Reason for Sports Review

I picked up this book the other night to just get a gist for its flow and purpose and finished it the next night!  On the front end, let me admit that I love just about anything Kluck writes (his parts of "Why we love the Church" had me crying in places).  He writes with a cynical perspective that blends sarcasm and honesty in a way that I love.

The book is a collection of essays that explore the connections between sports, culture and the Christian faith.  From that standpoint the chapters don't build on one another, but in many ways stand on their own.  Kluck admits that much of what we see in sports is not admirable, and leaves the Christian to wonder whether we should engage with our culture on this front or not.  More than anything Kluck seeks to engage his readers on how Christians should view sports, better said how sports should be funneled through our Christian faith and though the book is not extensive in his exploration of this question, he leaves the reader wanting more, though certainly making one aware of new paths to explore.

His perspective was refreshing in places as he pulled quotes from stars such as Tom Brady and Tony Mandarich, men who are not Christians, who expressed an Ecclesiastes perspective on life, success, and fame.  At one point he reminds his readers, "Christian sportswriters can write about non-Christian athletes in a way that still upholds the gospel and makes people think about Christ." Though not expressed, I would think the challenge with this approach is that so few believers see the world through a gospel lens, allowing it to show up in places we rarely would find it.  That's where this book was so refreshing, it reminds us that the gospel can be seen even where we least expect it.

Kluck's insights on Mike Tyson and Ricky Williams were needed and should give any fan a warning about cheering or making smug comments at an athlete's demise whether on or off the field.  Both of these men are extremely flawed, yet they both express such awareness of their own depravity that never seems to be expressed by a Christian athlete.

Be aware that Kluck comes down pretty strong against so-called Christian athletes, mentioning Dwight Howard as one example of someone who takes the label, but who often fall into very public sin.  Kluck seems to suggest he'd rather a Christian not be as public about their faith, but simply be real.  I couldn't help but say an "amen" to this point.  As a child I read Sports Spectrum and can't tell you the number of guys on the cover who have had very public falls or show character on or off the field that seems contrary to their affirmation that they are a follower of Christ.

In addition, Kluck comes down hard against Christian films and books (I told you some of the sections were random!)  Though some of his critique is cinematic in nature, much of what he takes issue with is this cycle that they typically use that shows initial faith, wayward/rebellious years, hitting some form of rock bottom, greater commitment to the Lord, great rewards (new contract, super bowl win).  The books continue to be sold, movies made that use that type of cycle.  Here's the problem, life doesn't always work out that way and God isn't on the hook if He doesn't provide a super bowl or beautiful wife to the Christian athlete.  That's not grace nor the Christian faith.  Instead, Kluck points to a movie like Chariots of Fire and displays how the characters are all wrestling with meaning and purpose and seeking to find it in different places.

Finally, Kluck argues that sports are good, but must be compartmentalized, that is that they have a place.  Sports are a gateway for men to have relationships.  Whether that's at a surface level about fantasy football, a deep and rich level that a father and son find through practices and games, or whether that's a friendship that bridges racial, social, or even religious divides, sports provide that opportunity for guys to engage with other guys.  I can't help but agree, my favorite and best moments with my dad are centered around watching, playing, and talking about sports and all the conversations that are spun from those discussions.  I've made friendships with guys with whom I shared nothing, but a desire to win or desire to see our team win.  This is a great book with a great message for men and the way we view sports.  

Community Idealism

A few weeks ago our community group added two new couples to our group and so much of the night was built around getting to know each other a bit better.  Whenever I start a group I tend to like to go back and study together Acts 2:41-47.  It seems to be the small group text!  It's beautiful in its description of the early church and the type of oneness and community they experienced shortly after the ascension of Christ.  It's always a great starting line for a group to look at the model of community they experienced as they daily met together, met each others needs,  shared meals together, and studied and prayed together.  In reading the passage, there is something simplistic that goes against what we so often experience today within a culture that exalts the individual to the communities detriment.  In that sense every group I've ever been a part of longs to experience what they must have experienced.  

Here's the problem with this type of community idealism, it fails to reflect the depths of the text.  See here's my confession, I too easily can begin to exalt their example, and fail to think about the burden and challenge it truly would have been.  Think about it, have you had a friend ask for money or even a ride before?  It's uncomfortable!  Meeting the needs of others is always costly, yet they did it.  Or how about the fact that they gathered in homes daily across the city.  As much as we long for that, there is also a part of us that truly enjoys the drive in the garage and then letting the door down before we step out of our car.  We like our isolation!  They sacrificed their's to experience the fellowship of the Spirit.  

Here's the second problem with this type of idealism, it fails to reflect the movement of the text.  In Acts 5 the community experiences problems within, you have people lying to one another in order to gain a profit off of selling their land.  In Acts 6 you have some widows that aren't having their needs met.  See in order for us to understand the early church, we have to see it in light of the whole picture, both the beauty and selflessness of Acts 2 along with the disfunction and selfishness of Acts 5-6 and when we do we see that the early church was an incomplete picture of community.  Incomplete because it had nuggets of what God created us to enjoy, but was marred by our own sin.  

Here's why this is important; too often groups read Acts 2 and feel like that's what they need to achieve and six months later when its still tough and you still don't know their kids names' you begin to think, "we're doing it wrong." The truth is it's always been challenging, yet always worth it.  So how do we avoid falling into the idealistic trap?

• Be honest about the challenges -Its great to start with Acts 2, but in the discussion talk about the challenges to that picture of community that you will face.  It will be hard, it will be difficult, name it on the front end, it sets expectations.
• Embrace the differences- In many respects people often look for similarities with the people in their group, but Paul seems to suggest throughout his writings that there is something powerful about the diversity of the body (see 1 Cor. 12:13), and it reveals a more incredible change than a community that all looks alike.
• Remember the source of unity- Too often people can look for commonalities based on age, affinity, etc. but the early church found that type of unity despite differences because of the unity they found in one Lord and one Spirit.  Talk about the source of your unity as a group, so that you can be mindful of Who it is that unites each of you together.

25 Observations of Dallas Seminary

So this has been a long time coming but I'm finally done with seminary.  It took eight years, but I finally have the title of Master of Theology, though anyone whose received the degree knows, there is no such thing.  I wanted to chronicle 25 observations about my seminary journey in honor of the first assignment you do upon entering the seminary; make 25 observations of Acts 1:8!  The observations are in no type of order so please don't see this as a type of ranking.

1. International Students- Michael and Jean came from overseas to study at Dallas Seminary.  They have every intention of returning and beginning ministries either in their home countries or going to lands that are far less Christian in order to preach the gospel.  How sweet it was to share this season of life with diligent brothers in Christ.
2. Spiritual Formation Group- The group is a 2-year mandatory small group that students must participate.  They tell you horror stories on the front end of leaders that lead like dictators and participants who try to buck the system and end up having to start the group over again.  My experience was rich and rewarding, resulting in some of the sweetest friendships from my time in seminary.
3. Faculty.  I've read that you should pick your seminary based on the faculty and there could be no better advertisement for DTS.  Dr. Waters' missionary stories as we studied through Acts, or Dr. Bramer's ability to make the prophets come alive, or Dr. Bingham's innate skill at making all of church history directly relate with issues we face in our churches today are lessons that will continue to impact my ministry.  I will also appreciate Dr. Kreider's honesty about doubts, grace, and suffering, and Dr. Coover-Cox's kindness to a poor Hebrew student.  These stories and more make my experience rich and sweet.
4. Praying as a class on our knees in Hebrew 1 and 2.  No doubt DTS is an extremely academic institution, but despite the focus on higher learning, it was a sweet experience to begin this year long study of Hebrew by going to the Lord in prayer on our knees and then end our time together in the same posture, praying to the God who had revealed so much to us through our time together.
5. Worship Chapels. Nothing could be sweeter than gathering with others from different nations, all singing and proclaiming songs both new and old in Chafer chapel.  Reflecting on chapels of singing those old hymns with Chaplin Bill will excite and invigorate me for years to come.  
6. WM 101.  I took this class the semester that Hudson was born. We'd put him to bed and I'd gently encourage Jen to get to bed early as well so that I could begin my coursework.  There were specific lectures from Dr. Young that I watched twice as I was so challenged by his arguments and class.  I spent eighteen months wrestling with Matthew 15 before I finally felt like I understood it!
7. Going to Israel with Dr. Bramer- Such a wonderful opportunity to get to go to Israel with one of my favorite professors.  In addition, I only had to pay $750 for the 10-day tour.  God continues to give me insight into His word through that experience.
8. Haggai-In all honesty, I had never put much time into studying the minor prophets until I had a research paper on Haggai.  At that point I began to see how practical not only Haggai can be, but my eyes were opened to all of the minor prophets.
9. Church History- A.K.A. Historical Theology was my favorite area of study.  Too often evangelicals seem to lack a connection with the church in past generations and this was something that became obvious in these courses.  In many ways it changed my perspective on authority and the role of the church.  It also challenged me to read the original writings of those who have gone before.  The church fathers, the reformers, and others have steadily been in my reading pile over the last several years.
10. Bachelor Weeks- Sangiah's house The first six years of my study were spent doing online and week long courses in the summer or winter.  During those week long courses I would usually stay at a friend's, Dave Sangiah's apartment.  I'd sleep on his couch, eat out until I ran out of money and then switch to peanut butter.   Dave displayed great hospitality and it was always a treat to get that time with him. 
11. Online Greek 1 and 2-  I realize how strange this may sound, and that few would actually believe that I found the online form of the classes more challenging and rewarding than if I had been in the class.  Two reasons; first, in order to learn Greek I was completely dependent upon myself.  I couldn't lean on a merciful prof or a knowledgeable friend.  I had to study and know it for myself.  Second, technology can be a gift from above.  The websites that coincide with Mounce's textbook as well as some Greek vocab apps made the second semester a joy, and set me on a trajectory to love my studies in Greek.
12. God's fingerprints in scheduling- It may have taken me eight years to complete my degree, but I never lived in Dallas, and for seven of those years I had a full-time job.  In so many small ways, God's hands were at work in allowing the right courses to become available and for me to get in (even though often wait listed) into the courses I needed at just the right time.  The constant answers to prayer always humbled my heart as our Father worked out the finest of details.
13. God's provision of funds- Seminary is not cheap, nor do scholarships seem to be available to those who work full-time.  Despite the lack of financial assistance from the seminary, I graduated debt free.  This is an unimaginable gift and can only be attributed to God's grace and His working on the hearts of generous individuals who invested in my education.  I cannot convey my gratitude enough or as deeply as they deserve, but thank you.
14. Church Support at Countryside and McKinney- I can't express how gracious these two body of believers have been to me.  Early on at Countryside a deacon stood up in a congregational meeting to confirm that the church would pay for my seminary as long as I stayed on staff.  Their generosity provided for half of my courses to be covered, more than that their prayers, support, and graciousness with my schedule allowed me to devote time to my studies and improve as a pastor.  At McKinney, the constant support, asking questions, and encouraging words kept me going till the end of two years of commuting.  These individuals mean more than I could express and my debt to them is greater than they could imagine.
15. Taking a course with Jen- It seems ages ago, but prior to kids Jen audited a class with me, historical theology with Dr. Bingham!  The conversations that class sparked about life, faith, and culture continue to shape our relationship with one another and our believed role in the church and the community.   
16. Humility- I was told a story of Haddon Robinson, who would take first year seminary students and tell them, "Many of you think you have all the answers, but you don't even know the questions."  In many ways I walked away from seminary more aware of what I don't know and grateful for the insight it provided into those questions rather than just giving supposed answers.  
17. Camraderie of the preaching classes- Nothing can be more terrifying than standing before strangers and giving a sermon on a proverb.  What took place in those semesters was a real bond of friendship, respect, and admiration.  Preaching is a very personal act, particularly early on as we are developing security in ourselves and God's ability in us.  During the course of those semesters those strangers became co-laborers for the gospel.  Watching them develop their skill and the excitement to hear where God leads them is a highlight of this experience. 
18. Thinking Christianly- This was a favorite phrase of Dr. Bingham and something that I often consider throughout all of life, that my perspective must view each situation through the lens of Scripture, History, and the church.  This results in different politics, different educational philosophy, different family dynamics, etc.  
19. Diversity of DTS The seminary was not just ethnically diverse, but there was a great deal of theological diversity as well.  I can remember discussing issues of eternal security with a man who strongly believed a Christian could lose their salvation.  I can't say I had ever discussed the issue with someone so versed in Scripture or whose arguments were as theologically sound.  We tend to spend time with those who believe just like us, yet the seminary was a terrific place to rub shoulders with other Christ followers who come from different backgrounds or traditions.
20. Athanasius I can't say I honestly knew anything of Athanasius prior to attending DTS, but I quickly learned of this hero of the faith and the boldness with which he stood for orthodoxy and the truths of the gospel.  I admired him to such an extent that our son Athan is named after him, as it is our prayer that Athan will exhibit such boldness on behalf of the Lord as well.
21. Singing in class Early in my DTS days, particularly with Dr. Lightner and Dr. Waters, we would begin each class session with a hymn.  I loved and valued this blend of worship with academic study as it set the pace and purpose for the studies we were engaging in.
22. Todd 103 Almost every week long and weekend course I took in the early years was in this room.  I had my spot on the second to last row right next to the middle column.  Terrific insights came in that seat!
23. DTS Book Center In terms of bookstores I enjoy visiting, this has to be in my top 3.  Something about its architecture (it is a former Orthodox church) and the variety of books on theology, Bible, and practical ministry make this a place I always have to visit when I go back to campus.
24. Adoniram Judson Years ago I bought a biography on a number of famous missionaries.  I found a 400 page biography on Judson that was said to be the best, though I had no idea when I would sit down to read a biography of such length.  For WM101 we were assigned a biography and I figured it was the perfect time to read it and was I glad I did!  Judson's hardships and sacrifice for the gospel were awe-inspiring and a continual example I consider.
25. Acts 1:8 BE101 was the first class I took and listing observations of Acts 1:8 was the first assignment I had.  The verse will forever hold a special place in my heart and draw my attention and focus back to the skills I acquired while at DTS.
26. The Words and Works of Jesus Christ If I were to make a list of tough questions or passages from Scripture, at least half of them would be from the gospels.  J. Dwight Pentecost's class on the life of Christ and particularly his book entitled "The Words and Works of Jesus Christ" was an invaluable resource as I continue to study and seek to understand our Lord more fully.
27. Book of Hebrews I walked away from BE107 concluding that I needed to write an argument paper on every book of the Bible.  Not because it was easy, my argument paper on Hebrews was twenty-seven pages and took countless hours, but because of the way I grew from that study and the details about the book that stick with me to this day.  "Jesus is a superior person, priest, and has a superior program.  As a result we should endure in faith, hope, and love."  This statement sums up my outline of the book and reflects an admiration for Jesus I could have only found through the study of Hebrews.

On that first assignment I came out with 27 observations and figured it would only be right to come up with 27 observations here!  Thank you Dallas Seminary and all that made it possible.

Jay

The importance of memories

I'm the type of person who rarely takes pictures when I travel.  During a 10 day trip in Israel I took 200 pictures.  There were people in our group who took 10,000!  There are two reasons for that, first I'm a pretty pathetic photographer.  I'm the guy who gets the moving car in the picture or who finds a way to get the shot of you blinking or looking away.  Second, I want to see and experience and make last memories with my own eyes and not see everything through the lens of a camera.  Those memories, whether it's the smell of the streets of Jerusalem, the sights of looking over a mountain peak as I rode an elephant in Thailand, or hearing my boys say Dad for the first time or pray to their Heavenly Father are much more significant to me than a photo.

God seems to place a great deal of importance on having his people reflect and remember as well.  As I've been reading to I Samuel I came to chapter 12 where Samuel instructs the people to stop and remember the history of their people.  Similar commands are given in Joshua 24, Nehemiah 9, and Psalm 78, just to name a few.  Those leaders longed that the people would remember what God has done for His people in the past and would remain faithful to Him in the present.  Peter and Stephen do something similar in Acts 2 & 7 for the church.  As I've considered how regularly this takes place I've wondered why, what does reflection provide for us?

• Reminds us of the grandness of the story we find ourselves in.  Each Israelite generation needed to remember that God's promises for them went back to Abraham and they played a part in that blessing to all people that was promised to come through Abraham and his descendants.
• Unites our circumstances with the trials previous brothers and sisters overcame.  For each of us, we face doubt, hardship, and the temptation to give up or settle for less than what God would have for us.  Every believer has faced these opponents.  In reflecting, we see that those who have gone before us are not that different from ourselves, they fell to sin, they made mistakes, but they endured the opposition and overcame.  We face the same challenge.
• Allows our awe for God's great power and true goodness to grow.  If nothing else, reflection should bring our hearts to praise God all the more.  Whether we are reflecting upon His power and goodness to others who have gone before, or in reflecting upon His goodness to us in years that have gone by, our adoration of God and the humble posture that creates in our own lives is reason enough to take the time to reflect. 

The problem is our world is too rushed to prioritize the discipline of reflection.  We have our calendar set with meetings, appointments, activities, and tasks all looking ahead at what's coming up, but seldom do we look back at where we've been and what has already taken place.  I think that's a problem I face in my life, and fear that's the case for many within our culture as a whole.  I'll write more on this topic in the coming days in trying to find resolutions for how to simplify and gain that time to remember.

Finding the story within the story

Recently I was reading through the story of Joseph with some buddies of mine and I was impacted not by the story of his life.  That may sound strange,  as we typically read it and all assume we are like Joseph, but this time the Lord led me to the interesting side note on Judah that takes place from Genesis 37-50.  Judah is the story within the story.

To summarize, Joseph was Jacob's favorite son and the other eleven decided one day to kill Joseph as they were overcome with anger and jealousy.  The brothers agree to kill him but Reuben talks them into  beating him until they could decide what the next step would be.  As they are waiting, Judah convinces the brothers that killing him was a bad financial mistake when they could make some money out of selling him into slavery.  It was bad enough that their jealousy overcame them to the point that they wanted to kill their brother (This was not new as Cain had revealed in Genesis 4), but Judah wanted to get something out of it.  Genesis 38 takes a timeout from Joseph and tells a story of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar.  It seems oddly placed for a number of reasons.  First, chapter 37 shows a focus on Joseph that would continue, it set the story up with the foreshadowing of his dreams and the lack of resolution at the end of the chapter, thus it steps away from the direction of the narrative.   Second, the story paints Judah in a particularly negative light as lacking the integrity of his daughter-in-law, a Canaanite widow who pretended to be a prostitute.  Surely this would have been an easy story to leave out, or set aside.  

Following this story Judah takes a central role in the resolution with Joseph.  In 43:1-11 Judah convinces Jacob to let him take Benjamin back to Egypt.  This had been tried by Reuben in 42:37 unsuccessfully.  In 44:14 Judah becomes central in the conversation with Joseph, expressing the sentiments of all of the brothers.  In 46:28 Jacob sends before him to show the road that led to Joseph.  Judah's transformation culminates in the blessing he receives from his father in 49:8-12.  It lasts the longest and is the greatest of all the blessings he gives to his sons.  The story hinges back at 38:26 where Judah repents of his wrong doing.  

I'd like to think the story is included because it shows the transformation that took place in Judah's life.  Transformation cannot happen until we recognize the depths of our unrighteousness.  I think we like to associate ourselves with Joseph when reading Genesis 37-50 because we think he seems like the innocent one, that everything he touches turns to gold and God blesses.  The reality is that far too much of our stories are more like the story of Judah.  The depths of our transgression and rebellion is great and even then we long to make more of a profit at our brother's expense.  We fail at parenting, we fail as patriarchs, we lie and worse yet, we are quick to condemn someone else when they look to be in sin.  It's not until we are forced to face the reality that we are unrighteous, that we fall short of God's standard that life-change can happen.  

I like to think Judah changed because of the grace he found in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and his father Jacob and that set him on a trajectory to live radically different.  The text isn't explicit, but the author seems to use his recognition of his unrighteousness as a launching pad for transformation.  Don't get me wrong, the blessings Judah received were not a reward for better living or a change of heart, but as John says, they were merely "grace upon grace," that Judah's blessings were unmerited and a further testimony of the depths of God's love.  What a sweet picture of God's redeeming love for a sinner.  Don't miss that story because Judah's story is our's as well.

Ministry of Presence

What do we say to someone in the midst of a trial?  How do we comfort them? How do we encourage them and come alongside them as Jesus would want in those moments?

Despite your career or background, these are questions we all long to know because we've all been faced with situations in life where a co-worker, classmate, or friend was walking through a season of trials or loss.  Your heart ached for them because their grief, fear, and worry was pasted on the expressions of their face and their body language.  In those moments we want so badly to remove their hurt, the cause of their pain and worries.  Knowing we can't do that, we wonder how we can do something, however small to help and bless them.

I've often heard ministers talk about the ministry of presence, and that being with someone, taking the time to visit is so critical to comforting them.   In my experience there truly is something powerful about people's presence and knowing that the trials you face you do so not alone, but accompanied by others.  Let's look at this approach from a different angle.  Recently I've been reading through the book of Job and in chapter 2 Job's three friends; Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite came to visit.  These friends are often treated pretty badly by commentators and readers alike, and well they should, but in 2:13 the text says that the friends spent the first seven days with Job, not saying a word.  This is the ministry of presence to the extreme!  For a second let's give the guys some credit, they traveled great distances to come to Job in his trials, and were with Job in his suffering, refusing to leave him for an entire week, while not saying anything.

But the time came when they had to give Job counsel, and that's when the problem arose as their counsel was not wise or sound.  It didn't reflect God's character or His dealings with mankind, but rather reflect a system void of grace.  Despite how one may attempt a ministry of presence with those walking through a trial, the moment will come when you must speak.  That's a lesson to be learned from all of us about Job's friends.  So what should be said?  Here are a few suggestions;

• Less is more Sometimes we don't know what to say and babel on and on and end up saying too much (kind of like grocery shopping when you're hungry!).  Affirming your commitment to them, offering aid, and pointing them back to the Lord and His Word are non-negotiables, but leave the rest for some other time.
• Offer to pray with them We often tell people in trials that we are praying for them, but seldom do we offer on the spot to pray with them (this would depend on the setting).  Prayer has a way of easing the worries and concerns of the person.  Sometimes in the midst of trials you don't know what to tell God and it can be nourishing to the soul to hear others praying for you to the Lord, almost as if it gives you words that you were unable to find.   
• Never call evil good I've heard people quickly quote Romans 8:28 and wrongly suggest that sickness or loss will be good.  I'm inclined to think that sickness, loss, and death are all a result of the fall and would never be looked at as good by God, but instead as a result of our rebellion to Him.  I avoid that verse in the moment, and prefer to look at the Psalms, places in Isaiah, or others that focus on God's character and faithfulness.  After all, what we need to hear in those moments is that we worship a God who is with us, who is both powerful and compassionate, who will take this evil and work through it to bring about some seeds of good.  

All things to all people

Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 9 seems to be quoted often as a rallying cry for Christians and our ministry to the lost.  I've heard youth pastor's quote it for students to overlook social cliques in school for the sake of the gospel, I've heard college pastor's use it to urge students that regardless of fraternity, school, or even attitudes about alcohol, we are called to those who are different from ourselves.  I've heard pastor's use it to encourage their congregations to view their neighbors as a field ripe for harvest, and to do whatever it takes to win them for the gospel.  All could be right applications, but may miss the mark.  With all due respect to those who have used the passage in the previous ways, I think they are missing the magnitude of Paul's statement.  Each time I go overseas and enter into a foreign culture I am reminded of the immense sacrifice Paul is making for the sake of the gospel.

Last Friday I returned from Thailand having spent a week on the ground working with some mission partners in Chiang Mai.  The trip was an incredible opportunity to see what the Lord is doing in the lives of, and through brothers and sisters in Christ in Thailand.  Though we were setting aside our preferences when it came to certain details of our day to day life such as what we had for breakfast during our stay in Thailand, what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 9 was still greater than merely laying aside preferences on meals.

The passage must be read in light of Philippians 3 or Acts 22 to understand the depths of Paul's allegiance not only to Judaism, but to the Pharisaical strand of the faith, which practices great discipline and ostracism from the larger Graeco-Roman culture.  As Paul talks about becoming all things to all people he is talking about eating as a Gentile, something he once would have thought of as morally reprehensible.  He would have considered it unholy and forbidden by God.  It would have meant sitting with people he once would have avoided as sinners who were unclean.  All that changed when he came to Christ.  The gospel not only changed Paul's eternity, but it penetrated even the mundane details of his daily life.  Paul's perspective on people, food, and fellowship was forever transformed by Christ.  Ironically, Paul became less legalistic after coming to Christ.  Something that seems so strange because in most evangelical settings the opposite is true as many of us become more legalistic.  The reality of Paul's life is that he transitioned from law to grace, whereas most of us transition from grace to law.

The experience in Thailand reminded me once again of the sacrifices we are called to make for the gospel, that it should change every aspect of our lives.  I'm grateful for the way it changed Paul's heart and asking the question where are those areas in my life that it must continue to shine it's light?