Faith Firmly Rooted

Don't Take the Bible (or Christians past) for Granted

2012-02-17T05:00:00.011-06:00

Sometimes people are surprised to find out that we don't have the original manuscripts of the Greek New Testament. Don't be alarmed. The sheer amount of the manuscripts we do have exceeds all other ancient documents hundreds of times over. We have over 5,000 manuscripts that attest to what the originals said, giving us overwhelming confidence that the Greek New Testament of today is accurate, trustworthy, and reliable. It is the Greek New Testament that is then translated into English for various publishers of the Bible, etc.

Part of the reason why we don't have the original manuscripts? Persecution. During the Roman persecutions of Christians, Christians would frequently be killed for their faith in Christ. There were several options for a person to prove they weren't a Christian and thereby escape martyrdom. They would need to denounce Christ, but they could also win favor by turning over other Christians (particularly Christian leaders) or even manuscripts of the scriptures. Many did so. Here's just one ancient manuscript that tells us about it.

All these things were fulfilled in us, when we saw with our own eyes the houses of prayer thrown down to the very foundations, and the Divine and Sacred Scriptures committed to the flames in the midst of the market-places, and the shepherds of the churches basely hidden here and there, and some of them captured ignominiously, and mocked by their enemies. (Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Book 8, Chapter 2)

As a Christian, don't forget that people have died, risked their lives, and toiled relentlessly so that you could have the Bible...the book that you and I many times casually neglect.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." ~Deut. 6:6-9

-RCW

The Wisdom & Discipline of Silence

2012-02-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

Sometimes in our attempts to conjure profundities, we just sound foolish. Sometimes silence speaks the most wisdom.

Back in the Swing of Things...With Marriage & Parenting?

2012-02-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

YES, I HAVE SOME SPLAININ' TO DO
So it has definitely been a while since my last post...(about 10 months to be exact!) I really don't like making excuses and never have...It's a nasty habit to break if you start getting comfortable or used to doing it.

Nevertheless, I will say that for the past few months, things have been very trying within my household...My wife went into labor just hours after my last post in March of 2011. We now have a beautiful baby girl and my life has certainly never been the same.

I also navigated a transition in ministry (that's minister talk for "After 9 to 18 gut-wrenching months of soul-searching and intense prayer, I got a new assignment from God"), relocated my family about 1,000 miles away from where we were, began a new job (still working in the area of adult discipleship for a church), and celebrated my 30th birthday as well!

But all of this change, pain, prayer, upheaval, and adjusting has been a tremendous positive. And as a new dad, I am overwhelmed by the transformation that having a child makes.  The birth of my daughter has transformed who I am. Here's why.  Let the one with ears to hear -- hear:

MARRIAGE MEANS THAT MY DISCIPLESHIP IS ALL AT ONCE EASIER, HARDER, & OF GREATER CONSEQUENCE...
As a follower of Christ, we are called to daily deny our self, take up the instrument of our torturous death, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). When a follower of Christ gets married, it is as though God reveals three things.

At first, God seems to make it easier to obey Him and die to self.  After all, a married person has a more routine daily need to deny themselves. This is simply natural to any good marriage...You have to take into consideration the interests of another and compromise sometimes because it's not all about you anymore. It's now about 2 people together laying aside their own agendas to be one. It's such an immediate necessity, that it should be easier, right? Wrong.

Soon enough, we realize that God (and our spouse!) is challenging us. What was seemingly going to be easier turns out to be very difficult. God has designed marriage as a process by which we are forced to lean more greatly upon His wisdom, relying less and less on our own ability. In other words, God designed marriage to make you more like Him. Our selfishness is quite often exposed and we can fail both God and our spouse rather frequently.

Finally, unless we surrender our selfishness, our marriage is going to suffer. In fact, our marriage could be a wreck until we sacrifice our selfishness. Once wed to another, your spiritual life (or lack thereof) now effects someone else greatly every single day.

...BUT PARENTHOOD MEANS AN EVEN GREATER CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
The day you become a father--which, by the way, is the day your honey finds out she is prego and not simply the day your child is born--everything changes again. You are called to an even greater amount of surrender to God. It is SO not about you any longer. In fact, it couldn't be any less about you. "Children change a marriage" to be sure...I read that book. They also change a person. For the Christ-follower, parenthood is just an even more serious call to die to self, take up the cross daily, and follow the Master.

God has given me a daughter and entrusted her care to my wife and me. Thanks, Jesus, for making it both easier and harder to drop my selfishness, deny my self, and follow after you more closely. After all, the stakes just keep getting higher.

Keep me broken, Lord.   Amen.

-RCW

P.S. Yes, I know I failed miserably to accomplish my goal of blogging more in 2011. But in my defense, the lack of comments on the site doesn't exactly display a great amount of disappointment from anyone! ;) Lordwilling, there will be more writing forthcoming in 2012.

New Life

2011-03-31T06:30:00.008-05:00

I hope you are enjoying the recent series of posts regarding reading and learning as a part of healthy growth in the Christian faith. If you are, I hate to break it to you, but this entry is only minimally related to that topic.

My wife is about 2 weeks from her due date. We are welcoming our first child into this world in just a handful of days. It's truly a wonderful, scary, and exciting time. And although I did read a great book in the early months that helped me tremendously to process the reality that I was going to be a dad, my emotions (as well as my wife's) have been all over the place.

But aside from my wife and I's own prayerful anxiety about bringing a daughter into this world, the real story is --- well, our daughter. In less than a couple of weeks, a new life will emerge from our lives. She will be --- all at once --- her mother and me. This new bundle of joy is going to be welcomed into our family and is going to experience real life! What a miracle!

But here is what I have been thinking of today... What if my daughter never grew? What if we fed her and loved her and did everything we could to help her develop as she ought, and she simply wouldn't grow? God forbid it, but would that not be awful? It would be an unbelievable abnormality that would very likely put her life itself in serious jeopardy.

But the gripping fact is that Christians do the same thing all the time. And frequently, churches don't do much to help. A person might make a decision, walk an aisle, check a box, or pray a prayer...in some way he or she accepts Jesus Christ and enters into new life in Christ. Hooray! We have a new creation! A spiritual infant has been "born again" into God's family! (Is this not the very Biblical metaphor that Jesus used?) What an amazing miracle! And yet, most will stagnate. Most will not grow. Most will remain spiritual babes. Most will seldom nourish themselves with the scriptures, pray, or serve God with any consistency. Worse still, a few weeks, months, or years may pass so that being still infants in Christ, they begin to wonder why their life isn't all that much different. They may even seriously question their original decision or feel duped by those that offered them this "new life" in Christ. It happens ALL.....THE.......TIME.

I personally work for a church. If I were to summarize my role there, I'd say my job is to help Christian adults grow and develop in their faith. Would it surprise you if I told you that I tend to desire the spiritual growth of those adults far more than they desire it? (This is not a slam to the church I work at...it is simply a statement of the actuality that faces most congregations in the U.S.).

So how can you start growing? Here's a great starting point:

Get a good Bible. Read it regularly, take notes, write down what you learn and what questions you have, even underline and memorize the verses that strike you as worth memorizing.
Ask God to help you grow, believe that He'll bring it about, and desire it more than anything else.
Plug into an authentic Biblical community that strives to help you spiritually develop. Get to know a few committed Christians within that community that you can tell are serious about their relationship with God and live it out in all they do.
Begin to use and even leverage your natural abilities, skills, gifts, possessions, time, finances, and your whole self to be a part of spreading the good news about Christ and living out your faith with everything God gives you. In short, serve God and be a steward of what He's given you so that you might bring Him glory.

If you already feel like you've done the above, check yourself. Ask yourself these tough questions and answer honestly:

When was the last time I spent time reading my Bible? Am I faithfully involved in personal Bible study and time alone with God? Have I read any spiritually nourishing material lately?
How much time do I spend in prayer? Do I talk to God about everything? Do I talk to God throughout the day? Or do I simply reserve prayer for before meals, at church, before bed, etc.? When I do pray, do I just ask him for stuff I want, or do I actually have a real relationship with Him that goes beyond that type of interaction?
Is my church committed to seeing me grow spiritually? Do they care as much about turning me into a faithful and authentic follower of Christ as they do about seeing new people pray the same prayer I did to receive Christ? Have I sought and found Biblical community within my local church? Have I involved myself with other believers and developed strong relationships there or have I been passive and retreated from being known by others? Is the Biblical community I am involved with at church really serious about growing or are we just a social group that seems stuck and apathetic?
Finally, how am I serving and being a steward? Am I giving faithfully of my time, talents, money, and energy to see God's rule and reign in the hearts and lives of others? Or am I holding back and sitting on the sidelines? What more could I be doing to further God's work in my church, in my community, and in my world?
If people followed me around all day every day for a month, would my life clearly tell them that I am a follower of Christ who reflects who He is?

-RCW

Speaking of "Tolle Lege"...

2011-03-18T00:15:00.005-05:00

For those of you who have been enjoying my material lately about the connection between reading and discipleship – that is, between learning and growing as a Christian—I will take the liberty of telling you about some other resources out there.

For starters, you might be interested in this very insightful blog that I have just discovered and enjoy. (You might find that the material there at Tolle Lege resonates with the material here on Faith Firmly Rooted.)

For the ambitious who might be wanting some sort of personal learning experience or perhaps desiring to get to know other Christians who highly value learning, I highly recommend the Paideia / University Honors Program Conference at Dallas Baptist University that is happening on April 1-2, 2011. The theme this year for the conference is: "Tolle, Lege, Tolle, Lege – Pick it up and read: On Books and Reading.” (Click here for details.)* The keynote speaker this year is Byron Borger, who operates Hearts and Minds Books. Who knows…the conference could open you up to a whole new world you did not know existed!

I guess I can summarize this entire blog entry really briefly…If you are digging my recent posts, you might also like:

This blog
This Conference on April 1-2 in Dallas at one of my alma maters
This bookstore / blog

Happy reading, learning, and growing!

-RCW

* This conference is put together by a couple of my favorite former professors, who also happen to be wholehearted advocates of the benefits of reading widely and deeply both inside and outside of scripture on account of how it can spiritually shape us. As for the conference itself, if you don’t know what to expect from the conference, imagine the following: A bunch of people who take Christian faith and learning seriously coming together for a time of worship, a keynote speaker talking twice on the conference theme of “Reading Books” especially as it pertains to Christian life, then getting to attend breakout sessions where papers will be presented on a wide array of themes (including the conference theme) by the various Christian intellectuals who are in attendance. Personally, it is killing me that I can’t be at the conference this year, but I highly encourage you to go if you are interested… just maybe give Dr. Naugle a heads up that you plan to attend.

Augustine and Reading (Part 2) - Tolle Lege

2011-03-16T18:37:00.002-05:00

A Brief Review
In my last post, I mentioned Augustine and how reading was instrumental in his own coming to faith in Jesus Christ as his own Savior and Lord (or to call those roles something less familiar - his Rescuer and his King).

I mentioned how at first, Augustine had turned his back on God (and that according to his own acknowledgement, this had resulted in part from reading authors like Cicero. Apparently, Augustine's self-serving ego and arrogance inflated as he acquired knowledge from them). But later, Augustine was brought by God to pick up a book by Cicero that is now lost to antiquity...Cicero's Hortensius, which was essentially a work that praised and encouraged people toward the discipline of philosophy, since philosophy is by its very etymology and definition the love of wisdom. Suddenly, Augustine found within himself a desire to know real wisdom, to be taught truth, to personally love wisdom intensely enough to pursue it as a prize. Augustine also said that he knew that to acquire real wisdom, he would have to travel in the direction of understanding the scriptures that he had grown up with, but had eventually neglected and scorned. As Paul stated, in his letter to the Colossians, Augustine was well aware that "in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (2:3). Or to state it yet another way, Augustine knew deep within himself that to get to truth, he would have to be moved closer toward The Truth, Christ Himself, the God of the Bible, Ultimate Reality.

More to the Story
But I also mentioned that there was more to the story. There is a second major way that Augustine's conversion was tied to the discipline of reading.* He tells us of it in Book VIII of his Confessions.

Through a continual lifelong series of events and experiences--an experience reading Cicero in the midst of his very rigorous academic pursuits, encounters with Christians, exposure to the scriptures, through the constant prayers of his faithful Christian mother, through the influence of Ambrose, and much more--Augustine reached a personal crisis of sorts. He had to wrestle with his will. He was divided within himself. On the one hand, he wanted to retain his own selfish pleasures and ungodly habits. On the other hand, he was increasingly unable to resist the persistent calling of God unto Himself.

Eventually, Augustine claims that God allowed him to see himself clearly and become aware of his own sinful and wicked condition. Distraught, Augustine retreats to a garden and the tears start pouring. As Augustine pours his heart out to God in agony, he asks the Lord how long he will be torn between belief and unbelief, how long will he remain a miserable slave to his own evil desires.

As I was saying this and weeping in the bitter agony of my heart, suddenly I heard a voice from the nearby house chanting as if it might be a boy or a girl (I do not know which), saying and repeating over and over again 'Pick up and read, pick up and read.' At once my countenance changed...I checked the flood of tears and stood up. I interpreted it solely solely as a divine command to me to open the book...So I hurried back to the place where...I had put down the book of the apostle when I had got up. I seized it, opened it and in silence read the first passage on which my eyes lit: 'Not in riots and drunken parties, not in eroticism and indecencies, not in strife and rivalry, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in its lusts' (Rom. 13:13-14).

I neither wished nor needed to read further. At once, with the last words of this sentence, it was as if a light of relief from all anxiety flooded into my heart. All the shadows of doubt were dispelled [VIII.XII].**

The Latin phrase "Tolle Lege, Tolle Lege" (Take up, Read! Take up, Read!) continues to resound for those who would seek to know Christ and follow after him.

-RCW

*Certainly there were other ways that reading influenced his conversion and faith. For example, Augustine speaks of he and his friends' experiences watching (and intruding upon) Ambrose's very disciplined reading habits.

**Translation is Chadwick's.

Augustine and Reading (Part 1)

2011-03-11T06:38:00.002-06:00

I mentioned previously that several early Christians had a more positive opinion than Tertullian did concerning the value of reading both inside and outside of scripture.

For one of the most amazing and influential Christians, St. Augustine, reading was a key that God used to bring about his conversion. In Augustine's famous Confessions (a classic work in literature, philosophy, theology, spirituality, and Christianity), Augustine cites several ways that reading influenced his spirituality and even his conversion to Christianity.

Hortensius

Confessions

Hortensius

And yet, Augustine explains that that Cicero's book couldn't entirely grip him because it failed to mention Christ, whom he almost innately knew to be the real source of truth. He "therefore decided to give attention to the holy scriptures and to find out what they were like" [ibid, III.V].

Augustine's story gets better and involves more about reading...But I will have to continue his story in the next entry.

-RCW

*One of my biggest disappointments in life is that we don't really have an existing copy of Cicero's Hortensius, which was basically an "Exhortation to Philosophy." All we have are small fragments that give us a general idea of its outline.

**My translation is mostly that of Henry Chadwick and only minimally from Edward Pusey's.

Francis Bacon on Reading

2011-03-07T05:00:00.001-06:00

One of my many favorite philosophers is Francis Bacon...*

Bacon had some pretty sound advice when it comes to reading. You can find it in his essay              "Of Studies":

              Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and
              discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and
              some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts;
              others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention...

In layman's language, Bacon is saying:

    Don't read a book...

simply to prove it wrong. [He wasn't really talking about the Bible, but many skeptics read the Bible this way...with their conclusions already deeply fixed in their mind before they've read a single word.]

thinking it or its author is beyond error. [Again, he wasn't really talking about the Bible, but many people do read it this way**...and I'm not entirely sure that Bacon would have had a problem with it though I'm definitely no Francis Bacon expert.]

just to have something to talk about with others. [These people are annoying...especially since they rarely choose anything worthwhile to read. I don't think Francis Bacon would think of People magazine or Cosmo as "reading" or "studies" if you're wondering.]

    Instead, Bacon suggests that we read a book in order that we might weigh and consider what it
    is saying. Read a book with your brain turned on, using your critical thinking skills -- not distrusting
    the book, nor being overly trusting of the book to the point of naivety.

Many Christians I know (and tragically, even some pastors) have far too much trouble even knowing how to discern what is a good book from what is in all reality not. I have personally lamented that the problem with America is not that we can't read, it is that we don't read. And even the people who do read, too often don't read anything worthwhile.

Thoughts? Comments?

-RCW

* I mostly enjoy Bacon's essays and am much less fond of his idealistic modernist belief that science and technology could ultimately create a Utopian society. The twentieth century, postmodernism, and human experience have since well-refuted that fanciful notion [although Biblical wisdom had refuted the idea ages before]. If you want to understand modernity and my last couple of sentences a little bit better, read this book. As for Bacon, I know for certain that he was a theist, and I think to a lesser extent some people conclude he was a Christian. And if you're wondering, No, I don't believe he's any relation to Kevin Bacon.

** I have no problem with people reading the Bible this way provided they also at some point recognize that while the Bible is a divine book, the Bible didn't magically float down from heaven. God didn't bypass the humanity of the human writers, their circumstances, their language, their personalities, their brains, their emotions, or the like when He inspired them to write. But this blog entry is not really meant to be about Biblical inerrancy, infallibility, inspiration, etc.

Spilling the Beans...and Starting with Tertullian

2011-03-05T06:30:00.002-06:00

So, I had better just spit it out. Some of you have contacted me to let me know that you are waiting on me to finish my thought. :)

What I plan to do from time to time this year is to post some great quotes occasionally from books I have read. Some of these might be books written by penned by Christians. Some might not be penned by Christians. All of them will be interesting. All of them will encourage us to grow in our Christian faith.

Tertullian was an early Christian who—even though he was well-versed in the pagan literature of his surrounding world—scorned the notion that such literature had any benefit for Christians. His famous question was “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” His question anticipated a definite answer: Nothing.*

But some other early figures in the history of Christianity took a different position. I’ll tell you about them very soon.

In some ways, the question for us to ponder might be: What’s my attitude toward books, movies, or music that is not “Christian”? Do they have anything to offer me? Is there anything redeemable in them? It probably isn’t hard to guess my position, but don’t think Tertullian was completely off target.

-RCW

* There is certainly need to take Tertullian's words within their context and remember that in particular he was speaking not against learning, but mainly against heretical philosophical systems and speculations that lacked any real standard for resolving disputes. One website, www.earlychurch.org.uk, has a helpful explanation (and defense) of Tertullian here.

Reading and Christian Discipleship

2011-02-08T18:30:00.001-06:00

In my last entry, I shared that this year I hope to blog more frequently than I did last year…but I’m still not getting crazy with 1 post per day or anything.  To help me blog more, I have a plan that I believe most of you will appreciate. And it has to do with a time long ago and a land far away...Africa in fact! It involves 2 cities in particular -- Alexandria and the city formerly known as Hippo -- along with a few of those cities' noteworthy locals. Curious yet?

To get you started thinking about this subject, let me ask you a question:

           Do you think that it is beneficial to a person’s growth as a Christian to read:

                 A) Christian books and non-Christian books and the Bible

                 B) Just Christian books and the Bible

                 C) Just the Bible

                    [or]

                 D) Reading isn’t important at all in the growth of a Christian

You may choose only one. Why did you answer the way you did?

-RCW

A New Idea For Blogging More this Year (Part 1)

2011-01-28T01:48:00.001-06:00

You might have noticed I haven't written for a while. I could explain all the reasons, but I bet most of the people who read this blog have some idea why it's been a while. One of the many reasons is that it can be challenging at times to write on a consistent basis. For example, it's always been comical to me to see how many people (including many pastors) got a blog or a twitter when blogs and twitters were all the rage...and couldn't manage to blog or tweet regularly enough to keep anyone's interest. It takes work! Everybody wants to have their own television show, but ask anybody who hosts one and they'll tell you that sometimes it gets pretty draining, monotonous, and challenging. New material is due almost daily for those shows! Thank God I have never made any sort of foolish commitment on this site like saying I would post every day, etc.

But while I have not made any sort of formal, stated commitment to post a certain number of entries per year or anything, I have to admit that I was a little dissatisfied with last year's output. That's why this year I have a little new wrinkle...a new idea for spurring everyone onward in their growth as a follower of Christ.

So what's the new idea? Stay tuned....You'll see. And I'm pretty sure you'll really dig it...or at least all the cool peeps will. :)

-RCW

"Hearing From God" Gone Wrong - On Revelation

2010-09-29T00:05:00.001-05:00

A good while back, someone contacted me about her close friend. She hadn't seen this friend in a while. This friend of hers had some very strange ideas about what God was telling them and it seemed to involve the book of Revelation as well. This friend of hers claimed that God was giving her a special word or message that was very personal. The message was also pretty un-biblical.

Here are some excerpts from my response....

It sounds like she is in grave trouble in her spiritual life because of a certain misunderstanding not about the book of Revelation, but about how God provides revelation.

HEARING FROM GOD

There is a certain emphasis in churches on how we should have a close interaction with God, that we should hear His voice, that we can know Him deeply, personally, and intimately, that we should listen to His voice and obey His commands, etc. These are wholesome teachings, but can be very dangerous if they are not given some clarification.

“HEARING FROM GOD” GONE WRONG

What many people slide into-- (and incidentally this happens especially in the charismatic/Pentecostal churches, small Baptist churches, churches where the pastor lacks education, or where people have isolated themselves from their local church)---is a belief that God is revealing things and speaking to them even though the instructions have little relation to the Bible (God’s authoritative word). The following is a bold statement that some people might object to, but the real truth is that God won’t communicate something to us that can’t be supported, found, understood, or concluded from the Bible. That means that “the voice” inside many people’s heads might or might not be God. For a good example of "hearing from God" gone wrong, take a look at the book Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsh.

God has revealed Himself through His word. If in the practice of “hearing God” we neglect the Scriptures, many things can get distorted by ourselves or even by the enemy. A general knowledge of scripture can sometimes be more harmful to someone than none at all in cases like this. To hear from God accurately, we need to have spent hours absorbing His words and infusing the entire Bible’s wealth of content into our very soul and minds until it becomes second nature...until it informs all of our thinking. Only then can our thinking or “hearing” be remotely close to what God desires.

God has already given to mankind all of the revelation that we need to have...Nature itself leads us to contemplate Him and believe He exists, Jesus came to earth as the fullest revelation from God, and the Bible makes clear exactly who He is and what He desires from us. We don’t need any special experiences beyond what God has already given us in nature (known as God's general revelation), in Christ, and in the Bible (the last two comprising God's specific or special revelation). We don’t need a fresh personal word that gives us goosebumps, we don’t need a secret word from God that He has only given to us, etc. There is a reason that the canon of scripture is considered to be closed. We're not going to add any more books to the Bible because it is a finished and complete book with no need of addition. In fact, God warns of adding or subtracting from His words within the scriptures themselves.

THE DANGERS INVOLVED

There is very great danger in this erroneous understanding of how God reveals Himself. This is how many cults get started, this is how scriptures get twisted, and this is also a way that many people develop or encourage their own mental or psychological disorders, etc. This friend of yours has a great need above all to know that God’s word is actually in contradiction to some of the things she is claiming...She also needs to know that God’s word has to have a central place in her “hearing from God”, and that she absolutely cannot be a lone ranger – without the love of Christian community, there is an even greater chance of destruction in your friend’s life. A church family provides a balance and a protection against this sort of isolation and this sort of misunderstanding about Biblical revelation. For myself, if I ever start to have bizarre experiences with God that other Christians around me or throughout Christian history have not experienced, I would be very concerned. (This also happens to be a good rule of thumb for Bible interpretation as well...If you have a bizarre interpretation that nobody has ever shared with you, or that nobody in the entire history of Biblical interpretation has arrived at, you are potentially entirely misguided in your interpretation and probably need to seek a better understanding of the passage.)

OTHER CONTRIBUTING OR RESULTING FACTORS

Sometimes depression, anxiety, fear, and severed relationships can wound a person to where they isolate themselves from church and situations in someone’s personal life can contribute to the problem as well. Sometimes charismatic television evangelists encourage the problem as well by practicing this same spiritualizing and experience-driven understanding of God’s revelation.

SOME RESOURCES
I came across a couple of excellent books the other day as I was browsing some new titles and IVP (Inter-Varsity Press) has these great ones of the topic of hearing from God.

God Talk by Ruth A. Tucker ISBN: 978-0-8308-3331-3

Hearing God by Dallas Willard ISBN: 978-0-8308-2226-3

-RCW

Here is an article that may be boring, but touches on the very subject that I discussed about how God speaks to us today.

An Elementary Lesson... My Identity in Christ

2010-07-12T21:00:00.002-05:00

One of the very first basic lessons I ever learned in my walk with Christ was at an early age. I was fortunate to learn it early, but it seems that at certain periods of my life I have had to force myself to relearn it...

Of what am I speaking? I am speaking about my identity in Christ.

It is a huge concept and yet such a simple one at the same time. When I gave my life to Christ, I became His own. I became His child. I became a new creation fashioned in His likeness. I became set apart and content in Him. I became happy with me because of who He was and who He was making me. I began to draw my self-worth from Him alone...and He values me more than anyone ever could value me!

But don't take it from me alone. This foundational truth is hammered home in Scripture. Ephesians chapters 1 through 3 are a great read on the subject, but if you're in a hurry, here are a few verses.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. [Eph. 2:1-10]

The question “Who Am I?” is both theoretical and philosophical as well as practical and deeply personal. It is a question that everyone deals with throughout the entire course of their lifetime. For the believer, it is a wonderful truth that –- no matter what the world's categories may say about us, whatever we may be feeling about our own self worth (good or bad), whatever we might think about who we are –- all other “identities” get placed at the feet of the Lord. It is Him we depend upon to properly understand our selves, our personality, our emotions, our feelings, our habits, our gifts, our skills, our desires, our ambitions, and everything else about ourselves. It is God who defines us and not we who define us.

Today, examine the Bible for yourself and ask God to remind you that you are his child. Ask God to remind you this day of your worth, His love for you, your satisfaction in Him, your trust in Him, and your contentment in who He is...and in who you are.

-RCW

Regeneration

2010-05-17T16:41:00.000-05:00

A while back, I was asked about the biblical concept of "regeneration." It may come as a stunning newsflash that "regeneration" is NOT the supernatural ability for charismatic believers to have a limb severed from their body only to suddenly sprout a new one like a sea-star or hydra.

I know that there is sometimes confusion or disagreement over what is meant by the term "regeneration." You could take my own explanation of what regeneration is, but I'd rather not have to do as much thinking at the moment (to be quite honest). Instead, let me provide you with a handy and concise explanation from my own current denomination's doctrinal statement:

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.

-RCW

Reading & Christian Discipleship

2010-05-10T23:31:00.000-05:00

I'll never forget the first few weeks when I began to understand that God was leading and calling me into ministry. I recall walking into my youth pastor's office and letting him know what I understood God to be doing in my life and communicating to me.

His response was simple. He first told me that he would meet with me once a week at 5 am on a certain day. At the first meeting, he asked me a question. "Are you a reader?"

I was dumbfounded. I thought quickly about the fact that I despised reading and loathed the very thought of English class. I stammered -- "Uh.....not really." His response was direct and firm, "Well, you're going to have to become one."

I began to love reading from those few weeks onward and to this day I absolutely cannot get enough. (I have a lifetime reading plan for myself!)

Does it seem like an odd connection to you? Why in the world would someone who is heading toward ministry need to become a reader? Do you think he was right? Do you think he was wrong? Why? I'd love to hear your "take."

My Apologies

2010-04-22T20:13:00.001-05:00

So, apparently if you subscribe to this blog, you might have noticed that it had quite a "spasm" and filled some of your in-boxes with emails. I'm so sorry, guys. Apparently my blog suffered from a brief case of turrets. The problem is cleared now.

Maybe it is acceptable to turn this into a lesson....

Here you go: Don't put all your faith is technology because it WILL let you down. Technology can be a great friend and a little time later your worst enemy. Just ask everyone who was thrilled that they bought an HD DVD player at a great price around Christmas and January of 2007...

Loving God With All Our Mind

2010-04-21T05:30:00.043-05:00

Alright, so if I haven't thrown enough resources at people at my workplace and through this blog, I must beg your forgiveness and continue the trend.

At the church I work for, I have recently recruited a professor from a nearby university to come teach a class for our lay equipping ministry. The class is essentially about what it means to take seriously the command we've been given in Scripture to love the Lord our God with all our mind.

Our textbook is a great one, J.P. Moreland's Love Your God With All Your Mind.

A few nights back, I brought some other books to class so that if anyone wanted to do some further study, they could have some good starting points. Listed below are the resources I brought with me. I am posting them for three reasons:

in case you were in the class and couldn't remember a title;
in case you're a Christian and a reader (This should be a normal trend, but sadly most Christians are not readers. And here I'm making my sad face.);
in case you're a Christian who is not a reader, but you care because you want to be obedient to Scripture by loving your God with all your mind.

Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling by James Sire. (James Sire has dedicated several books to this subject as you will see.)

A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics by James Sire.

Discipleship of the Mind by James Sire.

The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind by Alister McGrath.

Fit Bodies Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don't Think and What to Do About It by Os Guinness.

Smart Faith: Loving Your God with All Your Mind by J.P. Moreland & Mark Matlock.

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll.

Your Mind Matters: The Place of the Mind in the Christian Life by John R. W. Stott.

The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? by Harry Blamires.

Did I mention that these are just the tip of the iceberg. I would expect more titles like these to be published in the future. Right now, many people are not only aware of this epidemic in the church, but they are starting to shout for action (a "call to arms" of sorts) with books like these. Will YOU take the challenge?

-RCW

Constant Reason to Celebrate

2010-04-18T05:30:00.017-05:00

Easter is (like Christmas) never really truly “over.” The reality that Christ has risen is just as real today as it was two weeks ago as we celebrated Easter Sunday.
We should truly never cease to celebrate this joyous truth of Easter any more than we should cease celebrating the joyous truth of Christmas, His coming into the world.

Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, and glory are what I'll be celebrating today as I worship in my local church. These things are what I will be celebrating if I live to be 90 and am worshiping in a local church, and they are what I plan to celebrate in the life to come before the very throne of God!

What drives you to praise God or attend church? If it's not those things, might I ask the simple question: what's the point? But don't take it from me. Click HERE to see the way Paul said this very same thing.

-RCW

P.S. Does this post sort of mean that Christians should be some of the most joyful people in the world? Probably.

Cool Idea

2010-04-15T05:30:00.002-05:00

Recently I was checking out some different websites of people who are in my same profession...people who are responsible for trying to help Christians (particularly Christian adults) grow in their faith in order that they might mature as believers in Jesus Christ and follow after Christ with all that they are.

To be certain, if you know me, you'd know that this is by no means meant to be a "plug" or endorsement of any church or ministry.* However, a great SIMPLE idea is this 10 for 10 challenge:
http://10for10challenge.org (Just click on the video in the center that reads "What is 10 for 10?)

If you can't watch the video, don't fret. The 5 ideas in the video are listed below:

Memorize 10 scriptures this year
Serve as a volunteer in 10 ministry projects
Give 10 percent of your income to your local church
Spend 10 minutes a day with God via Bible Study and prayer
Share Christ with 10 people

So, what do you think? Could you manage to do one or all of these 5 spiritual disciplines in a year's time? To some people, it might seem elementary, but for others, it is just the small starting point that they need to begin practicing and doing God's word.

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." ~ James 1:22-25 NLT ~

-RCW

P.S. *This could never be an endorsement because I, like the rest of my generation, am so anti-establishment, anti-propaganda, cynical, anti-schmooze, anti-infomercial, anti-artificial, anti-inauthentic. (Although incidentally the church that this came from is a good church - my wife and I even did some of our premarital counseling there).

P.S. About Easter...

2010-04-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Some of you may be wondering why I let Easter come and go without having posted anything. Here is a goodie for you.

Click the link below to view a lecture given from Dr. Gary Habermas (Ph.D in History from Michigan State University). It is an excellent presentation in 11 parts. Watch them all in order and you won't be sorry!

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0ED405DB5D84F7D5

-RCW

The First Steps for New Believers - Part 2

2010-04-08T18:00:00.005-05:00

I have already received some feedback from my post yesterday.

First, the person brought to my attention how ridiculously long the entry was. (A realization that I already had observed for myself). My sincere apologies for being so verbose. :)

Next, the person said that as they read, they could see where my agenda was headed.

This has prompted me to clarify that I did not aim to poke fun, be rude, or mock Christians (much). I can do this because I am one. Rather, my posting was a way of bringing into focus for both myself and others that which is truly essential for the new believer. We try all too often to make certain things important that are not. We expect a new Christian to suddenly follow a long list of dos and don'ts that (to us) are basic or inherent for someone who wants to follow Christ. It was my purpose to challenge all of us to think about what is essential for the early stages of someone's discipleship.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." ~Mark 12:28-31~

-RCW

The First Steps for New Believers - A Fun Little Exercise

2010-04-07T19:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, does anyone truly know what some of the most important first steps are for a new follower of Christ? Imagine that you've just led someone to Christ...perhaps they even live in another country and come from a different culture. What are the first things that you think they should do, know, or learn to embrace?

Why don't I let you sort through some options below. Go through the list and mark (or for you lazies, just make a mental note of):
         A) Items that seem to be of foremost importance,
         B) Things that are important but not urgent,
         C) What seems to be less important, and finally
         D) What seems not to be important at all!

Below are some options:

Be baptized
Start a daily quiet time
Read the Bible daily
Memorize scripture
Find a church that teaches the Bible
Tell someone else about Jesus
Invite a Friend to Church
Write out their personal testimony
Find a small group
Attend a Bible study
Keep a journal
Spend time in prayer daily
Learn core doctrines and essential beliefs of Christianity
Read a good Christian book
Start volunteering and serving in a church
Attend a weekly worship service with other believers
Begin taking communion
Read a Christian self-help book about their most pressing issues or questions
Go on a mission trip
Share Christ with all their family members
Have all their children baptized or sprinkled
Give money to their church
Start caring about other people
Sing in a church choir or join a praise band
Learn to play a harp
Greet their brothers and sisters (fellow church members) with a holy kiss
Handle snakes
Speak in tongues
Teach a "Sunday School" class for little children
Learn to play praise songs on a guitar
Purchase a Bible commentary or Bible dictionary
Avoid controversy or scandal at all cost
Make sure to be liked by all. Don't be too opinionated.
Find a good translation of the Bible that they can understand
Act holy
Never tell someone that their interpretation of the Bible is wrong
Use "thee," "thou," "thy," and "thine" in everyday language
Wear a WWJD bracelet
Buy and wear Christian t-shirts
Burn any secular music that they own
Get rid of all rated R movies
Give up drinking
Give up smoking
Give up use of illegal drugs
Start making disciples
Read the entire Bible from cover to cover
Go to confession
Walk down an aisle to pray with a pastor
Visit the sick in the hospital
Sponsor a small child from a poverty-stricken land
Throw a party inviting all their Christian friends
Start making Christian friends
Discern their spiritual gifts
Learn how to study their Bible
Lead other Christians
Try to convert their entire workplace to Christianity
Visit people in a nursing home
Invite a widow from church over for dinner
Go to the homes of any new visitors to the church to chat and pray
Become a deacon or elder
Serve on a church committee
Become a pastor
Give up their job to become a preacher
Sell their possessions and give the money to the poor
Camp out on a hill and wait for Jesus to return
Feed the homeless
Buy Christian music
Watch Christian movies
Stop using foul language
Try to be perfect
Try to be a good person or a good Christian
Always smile
Shake people's hands at church
Become an extrovert rather than an introvert
Be nice to everyone and never raise their voice
Stop being friends with anyone who is not a Christian
Take a class at a seminary or theological school
Rearrange their priorities to honor God
Love their neighbor as themselves
Love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength
Sing a lot (both out loud and to themselves)
Become a reader
Give money to missionaries
Take a concern for their family (Love and provide for their spouse and children)
Get and keep a job
Judge others
Be a really serious person all the time
Don't laugh at dirty jokes or approve of anyone that does
Don't dance
Don't get any tattoos and try to have any current tattoos removed
Give up television
Don't eat meat during lent
Always attend a church on Christmas and Easter
Join the PTA
Add the prefix "Christian" to their job title (if they were an artist, they should try to be a Christian artist; if they were a lawyer, they should try to be a Christian lawyer, etc.)
Ask someone to help them grow in their faith
Try to be healthier
Rely entirely on the Holy Spirit to lead
Vote Republican
Send out Christian forwards and chain letters to the entire email address book
Study intensely what the Bible teaches about the end times
Shop at Christian bookstores
Give up eating pork
Give your business to Christian businesses (Eat at Chick-Fil-A and shop at Hobby Lobby)
Quit buying gifts for Christmas or hunting eggs at Easter
Scorn the affairs of this world and set the mind on eternal things above
Raise their kids to be Christians
Drag their unbelieving spouse to church and pressure them to convert
Fast for forty days (or at least a few days here and there)
Eat only vegetables
Learn Greek and/or Hebrew and/or Latin
Quit dating their unbelieving boyfriend/girlfriend
Quit cheating on their spouse
Post scriptures around the house...especially on decorative pieces like doormats, pictures, picture frames, etc.
Advise them never to let anyone know anything is wrong
Leaving their past behind, have them discern their new calling from God and their new vocation
Change their name
Have them adopt American culture, habits, and customs if they are from a different land or culture
Learn to savor and enjoy life
Be or become very prude in the bedroom
Flee sexual immorality
Disassociate from certain previous negative influences
Find a Christian friend to be an accountability partner
Become a motivational speaker
Start a Christian non-profit organnization
Read books by C.S. Lewis
Listen to as many sermons as possible
Learn to like old hymns
Develop serious opinions about church and share them frequently
Meet with a pastor
Ask questions to fellow Christians
Dislike homosexuals and prositutes
Condemn adultery and adulterers
Drop out of the secular college and enroll in a Christian one
Move children to private school rather than public
Homeschool the children
Take a marriage enrichment class
Donate old clothes to a shelter
Adopt an orphan
Renew the wedding vows
Flee from materialism and superficiality
Be eternally optimiistic
Discover the power of positive thinking
Be passive
Be anti-war and/or anti-guns
Don't argue with anyone on any occasion
Be submissive to everyone else
Respect God-given authorities including government leaders
Always vote in elections (and usually after careful research)
Develop an opinion about everything
Become quick to listen and slow to speak
Don't gossip
Don't lie
Don't steal
Practice animal sacrifices
Take up yoga
De-clutter the home
Always keep a tidy house
Don't ever show sadness
Endure pain stoically, knowing that God is allowing it, so it must be good
Never question Christian beliefs or doubt God
Have perfect attendance at church
Jog daily
Give up all personal ambitions and goals
Join a convent
Divorce spouse because "they hinder, discourage, weaken, challenge or suppress spiritual growth"
Wear cross jewelry
Put a statue of a saint, an apostle, or Mary in the lawn
Make the doorbell and your telephone ring play Christian songs
Take notes during sermons
Jot notes here and there in the Bible
Hang out in Christian coffeehouses
Go to Christian concerts
Listen to Christian radio & Christian talk radio
Feel severe guilt for any wrongdoing
Expect moral excellence from others (especially Christians and most especially from pastors)
Practice the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control)
Be everyone's friend and nobody's enemy
Don't be lazy
Do your job well (Be a good employee)
Treat any personal employees well (Be a good employer)
Show mercy to everyone
Forgive everyone of everything
Remove all memory of the past
Develop a regular seat or spot at which to sit during the church worship service. Challenge anyone that might try to fill it.
Sing all of your sentences
Flee from pessimists
Give up sodas
Manage weight and physical appearance well
Shower at least once per day
Keep a day-timer and follow it to the tee
Be responsible
Be punctual
Be friendly
Always be considerate and hospitable toward newcomers, foreigners, visitors, the less fortunate, etc.
Go on Christian vacations
Feel guilty relaxing
Master the interpretation of scripture
Study theology and theologians
Scorn philosophy
Embrace the study of philosophy
Change college major from a secular field to a Christian one
Read Christian magazines
Watch Christian television
Give up caffeine
Only use Christian breath-mints
Buy children a precious moments Bible
Own at least 1 Thomas Kincaid painting
Own at least 2 Willow Tree figures
Have the children watch Veggie Tales
Only read Christian authors and preferably only those that are in agreement with the reader
Go gluten free
Give up artificial sweeteners
Eat only organic foods
Boycott Disney, McDonalds, and/or Wal Mart
Dislike sports since they are a frivolous worldly concern
Don't wear expensive clothes
Feed the hungry and warm those who are cold
Care for others more than self
Surrender the self
Learn definitions and start using big theological words like "sanctification" and "propitiation"
Fill life with God and scripture by attending 7 Bible studies a week....one each night
Plan a will since either the rapture or second coming could happen at any moment
Read the Left Behind series
Watch TBN
Never own a home over a certain price range
Always be ready to give advice...people really need it
Give the pastor(s) and church workers advice...they really need it
Be an encourager of others
Only engage in sexual activity for the purpose of having children
Be a morning person
Don't live with a boyfriend or girlfriend until married
Preach "turn or burn" repentance to everyone at the family reunion
Always carry a Bible everywhere
Wear sandals and grow a beard if possible
If female, always remain silent at church and wear a head-covering. Also never be caught dead teaching men.
Try to impress other Christians however possible...with knowledge of the Bible, popularity, friendliness, godliness, humility, etc.

Well, I hope that this activity has been both humorous as well as thought-provoking. Now for some reflection questions:

How much of what you think is important is actually central to Christian belief and following Christ?

How much of what your church thinks is essential to following Christ is actually essential?

What items did you rank as most important and most urgent? Why did you rank them there?

Sometimes it is difficult to determine that which is beneficial from that which is essential. Sometimes it is difficult to determine that which is important from that which really isn't important at all. I hope this was interesting and challenging! Got thoughts? Feel free to share!

-RCW

Some Recent News That Makes Us Remember and Think

2010-02-20T13:51:00.000-06:00

Most sincere apologies for not having written anything for almost a month!

Last month, I read some very cool news from my dear old Wheaton. For the full press release, you can click here. It seems that the Billy Graham Center Archives of Wheaton College are opening up to the public more treasures from the past.

The story of missionary couple Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, who served among the Waorani people of Ecuador, is widely known to American evangelicals through their published writings as well as the movie entitled "End of the Spear," which was based upon their story. After Jim and four fellow American missionaries were martyred by the Waorani (also called the Huaorani, or the Auca Indians by non-Waorani) on January 8, 1956, Elisabeth Elliot returned to continue ministering to the people who had taken her husband's life, she edited and published his journals, and later wrote more than 20 books.

In January, the Billy Graham Center Archives made additional writings available for the first time, as the 54th anniversary of the missionaries’ murder approached. Thirty previously unpublished letters, dated from 1953 to 1959, provide insights into the relationship the Elliots had with the Williams Community Church of Williams, Oregon. The church was one of several which provided financial and prayer support for the Elliots. Williams Community Church donated the letters to the Archives last year. They are now posted at wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/docs/Elliotletters/intro.htm. I might add that Jim and Elisabeth happened to have graduated from Wheaton as well. :)

The story of those martyred missionaries and the glory that God brought about through their tragic deaths is a story worth remembering. For myself, it definitely brings to mind some ideas about the theology of suffering and how God's ways are far beyond our own understanding. Sometimes it seems that by allowing evil, God brings about an even greater good than if He had not. (For more on this, just read some Alvin Plantinga's God, Freedom, and Evil). Or for a Biblical reference, some good examples would include:

the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50 --- see especially Joseph's statements in Gen. 45:4 and 50:19-20),
Job (the book of Job),
Jesus (the Gospels --- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John),
the early church's martyrs (the book of Acts), and
Paul's words about God having allowed him to have a "thorn in his flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

These are just a few examples among others.

Do you have an opinion? Leave a comment!

-RCW

Just Answering Some Questions

2010-01-15T21:51:00.001-06:00

Okay, I have learned my lesson before. "Comments" shouldn't be allowed to get too long and turn into blog entries themselves. For that reason, I decided to post a relatively recent follow-up comment as its own entry.

Just to give you the context, here was the comment:

Responding to my previous post entitled "Bible Lore,"

Anonymous said...
I enjoy reading your postings, RCW!

Regarding "God won't give you more than you can handle"... So what DOES the Bible say?

Relating to "God helps those to help themselves"... What do you say to someone who spends a lot of time at church serving but neglects his/her family, and asks "I've spend so much time serving God, why is my family such mess?"

November 23, 2009 11:08 AM

And Here is My Too-Lengthy-to-Qualify-as-a-"Comment" Response:
Thanks for your comments, Anonymous. I'm afraid my response is a lengthy one and is more like a blog entry than a comment.


As for the idea that God won't give us more than we can handle:
"God won't give you more than you can handle" might or might not be a concept that we could defend from the Bible. But to claim that the Bible EXPLICITLY SAYS IT (as is most common) is a flat mistake. The verse that people misinterpret specifically is 1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (NASB). The verse is specifically dealing with temptation (as is clear from the preceding verses as well 10:1-12) and even more specifically with temptation towards idolatry (Notice 1 Cor 10:14 reads "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry").

The verse is saying that God always provides a way out of temptation. There won't be a temptation that comes along you that is IMPOSSIBLE to resist or flee.

~~~

Now, As for the second scenario -- regarding those that would spend so much time involved in ministry that they neglect or diminish their family -- there is much to be said there. First, I will say that this is a real danger for many ministers (one which I myself have to vigilantly guard against constantly).

It is important for that person to bear in mind that their first and foremost place of ministry is their home. Without giving the proper attention to one's family, one should expect that their ministry will suffer. Paul writes to Timothy of the prerequisites for someone desiring to be an overseer within the church. He writes: "He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity, (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)..." 1 Tim. 3:4-5

Engaging in ministry without ministering to one's family is almost like getting into the car for a 1,000 mile road trip and being stopped a few miles into it because you didn't maintain your vehicle by changing the oil.

Additionally, from your comment, it could be that I am misunderstanding altogether. It could be that the person you mentioned is somehow feeling as though their service for God has earned them entitlement or immunity from family troubles. If that is the case, I would seriously object to the attitude that service to God should eliminate difficulty. (In fact, difficulty is an explicitly Biblical promise for any that want to serve Christ). Christian service should not be confused with "karma" (the idea that if you are good, then good things will happen in your life and vice versa if you are bad). In the Old Testament, Job had a friend or three that tried to impose this theology upon him...(in a sense they were saying to Job, "Well, Job, all this bad stuff has happened to you, so the problem is that you must not be pleasing to God. You must be doing something wrong. You must have sin in your life. You'd better repent."). At the end of the book of Job, God demonstrates and explicitly says that He doesn't work that way. He doesn't operate based on karma. He doesn't simply behave like the "gods" of the ancient Near East -- showing favor upon those that offer the proper sacrifices and punishing those that aren't pleasing to them. His ways are so far beyond that superficial level. In fact, sometimes he allows evil to happen to us FOR OUR GOOD (i.e. because he loves us so much).

So, it is an awful (not to mention incredibly offensive!) mistake for us to think that if someone is suffering or experiencing hardship, it is because that individual is not pleasing God. In the same manner, the opposite is true. We should never deceive ourselves by thinking that our Christian service is earning us an earthly reward. Our reward (if any) lies in the age to come and not in this life. After all, it is not for this world that we are entrusting our hope, but in the age, the world, the life that is yet to come.

~~~

I do hope that my comments have been helpful. It is not as though I have all the answers either...I confess that I myself have much to learn and improve upon in this last area of allowing my family's needs to take priority before my ministry.

-RCW

Do you agree with what I thought? Do you disagree? Would you have said anything differently or added something else? Weigh in with your own opinion by leaving a comment!

Reflections at the Close and Start of a Decade...

2010-01-02T12:48:00.001-06:00

Well, 2009 has come and gone and evidently, my informants ESPN alerted me a few days ago (with their "top ten plays of the decade" and whatnot) that a decade has drawn to a close. This of course should not have been news to me, but somehow my silly brain was imagining that it would be another year (at the completion of 2010) that such a "turn-of-the-page" would come. Seeing as how I have only lived through a couple of these decade things, and seeing as how the last one changed when I was all of 18, I am hit with the magnitude of the occasion.

Not wanting to let the moment slip by without sneaking in a quick line, I worked to squeeze in time for a post.

I have spoken before of how the Christian life---from our birth, to our spiritual birth or conversion, and throughout our entire life until our dying day---is a process. It is a spiritual journey in which God is drawing us closer to Himself. We may not always understand how or why or that it is even happening, but for Christians walking with God, He is perfecting us all the while and transforming us back into the image-bearers He meant for us to be...in the image of Christ. I have written about this subject (sanctification) previously.

With that spiritual and theological reality firmly in mind, let me ask you----could you adequately map your spiritual journey in words or art or music or a line graph or some medium of the sort? What if you reflected on where God has brought you, what He has done in you, what He has transformed about you and when by the decade? Where were you spiritually in the early 80s? What changed about your faith by the mid 90s? What did God do in your life by 2000 or by the time you had children, etc? This is a spiritual journey and it is important (even very Hebrew) to walk forward through life looking backwards over your shoulder and recalling the great things that God has done. This reflection is also healthy, deeply rewarding, and often humbling. It also happens to be a marvelous spiritual exercise to start any new year.

Have a happy one!

-RCW

P.S. One of the astonishing things about this sort of activity is that you may at times be tempted to think that you had certain times or years when you were far from God or that you felt distant from Him. Let me encourage you that it is often in our lowest and bleakest of states that God is doing the most refining and bringing about the most spiritual growth in our lives. If I were to graph the spiritual "valleys" of my life, I doubt very much if God would chart them as valleys...to Him they might be mountaintops. For it is when we are weakest---when we must lean most closely upon Him for everything---that His power is perfected in us. To adapt some words from A.W. Tozer: "Before God can use a man greatly, He has to break a man deeply."

P.P.S. For you theology dorks like me out there, Wayne Grudem provides a good spiritual growth graph of this sort in his Systematic Theology in the section on sanctification.

As We Celebrate Christmas...

2009-12-24T11:06:00.000-06:00

As you ready your hearts for Christmas, let us not easily forget that Jesus Christ is central to our celebration.

Certainly, we know that Jesus was not born on December 25th. Few people would ever make such an argument (and if they did, they'd be flat wrong!). But it is at this time every year that we remember His coming. We as Christians anticipate Him throughout the Christmas season via Advent and we long for His coming---both remembering His first coming on the 25th and ultimately looking to His future glorious second coming as well.

The Christmas holiday season is a great time of year (like Halloween as I mentioned before) to ask yourself a question....

Does the way I celebrate Christmas bear the markings of something distinctively "Christian"?

Does the way that I celebrate Christmas (or even my Christianity) instead seem to have adopted all the trappings and accommodations of our contemporary culture leaving nary an inch for Christ?

As you ponder that question, I'll leave you with a humorous story. C.S. Lewis once pinpointed the marked difference between celebrating the birth of Christ and "all this ghastly [Christmas] racket at its lowest" with this story actually, so the credit for the laugh is his and not mine... Lewis wrote to a friend: "My brother heard a woman on a 'bus say, as the 'bus passed a church with a crib outside it, 'Oh Lor'! They bring religion into everything. Look--they're dragging it even into Christmas now!'"

Prayer: Lord, help us at this time of year to think of this season as we ought. Help us to enjoy the time of rest, the time with family, the time of reflection, and let this all lead us ultimately to savor this time of year as a time of worship. You are the cause of celebration for us this season and forever. Amen.

-RCW

P.S. For some of my Southern Baptist friends who live somewhat in a bubble and legitimately do not know what "Advent" is, click here and you can see what the majority of the universal church in western culture does around the holiday season. (That means what other Christians do who aren't Baptist....Yes, I do mean to tell you that there are a great many Christians who aren't Southern Baptist). :) I don't mean to poke fun....for I was certainly once very ignorant of these matters myself.

P.P.S. For my scholarly friends, the Lewis quote is from Letters to an American Lady (29 December 1958), p. 80. The letter itself is housed in the Wade Center at Wheaton...an amazing place should you ever manage a visit. I know how several of you (like myself) have a nasty distaste for quotes that lack a citation.

A Cool New Advent Devotional

2009-11-30T12:20:00.001-06:00

Hey there, everyone. There is a lovely new item that costs about $1.99 that my wife and I are enjoying. It is excerpts from Tyndale House's new Mosaic NLT Bible and it is called Devotions for Advent.

It has color artwork, scripture readings, meditations, writings from people throughout the history of the church, blank space to journal or respond, etc. You'd enjoy it to be sure, but this is the week to start it.

-RCW

"Bible Lore"

2009-11-09T22:47:00.002-06:00

A few of my recent posts have reminded me of yet another subject.

A classic pet peeve of mine is the enormous amount of "Bible Lore" out there. How many times have you been talking with someone and they say, "Well, the Bible says, 'God helps those who help themselves.'"? No, the Bible does not say that phrase anywhere. It actually came from Ben Franklin.

Another great one..."God won't give you more than you can handle." The Bible actually doesn't say this. (Try "quoting" such a "scripture" to a person in a serious crisis. Let me know how that one goes.) You won't find the reference because it's not there.

In general, I simply hear the words come from someone's mouth: "Doesn't it say in the Bible somewhere...." or "What's the verse in the Bible that says something about..." and I begin to brace myself for the shock. I never know what nonsense might sputter out after the first few words. :)

The Bible (and spiritual things in general) is one of those subjects that everyone has an opinion about....many people are eager to share their own. Many people think they know fairly well what the Bible says, but in reality haven't studied it for themselves a whole lot. In short, "Bible Lore" results is a lot of muddled thinking about spirituality and numerous common myths about Christianity, Christians, God, the Bible, etc.

So, here's a novel thought: how about we all make it a goal of ours to READ our Bibles and MEMORIZE scripture? That way, instead of being guilty of such embarrassing blunders of biblical illiteracy, we can know God's word, hide it deep within our hearts, and be ready to explain the scriptures the next time someone rattles off one of these statements.

I myself am by no means immune or beyond this fault. I have been praying and asking God to reveal some things to me lately and yet I know that the easiest way to hear God's voice is to open and "devour" my Bible. How about you? Are you planting scripture within you? Or is your Bible just a dusty relic? When was the last time you cracked it open?

-RCW

Search the Scriptures

2009-11-02T23:03:00.001-06:00

I was a substitute teacher about a week ago. Not for a school. For an Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) at the church in which I serve. I was assigned the topic of Christology. While I wouldn't call myself a theologian, I could manage to go over some notes from Hodge's, Erickson's, McGrath's or Grudem's works and some of my own systematic theology notes from back in the day. Yet, I had no idea what a joyful surprise it would be to teach this particular class.

The class was very talkative and very inquisitive. The group was made up of mostly thirty-somethings and from what I could tell on the surface, they didn't have a ton of Biblical literacy.

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about this group was their eager desire to know about the Bible. They had a thirst for knowledge, a hunger to understand, a tenacity to learn. This is perhaps the most foundational characteristic of a disciple.

I was reminded of the Bereans...The Bereans are mentioned in Acts 17:11 -- "Now these [the Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." (NASB)

May we all be sure to live with that same hunger to know. Search the Scriptures for yourselves and see if these things are not so.

Prayer: Father, help me to cultivate a passion for Your word. Help me to develop a hunger within me to understand the Bible and apply it to my life. Let it always be said of me as well that I was noble-minded and diligent in searching the Scriptures. Amen.

-RCW

P.S. The title for this blog entry ("Search the Scriptures") also happens to be the name of a couple of ministries, a devotional book, a .com website, a couple of .org websites, etc. In no way am I claiming to own the title or have rights to it, in no way am I endorsing those sites, books, ministries, etc.

Faith "Firmly Rooted"???

2009-10-10T13:12:00.007-05:00

What's with the title, huh?

I guess I have never quite explained how I selected the title for this blog exactly, have I? The concept of being "rooted" or "planted" or "having roots" are all pretty common in Biblical imagery. Certain passages should hopefully leap to your mind.

Psalm 1 may very well be my own personal favorite. Below is Psalm 1:1-4 :

firmly planted

Another example that will probably come to mind comes from Paul's prayer for the Ephesian believers in Ephesians 3:14-19

being rooted and grounded in love

Another passage from Paul that comes to mind is Colossians 2:5-7, where Paul urges the Colossians:

having been firmly rooted

established in your faith

Finally, there is the parable from Jesus about the sower and the soils in Matthew 13. Jesus explains the parable of the sower for his disciples in Mt. 13:19-23:

yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

So how about it? Are you rooted in Christ? Are you un-budged by the sways of this world? Are your feet planted in the good soil? Are you anchored to the word of God? Are you hearing the word AND doing it? If not, it's time to get YOUR faith firmly rooted.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that you would ground me even now in your word. I repent for times I have strayed from obeying you and seeking you. I pray that there would be no room for wavering or falling away from what you have taught me. May you keep my feet planted and my faith on solid ground. Help me remain in you, Jesus. Amen.

-RCW

On Protestant Denominations

2009-09-29T09:57:00.002-05:00

Evidently, my last post was a very relevant issue for some people. It has elicited the need for another post on denominations.

For now, an introductory read can be found by my friend Matt Slick of www.carm.org. Just click here to read it.

I also mentioned the Rose Publishing pamphlets. Click here to see a great one on denominations, here to see one on Christianity, cults, and world religions, and here to see one on Christianity, cults, and the occult. They also have one on Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses if you were intrigued by some of those comments. Another great denomination comparison is available here through Ron Rhodes, a man who has published a ton of resources on world religions, cults, and Christianity, etc.

These pamphlets are good starting points. Starting points simply give user-friendly information without a ton of academic discussion. For a somewhat deeper and more researched resource, people could purchase one of H. Wayne House's charts that can be found by clicking here.

Hope this is helpful for now.

Choosing a church is an important decision for any believer. Most new believers choose to attend the church where they became a Christian, the church that they know best or the church of one of their closest Christian friends (perhaps the church of a person who was instrumental in their decision to embrace Christ).

These resources can help make sense out of the host of churches out there....what they have in common and what is markedly different (in theology and practice) about each one. I will likely publish one or two more little tidbits on this subject of denominations.

-RCW

Roadmaps of Religious Belief

2009-09-24T19:31:00.007-05:00

There's a lot of confusion out there among the masses when it comes to "religion" and spiritual matters.

Example #1:
Suppose I tell someone out in public that I am a minister. Often, they will ask, "Oh yeah, what religion are you?" I tell them "Christian" and they will say, but what religion are you...Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist?"

If you can't spot the misunderstanding here, then I will explain it momentarily.

Example #2:
I was at a college campus sharing my faith with students a few years ago and within a 10 minute period, I asked two separate people if they were Christians. The one replied, "Yes, I'm Catholic." The other replied, "No, I'm not a Christian. I'm Catholic."

Puzzling, huh?

Example #3 comes when people recite the Apostle's Creed:
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church...
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

A certain church I enjoyed in graduate school (it was not a Catholic church) used to recite the creed every single Sunday. I don't know how many times I heard people either refuse to speak the line or say afterward, "I don't like that line about the Catholic church."

Are you tracking with me?

Example #4: Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons will often insist that they are Christians. And some people actually believe them!

This is not a rant against those that make such statements or betray such obvious misconceptions. Instead, I hope that it will clear up some of the misunderstandings.

I think some simple charts can do the job.

Below are some examples of world religions.

A religion is a comprehensive belief system held by a community. It usually has a "holy book" and typically provides answers 3 questions: What is reality? What is wrong? What is the solution? If you see a flaw or simply don't like my off-the-cuff definition, here's a link to Wikipedia's definition of a "religion." Notice that Christianity is a religion.

The next chart is the three major "branches" or "realms" of Christianity. (I'm sure there is a better word, but for now right now the most commonly used term escapes me.) These are not different religions; they are actually all considered part of Christianity.

Finally, after the Protestant Reformation (notice the spur of Protestantism off of Catholicism in the chart above), a virtual plethora of Protestant "denominations" arose. Below is a chart of some of the ones you might be familiar with. (Ironically enough, the earliest of these various denominations proceeded to fight and kill one another quite frequently for several years. Aren't you glad that we now fortunately realize that we who are Protestants are all Christians and that Lutherans need not slay Baptists, Anglicans shouldn't behead Lutherans, etc.)

Don't study the above chart too closely. The denominations aren't arranged in any particular fashion except that "lots of others" can be a sub-category of "Bible Churches" or "Non-Denominational" or entirely outside of both categories. One of the problems however is that many non-Christian religious movements, groups, and cults, aim to convince people they are a "denomination" when in actuality, the beliefs make them otherly altogether (a different religion).

My charts are very simplistic. Better charts are published in pamphlet form by Rose Publishing.

Does this clear up some of the confusion? If you're still wondering about the earlier examples, here are the answers, you sillies:

religion

denomination

ARE

universal

Well, enough of my rambling. I hope that this proves helpful the next time you spot a similar misconception. Point your guilty violators to this post and maybe it can clear up the confusion! :)

-RCW

Q & A Resources

2009-08-31T14:19:00.000-05:00

Okay, so one of the best things we do in the Bible Study that I help lead is a Question & Answer session. Members are encouraged to bring a friend, bring some food, and bring a question that can be about the Bible, about Christianity, the Christian life, a certain Bible passage, theology, the church, etc.

A couple of the times we did the Q & A session, I mentioned a few resources that someone might be able to consult if they wanted to "cut the middle man out" so to speak. In other words, if someone wanted to play the Question and Answer game on their own, they could consult these resources (among others). Here those are resources as well.

R.C. Sproul - Now That's A Good Question

Ravi Zacharias - Who Made God? and Questions to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith

Paul Little - Know Why You Believe

CARM -
This is a wonderful resource that I stumbled onto as a senior in high school. Christian Apologetics Resource Ministry is a tremendous wealth of information on virtually any topic that you could ever confront. World religions, difficult passages, theological questions, etc. I am not saying that I agree with everything you will find there, but you will find that it is extremely helpful. It attempts to be objective and answer questions in ways that are Biblically faithful and theologically sound. Check it out for yourself!

The Theology Program - If you have questions that are of a more theological nature, a great resource is the Theology Program's resources.

Remember, these are just a few user-friendly resources for starters. There are certainly other great ones as well.

-RCW

A Few Spiritual Growth Resources (Part 4 of 4)

2009-08-21T09:25:00.005-05:00

Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow -
This brief and user-friendly resource is an excellent guide for new Christians desiring to begin growing in their walk with Christ or for stagnant Christians that might suddenly realize they're not growing in their walk with Christ. I have already mentioned in a previous post of my admiration of R.C. Sproul. In this short book, Sproul identifies five crucial “nutrients” that promote spiritual growth: Bible study, prayer, worship, service, and stewardship.

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth -
I don't know how to summarize this book adequately in a few sentences. It has won countless awards, it is used all over the world in theological schools and seminaries, and it is perhaps the best book on the spiritual disciplines out there. I can put it to you this way: Nearly everyone who attended seminary in the last 25 years has probably read or at least purchased this book. Richard Foster, the books author, comes from a Quaker background, but you certainly don't have to agree with every little statement or opinion of his to get enormous insight from this book.

The Imitation of Christ -
Written over five centuries ago by Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible (according to the back cover of my copy). It has been acclaimed by countless readers as one of the greatest spiritual masterpieces ever written. John Wesley considered The Imitation of Christ to be of such value to spiritual growth, and the best summary of the Christian life, that he personally translated it for the use of his followers. This book was instrumental in the early Methodists' revival of England. There's a reason this book has stood the test of time...it's certainly a Christian classic.

A Year With C.S. Lewis -
Beloved author C. S. Lewis is our trusted guide in this intimate day-by-day one year companion offering his distinctive and celebrated wisdom. Amidst the bustle of our daily experience, Lewis writes about themes such as the nature of love, the existence of miracles, overcoming a devastating loss, and discovering a profound faith. These daily meditations have been selected an put together from Lewis's celebrated classics: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, and A Grief Observed, as well as from the distinguished works The Weight of Glory and The Abolition of Man. Throughout the book, the reader will also find biographical commentary about C. S. Lewis's life. A perfect resource for everyone who cherishes Lewis's timeless words.

A Year With Dietrich Bonhoeffer -
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was only thirty-nine when he was executed by the Nazis in 1945, yet his influence on Christian life has been enormous. His passionate, theology-based opposition to Hitler's Nazi regime made him a leader, along with Karl Barth, in Germany's Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer is embraced by both liberal and conservative Christians, and the integrity of his faith and life have led believers everywhere to recognize him as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers of the twentieth century. This book showcases his letters, sermons, and writings--which are a treasure of spiritual wisdom, social conscience, pastoral care, and theological insight--in a one year daily devotional format. This resource is sure to encourage and deepen your reflections and meditations. There's even a foreword by Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics. Bonhoeffer's faith led him to lay his very life down and his influence will forever continue. (As an aside: Other titles by Bonhoeffer that would be good to read and grow in Christ include The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together).

Christian Beliefs : Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know -
Theology is important because what we believe affects how we live. Wayne Grudem's beefy textbook Systematic Theology has established itself as a foundational reference in the evangelical church today, prized by pastors and teachers everywhere. But this is not that book. Instead, this is a very readable condensation of Grudem's award-winning book on systematic theology. It is a reader-friendly guide to Christian doctrines--for new believers and all Christians. If you're a relatively new believer in Jesus, or if you're a more mature Christian looking for a quick brush up on basics of the faith, Christian Beliefs is a great resource.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life -
The message of this book is that: Far from being legalistic, restrictive, or binding, as they are often perceived, the spiritual disciplines are actually the means to unparalleled spiritual liberty. So if you'd like to embark on a lifelong quest for godliness, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will help you on your way. Based on the rich heritage left us by the early church fathers, the Puritan writers, and Jesus Christ Himself, Whitney takes you through a carefully selected array of disciplines that includes Scripture reading, prayer, worship, Scripture meditation, evangelism, serving, stewardship, Scripture application, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and learning. By illustrating why the disciplines are important, showing how each one will help you grow in godliness, and offering practical suggestions for cultivating them on a long-term basis, this resource will provide you with a refreshing opportunity to embrace life's greatest pursuit--the pursuit of holiness--through a lifelong delight in the disciplines. Whitney currently teaches at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. This is also the book that probably most closely approximates Celebration of Discipline.

Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health - The title of this books pretty well describes it. Whitney poses intensely introspective questions to aid Christians as they gauge their own level of spiritual health. Do they have a driving thirst for God, as well as behavior dictated by God's holy standards? How loving to others and sensitive to the Holy Spirit are they? Do they experience genuine grief over personal sin and a willingness to forgive repeat offenders? Whitney also discusses the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditating upon Scripture, and so forth, showing readers how to transform these often routine rituals into faith-building activities. He advises Christians to spend more energy enjoying God and developing a Christlike nature and makes readers aware that following Christ is a lifetime commitment. This book is great for unearthing deeply entrenched habits and digging for the treasure found only in a carefully-kept relationship with God.

Alright, so that concludes this series of posts about spiritual growth resources, but I am sure you are well aware that not just more resources out there, but that this won't be the last time I provide lists of resources. :)

-RCW

By the way, I apologize if some of these descriptions read a bit like a sales pitch. That is because I used portions of the books' own descriptions to formulate my own, tweaking things here or there. It's not plagiarism because 1) I am telling you what I did; 2)Who is going to argue that the books are REALLY about what I have said. If anything I have tried to be more faithful to the books themselves by using their own descriptions; and 3) What writer or publisher would have a problem with me showcasing their books and suggesting them as resources?

"The Question"

2009-08-11T13:18:00.003-05:00

I experience so many blessings working for the church and doing the things that God has called me to do in that setting...specifically, my role at the church is to help adults (everyone from college age upwards) to grow in their faith.

So, naturally I feel that I have an amazing job that is certainly full of its own rewards. But today I had a special blessing. An individual I just met on Sunday for the first time called me up on the phone and asked me one of the questions that I am convinced pleases God so tremendously. He simply asked, "What can I do to become a stronger Christian? How can I grow in my faith?"

Have you asked that question lately?

-RCW

P.S. (Answering that very question is part of this blog's purpose!)

A Few Spiritual Growth Resources (#3 of 4)

2009-08-06T12:33:00.002-05:00

Knowing God Through the Year with J.I. Packer -
Every Christian should read J.I. Packer's Knowing God. It is a classic that will surely endure the test of time...not to mention it's written by one of the most outstanding churchmen and theologians alive today...Did I mention he attended C.S. Lewis's lectures while a student at Oxford and later as a result gave his life to Christian ministry? Anyway, enough about the author (can you tell he's a hero of mine?). About the book: this is a one-year guide through one of the most treasured books of Christian spirituality: J. I. Packer's Knowing God. Each day you'll read a Scripture and a brief passage about the glory of God and the joy of being in relationship with Him. An idea at the end of each day's reading will help you to respond to God in prayer and reflection.

Discipleship Essentials -
This resource can be used in a variety of ways. Even though this material is designed for groups of three, it can also be used successfully as an individual study, a one-on-one discipling tool or even a small group curriculum.
Each week contains the following elements:
-a core truth presented in a question-answer format
-a memory verse and accompanying study
-an inductive Bible study
-a reading on the theme for the week
-questions to draw out key principles in the reading

Morning and Evening -
Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening has earned its status as a devotional classic. Generations after Spurgeon's death, Christians are still finding his timeless and original engagement with God's Word to be a refreshing way to begin and end their day. In this yearly devotional, there is literally a very short devotional for the morning and a very short devotional for the evening for every single day. Spurgeon was one of the most noteworthy Baptists in history. If that weren't enough, this particular edition has the touch of one of my favorite pastors alive today as well...Noted pastor and author Alistair Begg has updated Spurgeon's language while preserving the dignity and clarity of Spurgeon's original words and written a nice introduction as well.

Learning from Jesus (a Renovare' Spiritual Formation Guide) -
These guides are workbooks that personally take you on a journey to be more like Christ. The aim of this one is to make you more like Christ by doing a focused study on Jesus Himself. It covers everything from Jesus's interactions with those around him to His revolutionary wisdom recorded in the Gospels. Other titles in the series include "Connecting with God", "Living the Mission", and "Prayer and Worship". The Renovare' website is a great place to find other resources as well. These guides can be used by individuals as well as small groups.

Everyday Blessings with Max Lucado -
If you love Max Lucado's books, you will be delighted to find this resource. This is a small devotional with very short entries for every day of the year that come straight from the pen of the beloved Christian inspirational author. 365 reflections on individual scriptures in a conversational style that people everywhere have come to love.

The Keys to Spiritual Growth -
I own this but haven't really read it entirely, so here's a "canned" description: God intends for every Christian to grow to spiritual maturity. His Word commands us to progress daily toward a fuller personal knowledge of God and Christ. In this book Pastor John MacArthur thoroughly explores a multitude of biblical passages to reveal the riches of God in Jesus Christ--riches that will help us continue growing in both faith and spirit. This noted pastor and author takes readers back to the basics of what the true Christian life is all about, so that they can unlock the treasures God has for them in Christ. Sorry to use the lame "infomercial" language to describe it. John MacArthur is certainly a beloved, well-known, competent author when it comes to spiritual growth, understanding the Bible and theology, etc.

Running the Race: A Graduate’s Guide to Life -
If there's one resource I like to put into the hands of recent high school or college graduates, it is this one. Graduates have many important decisions to make-about careers, education, dating, and marriage-all of which will be influenced by their faith. Sproul invites graduates to think about what they believe and how their worldview and the worldview of others will touch each aspect of their future. Along the way, he offers helpful tips on how graduates can discover God's will and bring their life into harmony with it. Drawing from some of his classic books, Sproul even gives a brief overview of philosophies that graduates may encounter as they meet people who approach the world differently. Sproul also answers common questions graduates ask about their faith, including: "Why should I trust the Bible?" "Isn't it narrow-minded to say Christ is the only way?" and "Why does God let horrible things happen?" Sproul is founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, is a professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Knox Theological Seminary, speaks on the daily radio program "Renewing Your Mind", and has written or edited more than fifty books. (Did I mention he's one of my personal heroes?)

Hope these are still proving helpful!

-RCW

Self Examination

2009-08-01T01:25:00.003-05:00

Going just by the title, let me answer what may be a question for some of you...No, this posting is not about breast exams, physicals, prostate or testicular cancer. In other words, it is safe and pleasant to keep reading. :)

SOME PHILOSOPHICAL TIDBITS
I posted a few weeks ago about our natural and dangerous tendency as humans to fault-find and judge others. Later this week I received a fortune cookie with a message that I thought naturally tied into this post. It simply reads: "It is more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others." I read it and thought, "Perhaps that's why we don't do it (judge ourselves)."

We can switch though-patterns too...The Chinese wisdom in fortune cookies reflects tidbits of what you might call "eastern philosophy." What about what is commonly known as "western philosophy?"

Even Socrates -- the great philosopher and teacher of Plato -- is attributed to have employed the maxim, "The unexamined life is not worth living." That's not just some archaic quip. In essence, the statement asserts that someone who gives no thought to how they live, what they do, what they say, and never taking time to do some introspection or reflect on their own priorities (90% of Americans) are living a meaningless existence.

THE CONCLUSION
Okay, so you don't have to be a follower of Jesus to do what Plato and my silly little fortune cookie suggest. The philosophers seem to understand its importance well enough. You can examine yourself just fine regardless of your faith perspective. But where the process differs for the Christian is in the standard by which we measure ourselves. For the Christian, we should obviously look to the Bible for our spiritual idea of what should be normal in our lives. More specifically, we long to be more like Christ and develop the fruit of the spirit, grow in godliness, etc. Someone outside the fold of the Christian faith is left to merely aim for "a better self" or readjusting their priorities in such a way that they are more likely to bring success or happiness, etc.

God expects perfection from us. He says multiple times throughout the scriptures, "Be holy as I am holy." The only way to attain it? -It's embracing the work of Jesus Christ and asking that the sacrifice He made on the cross to count for you. If your reading this blog, you probably already know that. But think for a moment just how revolutionary this is for us who have Jesus - we don't have to worry about a thousand priorities or "try" to be better. We don't have to settle for a vague definition of what is best. We don't have to go it alone and figure out what works best for ourselves.

No, instead we have it all there before us. Jesus Christ and His righteousness have become ours. When we do our self-examining we are doing more than looking at ourselves. We are asking God to look at us. We are submitting to His words about what is best for us. We are asking Him to let us see ourselves as He sees us.

What I am speaking of is a spiritual self-examination. Is it time for one?

THE RESOLUTION
Prayer: Lord, help me to make your word the standard by which I measure my success. Help me to examine my own spirituality and determine if it reflects more of you or if it simply reflects more of me. God help me to set aside all worrying and prioritizing that does not have you at the center of the picture. Send me to your word to find my answers for how I should be living, how I should spend my time, what I should say, what I should do, where I should go, how I should act, and ultimately the goal for which I strive. Conform me more
-- even this very moment -- into the image of You. Amen.

More Spiritual Growth Resources (Pt. 2 of 4)

2009-07-29T13:39:00.005-05:00

RZIM Critical Questions Series (Titles Include: Can I Trust the Bible?, What is Truth?, Who Was Jesus?, Is God Real?) -
Some of the world's leading Christian intellectuals have put together a set of Bible study guides that address the deeper questions that skeptics and thinkers often have that keep them from Christianity. Honest answers to tough questions. If Ravi Zacharias has his initials on it, you know it is going to be intellectually up-to-snuff.

From Creation to the Cross -
Since this book is basically an introduction to the Old Testament with questions for personal reflection following each chapter, it may be best-suited for those who are ready to ride without the training wheels. Most Christians don't quite know what to do with the first half of the Bible. From Creation to the Cross is a guide through the Old Testament that points out along the way perspectives and insights that leave us with a new, personal understanding of these thirty-nine books that ultimately point us to Jesus.

Your Life in Christ (Book 1 in Navpress' “Design For Discipleship” Series) -
If you are looking for something basic and user-friendly, yet but Biblical, deep, and profound, this is the study to start with. This is one of the books I put in the hands of new believers who are looking to start growing in their faith. It is published by one of my favorite publishers, NAVPRESS - a large Christian publishing company that publishes nothing but books and resources meant for Christian discipleship. (What an amazing ministry, eh?) This is the just the first book of the series.

New Life in Christ -
This is the other resource that I like to sometimes put into new believers' hands. It is again very basic and user-friendly, but in the end deeply Biblical. The back cover reads: "It starts with a tiny seed of faith that takes root in your heart. Then, like a tree, it grows into something strong, beautiful, and living whose influence dominates the landscape of your life. This is the nature of life in Christ—something so profound that the Bible says you are literally a new creation. Your new life in Christ is much more than what you experienced at conversion. God wants to open your eyes to all the marvelous things he has given you as his child. This study guide will help you grasp the hope, the riches, and the great power God has given you through his Son, Jesus."

My Utmost For His Highest -
A world of things could be boasted about this book. It is probably the best-selling devotional of all time, and probably one of the best-selling Christian books of all time (second maybe to John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress). Whatever the statistics, it is a classic for a reason. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. Worldly cares and self-serving desires begin to lose their appeal as Chambers aides the reader in transforming his mind by viewing life through the instruction of God's Word. Each daily reading is a short encouragement or reflection based upon a certain given text of scripture.

Yahweh: Divine Encounters in the O.T. -
This is a workbook that takes you through the Old Testament in 48 weeks. Each lesson has scripture and interactive questions that will help you apply God's word into your own life. This is a great place to start if the Old Testament intimidates you or if you really struggle with drawing out meaningful quiet time reflections from the Old Testament. (Plus, one of my supervisors Ty Gulick was the executive editor for the book). :)

How to Read the Bible Book by Book -
Have you ever been totally clueless about what the scriptures are talking about as you read in your quiet time? This is a wonderful guide that anyone might consult to help them work through any book of the Bible or the entire thing. Every book of the Bible gets about a 3 page treatment...Tips for Reading, What to Watch For, An Outline of the Book, Key Themes, etc. This is one of the best references you can use to REALLY understand what the book meant before you begin to decide and apply what it means for your life.

Stay tuned for the rest...And happy reading!

-RCW

A Few Spiritual Growth Resources (Part 1 of 4)

2009-07-23T16:17:00.022-05:00

Recently I was teaching our college and young adults at church and we were studying the topic of spiritual growth...especially regarding quiet times and spiritual growth resources. I did something unique in that I had them each draw a number and the number they drew was keyed to a spiritual growth resource I had brought along to the class. They each grabbed their resource and I gave them approximately 5 minutes to look it over long enough to tell the entire class about the resource, its value, etc. Some people have asked me to go ahead and list those resources I brought with me that day. Here they are in a four-part installment.

Also, these make great Christmas gifts since many of them are "Through the Year Devotionals" and Christians young and old might be making New Year's Resolutions.

Remember these are just a few resources (the possibilities are endless, so this list is by no means exhaustive) that someone could use during his or her devotional time. Also, let me say that while these resources may be helpful in cultivating a devotional life, there's still no substitute however for simply going straight to your Bible during your devotional time.

So here you go....the first of four posts of spiritual growth resources.

The One Year Book of Christian History -
This resource has a one page devotional for every day of the year. On each day of the year, you'll read a stirring story about a character or event in church history. It is particularly interesting because in each devotional, the dates of the devotionals correspond to the dates in the story. In other words, each day you'll read about something in church history that occurred ON THAT VERY DATE.

A Faith and Culture Devotional -
This resource is amazing because it is a sort of "Christian Worldview" devotional. The devotionals come from Christian academics from a wide array of fields...art, history, science, bible and theology, philosophy, economics, etc. This makes a great devotional for the Christian who enjoys using their mind and who realizes the very important reality: that all of our life belongs to God and relates to Him rather than just the church time, devotional time, prayer time, etc. Truth and Beauty...wherever they can be found (in science, in sociology, in literature, etc.) belong to God and have their source, origin, root, their context, and their truest meaning when they are seen in reference to Him.

Through the Bible Through the Year -
This daily devotional offers reflections on passages from Genesis though Revelation. The author (John Stott) is one of the most internationally acclaimed Christian pastors and scholars. The great thing about this devotional is that it takes you through the entire Bible and help you connect both the details of the events with the broader story as a whole. You get the Bible's "big picture" and larger theological concepts and themes WHILE you go through each individual book. A gem if I might say so myself.

Letters Along the Way -
Some say this book is "like Screwtape Letters in reverse". Imagine that you had a sort of older and wiser Christian who had a wealth of theological expertise, a wealth of pastoring insight, etc. to walk you through your experiences in the Christian life. All you had to do was write. That's the sort of relationship that sparked this book. The book consists of letters that were sent from a "senior saint" to a 'junior saint"...about all sorts of topics that the Christian might face...conversion, trusting Christ, temptations, the Christian and psychology, sharing one's faith with others, discerning God's will, etc. This is an especially nice read for someone either in ministry or studying for it.

Devotional Classics -
Revised edition of this collection of readings from devotional writers throughout the church ages. This volume includes excerpts from writers such as Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Thomas a Kempis, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Evelyn Underhill, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. For each reading there are reflections, questions for discussion, and bibliographies for further reading.

Spiritual Classics -
This resource (like the last one) puts together writings from some of the brightest men and women of the Christian tradition. St. Augustine, Thomas Merton, Fredrick Buechner, A.W. Tozer, G.K. Chesterton, Thomas More, Martin Luther King, Jr., Amy Carmichael, Simone Weil, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hildegard of Bingen, John Milton, Dorothy Day, Leo Tolstoy, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and more...From nearly two thousand years of Christian writing comes fifty-two selections complete with a profile of each author, guided meditations for group and individual use, and reflections containing questions and exercises. Editors Richard Foster and Emilie Griffith offer their expertise by selecting inspirational writings and including their own commentary and recommendations for further guided reading and exploration.

Stay tuned for the rest!!!

-RCW

The Trouble with X....

2009-06-04T14:30:00.007-05:00

Yes, it's been a while since I wrote. Let's not make it an issue. Such is life. On a personal note, I have been refreshed to be leading a group of college students and young adults on a journey toward spiritual growth. It's been awesome and really rejuvenating to see their passion for God and how much they are enjoying it. No credit to me whatsoever except to say I have been extra busy as of late...with the class, with the rest of my responsibilities at the church I work at, marriage, my wife's recent downturn in health, etc. All that has made the writing (on this blog anyway) cease...but only temporarily.

The name of this particular entry is identical to the name of one of C.S. Lewis's essays. It is a very good quick read (maybe a couple of pages long). I will summarize it for you.

There is something innately human about our tendency to fault-find. No person is immune. For instance, we think that some people are absolutely charming until we get to know them and realize that we can find several things we'd change about them. Just ask a newly married wife...a few months into the marriage is when she realizes that there are some things about her husband that she did NOT sign on for. My wife of course is no exception. Hence, the title of Lewis's essay is "The Trouble with X..." In other words, the title is using the phrase that we so easily slip into - "The trouble with so-and-so is...fill in the blank here." It simply rattles off of our tongue readily. "I like Tom except that he always bites his nails and interrupts." Or "I enjoy her, but I dread the way she fixes her hair." These are superficial remarks, but they generally go much deeper. And to make matters worse, the closer we are to the person (let's say the person is an immediate family member), the most sharp and merciless the judgements become. Sometimes we spend so much time dwelling on the "troubles" with our family members (their faults), that we forget that there was ever any good in them at all!

Jesus of course said much on the subject, but perhaps the most important thing he said about it is this:

Those aren't my words, they're His. If you want to follow Christ, we have to examine our own flawed selves first and foremost before we start criticizing everyone else...especially our loved ones and family members. How sad that we often treat worst the ones we love the most.

Prayer: Lord, help me to examine my own self before I am so quick to criticize everyone around me. Help me to see my own self and my own glaring sin clearly so that I may remove it. I ask that you help me with this that I might not only understand my self better, but that I might love others as you love them. Amen.

-RCW

2nd Blessings?

2009-04-14T20:05:00.009-05:00

Here is another response to some of your questions:

No matter what the preachers on television may tell you, hear this:

already

You don't need to pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon you a 2nd time. You don't need to pray for (or fabricate) a religious experience that would prove to yourself or anyone else that you are a follower of Christ. Some churches have a type of elitist mentality among them...they would agree in principle that as followers of Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, etc...that Christians are all equal before God. Yet, within their religious community of faith, they practice a different standard...they elevate those that have had a "tongues" experience as somehow "super-spiritual"; meanwhile, those who have not had such an experience are denigrated to the substrata of the "lesser-spirituals."

There is a boat load of scripture to support what I am saying. If you want to dive into this matter further and better understand the Holy Spirit, I'd order this, this, this, or this for starters.

And whatever you do, don't buy some prayer cloth that you have to pay $19.95 to activate...

-RCW

So You Wanna Understand the Bible Better?

2009-04-02T15:33:00.019-05:00

In recent weeks, a few of you have asked me questions regarding how to dig deeper into the Bible. So, you wanna understand the Bible better?

There are so many great resources out there to go deeper in your own Bible study (I wanted to learn so much that I pursued a Masters degree in it!).

Here are a few simple helps:

The NAVPRESS Life Change Series

The InterVarsity Press Bible Study Resources

A Walk Through the Bible by Lesslie Newbigin

Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods

www.bible.org

Aside from the few statements in the discussion of evolution and Adam & Eve, I would heartily recommend John Stott's Understanding the Bible

How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee

How to Read the Bible For All its Worth by Gordon Fee

Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul

Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (has an accompanying workbook)

The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F.F. Bruce
Some good Introductions to the Old Testament- R.K. Harrison, Hill & Walton, Dillard & Longman

Some good Introductions to the New Testament- Carson Moo & Morris, Donald Guthrie, Lea

Other helpful books include I. Howard Marshall, Black & Dockery, Stephen Neill & Tom Wright, Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

The IVP Bible Background Commentaries on the OT & NT are great for backgrounds

If it's commentaries you seek, NIVAC & Tyndale make for good starters. (The links here are to the NT sets though they have OT sets as well.)

This is by no means whatsoever a comprehensive list. Libraries could not contain the bibliography that I could compile for you. These just come to my mind first. I hope this is helpful.

-RCW

Time for FAQs

2009-03-24T13:17:00.002-05:00

Alright, it's that time. Questions and Answers.

You can email me* topics or studies that you would like to see on the website. I will sort through them and address whichever ones in whatever order. Thanks!

* Some of you had some trouble emailing me in the past. Here's how: click on the link under my picture up at the top of the website or if that doesn't work for you, just hover over the link and you'll see my email address pop into the bottom left corner of your browser. It's rcw.faithfirmlyrooted@gmail.com .

What do YOU say about YOU when you DO?

2009-03-12T14:56:00.008-05:00

What a confusing title, eh? (And no, I am not Canadian).

I suppose the title deserves some explanation. To mix things up, I will start with a question:

implicit

explicit

Jesus surely meant to point out this whole concept when He said that "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45 NIV).

If I followed you around everywhere you went for a couple of weeks, I would have a very good idea of who you are. Would it be who you hope to be? Actions speak so much louder than words. "Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise..." (Eph. 5:15 NIV).

Prayer: Father, help me to examine my actions. Help me to be the person you've made me to be. May you open my eyes to the messages I communicate about myself and (since I am a Christian) therefore about you. Make me someone who is so transformed by you that everything I say, do, or think would communicate your life-changing power within me. May I not have to fake holiness, or tell people constantly what I am about. Instead, may I BE holy as You are holy (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16) so that "my light would shine before men, that they may see my good deeds, and glorify You, my Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)"

Where Do I Start? (Part 3)

2009-03-06T00:01:00.010-06:00

You might have guessed that there would be more to come on this topic. The discussion arose over the occasional question posed in a variety of ways: Where should a new believer start? With just a twinge of sarcasm, I mentioned one thing in the first posting: Starting with the Bible may be the most novel thing to do. Ya think?! I mentioned two things in the last posting: 1) Start a journal; and 2)In that journal, record any thoughts or questions you might have or topics you'd like to study. Pray and seek answers relentlessly.

Here now comes still another bit of wisdom.

Be on your guard for discouragement will most assuredly come to you sooner or later.

ONE possibility is opposition from outside. One reality we often dismiss or forget is the simple fact that the enemy Satan always seems to mount a counter-attack of sorts. Sometimes it is as sure as clockwork. This is why if you were to come to me ecstatic over your friend, coworker, loved one, or whomever becoming a Christian, more and more I believe that the best thing I could do is to urge you: "Now you REALLY have to pray!" We should always pray very hard for those who have just newly become followers of Christ. For the scriptures even promise that there will be trouble awaiting them on account of their decision. If we think of this in terms of the reality of spiritual warfare, we will understand the exchange that has taken place. The enormous truth is that the new believer has become a traitor to his original army (evil) and has joined the ranks and battle lines of the opposing side (righteousness). Turning from the kingdom of darkness and joining the kingdom of Christ is a decision that those living in darkness (be they spiritual beings or human ones) will surely want to persuade you to reconsider.

The SECOND possibility is that the discouragement comes from within. There is a marvelous book that any Christian might enjoy entitled Letters Along the Way. One of the early difficulties for the main character of the book was that once he became a Christian, he constantly felt terrible about himself. His conscience was suddenly so acutely aware of his sin and so aware of his shortcomings, so stricken by the chasm between God's perfection and his own non-perfection, that he became very discouraged indeed.

If that describes you, rest assured that the feeling of inadequacy is one that is not only normal, but to an extent encouraged. In fact, that feeling is likely the result of the Holy Spirit already working within you. Dwelling on your own shortcomings can lead to guilt. And this sort of guilt is much different than the natural feeling of conviction from the Holy Spirit. One leads us to throw up a white flag and surrender, sulking over ourselves. The other leads us to fall on our knees in repentance so that we can live in the victory that is ours thanks to the forgiveness extended to us by our Most Holy God. God wants us to redirect this new feeling to its proper result - He wants us not to wallow in self-centered grief, but to look to Him and let this feeling cause us to overflow with gratitude for His grace and mercy He has shown us by cleansing us and making us holy.

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,

'He who is coming will come and will not delay

But my righteous one will live by faith.

And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.'

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." ~ (Hebrews 10:35-39 NIV)~

-RCW

Where Do I Start? (Part 2)

2009-03-04T00:11:00.005-06:00

I already said that I occasionally have people inquire of me -- either as a new believer or for another new believer -- where they should start to begin growing. I already said in my previous post what my first bit of advice would be.

My next bit of advice would be this:

Start a journal. You can write anything in it. Prayers, goals, recording the events of your day, experiences, scriptures, quotes, poems, lists, or anything you think belongs in it that relates to your spiritual life, etc.

Also, as you begin reading the Bible, tackle the topic(s) that you find most intriguing, most important, most urgent in your own life. As a new believer (or as an "old" one!), if you think of a question you have about the Bible or about faith, or about Christianity, write it down in your journal and record the date by it. Then, make it your resolution to hunt and pursue the answer. Become relentless in your pursuit of the truth. Chase after understanding. The book of Proverbs instructs us to do so. (See Prov. 4:7 among many others) How do you find the answer? Here are some simple suggestions:

Pray. You just can't underestimate the power of prayer. Jesus Himself says this: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" [I imagine this would have been humorous to those listening...and brace yourself: Jesus may have even chuckled as He said it!]. He continues, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Mt. 7:7-11 NIV). Elsewhere He tells his disciples (and by extension us as well) that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth (John 16:13).
Ask someone you know to be a person who studies their Bible, loves God, and loves others. Maybe that is your pastor, maybe that is a friend or Bible teacher. Maybe you need to email a Bible professor or search out a Christian book on the topic.
Keep reading and praying. Jesus was teaching about prayer one time and used a story to communicate the importance of persistence in our prayer. Imagine that...God wants us to continually come to Him in prayer even when we don't get our answer immediately. The story by the way can be found in Luke 18:1-8 or you can just click here to read it.
Study. This is tough to stomach in our culture. We want answers with no searching, results with no effort, secret formulas and quick fixes at no cost. Sometimes growing in our faith and pursuing Christ does not accommodate our laziness. Thankfully, there are some great Bible study aids online. You can access a few by clicking here, here, or here.
If after all this, for some unknown reason you still can't find an answer to your question, you can email me or you can go find your answer here (though not everyone has the flexibility to do this last one).

To be continued...

-RCW

Where Do I Start?

2009-03-01T18:36:00.009-06:00

As a minister in the local church, and someone who is passionate about helping people grow in their walk with Christ, I get asked the question quite a bit...."Cole, I have a friend that just became a believer. I am looking to give this person something to start them in their walk with Christ. Do you have suggestions?" Or sometimes a new believer will approach me themselves and ask the same sort of question: "Where do I start?"

I WILL be brief because a long answer only complicates.

HOW ABOUT...THE BIBLE?
To begin with, most people find the Bible to be an ideal starting point. Specifically, I find that the Gospel of John to presents a great starting point. There is simply no replacement for what God can do in someone when they simply read the Bible for themselves. Many times we underestimate peoples' ability to understand the simple message of the Bible. The Gospel of John is perfect to demonstrate this since it has often been said in a variety of ways that John's Gospel is deep enough that the most intelligent Bible scholars can plumb its depths and never get as deep as they would like, and yet it is not so deep that an infant in Christ will drown. As for English translations, there is a great pamphlet put out by Rose Publishing that helps distinguish between translations. My advice is to pick the translation that best suits both your purposes as well as where you are at in your walk with Christ. A New Living Translation or Message may be a great help to a new believer who hasn't spent a whole lot of time in church, but someone engaged in deep study of the Bible would want something like the NASB. An in between may be NIV, RSV, or ESV. Every translation is an interpretation...it just depends how much you want interpreted FOR YOU and how much you want to do the dirty work of interpretation yourself. If you are stuck and can't choose a translation email me by clicking the link under my picture at the top left corner of this webpage. Need a Bible reading plan? That's simple. Search the web and you'll find plenty. NAVPRESS, one of my favorite Christian publishers (who by the way publishes ONLY resources that aim to help believers grow in their faith), has some great ones you can view here. Others are available here, here, here, and plenty of other places too.

To be continued....

-RCW

Moving by Faith

2009-02-12T14:27:00.010-06:00

Hey there, everyone. I know I haven't written in a while but let me remind you that it is because I value your time...for it is one of the most simple truths of life: There are those who want to say something and then there are those who have something to say. It is my own efforts to be the latter and not the former that have kept me from writing.

So, have you ever read The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer? It is an immensely powerful book to read...it may even be a book that you should save until your heart is ready to be greatly moved. My entry comes from reminiscing about its more potent passages. Bonhoeffer goes through the Gospel of Matthew for most of the book and points out that the disciples were placed in much the same position as Abraham. There are times when we have the time to contemplate and think out the rational reasons for taking steps of faith. The disciples didn't necessarily have such a privilege. Instead, Christ simply came by the shore and said, "Follow me." There was no time to draw up pros and cons, no time to weigh the options...Follow or don't.
Likewise, Abraham was told to leave his father and mother, go to the land that God would show him. Obedience preceded the need to understand. Obedience may have even preceded trust!

Have you ever found yourself in such a situation? We don't need all the information to decide whether to follow where God leads. When Christ summons you to follow, which path will you take? Will you respond in obedience? You might not ever have the same chance again! Walk where He leads and never look back.

-RCW

A Different Look Towards Valentines

2009-01-29T10:58:00.009-06:00

The topic of love is everywhere in our society. That Valentine's Day is approaching simply brings it more prominently to our attention. The world's notion of love is starkly different than real and genuine biblical love.

I think the world is in love with the thought of love. Romance is another word for it. Sometimes all that people equate love with is some sort of strong sexual attraction. For the disciple growing in Christ, it is plain that there is a stark difference between mere erotic impulses and enduring, persevering, unconditional, self-sacrificing biblical love.

I won't rattle off the countless scriptures which help outline what love is. There are many that would suffice, but this topic is not actually the topic I was aiming to discuss.

Rather, I wanted to use "love" in the non-romantic sense altogether. Better words for what I speak of would include words like: "worship," or "affinity," or "admiration." Basically, I simply wanted to let you know about a certain concept that is absolutely central to discipleship.

One new book by a professor/mentor of mine speaks of this concept precisely . I have spoken of Dr. Naugle before in a previous blog. His new book is entitled Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness and you can well imagine its subject matter. In the book, I believe Dr. Naugle is picking up on St. Augustine's idea of the "ordered loves."

This may not mean a hill of beans to you just yet. But here's how it can:

Think for a minute about all the things that fit into your own priorities. Your likes and dislikes, your affections for a thousand things, people, places, events, substances, etc. Can you put them in order? what comes to the top? What fits at the bottom? Should they? Distinguish between what you would like to be at the top and what actually is at the top based upon your actions and lifestyle. If that takes two separate lists entirely, make two. Pray about the list.

God, may you have us so in Your hand and be so shaping us that we may continually conform to Your image and likeness. Just as You are holy, may we be holy in all that we do...especially in our priorities. For the things that we orient our lives around are the things that we love the most; and in turn, the things that we love the most are the things which we indeed worship and devote ourselves unto. Oh God, may you help us all to rightly order our loves. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, minds that know, wills to obey, and hearts to love - YOU above all. Amen.

-RCW

What Sums You Up?

2009-01-27T20:10:00.018-06:00

I am beginning to teach a college and young adult Bible study class on Sunday. For curriculum, I am using John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life.

The premise is so very basic, but the message somehow seems to be so needed among those in our churches today. I am not sure why the enormous disconnect (between church on Sunday and the rest of the work week Monday through Saturday) continues to be so prevalent, but when I look around, it has every indication of being an epidemic.

Here is the message:

Life is so precious. You have but one to live. A simple but unforgettable proverb used to rest above the sink where I once did dishes to help pay for my theological education. I was often caught up in worship as I scrubbed. It read: "Life is like a shiny penny. You may spend it however you wish, but you may only spend it once."

John Piper shares of a similar jingle which was hung prominently in his home and continually brought him inspiration as a young man:
"Only one life, 'Twill soon be past; Only what's done for Christ will last."

What this "jingle" DOES NOT mean is that only Bible study, prayer, time at church, mission trips, and the like count for worthwhile or even "eternal" pursuits. What is DOES mean is that anything that you do for Christ...a worshipful act of any sort - whether it is reporting for your job 15 minutes early on a Monday just to be sure and set a Christian example of a godly work ethic, or changing your baby's diapers so that your spouse doesn't have to because you want to love them with Jesus' own sacrificial love, etc. - only what's done for Christ will last. This clarification is so important because it helps us not to see life divided into compartments of "sacred" time and "secular" time, but to embrace ALL of our life - every single circumstance or activity - as "sacred" time. May every moment be unto Him!

One of the many things I love about one of my own alma maters, Wheaton College (which for the record is where John Piper went to school as well back in the 60's ), is its motto: "For Christ and His Kingdom."

The Bible says: You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

So, what is the verdict? Is your life "counting" by bringing glory to God? Or are you wasting it by worshipping and pursuing other things? Where does your relationship and growth in Christ fit into your priorities? Make HIM your single passion and suddenly real, abundant, eternal life will begin.

-RCW

P.S. For additional related thoughts on this subject matter, there is a wealth of literature. A good start is the book of Proverbs or the book of James, perhaps even Ecclesiastes. The book entitled The Call by Os Guinness is pure gold. You can also see my previous entry here. In the world of literature, there is a phenomenal short work by Samuel Johnson about a prince named "Rasselas" who has to choose a way of life (readable online here). I read it in a literature class in college and it has never left me. These are only a few for starters.

Failing Forward

2009-01-10T14:47:00.015-06:00

I had to hunt down the place that I had seen the title of this entry ("Failing Forward") before. Turns out the title is borrowed from a John Maxwell book I once saw (though I KNOW the contents are not very similar). If I insert a link to the book here, I am sure no one will sue me. :)

Anyway, since it has been a while since I wrote anything, I will pick up the laptop (no more pens I suppose) and write.

The date is difficult...January 14th is now upon us. Our resolutions have recessed into the back of our consciences. Our priorities -- so sleekly and newly structured at the New Year -- have relapsed and slid back into their default positioning. Our gym membership we were so excited to get for Christmas hasn't been used in 6 days and we have plans every night for the next week that will keep us from breaking the trend.

I don't know if this describes you, but the bottom line is that January can be one of the most depressing months for many people - myself included. It's still cold outside, the sun doesn't always show itself, and perhaps your favorite football team is done for the year.

Maybe you've never noticed this rather depressing January phenomenon that I'm describing, but for many people it is very real. For some people, their entire spirituality suffers. After all, depression is something that can really disrupt or dissolve our spiritual lives if we allow it. One of the most common ways this is seen is at New Year's when Christians make lofty goals -- a goal of reading the Bible every day or spending 30 minutes in prayer every day, memorizing x number of scriptures per month, etc. Many times, by January 14th, people lose heart and simply give up.

If that's you, DON'T.

Don't resign to failure. In the words of one of my favorite bands (though ripped from their original context, of course): "Don't write yourself off yet."

Consider Hebrews 12....
In Hebrews 11, we are presented with a series of "heroes of faith." The writer of Hebrews (whoever it is...there is not much agreement upon who wrote it) presents many pillars of faith from the Old Testament and tells of how they trusted in God even though they didn't always get to see results. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (or evidence) of things not seen."

The sum of Hebrews 11 is that all of those Old Testament characters had to exercise faith in God because the things He promised them and the things they hoped for...they were not always seen. In fact, MOST of the fulfillment of God's promises weren't seen in their lifetimes.

Hebrews 12:1-11 picks right up and says, on account of all these people who have gone before us, "Therefore...." Well, you should read it for yourself here.

Press on. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. You are not under law, but under grace. You walk by faith and not sight. Run with perseverance. Shed hindrances to your faith...even when they come from your own thoughts.

Don't allow the enemy to paralyze you in the present because of what has happened in the past. It's one of his more clever and predictable schemes.

Today is a brand new day to live for Christ. What we all seem to remember is that Ephesians says that it is by grace through faith that we have been saved. What is easy to forget is that Colossians turns around and says this: Therefore in the same way as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (live your lives) in Him..."

-RCW

P.S. If you have a hard time thinking of failures and struggles being opportunities to grow in your faith, or if you think that doubts and depression are not part of a true Christian's life, I would strongly challenge you to think differently. There are plenty of great resources on the topic. There are plenty of lives throughout church history to testify about it. There is plenty in the scriptures to correct such error. I rest confident that doubt and disillusionment in the Christian life can be a tremendous catalyst for spiritual growth - I'm living proof.

A New Year Means a New Chance to Grow Spiritually

2008-12-28T20:47:00.018-06:00

Well everyone, since I know that the New Year is already upon us...

I thought perhaps there might be some bold New Year's resolutions in the arena of spiritual growth.

Since, after all, this blog is intended to be of some help in that very arena, it seems proper to offer some manageable ideas.

Why would I emphasize "manageable"? The reason for this is fairly simple. I myself have had the experience of trying to set unrealistic goals for my own devotional time and reading, prayer time, etc. I have talked to many who share the same frustration. To use the analogy of driving..haven't you ever noticed that the single greatest gear shift a car to make is the leap from 0 mph (standing still) to 1 mph (moving forward). It is best to take it slowly and carefully. Soon enough you'll be cruising along just fine.

At any rate, below are some modest proposals:

Start a daily devotional...it's easiest for beginners to purchase one and let it guide you rather than leaving it all up to you, your Bible, and the Holy Spirit. Need ideas? I will likely post some soon. From Bible reading plans to through the year devotionals, etc. there are a ton of resources out there.

Start a journal. At the church which I serve, I recently heard a pastor give this simple suggestion. What should you write about? Prayers are good, goals, memories, etc. He simply suggested this: Starting out, you can simply answer a question: "Today, what did I say, see, or 'step into'(do)?"

Forgive. There are so many people who live lives of bitterness, refusing to forgive someone who has hurt them. The holidays may bring these pains especially close to home. Isn't this the year to let it go? After all, choosing not to forgive really hurts ourselves more than anyone else.

Prioritize. Cut and paste, delete, insert. What are the things you need to cut out? What do you need to give your time to? Where can you be most effective? How can you bring God the most glory with your time? Biblically and responsibly managing our time is one of the most important things we can do after we have become a Christian.

Make New Year's every day. This may sound strange, but it is a biblical practice. Here's why: In our popular culture it is always thought that we all make New Year's resolutions around New Year's. It is the annual time for people to set goals for themselves and TRY to change if they can...sometimes they don't even have the desire to make the change, it is just that New Years comes and we HAVE to come up with some resolutions!

For the Christian, this practice of evaluating the way we live our lives, praying about what we need to do or undo, setting goals and reshaping our priorities, asking God to show us where we need to change, etc. is supposed to be as regular as inhaling and exhaling. This is how an eighty year old Christian can be as young at heart, as shapeable, as vibrant, and renewed as a twenty-something! With Christ, every day is a new chance to be transformed.

Have a thought, response, or comment, or a topic idea? Let me know with a comment or an email!

-RCW

Christmas Eve

2008-12-22T21:27:00.007-06:00

Have you ever thought about how much irony (or perhaps a better word is mystery) there is in Christian beliefs?

We worship the One and Only Triune God. He is One and still being one, He is three.

We believe that Jesus was 100% God and simultaneously 100% man. To sacrifice either one (His divinity or humanity) amounts to something non-Christian.

We believe that mankind are created in the image of God, but somehow that image was "defaced but not erased" when mankind first sinned. Thus, humans--while being precious to God--are also deeply corrupt and innately capable of the most heinous evils.

God in His sovereignty is distant, remote, unreachable, unfathomable, otherly, sitting high upon His throne. (Theologians call this His transcendence.) Yet He is also close, near, reachable, revealed, intimately acquainted with us, involved in our every day affairs. (Theologians call this His imminence.)

The pinnacle of ironies is truly this last one -- That God Himself, Almighty Sovereign of the universe with all power, all knowledge, and all wisdom would stoop down to live among us and reveal Himself to us. He could have simply appeared in all His glory and conquered the entire world. Indeed, this is the type of earthly king that some of His closest contemporaries expected Him to be. He could have "Lorded His authority over us" as most human leaders and rulers do. Why, if God had seen fit, He could have been a wealthy 21st century executive living in a swanky New York condo!

This of course was not the plan. Instead, God Himself took on human flesh (the concept theologians call the Incarnation). He came to earth in one of the most destitute lands at one of the more primitive times in history. Nobody had room for His parents to even bring Him into the world, so the birth that was announced to mere shepherds and foretold by the prophets instead took place in a stable for livestock. His mother laid Him in a feeding trough. Then the family fled to Egypt so that He wouldn't be killed.

A beautiful irony, it is Jesus' birth we celebrate - most precious of gifts, most holy of Kings.

-RCW

An Advent Scripture Reading List

2008-12-16T10:34:00.007-06:00

I came across a link the other day that took me to gospel.com (A site worth checking out if you are a new believer or have never heard of it). I began reading some articles and saw a link to an Advent Scripture Reading List put out by Mars Hill Bible Church. Here is a link to it.

As for Advent, if you are unfamiliar with the term, I can let Mars Hill give you their description below as well (though don't be mistaken and believe that I am entirely on board the Mars Hill Bible Church bandwagon altogether).

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ADVENT

The word means arrival.

In the traditional Church calendar, "Advent" is a time for celebrating the coming of Jesus: both remembering his birth and anticipating his future arrival, the restoration of all things.

From the beginning, this has been a story of unexpected contrast. Supreme Peace born under the rule of Roman brutality. Ultimate Love wrapped up in the crude, human cage of an infant’s ribs. Joy enough to carry all of life, small enough to be carried in the crook of an arm. Hope born into a struggling, battling world—into a barn. For all of us.

This year we're celebrating Advent in a number of ways: through weekly Advent services at Mars Hill, daily Bible readings, and an artists' blog.

-----

For the curious, what I mean by my above "bandwagon" comments is that while their pastor and leader Rob Bell may be a fellow Wheaton Alumni and he is definitely doing some very cool and effective things for God's Kingdom, it seems I have an element of caution. I really enjoy what they do, I am thrilled at their creativity, etc. The word of caution is due to the fact that it seems some have forgotten what we must always remember...that we worship Jesus Christ and not simply a ministry, a church, or a philosophy of ministry. Do we love the Jesus Christ that a particular teacher or ministry paints or do we love more the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures? The two may be identical, but as believers we must rid ourselves of the dependency upon JUST one source of inspiration, JUST one preacher we can listen to, JUST one ministry we get excited about, etc. Instead, we should find ultimate sufficiency in the One and Only Jesus Christ...the Reason for this season.

-RCW

Kenosis (kin-'oh-sis) and Christmas

2008-12-09T19:46:00.008-06:00

It's hard to describe all the different things that changed about me while I was away at college. As a high school student, I had enjoyed math and excelled at it, but loathed literature and reading. After sensing a call to ministry during my junior year of high school, I went to my youth minister at the time and he said that one of the first things that I should need to do if I was indeed experiencing God's call to ministry was that I should become a reader. I took his advice and have been one since. Yet the transition was one that would continue.

Evidently someone in higher education knew the sensibility and soundness of my youth minister's advice. For I went off to Dallas Baptist University and wanting to study for ministry, I chose to major in Biblical Studies. It wasn't until I began to map out which courses I would take when that I began to realize that studying for ministry must have included a healthy dose of reading for sure...I was required to take 4 English / Literature courses and 4 philosophy courses.

After beginning such courses, I found that I enjoyed them so immensely that I would use my electives to take 3 more of each and thereby earn minors in each as well! Part of the blame surely falls on some great teachers. A philosophy professor named Dr. Naugle kindled within me a love for learning and desire to love the Lord my God with all my mind...to think critically and prayerfully about things which most people take for granted. A semester or two later, I had a remarkable English professor, Dr. Mitchell who showed me that Christ was the holder and giver of all wisdom and that I could see Him and find Him in the world of literature, poetry, and books! He further kindled my love for learning and reinforced that I should love the Lord my God with all my mind as well.

The point of this blog, however, is not biographical in nature. Instead, it is spiritual. The season of Christmas reminds me that our God is so very different than others. He is True and Real surely, but what I am speaking of is that He chose to draw near to us and dwell among us.

John 1 speaks of Jesus, the "word" and "wisdom" of God, in this way:

"the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Other religions focus on how men might ascend to God. Christianity tells how God came and made His way to us.

Philippians 2:6-8 is known by theologians as "the kenosis passage" (kin-'oh-sis). Kenosis simply means "emptying". Jesus Christ, being equal to God, "emptied" Himself, made Himself nothing, took on human flesh, and came to earth to suffer and die as a man.

It is this "Kenosis" passage that my English professor whom I just spoke of wrote about when He composed the following:

KENOSIS

Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Philippians 2:6-8:

Who, being in very nature God
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross!

What happens when our words cannot express the complete truth? What do we do when our attempts to formulate an answer end in contradictions? What do we say when our every attempt to put the experience on paper fails? What are we then left with?

How can we understand the kenosis of Christ, the self-emptying of God, for our sakes? What nouns and verbs can do justice to this most profound of mysteries, that God made himself nothing?

Is there any way to sum up the deep wisdom of God in suffering? Why does his creativity seem to overflow through us when we are at our weakest and most wordless? Where may we go to better know that Christ suffered on our behalf? How can we adequately express our thanks for such a complete outpouring of himself?

How do we endure the silence of our literature when it falters in its attempts to name what is there, when it loses its moorings and contradicts itself, when it seems so full of holes and spaces? How can we explain what needs to be said once the words end? Is there any clear way to suggest that God was broken because we in word and deed are broken?

Why has God chosen to leave some things silent and unsaid?

* * * * *

Central Insight: Christ's kenosis reminds us that God was willing to be with us in our doubts and limits, including the limits of language and literature.

Suggestions for Application: Examine a particular passage that shows the limits, contradictions, or unanswered questions of a text. Draw an analogy between this and Christ's kenosis.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This "kenosis" entry from Dr. Mitchell was copied over from his own website: www.dbu.edu/mitchell. Browse it freely if you like!

-RCW

December is Here!

2008-12-03T14:07:00.009-06:00

Alright, you people, it's December... or as the RHHS's (Ridiculously Hostile Holiday Shoppers) would say - the month of "Dismember."

I'm sure you'd love to see a meaningful post about Christmas. That may yet come. For now (since I have but little time to write), here's a cool Christmas poem from one of my favorite poets John Donne:

"Nativity"
by John Donne
(1572-1631)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-belov'd imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enough, now into the world to come;
But O, for thee, for Him, hath the inn no room?
Yet lay Him in this stall, and from the Orient,
Stars and wise men will travel to prevent
The effect of Herod's jealous general doom.
Seest thou, my soul, with thy faith's eyes, how He
Which fills all place, yet none holds Him, doth lie?
Was not His pity towards thee wondrous high,
That would have need to be pitied by thee?
Kiss Him, and with Him into Egypt go,
With His kind mother, who partakes thy woe.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-RCW

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T20:17:00.006-06:00

Not sure how you celebrate Thanksgiving. We generally eat way too much, watch some football, and sleep a lot. Mixed in there is some good quality time with family.

Trying to relate thanksgiving to this site is no challenge. That's because it's hardly any work to think about the close relationship that exists between discipleship and thanksgiving. I'll simply give you a few Biblical passages:

"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders {his} way {aright} I shall show the salvation of God." - Psalm 50:23

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Philippians 4:6

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving..." - Colossians 4:2

If you want some more examples, click here.

In short, the relationship might be best stated: Thanksgiving should be a natural demeanor that characterizes the life of a devoted follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ. As we fall more in love with God and become more transformed into Christ's image (discipleship), thanksgiving should be as natural as breathing, incorporated into our core.

It may sound awful during times of pain, but the reality is that we are never without reason to give thanks to God!

Discipleship and Actions - Part 2

2008-11-24T17:50:00.012-06:00

Back in November, I wrote a few blogs about Discipleship (They were titled: Discipleship and Learning; Discipleship and Feelings; Relational Discipleship; and Discipleship and Actions).

I spoke of the inter-relatedness of three mind, heart, and will of a disciple of Jesus Christ (and of humans in general). It just dawned on me that I had another little tidbit sitting in my blog compositions ready to be published. This was a 2nd part to the Discipleship and Actions post.

Part of the reason that the "actions" aspect of discipleship becomes so important is because of the unique inter-relationship our actions share with the previous two aspects (the mind and heart). Our deeds, behavior or actions are unique because they are linked DIRECTLY with the first two - our head and our heart. There is a dependency upon our head and our heart that will most often determine our actions. In other words, we all tend to act BASED UPON how we think or how we feel. Hence, this "action" component is frequently the first to be forgotten when many people think of discipleship. As a result comes one of the most wonderful (if we are following Christ) and yet most scary things (if we are not following Him) is that our actions are so inextricably linked to our mind and heart that it is nearly impossible to allow the two to be in opposition for very long. For instance, if my belief in Christ suddenly changes (for better or worse), soon my desire or effectiveness to DO THINGS for Christ or in a Christ-like manner will change as well (for better or worse CORRESPONDING to the belief and emotions). Many would even say that the feelings are dependent on our thinking (thereby placing the mind into the foremost place of importance. Likewise, if our behavior changes for the better or the worse, soon our thinking and our emotions are changing along with it. In short, God designed our entire self to be one whole complete indivisible person...mind, body, will, emotions, soul, spirit. If one part of our self changes (for better or for worse), then we can rightly expect the other parts of our self to follow suit with time.

Prayer: Oh, God, help me to be someone that honors you with my whole being. Let me worship you with my entire self...my mind, intellect, thinking, heart, emotions, loving, will, actions, relationships, soul, spirit, personality, expressions, language, eyes, ears, hands, and feet. May I be wholly yours.

-RCW

For extra credit, listen to David Crowder's song entitled "Wholly Yours."

Discipleship and Actions

2008-11-20T15:17:00.019-06:00

Some of you may have seen this coming.

I did a blog entry on Discipleship and Learning. I then published one on Discipleship and Feelings. Now of course, I am writing one on Discipleship and Actions. This is for some people the "holy trinity" of discipleship....God's word penetrating and transforming the human mind, human heart, and human hands or will. I am not sure that I want to limit discipleship to JUST those 3, but it makes a handy-dandy and memorable formula.

I think I am going to keep this entry as short as I can and simply state that discipleship MUST have a volitional component. In other words, if we begin to describe discipleship, there is always a definite piece of it that involves our own will.

Think of it...

We already spoke of the potential flaw in giving God our mind, but not our heart and emotions. (We run the risk of becoming dry and lifeless! Discipleship is more than JUST learning!)

We also spoke of the danger of giving God our heart without our mind.
(We risk having zeal without knowledge, or passion without content, passionate devotion without a proper understanding!)

NOW what we are talking about involves the surrender or non-surrender of our ACTIONS or WILL.

What happens when God has our mind but not our will?
(We are with those who call Him Lord, but will ultimately perish! We become the ones who hear and know the Word, but don't act on it...as bad as the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. Read Lk. 7:43-49!)

What good is it if God has our heart surrendered to Him, but not our behavior?
(We run the risk of being hypocrites...forgetting that love is an action, not feelings!)

What good will it be to God if we ACT like Him, but don't surrender our mind to Him as well?
(We are just do-gooders...having a type of godliness but not acknowledging its source.)

Or what good will it be to God if we give Him our actions, but not our heart?
(Our service is passionless and will be nothing more than mere obligation...like the Israelites who confessed God and observed rituals, but whose hearts were far from Him!)

In the end, we could find scripture after scripture (many from the mouth of Jesus Himself) that condemns and rebukes these various conflicts of allegiance.
The bedrock bottom line reality is: Real discipleship involves submitting our head, heart, and hands (and whatever other parts of ourselves that we might speak of -- soul, spirit, body, speech, passions, relationships, priorities, calling, vocation, time, etc.) wholly and completely unto God.

Any non-surrendering on our part amounts to a violation of the first and greatest commandment: To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, might, and strength.

-RCW

Relational Discipleship

2008-11-19T15:10:00.007-06:00

I am a big believer in one on one discipleship ("life-on-life discipleship" as some call it). I have had many mentors and "spiritual influencers" who have invested in me over the years. The following message was given by a professor from one of my own alma maters, Wheaton College. Dr. Jerry Root is his name. He is a delightful person. I think his message could really make an impact on you. Listen by clicking the link below:

JERRY ROOT'S WHEATON CHAPEL MESSAGE FROM 3-07-03

(You will need to have Real Player installed to hear it, but if you don't have it, you can download it for free here.)

As for Dr. Root, I never had Dr. Root for one of my professors, but I knew him well from being on campus with him and running his transactions at the Chase bank there in Wheaton. Here is a picture and brief bio of him. We'd talk about Christ and discipleship at times over the teller window. :) Same with Leland Ryken, Mark Noll, and Kent Hughes. Dr. Root would always greet everyone around campus (whether he knew them or not) by saying, "Shalom!" which of course is a Hebrew greeting which if translated into English would mean something like "God's Peace to You" or "May God give you Completeness" or "Be whole in God". He was in the habit of mentoring and inviting several undergraduate students to his home once a week just to "hang out"...he really modeled life-on-life discipleship.

If you enjoy the chapel message, you might be curious to know that Wheaton's chapel messages are archived on their website. There are some great ones! There are messages from scholars, writers, professors, and pastors such as Howard Hendricks, Alistair Begg, Alister McGrath, Ravi Zacharias, J.I. Packer, John Stott, John Piper, Dallas Willard, Lyle Dorsett, Stephen Arterburn, Henry Cloud, Arthur Holmes, John and Nancy Ortberg, as well as singer/songwriters like Phil Keaggy, Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortega, and many others. Don't feel bad if you don't recognize some of the names. If you listen to them or read one of their books, you'll be likely to remember them.

Feel free to enjoy them!

-RCW

Discipleship and Feelings

2008-11-17T21:37:00.015-06:00

After rereading my last blog, I realized that I may need to bring some clarification. Notice the title was "Discipleship AND Learning". This is worth noting since it means the two are separate things. They should not be equated as though one IS the other or that they are interchangeable somehow. Rather, there is a very unique relationship between the two that deserved mentioning.

Everyone should know that discipleship is more than just "learning." If someone is a "learner" of Christ, or a "learner" of "The Way" as Luke liked to call it, there is certainly more to it than simply an academic acquiring of knowledge. (Although I will readily admit that I am one who many times emphasizes the importance of reading and using one's mind for God's glory than may be normal... If so, it is simply because I am trying to bring change to an area within the church where I see room for improvement. :) There are a few outstanding books on this topic...Fit Bodies Fat Minds by Os Guinness; The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll; and Your Mind Matters by John Stott. The latter is the shortest if you find yourself particularly deficient in this area. :) There are actually several others, but these are just some very good ones that I have read.)

No, discipleship is more than getting knowledge or acquiring facts. Discipleship also involves the emotions, feelings, and affections. In my own estimation however, the role of emotions can never surpass the role of the intellect in our walk with Christ. That is, we can't and shouldn't get ourselves emotionally excited or pious over unintelligible gibberish, but rather the truth and facts within God's word. After all, Christ desires that we worship in spirit AND in truth, having a zeal or passion for God THAT ACCORDS WITH knowledge. What might be helpful to remember is that our emotions tend to simply follow after our thoughts in the end. We can (for the most part) rarely feel something that we cannot ultimately understand or rationalize, explain, comprehend, or find a general reason for the feeling.

What I would say very briefly about our emotions and their role in the discipleship process is that they can trick us. They can go up or down in a matter of moments. We need keep them grounded in God's word. The human heart is deceitful according to scripture and is in need of Christ to renew it. Discipleship actually involves us laying down our selfish emotions and affections and allowing God to reshape both our mind and heart. In the end, our prayer should be that God would cause our hearts to think and feel in ways that please Him... to love the things that He loves, to hate the things that He hates, to laugh at the things he would laugh at, to be angry at the things He would be angry about, etc.

In essence, being a disciple or "learner" involves not just acquiring knowledge and reading or studying the Bible, but also applying it in our core so that it penetrates both our thinking as well as our feeling. As "learners" of Christ, we do more than learn new facts about Him by reading our Bibles. We also adopt His demeanor, conform to His likeness, live by His standards, value the things He values, love what He loves, and bring our own sentiments into line with His own.

-RCW

Prayer: God, help me to give you my heart as well as my mind. Create in me a clean heart, Oh God - one that beats in tune with yours. Give me a heart that is married to a mind centered and concretely focused upon your truth. Make me love what I ought, hate what I should, and feel what you feel towards everything in between. I ask you to reshape my thinking and my feeling. I commit my emotions and affections to you now this day. Amen.

P.S. Have you read or heard someone explain this before in a similar or more convincing way? How or when did you personally first come to understand and practice this aspect of discipleship? Let me know about it! I am always looking for new resources and ready to hear about other believers' experiences!

Discipleship and Learning

2008-11-11T01:49:00.007-06:00

It's been a few days since I have written. My apologies. Here is a thought that I'll only briefly mention...

Have you ever thought about the fact that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, there should be a natural desire for "learning"? After all, the very meaning of the word "disciple" in the New Testament means "learner." with that fact, there should arise a certain sort of self-examination: Does that characterize your life? Would you call yourself a "learner"? Do you have a deep and urgent, pressing desire to know more about Christ, about God, about His world, about His word, about yourself, about your spouse, etc.? It is this connection - the link between discipleship and between education, between faith and learning, believing and questioning, between knowing the truth and continuously searching for more of Him - that has become a consuming passion of mine. I hope that it is the same for you as well. Come with me on the journey... a journey of discovery. It is a journey that Augustine called "Faith Seeking Understanding." We will never fully arrive in this earthly life, but we won't ever be the same after we begin! I could write for miles about this topic, but I won't. More to come....

-RCW

What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? (a blurb on Christianity and Politics)

2008-11-05T17:17:00.009-06:00

Saw a cool article about Christianity and voting, government, etc. I am not endorsing the source or the religious affiliation of the associated institution, but overall it was readable, informative, rational, and helpful for someone who might wonder about the curious relationship/tension between Christianity and politics especially in America. This is not the article to end all articles (I could no doubt search and find a better and more exhaustive one, but brevity is nice). Here is the link in case you want to read it. The Romans 13 passage is a recommended read for a Biblical voice.

All Hallow's Eve

2008-10-29T22:58:00.016-05:00

I won't tell you guys whether I am dressing up tomorrow on October 31st...actually I am dressing up. [NO, I am NOT going trick-or-treating. Nothing is tackier than a 19+ yr old knocking on your door asking for candy.] I won't tell you what I am going to be though.... Really I am not telling. Why? In a few words, there would be inevitable judgment cast upon me by some of my fellow Christians. There are a handful of Christians I know who have very little idea why someone like myself would dress up...let alone as a certain fictional character very much despised by hyper-conservatives in the Christian community.

At the heart of it, the reason for my decision is actually because I have a different view of the relationship between Christianity and culture than many of my Christian counterparts. Does that makes sense? I hope that it indeed does...If however, it doesn't, then don't fret; for I am going to try to explain some more anyway. So just sit tight, take a deep breath, and read on.

A few books have come out recently that are rehashing this issue (one of which is by a very trusted author named D.A. Carson whom I had the privilege of sitting under at one time...do look his name up on Amazon.com and see if his titles don't interest you!). These new books are simply revisiting the classic text Christ and Culture, which is over 50 years old now. I, being one who likes to honor the Reformers by going straight "to the source," have to confess that I have not read any of the new "revisits," but have only read the original. Having done so, I must say that I firmly believe Christ and Culture is a must read for any minister...and I would add for any growing disciple who really wants to form a solid Christian worldview.

The book outlines and assesses some of the different ways that Christians allow their Christianity to interact (or NOT interact at all!) with the culture around them. The implications of the book are extremely visible in the way that different Christians react to Halloween. Yes, I just said the dirty word banned from all hyper-conservative Christian dictionaries.

Seriously, there is sometimes no better way to pinpoint how a Christian believer understands the relationship between his faith and the world around him than by observing his chosen behaviors on October 31st. There are any number of choices...

there are those who allow Halloween to influence their Christianity (seeing absolutely no conflict between the two and really not viewing or celebrating the day any differently than the non-believer down the street);

those who choose to ignore the holiday altogether and hide in the darkness of their home (believing that the day and all who observe it in any fashion whatsoever are an evil abomination before God);

still other Christians use a "replacement technique" of celebrating the holiday in an entirely different emphasis...such as a Fall Festival, or my own favorite is Reformation Day (since Oct. 31 is the day that Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to door of the church at Wittenberg).

Finally, there are those like myself who believe that somehow, Christianity doesn't have to be always on the defense against "the world." On defense against "Worldliness"? - yes; on defense against "the world"? - no. It grieves me that there are many Christians out there who know that they have been encouraged by the Scriptures to "be in the world but not of it," but they are actually not doing EITHER! Instead, they have chosen to retreat into a small and irrelevant subculture, huddling together and swimming upstream (sometimes just for swimming upstream's sake!). My own opinion is that there is a way in which Jesus Christ can influence and transform the culture around us if we just be authentic Christians--little Christs---engaging the culture, living in the world, being salt and light, like yeast in the dough--spreading Christ's influence throughout all of society in all of our earthly endeavors. I KNOW this truth is paramount for building a healthy Christian worldview. I believe it to not only allow for us to live out our faith in creative and freshly relevant ways, but I also believe it to be THE Biblical choice.

I hope this all sheds some light and perhaps helps you cut to the root of a dilemma that bewilders and divides many Christians...and not just on Halloween.

-RCW

"Makeup Blog"

2008-10-27T19:46:00.016-05:00

Okay, so I feel somewhat bad for "blogging" a cartoon. Perhaps it can be turned into a spiritual thought though...

If you clicked on the link to go to the cartoon of "How to Make Church Brilliant," I am sure that you found it quite hilarious (as did I).

I figured that if we were to turn it to a more serious note, I might simply ask the question: What sort of church do you attend?

The question assumes that you are in one (since this website's very purpose is to help Christians grow in their faith, that seems fair I trust). Nearly every Christian attends a church (for those that don't or do not sense the need, we'd need a whole different entry to address the very real dangers that come with such an opinion or practice), BUT what sort of church do you attend? There are certainly tons of denominations to choose from in the Protestant spectrum. I am not so much asking about the denominational affiliation (though that is a big decision and an important one). The question really is just encouraging you to think about a few things:

What is the environment like at your church? Is it super serious or super casual? Is it vibrant or dead? Is it full of people walking with God whom you know and love? Or is it full of hypocrites and backstabbers who are divisive and selfish? Is your church active or passive? Is your church relevant? Is your church modern or traditional? These can seem trivial or superficial, but can really mark a church as a place where you feel comfortable to worship and live out your faith. A spiritually healthy church with be a spiritually healthy environment. An spiritually unhealthy church will be of course a spiritually unhealthy environment. If you were to make some simple observations about your own church, would it seem spiritually healthy or spiritually unhealthy? (By this time, you should be realizing that the "church" has more to do with the people than the building, institution, or events.)

An even more important question for a Christian to ask his or her self goes beyond the environment and cuts to the actual purpose of the church. The major question to ask yourself is if the church is being faithful to the Bible. Is the pastor preaching God's word? Is he drawing meaning out of the Scriptures and showing both what it meant and what it means for us today? Or are the messages simply using the Bible as a tool for preaching an agenda? Interesting discussions abound about what is the best approach to "doing church" these days, but the Bible never says you have to have the latest technology or best music...in my estimation, it simply mandates that the church be devoted to making disciples and to the faithful teaching of the Scriptures. Some people might add some requirements, but I think these are the some of the simplest Biblically-mandated conditions.

Finally, one last thing to ask is: "Do you sense the Holy Spirit at your church?" And by that I do NOT mean, "Does it make your hair stand on end?" I am not for a minute getting into a charismatic or pentecostal endorsement (I really am quite the opposite theologically... In fact, those types of churches that repeatedly have to tell you and proclaim to you that the Holy Spirit is there and that the Holy Spirit is doing this or doing that, saying this or saying that, etc. make themselves immediately suspect in my own mind.) What I really mean by the question is, "Do you see God at work in your church? Does your church push you and encourage you, stir you and compel you, teach you and move you, direct you and correct you, to be more and more like Jesus Christ?" If so, wonderful! If not, you'd better visit a new one!

One Small Disclaimer:
These are just a few questions. There are many many factors that go into choosing a church. These are just some very simplified suggestions. These days, people treat churches like a consumer product...like a shop in the mall that is there to offer a service to the customer. If at any point the service is lacking or product less than pleasing, then it is time to head to the church down the street that "costs less" or "offers a fancier, shinier product". This is far from the type of fickle behavior I am endorsing. Ceaseless "church-hopping" is for the spiritually immature.

Below is a picture of a former church of ours that is still very dear to my wife and me. Taken 1-1-08.

-RCW

Church Cartoons

2008-10-27T16:34:00.006-05:00

I suppose I will let a great secret out of the bag.... There are some amazing church-related cartoons out there. Here's one that seemed like a fun posting....

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Perhaps this one is my favorite....entitled "How to Make Church Brilliant." You gotta see it for yourself.

-RCW

Journey Home

2008-10-25T13:31:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow we'll head back from Missouri to Texas. Flying is a wonderful thing. As I was thinking about the trip, I thought I might blog about one of the Biblical themes that is worth remembering....

The Bible teaches that when someone becomes a Christian, God initiates something within them. It is salvation from death. But when does salvation take place according to the Bible? The answer? Well, the Bible teaches that salvation is something that takes place in the past (when the sinner first faiths in Christ...and that God even foreknew who would be saved from eternity past!). The Bible ALSO teaches that salvation is something that will ultimately take place in the future (either on the day of judgment or when the Christian dies an earthly death). Lastly, (and what is seldom remembered) is that the Bible ALSO teaches that salvation is something taking place right now...that God is in the business of making us perfect. God is making us holy even now. In short, the Bible teaches that salvation is something that is a past, present, and future reality.

As Christians, we should remember that God is still at work within us even when we can't see Him at work. We are all on the "long journey home." Hebrews 11:13-16 speaks of the many Old Testament heroes from the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and says that they looked forward to their heavenly home with earnest expectation. With faith, they recognized that this life is not all there is...that there is a world to come that we are moving toward, waiting for, and to adapt from the words of St. Augustine, that our hearts are restless until we rest in it.

As my wife and I get ready for a long plane ride home, I couldn't help but think of that spiritual reality. That God is preparing His children for a world in which there is no more suffering, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death! Praise You, Oh God for the victory and the hope that You have given us in You!

-RCW

P.S. * To enjoy a good read about the Christian life as a journey home to "the promised land" and all the ups, downs, struggles, victories, friends, foes, twists and turns along the straight and narrow way that leads to Christ, I recommend John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (but make sure you read the updated and abridged version). *

Thanatopsis Can Mean Life or Death!

2008-10-22T21:21:00.012-05:00

Last night I attended a visitation for my wife's grandmother. She was 97.

It was one of the most crowded visitations I have ever seen. About 800 people passed through over a 4 hour period to pay their respects to the family and see the deceased one last time. The funeral home where the visitation was held bore her name, she being its original owner, though even now it (and several others) is still being run by my father-in-law.

This afternoon the services were held at the Funeral Home and I was reminded of the power which resides in a believer. The stories, testimonies, and tributes that were paid to Mrs. Eaton were overwhelming. Her spiritual life left a faith legacy that will endure for many years.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Take a minute right now and think about your own life.

Is there a single passion that drives you? What would people have to say about you when you die? We often don't like to think about our own death, but the truth of the matter is that the Bible seems to encourage it!

Take for example such passages like:

Philippians 2:3-4 : "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Ephesians 5:15 : "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise."

Psalm 139:23-24 : "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."

Philippians 3:18-19 : "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things..."

This last example is especially useful since it employs one of the most frequently used metaphors that the Bible uses in admonishing us to live the examined life. For you will notice that when it speaks of this manner of living, it is with the metaphor of "walking". For example, in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament, the expression the writers will use the regular verb of "walk" to speak of "the way in which one lives his or her life." So, for instance, if you go to Biblegateway.com and type in a keyword search for "walk" , you will find that in Deuteronomy 11, both meanings are used nearly side by side:

"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." -Deut. 11:19

"If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him." -Deut. 11:22

Another good passage to see the Bible encouraging the reader to live an examined life is the rather poetic personification of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1-10, which reads:

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.
'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment.
'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.'
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding...' "

*(The bold-texted areas in the passage above are my own added emphasis and not of course in the original text.)

And these are only a few Biblical examples among many I could choose!

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Even so, the Bible is not the only place that we find the encouragement to truly look deeply and intently at our own lives and ask critical questions about ourselves.

Perhaps the most well-known phrase attributed to the founder of Western philosophy, Socrates, is the statement: "The unexamined life is not worth living."

What a gripping statement! As you think for a moment about one of the most central realities to mankind (death and life), ask yourself: "What kind of life am I leading? Is my life lived by impulses or whims? Or am I someone who 'lives on purpose' ? What governs my decisions? Is that governing impulse a worthy one or a selfish one? How can I live a life worth living?" These are questions that should be a part of every believers daily routine. Like inhaling and exhaling, so should the believing Christian inhale (examine) and exhale (implement any necessary changes).

What kind of legacy will YOU leave behind?

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Glance back up for a minute at Psalm 139:23-24.

Our own prayer should mimic that prayer : God, may I be obedient to the Bible and make my life one that is worth living. Make me examine my own live every day to see where I need to change. Where my self and where what's right conflict....may I be the one to change. Do this in me, I pray. Amen.

*For those still wondering about the title of this blog entry, the word "THANATOPSIS" means "a meditation upon death." If this definition was unclear to you at the beginning, think about the title of this entry once more. *

-RCW

Been a While

2008-10-21T13:12:00.004-05:00

I have not posted in quite a while. Most regrettably due to the fact that I have so many other more pressing and tyrannically urgent priorities. I spoke with someone today that communicated to me that they really feel I should post stuff to this site regularly. We shall see. If that is YOUR desire, let me know with a comment or verbal encouragement, and pray that I can make it part of my daily routine. Currently, I work approximately 60 to 70 hours a week between my two jobs...one at a church, one at a bank.

Perhaps that is the spiritual "thought" for today. We all make deliberate choices. How we spend our time is a reflection not only of who we are, but also of who it is that we desire to be. One of the most important things that a Christian can do is to pray that there would be a transformation. Make your prayer today this: that God would supernaturally orient your own attitudes, thoughts, actions, and your very own desires and priorities and make them fall in line with His will for your life. This makes all the difference in the world.

-RCW

The Christian Epidemic

2008-06-12T16:13:00.009-05:00

Today I read an outstanding article on one of my favorite sites: Reclaimingthemind.org . Actually, it was on "Parchment and Pen" -the theology blog that serves as part of Reclaiming the Mind's ministry. It is a must read. Just click on the title of this blog and you will be taken there.

My own thoughts are less important than your own thoughts about the posting, but I'll give you my own impressions anyway since this is a true blog and I suppose part of the rules are that on blogs you are always entitled to post your opinions even if nobody agrees, reads, or even cares. :)

The blog truly touches on my own passions and particular calling in ministry. I find myself extremely preoccupied with the subject of education in the church because of the information that is so greatly articulated in Michael Patton's posting. If you still haven't figured out how to get to that posting, just click here, silly.

I am torn meanwhile between whether to expend my own energies, work, ministry (even my very life itself!)

ministering in the church..doing Christian education in an effort to correct this problem
teaching in the academic world of a college, seminary, or university (I have learned to love God with all my mind and am passionate about education and learning and teaching, etc. for His glory)...and ultimately impacting future ministers in a way that might correct this problem
Writing (a way of bridging both of the above audiences) thoughtful books, articles, (and blogs!) in such a way to correct this epedemic via Michael Patton's solution: quality Christian education.
Starting a Christian non-profit/ seminary / think-tank / publication / etc. to attempt to meet this problem with solutions

I could not agree more with Parchment and Pen that the problem with Christianity that leads to such an epidemic (among several other epidemic ailments it currently struggles with) is a lack of genuine discipleship and a general atrophy of God-glorifying intellect within church members. I echo Rachel Tulloch, a speaking team member of RZIM's team as she has stated her desires: "A desire to bridge the gap between 'knowledge without compassion' and 'passion without content.'

Agree? Disagree? Want to add something? Let me hear you.

-RCW

So I'm a Christian...Now What?

2008-06-10T16:27:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this blog is simple. Real, Biblical, Living, Breathing, Discipleship.

In all my years around the church, there are so very many people who fill the seats (pews depending on how old your church is!), and often may have had a conversion experience of some sort in which they chose to accept Christ as their Savior for the forgiveness of their sins unto eternal life....yada yada yada.

Yet somehow, these individuals have been the victim of the church's malpractice. They never really had a place to go, a resource to turn to that could help them know "What's Next?" So, inevitably the conversion experience becomes cloudy, the faith becomes stagnant, and the spirit dry.

This site aims to be of some help by providing answers to the "Now What?" question. So, whether you are a new believer and looking to grow, or whether you've been walking with Christ for some time now and simply cannot figure out HOW to grow, this is the place for you. It is our prayer that you will find direction, encouragement, and most importantly...the presence of Christ amidst this very site.

May God bless you on our journey together.

-RCW

For further reading:
Go Here to one of Bill Hull's very brief explanations of why this site is needed