Author: twoznek

Husband...Father...Pastor...

Yes we can, no we shouldn’t

· Leave a comment ·

Science can tell you about nuclear energy. It can even build you a nuclear bomb. Science cannot tell you whether or not to use the bomb. I can dance. But I shouldn’t. My dancing would be considered an act of terror. Even my 3-year-old asks me to stop.

Can and should are two different questions… Why mention this?

Yes we can!
In America we have the freedom of speech. We can voice our concerns in open. We can make public demonstrations about what we value and hold dear and sacred. We can print and say what we like with little repercussions. We can burn books, protest funerals, put up cheesy phrases on signs, went it comes to speech, we can.

Because we can does not mean we should.
Take Jesus as an example of can & should. Jesus could have come in glory, demanded worship, destroyed Rome, destroyed every sinner by fire, smacked down Satan in the wilderness, but He didn’t.

Often times silent service speaks volumes louder than demonstrations. Often times the thing noticed is not exercising our rights. The concept is known as meekness. The concept is also known as humility. Both demonstrated by Jesus.

Perhaps the values of many Christians go ignored because we live in a time where only silence can be heard. Silence does not meant political inaction or non-involvement. Silence does not mean one is a coward or ashamed of the truth. Silence does not equal apathy. Silence can only mean these things if one does live, pursue and teach the truth in the first place.

The heart is the issue
I disagree with the notion that Jesus was about social action. He wasn’t. In fact, Jesus wasn’t about anything political. Jesus aimed for the heart. Without a change of heart, there can be no lasting change. Jesus knew clearly that to be heard with deafening clarity, one must show the silent resolve of a changed life.

Jesus championed truth and living out the truth. Jesus knew the only way to equal the scales of justice was by giving up would He could do for something far greater. The Bible calls this sacrifice, and for Jesus it meant the cross. Though equal with God in every way, Jesus chose to humbly submit. From a perfect life to a life of poverty, ridicule and false accusation, Jesus’ resurrection shook the foundations of history. Jesus did this to bring people back to truth. To redeem. A changed life will change society.

The Bottom line:
Can we speak and loudly proclaim? Yes. Should we? No. The silent servant is often heard louder than the person shouting on the corner. For in silent service the question builds further and further to the point of needing to be asked: Why? And when asked, the truth can be heard. Aim for the heart and you will win in the long run. Silent resolve is powerful.

Manic Monday: I don’t get labor day…

· 1 Comment ·

I don’t get labor day. Why do we take it off? Here is why I don’t get it!

Helloween: We celebrate this dark holiday by being dark.

Veterans’ Day: We honor those who served during our country’s darkest hours.

Thanks Giving: We celebrate this holiday by a feast as it was started from the abundance of God’s provision and labors of the pilgrims. “Eat, drink and enjoy the fruit of you labor, for this too is a gift from God.”

Christmas: We give gifts as the advent is an incredible gift of God to man.

New Years: We celebrate a new year and set goals, remembering the important things in life. Celebrating newness makes sense.

Presidents Day: We celebrate by taking a day off and shopping sales, all in the name of stimulating the economy, a very presidential thing to do for the last century.

“Easter”: Resurrection Sunday we celebrate the good news of Jesus rising from the dead. The food, celebrations make sense.

Memorial day: We celebrate the sacrifice the victories our country was fortunate to have and the freedoms resulting from those success.

4th of July: We celebrate the country’s birthday, again this makes sense. And, in the rocket’s red glare. we still pretty the sky and make loud booming noises.

Labor Day: We celebrate work by, well, not working. This holiday would make way more sense if it meant a day of celebration, laughter and karaoke with those you actually labor with. Taking the day off seems, well, not fitting of the holiday.

The bottom line:
My philosophy of adult life is simply this: If something makes sense, it can’t be right. Labor Day illustrates this point. Have a great day and celebrate work!

(especially on Mondays)

Linx & Stuff

· Leave a comment ·

Glenn Beck’s Moralism, God & Country Q: What do you think?
http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/08/29/god-the-gospel-and-glenn-beck/

15 tips to cycling faster Q: Do you bike? What kind?
http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/15-proven-ways-get-faster

A good time management tip! Q: How do you help budget your time?
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2wYPtH/attractionmarketingexcellence.com/blog/using-the-power-of-five-to-enhance-your-life/

A brief look at color theory Q: Do you work with people who deal with color?
http://jayce-o.blogspot.com/2010/08/five-important-points-to-know-about.html

Book Review: The Land Between by Jeff Manion

· 1 Comment ·

The Lang BetweenThe sub-title of the book says it all: Finding God in difficult transitions. Jeff Manion is not dealing with a hard day. The Land Between deals with gut wrenching periods of time. This book ranks as a must read. If you are in traveling in the land between, you’re crazy to ignore what Jeff is communicating. Strong words but true, and coming from a guy in such a transition.

The premise
Using Israel’s trek from Egypt to the promise land, Jeff uses lessons from Israel to help guide us in our own land between. The book handles the Bible passages with excellence. Often the Old Testament is moralized and man centered. Jeff brings out what these passages are really about: God at work preparing and refining His people. He describes God as the hero; not just for Israel but you and I as well. Throughout the book the choice is clear between trusting in God and the pit of complaining & bitterness.

Serious stories
Jeff’s places stories a the right spots like an expert chef using spices. They are brief, real, and at times very raw. (Challenging transitions are like that.) While at times he gives the result, there are times where he does not. Jeff’s own land between ends in blessings. In difficult periods, we need to remember that God does get us through. The stories shared bring reality to light. (Like wondering when the transition will be over.) He clearly articulates the dirty reality of hard times.

The book
The book reads easily and conversationally. I appreciate how the book handles Bible texts well, while not academic in their explanation. That skill is hard to find. The book is applicable in the sense of our relationship with God; the choices we are faced with, the emotions that will boil in us (they will boil) and the intimate involvement of God throughout. Jeff took roughly 200 pages would could be volumes. The Land Between is the perfect size, depth and readability for his intended audience; those of us in the land between.

The bottom line:
The last thing we want to hear is another book we should read when in difficult transitions. This is a book we should read. Why? 1) Israel made costly mistakes that can be avoided. 2) We need to remember that God is not merely with us, He is intimately at work in us. 3) It is not a lassie tale of hard times turned good. The Land Between lays out the road map for our hard journey. More than the insane details of our challenges, we must embrace God. The feeling I got after reading The Land Between was calm resolve. Not the emotion I expected.

There are not many books I’ve read were I have a wish to thank the author in person. Jeff, thank you for you for the map of the desert!

God to us: Where were you when…

· Leave a comment ·

Job 38 is a good reminder that God is God and we are not. While it is ok to get mad at God, question Him, or even doubt, in the end we come to this conclusion: God is God and we are not. It is extremely hard to accept “I am God” as the reason for something happening. Even with all his questioning, Job did not sin. In his trial God clearly wanted Job to know that “I am God” more than the reason why.

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge ? 3 “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth ? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements ? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? 6 “On what were its bases sunk ? Or who laid its cornerstone , 7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy ? 8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb ; 9 When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors, 11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther ; And here shall your proud waves stop ‘?

12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place, 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 “It is changed like clay under the seal ; And they stand forth like a garment. 15 “From the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken. 16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep ? 17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness ? 18 “Have you understood the expanse of the earth ? Tell Me, if you know all this. 19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light ? And darkness, where is its place, 20 That you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home ? 21 “You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great ! 22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, For the day of war and battle ? 24 “Where is the way that the light is divided, Or the east wind scattered on the earth ? 25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt , 26 To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it, 27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land And to make the seeds of grass to sprout ? 28 “Has the rain a father ? Or who has begotten the drops of dew ? 29 “From whose womb has come the ice ? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth ? 30 “Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned. 31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion ? 32 “Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites ? 33 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth ? 34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you? 35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’? 36 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind ? 37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom, Or tip the water jars of the heavens, 38 When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together ? 39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they crouch in their dens And lie in wait in their lair ? 41 “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food ?

The bottom line:
Are we ok with God being God? Can we accept that?

Manic Monday: Be real & listen

· Leave a comment ·

I watched a video with Fancis Chan, Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris. I’m not quite sure what the discussion was about, but Mark switched the topic to what Francis is doing. The conversation exemplified speaking the truth in love, asking hard questions, and theology. I encourage you to take the time to watch and listen here. It’s about 15 min.

Note these things:

1) A concern and valuing of a brother takes precedent over the agenda.

2) The issue was discussed in community at Francis Chan’s church.

3) The Bible and the Gospel drove the conversation and issue.

4) The spirit of love, concern and truth.

We need to be real with each other in a way that is gracious and loving while also being truthful and discerning. We also need to have theology be a driving force in our discussion processes. Too often we assume the theology and disguise our conversations as “general revelation” or “it’s not an “un-biblical” issue, just a “non-biblical” one. We act based on what we believe. This conversation is an example of that. We need more of this kind of talk in churches.

(especially on Monday)

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/08/30/what%E2%80%99s-next-for-francis-chan/

Linx & Questions

· Leave a comment ·

Here are some links that stood out this week. Enjoy & ponder…

Steve Jobs on branding: Q: How does this fit with church?
http://zee.me/blog/steve-jobs-on-branding-video/

Got Cows: Q: How ‘bout a steak?
http://www.mediasalt.com/2010/08/26/no-room-for-sacred-cows-in-a-crop-rotation/

Boeing’s Million pound launch: Q: What enveloped have you pushed recently?
http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/08/bca_one_million_08_23_10.html

The Bible: Q: Do you ask how or why?
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/26/why-the-bible-is-a-terrible-book-for-americans/

Faith is not the absence of doubt

· 1 Comment ·

At BBC there is the all holy seminary reading room. It’s a humorous title, it’s just the seminary room. One day we were brought into this room. I do not remember which professor it was, but I do remember the warning:

“Many of the books in this room were written by men who knew more about the Bible then some of you ever will, but they missed the point.”

It perplexed me that many of the Bible study tools we have today were built on the work of those ho actually doubted the Bible or doubted inspiration and inerrancy. How can doubt produce coldness to God in once sense, and bring others closer? I don’t know, and hence I’m perplexed.

I do not think scholarship, reason or doubt is the enemy. I do not think giving up these things in the name of faith, pragmatism or focusing on what is most important is biblical. Let me give an analogy for each:

Faith: We sit in many chairs without seeing them first verifying they will hold us up. I say that as I sat in my kitchen chair one day and it collapsed underneath me.

Pragmatism: There is nothing pragmatic about romance. ‘Nuff said.

The biggest thing: Coffee brings me great joy in life, but it’s not the meaning of life. (Though, enjoying it does help ponder the larger things in life.)

Often in churches we get very nervous when someone questions or doubts. We get more nervous when someone declares their doubts. In our quest for Christ likeness, do we forget Thomas- one of the foundation stones to the church. Saul was a doubter. The Roman centurion was not. Is one better than the other? I think not.

The Bible has stories of doubters. I do not think doubt is the enemy of faith, but squelching doubt is. The trial by fire for each human is different. For some it will be life circumstance, others pride, addictions to some and some it will be doubt. People will succeed or fail in these challenges.

Truth is truth. If the Bible is fully truth, as I believe and I am convinced of, then in the end truth will prevail. And if we fear those who doubt, or worse question whether they are really saved in the first place, then we poison the situation. The Bible makes it very clear that salvation is solely a work of God and kept by God. The Bible makes very clear that humans will doubt.

Is our faith in God or in people who don’t doubt? Do we believe salvation is by faith or in people who do not sin? How we approach issues can prevent the ability to help or open the door to greater depths of our faith. Which is more important to us and God? Yes, God gets frustrated by doubt. God also gives them an answer in due time. The bigger issue is pursuing God.

The Bottom line:
Squelching doubt is an odd form of denying the power of God. Like any other challenge in life, we should treat doubters with love, patience and respect. Not from  superiority and they are wrong, but a human understanding that each person has their own trial by fire… Let’s be honest, we all at times have doubts. God knows that.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

Why not Wednesday? Big Things

· Leave a comment ·

One of the things I love about the Museum of Flight is Jadon. He stares in awe at the massive planes before him at one moment, and then plays with his toy plane underneath the wing of the first 747 the next. He talks about the planes, makes noises, calls them different names. But, when he sees the 747 he says one word: Plane!

Certain big things are the engines of our lives. The most significant is character. Before Jadon was known to exist, a key question I’ve been asking myself is what are the big things I want my kids to have. The list became more refined when I heard the words: It’s a boy!

Big project #1:
I’ve been working on a novel for Jadon about the major virtues I want him to hold. Virtues are timeless. While the situations in life Jadon will face differ from mine, the virtues will hold just as true. The novel will center on this concept.

Big project #2:
Each birthday I write a letter to my boys in a journal. From time to time I write other things as well. These are thoughts, ideas, or quips I have for them. I am not sure when I will hand them the journals. I’m debating junior high or graduation from high school. There is wisdom I want to impart to them.

Big project #3:
I narrowed the focus of what I want for my boys: 1) To be strong men of God, 2) To be men of character and 3) To be who God designed them. A narrow focus helps and is essential.

The bottom line:
How each man passes down wisdom to his children is different. One thing remains true: good dads often narrow the focus to just a few things. This is important. There are many skills, virtues, abilities, etc in life. But, only a few are big, long-lasting, and essential. Virtue of character is a thing in life I want Jadon to awe and play under. That when he sees it he will say: Plane! It is an engine that will power his life.