Where to go from here...

I'm sure most blogs will be focusing today on the election and the historic win of Barack Obama so I decided to join in the fun!  Over the past few months the election has dominated television, radio, and the printed newspaper.  It seems that over the past few weeks conservatives have seen the inevitable, that there candidate John McCain would lose.  And now while they wallow through depressed feelings and try to decide whether to head to Mexico or Canada I wanted to mention  a few of my own observations about the election;

1. I found it absolutely incredible to watch Obama's speech last night and see the jubilation on the faces of his supporters as they listened to him.  I saw tears, laughter, jumping in joyful celebration, and loud roars and applause.  Like him or not, Barack Obama inspires hope and excitement in millions of people.  I am interested to see if Change does take place in Washington.  I hope for his sake and ours that the parties can come together and fix some of the problems our country is currently facing.  

2. I don't think Obama is a bad man, a Socialist, or a  Muslim as some suggest.  I think Barack Obama is a fallen man, just like John McCain who desperately needs our prayers and support.  This past sunday the pastor at the church I attended (I was out of town, so this wasn't J.B.) spoke about respecting whatever man won this office.  How do we as Christians respect and honor a man that we  disagree with on so many issues? I see the historical context of Scripture as profound and challenging.  Think of the rulers when Paul wrote to respect those in authority over you (Romans 13)?  There was widespread persecution against the Christians and yet Paul commands them to respect their authorities?  Or what about Peter's command to honor the king (1 Peter 2).   Peter was writing at the same time Nero was ruling over the Roman Empire.  The same man that later used Christians as street torch lamps in Rome was supposed to be honored and respected?? Obama is a far far cry from Nero, yet the command is still the same for us today.  Responses like complaining, bad-mouthing our rulers or the situation reveals a lack of trust in God's sovereign plan.  We would all say that God is in control of the situation, so who would say that God can't mightily use Obama for good rather than evil? Not me. Let God's will be done.

3. As with every political campaign season whether presidential or not, I am reminded why I am apathetic with all things political; because in my soul I long for a monarchy.  That's right I long for a king who will rule in righteousness and justice.  Obama and McCain, Bush, Gore, Clinton, the name makes no difference they have and will continue to mess up because they are mess ups and I am a mess up.  I am hopeful that America will become a greater country, but frankly I'm pessimistic of that happening.  I'm pessimistic of any government ruled by sinful men of ever becoming great.  When Jesus Christ comes to rule in His Millennial Kingdom on this Earth, that will be greatness, a government that will bring Change.  That's why we should pray as Christ taught his disciples, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)  

Over the last eight years President Bush has been open about his faith and relationship with Jesus, and we as Christians seemed to respect him and urge one another to pray for him, that God would give him guidance in the decisions he makes.  In I Timothy 2, Paul says, "First of all then I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority."  Lets be faithful to do that for Obama, no matter his race, party affiliation, or religion, knowing that He needs God's guidance now more than ever... 

To live is Christ,

Jay Felker

My boy is becoming a man...

Well, not really.  However, yesterday he fell in the bathtub, hit a plastic dolphin and has a nice little cut above his eye.  Jen was so worried about it that she drove across town to let me see it and tell her this is not worthy of an E.R. trip.  Its pretty bruised looking today, but I'm doubtful it will leave a scar.  I told one of our students about it yesterday and he gave Hudson the nickname, "Scarface".  Let's hope this isn't a sign of clumsiness that the boy will forever live with...  

The Shack

My grandmother recommended the Shack to me a few weeks ago. She had read it and wanted someone to discuss it with her. Here are some of my thoughts about this popular novel...

The Shack
William Young

Overview
The Shack is a fictional story about an average man named Mackenzie. “Mack” as he is called is a successful businessmen, happily married, and has five children. While on a camping trip the youngest, Missy is kidnapped and brutally killed by a serial killer. Mack and his wife Nan try to adjust, but Mack specifically finds it difficult to accept this from God. He receives a note in the mail box one day inviting him too “the Shack” where Missy’s blood stained dress was found. The note is signed by Papa, an endearing name for God that Nan used. Mack hesitated, but finally decides to go to the shack. There at the Shack Mack spends a weekend with God. God the Father first appears as an African American woman, Jesus as an flannel wearing Middle Eastern carpenter, and the Holy Spirit as a Far Eastern woman whom fades in and out of sight.

During that time Mack interacts with all three members of the Trinity on questions ranging from God’s purpose in evil, the need for Christ, and the necessary act of forgiveness. Mack comes to the point where he quits blaming God for allowing Missy to be killed, he forgives his father who was an alcoholic and beat him and his mom. He also forgives the man who killed Missy. Mack also gains a greater understanding of God’s desire for his children to think in terms of a relationship with Him, and not see it as a list of rights and wrongs, or religion. The book concludes with Mack returning home with a new view of life and God. Mack is able to locate the body of Missy, which eventually leads to the arrest of the killer. Mack’s desire is to meet with him, and share God’s love with Him.

Positives
• As a new parent,  the grief of losing a child is much more imaginable. Frankly, I’m scared of what I would become if something ever happened to Hudson. Many of the questions Mack asks about the nature and allowance of evil by God are honest and understandable. At the climax of the story, in Mack’s court session where God is on trial the question is posed,

“Isn’t your just complaint, Mackenzie? That God has failed you, that he

failed Missy? That before the Creation, God knew that one day your

Missy would be brutalized, and still he created? And then he allowed that

twisted soul to snatch her from your loving arms when he had the power to

stop him. Isn’t God to blame, Mackenzie?

These questions are heart-felt and in many ways reflect the pain and sorrow that we all feel when we experience tragedy in this life. The answers to these questions and others seem to balance God’s sovereign reign and man’s free will rather nicely as God points to man’s choice as the cause of evil (this going all the way back to the Tree of knowledge of good and evil) and God working through our inferiorities to bring about His will.

• I can’t imagine trying to write a fictitious book including Trinity in characters. As has been mentioned above all three members of Trinity are present with Mack at the Shack. I found this pleasantly surprising, as much of our culture seems to view God from a Unitarian perspective. I also did not have as hard a time with God as an African American woman as some reviews I have read. God even states, “Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you.” He goes on to say that Mack could not picture him as a father because of the negative experience he had with his own father. Later, after Mack and his father reconcile, God appears as an older man.
• The details of the book and Mack’s experience with God at the shack were well written and presented in a way that captivated my imagination. In many ways the book was a reminder of the greatness of God, and the future home we have in heaven. This home is not a place of clouds, harps, and pillow fights, but will be real and is beyond our comprehension or imagination.

Negatives
• I appreciated the author’s desire to communicate that our faith should be about a relationship, not a system of do’s and don’ts, of right’s and wrong’s. I felt at times the idea was rather vague, as we are just supposed to please Him, and somehow we will have a feeling about it. I thought he could have expounded on that.
• At times the Trinitarianism was a little unclear. This would be difficult to communicate clearly, but at times its as if he is saying they are one, just expressed differently, instead of three distinct persons. For example, Papa (God the Father) has scars on her hands from the cross, just as Jesus did.
• There was certainly a hint of Eastern Mysticism especially with any conversation or experience Mack had with the Holy Spirit. This is extremely concerning and should be tread upon carefully.

Final Analysis
The Shack serves as a wonderful reminder for us when we experience tragedy, that God more than anyone else understands the pain and the sorrow we are experiencing. For it was Christ Jesus who unfairly hung on the cross as a result of our sin. He was our Substitute. It also reminds us that we must trust God in those circumstances, knowing that He allows them not because He is not good, but because we as human beings chose independence over unity with Him. That independence has caused this fallen world, and all the evils that take place.

The book also serves to remind us that forgiveness is necessary first of all for us. I can’t imagine forgiving someone who would harm Hudson, yet it was Christ Himself who declared from the cross, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Overall, I would recommend this book to those who would be interested in it. Warning them not to base one’s theology on the teachings of it particularly in the Trinitarian area, but rather to focus on the sovereign plan of God in trials and the message of forgiveness.

Perfection is the goal...

Last Sunday, a blown call from the official, Ed Hochuli cost the San Diego Chargers the game.  The call was made with less than a minute to play and Denver down by seven points and about to score.  The quarterback, Jay Cutler took the ball back as if to throw the ball, but while he was taking it back it slipped out of his hands.  The ball was recovered by a San Diego player and meant victory for their team.  The problem was that Ed Hochuli blew the whistle and called the play an incomplete pass, a call that is not reviewable by instant replay.  Denver scored on the next play and then made a two point conversion to win the game.  The Chargers had lost a game they should of won solely because of a missed call by the official.   

Here is an exert from Kevin Acee, a San Diego Union Tribute writer about Hochuli's response to the foul up; 

  

No one, it appears is taking the mistake and its ramifications harder than Hochuli.  "He's devastated," said Mike Pereira, the NFL's supervisor of officials." ...I was talking to Ed within 10 minutes after the game was over, and he was sick.  He's still sick (yesterday).  "Everybody works so hard and wants to be perfect in a game you're not likely to ever be perfect.  I've talked to him three times.  He's really struggling with the fact he made such a bad call."

The reality is nobody is perfect, not in officiating, or any other profession.  To take this a step further nobody is perfect period.  We as believers should be quick to assert that we constantly mess up, but like Hochuli our goal should be perfection in our daily walk with the Lord (see I Peter 1:14-16).  Fortunately for us, unlike the statement above we will reach perfection someday.  Not as a result of our own hard work, or  goodness, but as a result of Christ's transforming ministry in our life.  Philippians 3 tells us that Christ, "will transform the body of our humble state into the body of His glory by the exertion of power which He has even to subject all things to Himself."   

This side of heaven we'll sometimes  have big foul ups that remind us of our former selves, sometimes our mistakes will be minute.  I guess that's what is so amazing about transformation.  God is taking a person who by their very nature ran from Him, and now is changing them into  a holy being in the likeness of His Son.  So often those mess ups remind me of my great need for a Savior, of One who was perfect and exchanges His righteousness with my sin debt.  I hope Ed Hochuli is able to see his mistake in a similar light and bounce back.  

By the way you notice my Green Bay Packers are 2-0 :)

To live is Christ,

Jay  

Too busy for the essentials...

Recently I taught on Acts 6:1-7 which is a wonderful little passage on prioritizing and delegating within the local church.  The passage deals with the crisis raised when Hellenistic Jewish widows are not being fed.  These women were literally going without food because someone was not taking care of the situation.  I found it interesting and convicting, especially in light of my own experiences within the local church.  

So often within a church something is always taking place, things are being setup for an upcoming event, someone needs help finding envelopes, the list is never ending.  Often times these "to-do's" are seen as priorities within the church.  It's thought, "if the tables aren't up we might as well cancel the fellowship supper."  So whoever is there goes into crisis mode to complete the task.  And we leave feeling like we did our job, the ministry. 

The apostles on the other hand, decide not to take over the project of feeding the widows.  Can you imagine a project more important than feeding widows their daily bread?  Instead they decide to stay devoted to sharing the word and praying.  I don't think they were saying they were too good to serve, certainly they were servants as their Rabbi was (Mark 10:45), instead the task was so large it would have prevented them from praying and teaching the word.  

Rather they decided to choose seven men to take over the task of feeding the widows.  The men they chose were not chosen because of their abilities physically, but rather were to be men Spirit filled and of good character.  Its also somewhat ironic that these men who were supposed to be servants, are actually well know for teaching the word (e.g. Acts 6-7 Stephen, Acts 8 Philip).  There goes the notion that I have the spiritual gift of service so I don't have to share my faith!

My estimation is that often we as products of our culture would rather "do" something for another because of our own feelings of self-worth instead of spending time praying for another.  When I "do" something I can check it off my to-do list, when I pray I humbly submit to God's sovereign plan, awaiting for Him to work it out in His perfect timing and perfect way.  So often I prefer to go do something around the church, I find it more fulfilling to help a lady get the tables set out, or cleanup a mess from last night.  Nothing is wrong with helping each other out, but if I haven't devoted myself to praying for my students, and instead serve another, then I believe I have become too busy for the essentials of ministry according to the apostles...  

Mission Trip Observations

Well our trip to Arlington went well. It was a great time for our group to serve the Hispanic Bible Church in Arlington. Our contacts were Craig and Barbara Prather, who are Countryside missionaries and work at the church. We ran three bible clubs a day in different neighborhoods designed to create contacts for the church to follow up on. Our programs included games, crafts, skits, puppet show and songs, basically it was a mini-VBS. Our students did a marvelous job of preparing and presenting the material. They took their responsibilities seriously and worked hard to make sure that the kids knew they cared for them, and wanted them to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

I think the part that was the most exciting for me personally was the unity that my group formed with one another. I don't think it was anything that I personally did, but we did a lot of Spirit-led praying. This seemed to do wonders for us and gave us a peace that surpasses my comprehension (hmm seems familiar). I forget how much I enjoy praying with others. There is such a wonderful thing about coming together with brothers and sisters and lifting up requests to the Father. It especially was encouraging to hear our students pray for the bible clubs, for the kids and for one another. Its always encouraging to hear their prayers for one another and the desire they have for God to work in the lives of those they are ministering to. Thanks for your prayers and remind me in a few months to continue praying with them...

To live is Christ,

Jay

Why can't we all just get along...

I've come to the realization that having a blog that is barely updated is worse than not having one at all. I'm setting a goal to write at least once a week.  

 Over the last few months I've been doing some reading in Bruce Demarest's The Cross and Salvation.  The book is required reading for a Soteriology class that I am planning to take with Dr. Horrell in a few weeks.  The book is extremely thorough, almost to a fault, but I find that I have really enjoyed reading it.  The study of salvation and all of its terms could take lifetimes to fully study, yet I am trying to master it in a few weeks!  

One question that I have considered as a result of reading this book is this; is there a way in our churches for Arminians and Calvinists (or other theological systems such as Wesleyans), for those who view doctrine differently to unite to worship, study the Word and serve one another as one body.  So often doctrine divides, but this side of heaven can we put aside those differences and focus on those things that we have in common.  Now I'm not saying we let anyone and everyone in.  Its just that from a theological standpoint many of us share a lot in common.  We hold that the Bible is God's Word, practical for our lives.  Jesus is the Eternal Son, who became a man, lived perfectly and paid for sin on the cross.  He physically rose and offers eternal life.  I firmly believe John Calvin is in heaven, along with Jacob Arminius, Martin Luther, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, and a host of other people whose beliefs were different than mine or yours.  We all together represent the large circle of orthodoxy, of the the body of Christ.   

I'd like to think its possible for me and an Arminian and a Calvinist to be able to form a church that has a foundation broad enough for us to worship and study together, encouraging each other in our faith, but also allows freedom in these differences that we have.

I know this is idealistic, but if we acknowledge that there will be people in heaven who have differences of thought, etc, then shouldn't this be our goal while on earth?  I don't know how you would handle conflicts that would inevitably come over these doctrines other than just to say it would take mature, humble yet confident Christians on both sides of the disagreements who could understand the focus shouldn't be on winning the argument, but  on influencing our local community together.  Just thoughts to consider...

To live is Christ,

Jay