The Extra Day
4 days ago
http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/
Courageous was number 4 for the weekend in total money, but smashed the competition in average $$ per theater. At just 1161 theaters, that was a third less than the top money making movie. Courageous was in half the theaters than Lion King 3D, yet made just .7 million less. This movie is truly a commercial success!
- It really is a great movie.
- We need to financially support the Christian Independent filmmaking movement. The world needs to see that Fireproof was not just a "one hit wonder." Movies are arguably perhaps the most active culture drivers in the U.S. Let's make sure that these movies are successful financially. Don't wait for the DVD on this one!
- The message is powerful and needed - Fathers need to take the responsibility to lead their families, to be spiritual leaders, and to bring up the next generation to maturity.
- The scene where the main character and the guy he hires are confused about who each other is and why they are together is worth the price of admission alone. I also loved the "I love you" lines on the phone - priceless!
Be advised - it is a tear-jerker. You will literally laugh and cry. Dads - don't do anything else this weekend - take your kids to see Courageous. Be prepared to spend more money afterwards, though, because the movie convicted me that I needed to take my boys to Chick-Fil-A afterward. (Or maybe it was that I was hungry, and subtlety motivated by the movie - the other "bust-up" laughing scene was where the guy orders a CFA meal in spanish in the police car. What a funny scene! Would that be "product placement?")
Here is my latest video - I made this to encourage everyone in our Maranatha Bible Camp family to continue to support MBC. Hopefully churches will show this for their "Treat the Camp" Sundays. I recognize that it will be nearly impossible to get a 7 minute video shown in any Sunday morning church service (unfortunately), so I did make a 3.5 minute version, that I have aptly named the "Too Short Version."
This video had all kinds of challenges and opportunities for growth and learning.
Equipment/software - I used the trial version of Sony Vegas 11 on the kids HP laptop (my computer does not have the "horsepower" to do such things, sadly). Other than making a short experimenting video, I had not used Vegas before, and was relatively satisfied. I still have a lot to learn about it. Using Sony DVD Architect was a challenge, because just simply clicking the "Make movie" button to render a DVD directly to Sony DVD Architect won't render audio correctly. Go figure that Sony's video editor and DVD authoring program won't play nice. It can be done, but not by the simple one button click. Another challenge was that my Panasonic DV camera had bitten the proverbial dust just days before we began working on this. (It actually had smoke coming out of it!). I was very thankful to Penny for letting me borrow her Panasonic DV camera, but we had to charge the battery every 20 minutes or so of shooting. So, considering that I used trial software and had to borrow the kid's computer and a camera, I was pleased in general with the result.
Content - I have never made a "documentary" feel video of any kind, but I thought that this might be the best combination of explaining how important MBC is and showing summer highlights. I wrote a basic script of what I wanted to say, and then talked through it with my team of helpful "Critics" (Jenette and the four older kids, all of whom love to argue and pick things apart!) Their input was very helpful. Then I began the arduous task of sorting out video content from all the various sources. There was DV from my own camera (RIP) this last summer (all shot only in June before I broke my leg). There was quite a bit of good video from HS1, JH1, and JR1 (again, June camps) because Phil Weece had spent a lot of time shooting. And then there were many clips taken mostly from camper's and volunteer's digital cameras on our camp hard drive. Some of the clips were horrible, poorly shot, and useless but a few were pretty good. This was the biggest challenge of making this video, and now is the time for me to repeat the thing I have said to myself the last four summers in a row:
Other - The background music was provided by Announcing the Apocalypse (That's Joel, with Jason and Jonathan). I thought it was pretty awesome and added the right feel to the video.
This video had all kinds of challenges and opportunities for growth and learning.
Equipment/software - I used the trial version of Sony Vegas 11 on the kids HP laptop (my computer does not have the "horsepower" to do such things, sadly). Other than making a short experimenting video, I had not used Vegas before, and was relatively satisfied. I still have a lot to learn about it. Using Sony DVD Architect was a challenge, because just simply clicking the "Make movie" button to render a DVD directly to Sony DVD Architect won't render audio correctly. Go figure that Sony's video editor and DVD authoring program won't play nice. It can be done, but not by the simple one button click. Another challenge was that my Panasonic DV camera had bitten the proverbial dust just days before we began working on this. (It actually had smoke coming out of it!). I was very thankful to Penny for letting me borrow her Panasonic DV camera, but we had to charge the battery every 20 minutes or so of shooting. So, considering that I used trial software and had to borrow the kid's computer and a camera, I was pleased in general with the result.
Content - I have never made a "documentary" feel video of any kind, but I thought that this might be the best combination of explaining how important MBC is and showing summer highlights. I wrote a basic script of what I wanted to say, and then talked through it with my team of helpful "Critics" (Jenette and the four older kids, all of whom love to argue and pick things apart!) Their input was very helpful. Then I began the arduous task of sorting out video content from all the various sources. There was DV from my own camera (RIP) this last summer (all shot only in June before I broke my leg). There was quite a bit of good video from HS1, JH1, and JR1 (again, June camps) because Phil Weece had spent a lot of time shooting. And then there were many clips taken mostly from camper's and volunteer's digital cameras on our camp hard drive. Some of the clips were horrible, poorly shot, and useless but a few were pretty good. This was the biggest challenge of making this video, and now is the time for me to repeat the thing I have said to myself the last four summers in a row:
"Next year, I am going to get great video shot all summer at every session of camp of lots of happy campers and adults doing fun and meaningful things with one camera that has a consistent look, quality, and format. If I don't do that, once again, I will go bananas trying to make highlight videos."Shooting - all the highlight video was already shot, but we did the interview parts here at my home office. Jonathan set up two of our lamps from the house so that there was light on the background, (which was actually a blue bedsheet hanging on the wall) and light on my face. I thought he did a brilliant (HA!) job setting up the lighting and I honestly did not even think about setting up lights the way he did. He said that he had those lighting ideas after he watched "Divided" and noticed how lighting was set during interviews. I was very impressed with his vision for the lighting. We also experimented with a "Franken-microphone" thing that somehow ended up working with the borrowed camera. Jonathan ran the camera and Jordan was the self appointed "director" and franken-microphone pointer. She was actually very helpful by insisting that I do each section several times. I think the end result was much better because she gently pushed me to make it better.
Other - The background music was provided by Announcing the Apocalypse (That's Joel, with Jason and Jonathan). I thought it was pretty awesome and added the right feel to the video.
At the risk of offending many dear friends involved in ministry, I would like to encourage anyone involved with Church ministry at all to watch this film. It is online free for a limited time, so please go ahead and watch it. I would love to hear what others think about this.
The premise of the movie is that traditional youth ministry has the potential danger of dividing families away from each other. The solution, according to the film, is to have families together in worship and in Bible teaching instead of segregated by age or life stage.
While I think that solution by itself is limited, the larger goal is to have the church take up the responsibility to challenge parents to be the spiritual leaders and disciplers of their children.
We keep asking ourselves why kids are leaving Christ and the Church, but we haven't gained any ground against the world.
I think the Church needs to ask and address this question: are we truly holding onto the next generation by what we are doing, or do we need to do something different? While I would not agree with the movie that the Bible states definitively and undeniably that age segregation in the Church is wrong, (book, chapter, verse?) I do see that in many churches, the family is just as fragmented as in the world.
I don't know any Church or any youth minister that would say that the Bible is unclear about who is supposed to be the spiritual leader in a child's life. However, by our practices, maybe we communicate things that we don't mean to.
For example, most churches have a "youth group" time, and an adult Sunday School or small group time, but how often do churches have a dedicated "family" teaching time when youth and adults are experiencing the same thing at the same time in the same place? Unfortunately for many churches, that never happens. What does that teach the family? The kids? Is the family really gaining spiritual ground against worldliness? If not, why?
Is it possible that the media (or methodology) actually becomes the message?
Maybe if youth ministries spent more effort training parents to spiritually mentor their children, they would be more effective. I don't agree with the movie that we should do away with traditional youth ministry, but I do think that we should make it so much more family centered.
Please watch this and encourage Church leaders to watch this. We need to stop fooling around and start winning back the Church's youth for Christ.
The premise of the movie is that traditional youth ministry has the potential danger of dividing families away from each other. The solution, according to the film, is to have families together in worship and in Bible teaching instead of segregated by age or life stage.
While I think that solution by itself is limited, the larger goal is to have the church take up the responsibility to challenge parents to be the spiritual leaders and disciplers of their children.
We keep asking ourselves why kids are leaving Christ and the Church, but we haven't gained any ground against the world.
I think the Church needs to ask and address this question: are we truly holding onto the next generation by what we are doing, or do we need to do something different? While I would not agree with the movie that the Bible states definitively and undeniably that age segregation in the Church is wrong, (book, chapter, verse?) I do see that in many churches, the family is just as fragmented as in the world.
I don't know any Church or any youth minister that would say that the Bible is unclear about who is supposed to be the spiritual leader in a child's life. However, by our practices, maybe we communicate things that we don't mean to.
For example, most churches have a "youth group" time, and an adult Sunday School or small group time, but how often do churches have a dedicated "family" teaching time when youth and adults are experiencing the same thing at the same time in the same place? Unfortunately for many churches, that never happens. What does that teach the family? The kids? Is the family really gaining spiritual ground against worldliness? If not, why?
Is it possible that the media (or methodology) actually becomes the message?
Maybe if youth ministries spent more effort training parents to spiritually mentor their children, they would be more effective. I don't agree with the movie that we should do away with traditional youth ministry, but I do think that we should make it so much more family centered.
Please watch this and encourage Church leaders to watch this. We need to stop fooling around and start winning back the Church's youth for Christ.
Seven days later I am feeling at least enough oomph to type. Here's what happened.
Tuesday, July 12 8:30 AM
I go out to the zip line area at the ATV to raise the termination cable on the North line. I was trying to slow down the rate that people were coming in on that line. As I was finishing, the other guys came down in the truck and Jeff backed the truck right up within a foot or two on the East side of the tree, thinking that I might need to stand on the truck bed to finish what I was doing with the zip line cable.
Tuesday, July 12 9:35 AM
The first group of High School campers arrive to get ready for some zip line fun. We get them harnessed up and they are ready to go.
Tuesday, July 12 9:45 AM
With the students ready to go, the hop into the back of the truck for the short ride up the hill. At that moment, Jeff got into the drivers seat, and I stepped behind the truck, between the truck and the tree. I was starting to tell the students that they should not walk under the zip line when they walk back up hill. I was also thinking that I should move, because where I was was not safe. Jeff started to go, but the truck rolled backwards just a few inches - enough to pin both of my legs just above the ankles to the tree, but (at the time I thought) not enough to hurt me. I guess I screamed, and some of the kids in the back of the truck laughed at me, thinking I was being silly. As soon as the truck went forward, the pain hit me and I instantly fell, watching my lower right leg kind of dangle. I knew then that it was broken.
Tuesday, July 12 9:50 AM
The first person I remember coming to me was Jeff, though I know there were others there. I told him my leg was broken and I wanted to make sure he knew that it was my fault. I shouldn't have stepped between the truck and the tree, and Jeff didn't even know I was there. (In fact I told my boys later that if I had seen them there I would have yelled at them to get out of there because surely they would know better than to place themselves in such a dangerous place.) Nathan Martin was right there as well, and he actually told me details of the story that I didn't remember. Jan Garbet was one of the adult volunteers who was nearby, heard me scream, and came running.
As a trauma nurse and paramedic, Jan took control immediately. After a bit of arguing with her about calling an ambulance, I prevailed and they began developing a plan to stabilize my leg and take me to the hospital. What followed was maybe 30 minutes or so of writhing in pain, while they splinted my leg. There were so many focused, professional, caring people right there. Of course Penny was there. I think Nathan or maybe Kevin Klein were the first of several people who began praying for me. Andrew Stout came and began praying. Blake and Kenan were there holding my hands as I was groaning and struggling. My boys were there, watching this whole thing. I'm not sure what they were thinking, but they were right there.
I knew that I had lost control of many, many things that morning when I was asking for water, but Jan wouldn't let me have any because she was concerned that I might be going to surgery soon. That was a horrible moment. Besides pain, I was horribly thirsty all day.
As I was laying there, I couldn't help but think of the Scripture in Phillipians 4 that says,
Tuesday, July 12 10:30 ish.
They had run to get the camp backboard, but after they secured me to the board, and tucked in an inflatable frog to help stabilize my leg, they lifted me into the van. Jan was holding my foot in place, checking that I had good circulation, while Nathan drove. It was an agonizing drive, even though Nathan was very careful, I experienced every hill and curve in a new a special way. I heard Jan tell Nathan to drive into the ambulance entrance at Cox South. I had unbuckled my chest strap on the backboard because I was having a hard time breathing.
Tuesday, July 12 11:08 AM (that was the time stamped on my hospital bracelet)
The first thing that happened at the hospital was that a Paramedic opened the door to the van, took a quick look at me and yelled, "who did this?" That was not very encouraging. I guess he saw the backboard and assumed I had a back or neck injury or something. After Jan fussed at him for a moment, he backed off. They took me into the trauma room and immediately began to check my vitals, and start an IV. They gave me morphine, which helped a lot, but messed with my head and made me a little goofy. I was sure that the ceiling was moving, and I said that a couple of times, but no one seemed to pay any attention.
Jenette arrived soon after and she began answering their many, many questions. I was truly befuddled by the array of questions and I don't think I could have answered them. All the while, of course, the ceiling was still moving, and I said again to Jenette, "the ceiling is moving." She looked up, smiled at me and said, "yes it is." I thought she was serious, so that even freaked me out more.
They resplinted my leg, which was the most painful thing that happened at the hospital. I gripped Jenette's hand so hard. It reminded me of her gripping my hand when she birthed a baby. I had felt that hard, strong grip many times and it was familiar to me, but this time, we had switched roles.
The next thing I knew, they wheeled me into another room, but when the released the brake on the bed the entire bed shuddered and the sound made me jump and panic. "Oh, sorry about that" was the response from the guy moving the bed! They plopped me onto another bed and ran me through the CAT scan machine - a really freaky experience as well.
I guess I will write more later.
Tuesday, July 12 8:30 AM
I go out to the zip line area at the ATV to raise the termination cable on the North line. I was trying to slow down the rate that people were coming in on that line. As I was finishing, the other guys came down in the truck and Jeff backed the truck right up within a foot or two on the East side of the tree, thinking that I might need to stand on the truck bed to finish what I was doing with the zip line cable.
Tuesday, July 12 9:35 AM
The first group of High School campers arrive to get ready for some zip line fun. We get them harnessed up and they are ready to go.
Tuesday, July 12 9:45 AM
With the students ready to go, the hop into the back of the truck for the short ride up the hill. At that moment, Jeff got into the drivers seat, and I stepped behind the truck, between the truck and the tree. I was starting to tell the students that they should not walk under the zip line when they walk back up hill. I was also thinking that I should move, because where I was was not safe. Jeff started to go, but the truck rolled backwards just a few inches - enough to pin both of my legs just above the ankles to the tree, but (at the time I thought) not enough to hurt me. I guess I screamed, and some of the kids in the back of the truck laughed at me, thinking I was being silly. As soon as the truck went forward, the pain hit me and I instantly fell, watching my lower right leg kind of dangle. I knew then that it was broken.
Tuesday, July 12 9:50 AM
The first person I remember coming to me was Jeff, though I know there were others there. I told him my leg was broken and I wanted to make sure he knew that it was my fault. I shouldn't have stepped between the truck and the tree, and Jeff didn't even know I was there. (In fact I told my boys later that if I had seen them there I would have yelled at them to get out of there because surely they would know better than to place themselves in such a dangerous place.) Nathan Martin was right there as well, and he actually told me details of the story that I didn't remember. Jan Garbet was one of the adult volunteers who was nearby, heard me scream, and came running.
As a trauma nurse and paramedic, Jan took control immediately. After a bit of arguing with her about calling an ambulance, I prevailed and they began developing a plan to stabilize my leg and take me to the hospital. What followed was maybe 30 minutes or so of writhing in pain, while they splinted my leg. There were so many focused, professional, caring people right there. Of course Penny was there. I think Nathan or maybe Kevin Klein were the first of several people who began praying for me. Andrew Stout came and began praying. Blake and Kenan were there holding my hands as I was groaning and struggling. My boys were there, watching this whole thing. I'm not sure what they were thinking, but they were right there.
I knew that I had lost control of many, many things that morning when I was asking for water, but Jan wouldn't let me have any because she was concerned that I might be going to surgery soon. That was a horrible moment. Besides pain, I was horribly thirsty all day.
As I was laying there, I couldn't help but think of the Scripture in Phillipians 4 that says,
"don't be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."I realized that I needed to be thankful. Thankful for the pain, for the caring helpers, for the ants that were crawling on me, for everything.
Tuesday, July 12 10:30 ish.
They had run to get the camp backboard, but after they secured me to the board, and tucked in an inflatable frog to help stabilize my leg, they lifted me into the van. Jan was holding my foot in place, checking that I had good circulation, while Nathan drove. It was an agonizing drive, even though Nathan was very careful, I experienced every hill and curve in a new a special way. I heard Jan tell Nathan to drive into the ambulance entrance at Cox South. I had unbuckled my chest strap on the backboard because I was having a hard time breathing.
Tuesday, July 12 11:08 AM (that was the time stamped on my hospital bracelet)
The first thing that happened at the hospital was that a Paramedic opened the door to the van, took a quick look at me and yelled, "who did this?" That was not very encouraging. I guess he saw the backboard and assumed I had a back or neck injury or something. After Jan fussed at him for a moment, he backed off. They took me into the trauma room and immediately began to check my vitals, and start an IV. They gave me morphine, which helped a lot, but messed with my head and made me a little goofy. I was sure that the ceiling was moving, and I said that a couple of times, but no one seemed to pay any attention.
Jenette arrived soon after and she began answering their many, many questions. I was truly befuddled by the array of questions and I don't think I could have answered them. All the while, of course, the ceiling was still moving, and I said again to Jenette, "the ceiling is moving." She looked up, smiled at me and said, "yes it is." I thought she was serious, so that even freaked me out more.
They resplinted my leg, which was the most painful thing that happened at the hospital. I gripped Jenette's hand so hard. It reminded me of her gripping my hand when she birthed a baby. I had felt that hard, strong grip many times and it was familiar to me, but this time, we had switched roles.
The next thing I knew, they wheeled me into another room, but when the released the brake on the bed the entire bed shuddered and the sound made me jump and panic. "Oh, sorry about that" was the response from the guy moving the bed! They plopped me onto another bed and ran me through the CAT scan machine - a really freaky experience as well.
I guess I will write more later.
What does Jesus mean when he says in Matthew 18:2,
Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven...
I think that kids don't have all the hang ups that adults have. They aren't busy looking around at what others are doing and what others might think of them. They naturally trust those who take care of them. They won't trust perfectly, but they really don't have any choice. Kids are always being toted around wherever their parents go, so they are always willing just to go. Little Josie wants to go with me every time. She doesn't know or care where I am going or what I am doing, she just wants to go. Because children don't have a big picture of how bad and awful the world really is, they innocently thing that everyone is "nice."
So the complete trust in God is what we really need that is like a child, but the context of those verses in Matt 18 is really important. The disciples ask a question - who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven - I think they are really asking, "which of us is the greatest?" In Jesus' classic style he doesn't answer their question but gives them a better thing to think about. A small child is never in her wildest dreams going to think she is the greatest at anything. She may fuss and scream for her way, but she does that because she knows she small and insignificant next to the "big people" around her. I think the heart of Jesus' response is that we are never, ever, going to be great in God's kingdom by thinking we are big and bad.
The economy of God is that in Him and through childlike faith and trust in Him alone, the weak and powerless can do anything that God wants to do. We have to change from the big, bad, proud men & women that we are and become weak and helpless, fulling falling on his strong arms to hold us up.
It's been said that Christians are weak because they use their faith as a crutch to lean on in hard times. (like Everitt McGill in the O Brother Where Art Thou movie said, mocking his friends being baptized, "Hard times flush the chumps." He also said, "Baptism - you two are dummer than a bag o' hammers.")
The truth is that faith is not just a crutch. It is a stretcher, and only when we fall completely on it face down helpless before God can we really be a worshiper.
Too busy to blog, so that's usually when I come up with something profound. I realized that there is a whole plethora of things to blog about, but I have been too busy with camp stuff to get to it. Here's what I have been thinking about and doing:
The 2011 Camp Season - and all its blessings and difficulties. Zip lines are going great. Leading worship for kid's camps is an awesome, incredible privilege. Keeping a close watch for hazards and difficulties keeps me ever vigilant. I have some incredible helpers this summer, some of whom were sick or gone this last weekend, so I missed them even more. I can't help but be amazed at what has happened the last two weeks.
I am guessing we have done over 400 zip line rides in the last two weeks. This week I need to finish preparing the ground for Nathan Smith to bring his horses here for JH1.
While up on the zip line platform on Friday morning, launching multitudes of delighted 2nd-4th graders down the lines, (hundreds of yards from the highway) I heard a terrible squeal of tires and then the unmistakable sound of loud crunching metal. I and everyone around me knew we had just heard a vehicle crashing on the road. Since I was up on the platform launching campers I knew I could not leave, but I saw people literally running to help, not knowing what they would find. In the Lord's providence, we had at the camp (for demonstration purposes) a highway patrolman, and a life flight helicopter, as well as several firemen and emt's.
It was a hard moment for me to not run down and see what was going on, but all those folks were professionals who dealt with the crash and the poor driver instantly. How often would that happen out on the back roads of rural Missouri? I was so blessed to know that there are so many wonderful, capable, professional, caring people who are volunteers at this camp.
I am also so impressed with my three sons. They have done so much hard work these last few weeks to get ready for camp and to get the camp season started. All three were high school campers for HS1, and then they started working again. Jason got sick, and Jonathan stepped up and did many things that he did not plan to do, including playing the drums while I led worship. Truly those three young men are a blessing to me and to the camp. Few people realize how valuable they are to this ministry.
I am so thankful for my brother in law Jeff working here this summer. What an amazing man, hard worker, faithful servant, and all around fun guy to be with.
How great it has been to see Blake growing up some as he has taken the role of lifeguard - more police work than anything.
And all the others - Adam, Kenan, and the girls, they have all done great. The kitchen serving thing is the best we have ever done it. At this point, I think I can honestly say that now at the beginning of my 5th summer doing this, I am beginning to finally feel like I actually know what I am doing. I don't always get it all done, but I know what I am supposed to be doing.
What amazing teaching and preaching I have heard. I haven't been able to hear them all, but they have been outstanding. These last few days, we have had Matt Proctor teaching the 2nd - 4th grade camp. Here is a Bible college president teaching little kids, and doing a much better job than many children's ministers and teachers I have heard over the years.
I am glad to be serving the Church by making the Church better by helping the Church extend its ministry.
Excited to see what tomorrow brings.
jc
MBC wants to ask YOU to donate old cell phones! This effort is simple, easy, and it's a win for everyone!
- You clear out the old phones sitting around in your sock drawer.
- Ask your cousin/mom/grandma/next door neighbor to do the same.
- Send in the phones to MBC or give them to your church youth leaders.
- MBC sends them in.
- MBC receives a check.
- MBC buys new furniture for our canteen area!
- Campers at camp this summer say "Wow, that is cool! You mean I don't have to sit on rusty metal chairs anymore at canteen?"
- Guys/gals in oversea countries get refurbished phones.
- Your sock drawer is no longer plagued with useless junk.
- God is honored and glorified at MBC!
Yourlife 2.11 is an event hosted here at Maranatha Bible Camp. It is put on by area Campus Ministries for High School Seniors and Juniors. It might be the most unique and 
the most important event we have at MBC - although all our events are unique and important.
First of all, I have never heard of any other event quite like this anywhere. So for the youth worker wanting something fresh for their students, this is it. It is led by Campus ministry leaders and the students. Real interaction and leadership happens from those who are "in the trenches" to those who are getting ready to step into that arena.
Second, it is really important. There is arguably no more dangerous time in a person's spiritual life than the young adult years - right out of high school and thrust into the chaos and unbridled freedom and lack of accountability that is found on the college campus.
Yourlife 2.11 is all about challenging students to think through those issue before the day they face them. It's about realizing that campus ministry should be their first thought in going off to college, not their last.
My question to anyone reading this is, if you have not encouraged someone to go, why not? it might be one of the best things you could do for that young person.
Finally, these guys that do campus ministry are truly the front line of this battle for the next generation. Anything and everything should be done to support them.
the most important event we have at MBC - although all our events are unique and important.First of all, I have never heard of any other event quite like this anywhere. So for the youth worker wanting something fresh for their students, this is it. It is led by Campus ministry leaders and the students. Real interaction and leadership happens from those who are "in the trenches" to those who are getting ready to step into that arena.
Second, it is really important. There is arguably no more dangerous time in a person's spiritual life than the young adult years - right out of high school and thrust into the chaos and unbridled freedom and lack of accountability that is found on the college campus.
Yourlife 2.11 is all about challenging students to think through those issue before the day they face them. It's about realizing that campus ministry should be their first thought in going off to college, not their last.
My question to anyone reading this is, if you have not encouraged someone to go, why not? it might be one of the best things you could do for that young person.
Finally, these guys that do campus ministry are truly the front line of this battle for the next generation. Anything and everything should be done to support them.
Keep saying that I need to list all the things that I have never done before that I am doing. Definitely keeps me learning and growing. The most recent list.
Had the ninth baby. (for those who are playing at home, that is the fourth home birth, the sixth girl)
Preached 3 Sundays in a row.
Preached about economic crisis.
Preached about Revelation.
Built a zipline.
Bought a chevy.
Disassembled a carport
Instructed the boys to completely clean out the van (meaning, I didn't have to do any of it!)
Installed Carpet Squares at the Retreat Center Basement
Installed Drop Ceiling at the Retreat Center basement
and (Will do this next week)...Will ski on snowblades.
Camp Ministry life has it's seasons of busyness - and the last few weeks have been one of the busier seasons. Many Church ministry people are really busy leading up to Easter. We are looking forward to Easter weekend so we can have a little breather! Here are some of the many things that we have been doing in the last 5 -6 weeks. (Not just me, but Penny as well)
- Finished up the process of remodeling the Multi-Purpose building Kitchen.
- Continued work on completing the Retreat Center basement!
- Hosted YOURLIFE 2.0 – Led and taught by six area campus ministries – challenging High School students to continue their walk with Christ as they head to college.
- Hosted THE
- Set up displays and handed out information at the Preaching Teaching Convention at OCC and the SMCEF meeting at Son Rise Christian in
- Hosted three marriage retreats at the
- Hosted over 100 people staying at the
- Worked with SIX different volunteer work groups – from Countryside Christian (Nixa),
- Planning and preparing for our next great event: JR. BASH for Grade School kids! Check out the website for info!
- In addition, we have mailed out summer camp information to all of our mailing list and distributed Church packets to nearly every Church in our database!
I'm tired now!
jc
I heard perhaps one of the best sermons I have ever heard at the Preaching Teaching Convention at Ozark Christian College. The sermon, by Jeff Walling, is available for purchase as a download at http://catapes.com/viewresults.cfm?cid=143 for $5. He is a very visual preacher, so the audio won't be quite as impacting as watching it. I bought the DVD at the convention and brought it home to share with my kids.
The reason I thought this message was so well done is that it accomplishes the important but difficult elements of outstanding preaching. First of all, it taught the text really well. So much preaching these days is about the text or around the text, but not in and of the text. Second, it was convicting, and filled with application. And third, it was completely engaging. Jeff Walling has a way of keeping your attention like few guys can. And he did it within a reasonable time frame. Preaching is difficult. Preaching and being Biblical is very difficult. Preaching, being Biblical, and pounding home conviction and application is extremely difficult. To do all that and to be interesting and funny is near impossible. If you can accomplish all that and be done in your allotted time, its nothing short of a miracle.
He started in Revelation 10 with the idea that once the truth is unveiled to you, you can't unknow it. The idea of eating the little scroll in Revelation 10 is the ingestion of the Word - God's truth being such a part of us, that we can't separate ourselves from it. But it turns sour - there is bad news with the good news. Some people won't believe God's truth. Those people choose to not follow Him, and their judgment is brought upon them - another theme of Revelation. That's the sour, sick feeling in your stomach. That is the message that the modern emergent church doesn't want to follow or teach. Some people will burn forever in hell. That may be the most politically incorrect thing you could possibly say these days.
Heard any sermons about the truth and the doctrine of hell? Why not? Because it is a hard, hard message to stomach.
In Revelation 11 the two witnesses appear. They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth (vs 4). Because Revelation already called the Church the lampstands earlier, (See Rev. 1:20), we know that John is talking about the Church. There are two because of the Old Testament imagery of the necessity of at least two witnesses. Jesus sent his disciples two by two. The Church is you, and the Church is me. There are two of them, but they act as one.
There are images there of Moses and Elijah - witnesses for God who brought the unwavering message of God -"I am God and there is no other."
They had a message of judgment for those who did not honor God and a message of blessing for those who did. That did not change between Old Testament witnesses and New Testament witnesses. Those who wanted to listen and hear did hear and those who didn't want to hear didn't hear it. Fire coming from their mouths represents this message - (and forget the wacky Left Behind books that picture these guys as human fire breathing dragons - that's totally bizarre!) The Church throughout the centuries is the two witnesses.
The nasty part, and the part that makes me ask lots of questions starts in verse 7:
The reason I thought this message was so well done is that it accomplishes the important but difficult elements of outstanding preaching. First of all, it taught the text really well. So much preaching these days is about the text or around the text, but not in and of the text. Second, it was convicting, and filled with application. And third, it was completely engaging. Jeff Walling has a way of keeping your attention like few guys can. And he did it within a reasonable time frame. Preaching is difficult. Preaching and being Biblical is very difficult. Preaching, being Biblical, and pounding home conviction and application is extremely difficult. To do all that and to be interesting and funny is near impossible. If you can accomplish all that and be done in your allotted time, its nothing short of a miracle.
He started in Revelation 10 with the idea that once the truth is unveiled to you, you can't unknow it. The idea of eating the little scroll in Revelation 10 is the ingestion of the Word - God's truth being such a part of us, that we can't separate ourselves from it. But it turns sour - there is bad news with the good news. Some people won't believe God's truth. Those people choose to not follow Him, and their judgment is brought upon them - another theme of Revelation. That's the sour, sick feeling in your stomach. That is the message that the modern emergent church doesn't want to follow or teach. Some people will burn forever in hell. That may be the most politically incorrect thing you could possibly say these days.
Heard any sermons about the truth and the doctrine of hell? Why not? Because it is a hard, hard message to stomach.
In Revelation 11 the two witnesses appear. They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth (vs 4). Because Revelation already called the Church the lampstands earlier, (See Rev. 1:20), we know that John is talking about the Church. There are two because of the Old Testament imagery of the necessity of at least two witnesses. Jesus sent his disciples two by two. The Church is you, and the Church is me. There are two of them, but they act as one.
There are images there of Moses and Elijah - witnesses for God who brought the unwavering message of God -"I am God and there is no other."
They had a message of judgment for those who did not honor God and a message of blessing for those who did. That did not change between Old Testament witnesses and New Testament witnesses. Those who wanted to listen and hear did hear and those who didn't want to hear didn't hear it. Fire coming from their mouths represents this message - (and forget the wacky Left Behind books that picture these guys as human fire breathing dragons - that's totally bizarre!) The Church throughout the centuries is the two witnesses.
The nasty part, and the part that makes me ask lots of questions starts in verse 7:
7Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
There is enough in this section to blog about for a month, so let's start at verse 7. "When they had finished their testimony..." So, exactly when would that be? When is the Church done testifying about Christ? When is she done preaching the gospel? Or carrying the good news to the ends of the earth? I think it is pretty clear here that it is the end! Verse 12 sounds very much like 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Someone might say here, "hey, wait a second...uh, where is the Lord?" How about verse 12 - the voice from heaven.
Side note - in case you are wondering why the end is here in the middle of Revelation - that's because the end is all through Revelation - imagine the same story being told multiple times in different ways with a focus on different things. If you try to force Revelation to be a linear, chronological thing, then it will be horribly confusing and totally misrepresented, in my humble opinion. There are many parallel passages within Revelation. I need to do a blog post just on that concept.
So, the implication here is that at the time of the end, the Church will experience an unprecedented persecution. We really don't have much connection to that in the American Church, but believers all over the world have been dealing with this for many, many years. So, I believe, that we need to be ready for severe, overwhelming persecution. We need to teach our children to be ready and willing to sacrifice everything for Christ. To give up what we can't keep in order to gain what we can't lose, to paraphrase Jim Eliot.
The reason for this timing is also in verse 7, which is a parallel verse with Revelation 20:1-3. At the end, immediately before Christ comes again, Satan is allowed almost completely free reign for a very short time - "he is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short." (Rev. 12:12). Satan will overpower, attack, and seemingly destroy the Church - why then? Because the Church has finished its testimony.
Another side note here - Christian, have you reached that place? Have you finished your time of testimony about the Lord? (You haven't, because if you had, you would be dead, and dead people don't read blogs.) If we aren't dead yet, then God still has a purpose for us here to bring Him glory and to testify to his greatness. Why do we waste so much time with completely worthless pursuits? (Speaking to myself here.) Maybe we don't believe these verses? Maybe we don't believe what we are supposed to be testifying about? Maybe the world has distracted us so much that we have forgotten that we are here to give glory to God and testimony about Him?
Now, back to our program: Verse 9 says for three and half days, people will gloat, send each other gifts, refuse the dead bodies burial, and generally have a party because the Church is dead and gone. It seems that Satan has won, but God always has the final word and the victory, and you see that clearly in verse 11.
Revelation is a book of victory for the Christ follower. Even death can't be defeated! People often think of these great battles between God and Satan - Armageddon and all that. There's no great final battle - Jesus comes, flicks Satan and the worldly system into the fires of hell and it's all over. The final victory is assured. I'm not worried about that.
What I am dwelling on is this: am I prepared for the nastiness that will happen before that final victory? Do I have the courage and conviction to testify to the awesomeness of Christ until the time that the testimony is finished? And then, will I be ready to face the trials that will surely come? How many of my children will be prepared for that day? How many people who are in my areas of influence know how important it is to be ready for trials and persecution?
We have done the Church a great disservice by calling them to be ready ONLY for the second coming of Christ. I used to think of that day as being this "great, gettin' up morning" when we would see the sky crack open and the hear the trumpet blast as we were ending our leisurely breakfast. Revelation 11 is a little more "nasty" than that. We need to encourage each other to be ready not only for Christ's second coming, but for the suffering and persecution that, I believe, will surely come before the second coming.
I wonder why we can't just end our testimony and go to heaven? Why the little nasty interlude with Satan running amuck?
I guess it is because God won't get as much glory that way. And that is what it is all about. There is a billboard in Springfield advertising a car dealership that says, "It's all about you!" That might sound good in advertising, but that won't play well at the time of the end.
Comments are definitely welcome. Let's encourage each other to be the witness for Christ that we need to be.
Side note - in case you are wondering why the end is here in the middle of Revelation - that's because the end is all through Revelation - imagine the same story being told multiple times in different ways with a focus on different things. If you try to force Revelation to be a linear, chronological thing, then it will be horribly confusing and totally misrepresented, in my humble opinion. There are many parallel passages within Revelation. I need to do a blog post just on that concept.
So, the implication here is that at the time of the end, the Church will experience an unprecedented persecution. We really don't have much connection to that in the American Church, but believers all over the world have been dealing with this for many, many years. So, I believe, that we need to be ready for severe, overwhelming persecution. We need to teach our children to be ready and willing to sacrifice everything for Christ. To give up what we can't keep in order to gain what we can't lose, to paraphrase Jim Eliot.
The reason for this timing is also in verse 7, which is a parallel verse with Revelation 20:1-3. At the end, immediately before Christ comes again, Satan is allowed almost completely free reign for a very short time - "he is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short." (Rev. 12:12). Satan will overpower, attack, and seemingly destroy the Church - why then? Because the Church has finished its testimony.
Another side note here - Christian, have you reached that place? Have you finished your time of testimony about the Lord? (You haven't, because if you had, you would be dead, and dead people don't read blogs.) If we aren't dead yet, then God still has a purpose for us here to bring Him glory and to testify to his greatness. Why do we waste so much time with completely worthless pursuits? (Speaking to myself here.) Maybe we don't believe these verses? Maybe we don't believe what we are supposed to be testifying about? Maybe the world has distracted us so much that we have forgotten that we are here to give glory to God and testimony about Him?
Now, back to our program: Verse 9 says for three and half days, people will gloat, send each other gifts, refuse the dead bodies burial, and generally have a party because the Church is dead and gone. It seems that Satan has won, but God always has the final word and the victory, and you see that clearly in verse 11.
Revelation is a book of victory for the Christ follower. Even death can't be defeated! People often think of these great battles between God and Satan - Armageddon and all that. There's no great final battle - Jesus comes, flicks Satan and the worldly system into the fires of hell and it's all over. The final victory is assured. I'm not worried about that.
What I am dwelling on is this: am I prepared for the nastiness that will happen before that final victory? Do I have the courage and conviction to testify to the awesomeness of Christ until the time that the testimony is finished? And then, will I be ready to face the trials that will surely come? How many of my children will be prepared for that day? How many people who are in my areas of influence know how important it is to be ready for trials and persecution?
We have done the Church a great disservice by calling them to be ready ONLY for the second coming of Christ. I used to think of that day as being this "great, gettin' up morning" when we would see the sky crack open and the hear the trumpet blast as we were ending our leisurely breakfast. Revelation 11 is a little more "nasty" than that. We need to encourage each other to be ready not only for Christ's second coming, but for the suffering and persecution that, I believe, will surely come before the second coming.
I wonder why we can't just end our testimony and go to heaven? Why the little nasty interlude with Satan running amuck?
I guess it is because God won't get as much glory that way. And that is what it is all about. There is a billboard in Springfield advertising a car dealership that says, "It's all about you!" That might sound good in advertising, but that won't play well at the time of the end.
Comments are definitely welcome. Let's encourage each other to be the witness for Christ that we need to be.
The Shredder's Thoughts About Life and The Universe
Thoughts about Christian music from my wise and discerning son.
jc
Fuel Taxes Must Rise, Harvard Researchers Say - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com
Here's what we will get with progressive Energy policies: $7 a gallon gas! Lookin' forward to that!
It's hard not to be a little skeptical and a little jaded about things that are happening in our country and in the Church right now. As I become older and see more and listen to more voices, I am becoming more convinced that there are a series of issues that will face our future as the Church. You can chalk me up to just being a wacky conspiracy theorist, and that's fine, but I have always tried to be a student of the culture and have always tried to humbly share my ideas with anyone who is willing to listen. So, if you are willing, fasten your seatbelts and see what you think about my prophetic voice. I'm not attempting to be prophetic in the sense that I have had a special revelation from God that has shown me what will take place. I am however, trying to be prophetic in the sense of looking around and remembering history and trying to share my opinions about what is coming, especially as it relates to the church.
1. The coming economic catastrophe.
As much as I hate to even talk about this, I think that the future has a collapse of the economy coming. First of all, the government (both Republicans and Democrats) is working toward an economic collapse, whether because of sheer incompetence & stupidity or because of intentional design of something they think might be better. I tend to think the latter, but that doesn't really matter. The point is that they are spending our childrens' futures like a bunch of drunk sailors at port. This plan is an old strategy that has been in place since the 60's with progressives. So, if very conservative thinking people don't retake the control of the government, (which is possible but unlikely) our economy is toast. I could go on and on here, but there are others who are much smarter than me that are raising the alarms on this. Click here for one article about the "Clowerd-Piven Strategy."
See my next post to read an article suggesting that $7 per gallon gas is a real possibility if the progressive energy policies are enacted.
In concert with this for the Church, the baby boomers are starting to retire (another part of the strain on the government because of Social Security - more benefits are being paid out than revenue is being taken in). Already some Christian financial planners have begun to notice that more boomers will be living on fixed incomes, and they will not be supporting Churches and Christian organizations like they have in the past, because most charitable giving is given out of disposable income. Will the younger generations support the work of Churches and missionaries (and humble church camps!)? I hope so, but I am afraid that many churches will not survive the next 20 - 40 years. Especially when you consider that in order to sustain the government's progressive programs, the tax burden will increase and the cost of goods and services will necessarily rise (like gas being potentially $7 a gallon - how's that going to affect the Sunday offering?)
Click here to see Barna Research about church giving.
2. The dearth of Godly leaders
We are losing young people to the world at a rate of approximately 66%, based on research done by George Barna, among others. Combine that with that fact that less children are being born into Christian families than in previous years. (You need to see the very interesting video about this called Demographic Winter - and it's follow up, Demographic Bomb - http://www.demographicwinter.com/index.html). Even though the US population is growing significantly, the growth is only being propped up by immigration. The fact is, there will be few Christian leaders for the Church in 40 years. What are we doing right now to raise up a generation of solid, Biblically minded leaders and teachers?
3. The Worldview war is being lost.
While I see many people trying to win the hearts and minds of their own children for Christ, I see many more who are not. Again, check out the Barna Research on this subject. If you care at all about the future of the Church, consider this chilling quote from the Barna article linked to above:
What do we need to do about it?
jc
1. The coming economic catastrophe.
As much as I hate to even talk about this, I think that the future has a collapse of the economy coming. First of all, the government (both Republicans and Democrats) is working toward an economic collapse, whether because of sheer incompetence & stupidity or because of intentional design of something they think might be better. I tend to think the latter, but that doesn't really matter. The point is that they are spending our childrens' futures like a bunch of drunk sailors at port. This plan is an old strategy that has been in place since the 60's with progressives. So, if very conservative thinking people don't retake the control of the government, (which is possible but unlikely) our economy is toast. I could go on and on here, but there are others who are much smarter than me that are raising the alarms on this. Click here for one article about the "Clowerd-Piven Strategy."
See my next post to read an article suggesting that $7 per gallon gas is a real possibility if the progressive energy policies are enacted.
In concert with this for the Church, the baby boomers are starting to retire (another part of the strain on the government because of Social Security - more benefits are being paid out than revenue is being taken in). Already some Christian financial planners have begun to notice that more boomers will be living on fixed incomes, and they will not be supporting Churches and Christian organizations like they have in the past, because most charitable giving is given out of disposable income. Will the younger generations support the work of Churches and missionaries (and humble church camps!)? I hope so, but I am afraid that many churches will not survive the next 20 - 40 years. Especially when you consider that in order to sustain the government's progressive programs, the tax burden will increase and the cost of goods and services will necessarily rise (like gas being potentially $7 a gallon - how's that going to affect the Sunday offering?)
Click here to see Barna Research about church giving.
2. The dearth of Godly leaders
We are losing young people to the world at a rate of approximately 66%, based on research done by George Barna, among others. Combine that with that fact that less children are being born into Christian families than in previous years. (You need to see the very interesting video about this called Demographic Winter - and it's follow up, Demographic Bomb - http://www.demographicwinter.com/index.html). Even though the US population is growing significantly, the growth is only being propped up by immigration. The fact is, there will be few Christian leaders for the Church in 40 years. What are we doing right now to raise up a generation of solid, Biblically minded leaders and teachers?
3. The Worldview war is being lost.
While I see many people trying to win the hearts and minds of their own children for Christ, I see many more who are not. Again, check out the Barna Research on this subject. If you care at all about the future of the Church, consider this chilling quote from the Barna article linked to above:
The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation – i.e., those aged 18 to 23 – have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.Wow - all I can say is wow. Read it again. Let it sink in. That is one in 200. 5 of 1000. We are not reaching the next generation like we should be. We are one generation from literally being post-Christian America. One in nine adults is not a lot, but one half of one percent? That is simply not sustainable.
What do we need to do about it?
- We need to pray and trust God for his supply and his support. We need to pray that Godly leaders will be leading our country. Maybe God will use these things to shake us into fully trusting Him instead of trusting the government or anything else. Ultimately, God is sovereign, and these things may be even the beginning of end times persecutions and troubles for the believers that the Bible teaches is surely to come.
- We need to work toward raising a new Generation of Godly leaders. We need to fully support Bible colleges, campus ministries, and church related youth work (and outstanding Church camps!) that lead toward the goal of well trained, next generation Biblically minded leaders who can preach, teach, admonish, and be willing to suffer for Christ in the coming years. We need to especially grasp the young adults and college age people and hold on to them! If you are not supporting these organizations financially and with your prayers, would you be willing to change that today?
- We need to challenge parents to lead their own families to the strong, unshakable belief in the truth of God's Word. We have forgotten how to disciple our own children. We have forgotten how to love children. We have forgotten what a blessing children are. We have forgotten that nothing in this world is more important that passing on a Biblical worldview to our children. I want to challenge anyone reading this (including myself), that if any earthly pursuit is more important to you than leading your family to Christ, then repentance is needed. God is so faithful, and he will help to lead us and guide us and we fully submit our lives and our families to Him.
jc
We really need to be paying attention to the message of this book. This book caught my eye while I was browsing in the bookstore at the AIG Creation Museum. It caught my eye, because the girl on the book cover has that same look in her eyes that I have seen in the faces of too many kids that I have tried to teach and challenge with the gospel.
Her eyes are shouting, "get away from me. I don't need you, I don't need the church, and I don't need God."
This is an interesting book to me because it is based on research done that suggests that the 66% of teens who leave the church in their college years are not leaving once they get to college, but they are "already gone" in their middle school and high school years. Once they get to college, they are just finalizing their decision by walking out the door.
I have been concerned for a long time about the problem of poorly developed Biblical worldview thinking in our youth, and how the church is not able to keep up in the battle for their hearts and minds. You need to read this.
Her eyes are shouting, "get away from me. I don't need you, I don't need the church, and I don't need God."
This is an interesting book to me because it is based on research done that suggests that the 66% of teens who leave the church in their college years are not leaving once they get to college, but they are "already gone" in their middle school and high school years. Once they get to college, they are just finalizing their decision by walking out the door.
I have been concerned for a long time about the problem of poorly developed Biblical worldview thinking in our youth, and how the church is not able to keep up in the battle for their hearts and minds. You need to read this.
Eco-Terrorist Paul Watson of Sea Shepherds Responds to ‘The Mysterious Islands’ Press Release’ - Vision Forum Ministries
This is an interesting article - a combination of blog by Douglas Phillips, producer of the Mysterious Islands DVD, (a DVD which I bought, but have still not seen yet!) a press release about the DVD, and commentary by Paul Watson - the Sea Shepherd guy. Kind of brings out my point about the point being harder to get in my last post. This guy will never get the point as long as his hatred for God and anything remotely Godly is so deep. We need to pray for this guy.
Life is all about getting the point. The point is that God made you to honor him and make his glory more known in your own life, in the life of your family, and in the lives of others around you. The Point is that God loves you so much that He sent His son Jesus to die on the Cross for your rebellion. The Point is that you can have a restored relationship with God through Jesus!
Sometimes I have thought that the point was getting harder to make because of our culture. People don't want to hear the truth of the gospel. I refocused on memorizing 2 Timothy today. It says that the time will come when people will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. I think that time has come and even gone perhaps. People don't even need the teachers anymore - they can go and find what their itching ears want to hear on the internet for themselves.
But today I guess I am rethinking all this. Maybe the problem now is not that the Point is getting harder to make, but that the Point is getting harder to get. Proverbs says "therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding (KJV)." The problem is that people don't want to get the Point. They have believed the lies so much that they think that the Point is pointless, and therefore pointless to get.
Going through the Creation Museum was a great experience, and the point was made repeatedly there that unless people start at the point of accepting the truth of God's Word, they won't catch on to the rest of the important message that God has for them.
I certainly agree with that, but perhaps there is another question to ask: why? Why are kids growing up in Church but missing the Point? Why are Church attendance numbers growing but Christ follower numbers are declining? Why is the Media winning the culture war?
Maybe it's because the Point is getting harder to get. It's not because it's not available - it is certainly available. It's getting harder to get because we have not learned the ability to get it. Surely I am not the only one who has noticed the glazed look in people's eyes as we try to teach them basic truths of God's Word.
Let's face it. The Pants on the Ground video (American Idol thing) is more influential than God's truth in our culture! (I'm not saying anything negative about the video itself - I'm just asserting comparatively, that it is more influential!) Does that bother us? Are we so deep in the cultural sea that we don't even notice - Like asking a fish what water is like?
The point is getting harder to get because very few people are like Timothy, of whom Paul said, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." - 2 Tim 3:14-15
How it grieves me that people who grow up in the church and in Christian families are not wise for Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus because they have not known the Scriptures from infancy.
I guess I am asking more questions here than giving answers. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Is it a stretch to say that this passage means that the Point is getting harder to get? I think we have more than arrived at this terrible prophetic picture.
Whatever you are doing, it is not more important than teaching your children to love God and to get His Wisdom. Talking to myself here.
Sometimes I have thought that the point was getting harder to make because of our culture. People don't want to hear the truth of the gospel. I refocused on memorizing 2 Timothy today. It says that the time will come when people will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. I think that time has come and even gone perhaps. People don't even need the teachers anymore - they can go and find what their itching ears want to hear on the internet for themselves.
But today I guess I am rethinking all this. Maybe the problem now is not that the Point is getting harder to make, but that the Point is getting harder to get. Proverbs says "therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding (KJV)." The problem is that people don't want to get the Point. They have believed the lies so much that they think that the Point is pointless, and therefore pointless to get.
Going through the Creation Museum was a great experience, and the point was made repeatedly there that unless people start at the point of accepting the truth of God's Word, they won't catch on to the rest of the important message that God has for them.
I certainly agree with that, but perhaps there is another question to ask: why? Why are kids growing up in Church but missing the Point? Why are Church attendance numbers growing but Christ follower numbers are declining? Why is the Media winning the culture war?
Maybe it's because the Point is getting harder to get. It's not because it's not available - it is certainly available. It's getting harder to get because we have not learned the ability to get it. Surely I am not the only one who has noticed the glazed look in people's eyes as we try to teach them basic truths of God's Word.
Let's face it. The Pants on the Ground video (American Idol thing) is more influential than God's truth in our culture! (I'm not saying anything negative about the video itself - I'm just asserting comparatively, that it is more influential!) Does that bother us? Are we so deep in the cultural sea that we don't even notice - Like asking a fish what water is like?
The point is getting harder to get because very few people are like Timothy, of whom Paul said, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." - 2 Tim 3:14-15
How it grieves me that people who grow up in the church and in Christian families are not wise for Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus because they have not known the Scriptures from infancy.
I guess I am asking more questions here than giving answers. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Is it a stretch to say that this passage means that the Point is getting harder to get? I think we have more than arrived at this terrible prophetic picture.
Whatever you are doing, it is not more important than teaching your children to love God and to get His Wisdom. Talking to myself here.
Worldview Matters with Brannon Howse - January 8th, 2010
I want to encourage everyone to listen to this broadcast. (Click on the link above.) Truly excellent, and a reminder of the curses to come on our nation as we turn more away from God and our foundation.
Listen well.
jc
Not manly, I know, to use the word "cute" a lot, but hey, it is what it is.
Two of my little blessings dancing.
Brit Hume to Tiger Woods: Turn to Christianity to Find Recovery and Be a Great Example to the World
Wow - it doesn't get much better than this.
Before you think that I am bah humbug scrooge kind of thing, hang with me for a moment. I am all about music that celebrates and exalts Christ, and singing about His amazing birth is certainly worthwhile. Scripture says that we should speak to one another with "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs..." So I am all for that kind of thing, which is truly and purely "Christmas Music."
But then, there is the other stuff.
A few Sundays ago, I was driving to church - the Christian music station has a thing called Sunday morning Praise - with worship songs. I usually enjoy it. However, I had to shut it off with a "you have got to be kidding me" when they played "Here Comes Santa Clause" by Elvis (He pronounces it "Sanny Clause".)
So, if anyone is reading this, consider the following. Non Christ-centered "Christmas music" has just a few themes:
First of all, It's winter. These are the blatantly non Christmas songs, because they are more about meteorology than theology. This is the "Walking in a Winter Wonderland," "Sleigh Ride," "Let it Snow," and the remarkably rediculous "Frosty the Snowman." If people want to sing about winter, that's fine. It's better than most of the trash out there in popular music, but call it winter music, not Christmas music.
Second, there is the Christmas Chronology songs. Those are the songs that croon over and over the difficult and complicated fact that "It's Christmas Time." - i.e. Silver Bells and that horrid Band Aid song "Do they know it's Christmas time?" (Well, they obviously do, if they listen to western popular Christmas music. The '80s need to apologize for it's contributions at times.) Perhaps the worst Christmas song ever was the Paul McCartney's musical disaster about having a wonderful Christmas time. (So antithetical - how could you have a wonderful Christmas time if you have to listen to it?) Do we really need songs that tell us that it's Christmas Time? It's the closest that music gets to singing the calendar.
Third - there is the string of breakups, and dumping of boyfriends and girlfriends that seems to happen most often at Christmas time, if you judge it by the sheer number of these songs. Elvis sang "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me." At least it's kinda catchy.
Fourth - the bizarre category. Santa Baby? Santa's Beard? Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer? 'Nuff said.
Fifth - Superstition, mythology and absolute falsehoods. No Virginia, there is not a Santa Clause, and you would be better to learn about the real life of Saint Nicholas (Veggie Tales did a great job with this on their new Christmas show." Among the worst of the worst:
- From Santa Clause is Coming to Town. "He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake" Call me Scrooge - but that is as anti-Christian as it gets. Anything that is in opposition to the grace of God is a bad deal, and the idea of being good to get stuff from Santa - the god like minor deity who is a very cheap substitute for the real God - is a mockery of the Cross of Christ.
- From Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: "Through the years, we all will be together, if the Fates allow..." What the heck are fates anyway? This song is more unChristian than many songs on popular radio. The "Fates" is equal to chance or luck, which in reality is nothing. I am better off putting my trust and hope in this couch I'm sitting on than the "Fates." At least the couch is a real thing.
And so it goes. I am not opposed to songs that tell a story or that even just plain silly, but even those songs have to be rooted at some level of truth. I know what some might say - they're just traditional Christmas songs, and I shouldn't try to overanalyze them. I understand that, but that's kind of like saying, "Wrong ideas are ok if they are in traditional things that bring us warm fuzzies."
Wrong ideas are still wrong.
There is some traditional Christmas music sung by Burl Ives or Frank Sinatra or Burl Sinatra or whoever that I just don't like the style and the music, but that's really not the most important thing. The important thing is that music leads the heart and mind to embrace beliefs.
I don't let my kids play any of the "guitar hero" or "rock band" games because I don't want the worldview of the songs to be in my kids hearts and minds. Music has a way of doing that, and doing it very well. I remember all too well songs that I listened to in my youth that were filled with wrong, ungodly ideas, and I believed the wrong ideas because I loved the songs. Why would I want to glorify worldly and wrong ideas just because it is in "traditional" music?
Finally, just to be clear, I am not saying that all traditional, non Christ-centered Christmas music is filled with wrong, ungodly ideas, but it's about intentionally glorifying God in every aspect of life. If we can't keep Christ front and center in every way at Christmas, then when can we?
I played music on my keyboard many years ago for a business Christmas party in Joplin. I played every Christmas Carol I knew, but the big shot of the party griped because I wasn't playing "Christmas Music." He said that because I hadn't played "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" or "Jingle Bells."
It was one of those "You've got to be kidding me moments." As a student of the culture, I learned a lot and grew up that day. I don't want that culture to be the culture that my family is saturated with.
If I'm wrong - let me know - I am open to anyone's thoughts.
Mark 6:4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mark Moore made some comments on this passage that went something like this. If you want to impress Jesus, how are you going to do it? Are you going to create a fabulous painting that will impress the one who created the universe? Are you going to do some amazing feat or stunt that would wow Jesus? He raised from the dead - it doesn't get any better than that! It is a difficult thing to amaze Jesus, but the gospels record that it happened twice.
Jesus was amazed by the faith of the centurion - who asked Jesus to just say the word and his servant would be healed. It also happened here in Mark 6 - Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith of those in his hometown of Nazareth. Interesting - all the things that we do to try to impress Jesus, and Jesus is amazed by great faith and no faith at all. Why were the people of Nazareth so faithless?
When Jesus came with his disciples to Nazareth, he went to the synagogue and began to teach. At first it seems that the hometown crowd is impressed - verse 2 says that "many who heard him were amazed." But their amazement, like that of Jesus, was a negative amazement - they were scoffing at Jesus as they asked a series of five questions:
So the equation here is familiarity minus faith equals offense. They were offended that this carpenter had come back home as a Rabbi.
And that offense and lack of faith had consequences. Verse 5 says that he could not do many miracles except to heal a few people. Jesus is God - why would he not be able to do miracles? Well, it's not a lack of power on Jesus' part, but a lack of willingness on the people's part. In chapter 5, Jairus went to Jesus. The bleeding woman desperately clawed through the crowd to get to Jesus. In Nazareth, only a couple of people came to Jesus in faith, and only they received the blessing.
The application here is are you too familiar with Jesus? Do you see him as another aspect of your life or the source of your life? Do the stories and teaching of the New Testament seem common and dry? I think it is easy at times to think of them as "merely" stories, like the people of Nazareth saw Jesus as "merely" a carpenter.
I think this is one reason why so many young people fall away from a relationship with Christ. They have been taught the stories all their lives at church. They know the stories, but they don't have a relationship with the author. They study Acts, but not Romans. I have seen the rolling eyes and the heavy sighs from many young people that communicate loud and clear "we've heard this before."
Maybe if you are too familiar with Jesus, then you don't fear him enough. Maybe there is no faith - just familiarity with the stories.
Don't miss the opportunity to be blessed and healed by Jesus because of a lack of faith.
When Jesus came with his disciples to Nazareth, he went to the synagogue and began to teach. At first it seems that the hometown crowd is impressed - verse 2 says that "many who heard him were amazed." But their amazement, like that of Jesus, was a negative amazement - they were scoffing at Jesus as they asked a series of five questions:
- "Where did this man get these things?"
- "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!"
- "Isn't this the carpenter?"
- "Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?"
- "Aren't his sisters here with us?"
- He's just a man - a common man. There is nothing special about him. He's just the carpenter, and that's all.
- Since we know him and his family, we know all there is to know.
- A person is defined completely by his family connections - we know them, and there is nothing special about them, either.
So the equation here is familiarity minus faith equals offense. They were offended that this carpenter had come back home as a Rabbi.
And that offense and lack of faith had consequences. Verse 5 says that he could not do many miracles except to heal a few people. Jesus is God - why would he not be able to do miracles? Well, it's not a lack of power on Jesus' part, but a lack of willingness on the people's part. In chapter 5, Jairus went to Jesus. The bleeding woman desperately clawed through the crowd to get to Jesus. In Nazareth, only a couple of people came to Jesus in faith, and only they received the blessing.
The application here is are you too familiar with Jesus? Do you see him as another aspect of your life or the source of your life? Do the stories and teaching of the New Testament seem common and dry? I think it is easy at times to think of them as "merely" stories, like the people of Nazareth saw Jesus as "merely" a carpenter.
I think this is one reason why so many young people fall away from a relationship with Christ. They have been taught the stories all their lives at church. They know the stories, but they don't have a relationship with the author. They study Acts, but not Romans. I have seen the rolling eyes and the heavy sighs from many young people that communicate loud and clear "we've heard this before."
Maybe if you are too familiar with Jesus, then you don't fear him enough. Maybe there is no faith - just familiarity with the stories.
Don't miss the opportunity to be blessed and healed by Jesus because of a lack of faith.
Jesus concludes his triple header of amazing miracles in Mark 5 with a "two-fer" - the healing of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the bleeding woman.
While the miracles themselves are amazing, I am very impressed by the tenacity and the desperation of Jairus and this woman. Jairus, who was an important guy as a synagogue leader, sought Jesus out among the crowd and fell at Jesus' feet, asking for help for his sick and dying little girl. This touches me as a father. There is perhaps nothing more scary than having your own little child be deathly ill. I can only remember feeling that way once with our kids - when Jordan was a baby - she was breathing so weird and pained that we took her to the hospital.
Having 8 kids, you would think we have made many trips to the ER, but we really haven't. I can only remember three times.
I can only imagine that Jairus was (as an experienced leader of people) was essentially bulldozing through the crowd. What a crowd it must have been! Jesus - the ultimate people magnet -was making his way through the area and Jairus must have been pushing people out of the way - desperate to make a path. Jairus certainly had a level of faith. His level of faith was for the here and now - the desperation of a focused goal - an important, but temporary gain. His desperation was similar to the reason why a football team does better on it's goal line defense than on the other 99 yards of the field. It was crunch time. It's do or die. It's all about blazing a highway through the crush of humanity so that my daughter will live.
Get Jesus to the girl. Get Jesus to the girl. Stay focused on the goal. Everyone else in this crowd is unimportant - surely people must see that.
I can relate to this guy - I can be so task oriented that I forget that reality is not so cut and dry. I have at times been so focused on getting the family to church on time (so we can worship God) that I have missed the true needs of my wife and children. But yet it seems so right and holy and isn't drive and determination supposed to be a good thing?
The trouble is for Jairus, and for the rest of us, is that Jesus is more concerned for His glory than our goals. It's like the scene in Evan Almighty where the congressman guy is confronted by God - God wants Evan to build an ark, just like Noah. Evan whines to God and complains, "but building an ark is not in my plans!" I love God's response - he just laughs - and that is Biblical, too (Psalm 2:1-6). God wants our obedient hearts, not our self-focused plans.
Jesus has other things in mind. While poor Jairus, as desperate as he is, is only focused on one thing - "get Jesus to the girl, get Jesus to the girl," he does not realize who Jesus is and how incredibly adept He is at multi-tasking. Could it be that Mark is writing this sequence in such a way as to say, "calming the storm was impressive, and casting out demons is incredible, but Jesus can also heal the sick and raise the dead at the same time."
We don't know much about this woman who touched Jesus in the crowd (5:27), but there are a few things we do know about her:
Jairus was busy dragging Jesus to his house, but this woman was busy dragging herself to Jesus. Both had faith, but the actions born out of their faith showed the depth of that faith.
When she touched Jesus and she was healed, I can only imagine her joy - yet her fear at the same time - Jesus knew what happened of course, but he asks the question "Who touched my clothes?" Perhaps he was giving her an opportunity to come - opening the door, so to speak. When she comes, he blesses her. While this incredible drama is unfolding, and near conclusion, the word comes that Jairus' daughter has died.
Then Jesus has the opportunity to grow Jairus' faith. Jesus said, "Don't be afraid; just believe." Jesus wouldn't let a little thing like death stop him from magnifying his glory and growing faith in the heart of a father.
Jairus had failed in his mission. He had not been able to get Jesus to the girl - he was a failure as a father. He couldn't protect her and provide for her enough. As a dad, I say, "been there, done that." I love my children and I want the best for them, but I can only do so much. I can't protect them in every situation. Sooner or later, they will walk out the door. I will have to give away my daughters to be married to some guy who won't be as good as me! Instead of trying to bring Jesus to my house, I need to be bringing my house to Jesus!
I can't imagine what they must have thought when Jesus brought them into the death chamber, took the girl's hand, and told her to get up. If it would have been me, I would have even been more desperate for Jesus.
While the miracles themselves are amazing, I am very impressed by the tenacity and the desperation of Jairus and this woman. Jairus, who was an important guy as a synagogue leader, sought Jesus out among the crowd and fell at Jesus' feet, asking for help for his sick and dying little girl. This touches me as a father. There is perhaps nothing more scary than having your own little child be deathly ill. I can only remember feeling that way once with our kids - when Jordan was a baby - she was breathing so weird and pained that we took her to the hospital.
Having 8 kids, you would think we have made many trips to the ER, but we really haven't. I can only remember three times.
I can only imagine that Jairus was (as an experienced leader of people) was essentially bulldozing through the crowd. What a crowd it must have been! Jesus - the ultimate people magnet -was making his way through the area and Jairus must have been pushing people out of the way - desperate to make a path. Jairus certainly had a level of faith. His level of faith was for the here and now - the desperation of a focused goal - an important, but temporary gain. His desperation was similar to the reason why a football team does better on it's goal line defense than on the other 99 yards of the field. It was crunch time. It's do or die. It's all about blazing a highway through the crush of humanity so that my daughter will live.
Get Jesus to the girl. Get Jesus to the girl. Stay focused on the goal. Everyone else in this crowd is unimportant - surely people must see that.
I can relate to this guy - I can be so task oriented that I forget that reality is not so cut and dry. I have at times been so focused on getting the family to church on time (so we can worship God) that I have missed the true needs of my wife and children. But yet it seems so right and holy and isn't drive and determination supposed to be a good thing?
The trouble is for Jairus, and for the rest of us, is that Jesus is more concerned for His glory than our goals. It's like the scene in Evan Almighty where the congressman guy is confronted by God - God wants Evan to build an ark, just like Noah. Evan whines to God and complains, "but building an ark is not in my plans!" I love God's response - he just laughs - and that is Biblical, too (Psalm 2:1-6). God wants our obedient hearts, not our self-focused plans.
Jesus has other things in mind. While poor Jairus, as desperate as he is, is only focused on one thing - "get Jesus to the girl, get Jesus to the girl," he does not realize who Jesus is and how incredibly adept He is at multi-tasking. Could it be that Mark is writing this sequence in such a way as to say, "calming the storm was impressive, and casting out demons is incredible, but Jesus can also heal the sick and raise the dead at the same time."
We don't know much about this woman who touched Jesus in the crowd (5:27), but there are a few things we do know about her:
- Her problem was bleeding - for 12 years
- She had suffered greatly
- Doctors could not heal her
- She spent all she had for her health care
- Her illness had become much worse
- Her "bleeding" most likely meant vaginal bleeding
- Her condition would make her smelly and unclean (literally and ceremonially)
- Most likely, she was alone and uncared for by a husband or family
- She could not enter the temple, or have children
- She might have had to yell "unclean" to everyone as she approached
- Anyone she touched would have been unclean as well - perhaps that is why she only wanted to touch Jesus' clothes - so his clothes could be changed and he would still be clean.
- As an unclean, childless, sick woman, she would have been a rejected and worthless person to society
- She was most likely very weak and was near death.
Jairus was busy dragging Jesus to his house, but this woman was busy dragging herself to Jesus. Both had faith, but the actions born out of their faith showed the depth of that faith.
When she touched Jesus and she was healed, I can only imagine her joy - yet her fear at the same time - Jesus knew what happened of course, but he asks the question "Who touched my clothes?" Perhaps he was giving her an opportunity to come - opening the door, so to speak. When she comes, he blesses her. While this incredible drama is unfolding, and near conclusion, the word comes that Jairus' daughter has died.
Then Jesus has the opportunity to grow Jairus' faith. Jesus said, "Don't be afraid; just believe." Jesus wouldn't let a little thing like death stop him from magnifying his glory and growing faith in the heart of a father.
Jairus had failed in his mission. He had not been able to get Jesus to the girl - he was a failure as a father. He couldn't protect her and provide for her enough. As a dad, I say, "been there, done that." I love my children and I want the best for them, but I can only do so much. I can't protect them in every situation. Sooner or later, they will walk out the door. I will have to give away my daughters to be married to some guy who won't be as good as me! Instead of trying to bring Jesus to my house, I need to be bringing my house to Jesus!
I can't imagine what they must have thought when Jesus brought them into the death chamber, took the girl's hand, and told her to get up. If it would have been me, I would have even been more desperate for Jesus.
For Joy's birthday, she wanted me to build her a house for her little animals (It started out as a dog house, but ended but housing horses as well.) I used cabinet rail as the "fence" around the "yard," which is a 2 X 2 1/4 inch birch plywood. The house is made from 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch poplar craft project wood.
Joy and the girls painted the fence and the yard, and the little flowers on the house.
I have never made anything like this before. I sure learned a lot!
Matthew 5:5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
There is so much that is just creepy about this story - the demon possessed guy (Matthew records that there were two of them), alone in the graveyard, screaming at Jesus. Pigs dying. People rejecting Jesus because of their fear. Here is another story that examines the fear of God - except that these people, told Jesus to leave. The disciples at the end of chapter 4 "feared a great fear" and responded with amazed worship. These pig herders (obviously not Jewish, but Greek) were afraid and responded with amazed rejection.
I think that Mark, in his fast paced, bang, bang, bang style, is demonstrating the power of Jesus at the end of chapter 4 and in chapter 5. Jesus has power over all nature - he calms the storm. Jesus has power over the spirit world -he rebukes and redirects the demons out of this guy. And later in chapter 5 - Jesus has power over sickness and death - he heals the woman and raises the little girl from death. In case anyone was confused about who Jesus is, he has the same power that God has! The response of people in each situation was basically the same: fear and amazement:
Jesus raised the dead! Oh, that's nice. I saw that in the Terminator movie.
Jesus cast all the demons into a herd of pigs! Oh, that's not nice that Jesus killed all those pigs.
Jesus calmed the storm! We can easily explain that by looking at the meteorologic data.
We are so used to science and data and the movies that there is little that impresses us anymore. Maybe that is one reason why people love to go see movies with incredible special effects and grand visual elements. Maybe people are looking for a way to be amazed - to be impressed.
But these things are just false realities - Computer animation can make it look like dogs and cats can talk, but God could truly make a donkey talk. If you want to talk about fear and amazement, here is something that is truly amazing - the complete and instant life transformation that happens to this poor guy.
My favorite verse in this story has always been verse 5. "Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones." People don't usually talk about the flowery and beautiful language of the NIV, but I love the way this verse is written - there is so much description in those few words. Think of all the ways this man was described here:
But Jesus did heal him, and he was completely transformed - that amazes me. Jesus told him, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Can you imagine a more zealous evangelist? What would they say? I wonder how they responded? Did his mother cry? Did he have a wife or children?
One thing that we do know (verse 20) is that he told everyone in the areas about Jesus and his deliverance, and the people were amazed.
I hope that you too, today are absolutely amazed by Jesus.
I think that Mark, in his fast paced, bang, bang, bang style, is demonstrating the power of Jesus at the end of chapter 4 and in chapter 5. Jesus has power over all nature - he calms the storm. Jesus has power over the spirit world -he rebukes and redirects the demons out of this guy. And later in chapter 5 - Jesus has power over sickness and death - he heals the woman and raises the little girl from death. In case anyone was confused about who Jesus is, he has the same power that God has! The response of people in each situation was basically the same: fear and amazement:
Before I go on, I just want to say that I think that one of the reasons why Christianity is so dull and dry these days is because we have lost our fear and amazement of Jesus.
4:41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
5:42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
Jesus raised the dead! Oh, that's nice. I saw that in the Terminator movie.
Jesus cast all the demons into a herd of pigs! Oh, that's not nice that Jesus killed all those pigs.
Jesus calmed the storm! We can easily explain that by looking at the meteorologic data.
We are so used to science and data and the movies that there is little that impresses us anymore. Maybe that is one reason why people love to go see movies with incredible special effects and grand visual elements. Maybe people are looking for a way to be amazed - to be impressed.
But these things are just false realities - Computer animation can make it look like dogs and cats can talk, but God could truly make a donkey talk. If you want to talk about fear and amazement, here is something that is truly amazing - the complete and instant life transformation that happens to this poor guy.
My favorite verse in this story has always been verse 5. "Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones." People don't usually talk about the flowery and beautiful language of the NIV, but I love the way this verse is written - there is so much description in those few words. Think of all the ways this man was described here:
- He never had any rest (Night and day)
- He lived with death (among the tombs)
- He was completely alone (in the hills)
- He was in constant pain & agony (he would cry out)
- No one ever heard his cries (in the hills)
- He wanted to die (cut himself)
- He abused and hated himself (cut himself)
- He had nothing (with stones)
But Jesus did heal him, and he was completely transformed - that amazes me. Jesus told him, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Can you imagine a more zealous evangelist? What would they say? I wonder how they responded? Did his mother cry? Did he have a wife or children?
One thing that we do know (verse 20) is that he told everyone in the areas about Jesus and his deliverance, and the people were amazed.
I hope that you too, today are absolutely amazed by Jesus.
