In Season and Out

Way back in 1985, I recorded an album, In Season and Out, which was produced by my good friends in the Christian band Rough Draft. Seven of the songs on the cassette (remember those?) were ones I wrote, with the eighth being written by a friend of mine in NY. Recently, I was able to recover one of those lost cassette tapes (thanks Michele!) and digitalize it. So I’m putting it up here on the blog for anyone who would like to download it free from the Media Fire storage site. Here's the link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?pasrh4oxv6jprd7

The file is in a zip file, so after downloading it you'll need to click on it and extract it to your music file, or extract it to your desktop and move it to your music file. From there, Windows Media Player should automatically read it, and you can sync it to a digital player or burn it to CD. Hope you enjoy it, and God bless!

The Perfect Church!

… upon this rock I will build My church … (Matthew 16:18b, KJV)

In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaint was made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. (Acts 6:1, Williams New Testament)

You tell me it’s the institution

Well, you know
You better free your mind instead

                                                The Beatles

            I found the perfect church!

            Want to take a look for yourself? Then turn to Revelation 7:9-10: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (ESV)

Take a good look, because until Jesus returns, that heavenly scene is the ONLY place you’ll find the “perfect church.” You certainly won’t find it among the seven churches Jesus addresses in Revelation 2-3; Smyrna and Philadelphia are the closest you find to being perfect in those chapters. You definitely won’t even find it in the Book of Acts. The imperfections of the early church were on display early on in that account. For example, in Acts 6, contentions between Jewish and Gentile believers regarding food distribution required establishing the position that we now call deacons, to settle the matter. Conflict rose again later when Jewish believers started telling Gentiles that to be REAL Christians, they had to hold the Old Testament ceremonial law. The church council in Acts 15, under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, set down rules for Gentile Christians that ensured morality and respect for their Jewish brothers and sisters—but put on them no “additions” for them to be saved (it must also be noted that Jewish Christians were free to continue observing their rituals; but they could not push them onto Gentile believers).

Even the letters to the churches, especially those penned by Paul, indicate that the churches of the New Testament era were far from “perfect.” And yet, there are Christians who are content to “give up” on involvement in a church, because of imperfections they find in churches (and in many cases, in just one church). Just playing a hunch here—if you can’t find the perfect church in the New Testament other than in heaven, then chances are you won’t find one on earth today, either (and for the record, my family and I are part of a wonderful church).

For those Christians who want to give up on church involvement because church people are imperfect, no doubt doing something that irks you, I have this question: were YOU perfect when you first got saved and started attending church? Have you progressed so quickly to perfection, to the point where you can judge the entire body of Christ based on what you may have run into in one or several fellowships? Please don’t claim you have a attained that state: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8, ESV)

I recently read an article that discusses how aloneness—and its accompanying condition, loneliness—is increasing exponentially in our society. Many young people who “strike out on their own” from their parents seem to want to stay in a state of living alone, instead of viewing their establishing independence as a bridge to one day starting their own families, according to the article. I must quickly add here that God blesses both married and single people; Paul even calls both states a gift from God in 1 Corinthians 7:7. Conversely, loneliness can be experienced by anyone, single or married. What I am concerned with is the continuing move away from community in our society, as the article indicated—an increasing isolation that could even be creeping into Christian fellowship. America has always been an individualistic society in any event; perhaps this is part of the reason Americans are increasingly shying away from church involvement?

Regardless of the reason, those choosing to stay away from Christian fellowship are cutting themselves off from the special presence of Christ that can only be experienced corporately with other believers. Jesus said, “… where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20, ESV) He also makes it clear that HE is the One who created the church (Matthew 16:18). God has always meant for His people to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1)—regardless of how “imperfect” that fellowship might be. And staying in fellowship helps us to grow together in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-3) Overall, it is an important corporate witness to a society that appears to be atomizing, where community is increasingly becoming a meaningless word. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, ESV) It’s hard to see how this love—an important part of our witness to the world—can be practiced away from church fellowship.

While the church on earth might be imperfect, it is still JESUS’ church, where He calls us into fellowship with Him and each other, through faith. “Christian community is not an ideal we have to realize, but rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate,” says Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible). “The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our community is in Jesus Christ alone, the more calmly we will learn to think about our community and pray and hope for it …

“We are bound together by faith, not by experience.”

 

Link of the week: What do non-Christians REALLY think of Christians?

The title of this article at ChurchLeaders.com may make some Christians wince a little--but after reading it, they will find in very encouraging, especially in their stepping out in faith to share about Jesus. Thom Rainer, the article's author, notes one particular fact that stood out to me: "In one study we conducted, we found only 5 percent of non-Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It’s time to stop believing the lies we have been told."

Give the article a read and see what you think. I believe the insights can really equip us in bringing the Good News of Jesus to those around us.

Jesus wants fans!

Mark 12:30: … so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. (The Message)

A popular Christian cliché that’s been making the rounds lately goes like this: “Jesus wants followers, not fans.” Like lots of Christianese sayings I’ve heard over the years, it may have started out with an important truth—but it has since largely degenerated into a quaint little empty saying to demonstrate the “spirituality” of the person spouting it out. I recently even read it at the end of a diatribe from a “believer” who tagged it to the end of her correspondence—in which, by the way, she used foul language to address my wife and myself.

This got me to thinking that maybe it’s the reverse: Jesus needs fans, not followers. Now why would I think something like THAT? After all, fans are just a bunch of yelling, screaming people sitting in the stands (Jesus wants PARTICIPANTS!!!), who don’t really know what it means to FOLLOW Him, right?

I got to thinking about two important truths:

1                1) Fan is rooted in the word fanatic. Now, that word has taken some hits due to being used to describe, say, Islamic or political fanatics who want to advance an off-the-charts agenda on the rest of us. But the basic dictionary definition of a fan is either “an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator” or “an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit).” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Those pining for others to be followers instead of fans ignore several good qualities of fans here: enthusiasm and devotion. A lot of Jesus’ “followers” can use a good dose of both of those qualities.

                  2) I’m sure those wistfully proclaiming that “Jesus wants followers not fans” mean “dedicated followers.” The truth is, not all of Jesus’ “followers” in the New Testament stuck with him. For example, Jesus had LOTS of “followers” through the first five chapters of John’s gospel, outside of the 12 apostles. But when He laid down a VERY hard saying in the sixth chapter about total acceptance of Him, John tells us in verse 66: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (KJV, emphasis mine) Look, we all DO need to FOLLOW Jesus. But those employing this newest empty Christian cliché miss some important lessons we can learn from fans. And what better place to turn to for these lessons than to America’s real pastime: the NFL.

What can THESE fans teach us about being JESUS’ fans?

Well, for one thing, they stick to their team through thick and thin, win or lose (since I’m a Jets fan, I’m very used to the “lose” part over the years. In baseball, Cub fans could probably relate). Don’t we need LOTS of Christians who stick with their churches the same way, instead of jumping around between churches looking for an elusive “fulfillment” (which can only be found by drawing closer to Jesus anyway)? Don’t we need “fans” who won’t jump ship at the first sign of rough waters to find the “perfect” church (which doesn’t really exist, since it involves human beings)?

And talk about fellowship: you should see these fans with their tailgate parties at the stadiums, or huddled around their TVs each Sunday afternoon—enjoying each other’s company. I wish the land were overflowing with Christians who could do the same—just having time to enjoy each others’ company, sharing about what’s going on with each other. When pro football promotes more camaraderie among followers than the church (which should be the prime example of Psalm 133:1), something’s wrong.

Then there’s the way they dress—and I’m even not talking about the Jets’ Fireman Ed or the barrel guy in Denver. Fans wear their team’s jerseys and hats even in hostile territory—there was even a pretty loud contingent of Cleveland Browns fans in CINCINNATI at a recent game. Fans don’t “adapt” their dress to the opponents’ standards, and they aren’t secretive about their devotion—and isn’t that what CHRISTIANS are supposed to do? (Romans 12:2) These fans, in wearing weird costumes, doing the wave or screaming at the top of their lungs, aren’t afraid to be foolish for their team … while the Apostle Paul says we should never be ashamed of being “fools for Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:10).

Maybe in the end we need followers who are also fans—if by fans, you mean those who are enthusiastic about Jesus and whose devotion continues to burn for Him regardless of what others think or say. The late singer-songwriter Keith Green, after exposing the fallacy that Christians are what they do (e.g., “a Christian is someone who prays” … while lots of religions practice prayer) gave his definition of a Christian: “Someone who is bananas for Jesus!” (see Mark 12:29-31) And if we were even half as bananas for Jesus as NFL fans are for their teams, we would see a revival that would turn this country upside down and inside out!

Link of the week: Can Christians vote for Mormons?

I came across this link from the Last Resistance website, and found a very informative article on a topic that troubles a good number of Christian voters. I had planned to pen something about this issue after reading a "let's stay away from the polls because both candidates are evil" diatribe--but I believe this article answers that, and other objections, far better. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

“OMG” and the Third Commandment

I ran across this excellent article at the Acculturated website about a common text acronym especially popular among youth, “OMG,” which means “Oh My God.”

 We are endlessly bombarded with reports about groups being offended by statements made by famous people or other groups—one recent example is the attack on Chik-fil-A and its CEO for an “anti-gay” comment during an interview (in context, his comment was related to fatherlessness in the US, not to homosexuality—but pro-gay groups and their mainstream media allies are never ones to let the facts get in the way of a good slander). Even when some personalities DO make idiotic statements about certain groups and are quick to offer a  very public apology, it’s simply not enough—they are hounded out of the public arena because of those “hateful” words. So much for “Stick and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

 Isn’t it interesting, though, that blaspheming of God’s Name through the cute OMG texting, even by some Christians, is totally acceptable. It’s become a-okay to mindlessly daily offend and demean the Creator of All Things in our culture, and not worry about HIS feelings, as if the Third Commandment—“You shall not use the Lord’s Name in vain”—along with the other nine, somehow went out with Charlton Heston.

 Anyway, check out the article and let me know what you think. How we use words—especially with regard to God—DO matter. The renowned journalist Edward R. Murrow once said of Winston Churchill’s World War II speeches, when Britain was in danger of being overrun by Nazi Germany, “He armed the English language and sent it into battle.” How far has our public discourse fallen since those times. As the article says, “Words–‘the most powerful drug used by mankind,’ according to Kipling–can change minds and alter behavior. OMG invokes Omnipotence in the realm of the trivial and the banal. The informality and brevity of electronic communication guarantees that even God himself is not immune from such casual disregard.”

"Touching up" Jesus' image

 

You have to see it believe it: an elderly lady in Spain became concerned about how a 19^th century painting of Jesus in her church was becoming more and more worn out, with paint peeling away in places. Her solution? Take a brush and pallet in hand and fix it up herself. You can see the “results.” It’s uncertain whether the art can ultimately be repaired from the attempted repair. The irony: according to news reports, the granddaughter of the artist had already given money to the church for a professional restoration; the would-be Rembrandt was unaware of it.

There’s spiritual lesson here. How many times have we worried about how to present Jesus to others, through our words or lives—or conversely, given it no thought at all—and wound up “touching up” His image to others? We like to think that only cults are good at giving people “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4; cf. Galatians 1:9). But when we “touch up” Jesus’ image with manmade rules and traditions, or focus only on one aspect of our Lord Jesus that gives an imbalanced view, we could well be giving others around us a very distorted image of Him that tops even the botched painting “restoration.”

One key to avoiding this: have Paul’s hunger of wanting to know Jesus more each day: “…that I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… (Philippians 3:10, ESV). By spending time with Jesus each day in the Word and prayer—however we practice this—we will be sure to give others around us an untainted image that will draw them to Him.