While on vacation, we were able to visit one of my former roommates from Oklahoma Christian University, Doug Pospisil. He and his wife, Christa, have a new son, Zachary. We had not seen Doug since our wedding. It was the part of my vacation that I had looked forward to with the most anticipation and the part that I enjoyed the most. We really need to get down to Fort Worth more often.
I think that Janet most enjoyed being able to swim during our vacation (Although one of our hotels had the Sci-Fi Channel, which ran Stargate SG-1 throughout the week. We are big fans of the show, and it helped to have something good to watch while Christopher and I came down with bad colds during that week).
Christopher enjoyed a small amusement park for smaller children. He rode his first roller coaster, drove his first go-cart, rode with me in a little boat with a water gun which we used to spray Mommy, and played video games. He also liked going to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman, because of the dinosaur bones. It reminded him of the movie A Night at the Museum.
Congratulations to Jason and Erin Carley on the adoption of their son from Vietnam, Loston Carley. I know that they will be great parents.
I have not seen the movie Evan Almighty, but I like one of the ideas that came from the movie. At http://www.arkalmighty.com/, people are encouraged to commit "acts of random kindness" (ark). You can sign up to receive e-mails that give ideas about how to perform acts of random kindness. I am reminded that "God's kindness leads you toward repentance" (Romans 2:4, NIV), and often that kindness is demonstrated through God's people.
Focus on the Family has a web site with the best movie reviews. You can find the review of Evan Almighty at http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003264.cfm.
The Jenks Church (with the help of the River Oaks Christian Church) had a great Vacation Bible School this week. Christopher attended every night, and absolutely loved it. We are glad that he enjoys going to church so much. (By the way, sometimes I mention that the Jenks Church is our former congregation. We continue to attend, and even teach, on Wednesday nights since the Contact Church does not meet then. We "left" the Jenks Church a few years ago when the early service was eliminated. Until then, we were able to attend both the Jenks and Contact Churches every Sunday.)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:9-10, NIV).
I want to share a few words from Ron Babbit's newsletter to his supporters. Ron is our preacher in the Contact Church of Christ. He has a way with words and a way with people. If you are investing in his ministry, you are investing well in the kingdom of Christ. He is one of the most effective ministers I have ever seen, and he works with people with some of the most difficult problems.
When I became involved in urban ministry, I had an idea that we would be a little soft on biblical teaching while emphasizing feeding and clothing. I had a seeker-sensitive mindset, fearing that people would be offended by a direct presentation of Christ's gospel. I also thought that people would be turned away by teaching biblical ethics. Ron Babbit and Frank Lott have shown me that I was wrong. We do meet a lot of physical needs among the poor of Tulsa, but we see many people who are looking for God and God's directions for living. Merely feeding and clothing them would be a terrible disservice to them and to Christ.
Last week, Ron preached about King David's sins against Uriah, Bathsheba, and God. In his sermon, he challenged our congregation to turn away from laziness, drinking, drugs, pornography, sexual immorality, and immodest clothing. He pointed everyone toward the forgiveness we need in Christ. At least six people responded, asking for help and prayers. God has gifted him with the ability to confront people in a way that assures them that he cares about them.
Here are just a few stories from his newsletter:
This last week a lady responded to the LORD and shared this letter. "My dear friends at Contact, I want to thank you for teaching me about faith, patience and how great the love of GOD is. Three months ago I had no income, no idea of where I would live when my lease was up, and where my next meal was coming from. Thanks to you all showing me GOD's way, I now have a wonderful home, all the food I could want and more chances to share GOD'S WORD than I ever imagined. I am so blessed by GOD's love and so very grateful to all of you at Contact for helping me through my pain and fear and for all the love you have shown me. Thank you."
This sister brought to Contact a lady who has been faithfully cutting herself. As I was on my knees listening to her story, I reached to touch her and noticed that her arms looked like a cutting board. Even the cutting doesn't tell the hurt inside her bones---the feelings of worthlessness, the loss and emptiness, needing someone who would listen and touch with the love of the LORD. Some of the cuts on her arm were fresh. Other cuts were a few days older, but the scars in her heart are deeper.
We praise GOD that someone brought her to the Contact family for prayers of encouragement and reminders of what she means to our GOD. It was a joy watching and listening as others shared with this lady about her worth, her importance, and her need to share her love with others...
Another precious sister who has been baptized into CHRIST continues to arrive for services. She has been homeless all of her life, that's all she has ever known. She might be 23-24 years of age. She told me she had been an orphan all her life (I can't identify with that). Always having a warrant out for her arrest, she couldn't remember a time when the police were not hunting her down. She needed guidance and thought she could find it in men. "I needed someone to love me for who I am, unconditionally and to tell me about GOD," she said. She was brought to Contact by a guy. She is now pregnant and he's not the daddy. She doesn't remember who the swinging dad is, so this cat dumped her. He's struggling. They both continue to come to Contact because they love the family of GOD...So goes the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Amen? We continue seeking to settle souls into the arms of our EVERLASTING FATHER.
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:9-10, NIV).
I want to share a few words from Ron Babbit's newsletter to his supporters. Ron is our preacher in the Contact Church of Christ. He has a way with words and a way with people. If you are investing in his ministry, you are investing well in the kingdom of Christ. He is one of the most effective ministers I have ever seen, and he works with people with some of the most difficult problems.
When I became involved in urban ministry, I had an idea that we would be a little soft on biblical teaching while emphasizing feeding and clothing. I had a seeker-sensitive mindset, fearing that people would be offended by a direct presentation of Christ's gospel. I also thought that people would be turned away by teaching biblical ethics. Ron Babbit and Frank Lott have shown me that I was wrong. We do meet a lot of physical needs among the poor of Tulsa, but we see many people who are looking for God and God's directions for living. Merely feeding and clothing them would be a terrible disservice to them and to Christ.
Last week, Ron preached about King David's sins against Uriah, Bathsheba, and God. In his sermon, he challenged our congregation to turn away from laziness, drinking, drugs, pornography, sexual immorality, and immodest clothing. He pointed everyone toward the forgiveness we need in Christ. At least six people responded, asking for help and prayers. God has gifted him with the ability to confront people in a way that assures them that he cares about them.
Here are just a few stories from his newsletter:
This last week a lady responded to the LORD and shared this letter. "My dear friends at Contact, I want to thank you for teaching me about faith, patience and how great the love of GOD is. Three months ago I had no income, no idea of where I would live when my lease was up, and where my next meal was coming from. Thanks to you all showing me GOD's way, I now have a wonderful home, all the food I could want and more chances to share GOD'S WORD than I ever imagined. I am so blessed by GOD's love and so very grateful to all of you at Contact for helping me through my pain and fear and for all the love you have shown me. Thank you."
This sister brought to Contact a lady who has been faithfully cutting herself. As I was on my knees listening to her story, I reached to touch her and noticed that her arms looked like a cutting board. Even the cutting doesn't tell the hurt inside her bones---the feelings of worthlessness, the loss and emptiness, needing someone who would listen and touch with the love of the LORD. Some of the cuts on her arm were fresh. Other cuts were a few days older, but the scars in her heart are deeper.
We praise GOD that someone brought her to the Contact family for prayers of encouragement and reminders of what she means to our GOD. It was a joy watching and listening as others shared with this lady about her worth, her importance, and her need to share her love with others...
Another precious sister who has been baptized into CHRIST continues to arrive for services. She has been homeless all of her life, that's all she has ever known. She might be 23-24 years of age. She told me she had been an orphan all her life (I can't identify with that). Always having a warrant out for her arrest, she couldn't remember a time when the police were not hunting her down. She needed guidance and thought she could find it in men. "I needed someone to love me for who I am, unconditionally and to tell me about GOD," she said. She was brought to Contact by a guy. She is now pregnant and he's not the daddy. She doesn't remember who the swinging dad is, so this cat dumped her. He's struggling. They both continue to come to Contact because they love the family of GOD...So goes the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Amen? We continue seeking to settle souls into the arms of our EVERLASTING FATHER.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer
Last week, Janet, Christopher, and I saw Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer, the second in the series of movies based on the comic book. This movie was quite a bit better than the original.
I have always been a fan of the Silver Surfer. He struck a deal to be the slave of a world-devouring monster so that his girlfriend and home planet would be spared. As a result, he roams the galaxy looking for worlds with life-energy for his master, Galactus, to consume. I always found his story to be an interesting moral dilemma for a comic book to explore. (Is the Silver Surfer a villain or a hero? It depends on which planet you live on...Earth or his home world.) I was reminded of our world's child soldiers, the poor and homeless orphans who are kidnapped and forced to serve in corrupt militias around the world (look around http://www.worldvision.org for more information about child soldiers). They commit horrible acts, but they are doing so because of the evil men who have enslaved them.
I liked how Susan Storm convinced the Silver Surfer in the movie that he had a choice. He did not need to serve Galactus. He could choose to save Earth. Sometimes we need the encouragement of others to do the right thing.
I also appreciated the wish of Susan and Reed to live a normal life together. In the end, they chose to use their powers to protect and benefit humanity, even though it meant living as celebrities without the privacy and anonymity of a private life. Their sense of responsibility reminded me of the message of the Spider-Man movies and comic books ("With great power comes great responsibility").
I like good summer action movies, and I thought that this was a good one. I enjoyed it as much as Alien vs. Predator from a few years ago (and that one was surprisingly good). In addition, Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer promoted good, solid, ethical ideals...choosing to do good even when it meant sacrifice, and a strong sense of social responsibility over personal self-interests). It was worth seeing.
I have always been a fan of the Silver Surfer. He struck a deal to be the slave of a world-devouring monster so that his girlfriend and home planet would be spared. As a result, he roams the galaxy looking for worlds with life-energy for his master, Galactus, to consume. I always found his story to be an interesting moral dilemma for a comic book to explore. (Is the Silver Surfer a villain or a hero? It depends on which planet you live on...Earth or his home world.) I was reminded of our world's child soldiers, the poor and homeless orphans who are kidnapped and forced to serve in corrupt militias around the world (look around http://www.worldvision.org for more information about child soldiers). They commit horrible acts, but they are doing so because of the evil men who have enslaved them.
I liked how Susan Storm convinced the Silver Surfer in the movie that he had a choice. He did not need to serve Galactus. He could choose to save Earth. Sometimes we need the encouragement of others to do the right thing.
I also appreciated the wish of Susan and Reed to live a normal life together. In the end, they chose to use their powers to protect and benefit humanity, even though it meant living as celebrities without the privacy and anonymity of a private life. Their sense of responsibility reminded me of the message of the Spider-Man movies and comic books ("With great power comes great responsibility").
I like good summer action movies, and I thought that this was a good one. I enjoyed it as much as Alien vs. Predator from a few years ago (and that one was surprisingly good). In addition, Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer promoted good, solid, ethical ideals...choosing to do good even when it meant sacrifice, and a strong sense of social responsibility over personal self-interests). It was worth seeing.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
A cappella Worship Music
"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19, NIV).
In the Churches of Christ, we have maintained an ancient tradition of singing worship music without instrumental accompaniment. In many congregations, the music has been outstanding by any standard.
I was aware that a few other churches share the same musical tradition. In an interesting article in this month's Christian Chronicle, Bobby Ross reports on a gathering of those groups at Pepperdine University for a symposium of sacred a cappella music. (See the article at http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=742). I was intrigued by the perspectives of Eastern Orthodox Churches, Mennonite Churches, Churches of Christ, and a few Presbyterian and Baptist Churches. I did not realize that such diverse theological traditions share a common musical tradition (although each may have distinctive styles within the a cappella tradition).
In recent years, Jenks Church (our former congregation), the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth, the Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Northwest Church in Seattle, and a few other Churches of Christ have added a worship service in which instrumental music is used. However, I believe that each congregation has maintained an a cappella service, too. As unity among the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches is being re-established, I would love to hear about a few Christian Churches adopting a cappella services in their line-up of worship service options, too. It is a good tradition, and it would be nice to share it with other Christians who are not accustomed to it. (To be honest, Amazing Grace should never be sung with instrumental accompaniment.)
In the Churches of Christ, we have maintained an ancient tradition of singing worship music without instrumental accompaniment. In many congregations, the music has been outstanding by any standard.
I was aware that a few other churches share the same musical tradition. In an interesting article in this month's Christian Chronicle, Bobby Ross reports on a gathering of those groups at Pepperdine University for a symposium of sacred a cappella music. (See the article at http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=742). I was intrigued by the perspectives of Eastern Orthodox Churches, Mennonite Churches, Churches of Christ, and a few Presbyterian and Baptist Churches. I did not realize that such diverse theological traditions share a common musical tradition (although each may have distinctive styles within the a cappella tradition).
In recent years, Jenks Church (our former congregation), the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth, the Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Northwest Church in Seattle, and a few other Churches of Christ have added a worship service in which instrumental music is used. However, I believe that each congregation has maintained an a cappella service, too. As unity among the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches is being re-established, I would love to hear about a few Christian Churches adopting a cappella services in their line-up of worship service options, too. It is a good tradition, and it would be nice to share it with other Christians who are not accustomed to it. (To be honest, Amazing Grace should never be sung with instrumental accompaniment.)
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Trouble Sleeping?
Phil Ware has a very good article with several Scriptural citations about the blessing of sleep on Heartlight's web site. It may be viewed at http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200706/20070625_sleep.html. If you have trouble staying asleep as I sometimes do, I think that reading the Scriptures that he cites (and meditating on them) may be helpful.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Attractive Holiness
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-16, NASB).
In his excellent book about the Bible's book of James, Growing Slowly Wise: Building a Faith that Works, author David Roper writes,
"Despite James' somewhat distracting tendency to shuttle readily from one topic to another, however, there is one clear theme that warps its way through the woof of his writing. It is that good old word, holiness. James would have us 'holy as God is holy.'
"Holiness is a dull word these days, conjuring up images of fusty, finger-wagging prigs, who are good in the worst sense of the word, men and women with sullen, morose faces, full of rectitude and rigid duty, 'on hold for the next life,' as a Washington Post writer once put it.
"True holiness, however, is anything but dull. It is startling and arresting. It's more than being decent, good, ethical, and upright. It has that aspect the Bible calls 'the beauty of holiness.' It is what Paul has in mind when he calls on us to 'adorn the gospel' (Titus 2:10).
"Likewise, Peter writes, 'Live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us' (1 Peter 2:12) The word, here twice-translated 'good,' means 'something beautify to see.'
"This is the picture of holiness James draws for us, a portrayal that fascinates us and awakens us to the hope that we can be more than we ever hoped to be; that we too can live lives of uncommon beauty and grace. It can happen as we humbly receive it. 'The LORD...will beautify the humble,' Israel's poet assures us (Psalm 149:4).
"This is also the picture of holiness that can fascinate our unbelieving friends and awaken in them the hope that there may, after all, be something more.
"Most people long for truth and righteousness, though that desire is often frustrated by what they see in certain Christians whom they perceive as self-righteous, rigid, loveless, humorless, folks who never crack a smile, who can't abide a joke. As Anthony Trollope said of his qualmish Miss Thorne, '(Her) virtues are too numerous to describe, and not sufficiently interesting to deserve description.' The oddball behavior of such people only puts off the watching world. Such 'virtue' is far less interesting to unbelievers than vice, with the result being that they cling to their vices though they may hate them. They are overthrown not by the devil but by Christians they know. Joy Davidman puts a fine point on it when she writes, 'One sanctimonious (Christian) makes a hundred unbelievers.
"Sad to say, few have seen the real thing---that extraordinary quality of life of which James speaks, which can only be described as 'beautiful.' Would that you and I had it. 'If only 10% of the world's population (did),' C.S. Lewis once mused, 'would not the world be converted and happy before a year's end?'"
In his excellent book about the Bible's book of James, Growing Slowly Wise: Building a Faith that Works, author David Roper writes,
"Despite James' somewhat distracting tendency to shuttle readily from one topic to another, however, there is one clear theme that warps its way through the woof of his writing. It is that good old word, holiness. James would have us 'holy as God is holy.'
"Holiness is a dull word these days, conjuring up images of fusty, finger-wagging prigs, who are good in the worst sense of the word, men and women with sullen, morose faces, full of rectitude and rigid duty, 'on hold for the next life,' as a Washington Post writer once put it.
"True holiness, however, is anything but dull. It is startling and arresting. It's more than being decent, good, ethical, and upright. It has that aspect the Bible calls 'the beauty of holiness.' It is what Paul has in mind when he calls on us to 'adorn the gospel' (Titus 2:10).
"Likewise, Peter writes, 'Live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us' (1 Peter 2:12) The word, here twice-translated 'good,' means 'something beautify to see.'
"This is the picture of holiness James draws for us, a portrayal that fascinates us and awakens us to the hope that we can be more than we ever hoped to be; that we too can live lives of uncommon beauty and grace. It can happen as we humbly receive it. 'The LORD...will beautify the humble,' Israel's poet assures us (Psalm 149:4).
"This is also the picture of holiness that can fascinate our unbelieving friends and awaken in them the hope that there may, after all, be something more.
"Most people long for truth and righteousness, though that desire is often frustrated by what they see in certain Christians whom they perceive as self-righteous, rigid, loveless, humorless, folks who never crack a smile, who can't abide a joke. As Anthony Trollope said of his qualmish Miss Thorne, '(Her) virtues are too numerous to describe, and not sufficiently interesting to deserve description.' The oddball behavior of such people only puts off the watching world. Such 'virtue' is far less interesting to unbelievers than vice, with the result being that they cling to their vices though they may hate them. They are overthrown not by the devil but by Christians they know. Joy Davidman puts a fine point on it when she writes, 'One sanctimonious (Christian) makes a hundred unbelievers.
"Sad to say, few have seen the real thing---that extraordinary quality of life of which James speaks, which can only be described as 'beautiful.' Would that you and I had it. 'If only 10% of the world's population (did),' C.S. Lewis once mused, 'would not the world be converted and happy before a year's end?'"
Friday, June 22, 2007
Contact Church in the Christian Chronicle
Erik Tryggestad has written an article in the Christian Chronicle about how and why Churches of Christ lose a large percentage of our young people after high school. In the article, the Contact Church of Christ gets mentioned because Mr. Tryggestad was interviewing members of the group from Florida who come to help us with our summer camp. The article may be read at http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=736.
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