From the Valley of the Sun to Mile High City

The rumor is fact. My resignation was announced this past Sunday. My last Sunday here at Southwest will be September 28. My first Sunday at the University Church of Christ in Denver, CO, will be October 4. This has been a long process - almost a year's worth of prayer, counsel, agonizing, reevaluating, then finally coming to the realization that moving on was the only choice Leisa and I could make for our own spiritual health as well as for that of Southwest's. This has been both one of the most fruitful as well as one of the most frustrating ministries of our life. The victories and struggles have both reminded us (as have several of our friends and mentors) that from a human point of view the church will always be imperfect, but that is OK, because the church doesn't belong to us, WE ARE the church and we belong to Him!

Leisa and I are excited about the opportunity that God has put before us at University. Our aim is and will continue to be to please God by using the gifts He has given us to serve, encourage, and challenge His church to grow in grace and Christlikeness, and to point the way for others to come to know Christ.

More to come...

Pigs, Pit Bulls, and Lipstick

Politics as a pastime can be very entertaining, but politics as the work of ordering a society for freedom and peace is serious business. Normally I wouldn't write about politics on this blog, but the recent brouhaha springing from Barak's use of the figure of speech, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig," does fit the pattern of Ahithophel Thinking, which this blog is about.

Some supporters of McCain-Palin, took issue with Barak's use of that well known saying, linking it with Palin's joke about the difference between a Hockey Mom and a Pit Bull; lipstick. They interpreted the remark as Barak insinuating that Palin was a pig. To his credit, Governor Huckabee is giving Barak a pass, accepting the remark as a common expression, used for years. But others believe Barak has really crossed the line with this comment.

Barak, of course believes it silly for the McCain camp to react they way they have. His use of the phrase was not a jab at Palin.

All this reminds me of a similar brouhaha a couple months ago regarding the use of Barak's middle name Hussein. To which some supporters of Barak, and some Republicans as well, took issue with the use of his middle name believing it was being used to link Barak with Islamic fundamental terrorist. The defense of those who used Barak's middle name Hussein was that it was factual.

Which brings me to my point. We often hide behind the technical accuracy of a thing; "Hussein is his legal middle name," and "You can put lipstick on a pig... is a well known saying," but is this not a case of being right but about the wrong thing? That is Ahithophel thinking!

Being technically correct is not always the end of the matter. Now I cannot judge either Barak's heart or the heart of those who want to use Barak's middle name, but I believe most would agree that it would be the intent that makes either of these cases acceptable or not.

If the intent of using Hussein is to inflame and incite hatred, then it is certainly a dishonorable thing to do. If using the common saying as Barak did, was intended to inflame and insult Palin, then it too was a dishonorable thing to do. But what is most despicable in my view, is to use it in this negative rhetorical way, and then hide behind the technical accuracy of the words, claiming innocence the whole time.

At best, within the current context of this world and the all too often noxious political milieu, the use of Hussein and the expression Barak used is foolish. These people are 'Word Smiths,' and I believe they are fully able to measure the impact of their words. At worst, this kind of rhetoric is intended to wound and disparage their opponents; and is fully dishonorable. (And I admit it is hard not to think the dishonorable intent was present on both sides. I just can't prove it.)

The sad thing is that the collateral damage of this kind of campaigning - on both sides - is the loss of hope among the citizens that it really matters for whom you vote. My call is that both Republicans and Democrats will speak with greater honor, not just for their opponents sake, but more importantly for the sake of the American people. And I call on each of us, to measure our words very carefully. We may speak 'the truth' at least technically, but what is our intent?

Staff Meeting @ Verado

The Power of Each Part

If you have been watching the Olympics, you have been a part of one of the largest audiences ever watching the Olympics. NBC estimated that nearly 157 million people watched as least some part of the Olympics during the first four days. It has been spectacular to say the least.

There are many outstanding athletes competing in Beijing this summer whose names we recognize; Kobe Bryant, LeBron James for Basketball, Shawn Johnson for women’s gymnastics, and many others, but none more amazing than Michael Phelps. In Beijing Phelps has won 5 Gold medals, breaking 5 world records in the process. That accomplishment has also put him in a league of his own. He now has earned more Gold medals (11) than any other athlete in any event in Olympic history. He is on track to pass Mark Spitz record of 7 Gold medals in a single Olympic games (fyi – Spitz won 7 Gold medals at Munich in 1972 and did so by breaking 7 world records). Phelps is favored to win the three remaining races in which he is entered.

But as amazing as Michael Phelps is, he didn’t accomplish this on his own. While most of the races are individual efforts there are a couple of races that are relays. If you watched the 4X100 freestyle relay final on Monday night, you witnessed what is being called the greatest 4X100 freestyle relay of all time. The names, Garrett Weber-Gail, Cullen Jones, and Jason Lezak may not be as well known as Michael Phelps, but this was one race Michael couldn’t win on his own.

This was how the Associated Press summed up the issue, “Phelps' hopes of breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in a single Games appeared doomed when the French took over the lead at the 250 mark. They were 4.03 seconds under world-record pace at 350 meters before Lezak, the oldest American male swimmer at 32, rallied over the closing strokes with the fastest 100m split in history, 46.0 seconds.”

Without those three men, especially the greatest performance ever in that event by Jason Lezak, Michael Phelps wouldn’t have that Gold medal.

So what does this have to do with us as Christians? Well, while we each do have to have our own ‘personal relationship with Christ,’ we don’t run this race alone. We need each other. The strength of the church is in its connectedness. We are not only connected to God, but also to each other. The goal of the church is to “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). This is done when “whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:16). The work each of us does is not some isolated task disconnected from the body. If you watched the race, you also got to see Michael, Garrett, and Cullen cheer Jason Lezak on to the finish. The race was not just 4 individual efforts, but a total ‘fellowship’ in the work so that the whole became greater than the sum of the parts. How else can you explain beating the previous world record by 3.99 seconds where usually the margins of victory are in the 100^th of seconds?

As we strive to become Spiritual Champions, we must remember this is not simply an individual effort, we are a team, a body, The Body of Christ, where each member must do its part.

STOP PRAYING... At least for that.

For the past several weeks our Sunday evening assembly has been more of a modified small group ministry than a typical Sunday night ‘preaching’ assembly. We have been working through a video series called “Modern Parables.” We all meet in the auditorium and watch one of Jesus’ parables retold in a modern context. Then we break into small groups around the building and discuss the meaning and application of the parable to our lives today.

This past week we finished the parable of “The Widow & the Judge.” The goal of the parable was to encourage persistence in prayer, not because God is like the Judge in the story who doesn’t care, but because God is just the opposite, he truly cares and is eager to answer our prayers. So don’t give up praying.

One of the great benefits of a small group discussion over a ‘sermon’ is the free flowing nature of it. While you don’t want to carelessly ‘chase rabbits’ all the time, often the direction of the discussion may take you somewhere you didn’t map out ahead of time. That is how part of our discussion progressed last Sunday.

In the midst of discussing the need to be persistent in prayer, the question was asked, “Is there a time when we should stop praying?” And, “Does quitting imply a lack of faith on our part in God’s willingness or ability to answer?” To the first question, I think there are several examples that help; Think of Joshua, when in prayer, God told him, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?” (Joshua 6:10). Think of Paul, who prayed 3 times that his thorn would be removed, and God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you!” (2 Cor. 12:9). And think of Jesus, who prayed 3 times that, “this cup pass from me.” Yet God did not answer. The clear implication is that for these three men, there was a time to stop praying (at least about that) and move on in the will of God as it remained for them.

The answer for the second question is made easier when the first is answered; no it is not a lack of faith to stop praying. As a matter of fact, it may actually be a greater demonstration of faith in God to move on in His will as it remains. But this begs a third question; If there is a time to stop praying, and it doesn’t show a lack of faith to do so, then how do I know when to stop praying?

Ah, that is a question not so easily answered. How do you decide when to stop? We had at least one in our group who has faced this very decision. When the twins, Tabitha & Xander were born a little over 2 years ago, fervent prayer was a continual part of Alex & Laura’s life. They prayed with great faith in God’s ability and love. They prayed with great persistence that God would make Tabitha and Xander better. With great joy and praise to God, we are all witnesses to Tabitha’s improvement. (As a matter of fact she’s walking around the building right now.) Xander on the other hand has endured battle after battle with infections, seizures, and other complications since birth. Laura explained that they have come to the place where they have stopped praying for Xander to get better, but have come to accept God’s will as it remains for Xander. While God has chosen not to make Xander better, he has in fact made Alex & Laura better. They stand among us as great examples of persistent faith. They could have turned their backs on God, they could have turned their backs on each other, and many couples in similar circumstances have done just those kinds of things. But they didn’t and they won’t. And they still pray for Xander... but just not for that.

My prayer is that God will give you and me the wisdom, courage & faith to know when to stop praying... at least for that.

Go Do Like He Done

This relates to the original purpose of 'Ahithopehl's Journal.' (If this is your first time here, be sure to read the first post from December 2007).

My mother Alta, went to Washington DC in the 8^th grade as a participant in the National Spelling Bee. Unfortunately, the “spelling gene” skipped me. You have probably noticed this if you have ever been in a class where I have used a white board on which to write class points. (The truth is, I’m really a better speller than it appears, I’m just so focused on what I’m teaching that I’m not concentrating on spelling - at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) But I do admit that I’m not the best speller, so I can relate to the following story. The application of this story is for all of us, whether we’re good spellers or not -to remind us not to get caught up in 'Ahithophel thinking'.

When the newly hired salesman wrote his first sales report to the home office, it stunned the brass in the sales department. Obviously the new “hope” was a blithering illiterate, for here is what he had written:

“I seen this outfit which they ain’t never boughts a dimes worth of nothing form us, and I sole them a couple hundred thoughsand dollars of guds. I am now getin to Chcawgo.”

Before he could be given the heave-ho by the sales manager, along came another letter:

“I get here and sole them hafa million.”

Fearful if he did, and fearful if he didn’t fire the illiterate peddler, the sales manager decided to dump the problem in the lap of the president. The following morning the members of the ivory tower were flabbergasted to see the two reports on the bulletin board, and a note from the president tacked above them:

“We ben spending too much trying to spel instead of tying to sel. Lets watch those sails. I want everybody should read these letters form Gooch who is on the rode doing a grate job for us, and you should go and do like he done.”

It is so tempting for us, to expend a lot of time and energy on details that are not really critical to what it means to be a follower of Christ. It is our tendency to want to be right, but often about the wrong things. I have to constantly remind myself of what is essentially important: Living a holy life before the God of my salvation; living as salt & light in a corrupt and dark world; and Loving God with all my heart.

What Sort of People?

Peter asks a great question in 2 Peter 3:11, in view of the coming judgment and destruction of the world, he asks, "What sort of people ought we to be?"

I came across a similar question while reading Hauerwas & Willimon's "Resident Aliens" (from which I borrowed their title for the recent preaching series I just finished -see previous post).

Putting it into the context of a local congregation, they asked, "What sort of community would we have to be in order to be the sort of people who live by our convictions?"

Any ideas, qualities that would be required in this sort of community? I'd appreciate your thoughts.