In recent history, black Christians have generally voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate, while white Evangelicals tend to vote Republican. Many white Evangelicals wonder how anyone could vote for a Democrat who supports the killing of innocent babies. And while abortion is wrong, perhaps we white Evangelicals should take a look at a deeper issue. Are we making an idol out of the Republican party? Are we trusting in Conservatism to “save” us?

The people of Israel had the same problem in Jeremiah 2. Instead of looking to God to provide for them, they looked to Egypt and Assyria. Therefore God confronts them. “And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?” (Jeremiah 2:18).

Just as Israel looked to the Egyptians and Assyrians for peace and comfort, I believe that American Evangelicals look to politicians and parties for what only God provides. I understand all the arguments why we should vote this way or that. I just think that we Evangelicals need to stand back and ask ourselves where we get our identity from. If it’s in anything other than God, we must destroy those idols and return to worship the only God.

Family Integrated Church

I used to teach a college-aged Sunday School class. Somewhere along the way, I got the distinct feeling that separating that group from the rest of the group was unhelpful at best. Since then, my conviction has grown to cover other age-segregrated groups as well. I now believe that the church is made up of families and that those families should worship together as a unit.

I'm glad that there is a movement that addresses this concern that I've had for several years now. The Family Integrated Church movement is gaining some momentum as various publications hit the street. Those interested should check out Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham and Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views, edited by Timothy Jones.

Music and Worship

We recently started attending a new church. It is a small fellowship with a normal attendance of 60. The congregational music consists mainly of hymns, accompanied by a piano and organ. I had once swore to myself and to my wife that I would never attend a church that had an organ. Why the change?

I enjoy music. Not just listening to it, but the theory behind it. When I hear music, I don't just hear the melody. I hear the harmonies, the instrumentation, the rhythms. So when I to a church that has a full band, I become entranced by each instrument. I watch the drummer, the keyboardist, the guitarist, and the bassist, paying close attention to the parts they are playing. It's not that I do it on purpose. It's automatic. My heart is almost never moved during the music portion of a worship service that features a full band.

But at this little church, things are simple. No distractions. No big production. Just all of us singing about our Savior. And those are the times that choke me up. Those are the moments that I most clearly see Jesus and His wonderful love for us. Simple church. Simple praise.

New Post

Just wanted to add a new post because I haven't written anything since June. That's all.

Brock

I wrote this blog a few weeks ago but just had the nerve to post it today.

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I have worked at Johnson County (KS) Juvenile Detention Center since March 2007. I started out on the evening shift, but ended up on the night shift—where I’ve been for about a year and a half. I do shift work, so I don’t have much interaction with staff from other shifts except the exchange of pertinent information about our residents.

Last November, I stayed over to work overtime on the day shift. I was already acquainted with an officer by the first name of Brock. But now, since I was working on his shift, I could talk with him. After some generalities, he asked, “You went to seminary right?” I said yes. He went on to describe a ring that his late grandfather had left behind. On the inside of the band, it was marked with the word “Mizpah.” Brock asked what the word meant because he had heard it was from the Bible. I told him that it was a word used in Genesis 31 in the account of Jacob and Laban parting ways.

Later on in the day, I asked Brock if he had ever considered following Jesus. His answer surprised me. It was not hostile. His attitude was not belligerent. He simply said, “No, I’ve never even thought of it. Our family has never even discussed it or considered it.”A few days later, I gave Brock a copy of More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell. I told him that maybe we could get together and discuss what he thought about it. Sometime later, he told me that he had read most of it, so I suggested that we go out for lunch or dinner on that Thursday or Friday. He agreed to go out to dinner on one of those nights (I can’t remember which one.) However, because of family commitments, he suggested that we wait to meet until after the holiday season was over.

January came and I presented a new Bible to Brock. He explained that he had read the first half of the Old Testament for a class at St. Mary’s College. I recommended that he start in the New Testament. “Start reading in John,” I said. “You’ll see that Jesus is God and that he died so that we could have forgiveness of sins.”He thanked me for the gift and said that he would start reading soon. I again suggested that we get together. And again he agreed to meet with me on that Thursday or Friday evening.

On Wednesday morning, though, he approached me in the hallway. “I’m struggling with some issues,” he said. “Today, I’m checking into a treatment facility. Obviously, I won’t be able to meet with you tomorrow.” I told Brock that I would pray for him.I sent him an e-mail later. In the message, I quoted Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” I wrote, “Brock, I will be praying for you.” He replied with a message thanking me.

I didn’t want to be pushy, so I backed off and figured that, if he wanted to meet or discuss Christ, I would let him approach me. So time went on and never asked me about it again. About 2 weeks ago, I saw Brock in the locker room at work. I asked him if he had been reading anything lately. He mentioned 2 different books—neither of them the Bible. I had to go back to my work responsibilities. Little did I know… that was our last conversation.

On Wednesday, May 20th, Brock chose to end his life. A million questions flooded my mind this week. Why would he leave a wife and 2 sons behind? Why couldn’t I speak to him once more about the gospel? A million tears flooded my eyes. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not fair. I’ve never known anyone personally that committed suicide. It’s new, unfamiliar, unfriendly territory.
There are many issues I’ve had to work through and lessons to learn. I won’t list them all—and to tell the truth, I don’t feel like writing much more about this right now—but I would say that the most important lesson is this: Be urgent about sharing the gospel. You never know how much time someone has left. You never know what they are going through.

Each and every person desperately needs to hear the terrible news that they are a sinner and will be punished in hell for their sins. They need to hear the good news that Jesus came to die for sinners and rose again from the dead. Tell them to follow Christ—to turn from their sin and trust in Jesus to rescue them from sin and hell—and they will receive eternal life with God.

Missions and Evangelism

Christian missions is a subject very close to my heart. Trisha and I intended to serve God overseas, but He had other plans for us. So now I help in the area of missions at our church. One of the ideas that I have discussed with leadership is the difference between missions and evangelism.

One of our church's missionaries recently spoke on the difference. It is basically this: Our outreach--our sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--in the community is evangelism. There's already a church established in the area. Missions, on the other hand, is the task of taking the Gospel outside of ourselves to an area that does not have access to the Gospel.

After he spoke, I was inspired to write this little limerick called "Missions and Evangelism." Note: Shawnee, Kansas is the town in which we live and where our church is located.

Missions and Evangelism

Though it may be a matter of degree
I quite emphatically agree
100 percent,
the two are different.
We cannot confuse them, you see.

The goal of them both is the same:
Making disciples in Jesus' name.
Gospel access is the key;
It may be known in Shawnee
But the entire world knows not God's fame.

Lord of the Rings

I did it. I finally watched Fellowship of the Ring, the first of the LOTR trilogy. For all of you fans out there, I want to be respectful. So, I will just note the length of the movie. Wow! I think I could've read the book in the time it took to watch the film. I could've done a lot of things.

It wasn't a bad movie, and I will suspend judgment until I see all three. (I hope I have enough time this decade to sit through the next two.) But I think the Chronicles of Narnia set is more compelling, although I hate The Last Battle and its ending. Darn Lewis' theology of inclusivism.

In fact, off the top of my head, I can think of several trilogies that are more compelling than LOTR, starting with The Matrix, X-Men, Ocean's 11/12/13, and even Shrek.

I've got an uncle who loves the LOTR story. He lives out in New Jersey and he came to Missouri (where my Grandma lives) for Christmas or vacation or something like that. He watched one of the LOTR movies in a theater in every state that he passed through. I think he saw it like 11 times. Yeah, that's just bizarre.

Anyway, he smacked me when I told him I hadn't seen any of the LOTR movies yet. I think the next time I see him, I'll ask if he's seen the High School Musical trilogy. I'm guessing he hasn't. So watch out, Uncle Dan! My hand flies where it wants!