This last week ChristianAudio announced that they were giving away the audiobook for free for the month of November. Get it get it get it! You can also read it online for free.

I have just finished listening to it. Oh my is it a gold mine. This particular piece nailed me to the floor. From chapter 7.

What about the Lake Home?

So what does a pastor say to his people concerning the purchase and ownership of two homes in a world where 2,000 people starve to death every day and mission agencies cannot penetrate more unreached peoples for lack of funds ? First, he may quote Amos 3: 15-”I will smite the winter house and the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish; and the great houses shall come to an end.” Then he may read Luke 3:11, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none.”

Then he might tell about the family in St. Petersburg, Florida, who caught a vision for the housing needs of the poor. They sold their second home in Ohio and used the funds to build houses for several families in Immokalee, Florida.

Then he will ask, Is it wrong to own a second home that sits empty part of the year? And he will answer, Maybe and maybe not. He will not make it easy by creating a law. Laws can be obeyed under constraint with no change of heart; prophets want new hearts for God, not just new real estate arrangements. He will empathize with their uncertainty and share his own struggle to discover the way of love. He will not presume to have a simple answer to every lifestyle question.

But he will help them decide. He will say, “Does your house signify or encourage a level of luxury enjoyed in heedless unconcern of the needs of others? Or is it a simple, oft-used retreat for needed rest and prayer and meditation that sends people back to the city with a passion to deny themselves for the evangelization of the unreached and the pursuit of justice?”

He will leave the arrow lodged in their conscience and challenge them to seek a lifestyle in sync with the teaching and life of the Lord Jesus.

Ed Stetzer Shares 7 Big Church Planting Mistakes

As a teaser, here are the 7 mistakes: check the article for the explanations.

1. Forgetting the mission.
2. Being married to a model (way of doing things).
3. Not taking care of yourself. (physically, spiritually, taking care of family)
4. Arrogance.
5. Not taking believers deeper.
6. Ignoring hidden agendas.
7. Afraid of finances.

The Gun-Belt Gospel at The Gospel Coalition Blog

Three quick bullets (pardon the pun) from the article:

1. The lost are not targets of opportunity. They are not prospects. An encounter with them is not an argument to be won.

2. Converts are not the goal. Disciples are. Any method of evangelism that ends with the ‘Believer’s Prayer’ or a quick dunk in the baptismal pool but fails to produce disciples fails to be evangelism.

3. Evangelism is not about the evangelist. Evangelism isn’t about the potential convert. Evangelism is about the glory of God, spreading his renown, and adding to the chorus of those who will praise him forever.

Darrell Klaver has been playing organ and piano at Community Church of Kamrar, Iowa for decades. CCoK is my wife’s “home church” (where she grew up and where her family still worships). It is a small but mighty church in the exact middle of nowhere.

I think I used to smile and chuckle a little bit in an “isn’t that quaint” fashion at Darrell’s extremely skilled, if a bit melodramatic, organ playing that reminded me of a turn-of-the-century silent film accompaniment. (Yes, an extremely arrogant judgement, and no, I’ve never seen a silent film.)

Darrell is in his mid-eighties, a very recent widower, and currently lives in the same assisted living facility that my grandfather does. This is where we encountered him tonight while paying Grandpa a visit on Kate’s first birthday.

Nancy asked Darrell how he’s been and he replied, “Not too well.’ Suffering from the same medical and emotional conditions any eighty-something recent widower who is all alone except for the occasional visit from family members would. He was also recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, though, “My hands are holding up so far.” He had also returned from the funeral of a longtime friend and fellow CCoK member who recently died of sudden and rapid cancer, just an hour prior.

Darrell was delighted to see Kate and and talk for awhile with Nancy. We asked if maybe he could play a few songs on the small Kurzweil keyboard in the sitting room. He quietly obliged. We went on with our visit with Grandpa.

After a few minutes I started recognizing the hymns he was playing. Majesty, The Old Rugged Cross, and What a Friend We Have In Jesus. I struggled a bit to hold back tears (which are coming back as I recount the scene). I took the above picture quickly and at a distance because I lacked the courage to explain the tears should he ask, and I didn’t want to disturb his beautiful playing.

This man, back from a funeral visitation, recently widowed, alone in a nursing home, newly diagnosed with a chronic, degenerative illness, and what was coming out of his heart?

Majesty, worship his majesty;
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
Flow from his throne unto his own, his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings

and

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

and my personal favorite

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

He finished with a rather rousing rendition of “God Bless America”, quietly got up, shut the keyboard off, and headed back to his room. We managed to catch him to thank him and share some birthday cupcakes with him.

I wept because I realized my pride in scoffing at his playing for years. True I loved him and appreciated him and his faithful service to that church, just didn’t think much of the music. What a fool I am. This man is ten times the worship leader I am.

I pray that when I am in his position, my heart will be in the same place. Thank you Darrell for your example. I’ll be sharing this with you next time I see you. If I’m able.

Reading this text blew my mind and sent me on a tangent that lasted for most of the sermon. I’d like to share with you some thoughts I’ve had after stewing on this for several days now.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.

Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Whoa.

Once we are done reeling at the magnitude of the scene presented here (which may take a couple years of processing), we start noticing details. Walk through the scene with me.

1. All the dead are resurrected and stand before God’s throne.
2. The books, containing a record of everything everyone has done in life are opened. (That’s a lot of books.)
3. Another, separate book is opened. The Book of Life.
4. Everyone is judged according to the content of the first set of books.
5. Anyone whose name is not written in The Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire.

Whoa again. I can never read this or think through it without feeling a bit like I’ve been punched in the stomach. After we catch our breath, we can make a few observations. I deduce the following from these events:

Judged by our deeds: Guilty.

• Everyone is judged to be guilty according to the content of the first set of books and is headed for the fire.
• Anyone whose name is found in the book of life is, for some reason, spared (saved from!) this fate.

There is one other logical possibility if we focus solely this passage: some correlation between the contents of the books (your deeds in life) and the presence of one’s name in the book of life. A plain reading of Romans will quickly negate this, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..” (Romans 3:23-24) This passage in Romans also gives us some clue as to the nature of the Book of Life.

Quick summary: We will be judged by our deeds, and found guilty, deserving punishment in hell for eternity. If our name is found written in the book of life, however, we will be spared this fate.

What is this Book of Life?

It is mentioned several other times in the New Testament, notably in Revelation:

Revelation 13:8

…and all who dwell on earth will worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Key characteristics of the Book of Life

• It belongs to The Lamb who was slain (Jesus Christ)
• It was written before the foundation of the world.

This second characteristic is mind-blowing to me. Your name was written in the book of life before the world began. You were chosen for salvation from the lake of fire (the just punishment that you deserve for the content of your life) before the world began.

And it has this ultimate effect

Revelation 21:27

But nothing unclean will ever enter [the new Jerusalem], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The brackets here are my words. It is with pain that I excerpt this verse from the magnificent description of the new Jerusalem, heaven on earth, God making his dwelling with man.

It is only the presence of your name in the Book of Life that grants entrance to the new Jerusalem, what we typically call Heaven.

This IS The Gospel!

Your deeds in life earn you torment for eternity in the lake of fire. This is true for all people. If your name has been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain, you will be spared this fate.

How do you know if your name is written in the book?

This is the obvious question that results from the above (I hope). The question is answerable (at least partially).

You see, your name (if it is there) was not easily written in this book. In a poetic sense, this book is written with blood; Jesus’ blood.

God would be unjust, and therefore unrighteous, (and therefore not God!) if he let your sin go unpunished. He did punish your sin. The punishment you earned with the deeds of your life was carried out upon Jesus 2000 years ago at the cross. He was accused of deeds he was innocent of, but you are guilty of. He was punished for things you deserve to be punished for, so that you might not receive punishment.

Do you believe this? Does this stir your soul to a life of gratitude to Christ? Does this gratitude lead to a self-sacrificial attitude of service to others in word and deed in order to bring God glory for this? This is what is meant by “faith in Christ”. Faith and belief are the same concept (I wrote about this earlier.)

If this describes your life, I would wager that your name is written in the book.

If this is not the posture of your life, I would urge you to consider the historical fact, the reality, of the above message, and let it change your mind about God, because if you do not accept this reality, you are still headed toward that lake of fire.

The life of belief/faith in this message (acceptance of this message) is marked by repentance. Repentance means a turning away from, and change of mind about the way you are living your life (without God). It means that you put away striving after, thinking about, and working toward anything harder than you work toward knowing God and doing His will.

But what about…

This article may raise more questions than give answers, which is fine. It borders on issues of:

• Free will
• Can one’s name be removed from the book? (see Rev. 3:5)
• Evangelism (if their name is written, why evangelize?)

And probably many other issues better left to another time. Leave a comment and debate away if you’d like. If you consider yourself a believer and have an opposing argument, GREAT! But please argue from scripture (chapter and verse are helpful) rather than simply launching your opinion.

Our days were written in his book before any of them were…

I am in love with Psalm 139 along this line. Read the whole thing when you get a chance, but I’d like to close with verses 13-16

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (emphasis mine)

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Many many things stick out about these eleven verses and I could rave about a lot of them. What hit me this morning was this: After fourteen chapters of intense instruction to the Corinthians about deep and mysterious things… he comes back and reminds them AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE of the foundation. What they need to know most is not all the mysteries about tongues, spiritual gifts, etc, but of the HISTORICAL FACT OF THE GOSPEL.

The personal realization of this historical fact drives Paul to WORK HARDER than anyone. But he does so in full view that he himself is not the source of the real work, nor does he need to somehow muster up the power or the will to do this work. Rather, it is the GRACE OF GOD THAT IS WITH HIM that is doing the work.

This reality is amazingly emboldening, confidence instilling, and peace giving.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

Don’t ever degenerate into giving advice unconnected to the good news of Jesus crucified, alive, present, at work, and returning.

—Seeing with New Eyes (P&R, 2003), p. 43.

A quick 4 minute interview well worth your time.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Faith is not a thing that can be placed. It is not a commodity that we possess, like so many chips at a casino, to place on a specific number in hopes that the craps wheel lands on our guess…

Faith is a perception of reality. An “assurance” and a “conviction”.

Faith and belief are the same concept, as used in the new testament.

Faith does have an object. You believe in something. More accurately, having faith is accepting as reality, a concept, truth, statement of fact, etc.

When you faith something, (believe something), you aren’t choosing to acknowledge one reality over the next arbitrarily. Your reality shifts to include the thing you have faith in.

It is an “enlightenment” of sorts, though not in the buddhist sense, but in the “fumbling around in a dark room until someone flips the light-switch on” sense.

We are not told to “place our faith”, we are told to “have faith in God!” or another way to put it “believe God!”. It is also my conviction that this is not something an individual can do on their own. This sort of belief is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Do a word study on Faith with this lens. See what you come up with.

This is a thought in process and I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say about it. It is unrefined and needs help, which is why I posted it. Help.

I was playing my guitar earlier today, and as usual Elena walked over and asked to start strumming the guitar. The difference is that this time, she started singing along. The tune was indiscernible, so I assume she was inventing it.

I think I captured the lyrics fairly accurately. Here they are.

Once upon a time
there was a happy little lady
and her name was mommy
and her name was mommy
and her name was mommy

And she was playing with her magic ball
and she was going to the potty
but she was not going in her pants
she was going all by herself
she was going
she was going
she was going
she was going
she was going
but not forever and ever.

“Talk of the Town” Rhubarb Muffins

1 egg, beaten
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. oil
1 c. buttermilk (OR 1 T. lemon juice mixed with 1 c. milk, let sit 5 min…I used this and it worked well)

1-1/4 c. brown sugar
2-1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1-1/2 c. rhubarb, finely chopped (so you get a rhubarb “kick” in each bite :))
1/2 c. nuts, chopped (optional)

Sugar topping:
1 T. butter, melted
1/3 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon

Mix wet ingredients and add to combined dry ingredients. For sugar topping, mix sugar and cinnamon before adding melted butter. Fill 20 muffin cups and sprinkle on sugar topping. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes, using toothpick test to determine “doneness.”

This is a great recipe to share with friends and neighbors since it makes such a big batch (20). Maybe it’ll be the talk of YOUR neighborhood soon!

I get asked occasionally, “What did faith look like in the Old Testament? If they didn’t have Christ, what did God want them to have faith in?”

I think that Psalm 119 in general, and these two lines from it specifically, reflect that kind of faith very well.

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, When will you comfort me?
Psalm 119:81-82

We can still pray this today. We know that God’s Word and his promise IS Jesus! Psalm 119:81-82 would read something like this today:

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in JESUS. My eyes long to see Jesus, When will you comfort me?

“…For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Pharisees we’re perfect (outwardly) according to the law (which is what Jesus is talking about here, obedience to the law). How could anyone’s righteousness exceed perfection? This must have been a bit discouraging and confusing to the crowd. Jesus then goes on to “crank up” the requirements of the law, making it even MORE difficult!

Paul said this (Philippians 3:4-12)

“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more : circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish [dung, B.S.!], in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

I love this thought. Any striving on our own to become worthy of righteousness is B.S.

Jesus has made us his own, and that is the reason God considers us righteous.

And you know what? That inspires me to want to love the people around me (and everything else the law says we ought to do.)

The purpose of prayer is strengthening of our relationship with God.

Psalm 63 David had a pasionate and vibrant relationship with God

But our relationship is “shadowy” (1 cor 13) and a bit subjective and obscure. How is it possible to have this sort of relationship?

• God knows you more intimately than any other person.
• God loves more deeply than anyone, he died on the cross for us.
• Our relationship with him is safer than any other. We can share anything with him without fear of betrayal.
• He is able to communicate more clearly with us through his spirit.
• He is more faithful than any other friend.

A few years ago, Dave begam to Take an extended time alone in prayer.
* start with a few hours * then to an entire afternoon * then to a day * then to several days

Like in a marriage, a lot of interaction is functional and businesslike, but you need time to simply be together and talk about whatever is on your mind.

Consider starting to do this.

But what do you do?

Read the article: how to spen a day in prayer.

Six thing that have helped Dave in time alone in prayer:

1. Schedule it: find a time and a secluded place (husbands help your wife do this)
2. Reflect on the condition of you soul. (psalm 42)
3. Refresh yourself in the truth. (read his word)
4. Give thanks and praise to god. (discipline yourself to give thanks)
5. Cast your burdens upon god through supplication.
6. Quiet your soul to listen.

What is the unique power of Christianity compared to other religions? We have the power from God to be changed from the inside out.

Enhance your relationship with God by getting an extended time alone with God.

Luke 10:41-42 – only one thing is really necessary.

You’ll have to cut out something to make this happen, maybe even ministry goals.

Where do you want to be in your walk with god 5 years from now. What decisions do you have to make to get there.

This might even go against the current culture of our church.

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” ~Romans 5:8-11

Isn’t God’s love amazing?

What is the right thing for a powerful, righteous king to do to his enemies? Destroy them, right? Purify the land. Keep his loyal subjects safe…

Can you imagine Jesus, in the comfort and glory of heaven, agreeing together with the father that the right thing to do for His enemies is to be destroyed their place?

It’s a wonderful thing that God, in His love and sovereignty decided this too. We were His enemies, in danger of that destruction. But God loves YOU… He LOVES you… so much that He’d do the dying for us.

What does he ask of us? To act like him. To be “sons of your father”.

Who do you consider as your enemy? Do you love them?

At its root, weariness is often the result of pride and self-sufficiency in my life. When I neglect casting my cares upon the Lord, the heavy fatigue of weariness will settle into my soul.

I’ve recently read four excellent books on the topic of missiology specifically related to the culture we live in, how to understand it and how to speak to it: Breaking The Missional Code, They Like Jesus but Not The Church, Unchristian, and most recently Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them.

Several things strike me about these books.

1. They are all written based on a healthy mixture of good data (research!) and objective, Spirit-led observation of reality around them, through relationship with those that are being written about.

2. They all provide biblically-based principals, rather than faddish methodologies, based on analysis of this research and observation.

3. They all come to approximately the same conclusions.

I feel that we would do well to listen up, especially since these books come from three different organizations from three different “corners of the church” (Barna Research Group, a large church in California, and LifeWay research), and therefore aren’t simply creating an echo chamber of thought.

Perhaps soon I will get around to reviewing all of them, but this post is concerned with the Lost and Found book.

Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and The Churches that Reach Them

Of the four, I found this book to be the easiest to digest, with the most recent data, clearly stated methodologies and goals, with to-the-point analysis at the end of each chapter.

The book is an engaging read. A well structured balance of research based data, personal interview, and an engaging “true story” narrative that glues the concepts together with practical advice.

The book’s introduction speaks well to its purpose:

Much has been written and said about younger adults and their view of church. You don’t need a lot of research to tell you what you already know…

…this is not a prescripbe book with magical answers to the problems plaguing churches devoid of young adults. Each church we profile, like yours, is unique in setting, ministry, and calling…

…in this book [the authors] are asking one simple question: Who are the yong unchruched and how can they be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ? (OK, that’s two questions)…

…We realize you do not need another book of statistics. But what we do need is something to help all of us engage an increasingly lost generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need tools that will help us seek and save those of this generation who are lost. As you read, our prayer is that you will be challenged to take action, so that the lost may be found.

After reading the book, it occurred to me that some churches DO need a book of statistics. It seems that even in our intuitive knowledge of the problem that Christianity is considered hypocritically judgmental, and concerned more with it’s own organization than with people, we do little to help this situation, probably because we don’t fully understand the problem.

We bristle at critiques that call us judgmental and hypocritical, saying that we’re simply pointing out sin. We hide behind verses that tell us that the world is going to hate us.

We fail to realize that for some people that God brings into our sphere of influence, we are called to help heal years of hurt from past religious institutions.

We fail to acknowledge that some people simply aren’t going to come to our church, no matter how cool our music is, how “casual” and “lingo free” we try to be, or how many “bring a friend to church sundays” we organize and exhort our people to.

The fact is that Jesus called us to go out among the lost.

I was shocked at the statistics that showed how little of a difference the “young unchurched” reported the style of music or service made in their decision to check out a church or not.

What matter to them are deep relationships and authentic community where it is safe to ask the hard questions without being told to “just have faith”. Along with people who actually care enough about the community they are in to get involved in it, rather than simply protest it, picket it, bemoan it’s fallenness, or simply huddle up an ignore it.

Read this book.