Now What?

We just finished celebrating our nation’s 250^th anniversary. I assume many of us got together with family and friends, attended parades, watched fireworks displays, and clothed ourselves in red, white, and blue.

With the festivities having concluded – now what?

Hopefully we continue to be thankful for our freedoms, participate in our democracy, and enjoy the blessings of living in the USA. It is easy to take for granted all that it means to live in America in the times that we do. It is easy to take for granted all the sacrifices that have been made for us to get to this point. That is why it is good to remember; good to celebrate.

There is a strong parallel to our Christian faith too. For those who believe in Jesus, we can easily take for granted all the blessings God has given us – forgiveness, victory over sin and death, being adopted into His family etc.

I find it helpful to remember that my salvation is not just a past event. It is also a present process and a future promise too.

Sometimes I take for granted that our salvation has a past, present, and future aspect to it. We have been saved, we are being saved, we will be saved.

It is easy to only dwell on the past aspect of our salvation. For many of us it was a momentous decision. Whatever it looked like - praying a prayer, walking an aisle, in a big crowd, or all alone – committing our life to Christ saves us from sin’s penalty and power. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, we have been saved from sin. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved…”. Salvation is something we can claim and possess by trusting in Jesus.

But it is also a path we walk on. Paul says in Philippians 2:12-13, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…”. He says something similar in his first letter to the Corinthians, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1:18). Theologians call this the process of sanctification, where God conforms us more and more into the likeness of Christ.

The past and present aspects of salvation assure us that we have been saved and we are being saved. And the future aspect of our salvation is what we have to look forward to. It is the completion of our salvation, where all the promises of God will be realized, we will be perfected, and sin will be no more.

Romans 5:9-10 brings the whole process together, summarizing it this way: “Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?”

We have a glorious future ahead of us. Our past has been forgiven by God, our present is empowered by God, and our future will be with God. The past, present, and future aspects of our salvation are the ultimate blessings to celebrate, enjoy, and share with those around us. Let’s never lose sight of those truths and never take them for granted.

 

 

 

 

More Than You Can Chew

 

 Have you ever volunteered for something only to realize it was much more of significant task than  what you anticipated?

I recently had that happen. It wasn’t exactly “volunteering” but I had accepted the offer to teach a class at Grace College as an adjunct professor. The class would be a two-week module after the regular semester had finished.

At one point I was told the class would be cancelled due to low enrollment, only to find out a month before that it was back on. I knew it was a theology class – and I love theology – so what could go wrong?

Well, as I prepared for this, I began to realize I may have bitten off more than I could chew. Four hours a day, Monday through Friday, for two weeks, lecturing and discussing Christian theology. I realized the students would be “drinking from a fire hose” in many ways – and I might just be doing the same if I wanted to make the course engaging and encouraging.

I must give props to the former teacher and local pastor Pat Park for giving me his time-tested insights on how to lead these students. The students themselves were not Bible majors but needed the course for their future graduation. They proved to be good listeners, have inquisitive minds, and were very teachable.

We came together as professor and students to grapple with complex doctrines like the character of God, the nature of sin, and what Scripture says about future events/ It was not easy as a teacher nor I’m sure for the students to work through dense but fundamental elements of faith in the schedule we had.

Having completed the course, the applications and greater understanding from the class proved to be worth the density of the course pace. From my teacher’s seat, it helped me streamline my communication to effectively teach biblical truth in a way that made sense. I had the freedom to share different perspectives on certain subjects and that helped us all learn how to think through our faith. I find that the “how” is just as important as the “what”. If the steps are sound arriving at a conviction or conclusion, then I can trust the Spirit of God to have led no matter the results or conclusion that was actually reached.

All in all, there are times in life when it can be a healthy thing to “bite off more than you can chew”. If we don’t push ourselves, will we really ever grow or mature? If we don’t try hard things, what sort of accomplishments will we ever achieve?

These questions will readily apply to many facets of our lives: education, professional development, relationships et al. Let me directly apply it to our spiritual lives. As we all head into this summer, my prayer is that it would be a summer of growth for you. I would encourage you to push yourself to understand God in a greater way. Challenge yourself to spend more time in his Word, prayer, service, and worship. Read big books that feel like that “fire hose”. Study those faith concepts that aren’t quite crystal clear to you. Engage in small group or individual discussions that are geared to apply the things of Jesus.

My hope is that you will look back on that journey much like I do with this theology class – recognizing the hard work it took but grateful for the rewarding results that came from it.

 

 (this article was originally written for our local Mail-Journal paper in Milford)

What Moved Me in 2025

We have arrived at the end of another calendar year. 

2025 was quite a year for sure. 

Over the last couple weeks, as I've been reflecting on all that transpired in and around my life, I found myself remembering all the big and little things that moved me.

As he was fighting a losing battle with cancer some 30 some years ago, Jim Valvano gave a rousing speech that is famous for his ending mantra, "Don't give up, don't ever give up". At the beginning of this address, he mentions three things people should do every day of their lives, "laugh", "think", and "have our emotions moved to tears". If we do that every day, Valvano states, "that's a FULL day".

It is in that vein that I offer this list of things that stand out to me from 2025 because they made me laugh, think, or moved me to tears. Some of this list was inspirational, some involved pain, some of these things just left an imprint on my soul. Some were a mix of all of the above and more.

I offer three general things and then three specific things that really moved me this past year.

Generally: 

• Family - Our boys are growing up, with both now in elementary school. The development of their character and personality is a joy. Make no mistake, parenting two boys under 8 is exhausting but has special moments all the time. Family life was also filled with challenges too. My wife had significant health struggles. My mom did as well. Family is an area I see God constantly refining me in my own sanctification. But in my weakness, He is strong. 
• Funerals - I recently attended the memorial service of the former president of my alma mater, whom I'd had as a professor and whom I'd also worked under for a time. He was a man of sterling faithfulness and we celebrated that. That experience reminded me of the other funerals I officiated and attended this year. Good people with good legacies. Life is fleeting and I appreciate the reminder that this life is not all there is - and that Jesus has conquered the formidable enemy we all have.
• Pastoral Ministry - Tomorrow marks 13 years of serving at Milford First Brethren Church. It has been so rewarding, such a blessing. We are a smaller, aging congregation with plenty of limitations and weaknesses. But we make a difference in our community and beyond. It is such a joy to see God work in people's lives and to be a conduit for God's grace to those inside and outside the church. And even personally, God has shown up as I've led, studied, and proclaimed his Word at various points. Those moments keep me going.

Specifically:

• Andrew Peterson's "A Liturgy, A Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins" album. This album is a recording of a live concert he did along with numerous musician friends as a tribute to the CCM legend. Mullins has long been an artist whom I deeply respected and the older I get, the more I appreciate his catalog. Few people could credibly take on this kind of tribute while matching the "heart" of Mullins - and Peterson is certainly one of those few. The entire album honors and celebrates one of the all-time albums in Christian Music history and leaves you not just grateful for Mullins - but drawn to Jesus. And that's just how Rich would have wanted it.
• "Downstairs" - Twenty One Pilots - This song stands on a drastically different end of the musical spectrum as Peterson/Mullins but it reflects a similar spiritual perspective. Twenty One Pilots are a band who transparently wear their heart on their sleeve in so many of their songs all of their art. This one is particularly raw, and humble, and lamenting, and doubtful, and worshipful. These lyrics in particular will both haunt me and be part of my own prayers for a long time:

You can have all I've made and all I've ever known
You can have both my lungs if you ask me so
'Cause I-I-I want to be the one after your own heart
And I-I-I might doubt the process like I doubted the start

        When you can find multiple videos of vocal coaches and musical analysts getting emotion                     themselves over the content and construct of this song, you know it is something special.

•  "Wake Up, Dead Man" - This movie, now streaming on Netflix, is the best portrayal of the Christian faith that I have seen in a long, long time. It pulls no punches in its honest portrayal of the strengths and the weaknesses of Christianity (western, evangelical and Catholic). It is impossible to miss the critique of the growing power-hungry passion that has taken over many who call themselves Christian. It is also impossible to miss the beauty of Christ-like service and devotion that is portrayed too. This is the third of the popular "Knives Out" franchise that features detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) solving a crime in a dramatic fashion. This installment however flips the narrative on its head from what we've come to expect from these "whodunnit" movies. And in doing so, it leaves room for the truth of the Gospel to land powerfully. The director Rian Johnson is a former evangelical who no longer professes to be a Christian. In the hands of another with his background, one would expect a scathing rebuke. Instead, he offers an accurate depiction of the way of Christ in the face of brokenness, corruption, and shame.

Bold Humility

 

I was recently at a pastors conference and the speaker challenged us to embrace to seemingly opposite qualities – boldness and humility.

In many ways those are opposites. But they can be complimentary in the lives of pastors and non-pastors alike. 

I won’t rehash someone else’s ideas but the point was to have boldness and confidence in proclaiming Jesus and serving him. At the same time, we must also embrace humility as we imitate Christ’s selflessness in the way we live. 

Bold humility is not an oxymoron when we define our terms. Our confidence is not an arrogance founded on our own merits. It is based solely on our risen Savior (see Philippians 3:7-11). Our humility is not a self-denigrating, “woe is me” attitude either. It is rooted in a gratitude for all God has done for us.

These twin traits can be balanced with a healthy self-awareness. It is easy to let boldness become pride if we lose sight of Christ our foundation. Being aware of our own hearts can operate like a thermometer, alerting us to when we’ve drifted too far into self-focus instead of being Savior-focused.

When in balance, we can boldly “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:14). As we press on, we can do so with a uniform of humility. As Peter says, “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

In our relationships, in our anxious circumstances, in our uncertainties, it is a courageous and bold endeavor to humbly trust God and his will.

One new song expresses this balance of boldness and humility well. Twenty One Pilots are not a Christian band per se, but in their single “Downstairs” they begin and end the song by saying “Cause I want to be the one after your own heart, and I might doubt the process like I doubted the start.” The bold declaration to be marked as David, “a man after God’s own heart” is tempered with the humble admission of doubt and struggle.

Maybe in your spiritual journey you don’t resonate with that tension. I certainly do. Yet I will continue to boldly trust Christ, even in the struggles. Because I know they exist in part to humble me and remind me of my need for God’s grace.

God’s grace is such a beautiful gift, granting us confidence but keeping us humble. May we all live boldly and humbly for Him.

Getting Rid of Good People

Milford First Brethren, the church I’ve pastored for 12 years, is not a large church by any metric. We love each other, love our community, and generally try NOT to run people off.

Recently we had to do just that. Ultimately though it is an occasion to celebrate. Having said that, maybe I should elaborate a little further. 

Duane and Lori Harmon have been faithful members of our church for a while now. Even before attending our church, one ministry passion they had was routinely serving on work team projects at Riverside Christian School in Lost Creek Kentucky. Riverside was created in 1905 by The Brethren Church as an educational ministry to those living in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky. The school seeks to be a beacon of light in an area ravaged by poverty and economic downturns.

Earlier this year, the Harmon’s felt the Lord directing them to a bigger commitment to serving the school. Apparently, a sermon I preached on Abraham following God into the unknown was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’. Shortly after, they told me and announced to our church that they were moving down to Kentucky for the school year. Duane, a retired licensed plumber and farmer, is focused on building and grounds projects while Lori is working in family and community relations position to better assist the families of the students.

So given the obvious move of the Spirit, we had no choice but to “get rid of them”. At the end of August, we officially said goodbye, praying for and commissioning them for this work. I hate to see good people leave, but I am so thankful for the reason for their departure.

God has already been providing for them, from a friend’s semi-truck trailer to carry all of Duane’s equipment in one trip, to the work being accomplished, and of course the friendships that are being made.

In the middle of all of this, I had to remind myself and our congregation, we are not “losing” the Harmon’s. We are sending them off to serve as our ministry hands and feet. I would not normally say this, but it fills my heart with joy to get rid of these good people.

 

 

 

For the Skeptic

  (The following is an article I wrote for our local newspaper, the Mail-Journal) 

I am an admitted skeptic. It feels naturally ingrained but maybe I took all the “critical thinking” exercises too seriously in my education. Maybe life has taught me it is more fun to play the “devil’s advocate” role. 

This character trait can certainly make living into my vocation as a pastor interesting for sure. My own natural skepticism certainly makes me sensitive to those outside my Christian faith – and our world does not lack for critics and doubters of Christianity. Unfortunately, we Christians can provide them with plenty of ammunition unnecessarily with our failures, our stupidity, and our hypocrisy. On that front, my goal is to simply do my best to avoid those kinds of mistakes myself.

In cases of skeptics who question more fundamental aspects of the Christian faith, my goal is to listen to their questions and consider how I might answer or how the Church has historically responded to those issues.

Some Christians seem afraid of hard questions or apparent inconsistencies or irrational claims Scripture poses. I mean, walking on water? Who’d believe in that?

Instead of being afraid or avoiding skeptics, I find encouragement in the story of James in the New Testament. I’m not talking about either of the disciples who had that name, I’m referring to Jesus’ brother (Matthew 13:55). James goes through a pretty fascinating transformation if we trace his story through the New Testament.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%2C_brother_of_Jesus

He and Jesus’ other siblings are described as concerned about Jesus’ early Messianic activities in Mark 3:31-35. They are even described as unbelieving in John 7:5. Yet as the story of the early Church unfolds in the book of Acts, James appears as a main leader of this new Christian movement (Acts 1:14, 12:17, Acts 15:13-21, see also Galatians 2:9-12).

So what do we make of the change? How did that happen?

We are not given all of the details, but it is pretty obvious what the inflection point was.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that after he rose from the dead, Jesus “…appeared to James, then to all the apostles”. We are not given any recorded details about it, just that it happened.

Incredibly, encountering the risen Jesus changed James from being a skeptic to a committed follower. He, along with the rest of his family are identified as participating in the disciples’ gatherings in the days after Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:14). His writings made it into the canon of Scripture (see the book of James). His character earned him the privilege to be the overseer of the church in Jersualem until his death in the early 60’s AD. Church tradition shares that he was such a prayer warrior, he was known to have “camel knees” – calloused from spending so much time in prayer.

Jesus’ resurrection may be the most “unbelievable” of miracles for any skeptic. But what if it is true? James’ testimony sure supports its veracity.

So for any skeptic out there, let me encourage you to look into Jesus’ death and resurrection. It won’t solve all your problems or answer every difficult question. But it will introduce you to the One who knows and cares about your problems and understands your questions. And he’s done something quite miraculous about those things.

Jesus Changes Things

 (The following is an article I wrote for our local newspaper, the Mail-Journal) 

One of the most powerful books in the Bible is also one of the shortest books in the Bible.

There are several short books in Scripture I could be referring to, but the one I have in mind is Philemon. It is a letter that I have grown to love, written by Paul to a friend named Philemon.

I call it one of the most powerful books for a few reasons. First, it contains the seed principles that led to the abolition of slavery in the modern world. Second, it deftly navigates a complicated and potentially combustible situation. And third, Paul navigates this successfully because he maintains a focus on Christ and what it means to follow him.

If you don’t know the background, Philemon had a slave in his household in Colossae named Onesimus who apparently stole from his master and ran away. Onesimus connected with Paul who was imprisoned in Rome. Onesimus came to faith in Jesus and was now returning with one of Paul’s representatives back to Colossae and his master.

Can you feel the tension of that situation?

Philemon could demand harsh punishment of Onesimus. Paul could demand Philemon obey his instructions. But we don’t get any sense of authoritative pressure or ultimatums from this letter.

Instead, we see Paul calling Philemon to remember the faith he professes and the Christian community he is a part of. Paul graciously highlights how Jesus completely changes how we relate to one another. Any demands he might make, any entitlements Philemon may assume – they are all set aside because of the unity and love we have for one another as followers of Jesus.

“I could order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love” is what Paul says in verses 8-9. Philemon shouldn’t view him as a servant any longer, “but better than a slave, as a dear brother…as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord” (vs.16). In verse 21 he adds, “confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”

Jesus changes how we relate to one another. We should not demand all the rights we are entitled to over and against others. We should respond to offenses with forgiveness rather than revenge.

Warning: forgiveness like what is being called for here is NOT EASY. In theory everyone affirms forgiveness as a virtue. But to give grace to people who’ve materially or emotionally hurt us? That takes a work of God in our hearts and minds. And it usually takes time to process.

Justice may still be called for and consequences may still be necessary to enforce. Forgiveness and justice are not mutually exclusive. Notice Paul promises to repay Philemon for anything he has lost in vs. 19. But when sincere repentance is present, restoration and reconciliation can rebuild what has been lost or broken.

Jesus changes how we relate to one other. The labels the world applies, the records people keep, the rights others demand – all can be set aside when the transforming redemption of Jesus makes its presence felt in our lives.

 

 

Not as it seems...

"Don't judge a book by its cover."

"Appearances can be deceiving."

"Things are not always what they seem."

We have all heard those those common platitudes for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. I think I found a new context for them though: Easter.

We are working through Luke's Gospel at our church and the way Luke has been portraying Jesus' final days - and even his death - has reminded me of how with God's plan, things aren't always how they appear to be. 

A couple parts stick out to me as "seeming" to be one thing but a totally different reality is true. 

Jesus' Trials - Who is in control?

This is certainly true of Jesus' arrest and trials (Luke 22:47-23:25). The Sanhedrin lead the way to apprehend Jesus and they do their best to trump up charges against him. Pilate and Herod also get their chances to evaluate him as political authorities. While they find him innocent, it is the crowds (compelled by the religious leaders) who stir things up so much that Pilate finds no other choice than to go against his judgment and send Jesus to the cross. 

In all of this, Jesus remains steadfast. He quickly shuts down Peter's attempt to fight the arresting party in the Garden. He affirms the truth even when it makes things worse for him. And as he hangs on the cross, it is Jesus himself who gives up his own spirit. His life is not taken from him, he relinquishes it on his own accord. 

He wrestled with his destiny in the Garden. Now, when his end draws near, he willingly and willfully completes his agonizing mission.

Appearances can be deceiving. The political powers may seem to be controlling these events but God is the one pulling the strings. As John records Jesus saying, 
"Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."

Jesus' Death - An Unjust, Tragic Loss of Life?

From just the facts of this case, Jesus' execution by the Romans seems to be an awful travesty of justice. Herod and Pilate all find him innocent. One of the criminals hanging next to him recognizes his righteousness. And the centurion in charge of the crucifixion realizes Jesus was the guiltless Son of God. 

Even in the death scene itself, Luke describes a scene actually filled with grace, hope, and life. Jesus comforts (and warns) the mourners on his way to Golgotha (23:26-31). He forgives those who are killing him and grants salvation to the penitent thief dying next to him (23:32-43). 

Beyond the physical event, we know that spiritually his death purchases our redemption, satisfies God's justice, and provides eternal life through faith (Mark 10:45, Rom. 3:25, John 3:16). 

The cruel injustice that he endured provided our salvation. 

Saturday and Sunday - Dark Times of Sorrow?

Luke ends the Crucifixion account by mentioning the women disciples who were observing his death and his burial. He pivots immediately to the resurrection by describing these same women as they prepare to anoint Jesus' body after the Sabbath has ended.

Their actions/reactions are normal and honorable. And yet their grief is about to be transformed. 

For it was over Saturday and the early morning hours that God was vindicating his Son and redeeming humanity. By the time the women get to the tomb, Jesus was raised - and when he was raised, he once for all conquered sin and death. 

What seemed like a terrible loss was actually an occasion for the greatest victory God could have accomplished. 

The Passion Week and Easter itself offer so many examples of how God's plan included reversals, upended expectations, and reality not being how things appeared to be. 

Paul has this in mind when he says in 1 Corinthians 1:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."

I am used to the changes of moods that accompany this Holy Week. Christians appropriately transition from somberness, to lament, to celebration as we remember what Christ went through. However this year, these highlights from Luke's Gospel have given me a more consistent joyful perspective. We can be eternally grateful that in the apparent "defeat", God was working out our redemptive victory.

Bragging...about what God has done

 * The following is an article written for our local Mail-Journal newspaper this week as part of the "Church" section of which I am a regular contributor.

-----------------------------------------

Boasting and bragging are not typically traits Christians seek to be known for. And having lived my entire life in Indiana and Ohio, I certainly know that boasting is not something our Midwestern culture appreciates.

Yet I would like to take this opportunity to do a little bragging, bragging in what God has done. A few months ago, our church secretary mentioned an idea regarding honoring all the people who volunteer and serve in our church. It seemed like a worthwhile concept and so we started planning a dinner celebration. In the course of our preparation, we went through our regular attenders and members at Milford First Brethren. Low and behold, after going through the list, we discovered that EVERYONE who regularly attended and/or was a member served in some capacity with our church’s ministries.

That was both surprising and not surprising. We are not a large church by any means, so to an extent, we need everyone to pitch in at times. But it is an incredible blessing that both the old and young have found ways to serve.

As the pastor, I cannot take credit for this even if I wanted to. Instead I find myself echoing the apostle Paul’s words in a couple of his New Testament writings. In 2 Corinthians 10:17, he quotes Jeremiah when he says, “But ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’”. And in Romans 15:17, he says, “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.” I find myself in full agreement with his perspective. I can’t brag about my own achievements or even about my people’s service per se. I can brag about the work God has done in their hearts and lives to lead them to this kind of service as a community of believers to the community around them.

Our celebration was a delightful evening. We catered some BBQ and had some terrific desserts. My good friend, Pastor Tim Sprankle from Leesburg shared a word of encouragement and we were also treated to a country music concert by Jim Olson, brother of one of our deacons who has recorded several albums as a solo artist.

I will remember that evening for a long time, not just for the event itself, but for what it represents – God working among his people to invest in His Kingdom in simple, tangible ways.

Happy Anniversary to me!

Twelve years ago, January 1, 2013, I officially started as pastor at Milford First Brethren Church. 

If my memory serves me correctly, I did go into the office that New Year's Day. A few days later, I started this blog. As you can see from that link, I was much more active back then with my blog posts.

Many things have changed with me, my family, and our church for sure. Through it all, God has been faithful and good. We have seen him at work in some special ways here in Milford. 

Today, I thought I'd share some reflections that have been sitting in the back of my mind for quite awhile but have only probably recently thought about connecting all the dots.

And they truly are reflections - looking back at God's hand in guiding and preparing me for these last 12 years. See, if you've ever read this blog before, you know the influence Christian music has had on my life. It's a favorite subject of mine - and while I am no longer someone who is on top of every new act or group, it is still an interest of mine.

And as I've reflected on God's guidance on my life to this point, I've realized that there were some particular songs that prepared me, almost subconsciously, for serving here in Milford. I was thinking about this awhile ago and realized there were 3-4 songs (plus one honorable mention) that were not big hits, but caught my attention in my college and seminary years where I was studying for pastoral ministry. Several months ago I wrote out my list and subsequently lost it but I rewrote it and will share it below. I feel compelled to say that I think my original list included another song that I just can recall.

But here are some Christian pop/rock songs that honor small-town ministry and being faithful in relative obscurity. These have always encouraged me lest I get envious or coveting greener pastures.

A Sermon Snippet about a Music Monday

 Ok, it's not Monday. But this blog started with two themes. I originally wrote either about stuff I found interesting in my sermon prep or about music.

Today, I dust off the mothballs of both of those subjects in a special combo post.

This coming Sunday I'll be preaching on Luke 14:1-24 which includes Jesus' parable about a banquet. The story he tells describes a man inviting his friends to a celebration. But the story takes a turn:

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.

The host then sends his emissaries out to gather up anyone and everyone to his banquet. Jesus then gives away some of the symbolism by concluding that "not one of those who were invited will be invited will get a taste of my banquet."

The story conveys God's fervent desire to bring in people to his future Kingdom banquet of blessing. But it also highlights the "good" excuses many employ to avoid committing to Christ and His Kingdom.

At face value, you wouldn't think this is a natural passage for a song. 

But you would be wrong. Thanks to my second and third grade education at Warsaw Christian School, I have this earworm permanently lodged in my brain:

It's catchy, memorable, and upbeat - even if the content isn't exactly truly happy-happy-joy-joy.

The cartoon animation artwork was not part of the presentation in the late 80's/early 90's but it's perfectly fitting to my memory. 

I have no deeper thoughts or comments, other than what I'll share in my message. But this is really 10/10, no notes. Cheers to the creative mind that took the challenge of putting this parable to music and authoring this little ditty. 

Book Review - A White Preacher's Memior: The Montgomery Bus Boycott, Robert S. Graetz, Black Belt Press

 

On a visit a number of years ago to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, I had a fascinating personal experience. In the museum are a number of notable cars, planes, and other vehicles of transportation that have historical significance. One particular bus caught my attention. It was the bus Rosa Parks was riding when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger - an event that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which in turn triggered fresh momentum into the broader Civil Rights movement. 

The bus is open for visitors to board and if my memory serves correctly, the museum has marked the seat she was sitting in that fateful day. I'm not entirely sure why, but I can clearly recall a sense of significance hitting me when I climbed aboard that modest bus and sat in her seat.

Fast forward to 2023 when I discovered that some new friends who had started a Brethren church in Marion Indiana had a special family backstory directly connected to Mrs. Parks, that bus, and that famous part of American history. Our friends David and Sarah Miller planted a house church several years ago after moving for David's job as a chaplain at the local VA hospital. Sarah's father is a retired highly decorated chaplain in the military. But as I got to know the Miller's more, I came to discover her grandfather had been a minister in Montgomery Alabama in the 1950's and personally knew both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr!

Our families got together a month or so ago and Sarah let me borrow her grandfather's biographical account of his time serving a black church as a white pastor. 

Written and published 26 years ago, the account is comprehensive enough to get a good sense of Graetz's life and preparation leading up to his time in Montgomery but specific enough to keep the reader both glued to the story and more informed of the context of those times. It should be noted that Graetz does not filter out the language and racist mockery that was commonplace in that time and space. For instance, "N"-words are not abbreviated (though always used in quotations of the white supremacist opponents), and labels like "colored" and "Negroes" are employed in contextually-appropriate ways (at least in my judgment).

The Graetz's story is fascinating for a variety of reasons. How he as a white minister found himself called and accepted as pastor of an entirely Black church is interesting. His observations as a supporting participant in the Civil Right's movement are as well. The record shows that he was the lone white pastor who supported the bus boycott. He describes the threats and dangers his family and his community faced in frank transparency. I was also drawn to his description of the various arguments that were held up against the Civil Right's push. I couldn't help but recognize how many continue to espouse similar objections to social justice reforms that are being undertaken today. Told by another, this story could easily fall into the trope of a "white Savior" account. But at multiple points, Graetz has enough integrity to commend his African-American brothers and sisters as the true heroes and pioneers, deflecting any magnification of his role. 

This isn't a book one will easily find at Barnes and Noble, but I highly recommend seeking it out and exploring this part of our nation's past in general.

Book Review - Nobody's Mother, Sandra Glahn, IVP Academic

 

One of the most confounding, complicated, and confusing passages in all of Scripture is 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Scholars and theologians have long debated its details and application regarding women in ministry. 

I'm not taking this space to dissect all of the issues at this time. But like the final boss of a video game, the paragraph ends with Paul making the statement that "women will be saved through childbearing". This would be the same Paul famous for developing and proclaiming salvation by faith in Christ. One steeped in modern-day vernacular might be tempted to ask, "what in the world bruh???"

While "Nobody's Mother" does touch on the wide variety of issues in 2:11-15, this book has its greatest relevance on that final gender-role-specific statement. Make no mistake, as cloudy and confusing as these verses are, Dr. Glahn offers critical clarity based on what we know about first century cultural context (I apologize for all the 'C' words). 

This book outlines the various levels of difficulty in interpreting 2:15. But after diagnosing the problems, the author surgically goes to work offering solutions and interpretive answers. She takes advantage of the under-studied world of first-century Ephesus and the cult of Artemis. Good bible students will recognize from passages like Acts 19 that the worship of Artemis was a formidable and popular cultural identification marker in Ephesus. But Dr. Glahn expands upon that premise using historical and extra-biblical records that still exist from that time period. Even architecture and art that remains from that world helps us understand just how entrenched the cult of Artemis was at that time and in that place. 

What I found fascinating was how much additional information we have from discoveries from just the past few decades and how that new information is just now being connected to biblical scholarship. This book puts the pieces together to see a more-coherent picture, offering an very reasonable explanation as to why Paul might tell Timothy and his Ephesian church that "women will be saved through childbearing."

I highly recommend any interested party purchase and read this book for themselves. But here is a summary of what I learned based on her research and conclusions:

• Artemis was among other things a celibate goddess of the hunt and goddess of midwives and childbirth. 
• Against what some have often assumed, she was not a fertility goddess and her temple was not grounds for sacred prostitution. Her cult was not anti-male but it was female-led. 
• Artemis is often called “savior” as protector and warrior who specifically could help deliver women through the childbearing process. 
• Sex and pregnancy were viewed in a somewhat negative or dangerous light by her devotees. This negative impression was based on women's mortality rates during childbirth combined with Artemis' own mythic backstory. The legend states that she was the first born of a set of twins and as an infant observed how her mother strenuously and painfully died to give birth to her twin brother. 
• Her goddess mission then was to help women in the birthing process or provide a quick and painless death if the birth was headed to a tragic end.

As it relates to 1 Timothy 2, I'm convinced of Dr. Glahn's conclusion that can be stated this way:

• Paul's confounding “saved through childbearing” statement is a direct counter to the Artemis myth. Artemis is not a real “savior”. Women Christ-followers can have confidence that Jesus is their hope with respect to the sometimes-dangerous and difficult process of childbirth. Jesus will deliver them, not Artemis. Pregnancy is not a curse, it is a good thing. And our security lies in faithfully following Jesus. Childbirth is not something to fear, for those in Christ have a true Savior.

The book offers other additional relevance for both 1 Timothy 2 and other parts of the New Testament, but I'm especially appreciative of the clarity it brings to a notoriously strange part of Paul's letter.

Book Review - Theologizin' Bigger, Trey Ferguson Lake Drive Books

 

We are all familiar with the axiom, "walk a mile in their shoes". When we observe the cultural battles and conflicts, it seems that it is a principle that is well-known but practiced less and less. As far back as I can remember, God has put opportunities in my path that caused me to get out of my comfort zone. I believe my life is richer for it. 

As it relates to this book, I can remember hosting a prospective seminary student for a visit when I worked at my alma mater in the early 2010s. He was a former professional athlete, a fairly young African-American man who lived just close enough to consider studying at our school. When the topic of who and what our program studied, I remember him listing off a number of pastors and scholars he looked up to. And honestly I didn't recognize any of them. I had visited Black churches and was aware of the general diversity of the American Church. But it was then I realized there was a part of American Christian theology I was wholly unfamiliar with. And my life was poorer for it.

That awareness of my own gap in my theological foundation is part of what drew me to this book. I came across this author on Twitter last year after friends I follow retweeted some of his posts. I have found Trey's humor interesting and theological arguments compelling. 

I'm not always convinced to go as far as he does but I highly value the different perspective he gives. And he pulls no punches and avoids no sacred cows. Read this book or even just his social media posts and you will be challenged to look differently at faith, the Bible, and the world around us.

For me, the penultimate example of this is his chapter "The Church Gotta Pick One" in which he questions whether his readers are striving more after the American Dream or the Kingdom of God.

Two other big ideas resonate with me from this work. I'll summarize them in my own words and hopefully do them justice. 

1. One consistent theme he draws from is the opportunity we have to live in the freedom God provides in Christ. The ways he defines how we might actually "live" in that freedom will stretch us. We'll be uncomfortable and compelled to embrace a counter-cultural path that will force us to face just how ingrained our 'culture' is. 
2. Second, he encourages us to embrace our imaginations to live redemptively in the world we live in. If we do have the Spirit of God in us, our lives won't be cookie-cutter or formulaic. They can be spiritually creative and imaginative. It will also lead us to transforming practical action in our lives.

Those are a couple of my big takeaways but overall I found the book to be engagingly written, with intriguing illustrations that support his points (unsurprisingly, he is a pastor of course). His statement on pg. 157 may encapsulate the book while also serving as a goal to aspire to develop more and more in my own life:

"I am a Christian because the story of Jesus contains truths that have transformed the way I view the world."

Amen. 

Book Review - Savoring Scripture, Andrew Abernethy IVP Academic

 

Right off the bat I should share in interest of full disclosure that I know the author of this book...maybe knew is a better term. To be honest we really don't know each other presently other than interactions on social media. I played basketball against him in college and with his twin brother during that time as well. We spent a week as counselors at a Christian camp one summer in college too. 

Clear as mud, right?

Andrew has gone on to distinguish himself in the academic world of Christendom. Proficient as a scholar, especially in the area of Isaiah and the prophets. 

Savoring Scripture (2022) is broader than that singular genre though. It aims to help its reader be a better student of the Word of God as a whole. As he states in the prologue, this is a book for any believer to learn "how to read the Bible".

Dr. Abernethy offers six helpful steps readers to better relate to Scripture and the Author behind it. They do not come off as rigidly formulaic, but he spends time developing each carefully enough where they separately be used to deepen our love for God and his Word. 

The steps work out like so:

• Posture: We need to evaluate our heart as we approach Scripture and make sure our attitude is one of humility and teachability. 
• Flow: Once a passage has been selected, we need to be sure we understand what's being said and what the main ideas that are being communicated.
• Context: Beyond the particular passage, we need to discern the setting of a passage both of the book and where the book and passage fit historically.
• Whole Bible: This step focuses our attention on how a passage connects to the redemptive arc of Scripture and how, even tangentially, it relates to Christ.
• Savor God: This is a devotional step where we meditate on what we've learned in the above areas and pray to God, considering what we learn about him in the process.
• Faithful Response: This final step assesses how we can apply what we learn from the passage. "What is God calling me to do in and through this passage?"

Going through this book, it fanned a flame in my own heart to break out of stale routines when it came to my own personal time with God's Word. There's a certain liturgy to these steps and I appreciate how each carries its own weight and importance in and of itself. They all build on one another of course too, but Abernethy has outlined a process that can be utilized in part and as a whole.

Kudos to him for authoring a work that can benefit any pastor, scholar, or beginning student of the Bible.

Book Review - Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy, Alex Mar Penguin Press (2023)

Let me quote the inside of the book jacket to introduce you to this story:

"On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old girl kills an elderly woman in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tensions and white flight, the girl, Paula Cooper, is Black, and her victim, Ruth Pelke, is white and a beloved Bible teacher. The press swoops in.

When Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim's grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life." 

As that introduction conveys, this is a compelling story in so many ways. There are twists and turns featuring side stories that themselves deserve their own novel. 

Full disclosure - I became aware of this book after the author called me as she was doing research. I am not quoted nor did I provide anything more than background information during our conversation, that if memory serves lasted between a half hour and an hour.

The reason Ms. Mar contacted me was due to my role as a Region denominational leader with The Brethren Church. And the victim, Ruth Pelke, grew up in one of our Brethren churches in the Wabash/Peru area (Center Chapel). The book incorrectly ascribes the church as belonging to our sister denomination, Church of the Brethren - but that is a common mistake. The book does accurately describe our foundational values of peacemaking, forgiveness, and desire to imitate Christ. These values became the driving force behind Bill Pelke's advocacy campaign on behalf of his grandmother's murderer.

The story can be summarized in straightforward ways like in the quote above. But Mar does an excellent job highlighting all of the complicated factors that contributed to this tragedy as well as the myriad of people and issues that that pulled it towards redemption. 

Be prepared though, this is a real life story and does not have a convenient fairy-tale ending. 

It is hard to give a concise review of this book because of its complexity. This is a fascinating story that features religion, politics, capital punishment debates, media hysteria, family trauma, and the prison industrial complex. 

Kudos to Alex Mar for her intrepid research and her gracious perspective in retelling this story. She confronts the good, bad, and ugly parts of this case with curiosity, honesty, and integrity. Extra credit from me for her end of book "A Note on Sources" that describes her own process and how she made certain decisions in approaching this project. Overall, she connects dots of various parts of this world in ways that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is an easy read and a book that in so many ways can be summarized by the simple label of "compelling". I highly recommend anyone to purchase and read this book. You will walk away from it challenged and changed.

It will stand as one of the favorite books I have ever read because it is so expertly written and because it is such a profound look at how hard it is to actually apply Jesus' call to forgiveness:

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." - Matt. 18:22

Book Review - Elisabeth Elliot: A Life, Lucy S.R. Austen Crossway (2023)

I didn't intentionally take a hiatus from the blog but after a 2.5 month break, we're back!

Last year, I made a personal commitment to read more books. I easily let my free time get preoccupied with web browsing, online games, and endless podcasts. Those things are fine, but it certainly feels more productive when you can give yourself over to starting and finishing a book. 

I want to kick off this little series with the longest book I read, Lucy Austen's new biography on Elisabeth Elliot. It tops out at 609 pages when all footnotes and bibliographies are included. Elliot was an evangelical figure I knew about to an extent. Her life is famous for being a missionary widow at age 29, with 76% of American adults reading her story in Life magazine. Yet as this book recounts, her life encompassed so much more than that one tragedy. 

Austen presents a phenomenal work detailing Elliot's life. This bio is impressively researched, citing her personal journals and letters. The author conducted copious amounts of personal interviews with Elliot's close family and friends. It's clear this work is the product of years, if not a decade or more of hard work. My highest respect to Austen for the blood, sweat, and tears she put into creating this comprehensive account of an individual who has been a spiritual hero to so many.

The book itself is broken down into three main parts - Part 1: 1926-1952, Part 2: 1952-1963, Part 3: 1963-2015. Flows chronologically, Part 1 deals with her early life up to her departure for Ecuador. Part 2 covers her time as a missionary in Ecuador, and Part 3 describes her life and career back in the States.

Beyond the well-known aspects of her life, I enjoyed learning quite a bit of interesting features about her, including:

• Their actual missions efforts to the Auca, more accurately known as "Waorani". The fairytale version I thought I knew was much different than the actual evangelistic efforts to the tribe after the martyrdom of the young men. This biography peels away the sugar-coated veneer of cross-cultural ministry that sometimes gets promoted. It's hard, real, and complicated.
• Her two other marriages are featured in great detail. The ups and downs of life didn't stop in Ecuador. Really I found the rest of her life post-missionary intriguing as she sought to balance God's call and her sudden world-wide fame.
• Because of the aforementioned record of personal journals and diaries, Austen was able to track her personal development beyond just her published writings. While always one to adamantly support her convictions, it is clear her views on a variety of topics changed and evolved over the years.

I walk away from this book with a clear impression of three things from Elliot's life. Her personality, her theological astuteness, and her service-oriented nature are all clear marks of her legacy.

Austen is able to paint a pretty well-rounded picture of Elisabeth's personality here. I probably connect most with her self-critical features because of my own tendencies in that way. She would leave the impression with others as self-assured, but it is clear from all of her writings that she was very self-aware and introspective. That could often lead to negative self-criticism but also caused her to seek to be a voracious learner and deep thinker.

Growing up in the context that she did, there were certainly less entertainment distractions than present day. Still I come away from this impressed by her theological astuteness. "Avid reader" hardly does it justice but the list of works this book recounts that she read is astounding. Her thirst for God's Word is inspiring and convicting. And her never-ending quest to ascertain God's wisdom and will comes through clearly as well.

Finally, as exemplified in her missions work, she was consistently service-oriented. She did not hesitate to lend a hand to causes and opportunities she was in line with. There certainly seem to be seasons of her life where she was over-committed to her speaking engagements and conferences. But her impact for God's Kingdom over her 89 years was remarkable.

Austen's book has an epilogue as it wraps up. And I'll let her words summarize my own conclusion:

"For Elisabeth Elliot, the foundation of life was trust in the love of God. Not trust that she would live...not trust that things would go well, but trust in who God is. If the great hope of her faith is true, then in the end, the rings spreading out across the surface of the pond, the air displaced by the stone as it flew, the stone itself, are all held in the heart of God, where mercy and justice are never in contradiction, and all things in heaven and earth will finally be made whole."

On Lament and Lamentations (pt. 4)

Lament has been called a "lost art" and it seems to be a spiritual practice we have largely neglected in modern Western Christianity. For the next few weeks, I'm going to share some of the key spiritual truths that the book of Lamentations has to teach us. They are lessons and truths that we might otherwise miss if we try our own shortcuts past suffering.

Lamentations is a book about wrestling. It wrestles with the pain of judgment. It wrestles with all that has been lost. It wrestles with the God who has sent the suffering. 

While turning to God as the only source of relief, the author of Lamentations never turns against God. 

Lamentations still portrays God as good, even if it doesn't feel that way. Look how the book ends:

You, Lord, reign forever;

    your throne endures from generation to generation.

20 

Why do you always forget us?

    Why do you forsake us so long?

21 

Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;

    renew our days as of old

22 

unless you have utterly rejected us

    and are angry with us beyond measure.

(5:19-22)

God is still in control, he is still the one to make this right. He is still good...but the results are up to him. Lamentations reveals a genuine faith - a complete commitment to letting God be God. Ending it ambiguously, "unless you have utterly rejected us...", leaves us with the tension of waiting on God. And that's ok. 

God would step by step bring the restoration this book is so hungry for. They are restored back to their land under Ezra and Nehemiah. They are delivered in the inter-testamental period from their Greek aggressors. And finally, some five centuries later, Jesus arrives. The promised Messiah appears to restore the people to their God and inaugurate his Kingdom.

The story of Lamentations leaves things open-ended in the short-term because it leads us to Christ in the long-term.  God is still on the throne; he is still good and will make good on his promises to his people.

On Lament and Lamentations (pt.3)

Lament has been called a "lost art" and it seems to be a spiritual practice we have largely neglected in modern Western Christianity. For the next few weeks, I'm going to share some of the key spiritual truths that the book of Lamentations has to teach us. They are lessons and truths that we might otherwise miss if we try our own shortcuts past suffering.

If there’s any passage you know from Lamentations, it is the verses of 3:22-24:

22 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

23 

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

24 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.”

These lie at the center of the book in chapter 3 and I don't think that is an accident. The pivot point for lament is this core truth about God. Lament could turn into bitterness if we didn't have this as our hope. 

In the previous post, we noted how God harshly judges sin. He's the ultimate cause of their suffering as they have forced him to punish their sin because they've refused to repent and loved their rebellion. So as chapter three is added to the equation, Lamentations confronts us with this paradox:

While God is the source of our pain, he’s our only hope of relief.

Later on in the chapter – 3:55-57

I called on your name, Lord,

    from the depths of the pit.

56 

You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears

    to my cry for relief.”

57 

You came near when I called you,

    and you said, “Do not fear.”

They have endured God's wrath, but they know they can still turn to their God.

And this isn't just limited to this part of Scripture. If you go to other places in the Bible with laments, you’ll see this same pattern. Google “Lament Psalms” almost every single one will end with an expression of trust and hope in God.

Even if answers aren’t apparent…

Even if relief isn’t on the horizon...

...We can still trust God. He's our only hope of relief.