the reluctant leader

Random Acts of Green & the Real St Patrick

My waiter at Nero's Cafe had green hair today and my barista wore a goofy green top hat.

Beyond the random acts of green, what should we know about St. Patrick and his day?

Fifteen hundred years ago Ireland was an idol-worshipping, slave-trading nation of savage pagans. In just one generation Ireland was transformed into a godly nation known for its scholars and missionaries.

The best-selling book “How the Irish Saved Civilization” tells how this national transformation was primarily the work of one man, Patrick. During his thirty years of missionary work in Ireland, Patrick helped establish over 700 churches and schools and trained over 3000 ministers. But his ministry went beyond just church work. He also helped transform government reform laws that brought the end of slavery in Ireland.

I guess he did more than wear green hats, drink green beer, and sponsor parades.

Instead of merely going green today, why not celebrate St Patrick's Day the way Patrick would, by MAKING DISCIPLES?

"Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28).

Patrick did. We can too.

When Life is Not Fair

I tweeted the following a few hours ago: While reading the book of Job this morning, I had this thought: MY LIFE IS GOOD. #thankful #fb

Yep, I'm reading the book of Job this week. Not my favorite book of the Bible, but I always gain new insight every time I read about Job's catastrophic struggles, his self-righteous friends and his amazing God. After reading Job, I always end up very thankful. If you feel that life is not fair, then I suggest a strong dose of Job.

Here are some thoughts I blogged after reading Job a few years ago, about the time that Typhoon Ondoy baptized Manila in flood waters, destroying homes, wiping out businesses and taking lives.

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1. Bad things happen to seemingly good and innocent people. Four times Job is described by God as "blameless and upright" yet he experienced horrible suffering.

2. The devil is real and he comes to "steal, kill and destroy." Chapter 1 makes it clear that all Job's pain and loss was an act of the devil, not an act of God.

3. People experiencing bad times need good friends. When you have friends who are suffering, try doing what Job's friends did in Job 2:13 "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."

4. Good friends often give bad counsel. Unfortunately, after that week of silence, Job's friends opened their mouths and stuck both feet in, nasty sandals and all.

5. Some things can't be explained and some "why" questions can't be answered. The book of Job never answers the "why" question. But it does paint a good picture of "how" - how to find God in our pain and how to respond to calamity in a way that honors God.

6. We can find God in our pain and loss, if we do what Job did when he realized the extent of his loss - "then he fell to the ground in worship..." (Job 1:20) Do we only worship God in the good times?

7. In the end, the blessing of God caught up with and overtook Job. Most people don't press through and read the whole book of Job. But if you endure til the end, you will find that "the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former." (Job 42:12) And if we endure past our pain, we will find God in the end.

My 2011 Top 10 Christmas Movies

Since Christmas movies have been playing all week, I thought it was time to update and post my annual Top 10 Must-See Christmas Movie List. Here's last year's list. And here's my 2011 list:

10. The Family Man (2000) - A modern version of the best Christmas movie ever (see my #1) starring Nicolas Cage, before he got in IRS trouble and started making lousy movies. Bonus: Don Cheadle is the best angel since Clarence. 

9. Joyeux Noel (2006) - Last Christmas our oldest son introduced us to this Oscar-nominated true story of German, French & Scottish troops in WWI who called a ceasefire on Christmas Eve. Peace on Earth, at least for a night. 

8. Bells of St Mary's (1945) - Bing Crosby as a priest. Ingrid Bergman as a nun. The movie is a bit slow at times, but the 5 minute 1st grade Christmas pageant is worth watching over and over. 

7. Elf (2003) - Opening scene with Sr Elf, Bob Newhart, reading the intro story about different types of elves is worth the price of the DVD.

6. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) - Black and white classic that never gets old.

5. The Nativity Story (2006) - What The Passion of the Christ is to Holy Week, this movie is to Christmas.

4. Christmas Vacation (1989) - It doesn't really feel like Christmas until Cousin Eddie shows up.

3. Die Hard (1988) - Some doubt this is a Christmas movie, but the whole thing took place during an office Christmas party. Bonus: Hans Gruber is the best movie bad guy ever.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - Wish they still made them like this. Bonus: one of my all-time fav soundtracks, real Jazz on a Christmas album.

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - THE Christmas classic of all Christmas classics.

PS: Every year after I post my updated list, I get comments asking why A Christmas Story is not on my list. Here's the simple answer: because it's my list and I hate that movie.

Can I Get A Witness?

Can't get the idea of being a witness off my mind today. Here's why:

- At church yesterday (Bethel Franklin) the band played one of those "Can-I-Get-A-Witness-Shout-Amen" gospel songs.

- This morning I opened my Purple Book to page 113 and answered questions based on Acts 1:8 that asked, "What is a witness? What does it mean to be Christ's witness? Where were Christ's followers to be witnesses?"

- Then I clicked the sports page and read about Tim Tebow's latest football exploits and how his teammates admit he is a 24/7 witness.

A witness is someone who tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

1. THE TRUTH. A long time ago a powerful, but misguided political leader asked Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) Good question. Jesus pre-answered that question in John 14, "I am the way and the truth and the life." Do you talk about the Truth, not just the facts, but the Person? 

2. THE WHOLE TRUTH. It is common for pastors and church people to edit unpopular truth out of their sermons and conversations, but a true witness will un-apologetically tell the WHOLE truth, and...

3. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Nothing added. No matter how popular and relevant the ad-on might be. Even if Oprah's latest guru of the month endorses it. A witness tells nothing but the truth.

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." --Jesus in Acts 1:8

Can HE get a witness - one who will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

 

 

My Favorite Thanksgiving Ever

I read a Thanksgiving fb post this morning written by a good friend, an American who lives in Singapore. My friend also happens to be Native American, from the Hopi tribe. That fb post brought back a flood of good memories.

Our favorite Thanksgiving ever was the year our "Indian" friend from Singapore happened to be in Manila on Thanksgiving Day. My family will never forget the Indian stories our friend told his pale-faced hosts, stories that had been passed down from generation to generation. The meaning of Thanksgiving came to life to our three young sons as they sat mesmerized listening to a "real Indian" tell story after story about his ancestors and their encounters with the white man and his God.

After reading my friend's post, I read President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation (below) and Stephen Mansfield's Thanksgiving blog. Both inspired, convicted and challenged me. My conclusion, in the words of the legendary missionary to Mexico, Brother Ignacio "Nacho": "My life is good. Really good. Be grateful..."

Like Nacho, I have much to be thankful for. My wife. My sons. My friends. My church. My job. And most of all, my Lord and Savior. Yes, MY LIFE IS GOOD!

For those interested, here is Lincoln's speech calling Americans back to God for a day of thanksgiving. Sounds more like a sermon than a presidential proclamation.

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By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

A Thanksgiving Blog: Where Are the Other Nine?

You know the story. Luke 17. Jesus meets 10 lepers. Leprosy in the Bible times was an incurable disease, dooming its victims to a life of poverty, rejection and hopelessness.

According to Jewish Levitical law and cultural tradition, any time lepers were around normal people they were supposed to broadcast their problem by shouting "unclean, unclean."  But the 10 lepers in Luke 17 broke the rules, and rather than shouting their problem, they shouted the answer. 

And, Jesus healed them. He didn't heal all lepers, but he healed the 10 who broke the religious rules and shouted the answer. 

Here's the strange, but sadly familiar part of the story. Only 1 of 10 returned to say "thanks."

Only one. 1. Uno. Isa. Satu. Une. Eins. Een. واحد. ένας. אחד. один. एक. 하나. ひとつ. หนึ่ง. ONE! 

Jesus ends the Luke 17 story with a question: Where are the other nine? We are not told where they were, but we can speculate. One was busy at work. Another was at his kid's soccer game. Some were on the testimony circuit, telling everyone what Jesus did for them. But only 1 made time to return to Jesus and give him praise and say thanks.

Like the 10 lepers, I was a hopeless case, until Jesus made me clean and whole. But too often I am more like the 9 than the 1. I am too busy to return and say thanks. I get so busy telling the world what he did for me, that I have no time to daily return to Him and say thanks. Does this sound like you? Not good.

In America this week is a holiday we call Thanksgiving, a day to overeat and watch American football. And hopefully a day to say THANKS to God for all He has done for us.

Final thought. Be the 1. Not the 9. Not just on Thanksgiving. Every day.

 

What We Can All Learn from Joel Osteen

Sitting in Tokyo airport, about to change planes on my way from Manila to Nashville, and I'm thinking about Joel Osteen, his message and his critics... and his Dad.

I'm not a big fan of Christian TV and I have never read a Joel Osteen book, but I did watch ten minutes of Bro Joel last night in Manila as I was packing for an early flight to Nashville. He was preaching to thousands in a huge baseball stadium. I know it is easy for preachers, pastors, bloggers and self-appointed theological watchdogs to criticize Joel for his comments about Mitt Romney"s Mormonism and other not-quite-orthodox statements, but that is not what this blog is about. I want to tell you what I like about the man and what we can all learn from him.

Last night was the fourth or fifth time I have watched a portion of a Joel Osteen sermon. Every time I have heard Joel preach on TV, at some point he mentions his dad, the late John Osteen. He not only mentions his dad, he honors his dad. I don't know if he honors his dad in every sermon he ever preaches, but he has honored his dad in every sermon I have heard him preach.

And that's what I like about Joel. He aways honors his dad. Maybe that is why it seems to go well with Joel, and maybe that is why Every Day is a Friday for Joel and Victoria.

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” --Ephesians 6:2

 

Crashing Planes and Crushing Myths

This was originally written for Evangelicals Today magazine. I thought I should repost it on the 10 year anniversary of 911.
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September 11, 2001. As always, I phoned my dad to wish him a happy birthday. I was getting ready for bed in Manila. He was getting ready for work in Mississippi. After a brief discussion about the US stock market, I handed the phone to my three sons so they could speak to their grandfather. As soon as we hung up, I heard my wife calling, "Quick, you have to see this. A plane just crashed into a building in New York!"

Like thousands of others around the globe, I was glued to CNN for the next few hours, watching in disbelief as three more planes crashed, killing thousands, wounding a nation, and terrorizing the world. Over the next few days the news moved me to tears, to anger, and to prayer.

I was amazed that the same news producers who usually mock and vilify preachers, were now putting them on primetime asking their perspective on the attack. The line-up included Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, TD Jakes, Dr. James Dobson, and others. Courtesy of CNN, these men probably preached the gospel to more people that week than at any other time in their lives.

Of course, the newscasters interviewed plenty of "experts" who had nothing to say, but kept talking anyway. I did not know whether to laugh or cry when they interviewed novelist, Tom Clancy. I suppose he qualified as an expert on terrorism because he once wrote a novel about a hijacked plane that crashed into a building. It's a sad commentary on contemporary culture when all it takes to be an expert is the ability to make up a good story. Here's what Mr. Clancy had to say about the situation: "We need to be careful not to overreact to this. We must realize that WE ALL SERVE THE SAME GOD OF LOVE."

Do we all serve the same God? Do all religions present a God of love?

Tom's comments about the tragedy are typical of most post-modern pseudo-intellectuals. Unfortunately even Christians get sucked into this pagan way of thinking. It is my hope that the events of September 11 will forever expose and crush the following myths that corrode the foundations of the Faith.

THE MYTH OF RELIGIOUS SINCERITY
Anyone who was ever attempted to be a witness has heard some variation of this statement: "As long as you are sincere, it doesn't really matter what you believe or which religion you follow." It seems that sincerity has replaced truth as the ultimate religious issue of our day. Unfortunately, many today are sincerely wrong.

Suppose we are both on a sinking ship and neither of us can swim. We are told to get into the inflatable lifeboats and we will be safe. We both sincerely believe what we are told and act accordingly. You get in one boat and I get in the other. One problem: my boat has a hole in it and sinks. It does not matter how sincerely I believe the boat will save me, if it has a hole then my sincerity is useless. Unfortunately many people sincerely believe in religions and philosophies that are filled with holes, destined to sink.

Don't ever forget that the pilots who crashed into the World Trade Center towers, killing thousands of innocent people, were very sincere in their service to their god. This is the result of elevating human sincerity above divine truth. Let September 11 be a reminder that truth, not sincerity is the ultimate issue.

THE MYTH OF RELIGIOUS EQUALITY
Another common myth everyone engaged in evangelism has heard goes something like this: "All religions lead to the same God."

If one person studies and practices the teachings of the Bible, another the Koran, another the Veda, another the Book of Mormon, will their values, beliefs, and lifestyles be the same? Of course not, because all religions are NOT basically the same, they are fundamentally different.

For example, Jesus taught his followers to love and serve pagans in hope that they will voluntarily turn to the true God. Even if this has not been obeyed in history, this is what Jesus taught. And it is a far cry form declaring holy war on infidels and unbelievers.

So, do all religions ultimately lead to the same God? Do all roads really end up at the same place? Does it matter which road you take if you are trying to go home? Of course it matters because all roads do not lead to the same house. If you take the wrong road, you will not reach your destination, no matter how sincere you may be.

When Thomas said to Jesus: "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) Jesus did not answer: "Thomas, my son, it does not matter which way you go because all paths ultimately lead to God."

No! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus was very narrow. He said there was only one way, not several options.

May the same acts of violence that took the lives of thousands of innocent people also destroy the myths that blind the minds of millions around the world.

"I Wish I Was A Better Father"

A couple of weeks ago while reading the latest on-line sports news, I clicked on a link to Dennis Rodman's NBA Hall of Fame acceptance speech. That 12 minute speech answered a lot of questions about the enigmatic basketball star. After viewing the video twice, I tweeted that Rodman's speech was "sad, heart-breaking & refreshingly honest." Here's a quote from speech that many can relate to:

"I have one regret: I wish I was a better father." --Dennis Rodman

Inspired by Rodman's gut-wrenching honesty and by Psalm 127, last Sunday I preached a sermon about NO REGRET PARENTING.

My basic premise: if we see children the right way, we will treat them the right way. And seeing them the right way is seeing them as the Bible describes them. The last 3 verses in Psalm 127 give us a proper, but uncommon, picture of how we should view children.

1. HERITAGE. "sons are a heritage from the Lord" (Ps 127:3) That word "heritage" comes from the same root word as inheritance - something valuable given to us by another. 

I am a watch collector. While preaching Sunday I was wearing my most valuable watch. Not my most expensive (because i didn't pay for it), but definitely my most valuable. It was a 1959 stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust. You can find a similar pre-owned Rolex Datejust on eBay for $3000. But I would not take $30,000 for mine. Why? Because of WHO gave it to me. That watch was made in 1959, the same year I was born. My Dad wore it every day of my life. He wore it to work and to coach my Little League games. He wore it when we went hunting and fishing. He wore it to my wedding. He left it to me when he died nine years ago. Maybe it is not that valuable to anyone else, but to me it is priceless - because my dad gave it to me as an inheritance. Kids are like that, times 1000. They are a "HERITAGE FROM THE LORD." Valuable. Priceless. Irreplaceable. Given to us by God.

2. REWARD. "...children are a reward from Him" (Ps 127:3) Do you see your kids as rewards, or as accidents? Did your parents see you as a reward, or as a distraction? 

3. ARROWS. "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in ones youth" (Ps 127: 4) Arrows are point & shoot, not remotely guided smart bombs. If we point arrows (kids) in the right direction, they will hit the target. But after pointing them in the right direction, we must let go, take our hands off. Some parents never take their hands off, so their kids never hit the target. Some parents take their hands off too soon. Other parents obsess over trivial details rather than direction. When we realize children are lilke arrows, we will be concerned with DIRECTION not with PERFECTION. 

I don't know how you see your kids, or how your parents saw you. But I do know that while we will never be perfect parents with perfect kids, we can avoid major regret if we learn to see kids from a bible perspective.

You can listen to this & other sermons on the Bethel-Franklin podcast page

 

 

Be Careful Who You Judge

Consider the following next time you think you have a bead on a someone's bad motive.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART" (1Sam16:7)

The Lord looked at David's heart and apparently liked what he saw. But Eliab, David's oldest brother, looked at the same heart and wrongly judged, "I know how CONCEITED you are and how WICKED your HEART is" (1Sam17:28)

We never really know the motive of someone's heart, so we need to be careful how we judge. What looks like a conceited and wicked heart might actually be the exact opposite. So, let's believe the best and leave heart judgments to God.

NOTE: This blog is simply a comment from my morning Bible reading. It is not a reaction to any contemporary issue, person, book or theological error.