The Shack

One of the greatest ways to keep me from reading a book is to say, "You've got to read this book!! It's great! You just gotta read it!!" And one of the best ways to get me to read a book is to say, "This book is terrible - it is full of heresy." The Shack is a book that everyone has been reading for a while now, and I just didn't have any desire to read it. Then I heard from a few people, and read some comments on the web, that made me want to check it out to see if it really is as bad as some say. Well....

I read the book this past week, finishing it a couple of days ago. Overall, I liked the book. The story is quite good. There are a couple of places where I feel the author is off-base theologically, especially where he deals with evil. I have much the same feeling about one of my favorite Christian authors, Teilhard de Chardin. Evil is more than just the absence of good or mistakes. I don't know much about the author's faith - one person wrote me to say that the author is a universalist, and indeed there are areas in the book where universalism seems to rear its head. But the thrust of the book is basic, orthodox Christianity.

I can see where some might be upset at the way God is portrayed when Mack gets to the shack. But come on, we all know that God has no gender and certainly no ethnic/racial characteristics. Jesus is a male, yes! And middle-eastern at that. Even the term Father has less to do with maleness as with parenthood and personhood. Given Mack's background experiences God was portrayed perfectly.

There are those who are out to strip the church and her servants of any creativity whatsoever. That extends to ministries such as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven programs, fresh attempts at translating the Scriptures, emerging church themes, seeker-sensitive approaches to evangelism. In the Twelve-Step Programs there are a zillion slogans and one of them is "Take the best and leave the rest." The Shack was a treat to read and will leave a lasting impression in my heart and mind about the overwhelming and captivating love of God for all of us who have ever suffered loss in our lives. And I am glad that God is bigger than my little ministry in Clintondale. I am glad that God continues to move Christians to creativity and risk in ministry. It is only through creativity and risk that we grow.

One Month Already?

It's been a month since I last posted, and a lot has happened since then. The biggest news is that our son Dan has returned from Haiti and is settling in here in Clintondale. It's great having him back!
Our church has been listening to the New Testament through a program called Faith Comes By Hearing, and it has been terrific. We use MP3 discs, players, CD's - acquired through the organization Faith Comes By Hearing to do the listening. There are a number of small groups in the church that meet weekly to discuss the segments we heard. I've been a student of the Bible for nearly forty-five years, and this process of listening has opened up a lot that I missed when I just read. I highly recommend the program - check it out at Faith ComesByHearing.com.
God has been pressing me closer to him through the Holy Spirit. I want to know Jesus more and more. I am tired of "business as usual." I want to see the move of the Holy Spirit here in Clintondale. There is nothing that I can do to make it happen, except put myself in position. The actual movement is up to God. It's not that nothing is happening or that our church is dead. Far from that - Clintondale Friends Christian Church is alive and well. But there is so much more that we can know about Jesus and his Kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus!! Come, Holy Spirit!! Your will be done, Father!!

Valentine's Day

Today has been Valentine's Day, the day that people send cards of love, buy chocolate, go out to eat dinner, etc. It is a day of love. I heard on the radio that the day was originally designated to honor St. Valentine, a martyr who gave his life for the faith. Jesus said that no one can have greater faith than this, to lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:3) So, all love ultimately leads back to God, who in his Son, gave his life for us. I didn't research the truth about Valentine's Day - maybe I heard correctly, maybe the information was correct. Maybe not. But the fact remains that Jesus not only is the model for great love, but he is the very reason and power for love.

I have found great love in the church I attend and pastor. Our family came to the Clintondale Friends Church in August of 1986, and we were embraced by a loving congregation. We were not in the best of shape, and over the years we have been able to grow healthier through the love around us. God has shown up in the people of this church. I am so grateful.

One of the movements that I have been a part of is called Tres Dias. It is a renewal movement for Christians. The main purpose of Tres Dias is to develop leaders in the church. We encourage believers to listen to God for what he might want them to do - not just to be busy with church work, but to be about the business of the Kingdom. The heart of Tres Dias is the love of God shown through believers. Our local Tres Dias community is called Mid-Hudson Tres Dias and can be found at http://www.mhtd.org.

As mentioned in earlier posts, our son Dan has been living and working in Haiti at Pwoje Espwa, found on the web at http://freethekids.org. This is an orphange where over 650 boys live, and many, many more attend school. They have vocational schools, a clinic, a farm - so much going on, all to show the love of God in tangible forms. I have been to Pwoje Espwa three times and can testify to the the love there.

There are many other ways that God shows his love, but it is always through people. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and he does it through love. May God's love continue to be shed abroad the earth.

Barak Obama's Inauguration

I am writing just after Barak Obama has taken the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. What a monumental event, the first African-American President in our history. While many may disagree with many of Obama's views (I am one) it is encouraging to see the peaceful transition of power and the very positive way that Obama began his presidency. His speech was wonderful. I pray that he can continue in the same spirit and bring the confidence and sense of responsibility that we need so desperately in this nation.

I was also glad to hear Rick Warren's invocation and Rev. Lowrie's benediction to open and close the ceremonies. And President Obama called upon God in his inaugural address. I believe that these references to God were genuine and that we are obligated to take them as genuine and continue calling upon God as we move forward as a people.

Our son has been living in Haiti for three years and Cheryl and I have visited Haiti on several occasions. Haiti is a very poor and disadvantaged country. I was particularly impressed with President Obama's reference to the poor. May our nation begin to take note of those in need and extend help without any motivation other than to be of help. May we end domination over those in need; may we cease to oppress but rather to help set free those who are being oppressed.

Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ need to call upon him daily to be given strength and wisdom for the days ahead. Barak Obama is inspirational, but he is not our savior. He may turn out to be a great leader, but the one we must put our trust in is Jesus Christ.

I believe that President Obama loves the Lord and, even though he has a number of political positons that I find abhorent, he has my prayers and my support as he seeks to lead. Americans can disagree on a number of issues, but we must agre on this: we are a nation dedicated to truth and freedom, and we depend upon divine guidance. We cannot tear each other up and apart, but rather join together as one people to seek the highest and best we can, depending upon God for his wisdom and strength.

Routine

Today is Labor Day - well for an hour and a half, at least. Then summer is over, according to American tradition. Tomorrow begins ROUTINE. That is, kids are getting ready to get on the bus for school. We begin Kids Church next Sunday. Our sewing group - the Busy Bees - begin work a week from tomorrow. We start a Foundations Class on the 10th of September. Routine even includes special programs, such as "My Name is Peter" with Tim Blanchfield on October 18 and a women's tea with Liz Burdick who does a special presentation based on the life of Corrie Ten Boom on October 25. We will have our annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner on November 22. The next week is our annual Thanksgiving program with other churches. Christmas season brings great things, including a children's presentation and our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. There is New Year's Eve with a special communion service. We plan a special ten week Scripture program early in the new year. Then comes Palm Sunday, our Seder on Maundy Thursday, a joint Good Friday Service, and, best of all, Easter. Wow!! Isn't routine great?

What I described is the routine of the church year. Some of it has to do with annual church year events, such as Advent and Christmas and Holy Week. Other activities are special to our particular church: the Thanksgiving Community Dinner, New Year's Eve communion service. And then there are special programs such as the Tim Blanchfield event, the Ladies Tea, the Scripture program, etc. There are sure to be others.

The central point of the church year is for us to be together in the presence of the Lord so that he can speak to us, teach us himself - lead us further into his Kingdom. Our activities are designed to make all this happen. Without the Lord's presence and guidance, we will just be busy. With his presence, we will be gathered as his Body into a powerful community of faith.

The one thing that is certain about the routine of the church year is that there will always be serendipity, those unexpected times when everything we planned seems to be set aside to do what the Lord in the moment is doing. It is good to plan and to know what our plans are. But God is always in charge. In fact, someone has said that if we want to see God laugh, tell him our plans. Routine is good, and so is serendipity. Routine is good, and so is the time when God says, "Let's just see how it might go if we change everything right now!"

Well, I am excited about the coming church year. Let's see what God can do with our routine.

Faith and Politics 2

Well, the Democratic convention is over and Barak is no longer the "presumed" candidate. And John McCain has picked his running mate. Next week the Republicans gather for their convention.

I had a further idea on Faith and Politics that I need to post. While I do not want to discuss politics, and by that I mean which candidate I might prefer, I feel compelled to discuss the issues. It is important for us as Christians to care about the issues that face us. The war in Iraq, the environment, racism, the economy, abortion, second amendment issues, etc. The issues are important and it IS important to vote for the person or persons who can best deal with them.

What I don't want to do is argue about candidates when the issues are more important. I have a healthy distrust for candidates, no matter what they might want to say about the issues. But what I do care about is to be clear in my mind and heart how I think and feel about the issues.

I will be glad to talk about the issues, to debate them, but not the candidates. I'll make up my own mind about how I'll vote on November 4. I hope you will too.

May God guide the electorate and have mercy on our country.

Faith and Politics

Recently I have had some conversations about two topics, biblical faith and the ongoing political season. I want to write a little about these topics, not that I have the final word on either, nor that they are equally important.

As a believer, my primary interest is in fatihfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. When it is all said and done, Jesus is Lord! McCain or Obama may be elected - it seems certain that one will be President - but in the end Jesus is and will remain Lord.

The Bible says "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation." (Psalm 146:3, ESV)

What little of the Democratic Convention I have watched - and the "talking heads" in the booths - has led me to believe that the American people are reenacting the time when the Israelites came to Samuel and said "Give us a king to judge us." (1 Samuel 8:6, ESV) The people already had a king, namely the LORD. But that didin't satisfy them. Samuel was getting old and would not be around forever. All the other nations had kings to rule them. Now the Israelites were eager to be like everyone else.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not slamming the Democrats. When the Republicans gather later on for their convention it won't be much different. The two parties belong not to the people, but to business interests, to the rich and powerful. They talk a good line about wanting to help the "average" American, but when it is over, the only ones helped will be the politicians and the wealthy.

I am going to vote. I'm not going to tell anyone who I am voting for. It's a private matter between me and God. As much as it is in my power, I don't want to talk about politics. I just don't want to waste my time. The One I want to talk about is the only One Who can bring true peace and justice, Who can come to the aid of the poor and disadvantaged. He is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If he were eligible, I would write his name in for President - but he wasn't born in the United States, so he can't be President.

He has a more important seat than the President - he is King of the Universe. He is Lord.

On the church web page (www.clintondalefriends.org) I state that I have two non-negotiables: the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Bible.

As long as one truly accepts the Lordship of Jesus, he is going to care what Jesus teaches and expects of him. He will try to follow Jesus in all things. He may not understand everything about Jesus - I certainly don't! - but he will give Jesus first place in his life.

As long as one accepts the Scriptures as authoritative, he will dilegently search them for truth. He may not understand everything in the Bible - I certainly don't! - but he will not allow any other source of knowledge trump the Bible.

There is room in the church for diversity of belief and practice - as long as the essentials are understood and accepted. I was raised in a Quaker church, have hung out with Roman Catholics and pentecostals - I was a Methodist for a year and a half - and I appreciate the great breadth of worship in these and other Christian movements. There are many things in each group that I accept and some things that I just can't.

In March of 1964 I made a commitment to Jesus and my life was changed by the power of his Spirit. Over the years there have been many times I have failed the Lord, but he has never failed me. In my sin he found me, and even when I sin today he stays with me. I love the old saying, "Jesus loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way."

Of all the wonderful things the Lord has done in my life, two stand out for me: first, he led me to Cheryl and we have had twenty-seven years of marriage with a wonderful son; second, he led me to the church in Clintondale, a group of believers who have allowed me to share my life with them and who have brought great healing into my life.

I won't trade Jesus and the church for all the politicians in the world. And that is where the politicians are and that is where their hearts are, in the world. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36.) Jesus' Kingdom transcends this world - includes it, but goes beyond it. And its principles are very different.

Christians can support Obama; Christians can support McCain. People of faith can have differences of opinion over political issues. That makes for a healthy political system.

However, believers cannot differ on the essentials of the Christian faith. Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, raised from the dead and he is present with us today. (1 Corinthians 15:3ff) There can be no compromise with the Gospel.

Faith and Politics: I'll take faith. And I'll vote. But my faith is more important.