Helpful Internet Reading

I am always amazed at how quickly time can slip away with my internet reading. Remember when you first discovered the internet and its ability to place unfathomable amounts of information at your fingertips in just seconds? How easy was it to loose an hour of time learning and seeing and reading "useless" information? (i.e. information that you can pass onto someone on a ride up an elevator or over a casual lunch and begins, "I was reading just the other day...")

Since I am a reader, losing much time in reading is one of my guilty pleasures. However, I have made it my practice to focus my internet reading in order to peruse what it helpful and to avoid, as much as possible, that which is distracting. Here's five blogs that I have found to be helpful for my walk with Christ and have encouraged, corrected, challenged, angered and every emotion in between in the process.

1. Pure Church - http://purechurch.blogspot.com/
Pure church is written by Thabiti Anyabwile who pastors a Baptist Church in the Cayman Islands. Talk about suffering for the Lord! This is a blog I have been reading for just over a month and I find it helpful the 2-3 times per week I check it out. He often gives good insights about pastoral ministry--which appeals to me personally--that also benefit the church at large. He is a former Muslim who was wonderfully saved by Christ. Of note is a series of ariticles he has written on "Surprises Sources of Joy in Pastoral Ministry". Part 4 is particularly good.

2. Denny Burk - http://www.dennyburk.com/
Denny was my grader for Dr. Robert Stein's Hermeneutics class. He is now a professor of Criswell Bible College and writes this blog that often focus on "hot topics" withing the church and culture. The blog is both informational and well thought. I particularly enjoy following the comments to his blog, since there are often folks responding who believe the exact opposite of Denny. I always leave this sight knowing something I did not before and check it out about twice a week.

3. Don Whitney - http://www.spiritualdisciplines.org/
Don is a professor of Spirituality at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and the director of the Center for Biblical Spirituality. At this site, you can check out articles that Don has written along with many other special helps in Christian growth. Don does a monthly newsletter that you can receive via e-mail. Among Baptists, I do not know of any other person who speaks so well about spiritual disciplines and Christian growth. He is having a conference in Louisvilee in October. Louisville is great in the fall and this conference could be a big blessing to any that attend.

4. John Piper - http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/
John Piper is one of my favorite preachers and he has begin writing a blog from his ministry web site, Desiring God. Piper never fails in causing me to think more highly about God and his glory. He has been incredibly influential in my walk with Christ both through his preaching and writing. Of note, Piper wrote a very interesting article about the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis. This is a bridge that he had traveled over many, many times where he serves as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. I will say this...when you read Piper, get ready to think (never a bad thing!).

5. Derek Vreeland - http://www.derekvreeland.com/
I have been drinking coffee with Derek for just over a year in Americus, GA with another fellow minsiter of the Gospel. Our friendship has spawned and grown to an incredible act of grace and encouragement as we three pastors meet regularly. Our friendship has shown me what happens when a Southern Baptist, a Presbyterian (USA), and a nondenominational Charismatic become friends--GLORY! I enjoy Derek's casual but very thoughtful articles. Plus, he has a really good picture there.

Good reading!

The Risk of Honest Confession (as opposed to living in dysfunctional community!)

So he begins by telling me that there is no way that he—as a Christian—would share with me—being a Christian who happens to be a pastor—or any other Christian his deepest darkest sins or problems because if he did, every time I saw him, I would always identify him with that sin. When I think of him, I think of that sin. They become joined together and that is a risk that he is not going to take.

I have given much thought to this comment made to me by a person who is a believer and has spent much time within local congregations. I ponder what happens to a church when this becomes the rule? The results can be devastating when the overarching theme of a congregation is the people of God not trusting one another.

On the one hand, I completely understand my friend’s quandary. It is a terrible thing when people use life events and experiences of another person to target them and demoralize them with cruelty. It is horrific to see people that have attempted to seek counsel and compassion by sharing struggles with another person, only to have that information become public information for lunch time discussion. I have observed the betrayal become so hurtful for people that they feel driven from the fellowship of a local church with no desire to ever return.

We are all fully aware of the worst nature of ourselves. In us is a capacity to bring hurt and derision to another. At times, the behavior can be less vindictive—a person sharing with someone, casually, what another has shared in confidence—but no less hurtful. On the other hand, it appears that some people are hell-bent to work evil and pain in the lives of others. All this behavior becomes particularly distressing when it occurs in the context of a local church. However, a cursory reading of Scripture reveals the trouble and difficulties have been a constant companion of the church from its inception. Self-centeredness is not a twenty-first century invention.

James told a group of believers that we struggle with a profound self-centeredness that results in much rude and crude behavior (4:1-3). We are tempted to desire our personal wants to the detriment of community life. It is a sad reality that churches become characterized by the fighting, hurtfulness and unhealthy patterns that offer no care to believers. Grace is exchanged for grit and people grow in such an environment to become closed off and afraid to do life with one another in any type of helpful way.

In light of the realities, Paul directed the Philippian church to live under a different calling. One that appears incredibly risky in contrast to much of today’s congregational life. It was a pattern that Paul did not intend to be a quaint idea but a driving passion within the local community of faith. The call was for Christians to consider the brothers and sisters in Christ more important than themselves (2:3-4). James went on to say that the community can and should move into a kind of care for one another where believers are able to confess their sins to one another (5:16).

How does a church move from a James 4:1-3 mindset and to living a Philippians 2:3-4 and James 5:16 life? It seems to me that a couple of factors are necessary. One, an individual has to make the commitment to take on the Philippians 2:3-4 life in spite of what others choose. I understand the inherent risks that come in considering others more important than yourself. There is always the risk that you may be taken advantage of and may find that other believers have difficulty in reciprocating the commitment. However, believers are called to embrace life of the word independent of how others respond. It just might be that your own commitment to live the word may give courage and example for others to do the same. Practically, this may take the shape of serving and doing for others with no concern of how they might “pay you back.” The intent is to “pay it forward” with a concern for others and with less desire of getting yourself taken care of. Oddly enough, taking care of others is actually the road to having your own needs met.

Two, living the Philippians 2:3-4/James 5:16 life takes time in cultivating some relationships that foster such ideals. To take it to a deeper level, one must be willing to risk in opening up your life to another. In various places and contexts, I have bee quite fortunate to be in relationships with other men where the reality of Philippians 2:3-4/James 5:16 came to life. In some instances, it came in men approaching me in seeking out accountability and confession. In other times, I was the one who identified men in which the relationship of honesty could be cultivated. I must admit that it has been an awesome privilege to be considered worthy by other men to be a Philippians 2:3-4/James 5:16 man. Others with which I have developed that type of relationship have communicated that same type of feeling.

Each of these relationships have taken different shapes and forms. Some were like an informal meeting for conversation. Others were set apart times where a Christian book or Bible study was used to guide the sharing. The relationships that went the deepest in connection were the ones that the other friend(s) and I could be brutally honest in confessing sin. I will fully tell you that such a practice, in the beginning, can be frightening. It is much like the dream where you see yourself naked in a very public place! Confession often feels like exposure. However, with trustworthy men, the confession brought tremendous freedom. How comforted I have been to find that I am not the only one who has struggled with certain behaviors and temptations. Even when the specifics were different from another believer, to have the compassionate care of another has been one of the few experiences of heaven on earth I have had on this planet.

Let me tell you of another unexpected benefit of confession of sin to another. I found that in exposing myself honestly before another, I came to desire holiness like never before. In the times I have been unable or unwilling to bear my burden with another, I found the struggle with sin to be, at times, almost overwhelming. Little progress is found in loneliness. In contrast, when I exposed myself to another, I encountered wonderful strength through my friendship. My experience has been that God works mightily in our Philippians 2:3-4/James 5:16 relationship. My desire and ability to live more pleasing to the Lord was actually increased while living in complete honest relationship with another.

I certainly understand the concern of my friend who is reluctant to share his sin with another. Sharing with untrusting and unloving people and with dysfunctional churches can certainly lead to calamity and pain. Honestly, Jesus’ advice of not casting your pearls before swine has been a wonderful guiding principle in choosing trustworthy brothers in Christ However, my life has been greatly blessed when I found others with which I could practice Philippians 2:3-4/James 5:16. How glorious it is to exchange your pig slop for pearls!

No Room for Sorrow, Part 1

"O Lord, you have deceived me,
and I was deceived;
you are stronger than I,
and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all
the day;
everyone mocks me.

"Why did I come out from the
womb
to see toil and sorrow,
and spend my days in shame?"

-Jeremiah 20:7, 18

I do not anticipate hearing these words of Jeremiah put to song anytime soon. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that if one were to say these types of words (as a matter of personal feeling and experience) in most average local churches, you may be looked upon with many blank stares or quickly met with exhortations to have a more positive attitude. Would it be that some may think you are expressing doubt of God's provision? Would some perhaps think that such a statement is unchristian?

This past Thursday I attended a leadership luncheon hosted by the Cornerstone Church in Americus, Georgia. Those in attendance were treated to the insights of church planter and pastor, Eric Lawson of St. Louis, Missouri. Eric spoke on the struggles of leadership and I promise you that there was much meat to be chewed upon with gladness.

Eric made a statement that resonated with me and caused me to think about the prophet Jeremiah. He spoke of how when we face difficulty in leadership (which everyone faces difficulty in various circumstances), our tendency is to pray away that which causes us to be dependent on God.

My mind immediately drifted to Jeremiah 20. It is, perhaps, one of the most heart-wrenching and challenging chapters in the entire Bible. Jeremiah was called of God to announce judgement on the people of God. His ministry was met with complete rejection from the intended audience. In fact, he was beaten up and put in "the stocks" by the Pashhur the priest. The torment Jeremiah received from being faithful to God was not just mental but intensely physical as well.

Jeremiah comes to the conclusion that he does not want a way of escape--rather, he deduces that never having had existed would have been the best option of all. "Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, 'A son is born to you..." because he did not kill me in the womb..." (Jeremiah 20:15, 17) Even a casual bible reader can hear the extreme pain and overwhelming sorrow of the prophet.

What would you have said to Jeremiah? (Honestly, the biblical evidence suggests that you would have thought that Jeremiah was a loon and probably would have rejected him. See Jeremiah 1:1 - 20:6). Have you ever been so overwhelmed that having never lived appeared to be the best option? How do we handle such cirumstances? This question seems particularly pertinent in a nation where most Christians are always looking for their best life now and seven steps to being healthy, wealthy and wise. What is one to make of a life in following God where circumstances threaten to hurt or destroy or kill? How is one to function when the cry of the heart is that of Jeremiah 20:14...

"Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother
bore me, let it not be blessed."

I challenge you to ruminate for some time with Jeremiah 20. I pray for you and myself that we will meet our friends and neighbors and fellow followers of Christ that suffer with great care. I pray that we will not insult them with the call of just being more positive. I pray that we will make room within our Christian experience for complaint and sorrow.