Communion Prep

August 10th, 2008 Tim

One of the things I like most about going to CrossPoint is getting communion ready every third Sunday.  It’s really nothing fancy or profound, just breaking up some unleavened bread, using a syringe-like thing to put the wine and grape juice into cups, and getting the stuff out onto the tables before Dan starts wondering where everything is, is all there is to it. 

Now, I say it’s nothing really fancy, but there’s something in the simplicity of communion, of baptism, of pretty much everything in our faith that makes it understandable and accessible.   Jesus used wine and bread to introduce his new covenant.  The earthy wed to the heavenly.  Together, they interact to produce faith.  The water and the word in baptism work together to bring new life.  Oil, though not a sacrament, works together with our faith to bring healing to our bodies and hearts. 

There’s something amazing in how God has given us ways to connect tangibly with him.  Think of all the water imagery in the Bible like the flood, the water from the rock, the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan river, baptism, the woman at the well.  Our lives revolve around water.  God knows this, so he gives us ways to connect to him through water.  Other ways God uses the tangible to help us connect include how God created Adam from the dirt and breathed life into him; he used a rib from Adam to create Eve.  Jesus spat into the dirt and rubbed it on a blind man’s eyes and the man was healed.  Jesus told some of his disciples they would be fishers of men, making a connection to these men through the physical world in which they lived.  It made it come alive to them.  They could grasp his calling because they could relate to catching fish.  When his friends were at their lowest point, after he died, he made them breakfast over a real fire and fed them real fish.  God could have chosen a more supernatural way to do any of these things, but he chose to use physical ways to show his grace. 

And in the most graphic way, Jesus shed his blood on a wooden cross with metal spikes running through his flesh and bone.

One of the things I don’t like about living in the city is that I get so wrapped up in technology that I often forget about the earthiness of life.  It’s hard to remember how earthy I am when I’m driving on a concrete road to an air-conditioned house to talk on my cell phone while watching television as I wait for the microwave to heat up my packaged food.

But in communion, we are provided with that connection.  Simple bread.  Simple wine.  The phyical making the divine present.  The divine entering us physically to strengthen and nourish us. 

When you go up for communion, actually look at the bread and wine.   Really taste the bread.  Really taste the wine (or grape juice!)  Take your time.  We have several stations, and those serving don’t mind if you take a little extra time.  Joey can keep playing music.  When you get back to your seat, let the flavor stay in your mouth before you drink your coffee or pop an Altoid. 

This is the Lord’s Table.  Savor it. Let it linger. 

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Food, an American idol

July 31st, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) “Worship is living our life individually and corporately as continuous living sacrifices [of time, energy, money, health] to the glory of a person or thing.” (Mark Driscoll, Vintage Jesus).

According to Turning Point of Tampa (which I’m not endorsing or criticizing), “Food addiction symptoms include cravings, impulsiveness, loss of control, secretiveness and the inability to feel satisfied. The food addict is relentlessly pursued by thoughts of food.” Food obsession entails “frequently recurring thoughts about buying, preparing and eating food.”

Americans spend over $33 billion a year on weight control and $70 billion a year on health-related costs of obesity. (http://www.ftc.gov/os/1998/03/weightlo.rpt.htm#4)

I believe the costs are much higher, both financially, relationally and spiritually. Many of us spend excess dollars on excess food, then spend more to someone to help us get rid of the excess weight we put on. The other day I was in HEB and I saw a small plastic bag which held tiny individual packages of cheese that were each a Weight Watcher point. Now that’s religion: controlling the environment in an attempt to prevent sin. Discipline and “will power” only lasts so long. I know, I’ve lost the same 40 pounds about 5 times. Besides, when we lose weight that way, we only trade one idol (food) for another (pride).

It’s funny, when someone loses weight, what do people ask? “How’d you do it?!” The answer is generally the name of some diet plan or “I ate less and exercised more”, as if that’s a secret none of us knew. The real question no one asks is “Did you quit worshipping food?” or “Did you break the hold it has over your life?”

I believe in a big God. He created the universe out of nothing, simply by speaking. He reigns over all but He is good. He actually cares. He cares enough to send His Son to die for us and make us new. And he doesn’t stop there. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) tells us that ”the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself  intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

I had been under the impression that my relationship with food was something God didn’t care about or, if He did, it was my problem to work out. I have been convicted that He does care. Let’s see, Exodus 20, Ten Commandments: I was breaking the first commandment to worship and serve God alone, including caring for the temple of God. (See 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, I realize it’s mostly about sexual immorality but I think it really applies to this too)… so my relationship with God was impaired. I was essentially stealing money God had stewarded to me, coveting, and not particularly honoring my husband…so my relationship with others was impaired as well.

Great, so it’s sin, what now? Confession, repentance and, oh yeah, maybe I’ll ask for help. Who knows, God’s a big God. I’m here to tell you that He’s real and He helps. It’s been two days and there’s been nothing but freedom. I still love food, but it’s not mastering me any more. During my adult life, I’ve enjoyed wine and beer in moderation, without it having a hold over me. That’s what it’s like with food now. It may not always be this easy but I’m trusting in God now.

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18, NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:13-16, NIV)

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The Joker

July 21st, 2008 Tim

Sunday was one of those days that was filled with the unexpected.  Nancy and I were getting ready to set up communion, but when we opened the bin with all the supplies, we saw there weren’t any communion cups.  No, I wasn’t panicking on the outside, but on the inside I was hoping around like Sponge Bob on Red Bull.  As it turns out, I had left the box on the fridge at home.   Problem solved!!  Pastor Karl’s ordination party was great.  Way to go, Karl.  At the party, some friends offered to take our daughter to youth group, and since our son was spending the night at a friend’s house, Nancy and I had some time alone.  Talk about panic!  What do you do when you suddenly find about four hours without kids?  We didn’t know what to do, but we decided to go to a movie.  We haven’t been following movie releases, but we talked to a couple at Karl’s party about Dark Knight, so we decided to see it.

I hope I don’t put in any spoilers, but I want to share a couple of observations.  First of all, I personally don’t think it should be PG-13.  I’d rather the kids be a little older.  It’s not just the level of violence, it’s the capriciousness of the violence that makes we want the kids to get a little older than 13 before they see this one.

That said, I think this movie does an excellent job of dealing with good and evil.  There’s Batman, reluctantly fighting crime, doing his best to serve, but it seems to not quell evil, but only increase it.  And as the evil increases, those whom he is defending turn on him.  Sound familiar?  I asked Nancy on the way home if she thinks Batman is a Christ figure, and she quickly responded “No.”  You’re not going to see Jesus in Batman, but I think he does fulfill some of the Jesus’ traits, and the way he is driven away and reviled by the people he came to save is very powerful.

Then there’s Heath Ledger’s The Joker.  If you see the movie, you’ll see a madman played almost to perfection.   He has some great lines like, “It’s not about the money, it’s about the message.”  Like Satan, The Joker doesn’t care about winning, or playing by the rules.  All he wants to do is destroy.  At the beginning, he creates some sympathy when he explains his scars, but pay attention when he explains them a couple more times in the movie.  That small shred of sympathy disappears. 

This relates to an experience I had when I visited my mom on my recent vacation.  She is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and can barely speak or do anything on her own.  She doesn’t seem to know who I am, but I get a feeling she understands I’m important to her.  After my dad died four years ago, I went through several years of bitterness.  I blamed God for my mom’s condition which stressed my dad out and killed him.  I’ve gotten over blaming God, but looking at my mom, I realized that if I need to blame someone, it should be the one who introduced death and decay and sorrow and pain into the world.  

The Joker kills viciously and without remorse.  He plays by no rules.  Alzheimer’s is a sickening waste of beautiful life.  I responded to one of Matt’s blogs that I believe it is one of Satan’s most malevolent tricks.  But in that nursing home in Nebraska as I kissed my mom’s forehead before we left, I saw so clearly that we are at war with evil beyond imagination.  Satan plays by no rules and all he wants is to dismay and dishearten us.  I shed a few tears, partly because of my mom, and partly because I realized right then and there that I had wasted so much time raging against the one who weeps more deeply about the effects of sin than I do.  I pushed Jesus away when he wanted to comfort me the most.

Maybe your’re in a similar situation.  Please don’t allow The Joker to dismay you or confuse you.  Don’t chase away the one who is here to save you.  Let Jesus heal your heart, your mind, your body.  Don’t waste years like I did in anger and bitterness. Go to Jesus. 

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The Dark Night

July 20th, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) “Some people just like to watch the world burn.” (The Dark Knight movie)

Satan knows where he is headed and, I guess, just wants as many as possible to join him. I wonder if he is under the false assumption that he will rule over hell?

At the last Good Friday service, the only time I needed my Kleenex was during the Alleluia song. Why? I had just been persuaded that the message of the gospel has not been kept secret.  It had rarely, if ever, occurred to me that some people would rather go to hell than worship Jesus Christ as Lord.

Luke 22:53 (ESV) “When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” [Jesus, to those arresting him]

Acts 26:26 (ESV) “… for this has not been done in a corner.”

1 Peter 4:17 (ESV) “… what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV) “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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Fishing

July 16th, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) So I dropped my daughter off this morning at tennis camp and headed to the lake where my parents were fishing with my son. On the way I passed a church with a marquee that said something like “how strong would a church be that was built around you?” My first thought was that it advertised an upcoming sermon about the need for people to be strong in faith, service and leadership in the church. Then my mind went “duh!” A “church” built around anyone other than Jesus Christ is not a church! To be fair to this church, that may very well be their point (and I hope it is). 

Since my family came to CrossPoint, where Jesus is recognized and worshipped as Lord and God, few things make me angry easier than ”churches” where the cross of Christ is not clearly proclaimed as the only hope for all people.  Certainly as Christians we are to feed the poor, be nice to our neighbors and pursue justice. But when that (or our own “self-actualization” or spiritual nourishment) is held as the purpose for spirituality, Jesus is not worshipped.

Please, thank God for our faithful pastors and pray for them and their families. Thank Jesus for His love and that He is in control and is building His church worldwide. Pray for those churches where Jesus is worshipped in name but not in true devotion and pray for the spread of the gospel.

 Oh yeah, my son had a blast though he only caught a two-inch blue gill and a turtle. I had to leave early to pick up Deanna from tennis. My parents [the quintessential pushover grandparents, love you Mom and Dad ] brought the fish and turtle home in a bucket of water and will release them tomorrow.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17 ESV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NIV)

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Hide and Seek

July 14th, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) It has been said that the gospel “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable”.  It seems to me that God both loves us more than we could ever imagine and commands our worship more completely than we could ever imagine. Paradoxically, God gives us eternal life and requires our “death”: death to selfishness, death to sin, death to death.

Listening to pastors can be dangerous. You never know when a comment will stab: “I eat to live”, “be careful you don’t idolize…”, ”rights for responsibilities”, “whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God”, “temptation is a deception that hides death”, “whose approval are you ultimately seeking?” 

Great: my stomach is my God, I worship a perfectly balanced checkbook and I live my life for the approval of people other than God. Anything else today, God?

Even young children learn to lie and hide when they’ve done wrong. They’re not always good at it, but they do it. As a parent, often all I want is respect, an acknowledgement of wrong, and a sincere attempt to do better. A group was once laughing at the absurdity of Adam hiding from God in the garden of Eden. The laughter was cut short when the pastor asked “where do you hide?” Then he reminded them that God pursued Adam and God pursues us as a loving Father who only wants our best.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Mark 12:30 (NIV): Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

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Home

July 11th, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) It’s a bittersweet homecoming, especially for Tim who had to say goodbye to his mom and all three of his brothers and Deanna who had to say goodbye to her favorite cousin.

We saw many beautiful sights, from the towering awe of the Colorado Rocky Mountains to the peaceful waves of grain on the plains of Nebraska. We have a lot of great memories, from my best friend Laura and I kayaking in view of nesting bald eagles on a still lake in Oregon to playing Shanghai rummy and watching two Williams build a K’Nex roller coaster in Washington. We found alpacas on a farm near Mt. Hood [scroll down], crabs and sea stars in tide pools on Puget Sound, and excellent Copper River Alaskan salmon at Pike Place Market  in Seattle. We smelled sulfur on the Great Salt Lake shoreline, fragrant fresh hops at Deschutes Brewery  near Crater Lake, and lots of great coffee.

But the real treasure of this trip was the people: from KOA families to Hausman families, from MLB pitchers to an old homeless couple in Denver, from viewing an internationally known pastor who preached to thousands (on 6 campuses) on June 29th in Seattle, Washington to my brother-in-law, Kevin, who preached to 30 on July 6th in Venango, Nebraska. A hoped-for highlight was chancing upon a particular Seattle street dancer with whom Deanna (now 12) danced in 1999 at Pike Place Market and in 2004 in front of the original Starbucks. There she was in front of the Space Needle! I shyly introduced us, relayed the story and got photos of the two of them together. The dancer spent quite a while chatting with us and told us she had danced in Seattle for 31 years. We have been to Seattle three times and happened upon her each time. Meeting Devora (? spelling) was worth much more than blowing $50 on going up in the Space Needle would have been.

As we’ve mentioned previously, we attended Tim’s brother Mike’s formal liturgy church in Denver [where AnnaSophia Robb attends, for those tracking famous Lutherans], Tim’s brother Mark’s traditionally contemporary LCMS church in Seattle [where nephew Scott preached for youth Sunday], Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Venango Community Church in Nebraska. The latter two are non-denominational. At Mars Hill we were about in the third row and a security guard was stationed between us and the darkened stage, from which Mark Driscoll emerged and preached an amazing sermon called God Reigns. The next Sunday pastor Kevin Hausman verbally counted the attendees when he first got up, quizzed us on memorization of Psalm 1, asked (non-rhetorical!) questions of the audience during the sermon and, during the prayer time, asked for the name of a newborn baby. [I later saw the baby’s name in a welcome on a bank marquee in a slightly larger town nearby.] On one hymn I accidentally sang “marvelous” instead of “wonderful” (or vice versa) and realized how much more noticeable that is in a small church. I once had the joy of attending a (Methodist) church service in Mexico where people (and a few small livestock) crammed into a small building to sit close together on stone benches to hear the Word of God.

Sadly I have been in “churches” that do not preach the gospel. On this trip we decided not to attend church the Sunday we were in Oregon since we had no assurance about whether what was said from the pulpit would be truth.

The other day, 13 of us were around Kevin and Leslie’s kitchen table. Six of those were or soon will be adopted by Kevin and Leslie (3 older adopted children are grown and on their own; only one of the nine was adopted as a baby). Leslie asked each of us what we thought was great about being a Hausman. My response was “people who believe in God, cool places around the country to visit rent-free and Shanghai rummy.”

I guess all this rambling comes down to three initial realizations: Jesus is Lord of all and everywhere, people are a precious treasure, and one day there will be no more goodbyes for those who love the Lord.

It’s good to be home. It’s good to be heading to CrossPoint SevenLakes this Sunday where Dan Hauser will not emerge from and return to a darkened backstage [like Mark Driscoll, out of security concerns, does].

Still, no matter where we go there’s always an underlying homesickness that nothing but Jesus in heaven will cure. His is the face we long to see. Compared to Him, “who have I in heaven but You Jesus? And what better could I hope to find down here on earth? I could cross the most distant reaches of this world, but I’d just be wasting my time ’cause I’m certain already, I’m sure I’d find You’re my one thing.” (”One Thing”, Rick Mullins)

In my Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3 English Standard Version)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 NIV)

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5 NIV)

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Sunday in Seattle

July 4th, 2008 Tim

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. We’ve been having a great time seeing the sights and being with family and friends. We’re in Venango, Nebraska, now. I’m sure I’ll blog on this little town later, but I wanted to write about Sunday, June 29. We went to church in Renton at the church my brother goes to. It was a great service. Because it was youth Sunday, my 20-year-old nephew Scott preached the sermon. He spoke about how we are the body of Christ, and focused not only on us getting along together, but also on the active nature of the body. I wish they could have recorded it so I could link to it.  Pastor Dan has talked to us about building legacies within our families by sharing our faith with our children. Although my brother Mark and sister-in-law were typically humble, there must have been a great sense of pride in seeing their son stand up and share his faith so eloquently to the church. It reminded me again how parenting is active, and we must pass on our faith to our kids.  Seeing that once annoying, at times disobedient nephew grow into such a strong man of God really makes the highlight reel of this trip.

After lunch at The Old Spaghetti Factory on the waterfront, I had a great view of Puget Sound as we ate, we checked out some pretty cool art, and then let our kids play in the water. Time flew and then we headed off to another church There was a gay pride event at the park downtown, and we drove by it as it was breaking up. I was in the car with my son who was busy talking the ear off my niece’s husband, and I was grateful to not have to answer any questions!

But, yes, we went to church twice in one day while on vacation! I love the different ways God’s people celebrate and worship. While we were in Denver we went to church with my brother Mike and got to go through a very formal liturgy. I fumbled around in the pages of the Book of Worship, but kept up pretty well. I love the formality of the liturgy because it reminds me of the holiness of God and his love for order. The morning service in Seattle was nice because it was youth based, and it was good to see the next generation expressing their love for Christ.

The evening service was more like a CrossPoint service. The music was awesome and I loved being with so many people in a converted warehouse in the middle of a very diverse and at times just plain weird city, lifting my hands in worship to the Lord.  The sermon was a quick (one hour plus!) run through of the Book of Revelation.  I was raised to fear that book.  It wasn’t until Pastor Matt taught a lesson on it during “The Big Picture” classes that I realized this is a book of hope and joy that Jesus is victorious, and he shares the victory with us.  The pastor in Seattle nailed that point as well.

After the service (Nancy and I had to be dragged away) we went to see the Fremont Troll. You have to love a city that has so many surprises. You have to love a city that values art. You have to love a city where they complain about the heat when it hits 85 degrees!!

So now I’m in quiet rural Nebraska.  I’ve got my  dog and one of my niece’s puppies asleep on the floor at my feet.  Life is slower here  than in Seattle, and there’s really not much happening (my brother Kevin, the father of eight and soon to be nine adopted kids would argue that point).  It’s the Fourth of July, and I’m enjoying my freedom.

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freedom

June 30th, 2008 Tim

(Nancy) July 4, 1972 A family of 4 moved from California to Houston. There were 2 daughters, Karen (10) and Laura (7 1/2).  After a couple of weeks in a hotel, they were ready to move into their house. The summer of ‘72 my best friend, Melissa, moved away. I had just turned 7 and my sister was 9. We lived on a suburban street off Kirkwood, off I-10, what was then at the western edge of the Houston map. Nearly all the homes on our street had kids and the few that didn’t tended to be surrogate parents or grandparents to the rest. The dads worked, the moms stayed home; moving away was unusual and divorce was nearly unheard of. We kids spent our summer days at the neighborhood pool, often coming home only for lunch and dinner. We spent our school night evenings roller skating, playing tag… as long as it was light and we stayed on our street. When conflicts arose, we generally managed them ourselves but we always knew parents were nearby if it was too big for us to handle. One day a moving van parked in front of Melissa’s old home, across the street and halfway down the block from my house.  My mom noticed there were new kids and sent me down alone to introduce myself. [”I don’t know what to say!” “Just tell them your friend had lived there and you’re glad they’re here. So I did.] That kind of freedom would be unheard of in most places today, but, in the context of our safe little street, it seemed to make sense. 

Thirty-six years later, Laura and I are still best friends! Tim and I and our kids just spent an idyllic week with Laura, Tom and their 3 boys (14, 11, 11) at her family’s vacation home in Oregon. That wonderful place, near Crater Lake, 8 miles from LaPine (pop 1585) and 30 miles from Bend (pop 75,000) is bordered by Deschutes National Forest. Their cabin has no land line phones, no TV, no street lights, no internet connection. What it does have is lots of wooded trails and pine trees and visible stars at night. There are deer and lakes and mountains. What we “lacked” in technology was made up by freedom. Our combined 5 kids and 3 dogs enjoyed a freedom they’re not used to in modern Katy, Texas and Sacramento, California. [Recently, in downtown Denver at night Tim and I, rightly, kept our 2 within a foot of us.] The kids were used to somewhat hovering parents and the dogs are used to leashes. We took many walks on trails near their cabin. Once we were away from the road, we unhooked the dogs’ leashes and let them (and the kids) explore. As long as they were moving in the same general direction as us and “checked in” periodically, all was well.

When the two families fulfilled our reservations for the make-your-own-pizza place and for the Deschutes Brewery tour in Bend, Oregon, we were referred to as “the nine.” [If you like good quality black coffee and dark chocolate and aren’t a big fan of hops, I highly recommend the Obsidian Stout.]

“The nine” visited the Lava Cave between LaPine and Bend. It’s a closed-end, mile-long tube formed by lava flow and it’s totally dark inside. We went on a weekday so it was neither busy nor desolate. After the first few yards, there were no signs it had been discovered before and no lights other than the lanterns or flashlights visitors carried. Arming the oldest kids with flashlights, we let the kids go on ahead. There was only one way in and out and the cave was no wider than 10-15 feet at the widest point. Travel would be impossible (or excruciatingly slow) without a light.

Another freedom our son enjoyed was being allowed to sleep in the twins’ room, as long as they stayed in the room and relatively quiet. One day, the 9 dressed in old clothes and water shoes, packed kayaks and picnic lunches and headed to a lake in the mountains. When we got there, Tom and Laura were embarrassed that there was too much snow to even get to the lake, much less picnic and boat. Instead our kids and dog had the time of their life playing in the snow. We have a photo of the nine, some in swimsuits, in front of the kayak-laden van with the snow all around and the mountain behind.

The Deschutes employees are allowed to enjoy 1 beer after each shift. Tom and Laura and Tim and I enjoyed a glass of wine or beer with our dinners while our younger kids played outside within earshot.

Before Tom and Laura bought this house, they had been seriously thinking and praying about buying a different cabin. The inspection revealed a foundation of cinder block that was not attached to the house. Needless to say, they started looking again. They never thought they would be blessed with a vacation home. Their gratitude has prompted them to share their blessing with youth groups and friends.

One might see “spiritual” symbolism in this story of freedom within structure of the neighborhood street, wooded trails and lava tube cave. One might see it in the guidance of parents and lights in the darkened cave as well as the faultiness of the foundation of the inspected home. I decline to belabor the point.

 One thing I love about Jesus is that He didn’t and doesn’t take the “nonspiritual” to try to explain the “spiritual”. He simply shows us how what He, the Father and the Holy Spirit created and manage reflects the perfect, eternal reality of the Triune God, in the midst of this world marred by sin. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Sin is everywhere but grace and freedom abound. The hard part is (to steal a line from Pastor Matt) to “live life giving complete and utter credit to God.”

But when anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:16 NIV)

Happy Independence Day! May you know and enjoy the freedom of the Lord!

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Colorado 451

June 18th, 2008 Tim

I love Colorado!  I love being stuck in traffic but getting to look at mountains.  I love going to a baseball game in June and having to wear a jacket–not because the a.c. is cranked up, but because the sun went down.  Having grown up here, I still consider it my home state even though I’ve lived in Texas for twelve years.  If there’s a sports team from Colorado playing, I cheer for it.

But there’s something happening in Colorado I’m not cheering for.  A new law has been signed by the governor that says, in essence, there are no more gender-specific restrooms.  In other words, the “Caballeros” and “Damas” signs at Casa Bonita don’t mean what they’re supposed to mean.

In an effort to “create fairness” for some, Governor Ritter has taken it upon himself to say that a man can walk into a women’s restroom, and no one can object.  I guess some people who are unclear about their gender feel uncomfortable walking into a restroom. 

So when my daughter wants to go to the restroom, how comfortable do I feel?  I was raised with enough common sense to know that I’m not supposed to escort my daughter into the restroom, but I almost feel like I need to so I can check to make sure there aren’t any men in there. 

It reminds me of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.  In this book he creates a society that has made all people equal.  Equal in mediocrity.  Metaphorically speaking, there are no mountains to climb because they have all been leveled.  “Not everyone born equal, but everyone made equal.”  So what is left is a society that is stupid, lazy, illiterate, addicted to quick and easy sex, suicidal, busy to the point of numbness, and bored. 

In the interests of the few, my “home state” has trampled everyone else.  Please don’t misread this.  The Bible is very clear that we are to make helping others a high priority.  The command to help widows and orphans, and Paul’s statement that we are all one in Christ because we are made in the image of God should be what motivates us to do what we do. 

But use common sense!  The Boy’s room is for boys; the Girls’ room is for girls!!  We are all one, but we are different!  When we run away from the way God made things, this is what we end up with.

I’m reminded of an old Steve Taylor lyric, “You’re so open-minded that your brains leaked out.”

I still love Colorado, but I think I’ll wait until I cross the border to use the restroom.

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