Turkey Tracks

Rick and Bubba Day

  I spent the morning watching the Rick and Bubba show from the vantage point of the "Golden Ticket" seats!  Adam Swann, Mark Harris, and I traveled to Birmingham and sat through the live broadcast.  The downer was that Rick Burgess was absent so Bill "Bubba" Busey was piloting the broadcast solo.  We still had fun.

At the end of the broadcast, Bubba asked us if we would like a picture with him.  Mark replied, "No thanks".  Bubba looked funny so another lady in the room volunteered to take our picture and email it to me.  I'll post it so you can see it later.

Rick Warren -- the Perfect Inaugural Prayer

I listened to Pastor Warren's "controversial" prayer during the live broadcast and I have also read the printed transcript.  I really couldn't find anything that would offend most rational people.  Of course there are those who are opposed to any kind of religious expressions whatsoever, but excluding them, the content should have been palletable to most folks considering the expectations of such an event.

As a radical Christ-follower I have a lot of expectations on Christians who are granted an audience with the world.  Let me give you two words:  neutral or salty.  I don't want to be critical of Rick Warren, after all he is the man.  He's done more for Christ than I'll ever do.  So let me critique some of the things he said.  This is totally from my opinion.  (As if he called me last night to ask me what he should change about his speech / prayer.)

Pastor Warren's prayer fit perfectly in the Inauguration's platform.  Pluralistic, harmonious, political.  It is hard to mix religion and politics and Warren did better than most men could.

His first statements were idealisticly aspirational as pertaining to a society that would imerge united by the hope of freedom alone.  He also referred to treating our "fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect they deserve."  Good thoughts, but "all the earth" and "they" confuse me.  What is he personifying?  Is that a "green" reference.  If so, the "green" people should be happy.

Warren made reference to Martin Luther King Jr. and a host of witnesses shouting in heaven over the occasion of electing a black president.  I would imagine this is so, but this is more like when a country band mentions Lynard Skynard in a song and the crowd cheers for Skynard and it seems like they are cheering for the band who is not Lynard Skynard but only used their name to get the crowd to cheer.  I think the statement's premise is appropriate, but not actually something needed to petetion God on behalf of the inaguration.  (we will call it "prayer-manuvering")  I wish he had just given some good remarks about Dr. King and the significance of the day and then voiced a prayer.

Finally, as if I were the expert, I am over the top when it comes to how we handle the name of Jesus.  Pastor Warren was so careful to close the prayer by explaining his personal beliefs by envoking Jesus' name (I think).  Here's what he said,   "I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life – Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus – who taught us to pray:", then he closed with what is traditionally known as "The Lord's Prayer".  I'm afraid that Pastor Warren's attempt to be multi-lingual actually was a politically-correct way of confusing those who don't speak Hebrew, Greek (I think), or Spanish.  The crowd knows who Dr. King is and I'm pretty sure they would recognize the name Jesus.  Maybe it was more in the delivery.  He said, "the one" and then listed four names...never mind.

So, if you are a Democrate or Republican, Gay or Straight, Catholic or Protestant, Black or White, Cardinals or Steelers, you should be happy with the Inaugural Prayer.  May the Lord continue to use Pastor Warren to influence President Obama for the cause of Christ. 

Forced Smiles

My personal prayers are extended to President Obama as he endeavors to lead this nation according to the convictions of his heart.  I sincerely hope that  he considers the opinions of those who differ as he governs diligently.  May God's mercy be magnified in our ineptitude along both sides of the political spectrum.

Okay, if you know me you know that Barak Obama and I are very far apart when it comes to politics and religion.  There are probably some ethical contrasts as well but he does a good job keeping those hidden.  He is my President however, and I will follow him politically except when he crosses over into my personal followship of Christ. 

I watched the inauguration without any expectations.  My heart was saddened as the transfer of power went about in its ceremonial way.  The crowd seemed cold and and from my vantage point smiles were somewhat forced among the significance of the day.  Maybe it was just me and my failed desire to see a conservative candidate take office. 

Good stuff, congratulations to President Obama and his supporters.  I will lovingly keep fighting the good fight. 

Birthday Buck

My oldest son Matthew turned 14 last Saturday.  I can remember being 14 and in the eighth grade.  Eight grade was one of the worst school years I ever had.  The public school system was trying to convince the public that in just a few years all of the world's unit and measures, including the U.S., would convert to the metric system.  I spent the whole year listening to Mrs. Parish talk about centimeters, millimeters, and kilograms.  Ugh. 

Anyway, Matthew had several options for how he wanted to celebrate his birthday but chose to go hunting with his Dad (me)!  It was raining that morning and we woke up late.  We went on to the woods and spent a couple of hours scouting out a place to hunt that evening.  We had fun, got wet, and returned home for lunch.

Matthew and I have always made it a habit to pray before we step into the deer woods. We are always careful not to sound like we are telling God what to do, but we sometimes ask the Lord to let us see a deer and maybe even kill one.  Since it was his birthday, I thought I would ask God specifically and respectfully to allow Matthew to "kill a deer with antlers". 

We treked to the place we figured would be a good spot.  We had hunted there before and seen deer (or deers, as I like to say).  I made sure Matthew was safe in his stand and went on up the hill about 200 yards.  About thirty minutes later, after I had settled in my tree, I heard the startling boom of his .308.  It scared me to death and I prayed that he had in fact shot a deer. 

Long story short, Matthew killed a nice six point buck.  We celebrated in the woods together and thanked God for His concern for us even in something as trivial as hunting.  I hope Matthew sees that God is a close, personal friend who delights in getting our attention with His unmistakeable answers to prayer.  Don't tell God what to do, but He doesn't mind you asking. 

Pechuga Homo-agenda

I was eating lunch with some friends at Los Arcos yesterday.  I really like Mexican food and one of my favorites is Pechuga Mexicana.  It's chicken breast with peppers, onions, mushrooms, all covered in a spicy cheese sauce.  It comes with rice, beans, and soft tortillas.  It's good stuff. 

As we were getting up to leave, I caught a glimpse of something on the television that my mind could not comprehend.  I think I saw two boys/men kissing.  Then one of them began taking off his shirt as the other presumably joined him in some form of sexually deviant act!  Right there on t.v.!  I think the logo on the bottom of the screen was CBS.  I was really shaken as I realized that we now live in a day where homosexuality has become something for old ladies to watch on a soap opera!

This is complicated.  Would I have been unaffected if there was the everyday scene of a man and woman having sex and affairs and adulteries and orgies and arms and legs everywhere?  After all, that's what ultimately gives a soap opera its punch to consumers right?  From Madonna and Britney to Broke-Back Mountain, our world has embraced its own lust as a "cultural-norm wanna be".

Lust is the root of all sexual mismanagement.  Whether hetero or homo, lust takes you down a path that is a product of self-worship.  Other people have opinions that are very different from my own.  A person who believes homosexuality is a valid standard for all people would say that I am narrow-minded, full of hate, politically incorrect, a Bible-thumping nut, and a few other saliva spitting terms.  But even if I didn't believe the Bible was God's standard for human existence, I could see the inherent dysfunction of mismanaged lust.

I don't hate gay people.  As a matter of fact, I have friends who struggle with homosexuality and some friends that fully embrace the idea that they alone are free to do whatever their lust tells them.  That's certainly a humanist's ideal, but far from what I believe Christ has called us to do.

What if everyone believed that they had the right to act upon every impulse of lust?  Example:  Most men have a strong appetite for sex.  If men simply gave in to their "natural" desire for sex according to their own definition, what would the outcome be? 

We all have tendencies that fall outside the standards set for sexual expression by God and even standards set forth by society as we know it.  A rapist could claim that he was only acting according to his inward feelings and that he has a natural right to do sexually what he chooses.  Our society has deemed such behavior as morally and naturally wrong. 

I have even read claims by homosexuals that the Bible does not forbid, and even endorses, homosexual relationships.  Even if I were not a Christian, I could read the Bible as a book and conclude that Christ and His followers knew that homosexuality falls under the category of unmanaged lust and outside God's intended purposes for sex. 

I'm thinking that I am really bothered my the militant homosexual agenda.  I think if they are going to push into my life, and my family's life, I'm going to push back.  I'll be called a racist, a hate-monger, and an evangelical freak, but okay.  Or, I think I'm going to keep holding onto God's standards for sexuality across the boards.  I don't single out homosexuality... its  just another expression of lust --stupid.  We all struggle with the common root of sin -- but it may take us in different deviant directions. 

So, ask your local restaurant to stay away from daytime soaps.  You may find your Pechuga Mexicana inflicting it's "right's" on your digestive system. 

In Process for a Reason

As a minister of Christ, I have been called to lead others into the process of becoming like Christ while I myself am struggling to be an accurate disciple of Christ (Rom 7).  This life is all about process.  Why?  Some people say, "God is just getting us ready for heanven."  Or, "He has something really important for you to do in heaven."  I think that's all wrong.  When we step into eternity, I believe the Bible says we become different in a spiritual sense.  We become "like" Christ.  We are complete and spiritually fit to "do" whatever the bidding of God demands of us.  Therefore, I think the process is mostly about this lifetime.

If we're not in a "process" of struggling to be transformed into the image of Christ today, something is wrong.  I don't always enjoy the tension.  Life is easier when we float along and do our own thing without the inconvenience of Christ's standards.  Right? 

So today, think about your participation in the process Christ demands of you. What transformational things are happening inside of you.  What outward results are following your inward changes.  What is it about this lifetime that is so important to God that He would require you to become like Christ here and now?

2 Cor 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

HD Ready: Resolution 2009

(Here is a copy of my sermon notes from Sunday.  Maybe you can use it for personal study. If you would like to hear the sermon live, call me and I'll read it to you.   ER)

 

God has created you to live a life of higher resolution.  That is, a life that is defined by a higher standard of clarity, contrast, and image because of how and why you were created!  Higher resolution is only possible for those who are willing to connect with the source of our intended image. 

 

New Year’s resolutions can be beneficial as you take inventory of the parts of your life that do not clearly reflect the image of God.  If you are going to find success in “changes” there must be some divine attachment to the motive for change.  There needs to be some supernatural “power” at work within you.  What kind of resolutions should I make?

 

The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. 

1.  Lose weight    2.  Stop smoking    3. Manage money better   4. Spend more time with family      5. Pray more     6. Read the Bible every day        7. Attend Church gatherings more regularly.  8. Join a Home Group!

 

Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.  We have to start with the foundational “why” before we jump into the “results”. 

 

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (How does the pursuit of godliness change the way we approach New Year’s resolutions?)

 

How would this change reflect God’s image in my life?

 

As Christians, here are a few things to consider as we resolve to be a more accurate reflection of God’s image.

 

1.       You were created in the image of God.

 

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For those who are “in Christ”, you have been created and re-created in God’s image!  You are twice designed to be more than human!

 

2.       You were created to be put on display.

 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Philippians 2:14-16 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

3.       You were created to persevere in the process.

 

Hebrews 10:35-39 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."   39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalms 37:5-6 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

2 Corinthians 4  Treasures in Jars of Clay

 

4.       2009 Challenge:  Pray dangerous prayers that God would bring true resolution to your life.  Stop being fickle with the symptoms you don’t seem to have power over and let God do His thing!

 

·         Pray to the Lord for wisdom (Ja 1:5).

·         Ask God for specific areas of change that would bring about His will.

·         Believe that God will give you the strength to change.

·         Use failures as temporary reminders to keep pressing on.