Knowing God

Life has been too busy! I got into a nice little streak of blogging once a week or so and I am going to try and get back there over the next few months. I wanted to share a passage that I have been chewing on a bit from my own devotional time. Its a passage from Jeremiah 22:15-16 and Jeremiah is pronouncing judgment upon Shallum the king of Judah and in v.16 it says in reference to his father Josiah, "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy. Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?" Declares the LORD.

The OT often emphasizes the LORD's love and provision for the poor, the alien, widow or orphan (e.g. Deut. 10, book of Ruth). Often those passages implore God's people to imitate His love for the downtrodden. This passage in Jeremiah was particularly convicting to me because of the part that I bolded. Knowing the LORD in my mind is often about knowing His Word, about fleeing from sin, about being in fellowship with Him as I worship or pray. I'm ashamed to say that to me, knowing God doesn't often mean actively reaching out to the homeless, to those who are downtrodden, or poor.

That's just it, if I truly know the LORD's character, knowing He loves the unloveable, that He is a refuge for the poor (Is. 25:4), won't I do the same? Won't I go out of my way to show compassion to those that nobody else will love? Knowing God means following His example, and His example was of a Holy God leaving heaven's glories to come to earth, and die on the cross for a bunch of helpless rebels. His love was active, and was felt, and mine should be the same. Just something to think about...

To live is Christ,

J

P.S.-Check back next week for my Top 10 reasons to give thanks in 2009!

Christianity and Life

So you probably saw I'm in the middle of reading the Early Christian Fathers right now and recently while reading a document called the Didache, an early Christian document dating till possibly the late 1st Century, I came across an interesting statement. Here it is; "And this is the second commandment of the teaching: you shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not corrupt children, nor practice sexual deviation; you shall not steal; nor practice calling on spiritual guides; nor use sorcery; you shall not procure an abortion, nor practice infanticide; you shall not covet your neighbor's goods."

In this list are heinous crimes that Christians are not to take part in, and the author included in this list the act of abortion. I found it enlightening that the stance of Christians' on the issue of abortion has not been something that popped up in the 20th Century, it is something they have stood against throughout the church's inception. We as children of God must promote life, whether that be through supporting organizations that help mothers make a difficult decision, whether that be through adopting children yourself, or encouraging family and friends to adopt.

Our Heavenly Father is described as a "father to the fatherless," perhaps we can promote life by imitating His example...

Fatherhood

I don't spend enough time on here sharing on family experiences and thoughts. Recently, I've had a number of conversations where people ask me about Hudson. He is growing and learning at such an incredible rate, for example things he couldn't say last week he now says with clarity this week. He says stuff like "exhaust pipe," and "back hoe loader." We have a tee that he will hit a baseball off of, and he has started telling me to "watch," before he'll swing the bat because he wants Dad to see him hit the ball. Hudson is becoming a little boy. Part of me is sad, I miss holding him early in the morning as he was an infant, I miss holding his hands as he learned to walk, or feeding him cereal. On the other hand, each stage has been thoroughly enjoyable. Sure I had my frustrations, but overall he was wonderful and that's why the other part of me is excited to see him grow up and enter the "next stage".

I would encourage any dad, or future father to take time with your kids no matter the age, change the diapers, do the grocery runs, relationships take time to build and we have the chance to begin the relationship with our children at the beginning of their life. As Hudson has gotten older I've tried to think of ways he and I can spend time together and give mom a break. For example, either Monday or Saturday morning we make a donut run. Its usually just the men, Mom is encouraged to stay in bed and sleep while we go get donuts (or nonuts as he calls them) and eat breakfast together. Its always exciting for him to see us pull into the donut store, and I love getting to spend the time with him. He is a treasure and joy to be with and I look forward to the years ahead...

Ancient v. Modern

As a result of taking another Historical Theology class I came up with the goal to read The Early Church Father's, Calvin's Institutes, and Luther's Bondage of the Will this fall. Often times in our culture, and even in the church we want the newest, the hot off the press book on the Knowing God's Will. We look at what is the bestseller at the christian bookstore and think we just have to have that book.

The funny thing is, that particular book may be out of print in a couple of years and who will remember but used book store owners? We all as believers in Christ are formed into one body by the work of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:12-13) that unites us with every other believer in this world now, but also unites us with believers who have gone before. I might share a lot in common with Chuck Swindoll, we are American Evangelicals, who are children of the 20th-21st Century, and educated at Dallas Theological Seminary. The problem with only reading people you agree with or have things in common with is that your both susceptible to the same blind spots. Reading Ignatius' seven letters to the churches as he went to martyrdom is unlike anything Rick Warren could write and causes me to reflect upon my own devotion to our common faith. Consider also that the church fathers were discipled by the apostles. Isn't it possible that there teachings are more reflective of Christlikeness than someone of our era?These fathers of our faith can give us insights from a completely different time period, and different part of the world. The amazing thing is that the same Spirit that indwelt them, indwells you and me and the same battle we fight against a fallen culture, they fought against a fallen culture. I wouldn't suggest that everything I read in Calvin's Institutes is to be accepted as truth, but we as Evangelicals likely find our Protestant heritage in him and have much in common with his teachings, so why not read him to see if there is some truth he can teach us that others from our era and tradition overlook?

So I encourage anyone reading this post(mom) not to run out and get the latest book by your favorite author, without stopping to read something that has stood and weathered the test of time. And if you need a list of the Church Fathers that's understandable...

J

Older Brother

As the oldest brother in my family I can remember countless times where Mom & Dad would sit me down and talk to me about the importance of setting a good example for my younger brothers. These little "chats" would take place sometimes after I had messed up and set a poor example for my two younger brothers, or sometimes they would take place at relative highs, where my parents were proud of the example I was setting for David and Stephen. Its sometimes interesting to think what Jesus' childhood would have been like. If Joseph and Mary would have had these talks with Him as He set a perfect example, or sat down His siblings and said "Why couldn't you be more like Jesus."! Similarly we are all a part of one family in Christ. God the Father is over this household, with Jesus as the firstborn and we as adopted sons and daughters in Christ are called to follow His example as members of the household and family of God.

What an incredible thing to consider that for all who have come to faith in Christ, God has adopted them into His family, as children and heirs. Romans 8:16, 17 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." The Sonship of Jesus has nothing to do with His origin, for Christ has always been God, from all time He, the Father, and the Spirit have been One. Instead, Christ's sonship refers to the relationship that He and the Father share. As children and fellow-heirs with Christ, to a certain extent we thus look to Him as the eldest son in the family. As the firstborn (as Paul calls Him in Colossians 1), He has set the example that all those in the family are to follow.

A good example of this and one I have been considering recently is found in Philippians 2 where Paul exhorts his readers to "regard one another as more important than yourself," and then illustrates this point by turning to the example of Christ who regarded us and our interests as more important than His own. Christ has provided the example for us to follow, His humility in leaving heaven, becoming a man, and dying a death He didn't deserve is one that we are called to imitate with one another. But Christ has not only provided the example, He also provides the ability to be humble, be gracious, to love our neighbor as He sent the Spirit to indwell and empower us (see John 16).

I am undeserving of such grace and I prove it each day as I consistently fall short of His example. That's what makes adoption so special, that God has grafted me into His family not because He liked my sense of humor, or because I could catch a football, but simply because of His grace in Christ. Such grace motivates me to follow the example of our Lord Jesus, and hopefully motivates you to do the same...

the Rodeo

Earlier today I closed another chapter in my life by trading in my 1997 Isuzu Rodeo for a new Chevy Cobalt. I loved that Rodeo and had owned it for nearly ten years. It was a wonderful car that I've shared many memories in and with. I learned to drive a standard in it soon after I graduated high school (thanks Mom), took it on my first youth ski trip to Durango (it hardly made it up the mountain!) and took it to Shawnee to spend time with Jen while we were in college. It was my car when I got married, graduated college, and had Hudson. I've taken it to Dallas for seminary classes and on youth events.

The car wasn't anything special, it was a 4 cylinder 5-speed with no power locks, no power windows. It had 151,000 miles on it and had been in the shop over the last few years numerous times. I was genuinely thankful for it. God had graciously provided it as my parents bought it for me when I graduated high school and I really didn't want anything else. For me it serves as a wonderful reminder not to focus on what I don't have, but to be content with what God has blessed me with. The government may call it a clunker, but to me that Rodeo was a companion!

Happy Father's Day

This post is a bit different from my previous writings as I want to talk about my dad in lieu of the Father's Day weekend.  My dad, Rockey Felker is and always has been my hero.  I don't think that will ever change.  As a young boy, Dad was the guy I idolized, he was a star football player at Mississippi State where he won the SEC player of the year in 1975.  The funny thing is, his humility was such that the trophy meant nothing to him, my brother David and I used to color all over it with crayons!  Dad became a football coach after college and by his early thirties received his dream job as the head coach at Mississippi State University.  At the age of 32 he was on top of the world.  5 years later he was let go, it was a devastating time for him and our family.  Since that time he has coached twice at the University of Tulsa and once at the University of Arkansas, and over the past six years has been back at Mississippi State as both the Director of Football Operations and the Running backs coach.  Through it all he has remained grounded, actively speaking at FCA groups and teaching Sunday School with my mom, being faithful to his wife, and the biggest supporter of his sons.  

As a boy I think I idolized my dad for what he had accomplished, for his success and fame.  No doubt his wikipedia bio is more full than mine will ever be.  But now as a young man the thing I idolize so much about him is not his success but his character.  He has remained humble in a professional field that molds a persons ego.  He has been faithful and trustworthy not only in his work, but more importantly with his family.  His humility and love for his wife and boys is a challenge for me daily.  His trust in the Lord and desire to be in His Word is something I still remember, as he would stay up late, sitting in "his chair" and reading his Bible while the rest of us slept.  Its fun now watching him as a grandpa and the care and compassion he displays to Hudson brings back memories of my own grandfather with us.  Dad has also experienced disappointment in life and continued to trust the Lord and His sovereign plan through it all.  

Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give my father is that his life, his activities, his character were not perfect, but serve as a wonderful picture of the Heavenly Father's love, affection, and care for me as His child.  Thanks Dad! 

Much of the man I am today is because of the years I have spent imitating my dad.  He was the man I sought to emulate and still is...

Happy Father's Day,

J