Devout Duplicity

This is a rather broad statement but I'll make it anyways:

 Christians might be the biggest problem Christianity faces today.

How many times have we heard people outside the church comment on the person inside the church as their reason (excuse?) for not giving their life over to Christ? For not entering into a relationship that offers them life? I don't think that even we, as Christians, have to look many pews over (or possibly even past our own seat) to find church attenders that:

     - are unfaithful to their spouse, either in practice or through pornography
     - abuse their children
     - take payment under the table so they don't have to report the income on their taxes
     - use God's name as a curse, or even worse, use it as a place holder in conversations without even noticing
     - spend their time criticizing and undermining pastors, family and friends
     - drink in excess
     - generally live a private life that doesn't match up with their public one.

In fairness, let me say that there are many wonderful Christians who live a whole-hearted life for God. But for those looking to find a flaw in the faith, let's be honest and say they probably don't have to look far.

I don't think, though, that this phenomenon is uniquely Christian. It might be clearer to say:

Humans might be the biggest problem God faces today.

How many times did God rebuke the priests (and the nation) that didn't uphold his laws in the duties of their office or the privacy of their homes? I think it's simply human nature. I think we could look at any major world religion and find people that say they accept its teachings but live a life that ignores it.

It happened with the religious leaders of Jesus day, too.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. (John 18:28, NIV, emphasis mine)

 We know the expression about having our cake and eating it too, and that's exactly what was happening here. The Jewish leaders had been looking for ways and means to arrest Jesus for days, weeks and months. Caiaphas, the Roman-appointed high priest, made no secret of the fact that he wanted Jesus dead. They brought false charges and lying proof. They manipulated (and ignored) the legal system of the day. They broke the law to get their way. BUT even in their scheming and their ambition to see Jesus phony trial come to a death sentence, they still wanted to preserve their appearance of piety. They wanted to be able to sit down and eat the Passover meal - one of the most important celebrations of their year. And so they stood outside Pilate's house with murder in their hearts and the law they had written in their backbones.

I have to shake my head at the image of these men sitting down the next day to take part in a feast that was meant to remind them of God's mercy through the blood of an innocent sacrifice, when they had just sacrificed an innocent man but would never see the mercy his death offered. I suspect the dark circles under their eyes that day came not from a late night of trials and meetings, but from inside, a shadow of the darkness in their hearts. But to a casual outside inspection, they still looked righteous as they lifted the cup and sang the songs of Passover.

And God granted them the grace of time to change their minds and accept the sacrifice He sent on their behalf.

Still, too many times we try to live that way too. Saying one thing, living another. More captured by the religious rites than the relationship with God. Keeping our faith in the closet beside our best Sunday shoes. And not seeing it as a problem.

But God loves us enough to give us time to make a better choice.

I don't want to live that way.

What about you?

NIV Bibles for preteen boys and girls (a review)

Two Bibles for pre-teens (ages 9-12) are available with some unique age-focused features.

The Faithgirlz! Bible was first released in 2007 and now has had its first update. What I particularly like about this particular Bible is that it is addressing issues like character and self-perception at the age where it's still possible to offer what I consider a pre-emptive strike. Girls at the preteen age are still willing to believe they are unique and special even in their search to belong, and this Bible gives a balance to both desires. With features like "Oh, I Get It" or the introductions of each book, the truths of the Bible are open to them, while "Is There a Little _______ In You?" and "Dream Girl" help them see a connection between the people of the Bible and their own choices and decisions. My personal favorite is the "Bring It On" features, that look like a personality quiz and give different passages to explore for different answers.

As a companion Bible, the NIV Boys Bible has some "boy-centric" offerings like "Grossology" and "Makin' It Real," both giving a current day perspective to the events of the Bible. And the "What's the Big Deal?" sections are great for providing personal application even at this preteen, gotta-wonder-what-they're-thinking stage. And "Words to Live By" provide eye-catching highlights scattered throughout. Great introductory material for each book of the Bible and interesting facts scattered throughout too.

Two final observations:

1. The font in both Bibles is not black. In the Faithgirlz! version it is purple with lots of pink highlights and artwork; in the boys it's blue with gold accents. This will probably not be an issue for 99.9% of readers but for a small minority it is something so be aware of if you consider purchasing it.

2. The sound of the binding makes me wonder just how durable these Bibles will be over the course of time. Hardcover, of course, should hold up well to use but again, it's something to be aware of when investing in a Bible that will (hopefully) take a lot of use. Of course, only time will tell if that's a real issue or not.

Either version are nicely geared to their age group and I also think would work for a shared family devotional time, or even for adults that want a little extra information in their daily study. There's some fun stuff behind those cool covers!

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Easter Stories

It's very easy to let any Bible story be a story only. But the truth of every Bible story is that they involved people - people that made good choices, bad choices, personal choices, eternal choices. People - not just characters in a story.

A project I've been very excited (and slightly nervous) about is writing a script for Good Friday that takes 5 Bible characters and places them as people who have seen Jesus die, and to present their stories and their perspectives - as people.

Why? Because I think that sometimes it's too easy to dismiss their stories because "I would never do that" or "What were they thinking?" But sometimes only time gives perspective to our actions and we can't know for sure how our character will respond in moments of decision.

This particular script is called "3 Days" and you're welcome to attend if you're in the area.


If you can't make it, here's another skit that gives a taste of those personal stories.

Contributing to a better past

Whether your past has been an idyllic past, a problematic one, or the usual combination of good and bad, your past shapes much of who you are each day. And the past keeps filling up because like it or not, the "present" is a very fleeting pointer on the timeline of our lives.

I was reading in 2 Samuel the other day and came to chapter 13 which contains the tragic story of Amnon, one of King David's sons, who was so consumed with his own wants that he raped his sister Tamar and then discarded her. What caught my attention this time was not the two siblings involved so much as the role of their father, David. The Bible records

"When King David heard all this, he was furious." (vs. 21)

And then silence.

Nothing more is said about David's response to this crime against his daughter and we read on to find that her brother, Absalom, ultimately takes revenge on Amnon.

It's possible to speculate all kinds of reasons for David's lack of response here. Perhaps his own sins mocked him at this point (after all, he was an adulterer and murderer himself); perhaps he felt guilt because he had sent Tamar to Amnon that night; perhaps it was that the state of his kingdom had him too fully preoccupied to give it his attention. Whatever the reason, David did nothing, and it led to the ultimate loss of another son*, the irreversible disgrace of a daughter, and the unsettled loyalties of his kingdom.

What's the lesson to learn here?

The NIV Life Application Bible makes this observation:

"Parents contribute good or evil by action or inaction in the lives of their children." (page 467)

As a parent (and as a person), David is a prime and public example of how both action and inaction contributed to a negative past for his family. His were actions that affected the past of both his own immediate family and a nation as a whole. Do we know the ripples our own actions (or inactions) are capable of carrying?

It's a pattern today to assign blame and with it to try to pass off personal responsibility. And while there may be reasons we can pinpoint that color our thinking or have shaped our character, it's also time to take up the responsibility of the impact we have on those around us. Each word, each action, each response (or lack thereof) puts a mark for good or for bad on someone's past. If we are contributing hurt and criticism and doubt, some else's past is going to be the worse for it. And if our silence or inattention misses an opportunity for correction or for encouragement, the effects may be just as detrimental.

But the good news is that it's never too late to try to contribute to a better past for ourselves, for our families and for each person we come in contact with on a daily basis. Jesus promises to make all things new and David's psalms often express the wonder and the faithfulness of God's forgiveness. It doesn't mean God makes all things perfect - there may be time and effort that is necessary to healing harm done by our past - but He offers a solid foundation for building a better past.

Let's put the past in perspective and be intentional about making it better for everyone we encounter, both in what we do and in what we don't do.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

*Absalom ran away after murdering his brother, remained in hiding for three years, then returned but was forbidden the king's presence, led a rebellion against his father, and was ultimately killed himself by a supporter of David. And David's response to Absalom's crimes almost cost him his army's support, too.

G.O.S.P.E.L.

I recently posted a video that has swept the net. I've been spending some time thinking about the message of the video and have, perhaps, more questions that come to mind the more I think about it. I still admire the passion of it, but am not sure I wholeheartedly would agree with the underlying message of it. I don't think Jesus and religion pose an either/or situation. (If you read my review of Viola's Revive Us Again the portions about experiencing Christ through the body are connected to that train of though.) And, I will confess, my inner editor saw a few hiccups the first time through. But that's nitpicking ...

This one, however, never ceases to amaze me. Both in message and in craft, it is exceptionally well done.



Some powerful language for a powerful God of redemption:

"Give God His breath back. You owe Him."

The Gospel Story Bible (a review)

In this cross between Bible and storybook, Marty Machowski has taken 156 stories from both the Old and New Testament and presented them in a simple, one-page format, both colorfully illustrated and with simple questions to help prompt a little deeper understanding of the story. Where Machowski differs from most children's Bible-based storybooks is that each story points clearly and intentionally to the story of Jesus - the gospel story.

In The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments Machowski chooses stories that can be read by any age group - simple enough for parents to share with younger children or beginning readers - and ends them with a short thought about how each story connects to God's larger plan of salvation through Jesus. Machowski also provides the relevant Bible passage for further reading, and 3 questions to help think through the story presented. The introduction also includes suggestions for using the Gospel Story Bible with different age groups. The publisher, New Growth Press,also has published a children's ministry curriculum as a companion to this book (not reviewed).

Beginning with creation (of course), Machowski moves through the Old and New Testament even into the epistles to show the plan of God unfolding, from the need for salvation right through to the effects of salvation in the early church stories. And each faithfully points to the person of Jesus as the culmination of God's plan. While a few statements like "Today, Jesus is our ark" may need some explanation, overall the connection is clearly and simply made.

The overall visual appeal of the book is wonderful. Full vividly colored pages with retro-feel illustrations by A.E. Macha give lots for the pre-reader to explore, and excitement to the turning pages.

While it may appear focused towards children, the Gospel Story Bible is really applicable to any age group or level of Christian believer. It makes connections throughout Scripture in a rather unique way that can introduce Jesus to the new believer, or can prompt further study for the long-time Christian. It's a unique telling of the gospel story.


Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

Religion vs. Jesus (Spoken Word)

Turbulent Days

In looking at the life of Absalom this morning, I was directed to several of the Psalms that King David (Absalom's father) is thought to have written during the time when Absalom was rebelling against his father's leadership. Keep in mind, that this didn't just mean arguing about his curfew - Absalom was deliberately working to undermine David's position as king and to take the kingdom from him. Absalom wanted to be king, even at the cost of his dad's life. The story can be found in 2 Samuel 15 & 16.

While reading through the Psalms listed, I came across this statement in my Bible's footnotes for Psalm 63:

"His [David's] actions closely paralleled his beliefs during those turbulent days."

(NIV Life Application Study Bible, p. 891)

"Turbulent days" seems like a bit of an understatement. Rebellion on both a familial and a national level, personal and professional betrayal, running for his life - days were indeed "turbulent" for David. His own sins with Bathsheba (adultery and murder) were still bringing daily consequences to both his family and his nation.

But then this thought occurred to me - turbulent times will always reveal our true beliefs. Our actions can't NOT parallel our beliefs because under pressure, we become less aware of the facade and more focused on survival. And what we do to survive will always be based on our deepest beliefs.

We're beginning a new year. For many, 2012 is a year they are facing with real apprehension - whether because of Mayan prophecies or presidential elections or the economic situation, they are anticipating bad things in the weeks and months ahead.

And I think people's actions, just like in 2 Samuel, will reveal what they truly believe. Those who believe they are on their own and control their own destiny will be scrambling to be sure they are "okay". Whether that means bettering their financial position (money will save me) or seeking relationships (it's not what you know, it's who you know), these people will be looking for external safety.

Those that truly believe that God is sovereign will also be acting on that belief, trusting God to provide, to know what's best and to lead them day by day. You will see them step out in faith, rest in His promises and talk to Him when they don't know what else to do. And I believe you'll see both types of people within the church and outside of it. Because sometimes it takes turbulent days to reveal what you truly believe.

"Those turbulent days" revealed in the end that David fully trusted God to be his source of provision, safety and peace. They also revealed the Absalom, in spite of being popular, was foolish, self-centered and weak.

What will 2012 reveal about you?