Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Andy Dalton and I Peter 5

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Last night was another bad bowl game, at least for the 2nd half, with Virginia Tech eventually getting blown out by a very good Stanford team. I had anticipated a closer match-up, and so was quite disappointed. But the opposite happened in the Rose Bowl this year with “little” (they actually were quite smaller and had to use strategy more than power to bring down the bruising Wisconsin tailbacks) TCU defeating Wisconsin. 
While TCU was ranked number 3, they were still in many eyes, the underdog. They played in the “nazareth” of football conferences. Yet this sideline reporter noticed that the team as a whole continued to remain humble throughout the week. They didn’t self promote. They didn’t take any media “bait” to defend themselves. 
Here QB Andy Dalton talks about his motivation for humility: that God will lift you up “at the proper time.” A quick look at I Peter 5:6 couches this verse in the older/younger relational dynamics in the church. While athletes need to be careful not to isogete (read their situation “into the passage” they still need to take what’s there and apply it to their sporting venues. Most Christians do this everyday to their situations; they’re just not interviewed about how they apply such verses.
And this QB is probably fully aware of the original context. What I think Dalton is doing is applying the general principle of humility: letting God exalt you at the right time. Should we not humble ourselves outside the church as well? And there is nothing about this exaltation in I Peter 5 that would lead one to conclude that God only exalts us when we get to heaven. He lifts people up all the time, and sometimes for only a season (probably Dalton will not go far in the NFL). 
I do confess that I sometimes cringe when Christian athletes get in front of the camera because they often forget that there are Christians on the losing side as well. And I think the most beautiful display of fellowship is when winners/losers pray together after the game. 
But 9 times out of 10, I think they simply want to give God glory for lifting them up in victory. And I think ultimately what our brother Dalton is doing in this interview is simply following I Cor 10:31:  “….whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
So thanks Andy for the reminder to humble ourselves before one another and let God pick the times to exalt us. Check out this brief interview below.
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Tucker Carlson’s version of Must Love Dogs

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For many, 2010 meant something new. For Michael Vick, it represented his first chance to start at quarterback since spending time in the slammer for all of the dog fighting mess. And with that chance to start, albeit only because of another Q.B.’s injury, he has gone on to enjoy an incredible season. A season which he pretty much single-handedly propelled me to a fantasy football win in our Redeemer league. Even Obama lauded praise on Vick for taking advantage of his 2nd chance. 
Now I never pulled for the guy to begin with, and really have no reason to pull for the guy. But he did his time and is now making the best of it. However, you wouldn’t be in any spiritual danger to pull against Vick; but then again, for some, pulling against Vick isn’t enough. 
FoxNews analyst Tucker Carlson, who is the spitting image of a K.A. (Kappa Alpha) fraternity boy at my alma mater Furman University, had this to say:
“I’m a Christian, I’ve made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances….But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did [it] in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should’ve been executed for that. He wasn’t, but the idea that the president of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs?” 


I like dogs. I’m allergic to them, but I still really like them. But dogs are not people. Dogs are not made in the image of God, and that’s why doing things like murdering people made in that image can get yourself executed in the Old Testament and present day period (Gen 9:6). And this whole made-in-God’s-image thing is also why its so bad to curse people (James 3).
You can root against this joker. You can make the case that he didn’t go to prison long enough, because he really didn’t do any time for the actual murder of the dogs. Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com, and also a lawyer, writes:
As to Vick, he was fortunate that the state-level prosecution for killing dogs was bungled; Surry County, Virginia prosecutor Gerald Poindexter somehow couldn’t get a grand jury to indict Vick on charges of killing dogs even though Vick admitted to killing dogs in conjunction with his guilty plea on federal charges.  A zealous and competent prosecutor would have obtained an indictment and a conviction and would have pushed for an additional sentence over and above the time served at Leavenworth.
 
But you can’t, as a Christian, want him executed.

The spirit of Tucker Carlson lives in on so many Americans. One facebook “friend” (I wish they were called “contacts” instead of “friends”) whose posts I chose to permanently hide now, blasted people who gave her weird looks for traveling with her dog. She wrote, “I love this dog more than some people love you.” How sad, but how true. Dog lovers keep loving your dogs, but don’t love them more than you love people. And if you do, don’t use your Christian faith to promote your stance.

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When women and children shouldn’t go first

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In the scriptures there are examples of women stepping up and leading their families and passing on their faith from one generation to the next. One example is Timothy, who’s MiMi and Mama, not Pa-Pa or Da-Da somehow played a role in Timothy’s faith (2 Tim 15). I think there plenty of lads today who have had mothers who spiritually impacted them. I want to emphasize the importance of godly women in the spiritual formation in the church.
With that stated, when father abdicates spiritual responsibility in the house, there is a lasting effect. This article discusses and reflects on a Swiss study on church attendance and the concomitant disastrous result of fathers skipping out on corporate worship. Certainly a thought provoking article on the necessity of men in the church.
The results aren’t pretty, but they are pretty obvious. When Dad is not there worshiping with his kids, his kids very likely won’t be worshiping as adults. If the church in general primarily targets women and children, then soon there may be only women.

I’m very thankful for it and commend it to you. It has me really thinking more on the role of men in children’s ministry at home and at the church.

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The Journey of the Magi revisited

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My favorite poet, and I say that word favorite loosely, because I haven’t picked up his collection in a while, is T.S. Eliot. And my favorite poem by my favorite poet would have to be “The Journey of the Magi.” 
Eliot creatively ponders their journey to see the toddler Jesus and then what it would have been like on the “ride” home. Perhaps it is because I share such a fascination with these characters that I’m drawn to this poem? Perhaps it is the “real” nature of the struggle of these Magi instead of the sentimental glamorization of the Xmas characters?  Now this poem is not as easy to understand as “The Night before Christmas,” but this poem is filled with much more amazing and deep, and even dark (but honest and real) Christmas reflections. Here are just two which have stuck out to me over the years.
1.) The uneasiness the Magi would have had upon returning to their homelands. They had been in the presence of the true King, for which their hearts truly desired. Now they would have to return home and be counselors to lesser kings. They even longed for another death: Christ’s and their own, for the two are linked together. There is a healthy dissatisfaction which comes from living in this fallen world. In fact, it should be the same with all of us if we’ve ever met the true King, in whose presence we will one day bask in glory!
2.) The Magi are aware that this new King will be one who will have to die. The good news comes just as much in his death as in his birth.
Anyhow, without further shaping your own experience, here’s the best Christmas poem ever written (in my opinion of course!)

“A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The was deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.”
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires gong out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty, and charging high prices.:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.
Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we lead all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I have seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

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Flawed leadership?

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As an earlier post mentioned, I was impressed by the leadership of a young Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback calling out older players who doing things like getting arrested. And I was equally unimpressed with the young coach not disciplining the players the way Tony Dungy would have.
But at least Buccaneer coach Raheem “the Dream” Morris is growing in his leadership. Most people talk about the colossal collapse of the New York Giants to the Philadephia Eagles on Sunday because most people who like football were watching that game. But another collapse happened in Tampa when play-off chances for the Bucs were just about shot by a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Lions (losers of 27 straight road games) led by a third-string QB. It’s just that very few people were watching; the games are still blacked out in Tampa b/c they can’t sell them out anymore!
Anyhow, Raheem chose to play it safe, and not allow his QB to win the game. Instead, the Bucs chose 3 running plays to run time off the clock. The answer was a field goal instead of a touchdown, and the defense caved once again, giving up the game tying field goal. Then they gave up the game losing field goal in OT.
On Monday he admitted he made a bad decision and would do it differently next time. Tom Coughlin, the Giants coach, took blame for the loss, but didn’t question anything he did-though others have rightly questioned his approach to the onside kick. These seem to represent two different leadership styles.
If I’m a player, I want to follow a coach who can evaluate, admit mistakes, and learn from them. This is the kind of leadership I appreciate, and I think I’m not alone. Kids need to hear parents say, “Sorry, I made a mistake there.” Wives need this from husbands, as do congregants from their pastor. People tend to follow flawed folks who admit mistakes more so than those with “perceived perfection.” At least that’s been my experience. 
All leadership is flawed. But never confessing any flaws is ironically a sure-fire way to further flaw your leadership.
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Caroling and why its worth freezing for a bit

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I’m no caroling historian, but I think Christmas caroling was more common in yesteryear. Fortunately the tradition was already alive and well at Redeemer. So it only took one phone call for me to ask someone to set it up and everything was a go.
We went caroling last Wed night with well over 30 people, comprising everyone from children to youth to those who might qualify for a senior discount. In previous years, the church has caroled in neighborhoods going from house to house. “Blind caroling” can be a fun endeavor, but folks can quickly get discouraged when people come to the door and say, “You should just go to the next house.” That happened the previous year.
Since the youth had already caroled to and mingled with a local nursing home, I felt it necessary to carol to those who would certainly appreciate it: some of the young at heart in our own congregation. 
So, with highs in the 20’s (if that), and a rare day of no snowfall, we hit up 5 houses and brought joy to a number of folks who really appreciated it. I think caroling accomplished a number of things, but here are several reasons why I think its worth the effort.
1.) While its a lost art, this is a way to love those who are young at heart but who may qualify for special age-based discounts. Other people may not feel loved by caroling, as evidenced by them not coming to the door or telling you to leave, but certainly some folks appreciate it. It’s a great way to show that you love them in a way that is well received. I think its necessary to care for those outside the church family in nursing homes, as well as those within the church family. Neither group should be ignored.
2.) It brings the carolers joy. There wasn’t anyone I talked to-other than Connar, who melted down by the last house saying, “No sing! No sing!”, and he’s only 2 and was freezing and tired-who didn’t have a blast. Getting the church together to sing songs about Jesus is good for the soul. Joy begets joy, and others’ joy increases my joy. Your joy helps others and others help you. And we all needed this in 20 degree weather. And we still need it for the 20 degree weather of life.
3.) Good cross section of church. We had children, jr high and sr high youth, adults, single, parents, seniors all together. We needed to have the youth do a caroling trip of their own for logistical purposes, but having them together with the rest of the body is always a good thing. This is a time where kids who like to sing can be around others of all ages who like to sing and minister together.

I think next year I’d like to add some mingling to the caroling because it was very hard to turn down hot chocolate several times over. That would have been another great way to show love. But all in all, a great time. I hope that you get the opportunity to partake in caroling next year wherever you are. It may not be your bag, and small children may preclude you from going (probably not the best idea to bring a 2 yr old), but it is something worth considering.

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From Freeman to Freemen

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One of the songs on the Seeds Worship CD’s is I Timothy 4:12. It comes on after, “The Rock song” as Connar calls it (Psalm 40:1-2), and says, just like the verse, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” I actually wrote that verse down from memory (although I forgot ‘speech’ and had ‘faith’ in the wrong place) BECAUSE of the CD’s. They are helpful for adults, so that they can memorize scripture along with the children. I’ll never stop recommending those things.

When Tampa Bay drafted QB Josh Freeman out of Kansas State last year, I was disappointed. But I’ll admit that I was wrong on what he would bring on and off the field. This verse came to mind after Freeman called out his team for the recent string of arrests. Former FSU linebacker was tasered and arrested on Monday morning and Freeman apparently had enough. As a quarterback, he is supposed to be the leader on the field. But he is also probably the youngest player on the team, born in January 1988! If you do the math, and I just did, that makes him only 22 years old right now.

Since his coach, also the youngest coach in the league, has done little to actually discipline such players by taking away their most prized possession (a game check via suspension), Freeman has taken it upon himself to not only set the example, but to make sure others follow that example.

I don’t know if Freeman is a Christian. He may be-I’ve seen nothing to doubt that he is, and I do think I spotted the WWJD bracelet on him once and in this picture (I didn’t think they still made those things). But in calling these players out, not fearful of being the youngest one around, he is certainly following Jesus’ command to Timothy.

This is a fine example, and one in which I wish I would follow better myself. When the Bucs players get arrested, it reflects poorly on someone. Usually the coach, and the organization as a whole. When Christians walk according to their own flesh, whether in a public venue or in their own homes, it reflects poorly on Christ and His church as a whole.

So I’m thankful for Freeman. And I also hope all those who think they are too young to offer anything, will set the example for believers of all ages. And when older believers dishonor Christ (and don’t realize it, or refuse to change), I hope the younger ones can speak with love and the boldness of Free-men (sorry, I had to). Because in Christ we are truly free to fight for the honor of Christ and his reputation in the world. God isn’t afraid to use the young (or old for that matter), so we shouldn’t be afraid to be used, eh?

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Henderson’s Santa reflections

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I shared some Santa reflections from Pastor Mark Driscoll on yesterday’s post. Here are some Henderson reflections on Santa and his place in OUR Christmas season-I’m not writing this to tell you what to do, but to give another example of thinking through a cultural issue. As should be the case, these reflections are informed by scripture, our own experiences, interaction with culture (taking what’s good, tweaking what’s unclear, and tossing what’s bad), and interaction with Christian community (folks like parents, pastors, and friends).
1.)  Not pretending he isn’t there. A well known pastor/theologian wrote with a fatherly pride indicating his toddler son had no clue who Santa was. When in a store his son said, “Daddy, who is that funny looking man?” Everyone of course gave him looks of disdain, which he proudly took. I don’t want our children to be unaware of the cultural milieu around them. We want Connar to be aware that Santa is out there, and he is associated with Christmas. Just as children need to be aware that not everyone worships Jesus, children need to be aware that for many, Christmas=Santa and presents ALONE. In addition, Santa is part of our American culture, and to love Americans, we can’t pretend Santa isn’t out there. That’s not loving our neighbors well. I’m indebted to his systematic theology of the church at seminary, but have to part ways with him here.
2.) Making Jesus big. One pastor told me, “Geoff, Jesus is big enough to fill the season, so we talk him up every chance we get during Christmas.” While I don’t want our children to be ignorant of Santa, we try to talk about Jesus every chance we get. From the fisher price nativity scene, to the little devotional book Beginning with God at Christmas put out by the GoodBook Company, to baking cookies for neighbors to baking Jesus a birthday cake, we talk up Jesus as much as possible. We do have a dancing Santa in the house, but the nativity gets the most attention. We were planning on seeing Santa in the firetruck (the firetruck would have been the main draw for Connar), but b/c it wasn’t a priority, it fell through the cracks. Making Jesus big is the primary reason why we make Santa smaller. He is big in the bible, and in particular, these birth narratives where wise men actually worship a little child.
3.) Thanks and Grace.  Parents/Grandparents should be acknowledged and thanked for gifts. I’m not sure anyone has ever written “thankyou” notes to Santa-though I could be wrong. But if they did, its obviously a waste of paper and stamps. Amy and I think its important for our kids to thank their parents and grandparents who graciously give them gifts. Connar, and Cade next year, will get presents simply because they are our children and we love them, not because Santa saw they were good kids. And certainly not b/c those freaky Elf-on-a-Shelf things told Santa my kids were good. Connar hears, “Jesus makes you a good boy” all the time. I’d be more likely to drag one of those things behind my car on a West Virginia potholed road then put one in my house.
4.) Trust. We want our kids to be able to trust us, and I just can’t get behind the perpetuation of a myth for several years. However, I do think that pragmatically this is the weakest argument against Santa celebration. I don’t know of anyone today who doesn’t trust their parents or doesn’t trust in Jesus b/c parents “lied” to them about Santa. In fact I’ve witnessed the opposite; parents who celebrated Santa and their kids love Jesus. Maybe parent hypocrisy or lack of training their children, but Santa? Still, I’m on board with the principle of trust, and it does make sense to me. It isn’t the primary reason for downplaying Santa for us. But it does crack the top 5.
5.) History. When Connar gets older, we’ll probably put Santa in a proper historical context and explore the character of Saint Nicholas. Then we can emulate the character of giving presents to those in need.

In conclusion, all parents have to decide what they will do with Santa. I don’t think a death-to-Santa type of thinking is the way to go. I also don’t think we should culturally embrace anything without thinking through it with a Christ centered grid, and in community. But whatever you decide, remember that if Christ is truly your Lord, you can walk around in freedom, not fearing the disapproval or craving the respect from those with whom you differ-including me. No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Isn’t Jesus awesome?

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What to do with Santa?

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Pastor Mark Driscoll, has written a thoughtful piece for the Washington Post on how he celebrates Christmas, and what role Santa Claus plays in it. This is well worth the read, regardless of what you decide or have decided about Santa.
The most powerful Christmas decoration I’ve seen is one my parents used to have: Santa bending the knee and praying to baby Jesus. Still sticks with me. Regardless of whether you build up the Santa myth, contextualize it, or play it down, consider thinking critically through all issues, and let the King of Kings reign in your heart and house.
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Bring back the Wow

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Just finished rereading the scripture passage I preached yesterday at Redeemer, and listening to the sermon. If you missed it, you can listen here  or download it here under “The Christmas Flip-Flop”
I also wanted to put up Bono’s manger reflection. I hope that this amazing incarnation story never ceases to amaze us. It doesn’t need to evoke tears as it did for him one Xmas Eve, but how can it not make us say, “Wow!” After the sermon I spoke with a couple who felt the same way. When a pastor can hear people speaking more highly of Jesus, his prayers for a “good sermon” have been answered. It just doesn’t get any better than that. The goal for the whole worship service is that people would be talking about and celebrating the tri-une God.
May this Advent season, when we celebrate Christ’s first coming and long for his return, be dominated by the awe of God’s son born in straw poverty. Like Bono said, “What poetry!”
What I forgot to mention in my sermon when I reference this quote is that Bono wasn’t given star treatment that Xmas Eve service. He didn’t have a seat saved for him! That only moved him closer to the humility of Jesus and enhanced his experience. Here’s the quote and introduction.
This reflection on Christmas occurred after Bono had just returned home, to Dublin, from a long tour with U2. On Christmas Eve Bono went to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was dean. Apparently he was given a really poor seat, one obstructed by a pillar, making it even more difficult for him to keep his eyes open…but it was there that this Christmas story struck him like never before. He writes:

“The idea that God, if there is a force of Logic and Love in the universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born in straw poverty, in sh&$ and straw…a child… I just thought: “Wow!” Just the poetry … Unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable. There it was. I was sitting there, and it’s not that it hadn’t struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face, and I saw the genius of this, utter genius of picking a particular point in time and deciding to turn on this.”