Three things #106

1. This was troubling: "In a separate report, Barna found that more than 6 in 10 born-again Christians say they are customizing their faith, not following any one church's theology. 'Americans are increasingly comfortable picking and choosing what they deem to be helpful and accurate theological views and have become comfortable discarding the rest of the teachings in the Bible,' the report notes."
2. There is a good chance that Jesus was beaten twice prior to his execution. Pilate ordered a lighter flogging (a mastigoo) in John 19:1 and Luke 23:16. He orders a more severe flogging (a phragelloo) or scourging in Matthew 27:26 and Mark 15:15. It is thought that the pre-crucifixion beating given by the Romans were intended to increase suffering, but actually mercifully hastened death due to the massive blood loss.
3. A Violent Grace by Michael Card is a book I return to every Passion Week. I cannot reccommend it highly enough.

Three things #105

1. As I read about the way that the disciples deserted Jesus in the hours before His death, it struck me that these guys were His friends. Between the short snippets of teaching and healing that we see in the Gospels, there were millions of moments of conversation and playing and laughing and even crying together. Although Jesus was their Rabbi, there was a more intimate relationship. As I read through the account of the numerous betrayals, the parallels between Peter and Judas are brought to the forefront. Jesus predicts both of their betrayals. Judas is silent in response. Peter self-righteously defends his allegiance to the Rabbi. Judas leaves in the middle of dinner, Peter stays by Jesus's side throughout. Judas is active, leading a mob. Peter is inactive, leading slumbering apostles. Judas is damned. Peter is forgiven. I see both elements of Peter and Judas in my heart.
2. While standing in line at Pei Wei yesterday, it struck me that you can make just about any Oriental dish sound like a fatal martial art with the right tone. "You make bad mistake, sir, for I am a master of PAD THAI!" "Prepare to meet your ancestors! I know MOO GOO GAI PAN!" "I will now unlease the fury of KUNG PAO!!" Although this does not work with Sweet & Sour Chicken.
3. Don't forget to pray for Haiti.

Three things #104

Expect a lot of Passion Week oriented stuff this week:

1. I read in one book this week that Jesus' prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were unanswered. I think this is false. Sometimes, the Father's answer to our requests for relief is "No". And if Jesus' prayers sometimes received a no, I can be certain mine sometimes will too.
2. My favorite moments right now are spent with the family at the park. Any park. Although it is artificial nature, it is what we have in suburban Texas. Speaking of nature, it appears that our birds from a couple of years ago are building a nest in the wreath on our front door again. Very cool.
3. Speaking and thinking rarely take place at the same time.

Three things #103

1. I am on a lot of calls during the week to people all over the country (sometimes all over the world). I deal in hundreds of thousands of dollars in any given week. And yet there is something deeply soothing about the simplicity of putting my hands into the soil and putting little plants in the ground. There is an element of hope that goes into each of those little plants. My meager task of placing them in the ground and watering them will not produce any fruit unless God helps both the plant and the planter. There are so many illustrations that can be drawn from the small act of reaping and sowing. And every year I am reminded that Jesus loved to use seedlings in his parables.

2. Speaking of Jesus, I read this verse this afternoon and gained a new appreciation for what the Father and the Son have to do with the fact that we even exist: "...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." (I Cor. 8:6)

Think of it: You, right now as you sit reading this, exist for God. And, you, right now, exist through Jesus Christ. You are completely and utterly dependent, whether you recognize it or not.

3. Finally, people are never more open to the Gospel than they are during holidays. Holidays force us to remember God. So look for opportunities to ask people about their Easter plans. God will give you the words to say....

Three things #102

1. From an article on Yahoo: "Scientists recently announced that there may be a billion more stars out there than they originally thought." Somewhere Father Abraham is laughing....
2. Nothing is more abrupt than the breaking of a guitar string in the middle of practice. One moment you are calmly strumming away and the next you are staring at the coiled remains of an over abused, metallic former friend. And you just stare for a moment, in stunned realization that you are done playing for now. Done. Done. Done. And I often sense that it happens just before my greatest guitar epiphany is about to take place.
3. I haven't had any interaction with Facebook in the past three days (on either my laptop or Blackberry) and life seems less frentic.

Three things #101

1. If artsy boyfriend guy in Starbucks is annoyed by the stares, perhaps he might advise his girlfriend against hot pink hair, pale complexion, and studded leather jacket. Its just a curious combination, thats all.
2. I keep thinking about the idea that praylessness is sinful. A lack of prayer is a subtle declaration of personal pride. Self-sufficiency. Jesus valued prayer more than sleep....
3. John Piper had this video on his site. It makes me glory in the God who took away death's sting. I will die. And then I will Live.
   

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

A return to the ol' blog

I am back. I have gotten out of the habit of writing and the literary side of my thought brain has atrophied. It will be light on intelligence, but deep in overall mental depth.

Book Review: Dug Down Deep

I don't read as many books as I used to. Having several kids and a wife and a job puts some contraints on the time available to settle down with a good book. So when I do have the time to spend with a book, it is important that I choose carefully. I am proud to say that my latest choice, Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris, was a wise investment of time.

The subtitle to the book is Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters. This is a pretty accurate description of Harris' purpose in writing. The book is about the importance of good doctrine. There are a lot of good systematic theologies that will provide readers great, solid biblical truth (Wayne Grudem's being my favorite). And although I think that reading a great systematic theology is something everyone should do, I really like Harris' approach.

Harris takes a lot of time to weave his personal experiences into discovering good doctrine. So, instead of another theological tome, we get to understand Truth through Harris' experience. It gives the book a readability that is rare for such a serious matter as doctrine.

My favorite chapter in the book involves the author's father. In this chapter, Harris tells the story of how Jesus saved his Dad. We follow his father through his years as a rebellious, hippie troubadour. God saves him in a "chance" meeting on a California beach with two nameless guys who are talk to people about Jesus. It is a compelling story.

I highly recommend this book. I think that it will be especially useful to people that are young in their walk with the Saviour. It is a good introduction to basic, biblical doctrine told in a way that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

You can pick up a copy here.

Parent Deficit Disorder

Another favorite from my old blog:

In an office, thirty years in the future, with a thirty something young man on a couch and a pastoral looking guy:

“Is this your first counseling session?”, asks the pastoral looking guy.

“Yes”, replies the young man (who is strikingly handsome like his father).

“Well, why don’t you tell me why you’re here?”

“Well, ever since I graduated from Yale Law, I have been kinda, um, listless.”

“Listless?”

“Yes. After I graduated, I spent some time traveling, then organized goat rodeos, then was a meat artist, and now work at Shoneys. I think I have issues.”

“Listless indeed.”

“Yeah. Can you help me?”

“Maybe. Is your dad still alive? Tell me about your dad.”

“Uh-huh. For years wrote this blog under a pseudonym – Uberdog, Innersmog, Outerfrog, something like that. He had a nervous breakdown a few years ago. A lot of times, he just mumbles a lot about needing another Grande Mocha. He just stares into space for hours and with a pained look on his face ask the same questions over and over, ‘How could two toddlers poop in their bath on the same night? How is that possible?’. Its just sad.”

“And your mom?”

“She’s fine. She’s brilliant. Just saw her at Christmas. She loves dad a lot. Buys him a lot of Mochas.”

“Well, I think that I know what is going on.”

“You do?”

“Yes, you have a all the symptoms of ‘PDD’.”

“PDD?”

“Yes, you have what is known as Parent Deficit Disorder. You had parents, but they were just not with the programs. Just had a very similar case of PDD this morning. A Harvard grad. Calls himself the ‘Linebacker Starter Kit’.”

“Really? Blonde guy? About 6’1, husky build?”

“Yep. How did you know that?”

“Sounds like my brother…..”

----------------------------------------------

It’s 2008 and parenting is still humbling. We seem to go in and out of seasons where we gain a little confidence only to be confounded by some unforeseen challenge. Some days are better than others. It turns out that “Shepherding Your Child’s Heart” sounds poetic but does not come easily most days.

Ranching My Child’s Brain? Sure.

Coercing My Child’s Bladder? Check.

Driving My Child’s Hiney? Got it.

Shepherding My Child’s Heart? Not nearly enough.

But as I read the Scriptures and see that my sanctification is progressive, that my maturity is gradual, and that my Father is patient, I also have hope. There is hope in the fact that God loves my children more than I ever will. That God uses even my parenting mistakes to accomplish His purposes. That His will for my children is not trumped by my inabilities as a father.

And in the far distant future, as I suck down Mochas and reflect on sad reality of past toddler poop in the bathtub, I will look back and know that God used even my meager parenting skills to achieve His glorious ends.

Thank God that He gives grace to the humble (including parents!).

Questions for Christmas

This is a repost from my other blog:

December 10, 2007

I love great stories. And most of the time, there are cracks in great stories that allow the hearer to fill in the blanks. I believe that is one of the reasons that God gave us imaginations. As I have read the Christmas story this year, new questions have arisen. The answers are not important to the purpose of the Nativity saga, but for me pondering them adds depth to the narrative and only makes the text more beautiful. Did you ever wonder:

1. If Mary and Joseph passed crucified men on the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and thought, "I hope that never happens to anyone I know"?
2. Did Mary and Joseph's parents know they went to Egypt with their new grandson? Did they fear the worst?
3. Were the angels that appeared to the shepherds there all along?
4. When the angels sang "Glory to God in the Highest", were they surprised to be singing to exalt a human baby in a manger?
5. Gold, okay. Frankincense, yep. Myrrh, though? An embalming substance? That must have been confusing. (Try taking that to your next baby shower.)
6. What was the first thing that the shepherds said to Mary and Joseph? Did the new parents believe their story at first?
7. Why don't we ever refer to the Virgin Joseph in the Christmas story?
8. Did Herod feel better after killing all those kids?
9. Did Herod's scribes know the prophecy about the Messiah's birthplace off the top of their heads? Did they know the prophecy about "Rachel weeping for her children" when they told Herod?
10. Were any of Joseph's relatives on the road to Bethlehem?

That's all I have for now. I hope that your Xmas season is leading you back to the Cross.

So my Dad can be even more thankful this year

This post is for my Dad, who had despaired at checking my blog for several weeks and always finding the Prosperity Gospel guy's shoes....

Another reason to HATE the prosperity gospel

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

Three things

1. Lying in bed, believing that all of the forces of evil have conspired against your happiness in a mean spirited effort to suck the very life force from the very marrow of your already barely breathing social life....is just a little extreme. It may be true, but come on, lighten up a little, okay?
2. From my Facebook status: Tonight, at the dinner table, during a break in the conversation, my 2 year old son abruptly announced, "I'M PREGNANT!". I just want to say for the record: Josiah does NOT have a bun in the oven.*
3. I am so tired of the healthcare debate. Here is my healthcare bill: let's start with a little self control. Turn off the TV, get some exercise outside, stop eating like crap, and lets see what that does to our healthcare crisis. I may be a simpleton, but I can't be more ridiculous than most of the talking heads in Washington.

*Mrs. Underdog is pregnant and on bedrest. There has been a lot of pregnancy talk around our house lately......

Cool concept

Perspectives from Peacemaker Ministries on Vimeo.

Moments of Illumination

As a father, I live for the moments of illumination in my kids. This cartoon is a good illustration:

These were interesting

These did not orginate with me, but they seemed like a good way to start the week:

Nothing stinks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy.

The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on facebook people that I do know, but i deliberately choose not to be friends with?

There is a great need for sarcasm font.

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

While watching the Olympics, I found myself cheering equally for China and the US. No, I am not of Chinese descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes don't win, they are executed.

I wonder if cops ever get ticked off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey -but I'd bet a million dollars everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time.

(Source)

It starts early...

Three things

This is the "on the mend" edition of Three things:

1. On Monday of this last week, Mrs. Underdog got put on bedrest after only a few weeks of pregnancy, we had six kids in some stage of the plague, and the downstairs bathroom was flooded with two inches of water. It was kind of a difficult way to start the week. Thus, the limited posting.
2. I really miss our church. Not in the "wonder-what-the-new-flannelgraph" way, but in the "I-didn't-get-to-see-people-I-love" way and the "better-is-one-day-in-God's house" way. We have missed a couple of weeks due to the plague and it is a real drag. Sundays have become my favorite day.
3. I think that we would all have to admit that the world would be a more interesting place if dinosaurs were still around. Not only would we be a little more cautious just walking around, but we would have a lot more diverse choices for burgers. Stegasaurus burgers.....Tyrannasaurus burgers....Pteradactyl burgers. Makes me hungry, I have to tell you.....

Animal Cruelty

Don't Be Fooled