Who are the Good Guys?

I remember learning about wars as a kid. Like most boys, I tended to think in terms of good guys and bad guys. The World Wars were easy. Actually, just about every war we've been involved in has been easy if you consider America part of the good guys.

But what about conflicts where we don't have direct involvement? For example, what do we do about the conflicts in the Middle East? John Piper wrote this excellent article two years ago to help put some Biblical truth around this conflict.

It comes down to a matter of how we view the nation of Israel in the light of Biblical truth. It seems clear that they have a special place in God's plan. But to assume that this secular nation should enjoy the same protection as King David's seems absurd. There really are no good guys here. It would sure be a lot easier if Israel would recognize the Messiah that came from them...

Ready to Start?

I start my first class tomorrow. It's my class on apologetics. I've got to admit that I'm a bit anxious, but it's not so much about the material. Will I be on time? How will it be not seeing much of Amanda and Lily every day? What will the classroom be like? Will I stay awake? Will I be able to get my papers done? How about the reading questions?

I realize that much of this is outside my control. I've read the books. I have my stuff ready for taking notes, etc. I think I'm as prepared as I can be. Yet there is always that little bit of fear of the unknown until I go to the first class.

I understand that my professor has a passion for apologetics. This is good news as it means that he will likely pour himself into teaching. I just hope that I can keep up.

The Balancing Act

There is a great discussion going on over at Jeff's blog about the recent profits posted by the large oil companies in America. It is clear that they are taking advantage of the situation in the Middle East and America's desperate thirst for gasoline by keeping prices high.

One poster over there works for Elizabeth Dole and presents the cool Capitalistic voice of reason. I tend to think that we got ourselves into this mess and now we want the government to bail us out of it. We decided that it was a good idea to drive these enormous vehicles that get terrible mileage. We decided that we need to have the air in our cars highly refrigerated. We drive everywhere because we live in the 'burbs and things are too far apart for walking or bicycling. Public transportation is tedious at best, even in cities like San Francisco.

So what to do? I really believe that we can stick it to the man if we all work on how much gas we use. Yes, there are some people who are forced to use it. But many of us can cut out trips if we really want. We can drive more efficient vehicles. We can not use the AC in our cars so much.

But it's sure a lot easier to shake our collective fists at the "fatcats in Washington" who let all this happen.

Getting Things Done

I write this sitting at a computer at the check-in station for my church's nursery. I'm participating in what we call "Summer Serve" where we give the regular workers a break. Doing this tends to make me feel a bit guilty for not doing more during the year since I probably could. This might get easier when we move to three services, so I wouldn't be coming home at 1:00 PM every Sunday. But this isn't the point.

As I sit here I can watch one of the TVs and listen to our pastor deliver his message. I heard it earlier today and it was quite good. But as I watch this I also take in all that's happening here at the church.

Behind me there is a nursery full of tiny children with people generously dealing with screams, poopy diapers, and the bordeom that sets in while watching other people's kids. There's another room with people dealing with kids who are in the early stages of walking. Yes, they can be fun, but anyone who ever had kids knows just how hard it can be as well. It's especially tough when you tend to discipline your kids into good behavior and others don't.

Much farther behind me are rooms with people who are doing their best to teach preschool and elementary kids about Jesus in a meaningful way. This takes no small amount of energy.

Around the corner is a kitchen where people are preparing lunch for those who want to purchase it. Two of our older church members were going around with a cart and bringing coffee and bakery to the various workers. It's always strange to see people with grey hair around here. They are great guys.

Up in a room I can't see are a bunch of people who are running the multimedia for the service. Someone directs what camera shots show up on the TV. Someone clicks on the song lyrics that are displayed during each song and, when the worship leader stays on track, the lyrics line up with the songs.

Outside there are drivers in buses waiting to take people too and from the satellite parking lots. They hang out and just ferry people back and forth, being as friendly about it as anyone can be.

So as I see the Pastor preach I'm reminded of a message that I've heard so many times. There are a lot of ways to serve. You don't have to be a funny, dynamic, charismatic speaker to be a servant of God. If you can smile and chat with people you can greet people at the door and show them around this somewhat intimidating place. If you are comfortable with computers you can help to check people in or work in the multimedia booth. If you like kids you can serve in a myriad of ways.

All of this happens so that people can come and hear the life-changing message of Christ. I'm actually tearing up as I write this. It's such an honor to be able to serve at all. It makes me wonder if I can do more.

Hardcore Discipleship

I always appreciate talking to other Christians about how they go about their personal discipleship. For example, I've memorized a few books of the Bible, but I know that I need to do more. I read through Scripture systematically. I pray daily. I listen to sermons while I work out. I listen to praise & worship music. Basically, I do what I can to immerse myself in the things of God.

I thought I did pretty well when I stepped up my Bible reading plan to get on a pace to read all of Scripture in 4 months. I met someone last weekend who reads the Bible every month. He told me that he spends about 90 minutes/day reading the Bible.

This really hit home and it's a challenge I'd like to try. I think that you would get a much greater sense of continuity of Scripture in doing that. But I also know that I would have a hard time making the time for this right now. I have too many other things that I want to do. I always fear starting something that I can't finish.

But it's inspiring anyway. I contrast that with people who can't seem to make time even to read a Psalm every day. How hungry are we to spend time with Jesus? Hopefully very.

Feeling Strange

I have a strange sick feeling in my stomach. Maybe it's because I stayed up too late last night playing old Commodore 64 video games. I was inspired after bringing my old computer home from my mom's. I got up and did my lifting today, but maybe that threw me off.

Maybe it's because a coworker wrote a long rebuttal to a John Piper article that I like. His view of salvation is very different from mine and he seems very set in his beliefs. I don't think there's any point in discussing it because he can beat me over the head with Scripture until the cows come home. It's definitely challenged me, but I still see things in the same way, despite what he wrote.

Maybe it's because my cubemate has his last day today. He has become one of my best friends at the Bank and I typically enjoy our conversations. I'm going to be very sad to see him go. But I'm also happy for him because of the new life he's starting out in Washington. I also hope that we can visit him someday!

Maybe it's because I'm coming down from my conference. All of this stuff here at the office seems like "vanity" as Solomon would put it. I need to get some gumption, though I have done a few things today.

Maybe it's because Amanda and Lily are on their way to Pennsylvania today. They won't be back until next Thursday, Lord willing. That means I have 9 more nights and mornings by myself. I'm not looking forward to that.

Maybe it's because I just want to curl up with my book that I need to finish for my class. I just want to get it done.

Whatever it is, I don't feel so great today. I think I have that good kind of hunger in my gut now. I'd better make good use of it.

Feeling Strange

I have a strange sick feeling in my stomach. Maybe it's because I stayed up too late last night playing old Commodore 64 video games. I was inspired after bringing my old computer home from my mom's. I got up and did my lifting today, but maybe that threw me off.

Maybe it's because a coworker wrote a long rebuttal to a John Piper article that I like. His view of salvation is very different from mine and he seems very set in his beliefs. I don't think there's any point in discussing it because he can beat me over the head with Scripture until the cows come home. It's definitely challenged me, but I still see things in the same way, despite what he wrote.

Maybe it's because my cubemate has his last day today. He has become one of my best friends at the Bank and I typically enjoy our conversations. I'm going to be very sad to see him go. But I'm also happy for him because of the new life he's starting out in Washington. I also hope that we can visit him someday!

Maybe it's because I'm coming down from my conference. All of this stuff here at the office seems like "vanity" as Solomon would put it. I need to get some gumption, though I have done a few things today.

Maybe it's because Amanda and Lily are on their way to Pennsylvania today. They won't be back until next Thursday, Lord willing. That means I have 9 more nights and mornings by myself. I'm not looking forward to that.

Maybe it's because I just want to curl up with my book that I need to finish for my class. I just want to get it done.

Whatever it is, I don't feel so great today. I think I have that good kind of hunger in my gut now. I'd better make good use of it.

Riding High

I spent last weekend in Cleveland attending the SCF annual conference. This is an incredible time filled with much laughter and tears. Frankly, it's exhausting because it's hard to do that much talking to people you only see once a year and also to cry so much.

The crying happens because email addresses turn into people. It really hit me when I listened to the testimony of a woman who lost 85 pounds after taking The Lord's Table. She was clearly in heavy bondage to food and now looks great. Freedom is awesome.

I also felt myself getting pretty teary-eyed when I heard the testimony of a man who has been through a lot. He recently had a quintuple bypass and is doing OK after it. He also lost his job just before that. Previously he told his gay lover that he would not leave his wife and his lover outed him to his wife with the logic of, "If I can't have him, she can't either." His wife graciously stood by him. The part that was amazing was that he planned his suicide, but tried out one of our courses first and it saved his life.

Stuff like this makes it all seem so real. I read the Bible and see that the wages of sin is death. I know what my life was like when I lived in bondage to sin. It wasn't pretty. Sometimes I forget to be properly grateful for my freedom. Frankly, every time I look at my daughter I should be reminded of God's goodness.

I was just flying on Saturday after the conference ended. But by today the mountaintop experience has faded and I'm back to business as usual. I know that we can't stay on the mountaintop all the time. I don't think I could handle it physically or emotionally. But it was a fun ride. And it certainly gives me a greater hunger for God so that I can have more intimate experiences with His grace.

"...now I know my alpha beta gammas..."

I learned the Greek alphabet yesterday. I really enjoy listening to the lectures on the CD that accompanies this book. I also now know 10% of the New Testament because I know the word "kai", which means "and". Not quite as exciting as being able to exegete John 1, but it's a good start.

I am currently dealing with much drama regarding my mother and my upcoming visit to Cleveland. Amanda and Lily were supposed to join me, but Amanda is taking Lily to visit her sick grandfather next week. Mom is very upset and hurt that we are treating her so poorly. Now she tells me that she wants to have a long talk about some stuff that she's been keeping inside and that I don't listen to her.

The truth is that I don't really listen to her much. I have a hard time having a lot of respect for what she's got to say. My take is that her opinions are based on what is best for her, not for us. I want to honor her as much as I can, but I also have a deeper commitment to my wife, which I believe is what I am called to do based on what I read in Scripture. I also will not back down from the truth of the gospel.

My somewhat dry apologetics book did give me some good food for thought. Or, more specifically, it helped to crystallize something that I already considered. If we are convinced of our beliefs, no "defeater" of that belief can win. Also, if we truly have Truth, then nothing can overcome that. This isn't necessarily rational, but it's true. My Jehovah's Witness coworker doesn't threaten me one bit because I don't agree with his beliefs. Why should my beliefs threaten my mom if she knows that she's right?

Of course, the truth is that she wants my validation. She's wanted this for years. And I can't give it to her and maintain my integrity. It's not fun to hurt her feelings, but that's what happens.

So, given all this, I'm glad to know my alpha beta gammas. It gives me a nice bright spot on the week.

Pray for Rick Warren

I heard yesterday that Rick Warren gets to preach in North Korea. This is a pretty big deal since it's a country that's not real open to the gospel. In fact, it's kind of amazing considering how their leader considers himself to be a god.

Hopefully he will preach the whole gospel and not his Ladies' Home Journal version of it. The fact that he's allowed to do anything is a good sign. It gives me at least some hope that we might not go to war.

Getting Started

My textbooks arrived on Thursday and of course I have been anxious to look at them. I was particularly excited to start looking at the Greek book. I keep seeing warnings from the author explaining that it is difficult to learn Greek, but with time and discipline it can be done. He also explained that we really need to learn it with the intent of getting more out of God's Word. I'm glad that's my goal.

He reassured us by stating that learning Greek is not easy, but it's probably easier than learning German. And as I see our friends learn Hungarian, I figure that I have it pretty easy by comparison. He also said that it was easier than learning Hebrew. I know that's coming too...

What I find difficult is not skipping around. I need to stay focused on my summer class. I've got to finish Mere Christianity first. Then I've got my new books on apologetics to read. But I figure that I should probably start working on my letters with the Greek book. And it probably wouldn't hurt for me to spend some time with the CD. There is so much theory to learning a language and I know that I just need to dive in and get started.

Humbled

We just had a new associate join the telephone support group. Her bio shows that she has worked at the Bank for 10 years, took some classes at NC State, and is now a System Support Specialist I with the telephone group.

This really got me to thinking. Here I am complaining about the job I have. We've already established that I'm in the top .8% of the richest people in the world. I basically rolled out of bed one day and ended up in this career. I've had to work some grueling hours at times, but I haven't really had to work that hard at acquiring the skills and knowledge I need to do this job. It's just something that I'm fairly good at.

Meanwhile, here is a woman who worked hard to get into this field. Hopefully she has a passion for it and the job will at least somewhat resemble her dreams. She's obviously in for some disappointment as we all are when we go into a new situation. But it does make me pause and thank God for getting me to this point.

I do thank Him daily for the physical security He gives me. There are so many in the world who don't know where they will sleep tonight. Or they don't know what it's like to go to bed with a full stomach, and yet I work in a ministry to help people eat less. It all seems so preposterous on the surface. But the overarching thing is that I see just how incredibly blessed I really am.

So I guess I'd better make good use of all the time, talent, and treasure that God gives me.