poetry

Mansfield Park

Orphaned at 9, but only in practice
Adopted into luxury and good habit
We’ll teach her well but she’ll know her place
Perhaps we’ll keep her from being a disgrace

Character matters, and so possibly good breeding
Which matters more, to see we’ll keep reading
Marriage, money, loyalty, and society
The obligations of love, and concerns of propriety

You’ll spend your life being told you’re second rate
I’ll be surprised you’re not bold and so hesitate
You’ll sit back, and quietly observe
I’ll rush in and get what I deserve

A kindness first shown, and never to be forgotten
A relationship grows, and friendship blossoms
Into love from the one and love from another
Two loves as distant as husband and brother

Now come the years of weddings and bliss
Sisters all ready and don’t want to be missed
One unhappily found, the other amiss
The playboy makes his round, bringing a twist

Would Shakespeare approve of lover’s vows
Probably, but this will stir quite a row
Using the play to play a forbidden part
While some play games with delicate hearts

Some stand on principal, others concede,
Some see no problem or have any need
To consider propriety in an innocent game
Or a father’s will, since he’s gone all the same

If he lingers a while, and seed becomes fruit
A small scandal may prevent a bigger taking root
But more likely than not, after the dust has settled
Broken hearts would remain, and a rose without petals

Nonetheless, he returns, and puts an end to the fun
The abrupt ending results in a marriage for one
And now the player looks to the field for his prey
And settles upon one who sits above the fray

He stalks and he toys, and stomps and claps
But in the end he is caught, snared by his own trap
Deeply in love, but with someone who hates him
A game now a goal, she’ll be someone who mates him

Think of the society, fortune, and honor he brings
Think of character, fortitude, and worthiness she sings
One can’t help but think she’s being a little too rude
It seems he’s truly fallen, but is faced with a prude

Some won’t marry up, but will some marry down
This question persists through scene change and town
Could love be more stronger than connections and wealth
Could marriage to the Church be the key to good health

The two lovers’ destinies are not unrelated
And the question for both, though often unstated
Is one of constancy to the calling before you
Whether to love, or to that which you hold most true

Graciously, in the end, wisdom’s children shine forth
The true characters of all are manifest in due course
Though heartache and pain are the roads often taken
True felicity’s Face can never be mistaken.

Mother’s Day

A mother’s love is a deep fountain
Continually filled from above
She showers blessing beyond counting
And shows us the meaning of love

Often without thanks but always with grace
She plans and works to care and provide
She may not always have a smile on her face
But she takes the hard knocks in stride

From baby diapers to grown-up complaints
The family depends on her street smarts
Her husband knows without her he’d faint
And treasures her with all his heart.

Psalm 4

Psalm 3

Psalm 2

Christ this Christmas

Psalm 33

All who know the one who knows all
Can’t help but sing with hearts enthralled
Beautiful sounds welling up from within
A new song resounds and a celebration begins

The heavens declare and the trees give assent
The rocks proclaim and the stars emit
Throughout what we see what we read is confirmed
His word is right, true, and always stands firm

The one who spoke in the garden of delight
By the same voice made the starry night
We seek power to secure hope from afar
But which of us could bottle the ocean in a jar

That alone is reason enough to fear him
To seek and find a way to draw near him
His authority extends to being at all
At his word the “no thing” began to stand tall

Imagine a vase demanding which flowers it holds
Or a refrigerator considering whether to be cold
All day long the nations clamor after power
They think they decide “this will be our finest hour”

Yet he who made the heart of every schemer
Has plans of his own and unlike the dreamers
Every thought of his heart is certain to pass
Every plan and design has been built to last

Those who walk on the road he sets out
Will find themselves secure without shadow of doubt
Doubt itself knows not to question his word
As timid disciples learning the morning of the third

You may seek shelter in a bunker and walls give way
Expect peace to prevail and a terror comes to slay
Rest in your money and find prices increasing
Political solutions and corruption unceasing

Yet the faithful creator is an anchor to trust
His riches can’t be stolen nor eaten by rust
The famine may come but his own will eat well
An inheritance awaits that not even death can dispel

We who hope in him together as one
Seek our joy from our maker as plants seek the sun
May you fill us LORD with your unfailing love
And the Spirit of Christ rest upon us as a dove

A Glorious Crutch

A sleepless night, I lie awake
Still no ending to the worst of days
I pray for peace in my troubled heart
For anxieties and fears to fall apart

In the light of your glory, all else fades
These fears and troubles, all pass away
I know the darkness will lift, the light will shine
Because you are the God of peace, and you are mine

Until rest comes, I will praise your name
It is worthy of honor and glory and fame
I know my Lord has endure much worse than this
For our sinful souls he took on the abyss

Although rest may tarry, my hope will not fade
The God of heaven and earth and all that’s been made
Will sustain me and keep me without fear to the end
Christ ever intercedes and calls me his friend.

The Stone and the Cup

On Easter Sunday so long ago,
Something happened, as the story is told.
A failed Messiah, bruised and stricken dead.
Hailed as a liar, as all disciples fled.
Lying still in a grave over Sabbath’s rest,
Those who once hoped in him are now hopeless.
“How could they kill one who came to save?
How could our King be conquered by the grave?
Death, that great enemy, still reigns supreme.
Life, or so we thought, gone to the world beyond dreams.”
Can God make a stone so big he can’t lift it?
So the philosophers ask, their meaning implicit.
God himself weighed in on the question that day,
Absurd it may seem, but the answer’s yes, in a way.
For the one sealed in the stone tomb was himself stone maker,
And the dead one wrote life for every life taker.
You see, it wasn’t just a man as criminal they buried,
And it wasn’t for his own sins that cross he carried.
The great cup of God’s wrath, under which humanity sank,
He took upon his own lips, and all of it he drank.
The powers that ruled put him down out of fear
That he was the one, that their time had drawn near.
But the very evil they planned, God planned for good.
Because that day, this day, in the place where death stood,
The stone God made, so heavy it will never be moved,
Rose from the grave and kicked the rock from the tomb.
This stone, in fact, sits as a firm foundation,
The cornerstone, indeed, of God’s new creation.
Death’s finest hour was its last hurrah
And Easter Sunday brought a new hallelujah.
The Lamb who was slain, conquered sin and death as a Lion,
Inviting all who desire to be named in the new Zion,
To come and drink from the cup of God’s wrath now poured,
Now filled with the new wine of salvation assured.
For the one who walked alive out of the stone cold grave,
Promises the same life to those who follow him that way.
If we walk with him, we too may pass through death,
But the promise of Easter is that we too will have new breath.
So come to the table all who hunger and thirst,
And feast with the joy that has been prepared from the first.

Peace and Joy in Hand

(to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Angel’s sing, can you hear them?
Hope has come, drawing near to him
A beautiful sight, bathed in moonlight
Christ has come with peace and joy in hand

Lay away the things that you’ve heard
Here today he brings the true word
Creator’s love song, he’s righting all wrongs
Christ has come with peace and joy in hand

In the darkness we could hope in no man
But our Savior’s turning things around
On the cross he carried, not his, but our sin
That in the end the lost would now be found

Later on, our desires,
Purified, as by fire,
Can face unafraid, that great judgment day
Christ has come with peace and joy in hand

In the darkness we could hope in no man
But our king has turned it all around
From the grave he rose to glory’s right hand
And no power of hell can keep him down

The gospel news of salvation,
Will now prove all the nations
Let’s hope and let’s pray, the glorious day
Christ will come with peace and joy in hand
Christ will come with peace and joy in hand
Christ will come with peace and joy in hand

Forty Verses (birthday poem)

(for my wife on her 40th birthday)

1 wink is all it took to start down the road
2 dates and both of us had to already know
3 months and I was planning to move
4 seasons later we’re in the wedding groove
5 is the month when we said “I do”
6 and onward is “Us” instead of “Me” and “You”
7 is perfection, to which you’re close enough for me
8 is the year of decision to have our first baby
9 months spent trying to hurry up and wait
10 came with a bang and very little sleep
11 different ways to get this baby not to weep
12 pumps of the legs and turns out it’s just gas
13 is unlucky, at least that’s what I hear
14 came quick, 3 Kids, second house, new van, new job, all in a year
15 and a teenager but still up for an egg hunt ;-)
16 brought us tears, at least a first installment
17 times we tell them to go to bed
18 is how many you repeat what you said
19 kids and counting, what went through their minds?
20 is halfway for you, the start of your climb
21 and you can drink, and also turn forty
22 ounces of breastmilk, these kids sure eat, Lordy!
23 minutes late to get to piano
24 started out as a pretty good show
25 years young and both of us were in
26 dresses less than Miss Kathryn
27 degrees celsius on Sunset Point in San DIego
28 times you asked, “can we please go?”
29 and half of our kids will be grown
30 was a decade ago, don’t you see (groan)
31 days in a month to fill with love and laughter
32 is their ages added one and another after
33 is the real number, just testing your math
34 was your age when ‘14 crossed our path
35 “I love you”s wouldn’t be enought
36 months of pregnancy is pretty rough
37 degrees celsius is the normal body heat
38 is mine whenever the two of us meet
39 brought adventure into our story
40 years of joy, to God be the glory
Every second is a milestone,
every day a victory
While the weeks fly by,
sometime months are history
We commemorate the years,
and together remember tears
But when all is said and done,
all of this life, the sad and the fun,
Is a beath in light of eternity,And all the joy that it will bring
We embrace it as we embrace each other
Our love a profound glimpse into that of another
I love you and am glad you’re forty and fine,
And remember, for six more months I’ll be 39!

Jesus is My Hope

Since Jesus is my hope,
I won’t be put to shame.
On him I can rely,
And holy is his name.

The storms of life do rage,
And threaten with despair,
But the tiger has no teeth,
While the lion lamb is there.

Since the world began they say,
We’ve progressed and come along.
There was no fall of man
Looking back is all wrong.

Look ahead and see the triumph
Of man in a world of night.
Our prowess, our will our way,
Mind and might we find our light.

Forget the days of yore,
When people were ill treated,
Today we have arrived
And history has been defeated.

Yet since the fall of man,
The goal has been the same.
Man is the measure of it all,
And holy is his name.

It’s a Song as old as time
But we dressed it in a robe
If you don’t follow you’re blind
And a danger to our hope.

And yet a hope that dies
Is really no hope at all
Unless that hope can rise
And overcome the fall

Since Jesus is my hope,
I won’t be put to shame.
On him I can rely,
And holy is his name

Pandemic

Pouring over the news, wondering what’s been said
Anxious for the future, full of prospects to dread
No one knows a true cure, or the right way ahead
Death itself is at the door, though others scoff instead
Economic turmoil, idols on their death bed
Money, not for the poor, will they find daily bread
In all this and still more, hold fast to what you have read
Christ indeed reigns as Lord, and alive from the dead

Poetry contests and movie nights
Awareness of a world facing plight
Not leaving home is how we can fight
Doing what we know to do is right
Each day they ask how long will it last
Making the most as each day goes fast
Indoors even outdoors in the grass
Children coping until this is past

Sappy Love Poem

the way she smiles
the way she laughs
the way she mocks
the way she loves
there’s so much more to her
than what may meet the eye
it’s no wonder to me
that we don’t have to try
like when every day
is a valentine’s day
or the first date jitters
never really show up
or the crush as kidders
but you never grow up
poetry about love
can be a bit sappy
but what’s a guy to do
when he’s just so happy
she is a good dream
and don’t want to wake up
even if it does take
a long time for makeup
but since love is patient
I know I can be too
a story more ancient
than “violets are blue”
it is love that we share
given from God on high
it is he who first cared
and is the reason why
so as living mirrors
of that great gift to men
each year we grow nearer
to each other and him

O Christmas Tree (Remix)

(to the tune of O Tannenbaum)
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Why do we sing a song to you?
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Why do we sing a song to you?
You are a creature of the King
And to him alone we should sing
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Why do we sing a song to you?

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Your branches can’t hide his glory
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Your branches can’t hide his glory
We celebrate because of him
Who came to rid the world of sin
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Your branches can’t hide his glory

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Sing with us and all creation
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Sing with us and all creation
The one who brings us all good things
Has brought us life and hope and peace
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Sing with us and all creation

After Christmas Blues

Walking through town in the dead of the night
See the buildings rise to such a great height
Where does it get us, all the toil and strife
What is the world we’ve bought?
Peace and joy - or for naught?

Day after Christmas overflows with toys
Cell phones, TVs, Legos and lots of noise
Through the chaos, what is missing is joy
Not just something to do,
but something deep and true

We feed the beast to put smiles on faces
What they need is to learn to be gracious
Instead they burn as they run rat races
Better to give than get
May have some wisdom yet

What’s the answer, I can’t pretend to know
But what I’m seeing ain’t a pretty show
Hoping and praying that they learn and grow
But what are we teaching?
And who are we reaching?

Mother’s Day

Tears of sadness, tears of joy.
So many girls! “Are you trying for a boy?”
Vacations feel like a day at work.
Thank you’s look a lot like smirks.
Lots of whining, lots of diapers,
Someone’s yelling, can you wipe her?
Trying to teach, but getting groans,
Trying to reach them through the moans.
Life as a mother is often hard
But the point of this day (and this card)
Is to remind you of what you know –
That in their eyes you walk with a glow.
An angel from God who guides their life,
The one whose heart defeats all strife.
Every day, no matter how bad they’ve made it,
Be assured, you are appreciated!
I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day –
Truly you’re awesome in every way.

Where is Wisdom Found

Lost in the darkness of night, where fog hides the way
I can here the voices calling, pleading that I come
Who then will I trust? Who will answer when I say:
Where is wisdom found? Does someone know where he stays?

Follow me and I can show you, you need not fear
Just over the yonder hill, wisdom calls this his home
Enter in through the gate, as wide as it is near
Enter and celebrate, we will dry your every tear

No, no, do not heed that voice, it will lead astray
Though a tempting choice, there wisdom is not to be known
No room for wisdom, though ease and comfort make play
Where is wisdom found? Does someone know where he stays?

Yes, you see ever so clearly, I’ll be your guide
The way of learning you see, follow me through the deep tome
Words of wisdom to be found, mysteries they hide
Study, learn and know, we will satisfy your mind

No, no, do not heed that voice, it will lead astray
Ships frequent her shores, captains retire in her deep tombs
Wisdom knows his knowledge, but that is not the way
Where is wisdom found? Does someone know where he stays?

Take heed, poor traveller, lay aside every care
Wisdom’s search is long, and your resources are near gone
Come in and be filled, lest you fall into a snare
Abundant provision awaits, to help you get there

No, no, do not heed that voice, it will lead astray
Many lodge to refresh but are never away gone
Wisdom is light in travel, keep on in the way
Where is wisdom found? Does someone know where he stays?

Wisdom’s light never to be found wandering the night
You must search for day, then with light you make him known
Strike a match, light a lamp, wait for sunrise to bright
Then you’ll see clearly to find wisdom your delight

No, no, do not heed that voice, it will lead astray
Enlightenment brings a wisdom, but not as you had hoped
Nay, wisdom is light and brings with it true day
Where is wisdom found? Does someone know where he stays?

Dear friend, you tremble in fear and do rightly so
Wisdom is not to be found and he names no home
You search and grope and wander but still do not know
Pay no heed to those calling, voice of many foes

Wisdom you won’t find, because it is you he seeks
Standing in your midst, though ever humble and meek
No doubt you know my voice, and the words that I speak
Dressed as folly to foes, I bring strength to the weak

Dear friend, you tremble in fear and do rightly so
Wisdom begins with fear of him whose name you know
He entered your dark, died your foes to overthrow
Life dressed in death, and wisdom in folly clothed

Here wisdom is found, and with me ever to stay
Guiding through the dark, he brings me to the true day
Every rhyme is off beat and every chord misplayed
Until he enters and brings healing to decay.

This is Life

Flesh and blood - Heart beating,
Tears streaming, Lungs heaving.
This is life.
He owns it, He made it.
He wants it, He’ll save it.
Why now and how?
So much to bring, So much to offer,
So much but now - Nothing.
All our hopes are gone, All our fears are come.
Everywhere I look and see -
First one, then two, then three:
Death, theft, hate -
Where is love? Where is generosity?
Where is life?
This is life.
Lungs heaving, Tears streaming,
Heart beating, Flesh and blood.
He wrote the play, This is his day.
They cut him off in his prime,
But he chose this time.
All our hopes are gone, All our fears are come.
It must be so -
Hope must go, Fear must grow,
The world must know:
Its own wisdom reigns.
It can’t answer the pains.
It can’t answer the chains.
On its own tree life hangs.
Nothing to bring, Nothing to offer,
Nothing but now - Death.
This is the end of the line.
No exit and no rewind.
An unscalable wall.
An unmovable stone.
This was his day, He wrote the play.
Now what?
First one, then two, then three:
Death swallowed up in victory.
This is life.
Lungs heaving, Heart beating, Tears streaming -
All our hopes are come, All our fears are gone.
It must be so -
The world must know:
Wisdom reigns.
He took the pains.
He broke the chains.
On him life hangs.
Nothing to offer, Nothing to bring,
Nothing but now - To kneel and sing:
Worthy is the lamb who slain,
Worthy to receive power and wealth,
Worthy to receive wisdom and might,
Worthy to receive honor and glory and blessing.

Psalm 111

In Hebrew, Psalm 111 is an acrostic poem in which the first letter of each line proceeds sequentially through the alphabet. I’ve attempted to reproduce that in English verse.

Praise the Lord!
All of my heart, with joy it will sing
Bless the LORD with praise and thanksgiving
Come with me to bless, all you upright
Dramatic works reveal his great might
Enticing us to joyful study
Filled with great splendor and majesty
God’s righteousness endures for all time
He brings his works to renew our mind
In him, our God, is grace and mercy
Joy fills with fear, and he meets our need
Kindness and love he will always keep
Let all see his power, high and deep
Made known as we receive the nations
Now see him faithful, just, and patient
On his precepts, as on solid ground
Powerfully established and sound
Quietly in faith to be obeyed
Redemption’s coming – be not dismayed
Salvation by an unchanging oath
Truly holy, awesome - he is both
Under fear of him, wisdom begins
Viewing life rightly, his Word within
Walking in knowledge with him as first
Xeric without him, he quenches thirst
Yes, in the LORD alone is our life
Zealously bringing an end to strife
Praise the LORD, forever and ever!

A Modern Cosmogony

In the beginning there was something. Impersonal and unknown.
And at some point in time, that something spontaneously combusted.
And with a burst of energy, there was a hot, formless soup of quarks and leptons.
And there was energy and time, the first fraction of a second.

And the hot soup cooled and expanded, and the formless became formed.
And neutrons and protons, stars and galaxies took shape. Impersonal and uninterpreted.
And dark matter held everything together, and dark energy spread everything apart.
And there was energy and time, 9 billion years.

And the dark matter combined with gas and dust to form a rocky mass.
And with decay and radiation, explosion and upheaval, the mass took shape.
And the surface cooled to a rock, and water collected in basins. Impersonal and unseen.
And there was energy and time, 1 billion years.

And the surface of the rock brought forth proteins and enzymes.
And proteins and enzymes gathered into cells containing information.
And life happened, driven by the information, building and reproducing. Impersonal and unguided.
And there was energy and time, 3.7 billion years.

And the cells reproduced and mutated, increasing in complexity.
And with mutation and natural selection, time and chance, animal life evolved.
And the information mutated to produce consciousness. Personal and self-aware.
And there was energy and time, several million years.

And the consciousness reproduced and filled the earth.
And it subdued and exercised rule over every living thing.
And the consciousness saw all that existed and its origin,
No meaning and no significance, no good and no evil - no “ought,” only “is.”
And there was energy and time.

Upon the Hill

Life looks on

All around is death

Intent to see

To final breath

Friend enemy

Look in shame

The music stops

With arms stretched out wide to hug the darkness and envelop it in light

As if reaching to absorb and consume in itself all the world’s plight

Where hope meets despair and the beginning of all meets the end of night

Words are tears

Though unvoiced

With many jeers

Others rejoice

The pace slows

The story is told

Darkness knows

But will not fold

The end of ages

Is eternal peace

But evil rages

With such ease

The great why

No answer still

But every cry

Upon the hill

Will then reveal

This time to die

This is his will

Prophets testify

He lived to please

Made known in stages

Indeed, what he achieved

Was the plan of the ages

Light becomes dark and life cold

Sadness consumes and trembling grows

But Sunday comes and the earth it could not hold

Darkness swallowed up by light and from death life flows

And with the wine poured out the bread broken we come to a choice

The word goes out and proclaims the story across the nations and the years

In every place to make know his glory and the ones who jeered will then rejoice

Locked in darkness without a key until he won the victory that took our sin and dried our tears

Blessed in Him Alone

When all my riches I count as loss
When all my righteousness appears as loss
Happy am I

When all my tears an ocean cannot hold
When all my years have seen evil grow old
Happy am I

When all my might from using I forbear
When all my fight is gently to give care
Happy am I

When all my streams run dry and my fields are waste
When all my dreams are that to goodness I’d haste
Happy am I

When all my linens shine as bleached white
When all my sins appear out of sight
Happy am I

When all my kinsmen no longer file towards war
When all my interests are to reconcile more
Happy am I

When all my life is toil and pain
When all my loss in Christ is gain
Happy am I

For in Him alone a kingdom is mine
For in Him alone my tears will be dried
For in Him alone the earth is my treasure
For in Him alone righteousness is pleasure
For in Him alone I’ll stand forgiven and sing
For in Him alone my eyes will behold the king
For in Him alone I’m given a heavenly name
For in Him alone a life lost is a kingdom gained

This Morning Everything Has Changed

Our life is swallowed up by death.
Light is overwhelmed by darkness.
Hope is faded with his last breath.
Only fear remains for us to hearken.

We thought he would set us free.
For ever since the dreaded curse,
There’s promised in him victory.
Yet darkness - nothing’s been reversed.

Where is the hope that was foretold,
Promised to us in days of old?
Where is the joy that might have been?
It’s been consumed by a world of sin.

Death has won, we’re all estranged,
God forsaken, it’s gloom and doom.
But this morning…everything has changed -
The stone’s rolled back. There’s an empty tomb.

Psalm 38

Your judgments are just, O LORD, but I plead mercy.
Your discipline is fair, for of you I’m not worthy.
My flesh fades away, in the face of your displeasure.
My flesh fades away, having made the world my treasure.

Like the crashing waves of a squall, overtaking the helm,
So the burdens of my sins do greatly overwhelm.
The rottenness of my heart manifests itself in plain sight.
My foolishness has brought me low, and to mourning day and night.

My tumult of heart and groaning of soul, feeble and crushed.
On the inside and out, all around my body is flushed.
O Lord, from my deep distress you have not hid your face,
Even when my body is failing and darkness seems to haste.

The rest have forsaken, friend and brother flee my place.
Enemies entrap me, speaking words of disgrace.
But you, O LORD, are faithful and answer when I call.
Keep quiet those who would rejoice, and mock when I fall.

Though I tower on the edge and my anguish engulfs me,
I repent of my sin, and confess my iniquity.
My enemies for good do wrong, and are mighty and hateful.
Be near, my God, for your timely salvation I am grateful.

A Child is Born

A child is born into the world,
And my heart fills with joy.
Love streams forth from fountains;
Fountains which I never knew existed.
Your precious child, O Lord,
Such a gracious gift to me.
With one act of kindness,
I glimpse into the wonders of Your love.
One act of mercy humbles me.
A gift deeper than the darkest sea.
Your precious Child, O Lord,
From Whom streams forth fountains;
Fountains of living water that revive my soul.
And my heart fills with joy -
A Child is born into the world.

Thanks from a Whole Heart

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart…

Do I, Lord? Search me and show me
Have I, Lord? Walk with me, know me
You’ve given me life, and many joyful days
I cried to you for a wife, now I stand here amazed

Standing before angels or kings
My whole heart should burst out and sing
You’ve answered me whenever I call
You’ve lifted me whenever I fall

You have glorified your word and name
Give me strength, Lord, that I do the same
You are magnified above all kings on earth
And they’ll testify to your surpassing worth

Though you are high and lifted up
You still draw nigh to the lowly and sup
I weep at your feet as one in mourning
For your mercies are new every morning

Though I face death, or more likely humility
You give me life; you’re my rock of stability
Adversaries and sins perplex me in every way
But you have said, “Vengeance in mine. I will repay.”

I know that forever your love endures
And your purposes for me are secure
I seek to give you thanks with all that I can
I ask that you don’t forsake me, the work of your hands

Rich Man

As in the east the sun rises,
And in the west it sets,
So life is full of surprises,
And what’s off are all bets.

The rich man hoards his dough,
And then tragedy strikes.
Where will his money go
If he has no kids or wife?

He spent his whole life building wealth,
And gave no thought for his soul,
Or for that matter his health,
But in the end, he pays the toll.

Today

Where does one day end
And the next begin?
Is it when I fall asleep
And then wake up again?
Yet, I have stayed up all night
And gone to sleep in a new day.
Perhaps it is when the sun rises;
Maybe it begins that way.
Yet many a day has begun,
Long before the rising sun.
Perhaps it is at midnight
When the calendar moves forward.
Yet many nights have taken
Me past midnight into morning.
Is it at 6:00AM?
No, many days have begun earlier,
And some have ended later.
Perhaps there is no new day,
Just one long one.
But no, there’s as surely a yesterday,
As there is a today.
And there’s as surely a tomorrow,
…no, tomorrow’s not guaranteed.
So yesterday is merely today, tomorrow.
Or better yet,
Today is merely yesterday, tomorrow.
So when does it become tomorrow?
Today. One day ended Yesterday
And the next begins today.

Stress

Some call it acute anxiety disorder,
But even with a pretty border
It’s nothing more than stress.
Either way it’s one giant mess.

I can’t sleep more than three hours a night.
When I’m awake, with myself I always fight.
Maybe I’ve got a lot on my mind, I don’t know.
One thing’s for sure, this has got to go.

I miss those quiet peaceful nights,
Lying in bed without the lights.
I could fall asleep without a second thought.
Now, if they sold sleep it’d be the first thing I bought.

There’s not a lot of stress in my life,
I don’t have kids or a nagging wife.
It may be related to my spiritual position,
Lately I haven’t done much with religion.

I miss my God and my times of prayer,
I miss always knowing that He’ll be there.
Do you think if I ask, my needs He’ll supply?
I hope so, cause I’m going to give it a try.

Silence

You can barely hear a whisper,
The moments we’re together.
There’s silence but it’s not bitter,
As we live life under heaven.

No sound is made, but much is said.
Quieter than two hearts beating,
So quiet you’d think we were dead.
Yet inside there is much thinking.

Two people with no need to talk,
Can face every problem head-on.
If we wanted to take a walk,
It’d be as silent when we’re gone.

But we’d still be together,
And that’s what really matters.
It beats talking of the weather,
Or other meaningless chatter.

The Sermon on the Mount

What is that blessed mystery?
That holy Christianity?
Is it nothing but piety?
Or is there more that we don’t see?
I tell you, more than piety.
But nothing more than what we see.

Not with our eyes, but with our heart
We may with ease set it apart
From all other pious arts.
That one for whom the waters part,
He has told us from Whom Thou art.
Unto your words we all will hark,

The herald as well. Angels sing,
Glory unto God’s Holy King.
The wedding bells finally ring,
When we’re taken under His wing.
Oh, that we could hear Him speaking
Words that are of everlasting.

Blessed are the poor in spirit
For already they are near it.
Far from the other end, the pit,
In His kingdom the righteous sit.
Their know their place at their end wits’
They cannot save themselves, they’ve quit.

Blessed are the merciful, yes.
He gives them comfort and will bless
Them for their acts to those who’re less.
Those without it are in a mess,
Judgement without mercy, nothing less.
This is the truth, I must confess.

Blessed are they that mourn today,
The comfort they find will repay
For their sorrow along the way.
They see their sin and then they say,
Lord we are sinners, shall we stay?
This is their sorrow for these days.

Blessed are the meek, I swear it.
The whole earth they shall inherit.
The Lord’s righteousness they wear it
As their own with no real merit.
These are humble one’s, not careless
To others they show much patience.

Blessed be they who hunger and thirst
After righteousness, and that first.
They always feel that they’re the worst,
Always looking to lift the curse,
The effects of sin which they nurse.
They shall be filled and not get worse.

Blessed are those who’re pure in heart.
To them alone Thou will impart
The glory of the King Thou art.
Those with clean hands, they are smart.
They shall see God, not just in part.
Toward His throne they all will dart.

Blessed are those who make the peace.
Not just the kind between two teams,
But that which will heal the breach
Between God and man found in each.
This is the gospel that they preach.
The children of God they shall be.

The salt of the earth we all are.
A light shining from off afar.
Though the world know not who we are,
We tell them of their sin, and jar
Their mind to see that they are marred
With guilt from having evil hearts.

The law and the prophets that are past,
He did not end but made them last
Though the heavens and earth shall pass,
His words and the Law shall hold fast.
To ignore this would be quite crass,
We should obey His words en masse.

You heard before, “Thou shalt not kill.”
He tells you now, whoever will
Be angry with his brother still,
Or is holding unjust ill-will,
Shall suffer punishment until,
They have paid the entire bill.

“Do not commit adultery.”
If a pretty woman you see
At look at her sexually,
You shall be considered guilty
Of committing adultery.
This He states so very clearly.

Divorce is not to be allowed,
Except for fornication now.
How sacred is the wedding vow,
It cannot just be disallowed.
Husband and wife must work it out,
It can be avoided somehow.

Again they said in time of old,
Every oath you should uphold.
The Lord Himself has come and told
Us not to swear or be so bold,
As to promise things we don’t know.
Say “Yes” for yes, and “No” for no.

They said, Tooth for tooth, eye for eye.
A new command will purify
Us of our evil, by and by.
Resist not evil, don’t ask why.
Suffer all wrong, and testify.
The same as Jesus when He died.

Give to those who ask for or need.
Love both neighbor and enemy;
Pray for those who despitefully
Use you. Always do the good deed.
Live your life with much charity.
As God is perfect, you should be.

When you do works of charity,
Try not to let everyone see.
This men do that they may glory
In their own works of piety.
Still do good works, just secretly.
God will reward you openly.

Psalm 23

He is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He has be lie in green pastures,
Leading me beside the water front.
My very soul He enraptures.

In paths of righteousness He leads me.
I walk through the valley of death,
Though I feel nothing because of Thee.
With Thy rod and staff I’m blessed.

In the presence of my enemies
You have prepared me a table.
With oil on my head You anoint me,
My cup runs over, and I’m able

To forever dwell in Heaven’s house.
Mercy and goodness follow me
From You, whom I cannot do without.
To you alone praise and glory.

Psalm 143

I cry out for Your grace and Your mercy,
O LORD, listen to my prayer,
In Your faithfulness and righteousness answer me,
And leave me not in despair,

Enter not into judgment with Your servant,
For You see through the holiest of eyes.
I know from Your righteous observance,
No living man shall be justified.

For sin has tormented my soul,
And iniquity has brought me down.
I’ve been made to dwell in the darkness of Sheol,
Like those long dead and in the ground.

My spirit is overwhelmed within me
And my heart is made a wasteland.
Of long ago days I have memory
I think of the mighty works of Your hand.

Like a land without water,
Or dry crops needing rain,
My soul thirsts for You Father,
I stretch out my hands to You in pain.

Answer me quickly, LORD, please,
My spirit is failing, I feel it.
Don’t hide Your face from my plea,
Lest I descend into the darkest pit.

Cause me to know Your love,
When I wake up every day.
For it is You that I trust in above,
Cause me to walk in the right way.

Deliver me from temptation and evil,
I hide underneath Your wings.
Teach me to do Your complete will.
For You are my one holy King.

For Your name’s sake, make me alive.
And of Your mercy spare me from sin.
Cut off the enemies with which I strive,
For I am Your servant and friend.

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walketh
Not in the ungodly’s counsel
Nor in the way of sinners standeth
Nor sitteth in the seat of scoundrels

He much enjoys other things
In the law of God he delights
Through the day holy hymns he sings
But on the law he meditates at night

And he shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
He once and for all be free
Bringing forth fruit from his Father

His leaf also shall not wither
And whatever he does will prosper
The wicked never reach the river
But suffer for the evil they’ve fostered

The way of the righteous the Lord knows
But the ungodly shall lose their life
God will cure the righteous of all woes
And they’ll forever reign with Christ

Name above all Names

We hear the name every day,
But few think of Him.
It’s on our lips when we pray,
But our thoughts do seem dim.

He is the great King of creation,
The very giver of light,
We have a special relation,
He helps me to sleep at night.

He is the origin of Love,
In nature His beauty is seen,
Yet we give more thought to a dove,
Than to this great King.

He suffered death for our sin,
But that wasn’t enough to please us.
And then He rose again,
Now we all know His name: Jesus

And They Called His Name Jesus

He was born in a manger.
There was no room at the inn.
His parents showed no anger,
For they knew it was Him.

He was raised by a carpenter.
Yet it was little known
That He had a much larger Mentor.
This they knew when He was grown.

He taught in the temples and fields.
He spoke as one having authority.
Not, as the people would yield,
Like the Scribes and Pharisees.

He healed the sick and the blind.
He once raised the dead from the tomb.
He fed over five thousand at one time.
Yet, the people thought, what more can He do?

He went as a lamb to the slaughter.
A reproach of men,
Forsaken even by His Father.
Who’d have known He’d purchased the cure for sin.

This humble man from Nazareth,
Lived His whole life to please us.
A heavenly city He established,
And they called His name JESUS.

The Bright Day

Look,

The Sun is

Shining through

A slightly open door.

I can see the bright light

Glaring on the wooden floor.

I wish that some day we

All might ably see

That great sight

Made for us

By Thee

Sailor

I will sail to the end of the world
I don’t care if I lose my life
I will not keep my sails furled
Say goodbye to my kids and wife

I will sail to the end of the earth
I don’t care if I fall off the edge
I’ve wanted to do it since birth
So very few have had this privilege

I will sail to the end of time
I don’t care how long it takes
You may think I’m out of my mind
But I’d like to sail until day breaks

I will sail until the day I die
It doesn’t matter where I’m going
To sail could mean to walk or fly
But the point is I’m sailing, not rowing.

Robert Browning

There are moments in life
When we’re at ease.
At other times,
We can’t remember these.
The day at the lake,
Or that walk in the park,
That time we sat back,
And heard the dogs bark.

These are the moments,
When life is most sweet.
Yet few will relax
And enjoy the treat.
Hustle and bustle,
The call of the American.
We’re all in a hurry –
Remind me, where again?

If we’d all look around,
And enjoy the course,
Life wouldn’t be so hard,
And there’d be a lot fewer wars.
When you start to get stressed,
You’re bones out of joint,
Just ask yourself this,
What is really the point?

Where are you going,
On this road of life?
Are you running straight through,
Or enjoying the sights?
Robert Brownings words help,
When life’s in a swirl:
“God’s in His heaven –
All’s right with the world.”

Remember

Every word brings a though to mind,
Some are bad and some are fine.
These are memories that we keep.
They often come out when we sleep.

The greatest gift a man can have
Is a memory not gone bad.
It holds places we’ve gone and people we’ve seen.
We use it to dream of what we’ll be.

I went to Florida one, it was nice,
And with my memory, I go twice.
If I see a beautiful face,
I’ll know her if we meet some place.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg
Of the purpose memory serves.
I can remember sights and sounds,
Or how I felt that night downtown.

My memory holds the whole earth,
Everything I’ve know except birth.
Take advantage while you have it,
Lest one day forgetfulness grab it.

Beauty

The most beautiful girl I know
She never won a beauty contest
Never did a fashion show.
And yet put her up against a hundred supermodels
And I’d give her the gold.

Beauty is most easily seen
Not with the eyes, but with the heart.
Some of the prettiest women
Are the opposite of smart.
Beauty is not just good looks,
Although it’s often a part.

I will not lie about this,
Looks do carry a lot of weight.
But more important is:
How does she act on a date?

But beauty cannot be defined,
Not just using words or songs.
I often rack my mind
But in the end it’s wrong.

There is one saying that does fit,
Although it keeps getting older.
If beauty is defined, this is it,
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Boredom

I can feel the boredom set in,
As the day comes to an end.
There’s no one around,
Not a person making a sound.

Boredom is that period of time,
When still fresh in our mind,
Are events that have passed,
And the present is considered last.

There’s nothing to do now,
And it’s hard to explain how,
With all our thoughts on a future day,
Anyone could live this way.

I decide to just grin and bear it.
If it was a suit, we’d all have to wear it.
Some complain that boredom will slow’em.
I just sit back and write myself a poem.

Addicted to Love

An addiction is a dangerous thing.
And if you try to break it, it will sting.
I don’t know if I’ll make it through,
But I won’t quit until I do.

There are many types of addictions in the world,
Such as drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and girls.
Of all the kinds that people try to break,
Some are difficult, others a piece of cake.

I think love is the strongest addiction of all,
Even stronger than cigarettes and alcohol.
Those who’ve never had it, to the effects are blind;
But those who have can’t get it off their mind.

And if you take it away from someone, I’ll bet,
You think you know withdrawal, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Even though love is very addictive,
Those without it do seem quite vindictive.

So if I had to choose, I’d rather be addicted,
Love is one drug to which I’d like to be restricted.
And if someone says there’s a risk that you might fall,
Tell them, Better to have loved and lost, then never loved at all.

The Backslider

Sometimes I don’t understand myself.
My own thoughts seem to be in the dark.
I don’t know who to ask for help,
Or how to know where I missed the mark.

The whole world’s out to make a buck,
But money’s not really my main concern.
I feel I have to change or I’m outta luck,
I don’t know what to do or where to turn.

They say, “You can do anything you put your mind to.”
I’d like to do things, but I don’t want to be greedy.
They ask me, “In your life, what are you gonna do?”
I don’t know, maybe I should help the needy.

I’d like to do that by I wouldn’t know how.
My God, please help me through this time.
The truth is, I’m happy where I’m at now.
Who cares what other think, I’ll be fine.

The Meaning of Life

Working third shift at the BP
Not too exciting so far,
I guess we’ll wait and see.
As I sit and watch the cars go by,
I can’t help but think to myself,
What’s the point of it? Or, why?
Everyone asks, What’s the meaning of life?
But no one really wants to know.
They ask the question to seem wise,
But it’s all just a show.
If you want to know the meaning of life,
Then I’ll tell you where to look:
To some it’s a source of advice,
To other just a book.
No matter what you think of it,
We’ll all be held liable
For knowing the contents of it.
You’ve probably heard of it: The Bible
So many ask
But few want to know
Why they are here
Or where they will go.
So what is the meaning of life?
I really cannot say.
Only God knows, ask Him
He’ll show you the Way.

My Light

He is my light
And my salvation
He’s always right
He’s always patient

The whole universe He created
Yet He knows me as a son.
The bondage of the law He vacated,
With Him on our side, we’ve won.

musings

The Challenge of C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is a household name in most Christian circles, and his influence in evangelicalism is undeniable. Between his fantasy fiction writings, most notable The Chronicles of Narnia, and his more theological fiction and non-fiction, such as Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, and the Great Divorce, Lewis finds a very broad audience. In many churches, Mere Christianity will frequently be recommended to non-believers or new Christians as an introduction to the faith. The clarity and wit with which Lewis writes surely explains much of the appeal.

However, at least among the more conservative and reformed evangelicals, this phenomenon is actually quite interesting considering a number of Lewis’s theological positions. While this is a bit of simplification, and not taking into account changes that may have occurred between later Lewis and earlier Lewis (and most readers don’t make such a distinction), consider if a public figure in evangelicalism published works that:

Called into question the inerrancy of scripture
Spoke affirmingly of biological macro-evolution
Advocated an inclusivist understanding of salvation among those who have not heard and/or accepted the gospel
Was ambiguous on the atonement
Believed it was possible for a Christian to lose their salvation and ultimately be lost
Taught a form of justification that is more consistent with Roman Catholicism than historic Protestantism (e.g. Justification via transformation rather than a forensic justification by faith)
Held to a form of purgatory, or after death purification process between death and glory I can imagine that in many similar cases, such an figure would be considered out of bounds and their books not recommended except for the purposes of analysis and critique. Certainly, this is true even of Lewis for many, with some going so far as to even question whether he should even be counted as a Christian (which view seriously conflates doctrinal correctness with personal faith). However, by and large (in my experience), Lewis is not received with the same caution and/or derision as other notable figures - N.T. Wright, Rob Bell, John Walton, for recent examples.

What explains this discrepancy? Here are 6 considerations:

Apologetic Effectiveness: Lewis’s apologetic works, such as Mere Christianity, offer a robust defense of the Christian faith that resonates deeply with evangelical beliefs. His ability to articulate complex theological concepts in accessible language has made his works valuable tools for evangelism and apologetics, emphasizing common Christian doctrines over denominational differences. Lewis has been a teacher and example for multiple generations of evangelical apologists.
Literary Merit and Influence: Lewis’s literary contributions, particularly the Chronicles of Narnia, have deeply influenced both children and adults, weaving Christian allegorical themes into compelling narratives. This broad literary appeal often supersedes theological discrepancies, with many evangelicals viewing Lewis’s works as a gateway to deeper spiritual reflection and understanding.
Historical and Cultural Context: The period during which Lewis wrote (mid-20th century) was marked by a cultural milieu that was more accepting of nuanced theological positions. Lewis’s academic standing and intellectual approach to Christianity provided a bridge between conservative evangelicalism and broader cultural and intellectual movements of the time, making his ideas more palatable even when they diverged from evangelical mainstream.
Selective Emphasis: Many evangelicals engage with Lewis’s work selectively, focusing on areas of agreement such as the lordship of Christ, the reality of sin, and the need for salvation, while overlooking or minimizing areas of disagreement. This selective engagement allows Lewis’s broader contributions to Christian thought to be appreciated without necessitating full doctrinal alignment.
Legacy and Icon Status: Over time, Lewis has attained an almost legendary status among Christians of many denominations, including conservative evangelicals. This status is partly due to the widespread use of his quotes in sermons, books, and social media, often devoid of the broader context of his more controversial views. The legacy of Lewis as a defender of the faith often overshadows the specifics of his theological positions.
Ecumenical Appeal: Lewis’s emphasis on “mere Christianity” — the core beliefs common to Christians across denominations — has endeared him to a wide audience, including conservative evangelicals. This approach promotes unity based on shared beliefs rather than division over doctrinal differences, appealing to evangelicals who prioritize core Christian tenets.

Some reading for further reflection:

Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage - a book discussing the importance of approaching theological disagreements with charity and perspective.
Stuck in the middle with Jesus: The future of C.S. Lewis evangelicalism - A politically-focused and left-leaning article, but one that posits the interesting category of “C.S. Lewis evangelicals”.
The 2013 Desiring God National Conference focused on the work and impact of C.S. Lewis and contains some very good reflections.

What is the Gospel?

How do I answer the question, “What is the gospel?” Here are a couple ways.

Hypothetical Debate on the Olivet Discourse

Below was a artificial debate generated by Bing Chat regarding the interpretation of the Olivet Discourse. It was instructed to create the debate between Don Carson and Kenneth Gentry. No information was provided as to what their positions actually were. It’s fascinating how it captures the essence of several critical issues, although it’s also instructive that the dialogue very convincingly misrepresents D.A. Carson’s position on several elements.

The Oppressors of Wokeism

An uneducated anecdotal observation -

If you observe the pattern of politics in any authoritarian state in the Middle East or Asia, specifically those where the discrepancy between the life circumstances of the population when compared to the developed world at large is substantial, you will notice the common thread that the government has identified and promoted among the people and outside enemy who is primarily to be blamed for the daily economic and social hardships being experienced. This blame is not only historical (past actions that have contributed) but ongoing (they are still doing it). In some (many?) cases, there is legitimate grievance to point to, but never in proportion to the plight of the people and rarely is the blame properly directed. Rather, the outside enemy has become a scapegoat to serve as cover for the ruling class of that nation and to properly direct the growing unhappiness of the populace with their disparate circumstances. An authoritarian government’s grasp on power is always tenuous due to the need to control a vastly larger number of people, and especially when representatives of those people are included in the armed forces that supply the muscle for maintaining control. In such cases, maintaining the scapegoat narrative is of the utmost importance for maintaining a secure grasp on power.

Ambition
Bravery
Curiosity
Devotion
Etiquette
Friendliness
Generosity
Hospitality
Independence
Joy
Kindness
Love
Mercifulness
Nurturing
Open mindedness
Patience
Quietude
Respectfulness
Single mindedness
Truthfulness
Understanding
Vocation
Worshipful
Exuberance
Youthfulness
Zestful

John Calvin on the American Revolution

In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, finished 217 years before the American War for Independence, John Calvin wrote a chapter on the concept of Civil Government and how Christians should think and behave with respect towards government authority.

Peeling Potatoes to the Glory of God

There is no sacred vs. secular distinction when it comes to glorifying God in our work. All work is pleasing to him, provided it is done in love and service to our neighbor and with a view towards excellence.

A Personal Mission Statement

An exercide developing a personal mission statement for life.

Bavinck vs. the Pelagians (or, Foreknowledge = Predestination)

The common Christian approach to reconciling God’s predestination with human freedom is to say that God predestines based on his foreknowledge of free human actions. In his discussion of Pelagian views of divine providence, Herman Bavinck argues that divine foreknowledge must either be redundant, being fundamentally identical to predestination, or nonexistent. The choice, then, is between Predestination or Open Theism. He writes:

“Pelagianism, however, does not yet marshal its full strength when it opposes the general and special providence of God. To some extent it even recognizes this doctrine. But it comes out fighting especially when the eternal state of rational creatures, the particular decree of predestination, is at issue. Now, predestination is only a particular application of the counsel or providence of God. Just as we cannot separate the natural from the moral world, so neither can we point to a boundary line between the temporal condition of human creatures and their eternal state. With respect to the latter, however, Pelagianism has traded predestination for foreknowledge and described foreordination as the decree of God in which he determined either eternal blessedness or eternal punishment for people, depending on whether he foresaw their persevering faith or their undying unbelief. Now, however generally this view has been adopted in the Christian church (is it not the confession of all Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Remonstrant [Arminians], Anabaptist, and Methodist Christians?), it is nevertheless firmly contradicted by Scripture, religious experience, and theological reflection.

How Deep The Father’s Love For Us

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, HCSB)

How do you apply a passage like John 3:16? For starters, you believe. But beyond that, consider the love of God which is made manifest in Christ Jesus.

Living For Tomorrow (The Economics of Christian Belief)

There is a concept in economics known as time preference. Very basically, it is the notion that, all other things being equal, present satisfaction of our wants is to be preferred over future satisfaction. That is, if we can’t achieve our ends now, we want to do it as soon as we can. This means that we place a premium on delayed attainment of those ends. If I say, “you can have a $100 now or $100 in six years,” you would likely choose now without much consideration. However, if I were to say, “you can have $100 now or $1000 in six years,” you would be forced into thinking about the premium placed on the future money and whether it is sufficient to forgo the present ends you could attain with the $100.

Ezra 3-10

It’s comforting to read of the exiles in Persia being guided by God’s providence to be able to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and the temple. In the midst of opposition, under the rule of a pagan king, not only are they permitted to complete the project but it is fully funded for them. When the Lord has promised something, he will bring it about and no one can stay his hand. As Christ builds his church on the earth, this is a great comfort because there is opposition on all sides, from spiritual oppression, to government intervention, to local antagonism, to lack of funding, and to internal disputes or disobedience among the people of God themselves. Knowing that the sovereign Lord works to bring about his purposes through and in spite of these circumstances gives us cause to rejoice.

Our Great High Priest

Reading the account of Peter and Dorcus is Acts 9, I was struck when he said to her, “Tabitha, get up.” This immediately brought to mind Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter and saying to her, “Talitha, cume” or “Little girl, get up.” Peter is continuing in the footsteps of his Lord Jesus, bringing life and healing. Christ ascendedto the right hand of God but continues his work in the Holy Spirit through his Church.

An Undesirable God?

Over on Scot McKnight’s blog, Jeff Cook argues that one of the fundamental flaws in our apologetic encounters with non-Christians is that we’re playing completely different games - the Christian is attempting to argue for the reasonableness, probability, even certainty of Christianity, while the non-Christian is primarily dealing in categories of emotion and preference. In the example debate provided, the Christian wins on logic and argumentation, but ends up losing because the non-Christian excels at arguing from desire and preference, ridiculing God as distasteful and altogether unworthy of respect and admiration.

Channeling Randy Alcorn

In a previous post I wrote about the “rich” verses of the Bible and how pretty much everyone living in America ought to be applying these passages to themselves first and foremost. Today, I read the following in Randy Alcorn’s excellent book Money, Possessions, and Eternity:

“There’s no room for making wealth a source of security, or for lacking generosity or hospitality, or for an unwillingness to share. Still, Paul leaves a door open for Christian to be “rich in this present world” - but only if they carefully follow the accompanying guidelines related to their open-handed use of that wealth. The rich are not told they must take a vow of poverty. They are told essentially to take a vow of generosity. They are to be rich in good deeds, quick to share, and quick to part with their assets for kingdom causes. In doing so, they will lay up treasures in heaven.

Questioning the Tradition

This time of year we get to reflect on the glorious message of our Savior’s birth, sent into the world to save us from our sins and to take his place as creation’s rightful King. The basic contours of the traditional Christmas story are commonly known, even among those who are not Christians. Three wise men, shepherds in mid-winter, baby Jesus in a barn with animals, and of course, that crusty old innkeeper who wouldn’t give Joseph and his laboring wife a place to stay (or in some accounts offered up his stable out of generosity!). But is the traditional story an accurate portrayal of the biblical story and is realistic given the historical and cultural setting?

My favorite books of 2012

Of all the books I read this year, these are my top 11. They may or may not be the best books, but they are the ones I enjoyed reading the most.

Reformed Dogmatics (Volumes I & II) by Herman Bavinck - an outstandingly clear, historically aware, and thought-provokingly deep systematic theology. I’m looking forward to reading Volumes III and IV in 2013.
Surprised By Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber - a delight to read.
From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology by John Dyer - an eye-opening look at how technology changes us. Backed by strong knowledge of media ecology.
Apologetics to the Glory of God: An Introduction by John Frame - The best concise introduction to Christian apologetics.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I can’t believe I waited so long to read this.
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim Keller - The best book on marriage out there. I dare you to find a better one.
Kingdom through Covenant by Peter Gentry and Steven Wellum - a brilliant work of Biblical Theology.
Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson - still working on applying it.
How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels by N.T. Wright - I always enjoy reading Wright and this was no exception.
Political Visions and Illusions: A Survey and Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies by David Koyzis - a penetrating analysis and critique of the prevalent ideologies including dismantling some of my own.
Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals, and Meaning by Nancey Pearcey - carrying forward the torch of Francis Schaeffer, this is a must read.

You are the “rich in this world”

During our Life Group bible study this evening, a friend made a very insightful point: Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, and our society is very much that rich man.

This is true. We are the rich man, and in many ways the job of an evangelist is more difficult in the affluence of the first world than in the poorest and most pagan of societies. The false god of mammon has more of a stronghold on people than the false gods of the animists.

Going Deeper in Bible Study

I was recently asked my opinion on where to start for going more in depth in Bible study. My answer is generally applicable, so I’m reproducing it here. This is just my advice based on quite a bit of exposure to studying. Take it as nothing more than that.

Were Jesus and the Early Christians Mostly Poor?

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)

It’s a well established theological truth - The Lord Jesus, who existed eternally as the Son of God, owner of all creation, rich in every possible sense of the word, became poor for our sakes, taking on the weakness and poverty of human nature and enduring humiliation and suffering rejection and crucifixion at the hands of the very people he came to save. Through this sacrificial suffering he redeemed a people for himself who would become co-heirs with him in the kingdom of God. This truth is recounted in numerous places throughout the Bible (c.f. for example Philippians 2:5-11; John 17).

But what about Jesus’s earthly life? The popular conception is that he was born into poor, humble circumstances, recruited disciples from similar roots, and that the spread of early Christianity was mainly accomplished through the lower classes of society. In his book, The Triumph of Christianity, sociologist and historian Rodney Stark argues against this view, making the case that Jesus came from a moderately well-off family, and a large proportion of his supporters and audiences would have been among the privileged classes.

9.5 Theses in Honor of Reformation Day

In honor of Reformation Day, I offer 9.5 indications of a need for reformation (both personal and corporate) and a challenge for each of them.

The 16 (or 22) most influential books in my life

How do you measure the impact that a book has on you? There have been many times that I’ve finished a book profoundly moved, impressed, or otherwise feeling that I have just read something significant, but looking back later could not identify any substantial influence that the book had on me in terms of my life, thought, beliefs, or actions. At the same time, there are countless things that I’ve read whose ideas have, over time and without any conscious realization on my part that it was happening, become my ideas and contribute to the way in which I view and interact with the world. In fact, I suspect that happens more or less with everything I read, either in adopting or rejecting certain ideas put forward by the author.

Some Random Memory of a High School Crush

It’s strange how a word, a picture, a smell, can bring to the front of your mind a memory that had long been filed away. All of us have a novel-worthy story wrapped up in the recesses of our memories, with details, plot lines, and drama that would leave Dickens impressed. Just now I’m reminded of a momentary high school crush, forgotten long ago but apparently forever seared into my memory. Not that my retelling itself would impress Dickens, but the story nonetheless.

The Apologetic Value of Excelling in Your Field

In my last book review, I referred to this quote by C.S. Lewis on the importance of Christians mastering their field of work and the impact that this would have:

“What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects — with their Christianity latent. You can see this most easily if you look at it the other way round. Our Faith is not very likely to be shaken by any book on Hinduism. But if whenever we read an elementary book on Geology, Botany, Politics, or Astronomy, we found that its implications were Hindu, that would shake us. It is not the books written in direct defence of Materialism that make the modern man a materialist; it is the materialistic assumptions in all the other books. In the same way, it is not books on Christianity that will really trouble him. But he would be troubled if, whenever he wanted a cheap popular introduction to some science, the best work on the market was always by a Christian” (God in the Dock, 93).

I thought I would provide some examples of Christians who have done this very thing and because of their demonstrated expertise have earned the respect of colleagues in their field. It’s important to note that they do this in a way that is consistent with the Christian worldview they hold and is not simply a respect earned from compromising their beliefs to be in line with the current scholarly consensus. These are some notable examples, and there are many others who could be mentioned. May their tribe increase.

30-Second Book Reviews

As I plow through these books on the hit list, several of them have left me without too much to say about them, or in some cases so much to say that I just can’t bring myself to take the time to write about them. These aren’t necessarily bad, but I’m going to give my 30-second take on them rather than a full review.

A Response to a Friend

This post is in response to my friend Andy’s questions over on his blog. You can read the original post with questions here.

Who am I? … I will be with you…

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus said to go into all the nations, make disciples of them, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that he’s commanded. This would be a discouraging commission, except for one thing – the one who has all authority on heaven and earth has promised that he will be with us, even until the end of the age. This presence is the bedrock of our confidence and our only assurance of success. Like Moses, who said, “Who am I to lead this people?” and God’s response was, “I will be with you” (Ex. 3:11-12) Who are we? Christ Jesus is with us.

Anti-Psalm 50

After reading an article from the Journal of Biblical Counseling, I learned a technique for meditating on and applying the Psalms. It is to take the Psalm and invert it to play out the implications of the opposite perspective. You can see examples of this by David Powlison with Psalm 23 and Psalm 131. This is an anti-psalm I wrote for Psalm 50:16-22.

More on Genealogies - “A whole bunch of dead folks…”

I asked the question previously, “What do you do with genealogies?” In particular, the really intimidating ones like 1 Chronicles 1-9. Does anyone preach on these? Would anyone dare? Should they dare? I searched an online sermon database, and with the exception of the Prayer of Jabez, 1 Chronicles 1-9 was left untouched. There was one pastor I forgot about who I thought might just be willing to attempt to expound and apply this text.

Genealogies in the Bible

I’m never really sure what to do with the genealogies in the Bible. Other people have taught me a bit about the significance of some of them, but it is certainly a struggle. The “and he died” of Genesis 5 underscores that the sentence against Adam and Eve was carried out as promised and that it affected their descendants in the same manner. The short one at the end of Ruth informs us that this story carries significance beyond the immediate events, and would produce King David, from whom the Messiah would come. Speaking of which, the genealogy of Matthew one is perhaps the most perspicuous in its theology, subversive as it may be. The fact that he includes 4 women (which itself is unheard of) – including an incestuous relationship, a gentile prostitute, a gentile saint, and an adulterous affair – points to the significance of this King, who would be Savior of Jew and Gentile, male and female, sinner and saint.

The Conqueror of My Soul

William Henley’s famous poem Invictus provides a picture of the groundless defiance of humanism in the face of a cold, unrelenting, and hopeless Universe:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

In brilliant contrast, Dorothea Day’s Conquered presents the assured dependence of the conquered Christian in the arms of the loving, merciful, and sovereign Lord of the Universe:

Out of the light that dazzles me,
Bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank the God I know to be
For Christ the conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance
I would not wince nor cry aloud.
Under the rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears—
That life with Him! and His the aid,
That spite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep, me unafraid.

I shall not fear, though straight the gate;
He cleared from punishments the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate;
Christ is the Captain of my soul.

Lord’s Prayer (Children’s Lesson)

Jesus Taught Us to Pray

Eternal Sonship (Adam Clarke Refuted)

Regardless of where you stand on the issues of generation, derivation, and other debated aspects of the Trinity (and they are much debated by orthodox theologians), I think the denial of Eternal Sonship is unnecessary. Adam Clarke (and Albert Barnes too, for that matter) misses the forest for the trees in this respect. The entire revelation of the Trinity in scripture is based on this Father/Son relationship. All of the imagery of redemption, the revelation of God’s love, the assurance of hope, etc, is based on the fact that this is a revelation of eternal realities.

How sin entered the world…

Without a biblical understanding of sin, we have no basis from which to judge the external world, and the apparent brokenness and futility of life. We will have no real answers to the world’s dilemmas because we won’t have an adequate grasp of the true problem. Furthermore, without a correct view of sin, we’re bound to misunderstand who God is. C.S. Lewis points out that a belief in God without an understanding of sin would result in monism, where God is both good and evil, or dualism, where there are two opposing gods, one good and one evil (see The Problem of Pain). Perhaps most importantly, sin is the problem for which the gospel provides the solution. Without an adequate understanding of the problem, we cannot truly appreciate the solution. In other words, without doctrine of sin, there is no Christianity. The root of this Christian understanding is found in the first three chapters of Genesis.

Applying the Bible – Part 2: How to apply the Bible

There are many factors involved in applying the message of the Bible to your own life and community. It’s not possible to treat all of the nuances of application in such a short space, but a broad outline and a few examples should create a framework which will allow you to pursue your own study and begin applying the Bible to your life. With time, you’ll begin to see that the richness of biblical application extends well beyond what is presented below.

Applying the Bible – Part 1: What is application?

While the Bible has immense value as a piece of literature, and can give great insight into certain aspects of ancient history and culture, this is not the reason most Christians read it. Ultimately, most Christians read the Bible because we believe that it is God’s word, not only to a people in a time and culture far removed from our own, but that it is God’s word to us in our time and in our culture. We believe that through the Bible we may come to a true knowledge of God and of ourselves, and may come to discern His will, including what He would have us believe and how He would have us live.

Understanding the Historical Context of Scripture

One of the key components in properly understanding a verse, section, or book of the Bible is to understand the historical context in which it was written. The Bible is God’s Word for all people and for all time, but much of the Bible is occasional in nature. That is, it was written at a particular point in history, by a particular inspired author, addressing a particular audience which faced a particular situation. With this in mind, proper interpretation involves finding out what the text says, understanding how it applied to the original audience and situation, determining the underlying principles which guided that application, and then applying those principles to parallel situations today. The historical context is the means by which we can gain clearer understanding of how the text would have been understood by the original audience.

Choosing a Bible Translation

Why are there so many different Bible versions? What’s the difference between them? How do I know which one to choose? If you’ve ever stood in the Bible section of a bookstore, I’m sure these questions have come to mind. While choosing a Bible is ultimately a matter of personal preference, a little information about the different versions available can go a long way in helping you to make an informed decision.

Hope against Hope – Part 3 – When Hope Seems to Fail

The Response of Job – Worship and Honest Supplication

Job was an extremely wealthy man - one who feared God and turned away from evil. He had ten children and was clearly blessed beyond measure. However, within the course of a day, Job receives news that all of his oxen and donkeys have been stolen and his servants murdered, all of his sheep and their shepherds have been consumed by a fire from the sky, and all of his children have been killed in a tornado.

Hope against Hope – Part 2 – What if it doesn’t happen?

We know that God is faithful and that we can stand in hope against the wave of faithlessness and slander which cries out, “Your God is not trustworthy!” But what do you do if something unexpected happens? When the deliverance hasn’t come as you anticipated? When the thing that you had hoped for did not come to pass? When it seems as if the cry of the faithless is right? How do you respond when it happens? Is it unbelief to even consider such things?

Who are the ministers? (Or, Why do you go to church?)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Eph 4:11-15

Hope against Hope - Part 1 - The God of hope

Hope against hope – that is the call of every Christian sojourning in this world. We have the promise of persecution and trial (2 Tim 3:12; John 16:33), and in the face of that, the promise of hope. The persecution of the world in America is not torture, imprisonment, or political exile (as some of our brothers and sisters face this very hour). It is a much more subtle, much more deadly assault. You may not be persecuted in this sense for claiming the name of Christ, but slowly we are being persuaded to lose hope in God. Is he trustworthy? Is he reliable? For today’s persecutors, the answer is “No!” The evidence is all around you. The misery of the whole world demonstrates that he is not helping (they say). At the same time, abundance and wealth lull us into a sense of satisfaction and contentment – not in God, but in the things themselves – to the point that we are tempted to rely on and put our confidence in them. “God may not be there for me at retirement, but I sure hope my investments are.”

He Is Exalted!

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(Php 2:5-11)

The Bible on the Treatment of Immigrants

The Old Testament has some interesting things to say regarding the treatment of immigrants among the people of Israel:

Prohibitions on oppression and unfair treatment (Exo. 22:21; Exo. 23:9; Deut. 10:18-19; Deut. 24:17; Eze. 22:7; Eze. 22:29; Zech. 7:10)
They are held to the same laws as natives (Exo. 12:19; Lev. 17:15; Lev. 24:22; Num. 9:14; Num. 15:15; Num. 15:30; Lev. 19:34)
They are included in the provisions for the orphans, widows, and other poor (Lev. 19:10; Lev. 23:22; Deut. 14:29; Deut. 24:19-21; Deut 26:12-13)

While we can’t take the laws and customs of the Israelites and transplant them directly to a Christian era under secular governments, there are certainly underlying principles that apply regardless of the culture and context. Throughout the Old Testament, the reason God gives for this treatment of sojourners or foreigners is that the Israelites themselves were once sojourners in the land of Egypt. Christians everywhere should be able to relate to this sentiment, seeing as we are but sojourners ourselves with a heavenly citizenship (Php 3:20; Heb. 13:14)

psalms