So now B.O. (you know, the guy running for president), says that he would not want his daughter, if she were to "make a mistake," to be punished with a baby.
Hmmmm.
So having a baby is punishment.
I wonder whether my mother was feeling "punished" when I was born.
How about yours?
How about his?
Frankly, B.O. seems to fit.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY
In this land of unequal opportunity, unfair big corporations, social injustices, lack of universal health care, too low taxes and who knows what all that keeps people of color from accomplishing anything other than dependancy on the welfare system...
A BLACK MAN IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!
Not only that, but his liberation theologist former pastor spewed out inflamatory rhetoric the likes of which would have gotten him tortured and executed in more than half of the other countries in the world.
Talk about a land of opportunity!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A Leader in His Field - NOT
There once was a man named Arnold who had a sort of romantic notion that he would really like to own a food kitchen.
After all, food kitchens are neat! They help people! They feed people!
In fact, he, himself, had eaten in food kitchens on special "open house" occasions, and it gave him a feeling of excitement to think about the setting up, cooking, and all of the other trappings of running a food kitchen.
He convinced himself that God was calling him to own a food kitchen.
"How hard could it be?" he asked. "You just cook food and serve it to needy people."
So, having been blessed with a certain sum of money, he bought a food kitchen.
It was not a very large food kitchen, but it would be a good start.
There was a guy named Sam at the food kitchen who had been serving as its manager, and the new owner decided to keep him on, at least long enough to get started.
Sam had managed the food kitchen for a few years, during which donations to the food kitchen had risen each year.
Right away, Sam told Arnold that there were certain rules and regulations that the Health Department had regarding food kitchens with which he would have to comply.
"But," said Arnold, "I don't really think those rules are all that serious."
"Sir!" answered Sam, "The Health Department can shut you down or fine you if you do not follow their rules."
"Stop!" yelled Arnold. "I don't want to hear it! Especially not from some prideful dolt like you! Why I could fire your butt right now! Don't think you are anything special. This food kitchen can get along without you! So straighten up, do what I say, when I say, how I say 'cause, and get this well, I OWN this food kitchen!"
"Yes, sir," answered Sam meekly.
And he did what he was told.
As time passed, Arnold saw that not as many people were using his food kitchen as he had hoped.
The first year he operated the food kitchen, receipts went up.
But in subsequent years people did not donate as much.
By the fourth year that he owned the food kitchen, receipts had fallen off by over 60%!
"Must be the bad economy." reasoned Arnold.
"We'll just pray that God will bless this food kitchen, even though we don't follow the Health Department's rules and regulations. He has to bless us, 'cause this is HIS food kitchen."
Still, few people came to the food kitchen.
A professional food kitchen promoter came to the food kitchen one day to help Arnold get donations from the community to support the food kitchen.
"Why, your food is not at all what these people are used to or are looking for," he stated. "In fact, it is very poorly prepared and nobody has heard of most of these dishes."
Arnold responded, "Where I come from, people ate this kind of food all the time. I will feed it to these people and they will like it or lump it!"
"You should at least learn to prepare it properly," said the professional food service promoter.
It turns out that Arnold had almost no taste buds and could not tell which of his meals tasted good and which ones could not.
Nevertheless, he pressed on, believing that God HAD to bless the food kitchen, because he had said that it belonged to God.
Now there were expert food kitchen operators right there in his own staff, as well as around the nation.
There were food kitchen publications and online sites that contained a lot of information about how to properly run a Christ oriented food kitchen, but Arnold was not interested in giving the time to them that was needed to learn from them.
"God has shown me a different way to run food kitchens!" he proclaimed. "Just because others have found certain ways that work, is no reason to think that God wants me to run my food kitchen that way."
So, Arnold went on running the food kitchen the way he wanted to.
One day he got a great idea!
He would go to a neighboring community to wash graffiti off of the walls of buildings.
So he contacted the various news media and asked them to cover his graffiti washing efforts.
A couple of them did, and he got a total of almost two minutes coverage.
But still, the people did not support his food kitchen. Nor did they eat his food.
Part of the problem was that they did not understand the connection between washing graffiti off of walls and the operation of the food kitchen.
They reasoned that they did not want to give money to a food kitchen only to have it used to wash walls.
Not that washing walls was a bad thing.
It was, in fact, a good thing...just unrelated to food kitchen operations.
What Arnold was too proud to understand was that turning the food kitchen around was really a matter of learning the real function of a food kitchen and following the lead of those who had experience with successful food kitchens.
He had some right under his nose, in his staff, but he was too dull witted to let them help, even though they wanted to desperately.
He felt threatened by their knowledge and was too insecure to allow them to exercise it.
Arnold really wanted to be in control...to be the "boss" of a lot of people, a lot more than he wanted to really get to know the food kitchen operation.
And so, the food kitchen languished.
Oh, a few people patted him on the back and nibbled at his food, but for the most part the community just ignored his food kitchen.
And God finally just let Arnold have his way.
Thousands of people who could have been fed, starved.
After all, food kitchens are neat! They help people! They feed people!
In fact, he, himself, had eaten in food kitchens on special "open house" occasions, and it gave him a feeling of excitement to think about the setting up, cooking, and all of the other trappings of running a food kitchen.
He convinced himself that God was calling him to own a food kitchen.
"How hard could it be?" he asked. "You just cook food and serve it to needy people."
So, having been blessed with a certain sum of money, he bought a food kitchen.
It was not a very large food kitchen, but it would be a good start.
There was a guy named Sam at the food kitchen who had been serving as its manager, and the new owner decided to keep him on, at least long enough to get started.
Sam had managed the food kitchen for a few years, during which donations to the food kitchen had risen each year.
Right away, Sam told Arnold that there were certain rules and regulations that the Health Department had regarding food kitchens with which he would have to comply.
"But," said Arnold, "I don't really think those rules are all that serious."
"Sir!" answered Sam, "The Health Department can shut you down or fine you if you do not follow their rules."
"Stop!" yelled Arnold. "I don't want to hear it! Especially not from some prideful dolt like you! Why I could fire your butt right now! Don't think you are anything special. This food kitchen can get along without you! So straighten up, do what I say, when I say, how I say 'cause, and get this well, I OWN this food kitchen!"
"Yes, sir," answered Sam meekly.
And he did what he was told.
As time passed, Arnold saw that not as many people were using his food kitchen as he had hoped.
The first year he operated the food kitchen, receipts went up.
But in subsequent years people did not donate as much.
By the fourth year that he owned the food kitchen, receipts had fallen off by over 60%!
"Must be the bad economy." reasoned Arnold.
"We'll just pray that God will bless this food kitchen, even though we don't follow the Health Department's rules and regulations. He has to bless us, 'cause this is HIS food kitchen."
Still, few people came to the food kitchen.
A professional food kitchen promoter came to the food kitchen one day to help Arnold get donations from the community to support the food kitchen.
"Why, your food is not at all what these people are used to or are looking for," he stated. "In fact, it is very poorly prepared and nobody has heard of most of these dishes."
Arnold responded, "Where I come from, people ate this kind of food all the time. I will feed it to these people and they will like it or lump it!"
"You should at least learn to prepare it properly," said the professional food service promoter.
It turns out that Arnold had almost no taste buds and could not tell which of his meals tasted good and which ones could not.
Nevertheless, he pressed on, believing that God HAD to bless the food kitchen, because he had said that it belonged to God.
Now there were expert food kitchen operators right there in his own staff, as well as around the nation.
There were food kitchen publications and online sites that contained a lot of information about how to properly run a Christ oriented food kitchen, but Arnold was not interested in giving the time to them that was needed to learn from them.
"God has shown me a different way to run food kitchens!" he proclaimed. "Just because others have found certain ways that work, is no reason to think that God wants me to run my food kitchen that way."
So, Arnold went on running the food kitchen the way he wanted to.
One day he got a great idea!
He would go to a neighboring community to wash graffiti off of the walls of buildings.
So he contacted the various news media and asked them to cover his graffiti washing efforts.
A couple of them did, and he got a total of almost two minutes coverage.
But still, the people did not support his food kitchen. Nor did they eat his food.
Part of the problem was that they did not understand the connection between washing graffiti off of walls and the operation of the food kitchen.
They reasoned that they did not want to give money to a food kitchen only to have it used to wash walls.
Not that washing walls was a bad thing.
It was, in fact, a good thing...just unrelated to food kitchen operations.
What Arnold was too proud to understand was that turning the food kitchen around was really a matter of learning the real function of a food kitchen and following the lead of those who had experience with successful food kitchens.
He had some right under his nose, in his staff, but he was too dull witted to let them help, even though they wanted to desperately.
He felt threatened by their knowledge and was too insecure to allow them to exercise it.
Arnold really wanted to be in control...to be the "boss" of a lot of people, a lot more than he wanted to really get to know the food kitchen operation.
And so, the food kitchen languished.
Oh, a few people patted him on the back and nibbled at his food, but for the most part the community just ignored his food kitchen.
And God finally just let Arnold have his way.
Thousands of people who could have been fed, starved.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
GETTING PERSONAL
As you know, I work as the Production Director of a Christian radio station, WJYO, 91.5 Kingdom FM, heard all over the world online at www.kingdom.fm.
Radio is a unique medium.
With no pictures, radio becomes "theater of the mind."
So many times people have come up to me and said something like, "I have tried to picture you as I listen."
Then they usually say, "You're not at all the way I pictured you."
I never know whether or not that is a compliment.
The point is, radio becomes very personal to listeners.
They like the idea of a person guiding them through the music and programs of Christian radio.
Our afternoon announcer, Steve Gimbert, is one of the best I've ever heard at making you feel like he's in the passenger seat next to you as you drive here and there. (He's on from 3:00 PM to 6:00PM EST)
When radio stations just play one song or program after another, with no personality evident, the listeners are most likely to punch the button for another, more personable, station.
Christian radio should take advantage of this tendency by being sure that the listener has someone with him/her at all times.
Not to do so, thus causing people to tune elsewhere, affects a lot of things, not the least of which is the contribution level.
If your Christian station plays long stretches of music or programs without personality, and then complains because their giving level is low, you might suggest to them this important piece of the listener support puzzle.
Radio is a unique medium.
With no pictures, radio becomes "theater of the mind."
So many times people have come up to me and said something like, "I have tried to picture you as I listen."
Then they usually say, "You're not at all the way I pictured you."
I never know whether or not that is a compliment.
The point is, radio becomes very personal to listeners.
They like the idea of a person guiding them through the music and programs of Christian radio.
Our afternoon announcer, Steve Gimbert, is one of the best I've ever heard at making you feel like he's in the passenger seat next to you as you drive here and there. (He's on from 3:00 PM to 6:00PM EST)
When radio stations just play one song or program after another, with no personality evident, the listeners are most likely to punch the button for another, more personable, station.
Christian radio should take advantage of this tendency by being sure that the listener has someone with him/her at all times.
Not to do so, thus causing people to tune elsewhere, affects a lot of things, not the least of which is the contribution level.
If your Christian station plays long stretches of music or programs without personality, and then complains because their giving level is low, you might suggest to them this important piece of the listener support puzzle.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
IN CONCERT
It had been some 30 years.
Joseph Martin played piano for my Youth Choir at Parkway Baptist Church of Plantation, Florida.
As I said in my former post, I knew him to be an extraordinary musician, who, if he wanted to, would go far.
He wanted to.
Yesterday, after a series of emails and phone calls, we were able to see each other.
He was in concert at the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida.
We were able to spend the afternoon together, remembering old times and people who had been in our lives.
Joe is one of the most personable people on earth, even more so now than I had remembered him to have been.
And then the concert.
WOW!
Joe has a stage presence that rivals that of any performer I have ever seen. He was witty, well paced and so very talented.
As I had told him earlier, the difference between being a good, or even above average performer is threefold: 1) talent - which is God given; 2) confidence - which comes with knowledge of one's craft; and 3) energy - not to be confused with loudness.
Joe excelled in all three.
The first thing that caused my heart to jump and my attention to be grabbed was his very unique use of the glissando (the sliding of the finger or fingers up or down the keyboard)
Joe's glissando was dynamic, meaning that it could change in volume or speed as it was being played.
For many pianists, the glissando is nothing more than an embellishment for the purpose of showing off. Quite often, the artist does not time it out well enough, and has to either change the rhythmic pattern of the song or simply "jump" to where he is going without finishing the glissando.
For Joe Martin, however, the glissando itself became a part of the structure of the piece.
Once he had my attention, I began to focus on his various other techniques.
Whether he was playing an expressive adagio (slow and emotional) or an il più presto (as fast as possible), he was superlative in its treatment.
Joe's enthusiam for his work was evident on both the traditional "high-church" selections and the gospel and hymn treatment pieces.
In one song, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," one could hear the trumpets as the Israelites marched around the city, even though there were no trumpeters hiding in the piano (as far as I could tell). And when the "walls came-a-tumblin down," you could feel them fall, crashing to the earth.
Enough, already!
Suffice to say it was a joyous day.
As I told his lovely wife, Sue, even if nothing else of significance happen this year, it is already the best year of my life.
Thank you, Lord, for having allowed me to have had a part in Joe's life, and for the honor he brings me by having reached for, and acheived his ever expanding potential.
Joseph Martin played piano for my Youth Choir at Parkway Baptist Church of Plantation, Florida.
As I said in my former post, I knew him to be an extraordinary musician, who, if he wanted to, would go far.
He wanted to.
Yesterday, after a series of emails and phone calls, we were able to see each other.
He was in concert at the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida.
We were able to spend the afternoon together, remembering old times and people who had been in our lives.
Joe is one of the most personable people on earth, even more so now than I had remembered him to have been.
And then the concert.
WOW!
Joe has a stage presence that rivals that of any performer I have ever seen. He was witty, well paced and so very talented.
As I had told him earlier, the difference between being a good, or even above average performer is threefold: 1) talent - which is God given; 2) confidence - which comes with knowledge of one's craft; and 3) energy - not to be confused with loudness.
Joe excelled in all three.
The first thing that caused my heart to jump and my attention to be grabbed was his very unique use of the glissando (the sliding of the finger or fingers up or down the keyboard)
Joe's glissando was dynamic, meaning that it could change in volume or speed as it was being played.
For many pianists, the glissando is nothing more than an embellishment for the purpose of showing off. Quite often, the artist does not time it out well enough, and has to either change the rhythmic pattern of the song or simply "jump" to where he is going without finishing the glissando.
For Joe Martin, however, the glissando itself became a part of the structure of the piece.
Once he had my attention, I began to focus on his various other techniques.
Whether he was playing an expressive adagio (slow and emotional) or an il più presto (as fast as possible), he was superlative in its treatment.
Joe's enthusiam for his work was evident on both the traditional "high-church" selections and the gospel and hymn treatment pieces.
In one song, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," one could hear the trumpets as the Israelites marched around the city, even though there were no trumpeters hiding in the piano (as far as I could tell). And when the "walls came-a-tumblin down," you could feel them fall, crashing to the earth.
Enough, already!
Suffice to say it was a joyous day.
As I told his lovely wife, Sue, even if nothing else of significance happen this year, it is already the best year of my life.
Thank you, Lord, for having allowed me to have had a part in Joe's life, and for the honor he brings me by having reached for, and acheived his ever expanding potential.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
CALM DOWN?
Here is what John McCain said:
"I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there's areas we can agree on," McCain said at a news conference in a Phoenix airport hangar before he flew here.
Johnny, there are undoubtedly areas we can agree on.
That, as you know if you are half a smart as your angry, condescending attitude seems to project you to be, is not the point.
The point is that we DISAGREE on some areas that are supremely important to conservatives.
You do not have permission to redefine what conservatism is, thank you very much.
You are NOT a conservative, no matter what you say or how angrily you say it.
Like most liberals, you believe something is true because you say it is true, whether or not it is really true.
You never have been, are not now and never will be my choice as a republican nominee.
You have stolen the meaning of republicanism in your pompus, inane way, and I don't appreciate it one bit.
Were we to meet face-to-face, I would tell you so, as politely as I know how, that you are a fraud.
You will no doubt retaliate, should that ever come to pass, but so be it.
That you have garnered so many delegates and votes in the primaries is a testament in your unique ability to fake people out, to lie, to cheat and to pretend to be something that your record screams that you are not.
If you go on to win the nomination, as it looks like you will, you will have given us a choice between a very liberal candidate and an extremely liberal candidate.
Some choice.
"I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there's areas we can agree on," McCain said at a news conference in a Phoenix airport hangar before he flew here.
Johnny, there are undoubtedly areas we can agree on.
That, as you know if you are half a smart as your angry, condescending attitude seems to project you to be, is not the point.
The point is that we DISAGREE on some areas that are supremely important to conservatives.
You do not have permission to redefine what conservatism is, thank you very much.
You are NOT a conservative, no matter what you say or how angrily you say it.
Like most liberals, you believe something is true because you say it is true, whether or not it is really true.
You never have been, are not now and never will be my choice as a republican nominee.
You have stolen the meaning of republicanism in your pompus, inane way, and I don't appreciate it one bit.
Were we to meet face-to-face, I would tell you so, as politely as I know how, that you are a fraud.
You will no doubt retaliate, should that ever come to pass, but so be it.
That you have garnered so many delegates and votes in the primaries is a testament in your unique ability to fake people out, to lie, to cheat and to pretend to be something that your record screams that you are not.
If you go on to win the nomination, as it looks like you will, you will have given us a choice between a very liberal candidate and an extremely liberal candidate.
Some choice.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
COMING SOON
TO A USA NEAR YOU!
Unless there is a spectacular come-back, which will only happen if Huckaby drops out of the race, we now know we can look forward to:
1. Higher taxes
2. Continued abortion on demand
3. Everybody paying for everybody else's health care.
4. Further government intrusion into an educational system the government managed to distroy.
5. A greater loss of privacy than even Bush accomplished.
6. Fewer freedoms than we had under England, pre-Revolution.
7. Liberal Supreme Court judges.
8. More "reaching out accross the aisle" to those we conservative don't want to work with, whose ideas we want to defeat.
9. An increase in the number of successful attacks from extremists, including an increase in the loss of American lives ON OUR OWN SOIL!
Unless there is a spectacular come-back, which will only happen if Huckaby drops out of the race, we now know we can look forward to:
1. Higher taxes
2. Continued abortion on demand
3. Everybody paying for everybody else's health care.
4. Further government intrusion into an educational system the government managed to distroy.
5. A greater loss of privacy than even Bush accomplished.
6. Fewer freedoms than we had under England, pre-Revolution.
7. Liberal Supreme Court judges.
8. More "reaching out accross the aisle" to those we conservative don't want to work with, whose ideas we want to defeat.
9. An increase in the number of successful attacks from extremists, including an increase in the loss of American lives ON OUR OWN SOIL!
Monday, February 04, 2008
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
As time got short, the Giants got going.
In the end, they won, and are now SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!
Here's what happened:
The Patriot's offensive line provided the Giant's defense an opportunity to enable the Giants offense to have an opportunity to win.
So it goes.
In the end, they won, and are now SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!
Here's what happened:
The Patriot's offensive line provided the Giant's defense an opportunity to enable the Giants offense to have an opportunity to win.
So it goes.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
JOB CONTINUES
GOD ENTERS THE SCENE
Chapter 38
God sets the rules: I will ask the questions; you will answer me.
Don’t mess with God. He’s bigger than you are
Learn the art of listening to Him…you’ll learn from it.
Both Job and Elihu had obscured the truth with their theories and ideas (v2)
There is an air of Holy Sarcasm in His questions and His statements.
Where were you…?; Who…?; Have you…?
You have lived so many years (v21)
Chapter 39
The questions continue
There are some descriptions of how He has designed the world.
The Psalmist and the Apostle, Paul, both tell us that the evidence of God’s handiwork is all around us.
The universe
DNA molecules
The interaction of living cells
Poisonous frogs
Chapter 40
God turns to Job and demands an answer to all of His questions.
Job is awed, humbled and embarrassed before God.
In God’s presence, we are all vile, filthy sinners.
Until we recognize that, we cannot be saved
The wretchedness of sin is beyond our understanding.
If we think our actions can please God, we just don’t understand how great, perfect and mighty
He is.
God again asserts His awesomeness as the Creator of all.
IV. Chapter 41 – The Behemoth and the Leviathan
If anybody tells you what they are, watch out for them...they'll lie to you about other things, too.
Chapter 38
God sets the rules: I will ask the questions; you will answer me.
Don’t mess with God. He’s bigger than you are
Learn the art of listening to Him…you’ll learn from it.
Both Job and Elihu had obscured the truth with their theories and ideas (v2)
There is an air of Holy Sarcasm in His questions and His statements.
Where were you…?; Who…?; Have you…?
You have lived so many years (v21)
Chapter 39
The questions continue
There are some descriptions of how He has designed the world.
The Psalmist and the Apostle, Paul, both tell us that the evidence of God’s handiwork is all around us.
The universe
DNA molecules
The interaction of living cells
Poisonous frogs
Chapter 40
God turns to Job and demands an answer to all of His questions.
Job is awed, humbled and embarrassed before God.
In God’s presence, we are all vile, filthy sinners.
Until we recognize that, we cannot be saved
The wretchedness of sin is beyond our understanding.
If we think our actions can please God, we just don’t understand how great, perfect and mighty
He is.
God again asserts His awesomeness as the Creator of all.
IV. Chapter 41 – The Behemoth and the Leviathan
If anybody tells you what they are, watch out for them...they'll lie to you about other things, too.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
I OBJECTives
This is Superbowl weekend.
So, I am going to write about football.
But don't dispair!
This is not so much for the sports enthusiast as it is for you.
Trust me.
(Or not)
Question: What is the object of football?
"Duh!" I hear you say, "To score points."
If you think points are the point, you have missed the point.
The ultimate objective of football is for the team to win the Superbowl trophy and the players to win a ring.
Each team has an owner, a bunch of administrators, a slew of coaches, one head coach and a bevy of players.
There is a rule book and folks whose job it is to help the teams follow the rules (referees).
In the spring, the teams begin the process of planning, coordinating, evaluating and practicing that they hope will gain the prize.
Then, after a few pre-season games, the real season begins.
In order to obtain the objective, teams must play a series of games, culminating, after a series of play-offs, in the all-important Superbowl.
Only two teams make it.
Each game starts with a kick-off by one team, which gives posession of the ball to the other team.
The team with the ball in their posession, receives instructions from the coach through the quarterback about what "play" to run.
This plan of action is communicated to the team members in a group meeting called the "huddle."
The idea is to advance the ball down the field in a series of up to four plays.
Each time the team advances ten yards, it is awarded four more plays.
This continues until the team either does not advance ten yards in four plays or it reaches the goal line and scores.
There are five ways to score points in football:
1. Crossing the goal line with the ball (worth six points);
2. Kicking the ball between the uprights after crossing the goal line (worth 1 point);
3. Carrying or sucessfully passing the ball over the goal line after the initial crossing thereof (worth 2 points-and called, "going for two)";
4. Kicking the ball between the uprights because the team couldn't quite make it to the goal line, (worth 3 points);
and
5. Catching the opponent behind his own goal line (worth 2 points)
At the end, the team with the most points wins the game.
So it works like this:
Make Action Plans: The Pre-Season practices and Game Huddles
Execute the Action Plans: Run the Plays
Reach the Goals: Score Points
Reach the Objective: Win the Superbowl by doing a better job than any of the other teams.
I like all of this because it is somewhat analogos to our mission as The Church.
We need to know our Objective, often articulated as a Mission Statement.
There is a Rule Book/Owner's Manual (The Bible), that also serves to reveal to us truth about the owner, and His plan for us to reach the Objective)
We must set goals to reach the Objective (quantitative values, never philosophical statements).
We must make plans to reach those goals.
We must work the plans.
We must have an assortment of leaders to guide us in making and working the plans (pastors, deacns and committee members, perhaps?).
We have an Owner who really knows it all, and who bought us with a price, His Son, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
While this may seem a bit sterile, when it is done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and according to the Owner's Manual, it is anything but.
In football, nobody knows how the final game, the Superbowl, will turn out.
But if you read the back of our Rule Book, you discover something really exciting:
So, I am going to write about football.
But don't dispair!
This is not so much for the sports enthusiast as it is for you.
Trust me.
(Or not)
Question: What is the object of football?
"Duh!" I hear you say, "To score points."
If you think points are the point, you have missed the point.
The ultimate objective of football is for the team to win the Superbowl trophy and the players to win a ring.
Each team has an owner, a bunch of administrators, a slew of coaches, one head coach and a bevy of players.
There is a rule book and folks whose job it is to help the teams follow the rules (referees).
In the spring, the teams begin the process of planning, coordinating, evaluating and practicing that they hope will gain the prize.
Then, after a few pre-season games, the real season begins.
In order to obtain the objective, teams must play a series of games, culminating, after a series of play-offs, in the all-important Superbowl.
Only two teams make it.
Each game starts with a kick-off by one team, which gives posession of the ball to the other team.
The team with the ball in their posession, receives instructions from the coach through the quarterback about what "play" to run.
This plan of action is communicated to the team members in a group meeting called the "huddle."
The idea is to advance the ball down the field in a series of up to four plays.
Each time the team advances ten yards, it is awarded four more plays.
This continues until the team either does not advance ten yards in four plays or it reaches the goal line and scores.
There are five ways to score points in football:
1. Crossing the goal line with the ball (worth six points);
2. Kicking the ball between the uprights after crossing the goal line (worth 1 point);
3. Carrying or sucessfully passing the ball over the goal line after the initial crossing thereof (worth 2 points-and called, "going for two)";
4. Kicking the ball between the uprights because the team couldn't quite make it to the goal line, (worth 3 points);
and
5. Catching the opponent behind his own goal line (worth 2 points)
At the end, the team with the most points wins the game.
So it works like this:
Make Action Plans: The Pre-Season practices and Game Huddles
Execute the Action Plans: Run the Plays
Reach the Goals: Score Points
Reach the Objective: Win the Superbowl by doing a better job than any of the other teams.
I like all of this because it is somewhat analogos to our mission as The Church.
We need to know our Objective, often articulated as a Mission Statement.
There is a Rule Book/Owner's Manual (The Bible), that also serves to reveal to us truth about the owner, and His plan for us to reach the Objective)
We must set goals to reach the Objective (quantitative values, never philosophical statements).
We must make plans to reach those goals.
We must work the plans.
We must have an assortment of leaders to guide us in making and working the plans (pastors, deacns and committee members, perhaps?).
We have an Owner who really knows it all, and who bought us with a price, His Son, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
While this may seem a bit sterile, when it is done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and according to the Owner's Manual, it is anything but.
In football, nobody knows how the final game, the Superbowl, will turn out.
But if you read the back of our Rule Book, you discover something really exciting:
WE WIN!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
THE GRUDGE THAT STOLE
THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU.
Have you ever had anyone tell you they were going to do something for you and then they failed to do it?
We all have.
What is your reaction to them when later your paths cross?
Jesus says we should forgive, in the same way that He forgave us our sin.
But forgiveness is not easy.
It wasn't easy for Him, either.
Nevertheless, He did it.
Do you?
Or are you like some people who, once they perceive that they have been wronged, carry that perception forever?
What about people who promise to be somewhere and then don't show up?
Should you let it slide? Or should you bring it up every time his/her name comes up?
Suppose a friend said he was going to give you a gift, and then didn't do it?
Would you hold that against him?
Would you say something like, "Well, now I know who my friends are!"
Shame, shame and double shame on you!
The old addage, "Two wrongs don't make a right," applies here.
If it is true that the other person did not do you right, getting even, or even having a bad attitude, is not the response a spiritual person would have.
What would help you most would be to forget about it.
Yep, just forget about it.
See, it is not your responsibility to help God judge that person for "wronging" you. That's God's job.
Your responsibility is to forgive IN THE SAME WAY JESUS FORGAVE YOU.
Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Colossians 2:13 says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...,
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
You did not deserve forgiveness.
But you got it.
Now it's your turn.
Give it.
Holding a grudge will come back to bite you.
And it will ruin the testimony you have tried so hard to portray to people.
Have you ever had anyone tell you they were going to do something for you and then they failed to do it?
We all have.
What is your reaction to them when later your paths cross?
Jesus says we should forgive, in the same way that He forgave us our sin.
But forgiveness is not easy.
It wasn't easy for Him, either.
Nevertheless, He did it.
Do you?
Or are you like some people who, once they perceive that they have been wronged, carry that perception forever?
What about people who promise to be somewhere and then don't show up?
Should you let it slide? Or should you bring it up every time his/her name comes up?
Suppose a friend said he was going to give you a gift, and then didn't do it?
Would you hold that against him?
Would you say something like, "Well, now I know who my friends are!"
Shame, shame and double shame on you!
The old addage, "Two wrongs don't make a right," applies here.
If it is true that the other person did not do you right, getting even, or even having a bad attitude, is not the response a spiritual person would have.
What would help you most would be to forget about it.
Yep, just forget about it.
See, it is not your responsibility to help God judge that person for "wronging" you. That's God's job.
Your responsibility is to forgive IN THE SAME WAY JESUS FORGAVE YOU.
Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Colossians 2:13 says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...,
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
You did not deserve forgiveness.
But you got it.
Now it's your turn.
Give it.
Holding a grudge will come back to bite you.
And it will ruin the testimony you have tried so hard to portray to people.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
MUSINGS ON MINISTRY
Christian Ministry: Discovering the spiritual and other needs of people and taking action to meet those needs.
I was called into Christin Ministry when I was seventeen years old.
Ever since that call, I have served somewhere in the field of ministry.
I have served in churches and in para-church ministries.
There are a lot of things I do not know.
Ministry is something I do know.
Every fibre of my being has been steeped in ministry in one or more of the following areas, sometimes at the same time: Minister of Education; Christian School Administrator; Minister of Music; Minister of Youth and now Minister in Christian radio.
I have also run a successful business.
They are not the same.
Business is business; ministry is ministry and never the twain shall meet.
In fact, if you are a minister of any entity and try to run it like a business, you will ultimately fall flat on your face.
While you can run a business according to God's Word, if you try to run it purely as a ministry, you will fall flat on your face.
Ministry is God driven, and serves people.
Business serves people but is income driven.
Money follows ministry.
Money leads business.
Take Christian radio, for instance.
To succeed, Christian radio must follow ministry precepts.
Every word spoken, every song played, every announcement made must point people toward the Lord, Jesus, Christ, build them up in the body of Christ, give them encouragement in Christ and lead them closer to Him.
The key to finding support for Christian radio lies not in the skillful "selling" of radio time.
In fact, only about one-third of a station's income should come from programmers and underwriters.
Two-thirds should come from the contributions of listeners.
If those two get out of balance, gloom and doom looms.
The secret of support for Christian radio comes from increasing listenership, as only 5% to 7% of listeners will ever give a dime to the station no matter what you do.
To increase listeners, Christian radio MUST:
1. Be involved in the Christian community.
2. Be at every Christian event possible: walk-a-thons; bike-rides; community-wide church events; Christian concerts; Christian Chamber meetings; church worship services and any other place you can find to be.
3. Realize that most of those events will not return a single dollar to the station...they may even cost money, but the exposure will pay off in the long run.
4. Disperse information about the Christian community, as well as community public affairs.
5. Never waste a single moment on activities that do not promote the station to the largest possible segment of the Christian community, it results only in the spinning of the wheels and is a despicable misuse of the resources God has given the ministry. After all radio is not narrow-casting, it is BROADcasting.
6. Get an audience before congregations, where you can tell people about the station, take a brief survey and objectively discover their needs.
You may react, "But I am not interested in those things! They have never made the station a dime! I don't get why they are important to the exclusion of promotions like a good business would do, and like "selling" air time.
Then you have not been called into Christian radio.
It is a different animal, this ministry thing.
It is totally other oriented.
It is NEVER about self and self-preferences.
It is ALWAYS about the needs of the listeners...not the needs one THINKS the listener has, the needs one KNOWS the listeners has.
Ever wonder why God blesses some para-church ministries and not others?
Now you know.
What ever your ministry: Christian radio; food and groceries; soup kitchen; shelter; ministry to foster children and orphans; whatever it is, it must follow the proper precepts or it cannot succeed.
When it does follow the proper precepts...stand back! Get out of the way! God is going to bless your pea-pickin' socks off!
I was called into Christin Ministry when I was seventeen years old.
Ever since that call, I have served somewhere in the field of ministry.
I have served in churches and in para-church ministries.
There are a lot of things I do not know.
Ministry is something I do know.
Every fibre of my being has been steeped in ministry in one or more of the following areas, sometimes at the same time: Minister of Education; Christian School Administrator; Minister of Music; Minister of Youth and now Minister in Christian radio.
I have also run a successful business.
They are not the same.
Business is business; ministry is ministry and never the twain shall meet.
In fact, if you are a minister of any entity and try to run it like a business, you will ultimately fall flat on your face.
While you can run a business according to God's Word, if you try to run it purely as a ministry, you will fall flat on your face.
Ministry is God driven, and serves people.
Business serves people but is income driven.
Money follows ministry.
Money leads business.
Take Christian radio, for instance.
To succeed, Christian radio must follow ministry precepts.
Every word spoken, every song played, every announcement made must point people toward the Lord, Jesus, Christ, build them up in the body of Christ, give them encouragement in Christ and lead them closer to Him.
The key to finding support for Christian radio lies not in the skillful "selling" of radio time.
In fact, only about one-third of a station's income should come from programmers and underwriters.
Two-thirds should come from the contributions of listeners.
If those two get out of balance, gloom and doom looms.
The secret of support for Christian radio comes from increasing listenership, as only 5% to 7% of listeners will ever give a dime to the station no matter what you do.
To increase listeners, Christian radio MUST:
1. Be involved in the Christian community.
2. Be at every Christian event possible: walk-a-thons; bike-rides; community-wide church events; Christian concerts; Christian Chamber meetings; church worship services and any other place you can find to be.
3. Realize that most of those events will not return a single dollar to the station...they may even cost money, but the exposure will pay off in the long run.
4. Disperse information about the Christian community, as well as community public affairs.
5. Never waste a single moment on activities that do not promote the station to the largest possible segment of the Christian community, it results only in the spinning of the wheels and is a despicable misuse of the resources God has given the ministry. After all radio is not narrow-casting, it is BROADcasting.
6. Get an audience before congregations, where you can tell people about the station, take a brief survey and objectively discover their needs.
You may react, "But I am not interested in those things! They have never made the station a dime! I don't get why they are important to the exclusion of promotions like a good business would do, and like "selling" air time.
Then you have not been called into Christian radio.
It is a different animal, this ministry thing.
It is totally other oriented.
It is NEVER about self and self-preferences.
It is ALWAYS about the needs of the listeners...not the needs one THINKS the listener has, the needs one KNOWS the listeners has.
Ever wonder why God blesses some para-church ministries and not others?
Now you know.
What ever your ministry: Christian radio; food and groceries; soup kitchen; shelter; ministry to foster children and orphans; whatever it is, it must follow the proper precepts or it cannot succeed.
When it does follow the proper precepts...stand back! Get out of the way! God is going to bless your pea-pickin' socks off!
Monday, January 28, 2008
A NEW CONNECTION
A few days ago I was blythly recording some Ministry Calendar announcements at the Christian radio station where I work (if you can call what I do "work").
I recorded one that said, "Pianist Joseph Martin will be in concert at Peace Lutheran..."
"Hmm!" I said. "I know a Joe Martin. I wonder if this is he (if this is him? if this be he?...no, that sounds silly)."
Wishing to make Google earn its keep, I searched the World-Wide-Web for Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, found their calendar, on which was a biography of the visiting pianist, the afore-mentined Joseph Martin, including his Email address.
"Worth a try."
So I tried.
Imagine my delighted surprise when I got a response from the artist, himself, expressing his astonishment that I was me (who, by the way, I have always been...or at least for as long as I can remember) and that we were making a fresh connection!
See, Joseph Martin, known to me as Joe, was a member of my youth group when I was Minister of Music, Youth and Education at Parkway Baptist Church in Plantation Florida, a number of years ago that shall remain unnamed.
Although circumstances kept me from the concert, I was able to contact him by phone.
What an absolute trip that was!
I just knew he was destined for musical greatness, because he oozed music from every pore of his being.
It looked funny and smelled odd, nevertheless, it was obvious that music was his essence.
Often, when he got home from school, I would go over to his house for a visit and he would make straight for the piano.
He seemed to enjoy making his fingers express themselves, whatever the musical subject.
Joe is the only person I've ever met who could make playing musical scales and exercises an art-form.
He was also tremendously fun.
We had bunches of Youth types who liked to play football, so I bought a bunch of flag football equipment and we formed a sort of league.
Joe and I would assume the role of "team owners" and use play money to bid on players for our teams.
Then we would gather at the highschool practice field and play flag football.
His team usually won, 'cause I kinda liked to pick those guys (and gals) who often did not get picked.
On one occasion we wanted to see the movie, "Jaws." Joe's girlfriend didn't want to go, my wife didn't want to go, so Joe and I went together.
In other words, we were more than Youth Director and Youth, we were friends.
Life has a way of doing things, and one of the things it did was to move me to another place of service to God.
Joe and I lost touch.
The years have changed us in ways neither of us expected.
You know the drill: age; weight; hair style (or in my case, hair loss).
But we have made a new connection.
For that I praise God!
I really hope we are able to get together from time to time and catch up on each other's life, remember old times and just revel in God's goodness.
He lives far away, but comes to Florida like a magazine...periodically.
So today I say, "Joseph M. Martin...COME ON DOWN!"
I'll buy the coffee.
I recorded one that said, "Pianist Joseph Martin will be in concert at Peace Lutheran..."
"Hmm!" I said. "I know a Joe Martin. I wonder if this is he (if this is him? if this be he?...no, that sounds silly)."
Wishing to make Google earn its keep, I searched the World-Wide-Web for Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, found their calendar, on which was a biography of the visiting pianist, the afore-mentined Joseph Martin, including his Email address.
"Worth a try."
So I tried.
Imagine my delighted surprise when I got a response from the artist, himself, expressing his astonishment that I was me (who, by the way, I have always been...or at least for as long as I can remember) and that we were making a fresh connection!
See, Joseph Martin, known to me as Joe, was a member of my youth group when I was Minister of Music, Youth and Education at Parkway Baptist Church in Plantation Florida, a number of years ago that shall remain unnamed.
Although circumstances kept me from the concert, I was able to contact him by phone.
What an absolute trip that was!
I just knew he was destined for musical greatness, because he oozed music from every pore of his being.
It looked funny and smelled odd, nevertheless, it was obvious that music was his essence.
Often, when he got home from school, I would go over to his house for a visit and he would make straight for the piano.
He seemed to enjoy making his fingers express themselves, whatever the musical subject.
Joe is the only person I've ever met who could make playing musical scales and exercises an art-form.
He was also tremendously fun.
We had bunches of Youth types who liked to play football, so I bought a bunch of flag football equipment and we formed a sort of league.
Joe and I would assume the role of "team owners" and use play money to bid on players for our teams.
Then we would gather at the highschool practice field and play flag football.
His team usually won, 'cause I kinda liked to pick those guys (and gals) who often did not get picked.
On one occasion we wanted to see the movie, "Jaws." Joe's girlfriend didn't want to go, my wife didn't want to go, so Joe and I went together.
In other words, we were more than Youth Director and Youth, we were friends.
Life has a way of doing things, and one of the things it did was to move me to another place of service to God.
Joe and I lost touch.
The years have changed us in ways neither of us expected.
You know the drill: age; weight; hair style (or in my case, hair loss).
But we have made a new connection.
For that I praise God!
I really hope we are able to get together from time to time and catch up on each other's life, remember old times and just revel in God's goodness.
He lives far away, but comes to Florida like a magazine...periodically.
So today I say, "Joseph M. Martin...COME ON DOWN!"
I'll buy the coffee.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
A STUDY IN JOB - Part 4
In our continuing study of Job, we come to the fourth "friend," Elihu.
Elihu stayed out of the fray until the other had exhausted themselves.
Then he stepped in.
We're not sure what he stepped in, but it sure made a mess of things.
Here is how it went:
CHAPTER 32 AND FOLLOWING
Chapter 32 Elihu’s discourse.
He is a Buzite — Buz was evidently an Arab tribe (Genesis 22:21).
Elihu has been one of the auditors to this contest.
He has kept silent because of his youth, though he wanted to speak.
When the three friends have nothing more to say and have lost the contest, Elihu is angry because:
He feels that Job justified himself and condemned God (v. 2). (He had not, of course.)
He feels that the three friends of Job have failed to answer him adequately.
When Elihu finally speaks, he speaks longer than any of the three friends or Job (chapters 32 — 37).
Chapter 33
Elihu maintains that:
God is right in all that He does; (He is, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God created man (v. 4); (He did, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God is responsible to no one (v. 13); (He isn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God speaks to man by dreams and visions [before He gave a written revelation] (vv. 14, 15); (He sometimes does, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God instructs men through discipline (vv. 29, 30). (Sometimes He does, but that is not Elihu's point)
Notice that he suggests the reason for the Incarnation (vv. 6, 7).
Chapter 34
Elihu declares that God never acts wickedly nor commits wrong acts (v. 12). (He doesn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
Chapter 35
Elihu reproves Job for inferring that he is more righteous than God (v. 2). (Job did not do that.)
God is teaching Job a lesson, and both Job and his friends missed this truth (vv. 10-12).
Chapter 36
God is the great Teacher (v. 22).
It was said of Jesus, "Never man spoke like this man" [John 7:46].
Chapter 37
Elihu infers that God is too far removed for man to communicate with Him (vv. 22, 23). (Absolutely not true)
However, it is not the greatness and majesty of God that has separated man from Him; it is man’s sin that has caused the disruption (see Isaiah 59:1, 2). (True, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
In all of this, Elihu has been using truths, half-truths and untruths, to beat Job over the head as though he were guilty.
But at the beginning, God said Job was blameless.
Either God was right, or He is not God.
He is God.
Chapter 38
God breaks through and speaks to Job.
During the entire dialogue a storm has been gathering on the horizon. At this point, it breaks with fury.
The crowd scatters and scurries for cover, leaving Job alone with God (v. 1).
Both Job and Elihu had obscured truth with their theories and ideas (v. 2).
God’s appeal to Job is on the basis of His role as Creator.
Remember that this was before there was any written revelation (v. 4).
(Compare Romans 1:19, 20. )
This is a good introduction for every book on geology and origins.
This response (v. 7) predates the creation of man. Actually, man is a "Johnny-come-lately" in God’s universe.
What did the writer of Job or Job himself know about the beauty of a snowflake (vv. 22, 23)?
Chapter 39
God’s wisdom, person, and power are revealed in creation.
Chapter 40
God now demands Job to answer Him (vv. 1, 2).
Job begins to see himself in the light of God’s presence — he is vile.
Job becomes suddenly silent (vv. 3-5).
The storm breaks in all of its fury and God speaks out of the whirlwind. He continues His appeal through creation (v. 6).
Chapter 41
God continues to quiz Job relative to His acts of creation.
Elihu stayed out of the fray until the other had exhausted themselves.
Then he stepped in.
We're not sure what he stepped in, but it sure made a mess of things.
Here is how it went:
CHAPTER 32 AND FOLLOWING
Chapter 32 Elihu’s discourse.
He is a Buzite — Buz was evidently an Arab tribe (Genesis 22:21).
Elihu has been one of the auditors to this contest.
He has kept silent because of his youth, though he wanted to speak.
When the three friends have nothing more to say and have lost the contest, Elihu is angry because:
He feels that Job justified himself and condemned God (v. 2). (He had not, of course.)
He feels that the three friends of Job have failed to answer him adequately.
When Elihu finally speaks, he speaks longer than any of the three friends or Job (chapters 32 — 37).
Chapter 33
Elihu maintains that:
God is right in all that He does; (He is, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God created man (v. 4); (He did, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God is responsible to no one (v. 13); (He isn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God speaks to man by dreams and visions [before He gave a written revelation] (vv. 14, 15); (He sometimes does, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
God instructs men through discipline (vv. 29, 30). (Sometimes He does, but that is not Elihu's point)
Notice that he suggests the reason for the Incarnation (vv. 6, 7).
Chapter 34
Elihu declares that God never acts wickedly nor commits wrong acts (v. 12). (He doesn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
Chapter 35
Elihu reproves Job for inferring that he is more righteous than God (v. 2). (Job did not do that.)
God is teaching Job a lesson, and both Job and his friends missed this truth (vv. 10-12).
Chapter 36
God is the great Teacher (v. 22).
It was said of Jesus, "Never man spoke like this man" [John 7:46].
Chapter 37
Elihu infers that God is too far removed for man to communicate with Him (vv. 22, 23). (Absolutely not true)
However, it is not the greatness and majesty of God that has separated man from Him; it is man’s sin that has caused the disruption (see Isaiah 59:1, 2). (True, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)
In all of this, Elihu has been using truths, half-truths and untruths, to beat Job over the head as though he were guilty.
But at the beginning, God said Job was blameless.
Either God was right, or He is not God.
He is God.
Chapter 38
God breaks through and speaks to Job.
During the entire dialogue a storm has been gathering on the horizon. At this point, it breaks with fury.
The crowd scatters and scurries for cover, leaving Job alone with God (v. 1).
Both Job and Elihu had obscured truth with their theories and ideas (v. 2).
God’s appeal to Job is on the basis of His role as Creator.
Remember that this was before there was any written revelation (v. 4).
(Compare Romans 1:19, 20. )
This is a good introduction for every book on geology and origins.
This response (v. 7) predates the creation of man. Actually, man is a "Johnny-come-lately" in God’s universe.
What did the writer of Job or Job himself know about the beauty of a snowflake (vv. 22, 23)?
Chapter 39
God’s wisdom, person, and power are revealed in creation.
Chapter 40
God now demands Job to answer Him (vv. 1, 2).
Job begins to see himself in the light of God’s presence — he is vile.
Job becomes suddenly silent (vv. 3-5).
The storm breaks in all of its fury and God speaks out of the whirlwind. He continues His appeal through creation (v. 6).
Chapter 41
God continues to quiz Job relative to His acts of creation.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
TOMATO MINISTRY
Once there was a tomato farmer.
He grew lots of tomatoes.
Then he needed someone to pick the tomatoes.
So, he hired a bunch of tomato pickers.
"You work for me!"
He made certain that every one of them understood that.
Whenever one of the tomato pickers picked a tomato that was not exactly perfect, the farmer yelled mercilessly at them.
"Pick only the perfect tomatoes!" he screamed.
"This is God's tomato farm!" He yelled. "You work for me! You do what I say, when I say, how I say, IF I say."
"Sir," ventured one of the tomato pickers, "I have been picking tomatoes for 26 years. If you only pick perfect tomatoes, they will never make it to market, as they will become over-ripe before anyone can buy them."
"Don't tell me what to pick!" bellowed the farmer. "I've been a tomato farmer for four years. I know what it's about! You have nothing to teach me. And if you did, you would be out of line to try to teach it to me, because this is MY tomato farm. I am the owner. You work for me!"
"O God," the farmer prayed, "Please bless this tomato farm." I dedicate it to you."
"This is God's farm, I tell you. God's farm."
"Now get to work picking, and pick only perfect tomatoes."
The farm's income dropped.
"Oh God!" pleaded the farmer, "I have dedicated this farm to you. It is your farm. Now you must bless it. You promised!"
The farm's income dropped some more.
"What we need is a fresh infusion of money," decided the farmer.
"Who will send money so we can keep this farm and supply tomatoes to the people?"
Nobody sent money. Mostly because the tomatoes were over-ripe at the market, and they did not see the wisdom of supporting a farm that was producing over-ripe tomatoes.
"This is all the pickers' fault. If they would just do what I tell them, and pick only perfect tomatoes, we wouldn't be in this terrible shape!"
"Perhaps I am not yelling loud enough at them."
"I will yell louder and get them to love me."
"Then I will go to the next town and help the people build a road."
"When they see me care about them, and build a road, they will surely buy my tomatoes and my troubles will be over."
"That will cost me money, though. So I will delay paying my workers. They are less important than the roads I will build."
"But sir," said one of the pickers, "What has building a road got to do with growing tomatoes? How will that inspire people to buy your tomatoes?"
"It is God's work," answered the farmer. "Just because it is unrelated to tomato farming is no reason for the people not to buy my tomatoes."
Still, the people did not increase their support of the farm's tomatoes.
The tomato farm lost some more money.
It sure is a good thing the farmer was not trying to run a ministry.
He grew lots of tomatoes.
Then he needed someone to pick the tomatoes.
So, he hired a bunch of tomato pickers.
"You work for me!"
He made certain that every one of them understood that.
Whenever one of the tomato pickers picked a tomato that was not exactly perfect, the farmer yelled mercilessly at them.
"Pick only the perfect tomatoes!" he screamed.
"This is God's tomato farm!" He yelled. "You work for me! You do what I say, when I say, how I say, IF I say."
"Sir," ventured one of the tomato pickers, "I have been picking tomatoes for 26 years. If you only pick perfect tomatoes, they will never make it to market, as they will become over-ripe before anyone can buy them."
"Don't tell me what to pick!" bellowed the farmer. "I've been a tomato farmer for four years. I know what it's about! You have nothing to teach me. And if you did, you would be out of line to try to teach it to me, because this is MY tomato farm. I am the owner. You work for me!"
"O God," the farmer prayed, "Please bless this tomato farm." I dedicate it to you."
"This is God's farm, I tell you. God's farm."
"Now get to work picking, and pick only perfect tomatoes."
The farm's income dropped.
"Oh God!" pleaded the farmer, "I have dedicated this farm to you. It is your farm. Now you must bless it. You promised!"
The farm's income dropped some more.
"What we need is a fresh infusion of money," decided the farmer.
"Who will send money so we can keep this farm and supply tomatoes to the people?"
Nobody sent money. Mostly because the tomatoes were over-ripe at the market, and they did not see the wisdom of supporting a farm that was producing over-ripe tomatoes.
"This is all the pickers' fault. If they would just do what I tell them, and pick only perfect tomatoes, we wouldn't be in this terrible shape!"
"Perhaps I am not yelling loud enough at them."
"I will yell louder and get them to love me."
"Then I will go to the next town and help the people build a road."
"When they see me care about them, and build a road, they will surely buy my tomatoes and my troubles will be over."
"That will cost me money, though. So I will delay paying my workers. They are less important than the roads I will build."
"But sir," said one of the pickers, "What has building a road got to do with growing tomatoes? How will that inspire people to buy your tomatoes?"
"It is God's work," answered the farmer. "Just because it is unrelated to tomato farming is no reason for the people not to buy my tomatoes."
Still, the people did not increase their support of the farm's tomatoes.
The tomato farm lost some more money.
It sure is a good thing the farmer was not trying to run a ministry.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
A STUDY IN JOB - Part 3
This is the sequence of the speeches given by Job vs. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, 3:1 — 32:1 and Job’s responses:
There are 3 rounds of speeches:
(1) By Job, then Eliphaz, and Job answers him;
(2) By Bildad, and Job answers him;
(3) By Zophar, and Job answers him.
This is repeated three times with one exception — Zophar does not give a third speech.
The dialogue is in the nature of a contest.
Under the critical and accusing eyes of his friends, Job finally explodes with his tale of woe and a wish that he had never been born.
Review of Chapter 11
Zophar is the voice of legalism.
Legalism is any set of "rules" that must be followed in order to "please God."
Adherence to a particular pattern of religious practice is legalism.
Requiring a prescribed method of accomplishing something is legalism
Legalism may or may not reference the law.
Zophar is mistaken in his view of God
Sees God as being bound by law…God is not bound by anything.
Speaks dogmatically, but without revelatory authority
Is pretty crude in his comments.
Chapter 12 & 13
Job’s response
Job seems bitter and sarcastic.
Seems to resent the superior claims of his friends (vss 12:1-3)
Calls them "physicians of no value" (Vs 13:4)
Job maintains his faith (Vs 13:15)
B. Do we ever find ourselves under attack by "friends" like Zophar?
Chapter 14
Job’s speech on death.
The stats on trouble and death are 100%
We all undergo trouble.
We all face death
Hope beyond the grave: Christ (Vss 14 & 15)
Chapter 15
Eliphaz’s second discourse.
Calls Job’s words "foolish." (Vs 6)
Defends himself and his two partners friends by reminding Job of their advantage of maturity over him.
He states a great truth, but it is no more applicable to Job than to any other human being.
Chapter 16 & 17
Job labels his friends "miserable comforters"
Job says that if their situations were reversed, he could say the same things about them. (vs16:17)
Job stands on his record (vs 16:19)
Chapter 18
Bildad’s second discourse
Suggests that Job stop speaking and start listning (vs 2)
Since Job is being judged, he has committed some gross and secret sin.
He brings nothing new to the table, but seeks to prove his accusations by being loud and redundant.
Chapter 20
Zophar’s second discourse.
He introduces nothing new.
He rests upon his seniority and resorts to the same legalism.
He still holds to the theory that Job is a very wicked person because of the law that the wicked must be punished (vv. 3-5).
Chapter 21
Job’s answer.
Job is growing weary of their false charges.
He appeals to a higher court (vv. 1-4).
He agrees that the wicked will be punished but insists that this does not apply to his case.
SOME LESSONG TO LEARN FROM ALL OF THIS
Some people seem to believe that they can convince the other person that their point of view is
correct by repetition or volume.
Sometimes we are so convinced of our position that we fail to take in to account what God says (in the Bible says in its immediate context and in the context of the whole).
Sometimes we allow a form of legalism to dictate our arguments.
Our sense of religiosity is not a substitute for the truth of God in Christ.
There are 3 rounds of speeches:
(1) By Job, then Eliphaz, and Job answers him;
(2) By Bildad, and Job answers him;
(3) By Zophar, and Job answers him.
This is repeated three times with one exception — Zophar does not give a third speech.
The dialogue is in the nature of a contest.
Under the critical and accusing eyes of his friends, Job finally explodes with his tale of woe and a wish that he had never been born.
Review of Chapter 11
Zophar is the voice of legalism.
Legalism is any set of "rules" that must be followed in order to "please God."
Adherence to a particular pattern of religious practice is legalism.
Requiring a prescribed method of accomplishing something is legalism
Legalism may or may not reference the law.
Zophar is mistaken in his view of God
Sees God as being bound by law…God is not bound by anything.
Speaks dogmatically, but without revelatory authority
Is pretty crude in his comments.
Chapter 12 & 13
Job’s response
Job seems bitter and sarcastic.
Seems to resent the superior claims of his friends (vss 12:1-3)
Calls them "physicians of no value" (Vs 13:4)
Job maintains his faith (Vs 13:15)
B. Do we ever find ourselves under attack by "friends" like Zophar?
Chapter 14
Job’s speech on death.
The stats on trouble and death are 100%
We all undergo trouble.
We all face death
Hope beyond the grave: Christ (Vss 14 & 15)
Chapter 15
Eliphaz’s second discourse.
Calls Job’s words "foolish." (Vs 6)
Defends himself and his two partners friends by reminding Job of their advantage of maturity over him.
He states a great truth, but it is no more applicable to Job than to any other human being.
Chapter 16 & 17
Job labels his friends "miserable comforters"
Job says that if their situations were reversed, he could say the same things about them. (vs16:17)
Job stands on his record (vs 16:19)
Chapter 18
Bildad’s second discourse
Suggests that Job stop speaking and start listning (vs 2)
Since Job is being judged, he has committed some gross and secret sin.
He brings nothing new to the table, but seeks to prove his accusations by being loud and redundant.
Chapter 20
Zophar’s second discourse.
He introduces nothing new.
He rests upon his seniority and resorts to the same legalism.
He still holds to the theory that Job is a very wicked person because of the law that the wicked must be punished (vv. 3-5).
Chapter 21
Job’s answer.
Job is growing weary of their false charges.
He appeals to a higher court (vv. 1-4).
He agrees that the wicked will be punished but insists that this does not apply to his case.
SOME LESSONG TO LEARN FROM ALL OF THIS
Some people seem to believe that they can convince the other person that their point of view is
correct by repetition or volume.
Sometimes we are so convinced of our position that we fail to take in to account what God says (in the Bible says in its immediate context and in the context of the whole).
Sometimes we allow a form of legalism to dictate our arguments.
Our sense of religiosity is not a substitute for the truth of God in Christ.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA BACTERIA
I would like for a person, who believes that evolutionary forces produced the variety of living things on earth today, to point me to a scientific article demonstrating that any of the trillions to the trillionth power of single-celled bacteria, amoeba, or viruses, having mutated to their hearts'* content, have ever been seen to evolve into anything other than another bacteria, amoeba or virus.
Please include the publication's name, the name of the article and the date of the article.
If is is available online, please give the URL/link.
You may respond in my comments section.
*Yes, I am aware that in a technical sense they do not have hearts as we understand them.
Please include the publication's name, the name of the article and the date of the article.
If is is available online, please give the URL/link.
You may respond in my comments section.
*Yes, I am aware that in a technical sense they do not have hearts as we understand them.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A STUDY IN JOB - Part 2
As we continue in Job, we find his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, having come to him to "comfort" him, giving speeches to him about what he must have done to bring on the misery he was experiencing.
We know, however, that they were wrong. Job had done nothing wrong. God said so. And if God says so, it does not matter what we think, it is so.
In the final chapter we find God saying of them that He was angry with them because they had lied about Him.
Actually, a lot of what they said contained half-truths and common suppositions about God, but they were using tradition, convention and legalistic arrogance to "beat Job over the head"
Here is the outline of the next several chapters:
BILDAD, JOB AND ZOPHAR
Bildad’s Discourse (Chapter 8)
Bildad’s is the voice of the past.
Depends on man’s traditions (Vs8)
Considers Job a hypocrite (Vs 13)
Claims Job does not know the ways of God (
Job’s reply (Chapter 9)
Bildad has failed to meet Job’s problem (Vs 2)
He needs someone on his side to present his case (9:19, 20)
Notice Job’s heart cry for Christ (Vs 32-35)
Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;…)
God knows that Job is not perfect, but He also knows that Job is not
wicked (Job 10:6, 7).
Zophar’s Discourse (Job 11)
Zophar is the voice of legalism.
He holds that God is bound by laws and never operates beyond the circumference of His own laws.
He accuses Job of covering his sin with words (v. 2).
He assumes the pious position of being on the inside with God while Job is on the outside (vs. 4-11).
He predicts the complete judgment of Job unless he confesses his secret sin (v. 20).
Job’s Reply to Zophar (Job 12)
Job becomes bitter and sarcastic. He resents the superior claims of his friends and their accusations (12:1-3).
Job would bypass his friends and appeal to God directly (13:3).
Chapter 14 — A great elegy on death.
Trouble is the common denominator of mankind (v. 1).
Job knows that death is inevitable and that he must depart from this world (v. 10).
Job has a hope beyond death and the grave (vv. 14, 15).
As we read Job, we are reminded that the hope he has beyond death and the grave is through none other than Jesus, Christ.
He is our only hope...a hope that is steadfast and sure.
Back in Chapter 1:21, Job said the most remarkable thing. He said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
We are good at the part about "the Lord gave."
When the Lord gives health, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
When the Lord gives wealth, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
When the Lord gives us family, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
But when the Lord does not give us health, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord does not give us wealth, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord does not give us family, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord takes away, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
Only if we know Him through Jesus.
We know, however, that they were wrong. Job had done nothing wrong. God said so. And if God says so, it does not matter what we think, it is so.
In the final chapter we find God saying of them that He was angry with them because they had lied about Him.
Actually, a lot of what they said contained half-truths and common suppositions about God, but they were using tradition, convention and legalistic arrogance to "beat Job over the head"
Here is the outline of the next several chapters:
BILDAD, JOB AND ZOPHAR
Bildad’s Discourse (Chapter 8)
Bildad’s is the voice of the past.
Depends on man’s traditions (Vs8)
Considers Job a hypocrite (Vs 13)
Claims Job does not know the ways of God (
Job’s reply (Chapter 9)
Bildad has failed to meet Job’s problem (Vs 2)
He needs someone on his side to present his case (9:19, 20)
Notice Job’s heart cry for Christ (Vs 32-35)
Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;…)
God knows that Job is not perfect, but He also knows that Job is not
wicked (Job 10:6, 7).
Zophar’s Discourse (Job 11)
Zophar is the voice of legalism.
He holds that God is bound by laws and never operates beyond the circumference of His own laws.
He accuses Job of covering his sin with words (v. 2).
He assumes the pious position of being on the inside with God while Job is on the outside (vs. 4-11).
He predicts the complete judgment of Job unless he confesses his secret sin (v. 20).
Job’s Reply to Zophar (Job 12)
Job becomes bitter and sarcastic. He resents the superior claims of his friends and their accusations (12:1-3).
Job would bypass his friends and appeal to God directly (13:3).
Chapter 14 — A great elegy on death.
Trouble is the common denominator of mankind (v. 1).
Job knows that death is inevitable and that he must depart from this world (v. 10).
Job has a hope beyond death and the grave (vv. 14, 15).
As we read Job, we are reminded that the hope he has beyond death and the grave is through none other than Jesus, Christ.
He is our only hope...a hope that is steadfast and sure.
Back in Chapter 1:21, Job said the most remarkable thing. He said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
We are good at the part about "the Lord gave."
When the Lord gives health, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
When the Lord gives wealth, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
When the Lord gives us family, we say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
But when the Lord does not give us health, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord does not give us wealth, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord does not give us family, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
When the Lord takes away, can we still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord.?"
Only if we know Him through Jesus.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
SOME RADIOLOGICAL THOUGHTS
God called and led me into Christian radio in 1982.
I have worked for WSOR in Ft. Myers, Florida when it was owned by Riverside Baptist Church and was kept on to work for WSOR when it was bought by Moody Broadcasting of Chicago.
In December of 1999 I was named manager of WJYO/WBIY radio in Ft. Myers and LaBelle respectively when it was owned by Taccoa Falls College of Georgia.
I now work for WJYO, now owned by Art Ramos, President and CEO of Airwaves for Jesus, Inc.
You can listen online at www.kingdom.fm.
Over the years I have learned a few things about Christian radio.
I'd like to share some of them with you for no particular reason except that I want to share them.
1. Christian radio is a ministry of the Gospel, in the same way that a church is a ministry of the Gospel.
2. Christian radio must see itself as a ministry, not a business, if it wants to survive.
3. Christian radio is different from secular radio in that regard and in many other ways.
4. Christian radio is governed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), and is subject to its rules and regulations.
a. Christian radio cannot engage in "consideration," which FCC defines as "money for minutes"
b. Christian radio cannot air spots for commercial entities that call for action on the part of the listener; eg: Christian radio cannot say, "Call......"; "Stop by...." "Go to www....." "Tell them..."
c. Christian radio cannot describe products or services of a commercial entity with qualitative terms; eg: Christian radio cannot say, "They handle fine china and colorful silverware..."; "They sell those heavy duty Ford trucks..."
d. Christian radio cannot air an "inducement to buy;" eg: Christian radio cannot say, "They have a half-price sale in progress..."; or "They're featuring a two-for-one sale..."
5. Christian radio must bring in income, if it is to continue to exist.
6. Christian radio benefits financially in direct proportion to the way it ministers to its listeners.
7. There are lots of good things Christian radio could do that do not result in either more listeners or more income. That does not mean they should not be done, just that it is futile to expect those things to benefit the radio station.
8. To be "successful," Christian radio must do those things that lead to a substantial increase in listenership. Things like:
a. Be involved in the Christian community.
b. Get before congregations with a brief presentation about the station and a short survey of the members.
c. Do remote broadcasts from every community ministry event. (Secular radio stations figured this out long ago...and few days go by that one cannot see a W___ ___ ___ van at some parking lot or another).
d. Visit businesses run by Christians with NO agenda other than letting them know you exist and to find out how you can serve them.
e. Sponsor local events, such as concerts, conferences, etc. that relate to Christian radio. A concert by an artist whose music is not played would be counter-productive.
f. Everything Christian radio airs, whether Bible studies, music or announcements, must point people toward Jesus and/or build them up in Him.
g. In Christian radio, it is never about personal preference. It is always about the spiritual listening needs of the audience, revealed objectively, not subjectively.
9. In Christian radio, stability, integrity and consistency are essential.
10. Christian radio must be dependable.
11. Christian radio must carefully air programs that present the Gospel without introducing doctrinal issues over which the majority of "mainstream," conservative Christians disagree.
12. The music Christian radio airs must be aimed at its demographic 100% of the time.
a. It is a gross mistake to select music that appeals to the younger half of the audience, while offending the older half.
b. It is a gross mistake to select music that appeals to the older half of the audience, while offending the younger half.
c. Christian radio must stress that every song has something to offer to every part of its demographic. Christian radio cannot say, "Here's a song we like, and you're going to listen whether you like it or not." The listener is always in control of his/her on-off switch.
Well, those are some of the things I have learned about Christian radio.
I did not make them up, they were taught to me by people with far greater knowledge than I'll ever have.
And I had the good sense to let them teach me what they know.
That's a good thing.
I have worked for WSOR in Ft. Myers, Florida when it was owned by Riverside Baptist Church and was kept on to work for WSOR when it was bought by Moody Broadcasting of Chicago.
In December of 1999 I was named manager of WJYO/WBIY radio in Ft. Myers and LaBelle respectively when it was owned by Taccoa Falls College of Georgia.
I now work for WJYO, now owned by Art Ramos, President and CEO of Airwaves for Jesus, Inc.
You can listen online at www.kingdom.fm.
Over the years I have learned a few things about Christian radio.
I'd like to share some of them with you for no particular reason except that I want to share them.
1. Christian radio is a ministry of the Gospel, in the same way that a church is a ministry of the Gospel.
2. Christian radio must see itself as a ministry, not a business, if it wants to survive.
3. Christian radio is different from secular radio in that regard and in many other ways.
4. Christian radio is governed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), and is subject to its rules and regulations.
a. Christian radio cannot engage in "consideration," which FCC defines as "money for minutes"
b. Christian radio cannot air spots for commercial entities that call for action on the part of the listener; eg: Christian radio cannot say, "Call......"; "Stop by...." "Go to www....." "Tell them..."
c. Christian radio cannot describe products or services of a commercial entity with qualitative terms; eg: Christian radio cannot say, "They handle fine china and colorful silverware..."; "They sell those heavy duty Ford trucks..."
d. Christian radio cannot air an "inducement to buy;" eg: Christian radio cannot say, "They have a half-price sale in progress..."; or "They're featuring a two-for-one sale..."
5. Christian radio must bring in income, if it is to continue to exist.
6. Christian radio benefits financially in direct proportion to the way it ministers to its listeners.
7. There are lots of good things Christian radio could do that do not result in either more listeners or more income. That does not mean they should not be done, just that it is futile to expect those things to benefit the radio station.
8. To be "successful," Christian radio must do those things that lead to a substantial increase in listenership. Things like:
a. Be involved in the Christian community.
b. Get before congregations with a brief presentation about the station and a short survey of the members.
c. Do remote broadcasts from every community ministry event. (Secular radio stations figured this out long ago...and few days go by that one cannot see a W___ ___ ___ van at some parking lot or another).
d. Visit businesses run by Christians with NO agenda other than letting them know you exist and to find out how you can serve them.
e. Sponsor local events, such as concerts, conferences, etc. that relate to Christian radio. A concert by an artist whose music is not played would be counter-productive.
f. Everything Christian radio airs, whether Bible studies, music or announcements, must point people toward Jesus and/or build them up in Him.
g. In Christian radio, it is never about personal preference. It is always about the spiritual listening needs of the audience, revealed objectively, not subjectively.
9. In Christian radio, stability, integrity and consistency are essential.
10. Christian radio must be dependable.
11. Christian radio must carefully air programs that present the Gospel without introducing doctrinal issues over which the majority of "mainstream," conservative Christians disagree.
12. The music Christian radio airs must be aimed at its demographic 100% of the time.
a. It is a gross mistake to select music that appeals to the younger half of the audience, while offending the older half.
b. It is a gross mistake to select music that appeals to the older half of the audience, while offending the younger half.
c. Christian radio must stress that every song has something to offer to every part of its demographic. Christian radio cannot say, "Here's a song we like, and you're going to listen whether you like it or not." The listener is always in control of his/her on-off switch.
Well, those are some of the things I have learned about Christian radio.
I did not make them up, they were taught to me by people with far greater knowledge than I'll ever have.
And I had the good sense to let them teach me what they know.
That's a good thing.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
LADY AND GENTLEMEN, WHO ARE YOU, ANYWAY
I long for the day when politicians from all parties will say, "This is who I am and what I stand for. If you like who I am and what I stand for, vote for me. If not, please vote for the person you DO like."
Politician A - I want higher taxes so government can "give" you more services and rights.
Politician B - I like lower taxes so a larger base will mean more income to the treasury and I can "give" you more services and rights.
Politician C - I like having everybody pay a set percentage of taxes, government doing the six things it is supposed to do and keeping out of the things it is not supposed to be into.
Politician D - I like the power and prestige of holding the world's highest office. I'll give you anything you want, and will provide you with a list of things you can want.
Then I could choose intelligently.
Won't happen, though.
Politician A - I want higher taxes so government can "give" you more services and rights.
Politician B - I like lower taxes so a larger base will mean more income to the treasury and I can "give" you more services and rights.
Politician C - I like having everybody pay a set percentage of taxes, government doing the six things it is supposed to do and keeping out of the things it is not supposed to be into.
Politician D - I like the power and prestige of holding the world's highest office. I'll give you anything you want, and will provide you with a list of things you can want.
Then I could choose intelligently.
Won't happen, though.
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