Silent Night, Phil Robertson, Cracker Barrel, and Times Square

As we celebrate the 1^st Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and anxiously await His 2^nd Coming it should come as no surprise that He is under attack. The students at the Ralph J. Osgood Intermediate School in Kings Park, Long Island, New York last week were giving their holiday concert. The choir director had the students sing “Silent Night” but with a few changes. Gone were the words “Holy infant”, “Round yon virgin”, and “Christ the Savior” and in their place were simply repeated the words “sleep in heavenly peace”. It should be no surprise that the world finds offensive any reference to Christ. In a world as dark as which ours has become we need not be surprised when anything that would bring light in the midst of the darkness is removed as men love the darkness more than they do the light. 

Phil Robertson, patriarch to the “Duck Dynasty” Roberston family was yanked from the show this week by A&E after he was interviewed in GQ magazine and was asked about what he deemed to be sinful. He listed things such as homosexuality which have caused him to be blasted publicly by many news network commentators and Hollywood actors. In fact Cracker Barrel has selectively pulled some of their duck dynasty items, presumably the ones baring Phil Robertson’s likeness. So let me understand this, it’s perfectly fine to have tv programs such as The Kardashians, Jersey Shore, 16 and Pregnant, Teen mom, Toddlers and tiaras, shows with no moral compass and seemingly no purpose, but then we have a show about family that loves one another, loves their God, their guns, and others, a show about doing the right thing and standing for what you believe in and we need to pull it or at the least suspend the patriarch of the family featured for answering a question in a country that is rooted in the principle of “free speech”? Could it be the speech is only free as long as doesn’t offend anyone with the exclusion of course of Christians? The silencing of Phil Robertson by A&E goes beyond his somewhat coarse and ill-advised remarks over the anatomy, and sex in a secular magazine, even though his remarks were true to the Bible. If this were the issue, then why isn't Miley Cyrus, Alec Baldwin, Lady Gaga, Madonna, women on ‘The View’, and every other secular humanist and equally offensive words addressed accordingly? Mr. Robertson is not perfect. This is not the issue. The issue is whether or not it is right to have a moral view on sex outside of conjugal marriage, which in this interview Phil’s answer was reflective of 1 Corinthians 6. There are many scriptures through the Word that address this sin and many other hedonistic sins of man. Through them all, Christ calls for repentance. Any biblical worldview is not tolerated in a culture that is screaming tolerance. Today we are seeing that a born again Christian is losing their right of freedom of speech. This event is just another proof of the Truth of God's Word. .... “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)

At the same time is this in New York Times Square the American Atheist Association has put up billboards with pictures of Santa and Jesus. Under Santa’s profile it says "keep the merry" and under Jesus’ it says "dump the myth." While I find the billboards repugnant and could not disagree any more with them, I understand that is their right, guaranteed by our constitution, as we are supposedly given the right of “free speech”. I fear that the culture we live in will continue to give free speech to all but those who hold a Christian worldview.

Word in a desolate land

Looking at a people group with almost a million members and less than 1% know the Father is staggering. But here on this island I feel as though The Lord gave me a word. In my quiet time I was reading Isaiah 51. Here's what I think The Lord showed me.

Verses 1-2 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek The Lord: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many." Though there are few believers in this place there are some. As I read this it was as though The Lord told me He would bless them and make them many so that many from this tongue will be gathered around the throne.

Verse 5 "My righteousness draws near speedily, My salvation is on the way, and My arm will bring justice to the nations. THE ISLANDS WILL LOOK TO ME and wait in hope for My arm." Wow, there is coming a day when this island will look to Him in hope.

Verse 9 "Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of The Lord; awake as in days gone by, as in generations of old." The Church must "awake" as in days of old. We must return to the days of Lottie Moon when people thought nothing of giving their life away that others may live. We must like the apostle Paul say "I count all things lost" (Philippians 3:8).

The Lord is asking today, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

His,

Tom

Horns, happiness, and how?

You cannot be in the country I am in for five minutes without hearing several blasts of vehicle horns. Yesterday our hotel was right across from the town bus station and I was afraid a bus driver was about to go "postal" as I know he was on the horn 45 seconds without letting up. I told Sandy that when I got in to the office next week I was going to honk for about 15 seconds just so she would feel like she were back here in this place.

In spite of the great poverty we see the slightest thing ... Something as simple as a smile and a "hello" can bring great joy and happiness to a person on the street. We are stared at because I am certain we all look the same ... Different to them. So we are stared at and all it takes is a simple "hello" in either their language or ours and they break into a huge grin.  And kids are the same everywhere, some bashful and shy and some gregarious and extroverted but no matter which they are still just kids. It's amazing to me that I have so much and at times can be so "unhappy" and they have great poverty without the hope of eternal life and yet find so much joy in the simple things in life.

So all of this leads me to the "how". Each day a team member has brought a word from the Father. One of the men on the team shared regarding the feeding of the 5000. When the boy is brought to The Lord with his sack lunch, one of the disciples looks at the huge crowd them the meager lunch and asks "what is this when there are so many"? His application was when we look at the masses of people walking in total darkness, what are we, our team of 5, when there are so many. That has been a repetitive theme the past few days and the answer seems clear to me. We can't say the harvest will come in four months ... Life up your eyes and see field after field of precious people desperate for the hope that you and I have. So here it is ... Ready? You sure you are ready? How can we not come with the hope of the gospel?

Before leaving to come here I was contemplating how far if be willing to go to ensure my children had at least heard the gospel and had an opportunity to be saved and the answer is I would go however far was needed to make sure they had a chance to be saved. The Lord then asked me if I thought He died any more for my children then He did for the children here. Did He die for your kids any more than the kids here? NO! So how can we not "Go" when so few of the world know the One who gives hope, purpose, and meaning to life?

Perspective

Each time I get down to the last few days before a mission trip things always get a little crazy. And when that happens I typically ask myself, "What were you thinking? Why did you plan this trip? Do you realize everything that will not get done while you are gone?" This week as I was "freaking out" over those questions I took a deep breath and it was in that brief moment of calmness that the Lord spoke giving me "perspective".

As I stressed over "work" related things it was as if the Lord asked me, "To what lengths would you go Tom to make sure your children were saved? What if they had never heard of Me? What would you be willing to do to make sure that had every opportunity to be saved?" The answer was obvious in my mind. No "length" would be too far to ensure that they knew the Lord; to ensure that heaven would be their home. As I affirmed that to the Lord that He quickly spoke truth into my life that cut me to the quick so to speak. It was as if He asked me, "Do you think My Son went to the cross any more for your children then He did for the children of where you are going?" Humbly and broken I admitted the answer we both knew to be true, "No, He did not!" The Lord then said to put all these other issues I was stressing over aside, they were secondary. What He had for me the next couple of weeks was a matter of children's eternity's.

I think it was J. Oswald Smith who said "No one has a right to hear the gospel twice, until everyone has heard it once."

Writing the chapters of your life

At Eastwood Baptist where I am the pastor we are about to celebrate next Sunday the 60th anniversary for our church. As of now, all 7 former pastors are supposed to be in attendance. As I have reflected on the ministry of those who have gone before me, I’ve realized how God had His people just where He wanted them to be at the exact time He wanted them there. Men like Sam Todd, a Sunday School teacher of men at First Baptist Church Bowling Green, and a man with a passion to plant a new church (his class became the nucleus of Eastwood and her charter members). To Bill Rogers Eastwood's first pastor, a pastor who witnessed the church explode, built three buildings, and planted two other churches in her first five years of existence all under his shepherding. Men like Jim Haskell who the Lord placed at Eastwood to among other things construct the sanctuary our East Campus currently worships in. Men like Billy Devasher, Gerald Lord, Jim Britt (who had the longest run of any pastor ... to date, as I hope to pass him in a few years), Paul Welch, and Mike Lee who helped the church navigate the tumultuous waters of changing worship styles. All of these men, faithful to their calling, stood week after week proclaiming the glory of the One who called them out of darkness into His glorious light. I could write of prayer warriors today; ladies like Loretta Faxon (a charter member), Inell Watson, Betty Lou Smith, and Delores Cook (a newer member who at 90 years old has offered many prayers to our Lord). It takes one call to these ladies and they grab hold of the ear of Lord and petition Him on behalf of His people.

But the purpose of writing today is to reflect on what I’m writing in the “chapters” of my life the Lord has me etching forever on the history that is known as my life and witness. If He tarries for another 60 years and Eastwood is still around, I pray folks will remember these days for our church in the light of Acts 1:8. How we desired to begin here in our “Jerusalem” and try and reach this community for Christ with the launch of a 2nd campus, GROW, and other local ministries we serve in. But also they would remember that our Jerusalem was never seen as an ending point but rather a launch point. How our desire today was to do everything we could to make the Great Commission a reality. I have often told our church family that I am a “missionary trapped in a pastors body”. Because of personal issues I likely will never have opportunity to serve overseas full-time but that does not stop me from going on volunteer trips and also calling out the “called”. I miss seeing people like Rob and Jenny Patterson, Trey and Bellamy, Terry and Alice, Ron and Kerri Wilson, Andy and Michelle Milam (Minister of Music at Alpha while I was there and now serving in Europe), Danielle, and Erin, who all now serve our Lord in various ways and various places around the world. It was my honor to be involved in their journey of faith and witness their following the Lord wherever He called. Three months from today I will be winding up a trip to Asia with 4 others as we seek to impact the lostness of an unreached people group. I pray these days are remembered as faithfully proclaiming the truth of His Word.

What about you? Some of you are early in the book that’s known as your life; there are still many chapters to hopefully write. Others, like me are past the mid-way of your book called life and are figuring out how it’s all going to end; what the last chapters will say about you. Still others are in the last couple of chapters and are literally deciding every day how this book of life concludes. One of the guys going to Asia in a few months with me took his family to the beach earlier this year. He said as he watched his two kids play in the surf he noticed how they would leave footprints in the wet sand that soon, with the passing of waves, would no longer be seen. He told me as he thought about his life he didn’t want it to be like that; to leave prints while here but not longer after he was gone his mark to be gone and his witness to be forever washed away. That story has had a profound impact upon me. I want to leave a legacy of faith to my kids of a life well spent for our Lord. If the Lord tarries and Eastwood gathers to celebrate some great anniversary in the future, I pray they can look back to this period in the life of the church, and if they remember only one thing may that be that we were passionate about the gospel and making Christ known.

Tom

Difficult waters, dark days, and faith

The past couple of weeks have been incredibly difficult I won’t lie … in fact the most difficult 2 weeks in 22 years of ministry. Days like these will drive you to your knees and to the Word and there are days I seem to have more questions than I do answers. But I’ve had to remind myself that “Why?” is the wrong question! It’s really not a matter of why but rather “Who?” See the issue is to whom will be turn when difficult days come. Don’t kid yourself, they are coming. John 16:33 Jesus said “In this world you will have tribulation” not might or could but would. In all this I honestly have been amazed by a few things.

1.     I’m amazed at the love some express. I have heard from folks both inside and outside Eastwood’s membership words of encouragement. Pastors, members, non-members, denominational workers … I’ve heard from them all.

2.     I’m amazed at how some Christians choose to shoot their wounded. I’ve also heard indirectly from folks who for the most part would never own up to some of the comments I’ve heard and read but when they can be expressed anonymously, oh the things they spew.

3.     I’ve learned firsthand what David means when he says in Psalms 56:3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in tine of trouble”

Today I spent a little time in Job chapter 1. If anyone has ever had a “right to gripe” it would be Job as his whole world comes crashing in. Ultimately Job is going to lose his children, wealth, health, and friends. So what does that have to do with Eastwood 2013?

Well, first of all I believe there’s more going on than what you can see with the eye. Job is oblivious to the discussion that’s taken place in the heavenly realm; oblivious to the fact that Satan has told God the only reason Job loves and serves the Lord is because of His goodness to Job. Job is unaware that Satan is given permission to do anything he likes to Job with the exception of killing him. I’m convinced that much of what’s been happening here at Eastwood is spiritual warfare. As the church tries to pull back the darkness here and abroad and expose people to the hope of the gospel the enemy is not pleased. Satan would love nothing more than to destroy the witness of God’s people and His Church. This in no way indicates I am excusing anyone's behavior. I'm simply saying that the enemy is real and will do whatever he can to get believers and churches to fall.

Times like these tend to reveal what kind of faith we have. I think for the most part we all fall into one of three categories in regards to our faith.

1.     Some have “fair weather” faith. Their faith is strongest when the sun is shining. That is exactly the kind of faith Satan accuses Job of having … “God, he only serves you because You bless him so much.” People with this type faith approach God as if they have a contract, an agreement of sorts with the Almighty. The attitude here is “God if you will do _____ for me, then I will serve, attend, give …” (fill in the blank with any number of answers). These difficult days are an opportunity for the Eastwood family of faith to demonstrate genuine faith, even in the midst of heartache and pain.

2.     Some have “foul weather” faith. These are the opposite of those with fair weather faith. To them God is like a spiritual bell hop. They seek the Lord and call on Him when they have some “bags” they are straining under the weight of. Then once He’s taken the baggage to where they think it needs to go, they inform Him, “Don’t call me I will call You the nest time I need You." I have asked the Eastwood family to call unto the Lord during this time, but we can’t stop calling and walking with Him once the storm clouds dissipate.

3.     I pray I fall into this 3^rd category I call “All-weather” faith. This is the type of faith Job had which led him to proclaim in Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!” Jesus in Matthew 5 said that it rains on the just and the unjust alike.

I don’t doubt that through all of his struggle’s Job shed many a tears. But through His faith He looked to the Lord. Job 19:25-27 he proclaims, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” I can say I have shed tears and will likely do so again over these recent tragic events. Bowling Green is watching and wondering; trying to discern if my ... if our faith is real. There are many things I would hope God ultimately will find in my life when my journey here on earth is over, but one thing I hope with all my heart He finds me … faithful!

Friends

The sitcom “Cheers” aired 1982-1993 and centered around a local bar where people gathered to drink, talk, relax, and generally have fun. The theme song lyrics captured the essence of what many hope to find today. The 1^st verse says, “Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.  Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.  You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same, you wanna be where everybody knows your name. You wanna go where people know, people are all the same. You wanna go where everybody knows your name.”

Today I spent a little time pondering the question “What are the marks of true friendship”? What are the things we hope to find in those we call “friend”?

1.      A true friend helps you when you are down – Our world loves to kick people when they are down but a friend helps them up or as a minimum stays with them while they are down. If you want to know if a friendship is “true”, get in some trouble and if the person stays by your side they are indeed a friend.

2.      A true friend fights to protect your reputation – Our “put down” society loves to have “dirt” on someone else. In churches we tend to share “dirt” in the form of “prayer requests”. A good standard to use in sharing information is: Is it true? Is it fair? Is it necessary? Unless the answer to all three is undoubtedly “yes” … don’t share it.

3.      A true friend is committed to helping you grow spiritually – Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” They will pray for you and hold you accountable to grow in your Christ-likeness.

Keith Miller wrote book The Edge of Adventure: “The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give His church.  It’s an imitation dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive accepting and inclusive fellowship.  It is unshockable.  It is democratic.  You can tell people secrets and they usually don’t tell others or even want to.  The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.”

Read that last sentence again. “The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.” Let’s resolve to be a friend that desires to know and opens up so others may know them; a friend who loves and desires to be loved. The world is filled with “friends” that cause people to say “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” May that not be said of us!

 

Giving honor to whom honor is due

Today I had the privilege of honoring my dad with a brick in the courtyard of the Warren County courthouse here in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I posted a picture of the brick on my Facebook page and mentioned I feel my dad is a real life American hero! Heroes today are not ballplayers that can hit a baseball 500 feet or throw 40 touchdowns in a season. Heroes today are not men who can dunk a basketball to win an NCAA or NBA title. Heroes are certainly not movie stars who might “play the part” of a hero in a movie. No, our real life American heroes are those men and women who bravely volunteer to serve their country and protect humanities freedoms here and abroad. In the case of Vietnam and previous wars before that men and women didn’t “volunteer” only, many were drafted to serve. I have seen the pictures from when WWI and WWII veterans returned, how Americans celebrated in the streets as well they should have. But I have watched 1^st hand, not as closely as men like my dad, but close nonetheless, as Vietnam veterans returned home and never were given the thanks they were due from what should have been a grateful nation.

It reminds me of a story I read from years ago … a sports story. Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games before retirement. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. Babe Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been, though he never ever was known to be fleet of foot. One inning he fumbled the ball hit to him then threw wildly, and in that one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati that day. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears. Just then a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didn’t hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, hush fell over the entire park. In those brief moments, the fans saw two heroes: Ruth, who in spite of his dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy; and the small lad, who cared about the feelings of another human being. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd.

I tell this story not to be one of the “heroes” of this day; I’m not worthy of that honor. But rather to say that like the Babe on that fateful day, many booed and jeered the Vietnam veterans as they returned and I did not understand that as a little boy whose dad went not once or twice but four times fighting for the freedom of a people ½ way around the world. But while these brave men and women returned to a chorus of jeers from those they served, I will always be the child who grabs hold of the leg of his father with great pride and says, “Dad, you are a hero in my book no matter what those in the crowd may say! The war you fought it was not a game and you did not go once reluctantly but four times willingly. Thank you dad … maybe not from a grateful nation, but definitely from a proud son!”

Boston, bombs, and the problem of evil

Events like what happened in Boston yesterday no doubt produce many questions in people’s minds. In the minds of unbelievers and even some believers the questions often begin, “If God is good …”. There are really only 3 options: (1) God is less than evil – the idea He’d like to “do something” but He can’t. Few believers I know hold this position. (2) God is equal to evil – the idea that two opposing equal forces are at work and it’s a “toss up” as to who wins. Again, few believers hold this position. (3) God is greater than evil – the position of most believers; the position of Scripture. But the rub is if God is greater than evil, why does He allow things like what happened in Boston to occur? Let me briefly answer four questions regarding God and the existence of evil.

First, is what I call the “where question”. Where does evil and suffering come from? Why didn’t God create a world free from evil and suffering (He did). The world originally was free from pain, evil, and suffering. But Romans 5:12 explains that sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and as a result we live in a fallen world where all men will face death. Not only was man’s heart corrupted in the garden, but the world was corrupted as well.

Second is the “why question”. There are three types of evil at work in the world today. There’s moral evil; war, crime, and terrorism are all examples of moral evil that has come about by the corrupt free will of man. There is natural evil; earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis all happen as a result of natural evil in a fallen world. Then there is social evil, things like hunger and homelessness. To be honest I don’t think anyone can adequately answer the why question. The why question inevitably comes back to the where question and we understand evil as a result of man’s sin. To truly be created with a free will, God had to give man the ability to make poor or evil choices as well as good ones.

Third is the “what question”; what is the purpose behind this evil and suffering. Be reminded of Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”. God has this way of taking horrible events and bringing about “good”. The most horrific event in human history was the crucifixion of Jesus. Yet, without that event you and I would be eternally lost. God took this most evil of human actions and brought about the greatest good.

Fourth is the “when question”. When we experience evil and suffering (and we will), how should we respond? At times like this we need to go back to the cross and be reminded that God really does love us. The fact of the matter is He loves us so much, He was willing to send His son to the cross for you and me.

Mark, my younger brother got bit by a dog we had when he was about five years old. The dog had started foaming at the mouth that day and before my mom could take him to the vet Mark got bit. I remember going to the hospital as my little brother had to take rabbi shots. They give these shots in the stomach and it seemed to be pretty painful. I can remember it taking several orderlies and nurses to hold him down. He didn’t understand the pain but he knew his mom and dad loved him and were there in the room with him. At times we are called to have that same childlike faith in our Heavenly Father. Just because we do not see a purpose in our suffering does not mean there isn’t one.

I remember reading a blog post after the Aurora, Colorado theater shootings. It was written by a woman named Marie, mother of 6 kids. She had taken her 14 and 16 year old daughters to the opening of the new Batman movie Dark Knight Rises. They were in that theater when the shots started ringing out. She was asked about her faith and whether she still believed God to be a merciful God. Listen to what she had to say, “Yes, I do indeed. Absolutely, positively, unequivocally. Let’s get something straight: the theater shooting was an evil, horrendous act done by a man controlled by evil. God did not take a gun and pull the trigger in a crowded theater. He didn’t even suggest it. A man did. In His sovereignty, God made man in His image with the ability to choose good and evil. Unfortunately, sometimes man chooses evil…God is always good. Man is not. Don’t get the 2 confused”.

Palm sunday, the donkey, and us!

Tonight at our Palm Sunday concert with the group No Other Name, Dana had asked me to share a short devotional thought. I sat at my desk this afternoon and pondered the “Triumphal Entry” and found a correlation between Christ followers and the donkey Jesus rode in on. When it came time for the devotion the Lord led me to share out of Acts 1:8 and so I told those in attendance that tonight I’d post this devotion on my blog.

We often assign some kind of human characteristic to animals. I was amazed as I thought of the list this afternoon. This is not “exhaustive” but rather just a sampling: When life gets hectic and out of control we call it a “rat race”. It’s possible to be a busy as a bee, as sly as a fox, and as wise as an owl. Everyone past their teenage years knows what is meant by “puppy love” and we all appreciate bear hugs. Many see this life as a “dog eat dog” world and when they don’t get their way they get madder than a wet hen. Some folks are happy as a lark and sing like a canary. Singing like a canary is a good thing but singing like a stool pigeon is not. We can be quiet as a mouse, as strong as an ox, and as stubborn as a mule (that’s where this devotion comes in).

It’s interesting that in all four gospels as the story of Jesus’ final entry is told each gospel writer found it important to tell of His riding into town on the donkey fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. Zechariah prophecies, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey”

Besides the fact most of us are “stubborn”, there are some other very real similarities between the donkey Jesus rode in on and us. Here’s four to ponder:

1. Jesus obviously had a plan for the donkey. God also has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

2. They covered the donkey in new clothes that day (they were new to him at least). Paul said in Galatians 3:27, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”. So we should “take-off” things like bitterness, resentment, and anger and instead be clothed in the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

3. The donkey simply went where he was led. Life would admittedly be so much easier if the Lord simply gave us a road map with explicit instructions when to turn and when to stay straight. But He doesn’t, that’s why it’s called “faith”.

4. The donkey made Jesus more visible, he “lifted” up Jesus. And because Jesus was lifted up a crowd gathered. I’m convinced people still want to “see Jesus” and when He is lifted up the crowd will gather. If our highest aim in worship were to glorify the Son, I believe heaven would come down more in our services. It’s worth noting the donkey did nothing that detracted from Jesus.

There are a few other things that connect our story with that of the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem that first “Palm Sunday”. Here they are in no certain order:

The donkey was “tied up” and had to be loosed. Maybe tonight you are bound up by sin. Hebrews tells us to cast off that sin which so easily ensnares us. If you need to be loosed tonight, only the Lord Jesus can set you free.

This donkey was untamed; it had never been rode before. We too in our lost state were “untamed”. The scripture puts it this we, “we were by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:9); we were rebellious and had no desire to follow Christ. Unfortunately with our flesh still an active part of our existence, if we are not careful this rebelliousness toward God creeps back up again.

Luke tells us Jesus was brought the donkey near Bethany and Bethpage. In other words it was a “crossroads”, a place of decision. So many today are at that same crossroad, needing to make decisions about following Christ with their life.

The donkey was brought to Jesus by ones who knew where He was. We too know how to “find Jesus” and we should be bringing those who don’t to Him.

The donkey didn’t resist but rather submitted to Christ, and was used for God’s glory. Isn’t that the highest calling of our life? In Isaiah 43:7 the Lord God says, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory”

Are you a Christian, a disciple, or both?

I was reading some of Barna’s findings regarding how faith had changed over a 20 year span from 1991-2011. Here are a few of his findings that are significant:

The % of American people that read their bible at least once a week outside of church dropped by 5%.

Church volunteerism dropped eight percentage points down now to 19% (less than 1 in 5).

Adult attendance in church dropped 9%.

In 1991 American adults considered “unchurched” comprised 24% of our adult population. That number has now swelled to 37% of all American adults.

The percentage of those who believe the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches dropped from 46% in 1991 to 38% today.

So why the decline; why the drop in key areas of faith? Well, the clearest answer is what Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1-ff. Paul states, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits”. Now lest you think I’m going all “Harold Camping” on you and saying “the world is going to end, the world is going to end”. I understand no man knows the time or day the Lord will come back, but it’s only logical that it is “later” than it has ever been before. Today we are one day closer to the Lord’s return then we were yesterday.

So why the lackadaisical approach to faith today? Could it be that we are more concerned with drawing a crowd then we are calling out folks to commitment? I love what Dallas Willard says in his book The Great Omission. In his studies he found that the term “disciple” is found at least 269 times in the New Testament compared to the term “Christian” which is found only three times in the New Testament. Barna’s research validates the fact I think we in the church are much more comfortable with the term Christian than we are disciple. But the Great Commission does not call us to make “Christians” but rather to make “disciples”. To be clear, I believe all biblical disciples are Christians but not all Christians are disciples. We suffer from the mile wide inch deep philosophy of “doing church”. We get them saved, place in their hands a “get out of hell” free card, and move on to the next lost soul to conquer in Jesus name. Please don’t get me wrong … I am all about evangelism. Anyone in Bowling Green that knows anything at all about Eastwood where I pastor would describe us as a church committed to missions and evangelism. But our churches have become a microcosm of our society. Today in America 1 out of 3 children, 24 million, are being raised in homes without a biological father present. It is not enough to sire offspring, as men we must take responsibility to then provide for and raise that offspring to maturity. The same is true in the church. It is not enough to see people birthed into the family of God; we must take ownership of doing all we can to help raise them to the point of Christian maturity that represents a fully-devoted follower of Christ.

Now if a church takes seriously the responsibility and call to discipleship not everyone will receive that well. Many church attenders are simply after a “dog and pony” show. At the point there is a call to radical commitment to the claims of Christ, many hit the doors and don’t come back. The same was true in Jesus’ day. In John 6 Jesus taught some radical concepts about what it meant to follow Him. Verse 66 of that chapter is telling when it states, “from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and if you know me I LOVE the Dallas Cowboys. But here’s the thing … since January 1, 1997, the Dallas Cowboys have won a grand total of ONE playoff game. A “fan” will jump on the train with whoever is hot at the time. I guarantee you there are more 49er and Ravens fans today than there was “Super Bowl Sunday” last year. Even though my Cowboys, when it comes to games in December and the post-season have been horrible in recent years, I will continue to cheer for them even though the times are tough; I’m not just a fan, I’m a follower. So let me ask you. Are you a “fan” of Jesus or of His church? Will you stay where you are as long as the game plan is going well? At the first sign of trouble or seeming “lack of success” will you jump to another church or cause that seems “hot” at the time? Don’t be a “fan” of Jesus; Lord knows our churches are full of them. Be a fully-devoted follower, a “disciple” who now because of your commitment to Christ wants to lead others from being fans or even observers on the sidelines of faith to become fully-devoted followers of Christ.