The Olympic Games (Part 1)

I don’t know how many of you have been paying attention to the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, but I’ve been able to watch a bit. I’ve always enjoyed the summer games. However, I came to thinking about the sense of accomplishment athletes feel when they have won their event and are receiving their gold medal. Now for some it doesn’t seem as moving as for others. Michael Phelps can’t seem to loose any event he enters, winning more golds than anyone in history and smashing countless world records. It’s hard to imagine what really is going through his head when stands on that podium again and again. But for others, you can’t get away from the sense that this is an immensely meaningful point in their life.

No matter who the athlete is, you know he or she has been training for this – and training hard. For at least the last four years, they have disciplined themselves beyond what most of us would think is normal. From strict dieting, countless hours in the gym, and exhausting physical regimens, they have trained their body to the utmost of their ability.

And now, they’ve made to the Olympic Games, and the world stage is set. All their life energies and expenditures culminate in this one event. The last for years come rushing into their minds. This is it. ‘This is what they’ve been training for and waiting for all their life.’ They’ve practiced self-denial and laid aside every weight in order to be the best. And now they block out all other distractions that might keep them from focusing on that one goal.

Needless to say, they don’t all win. But they all try to. And when they do… well it can be electrifying.

Sometimes I look at their faces and wonder what’s going inside. All that hard work, all that dedication… Now it’s over, it’s done. They’ve won. They walk onto that stage. Lights are flashing as the anthem begins to play. The whole world is watching, but they’re on top of the world. Their coaches, who have invested so much in them, look on with joy and pride. A father lovingly embraces his child. A mother cries tears of joy. Adoring fans scream in adoration. The crowd erupts in a chorus of recognition and congratulation. The whole world is screaming ‘well done’ – even from a millions miles away.

Then I got to thinking…

“They do [this] to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Cor 9:25b, emphasis mine)

More to follow…

Cultural Christianity in America

As of late, I’ve been thinking a lot more about the Christian life; reading Christian authors, studying about old theologians and learning about historic Christianity and what it has believed through the ages. Now, I know some of you may be thinking this sounds rather boring… and believe me, I would understand (having been right there too quite recently). Yet, nothing has been more exciting and vitalizing to me that to better understand the ancient truths of the Faith. However I do admit, this is something quite out-of-step with the current pace and focus in our society. I wonder why…

One of the things that have become quite clear to me is the all-encompassing nature of deception that is in the world because of sin and the devil. Scripture talks about the work of Satan being;

“[D]isplayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”(2nd Ths 2:9-12)

Now that’s a strong passage. Nevertheless, wherever man is, he is being deceived – all the time, and from so many sides. There are so many blind leaders and teachers today multiplied by those who unsuspectingly follow at their own peril. However, nowhere has this realization been more appalling than to see its devastating reality within the Christian church.

Having been a Christian for quite some time (perhaps as long as I can remember) I’ve learned to “say ‘no’ to the things of this world” and instead to identify with the things that are “Christian.” In this way we Christians tend to draw lines, and put up barriers. There are certain places where we have our defenses up and are ready and wary of the enemy. And there are other areas where we let our guard down; where we feel safe.

A good illustration of this in my mind is the analogy of two teams: Say you’re playing a pickup game of basketball. You begin by getting your bearings; who’s on your team, who’s on the other team? You look at faces, shirt color, height etc. Pretty soon you get a good idea. You know who you can trust with the ball and who’s going to try and steal it from you. Thus, when you end up passing the ball to the wrong team… well, it’s embarrassing to say the least. I suppose scoring in the wrong basket is even worse.

Similarly a Christian in America develops a trust regarding things that are “Christian” e.g. music, writers, teachers, preachers, etc. What has struck me with huge force over the last half-year or so has been the realization that my team (Christianity in America) has been critically compromised. The deception that is out in the world has worked its way into the church and the breech runs deep. All this time I’ve been identifying with a cultural Christianity not realizing that there are wrong players on the team. Indeed, as one modern theologian, Michael Horton, calls it; “Christless Christianity.” Needless to say the dividing lines I took for granted in my naivety ceased to exist.

This was a huge realization to me. It became vividly clear how much discernment is needed even within the context of Christianity today. Scripture says to;

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1Tim 4:16)

So, this led to more study and as I’ve noted before, it has been a wonderful expedition; I couldn’t recommend in more highly. However, the more I searched into it, the more things slowly would start making sense. Looking through the lens of historic Christianity helps one betters understand Christianity today. One also sees how the same lies that have assailed the church for millennia are merely resurfacing in a different flavor and being offered up en mass as “new insight.” Before going into any of these deceptions, let me just end for now with a scriptural admonition from the apostle Paul.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2)

- Grace and peace

To Blog or not to Blog

I was talking to my friend Shane today about how I always thought it would be nice to someday run my own business from home. Maybe a web development company or something. That idea has always attracted me. We discussed the various pros and cons with my friend pointing out some disadvantages to working in solitude. I must say he had a point. As Christians, we should be willing and ready to serve those around us. And if the thought of working at home so we don't have to deal with bosses, coworkers and other fallen people, has us getting intrigued, we should probably take a better look at our hearts.

However, I have always wanted to make positive use of the technological means we now have with the Internet – particularly with networking, discussion boards and blogging. So, all this being said, I have decided to retake up my weblog True Blue. I don’t know where this will go, but we shall see.

Bring it On

So, I was thinking this Labor day about the next year and the new responsibilities that will come with it. I have just accepted the charge of leading a small college group at my church for this year and now find myself experiencing some of those cold feet tendencies one might expect. Up until this point I had been getting excited about the possibilities; how I want to see the needs of those in our church met in a meaningful way; that they may be encouraged by each other and built up in Christ. I also was anticipating how this situation would stretch me personally and allow me to grow in ways I haven't or wouldn't otherwise.

However, today I found myself sliding into apprehension and what might only be called FEAR. It acured to me again how venerable I really will be and how my weaknesses might possibly be laid bare before all my friends. The possibility of failure was also rearing it's ugly head. What if things don't go well, and everybody leaves? Needless to say this is not a good frame of mind to be in.

It is in times like this that I can't help but appreciate the work of some in the Christian Music Industry. If I was listening to a secular play list I doubt I would've been encouraged to improve my state of mind. However, my laptop then switched to new track; "Bring it On" by Steven Curtis Chapman...

I didn’t come lookin’ for trouble
And I don’t want to fight needlessly
But I’m not gonna hide in a bubble
If trouble comes for me
I can feel my heart beating faster
I can tell something’s coming down
But if it’s gonna make me grow stronger then…
Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it onLet the trouble come, let the hard rain fall, let it make me strong
Bring it on

Now, maybe you’re thinkin’ I’m crazy
And maybe I need to explain some things
‘Cause I know I’ve got an enemy waiting
Who wants to bring me pain
But what he never seems to remember
What he means for evil God works for good
So I will not retreat or surrender
Now, I don’t want to sound like some hero
‘Cause it’s God alone that my hope is in
But I’m not gonna run from the very things
That would drive me closer to Him
So bring it on

It was enough to snap me out of my fear. Rather than thinking of my situation from the defensive; how I don't want to look week and possibly get beat up a bit, I was able to look at this from the offensive. I have always been fond of analogies between physical training and the spiritual life and this helped me put my apprehensions back into perspective. Yeah, there will probably be some pain, and it certainly won't be easy. It might even be humbling. But isn't this how God works in us. The Bible says "His grace is made perfect in our weakness." He is the expert and master trainer and thus I want to embrace what ever he has in mind. As long as we follow him and allow him to work with us, break us down and train us, we will become stronger -- stonger in Him. "For He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world."

Peace, brothers and sisters, and I hope some of you might be encuraged by this my first post on this blog.