My Young Theologian

Matthew 18:2-3 - Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. ³" I assure you," He said, "unless you are converted and become like children,  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. CSB

This morning I had one of those moments in parenting that God gives just often enough to keep us in the game.  Of course these moments I'm talking about are probably happening around us all the time, but it seems I can often be blinded by the "important" things in life.

My 9 year old son Josiah and I were having a Bible reading time together and discussing a certain text of Scripture when I popped the big question to my son of what the text meant .  As is often the case with this philosopher/theologian son of mine, his answer illustrated the power and simplicity of the parables of Jesus and their ability to speak truth in clear and poignant ways. 

Although his answer was not completely correct from the perspective of proper Biblical interpretive methods, he did get the general idea behind what Jesus had said.  The main theme was stewardship of kingdom resources and he was able to grasp this concept quite well .  What followed was a wonderful discussion around God's Word that can only be described as "fellowship."  My son and I were entering into that blessed place in Christ when The Word lives and we know He is near. 

I don't mean to say that we were caught up into some kind of super-spiritual experience because we were not.  Rather, in the casual atmosphere of my bedroom on my bed, I enjoyed watching my son come to an understanding about the most important knowledge he can ever have revealed to him.  I delighted in him and his inquisitive and wonder-filled eyes as they danced with the joy of a growing understanding of truth.  I guess moments like these are the really "IMPORTANT" ones in life!

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. ⁷ Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  CSB

THE 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA?

THE CHURCH REPORT MAGAZINE has come out with their annual 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA issue and it is very interesting to say the least.  I can only imagine that heaven's perspective may be a little different as the top 10 might well be headed up with white haired grandma prayer warriors!  I agree with a number of the selections, but was a little disappointed to find some names missing. 

Influence is not always a positive thing if the person doing the influencing has bad theology or is unethical in their calling.  It seems that the greatest temptation and challenge that most of us could ever face would be notoriety and success.  I have heard it said that most people can weather poverty and loss, but few can weather success. 

It seems that this statement is confirmed throughout the Biblical record and history.  Solomon is probably the greatest example of a man who was praised universally during his time and "blessed" with more material wealth than anyone before. 

Having whatever his eyes and appetites desired did not do him well, but rather led to great despair and spiritual poverty.  The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible tells of us his journey and ultimate conclusions.  Here they are in his own words;  "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. ¹⁴God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad."(NLT)   May God give grace to these influential ones and keep them from leading many astray as they humbly accept the yoke of success and recognition. 

A GREAT TIME TO HAVE BEEN WRONG!

Right now is A GREAT TIME TO HAVE BEEN WRONG about my Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts!  Back in November I wrote an article called "Some Good News and Some Bad News" and received more feedback than in any other previous post.  In that particular post I "predicted" that the Indianapolis Colts would march undefeated to the Super Bowl and embarrass any and all comers. 

Almost immediately after that article, the Colts began to unravel while the Steelers and Seahawks started to peak and play their best football of the season.  I am not too proud to admit my error, especially since I really believe that at that point in the season, the Colts were clearly the best team in football.  It is so good now to sit back and celebrate with all of the millions of Northwest folks who have suffered for many years with the heartbreak that is part of what it means to be a sports fan from Washington State. 

Now, the SUPER BOWL and redemption are staring right at us and we need only take them by the throat!  The Seahawks match up really well with the Steelers and have all of the tools necessary to win the big one.  If they can manage a balanced running and passing game, keep Hasselbeck from being "hassle-backed" (sacked!), hold on to the ball and play the defense they are capable of playing, I think they are the better team. 

GO SUPER-HAWKS! 

A SAD DAY FOR LIFE!

"I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art."  THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH - CLASSICAL VERSION 4th Paragraph

"You shall not murder."  God - Exodus 20:13

Today, in the hallowed halls of our most powerful political institution, six judges decided it was OK for physicians in the State of Oregon to administer "a deadly drug" to patients who want to die!  In a 6-3 judgment, our U.S. Supreme Court opened a Pandora's box of death for the other 49 States in this great nation and once again demonstrated that the blacked robed ones have entirely too much power and influence upon the course of this land.  The irony of this is that pro-life people around America have set this week aside as a time to honor the Sanctity of Human Life. 

So much for the Hippocratic Oath!  Many physicians today are living according to the Hypo-critic Oath as they claim to care about preserving life, while they insert a needle into a living human being which carries death-filled poison.  Those that support the Oregon Law claim that it is "humane" and well written with a number of protections that prevent abuse like the fact that it "covers only extremely sick people — those with incurable diseases and who are of sound mind, and after at least two doctors agree they have six months or less to live." 

The problem with this reasoning of course is that it assumes the inherent goodness of human beings and the ability to make judgments about the "dying" person.  History and the Bible make it ever so clear that we are not all that good, but rather, we are all fallen and depraved human beings with potential to do horrible things to one another.  All we have to do is look at what a "woman's right to abortion" has got us (other than 45 million dead Americans), namely, a multi-billion dollar industry pedaling murder as a right and alternative.  I can only imagine what kind of sophisticated riff raff is lining up to "make a killing" in this new and terrible industry.  God help us all.  Oh, it is a sad day for life in America!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE USA TODAY STORY

PRO-LIFE=PRO-FIDELITY!

We live in a sex-saturated society that claims to be enlightened and liberated about sex but is clueless when it comes to the beauty and mystery of human sexuality.  It seems that the more we experiment and supposedly learn, the less we truly know and the more broken we become. 

Unfortunately, being a professing follower of Christ does not seem to be making a difference in many who claim His name.  The church, generally speaking, seems to be either afraid to really talk about sex (as though it might offend the God who gave us sex organs, sex drives, nerve endings and the capacity for pleasure) or takes a page from the anti-drug movement and tells people to "JUST SAY NO!"

Well, this isn't helping our young people or those who are desperately looking for some kind of Biblically informed view to help them understand their desire for sex. 

If we are going to claim to be Pro-Life people, we must address the issue of sexuality in our teaching and in our living.  With adultery and the divorce rate as high within Christian Churches as in the un-churched community, something is wrong!  Our hypocrisy is telling on us!  Please follow this link to an article in World Magazine entitled BROKEN SEX.  It has some excellent points which we would be wise to embrace.

BACK HOME AND SO THANKFUL!

Nathan, we are safely home and really thankful to God and to all of the people at GRACE HARVEST CHURCH who supported us and prayed for us these last three months as we took a sabbatical.

Mazatlan was amazing and Southern California family so refreshing, but there is no place like home and my SLEEP NUMBER BED!  My family and I have been loved on by God and people and have experienced His provision and grace in manifold ways and expressions.

I know, I missed it with the Rose Bowl, but boy was it ever so close!  A little change here or there and USC wins!  Such is life!  Vince Young of TEXAS put on a one man show (with a little help from his offensive line) and TEXAS was the better team on that given day.  OH, THE GLORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

I will now get back to the regular business of BLOGGING, hoping many of you will continued to read and enjoy.  We had a wonderful Christ and family-filled Christmas this year with my wife's family in Anaheim as we drank in the laughter, energy and love of these precious people. 

We are so grateful to Jerry and Cathy and their children, Jerod, Rachel, Caleb, Hanna and Emma for making Jesus real to all of us in a tangible way.  Thank you for the sacrifice and laughter!  YOU GUYS ALL ROCK!!!

My wife, Peggy, is so fortunate to have the family she does.  Her many brothers and sisters have been such a source of love and grace over the years to our whole family.  Thank you Tony, Rose, Chris and Debra, Stephanie and Michael for giving and giving and giving!  By the way Chris and Debra, Washington is beautiful and waiting for a visit from you.  Chris, entertaining debate with Steve! (; 

Rich, Patty, Bridget, Bethany and Shawn, thanks for opening your homes and lives up and for throwing an awesome party TWICE!  We highly respect and love you.  Steve, Natalie, Andrew, Conner and Isabella, you are a blessed family.  We are thrilled to think about what God has in store for all of you!

Maureen, Rocky, Nicole and David, it was so good to see you and hang out a little.  Maureen and David, we will never forget the way you brought laughter, beauty and grace to our home in "04".  PLEASE COME AND DO IT AGAIN! 

Lorraine, thanks for the great haircut!  God loves you and your kids so much!  He promised "He will never leave us or forsake us."  Teresa, I am sorry we didn't see more of you, but know that you are loved and missed. 

Tom, Lori and family, we'll take a rain check and get with you next time!  You are a great family who have taken on a difficult assignment.  God is with you and will help you!  Children are so important to Him! 

Bill, it was good to see you and talk out in the back awhile.  Come on up and see us sometime!  Our home is your home! 

Steve, Jane and Hudson, we are so excited about all of you and your future!  Steve, you have a great big heart which even your truck cannot compare to!  Come on up and spy out the land!  THANKS FOR THE SUNGLASSES!

Pop and Nana, it was good to worship the Savior with you together at Saint Anthony's.  Thank you for all the gifts, dog baby sitting, conversation and love.  You are very special people whom are loved and appreciated by all of the Sherman's.  We look forward to seeing you in June.

Mom, it was good to see you!  It wasn't long enough though!  Russ, good to meet you finally.

Dad, Glenda, Atoya, Christa, Caleb and kids, I am so glad we got to hang out and connect.  I hope we can do it much more in the future.  Time is passing faster than any of us want to admit. 

Now, 2006 is before us waiting to be challenged and conquered.  May God guide us all as we seek to serve. love and please Him.  Thank you family, friends, Church Family and Heavenly Father for an amazing 2005!   

A burning Bush brands the Texas Longhorns!

I admit it!  I was wrong a number of weeks ago when I predicted that the Indianapolis Colts would go undefeated and beat the Seattle Seahawks on their way to an undefeated season and a Super Bowl win.  Now, I am totally on-board with the Seahawks!

Well, since I have already failed at one prediction, why not make another?  Tomorrow, the USC Trojans, led by a Burning Bush named Reggie will squeak by the Texas Longhorns in the most anticipated College Bowl Game in history!  Enough of the hype already, let's play the game!  Reggie Bush of USC and Vince Young of Texas are two of the most exciting players to ever lace up shoes at the college level, so expect fireworks.  USC 38 - TEXAS 35!

An Encouraging View for the New Year

Hello friends out there in cyberspace on this 2nd day of the Year of our Lord 2006.  I have been a little too busy to blog much, but thought you might get some encouragment from a daily devotional I read called "STREAMS IN THE DESERT."  This particular reading is filled with a faith perspective that looks forward to the unknown year ahead with expectation and hope.  Enjoy and then act upon what you have read with the knowledge that your Father in heaven is going before you as you possess new territory for his kingdom!  God's richest blessings upon you in this New Year!

            New Year            

            by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman


            

"The
land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and
drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God
careth for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning
of the year even unto the end of the year" (Deut. 11:11-12).

Today dear friends, we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There
lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it. Who
can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes shall
come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting,
gladdening message from our Heavenly Father, "The Lord thy God careth for it." "His eyes are upon it away to the ending of the year."

All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall
never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off.
Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He
be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no
drought can parch that river, "the streams whereof make glad the city
of God."

The land is a land of hills and valleys. It is not all
smooth nor all down hill. If life were all one dead level the dull
sameness would oppress us; we want the hills and the valleys. The hills
collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah, so it is with us!
It is the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne of grace and
brings down the shower of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills of life
that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down the showers. How
many have perished in the wilderness, buried under its golden sands,
who would have lived and thriven in the hill-country; how many would
have been killed by the frost, blighted with winds, swept desolate of
tree and fruit but for the hill-stern, hard, rugged, so steep to climb.
God's hills are a gracious protection for His people against their foes!

We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only.
The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It
shall be a good, a blessed new year!

He leads us on by paths we did not know;

Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,

Though oft we faint and falter on the way,

Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;

Yet when the clouds are gone,

We know He leads us on.

He leads us on through all the unquiet years;

Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,

He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze

Of losses, sorrows, and o'erclouded days;

We know His will is done;

And still He leads us on.

--N.L. Zinzendorf