Have You Heard There's An Election?

Many Christians seem to be struggling with the candidates the major political parties have put forth for the highest office in the land this year. I've wondered myself. Neither seems to appeal strongly to our values. While they both call themselves Christian, many Christians are left wondering which one will stand on a platform that makes us say "That's my candidate. He thinks like I think." I've given this some thought (and prayer) and here are a few conclusions:

1. As Christians, we should have far different priorities than others. While they're talking about the economy and jobs and taxes and the candidates' positions on popular issues, we should be looking for the candidate who stands closest to our own values on the issues of life and godliness. Who tells the truth? Who takes unpopular stands because its the right thing to do? Who will stand against the taking of the innocent lives of millions of unborn children? Who will uphold the foundational institution of marriage? These are the kinds of issues God will judge this nation upon.
2. We're electing a commander-in-chief, not a preacher-in-chief. In Old Testament Israel, which is as close to a God-ordained form of governance as I know of, there was a king and there were priests. The king was never expected to do the work of the priests. In fact, King Saul tried it and God renounced him as king. The role of the priests was religious leadership and the king was charged with moral and ethical civil governance. People didn't look to the king for spiritual leadership and they didn't look to the priests for civil authority.
3. Rather than looking for the "christian" candidate to lead us, maybe Christians should step into the role of priest the Bible ascribes to us. Are we not a "royal priesthood"? We ought to stop looking to them for any kind of spiritual leadership. Do we really want a politician - any politician - coming to office as the leader of the faith? To me, that idea seems to cheapen faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to a political ideology.

So I'm not watching any conventions or listening to any stump speeches this fall. They won't be talking about the issues that matter to me anyhow. I'm not getting worked-up over this stuff anymore. I'm a preacher, I've got more important things to do with my time. I'll simply pray and ask the Lord to guide me as I choose the one who will guide this nation in a moral path.

What's In A Name?

Only two colleges existed in the American Colonies in 1701, and both were for the training of preachers: Harvard, and the newly formed Collegiate College of Connecticut. The school originally met in houses, but after a major financial gift from Jeremiah Dummer of London, land was purchased and a campus planned.
In 1718, Cotton Mather contacted a Welsh merchant, Elihu Yale, who's small donation consisted of the proceeds from the sale of 9 bales of goods, along with 417 books and a picture of King George I. Shortly thereafter, the name of the school was changed to Yale College.

By all rights, shouldn't the college have been called Dummer College?

Our Giants Have Children

"Now the Philistines were ar war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. Then Isbe-benob, who was among the descendents of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him.
~ 2 Samuel 21:15-17

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath. It was David's most memorable triumph. As improbable as it was, a young boy slew a nine foot tall, battle-hardened Philistine warrior and became a hero to all of Israel. But that giant had a son.

Some years later, after David had assumed the throne in Israel, there was war once again with the Philistines. In the heat of the battle, David found himself wearied. And at that moment, Ishbi-benob, the son of Goliath, the giant whom David had killed, came looking for King David. The Bible says he had "a new sword, and he intended to kill David."

David probably never imagined that he'd one day come face-to-face with Goliath's son. That giant was history, just a part of the past, a story to tell his children and grandchildren.
But the giant's son hadn't forgotten. On the battlefield, he had one aim - Revenge. Kill the man who killed his daddy. Ishbi-benob had come at the moment when David didn't have the strength to carry-on the fight. It's a good thing David had Abishai nearby.

There's so much here for a preacher to work with. But the bottom line is this: We can never let down our guard. Not for a moment. It seems the giants in our lives - those giants that we've defeated in our past - have children. The things that you've overcome in life are never really ancient history. They may be as close your next battle.

Mepkin Retreat

I had an incredible few days at the Mepkin Abbey. Quiet time alone with the Lord in a beautiful place. Time to pray, to meditate and to delve into His Word for myself rather than looking for the next sermon.

The sanctuary

In the garden

In the garden

Sanctuary organ pipes

The library

Second Amendment Granny

85 year old Leda Smith is my new hero.

On Sunday, she returned home to find a burglar inside her home. Remaining calm, she walked directly past the young man into her bedroom and retrieved her gun. She then backed the would be thief into the living room where she forced him to call the police and report himself. Finally, she held him at gunpoint until the police arrived.

This poor guy will never live this down in prison.

An Appointment With God

I feel like I have an appointment with God.

I'll be spending four days at The Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastary of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. It will be a much-needed personal retreat; a time of prayer, Scripture reading and contemplation.

Part of me is really looking forward to it. But part of me is dreading the quiet, alone time with the Lord. He'll have my undivided attention.

Repent

As enamored as we are with all things Jesus, (and that's appropriate) we seem to be a bit selective in the things of Christ we choose to grab hold of. We like the big, the bold, and the beautiful. We love the miracles and the bold proclamations of righteousness and judgment. We delve into the lengthy discourses so impressively delivered, like the Sermon on the Mount.

But His very first recorded sermon is one easily (and perhaps intentionally) overlooked. "Repent, for the kingdom of heavern is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
There's just not much said anymore about repentance. It's not very sexy to preach from our pulpits; just not much of a crowd-pleaser.

But if ever there was a day when we need to hear and heed the simple truth of our Savior's words, it's now. "Repent!"
As individuals, as believers and as a nation we desperately need a season of repentance.