Safe Haven

All 3 of you who long for me to post more than once a week are blessed, for I will be more faithful from this day forward. In addition, I've no plans tomorrow, so BLOGGING ALL DAY!

I'm reading Dune, by Frank Herbert. It's easily one of the best stories ever told, in my view. I love the Fremen. Their image in the story as passionate warriors reminds me of Christians. That is what we are. Herbert uses religion as the backdrop in his tale. The themes and mindset of the faithful in Dune will be a comfortable chair for Christians reading the story. Still, the "messiah" is far from perfect, and you may reject the idea that religion is simply a tool for political ends. It's a wonderful story.

Happy Birthday to my sister Alyse! She's 14. She's also in California, the lucky little troll.

Blast! Not enough runs for the Braves last night. Maddux was average, giving up three runs in 7 innings. Cory Lidle gave up 6 runs in six innings, and got a win for Toronto against Pittsburgh. That's sick, if you ask me.

In response to an e-mail from a friend about gay rights, I wrote this: Actually, I could give a rip about what the government does in the area of civil unions. Go for it. The state and its affairs are different from God's Kingdom and laws. I have several conditions, however: 1. Do not call it a "marriage." 2. Should I be a minister of the Gospel, the state shall not compel me to join two people of the same sex. (Unless the Republic is collapsing, this won't happen) 3. Find some way to insulate the healthcare system and the taxpayers from the higher cost of care. As for what you said, God's Word speaks for itself, so I need not waste time blathering about the subject. But I think your feelings on this will lead you into more opportunities to share the Gospel, and that cannot be bad. You will have a comfort level that many Christians don't have. Too many Christians find homosexuality to be the worst sin in the world, and folks can sense this. I worke...

As you may have noticed from this blather-riffic content lately, I believe we're living in some crucial times. But all moments and all times are crucial. As the Scripture says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." May it be that we can show His glory in peace.

I have great hope for this Middle East peace process, and its developments. If indeed great people can indeed have an impact, if they can change the course of history, then I place a great deal of hope and trust in the President of the United States. In these moments, he has great opportunity to use his great power (and will) for the benefit of all. Peace through strength, he says. Well, Mr. President, the strength you need now is not from bombs or cruise missiles, but the strength of character, and of resolve. As others in the blogosphere have noted, the US is the prime mover. Short of the Israelis and Palestinians, no other party will act so decisively one way or another, as will the United States, and its leader.

I just watched an Andre Agassi tennis match at the French Open. He was facing this Argentine named Guillermo Coria. They say Coria's good, but it has really got me thinking. I saw Agassi try every shot in the book, and this kid had the answer every time. Have you ever watched the great tennis players finish a point? They will hit a shot and know that there's no way the ball's coming back. It's that arrogance, the arrogance of high skill. Yet Coria took the biggest punches, and hit back. I waited for the kid to crack; I waited for The Great Player to show this upstart why he was Andre Agassi. But it never came. When the match hung in the balance, there was no fire in the eyes of Agassi. I've seen it with Sampras, and Greg Maddux, like I've never seen: Oldness. I know you're saying, "All the greats get old," but it's deeper. It's not physical, it's mental. If Randy Johnson pitches until he's 45 and his arm falls off, tough. But if he ...

If you don't have any commentaries by James Montgomery Boice, you're missing out. Boice died recently, so there will be no more. He's amazing. I own The Parables of Jesus , and Acts: An Expositional Commentary.

I just wanted to type "skippy" on my blog. I saw that somewhere...but what a funny word! Hi, Kate Germain.

I read 1 John today, too. I read 2 Peter because I don't know it too well. Maybe once before, really closely. But 1 John is such a familiar comfort to me. It's the greatest circular argument ever! Would you expect any less from the Spirit of God? I didn't think so. A wise man told me that if you read 1 John and you still think you're a Christian, then you are. You're darn skippy you are.

It's perseverance time again! This time, it's all about 2 Peter. He reminds us in this second letter that any notion we have of "eternal security" should be based on the grace of God. His grace, as opposed to a fatalistic attachment to the biblical doctrine of election. There are real battles to be won in our lives by God's grace. Because of election, we take hold of grace, taking the warnings seriously. We do not sit idly by, waiting for a glorification we have no part in. No one should ever quote Philippians 2:12 or 2:13 separately. They go together. That's a bold thing to say, but I'm serious. I can tell if someone is a zealot Calvinist, or a fearful Arminian by which one of those verses they quote. It's a pet peeve. Confessions of a Calvinist annoyed by Calvinists (some of them).

What did I learn this week? That no person should spend too much time dwelling on failure and sin. We are far worse than we think, and yet I have been taught that for every look we take at our sin, we should take ten looks at Christ. Indeed, that notion is founded solidly on Scripture: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

I mean no disrespect to all the other instruments on Earth, but sometimes you've got to break it down with an acoustic guitar. Just do it. It will be cathartic for you. Write a song, for pete's sake! It's fun! Guys, girls love it when you write songs. Provided, of course, that you have other good qualities. If you're just a jerk, too bad. A man of honor and integrity is the ideal. Be like Jesus and write songs. And don't say your uncle Jason never gave you any advice.

If you don't have have any Dutch friends, you need to get some. Just to hear Christopher T' hoen say "Dockers" is priceless. Seriously, I'm so glad to have met him over this past year. A wealth of humor, sensitivity and wisdom, Chris is a great blessing to me. Thanks, Dutchman.

The semester didn't go well. I failed my English class. Why can't I read what I'm told? Blast! Thanks be to God, who gives us all things, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Remember that there are blessings (spiritual and material) in Christ right now . I'm looking forward to RUF Mini-Summer Conference on Monday, starring Hugh Barlett and "The Real Deal" Joe Choi leading worship.

The duck addage doesn't work for Christianity (see last post). Jesus taught us this when He said, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:22-24)

All right, I've got to comment on Rick Santorum and sodomy laws. First, in Rick's defense. It is a fallacious argument (or problematic) to say, "The government has no place in the bedroom." If that indeed was the assertion, then what Rick said is quite true. How could we regulate more obvious (generally agreed upon) inappropriate behavior? We do that on behalf of minors all the time. But the best argument is that government should not regulate sex between consenting adults. It's a breathless waste of time for anyone to pass laws against homosexual sex, or enforce them. I wish America was a Godly nation. I wish we ALL believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. I wish sin wasn't here. But we cannot as Christians conscript others into our morals. We try this all the time. Christians are so eager to have others at least act like them that Christian political organizations don't even quibble about doctrine. That's garbage. That's a false religiosity. ONLY the ...

There's something I need to say. I know what it's like to get some theologically inclined fellows in a room who like to get provincial about doctrine. I really don't know who started the game of exegetical "Can You Top This?" but someone decided that Jesus was not going to return. I know how it starts: you want to take the time texts seriously, and you don't want to be premillenial. And then all of a sudden, you're embracing a stance that may place you outside the faith. I would encourage anyone who's embraced "realized eschatology" to give it up.

My boss Kendall sits here next to me. He's a huge Royals fan. 9-0, about to be 10. What the heck!