Saturday, November 15, 2008

Letter To Pastor Richard Barcellos on his resignation from our church to take up a post at Midwestern Reformed Theological Seminary.

I thought it would be best if I was to write this all down and read it since there have been many thoughts running through my mind since our meeting together with you and your wife the other day. I must say that I felt a great ache and loss in my heart when I first heard about your decision. This letter is a brief attempt on the part of my family to communicate to you and yours our love for you all. I also hope to encourage you with some thoughts as you prepare for this transition.

 

I am in debt to you personally in a great way since it is because of this church and it’s faithfulness to the gospel that I can count myself as being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. I remember the first time that I met you; Tom had arranged for me to meet with you in your office for private counseling. I had a hard time believing that anyone could have so many books! The thing I remember from that meeting is that though I spoke to you about deep heart issues and my struggles with sin, you were very kind to me and listened thoroughly before giving your advice. It was here that I first heard of a guy named John Owen and the idea of “killing sin”. You taught me that I must kill sin or it will kill me. “Hamarteological Murder” was one of the phrases I remember from you over the last few years. I remember traveling back and forth with you when our church had the radio show back in 98'. I remember the first time that I had “boats” at your house. I can honestly say that I learned how to eat from you and your family, a tradition that has continued into my family. Garlic, salt, jalapenos cooked in olive oil, sausage cooked to well done levels...Your personal example of family worship is how I learned what that exactly is and how to do it in a practical way with children present, something that I hope to employ as my own son gets older. In retrospect I have much regret that I did not pay better attention to all of your teaching. I did not apprehend just how thorough it was. It was also through your example that I learned how men ought to sing during public worship. I am sure that I could multiply the lessons that I have learned from you by actual instruction or by the way you have lived in the midst of my life and the life of our church. I have seen in you a willingness to be challenged to change in areas that are not essential in the Christian life. I always tell Arlene that when I left our church and came back, I came back to a totally different Pastor B who was smiling and cracking jokes during his Sunday schools. I have continued to see this flexibility over the last few years and am very thankful for it. Now that you are being moved by the Master into a position of great strategic importance I have a number of encouragements to you. I encourage you to continue to do what you have been doing: faithful, simple devotion to Christ and His church. Don’t forget to be hospitable when you get there and feed everybody garlic as much as they can tolerate. I think that your moving to this position is simply a fulfillment of our church covenant in terms of the “global minded” section and it is a way for us as a people to be “other oriented” by giving you up to this great work. I personally consider it a privilege to be one of those who can give a “thumbs up” to your decision since I hope to see great fruit from your involvement in the seminary. You will be involved in training up many men who will go into many areas of the world and be used to further the gospel and kingdom of Christ on the earth. I can not go and do this; you have been particularly gifted to perform this service to the Church and I look forward to hearing reports of what God is doing through your ministry there. I also think that this will be a challenge to our church to grow in grace. Personally I feel as if my “training wheels” are being removed and now I have to ride by myself and I consider this a challenge to grow as a faithful church member and Christian man. Thank you for all your years of diligence in the ministry. Thank you for your friendship and all the clouds of smoke we have enjoyed together. Thank you for sharing your family with my family. We are going to miss you very much and hope that some of our vacations in the future will find us in Kentucky, if we can find it on the map, so that we can spend time with you. We have already been looking into how we can mail you your Trader Joe order utilizing dry ice, next day air, etc. Hopefully you can find a garlic dealer up there. We will pray for you and hope that you know that we always will have you in our hearts.

Analysis of what is right with the music in our church.

What is right with our music?

 

We strive to adhere to the regulative principle in our worship which keeps music in its place, subservient and secondary in importance to the preaching of Gods word.

 

We strive to have heartfelt worship, that is, singing from our hearts and engaging our emotions and will.

 

We attempt to play skillfully since we understand that what we are doing, we are doing before the face of God, in the presence of the risen Christ who has gathered to meet with His people.

 

We seek to avoid the error of many modern churches in dumbing down the music and words that are being sung.

 

We seek to preserve the rich history of music in the church. Therefore, we are big on singing hymns.

 

In short, most of what is right with our music is theoretical, not executive. I think that we have an excellent foundation in the philosophy of music in terms of regulation, engagement, execution, and preservation.

 

 

What is wrong with our music?

 

Funny enough, most of what is wrong with our music is simply an over-application of what is right with our music. For instance, in our zeal to preserve the richness of the musical history of the church, we end up playing music that sounds 300 years old (which it is...)and singing words that are simply archaic. Most of us have no idea what a “bulwark” is, although we sing it often in one of our favorite hymns. Unfortunately, the syntax of 15th century English is no longer applicable in our modern culture. Consequently we sing the following line and I think that most of us have no idea what we are singing: “O, enter then His gates with praise. Approach with joy His courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless His Name always, for it is seemly so to do.” Nobody talks like that. No one uses the word “laud”. No one “raises his Ebenezer” when he realizes how far God has brought him in his life. No one “harks” to the “sound of jubilee”. The examples could be multiplied but I think the point is made. We are in the midst of a particular culture, and if we are going to provide an accessible platform whereby this culture can engage their thoughts and emotions in the worship of God through singing, we must employ the particular forms that the culture is accustomed to. That is not to say that we use the more extreme forms, ie. Rap, heavy metal, etc. However, there is a cultural “ear” that is accustomed to a particular form of music, typically in the “small combo” genre consisting of guitar, bass, drums, harmonized vocals, and keyboards playing in a harmonic form that is far less complex than the harmonies that are present in the hymnal. It is a very simple form of music and it is the form that our culture is accustomed to. Consequently, it is the form that we ought to use.

Another thing that I think that is wrong is that our liturgy, which includes our singing, seems to start and stop to often. There is not given enough time for the music/words to “sink in”, to “get into” the music as we sing one hymn, then the amen, then sit down and do something else, and then stand and sing, then the amen, then sit down...etc. I think that it would be better if we were to sing the songs/hymns without stopping and without comment sometimes. We need emotional singing and it takes a little while for our hearts to warm up.

 

Here is a basic one, courtesy of my wife. It is no benefit to anyone when we sing songs that we are not familiar with, regardless of how spiritual the words are or how much a particular pastor likes it. Remember, the music is to serve the congregation in expressing its worship to God in song. When we sing unfamiliar songs, we hardly sing.

 

In short, archaism (in lyric and form), awkward liturgy, and unfamiliarity are the three biggest offenders when I survey the music in our church.

 

 

What would I do to fix these problems?

 

As a preface, I will simply say that any effort to fix our current music is going to require more time commitment from the musicians and the necessity of change. ‘nuff said.

 

Archaism

We will begin to use more familiar forms, always giving consideration to the effect these forms produce to ensure that they are appropriate.

In regards to the lyrics, we will need to begin to put together a list of songs that are more popular.

 

Awkward liturgy

It would be a good idea if we had a time of singing that was not interrupted, that is, all of the songs that we are going to sing would be sung together. This is how most of the churches I have been to have done it.

 

Unfamiliarity

I will establish a list of the hymns that are the most familiar to us as a church. This will be our "core material". We will then seek to introduce new songs and hymns at a consistent rate so as to increase our repitoire.

 

 

What other churches am I aware of that have much to teach us about music in the context of Biblical worship?

 

Grace Community Church

 

 

 

What kind of help (manpower, leadership) and resources (equipment, money) do I need to do all of these things?

 

Let me address the issue of resources first. In order to advance the music of our church, we will need more musicians.

 

            

Book Review

The Last Disciple.

 

By Hank Hanegraff and Sigmund Brower

 

Copyright 2004

 

Summary: Early converts are subject to persecution from Rome and the Jews in Jerusalem following the ascension of Christ and inauguration of Nero as Caesar of Rome. The story follows the life of one particular ex-centurion turned political right-hand-man-to-Nero as he deals with his horrific memories of Roman conquest over barbarian tribes, his attempts to balance his conscience with the actions of Rome against the Jews, and his exposure to Christianity revolving around an attraction to a Jewish slave girl and a mysterious scroll which threatens to undue the tyrannical rule of Nero.

 

            I was at first intrigued about this book when I read of it in World magazine and saw that it was written by Hank Hanegraff. You may know that Mr. Hanegraff is the President of the Christian Research Institute having inherited this position from the late Walter Martin, author of Kingdom of the Cults. I listened to Hank for many years when I was younger and it was he that was instrumental in helping me leave the charismatic movement. When I read that this particular book was a written with post-millennial presuppositions, I was greatly interested because of the wild success of another eschatological fictional series holding to premillenialism. Since finishing the Lord of the Rings Trilogy last year, I was not very hopeful that any other fiction would be worthwhile reading. This has proved to be wrong when it comes to this book. The authors have succeeded in writing a book that is entertaining yet may cause you to weep in certain sections.

             The Last Disciple is historical fiction and as far as it sticks to this genre, it succeeds. There is enough mystery, action, suspense, deception, history, and even romance to make it worthwhile reading. However, one of the best things that this book does is paint an excellent historical context for the New Testament. It gives insight into what the ancient world was like when Christianity was first “born”. Kind of like a “filling in the blanks” historically when you read The Acts of the Apostles and subsequent books of the Bible. What I mean is that you get a chance to read about how the priests manipulated the crowds to their own ends; how Roman rule was ever present in the lives of the Jews; how extravagantly certain Jews lived who abandoned their people and threw in their lot with the Romans; what it was like to be a Roman citizen; what persecution was like for followers of Christ in Roman ruled countries; just how wicked a ruler Nero was; the ever present deception in every sphere of life. Of particular note is the depiction of the reality of how violent a time it was as the book describes Roman soldiers bursting in through doors with “swords drawn, their sweaty bodies flicked with bits of gore”. As well, there is a “feel” to parts of the book that is almost devotional, even though it is fiction. There are 2 sections where I was moved to tears (as I walked on my treadmill) when certain events are described: the Christians in the Coliseum and the death of a young mother at the hands of Roman soldiers gone berserk. These parts really brought home to me the reality of the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters. Because of the graphic nature of these parts, I would use caution in recommending it to younger readers. It may also be inappropriate for young readers on purely technical grounds as the multiple plot lines get confusing towards the middle of the book. This forced me to back track at times in my reading as I tried to remember where I was in the story.

            One of the things that I am glad for regarding this book is that it is essentially a good story. The authors, who I believe are coming to new convictions regarding eschatology, did not use this book as a soapbox to set forth their views of theology. This always bothers me and seems incongruent since the form employed, fiction, does not match the content revealed, truth. This may be appropriate for other views of eschatology and other series of books which are, interestingly enough, published by the same company. Instead the authors have remained true to form in that they seem to have attempted to write a good story primarily. I have recently heard that Mr. Hanegraff is currently writing a theological book on the post-millennial view and is nearing completion. Hopefully this will also be true to form.

            All things considered, I would recommend this book as legitimate entertainment, exciting and historic, with a slight devotional quality. 

Monday, October 27, 2008

Comments on Tony Campolo's "craker jack" ideas

"Mixing Christianity and politics is like mixing ice cream and manure--it's not the manure that's gonna get messed up!" - Tony Campolo


"Politics", per se, is simply the general term used by our culture, albeit usually with negative conotations, to describe the entire system whereby our government is "renewed" through the democratic process, having been set in place approximately 230 years ago. I think that Mr. Campolo sets up a false dichotomy by pitting Christianity against "politics". It is as if he is saying that as far as government is concerned, Christians should have a "hands off" approach. If his position is that Christians should not be involved in the governing process of any given people, he is espousing a non-biblical view of the world. Government is necessary because of the presence of evil in this world and exists to restrain evil and promote good. To the extent that any government carries out this mandate it exists as a true and biblical government, regardless of whether or not it is totalitarian, democratic, aristocratic, monarchic, etc. To imply that Christians should not be involved in government is to relegate the promotion of good and restraint of evil to those who have no consistent grounds to do either! Who better to hold the post of "chief governor" or president than a real Christian? If given the opportunity to do good, why would we avoid it? For example, I am a fire fighter. I can promote to Captain and be in "government" over other men, weilding influence/power over them for good and for the restraint of evil, or, if I am unregenerate, the opposite. Would it be correct, or even good, for me to reason thusly: "I am a Christian. Christians should not be involved in government. Therefore, I will not promote to Captain. I will not place myself in a position to exert a positive influence upon others for their good." This logic would be unbiblical and is the logic of countless Christians who have abdicated their role and influence in our country, choosing instead to allow men of evil character to govern our country.
Delete

Friday, May 16, 2008

One Of The Most Absurd Things I Have Ever Read


Yes, the world has lost its mind. Specifically, Governor Arnold S. (spell checker is a hopeless cause) of California recently revealed his marvelous plan to solve the budget crisis in California. Click on the link to read the announcement of his plan, then read the sub-headline and prepare to stand in abject incredulity.

http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_9263337?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com




I included the link so you can see with your own eyes that I did not make this up!!!



In case the link dies, here is the headline:

Arnold Opens Door To Tax Hike......His budget would borrow from lottery to cut deficit.



Awesome...just awesome.

Monday, February 11, 2008

A Grim Reality

I highly doubt that anyone my age even cares about the truth that is shared in the following video. However, if you care to know about the future economic outlook of America, feel free to watch it.

One Of The Best Bands I Have Ever Heard

Their name is THRESHOLD. They rock!







Sunday, February 10, 2008

The New Testament In A Week

I have just finished reading a chapter from the book, "The Legacy Of Sovereign Joy", by John Piper. It was on the life of Martin Luther. It was convicting because he says that he "read the Bible cover to cover twice per year". This continued for a period of ten years according to his friend, Melancthon. I am in serious need of reading the Bible in this way. My Scripture intake is minimal at best. Therefore, I hereby resolve that I will read the entire New Testament this week and will do all in my weak power to understand it, by the help of the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Best Cartoon Ever Made

In case you are completely ignorant, I have provided the following to educate you regarding the best cartoon ever made. Enjoy!



Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Why I Think The Economy Is In Trouble Of Historic Proportion Or Why You Should Think About Buying A Little Gold And Silver

Our economy is obviously in trouble. Here are the four reasons why I think our economy is in trouble of historic proportions:

1) We live in a country that is addicted to consumption. We, as a people, no longer save our money to invest and hope for a return. Instead we spend every dime we earn and then spend more in the form of credit cards and home equity loans. In 2005, the Personal Savings Rate dropped into negative territory for the first time in U.S. History. We are not taking personal responsibility for the current state of our economy by moderating our consumption, fostering contentment with our possessions, and fighting against the greed that is so often present in a capitalistic society

2) The global unrest that currently exists is of historic proportion and the U.S.A. seems be fostering this through its apparent need to "extend the empire". You probably have heard that "war is good for the economy". I believe that our current administration will move to invade Iran before the next election. My opinion is based on the fact that the U.S. Senate passed legislation in September of 2007 labeling an arm of the Iranian military as a "terrorist organization". This, in effect, gives President Bush de facto authority to declare war on Iran. Given the fact that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has declared that Israel should "be wiped from the face of the earth", hinting at his hatred for Israel, it is probably a decent bet that we will invade Iran soon. This may help or hinder our economy.

3) The Federal Reserve continues its Ponzi scheme by printing paper money that has no inherent value save what the Fed declares it to be. This is also unprecedented in our country, albeit occurring for the last 100 years. I believe it is only a matter of time before the whole house of paper dollars collapses, much like the peso did in 1982 when Mexico defaulted on all its debt. The U.S.A. continues to borrow $1.43 Billion dollars (that's 1,430 million) A DAY to prop up its economy. This has been going on since September of 2006! How can we sustain this? Or national debt is now $9,204,986,412,717.18!!! Ha, ha, ha, ha! $0.18 cents!!! Ha!!! They actually record it to the 18th cent....

4) In a word, Gold. Gold has been artifically depressed in value by the central banks of the world. Gold peaked in value in 1980 at a rate of 850$ oz. That was January 21, 1980. For 20 years gold was around 300$ oz. Then in 2003, only 5 years ago, it began to move. It has progressed upward for the last 5 years to its current price of $930 oz! This breaks the record set in 1980. But wait! Does it really? What about the inflationary rate for the last 23 years? The price of gold in 1980, $850 oz, adjusted for inflation, is between $2,115 and $2,200! Still a deal, if you ask me. But you didn't! What I infer from this rise in Gold is a subtle yet growing lack of "faith" in the dollar/economy/Fed/etc.


UPDATE! 01/31/08

5) Panic had been evident at the FED. Never before has it lowered the rate by 125 basis points in one week. This is historic in precedent. Obviously the FED thinks something is wrong with the economy!

Monday, January 28, 2008

A Story I Wrote In 3rd Grade

Here are the meanderings of a 9 year old mind...This is verbatim from a handwritten (in faltering cursive) story I recently found in my memory book. I have left all typos intact to preserve literary faithfulness.

One day I foud out that the front tire of my bike was gone. And yet, it was still standing up. I walked up to it. I tried to touch it. There was nothing there. That puzzled me. I went in the house for a drink of juice and started pouring. 
Nothesing came out. I looked inside it. There was a martian in it. The next moments were black. Then I was in a spaceship looking down at my house Then I was back by my bike. The martian was there. He said "Zotz sorry for stealing round thing. Me no mean any harm to round thing." Thats O.K. I said, Then I shook hands with Him. Then he dissappeared. And I went on my way in the World.

The end

Sunday, January 27, 2008

A Crumbling Fortress Is Our Works

Here is a little parody I wrote based on Martin Luther's wonderful hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".

(To the tune of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"; with special thanks to Pastor Matt Troupe who preached on "legalism" this morning...)

A crumbling fortress is our works
A bulwark ever failing
Though labors, works, and laws we keep
Our system still is ailing
The heart of darkness grim
Will take us to the brim
Of legal righteousness
Then crush us under foot
We smile and efforts greater seek

Though we in works of pie'ty trust
Our super systems' still a bust
We will hold over all our friends
A standard without loving ends
A hammer we will yield
Hypocrisy's our shield
Our banner is our law
A double standard true
We're good because we pay our dues

(Key change...)

So give it all you've really got
And hope that you will make it too
We've tithed our mint and strained our gnat
We love our bread and camel stew
If legalism's sought
A hearty dose we've got
Come bathe in standards strict
Your conscience is a wreck
Just work your fingers to the bone

Weird Al (Sing to "Amen")






Thursday, January 24, 2008

How Little I Know About Parenting


1) Remember that your kids are kids. They are not going to speak Latin and know what a “trivium” is when they are young. They will, however, know what candy is and exactly where it is located, want to touch everything, discover the joy of the water hose, love to cuddle, love to laugh, learn to “give kissies”, know exactly where “Finding Nemo” is located in the DVD rack and want to watch it for the 620th time, want to drink your beer, scream when the garbage truck pulls up, read the same book at least 25 times a day, eat the Playdough, become terrified when you vacuum the flooor, smear refried beans all over their head and in their eyes, laugh when they pee on your sofa as you are changing their diaper, laugh again when you try to stop them, cry when they have to stop having fun, cry when they have to get out of the bathtub, cry when they smash their chin and bite through their lip, and love to go into Lowe’s and look at all of the ceiling fans spinning around. I had many ideas about being a parent before I became one. It seems like all my “wisdom” has gone out the window since then. I remember one thing that Pastor Crawford said in a sermon that I heard second-hand from my wife. It went something like this: “Your kids are kids. That’s what they are. When they eat mud and play with the toys, they are doing what they were created to do. They are glorifying God when they scream and run and play. Let them be kids.” Anyway, that brief comment sank into my heart and life and changed me. You never know what God will use to help you become a better parent.


2) Know your theology and your Bible. This will help you act like God towards your children. I think of my parenting in terms of justice and mercy, much like God does towards us. If my son disobeys, I do not carry out “full justice” on him every time. If God disciplined us every time we disobeyed/sinned, we would be woeful, miserable creatures. Instead, God is very merciful to us in the hopes that His kindness would lead us to repentance. There are times when the temptation to disobey is too much for him so I move him out of the area of temptation, like God does with us. Sometimes he must be disciplined, in order that he might learn obedience. Though he is disciplined, he never ceases to be my son. I try to reinforce this idea by kissing him and hugging him and loving on him after he has been disciplined. Also, I make disciplining times as quick as possible with a rapid restoration following the event. I try to avoid long, drawn-out crysessions but remind my son that “It’s over, it’s over...” God forgives us quickly when we repent under His chastisement and His heart is towards us the moment we repent. I try to lavish good things on my son. You could call this “spoiling him”. I see God giving us all good things, even His own son, for our good and pleasure. We should be good to our children, not stingy. Our children should know us to have large hearts, to be bent towards giving them what they ask for. Do you see God, our Father, in this way? Delight in your children, have fun with them, let them give you joy. Act towards your children the way God acts towards His children. You can’t go wrong.

Monday, January 07, 2008

The Lord Is On My Side...

How many times have you thought this in the last year? I just read Psalms 118 and was struck with this simple fact: God is for me, not against me. I must confess that I have rarely thought about this reality choosing instead to struggle through all of my troubles without the comfort of this amazing truth. The Psalmist even says that he was pushed so hard that he was almost falling but God was on His side. What a wonderful Savior!