Christology.Missiology.Ecclesiology.

Raising a Modern-day Knight

2012-02-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

Family Friday

Have you ever wondered, “How will a boy know when he has become a man?”[1] Whether you consciously think through the answer or not, it’s an important question. If a boy doesn’t know when he’s arrived at manhood, he’ll never know what he’s supposed to do once he gets there.

Is it when he turns 18? When he gets a job? Joins the military? Takes a woman to bed? None of those provide a one-size-fits-all cutoff for manhood. In American culture especially, that poses a problem. When we don’t lay out clear expectations for a transition to manhood, we’re left with a generation full of nothing more than boys who can shave.

Adam vs. Adam

The two most prominent men in the Bible are Adam and Jesus. Paul compares these two men to give us an example of what right looks like. He calls the Adam of Genesis “the first Adam” and Jesus Christ “the last Adam.” He basically sets up a “there are two kinds of men in the world” argument. Those who pattern after the first Adam ultimately die, while those who follow the Second Adam win (1 Cor 15.22).[2]

What’s that look like on the ground? Comparing Adam’s behavior in the Garden to Jesus’ approach to life gives us a good picture of what a man is supposed to look like. Based on a quick reading of Gen 2.15-17, it looks like God placed Adam in Eden with three responsibilities: he has a will to obey (don’t eat the fruit), a work to do (cultivate the garden), and a woman to love (Eve). This is what every man is put on earth to do.

Will to Obey

Solomon lived most of his life chasing women, building wealth, and cultivating knowledge. However, near the end of his life he wrote: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”[3] Solomon’s dilemma was the same one faced by so many men today. They never learn (or accept) the wisdom of having a will greater than their own. Consequently, men live life without moral restraint only to “arrive”[4] and discover they have produced nothing of consequence. As James Dobson put it, they “…climb the ladder of success only to find it’s leaning against the wrong building.”

How do you help your son avoid this? By teaching him the wisdom in obeying God’s will. He must learn what Christ learned: nourishment comes from doing the will of God (Jn 4.34). Adam had the entire garden at his disposal but gave it up by failing to obey God’s will. Jesus had the entire world on his shoulders, but stood tall because it was what He came to do (Mt 26.42).

So what? Parents must teach their children to constantly ask one simple question: “What is the right thing to do?” (not: what is prudent, what feels good, or even what is the most practical)

Work to Do

The best gift we can give God is our own life fully lived. God gifted your son in a way that makes him unique from everyone else (1 Pet 4.10). It’s your job to help him figure out what those gifts are and then encourage him to pursue them for the glory of God. To be clear: it’s NOT your job to teach him your design, your plans, and your ambition for his life. God’s knows your boy better than you do.

How do you do that? Expose him to a variety of experiences as a child: sports, the arts, multiple subjects and academic disciplines, etc. Then encourage him by having an active interest in the areas he chooses for himself.

It’s not enough to stop there though. We must impress on our sons their two-fold responsibility when it comes to work. Men work to provide (1 Tim 5.8), and men work to build the Kingdom (2 Tim 2.15). Our boys can’t see us do either one at the expense of the other. So, he watches Dad take his place at the church AND he sees Dad faithfully lace up his boots and go to work every day. Being too busy for Kingdom responsibilities or calling in sick to lead five weekly Bible studies is a failure either way.

Woman to Love

When the serpent showed up to tempt Eve, we’d expect to see her husband come running with a garden hoe ready to cut the thing’s head off. We all know that’s not what happened though. Instead, Adam adopted what may be one of the most non-manly character traits possible: passivity. He became passive, idly standing by while she swallowed the hook (Gen 3.6).

Is anything different today? How many men “tune out” the minute they walk in the door? They become passive participants in their family’s affairs, confident that a paycheck is all they need from him.[5]

Jesus, on the other hand, came running when sin tempted his bride. As Lewis put it: “[Jesus] refused to do nothing when sin encroached upon the created order. He was spiritually and socially aggressive.”[6] The Bible patterns relationships in the home after the structure of the church.

Ephesians 5:23 (NLT)
²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church...

To avoid any confusion (and reject all forms of male passivity), Paul makes clear the man’s role in all of this:

Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)
²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

In real life, this means your son learns from you, dad, what it means to sacrificially love a woman in a way that puts his needs and desires second to hers. Seize teachable moments as life happens in your home; actively instruct him in the way real men love, honor, protect, and provide for their wives.

Home is where life makes up its mind. So, when the time comes for your son to decide what kind of man he will be, the one he saw living under your roof will have the greatest impact. Show him what right looks like.

Chime In

How do you define manhood in your family?

[1] This series is, in many ways, a summary of the outstanding book: “Raising a Modern-day Knight,” by Robert Lewis (Tyndale, 1997). Much of the material is adapted (fancy for ‘plagiarized’) straight from his work.

[2] I want my sons to be winners, but I’m not going to name them “Walker” and “Texas Ranger.”

[3] (Ecc 12.1; see also vv. 13-14)

[4] Whatever that means

[5] There is no shortage of government aid programs to make sure families have food and housing. If your entire role as father could be replaced by a welfare check and some food stamps, you need to reevaluate what it means to be called, “Dad.”

[6] Lewis, p54.

Five Love Languages: Here, Try This

2012-01-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Family Friday

Last week I told you to the key to a great relationship is becoming bilingual. This post is a practical, “Here, try this…” guide to trying out your new skills.[1]Christian psychologist and researcher Gary Chapman has spent over 30 years working with couples, and he’s discovered five primary ways men and women give and receive love. He calls them love languages, and you shouldn’t attempt marriage without them!

1. Words of Affirmation

Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” That may be pushing the limits, but his point is clear: approval from those around us is a powerful thing. Unfortunately, many couples never learn the power of a well-placed compliment. In any marriage, it is always important to occasionally remind our spouse, "I want you to know I don't take you for granted.” But, if you’re married to someone who has words of affirmation as his/her primary love language, that phrase puts wind in their sails!There are various dialects of this love language, so it’s up to you to figure out which one means the most to your spouse. Here are a few examples of affirming speech:

Words of encouragement: I believe in you. I know you can do this. If anyone’s able, it’s you.
Compliments & praise: You look awesome in that suit. Your hair is nice. Your speech was fantastic!
Gratitude: Thank you for mowing the grass. Being your husband is a blessing. I appreciate you so much.

Try This:

Keep a notebook:
- (1) As you watch TV, read, listen to music, etc. jot down ideas, lyrics, specific compliments or encouraging words that you’d like to share with your spouse. This way, you’ll always have a bank of powerful things to say that would lift their spirits or put an extra bounce in their step.
- (2) Write down every time you compliment or praise your spouse. At the end of the week, show her the paper as one more reminder of all the ways you’ve appreciated her that week.
Be specific with your words. Find ways to compliment or affirm your partner in a way so precise that they’ll know you’ve put thought and care into what you’re saying.
Compliment in public—especially around peers, friends, coworkers, and/or family members.
Compliment indirectly (when you’re not in his presence). This way, when your words make their way back to your spouse, he’ll feel doubly blessed to know you’ve been “talking him up” to others.
Do it in writing so it can be read over and over.

2. Quality Time

Time is our most important resource because we can never make more of it. When you give your husband/wife your time, you’re giving them a part of yourself you’ll never get back. This speaks volumes to someone with quality time as her/his love language. It’s important to understand, however, that quality time spent together does not mean proximity. Simply being in the same house, room, or car does not constitute quality time[2].Quality time means giving your undivided attention (turn off the TV!) to your wife/husband. This communicates to her/him: “of all the things I could be doing right now, I’ve bypassed them all to spend time with you.” This can be hard with so many gadgets, people, books, chores and varieties of bacon fighting for your attention. You probably have some technology you’ll have to do without during this time.At our house, this means not answering the phone during dinner, eating our meals at the table—together, leaving our cell phone in the other room, and turning the TV off during conversations.

Try This:

Talk to each other by asking open-ended questions
Find a set of hobbies you could do together
Share “fun work” (gardening, yard work, cooking, etc.)
Ask your spouse what quality time means to him/her

3. Receiving Gifts

If receiving gifts is your spouse’s love language, don’t assume money is the issue. Money isn’t the issue, and you’re not “buying your husband’s love.” But, you are giving tangible gestures that symbolize your love in a way that is extremely powerful. Symbols carry an emotional value (just think of your wedding ring); every time your spouse looks at the gifts you gave her, she is reminded that you thought of her AND took the time to follow through on those thoughts by getting a gift.If this is your spouse’s language, learn a craft, plant a flower bed, take up calligraphy, stock up on cards, etc. Just take the time to reflect on what he/she values and then find a way to tangibly present them with symbols of your interest. Gifts given to your spouse are the best investment you can make; you’re investing in the person you’ll be with for the rest of your life!

Try This:

If you travel often, make it a habit not to come home empty-handed. Stop on the side of the road to pick a flower, bring a card, or start a tradition of bringing home a rock from everywhere you travel. It need not be big nor expensive—just heart-felt.
Ask family members or close friends for ideas on what they’d like or an item they’ve been talking about lately.
Keep a notebook of items you’ve observed them noticing or commenting on.
Space it out! Most spouses would value twelve small gifts spaced out over a year rather than one big gift (think one rose given every month rather than a dozen given only once).
Find out if your spouse would prefer practical gifts or symbolic/decorative ones. Be sure you’re catering to their preferences, not yours.

4. Acts of Service

This one is pretty simple: doing things you know your spouse would like you to do. Any chore or act of service—if done willingly and with a positive spirit—can be an act of love. Many men may default into showing love this way simply because it’s what we’re most comfortable with. It's in the male psyche to want something to do, fix, solve, or create. If this is your wife’s primary language, great! If not, you don’t have to stop showing love through your work, but you do need to adapt and learn to speak the language she prefers.Whether you’re the husband or the wife, if this is your love language, don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Allowing your emotional needs to be neglected because you feel too guilty to “ask for favors” only does more harm to your marriage in the long run. Acts of service can be as simple as making a cup of coffee, taking out the trash, or cleaning up after dinner.

Try This:

Ask your spouse to make a list (honey-do list, to-do list, whatever). At the top of the list write, "If you did these things, I would feel loved.” Then ask your spouse to fill in the rest. (Then do the things on the list)
Observe your spouse’s routine and try to determine which tasks you could take off his plate. Surprise him by having them done before he gets around to it.

5. Physical Touch

The body is for touching. Physical touch is a powerful vehicle for communicating love--especially within a marriage. The way we apply physical touch can make or break a relationship. It can communicate either hate or love. If physical touch is your spouse’s language, ask her how she’d like you to make use of this gift. In all five languages, your spouse is the best source for learning what works and what won't work.Of our five senses, touch is the only one not limited to one localized area. The whole body can become a canvas for communicating love. Sexual intercourse can be a powerful dialect, but it is only one dialect of many in this language. Don’t neglect: holding hands, playing with each other’s hair, kissing, hugging, back rubs, footsie under the table, etc.

Try This:

Touch in public. It communicates: "Even with all of these people here, you are the one I choose to touch."
Learn to be a good masseur/masseuse. (take a class or read a book)
Initiate sex by starting with a foot massage and working your way around the entire body
Never leave for the day without a goodbye kiss. Make a habit of kissing whenever you come home as well.

Conclusion

The bottom line: everyone performs better at life when our love tank is full. Learn to speak your spouse’s love language in a way that zeroes in on their deepest desires. You’ll never get what you want out of marriage by depriving your spouse of what they want, so learn to give him/her goose bumps again!

Chime In

What do you do to speak your mate’s love language?

[1] You know, nun chuck skills, cage-fighting skills, computer hacker skills, etc.

[2] However, being in the same bathtub does, if their love language is physical touch.

2012-01-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

Family Friday

Love Languages: Which One do You Speak?

Have you ever tried to speak to someone who didn’t know English? Maybe you were in a foreign country or on the phone with someone working overseas? It didn’t matter how hard you tried, how sincere your intentions were, or how loud you raised your voice, the other person just couldn’t understand what you were saying. And, that wasn’t going to change until one of you learned another language.Being married can be a lot like that (although, hopefully not as frustrating). Everyone experiences love in an entirely different way—sometimes so differently that it’s as if we’re married to someone from another country. And, until you learn to speak their “love language,” you’ll forever frustrate your efforts to show him/her true love.

Step One

The first step to loving your partner is learning another language. You don’t have to learn Spanish or Italian[1], but you do have to learn the love language spoken by your spouse. Being sincere isn’t enough if you’re not saying or doing the things your wife or husband values most. Some husbands buy their wives gifts to show love (because that’s what they’d appreciate) when she’d prefer quality time with him. Then they’re twice as frustrated when they’re broke AND the wife still feels unloved. Or, a wife may do little acts of service for her husband (again, because she’d be thrilled if he washed the dishes for her), but what he really values is a good compliment[2] or word of affirmation.Frustrating? Absolutely. Easy to overcome? Yes…if you’re willing to do the work. Next week I’ll break down all five “love languages” and give you some easy steps for trying out your new linguistic skills. For now, I want to give you a few pointers for figuring out which language you speak.Here they are, the Five Love Languages[3]:

Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
Physical Touch

What’s Your Language?

Men: before you decide that physical touch is your language, hold on. Virtually all men like sex[4], but that doesn’t mean it’s their primary language. If you do not enjoy physical touch at other times—in nonsexual ways—it’s probably not your love language. The love language is what makes you feel most loved by your spouse.

Chapman suggests three questions for discovering your language:

What does your spouse do or fail to do that hurts you most deeply?
1. The opposite of what hurts you most is probably your love language.
What have you most often requested of your spouse?
1. The thing you have most often requested is likely the thing that would make you feel most loved.
In what way do you regularly express love to your spouse?
1. Your method of expressing love may be an indication that that would also make you feel loved.^{^[5]}

Answer those three questions in light of the five languages defined above. Then, ask your spouse to answer them.

Step two:

Come back next week to get practical suggestions for trying out your new skills.

Chime In

What is Your Love Language?

[1] Husbands: whispering a few romantic phrases in Italian or French might score you a couple points on the love-o-meter.

[2] Wives: even if your husband’s primary love language is not “Words of Affirmation,” never underestimate the power a well-placed compliment can have on a guy!

[3] These come from the bestselling book by Gary Chapman: The Five Love Languages (Northfield Publishing, 1992)

[4] I think there are 3 who don’t.

^{^[5]} Gary D. Chapman, The Five Love Languages, 138-39 (Chicago: Northfield Pub., 1992).

Lost that Loving Feeling?

2012-01-13T15:21:00.001-08:00

Family Friday

Lost that Loving Feeling?

Last week we defined love as a three-sided triangle (passion, intimacy, and commitment). We usually judge the love in our relationship by looking at only one leg of the triangle. If the passion is gone, we assume we’ve “fallen out of love.” But, the good news is: we still have other pieces of the triangle.Intimacy steps up to keep things warm if passion is running dry, and there’s the old-fashioned, grownup word “commitment” to help us “stick it out” when things are really rough. But, nobody wants to live like that forever. Marriage without passion is boring; love without intimacy is shallow.[1]So, what happens to love after the wedding? Everybody has asked themselves that question at some point. We start singing the Righteous Brothers’ tune “Lost that Loving Feeling” and worry that our marriage is going to end up as another statistic.[2] Psychologist and relationship researcher Dr. Dorothy Tennov says most couples “fall out of the love obsession” after two years of marriage. Then what? For those committed to not being another statistic, are they doomed to a lifetime of misery and loneliness?For many that answer is yes. They fall out of love, feel resentful and trapped, and end up hating the next 40 years of their life. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Marriage—every marriage—has the potential to be glorious…if you’re willing to do the hard work. The truth is this: love is a choice much more than it is a feeling. We all want to feel love, but few are willing to do the things required to generate the feelings.

Feelings Lie

And, this is where most marriages go wrong. We wait (and wait and wait and wait…) for the feelings to be right before we act in a loving way to our spouse. In reality though, our minds work the opposite: It is much easier to act your way into a feeling than to feel your way into an action. There is no end to the ways you can act your way into a feeling; I’ll be discussing all kinds of fun things over the weeks to come. But, it will always come down to this: Are you willing to deny yourself for the sake of your marriage?If your marriage isn’t what you’d like it to be now, I challenge YOU to be the hero of your relationship[3], lay down your demands, and embrace the selfless teachings of Jesus. Love your husband or wife the way they need to be loved before you feel like it. Be a catalyst for change. You will never get what you need by denying your spouse what they need.If your marriage is already great, good for you! Do me two favors: (1) Share your secret with us, and (2) Keep reading anyway. Every marriage can get better!

Chime In

How have you and your spouse worked to regain that loving feeling?

[1] And, homes without bacon are boring.

[2] Currently, 40% of first-time marriages end in divorce. That jumps to 60% with 2^nd marriages and 75% with 3^rd time.

[3] For a great book on being the hero to save your marriage, check out: Janssen, Al. The Marriage Masterpiece: A Bold New Vision for Your Marriage. Colorado Springs: Focus, 2001.

The Love Triangle

2012-01-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

Family Friday

The Love Triangle

When couples come to my office for marriage counseling[1], one of the phrases I hear most often is, “I just don’t love her/him anymore.” When Hannah and I endured what we now refer to as the “black hole” of our relationship, few days went by when we didn’t say those very words to each other. But, whether you asked the Black Hole Era Mesaehs or any couple sitting in my office, “What’s love supposed to look like?” the answer you’ll usually get is, “I don’t know, but this ain’t it.”[2]

What does love look like?

So, if we don’t know what love looks like, how can we know if we “have it?” One psychologist developed the “triangular model[3]” of love to help us understand that lovin’ feeling. He says love is made up of the three components:

Passion

Young love is a flame; very pretty, very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.
–Henry Ward Beecher

Passion is the raw, sensual, biological side of love. It makes our hair stand up, spine tingle, and motivates us to always have fresh breath whenever our mate is around. Passion is hot, physical, and often leads to sex[4]. Sex is God’s intended target for the passionate side of this triangle. Song of Solomon (the Bible’s manual for a passionate marriage) opens up with all passions roaring:

Song of Solomon 1:2 (NLT)
²Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.

However, passion turns immature and self-seeking if it is not linked with intimacy.

Intimacy

Intimacy is all about emotions. When you have it, home feels warm. It produces friendship, companionship, closeness, and the ability to really know someone. Couples who lack intimacy are unable to communicate, and they often feel like two strangers living in the same house. This can become a two-edged sword, because the best way to cultivate intimacy is to spend time talking, playing[5], planning, and simply “doing life” together. What’s intimacy look like in the Bible?

Genesis 2:24–25 (NLT)
²⁴ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. ²⁵ Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Commitment

Commitment is the grown-up, thinking, willful side of love. It says, “I love you—not because of how you make me feel—but because I choose to love you.” Commitment banks on a future that’s not here yet. It’s the side of the triangle that endures a relationship’s cold seasons. In short, it’s the reason we know our mate will stay even when our breath isn’t minty fresh[6]. Jesus says it clearly:

Mark 10:9 (NLT)
⁹ let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

Sloppy Triangles

So, when a couple says they no longer “feel in love,” it’s most often because they don’t talk anymore, he’s stopped buying her flowers, she stopped brushing her teeth, or either one of them forgot what it means to pinky swear your way into a forever-obligation. The triangle hasn’t disappeared, it’s just become sloppy. The sides are uneven. We assume we’ve “fallen out of love” (quite possibly the phrase most destructive to the gift of marriage), when really we’re just judging the whole triangle by one broken leg.

Love without passion is companionship at best, dry at worst. You can get the same thing from a golden retriever[7].

Love without intimacy is shallow and foolish. Intimacy provides stabilizing knowledge that you can’t get any other way.

Love without commitment is immature and “hopelessly romantic.” NBC made an entire show about it in the 90s: Friends.

All relationships go through stages where one leg is shorter than the other. Stages of life change, so our marriages adapt to carry us through. Commitment comes along to say, “I’m staying with you for better or for worse.” Intimacy provides a friend when all other friends disappear. Passion motivates us to develop intimacy and commit to a life-long partnership.

Going the Distance

What’s the key to a marriage that goes the distance? Not basing your love on a sloppy triangle. When passions run low, use that time to cultivate intimacy—get to know each other on an even deeper level. When conversations seem shallow or communication is difficult, rely on the glue of commitment to carry you through.[8]

Only then will you be able to say: “We’ve put a lot of miles on this marriage. It has been exasperating, elating, horrible, wonderful, shackling, freeing. It has been our single most intimate source of conflict and of joy. Still, it has so much to offer.”[9]

Chime In

What’s your definition of love?

[1] Or, “relationship enhancement” for the Type A readers.

[2] Yes, I know ain’t ain’t a word, but everybody uses it. If my high school grammar teacher is reading this from heaven, I’m sorry.

[3] Robert Sternberg, “A triangular Theory of Love,” Psychological Review 93 (1986): 119-35.

[4] Which, in turn, leads to an increase in bedroom door locks once children gain the gift of mobility.

[5] Replacing intimacy with passion is most men’s goal and most women’s fear. “Why talk? Let’s just have sex.” vs. “Sex again? We need to talk first.” Yay.

[6] Which leads to that age-old battle between those who brush their teeth and those who don’t.

[7] But not a cat.

[8] Or, if you’re married, have sex then talk about it later. Win win.

[9] Quoted from: Parrot & Parrot: Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts

Unite the Clans

2011-12-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

One of my all-time favorite movies is Braveheart. William Wallace leads his fellow Scotsmen to fight for their freedom—escaping the clutches of an evil British king. In one of the most dramatic scenes of the entire movie, Wallace pleads with Robert the Bruce to use his influence and “unite the clans!” Scattered and out of sync, the Scottish clans stand little chance at achieving their freedom. But, if they could only unite and pursue their goal together, victory would soon be within their reach.

My desire for Defiance Christian Church in 2012 is that we unite the clans! Jesus’ mission on earth is to deliver people (1) out of the clutches of an evil, demonic king and (2) into a relationship with Him, where there is true peace, joy, and contentment. In the process, he unites the two most powerful clans the world has ever seen. What am I talking about? The church and the family. How are we going to do it? By thinking Orange.

Thinking Orange

Thinking Orange is a simple theory developed by Reggie Joiner, a founding pastor of one of the fastest-growing churches in America.^{^[1]} The concept is as old as Moses^{^[2]}: combine a warm, relational family unit (represented by the color red) with a bright, truth-declaring church (represented by the color yellow). What do you get? An Orange explosion—something stronger than either influence would make individually.

The Red Family

This means the leaders of DCC are going to work to make every family warmer, stronger, and healthier in the year ahead. We have some cool things up our sleeves, but the coolest one of all may be the decision to hire Jim Dotson as our new Pastor of Family Life and Administration. If you haven’t met Jim yet, he’s an awesome guy with a heart for Jesus, a ton of ambition for Jesus’ church, and an unfortunate fondness for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In addition, I’ll be running a “Family Friday” article on my blog to cover topics like marriage enrichment, couple’s communication, raising great kids, falling in love, family faith, etc. We want you to finish 2012 with the warmest, reddest family^{^[3]} you’ve ever known.

The Yellow Church

We also have plans to make our church glow brighter than it ever has. We’ll grow closer through small groups, further through community involvement, bigger through ambitious goals^{^[4]}, and wiser through a Bible Study Certificate program. These things are just a glimpse of all that your leaders have planned for our church family in 2012.

Red + Yellow = Orange.
Church + Family = a force to be reckoned with!

Unite the Clans,
-pastor bill

[1] Reggie’s church is North point Community Church in Atlanta, GA. You can read more about Thinking Orange here.

[2] Moses’ speeches throughout the book of Deuteronomy have an orange appeal to them. Check out Deut 6.4-6, for example.

[3] This does not imply all warm families are necessarily communist or republican.

[4] Growth goals for 2012: 250 first-time visitors, 400 in regular attendance by Christmas, and 10 baptisms

4 Reasons I am Thankful for DCC

2011-11-23T14:47:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving: a time to stop and give thanks for all the good in our lives. One of the “goodest” things God ever did for my family was bringing us to Defiance Christian Church. So, this year I made a list of the top four reasons why DCC means so much to me:

1. A Legacy of Excellence

Defiance Christian Church was founded by Bible-believing, Jesus-loving people over 60 years ago. Since that time, the US has endured recessions, wars, political scandals, and countless changes in the moral fabric of our society. Through it all, the servants, deacons, elders, and ministers of DCC have faithfully declared and shared God’s love with the greater Defiance area. The congregation that now calls 955 Standley “home,” does so on the shoulders of the saints who’ve come before us.

2. I Get to Do What I Love

Confucius said: “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well, I can’t imagine a job I’d love more than the one the people of DCC called me to do. Teaching God’s Word and helping people develop faith in Jesus Christ is my life’s mission. Lord-willing, I’ll die in the pulpit someday. And, given the great folks who call DCC home, it’d be an honor for that to happen here (not any time soon though!).

3. Everybody’s Welcome

At Defiance Christian Church, we know we’re all sinners saved by nothing more than God’s grace. So, we keep the doors open wide for absolutely anyone who wants to ride with us on this awesome journey of God’s love. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, what you make or what you wear, you’ll find someone at DCC with a story similar to yours!

4. Everybody’s Loved

Once you’re a part of this family, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them! I’ve never seen a church family so eager to “do life” together. This church rallies together in the good times and the not-so-good times. Need a meal? Need a coat? Have a coat and want to give it away? The answer to what (and Who) you’re looking for is Defiance Christian Church.

God has blessed my family tremendously through the friendships we’ve forged at DCC. I pray He does so for many years to come!

With Thanks,
-pastor bill

Heading to the Field

2011-08-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Heading to the Field

This weekend we go on standby for the course’s culminating field training exercise (FTX). If you’re not familiar with an FTX, I’ll briefly explain what they are and how they work.

What’s an FTX?

The goal of an FTX is for soldiers (marine, airmen, etc.) to take what they’ve learned in a classroom-type training environment out to “the field” for practical application and deeper training. “The field” is normally a wooded environment set up to simulate a combat-deployed situation. They vary as to how “hard” they are (a “hard site” is an area that has been semi-permanently established, may have buildings, poured concrete, running water, etc.). If you don’t deploy to a hard site for an FTX, then you bring your own tents and build everything you’ll need for the duration of the training. I don’t know where we’re heading for this site, but I assume it’s somewhere between completely hard and “go chop down those trees.”

Meals are mostly MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat). This is a complete meal (2K+ calories) in a fully enclosed bag with a long shelf life. The main courses are usually pretty good and can be heated with the provided “just add water” field cooker. The rest of the items are immediately traded on the MRE black market. Tootsie Rolls and the lemon pound cake (if you’re lucky enough to get one) have high trade value.

Showers are hit or miss. The harder the site, the better your chance of showering. If not, baby wipes are your best friend.

Once there, we’ll receive missions to accomplish and then go to work carrying them out “in a military manner.” Basically, it’s every little boy’s dream of playing army—only without the fun you always assumed would be part of it. I often joke that the military has a way of taking everything that used to be fun and sucking the fun out of it (camping, shooting, exercising, even eating). OK, that’s not true. Yes it is. No it’s not. Yes it is.

Getting Ready

We got an FTX packing list before we got here and were told to be packed and ready last night. This afternoon we’ll have a “bag drag.” This is where you bring your packed bag and have your supervisors go through it all to be sure you have everything. Everywhere you go in the military, “inspect what you expect” is the law of the land. It’s a good law. As a leader, the more you care, the more you inspect.

You can usually count on someone packing an oddball item just to catch the bag inspector off guard. Hot pink underwear packed in some guy’s bag is par for the course.

After the bag drag, the waiting begins. You’re told not to leave the area and to always be reachable “within 6 rings.” At some point, the phone rings, you grab your bags, go where you’re told, and get ready for the fun (“embrace the suck” is a common term than can often be inserted here as well).

Talk to you Later

That’s all I have for now. I’ll be waiting for the phone to ring (even though they told us when it’d probably come) and fill you in more when we get back.

Why I am a Chaplain (1 of 2)

2011-08-23T08:24:00.001-07:00

I’ve been asked many times (1) why I continue wearing the uniform, and (2) why I drastically changed career fields with the decision to become a chaplain. I think the best way to answer that is to explain what chaplains do. So, this is part 1 of a 2-part series attempting to do just that.

One of the main job descriptions of military chaplains is to ensure people in uniform have equal access to their rights afforded by the 1^st Amendment. My time at the Basic Chaplain Course has made clear how little most people (believers and non-believers) understand about the legally enforceable ramifications of the 1^st Amendment.

I have no intentions of engaging in an online debate regarding the free exercise of religion, so please don’t go there. But, I do want to answer another common question I get: “Doesn’t the military make you act like a universal minister, serving all faiths?”

Short answer: yes, and no. And I’m thankful for both. From the Air Force Chaplain Corps website:

“As members of a multicultural community, chaplains provide ministry to persons of their own faith group, yet also act as guardians of the free exercise of religion for all Air Force members and their families.”

Chaplains: Ministers to all Faith Groups

The buzzword is “religious accommodation,” and it’s an awesome responsibility laid on the shoulders of military chaplains. We’re here not to respect the beliefs of all people, but to respect their right to believe what they believe.

· Professionally, it goes beyond tolerance.

· Practically, it means chaplains do all they can to facilitate a military member’s practicing of his/her religious beliefs.

· Personally, it means I do everything I can to keep the military from getting in the way of someone’s religious convictions.

It will never mean I am forced to conduct a Buddhist, Islamic, or Catholic service (they wouldn’t want me to anyway; more on that in part 2), but it does mean I will use my position and privileges to get them a room, religious materials, or—if possible—the services of a respective cleric. I am not their cleric, nor do I share all of their convictions, but I can cooperate without compromising.

The words of two men motivate me to serve as a chaplain.

Jefferson

From the 1^st Amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Contrary to the motivations of militant atheists, the Constitution does not mandate freedom from religion. It promises freedom of religion. That’s a monumental difference. The Constitution erects a wall ensuring the government will not impede a citizen’s right to pursue—or not pursue—God on their own terms. Chaplains wear uniforms to make certain that right carries over to military members.

If I limit my support to people who agree with me, I’m rejecting the 1^st Amendment and returning my country to the world it was in prior to the break with Great Britain—where believers had to believe what the state told them to believe. I don’t want that to be the world my boys inherit, so I do what I can to keep freedom alive.

Rev. Martin Niemoller says it well:

"In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Jesus

More importantly, the Bible tells me ministers are servants. I’ve read it quite a few times and never found a limit on who Jesus wants me to serve. He actually says Heaven will be filled with Christ-followers from every tongue, tribe, and nation because Christians on earth shared the love of Christ without reservation.

The military allows me to rub shoulders with ethnic and religious groups most people will never see. I pray Jesus uses my time in the uniform to add more tongues, tribes and nations to His Kingdom (more on that in pt 2 as well).

Chaplain School—Week 2

2011-08-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

Week 2 seemed like a longer week than the one before. But it’s over, and I’m now a third of my way toward graduation and returning to my family and friends. The weather was a cool 214 degrees Fahrenheit (give or take), but I’m neither in Afghanistan nor getting shot at, so in complete respect for those who are, I won’t complain.

We got trained up and certified in two areas this week:

MarriageCare

Curriculum written and produced by the Air Force to be used by AF chaplaincy when offering marriage retreats. The Army has a great program (Strong Bonds), and I hear the Navy has a good one as well (CREDO), so—in true military fashion—the Air Force decided they needed their own organic program. Since DCC is currently putting together our own marriage-enhancement retreat, I came to this training pretty excited.

Blah. That was my overall impression of MarriageCare. To be fair, my disappointment comes from my own personal convictions about what a marriage retreat should look like:

Guy-friendly (because we’re usually the ones in the relationship who don’t want to go)
Entertaining (because I believe it’s a sin take something as awesome as marriage or God’s Word and make it boring)
Immediately practical (in other words… “OK, So what?”)

Later in the week, I was asked by one of the instructors what I thought of MarriageCare. I quickly realized he wasn’t looking for honest feedback (again: in direct keeping with military fashion). Regardless, I’m trained up and have one more tool in my chaplain/pastor toolbox thanks to the research and development of the US Government.

ASIST

A training and education program helping people assist in suicide intervention. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a wonderful program. I can tell the people who put it together truly care about lowering the suicide rate.

This two-day training ended on Friday. In an eerie twist of fate, I got a phone call late Saturday night from a member of the DCC Family telling me someone close to them had just committed suicide. Suicide is serious, but hurting people are not without help. If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, please get help.
After Tweeting about this training during the week, I received a couple requests to offer similar training to the DCC family back home. If you’d be interested, please let me know.

More important than any training or certification is the sad news that two members of the DCC Family lost loved ones this week. Mary Arps lost her dear mother, and Susie Locher lost her son. Both deaths were unexpected. Both families need prayer and support. We all need the church.

For the Kingdom,
-pb

Chaplain School–Week 1

2011-08-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

As some of you may know, I am in sunny South Carolina attending the Air Force’s Chaplain Corps College. A few years ago the Department of Defense (DOD) combined the services’ 3 different chaplain schools into one Chaplain College housed on the Army’s Ft. Jackson. The move was an effort to save money and mirror the inter-service approach to war-fighting already common across most of the military. I’m sure it saves quite a bit of money, but I’ve yet to see any inter-service cooperation or training. But, it’s only week 1, so I don’t know what I don’t know at this point.

I’ll blog about the experience as often as I’m able. I’ll try to give you an idea of (1) what I’m up to and (2) what a DOD chaplain does in today’s military. I’ll also share my personal views on being a conservative evangelical pastor serving in a pluralistic religious environment.

So, here’s week 1 in a nutshell:

I arrived a bit behind the power curve and have been playing catch-up the past few days (hence the overdue blog entry). I lost one of my bags on the way down here and had to replace everything inside. Expensive mistake, but entirely my own fault. I also showed up with some outdated information from my unit regarding insignia I have to have sown on my uniforms. I was the only chaplain (out of 14) not already wearing his chaplain’s cross, so it’s been a scramble to get the proper Air Force uniform items on an Army post.

The weather’s been a ridiculous 257 degrees Fahrenheit (in the shade, uphill both ways…). I’m not a big fan of the heat (sorry, Alicia!), and a broken AC unit in our schoolhouse only makes it that much…more realistic! But, I’m not about to complain. We have troops in scorching heat getting shot at everyday. I am sure I can navigate the stresses of chaplain school.

That’s not so say I’m not thoroughly enjoying the training though. We’re taught cutting-edge pastoral stuff that is applicable in both civilian and military ministry. I’m thankful to my church for giving me the time to go and to the governor of the great state of Indiana for paying the way!

This week, we briefly studied leadership and basic chaplain duties. It was stressed repeatedly that the chaplain is the only individual in the military who can offer 100% confidentiality regardless of the confession or the confessor. Intimidating but honoring at the same time.

We spent some time getting educated on how to respond to mass casualty situations and were lead through some (very graphic!) pictures/scenarios. The point was simple: chaplains provide a calming presence in the midst of chaos. For that reason, he/she can never be the anxious one on the scene. Again, intimidating but empowering as well.

The biggest block of instruction this week dealt with pastoral counseling. These classes were a goldmine of information and practicum. I’m continually amazed at the high level of professionalism and competency held by my peers. I’ll leave you with a video demonstrating the most effective approach to most client problems.

For the Kingdom,
-bill

Video Blog: Communion in the Bible

2011-07-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

Baptism in the Bible from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

For this week's FAQ, Bill talks about the second sacrament: communion. Answering the most frequently asked answers at DCC, he breaks down the Bible's answers for: How we take communion, Why we take communion, Who can take communion, When/How often we take communion.

The Bible is a Gift

2011-07-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight a friend directed me to a video with more power than any video I've seen in a long time. This includes The Lord of the Rings, so you know I'm serious.

In the American church, where we are spoon-fed God's Word and have more translations than heaven has unicorns, the Kimyal church provides a breath of fresh air. After going a lifetime without a New Testament in their own language, the Kimyal Tribe of Papua sobs with joy (sobs: as in crying tears of happiness) when a plane arrives carrying the Word of God in their native tongue.

Seeing our foreign brothers and sisters in Christ rejoice to the point of building an ark! (don't miss the 7-minute mark on this video) convicts me to: (1) Read my Bible more everyday, and (2) Call to repentance all those who have forgotten the power, wisdom, and ultimate supremacy of The Bible.

May we never attempt to do life without it!

-pastor bill

What if I disagree...?

2011-07-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Elders recently read a good little book on the biblical basis for church leadership. What I liked most about the book was the constant reminder that the church is a Spirit-led, Bible-based family rather than a state-regulated corporation. Every page was dripping with Scripture.
The author humbly closed the book by answering the simple question, “What if I disagree?” I couldn’t add to or improve his advice in any way, so I’ve plagiarized it in its entirety.
For the Kingdom,
-bill

The following is taken from: A Book You’ll Actually Read: On Church Leadership, by Mark Driscoll (pp. 85-86)

What Should I Do if I Disagree with How My Church is Led and Organized?

You need to begin by searching the Scriptures to make sure that your convictions are true, searching your heart to make sure that your attitude is humble, and searching your motives to make sure that they are to lovingly build up your church.
If you still disagree with how your church is organized and governed, you should humbly speak with one of the senior leaders in a way that is respectful, not demanding, and not divisive. You should lovingly articulate your concerns and desire to see everything done in a way that honors Jesus according to Scripture, including the organizational structure of the church government.
At this point your church leader may agree and bring your thoughts for the consideration of the other senior leaders. Or, they may disagree with you. In the case that your church is unwilling or unable (because of something such as a legal denominational obligation) to operate in a certain manner to change, then you are left with two options.
First, you can stay in your church and lovingly submit to the leaders and structures that are in place, seeking as best as you are able to build your church up and see it grow in its ability to seek the transformation of your city. Second, you can kindly and lovingly leave your church in a way that is not divisive or disrespectful and attend another church where you can submit to both the church leaders and their form of church government in good conscience.
I offer one final word of caution for the idealistic neatniks who may read this: every church is filled with imperfect people like you who are led by imperfect leaders like me and governed by imperfect systems like the ones outlined in this book. The goal for yourself, your church, and its leaders must be faithfulness and not perfection, so it behooves you to start drinking decaf and to lighten up a bit in Jesus’ name.

Video Blog: Baptism in the Bible

2011-07-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

Baptism in the Bible from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Those wanting the assurance of salvation must follow ALL of the Bible’s guidance on how the assurance of salvation is given. There are multiple pieces of Scripture in the Bible that describe how one is saved. None of them contradict each other, but they do all complement each other. We often run into disagreement or confusion when we emphasize one verse over another rather than reading them both as equally authoritative.

After reading all of the verses regarding salvation and noticing how many of them had clear statements about the central role of baptism, our church adopted this as our stance:

“We believe salvation from sin comes from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship comes by grace through faith, produces repentance, and begins with the immersion of Christian baptism.”

Here is a link to an article I wrote on the topic some time back: http://www.billmesaeh.com/2010/09/baptism-by-book.html

Here is a link to an article written by a highly respected seminary professor: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150208643265617

Video Blogging

2011-06-16T07:00:00.001-07:00

To better answer FAQs and communicate with our members, we’re starting a weekly video blog. This week’s blog answers the FAQ: What kind of church is DCC?

VidBlog 6/14/2011 from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Weekly Blog Post by Bill Mesaeh, Senior Minister of Defiance Christian Church.

Helping Joplin, MO

2011-05-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Friends,

I received this letter from a fellow pastor in Defiance, OH regarding aid for those in Joplin, MO.

-pastor bill

New Life out of Bryan has asked us to get the word out concerning items needed for Joplin, MO. If you are interested in getting some of the needed items together, I will be taking anything brought to our church up to Bryan late Friday afternoon. Please have any items brought to Harvest Life by

3:00 pm.

Blessings, Tim Hacker

New Life Worship Center is working in cooperation with other churches, ministries, and organizations throughout the tri-state area to collect emergency relief supplies to send down to Joplin, Missouri. Many people have seen the pictures and heard the descriptions but don't know how to respond to this great need. Please join us in giving your congregations an avenue to help those most deeply affected by this tragedy.

I have a life-long friend who has been ministering in Joplin for several years who is our contact there. His church is in the middle of the destruction but was untouched by the storm. They are in a perfect position to distribute supplies directly to those in need.

We are collecting the following items:

Diapers of all sizes....

Formulas, bottles.

Bottled water.

Children's clothes ( good condition).

Pillows and Blankets.

Personal care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, soap and shampoo).

Paper and Feminine hygiene products.

And cash/check donations are welcomed.(Checks may be made out to NLWC for those seeking tax credit).

Drop off location:

New Life Worship Center

14451County Road C

Bryan, Ohio 43506

419.636.3526

Truck will leave NLWC on Friday 27th at 11pm.

If you have people interested in being part of a work crew, we are also organizing a team to leave Sunday May 29th and returning Saturday June 4th.

Contact me for more information.

We can't do everything, but we should do something! Together we can make a difference!

J. Mark Holbrook

NLWC

419.636.3526
419.551.0520

The Vision of an Acts 2 Church

2011-05-20T11:27:00.001-07:00

A personal vision to build a Church, based on Acts 2.39-47,
for those who don’t like church

I will never be happier or more successful than when I am completely devoted to God’s will for my life. As a sinner saved by grace, I will devote my life to reaching the irreligious and connecting them with Jesus and His people. May I never forget my life before Jesus Christ and the power that first loving church had on my future.

As a pastor in Jesus’ Church, I will actively and consciously lead my flock and manage its resources toward becoming a hell-defeating congregation. The result will resemble an Acts 2 church proactively seeking out the prodigal sons of the world and lovingly teaching the elder brothers the error in their religious ways. Because I fear God and not man, I will reject excuses—in my life and the lives of others—and will hold every man-made method, ministry, and tradition accountable for the supreme task getting sinners close to Jesus.

Without jeopardizing my faith, my family, or my fitness, I am giving this task every last ounce of who I am and what I have. On my deathbed, success will be defined by the results I, my family, and the churches I have led have produced for the Kingdom of God.

Bill Mesaeh, Jr.

18 Mar 11
Defiance, Ohio

Acts 2:39–47 (NLT)
³⁹ This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” ⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. ⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. ⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The New Testament Church

Acts 2:39–40 (NLT)
39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

· God gives the world a promise of hope. This hope—salvation and redemption through Christ—is what everyone desperately longs for, whether they know it or not

· Creating a church for the unchurched is the most Christ-like effort a group of believers could desire

· The church stood as a lighthouse of salvation to the lost of its day

· The members shared a hunger for God’s Word, and they received it through strong biblical preaching

Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

· The Church’s greatest gift to the world is conviction about the message of Jesus Christ

· When the Church delivers the Good News in a relevant, understandable, and applicable way, God responds with exponential growth

· God blesses the Church that is unified toward achieving what He wants

Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

· Regardless of location, ethnicity, background, gender, etc., the Church maintained unity by focusing on these key practices:

1. Bible teaching,
2. attractive friendship that was Spirit-empowered and deeply sincere, and
3. continually deepening their bonds to each other and to God

Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

· The church is constantly aware of and drawing upon the supernatural power of God

· A healthy fear of the Lord drives the Church to stay on mission and remain obedient to Christ

· The church is not a secular institution, and is therefore not limited by resources or manmade regulations

Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

· Deep love for each other moved the Church to “take care of its own”—extending real love

· Counter-cultural, counter-intuitive love distinguished the Church from the rest of the world

Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

· The church gathered corporately to worship and learn & scattered into each other’s homes to serve and fellowship

· The Church fought back the powers of hell on two battlefronts:

1. The AIR WAR of corporate worship and study
2. The GROUND WAR of scattered service and fellowship

Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

· As a result of the Church’s genuine worship of God, they enjoyed rapid growth and true joy

· God wants His church to grow. The Church that finds true joy and unity in radical worship and service experiences the blessings of radical growth and happiness

Secret Church

2011-05-13T17:52:00.001-07:00

Right now, around the world, millions of Christ-followers are meeting in secret places, worshiping in hiding, practicing their faith behind closed doors. If exposed, they face prison, torture, or even death. Yet their devotion to God and His Word are unwavering, even heroic. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must learn to take our God as seriously as they do.

When we think of “church” in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a Pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, “church” meets in a home, an apartment, even in secret. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer and fellowship, as it is dangerous to travel to “church” and they want to make the most of their time together.

On May 20th, DCC will be the location for ‘Secret Church’. We will spend 5 hours, from 6 PM to 11PM in God’s Word, prayer and worship. Our desire is to see people come for the entire event, but realizing that conflicts and prior commitments might interfere, we are splitting the event into smaller sections. If you need to miss part of the event, you may still show up easily at any time to join in without feeling ‘lost’. Most of the night will be spent in Bible study as I teach through the book of Acts. There will be a time of praise and worship in music from 7:30 to 8:30.

Please make plans now to be there: this Friday (5/20) @ DCC, 6-11p.

-pastor bill

Kingdom Growth

2011-05-01T11:05:00.001-07:00

Friends & Family,

The letter below comes from a man DCC is looking to bring on as a second full-time minister. Praise God! For us to do this, however, he will have to raise a considerable portion of his own salary during the first year. Please read the letter from him and consider supporting him financially. Of course, all checks would be mailed and addressed directly to Defiance Christian Church, so they would be fully tax deductible.

In Christ,
-bill

“For this reason I kneel before the Father”

Ephesians 3:14

Defiance Christian Church is averaging 300 members, with only 1 minister! The church has decided now is the time to aggressively pursue Kingdom growth rather than wait until their entire mortgage debt (approximately $1.4m) is exhausted. The elders and church’s CPA are working very hard to reduce this debt.

The senior minister, Bill Mesaeh, had been asking the church leaders, "Why not? Why not? If God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills, why don't we slaughter a few of them? In other words, if anything is possible with God...there has to be a way for DCC to have ministers they need in the midst of this time of financial debt.

Many of you have been praying, along with me, for God to open a door of ministry to me for the last two years of my life. Our prayers recently met up with Bill’s prayers! Bill had been praying for how God could use him to plug me in, in obedience to Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

DCC has decided to bring me on the team as a missionary (raising my own financial support), with the full intention and plans of this being a committed, long-term ministry. In 6 months, DCC will take on half my salary; and after 1 year, the church will provide my entire salary.

Bill foresees the church reaching anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 members. Defiance County’s population is near 40,000 people, with only 1 other decent size church.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38).

Would you, kneel before the Father on my behalf?

#1 Pray earnestly this prayer of Matthew 9:37-38, for God to send out laborers into his harvest, for Defiance County, and for the world.

#2 Pray about partnering together with me in this ministry, through faithful prayer and/or financial support (details on the following page).

#3 Pray for the financial debt of the church to be wiped away by sacrificial and often insignificant gifts….which, if brought to Jesus, He will multiply and accomplish monumental things! Like when Andrew brought the boy with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread to Him, and He fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-13).

Would you, help support me financially in this year of ministry?

If so, know that any gift you can give would be so appreciated!

Checks should be sent to:

Defiance Christian Church

C/O Jason Martin

955 Standley Rd.

Defiance, OH 43512.

Checks should be addressed to Defiance Christian Church. On the memo of the check write, “for: Jason Martin’s ministry”.

If you would like to give to help DCC with this financial debt, write on the memo, “for: DCC’s Mortgage Debt”.

If you would like me to send you this letter via mail-mail. Please give me your address, and I will send it right out with a return envelope enclosed if you would like to help in any way.

Alicia, the office manager, will generate a charity tax statement for any contributions.

Forever grateful and always at your disposal,

Jason Martin

Eggs & Ham

2011-04-21T23:25:00.001-07:00

Friends & Family,

This Sunday I’m preaching on what would happen if we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus instead of “Easter Sunday.” I don’t have anything against bunnies, baskets, or Cadbury Eggs. But, I want us to consider the implications a risen Jesus has on our lives. Did Jesus ever intend for us to celebrate his resurrection with boiled eggs and baked ham? Or, might there be something more to this life?

Check out the promo video, share it with your friends, and make plans to come to DCC this Sunday @ 10am. I hope to see you there!

-pastor bill

Easter Sermon Intro from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Easter 2011: What If?

2011-04-20T13:05:00.001-07:00

Check out the video e-vite to DCC’s Easter service and make plans to be there this Sunday @ 10.

Easter Invite 2011 from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Senior Minister Bill Mesaeh with an open invite to worship with us at DCC Easter Sunday 2011.

Get Bill’s Blog in your Inbox

2011-03-24T22:46:00.001-07:00

Friends and Family,

I’ve started a new service that allows me to easily share articles from my blog with you via email. If we’ve emailed each other before, you may be receiving an email asking you to subscribe or confirm a subscription to my blog. Don’t worry: your email address was not shared with anyone, and you can--very easily--opt out of any future emails.

I’m hoping you stay on though! Over the past 6 months, I’ve been gathering data and preferences as to what people would like a pastor to write about. I’m looking forward to setting time aside every week to write about the topics you chose:

Interacting with the culture from a biblical perspective
1. How to share my faith
2. How to speak out on political issues
3. What’s the Bible say about drinking, R-rated movies, etc.?
Family Life
1. Raising my kids the way God intended
2. How to be the right kind of husband/wife
3. Growing spiritually with my spouse
Biblical & Theological Studies
1. Where did the Bible come from?
2. Do we have free will?
3. What does the Bible really say about heaven, hell, angels, demons, & death?
Christian Maturity
1. Why should I pray, fast, study my Bible, etc.?
2. How do I deal with anger, guilt, and regret?
3. What’s supposed to happen between baptism and death?
Biblical Manhood
1. How to lead my family with a backbone and a soft heart
2. Being a husband my wife needs and adores
3. Being a dad my kids look up to
Leadership
1. How to influence people around you
2. Why God expects you to lead and how to do it right
3. Professional development and continual personal growth

If you haven’t received the email and would like to subscribe, great! Just go here and fill out the form. Regardless, have a great day!

-bill

What Should I write about?

2011-03-24T22:29:00.001-07:00

Friends & Family,

A while back I posted this questionnaire online asking you to tell me what you’d like a pastor to write about (if at all!). Well, I’m almost ready to pile up the data and start writing. It’s not too late to weigh in though. If you don’t mind, please take a few seconds to let me know what you’d like to read.

Thanks in advance,

-pastor bill

My Antioch

2011-03-22T04:44:00.001-07:00

Antioch Christian Church: Coal City, IN

This is the small little country church I preached in during my first year of grad school (so, 2003-2004 ‘ish). A great congregation full of wonderful people where the average age was well over 70!

This would be where I “cut my teeth” in preaching. These fine people endured me figuring out how to write a sermon, how to preach it, etc. On a real good day, we had 45 people.

Acts 13:1–3 (NLT)
¹ Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.² One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”³ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

2011-03-01T10:01:00.001-08:00

March 2011Newsletter

This month I want to tell you about a fun little book that gives us an opportunity to relive the New Testament’s story in a refreshing way. In The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, Frank Viola, “…has ‘straightened out’ the NT (New Testament) for us! The Bible we have today is fully inspired, yes. But the order of the NT epistles—well—a complete jumble. Instead of being arranged by date, they are arranged by size!” (p. 9, from the foreword)

So, this book tells the story of God’s second covenant (aka: the New Testament) according to the way God put His story together. After reading through (which can be done in one afternoon: it’s only 180 pages), you’ll walk away with more of a “ground-level” understanding of how the church—God’s Family—came to be. Narrative in style, the book reads almost like a novel. You’ll need to read it with your Bible at your side because the footnotes will have you flipping through all 27 NT books and exposing you to stories and characters that you may have never noticed before.

The author presents the giving of our second covenant as a play with five major “motions.”

1. The Godhead in Eternity Past

2. The Son is Sent to Earth

3. The Church is Born

4. The Son Returns to Earth

5. The Godhead in Eternity Future

The third motion is the largest and longest, as Viola unfolds the growth of the very same church body we are all a part of today. Following the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, the author takes us through Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, the greater Grecian area, Ephesus, and finally Rome. Along the way, he “sharpens the focus” with historical tidbits that help us better understand the culture of the day.

If you’re looking for a fun book to read as you hibernate and wait out the last of this cold weather, I recommend checking this one out. It’s about $10 on Amazon.com. If you read it, let me know what you think!

At Your Side,

-bill

From this day Forward…

2011-02-22T13:28:00.001-08:00

On February 13th I preached a sermon titled “How to be Rich” (you can hear it here: http://www.defiancechristian.org/sermons/). In that sermon, I talked about “placing a stake in the ground” to declare that your life will change, you will seek to be rich in your relationship with Jesus, and you won’t let the ever-changing world affect how you live your life.

I recently read a statement Rick Warren wrote about being purpose-driven, and it squares perfectly with this very idea. I’ve pasted it in below. You can also find it on his website here: http://www.purposedrivenchurch.com/en-US/AboutUs/PD_declaration.htm

Read it. Pray about it. Then, begin to jot down ideas for your own declaration. If you decide to write one yourself (yep: I am going to), I’d love to read it and (with your permission) post it here to share with others.

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DECLARATION

Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,” character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say, "However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!'"

I Can't Forgive

2011-02-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

From time to time, I'll receive an email and/or Bible question touching on a topic I know affects many others in our congregation. In those situations, I get permission from the author, strip the email to maintain anonymity, and then throw it up on the blog.

The Email:

I believe with every fabric of my being that some sins are unforgiveable. I believe that God can forgive these monsters. I can't. I have always felt that way but in light of recent events I can't internally try to deny it anymore to make myself feel like a better Christian. Does that make me unworthy of standing in front of church…? I'm trying to hold myself accountable and am feeling very undeserving...

My response

xxx,

I often think something very similar to your, “I believe God can forgive these monsters.” Then, again similar to your sentiments, my personal struggle to extend that forgiveness wages on. For me, that struggle is hottest and hardest when I think of the Taliban and “pro-choice” activists. Those are two people groups I’d like to see my Jesus consume with raging fire—today! (It IS going to happen; check out Revelation 19.11-16!)

Does that make you AND me unworthy of standing before our congregation? Yes. Absolutely it does. And so does every other sin we commit during the course of a “regular” day. Thanks be to God that Jesus’ work on the cross comes along and makes us righteous (Rom 5.19) in spite of our sinfulness (also Rom 8.1).

You’re a sinner. I’m a sinner. Abortionists and terrorists are sinners. That won’t change until Jesus comes back. Our (yours and mine) problem comes in when we fail to see just how much Jesus had to overcome so that we (you and I) could be made righteous. Remembering (temporarily!) my own awful sinfulness helps me not become so self-righteous as to think God is content to save me and then consume the “really bad sinners” in a raging fire.

The answer to sin—for you, me, terrorists and abortionists—is grace through Jesus.

Romans 5:21 (NLT)

²¹So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why Demons Are Bad

2011-02-06T12:52:00.001-08:00

“A servant of Christ can no more avoid demons than a gardener can avoid weeds.” –Clinton Arnold

Miscellaneous References

· Satan is not equal to God

o There is not “good God, bad God”

o Satan is not omnipotent, omniscience, nor omnipresent

o There is only God the Creator and the created (1 Cor 8.1-6)

o For a side study of demons, see: Isa 14; Ezek 28; Gen 3; Eph 6

· Satan is not our only enemy

o He has demons (fallen angels) who work for him

§ Demons are not the souls of bad dead people; angels are not the souls of good dead people.

§ Humans do not turn into angels when we die; humans “outrank” angels (Heb 1.14).

o He can only tempt one person at a time and can only send a fixed amount of demons to any one person at any point in time

· Demons are spiritual beings

o When they leave one body/possession, they look for another (Lk 11.24-26)

o Any “spiritual” teaching is demonic when it’s not based solely on Jesus (1 Jn 4.1-6; 1 Thess 5.21; Acts 17.11)

§ i.e.: Buddhism, Yoga, Islam, Spiritualism, Avatar, Necromancy, etc.

§ Don’t be spiritual; love Jesus; be filled with the one Holy Spirit.

· Demons are personal beings

o With intellect, emotion, and will

o They know who Jesus is (Mk 1.24); they can influence people (1 Tim 4.1-6); they have fear (Lk 8.28); they rebel (Jude 6)

· Demons are extremely powerful (Mk 5.1-4; Acts 19.16),

o but their power is limited (Job 1-2; Col 1.16; 1 Jn 4.4)

· Demons are not the souls of the deal; they are fallen angels serving Satan

o Necromancy is a sin (Dt 18.9-12; 1 Chron 10.13-14)

Is “Trinity” in the Bible?

2011-01-30T16:59:00.001-08:00

Recent Email

Hey man,

I got a bible question for you:

Does God ever explain the trinity in the bible? I mean does Jesus ever talk about it? I still can't wrap my head around it, and it sounds like a man-made explanation to me...

My Response

The word "trinity" isn't in the Bible, but some translations (mainly older ones like King James) use "Godhead" in Col 2.9. The word "trinity" is a man-made name (you're right there) to describe God "in 3 persons" as best we can.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (Col 2.9, NIV)
⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Col 2.9, KJV)

I always try to explain it by saying, "My dad fills 3 roles as one man: he's my dad, my sons' grandpa, and his dad's son. Still, he's one man. It's the same with God. He fills 3 roles, but he does so as one God." That's not a perfect explanation, but it gets the point across. Or, H2O takes 3 forms: liquid, solid, or gas, but it never changes its core substance: it's always H2O.

We do see all 3 "Members" of the trinity showing up in the Bible though. Here's 3 examples:

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13.14)

² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1 Peter 1.2)

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28.19)

And, at Jesus' baptism, we see all 3:

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

And, the Hebrew word for God used in Genesis is plural.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule… (Gen 1.26)

Why CS Lewis Matters Today

2011-01-27T19:58:00.001-08:00

Though he wrote more than 50 years ago, CS Lewis speaks directly to the issues of our times. He is arguably one of the most influential writers of the 20th Century. As a former agnostic and critic of Christianity, Lewis addresses the very doubts so many of us carry but feel unable to voice. Most importantly, he restores the Christian worldview to its rightful place as the sole bearer of Truth and shows how believing in anything less than Christianity and the Jesus of the Bible is to forfeit any chance we have at meaning or hope.

Asbury University produced a wonderful 5-part series of short videos capturing Why CS Lewis Matters Today. If you’ve ever struggled with questions of faith, reason or significance, I suggest you grab a cup of coffee and sit down to have your heart rekindled.

Part 1 – Prologue

Part 2 – Reclaiming Christian Reason

Part 3 – Rediscovering Christian Imagination

Part 4 – Restoring a Christian Vision of Humanity

Part 5 – Epilogue

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

2011-01-26T08:05:00.001-08:00

February 2011Newsletter

Have you ever read the Bible and thought, “I don’t know what means”? That’s a silly question; of course we all have! The purpose of DCC 201: Grow is to decrease the number of times you ask that question. We do this by giving you tools for your personal spiritual toolbox so that you can study and understand God’s Word as a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.

This month, I want to recommend to you the single best “how to” manual for reading the Bible. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote a wonderful book, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (currently $11.55 on Amazon.com), that will forever change how you read the Bible. Hopefully, you’re already reading the Bible and asking, “So what? How can I apply this to my life?” Sometimes however, the quest to apply the Bible to our lives can have us quickly jumping to conclusions about the text without first making sure we’re applying it the way God’s Spirit intended us to apply it. As the authors put it, “To make this text mean something God did not intend is to abuse the text, not use it.” (p. 25)

The original recipients of the Bible never thought it was ambiguous nor had a difficult time understanding what the author meant. Our challenge today is to read a Book that was written in the “then and there” and apply it to our lives in the “here and now.” To do that, we rely on scholars and translators to grapple with the context and the content for us—producing accurate translations and reliable commentaries. However, with a little homework, we all can do some of this ourselves. That’s what this easy-to-read little book is about.

One of the most practical chapters in the book is the one on all of the different translations. Why are there so many and how do you pick one? They explain the two basic approaches to translating the Bible: [1] literal, word-for-word (think KJV, NASB), and [2] functional/dynamic, thought-for-thought (think the Message, TLB). They talk about the strengths and weakness of each approach and then recommend some “happy medium” versions.

The rest of the book discusses how to “use” the Bible, section by section. What are The Law and OT narratives good for today? What are they not good for? How should we use books like Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes today? Was the job of the prophets really the job we think it was? Why do we have four books about the life of Jesus? Did Luke want us to use the book of Acts as a normative, authoritative manual for how we should “do church” today? Did Paul intend for his letters to be circulated to other churches and then used by us, 2000 years later? Why are there so many disagreements over the book of Revelation?

God’s Word is perfect, priceless, and practical (2 Tim 3.16), but it only helps us if we understand it as He wants us to. I highly recommend this book as a great tool for increasing your ability to do just that.

“The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him…the body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever”
–Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress

At Your Side,

-bill

A Banner Year for 2010

2011-01-12T08:02:00.001-08:00

DCC Family,

At the end of such a great year for DCC, I’d like to highlight our successes and give a big thank you to those of you who worked so hard to make our congregation such a great place to connect, grow, and glow in 2010. We were blessed with a 16% increase in our weekly attendance (a good 4 percentage points better than a “good year” by church growth standards). Several new believers, new families, and new babies are buzzing around this great place.

To avoid forgetting anybody, please allow me to simply extend a sincere pat on the back (or a holy hug, whichever you prefer) to everyone who set Christ’s mission of reaching the lost and serving the saved as your guiding compass this year. So many of our great volunteers put in long hours to improve every little aspect of how we “do church” around here. The fruit of your labor is the success of Jesus’ church. Celebrate successful Kingdom work!

After that celebration, we’ll need to get right back to the plow as we continue improving, building, and expanding what God has given us. Check out our goals for 2011 and prayerfully consider how you might support the work this year. People willing to humbly serve, work, lead, teach, and just simply sweat for Jesus will always be in high demand. We are truly experiencing Jesus' words:

Luke 10:2 (NLT)
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest;
ask him to send more workers into his fields…”

I look forward to another year of harvesting at your side,

-bill

Blog Questionnaire

2011-01-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

Improve the Blog!

Which Herod?

2011-01-05T09:17:00.001-08:00

Get confused by all of the Herods in the Bible? Me too. But, the family of King Herod is actually an important cast of characters for the New Testament story. Here’s an excerpt from my Luke Commentary that breaks down who’s who. You can download the whole commentary here (a dynamic document as a current work in progress).

The following is taken from the notes on Luke 1.5.

“Herod was king”

· Aka ‘Herod the Great’ (cf. Mt 2.1-23)

o Ruled from c. 40/37BC to 4 BC

o Asked the wise men to report the whereabouts of the newborn King of the Jews to him

§ Had all male children in Bethlehem under 2 killed

o Died of an incurable disease at Jericho in 4BC; people then turned to Archelaus as their king

· Other Herodian Family Members:

o Herod Antipas: Ruler of Galilee (Lk 3.19)

§ Son of Herod the Great

§ Most-often-mentioned Herod in the NT b/c he ruled over the areas where Jesus and John concentrated their ministries

· Mentioned 3x in relation to Christ: Mt 14.1-2; Lk 13.31-33; Lk 23.6-12

§ Tried Christ just before crucifixion

§ Married his brother Philip’s (Lk 3.1) wife, Herodias (cf. Lv 18.16; 20.21)

§ Had John the Baptist beheaded at the request of his niece (Mt 14.1-12)

o Archelaus

§ Son of Herod the Great

§ (brutal) Ruler of Judah when Jesus’ family returned from Egypt (Mt 2.22)

o Herodias

§ Left Philip (Mt 14.3; Lk 3.1; Mk 6.17) to marry his brother, Herod Antipas

o Philip the Tetrarch

§ Brother of Herod Antipas; married to Herodias until she left him for Herod Antipas

§ Built Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16.13-20) and enlarged Bethsaida into Julias (Mk 8.22-26)

o Herod Agrippa 1^st

§ Judean King who persecuted the church and executed James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12.1f)

o Herod Agrippa 2^nd

§ Governor of Judah when Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem (Acts 25.1-26.32)

§ Brother-in-law to Felix

o Felix

§ Husband of Drusilla; son-in-law to Herod Agrippa 1^st

§ Govern in Caesarea who heard Paul’s case Acts 23.23f

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

2010-12-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

DCC Family,

To keep my column in line with the purposes of our church, I decided to dedicate it to sharing with you great books I’ve read and think you’d like as well. Each month, I’ll choose a book I believe would encourage, challenge, or build you up spiritually then write a short review summarizing the high points. Followers of Jesus never stop trying to grow more into His likeness, and I’m excited to share with you some of the tools I use to seek Christ.

For the first book, I’ve chosen one you’ve heard me mention often lately. We will be offering a study of this book as part of our Wednesday evening lineup starting in January.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Dr. David Platt

(Currently $6.46 on Amazon.com)

“Jesus commands us to go. He has created each of us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth…anything less than radical devotion to this purpose is unbiblical Christianity.” (p. 64)

In Radical, the author (Dr. David Platt, a senior minister from Birmingham) shows us the “blind spots” in American Christianity that keep so many of us from following the real Jesus of the Bible. The entire book is blunt and challenging, so I don’t recommend reading it if you’re not serious about growing in your Faith. He writes with a no nonsense approach to Scripture, making it a hard book to ignore.

The first half of the book exposes the subtle yet terrifyingly effective traps Satan weaves into the American Dream to keep Westerners from fully believing and doing all that Jesus died for. Clearly stating the difference between the two, he writes: “While the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God.” (p. 47)

Platt also shines the spotlight on the way we pick and choose among Jesus’ commands. For

instance, we treat ministry and mission work as something to which He only “calls” a select few, but then we’re quick to claim and obey the command to “Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” We pretend the Great Commission is only for varsity believers, while promises of abundant life were intended for everybody.

To maintain urgency, the second half of the book gives alarming statistics about the thousands of people who die every day, launching off into a Christless eternity while many of us are content to do nothing. “We leave worship to spend thousands of dollars on lunch…meanwhile the poor man is outside our gate. And he is hungry.” (p. 114)

The challenge then becomes clear: are we willing to forsake everything for the advancement of the gospel (Mark 10.28), or would we rather build our own Kingdom here on earth (Matt 6.19)? This book seeks to keep us all away from the lukewarm faith Jesus attacked in Laodicea (Rev 3.14-19). The author does so by simply reminding us of the Great Commission:

“A community of Christians each multiplying the gospel by going, baptizing, and teaching in the contexts where they live every day. Is anything else, according to the Bible, even considered a church?” (p. 106)

At Your Side,

-bill

Other Books Like It:

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience (I have not personally read this book)

I’m Not Very Spiritual

2010-12-20T17:06:00.001-08:00

I’m not a very spiritual person. To people who know me, that’s not a surprise. When others say things like, “I’m spiritual but not religious,” or “I’m sorry I can’t be there, but I’ll be with you in spirit,” I don’t know what they mean.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m completely crazy about Jesus and do everything within the Power of Grayskull to live for Him. But, I still feel like a regular joe experiencing life one day at a time, working to find contentment in everything God sends my way. Looking back over this year, it stands out to me that I’ve said and/or thought something along the lines of, “I’m loving life right now” more times than in any other year since we lost my sister in 2005. Maybe the Realty of a reunion in Heaven is becoming that much more…realistic to me. I don’t think that makes me spiritual, but it does make me happy.

So, in the spirit of holiday thankfulness, I thought I’d compile a random, probably-half-completed, no-specific-order kinda list of the (mostly) unspiritual things that have brought me the greatest amount of happiness during 2010. Here they are:

My wife. Pepsi Max. Watching the Colts win. Watching the Colts lose (anything with a Blue horseshoe makes me happy). Wrestling with my son. Bacon. Wearing my uniform. Books on the culture’s rejection of irrelevance. The Office. Tickling my baby boy. Madden and LOTRO. Reading Dan Brown books. Calling Dan Brown a heretic. Tuesday mornings with a good friend. Friday nights with a hot wife. Little Debbie. Going deeper in God’s Word. Droid, ping.fm, and Google. Jesus-lovers who want what I want. The Smokey Mountains. Medical insurance. 3 Musketeers (lots of them). Fires. Seeing new Believers come on fire for Jesus. Criminal Minds. Podcasts. Spending money on my wife. Spending money on my niece. Third Day, Brad Paisley, & Bob Seger. Lemon cake. Mom & Dad. CS Lewis. 1st Timothy. Groundhog Day.

Make a list of your own. It doesn’t have to be “spiritual.” Most of us don’t even know what that means anyway. Just graciously give credit where credit’s due. (see James 1.17)

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” –1 Tim 6.6 (NLT)

What is the “Sabbath”

2010-12-01T23:10:00.001-08:00

The concept of a Sabbath, or a day or rest, comes from the Bible’s teaching on and use of the word “yisbot” (יִּשְׁבֹּת), which literally means “cease”, “rest” or “desist.” In Jewish tradition, it came to be defined as the period of time beginning at sundown on Friday and ending with sundown on Saturday.

Brief History of the Sabbath

The first time we see a biblical Sabbath/rest is in Gen 2.2-3[1]. These opening verses show us God’s expectation that we use this day to celebrate His two greatest acts: Creation and Redemption. Celebrating these two divine accomplishments provide the purpose and meaning for the Sabbath.

Genesis 2:3 (NLT)
³And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy [Redemption], because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation [Creation].

Celebrating Creation (Ex 20.11) and Redemption (Deut 5.12-15, esp. 15) continue as the two “twin themes” of the Sabbath throughout the Old Testament. It is important to note: the first purpose (Ex 20) is communicated through Israel, while the second purpose (Deut 5) is communicated strictly to Israel. All of the world reaps the benefits of God’s grand and beautiful creative work, but only those responding to him in faith are able to receive the benefits of his redemptive work. (See also Ezek 20.12)
Later, the establishment of a sabbatical year extends the “time-out mandate” to the land as well (Ex 23.10-11). Israelites were only able to farm six out of every seven years—a demanding limitation for an agrarian society of nomads. This would have surely stretched the faith of the entire country and forced them to remember that the Lord who created them was more than capable of redeeming them (see also Lev 25.4; cf. Lev 26.34).
Given God’s intent that his people simply rest and refrain from regular, everyday work (Ex 16.29), the people felt a need to define “work” with the most exacting details. God made the Sabbath by setting it aside (making it different/holy; Ex 20.11), so treating it just like any other day would be an extreme insult to God. Therefore, knowing exactly what constituted “work” became extremely important.[2] Unfortunately, many quickly forfeited the forest by trying to recreate the tree (Isa 58.13-14). In other words, their stringent details aimed at defining work caused them to lose sight of why God created the Sabbath in the first place. Celebrating the Sabbath became an end in itself for the sole sake of pleasing God rather than a simple time of rest and recovery.

Galatians 4:10 (NLT)
¹⁰You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.

Mark 2:27 (NLT)
²⁷Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.

Jesus and the Sabbath

To this end, Jesus frequently confronted and corrected heretical teachings concerning the Sabbath.

· He was familiar with the Law’s teaching, and operated comfortably within its guidelines (Lk 4.16; Mk 1.21; Lk 13.10).
· The arguments, therefore, always sprung from the Pharisees’ enforcement of a tradition that didn’t stem from biblical mandate. If the Bible didn’t demand it, Jesus wouldn’t allow the Pharisees to do so either. (Mt 12.5-7)
· In particular, Jesus addressed the way in which religious leaders of the day neglected the benevolent nature inherent to the Sabbath so as to elevate their man-made regulations (Mk 3.4-5; Lk 13.16).

The Sabbath After the Cross

Neither of the occasions for Sabbath celebration (creation and redemption) ceased to hold value after the Resurrection, so the principle of intentional rest and remembrance still holds true. However, like so many other aspects of the Old Testament/Mosaic Law, the theological mandate toward prescribed behavior was fulfilled in the work of Christ (Mt 5.17; see also Heb 4.1-11).
Therefore, the Christian’s responsibility lies not in specific adherence to a written code, but in a wholesale embrace of all that God created and Jesus redeemed. If one feels most comfortable doing so in accordance with Jewish tradition, he has that freedom (Acts 13.14-16; cf. Gal 2.4). If another accomplishes frequent rest and Christian joy through some other format, she is perfectly within her rights (Rom 14.5-6). The danger we all face is in packaging our personal opinion as a Biblical priority—demanding that others adhere to our preferences (Rom 14.13; Gal 4.8-11).
Let us never forget:

Colossians 2:17 (NLT)
¹⁷For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

[1] After this initial appearance, we have only one additional pre-Sinai (the event/place of God’s giving of the Ten Commandments) mention of the Sabbath (Ex 16.22-30).
[2] For example: Special elevators (called Shabbat Elevators) exist in Israel that allow one to simply walk inside and wait for the lift to automatically stop at her/his floor. No one pushes a button (this would be considered work), so the elevator is programmed to stop at each floor every time someone boards. This feature is only turned on during “Shabbat” (or Sabbath).

What Dishwashing Taught Me About Being a Christian

2010-11-30T09:30:00.001-08:00

December 2010 Newsletter

I’ve worked a lot of part-time, entry level jobs in my day. Many of them, you won’t find on my resume simply because they don’t represent the type of employment we tend to lead off with when trying to get that next promotion. Nor do we consciously draw on them when preparing for a great task or intensive project. However, as I think about them, I’m reminded of all they taught me about life, success, and people. Here are just a few of them and their respective lessons on applying Colossians 3.17 (look it up!) to daily living.

Paperboy—My First Job

I got this job at age 12 because my dad “suggested” I do so. Two decades later, and I’ve never been without a job since that cold morning he and I got up to roll our first papers and hit the neighborhood delivering goodness in the form of local headlines. That job taught me:

· If you want to buy stuff, you gotta work. Nothing comes free.
· There’s just something about getting started early in the morning that makes you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Lawn care and Snow-shoveling

I used my paperboy notoriety to secure year-round employment by advertising my grass-cutting, leaf-raking, and snow-shoveling services (another one of Dad’s great ideas). Those years taught me:

· Earning a good reputation and then leveraging that reputation to your advantage is a priceless skill.
· If you do something well enough, people will tell their friends about you, and then their friends will want you to do it for them too.

Dishwasher at a Family Diner

I hated this job! But, it taught me good stuff:

· The small, menial jobs that nobody wants to do really do matter. Dishwashing isn’t fun, but restaurants can’t sell food—even good food—on dirty dishes. You can be excellent at the main thing, but cutting corners in the details will undo all your hard work.
· Some people have too much on their plate.

Waiter at a Steakhouse

I probably made more on-the-hour money doing this job than any other, but I also worked harder at this job than most all my other ones. Doing it taught me:

· Giving people what they need before they ask for it (or even before they realize they need it) makes a great impression.
· Some people, no matter how hard you try, are just never going to give you a tip.
· Everybody likes to be smiled at.

So, don’t forget where you came from! Learn from all of life’s experiences, and then throw your whole self (1 Tim 4.15) into building God’s Kingdom, one relationship at a time.
At Your Side,
-bill

1 Timothy 4

2010-11-27T15:17:00.001-08:00

1 Timothy 4 is an extremely exciting chapter of this letter. Paul has been building toward giving Timothy these words of encouragement and exhortation. He warns the church about lurking, demon-controlled wolves, and he gives their pastor advice on how to train and prepare his people to not only overcome the wolves, but to shine in such a way as to bring many to Christ!

Scripture Used

1 Timothy 4 (NLT)
Acts 20: 28-30 (NLT)
1 Cor 9.24-27 (NLT)

Quotes and Statements

“Our differences, at most, are about the things in which the kingdom of God does not consist, that is about matters of private opinion or human invention.” –Thomas Campbell

I’m going to serve Him until I see Him.

“The opposite of the Gospel is idolatry.” –Mark Driscoll

Questions that Expose Idolatry[1] in your life:

· What do I worry about most?
· What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live?
· What do I use to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult?
· What do I do to cope? What are my release valves? What do I do to feel better?
· What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?
· What makes me feel the most self-worth? Of what am I the proudest? For what do I want to be known?
· What do I lead with in conversations?
· Early on, what do I want to make sure people know about me?
· What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?
· What is my hope for the future?
The limitations you are willing to accept establish the boundaries of your existence.

[1] (Patrick 2010)

References

Patrick, Darrin. Church Planter. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010.
Wiersbe, W. W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

John Wesley’s 12 Rules for a Preacher

2010-11-13T21:29:00.001-08:00

John Wesley (1703-1791) was a key leader in “waking up” the lost spirituality of Britain during the late 18th Century. He is also credited as the driving force in the establishment of the Methodist denomination.
One of the requirements for a Methodist minister, still practiced today to some extent, was that he travel “on a circuit.” To maintain credibility and to be as productive for the Gospel as possible, Wesley laid out these guidelines:

1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, particularly with young women.
4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God and consulting with your brethren.
5. Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
6. Speak evil of no one, else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker; keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
8. Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of alL
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin; no, not of cleaning your own shoes when necessary.
10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them, and that for conscience’ sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our rules direct: partly in preaching and visiting from i house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory.

5 Reasons why the Mesaeh Family is Committed to DCC

2010-11-07T16:52:00.001-08:00

In my absence, I thought it’d be a good idea to write you all a brief reminder of my commitment to DCC and the ministry God has called us all to do.

Even though we are separated by many miles, I think of you often and long to return home and get back to building the Kingdom with you!

Here are five reasons why:

1. We still have work to do

Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT)
⁵The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.

I do not think we have even scratched the surface of what God has brought us here to do.

Small groups, a Bible institute, an organic and professional leadership training program, a permanent face as THE community-serving church in the area, and a Christian school preparing our children both academically and spiritually are just some of the many plans God has on the horizon for DCC.

2. Our friends are here

Philippians 1:3 (NLT)
³Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Over the past year and a half, Hannah and I and our boys have made some truly wonderful friendships. Hannah and I sincerely feel God caused our paths to cross with these friends for two very important reasons: (1) to build us up, encourage us, and hold us accountable in our walk with Christ, and (2) to serve as complementary partners in Kingdom work.

3. The people have untapped potential

Romans 12:6–8 (NLT)
⁶In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

The more time I spend getting to know the people being drawn to DCC, the more I am amazed at all we can do together. The men, women, boys, and girls sitting in our pews all bring unique backgrounds, passions, and skillsets to Jesus’ church. I firmly believe the majority of those abilities are currently sitting dormant. As your pastor, I am committed to finding out what those are and helping you draw them out in service to the Kingdom.

4. Defiance needs more Jesus

Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)
⁷And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you... Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

Many people in Defiance do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. A quick survey of churches in the area reveals very few models able to withstand the constantly evolving world around us. DCC can be that church on the forefront of ministry—successfully adapting our methods to ensure the timeless Message is preached, from this very congregation, by our children and our children’s children until Jesus returns.

A relevant and modern church firmly committed to using contemporary methods, technologies and language to teach and model the timeless Gospel will thrive in Defiance. I have a vision for DCC to grow and expand so fruitfully that we would be able to take advantage of the new Hwy 24 as people as far as Ft. Wayne or Toledo come to Connect, Grow, and Glow with us.

5. We’re devoted

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
⁹So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Coming to Defiance wasn’t a decision we entered into lightly. It was one I prayed over, sought much council over, and finally reached after a period of study and fasting. Many factors went into our decision, and I ultimately made that decision with the full conviction that it was completely within God’s will.

While frustrations in ministry come and go, to leave before we’re finished would be to say God made a mistake in bringing us here. He obviously didn’t. So, we’re here for the long haul. I plan to sweat, laugh, cry, rejoice, and worship with the fine people of DCC for years to come.

To God be the glory for the things he hath done,

-bill

1 Tim 3.8-15

2010-10-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

Satanic Gossips & Female Deacons

This week’s sermon was on the role of Deacons in the church. Two topics I taught on may have generated some interesting discussion. Allow me to quickly comment on them both:

Women as Deacons

The prototype for a Deacon first emerges in Acts 6, where they help the Apostles solve a very pressing problem. Many are hesitant to state the men named here are officially deacons, mainly because the word used to describe their work (diakoneo: διακονέω) varies slightly from the word used elsewhere to refer to the position within church government (see below for the discussion on διάκονος). At the end of the day, that argument lends little to the church’s understanding of what a deacon is and what she/he does. The result in Jerusalem (Acts 6) as well as Ephesus (1 Tim 3) continues to be the result today: the church grows when everyone serves according to their assignments and abilities (Acts 6.7).

The word for and responsibilities of the “Deacon” is based on the Greek word diakonos (διάκονος), which literally means “servant.” It is used throughout the New Testament to refer to various individuals: Jesus (1 Cor 3.5), men & women serving with the title (1 Tim 3; Phil 1.1; Rom 16.1), & Paul (Rom 15.8), to name a few.

A quick look at what those prototypical deacons did, when combined with the meaning of the word used to describe their place in church government, yields a biblically comprehensive view of who these people are and what they are to continue doing today: they are servants who serve. And, they are expected to do so with defined restrictions on their moral behavior.

So, why do some traditions only extend this title to females today? Two reasons: a distorted view of the text, and the resulting distortion that view has had on church tradition.

The Text

Many proponents of all-male deaconship would point to 1 Tim 3.8 and argue that the word “deacon” is in the male form, which is correct and also what would be expected as Paul moves from discussing men in the role of Elder to men in the role of Deacon. However, we cannot overlook the women addressed in v. 11. Many English translations unfortunately translate this word (γυνή) as “wives” or “their wives” (such as NIV, NLT, KJV, etc.). This translation has colored the church’s view of how these women are addressed, and consequently who exactly can fill the role of Deacon.

The word used to refer to women in 1 Tim 3.11 is simply the Greek word for “women” (see the NASB translation for its proper rendering). Therefore, we actually see Paul addressing two groups of individuals during the section on Deacon qualifications: men and women. Followed up with the direct reference to Phoebe as a female Deacon in another letter (Rom 16.1), and we now have multiple 1^st Century Biblical examples of gender neutrality in the role of Deacon.

The NIV seems to have a particular agenda with “their wives” translation of 1 Tim 3.11 and “servant” translation of “deacon” in Rom 16.1. The inconsistency in a translation’s rendering of the original text makes it difficult for non-Greek-reading believers to gain an accurate feel for the writer’s original intent.

The Tradition

Problems arise today when we stretch the role of Deacon to mean something it was never intended to mean. An emphasis on an all-male deaconship guides contemporary leaders to extend the responsibilities of doctrine teaching and the authoritative enforcement of church policies (both Elder-specific responsibilities; cf. 1 Tim 2.12; 3.2) to the Deacons. Once this is done, we are bound to limit the deaconship to only men. However, we bind ourselves unnecessarily because we do so without biblical authority or necessity. Consequently, we (as Elders) abdicate responsibility when we relegate to the Deacons what God expects us to do.

The solution: select and equip Deacons in accordance with the biblical guidelines and then expect of them only what the Bible expects—service set apart by the highest of moral character.

Satanic Gossips

That’s exactly what the text says. Paul’s word here for slander/malicious talkers/gossipers (a female rendering of diabolos / διάβολος) is the same word used for devil elsewhere in Scripture.

This same adversary:

· tempted Jesus (Mt 4.1),
· produced Christ’s opponents (Jn 8.44),
· prompted Judas (Jn 13.2),
· oppressed God’s people (Acts 10.38),
· actively conducts spiritual attacks against believers (Eph 6.11),
· tries to trap church leaders (1 Tim 3.6),
· looks for church members to devour (1 Pet 5.8), and
· has worked to deceive the entire world (Rev 12.12)

That is the agent you go into league with if you decide to slander and/or gossip about others. God takes that sin serious enough to identify it in such a way. It’s a complete shame so many people today freely accept this as a “minor sin.” God takes your gossip seriously, so please don’t do it.

I’m a Sinner, but at least I’m annoying

2010-10-15T23:53:00.001-07:00

non-Biblical Christianity

Wow! It’s exciting and refreshing to experience God pulling together so many people, resources, and ideas all at one time. The church I’m privileged to pastor has seen some considerable growth in the past year, and it has endured a couple challenges along the way. One of those challenges, to be sure, is being led by a sinner. Regardless of how hard I try, I just can’t seem to get out of God’s way fast enough to avoid making a mistake from time to time. Thankfully, I am pastored and led by Jesus-loving men of God capable of sharpening my iron with theirs. May they never shrink from speaking truth into my life, and may I never stop listening.

Other challenges come from those simply not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to reach a Christ-less generation with the life-changing gospel. Efforts made at trumping truth with tradition lead to frustration for any mission-minded congregation, and ours has been no different. Some stay, and some go; both decisions present challenges for a body of leaders who need to be both missional and pastoral. My deepest desire in life is to model Jesus as much as I’m able (1 Cor 11.1). The Jesus of the Bible[1] constantly reminded us of this often-ignored nugget of golden common sense: If we’re not being missional before everything else, there will soon be no one to pastor. Staying in the corral and spoon-feeding those who are under orders to sacrifice everything (including their spoons) so that others may know Jesus isn’t just bad leadership (though it is), it’s a blatant disregard of our King’s Command (Mt 28.19-20)[2].

I was encouraged recently through some stuff I read. While my heart breaks for pastors who struggle to keep their flocks from flipping Jesus off with the continual, “but I want…,” it’s somewhat soothing to know we’re not alone. One of the corny-yet-true-and-applicable clichés hits close to home: If you’re going to make an omelet, you have to break an egg or two. In the church world, I suppose that equates to seeing a few Jesus-loving eggs jumping ship when things don’t go the way they want. OK. That’s going to happen, and you do your best to take it in stride. But, the frustrating part comes when those who stay expect you (the paid Jesus representative) to go after them. Where is that in the Bible? (cf. John 6.66)

Perhaps we should be clear here: it’s not. And, quite frankly, it’s a downright insult to the Suffering Servant to even suggest it. Francis Chan touched on this in an article recently:

“Continuing, the popular Christian speaker challenged those in the audience to compare their lives to the Bible and see if it also fits. He said it is more weird that some Christians change churches because of the service time, the music style, or the fight they got into with someone. Think biblically ’What is weird?' 'Who is weird?‘ based on the scripture and whether we fit in it,” Chan stressed. “So many things don’t make sense. I got to look at scripture and go ‘Does my life make sense?’ I want my life to fit in this book one day.””

Brad Powell, another highly respected and successful pastor, recently wrote on the frustration and tension that exists when we’re “asked” by parishioners to chase down grumpy Christians or honor antiquated relics of the American Gospel at the cost of saving souls from the eternal reality of Hell (cf. 1 Cor 9.22 for starters).

“Sometimes the best thing that can happen for the health of a church is for the right people to leave. By the right people, I don’t necessarily mean bad or ungodly people. Though to be honest, this is sometimes the case. Rather, I mean those people who, for whatever reason, will never be part of the church moving forward. I strongly believe that you should let them go. But be prepared. These people don’t generally leave quietly or respectfully. I’ll never forget the very public words one disgruntled lady directed my way as she was leaving for the last time: “You have the face of an angel, but the heart of a thief.” Ouch. When people leave this way, they seldom are content to leave alone. Just remember: the negative splash won’t last long, but the health and peace that follows will have long-term positive impact.”

However, DCC must realize even larger challenges are (always) looming over the horizon. While growth is great, we kid ourselves if we don’t recognize the current superficiality supporting our numbers. Our goal now must be to convert, keep, and disciple those who have come to know, experience, and serve Jesus Christ. That task is daunting, and it requires continual realignment and constantly refusing to accept “good enough” when it comes to building the Kingdom. May we never stop going deeper, pushing harder, and asking for more from our flock. And, may we realize that starts with us (James 3.1)

Why do I get so passionate (or annoying, depending on your view point) about this? First of all, because I still remember my life without Jesus. It wasn’t good. And, it’s even scarier as I now realize that I didn’t then realize it wasn’t good. Now that I’m a pastor, I live haunted with the constant fear that some people sit in my pew with the false confidence that comes with believing in a Jesus they’ve conformed to themselves. When did we stop trying to look more like Him and start trying to mold Him into our image? Probably when we let Joel Osteen tell us Jesus came to give us Our Best Life Now rather than a cross to carry until He comes back. We have, “Blindly and unknowingly embraced values and ideas that are common in our culture but are antithetical to the gospel He taught.” (Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Gospel)

I’ll give Jesus the last word, as long as you realize he was preaching to a very “religious” crowd when He said this:

Matthew 7:21–23 (NLT)
²¹“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²²On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me…

[1] No, there exists no other Jesus; but, we too often hear people theorizing, ‘Well, I think Jesus would say/do this’ without opening their Bible to realize he never elevated anything above Evangelism—hymns included.

[2] Yep, the Great Commission. That part’s still in the Bible.

The Restoration Movement: What’s That?

2010-10-13T17:41:00.001-07:00

November 2010 Newsletter

“Remember where you came from!” is something my parents told me when I was growing up. Regardless of where I went in life, they wanted me to remember my heritage, our work ethic, and the values most important to our family.

That’s good advice, and it carries over to matters of faith. With an influx of guests visiting DCC, now’s a good time to briefly answer a few questions about what kind of church this is.

What kind of Church is DCC?

DCC is part of the Restoration Movement, which is a non-denominational effort to restore Jesus’ Church to its original New Testament form. We do not believe we are the only Christians, but we do elect to call ourselves ‘Christians’ only (Acts 11.26). We do so out of a firm commitment to teach, do, and insist upon nothing except which is found in the Bible. We have no creed but Christ and no book but the Bible.

We believe this is the best way to [1] maintain unity in the Body of Christ (John 17.11, 23), and [2] avoid altering God’s commands with man-made creeds, denominational divisions, or extra-biblical requirements. This is summed up well by one of our founding leaders: “In the great leading principles, or facts of the New Testament, we agree, and cheerfully let each other have his opinions as private property.” -BW Stone

What kind of history does the Restoration Movement have?

Restoration Movement churches aim to simply replicate New Testament Christianity as closely as possible. Therefore, the Bible’s book of Acts is the starting place for our historical origins. Throughout Christian history, there have been many genuine movements to return to “no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.” We gladly fellowship with any body of believers sincerely calling Jesus ‘Lord’ and obeying His commands.

As early as the 1700s, many independent groups throughout the US began to realize they were all separately coming to a strikingly similar pair of conclusions:

1. Complete New Testament authority as the sole guide for church matters

2. Absolute Christian Unity (one Church, many congregations)

One of those early leaders, Thomas Campbell, succinctly states “Our differences, at most, are about the things in which the kingdom of God does not consist, that is about matters of private opinion or human invention.” Our goal at DCC is to always differentiate between these matters of human invention and the necessary Kingdom of God. If you desire to follow Christ as Lord and Savior—growing deeper in knowledge of and service to Him, DCC should be your home!

Your Brother in Christ,

-bill

For more detailed information on the history of the Restoration Movement, see my article: http://pbilly289.blogspot.com/2010/10/brief-history-of-restoration-movement.html

Brief History of the Restoration Movement in the US

2010-10-13T14:13:00.001-07:00

The Restoration Movement (RM) began not as another denomination, but as an effort to restore New Testament Christianity.
· It operates on a very simple premise: The Bible is the sufficient blueprint for organizing, governing, and “doing” church.
· “Our differences, at most, are about the things in which the kingdom of God does not consist, that is about matters of private opinion or human invention.”–T. Campbell on the division in Christendom
Today’s Restoration Movement churches aim to simply replicate New Testament Christianity as closely as possible. Therefore, the Bible’s book of Acts would be the starting place in terms of our historical origins. Throughout Christian history, there have been many sincere movements to return to “no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.” We gladly fellowship with any body of believers sincerely calling Christ “Lord” and eagerly awaiting His return.
In the United States, most (though not all) churches with the simple designation “Christian Church” or “Church of Christ” flow out of one historically flowing river of church mergers based on a common set of beliefs. A few of the most notable leaders and mergers include:

O’Kelly & Guirey

· 1793-1794: James O’Kelly (VA) follows his personal convictions and leads a considerable group out of the Episcopal Methodist organization and into congregational church government

They felt the episcopal form of church government then practiced by their denomination was non-biblical, so they decided to “…lay aside every manuscript except the Scriptures and take the Word of God alone as their guide.”[1]
They also agreed to call themselves simply, “Christians.”

· C. 1808: William Guirey (PA, NC, then VA) separated from Methodism and formed a bond with O’Kelly over their simplistic devotion to the NT.

In spite of his proclaimed devotion to following nothing but the NT, in c. 1810 O’Kelly broke from Guirey over Guirey’s biblical convictions on baptism by immersion.

Smith & Jones

While O’Kelly & Guirey were leaving Methodism in VA & NC to bind over simple NT devotion, a very similar partnership between two Baptists with near identical RM positions was forming in New England.
· 1790s: Elias Smith, a Baptist preacher (VT, CT), through his own study of the Scriptures, “became convinced that orthodox Calvinism was in error and that all standardized bodies of doctrine and creeds were wrong.”[2]
· 1801: He met Abner Jones (MA, VT), a Baptist who introduced him to the Christian Church movement of New England.

Jones had increasing doubts about being a Baptist. His doubts centered on three areas[3]:
- No scriptural warrant for the name “Baptist Church”
- Calvinism, particularly predestination
- The organization and polity of Baptist churches
Jones & Smith formed a partnership, with Smith eventually taking the lead

· 1805: Smith published The Christian’s Magazine, Reviewer, and Religious Intelligencer

Religious journalism has been a wonderful tool of the Restoration Movement, and continues to serve our brotherhood greatly through periodicals such as the Christian Standard
1808: Smith published The Herald of Gospel Liberty, what some have called the world’s first religious newspaper
These publications helped spread the word about this Restoration Movement and eventually served to join the northern O-Kelly/Guirey with the southern Smith/Jones movements.

· 1809: Guirey & Smith exchange letters and find they agree on:

Baptism, episcopacy, and Calvinism

· 1811: at an annual meeting of the Virginia Christians, the Guirey portion of the O’Kelly movement and the Smith-Jones movement formed a union solely based on the New Testament.

O’Kelly worked to oppose and dissolve because of his stance on baptism, but his efforts were ignored.

Stone-Campbell

· 1790s-1800s: Barton W. Stone (KY), a Presbyterian minister, struggled with the Westminster Confession, a man-made system of biblical doctrine necessary for clerical service in the Presbyterian Church. His particular problems dealt with the doctrines of Calvinism and its belief of Total Depravity.

1801: Stone preached at a revival near Cane Ridge, KY. There (and at many other such revivals) he emphasized the individual’s personal responsibility to believe as a necessary component of salvation (vs. Total Depravity).
1804: Stone regretfully separates further from the Presbyterian synod with The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery—a jovial document detailing the combined decision of several ministers. Their largest grievances: a lack of Christian unity, the need for exclusive biblical authority, and the biblical example of local congregational autonomy.[4]

· 1809: Thomas Campbell (Alexander’s father) writes Declaration and Address, a document laying out the principles by which the church can restore primitive, NT Xnty. A brief summary of the propositions[5]:

I-II: The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one. There are not many bodies of Christ, only one. Local congregations exist, but only one church.
III: Nothing ought to be inculcated upon Christians as articles of faith; nor required of them as terms of communion, but what is expressly taught and enjoined upon them in the word of God.
IV: While the OT guided during the period of the Old Covenant, the NT guides us today. We should not, therefore, use the OT as a proof text for NT doctrine or practice (Sabbath, tithe, etc.)
V: Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where it is silent, we are silent.
VI: We must separate our conclusions about Scripture from Scripture itself.
VII: Creeds may be used for the sake of expediency, but not as a test of fellowship or to cause division with the Church.
VIII: The only things necessary for one to become a member of the Church are:
- 1. Know you’re lost
- 2. Profess faith in Christ
- 3. Obey Him in all things according to His Word
IX: Christians should consider each other precious saints and act accordingly.
X: Divisions are a “horrid evil,” which are anti-Christian, anti-Scriptural, and anti-natural.
XI: All corruptions and divisions in the Church are a result of (1) partial neglect of the revealed will of God, and/or (2) making human opinions a term of communion.
XII: Only those described in VIII ought to become members, and their conduct ought to reflect the reality of their profession.
XIII: Churches may speak “where the Bible is silent” (i.e.: what time to have church or what kind of music) insofar as they do not elevate their opinion to one of fellowship or communion.

· 1813: Alexander Campbell (formerly Presbyterian by familial association) joins the Redstone Baptist Association and preaches throughout PA, OH, and VA. He appreciated the Baptists because they cared “little for anything else in religion than conversion and Bible doctrine.”

Primarily through a study of Mark 16.16 (though obviously affected by various other parts of the NT), Campbell becomes convinced that baptism is not an “unimportant matter” which we may allow to “slip” per individual convictions. He teaches baptism for the remission of sins.
1823: Campbell begins a periodical: the Christian Baptist, through which he often receives attention for his attacks on extra-biblical church organizations, infant baptism, and other matters commonly enforced throughout Christian circles without biblical authority to do so.
Campbell’s absolute insistence on the Bible as the only basis for church teaching and practice eventually distanced himself and his followers from other believers.
- Baptist insistence to rely on Calvinistic tenets as a test of fellowship led them to label him a “heterodox.”

· 1830-1831: Campbell and Stone, through an agreement to focus solely on biblically essential matters for fellowship, merge their movements. This was most successful in Kentucky.

Commonly reemerging themes:

· Complete and absolute NT authority
· Christian Unity (one Church, many congregations)
· Believer’s baptism

Brief summary of the development of the Restoration Movement in the US

· During the late 1700s, James O’Kelly, a Methodist preacher from Virginia, and William Guirey, a Methodist preacher from North Carolina both caught wind that the other man was preaching the need to (in O’Kelly’s words): “…lay aside every manuscript except the Scriptures and take the Word of God alone as their guide.” The met and quickly formed a union.
· In the early 1800s, two Baptist pastors: Elias Smith from Connecticut and Abner Jones from Vermont, heard of each other’s desire to leave his denomination due to (1) a lack of scriptural warrant for such a division within the body of Christ, (2) a non-biblical form of church government, and (3) the existence of man-made theological systems for “humanly devised tests of orthodoxy.” They bonded together in 1809 and then joined forces with William Guirey in 1811.
· During the late 1700s and early 1800s, two men, Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell, struggled with the Westminster Confession, a man-made system of biblical doctrine necessary for membership and clerical service in many churches. They broke from the Presbyterian and Baptist churches, respectively, and finally merged in 1830-1831.

For more, see: North, Jim. Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement

[1] (North 1994, 17)
[2] (North 1994, 25)
[3] See: (North 1994, 25)
[4] (North 1994, 55)
[5] (North 1994, 89f)

1 Tim 3.1-7

2010-10-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

What is an Elder?

We’re tackling a very important question this week because we’re addressing who can and cannot lead the church. Frankly, that decision isn’t up to us. God gave us guidelines about how He wants those leaders chosen, so we must study closely and honestly to be sure we’re letting the right people drive the car.

1 Tim 3.1-7 tells us how an Elder relates to God, His Wife, His Kids, and to Others.

Scripture Used

1 Tim 3.1-7 (NLT, ESV)
1 Tim 5.17 (NLT)
Hebrews 11.16 (NLT)
1 Peter 5.8 (ESV)

References & Statements

Everything rises or falls with leadership, whether it be a family or a local church.

If you become a pastor,your name/life is transferred to the Varsity Demon Shop so Hell's resources can be used most efficiently.

Knowing how to stand in front of a crowd and communicate a lesson is important, but that lesson won’t stick if the students don’t believe the teacher believes it.

Various scriptures depicting the role of a pastor/elder:

to lead (Acts 20:28); equip (Eph. 4:12); rule (1 Tim. 3:4–5); teach (1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 2:15); shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1–4); and to set an example for others (1 Pet. 5:3)

"I confess myself unspeakably ashamed to see men pleading for reformation and the ancient gospel, yet going in direct opposition to the very first principles of them, by making opinions the cause of disunion, and non-fellowship. Such men I cannot but view as sectarians in disguise."
--Barton Stone (1840, in the Millennial Harbinger)

Mesaeh, Bill: Layman’s Commentary on The 1st Epistle to Timothy

DCC Elder/Deacon Selection Process

North, Jim. Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement

1 Timothy Commentary

2010-10-08T08:55:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that I write a running, often-updated commentary on any book I’m currently preaching or teaching on. The one for 1 Timothy can always be found at this link.

>> 1 Timothy Commentary <<

I update it periodically, so check back from time to time for the latest version.

Unity

2010-10-08T08:33:00.001-07:00

Every Member a Minister

2010-10-08T05:15:00.001-07:00

"No church can be prospered in which all the ministration comes from the pulpit." -- Henry Ward Beecher, Proverbs from a Plymouth Pulpit

2010-10-05T08:14:00.001-07:00

Grow up, DCC! "DCC 201: Grow with DCC" is a class to give us the tools necessary to continue maturing spiritually. RSVP: http://ping.fm/qTBKX

Baptism by the Book

2010-09-28T10:28:00.001-07:00

October 2010 Newsletter

I often receive questions about salvation, faith, baptism, ministry, and how they’re all connected. This past month has seen an even greater number of people asking questions about the Bible’s stance on baptism. Praise God! So, I thought I’d use this month’s newsletter to write on the Bible’s teaching in this area.

Christian Baptism was established as the entrance into God’s New Testament (NT) Christian Church. That New Testament church was built on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Until those events occurred in their entirety, the world was living under the Old Covenant; aka: the Old Testament/Old agreement/Old “will” (see Heb 9.16-17). In other words, baptism is completely Christian in nature. We should not attempt to force it through an Old Testament event or counterpart. When God started something entirely new in His Church, He also created a new way for us to respond to Him spiritually.

Here is DCC’s doctrinal statement concerning baptism and salvation:

“We believe salvation from sin comes from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship comes by grace through faith, produces repentance, and begins with the immersion of Christian baptism.”

Let’s quickly look at four important questions about baptism:

Q. Why?

A. For Forgiveness & Sanctification

The Bible shows baptism as the time (Rom 6.3-4) one responds to God in faith and then receives His “double cure” of salvation (hence the words from the great hymn “Rock of Ages”). At baptism, we receive forgiveness for all of our sins; theologians call this is “justification” (Acts 2.37-38). At this time, God also begins the great work of “cleaning us up” and empowering us to live lives that progressively become more holy. This is called sanctification (Col 2.11-12; cf. Gal 3.27).

Q. Who?

A. Conscious Believers

Everyone we see accepting baptism in the NT is a conscious, faith-professing believer. In other words, people are only pictured as being a candidate for baptism if they were able to make a mindful declaration of belief in Jesus Christ. Peter’s teaching is especially helpful here:

1 Peter 3:21 (NLT)
²¹ And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This verse teaches the extreme importance of baptism, but it tells us baptism only “works” because of the resurrection of Christ. If we don’t believe in that, there is nothing magic (or even spiritual) about baptism that will save us. Faith only; only faith.

It also teaches us that baptism is our response to God because we know He cleanses us from our sin. Infants and the mentally underdeveloped can’t respond (and consequently would not be held responsible for doing so) because they don’t have the rational abilities to (1) comprehend, and (2) believe what God has done. You can only respond “from a clean conscience” if you understand what it is you’re responding to, what sin is, what God did, etc. See also: Acts 2.41; 18.8; Mark 16.16; John 1.12-13.

Q. How?

A. Immersion in Water

The word ‘baptize’ means “immerse/put under water.” It was simply a Greek word with a very narrow meaning. The Bible writers didn’t pick an already spiritual word and use it for their purposes. They used a common, regular word and gave it a spiritual meaning. In other words, a 1^st Century Greek-speaking person would have used “baptize” in their everyday conversations anytime they wanted to communicate dunking something. It never meant sprinkle or pour; there are entirely different words for that.

This also makes sense given the act baptism symbolizes. In baptism, the candidate is taking part in a spiritual drama where she/he identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Col 2.12). Martin Luther weighs in here:

“I would have those who are to be baptized completely immersed in the water, as the word says and as the mystery indicates …[Nothing expect immersion can] bring out the full significance of baptism, [because it is] a symbol of death and resurrection” –Martin Luther, Captivity p.191

Q. When?

A. Immediately upon Belief

While I prefer to have as many people present as possible to witness the grand event, we should not delay one’s baptism any more than is necessary. There is no biblical precedent for requiring a long series of classes and tests before people are baptized. As soon as someone professes genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we should adopt Nike’s slogan and “Just do it” (see Acts 8.12, 36-38).

In Closing

While there are many within Christianity who would take to an alternative view of baptism, we should certainly not let that be cause to shy away from the Bible’s clear teaching on this subject. It is my prayer that we would all lovingly and confidently “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3)

At your side,

-bill

1 Tim 2.1-15

2010-09-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

Prayer has to reign supreme in our relationship with God. Paul reminds Timothy of that by telling him to keep it first in his Ephesian Church. He also reminds all of us to maintain good order and discipline in everything we do—especially in our services.

This sermon walks through:

The Importance of Prayer
The Objects of Prayer
The Basis for Prayer
The Barriers to Prayer

Scripture Used

1 Cor 14.40 (NLT)

1 Tim 2.1-15 (NLT)

Acts 6.4 (NLT)

Hebrews 13.17 (NLT)

Galatians 2.5 (NLT)

Job 9.33 (NLT)

Psalm 24.4 (NLT)

Matthew 5.23-24 (NLT)

Matthew 7.16 (NLT)

Quotes & References

When a church stops praying, God stops blessing it.

With the one God comes your only chance.

Rank has to do with maintaining order and authority, but it has nothing to do with value or ability.

Actually, there are many prayer postures found in the Bible: standing with outstretched hands (1 Kings 8:22); kneeling (Dan. 6:10); standing (Luke 18:11); sitting (2 Sam. 7:18); bowing the head (Gen. 24:26); lifting the eyes (John 17:1); falling on the ground (Gen. 17:3). The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (1 Ti 1:18). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

2010-09-22T23:05:00.001-07:00

I'm closing this account & switching over to a Facebook fan page ASAP. Please click to like: http://ping.fm/5C1V7

1 Timothy 1.12-20

2010-09-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

Paul gives his personal testimony to Timothy as a charge and reminder to take the job of soul-saving seriously. Paul confesses and names his own sin for two reasons: 1) It’s biblical, and 2) to offer himself up as the poster boy for hope. Paul was a jerk—the worst of all sinners. If God is willing to forgive, save, redeem, and use somebody like Paul, you’ve got no basis to say, “God wouldn’t want me; the walls would fall down if I came to church.”

Not true. That’s just an excuse to keep from admitting you’re just like everybody else: a sinner who wants to be better. Come to Jesus and let him make that happen for you. Come to his church and let us do it together.

In this sermon, Paul tells us:

What he was
How he was saved
What he is now

Scripture Used

1 Timothy 1.12-20 (NLT & ESV)

Acts 19.18 (NLT)

1 John 1.9 (ESV)

Luke 23.34

Quotes & References

Casual Believers are professing believers but practicing atheists.
Convenient Believers reach the limit of what they’re willing to do for Jesus.
Committed Believers understand life ceases to be about us. It’s about Jesus and then Others.

Break molds, change barriers, adapt to needs, relate to people, speak Truth, and save sinners.

Paul’s salvation was a fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer from the cross (Luke 23.34).

2010-09-17T14:38:00.001-07:00

Break molds, change barriers, adapt to meet needs, relate to people, and save sinners.

2010-09-16T14:02:00.001-07:00

"The irony of masks is that, although we wear them to make other people think well of us, they are drawn to us only when we take them off."

2010-09-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours? (2 Ch 1:10)

Heart

2010-09-15T05:57:00.001-07:00

"Heart is what separates the good from the great." Michael Jordon

1 Timothy 1.1-11

2010-09-10T12:23:00.001-07:00

Today we start walking through the text of 1 Timothy. Paul writes to the young pastor about how to handle problems within his church:

1. Stop Heretics

2. Spread Love

3. Stick to the Book

1 Timothy is a real letter written to a real pastor of a real church about real problems. Hopefully, this series will give some of you a first-time look at the church from leader’s macro perspective. Study through 1 Timothy with us with a heart and head pondering your future role in the leadership of your local church.

Scripture Used

1 Timothy 1.1-11

Acts 20.29-30

Romans 1.16-17

Quotes & References

The book of 1^st Timothy centers on two things: Belief & Behavior

He’s supposed to stop the heretics from teaching false doctrine and making something other than the main thing the main thing: Saving People & Changing Hearts

“Hey! You’re arguing over heretical stuff. Meanwhile back on the ranch, nobody’s getting saved, nobody’s changing. You’re not doing church!”

Loving God: Worship
Loving People: Fellowship, Ministry, Evangelism

The law without the Gospel is a diagnosis without a remedy.
The Gospel without law is useless good news for people who don’t believe they’re sick.

Gospel & the Law

2010-09-10T10:10:00.001-07:00

Law w/o Gospel is diagnosis w/o remedy. Gospel w/o Law is useless good news to people who don't believe they're sick.

Truth

2010-09-10T06:27:00.001-07:00

Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? (Gal 4.16)

1 Timothy Intro

2010-09-02T09:28:00.001-07:00

Today we start to dig through the text of 1 Timothy. This is one of Paul’s “pastoral letters” he wrote as a pastor to encourage those he trained, mentored, challenged, and then empowered to lead in the church. This is a great book on some of the inner workings of the early church and one of our best resources toward understanding the requirements and roles of Elders and Deacons.

To get started, we’ll work through Acts 14, 16, and 20 to learn something about the lives of the book’s two main players: Paul & Timothy.

Scripture Used:

Acts 14.8-23 (NLT)

Acts 16.1-3 (NLT)

Acts 20.22-27 (NLT)

Quotes & References:

“We’re not gods, we’re just guys.”

“Our world is very spiritual but very ignorant.”

“Elders are also known as pastors and bishops.”

“Timothy had built a good reputation.”

“In the New Testament, Jesus and the Apostles trained the called.”

Why, God? - Hell

2010-08-27T14:06:00.001-07:00

Can a loving God allow people to go to hell forever? Doesn’t that contradict belief in an all-loving and just God? Isn’t eternal hell a bit much? Maybe an overreaction?

The problem we most often have when questioning God is our almost irresistible urge to make everything make sense in our minds during this life; if something doesn’t make complete sense to us, we assume it must not be. The central truth of Christianity, however, is not that Jesus came to be your friend, copilot, or fuzzy Zen teacher. It is that he came to be your savior and to correct your eternal problem.

When we die, we don’t cease to exist. Eternity—whether in heaven or hell—is simply the trajectory of our soul and the person created by our beliefs and behaviors on this side of eternity.

Scripture Used

Luke 16.19-31 (NLT)

Luke 6.20-23a (NLT)

Luke 3.8 (ESV)

Quotations & References

Repentance is what you do. Forgiveness is what God does.

“Hell is the greatest monument to human freedom.” –CS Lewis

“There are only two kinds of people: Those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done.’ And those to whom God says in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell choose it. Without that self-choice it wouldn’t be Hell.” – CS Lewis

Tim Keller: The Reason for God

Wisdom

2010-08-26T14:21:00.001-07:00

"Everything I say I stole from God and your grandma." -Dave Ramsey

Contentment

2010-08-26T09:54:00.001-07:00

Contentment is wanting what you have. Greed is trying to have what you want.

2010-08-25T13:08:00.001-07:00

"You think I'm wrong about these religious questions, and I think you are wrong. Why doesn't that make you as narrow as me?" -T.Keller

Summer Pics (Portraits)

2010-08-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Why, God? - Pain & Suffering

2010-08-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Can God still be good when people get cancer? Why do bad things happen to good people? How can we reconcile all the bad things in the world with a loving God? Should we even try?

I attempt to discuss the death of my sister at age 22 of angiosarcoma and how that event has completely affected my view of God and His sovereignty.

Scripture Used

Rom 8.28 (NLT)
2 Cor 1.9 (NIV)
Psalm 13.1-2a (NLT)
Jeremiah 20.7a (ESV)
Job 40.8 (ESV)
Exod 6.3a (NLT)
Jeremiah 32.2 (NLT)
Jeremiah 10.12 (NLT)
Psalm 119.68 (NLT)
Psalm 103.19 (NLT)
Isaiah 65.17-20 (NLT)

Quotations & References

CS Lewis: A Grief Observed (pp 42-43)

“But oh God, tenderly, tenderly. Already, month by month and week by week you broke her body on the wheel whilst she still wore it. Is it not yet enough?
The terrible thing is that a perfectly good God is in this matter hardly less formidable than a Cosmic Sadist. The more we believe that God hurts only to heal, the less we can believe that there is any use in begging for tenderness. A cruel man might be bribed—might grow tired of his vile sport—might have a temporary fit of mercy, as alcoholics have fits of sobriety. But suppose what you are up against is a surgeon whose intentions are wholly good. The kinder and more conscientious he is, the more inexorably he will go on cutting. If he yielded to your entreaties, if he stopped before the operation was complete, all the pain up to that point would have been useless. But is it credible that such extremities of torture should be necessary for us? Well, take you choice. The tortures occur. If they are unnecessary, then there is no God or a bad one. If there is a good God, then these tortures are necessary. For no even moderately good being could possibly inflict or permit them if they weren’t.
Either way, we’re for it.
What do people mean when they say, “I am not afraid of God because I know He is good?” Have they never been to a dentist?”

2010-08-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one."

2010-08-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

In my father's house, there will be social liberals. If it were not so, I would have told you.

2010-08-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

"What if when we die, we don't end, but spiritually our life extends on into eternity." -T.Keller

2010-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

"Why do people say, 'I am not afraid of God b/c I know he is good?' Have they never been to a dentist?" -CS Lewis

You Were Made for This: The Cross

2010-08-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Peter made the same mistake we often do: trying to avoid the cross. Satan tried to move Jesus away from the cross, and he continues to attempt the same with us. However, the truth of God's message remains the same: No Cross, No Crown.

Jesus explains it was necessary for Him to go to the cross, and so it is also necessary for us to pick up and carry our own crosses if we're to follow him.

Crosses aren't optional.

Scripture Used

Mark 8.27-35 (NLT)
Mark 4.41 (NLT)
Ephesians 4.11-12 (NLT)

Quotes

No Cross, No Crown.

The idea of “coming to church” instead of “doing church” makes us water down what it means to “be the church."

If you want to keep reading: http://relevantbeliefs.blogspot.com/2010/01/point.html

2010-08-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

DCC--Please pray for Virginia Gutierrez. Her daughter Lydia was murdered in TN today. She just received word; she had 3 sons. -Repost!-

2010-08-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

No cross, no crown.

2010-08-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

If it's "People vs. Pulpit," tension always shows up: http://ping.fm/na9OA

Summer (pt. 2)

2010-08-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

2010-08-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

Listen to this week's sermon: Look like Jesus (1 of 2) http://ping.fm/XVHgf

2010-08-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

Great article on the limits of radioactive dating and its inability to disprove creationism: http://ping.fm/16hJr

You Were Made for This: Discipleship

2010-08-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ultimately, we were made to become like God. God made us in his image in the garden, but through sin and willful disobedience, we tarnished that image and drifted away from him. Our lives on earth are a journey back to Him. That beings with faith in Jesus Christ as God, and it continues as we strive to again reflect his image. That process is called discipleship.

Scripture Used

Gen 1.26 (NLT)
Col 1.15 (NLT)
Matt 28.20 (NLT)
Eph 4.24 (NLT)
1 Cor 10.13 (ESV)
Rom 12.2 (NLT)
Prov 23.7 (NASB)
Acts 4.24 (NLT)
1 Tim 4.15 (NLT)

Quotes & Statements

We get consumed by our comfort and forget our character.

Many want to show up, hear a sermon, sing some songs, then go back home.

When you meet God, your behavior and your beliefs change.

Temptations are just as much an opportunity to do right as they are to do wrong.

The battle for sin is fought and won in your mind.

Religion: Doing stuff without the right motivation
Hypocrisy: Saying stuff without the right actions
Christianity: Creeds & Convictions, but also Conduct & Character

Your character is the sum of your habits.

A Bible on the shelf is worthless.

“What has God already told me to do in his Word that I haven’t started doing yet?”

References

Warren, Rick: The Purpose-driven Life

2010-08-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Temptation provides just as much an occasion to do the right thing as it does to do the wrong thing. Temptation is simply the choice.

Be Smart

2010-08-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." M.Twain

Family summer so far

2010-08-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Members of the Body

2010-07-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

August 2010 Newsletter

I’d like to take a few minutes to remind each of you how extremely important you are to this church. As you contemplate your membership in Christ’s church (which I would like you to do with me for a moment), please do so from God’s point of view. When God adds members to his church, he does so one person at a time. Each piece of the body is an individual, different, very particular piece.

In other words, there is simply no replacing you in this church. If you’re gone or simply not an active, functioning part of our community, the rest of us miss out. We don’t get the unique “you” God created and gave to his church. As Christians, we belong together. Read what the apostle Paul tells us about the bond we share:

¹⁹ …. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. (Eph 2.19b, NLT)

In his book The Weight of Glory, CS Lewis writes on exactly what Paul meant by membership for the Christian. His words are worth reading here:

The very word membership is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all meaning…almost the reverse of what St. Paul meant by members. By members he meant what we should call organs, things essentially different from, and complementary to, one another… A row of identically dressed soldiers set side by side, or a number of citizens listed as voters in a constituency are not members of anything in the Pauline sense. I am afraid that when we describe a man as “a member of the church” we usually mean nothing Pauline; we mean only that he is a unit — that he is one more specimen of some kind of things as X and Y and Z. How true membership in a body differs from inclusion in a collective may be seen in the structure of a family. The grandfather, the parents, the grown-up son, the child, the dog, and the cat are true members (in the organic sense), precisely because they are not members or units of a homogeneous class. They are not interchangeable. Each person is almost a species in himself… . If you subtract any one member, you have not simply reduced the family in number; you have inflicted an injury on its structure.

My prayer for you is that you take up residence here. Plant your roots deeply in the ground at DCC and love this place like your home—because it is! Whether you’ve been here 10 years or 10 days, look anew at this local brotherhood as your dear family. Get to know someone better. Repair a lost friendship. Serve the body in the unique way only you are able. Because in Paul’s words:

²⁵ This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. ²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. (1 Cor 12.25-27, NLT)

Your Brother in Christ,

-bill

Search through Old Sermons Much Easier!

2010-07-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Overhaul to the Podcast pages: Lots of pretty pics & downloads! www.2010.billmesaeh.com (Now possum-free!)

Pain

2010-07-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself. - CS Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Made for This: Fellowship

2010-07-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Your relationship to Christ is personal, but God never intended for it to be private. We were made to live in unity with each other. The church—our Christian brotherhood—is especially called to show love within its ranks. Christian love focused outside the church is evangelism; when it is focused inside, fellowship occurs.

Scripture Used

1 Peter 2.17
Phil 1.3-11 (NLT)
1 Cor 13.13
Phil 1.2 (the Message)
Rom 12.5 (NLT)
James 3.18 (the Message)
Eph 4.15 (NLT)
Gal 6.2 (NLT)
1 John 3.18 (NLT)
Gal 6.10 (NLT)
Eph 4.3 (NLT)
2 Tim 2.33 (NLT)
1 Cor 1.10 (NLT)
Rom 14.19 (Ph)
Eph 4.2 (NLT)
Rom 14.13 (NLT)
Prov 17.4 (NLT)
Matt 18.15-17 (NLT) [referenced but not quoted)
Phil 4.2-3 (NLT)
Heb 13.17 (NLT)

Quotes & Statements

You were called to belong, not just believe.

Your relationship to Christ is personal, but God never intends for it to be private.

Referenced CS Lewis: The Weight of Glory

1. Less is more
a. Move beyond potato salad
b. You can worship in a crowd, but you can’t fellowship in one.

2. Be honest
a. Accept the tunnel of chaos.

3. Love with your hands
a. Stop saying “I’ll pray for you.”
b. Let Nike take over your spiritual life; just do it.

4. Prioritize the brotherhood
a. Be available.

5. Take the initiative
a. Be a friend to have a friend.

· Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is immaturity.

1. Focus on what we have in common, not our differences
a. Look: we all believe we worship the same God, share the same salvation, love the same Jesus, read the same Bible, and have the same destiny.
b. So, forget about everything else.

2. Be realistic
a. God wants you to love real people, not ideal people.

3. Encourage rather than criticize
a. Criticism is satanic. (Rev 12.10)

4. Refuse to gossip
a. People who will gossip with you will also gossip about you.

5. Resolve conflict God’s way

6. Support your pastor and leaders
a. They’re not perfect, but they’re God-chosen.

God made the church to meet your five deepest needs:

§ Purpose to live for
§ People to live with
§ Principles to live by
§ Profession to live out
§ Power to live on

(Taken from: Warren, Rick: The Purpose-driven Life)

C. S. Lewis on “Membership”

2010-07-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

The very word membership is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all meaning. In any book on logic you may see the expression “members of a class.” It must be most emphatically stated that the items or particulars included in a homogeneous class are almost the reverse of what St. Paul meant by members. By members he meant what we should call organs, things essentially different from, and complementary to, one another, things differing not only in structure and function but also in dignity… . A row of identically dressed soldiers set side by side, or a number of citizens listed as voters in a constituency are not members of anything in the Pauline sense. I am afraid that when we describe a man as “a member of the church” we usually mean nothing Pauline; we mean only that he is a unit — that he is one more specimen of some kind of things as X and Y and Z. How true membership in a body differs from inclusion in a collective may be seen in the structure of a family. The grandfather, the parents, the grown-up son, the child, the dog, and the cat are true members (in the organic sense), precisely because they are not members or units of a homogeneous class. They are not interchangeable. Each person is almost a species in himself… . If you subtract any one member, you have not simply reduced the family in number; you have inflicted an injury on its structure.

- Taken from CS Lewis: The Weight of Glory

Made for This: Evangelism

2010-07-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

Like a city on a hill, God saved you and adopted you into his family to shine brightly in this dark world. When we love God, we worship. When we love fellow believers, we minister. When we love nonbelievers, we evangelize.

Scripture Used

Matthew 28.19-20 (NLT)

Luke 8.16-21 (NLT)

Mark 3.21 (referenced, but not quoted)

Quotes

In the world, you have to do something to be somebody.

In Christianity, God makes us someone so we can do some things.

“My identity is light, so my activity is shining.”

“My identity is family, so my activity is serving.”

References

I referenced George Whitefield’s “How to Listen to a Sermon.”

http://www.contagiouschristian.com/

Warren, Rick: The Purpose-driven Life

Strobel, Lee: Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary

How to Listen to a Sermon

2010-07-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

by George Whitefield

Keys for getting the most out of what the preacher says
Jesus said, 'Therefore consider carefully how you listen' (Luke 8:18). Here are some cautions and directions, in order to help you hear sermons with profit and advantage.

1. Come to hear them, not out of curiosity, but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty. To enter His house merely to have our ears entertained, and not our hearts reformed, must certainly be highly displeasing to the Most High God, as well as unprofitable to ourselves.

2. Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God. If an earthly king were to issue a royal proclamation, and the life or death of his subjects entirely depended on performing or not performing its conditions, how eager would they be to hear what those conditions were! And shall we not pay the same respect to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and lend an attentive ear to His ministers, when they are declaring, in His name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?

3. Do not entertain even the least prejudice against the minister. That was the reason Jesus Christ Himself could not do many mighty works, nor preach to any great effect among those of His own country; for they were offended at Him. Take heed therefore, and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the Holy Ghost has made overseers over you.
Consider that the clergy are men of like passions with yourselves. And though we should even hear a person teaching others to do what he has not learned himself, yet that is no reason for rejecting his doctrine. For ministers speak not in their own, but in Christ’s name. And we know who commanded the people to do whatever the scribes and Pharisees should say unto them, even though they did not do themselves what they said (see Matt. 23:1-3).

4. Be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think. Preferring one teacher over another has often been of ill consequence to the church of God. It was a fault which the great Apostle of the Gentiles condemned in the Corinthians: 'For whereas one said, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos: are you not carnal, says he? For who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but instruments in God’s hands by whom you believed?' (1 Cor. 1:12; 2:3-5).
Are not all ministers sent forth to be ministering ambassadors to those who shall be heirs of salvation? And are they not all therefore greatly to be esteemed for their work’s sake?

5. Make particular application to your own hearts of everything that is delivered. When our Savior was discoursing at the last supper with His beloved disciples and foretold that one of them should betray Him, each of them immediately applied it to his own heart and said, 'Lord, is it I?' (Matt. 26:22).
Oh, that persons, in like manner, when preachers are dissuading from any sin or persuading to any duty, instead of crying, 'This was intended for such and such a one!' instead would turn their thoughts inwardly, and say, 'Lord, is it I?' How far more beneficial should we find discourses to be than now they generally are!

6. Pray to the Lord, before, during, and after every sermon, to endue the minister with power to speak, and to grant you a will and ability to put into practice what he shall show from the Book of God to be your duty.
No doubt it was this consideration that made St. Paul so earnestly entreat his beloved Ephesians to intercede with God for him: 'Praying always, with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and for me also, that I may open my mouth with boldness, to make known the mysteries of the gospel' (Eph. 6:19-20). And if so great an apostle as St. Paul needed the prayers of his people, much more do those ministers who have only the ordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.
If only all who hear me this day would seriously apply their hearts to practice what has now been told them! How ministers would see Satan, like lightning, fall from heaven, and people find the Word preached sharper than a two-edged sword and mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds!

This excerpt is adapted from Sermon 28 from The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield. Published by E. and C. Dilly, 1771-1772, London. George Whitefield (1714-1770) was a British Methodist evangelist whose powerful sermons fanned the flames of the First Great Awakening in the American colonies.

Baptism: What and Why?

2010-07-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

I often receive questions about salvation, faith, baptism, ministry, and how they’re all connected. Below is a short summary of my answers to a recent email.

I remember you guys saying you had to be baptized because it calls us to in the Bible, well what about the thief on the cross. I don’t recall him being baptized yet he then became a follower of Christ.

Christian Baptism was established as the entrance into God’s New Testament Christian church (keep reading below for explanations on that). That New Testament church was built on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Until those events occurred in their entirety, the world was living under the Old Covenant (aka: the Old Testament/Old agreement/Old “will”).

Hebrews 9:16–17 (ESV)
¹⁶ For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

In other words, baptism is completely Christian in nature. The man on the cross died before Christianity started.

1. The Christian Church wasn’t inaugurated yet, so neither was Christian Baptism.

2. Jesus said the guy could go to Heaven, so he gets to go to Heaven.

And even Paul (Saul) it says the scales fell from his eyes, he got up, and was baptized. It doesn’t reference submersion in water.

Actually, it does. The word “baptize” means “immerse/put under water.” It was simply a Greek word with a very narrow meaning. The Bible writers didn’t pick an already spiritual word and use it for their purposes. They used a common, regular word and gave it a spiritual meaning. In other words, a 1^st Century Greek-speaking person would have used “baptize” in their everyday conversations anytime they wanted to communicate “dunking” something. It never meant sprinkle or pour; there are entirely different words for that.

So, the question is: if the Bible tells us to be “dunked,” why would we do anything else? Answer: we shouldn’t. God could have picked another process if he wanted (like sprinkling, pouring, shaving your hair off, doing jumping jacks, whatever), but he picked immersion in the name of Jesus Christ.

Over time, some portions of the church began to allow/substitute sprinkling or pouring instead of baptizing/immersing. In some areas it was a matter of convenience (not enough water), and over time it was changed/allowed in the event of infant baptism. You wouldn’t dunk (i.e. baptize) a baby, so they would sprinkle it instead.

A few problems here:

1. You have to believe in Christ to be baptized (see below).

a. Babies can’t believe, so baptism has no effect on them.

b. It’s also worth mentioning that we never see a baby baptized anywhere in the Bible.

2. Given that the word only meant “dunk,” substituting our preferences doesn’t change God’s original command.

a. It’d be the same today as substituting “boil or bake” for “fry.” If the directions say “fry,” and you boil instead b/c it’s more convenient, you’re not doing what the chef commanded and, consequently, you’re not getting what the chef intended.

So could you tell me a little more about what you believe please?

Our church’s doctrinal statement on salvation:

“We believe salvation from sin comes from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship comes by grace through faith, produces repentance, and begins with the immersion of Christian baptism.” [see also: http://www.billmesaeh.com/beliefs.html]

The Bible doesn’t teach baptism as a saving work. Some churches (though not ours) believe it to be so, mainly b/c of this verse.

1 Peter 3:21 (NLT)
²¹ And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This verse does teach the extreme importance of baptism, but it tells us baptism only “works” b/c of the resurrection of Christ. If we don’t believe in that, there is nothing magic (or even spiritual) about baptism that will save you. Faith only; only faith.

It also teaches us that baptism is our response to God b/c we know He cleanses us from our sin. Infants and the spiritually immature can’t respond to anything b/c they don’t have the mental abilities to (1) believe, and (2) comprehend what God has done. You can only respond “from a clean conscience” if you understand what it is you’re responding to, what sin is, what God did, etc.

The Bible does teach baptism as something commanded to us throughout the New Testament though. Notice Peter’s commanding, Holy Spirit-inspired response to the question about how one responds to the truth of the gospel:

Acts 2:37–38 (NLT)
³⁷ Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Paul equates baptism as the time one identifies with Christ. Reading through Paul’s theology (the writer of 13 of our 27 NT books), we see our necessary identity with Christ starting at baptism.

Galatians 3:27 (NLT)
²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

Romans 6:3–8 (NLT)
³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. ⁵ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.⁷ For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.⁸ And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

Colossians 2:12 (NLT)
¹² For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

See also: Mark 16.16 and Matt 28.19

I feel compelled to be baptized but i want to make sure i know biblically its meaning and importance.

Good for you! Some people want to rush into this decision without properly reflecting on what they’re doing. It is a huge decision (the biggest one you’ll make), so you do have to know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

Jesus & Allah

2010-07-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? The question has been asked many times, including in a recent discussion between a good chaplain friend of mine (Jim) and a colleague of his.

Jim and I seem to think with the same brain when it comes to issues such as these. In fact, I have never heard Jim teach or preach anything with which I disagree. If he did, I would simply advise him of his errors, knowing that a full repentance was forthcoming :).

Plagiarized in its entirety, here is his excellently argued answer to this most contemporary question:

(Written by Jim B., PhD; Jim is currently serving as a US Army Chaplain in Afghanistan)

[Colleague’s name], here is the answer to your question, as to how I answer the question of whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
First, I admit that both Christianity and Islam believe that God has some of the same attributes, including:
- omnipotence
- omniscience
- omnipresence (in the sense that God's influence is present everywhere)
- spoken through prophets
- words recorded in a book (however, Muslims believe that the Koran is eternal, which brings up the logical problem of two eternal realities, God and the Koran)
I then ask, "In order for two entities to be the same, in how many ways do they have to be alike?" The obvious answer is "In every way." This is usually the answer that I get, though some try to wiggle out of it.
I then ask, "In order for two entities to be not the same, in how many ways to they have do differ?" The obvious answer is "One." If two entities differ in even one way, then they are not the same.
I then ask, "Are there any ways in which the god of Islam is different from the God of Christianity?" and of course there are:
(1) The New Testament makes clear that Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament. This is clear from many verses, just a few of which I will mention here:
- Colossians 2:9: "In Him [i.e., Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily." That is, if you have Jesus, you have the Father and the Spirit also. If you do not have Jesus, you have neither the Father nor the Spirit.
- John 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I am." This is an obvious reference to God's words out of the burning bush to Moses in Exodus 3:14, "Tell them that I AM has sent you." Jesus' enemies clearly understood His meaning, they immediately tried to stone him for blasphemy. By the way, in the same conversation, Jesus makes the shocking statement in John 8:24, "If ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins." Notice that most if not all major translations mistranslate this verse. The KJV is closest, adding an italicized "he" to the end of it, obscuring the meaning. The NIV is far worse, adding the words "the one I claim to be" in little L-brackets. In fact, in both 8:24 and 8:58, the "am" is not a grammatical copulative. Jesus was clearly stating in 8:24, in light of 8:58, that he who knowingly denies that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament is eternally lost. This applies not only to non-Christians, but also to so-called "Christians" who deny this connection.
- In summary, Muslims deny that Jesus is God, therefore their god and our God are of a different IDENTITY.
(2) The God of Christianity is triune, a complex Unity. Islam explicitly denies the Trinity. The god of Islam is a simple monolithic unity. Therefore their god and our God are of a different NATURE.
(3) The God of Christianity sent His Son to earth to die for sinful men and women. The god of Islam does not have a son, and he certainly did not die for us. Therefore, their god and our God are different in their ACTIONS.
Remember, in order for them to be the same, they have to be alike in every way. In order for them to be not the same, they have to differ in only one way. In fact, they differ in at least three fundamental ways, and more differences could be found. Therefore, they are NOT the same. Because God is sovereign, there can be only one God. They cannot both be true and at least one must be false.
Two common objections need to be addressed:
(1) The first is the argument from cognation. That is, because "Elohim" (the Hebrew Word for God) and "Allah" (the Arabic word) are supposedly cognate (i.e., related) words, it is claimed that they must be referring to the same God. However, cognation is not a reliable guide to meaning. Some examples:
- German "Tisch" is cognate with English "dish," but "Tisch" means not "dish," but "table."
- French "regarder" is cognate with English "to regard," but "regarder" means not "to regard" (i.e., to think about), but "to see."
- A particularly striking example: Spanish "blanco" is cognate with English "black," but "blanco" means not "black," but "white." Here we have an example where cognates have exact opposite meanings!
In summary, cognation is not a reliable guide to meaning, much less to identity. Cognation in no way proves that the god of Islam is the same as the God of Christianity.
(2) It is also objected that these arguments would also mean that Jews worship a different god. In fact, other than for Messianic Jews (who heartily endorse that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament), this objection is valid. The New Testament makes clear on many occasions that the the Old Testament is about Jesus. This includes Jesus' own words, "they [i.e., the Old Testament scriptures] are they which testify of Me." (John 5.39) If Jewish people have missed the fact that the Old Testament is about Jesus, then they have completely missed the point of their own Scriptures. Now one can obviously refuse to believe the New Testament, but the fact remains that either contemporary Judaism and Islam are completely wrong about the identify of the God of the Old Testament, or else the New Testament is completely wrong, but both sides cannot be right.
One more thing. The Koran clearly states that "people of the book" (i.e., Christians and Jews) worship the same god as that of the Muslims. Koran 29:46 instructs: ". . .say [to the people of the book], 'our god and yours is one.'" Here is the final issue: If the Koran clearly states that the Muslim god and the Christian God are the same, but the facts clearly show that they are not, then what does that say about the truth of the Koran in particular, and about the truth of Islam in general?

2010-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ready for the weekend with my Family; God is Good!

Made for This: Ministry

2010-07-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Christ commands all of his followers to be servants. Service, Love, and Faith are so closely related that we should see view “non-serving Christianity” as a contradiction in terms.

Scripture Used

Luke 10.25-37 (NLT)
Galatians 5.6 (ESV)
Ephesians 2.10 (NLT)
1 John 4.21 (NLT)

Quotes

Vertical Love is Worship
Horizontal Love is Ministry

"If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me,
and if my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me."
-John Bunyan

The Love that Pleases God is Active.

Made for This: Worship

2010-07-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Scripture Used:

Matthew 22.34-40 (NLT)

James 2.10 (NLT)

Deuteronomy 6.5 (NLT)

Colossians 3.23 (NLT)

John 15.9-11 (NLT)

Romans 12.1 (NLT)

Quotations:

Focusing on what you do instead of why you do it is religious legalism.

The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.

Your biggest distraction in worship is you.

References:

Warren, Rick: The Purpose-driven Life

Made for This: Salvation

2010-07-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Scripture Used

Eph 1.9-11 (NLT)

Jer 29.11 (NLT)

Psalm 139.15 (The Message)

Ephesians 1.11 (The Message)

Colossians 1.16 (The Message)

John 20.31 (NLT)

Mark 16.16 (NLT)

Quotes

“The greatest tragedy is not death. It is life without purpose.”

When we die, we don’t leave home. We go home.

“Everything that is not eternal is eternally useless.” –-CS Lewis

When you live close to God, everything else just seems small and trivial. -–Rick Warren

“For us this is the end of all the stories…But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world…had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter

One of the Great story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever and in which every chapter is better than the one before.” --CS Lewis, The Last Battle (p. 184)

“For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal…Our problems are manmade - therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be a big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” --Kennedy’s speech (1963 Commencement Address at American University: speaking on the Cold War)

References

Warren, Rick: The Purpose-driven Life

You Were Made for This

2010-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

July 2010 Newsletter

Purpose: a priceless piece of clarity absolutely necessary for reaching our potential and truly enjoying life. With clarity of purpose, we enjoy more liberating answers and fewer frustrating questions. Allow me to discuss a few foundational elements of our purpose here at DCC.

As you all know by now, we’ve made some exciting changes to our Sunday morning programming. The purpose is simple: to open as many pathways as possible for people to approach Jesus Christ. The summer will mostly be used to collect feedback and tweak the two services toward something perfect for God’s Kingdom. In the fall, we will launch a city-wide advertising effort to get the word out about what DCC has to offer.

I invite you to explore the services and simply choose one that gives you the most freedom to approach the Throne in your own personal way. After that, settle in to serving your God and your church through DCC’s mission: “Preparing people to love God and each other.” It’s what you were made to do.

In addition, we’re going to start a sermon series to provide biblical clarity to the reason we’re all here. I will primarily be teaching through two of the most important portions of scripture: the Greatest Commandment (Matt 22.37-40) and the Great Commission (Matt 28.18-20). Read through these passages carefully and prepare for a great real-life study on how these direct our lives—giving us potential and purpose. They are truly what you were made for.

I highly recommend committing to a 40-day reading of Rick Warren’s Purpose-driven Life—even if you’ve read it in the past. He does wonderful things with these passages. The already-classic book will provide a great complement to the sermon series and truly enhance your summer “church experience.”

As always, I am excited about the horizon of DCC. We are laying great foundations this summer: both in preaching and in programming. I pray that you join in the effort to push our church to the forefront of God’s growing kingdom.

A Code to Live By

2010-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Bible Verses

Proverbs 11.3 (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 12.13 (NLT)

1 Tim 4.12 (NLT)

Deuteronomy 6.6-7 (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 2.22-24 (NLT)

Proverbs 22.6 (ESV)

1 Peter 4.10 (NLT)

Quotes

William Damon (professor of Education @ Brown University)

“When we teach children to concern themselves first and foremost with their own sense of self, we not only encourage self-centeredness but also fail to present a more inspiring and developmentally constructive alternative: that they should concern themselves about things beyond the self and above the self. We fail, that is, to convey to them a sense that there are other important things in life beyond their own individual circumstances and feelings.”

Resources

Father Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAKBXBXz1fo

Father Site: http://www.familymanweb.com/

Opening Story: http://www.rhenion.com/catchofalifetime.htm

Book referenced: Lewis, Robert: Raising a Modern-day Knight

Putting God F.I.R.S.T.

2010-06-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Scripture Used

Deuteronomy 6.6-7

Exodus 20.3

Proverbs 12.26

Psalm 50.15

Matthew 6.33

Deuteronomy 6.4-9

References

How do I Put God FIRST?

Finances
Interest
Relationships
Schedule
Troubles

Christology.Missiology.Ecclesiology.

Raising a Modern-day Knight

Adam vs. Adam

Will to Obey

Work to Do

Woman to Love

Chime In

Five Love Languages: Here, Try This

1. Words of Affirmation

Try This:

2. Quality Time

Try This:

3. Receiving Gifts

Try This:

4. Acts of Service

Try This:

5. Physical Touch

Try This:

Conclusion

Chime In

Love Languages: Which One do You Speak?

Step One

What’s Your Language?

Chapman suggests three questions for discovering your language:

Step two:

Chime In

Lost that Loving Feeling?

Family Friday

Lost that Loving Feeling?

Feelings Lie

Chime In

The Love Triangle

Family Friday

The Love Triangle

What does love look like?

Passion

Intimacy

Commitment

Sloppy Triangles

Going the Distance

Chime In

Unite the Clans

4 Reasons I am Thankful for DCC

1. A Legacy of Excellence

2. I Get to Do What I Love

3. Everybody’s Welcome

4. Everybody’s Loved

Heading to the Field

Heading to the Field

What’s an FTX?

Getting Ready

Talk to you Later

Why I am a Chaplain (1 of 2)

Chaplains: Ministers to all Faith Groups

Jefferson

Jesus

Chaplain School—Week 2

MarriageCare

ASIST

Chaplain School–Week 1

So, here’s week 1 in a nutshell:

Video Blog: Communion in the Bible

The Bible is a Gift

What if I disagree...?

The following is taken from: A Book You’ll Actually Read: On Church Leadership, by Mark Driscoll (pp. 85-86)

What Should I Do if I Disagree with How My Church is Led and Organized?

Video Blog: Baptism in the Bible

Video Blogging

Helping Joplin, MO

The Vision of an Acts 2 Church

A personal vision to build a Church, based on Acts 2.39-47, for those who don’t like church

The New Testament Church

Acts 2:39–40 (NLT) 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Acts 2:41 (NLT) 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Acts 2:42 (NLT) 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Acts 2:43 (NLT) 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 2:44–45 (NLT) 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

Acts 2:46 (NLT) 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

Acts 2:47 (NLT) 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Secret Church

A personal vision to build a Church, based on Acts 2.39-47,
for those who don’t like church

Acts 2:39–40 (NLT)
39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Dr. David Platt