I am leaving for Taiwan and Indonesia this coming Saturday.  I am going to visit with some amazing folks. 

Long flights like this are fairly boring.  I typically fill the time with some combination of reading books, sleeping or watching stupid movies.  This trip I think I'm going to drop the movies and spend my time sleeping and reading.  For the whole trip I'll probably have more than 36 hours on a plane, so, that's a lot of reading and sleeping time.

These are the books I plan to take with me.  Have you read any of these?  If so, how did you like it?  Which one should I start with? 

My thinking went something like this.  The rebellious son had a rich father.  The rich father gave his son everything he wanted, which the son quickly squandered and/or destroyed.  The son then goes off to college, aka "the far country," where he parties hard and fails out of his classes.  He then returns to his father with his "tail tucked," to be received with grace and named Vice President of the family business. 

Is this a good lens?  Is this what Jesus was trying to portray?  If not, what have I been missing all these years?

My studies have shown that reading through this lens leaves a major gap in the story.  There is no clear picture of an atoning sacrifice.  Where is the cross in the above reading?  In fact, the above understanding seems to imply that man can be reconciled to God through his own efforts, which is what has led many Muslim commentators to suggest that Jesus is reflecting Islamic theology in this parable.  

When it comes to the younger son, the first thing I now see is that he is more than rebellious.  Instead, he is mutinous, even murderous, in his actions.  To request his inheritance prior to his father's death is to admit that he can't wait for his father to die.  He would rather live life on his own than trust his father.

Second, in requesting his inheritance the younger son has not broken any law.  There is no prohibition in the law that says a son can not request his inheritance early.  What has been broken is a relationship.  Remember, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and the scribes.  I think he is telling them that relationship is more important than the law.

Third, in the parable there doesn't seem to be any true repentance in the younger son.  Most English translations say that the younger son "came to his senses" or "came to himself."  Neither of these suggest repentance.  Even in his planned story to his father he doesn't use language that reflects repentance.  Instead, he is scheming to deal with his hunger.  When he returns to the father he is not expecting to be restored to the family.  He has no idea what is coming.  He is simply hoping for the best in a terrible situation simply because he was hungry.

So, where is the cross, and thus the gospel in this story?  I think we will find more when we look at what we can learn from both the father and the elder son.  I hope to post on these soon.

Every 50 years, the Hebrew people were to declare a year when all debts are forgiven and when all property must be returned to its original owner.  It was to be a year of liberty throughout the land.

What a beautiful concept.  The captives are set free.  The debtor can stand with the lender on level ground.  Truly a season of celebration.

One of my roles in life is that of mission director for HGM (Heart of God Ministries), which is a missionary training and sending organization focused on the unreached peoples of the world.  We have a beautiful campus just east of Oklahoma City.  The campus has low cost housing for our staff and for our missionaries who are home for a brief stay.  Over the past year some of our staff have fallen behind on their rent.  The rent isn't much but it had accumulated in some cases into a difficult climb. 

Last Friday, we declared a year of jubilee for HGM.  All debts are forgiven!  Everyone gets a fresh start!

Of course, with the jubilee comes responsibility, on both sides.  Those whose debts have been forgiven should do all they can to avoid getting back into debt.  At the same time, those who are in the position of lender need to lend responsibly.  If the lender knows the borrower can't pay, then the loan should not be made.  If the landlord knows the renter can't pay, then other arrangements need to be made.  Both sides must work in a responsible manner to avoid a difficult situation (Leviticus 25:14-17).

I am truly jumping for joy at what we have done at HGM.  Now, if we can only get the rich countries of the world to do the same...

Christian approaches to Muslims

If we see Muslims as …
Enemies
Our approach will be …
Attack!/Defend!
Our heart attitude will be ..
Hate

If we see Muslims as …
Foreigners
Our approach will be …
Separate Coexistence
Our heart attitude will be ..
Indifference

If we see Muslims as …
Poor, uncivilized, uncultured
Our approach will be …
Invite them to be like us (join us)
Our heart attitude will be ..
Pharisaic/condescending

If we see Muslims as …
Rivals
Our approach will be …
Polemic debate
Our heart attitude will be ..
Proud

If we see Muslims as …
Human beings
Our approach will be …
Respectful dialogue
Our heart attitude will be ..
Listen and learn

If we see Muslims as …
Unresponsive
Our approach will be …
Resigned to do nothing
Our heart attitude will be ..
Hopeless

If we see Muslims as …
Lost people Jesus died for
Our approach will be …
Salt/light (demonstrate love)
Preach the Gospel (speak truth)
Pray for their needs (show power)
Become all things to all people (Pauline)
Our heart attitude will be ..
Love

Yesterday, I read a long, heated argument on someone's Facebook page about whether or not it was possible to be both a Christian and a Democrat.  The man who was arguing that it was not possible was quite belligerent and seemingly very un-Christian in the expression of his views.

This morning, popping up all over my Facebook newsfeed is a link to a video that claims to have proof that President Obama is a Muslim.  I watched the video and was deeply disturbed by the double threads of fear and hatred that were woven throughout.

I am also beginning to see posts referring to the Ft. Hood shooter, Major Malik Nadal Hasan, in terms that equate what this one man has done to what any Muslim would be capable of doing.  Things like, "I'm not surprised," and "What did we expect?"  Of course, these kinds of comments are founded on the assumption that all Muslims are terrorists.

I guess the thing that bothers me the most about all of this is when it is Christians who propagate it.  It is as if somehow we have mixed up our patriotism and love for country with our faith in King Jesus. 

How can we follow Love and hate those who are not like us?  How can we pray for our enemies when we are so busy demonizing them?  How can we hope for Muslims to ever know Jesus when we are so busy killing them? 

I just don't get where Jesus is in this way of thinking.  I can't take the hatred...