effect the elements to tempt Job into cursing God). We know that God has used the elements in judgments (Pharoah, prophets of Baal, Jonah) and in blessings (manna, Red Sea, the long day, sun and rain upon the just and unjust). We also know that he uses the elements to teach (Jesus and the storm). But we don’t know why, specifically, God allowed Ike to happen. We know that Ike and all his effects were not unknown to Yahweh. He doesn’t learn anything. His knowledge is complete, perfect.

So what are we do with Ike? How should we as Christians respond?

For me, as I consider the Scriptures, I see a couple simple yet difficult things.

First, I do not know why Ike happened. Perhaps it was some judgment. Perhaps it was merely the outworking of a cursed world (remember, the entire creation is cursed, not just mankind). But although I don’t know why Ike happened, I do know the character of God. I know he is the LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, keeping steadfast love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. But who wil by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation of those who do not love Him (Ex 34:6 and following - Yahweh’s self-description).

Given that understanding, I seek to learn what he’s teaching me now that the storm is over. He has not revealed the implicit “why” of Ike. If he’s not overly concerned about telling us why, then we should not be overly concerned with finding out why. There is work to be done, burdens to be shared, and worship to be given. Dwelling on the “why” seems to me to be a tactic of distraction by the enemy. There is no fruit in it.

Second, people are hurting. I should not dwell so much upon God’s undisclosed motives that I miss His revealed will that I love Him preeminently and love my neighbor as myself.

I don’t know specifically why I was spared harm, but I do know I’m very able to help others who are enduring much worse.

Yesterday I took another listen to Derek Webb’s lastest album (get it free off NoiseTrade, thanks Derek!). For me, it was like his previous albums, containing a few songs that I resonate with and a few that for my taste fall flat. I was an angry punk white boy growing up so, like others of the same road, his sarcasm and wit is infectious. But, I’ve also had to become more diligent when I listen to his stuff than with many others. His lyrics are packed with innuendo and assertion, some of which is biblical, and some of which is his cultural preference. Because he’s so adept at articulating what’s wrong with the church in the west, it’s easy to be agreeing with him and not realize he’s gone from Bible to opinion. Nonetheless, in general I dig his music.

One song in particular stuck out, “A Savior on Capitol Hill”. As you can quickly guess, he’s exposing the way people in America put their hope in, of all things, a politican. We see this in every election, but it seems much more prevalent this time around. Maybe I’m just a little older and wiser, but it seems like this presidential election, more than ever, Christians are putting their hope for the “salvation” of our nation on their political candidate, whether Obama or McCain. The more I read, listen, and observe Christians in this election, the more they seem to be putting hope in one man (or woman) or another…hope which can only be rightly placed in Christ, and it’s hope that Yahweh is jealous for.

The US is not Israel, nor a theocracy, neither should it be one - but Christians in America certainly remind me of how ancient Israel clamored for an earthly king.

I’m speaking about the individual believer. I seem to recall it’s written somewhere that we should trust in the Lord, seek his ways and his righteousness. I seem to also recall that the ways of Yahweh are not the ways of man. Many of us have had our gracious, merciful, sovereign, just God eclipsed by the image of John McCain, Barack Obama (or perhaps Palin or Biden).

Does your stress level rise when you think of your candidate losing? Do you get angry about those who follow the candidate you don’t support? Do you think your candidate will really follow through with what they say once elected?

There are real issues in this election, I know. There is indeed a lot on the table. The world is already much different than only four years ago. There are serious problems in social, economic, military, and diplomatic arenas. We must be engaged in the process and act with vigilance. But we must not be deceived into thinking that either candidate is a savior.

I’m praying that Christians in America will remember, or learn for the first time, that we have but one God, one Savior, and he appoints leaders and takes them down. He establishes governments and lays them low. And his purposes are good and cannot be thwarted. And this merciful and gracious God calls us to seek him for what ails us, individually and as the Church. So pray Christian, but pray for His will to be done, not for your candidate to be elected based on your wisdom.

Have a listen