The Christian Citizen

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July and were able to celebrate with family and/or close friends. I'm sure most who read this blog spent time on Sunday morning at church. If your church is like mine, you probably enjoyed some patriotic songs during the worship service. I've always been a bit hesitant about singing "God bless America" in church, not because I don't love my country. There's no other place I would rather live. My reasons depend more on the history of the church. For example, I can't imagine this taking place in the 1st Century church under the rule of the Roman Empire or during the Middle Ages, as Luther wouldn't have spent time in church singing for God to bless the German state or Calvin to bless the Swiss/French state. Their focus in church was on Christ and singing and exalting him, not a secular state however Christlike that state may be. No doubt our nation's values at times align very strongly with Judeo-Christian values and many of our founding fathers were Christians (although many were Deists as well). I just prefer to think about Christ at church, and the nation I dearly love while watching fireworks or a special on the history channel.

I did, however, really enjoy spending time thinking about the perspective Christians should have towards their government. I've come to the conclusion that Christians (I use that word to describe those who have believed in Christ and are seeking to follow Him with their lives), more than any other religious group or block in this country, should be appreciative of the freedoms we have as citizens of the United States. Here are my reasons;

1. Christians have a connection to individuals of other nations Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that there is one Body of Christ, and all who have believed in Christ are united together. As a result, God does not see many different churches, but One. The Spirit connects us to those who live in Africa or Asia, as we are one Body with them, indwelt by one Spirit who share one calling. Paul elsewhere uses the image of a family to describe the relationships we are to have with fellow believers. In light of this truth, we are united with brothers and sisters in Saudia Arabia or China who experience grave persecution because of their faith in Christ. We also have family members in Vietnam singing with whispers in apartments in fear that the secret police may find them and arrest them because they confess Jesus as Lord. The blood that unites us as family is not that which flows through our veins, but the blood that was shed for us at the cross as our Lord offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Across the world millions of Christians do not enjoy the freedom to worship Christ openly and without fear of repercussion as we do here in the United States. Should we not be thankful for our country and the freedoms it provides to us in view of the situation many of our brothers and sisters in Christ find themselves in on the other side of the globe?
2. Christians have a connection to individuals in the past. Our churches can never forget our spiritual heritage as a small band of Jewish fishermen, dedicated to the cause of a carpenter, were able to overthrow the Roman Empire. Christianity became the official religion of the Empire in less than three hundred years. In those first two centuries it was a religion persecuted as Nero charged the Christians with setting Rome on fire, or later when Christians were thrown to the lions or used as street lamps. The Church father Tertullian saw this persecution not as a wholly negative experience as he said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Our spiritual fathers in the Roman Empire, in France, in Moravia, in England were persecuted for their faith and were not given the freedom to worship the Lord openly without fear of death or persecution. Calvin said the church is the spiritual body of all believers of all time. In essence, the Holy Spirit unites us with those believers who have come before us, just as it does with those who currently live on different continents presently. We have a connection to our spiritual ancestors unlike any other belief system offers. Can an atheist fully appreciate the freedoms they possess here in the United States without any connection to those who have come before them?
3. Spiritual Freedom allows us to fully enjoy National Freedom. Those who have believed in Christ have been set free spiritually from the Law, the power of sin, and death. The book of Galatians was written to remind believers of those freedoms and to exhort them to greater faithfulness in light of such freedom. You've probably heard it said, "freedom isn't free." This past Sunday in church we also observed the Lord's Supper. I spent a great deal of time thinking about the high cost that Christ paid to set me free. He left the glories of heaven, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died a death He didn't deserve, rose victoriously on the third day, and ascended to heaven to the right hand of the Father. All of this He did to set me free. His love and mercy leave me speechless and humbled. I don't think we can express our appreciation for such undeserved love. At the same time, this sacrifice for my freedom changes my perspective. All of a sudden having experienced spiritual freedom and new life in Christ, I can fully comprehend the depths and cost that freedom demands. I understand that great sacrifice and selflessness are required for freedom to be gained. I know this not because I have made that type of sacrifice, but only because I have reaped the benefits of One who did. Having reflected on the spiritual freedom that Christ purchased for me, it gives me a greater appreciation for the sacrifice and selflessness that our servicemen and women display in order to provide me with national freedom. They are examples of Jesus' statement, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Christians should love their country, not because its perfect or God's kingdom on earth, but because of the many freedoms we enjoy that others do not. We also should be ever grateful to those who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms, knowing their sacrifice has, in some small way modeled that of Christ's.

Family Resemblance

With the birth of a new baby there typically are a number of different questions that are always asked. For example, the "are you getting any sleep?" seems to be a favorite right now (And to answer that question, Athan is sleeping really well right now. I'm tempted to say he may be a better sleeper than Hudson was). The second topic that always seems to come up is the "who does he look like?" conversation. Its always fun to watch grandparents, uncles, and aunts stare at a child and discuss whether that nose was Grandpa Tingle's or a Harrison nose. Each part of their little faces is diagnosed and discussed. During the conversation last week regarding Athan, my Dad in a way that only he could, just stated that he thought Athan looked just like him when he was a baby. He even pulled out old baby pictures of himself to bolster his argument!

No doubt Athan will have features that are distinctly his own, but as I've seen with Hudson he will look like Jen at certain moments, or play like me at others. Their personality, temperment, and look resemble their family.

As I listened to that conversation in the hospital it made me think how much joy I get when I have someone tell me that Hudson looks like me or acts like me. I think we as parents enjoy seeing that resemblance in our own children (at least when its a positive trait!). It also made me reflect on whether I resemble my Heavenly Father in my interactions or words to others.

As Christians, the Bible tells us that we are adopted sons and daughters of God (Romans 8). We are born again when we come to faith in Christ and this new birth is a birth into the family of God (John 3). We are to look to the Lord as our Father, even calling Him "Abba". We are part of the family of God, and are to view fellow believers not only as partners in ministry, but as spiritual brothers and sisters (1 Timothy 5).

As God's child there should be some family resemblance. John says in his first epistle, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, or the one who does not love his brother." John is arguing that God's children are going to love their brothers and sisters, they are going to practice righteousness. This doesn't mean I will always behave in those ways just as Hudson or Athan won't always behave as I wished they would. Just because they don't behave as I desire them to wouldn't mean they would forfeit their sonship. What it does mean is that God's children, living in God's Spirit reflect God's character.

So do I resemble my Heavenly Father by serving selflessly as Christ did, or are my own selfish interests secretly at heart? When others see my interactions with a bad cashier at a store, do they see love and compassion conveyed? In many respects, just as Athan has a hair line that looks just like mine, so our character should reflect that of our Heavenly Father.

I can think of nothing our Father would desire more, than for His children to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, seeking to t reveal their family resemblance with the Maker and Creator of all that exists. By doing so not only do we bring our Father joy, but we fulfill the responsibility He has given to us, to testify to others of His goodness and grace...

Athan Lane Felker

Well as I sit in the hospital room watching my beautiful wife and new son fall asleep I wanted to jot down some of the details from the past 24 hours. We checked into the hospital last night at about 8:30 for an induction that was to begin early this morning. Around 10:30 Jen received her epidural and the first scare took place. The first epidural hit a blood vessel and the anestheseologist said she would only try it one more time and if it didn't work Jen would have to go with no drugs. It managed to work that time. Jen progressed at a rapid pace and by 11:30 was ready to push but her doctor was in surgery. We were both worried and concerned, but by 11:45 he made it and after a few short minutes Athan had arrived!

Athan weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces, which wasn't bad for a baby three weeks premature. He was 20 inches long and had a head full of black hair (which fits him well with his Greek name!) In many ways he reminds me a lot of Hudson in the face, but I'm sure over the next few weeks he'll begin to have his own look. As for now we are so very humbled by God's grace. After last years loss I feel so very blessed to have a baby boy to hold and even change!

Athan's name is a bit unique, but something we spent time praying about and researching. I had always liked the idea of naming my children after great men or women of God particularly in Church History. I wanted to be able to tell my kids that they were named after a great man or woman of the Lord and my prayer is they would imitate such devotion in their own lives. My favorite two names were Hudson and Eliot. When I found out we would have another little boy I didn't have many ideas.

Years ago I had heard of a story about a young man named Athanasius, who managed to sway the bishops of the Byzantine Empire from following the newest fad and unbiblical teaching of Arianism, and instead to accept orthodoxy. He did so through his great writings on the Incarnation of Christ as the central tenet of our faith. Its possible he was even the author of the Nicene Creed, and all of this he did before the age of 28! From the time he was 30 until his death he served as the bishop of the great city of Alexandria as he pastored the cities' churches. He was banished five different times, his life was threatened by emperors and even assassins and still he held faithfully to the Bible's teachings on Christ's incarnation.

A man who stood for truth in the face of persecution, who studied diligently, and shepherded wisely was surely someone worthy to be an example not only to me, but to all believers. My prayer is that Athan would come to know the Lord early, and model these habits of Athanasius in his own lifetime.

Rocks of Remembrance

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get to preach on Sunday morning. I chose the passage in Joshua 4 where the Lord brings the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry ground and commands them to setup a memorial that would testify constantly of God's goodness to them. This memorial of rocks was to remind them of what God had brought them through and spur them on as they sought to take the promised land. The memorial was to be a teaching tool for the Israelites to use as they instructed their children and grandchildren about the Lord. It also was to be used to proclaim to the nations that the Lord God of Israel was to be feared by all nations and peoples. One of the principles I sought to emphasize is that as people are reminded of what God has done in their past, they will be more likely to rest in God's sovereignty and goodness with their present trials and circumstances. In that regard, our past can have a significant impact on our spiritual formation in the present and the future.

My challenge for the congregation starting with myself was to reflect on my past and identify significant events, people, and even places that the Lord has used to impact the path I am now on and the man I am today. Secondly, after identifying those "rocks of remembrance" its my responsibility to share those with others. I believe God does not bring people or events into our lives for our benefit alone, but so that we can in turn share those with others and they can benefit from our experiences as well.

So here are a few of my "rocks". Some of these I shared from the pulpit, while others I came up with as I reflected on my own life.

• God's provision as we moved- I had a number of moves as a child and adolescent. It seems like I would get adjusted to a situation, make friends, get comfortable and we would be moving again. In some cases my Dad took a job where he was able to balance his time between work and home more so. Those years were wonderful as he was able to coach little league and spend more time with me, being that Godly example I needed. Other moves meant he was taking a job that prevented him from being around as much. In many cases those moves will serve as rocks for me as each time I became dependent on the Lord to provide (especially if Dad lost his job), but also to be that "friend who sticks closer than a brother." Those moves also made me closer to my brothers and parents as I looked to them as more than family, as friends.
• Jen- Our friendship began as seniors in high school and has had a monumental impact on the man I am today. Her authentic faith challenged me and my relationship with the Lord. We often have talked together about Priscilla and Aquila. Each time the married couple is mentioned they are mentioned as a team. Its also interesting to point out that Priscilla is always mentioned first, perhaps expressing her as the primary minister of the couple. Jen is my Priscilla.
• Countryside Church-In the spring of my freshmen year I had still not found a church home and was struggling to get plugged in anywhere in Stillwater. My dad encouraged me to try out Countryside and the next Sunday I did. From that point on this has been my church home. The love for God's Word and opportunities to serve forever changed the path I was on.
• Harry Layden, Butch Simmons, and JB Bond- These three men are a few of my role models. Men I love, I admire, and have been instruments God has used to mold me. Harry has been a friend, a man who married Jen and I, whose family I truly do love and respect. Harry was wonderful in pre-marital counseling in emphasizing communication between Jen and I. I'm not talking about the weather or the latest episode of "the Office." I mean real communication, turning off the radio on the way to Mississippi and just talking. Its something that I still feel we seek to practice in our marriage. Butch has been a wonderful role model of grace, of humility, and a man whose life oozes Christlikeness. I spent a summer in Starkville and got to know him for a few months. For reasons I can't quite figure out, he has continued to seek out our friendship and taken an interest in me. JB has been more than a boss, he has been a terrific up close example of faithfulness and dedication to the Lord. That example constantly challenges me to imitate those traits as well. His passion for God's word is contagious and I caught it soon after hearing him. I've thankful to have each of these men as rocks in my life.
• Jen's Job-Shortly after getting married Jen had still not found a job in Stillwater. The plan was for her to get a job while I finished school (she graduated a year early, I was not late I was right on time!). She tried everything, she even went to do a few random jobs for a temp agency. Bills were coming due and we were both concerned. I remember her calling me at work to tell me that a man who was looking to hire a secretary had called to tell her she didn't get the job because she was over qualified. She was crying and I felt terrible for her. She went home and a half hour later she called back and the job she had wanted, that was closest to her field of study, had called to offer her the job. In God's perfect timing He provided exactly what we needed and Jen wanted.
• New Orleans Mission Trip #1- The trip took place the spring after Katrina. We took a relatively small group down to New Orleans with the sole purpose of gutting and cleaning up from the disaster. The trip was monumental for Jen and I as we witnessed devastation that we had never seen before. It also gave us an opportunity to serve alongside one another and alongside our students. From that point on, I knew I wanted to take mission trips with our students. There is nothing more rewarding than serving alongside those you minister to.
• Senior Class 2010-Too often there seems to be a focus on the teacher, the pastor, the writer, or the shepherd as the one whose life is a blessing to others. In my experience in ministry, my life has been seriously impacted by those I minister to. They have been a blessing, a comfort, and an encouragement to me in ways I could not express. The 2010 class has been special to Jen and I. Many came to the hospital when Hudson was born and have loved him (even when he screamed all through Kansas) as he went on Mission trips and ski trips with them. They cooked us a meal in New Orleans on Jen and I's anniversary. They went to the middle of nowhere in SE Oklahoma with us as 8th graders! Other kids and classes will be special as well, but this groups dedication to the Lord has been such a challenge to me and I will always think of them as rocks in my life.
• Eliot's Comfort-It may seem unique to have a trial listed as a rock. In many ways losing Eliot may be the low point of my life thus far. I've described the whole situation as "silence" because that word better than any other describes that time in my life. In situations like that all you have to cling to is the Lord. His comfort and peace have surpassed my understanding. More than that, I don't know why it happened, but its brought tears to my eyes to see good come from that situation. To know that his little life cut short, in many ways has still blessed the lives of others. I believe we are more equipped to comfort another having experienced heartache ourselves (that's Paul's point in 2 Cor. 1:3-8).

I could name others, but I think this is good for now. Thanks for reading, I encourage you to consider what your rocks would be too. Until next time...

J

Shadowing-Part 2

  Yesterday while mowing my grass,  I noticed once again Hudson watching my every move and trying to follow it.  It was pretty comical really.  If I put on sunglasses, he did.  If I pushed the mower with one hand, he pushed it with one hand.  Everything I did he sought to emulate.  

I think one of the most difficult things about leading, whether that's in the home or the church is that people are not just going to seek to do what you say, and the good example you try to set.  They also are going to take note of those traits that you don't like about yourself.  If your sarcastic, don't ask where they got it from.   Often times their behavior can be a reflection of yours; good and bad.  There are always exceptions, but the longer I've been in ministry the more I've had to look at things that may frustrate me about our students and realize that I may be the problem.  If they aren't reaching out to to their friends and seeing the importance of evangelism, is it possibly because I am not emphasizing evangelism in my own life?  

I think its interesting that sometimes the way the Lord chooses to teach us may be by showing us another person's shortcomings.  Its a lot easier to see errors and sins in another.  The challenge that we as followers of Christ face is to see that and reflect if we are contributing to that problem by doing the same in our own life.  Leading isn't easy, it has a host of challenges that come with it, but I love the way the Lord constantly uses those I minister to in the home and at the church to refine me...

Shadowing

Its been some time, but I figured I would post a short reflection I had the other day. I've been in the process of trying to get my yard back to the color it should be this time of year. Its kind of a long story involving painting the exterior of our house and treating the weeds with some weed killer that made our grass glow in the dark for a week and then killed everything!

As I was mowing the other day and finding white paint chips scattered all over the yard, I became obsessed with getting them off of my grass. Initially I thought the lawn mower would pick them up, but it didn't and I began to get frustrated with the look of white paint chips everywhere so I began picking them up by hand as I saw them.

After some time I noticed Hudson (who all the while had his toy lawn mower out and moving in circles behind me) began stooping down and picking white leaves up and putting them in his pocket.

He was watching my every move, he imitated how I pushed the lawn mower, and had picked up my obsessiveness with picking up paint chips and putting them in my pocket and began to do the same.

As I watched his effort at imitating his father, it reminded me just how serious my role with him is to be taken. He is always watching, imitating, and shadowing. He wants to walk like me, talk like me and in essence be like me. Martin Luther said much about the character refinement that takes place as a result of a family. I'd have to agree, nothing in this world convicts more than to see his eyes as they study my face when I lose my temper, or to hear him sweetly talk of, "Dad being angry with Bailey (the dog)." My role as father is not only to be the authority in his life, to love and discipline him, but its also to serve as a testimony to Him of the Great God I serve. Hudson will make reflections on Jesus and the Bible based on my faith in action. That's why each day I must fall before the Lord asking for His grace to transform my life so that what Hudson see's and hears will attract him to shadow Christ.

Until then, I must seek to live in a way that testifies to Christ, loving and directing him in his steps and gladly accepting His efforts at picking up paint chips and mowing the yard for me! I'll try to update next year about some stones in my life as I'll be preaching from Joshua 4 on May 23rd...

Independence & Dependence

Last week we took our annual Youth Ski Trip to Keystone, Colorado.  It was a wonderful trip with no real injuries, and good times with some great students.  

Jen and I had decided before the trip that we would try to let Hudson ski while we were there.  We really didn't know what to expect, Hudson is two and a half and most experts recommend that kids start skiing when they are three.  We decided to rent the ski's and helmet the last day.  The plans was that I would take him up the conveyor belt lift and hold him as we ski down together.  The two days prior to his "big day" skiing he was obsessed with the skis, the boots, and the poles that all the students had.  He even practiced in the condo with one of the student's ski's.  I figured we would go down a couple times and he'd get scared or bored and want nothing more to do with it.  To my surprise, he absolutely loved it!  His favorite part was actually the conveyor belt lift, and in fact very quickly he began getting on it without my assistance.  Soon after he began  pushing my hands off of him while we were skiing because he wanted to do it by himself.  

So often we hear in Christian circles the similarities between the relationship of parents/children to God/believers and we should that comparison is Biblical.  As I reflected on my two year old skiing I thought that this step of independence is just one in a process for him.  He will forever be growing independent from Jen and I.  In contrast, my relationship with the Lord is not one in which I am to become independent from Him.  The opposite is in fact the truth.  My relationship to Him is one in which I  am constantly looking for His hands to guide me, in which I am dependent upon Him, knowing on my own I am hopeless incapable of living for His glory or in the abundant life He desires for me.  

Perhaps, that is one of the challenges the Christian life provides that unlike our relationship to our parents, our relationship to our boss, or our relationship to a teacher/coach where we prove trustworthy and gain independence, growing in our relationship to the Lord is growth towards dependence upon the One able to change and renew us in the likeness of His Son.