Kill Me, Elmo

It sounds like something out of a bad horror movie.  While the family concerned does not consider it funny, I laughed out loud when I first heard the story. I also noted that those who broadcast the story also maintained a straight face. You can watch the video here.

Sunday School Passion

I attended a Sunday School Leadership dinner tonight. Our Sunday School leadership team is contacting and cultivating potential workers and leaders in our Sunday School. They've even developed a pass code: One person says "Bible Study" and the other says "exciting!" (This also works in reverse.)

Besides a wonderful dinner featuring chicken cordon bleu, we heard from Sunday School teachers about what teaching and leading a class meant to them. We started with an adult leader and worked down to preschool.

Every speaker had a passion for what he or she was doing. You could feel it the moment they spoke. They were convinced that they were touching lives and making a difference through their work in Sunday School.

As I listened to them speak, I had two feelings: I was grateful and I was proud. I was grateful for those who serve in our Bible Study ministry and proud to hear their passion for what they were doing. These folks are an extension of my own ministry in the church. They are able to cover ministry bases that I, being only one, can't always cover.

I also felt a twinge of sadness for those who simply show up on Sunday and miss the blessing of service.

These were all laypeople. They were not paid staff. They served in these ministries because they felt called, just as our staff serves in their ministries because they feel called.

I am proud to serve with these folks. And I pray that the rest of the church can catch just a little bit of their passion for service.

Blessed are they who serve!

Awakening To Your Purpose

Oprah has chosen her book of the month. Her website says it is one of her favorites. It is Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose.”

According to his Web site, Tolle advocates "transcending our ego-based state of consciousness" as a "prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet."

“A New Earth” addresses problems like human suffering. The reason for human suffering, says Tolle, is the “ego.” The ego is ultimately rooted in our thinking. You might paraphrase the famous philosopher Descartes who said "I think; therefore I am,” and say, "I think--which is my identity--and therefore, my thinking is my Being".

It’s all about achieving peace of mind and peace of soul. Through this kind of thinking we can achieve inner peace and ultimately world peace. Personal peace leads to world peace. The Bible affirms this fact.

The Bible also says “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Tolle would agree with this. When people are at peace with themselves, they can be at peace with each other. The point of departure comes in exactly how to achieve this peace.

Tolle’s work is about achieving life’s purpose without God. One really doesn’t need a Creator, for one becomes a creator, according to this philosophy.

It is interesting that enthusiastic followers would quote the Bible when it agrees with some of the book’s ideas, but ignore other clear teachings of the Bible. One of those is the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The serpent suggested that they could be like God, knowing good from evil.

The temptation from the beginning has been the ego, I must agree. The ego wants to be like God, know what God knows, and do what God does. Prophets of the new spirituality like Tolle tell us how to accomplish that.

And Oprah, the priestess of spirituality is helping spread the word.

On the other hand, Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” is about how to achieve your life’s purpose through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It’s about thinking less of myself and more of Christ. After all, it’s not about you.

With Oprah’s help, “A New Earth” is spreads the word that it is, indeed, all about you. Not!

Churched!

Would you want be a member of this church? I once was. Not only was I a member of that church, I was also its pastor!

In a July business meeting, charges were made against a member who bought 5 fish on Sunday. Other charges were made against a member caught drinking and also buying fish on Sunday. Two members were charged with dancing. Another was charged with "walking disorderly." An oldtimer later told me that this was a euphemism for being drunk.

Committees were appointed to investigate these erring members. Some made public apologies and were forgiven. Some, apparently, never returned to the church. Others were excluded from membership, by their own request or by church action.

Those charges are listed in a July 1916 business meeting held at the "Missionary Baptist Church of Sylvarena."

Church membership and correct behavior were something our forefathers took seriously. Church members were expected to behave in a proper manner. Those who didn't were "churched."

That church and most others don't do that anymore. Are we more compassionate? Or, are we more lax? A common practice today is to separate beliefs and behavior. Many believe that it does not matter how you live as long as your beliefs are right. The Bible teaches that Christ's true followers would not only believe properly, but they would live properly.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:3-4

First, We Listen

I ran across this quote at the end of a long day of traveling, teaching, and visiting prospects. It calls for reasoned dialogue over shrill debate:


"Here is my advice to Christians who want to influence people like me: be open to reaching out to people who disagree with you, instead of forcing us to adopt your beliefs in order to win your approval."

- Hemant Mehta, atheist author of "I Sold My Soul on eBay"

Much Ado About Nothing

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. I've lived in Southwest Louisiana for over five years now, and I still don't get it.

It's Mardi Gras. It's also a really bad album by Creedence Clearwater Revival, but that's another story.

Now, I know the history and tradition behind it. Fat Tuesday is a day of indulgence before Lenten season which begins on Ash Wednesday, the day immediately following. It is a celebration like no other. New Orleans is especially known for it ribald Mardi Gras Celebrations.

Over the years, the partying has migrated from southeastern Louisiana to southwestern Louisiana and to points beyond. Even southeast Texas has is share of Mardi Gras events.

In Lake Charles, over the past weekend, I think it was nine parades that went by long lines of crowds. In other places, there are bonfires and a tradition of catching a chicken for a meal. In modern days, the health department won't let you eat it.

But I still have to ask, "What are we celebrating?" For many, Mardi Gras is a time for indulgence, and is certainly not followed by self denial on the days afterward. More like a hangover. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a party prude. I enjoy celebrations as much as the next guy.

I just need to know what I am celebrating. I can celebrate a favorite team's victory. I can celebrate a healing from cancer, a birthday, and a myriad of other things.

Just not Mardi Gras.

I admit that I like the Lenten idea of giving up something you enjoy- so long as it is with a purpose. In other words, whyam I giving this up? If I give up food in order to pray, I am fasting for a reason. If I give up some favorite pastime or activity, I am giving up to go up. I have no problem here. But if i just give up something and don't use the time normally spent in that activity to focus on God, what have I done?

The answer of obvious.

Introspection, self denial, and a godward focus are all good disciplines. I can celebrate these. They draw me closer to God. I just can't see that events which are opportunities to indulge the flesh do much good.

Except cause regrets.

I have to add one fleshly indulgence at Mardi Gras which I will confess to personal participation. King Cake. What a wonderful treat!

God's Building A Church

I had a dream last night.

I dreamed that our church experienced revival.  People were coming, giving their lives to Jesus Christ and the church was growing.  It was a wonderful dream.  I was sad when I woke up.

In my dream, a wall in the church had been broken out, because people were filling the building up.  People lingered long after the service, just to visit with one another and with the preacher.  Ah, it was a marvelous dream, something for which I have longed for my church.

When I grew up and left my home church, I thought I'd never see another move of God like I saw there as a teenager.  Our church experienced revival and unprecedented growth.  We went to two Sunday Schools and expanded the auditorium.  New people were coming in every week.  It was a wonderful experience.

I left that church, finished college and seminary and began my ministry as a pastor.  Those revival days of my youth were a pleasant memory- until I came to Carthage, TX.   

There was a sovereign move of God at Southside Baptist Church.  We outgrew our facilities and relocated.  I recall people saying, "I felt like I had been to church."  What marvelous days those were!  New faces- young and old.  Lives being changed. People were driving in from all over the area.  There were tear stains on the altar. Those were some of the best years of my life.

Now I am in southwest Louisiana asking God to do it again.  In the past few Sundays at our church, I have gotten a little sense that God is up to something.

I've heard that things come in threes.

Do it again Lord!

Run From Satin

If you are a regular reader, you've probably noticed that I enjoy interesting signs, particularly church signs. This one comes from the secretary at our local association of churches.  

Isn't it amazing how one little vowel changes the whole meaning of the word?