Here in Houston suburbia, where gripping the stuff of material comfort is a way of life, we’re now tempted to hold on tighter than ever. But I’ve been asking myself a question lately:

When my finances are tight, how often is it because I gave so much to ministry? Ever?

This is not about guilt. It’s about freedom. It’s about life in the kingdom of light as an adopted child of the living God. Why should my soul be downcast over the loss of money or the decrease in my ability to spend as days gone by? It doesn’t really matter how much money I have. It makes a difference of course, temporally. My Redeemer was a homeless man with friends that stole from him what little he did have and others who completely took for granted every generous act he did. Should I be so concerned about my investments? Or let me ask it this way

Why should ANYTHING that happens to my finances keep me from giving GENEROUSLY to the work of God? To the elderly, the orphaned, the prisoner, the outcast, the rejected, and to support those who labor in ministry?

Almost 2,000 years ago a man who Jesus himself sent to start churches wrote a letter to a church that was young and struggling with all kinds of junk. In that letter he encouraged the believers in that church to give generously out of whatever they had, much or little. He urged them to care for Christians in need and to be a blessing to all. Here’s what he said:

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you — see that you excel in this act of grace also.

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Christians in American have for a long time been in an almost unique position to give abundantly to the needs and work being done local and abroad. There will likely come a day when we no longer have the ability to do so much for so many. I’m not a doom and gloomer, but I try to be a good student of history and as far as I can tell no empire has escaped extinction. Every great ruling society in history came to an end at some point. I pray that will not be the case for the US for another 200+ years. But we need to live and give in light of the opportunities we have now.

When you consider all you’ve ever earned and owned versus all you’ve ever given and sacrificed to uplift another, how do you fare? I fail miserably.

I’m working hard, daily, to allow the Lord to change me and reshape the core of who I am to include generosity. So this year, what if you tell your family and friends that the best gift they can give you, is to give to someone else…somone or some ministry in need?

Jesus the Messiah offers the ultimate gift of grace by faith unto salvation, forgiveness of sin and reunion with our loving Creator. I want to reflect that to others far more than trying to slake my unending lust for “things”.

Food is the only art you consume. How cool! No wait. That’s not right. I do consume food, but I consume music too, just through my ears. Oh wow…all art is consumed, internalized in various ways. Music is interalized by the sense of hearing. Painting and other similar arts art internalized by the sense of sight. Performance arts take it up a notch, being internalized by the senses of sight and hearing. Likewise, sculpture employs sight and touch. But food, that is internalized by all five senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste!

So, in that regard, perhaps food is the highest form of art. I turned to Christina and said, “I think I just figured out why I love cooking so much.” She was thoroughly unimpressed.

Early on, before the parties settled for their nominees, there was no major push for either of the two candidates we’ve ended up with. Sure, they both had supporters, but both McCain and Obama were far away from any discussion of likely presidential nominees. Republicans were largely for Romney with a trailing faction for Huckabee. Democrats were largely for Hillary.

The republican nomination was pretty anticlimactic. It seems like the republican nomination just fizzled down to McCain. Of course, the democrat race needs no explanation. Hillary V Obama was like Rocky I or II…they just kept going regardless of how many vicious upper-cuts their opponent landed.

Once McCain and Obama were official nominees, an interesting shift happened. It seemed to me that most republicans felt like they ended up with the last guy they would have wanted. All the Hillary folks were equally disenchanted with Obama.

But those woeful cries quickly subsided and people generally started shifting their passion towards their party candidate. And within a very short while, it got nasty. The tenor of the presidential ads is cordial compared to how their respective supporters relate to each other. All the detractions and negative remarks about their candidate before they were the nominee have now turned to praise. Both of these guys were longshots, now they’re both touted as saviors to what ails America and the world.

So what happens when everyone wakes up on November 5th with a new president and has to look their co-worker, family member, or friend in the eyes after schredding the relationship over allegiance to someone they really don’t know and really can’t trust to accomplish any of what they promise?

Pick your hills to die on. There are some which are worth it. But your pick for president is not one of them.

But nonetheless…my ESV study Bible just arrived from Crossway about an hour ago and so far it’s living up to the hype.

While the ESV has been my primary translation for the last couple of years, I also regularly use a printed NASB study Bible, NASB Hebrew/Greek Key Word study Bible, and a NASB Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible (for the Message, NIV, NLT, NET, and NKJV I use software). Anyway, the point is that like a lot of folks, I’m familiar with study Bible offerings. It’s not difficult…because most have essentially the same content.

Here’s a couple things I really love about the print ESVSB:

1. History of Salvation: Every book includes a synopsis of that books events/content in relation to the history of salvation, with a full 66 book compilation in the back. Verrrry nice.
2. Color inset maps in the books, not just the back. There are several contexts which are really vital to understanding the Bible and avoiding inadvertently starting your own cult. Literary context, cultural context, historical context, theological context etc. Geographical context is tragically often overlooked. Land and what happens on it is really really important stuff in understand the events of the Bible. Just do a study on Mt. Moriah and you’ll get the idea. I’m always hunting for better maps to use in teaching the Bible so kudos to whoever fought for color.
3. Single column text. This was a little weird for the first 15 minutes. My Bibles almost all use two columns so you get used to seeing Scripture that way. When I recall passages I usually see the text of that passage like a picture in my mind, and that picture usually has two columns. But as a I read more it was much easier on the eyes.

Now…that’s the printed ESV. But here’s the kicker…they also have the ESVSB online.

• Fully searchable. AJAX study notes (AJAX is web-speak for that cool web content you see where different parts of a web page move/expand/contract etc WITHOUT reloading the page. Fast, fun, and easy to use).
• Articles and Maps and Charts. Oh yeah. I’m a big-time visual leaner. I want to see things as much as as possible. The maps and charts are well done and because it’s web content I can load it and use it in a presentation anywhere with internet connectivity.

For Mac users, the online version is particularly nice because Logos (the best digital Bible reference/study software available imo) is not yet available for Mac. They’re close to releasing it (logos.com/mac), but until they do I’ve got a great digital resource in its place.

So…if you’re one who enjoys the ESV or are considering it, I highly recommend the ESV Study Bible. Solo Scriptura!

I could say quite a bit about the incredibly healthy and life giving philosophical and practical methods that got us excited about World Venture, but that’s not what hit me most in our meeting yesterday. There were other things our friend said that are still swimming in my head.

We asked him about the life of a wife and mother in international service. Our friend’s words blew me away. He talked about his family’s nearly 20 years of service in the Philippines. He told me that for all of the work he would do out in the city, at the schools, and in the church…it was when people were in his home that God worked most noticeably. He said,

The home is the validation for your ministry. People see all the other stuff you do, but when they meet your wife and kids and see how your family really is, then the truth of who you represent and what you’re doing sinks in.

There’s a big sinfully proud part of me that would say, “Oh yeah, of course. I know that.” But to look a man in the eyes who has been there and done it tell you this, it’s powerful, sobering. He was laughing at himself as he thought back on all the things he would pour himself into, good things, eternal things, but it just seemed that all the progress happened because of the testimony of his family by how they lived.

He said that the wife sets the tone of the home. He wasn’t espousing egalitarianism. What he was saying is that often in international work the husband is out and about more than the wife, at least for first while. Because of this, the wife is setting the tone in the house in his absence. He said,

If she goes out just enough to survive, just to the store and back, to the school and back…the kids pick up on that and adopt a belief that the culture around them is something they don’t want to touch.

When the conversation turned to how children adjust to frequent relocation and such, his comment was

How mom and dad relate is everything. If they see that dad loves mom, and mom loves dad, the kids will follow their lead through anything. If mom and dad aren’t ok, the children will never be ok, they’ll always be unsettled.

Again, on one hand what he said was not earth-shattering. But as I sit with it, it’s bringing more insight all the time. I posted awhile back about the tensions of family/ministry. His comments are helping me to see that caring for Christina and the girls is more than caring for Christina and the girls, as vitally important as that is. It’s not “my first ministry is my family”. To think like that is to divide up, compartmentalize life. No, caring for my wife and daughters is as much a part of my ministry to the church and world as preaching, teaching, leading or whatever else the Lord brings.

I’m fumbling a bit to get clear thoughts out, but suffice to say the Lord helped me immensly through that meeting.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.