George Beverly Shea Turns 100

George Beverly Shea turns 100 years old on February 1.  I discovered the following video that talks about his ministry with Billy Graham and his signature song, How Great Thou Art.  If you know who George Beverly Shea is, you'll enjoy this video.  If you don't know who he is, the video will be a great intro to a man who has had a large part in crusade evangelism in the 20th century.  

Politics in Church?

I want to begin by saying thanks! to those of you who keep checking this blog and finding nothing new and still keep coming back.  I'm not sure what to blame my lack of production on.  Laziness?  Busyness?  No new ideas/creativity?  The weather?  Yeah, let's go with the weather.  I think that might contribute to all the above.  

Our church holds its Annual Meeting tomorrow and that along with what leads up to it is the source of this post.  I've had a couple people tell me that they don't want to serve on a committee or they don't like church meetings because it's all too political.  I think I know what they mean, but I don't believe that is a good reason to not serve or not attend meetings.  I also believe that church politics have a place when properly understood.  I agree that meetings can be a waste of time, can even do more harm than good.  Sometimes the best attitude I can muster is that meetings are a necessary evil.  But I know deep down that for those who believe in congregational government, meetings are important and much good can be accomplished.

I want to take a moment to define some related words that apply to this subject.  These are simple definitions that come from Encarta World English Dictionary.  The word politics means "the theory and practice of forming and running organizations."  There obviously needs to be organization in church.  Boards and committees and such are necessary so there will be politics.  

The word political can have a more negative connotation.  It is often used to describe something that is "carried out for reasons that best serve a desired outcome rather than for reasons that are, for example, morally justifiable."  Partisan is another word that can have a similar negative meaning.  This word is defined as "a strong supporter of a person, group or cause, especially one who does not listen to other people's opinions."  Here's where we run into problems on church committees and at Annual meetings.  

When people come with their minds made up and won't even listen to others, meetings turn into battle zones where people are only concerned about protecting their position and getting people on their side.  This is ungodly and does great damage.

The Bible shows us the better way in Philippians 2:1-4 (ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you  look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

When we put Christ first, humble ourselves and concentrate on our shared goals, church politics are just fine.  When we put self first, promote ourselves and push our personal agendas, the devil gains ground and we all lose.  Let's not be afraid of politics, but let's continually check our own attitudes, motives, words and actions. 

Grace and peace,

Dave

Savior Obama?

Here I go again weighing in on something I know little about. I didn't even catch any of the inauguration yesterday. But here's an impression I've formed over the last couple of months based on what I have seen and heard. I feel sorry for the new U.S. president. It seems to me that the American people are counting on him to be their saviour. That's a terrible load for anyone to carry. I believe they are setting him up for failure with such high expectations. Unfortunately, Obama hasn't done anything to dispel such talk. He continues to exude nothing but hope and confidence. Those are good things in a leader, but they are also dangerous things. One can think too highly of himself and that, the Bible says, leads to a fall. For a so-called Christian nation, the American people have been quick to take their eyes off Jesus and put them on a mere man. I fear the outcome.

Grace and peace,

Dave

P.S. After writing the above post, I starting wondering if I was the only one who saw the thing this way so I did a Google search. Not only am I not the only one, I'm wa-a-a-y behind. Apparently this kind of talk has been going on for months already. Check out a few links or Google "Obama Savior" for yourself.

Links:
Obama the Savior
Kenyans hail election of saviour Barack Obama
Obama, Savior of the World

THE GRANDMA TEST

This comes from Mikey's Funnies, a daily clean humor email list:

I was out walking with my 4-year-old granddaughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

"Why?" my granddaughter asked.

"Because it's been on the ground. You don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs," I replied.

At this point, my granddaughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."

I was thinking quickly, "All Grandmas know this stuff.  It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Grandma."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "Oh...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test, you have to be the Grandpa."

"Exactly," I replied.

So there's my tribute to Grandma's everywhere.  What would we do without them?  Of course I'm thrilled to be a grandpa anyway.  And we certainly do contribute to the education of our grandchildren.  How on earth are they supposed to learn to discover their world if they can't taste-test things they find on the ground?  

Grace and peace,

Grandpa Dave

Oswald Chambers' Quote

What would you think, if I said of someone we both know, "I don't care what he does.  It's what he is that matters."?  Don't we tend to understand those two things as going together?  What a person does, his actions, come out of what he is, his character.  That doesn't mean we all don't act out of character from time to time, but for the most part we act out of what we are.

I've just started listening to an audiobook biography on the life of Oswald Chambers called Oswald Chambers: Abandoned To God.  You can get it for free here for the month of January.  I'm aware of Chambers' devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest, but that's all I knew about him.  I'm looking forward to hearing the story of his short, but well-respected life.

Listening to the first half-hour of the book, there was one quote that caught my attention.  Chambers and his wife were having a conversation about a friend who was deathly ill.  His wife asked, "What do you think God will do."  Chambers response was, "I don't care what God does, it's what God is that I care about."  It is explained that Chambers wasn't being callous or uncaring.  His was a statement about the character of God.  Unlike man, we can't put God in a box.  We can't always understand how or why He does what He does in our lives and lives of those we love.  God's ways often seem to us like He doesn't hear or He doesn't care.  In fact, people have stopped believing because of what God does or does not do that is different than they expect.  Chambers is saying what we need to hold on to in times like this.  It doesn't matter if we understand what God does.  It does matter if we understand who God is.  It matters that we trust in His love and care as well as His sovereignty, wisdom, omniscience and so on.  God certainly does act out of who He is.  He is consistent with Himself, but we usually can't see the bigger picture to know what God knows.  In difficult times of stress when I am prone to doubt, I hope someone reminds me of who God is.

Grace and peace,

Dave

New Year's Resolutions?

Greetings and Happy New Year!

As you can tell, blogging more regularly was not one of my resolutions for this year.  Either that, or I broke it before I even started!  Do you make resolutions?  Have you made any for this year?  I'd be interested in hearing them and even more interested in holding you accountable!

I have made resolutions some years and even kept a few of them.  For instance, last year I resolved to read through the entire Bible.  I got behind at times, but by the end of the year I did finish my reading plan and the Bible.  I haven't really made any this year, but I do have some things in mind I'd like to accomplish.  One of them is getting more exercise,especially this time of year.  Another is reading more quality books.

I was able to combine both of those earlier this week in a way that has potential for doing better at both.  We have an exercise bike in the basement, but I'm not very consistent in using it.  Too much like jogging I guess.  I find it quite boring.  I also have four audio books on my computer that I have not listened to.  I woke up early one morning thinking, Why not combine these two things?  Why not listen to the audio book while I bike?  The experience was great.  I got a half hour into the book and barely realized that I had done 6+ miles on the bike.  Good deal!

Having mentioned the audio books, allow me to put a plug in that may be of benefit to you and Christian Audio.  I discovered Christian Audio (link here) about a year ago.  They say they have the largest online collection of Christian audiobooks.  They sell audiobooks that you can download to your computer and then put them on a CD if you like.  The best part is that every month they offer a book of their choice for free.  Here's the direct link for this month's book.  This is where my four books have come from.  So if you like to listen to books on your computer or in your vehicle, or while exercising, check them out.

Grace and peace,

Dave

Winter Pictures

It's cold and just keeps snowing.  I've been told if you have nothing good to say about something you shouldn't say anything at all.  So I'll let a few pictures express the beauty of a season I really don't care all that much for.  I do love the beauty, just not the cold!

Grace and peace,

Dave