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Tonight our teens and I got together for the first devotional we’ve had in sometime. I tried something new with them, something a little more experiential. I thanks group magazine for their wonderful creative ideas. My kids loved it. I have to confess I was a little worried at first they would have thought our devotional was dumb. I was dumbfounded by the enthusiasm I saw in my kids. They, like most teens in our churches, long to meet with God in meaningful relational experiences.

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I love my wife and daughter! I write these words not to boast of some superior feeling I have over any of your emotions towards those in your life, but as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Admist the storms of life, and the worries that compete for attention in my life, my wife and my daughter are two tangible pieces of the puzzle of life that I cling too. Jen’s reassuring words have lifted my weary heart out of many a low places, and seeing my little one raise her hands, and say “daddy” is almost indescribable. All the worries that swim around my head disappear for a time when I am with the ones I love. It’s in this lesson I’ve learned over and over again, that I am continually reminded of God’s desire to have a presence in our lives. For our light and momentary troubles melt away when we spend time in God’s presence. He longs for us to spend time with Him, and I can not stress enough the importance of our relationship with Him. For what can we truly give to others if we are not first given to our Lord? In other words, what impact on those we minister to, or come into contact with are we going to have if we aren’t spending regular time in prayer and in the Word?

I am in awe that not only does God desire a presence in our lives, but that He is faithful. I see His faithfulness gently in the faithfulness of my wife and daughter and through His tender mercies each and every day.

I don’t know if any of you have read the last few blog entries here, but I thank all of you who have prayed for me, and have commented over the last few days. I don’t know about you, but there are just sometimes when I need encouragement. I have been encouraged this week.

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The invitation is still open, and these words from Jesus have been a needed comfort time and time again. “Come to me, all you who are weay and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

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A little while ago, my wife and I received a phone call from someone who we were counting on to be a large part of VBS, and well this person backed out. The reason for thier back out was cited as “conflicting leadership styles.” So as I sit here this morning, and write, I wonder if I am perceived in the congregation as a dictatorial leader or an encourager? Who really has the problem? Is it my style of leadership or is the age gap that exists dictate the confrontation between Gen-Xers and the WWII generation?

I was discouraged again this morning, but then I wonder if maybe this person’s backing out is a sign of thier wisdom and foresight in letting the next generation rise to the challenge of the day?

I would be interested in your thoughts on generational conflict and what you do to promote a win-win solution for both sides.

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LTC is beginning to come together, slowly at church. I have to take a step back from everything, and remind myself who LTC is for. It is for the kids! We want to encourage our kids to live a lifestyle of leadership and my example as the LTC cooridnator affects everyone. So, Lord, help me in the mix of all this confusion and not knowing what to do to remember you and your faithfulness in all of this. In the mix of LTC preparation our congregation is also gearing up for The Great Southwest Bible Bowl Feb. 26th and also VBS July 11th-13th. Our theme this year is Joseph, and we had another committee planning meeting this evening. One lessoned I learned last year, was the earlier I get the church folk geared up for VBS, the more I can expect from them. So, our committe has met twice now, and really have had some very productive time.

I don’t know about ya’ll but after being fed and ministered to at NCYM and attending and being fed at Winterfest, I just feel that the enemy has his sights on me big time trying to discourage me at every turn. I have felt a little overwhelmed this past week trying to get forms signed and making phone calls and the like. I have seen bitterness rear its ugly head as I was faced with the reality that things were dumped off on me, the help I was promised was not there and yet somehow in small ways throughout this week the Lord has reminded me of more important things.

My family. My little girl has missed her daddy this week. As she began to go to a sitter’s and I was working a little later than normal. By Saturday night, she had enough of not having daddy, and so throughout the evening last evening she was daddy’s girl. She spent the majority of the night in my lap. My wife also reminds me that she is here for me and things are going to be okay, and she is always right. I can’t do this youth ministry thing with out her.

My Lord. He waits so patiently on us to give him time. In the quiet stillness of longing He still speaks, and oh, how we all need to be reassured of our place in the kingdom. If you go day after day and haven’t spent any time in the Word or with your Lord, do that now. Just stop what you’re doing, and soak in the Son.

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I am sitting here at my computer, taking a break from reading about Backgrounds of Early Christianity. The more I read about the ancient situation, the more similiarities I see to our own day and age. Our culture is a culture of ambiguity. More and more we are told there is no right or no wrong, and that we can choose what’s right and wrong. I see in our current situation a need for the message of God’s saving, freeing, free, unending, amazing, transforming love that rivals that of the first century. Our society needs Christians to shut about worship styles, and give up our scruples about eating in buildings, or using power point, or whether it is okay to clap or not and live lives of loud gospel proclamations. Not shouting on street corners, “turn or burn,” but taking food to shut-ins, visiting prisoners, feeding the hungry, loving the aids patient. Paul told the Corinthians that they were a living letter. What message are we sending our neighbors and communities when we are too busy fighting one another instead of serving with the love in the name of Christ?

What’s the message of the church? Why are better at pretending to be interested in doing the Lord’s work than we are at actually doing the Lord’s work? We can not tolerate sitting on the side lines of society and watching people live lives of hurry and worry and go about our day and not share with them the promise of rest, the promise of forgiveness, the promise of nearness to Christ.

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I mailed in today, our congregation’s LTC registration forms. I only missed the intial deadline by two weeks. I got some dates mumbled in my head in between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. I will make sure I check dates, double check, and then check some more next time around! I tell you, tracking down kids, and trying to fill out forms, and collecting money is rather time consuming, and this is still this side of the Convention. I know the convention will be great, and our kids will do a super job, but I am tired, and ready for a nap.

My wife also started some very part-time temporary work today for one of our elders at church. We very much need any extra income. But, she had a good day. Today was also the first day that Rachel stayed with a real baby sitter, someone other than grandparents. She was excited about getting to play with another little girl from church, but when Jen left this morning, Rachel was none to pleased with mommy leaving her there.

I am looking forward to going home, eating dinner, spending some time with Rachel and Jennifer, and then it’s back to work, reading, and some LTC editing.

I just want to express my sympathy to the families at the Highland church of Christ in Abilene. I asked our elders to pray for ya’ll last night, and I believe God is moving to comfort broken and hurting hearts.

Reflections on the Book of Hebrews

Theology of Hebrews

I came to this assignment a little apprehensive. I have read the book of Hebrews many times, but I have never slowed down and let the words on the page sink into my heart and mind. I was challenged by this assignment to not read the text quickly, but to read the text, and asking questions of the text. I came away from this
reading of the book of Hebrews refreshed, encouraged, and still pondering the meaning of a few passages.

I would argue that the book of Hebrews is a wonderful epistle that deserves to be heard today. First century voices have a lot to say to twenty first century ears. It would do us well today in the Church to re-examine an ancient text and allow ourselves to be spoken to through the pages of Holy Scripture. The author of Hebrews leaves no doubt who his Lord is, and details the sacrificial atoning of Christ’s work. It would seem obvious that the author of the letter, though undisclosed, displays a thorough understanding of Jewish religious worship customs and practices. I think one of the benefits of this letter is that the author explains some of the Jewish sacrificial system, and the divisions of the priesthood, and divisions in the temple. He then goes one step further by revealing that the old way of atoning for sins, once a year is futile and he points his readers to the final and complete atonement for sins, Jesus Christ. The author uses better than, or superior often.

The assignment asks us to identify theological themes we encountered throughout this letter. Jesus Christ is clearly portrayed as the theme of this book. I think the author of Hebrews argues maybe more forcefully than anywhere else in the New Testament for Jesus’ sinless humanity and his divine nature, which sets him apart from our forefathers, and Moses, and the system of sacrifice regulated through the Old Testament which Jesus and his ministry make obsolete. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that through Jesus Christ one can have a nearness to God that people have longed for and weren’t able to attain.

I love how the writer of Hebrews begins his letter, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven “ (Heb. 1:1-3)

I see here the importance of the enduring message of Jesus Christ. Later on in the letter, chapter 13:8, the writer emphasizes again the enduringness of Jesus Christ, is sameness from yesterday, to today, and into tomorrow. I think for ministry it is important to help those we minister too feel a connection to Jesus, and help them see his legacy throughout the ages. The author of Hebrews also lets us in on a startling revelation in chapter one and verse 2, that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. What a statement! Jesus is God and man, divine and yet human. As we encounter this truth in our lives as well as throughout this epistle we see that if Jesus were not divine and human his sacrifice for our sins would have been ineffectual for salvation.

In chapter two the author of Hebrews continues with the idea that Jesus a man, made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone� (Heb. 2:9). Jesus is being presented as the emphasis of grace. It is because of his death on the cross that we are able to receive God’s grace. The author begins to launch his case that Jesus was the supreme sacrifice.

As if just meditating on Christ’s sacrifice isn’t enough, he dares us to ponder the notion that the author of our salvation is of the same family of those whom he died to make holy. “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers� (Heb. 2:11). For any of the readers who have ever felt out of place in their family or maybe have never had any family, what a reassuring word from God that if we are Christ’s than we are apart of His family, and that he is not ashamed to call us brothers.

As if sacrifice wasn’t enough already, he turned our attention to our new family identity and now in 2:14-18, he shares this next great truth. Jesus shared in our humanity, and he goes on to write in 2:18, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.� God has not abandoned us in this world to face the trials, temptations, and sin by ourselves. By becoming on of us, and sharing in our humanity he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses…tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin� (Heb 4:15).

It is very early on in the letter of Hebrews that the author unveils Jesus as “a faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people� (Heb. 2:17). The author builds on this ideal of Christ as high priest throughout the letter and then culminates with revealing that Jesus was a high priest not by birth into the tribe of Levi, but “it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life…the former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God� (Heb 7:14-16, 18-19).I think another major theme that develops in this letter in response to the high priest hood of Christ is the certainty of God’s promises. Our faith is futile unless what God promises is true. The author of the epistle cites the example of Abraham, and God swearing by himself that was promised by God (that Abraham would be given many descendents) would be fulfilled, and it was. If a promise is an oath, and if God is the one who makes the oath or the promise than we can be sure that what God promises he will do. The oath in question is seen in chapter seven as we previously considered the ancestry of Jesus and saw that under the law of Moses he was not from the tribe of Levi, but he “has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For is declared:

‘You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek (citing Psalm 110:4).’

The former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood� (Heb. 7:16-22,24). Because of all this, Jesus “is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because always live to intercede for them� (Heb. 7:25).

Continuing with the idea that Jesus is a better guarantee, the author continues to contrast the old religious system with the new. The author portrays the old covenant as obsolete, and then reminds his readers under the old law there was no nearness to God, but Jesus as the high priest entered the Most Holy place not with the blood of sacrificial animals, “but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption� (Heb. 9:12).

The author ends his contrast between the old and the new with the culmination in chapter ten with reminder that the high priests work was to make atonement for the people year after year, whereas Jesus, the new and faithful high priest “had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God� (Heb. 10:12). Our response to all of this is to “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water� (Heb. 10:22).

I want to spend some time briefly mentioning the importance of chapter eleven. Ever since I started going to church, this chapter has been referred to as the hall of faith. And rightly so for the names that are mentioned are those men and women who are great examples of faithfulness. I see in this chapter a reminder not the discard what the Old Testament has to offer. It would be easy to generalize, after seeing Jesus Christ as the new high priest, that the Old Testament is useless, but this is not what the author of the epistle had in mind. The story of the Old Testament is important for historical purposes as well as building our faith. It is the story of the Old Testament that gives meaning to the New Testament. The story of Jesus is inextricably linked with the story of the Old Testament. Here in chapter eleven we are surrounded by a great cloud of witness (Heb. 12:1) and it do us well to read the Old Testament and see the similarities of our faith heroes situations in life to our own.

Then finally I think the epistle is best summed up by Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us thrown off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.�

Winterfest Southwest 2005

This weekend was awesome. I and 10 other adult chaperones took 26 teenagers to Arlington, Texas for Winterfest. This year’s theme was the Real Master and Commander. I think this year was probably the best year of Winterfest I have been too. At the same time I write that, it is hard to say that because Winterfest is just an awesome atmosphere, and every year I have been is amazing. My teens loved it, as did my chaperones.

Friday night we arrived on time, and I and another sponsor walked over the front desk of the Wyndham hotel and well, they wouldn’t take my church credit card, because the elder whose name is on the card wasn’t present. Argh! I had a credit card, and well they accepted my card. Before the Audio Adrenaline concert, I began to pass out room assignments, and I had a dilemma. I had invited my in-laws to come with us along with my sister in-law. My father in law has been in youth ministry for twenty years, and well this year would have been the first year that he didn’t get to go because he is no longer at the church he used to serve. Anyway, I didn’t think any of my people would have been weirded out about staying with them, and such, and we had around 39 total people so someone was going to have to sleep on the floor in one of the kid rooms. I was asked by one of the sponsors, “if she paid $80.00 so her kid could sleep on the floor?” Now, that was not my intention. I didn’t want anyone to sleep on the floor. I was crushed. I had spent all that time planning, and preparing and then I realize I looked over this detail, I was crushed, and wanting to avoid any upheaval by my volunteers I walked back over to the hotel and booked another room. Problem resolved, but boy did I feel crummy.

Saturday in the adult class we talked about the importance of our relationship to Jesus, and how important feeding our weary souls is. We got to experience a prayer chapel, where there were several stations set up for us to reflect, pray, and soak in God’s presence. I walked out of that time with God a different man. My worries and feelings of crumminess lifted, and when I saw my teens walk out of their classes glowing, I knew God has answered my prayers for all of us to be sponges this weekend.

Saturday night’s message from Jeff Walling was great, the singing was incredible and our group devo time and group singing was awesome.

Sunday morning when we assembled, some 4000 or so of us it was moving. Several of my young went forward at the invitation. One because he wanted to solidify his relationship with Christ and to answer God’s call in his life to enter full time ministry, and the other two young men went forward to accept Christ’s invitation to become His children. One of those two young men was baptized into Christ last night at church.

I love the worship times at Winterfest. It is so freeing to be able to raise our hands and worship uninhibited. Why do we feel free to worship this way at a retreat or a youth rally but not at church? Hmm? I am not saying we go back to church and just tick off all the older folks, but we needn’t leave our enthusiasm for Christ behind when we come home.

Late Night Questions…

I don’t know exactly I was thinking when I first began to serve as a youth minister. I knew from almost the first moment I came out of the watery grave of baptism that God somehow was directing me into full time ministry. I was so naive I guess when I finally began working with kids. I mean I wasn’t that far removed from my teen years when I first became a Christian so I guess I should have been prepared for the barrage of teen struggles and questions that they have. But, how do you fully prepare yourself for real pain, and hurt that so many of our young men and women are experiencing? Just last week I found out some information about a kid I dearly love in the Lord, heart hurting information. And to top of it all of, it comes of the heels of another crisis. A crisis of identity that has taken it’s toll on another family. And this week, more teen struggle. Oh, I am not giving up or given into the enemey’s sublte and not so subtle attacks on those under my care. I am declaring war on the enemies of light, and ask for your prayers to shake the gates of hell. Let’s do everything we can to pass on our faith legacy to the next generation.