Christmas Week

I have been back in Iowa since Sunday night and at my house since Monday. I left after church on Sunday morning and had smooth sailing until the Kalamazoo, MI neck of the woods. At that point the weather turned nasty and the wind picked up speed thereby making travel miserable for thousands of people, myself included. After several hours of slow traffic and detours through the back roads of hillbilly towns (the kind of towns that have year-round 'live nativity scenes' in people's front yards) I was able to get back moving at a decent speed, and I made it to my grandparents house after 11 hours of travel. This meant that for me to travel all the way to Des Moines would have taken 13 hours and normally the trip is 9-9 1/2 hours. This equates to roughly a 28% increase in travel time compared to past trips.

I stayed at my grandparent's house Sunday night and arrived in Des Moines on Monday at noon. Monday night I went to my childhood best friend Kurt's house and we hung out for a few hours because his wife was working.
Wednesday night was the Christmas Eve service at church and then my family watched a Hallmark Christmas movie that my mom had recorded.
Thursday was Christmas and we opened presents in the morning, watched The Dark Knight during the afternoon (mom got her Hallmark movie, I got Batman - it's an even trade), and I watched the Lakers beat the Celtics in the evening. It was a good day.
Last night a couple friends came over and we all (friends and family) played Imaginiff.
This morning I hung out with my friend Jamie Miller and caught up on life and ministry. You can check out the ministry he heads up at the Consumed Ministries website.

While home, I was also able to read a few books. I reread Crazy Love by Francis Chan, I read The Prodigal God by Tim Keller, and I also am just about to finish Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. Next on my list are to reread Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and read the fiction book, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.

Oh ya, and I watched "The Incredible Hulk" yesterday. It was pretty good. "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man" are better.

I leave tomorrow night to go to my grandparents before driving back to Michigan on Monday.

Go Tell It On The Mountain

My Christmas greetings to you all. May these ladies inspire you with Yuletide cheer.

"Henrietta and Merna Can't Sing"

A Purpose Driven Inauguration

Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and pastor of America's 4th largest church (attendance exceeds 23,000 each week), has been selected to give the invocation at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration next month.

Watch the Anderson Cooper panel discussion below or read the article here.


The woman's comments in the last 10 seconds of the interview were the most interesting to me and seem to reflect 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

I'm not a political guru but I'm sure Obama's selection will stir up a great deal of discussion amongst both republicans and democrats.

What are your thoughts?

Recent Happenings

This past week I finished reading Mark Driscoll's book, Death by Love. It was one of the best books I've read all year. The book is a collection of pastoral letters written to individuals whom Mark has counseled explaining to them how Christ's work on the cross applies to their specific situation.

I still need to finish my current fiction read, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, before I go to Iowa for Christmas because I need to return it to the library by Friday.

[This is one of the least flattering effects I've ever seen on a picture.
Both sweaters were store bought and then customized
- hers with ornaments and candy and mine with a full set of working Christmas lights.]

Wednesday night I lost my bet with a student regarding who would have a better/worse ugly Christmas sweater. She won the vote 16-14 so now I have to go see Twilight* in theater. Bug Man said he'll go with me. Anyone else want to go watch a vampire chick flick?

Saturday night was the church staff Christmas party at Pastor Bob's house. He made his special peppermint hot chocolate, and I must say that it took Starbucks out behind the woodshed and gave it a "rod of correction" Oprah-offending whoopin'. Don't get me wrong. I have great appreciation for Starbucks, but it's got nothing on what was being served up at the Johnson home Saturday night.

Last night I went to the church's Christmas concert. The choir and orchestra and technical crew did a wonderful job. Afterward a group of us went out to National Coney Island and had some food. I had blueberry pancakes. I love blueberry pancakes.

*Any guesses on how long before the Christian market starts selling Christianized "Twilight" merchandise? Maybe it's already out there and I haven't seen it. Possible ideas include:

A t-shirt that says, "Mylight", instead of "Twilight" (with a little John 8:12 "I am the light of the world" written underneath it)
Or instead of "Team Jacob" or "Team Edward," it could say "Team Jesus."

F + Sunday - S = Funday!

[Jaclyn, Sadie, and Becca with some new friends]

Sunday afternoon a group of the Middle School students and some leaders went to an assisted living center to sing some Christmas carols and hang out with the residents for a couple hours. All who went had a lot of fun and agreed that all the students who chose not to go really missed out.

[Helen the German and Parker who is learning German at school.

Helen the German pretty much danced her legs off to all the songs.]

[Cody and his Prom Dates 2008]

["She tried to kiss me on the mouth! So I quick turned my head

to the side so she got my cheek," said Cody after a close call.]

[Bug Man. 'Nuff said.]

When we got back to church we had some time to kill so we played some rousing games of dodgeball. On the 8th day, God created dodgeball. And it was very good.

For small groups in the evening we had a surprise Christmas Bash Party Extravaganza Event Celebration Festivity. We ate double stuffed Oreos, ice cream, rice crispy treats, popcorn, and candy canes, and washed it down with ice cold chocolate milk. Then we had a Christmas story quiz. Then we turned the guitars up and banged on the drums extra hard and jumped extra high on the chairs and sang a bunch of songs as loud as we could so as to do our best at letting the Sr. High students hear us in their room. They did. Then we played musical chairs. I pretty much hip-checked my way into winning second place. I played to win. No blood, no foul. But I still came up short. Then then party was over and we all went home.

Oh ya, and my office got "post-it-noted" again so I am going to lock my office door when I leave from now on. Take that burglars. Other precaution option: Ferocious guard dogs.

I'll be posting some pics of my Award Winning Ugly Christmas sweater and homemade Christmas ornament in the near future.

Resolution Reminders

In a previous post I provided a link to the 70 Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. I have done my best to continue reading through them once a week and I have come to find certain resolutions particularly memorable and convicting. Here are some of them:

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. [I would hate to spend the last hour of my life watching YouTube.]

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings. [I preach this to myself when my computer freezes for no apparent reason.]

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. [Much easier said than done, but it's an intersting thought to keep in the back of your head.]

53. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. [I would add to this my own thoughts, "Resolved, whenever I am the recipient of compliments as to my behavior or character, to humbly and privately acknowledge and repent of my shortcomings before publicly setting out to live a life worthy of such compliments."]

54. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining as its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. [This is to be applied individually with the intention of one day pursuing it with your closest friends - think Daniel and the guys in the fiery furnace.]

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. [Have you ever stepped over a piece of trash on the ground, only to later see someone inconveniently and humbly walk over and pick it up and throw it away?]

Which of these sticks out the most to you?

A Tribute to Lifetime Members of No Shave November

[Charlton Hest...errr...Moses]

[Mr. Really Long Beard]

[Honest Abe]

[The Prince of Preachers - Charles Spurgeon]

[ Billion of Dead Things Buried Under Rock Layers 

Laid Down by Water All Over the Earth - Ken Ham]

[I hope to join the long line of legends.]

p.s. please inform me of any beards I might have forgotten.

Home for Thanksgiving

[Jonny 5 and his birthday cake]

So while at home I got to go to the party for the ages: Jonny 5's 26th birthday party held at Chuck E. Cheese's. It was a great party and a fun chance to see some old friends - some I hadn't seen since high school. 

[Top: The party clan - minus a few party poopers who left early]

[Bottom: Jessa, J - 5, Jordan, and Kurt aka "Bitter Bobby"]

Wednesday was my dad's birthday. I got him Tim Keller's newest book The Prodigal God.

For Thanksgiving my grandpa and grandma came to town on Wednesday and spent most the Thanksgiving day with us before they headed home. 

This morning I went to a new coffee shop and had a Chai Tea Latte and worked on my lesson for Sunday. Tonight some good friends came over for dinner and we had a good time eating homemade chicken noodle soup and catching up  on stories from the past year. 

Now my sisters are watching the 2 hour "24" special that my dad recorded from Monday night. Jack Bauer should've run for president. He's pretty much the coolest dude ever.

Secondhand Gems!

This post will serve as a brief update on what's been happening this past week.

I write this post from the exciting state of Iowa. Not Idaho - Iowa. It is a centrally located state in the good ol' U.S. of A. that provides corn and soybeans for the whole world. It also has a butter cow at the state fair. Other than that, there's not much here.

Sunday was a blast. There was a Sr. High "Dinner for Fifteen" after the morning service and a Middle School SNAC at the Roberts' home after the evening service. The Sr. High students spent their Sunday evening Oasis time helping to set up for the Clothing Closet that is happening on Saturday at Cornerstone. The students found a few gems in the midst of the thousands or articles of clothing and I was fortunate enough to take a few pictures.

[Karissa and Dave found some happenin' sweaters.

Personally, I'm a fan of the navy blue cardigan.]

[Anyone in need of size 58 pants?]

[Seriously, there are plenty of pairs to go around.]

[Jesus loves you SNOW much!]

[Hannah Montana anyone?]

Judgment Day! [the votes are in]

The day as arrived and in honor of it being naptime judgment day, I have enlisted the assistance of a friend of mine to help with the judging: Mr. Judgment Day himself, the governor of Cal-ee-fo-nee-a, Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Because of the abundance of submissions, I have chosen to announce winners in various sub-categories, culminating of the grand champion. Therefore, without any further ado, here are the judgments:

The Noah on the ark/Moses on Mt. Sinai/Jesus in the wilderness nap: 

forty winks (Rachel)

The Psycho ward/Rehab Naps:

euphoric* and ecstacy (Josh) addictive (Rachel)

*describes a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania - www.dictionary.com

The "My Family Tree Never Splits" aka "Redneck" Nap:

gidderdone (Sarah Mo Mo)

The "Not To Be Confused With Recess Behavior" Nap:

exuberance (Abby)

The Conservative-Politician-in-Hollywood Nap:

rare (Dena)

The "According to Google that's not a Word" Nap:

restastic (Mike)

The Calvanist Nap:

God ordained (Rachel)

The Celestial Nap:

glorious (Josh)

The Boy-Scout-Helping-the-Old-Lady-Across-the-Street Nap:

helpful (Paige)

The "Very True but not the Grand Champion" Naps:

incredible (Parker) warm, cozy, stupendous (Abby) 

The "Detroit 7 Mile and Popstar Approved" Nap:

napalicious (Greg)

The GRAND CHAMPION word because it has come forth from the very one who carried me in her belly for 9 months plus a few days:

revitalizing (Mom)

a special thanks to Mr. Terminator for his help in judging this contest.

Happy No Shave November Everybody!

[yesterday*]

[this morning*]

[tonight]

I had a bit of a head start, but here's my picture of "No Shave November." (and a couple older random pics I found on the Mac to show the progression.) Beards + a face for them to grow on = awesome.

p.s. If you haven't joined the contest from my last post feel free to jump in. The competition is tight, but you can still win. 

*Actual times may differ from those given. Times given may or may not have been made up at the time of the writing of this post. 

God's Helping Hands and a Blog Game

[BJ, Kelly, Lindsay, Paul, and Abby]

Today was a Sr. High Trip out to God's Helping Hands. GHH is a food panty/clothing closet in the greater Detroit area that the students volunteer at one Monday night per month for two hours.

 [Part of the shopping area.]

Today was a special free holiday "shopping" day for people in the community who have legit financial needs. I was told that people started waiting out front at 6:30 last night and slept in their cars in order to be first in line for when the doors opened this morning. 

[More shopping. Books, movies, toys.]

Cornerstone students helped out from 8:00 - 12:00 today greeting shoppers, helping them with their shopping, restocking shelves, carrying items out to cars, and doing various other tasks. The students had great attitudes despite the cold, rainy, miserable weather.                 [Lindsay, Paige, and Rachel]

I was exhausted when I got home and so I just laid down on the couch to watch a little football. My dad called so I talked to him on the phone for a little bit and then I fell asleep. I love naps. Therefore, in honor of naps, let's play a little comment game here. Who can come up with the best adjective to describe the perfect nap? - which in my case happened on the living room couch with a good blanket and the sound of wind and rain gently echoing on the windows. 

There is only one (1) rule: Only one adjective per person per day. That way multiple people will have time to read the blog before certain people enter every word they could find in the thesaurus.* 

Please leave your response in the comments section.

I will give 1 week before announcing the winning word. 

*A "thesaurus" is a book containing synonyms - it's not a type of dinosaur named in honor of America's favorite definite article.

Good People. Good Tunes. Good Time.

Jessa had this great idea that we should all switch coats/ cardigans! I promise it was all her idea, and she was super excited about taking the picture wearing an oversized men's jacket.*

The concert tonight was incredible! We packed out the middle school room and I think everyone had a lot of fun.  Jordan and Jessa led a few corporate songs before spending about 45 minutes playing some of their own musical babies and talking about how God has worked in their own lives. Through it all, the night had some really incredible moments in which some of the students were really challenged and encouraged spiritually. I'm lucky to have such talented friends who work so hard on developing the gifts God has given them. "Good people. Good tunes. Good time." That's what I always say. Cheers!

*Much of what is included in this caption is complete and utter fabrication. 

Revenge, Comedy, and Good Books ... and Ugly Sweaters

Here's some catch-up on the last week. Last Wednesday night's lesson didn't go at all like I had planned. I had planned on preaching/speaking the same lesson I had given at the morning Bible study, but I began the teaching time by asking some of the students quote the memory verses and share what they had been learning in their lives. This turned into a great, incredibly interactive discussion which culminated in discussion about getting revenge. One student had gotten orange juice poured on his head at school by a girl and then he returned the favor and both of the students got sent to the principal's office. Another girl said that she had gotten slammed into her locker (or something like that) and so she got mad and punched the person (or something like that) to get back at them. Needless to say, this naturally lead into a beautiful time of discussing what it means to live as a children of God who obey scripture and not the fleshly desire to get even.
Friday night I went to an event at Woodside Bible called "Comedy for a Cause." It was a fund raising event for a childrens' home in the greater Detroit area. The event consisted of two stand up comedians, Nazareth and Daren Streblow each having about 45 minutes - 1 hour to just make people laugh. If you are a YouTuber, you can check out clips of their standup routines here and here. They were both very funny, and I am in talks with Daren about funny t-shirt ideas about Iowa because he wants to have a funny shirt about each state.
Random other news...Sunday was a "Dinner for Fifteen" (see the second part of this post for an explanation of what a "Dinner for Fifteen" is). I read Into the Wild over the weekend and I started Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World last night and hope to finish it tonight. I'm reading it quickly because I'm just borrowing it for the week. It's a great book and I'll buy my own copy of these days. I would recommend both books... Into the Wild is a "secular" non-fiction book, and Worldliness is a new "Christian" book edited by C.J. Mahaney. Also, tonight I'm going out for wings with my friend Rico.

P.S. If you haven't started your ugly Christmas sweater shopping yet, you should probably get started.

Two Days After the Day Before Yesterday

[This is me on the receiving end of the ol' fashioned "Catch-the-dirty-nasty-corn-kernal-in-yer-mouth-whilst-staring-at-the-sun" game.]

This past Saturday I went to the men's prayer breakfast at 7:00, and afterwards I went to Blake's Cider Mill with a group of friends. We ate doughnuts, drank cider, walked through a really wussy haunted house, and petted a llama, traversed endlessly through a corn maze, and raced haphazardly around a track on half-broken tricycles. It was a good time. Then we went to Cloverleaf for pizza and to Rachel Moen's house to watch Madagascar and have a bon-fire.

[It's worth pointing out in this picture that Kathryn and I were attempting to flash our "Corn Maze" gang sign for the picture. My urban visual more or less turned into a "C" with an indiscernable "M" exponent"]

Sunday was the student luncheon for families and it went really well. The students did a great job setting the tables and serving the food and the leaders did an impeccable job in the kitchen having all the food ready to go. The parents loved the video, and the students were nervous to see themselves on it but enjoyed hearing what their friends had to say.
Monday was Brooke's last basketball game of the season and her team's chance to finish 12-0! They are probably the best junior high girls basketball team I have ever watched. Brooke basically owned the first quarter scoring a couple layups and getting a couple steals. In the last quarter, she continued to get steals and rebounds and even sank a 3-pointer to cement a blowout victory. Congratulations Brooke!

While talking athletics, I want to give a shout out to Devin for being the player of the game in his football team's last game of the season. I wasn't able to be at the game, but I have gone to others this season and I'm glad he finished strong.[Danny serving his family]

This morning I taught the senior adults' Bible study because Patrick is out of town. I was able to lead the group in some singing and then preach for about 30 minutes. Afterward I was able to have a good hour-long talk with a lady who attends the group. Now I am looking forward to Oasis tonight with the middle school students. Cheers!

Want to not waste the next 11 minutes of your life? Watch this.

I was reminded of this video today that I first watched in Hebrews class at BBC taught by Dan Cruver, and I thought it would be a blessing to you all. It is a dramatic recitation of Hebrews 9-10 (ESV) and is well worth the 11 minutes - I promise. I have seen it many times and watched it again today in preparation for my lesson Sunday on the Passover Lamb. [ I tried to embed the video in my blog, but I couldn't get it to work so you'll have click on the picture use the link.]

Middle School Concert

Coming next Wednesday to Cornerstone Baptist Church for a special free Middle School concert: Jordan and Jessa Anderson! (click their names to listen to their music)

Halloween Play-By-Play

6:15 It’s Halloween night and I’m sitting out on the front porch of the Rudd’s home with Renee passing out candy to neighborhood kids. Actually, she’s passing out the candy, and I’m providing a self-entertaining commentary on the evening. For future reference, all ages listed are approximations on my part - based on categories of voice pitch, presence or non-presence of parents, quantity of facial hair (on some girls this is a tricky category), and/or degree of appreciation for the candy given (old kids tend to be ungrateful and disinterested, while some kids are so small they should be given candy formula in a bottle).

6:19 My favorite costume so far has been courtesy of a little black kid wearing a shirt and tie claiming to be Barack Obama. His two friends were dressed up as “a school kid” and “myself.” I’m not a bitter soul, but “myself” is not a legit costume. I would have given the kid a vegetable or a broken crayon instead of a piece of candy, but Renee is nicer than I. Two pieces for each kid. Oh ya, and “myself” was way too old. If your voice has changed, you shouldn’t be trick or treating. It’s an unspoken rule about Halloween.

6:22 Two girls just walked up dressed like thugs, and so I said “Lemme guess, thugs?” “Boys,” they said.  “I’m a boy and I’ve never dressed like that!” I yelled as they walked away. They just laughed. I wasn’t joking.

6:25 Two early high school aged girls walked up dressed like Satan. Nice, ladies. Real nice.  On a similar note, I should mention the just as wholesome costume worn by a 9 year old kid earlier who was dressed as a pimp. That’s the way to raise your kids. Pimp costumes are the way to go. 

6:32 After the pimp left, I was watching neighbors across the street and saw two people on their front porch handing out candy and asked Renee, “Who’s in guy in the orange shirt? Oh wait, or is that a guy?” “Nope, that’s the neighborhood lesbian couple, Marla and I-forget-her-name,” Renee informed me, “and the one with the short hair is the ‘guy.’” “Oh, whoops,” I said, “my mistake.”

6:39 Ok, two seconds ago a kid with a shiny hood, a shield, and a plastic armor breastplate walked up to get candy. I tried to be friendly and said, “Hello there, little knight!” “Hey, how did you know I’m a knight?” the kid said back. “Uh…I think it was the shield, and the shiny helmet thing, and the breastplate that tipped me off,” I politely responded. I’m getting good at this being polite thing.

6:49 One kid just walked up holding his mask in his hands and his tongue hanging out, panting like a tired dog. “Dude, you don’t have your mask on!” I said. He didn’t say anything back. He had already collected his candy and was off to the next house. Having your mask on is the second unspoken rule. High pitched voice and mask on at all times. No exceptions. I might come up with more unspoken rules as the night wears on. It’s getting late and the sky is getting dark so the rush is wearing down. It’s about this time that all the high school students will start coming around I guess.

6:53 Two more horrible costumes: an eight year old kid as “myself” wearing sweatpants and a fleece, and a 9 year old girl in a white shirt claiming to be a vampire. Parents, please – unspoken rule number three: you must wear a costume! I figured that was, well, an unspoken requirement, but I guess not. Parents, dress your kid up for Pete’s sake! No half-hearted mooching off the neighbors. I don’t care if you wear a bed sheet over your head and call yourself a mattress! Dress up!!!!

6:57 A 16 year old kid who looked like a bigger version of Shaq just got candy. Holy cow! Someone please, pray that this bitterness doesn’t carry over until Christmas.

7:06 Ok, grandmas shouldn’t carry around a bag collecting candy too. Kids only. There is no senior citizen special.

7:11 New record, 7 year old pimp!

7:15 A 16 year old manchild dressed like a girl just got candy. I had to ask him his age - he had sideburns! Also, he violated unspoken rule #1.

7:17 A kid sleeping in a stroller decorated like a pirate ship just rolled up, pushed by his parents. And yes, you guess it, still collecting candy. Parents please, go home and put the kid to bed. If he’s too tired to stay awake, he shouldn’t still be out getting candy. Sounds like another good unspoken, “Must be awake to receive candy.”

7:19 Heading inside to eat pizza for dinner. Jet’s – it’s fabulous.

 

Review of Four Rules:

1. Must not have already gone through puberty.

2. Must be in full costume at all times.

3. Must wear a costume, period.

4. Must be awake.

 

Anyone care to add a few rules I might have left out? 

Timeless Resolutions (Edwards and Ferguson)

These two resources have been of tremendous benefit for me for the last couple months. I do my best to read 10 of Edwards' resolutions each day, and Ferguson's 20 Resolutions almost everyday. Edwards wrote his resolutions in 1722-1723 when he was about 20 years old. Ferguson's resolutions were a part of his sermon on the tongue at this year's Desiring God conference.

Jonathan Edwards' 70 Resolutions.

Sinclair Ferguson's 20 Resolutions About the Tongue 

from the book of James.

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

In doing research and study for my series on the family, I remembered this article that I got in an email from Rob Seyler a long time ago. It's entitled "12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child" and was written by John Piper's son, Abraham, upon reflection of his years spent in rebellion against his earthly and heavenly Fathers. It is one of the most informative and practical articles I have ever read on the topic and is beneficial for parents, future-parents, and friends of prodigals to read.

Free Stuff, a Monster, and the All-Nighter

It's been a week since I gave an update so here I go, after this music recommendation. 

Here is something you don't find everyday: a good cd for FREE! You can download Phil Wickham's album "Singalong" legally and for free from his website. He recorded the project as a freebie to give away. It's incredible; just a guy, his guitar, and some friends singing together. I've had the cd for over a month now, and I love it.

This is Matt. Matt can be seen in a previous post 

looking super cool in his black suit coat. Here he 

is wearing a mask and staring down his pet praying mantis. 

Don't ask.

This is Victoria, Lauren, and Hannah standing 

outside my office waiting to be in our student video.

This last week was great. Wednesday night, as part 3 of our 4 part series entitled "The Series on the Family", I spoke to the middle school students about honoring and obeying their parents. The students seemed to really be paying attention, so that was encouraging. In more recent news, the video of the students talking about why they love their parents was completed today and will be shown at the middle school family luncheon next Sunday. If you're curious, I will youTube the video in the next couple weeks so you can all check it out if you'd like. It's hilariously incredible. 

Friday night was the middle school all-nighter. There were 70 7th-8th students in attendance which was awesome! Probably 30 of the 70 were visitors so it was great chance to meet new people. We went ice skating, played laser tag, and went to an indoor soccer facility (For some reason I feel like I mentioned those places in a past post. If I did forgive me. If I didn't, call me paranoid.) I officially am not a good ice skater, but I sing a killer chicken dance song if you don't have the song on cd but a bunch of students still want to do the dance*. Additionally, I am not what one would desribe as "stealthy" in the laser tag arena, but I get the job done even if it requires pistol whipping unsuspecting opponents in the head. Lastly, instead of playing soccer, I played football with some of the students, and I'm pretty sure that the 4 girls that played with all the guys were the 4 best football players on the whole field. One of the girls, Brianna, had 2 interceptions and played the most intense free safety I have ever seen in two-hand-touch football. All in all, the whole event went without a hitch. 

*I use the term "dance" here very liberally. Even the part of the dance historically characterized by an enthusiastic shaking of the ol' bon-bon, was replaced by a conservatively elegant** rotating of the trunk of the body with an accompanying arm movement likened closely to the actions of someone pretending to run in place at an incredible rate.

** I also use the term "elegant" here very liberally. 

My Critique of The Shack

This was written in order to be presented to the ministry staff at my church here in Michigan, but I wanted to share it with you all as well. 

The Shack

The Shack, the first book written by 53 year old businessman and father of 6, William P. Young, tells the fictional account of Mack Philips’ incredible weekend spent with the Trinity in the hills of the Oregon wilderness. The story follows the emotional healing experience of Mack after his youngest daughter, Missy, is abducted and killed by a serial killer while the family is on a camping trip. Evidence from the crime leads police to an old shack in the woods where they find the bloodied dress of the young girl but no body and no killer. In the years following, Mack is plagued by The Great Sadness until he receives a letter in the mail from “Papa” (Mack’s wife’s name for God) requesting to meet him back at the shack for the weekend. Mack is reluctant but convinces himself to go. Once at the shack, the supernatural begins to happen, and Mack’s healing journey begins.

It only took reading the first few pages to see why the book has been and remains so popular. The story is well written, and the topic of “Where is God in the pain?” resonates in the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike. The book was originally written in 2005 as a story from Young to his children in order to communicate in a creative way much of his own life’s emotional journey. Young’s journey includes being raised as a missionary kid with a “stone-age tribe in New Guinea,” being sexually molested while at a missionary boarding school, and committing adultery with his wife’s best friend. I say all that in order to give a small explanation as to why the story and the author’s story have captivated the hearts of millions of readers.

 On the flip side, one significant observation worth pointing out is that in reading the endorsements on the book’s website, I failed to find any endorsement of the book by a credible, orthodox theologian. I did, however, find a news story about the book in USA Today wherein Al Mohler calls the book, “Dangerous” and Mark Driscoll is quoted as telling church members, “If you haven’t read The Shack, don’t!” [1] The rightful outrage concerning The Shack is in regards to it’s theological content. I will mention just a few of the theologically erroneous threads that run through the book.

First, the Trinity consists of an African-American woman (Papa), a Hebrew carpenter (Jesus), and an Asian woman (Sarayu) as the author’s depictions of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit respectively. This depiction promotes goddess worship and is a breaking of the 2^nd commandment. Moreover, in the author’s depiction of the Trinity, both the Father and son have scars in the their wrists (95), and Papa says, “I am truly human, in Jesus (201).” As Driscoll rightly points out in his March 30, 2008 sermon on the Trinity, William’s treatment here of the Trinity teaches theological modalism[2] - a heresy refuted in A.D. 263 by Bishop Dionysius.

The second thread of Theological error in The Shack deals with the relationship of Divinity and humanity in Jesus. On page 99, Papa says that Jesus, “has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being (emphasis his).” This seems to stem from a misunderstanding of the kenosis passage in Philippians 2. Jesus did draw upon his nature as God when He forgave sins (Luke 5:20), rebuked the wind and waves (Mark 4:39), fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:33-44), and did countless other acts.

A third error concerns the effectiveness of the atonement. Young teaches universalism when Papa says, “In Jesus, I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship (225).” Additionally, Sophia (the female personification of Wisdom introduced later in the book) tells Mack, “Judgment is not about destruction, but about setting things right (169).” According to Matthew 7:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, and a host of other passages, not all humans are forgiven and judgment is about destruction.

Lastly, Jesus’ character, makes this startling comment to Mack: “To force my will on you…is exactly what love does not do. Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy (145).” This comment ranks right up there with, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Young’s statement would only be true if, for starters, the doctrines of election and irresistible grace weren’t in Scripture and passages like Genesis 9:6; 20:6; Exodus 10:20; and Romans 9:18 didn’t exist. Practically, is it not loving to reach out and grab a child by the arm if they are about to run into a blazing fire? Love does result in imposing one’s will when the other’s best interests are at stake.

These are just some surface observations of some of the major Theologically erroneous themes that run through the book. I would not recommend the book for anybody, regardless of spiritual maturity, and I would echo the words of Mark Driscoll by telling my Junior High students not to read it. The book does contain some solid teaching on a few matters, but one should not need to search the ocean floor for pennies when there is bank on the beach.

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[1] http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-05-28-the-shack_N.htm

[2] The anti-Trinitarian belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are “modes” of God, but not true persons capable of interacting with one another. www.basictheology.com

Weekend with the Parents (plus a surprise)!!!one

So time to catch the world up on what's been happening here in Michigan. First, both of its football teams got crushed on Saturday. Second, Iowa crushed Wisconsin on Saturday. Third, I can't say any more than that because Wisconsin is losing to everybody, and Iowa lost to Michigan St. a couple weeks ago.

Actually, I do have big exciting news. My parents came and visited me over the weekend and brought a surprise with them. Gerty! The four of us had a great time checking out the sites including the Detroit Riverwalk, Windsor, Canada, the Original Pancake House, and assorted other local joints. 

We also traveled up to Mt. Pleasant on Friday night in order to watch my friend Mike Morter do a concert at a church. My parents and Gerty were able to stay from Thursday evening until after church on Sunday morning before having to head home for school and work on Monday. 

Last night was a middle school SNAC (Sunday Night After Church) at the Luzods, and with the exception of one guy getting a pair of front teeth drilled into the back of his head during some backyard football, the night went well. After the SNAC, which got over at 8:30, I drove out the to Hutech's for the Sunday night college age/young adult Bible study. 

I arrived too late to participate in the Bible study but in time to eat food and hang out with people my own age. Some of us stayed late enough to watch the Devil Ray's beat the Red Sox in game 7. Did I mention I've always been a huge Devil Ray's fan? If I did, I was lying. I'm not. I'm a Cubs fan. The Cubs always find a way to lose. They always be breakin' my heart, dawg. Shoot. 

So today was a ministry staff meeting that consumed much of the day. My assignment from the meeting for the next week is to write a brief review of the Christian fiction book, The Shack. I just finished reading it so I will post my review on here in the next couple of days. Cheers!