Monthly Archives: February 2008

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No Woman, No Cry: What does that really mean?

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I can’t remember what I did on many Valentines Days before I met Amy. If I were dating or trying to date (as was usually the case) a girl, that relationship rarely, if ever, occurred over a V-day. But I do specifically remember one V-day in college.

Most of us in the dorm were not dating anybody. Hence most of us were in the dorm that night. Being the responsible and shepherd-ly RA (resident advisor), I gathered some freshmen in my room and we all listened/sang along with Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.” Besides the fact that it might be one of the best songs ever-with a guitar solo voted in the Top 10 of all time-I felt it was apropos.

We had no woman, and we declared to each other, that we would not cry. No woman, no cry. No woman, no big deal. Right?

Well, I found out years later, from a true Bob Marley fan (I just have the greatest hits album), that what the song really communicated was this: Woman, please don’t cry. We had interpreted the song in a manner not intended by the original author; and had championed the song for our purpose.

Bob Marley was not American, but Jamaican. And they talk a little different down there.
So we needed to know something about his language and culture before we could interpret what he was saying. But we also could have simply listened to the words of the song, “Hey little darling, don’t shed no tear.” The context is everything.

Folks often believe something, find A verse or two that backs up that belief, then assume that belief or conviction is taught by the bible. But if we know nothing or little about the context (how that verse fits into the passage, that passage to the book itself, that book itself into the entire bible) or the language and culture from which it came, we can easily err. We might even end up looking like a bunch of college students singing “No woman, No cry” to find comfort, when the song was intended to comfort the ‘opposing party.’

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How long should you lie?

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Whether its worth it or not, the Feds have become quite involved in sports related issues. You’ve probably at least heard of Roger Clemens, regardless how disinterested you are in baseball. He’s being accused of using HGH and steroids, and is coming in front of all kinds of officials-I’m losing track of where he is each day. 

And of course we can’t believe anyone anymore, because every athlete that has ever been proved to have taken ‘roids has lied about it. Everyone. And to prove someone did ‘roids is incredibly difficult.
So the government is going with the next best thing: perjury. One of Hugh Lawrie’s quotes on the show House is “Everyone lies.” And every patient who comes to him in hopes of getting healed lies. I’m not sure these athletes are any different.
Even though many people have no problem with regularly lying, or ‘need’ based lying, probably all understand that you just don’t lie to the Feds. The buck (or puck if you’re a hockey fan) has to stop somewhere. People realize that there has to be some standard where truth can be affirmed. That’s just part of humanity being made in the image of God: “created in righteousness, holiness, and truth (WCF).” 
Regardless how much the truth is suppressed (Romans 1), people, regardless of faith, want to have the comfort that there is some standard. Unfortunately God’s Word is not that standard for most. But I think this concern for the truth has its root in a humanity created in God’s image. 
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Balding, burning, and renewal

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As is custom on my day off, I went out fishing-this time with a buddy. A buddy who also happens to be a part time guide. So when we don’t catch fish, its the fault of the fish, not the fisherman. I managed a few big trout and a small flounder. But it was a really a slow day. 

Regardless I returned home with a bit of a burn. Not on my face, hands, or neck, but the top of my head. Not as bad as this gentlemen pictured, because I have a bit more hair. For now.
I’m truly getting older now, and balder. My buddy who is about 45 or so fished without a hat. I forgot to put on my infamous Orange Bucs hat and simply used a visor. People like Steve Spurrier can wear visors in sunny conditions. People like me, sadly, can’t. I was hoping to catch some redfish. Instead I caught a red scalp. My scalp now has a reddish hue. At least its pretty.
Outwardly my body (and specifically my hair) is wasting away. But inwardly, Paul contends that we are being renewed ‘day by day’ (II Cor 4). And even though sanctification is the work of God’s free grace (WCF), we do have a responsibility in that renewal. We throw ourselves wholly upon the gospel of Christ, repenting, resting, and reflecting upon His work.
Losing one’s hair is only a small reminder; I understand that. But my sunburned head reminds me that my body is wasting away (even though I’m hoping to get 60 more years out of it; who knows if that will be granted or not) but inwardly I’m called to actively run, ‘day to day’ to the gospel to be renewed. Hair is temporary, but so is hope. One day, I’ll need neither, for I’ll have all the hair I can handle and no need for hope. I’ll have sight of Christ.
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Another Bradenton Herald Article

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Some of you locals may have read my Bradenton Herald article. In case you haven’t and would like to do so, here it is. Of course the title bandit struck again and butchered it. My original title wasn’t all that good-I had a bad ‘title day.’ But it is supposed to read: How’s Your Offensive Line?

Again, not great, but better than the crud ‘they’ came up with that had nothing to do with the article. Oh well. Maybe its time to get a lawyer….
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Me-Harmony

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I guess because Valentines Day is approaching I’ve had some ‘love’ thoughts and feel its an apropos time to share them. The other day I was watching a Saturday Night Live Commercials special that my Pops had Tivo’d (or DVR’d or whatever contraption he has). Since the best cast members, in my opinion, are no longer with the show, or no longer ‘with us’ at all, I never really watch it anymore. 

However I do take advantage of their commercials when I get a chance. Most SNL commercials make me laugh. One of them I found quite clever: Me-Harmony. I searched all over “You-Tube,” with high hopes of finding that video. No dice. So I’ll just have to describe it to you with words and a still picture; sorry that’s all I got.
Anyhow, as the name suggests, the commercial is a take-off from Eharmony. Those who found true love on the commercial say that they’re tired of trying to match up with people who may have different interests. At ME-harmony, the founder comments, “We only ask questions about the most important person: YOU. We match you up with someone who is exactly like you on every level.” And then they reveal their match. It’s either a female or a male version of themselves. 
Several thoughts came to mind, but I could only put one into words. 
My closest friend is just like me. We’re both ordained PCA ministers in Florida who are similar in personality, interest, family background, experiences growing up. Even our wives have similar personalities to each other (though quite dissimilar to us). But I’m glad my wife is different than me; I can’t imagine being married to a female version of myself (its kind of scary thinking of what that would look like). And I’m glad I have some friends who, while sharing similar interests, are way different. Surrounding myself solely with people who have the EXACT same interests, gifts, personality, experiences, doesn’t sound ridiculous. In fact, things might be easier on some levels. But just look at the picture above. It really does look that ridiculous. 
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A command for all times

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I’m currently preparing a special Valentines Day lesson for the youth, and continuing through a marriage and relationship series in Christian Ed. So love is in the air, I guess.

In our Christian Ed class on marriage and relationships, we’ve been unpacking what it means for husbands to love their wives and now we’ll turn to what it means for wives to submit to their husbands. And I’ve also been personally studying this Ephesians 5 passage in my devotions. One thing that I’m really struck by is how counter-cultural and ‘ahead-of-the-times’ this passage really is.
 
But for most in the world, this seems so backwards. Like going back in time. Someone in my community group informed me last night that Huckabee was asked this submission question in a debate. Does your wife ‘submit’ to you?
People hear such words as ‘submit’ and don’t read the husbandly role of ‘love.’ If you think about how few rights women did have back in the day, this verse really was ‘ahead-of-the-times.’ If you think about how women need to feel cherished, protected, sought after, its quite down-with-the-times. That means relevant if you’re not ‘with it’ and ‘hip’ like myself. Husbands primary need is to feel respected. Once again, that fits.
The husband cannot rule over (what people think of when they think ‘submission’) the wife. In fact he is to cherish and nourish her as if she were his own flesh (Eph 5:29). How strange might this have been for its first pagan or Jewish hearers? It might have seemed quite anachronistic, like a command from the future. And now today folks think of this command as an abacus-not necessary in our calculator world. But its really down-with-the-times and is consistent with the needs of humanity. 
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Before the Blue Brothers there were the Brothers Karamazov

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You’ve probably heard of the expression: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, I would like to introduce a new aphorism: “Don’t start a book without looking at how many pages it has.”

A church member and I swapped books the other day. I lent him a previously borrowed submarine book; he lent me The Brothers Karamazov (don’t ask me how to pronounce it-I hear different pronunciations every time someone brings it up). Without looking at how many pages, I commenced reading this book. And when I start something, I have to finish it. All 776 pages of it. 
So while Amy is reading Baby This or Baby That (not real titles), I, the good husband, am reading Dostoevsky. Well, I finally finished that beast a few nights ago and will be reading Babywise next, and chasing that down with another baby book or two. 
But I do have some thoughts on The Brothers Karamazov that I feel are worth sharing with you: my loyal, semi-regular, or first time blog reader. Dostoevsky brings up several issues in the book that prove to be quite prophetic, as well as pathetic (both for Russia).
One of the main characters in the book departs from a Christian worldview (that many of the characters embrace) and embraces Atheism. But at least he is consistent with that worldview. His mantra becomes “Everything is permissible.” Without the existence of God, there is nothing inherently wrong with actions one would normally consider wrong: stealing, murder, lying, etc……It may be against the law, but no one can argue that it is truly, essentially, right or wrong.
Unfortunately for that main character, another character actually bought into that atheistic, nihilistic system of thought, and followed through with a terrible crime. A severe backfire. And of course there was no remorse. Then he followed through even further with that and did the only logical thing left (according to Camus)-kill himself. 
Fortunately many folks today don’t live consistently with their atheistic view. However some do, and some did. As the person who lent me the book suggested, this thought was only the harbinger to the dictatorial communism which took over Russia some years later.
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A different winter resident: The White Pelican

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Yesterday I spent some time doing what I normally do on my day off: fishing. No pictures to show from that trip. It was quite slow, with only some ladyfish and 2 ‘rat’ reds (meaning small-17-18 inches or below-now you know some fishy lingo) to show for my efforts. 

Regardless, I was still blessed by the site of my new new favorite bird: the White Pelican. In case you don’t know much about these winter resident only birds, they’re really quite amazing. 
First of all, they look like the regular Brown Pelican, but they’re almost completely white with a black patch under their wings. So they look a bit more pretty than our regular Brown Pelicans. 
But the 2nd and coolest thing about them is the way they feed. They don’t dive bomb pods of baitfish like the Browns (and I have nothing against dive bombing pelicans-I think that’s cool: to each bird his/her own) but paddle through the shallows, and dunk their large bills in the water to scoop up baitfish.
Their body style looks the same as the Brown. They just feed in a totally different manner. God created two birds so similar, and yet they feed in totally different manners. Even when they share the same waters. I think that’s cool.
I wonder what the Browns think of these Yankee birds coming down to fish in the same waters. Its hard to tell if they actually get along, or just tolerate each other, since I’m not a bird watcher. They don’t fight, but the Whites and the Browns don’t make it a habit to hang around each other. That whole birds of a feather thing, I guess. 
I’ll pay closer attention next time I’m out. But thus far, I can’t draw any conclusions that would help the us regulars and winter residents get along any better. No lesson, just information. Sorry.
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Tom Terrific?

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Last night I watched one of the most exciting Superbowls I’ve ever seen. And yes, I actually was able to watch it. We always have a youth group party, and its usually at a house with a huge yard, huge driveway, additional garage upstairs-room. Translation=the kids don’t watch the game. 

This year a different family graciously hosted it. With a different venue, less room, and plenty of couch space, we actually watched the game. Honestly it was a little freaky, kind of twi-light zone-esque; the youth were actually watching the game too. Weird.
Regardless I witnessed the ‘best quarterback ever’ (according to some) look like he could have played for the Bucs. He really looked average. Not so much because he was bad, or because he was hurt, but because the defensive line put pressure on him. His incredibly protective offensive line gave up 5 sacks and left him getting hit all game. It was beautiful.
Brady is good, but part of his goodness depends on the strength of his offensive line. It really does. 
It reminded me of the body of Christ. The church is described as a body in I Corinthians. The letter begins with divisions among the body, where different factions claim allegiance to a certain apostle or church planter-(Peter, Paul, Apollos). But Paul points out that each part of the body needs the other parts to survive. The hand can’t say to the eye, “I could do without you bro.” And vice versa. 
 
Both football and the church are ‘team sports.’ If the pastor is the quarterback, then much of the rest of the body comprise the offensive line. As we saw with the Patriots, the offensive line is really the key to the game. So is the congregation. A congregation using their gifts, serving, reaching out, ministering mercy and the like is a congregation firing on all cylinders. Throw in the preaching of the word and other pastorly duties, and you got one heck of a team. 
The main difference is that our enemy is not the Patriots, Baptists, Methodists, but the world, flesh, and the devil. That’s who we compete against.
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Love is Grand; Divorce begins at $295

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Driving to work today, I passed by a house with a van I see virtually every day. The van advertises the ASAP divorce-here’s an actual picture of the van. Several thoughts popped into my overcrowded mind (so obviously something had to go-hopefully it wasn’t worth hanging on to).

First of all, their slogan is absolutely hilarious and catchy: “Love is grand. Divorce begins at $295.” It makes me laugh. I think its clever.
But it also makes me sad as well. Divorce is a sad thing. And I realize that in some cases its quite biblical, and in many others there may just be one ‘guilty’ party. And even where its not biblical, there is forgiveness, and I don’t look down at divorced people like they have three eyes (if we were ‘keeping score’ they could look at me like I had 5 eyes). I really don’t, and I want to make sure that is SUPER clear. So please don’t be offended.
What I find the saddest part is the ASAP. I know that most people don’t look for biblical standards in marriage, so they won’t think to look at biblical grounds for divorce. I get that. But what big decision do you really want to make ASAP?
Even when the decision to get divorced has been decided on, should one hasten one of the bigger decisions of his/her life? The other day I was talking with someone who had a couple in his church file for divorce-and do all the fun stuff that came with it like empty bank and assets and the like-only to totally reverse his decision in a few days. 
But in general, what big decisions in life should we make ASAP? Usually wise counsel, the Word, prayer, opportunities, closed/open doors all play a part in our decision making. But one thing that all have in common is time. Big decisions, no matter what they are, usually take time for all of the aforementioned.