Monthly Archives: April 2011

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Praying like sharks are in the area instead of dolphins

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Here’s a very creepy picture of a juvenile Great White Shark (juveniles can still be 8 feet long!) cruising the breakers in knee deep water off an Australian Beach while children play just feet away. While creepy, it is worth a look. Definitely a sobering picture which makes Florida beaches look a bit safer.
But it serves as a reminder of the dangers which exist for children and families, and not just at the beach. This shark reminds me of a passage addressed to elders in I Peter 5:8-9-though it is applicable for anyone in a shepherding type role.
“8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
It is wise to be aware of Satan, the proverbial Great White Shark.
As Redeemer has been going through Revelation, we’ve seen that Satan is now bound (Rev 20:2; Matt 12:29). He can’t deceive the nations any longer. But while bound, that doesn’t mean he’s not busy going down swinging. He still tries to condemn, he still speaks lies, and it would seem from this verse he plays some role in persecution or at least the affect of persecution. But as C.S. Lewis reminded us, and the Usual Suspects reminded us again,  “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” 
It is unwise to act like he doesn’t exist and so become unaware of his schemes (II Cor 2:11).
We need to be both aware and sober minded, but at the same time not fearful. Martin Luther reminds us in his most famous hymn A Might Fortress is Our God that “one little world shall fell him.
So we resist him by holding firm to Jesus, knowing that Satan’s activity, while a pain in the butt, cannot alter God’s plan of salvation for anyone. We pray with the image of the shark in the backdrop, so as never to become complacent. In our fervent prayers, we can trust that the little ones and the parents of little ones might not be tempted to disbelieve, improperly fear him, or believe in his lies. 
I think recognizing we’re surrounded by sharks might be better than praying like we’re surrounded by dolphins.

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What we learn from Aqib Talib about love

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Tampa Bay, and probably soon to be former (once the lockout ends) Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive back Aqib Talib, is in a bit of trouble. Shooting guns at people in suburbia doesn’t usually pass for good behavior. Of course Talib denies ever firing shots at his sister’s ex-boyfriend; his Mom did all the firing. At least that’s his excuse. Wonder why more people don’t use the “my mom was the one who fired the gun excuse?” Probably because of the plausibility factor, but that’s only speculation.
You may have heard of the sins of the father being passed down, but here’s a snapshot of the affect of the sins of the mother. The article chronicles Talib’s violent behavior over the years and the influence his mother clearly had on him. How many guys have had their moms spend 8 months in prison for stabbing someone over an unpaid debt when you’re 10 years old? Of course that’s not an excuse to hit a helpless cab driver, or attack a teammate using a helmet as a weapon, both of which occurred after the Bucs drafted him in 2008.
The article suggests Talib clearly needs to separate himself from his family. That would be a tough one to argue against, and if guilty of firing shots, law enforcement will “help” him out there.
Seems like an ethical dilemma: do I break ties, at least for a season with my family or continue to hang out with them, ignoring their harmful influence on me? Is it loving toward my children (I think it mentions he has two of them) to bring them around Grandma, when she has no problem hurting people?
Two thoughts:
1.) The reality is that Jesus requires our ultimate allegiance, and there will be times when following him will look unloving toward your family. That sounds crazy in suburbia, but that’s only because our children are our idols. It’s really not that crazy if you think about it. So whether you choose separation or healthy boundaries, allegiance to Jesus may necessitate a drastic action if bad company is truly corrupting your faith (I Cor 15:33). Such action might be necessary regardless of how it is interpreted by your family.
2.) For Talib to love his children, and that usually means doing your best to stay out of prison, he might need to break ties with Momma Talib. So then is he not loving Momma, loving her less, or loving her in the way she needs it? I would probably go with the latter, without letting myself off the hook.
My wife and I have discussed this ethical dilemma, though not in relation our Mom’s, as neither of ours own guns to our knowledge. But there are times when we have to make choices of how we love others and even at times who we love. Because when you consciously choose to love with actions and in truth, not just with words (I John 3:17), you are at the same moment, not actively loving someone else. For instance when we spend time with someone, or give to someone or some ministry in need, you are choosing not to love someone else. And that’s OK. You just can’t actively love everyone and don’t need to feel bad about it.
The problem occurs when we fall back to our normal default mode of loving those we like, who we are like, or who like us (Tim Keller). When those become the sole parameters of who we choose to love, then it is not OK.
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From Christian to Muslim

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I’m always fascinated to hear stories where devout Muslims become Christians. I would imagine most Christians feel the same way. But sometimes we think that the door only swings one way, when in fact there are devout Christians who become devout Muslims. Here is one instance.
While it is sad to listen to this young man’s testimony, particularly since he admittedly had such a strong church background, it shouldn’t shake your faith (provided you are reading this as a Christian).
Here are some takes on this lad’s conversion to Islam.
1.) Personal relationship. One thing this lad cherishes is a close personal connection to God. In fact, even the Arabic dude in charge of the mosque (not sure what you call those guys) emphasizes this “relationship.” I think this is important to realize because Christians like to talk about Christianity as a “relationship” with God, as though that distinguishes them from other religions (or at least the claims of other religions). But that claim of such a personal “relationship” is NOT what distinguishes Christianity from other religions. It is (among a host of other things) what this personal relationship actually cost God:Himself through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection. No prayer or assent to facts about a deity, or your personal desire to follow it, can suffice without this perfect atonement. Christianity admits God had to purchase us with His own flesh and blood for the relationship option “to be on the table.” Because of this truth, other religions and Christianity, by default, diverge and take you on different paths in regards to a personal relationship.
2.) Wild, Wild, West. Just as the West has culturally influenced Christianity at times for good and at times for bad, it is very clear that Islam has likewise been influenced by it. What you hear in this mosque is not what you would hear in a mosque in the Middle East. Many American muslims don’t believe you need to help God out by killing people who blaspheme Muhammad, Allah, or the Quran. That’s a good thing. God doesn’t need to be protected or avenged; He can do fine by himself. If only the Middle Eastern Muslims would believe that…..
3.) Perseverance. Folks who do seem to act and talk like true believers DO walk away from the faith, as Paul shares his experience of a co-laborer deserting him for “love of the world (II Tim 4:10). Sometimes we assume folks are true believers because they prayed a prayer when they were age 6, regardless of what faith their actual lives belie. But the reality is that saving faith will display itself by fruit and persevere until the end (Luke 8:4-15). The message of the book of Hebrews finds summary in my favorite Journey song. The writer employs the metaphor of traversing through the wilderness, and having not yet arrived in the promised land; therefore, cue the music, “Don’t stop believing!”
Whether people desert for love of the world, or love of Allah, the aforementioned parable of the Seed and Sower reminds us that people may profess faith one day, but not another.
That shouldn’t cause parents to lose hope for their wayward children as the WCF 17.3 reminds us that even true believers, whose faith is ultimately sustained by God (WCF 17.2), may stray for a season and fall into deep sin and continue “for a time.” But all true believers will eventually return to rest upon Jesus alone. Jesus doesn’t lose those who are truly His (John 10:27) so that should give us hope in praying for the straying.

4.) How do I know I won’t follow this dude’s lead? Everyone who looks to the Son will be saved (John 6:40). Never stop looking at the Son and we have nothing to fear. For the over-analytical folk like myself, how do I know I won’t stop looking at the Son? Fortunately the Son has a longer attention span for us than we do for him.