Tuesday was my day off this week, so Amy, Connar, and I “celebrated” by going to the laundromat to wash an over-sized dusty comforter. It brought back not so fond memories of my life as a youth director (we didn’t have a dryer), and so every Tuesday I’d be off drying clothes with the Clinton, SC community. I remember one day seeing a gospel tract which wasn’t as “gospel” as I’d hoped.

Well unfortunately the same thing happened to us on this trip to the laundromat in Hurricane, WV (although this city is our mailing address, we actually live in Teays Valley). This time I saw a bunch of tracts, although I imagine they all had a similar message since they were put out by the same folks. And I did check out two of them.

The Menonites placed their seal of approval on these tracts and as a result, the gospel became very works oriented. What I mean is that it was very close to a Jesus + good behavior=salvation.

In addition, if we wanted to be happy, we could simply follow the 10 commandments. While God instructed the Israelites to choose life (Deut 30:19, which was the title of my last sermon on Jonah), he knew that only Jesus would choose life perfectly. And only by resting secure in Jesus can we respond without fear of failure, because He has chosen life perfectly on our behalf.

While the gospel always produces a life change-a life of repentance and pre-ordained works to walk in (Eph 2:10)-a life change must never be considered to have any salvific merit (Eph 2:8-9). Paul referred to this as “another gospel” (Galatians 1:7).

After the sadness which comes from seeing another “another gospel” tract lifted, we were soon ushered away on the wings of laundromat employee’s cigarette smoke. A fine morning indeed, but at least we got rid of some change and now have a warm comforter to last us through the night.

I think we’re up to FIVE sunny days in a row in West Virginia now. Crazy. Crazy good though.

Anyhow, after reading through some new testament epistles for my devotional time, I’m now going old school and hitting up Nehemiah. One thing which struck me was how difficult it would have been to see your home town Jerusalem, at one time the most unique and blessed city in the world, now in ruins.

How overwhelming it must have been to swing the first hammer and hit the first nail? I can only imagine how difficult that would be unless you had in your head a clear picture of what it could become.

Imagining what a city, church, person COULD become-if God showed up-seems like the only way one could hopefully labor in rebuilding cities like Haiti or Chile, or in leading a family or a church.

That’s one of the things that the book of Revelation brings to the table. In chapter 21, John gives us a picture of a heavenly city coming down to Earth (the full completion of God’s Kingdom and work in the world) and a beautiful bride descending (the church made unfiied, beautiful, and complete). Amidst your laboring, and wherever you do it, make sure you take a few moments, every so often, to see what WILL happen one day.

If now “It is what it is,” (which might be the most overused expression in the world), one day, “It will be what it will be.”

Last night, after struggling to get Connar to bed for a while, Amy, my Mom, and I sat down to watch our first “Office,” in the new place. Two of the characters, Pam and Jim, who met on the show, got pregnant on the show, married on the show, headed to the hospital at the last possible second to deliver their baby.

But it wasn’t just them: the family came with them. Well, the office family. Michael, the boss, even stepped into the delivery room in between Pam’s pushing. Of course when he encountered the mess of child birth, he immediately about-faced to the waiting room where the rest of the office remained. One man was even dispatched to the house to retrieve an I-pod, and instead decided to remove the mold and put in some new cabinets.

Only Pam’s mother showed up in person to see the baby. One of Pam’s friends showed up as well, but for the most part it was just the office crowd. Seems like quite a departure from a “Seinfeldian” family or family of “Friends.” Perhaps there is nothing to the lack of nuclear family support, but it definitely seems like a new kind of family has emerged. And for those who have no church family, what other type of “family” could they hope for?

Perhaps office based TV shows have in the past tried to depict a family feel, but I’m not aware of another one that seems to both ‘preach’ and model such a family feel.

Tiger is not totally out of the Woods yet, as far as sponsors, golfing, and marriage go. But apparently he is training and planning on a return to golf and family life. He’ll probably be back on the golf course without missing a beat because there aren’t many more focused athletes on the planet.

Back with the wife again, well, maybe. According to this article, he recently spent time in marriage counseling with wife Elin. I’m kind of thankful I’m not that marriage counselor, for a number of reasons, one being that I’m not real hopeful this marriage will make it. Focus on the golf course doesn’t translate to deep heart change, especially at the level of motivation.

But part of me-the part which forgets how unqualified I am to do such counseling-thinks it an opportune and apropos time to share the story of the gospel.

Of course the husband-wife roles are semi-reversed, and instead of a man-whore, you see prophet Hosea’s wife Gomer (not a really flattering name is it) continually running from her faithful husband. Hosea has to chase her down, prying her away from the arms of other lovers.

The story, as you may know is an allegory of God’s faithful pursuit of his whoring bride Israel/Church. A wife who gives herself to lesser pleasures and “gods” instead of remaining in the arms of a God who continually chases her down and truly offers lasting satisfaction (Isa 55) and fulfillment (John 4).

I’d say Tiger, “What you’ve done, is kind of like how we’ve all responded to an initiating and pursuing God, who is also Holy. However, he does offer payment and forgiveness in His Son and a promise of restoration in the relationship between God and others. Even though Elin has every right not to welcome you back-and she totally does-there is still hope for you to receive a new record, start, heart, and family.”

Yep, that’s what I think I’d say.

Some shows come on TV, and you can tell they are destined for only a brief moment in the spotlight. While I thoroughly enjoyed deception based shows like “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss” and “My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance,” you knew they just wouldn’t last. Did you not think the same would happen with “Dancing with the Stars?” I’ll admit I was totally wrong. Can you honestly say you thought such a summer filler type show would make its way into so many homes over the last several years?

NFL star Chad Ochocinco and Kate Gosselin (formerly of Jon and Kate Plus 8) will dance their way into someone’s hearts (not mine) this 10th season. But have you ever stopped to think why this show is so popular? If millions of people like something, they usually like that something for a reason.

Perhaps its the scantily clad ladies, and I think that’s certainly part of it. Perhaps its our fascination with celebrities? Perhaps we like to see people fail?

But perhaps it is also the beauty and artwork of dancing/choreography, which we can perform and appreciate as human beings made in the image of God. The popularity of TV shows often reveals not only our “fallen-ness” but also some aspect of being Image bearers and thus reflecting something true of Him.

Whatever it is, or rather whatever combination it is, I think “Dancing with the Stars” hits home with something in us (again, not me, but millions of folks). Though not many dudes will actually admit to watching it, I bet you’ve met someone who said, “No I don’t watch the show,” yet currently can’t wait for Chad Ochocinco to waltz and Kate Gosselin to do the mamba.

These are my best guesses for why “Dancing with Stars” has garnered such an audience. Feel free to chime on and agree or disagree or let me know what you think.

Sometimes people really surprise you. Just more proof that you can’t judge folks by “the outward appearance,” because God reminds us in his correspondence with Samuel, “the Lord looks at the heart (I Sam 16:7).”

Now while God intended this passage to show that Israel shouldn’t simply be awed by King Saul’s awesome size, and ignore the younger and smaller David, I think this could also be applicable figure skating. Of course to some degree. Let me explain.

Before going any further, I will say this: Connar will not be doing any male or male/male pair figure skating like Will Farell and John Heder in Blades of Glory. However I will also say that I was extremely humbled in my judgment of figure skater Evan Lysacek during an interview.

If you didn’t see Lysacek’s routine, or whatever you call it, he wore a black feathered outfit. The joker looked like a crow, as you can tell from the above picture. He really did. I thought he might fly through the screen and “caw” at me. Though his outfit was black, he looked as fruity as Tropicana. That’s how he appeared.

Then came the verbal jabs from the rival, a mullet sporting “Rusky.” You know, typical figure skating “smack” like so-and-so doesn’t do any “quads, and shouldn’t be in consideration for a medal” and “because of him the sport is regressing.” The standard smack.

After winning the gold, and the Rusky the silver, Bob Costas interviewed him. Costas couldn’t ignore such statements, and that’s when Evan’s response blew me away. He did not fire ANY smack back. He spoke well of the Rusky, explaining that in the heat of the moment, people say things.

Costas then reminded him that these quotes came well before the silver. So Evan then responded, “Well….he has been a mentor for a number of years, and has been great for the ‘sport’……what he’s accomplished has been amazing….”

Wow. That’s grace. Pastors and pastor-blogger types don’t show this much grace to fellow pastor-blogger types. Humbled indeed by “the crow.” Points me back to the One who didn’t revile when folks reviled Him (I Peter 3:16). And He did it for me. I hope I would be as gracious as Evan, but if/when I fail in this area, it is good to know someone died for that sin and gives us all back-smackers and “quick-responders” hope to grow in this area.

Haven’t been around the blogosphere in a while, but figured it was time to pick back up. I had a pretty good excuse not to blog the last week or two as we had to rent our house, clean it up, box it up, and move on North to snowy West Virginia (where I had to use hot water to get my car door open again today), and then cram into our rented townhome up here. Life has been crazy.

This really has nothing to do with anything, but I found this article kind of funny, since I’m a straw chewer. A basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks has a dangerous-but also illegal according to NBA rules-habit: chewing straws during the games.

I guess the NBA figured this might not be the safest habit in the world. I’ll probably side with the league on this one.

I was reading this morning in II Corinthians 7 today and was hit by a few things, hopefully you’ll find them as insightful and encouraging as I did.

Here’s the passage from chapter 7.

“….For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn- fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more….”

1.) Although Paul had learned to be content whether well fed or hungry (Phil 4), he WASN’T ALWAYS content and we shouldn’t put that pressure on ourselves and others. He had “fear within.” Many times he wasn’t content, and it wasn’t simply sinful. Later in the chapter he speaks of “the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches (II Cor 11:28).”

And Jesus wasn’t always content either, due to a world plagued by the presence of sin and death: his dear friend died (John 11), and let’s not forget there was a people whom he “wanted to gather” to himself but many were “unwilling.” (Matthew 23:37).

So its OK to not always be content. However, more often than not, we’re discontent not because we’re angered by the presence of sin in the world, but simply by our lack of getting what we want. There is a difference, but God’s grace fortunately covers all of our unrighteous discontentment.

2.) God uses people to bring comfort. Sometimes it comes directly through the Holy Spirit (II Cor 1), but comfort is also “delivered” to our door through fellowship with others. The Lord’s work in Titus, as well as Titus’ bringing news of the Lord’s work in the Corinthians, helped Paul along the way. And in this marathon race of living out our Christian faith, we need to keep all “pathways” of comfort open.

In the words of Bono, “Sometimes you can’t make it…..you know, you can’t take it…sometimes you can’t make it on your own.”

Well as I write this, it is snowing. Again. All day. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll see the SUN return before the SON returns. It’s definitely the former who will give us hope in all this weather.

Anyhow, I wanted to comment on Drew Brees‘ Super Bowl reflection. Most responses to sporting victories are about as deep as a kiddie pool-though not as warm-but Brees’ reflection over the last several years caught my attention as something substantial. He referred to coming to New Orleans as a calling.

Not simply a lucrative job or career (though it is that), but a calling.

Sometimes ministers will say, “I’ve taken a call,” since a congregation will offer the position to the man they feel has a called by God.

But I really like Brees referring to his job as a Quarterback as a “calling.” But it’s not just for ministers or quarterbacks. Its for all of us.

Gordon McDonald in his book Ordering Your Private World challenged folks to consider the career as a “calling.” If it is not something you have been called to, it will become something in which you are driven. And if all you have is drive, and not call, you’ll be trying to please someone. Perhaps a father, perhaps keeping up with a friend, enemy, or an image of success. You really can’t relax. And you’ll neglect other areas of calling such as call to be parents, spouses, friends, and community blessing. Oh how those can be quickly forgotten when we are simply driven to win.

Included in Brees’ calling is the opportunity to bless his community (which should sound familiar to us-Gen 12) and serve the New Orleans area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Brees, like most QB’s, probably won’t win too many Super Bowls. But I have a feeling his sense of call will supersede simple success on the field.

Two out of three days I tried to open my car door and couldn’t. Frozen shut again….And so I began reflecting.

People used to pray to a weather god, and Connar’s people (he’s 1/8 Pahmunkey Indian as you may know him by his tribal name “Dances with Stars”) probably did rain dances to a weather god to get some precipitation going. But I think many of us still look to the god of weather. Although not like this god on the left, which, I’ll let you imagine what he’s doing….

I’m beginning to realize how much I look to the heavens for more than sunshine and warmth but for happiness and comfort. Sometimes my days can begin good or bad based simply upon weather. And two things I’ve not come across up here during this West Virginia winter are sunshine and warmth.

I never realized how much of a god weather could become. Family, Fishing and Football maybe, but weather?

Now I’m not saying there is not legitimacy to that type of depression caused by not seeing the sun. And its fine to hate the rain (I never get those people who like it). But for many of us, I wonder if more often than not, weather has become what we look to for life, happiness, and comfort instead of Jesus who controls even the “winds and sea (Matt 8:27).

One more god for Jesus to do battle with on my behalf. Fortunately he’s been winning and I’m beginning to laugh when the car door gets stuck and I need to go get some hot water simply to open it. Flip-flops and sunshine will simply be put on hold for a bit, but I’m slowly learning to smile without them.