Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend

I felt so uncomfortable as I sat in church that Sunday night out here in Springfield as I listened to my pastor tell us of a brother who had been asked to leave the church. He was in leadership and apparently was involved in some type of sin that would warrant my pastor to inform the body of this brothers falling away. To say I felt uncomfortable in this situation is an understatement. In fact I admit at the beginning I actually felt a little angry. How would this help this person? Wouldn't it just make him go further? Why do it?

You could say on that night that I got a fresh awakening to why God's thoughts are not my thoughts and neither are his ways my ways. (Is. 55:8-9) In many ways, I am a product of my generation. A product of a definition of love that dismisses any form of discipline or disagreement. A form of love that tells me that love is "acceptance" and not truth. A form of love that is synonymous with tolerance but devoid of substance. A form of love that is so disgruntled that it dares to put the word "free" in front of it as if there was no price for it. It is only when I go to Scripture that I get an idea of how corrupted my view of love is and how I need to go to the one who loved me (John 3:16) in order to see how to truly love.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Co. 13:6-7

As I sat in my desk that Sunday night I realized that the pastor was showing "love" to this brother because he was following a principle that is ingrained in the nature of any relationship. Truth. The specific passage that the pastor used was from 1 Co. 5. The passage that screams for me to define my love as the Bible does.

In the passage, a man is living with his step mom. Something Paul states that even the pagans do not do! The Corinthians were proud of their "open-mindedness" and "acceptance" but Paul uses some pretty strong words to rebuke them for their complacency. "And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn?" (1 Co. 5:2) The Greek word that Paul uses is epenthensate which carries the rout for "mourning like at a funeral". Their "openness" and "broad-minded" approach was misplaced and hurting not only the church but also themselves, Paul, and most of all God! Paul states in the second half of the verse that this brother should be "removed from among you." Something that bucks up against out culturally given definition of love.

Going back to the Greek for a second the verb used for "removed" is not something that is permanent. It's not like they are casting him out of the church forever. If that were the case and they always shut him out then they truly would be committing an "unloving" act. However, the verb used denotes a specific time, until something else cancels the previous action. A necessary distinction.

Paul continues in verse four of the 1 Corinthians passage stating that he already has judged this brother. This is usually when people cry bloody murder! "Jesus said not to judge! Jesus said not to judge!" (Mt. 7) Yes, it definitely is true! However, we can judge a persons actions! Only God can judge someone's motives! Which is what the passage of Scripture is stating.

In verse 5 we arrive at the first passage that may be difficult to see where "love" fits into Paul's assessment. "You are to deliver this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." Many times, when you have a very materialistic viewpoint, it is easy to base "truth" and "love" solely on what feels good to the body or subject it to a persons feelings. Paul is stating that this is not the case! If a person truly loves this person he/she will let the sinful nature be taken out of this person, so that this person may be saved on the day of the Lord! We could possibly hinder God's work with our own definitions! A scary thought indeed!

The hardest passage to deal with and the one I admittedly struggle to see how it may mean "loving" someone is vs. 11. "But now I am writing to you that you not associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality, greed, etc..." Paul continues with a list of other things that may bring a halt to "fellowship". A question that arises then from this statement is does the church only "love" someone if these people meet a certain standard or set of rules and if they don't it's out on the curb? Context is important for that question!

Paul quickly states that we are not to treat unbelievers this way because then we couldn't exist or live in this world! Instead, this is for someone who calls themselves "brother/sister" but chooses to live in a lifestyle like Paul listed and is UNREPENTANT. That is the key to all that Paul is saying. We all have instances were we may be greedy, adulterous, etc. and that shouldn't mean that we "shun" everyone. Paul states however when someone continues in their sin and doesn't turn, then it is dangerous as a believer to continue in fellowship with them. First, because you could prevent God's working in their lives to reach a point of repentance. Second, because their sin could possibly be seen as a sign of acceptance to others within the church and outside it as well. Finally, fellowship means that you are "fellow men on the ship together" and by keeping a working relationship with that person you are condoning that persons actions. Something the Bible is specific to avoid!

In closing, it is extremely difficult to see this worked out in real time. I still struggle with it! But my goal in life is not to base my definitions on the culture of the day or to base my decisions on what others may feel but solely on the truth of Scripture. It is not loving someone to keep a relationship that does not revolve around truth! You are only hurting yourself and the person you are in the relationship with! Plus, we can easily play God by deciding to stay a part of that persons life! That person may come at you with accusations and say that you don't love them but years down the road the Bible states they will come to their senses! Lord willing they will see that you cared for their souls! A higher thing then what they may "feel" or define as "love". As Scripture says:

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6

The video YouTube doesn't want you to see

The announcer guy is kind of weird but the substance of this episode is powerful.

The Enemy in Iraq

Writing this now is extremely difficult. I have tears in my eyes. When you see violence in movies and you just kind of shrug it off because you realize when the scene ends the guy who was just run through with a sword is going to get up.

Many wonder if the Iraq/Afghanistan war is truly worth the time of day. Many now are going after American troops for "waterboarding" and other methods of supposed torture. Many protest and demand that we leave now no matter what the cost. Yet, I don't think they have seen videos like these and I wonder where the outrage from the waterboarding protesters are on this picture which begins to show a 12 year old beheading a man?

In video 1 (You can find it at http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191234.php) you see a fire being stirred up and then the camera pans over to men in cowardly masks screaming in Arabic while three men are tied up with blindfolds on the ground. You can see another Al qeada man come over pouring some type of flammable liquid on the blindfolded men and then the last thing you hear is Allah Akbar as these three men are thrown into the fire...there isn't a "CUT".

In video 2 (You can find it at http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191270.php) a 12-year old boy...a 12-year old boy...is talking to the camera with a machete in his hands. The scene pans over to another man lying on the ground with the 12 year old standing over him. You then see the boy bend down with the machete and begin to decapitate the man. Before that happened I stopped it...I knew there wasn't a "CUT"

I think of the story in Daniel and how King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace. Unlike that story though these men who were thrown into the fire did not come out. They burned. It reminded me of that Shane and Shane song...and made me ask myself if I was ready for that? Would I be able to say as the chorus goes "burn us up, burn us up, burn us up oh King." That video begged me to ask myself...

I have no words for the 12 year old Taliban member. In fact I didn't even watch all of it...I couldn't. I want to ask people who want to pull out of Iraq and even Afghanistan NOW no matter what it costs if this is what they really want to leave the people to deal with. Could you really sleep at night knowing this would be GOVERNMENT POLICY if Al qeada/Taliban were allowed to take over if we left now?

Ravi Zacharias was asked about the War in Iraq and how President Bush, who claims to be a Christian, could live with himself after he ordered the deaths of thousands of people in Iraq. How could this be "moral"? Ravi responded brilliantly. He started saying that when you make decisions in a world where killing is already going on that you can't think that intervening is creating the killing. Sometimes interventions must be made to stop the killing. He then went on to state that he met a pastor from Baghdad who shared that he and his family used to share 3 onions every night with some bread but since the Americans came it was the first time in his life he can go to church in the open and have real food on his plate.

Ravi continued by assuring the man questioning that he is asking a legitimate question. However, because of the carnage that was already going on, for the world to sit back and do nothing would have been a crime of the worse kind. Ravi then asked what would have happened if Israel had not years ago taken out the nuclear reactor in Baghdad? What place would we be in today? Ravi continued that there were no simple answers but he asked him the following question. If you walked into a room and saw that your mother and sister were being raped and your only choice was either disable the man or let him continue raping them? Which would you choose? Like that situation President Bush had to read the situation and realize that sooner or later we would be fighting this battle either here or there. Ravi then stated that as he was driving in the United Arab Emirates a Pakistani driver said to him in Hindi that he is glad that President Bush is standing up for their people and this isn't the only person who shares this sentiment.

He closes the answer to the young mans question stating that he is not living in an imaginary world but he realizes that after Saddam comes Udday and Qusay, his sons. Who would have made Saddam make look like a backyard "scrap". The point then is not killing or not killing, the question is what does a person do when there already is killing?

There is a famous quote that "all that is needed for evil to live is for good men to do nothing." I agree. These videos, while horrendously graphic, show you the level of depravity that many of these deceived people will go. We can wave our signs all we want but the question is again...what do we do in a world where killing is already going on? We may think it was a mistake in the first place but why then justify making another in allowing it to worsen? I'm grateful today for the men and woman who won't let that happen and for a President who has the moral compass to make sure that it doesn't.

*Ravi Zacharias Podcast from 2/6/08 "Just Thinking: Utah University q&a part 3 of 4"

When I Rule the World

"What are we going to do tomorrow night Brain?"

"Same thing we do every night Pinky, TRY AND TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"

What would the world look like...If I ruled the world?

1) Lactose intolerant would not exist

2) Balding would not exist

3) New York Yankees would not exist

4) New York Sports fans would be banned from talking

5) Everyone would speak in tongues, after everyone excepted Christ OF COURSE!

6) When a girl is trying to say something, she would actually mean what she said and there wouldn't be some "hidden meaning" that I was supposed to just understand and she would actually mean what she would say.

7) Disney would still be making animated movies (besides Pixar ones) that weren't terrible.

8) I would actually understand Math

9) I would lower taxes, decrease Government, ban abortion*, make more fuel efficient cars, allow school choice, give private school vouchers, undo McCain-Fiengold, Win the war on terror, ban Al Gore from speaking, build border fences, increase legal immigration, get rid of the death tax, institute the fair tax, ummm some other stuff i'm sure?

10) Have the worlds biggest library and just a day to actually go through the books and read with a fluffy couch, endless Dunkin Donuts coffee.

11) I would have a wife, with 5 kids, and maybe some adopted later on.

12) Private box seats to fenway park, for any game.

13) My family would be taken care of

14) Rush Limbaugh would be my VP

15) Ravi Zacharias would be my personal counselor

16) Everyone form of racism would end and MLK would get a proper memorial

17) Ice Storms wouldn't exist

18) Food would be plenty

19) Islamic extremism would end and the world would have a real presentation of the Gospel of Christ

20) I would wake up and realize most of this ain't happening :)

Happy Valentines Day

What Has Obama Done?

M [man] - W [woman] + V [Valentines Day] = S [Scrooge] ???

I walked into WalMart today with my 102.4 degree temperature, freezing cold because of the ridiculous weather, then nearly getting killed by ladies car who was going a little to fast on the ice for her own good. However what really capped off my WalMart excursion was the walk up to the medicine aisle. If Hannah Montana isn't enough to give you sensory overload then you have to walk past the rows (and I mean rows) of Valentines Day stuff. It happened without me realizing it. In fact I didn't even really plan on it. Freud would probably say it was some pent up-subconscious emotion coming out. What was it, you say?

"Bah-Hum-Bug"

Now I could totally plead the fifth on this one and say that I was sick and that Freud doesn't know what he is talking about but you know (so would I) that I'm lying. There is no doubt in my mind that walking past that stuff really does kind of make me frustrated. Especially when you meet new people and they ask you if you are married; all the time. Especially when you meet a nice girl and she's on a completely different ideological spectrum then you are. Especially when all the other things in my life that constitute the drama of me continue to rear there heads, ironically, around this "holiday of love".

I don't talk about this stuff much because in many ways I am fine with being single. It's not like I am purposely trying to stay single but I am enjoying it till the right time. In fact, I seem to be more "ok" with being single then many of the other people who continually try and set me up so I won't be single. You know how it goes, these are the people who harass you about your marital status and then when you confide in them about your own frustrations they drop the "Well, God has someone for you" line. That's when I just sit there wondering what is the point of talking to anyone about this stuff. It just seems everyone else is as lost on it as I am.

Now, I wanted to share a little something that I have done for the past 3 years that takes away a lot of my frustration when bombarded with questions, V-Day decorations, etc. It may seem ridiculous and it probably is but it does help me and I know from conversations that I've heard in the past couple days it may help others. I call it my solution to the equation.

"And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming." Genesis 24:63

This verse just made me laugh so hard the other day. Here is this amazing love story and you have Isaac going out to the field praying/meditating; the perfect start to an evangelical "notebook". If I were him I would be doing the same thing if my father just sent his servant to find my wife! Scary stuff! Anyway, you have this amazing build up in the verse and then Isaac looks up, and BEHOLD....the camels were coming!

LET DOWN!

I mean this is horrible exegesis but it just made me laugh cause this is what I feel like all the time!This is the first part of "overcoming" the scrooge equation. Many times we expect to look up and see the "perfect" girl and instead of seeing her we see camels. Now i'm not calling women camels here but you see what I'm saying! V-Day always seems to bring about reminders of disappointments and failures in past adventures (or misadventures) in the game of love! We look up to the horizon expecting to see our future wife and BEHOLD; camels! Yet, the story continues and they live happily ever after (sort of). It's a horrible example I know but still it fits! Disappointments may abound but still, there is something around the bend even if it's not in sight yet! Especially when our heavenly Father is in charge; which leads to my second point.

Another aspect of defeating the inner scrooge is examining the Bible and God's role in any and all love stories. It amazes me that we ask God for so many things but we seem to leave Him out of our relationships. Maybe because of the stereotype that Bible schools have but that shouldn't make us cut God out of writing a love story. I believe this with all my heart and I may be wrong but I believe that God is going to write my own. He's going to guide me through it and He will make sure I don't miss it. Do I believe that I'll be in a chapel one day and God's going to go: "My son, behold, your wife." Honestly...no! But I still believe He's going to be there! Why?

"Who can find a virtuous woman?" Pr. 31:10
*seems to be a question on my lips all the time (and ladies I'm speaking romantically here, I know many ladies of virtue!)
"...and a prudent wife is from the LORD." Pr. 19:14
*that's good
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." Pr. 18:22

These versus continue to remind me that although it may seem "hopeless" or the "bah-hum-bugs" may still slip out, God knows what He's doing. If I stay after Him, He will give the prudent wife. Does that alleviate me of my part, of course not. However, He knows who she is NOW and that gives Him the edge over me! I'll trust Him to guide my steps to wherever she may be!

The final step, at least in my life, of pushing back the inner Scrooge revolves around another Scripture and a practical way to "vent" my V-Day blues.

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know you concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of you life." (Philippians 4:6-7; The Message)

Prayer, as cliche as it sounds, is a practical way to vent the frustrations. God knows it. He created us. He knows what we want, even before we do! If that "want" is out of place, He'll let us know! He may even let us utilize that want in another way. When I was in High School I started what I now call the "wife box". Basically it's got a collections of letters, stuff, etc. that I plan on giving my future wife. About three years ago, when I was in full V-Day Scrooge mode, I decided to actually just buy a V-Day card for my wife.

Why not? I know someday I may marry. Why not start it now? It would be harder to forget to do it if I did it before I knew her right? Surprisingly this has been an amazing thing that defangs any feelings of Scrooge!

After picking up my throat medicine, I walked right up to that aisle(s) with the V-Day stuff and picked up a card for my wife and checked out. I may not have a specific someone to celebrate V-Day with but God knows I'm not going to boycott love. Someday I will be in it and right now I love my Savior. That seems to be enough for me.~