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Johnny Lingo's 8-Cow Wife

2010-08-20T07:28:00.000-05:00

I remember reading this story in Readers Digest when I was in high school and I remember my Dad pointing it out to me.

I have thought about it often in the years since, but only recently found the text online.

Enjoy.

condensed from Woman's Day Patricia McGerr

When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of flora and fauna, native customs and costume. But the only note that still interests me is the one that says: "Johnny Lingo gave eight cows to Sarita’s father." And I don’t need to have it in writing. I’m reminded of it every time I see a woman belittling her husband or a wife withering under her husband’s scorn. I want to say to them, "You should know why Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for his wife."

Johnny Lingo wasn’t exactly his name. But that’s what Shenkin, the manager of the guest house on Kiniwata, called him. Shenkin was from Chicago and had a habit of Americanizing the names of the islanders. But Johnny was mentioned by many people in many connections. If I wanted to spend a few days on the neighboring island of Nurabandi, Johnny Lingo would put me up. If I wanted to fish he could show me where the biting was best. If it was pearls I sought, he would bring the best buys. The people of Kiniwata all spoke highly of Johnny Lingo. Yet when they spoke they smiled, and the smiles were slightly mocking.

"Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and let him do the bargaining," advised Shenkin. "Johnny knows how to make a deal."

"Johnny Lingo! A boy seated nearby hooted the name and rocked with laughter.

"What goes on?" I demanded. "everybody tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Let me in on the joke."

"Oh, the people like to laugh," Shenkin said, shruggingly. "Johnny's the brightest, the strongest young man in the islands, And for his age, the richest."

"But if he’s all you say, what is there to laugh about?"

"Only one thing. Five months ago, at fall festival, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. He paid her father eight cows!

I knew enough about island customs to be impressed. Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four or five a highly satisfactory one. "Good Lord!" I said, "Eight cows! She must have beauty that takes your breath away." "She’s not ugly," he conceded, and smiled a little. "But the kindest could only call Sarita plain. Sam Karoo, her father, was afraid she’d be left on his hands."

"But then he got eight cows for her? Isn’t that extraordinary?"

"Never been paid before."

"Yet you call Johnny’s wife plain?"

"I said it would be kindness to call her plain. She was skinny. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked. She was scared of her own shadow."

"Well," I said, "I guess there’s just no accounting for love."

"True enough," agreed the man. "And that’s why the villagers grin when they talk about Johnny. They get special satisfaction from the fact that the sharpest trader in the islands was bested by dull old Sam Karoo."

"But how?"

"No one knows and everyone wonders. All the cousins were urging Sam to ask for three cows and hold out for two until he was sure Johnny’d pay only one. Then Johnny came to Sam Karoo and said, ‘Father of Sarita, I offer eight cows for your daughter.’"

"Eight cows," I murmured. "I’d like to meet this Johnny Lingo."

"And I wanted fish. I wanted pearls. So the next afternoon I beached my boat at Nurabandi. And I noticed as I asked directions to Johnny’s house that his name brought no sly smile to the lips of his fellow Nurabandians. And when I met the slim, serious young man, when he welcomed me with grace to his home, I was glad that from his own people he had respect unmingled with mockery. We sat in his house and talked. Then he asked, "You come here from Kiniwata?"

"Yes."

"They speak of me on that island?"

"They say there’s nothing I might want they you can’t help me get."

He smiled gently. "My wife is from Kiniwata."

"Yes, I know."

"They speak of her?"

"A little."

"What do they say?"

"Why, just..." The question caught me off balance. "They told me you were married at festival time."

"Nothing more?" The curve of his eyebrows told me he knew there had to be more.

They also say the marriage settlement was eight cows." I paused.

"They wonder why."

"They ask that?" His eyes lightened with pleasure. "Everyone in Kiniwata knows about the eight cows?"

I nodded.

"And in Nurabandi everyone knows it too." His chest expanded with satisfaction. "Always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Sarita."

So that’s the answer, I thought: vanity.

And then I saw her. I watched her enter the room to place flowers on the table. She stood still a moment to smile at the young man beside me. Then she went swiftly out again. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The lift of her shoulders, the tilt of her chin the sparkle of her eyes all spelled a pride to which no one could deny her the right. I turned back to Johnny Lingo and found him looking at me. "You admire her?" he murmured. "She...she’s glorious. But she’s not Sarita from Kiniwata," I said.

"There’s only one Sarita. Perhaps she does not look the way they say she looked in Kiniwata." "She doesn’t. I heard she was homely. They all make fun of you because you let yourself be cheated by Sam Karoo."

"You think eight cows were too many?" A smile slid over his lips. "No. But how can she be so different?"

"Do you ever think," he asked, "what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought? And then later, when the women talk, they boast of what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two?" This could not happen to my Sarita."

"Then you did this just to make your wife happy?"

"I wanted Sarita to be happy, yes. But I wanted more than that. You say she is different This is true. Many things can change a woman. Things that happen inside, things that happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks about herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the islands." "Then you wanted -"

"I wanted to marry Sarita. I loved her and no other woman."

"But —" I was close to understanding.

"But," he finished softly, "I wanted an eight-cow wife."

Beautiful Days

2010-06-27T23:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of "those" days? The sky is blue and cloudless, not too hot, not too cold. A gentle breeze blows. No cares on your mind. Everyone is happy and healthy. You spend the day in whatever activity that brings you the most happiness. Your heart is full and feels as if it could bust out of your chest at any moment. As you drink in the deliciousness of the day, you wish that there was a way to stop time and just revel in this moment for a few decades.

Today is not that day.
And yet, God is still good. These fleeting moments only leave us longing for that Day when the moment of sheer joy will last for all eternity.

And yet, not just then, but now, our joy may be complete. Our joy is not tied to circumstances - to health or money or weather or leisure time. Our joy is rooted in the completed work of Jesus, who bids us to come and die that we might live in Him now and forever - in perfect joy fulfilling the role chosen for us before the foundations of the world.

Should Churches use Video Surveillance?

2010-06-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

Over at my company website - DigiTechSurv.com - I posted "Should Churches use Video Surveillance?" If you have a few minutes read the post and leave your comments.

Hosted Video Surveillance

2010-04-06T17:37:00.001-05:00

Over at my company website - Digital Technology and Surveillance - we are rolling out our new Hosted Video Surveillance solution. This product is seriously a game changer!

I plan to cross-post my thoughts on the applications of this new technology this week. I am looking forward to your feedback.

Stay Tuned.

Some Biblical Wisdom to keep in mind this "April Fool's Day."

2010-04-01T08:22:00.003-05:00

Genesis 19:14 ESV So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, "Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

Proverbs 10:23 ESV Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Proverbs 26:18-19 ESV Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death 19: is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"

Ephesians 5:1-6 ESV Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2: And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3: But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4: Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5: For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience

John 8:42-47 ESV Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43: Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44: You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45: But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46: Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47: Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

A book every one should own: Grudem's

2010-03-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

Every serious reformed would be theologian needs to have this book in their library. This is an accessible book for those just starting out.

Chargers Football - Training Warriors for Christ

2009-08-04T10:35:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, our family has worked with the Chargers football program for a number of years. It has been a blessing to our family and I continue to be amazed at the work Jesus is doing in Derric's life in part because of his being a player for this team.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the program, The Lighthouse Christian Chargers football program offers the opportunity for both Christian-schooled and home-schooled young men to participate in Junior High, Junior Varsity and Varsity football.

In the proper context and rightly coached, organized team sports in general and football specifically offer unparalleled opportunities for the formation of Christian character.

It is a true statement, understood by those who have played or coached, that football is a metaphor for life. It is a controlled struggle, regulated chaos, and provides unmatched parallels to Christian life. God has given the Chargers an excellent coaching staff of dedicated, godly men who connect the struggles of football to the corresponding struggles of life.

It has been my privilege over the past number of years to watch not only my own son, but all of these young men grow in "wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

Perhaps the greatest truth revealed to me by our association with the Chargers is this:

So often when we think of sports or any competition, we tend to motivate ourselves and our teammates with hate. We draw up a from a well deep with in ourselves a wave of anger and hate. We plot pain for those who oppose us.

Jesus - working through the Chargers - revealed a better way to me. It is the love of Christ that enables the Christian Warrior to stand and fight ( Eph 6:10-18 ). It is the love of Jesus in us for our teammates that motivates us to give our all for the common goal. And most counter-intuitively, it is the love of Jesus in us for our opponents that motivates us to do our dead level best so that they must do their best. Iron does in fact sharpen iron ( Prov 27:17 ), and faithful are the wounds of a friend. ( Prov 27:6 ).

For the first time in the history of the program, the Chargers will be able to play Missouri public school teams. It cannot be overstated how huge a step this is for the program, and the responsibility placed upon the players, coaches and parents as Ambassadors of Christ ( 2 Cor 5:20 ) to our local area.

In order to compete at this level, our program must step up in all areas. As you can well imagine this comes with some financial challenges. The program has always modeled good stewardship what resources God has provided. Many of the players and their families work extra jobs to provide money for player fees. Other families donate countless hours and equipment to help make this program a success. Our coaches take on the equivalent of an un-paid full time job in addition to working to provide for their families.

Would you prayerfully consider financially supporting the mission and ministry of the Lighthouse Christian Chargers? There are a number of pressing equipment needs that would greatly benefit the program. If you are interested in being a part of what Jesus is doing in the lives of many young men, please contact me via a comment to this blog, facebook, twitter, e-mail, or phone.

Come out and support the Chargers this season. Check out www.springfieldchristianchargers.com for our game schedule.

Make plans to join us as we open our season this year at Hollister High School on August 21st.

The Cultural "Christianity" of Branson, Missouri

2009-07-27T11:00:00.003-05:00

We live in a very "Christian" area. Unfortunately it is mostly "Christian" in name only.

When looking at Branson, I can see several groups of people. The first is somewhat rare (in our area), but It does exist and that is the un-churched. These are those who have never had any exposure or connection to Jesus. Some may just have never heard the Gospel and some may be openly hostile to it.

Secondly, are the de-churched. These are those who once attended a church, who once professed a faith in Jesus but the cares of the world, time, or any number of things caused them to "fall away". I think this represents a HUGE number of people in Branson - even at the High School level.

Thirdly is the under-churched. These folks are attending a church semi-regularly, who profess a faith in Jesus, but who have not gone all out for Him. To these folks Jesus is Savior, but not always Lord. I know this group well, because I spent the bulk of my life there. It is the default mode of most people in our area. Church is more of a hobby and Jesus is more like a genie in a bottle that they drag out when it is convenient for them.

Lastly is the pseudo-churched. Simply put, this group is sold out to a lie and not Jesus. Depending on what they believe about Jesus, most may not be Christian. This might well be the hardest group to reach because often huge support structures exist to support whatever lie they are peddling. Family ties also bind many to these false teachings. This group is HUGE in our area.

How do you reach so many varied people? Focus on Jesus. Its what Paul did ( 1st Corinthians 15:1-58 ).

Now the question for us to answer is how best do we teach the Gospel firstly to ourselves and secondly to our area?

Thank You God For Roger Moran

2009-06-25T10:43:00.005-05:00

While I am included in the number of those troubled by the resolutions and motions offered by Roger Moran and his sympathizers in the Missouri Baptist Laymen's Association (www.mbla.org) at the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention. I am trying very hard to sanctify my actions and to behave a in way fitting the glorious Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In doing some research, I found this article from a pastor in my own state of Missouri. Joe Voga has several posts on his blog that give a pretty clear story.

We in Missouri, and in fact we in the SBC, owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Moran and the war horses like him. Through their efforts, the theologically liberal tide has been stemmed and the Battle for The Bible (aka The Conservative Resurgence) has been largely won.

Lest you doubt the reality of that victory, I submit this article from a self described "ordained Baptist minster" - "What Does it Mean to Say All Scripture is Inspired by God?"
The above is nothing less than an attack on the verbal plenary inspiration of Scripture.

I am thankful for Roger Moran, and many unamed others like him, for their past efforts to protect sound doctrine. I am thankful for these men for another reason as well - they serve as an example to us of how we must heed the words of my wise Grandpa Archie - "There is such a thing as being right and going about it the wrong way".

The Gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to the Great Commission. Paul reminds us in 1st Corinthians 9:24-27 that we must run our race to win, but also that we must run according to the principles laid out in His Word.

We must extend grace to those with which we disagree. We must keep the main thing the main thing.

We can be a great witness to the world in not only our unity in the essentials of doctrine, but also in the charity we show in brotherly discussions of secondary and tertiary issues.

The Great Commission Resurgence is not about stemming the decline in baptisms in the SBC. It is about aligning our focus - globally, nationally, regionally, locally, and personally - with Jesus's command to go and make disciples. Martin Luther began his 95 Theses (and the Protestant Reformation) with statement that the whole life of a disciple of Christ is marked by continuous repentance.

Therefore, The Great Commission Resurgence will be marked by the repentance of those new believers from every tongue and tribe who are confronted with the reality of their sin in the light Jesus on the Cross and His Gospel AND it will be marked by repentance by disciples, young and old, new and seasoned, confronted with our our false notions, personal preferences, political views, racism, bigotry, self righteous attitudes, indifference, laziness, and hardheartedness in the light of that same Gospel, Savior, and Cross.

The words of John the Baptist are as relevant as they were 2000 years ago. "Repent. The Kingdom of God is at hand!"

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold

2009-05-21T11:15:00.005-05:00

In reading today's bible reading ( 2 Corinthians 1-4) from LifePoint Church (twitter @lifepointozark) we find Paul's great power chapter on the Glory of the Gospel Ministry. As I find with most of Paul's writings, there is so much goodness in such a compact chapter.

In verse 10 of Chapter 3, Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 3:9-10 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10: Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.

The ministry of righteousness (that is the righteousness of Christ imputed to believers - 1 Cor 15:3) is so much more glorious than the ministry of condemnation (the law). Paul's key reason given in 2 Cor 3:11 is that the ministry of righteousness is permanent whereas the ministry of condemnation was temporary and found its fulfillment in Christ (Matt 5:17-20).

Moreover, the Law was designed as our schoolmaster (Gal 3:24 KJV) to both restrain us from evil and point toward the need for a Savior. The Law teaches us that we cannot save ourselves.

To understand the statement in 2 Cor 3:12 - "Since we have such a hope, we are very bold" - we must first look at 2 Cor 3:4-6. Our competency and sufficiency - comes not from our own power but from God via the Cross of Christ and thru the work of the Spirit.

We can be very bold, because ultimately, "IT" DOES NOT DEPEND ON US. "It" includes all aspects of life and ministry. Your salvation does not depend on you. It is a gift from God via Christ (Eph 2:1-10). You had no part in it. Your eternal soul is secure because it does not depend on you to keep your self saved (Romans 8:31-39). God chooses who He wants to save (Romans 9:10-18), and He made that choice before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4).

Building Management Framework: Measurement

2009-05-07T08:12:00.002-05:00

"If you can not measure it, you can not improve it." - Lord Kelvin

The present charge seems to be rallying under the battle cry of "Go Green." A mandate is being sent out to reduce energy consumption significantly.

However, before any reduction in usage can be accomplished, a baseline measurement of current current usage (pardon the pun) must be established. Further, a system of continued measurement must be in place such that any reductions in usage can be properly documented.

In regards to measuring usage at the electrical service entrance, there are several major limiting factors at play. Firstly, there is a large installed base of legacy equipment. Newer "smart panels" are sure to support the needed operations but at present are far to expensive to cost justify for anything other that new construction. While smart electric meters are now the norm, they represent a closed system controlled by the electrical service provider.

There seems to be a perfect market space for a wireless, multi-input, clamp on current data logger. Such a device would provide the needed measurement functions. Adding in a temperature sensor would also provide a method of monitoring dangerously high temperatures within the electrical panel. Multiple inputs would allow for monitoring individual branch circuits. The clamp on style reduces installation labor and difficulty, as does the wireless capability. Using a mesh technology like Xbee allows for a large distrubution of devices with minimal cabling.

How to Measure Chruch "Growth"

2009-04-27T11:36:00.007-05:00

In my reading today I came across this article when doing research on the biblical teaching on "self".

I reading that article and the associated Scriptures, I came across this passage. Quite familiar to most of us, but today the Holy Spirit revealed a bit more of the meaning.

Ephesians 4:10-16 ESV
10: He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12: to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13: until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14: so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15: Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16: from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The whole passage is chock full of goodness, but right now, notice verse 13 - "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

See the word "measure"?. Jesus Christ is our measuring stick both as individual believers and corporately as the church. We are are to compare ourselves - to measure ourselves against - the stature of no one or nothing less than Jesus.

Given this truth, I will make this statement :

The church should be measured by how well it reflects the image of Christ - not by the number of butts in seats, numbers "dunked", the who's who of members on the church roll or the dollars given and spent.

We will not attain the full measure of Christ's stature this side of Heaven. Our sole task until that day is be to about the business of conforming ourselves, our families, our churches, our cities, our regions, our nations and our world to the image of Christ using the Gospel methods ordained by Him and enabled, equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)

Never be bothered by prayer again

2009-04-23T10:45:00.002-05:00

I ran across a site today that proves that just because something is technologically possible, it does not make it right.

At InformationAgePrayer.com you can avoid wasting all of that time you spend daily in prayer by subscribing to their automated service for as low as $1.95 per month.

As if that were not enough, you can actually sign up under someone else's name and have prayers offered on their behalf.

I feel such pity for the poor, clueless people who will fall for this scam. Prayer is not a duty forced upon us by a hateful God who wishes to hear us beg. Prayer is a gracious privilege offered to us by a loving God who so desires a relationship with us that He sent His only Son as way to bridge the gap of our sin.

Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, laid down His life and died on the Cross in our place for our sins, was buried, on the third day, rose bodily from the grave, and after 40 days ascended to the right hand of the Father to both make intercession for us and to prepare a place for us to reside with Him in glory forever. ( 1st Corinthians 15 )

Jesus did all of this, so that those who call upon and trust Him as their Lord and Savior might be able to through Him enter into fellowship with God. God desires our heart-felt prayers and sends the Holy Spirit to aid us (Romans 8:26-27).

Perhaps this analogy would help better - I can, with minimal programing - write a program to send an e-mail to my wife every morning at 8:00 AM telling her "I Love you, you are beautiful, have a good day." What is my marriage going to look like if that is the only communication I have with her all day?

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

2009-03-14T22:49:00.003-05:00

Christian Smith has stated that the de-facto new religion of the American teenager is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. The complete article is here.

Smith further defines the creed of this new religion in following 5 points:

1. A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over
human life on earth.
2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as
taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
4. God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except
when he is needed to resolve a problem.
5. Good people go to heaven when they die.

Smith goes on to argue that not only is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism the dominant religion among teenagers, but that it has become the dominant religion of American culture.

Here is a sobering thought - how many of your facebook "friends" who self-identify as "Christian" have no issues with the above 5 points? How many people in your church? In your home?

How many of us know enough applied theology to confront those who hold to this view? How many of us can properly articulate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who need it so desperately?

A Bible Superhero?

2009-03-14T12:40:00.007-05:00

I cannot think of a worse way to teach gospel truth to young boys than with a cheesy costumed character. In a culture that worships self-sufficiency, individualism, and ultra-macho rule bending superheroes, why do we need a "Bibleman"?

Perhaps it is far easier to manufacture a fictional "hero" than to actually study the Bible and discover the heroes found there. Perhaps it is too much to ask of those seeking to "educate" children to look to the great narratives found in scripture for their source and content. Further, the biographies of many past heroes of the faith are filled with amazing stories of Spirit-led victory against impossible odds.

I think too, that this is a backlash against the limp-wristed sissy Jesus portrayed in so many Sunday School stories, and the abandonment of many men of their God ordained role as husband and father. I think there are too few real men to be found in homes and churches.

Within the church, far too many men leave the role of children's teacher to others and avoid any opportunity to teach children the gospel.

Most importantly we don't need a superhero. We have Jesus. Jesus is the hero of every story. We need to teach kids about Him - not some dude in tights.

Jesus says:

John 16:33 ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

The Apostle Paul writes:

Romans 8:37-39 ESV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39: nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Young boys need to see that Jesus is greater than any hero mortal minds can conceive. They need to see how in perfect, willing obedience to the direction of God the Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit, on the cross Jesus defeated every enemy.

Most of all, we can balance the teaching of Christ as our great example with Christ as the Ultimate Holy Warrior who defeated the evil Satan and literally saved the world.

A Failed Gospel Tract

2009-03-06T21:48:00.006-06:00

I found this image on the Jolly Blogger's blog the other day, and it spurred a few thoughts.

"Christian Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" is what Matt Chandler calls the modern "gospel" preached in many evangelical churches today.

This "gospel" differs only slightly from the so-called "prosperity gospel" hawked by the T.V. personalities - some of whom sit "on thrones and have wife who looks like she lost a paint-ball war" (description courtesy Mark Driscoll).

The big lie that many have bought into is that God just wants you to be happy in this life and spend eternity in heaven sitting on a cloud strumming a harp. You can be anything you want, and God is there - like a mystical genie in a bottle - for you to use toward whatever ends you desire. Jesus is your bff (best friend forever for those not into the txting lingo) that you visit with whenever it is convenient for you.

This view seems to me to fly in the face of the clear teaching of Scripture. Passages such as:

Romans 5:3-5

3: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4: and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5: and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Hebrews 12:1-4

1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2: looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3: Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
4: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Revelation 2:8-10

8: "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9: "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

These wonderful passages seem to tell of a faith not marked by easy and worldly success, but a life of joy filled suffering.

Taking Seriously Those Who Disagree

2009-03-06T08:13:00.006-06:00

Abraham Piper writes a great message that I often need to preach to myself.

The key section for me is:

"Paying attention to those who disagree with us and taking them seriously, even if we're pretty sure we'll still disagree, is part of what it means to be in the body of Christ. It's humbling; it sanctifies. It will make us better husbands and wives. It will make us better Christians, and maybe even better Calvinists."

While I too need to heed this advice in regards to my theological convictions, I need to heed it in all areas of my life as well. Too often I am too quick to justify my own actions without even fully listening to the criticism. I must come to realize that my justification is not of my own doing - it is a completed work of the Cross. Christ -who knows my deepest sins, secrets and failings - willingly chose to become a sacrifice for those things. No critique, whether it be valid or not, constructive or not, can lessen my ultimate justification.

This does not give me license to then to do as I please and to ignore the counsel of fellow Christians. Where my sin against Christ, the church, or others is pointed out I must own it, confess it, and repent of it. Where my words and actions are a reasonable response to the sins of others I must understand that in the Crucifixion of Christ I receive the blood of vengeance I desire.

I realize these words are far easier to write than to live. I thank God for the gift of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit which empowers and equips me more and more each day as I yield myself to the Lordship of Christ.

Be sure to read Abraham's full post here.

Gospel Manhood - part 7

2009-03-04T23:14:00.002-06:00

Conclusion

Why do we resist this?

The easy thing to do is to be fat and bad. It takes hard work and effort – daily to be a Gospel man. As God established in Genesis 3, it is the desire of the wife to rule over her husband. Because of this same curse everything under our authority continually rebels, and our natural state is to rebel against God. See also Gen 4.

Genesis 4:1-16 ESV

1: Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD."
2: And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
3: In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4: and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
5: but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
6: The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
7: If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."
8: Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9: Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
10: And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
11: And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12: When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
13: Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14: Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15: Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
16: Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Why does this matter?

The importance is quite clear. Men matter. Fathers matter. Our homes are our greatest missions field – our children will go farther and touch more lives than we ever could. The basic building block of any society is the family. As goes the family, so goes the city, the state, the nation, and the world. The church and the family exist to support each other. Neither can be truly healthy unless both are.

The urgency is clear as well. As Paul says in Romans -

Romans 13:11-14 ESV

11: Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
12: The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13: Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
14: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

How is Christ the Hero?

Jesus is Christus Victor, Christus Exemplar, Savior and King. He is the author and finisher of our faith. It is in Him alone that we can become the Gospel men he would have us be.

Hebrews 12:1-8 ESV

1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2: looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3: Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
4: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5: And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6: For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
7: It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8: If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Gospel Manhood - part 6

2009-03-04T23:13:00.001-06:00

Who is your family?

Strictly speaking your family is comprised of your wife and your children together -those who live under your roof and make up your “household”. That is the biblical model. In addition to this is the Old Testament custom of the kinsman redeemer. If a family member was sold into slavery a close relative good by off the debt and redeem that family member. This a form of “gap” ministry whereby God in His Grace makes provision for those who fall outside of the biblical model. Therefore, Gospel men are to “stand in the gap” and seek to be a father to the fatherless.

Within the family there is a priority of relationships. Firstly should be the father's and mother's relationship (as one flesh) with Jesus. Secondly should be the marriage relationship of the father and mother. Thirdly is the mother and father (again as one united body) in a parental relationship with the children. The parents should never allow anything to come between them or their relationship with Christ.

The great misconception among Christians is that the church building is the center of our worship. The center of our worship is to be our home. It is to be the center of the Christian education of our children. We must not avoid Gospel conversations and discussions of Jesus and his work. Quite to the contrary. WE SHOULD SEEK OUT THE GOSPEL ANSWER TO ALL QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS.

Gospel Manhood - part 5

2009-03-04T23:12:00.002-06:00

What does Gospel Leadership look like?

A Gospel leader follows the example of Jesus and lives a Spirit filed, led and enabled life of servant leadership. Leading by both example and command in submission to Jesus and the authorities placed over him.

Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV

22: Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23: For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
24: Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26: that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27: so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28: In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29: For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
30: because we are members of his body.
31: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32: This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
33: However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 6:1-9 ESV

1: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2: "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
3: "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6: not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7: rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8: knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9: Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

For context and as a counterpoint, consider also what Solomon writes in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV

10: An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12: She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13: She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14: She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15: She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
16: She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17: She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18: She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19: She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20: She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21: She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22: She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23: Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24: She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25: Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27: She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31: Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

As we can see from verse 16, the Proverbs 31 woman is no Stepford wife. See is a strong woman who willingly submits out of strength and not out of weakness.

Gospel Manhood - part 4

2009-03-04T23:09:00.003-06:00

What does it mean to lead your family in worship?

What is Worship?

Romans 12:1-3 ESV

1: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3: For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Worship is so much more than gathering to sing a few moldy hymns, it is more than southern “gospel”, and it is more than rocking out, eyes closed and hands raised to contemporary christian music. Worship is more than music, more than prayer, more than church attendance, more that evangelism, more than simple good works.

OUR WHOLE LIVES ARE TO BE LIVED NOW AND IN ETERNITY AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP.

Proper worship puts God in His proper place and puts man in our proper place. We were created by God, foreknown and predestined for worship for eternity.

Gospel Manhood - part 3

2009-03-04T23:03:00.003-06:00

Salvation can rightly be described as an eternal plan, an event, a process and an eternal destination. The True Gospel sees the story of God's Grace as having its foundation in eternity past, its content expressed in 7 C's and its final abiding state in eternity future.
The TRUE GOSPEL

Gospel Manhood - part 2

2009-03-04T23:01:00.003-06:00

What is a “saving relationship?”

Perhaps even better stated is “What is Salvation?” Perhaps we ask as the Philippian Jailer did of Paul - “What must I do to be saved?”.

Acts 16:25-34 ESV

25: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26: and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
27: When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28: But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
29: And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30: Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31: And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
32: And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33: And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
34: Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Here we see a clear picture of the process of salvation. God in His infinite Grace extends a call, The Gospel is preached, the jailer responds – not just in word but with ACTION!

So that we don't get the mistaken idea that somehow the jailer saved himself by his acceptance, belief and confession we need the whole counsel of God revealed by Paul in Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV

1: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2: in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
3: among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5: even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
6: and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7: so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9: not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The key to this passage is to understand that dead men can do nothing!

Gospel Manhood - part 1

2009-03-04T22:58:00.005-06:00

What is a Gospel Man

A Gospel man is an adult male who is in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and leads his family in the worship of God. Unless you meet these 2 conditions you are not a man, but are in fact an overgrown boy with expensive toys playing house – and church.

What is a “saving relationship with Jesus Christ?”

We often throw out this nugget of christianese with out even thinking of the meaning behind the words. This question must be divided into 2 parts to be correctly answered – Let's unpack it a give meaning back to this amazing thought.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone who forms along with the apostles and the prophets our foundation. This where we must begin.

Ephesians 2:18-22 ESV

18: For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21: in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22: In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We must see Christ as John saw Him -

John 1:1-5 ESV

1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2: He was in the beginning with God.
3: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4: In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We must see Christ as Stephen saw Him -

Acts 7:51-60 ESV

51: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
52: Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
53: you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
54: Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
55: But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56: And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57: But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
58: Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59: And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60: And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

5 Latin Phrases Every Christian Needs to Know

2009-03-04T16:18:00.005-06:00

There are 5 latin phrases that every Christian needs to know because they summarize the essentials that as believers in Christ form the core of our essential doctrine.

These 5 phrases are often called the "Five Pillars of the Protestant Reformation".

The 5 are, with the English translation of each:

Sola Scriptura - by scripture alone
Sola Fide - by faith alone
Sola Gratia - by grace alone
Solus Christus - by Christ alone
Soli Deo Gloria - glory to God alone

A confession I am privileged to make because of God's eternal plan and Jesus's completed work on the cross is:

I am a sinner saved - this is to say Instantly Justified, Progressively Sanctified, and Ultimately Glorified - by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Jesus Christ Alone according to the Scriptures Alone for the Glory of God Alone.

This is the hill upon which I will fight and die - beneath the banner of the Cross.