Remembering a Hero of the Faith

Posted on April 23, 2012 by J Beckett

I am thinking about a real hero of the faith today. Chuck Colson just passed away a few days ago at the age of 80. The best heroes usually have elements of redemption in their story and Colson certainly fit that description.

Colson was a trusted adviser to Richard Nixon, and what many called his hatchet man in the midst of the Watergate scandal. He had lived an admittedly self focused, driven, and power hungry, albeit moral life before Watergate came along. Colson made a profession of faith just prior to entering prison for his crimes in Watergate. A good friend introduced him to the faith and to C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Many at the time dismissed it as “convenient timing” to find Jesus, but Colson’s life was never the same. By the time he was done with his journey last Thursday, many of his most ardent cynics had to acknowledge his remarkable life and contribution.

Colson, while in prison developed a profound burden for the plight of the prisoner and the terrible recidivism rates in our penal system. But instead of just theorizing about it as most do, Colson founded Prison Fellowship. Their approach to introducing prisoners to a life of faith and hope literally has and will continue to change thousands of lives. Prisons which allowed Prison Fellowship to flourish found recidivism rates dramatically improving.

Colson’s service and sacrifice with Prison Fellowship earned him a voice among Evangelical leaders, and Colson always used that voice to promote Christ and the Church rather than himself. That is a rare quality these days. He was willing to say things that the church did not want to hear, even things his friends did not want to hear. One of my favorite Colson quotes is “I don’t think the job of the church is to make people happy. I think it’s to make them holy.”

Thank you Chuck Colson for showing us how to get up after we have fallen down, and how much difference a life of faith can make when it is backed up with real action.

You Shall Know the Truth

J Beckett

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Have Any Thoughts on the Defense of Marriage Amendment? I Do!

Posted on February 8, 2012 by J Beckett

Alright, so 29 other states already have taken care of “this,” including every state in this region of the country, with two more to decide this year (NC and MINN). Every contiguous state to NC has also already dealt with “this.”   What is “this”?  I am referring to a constitutional amendment nailing down the definition of marriage as a legal union between one woman and one man.  Despite the usual arguments of the opponents of this amendment, telling us we already have adequate laws on the books in this regard, make no mistake about it… this is a pretty big deal.

Without this type of amendment it is clear that NC will be left vulnerable to all types of legislative shenanigans as the politicians shift with every cultural wind change. Don’t believe me, just check out Massachusetts’ and Washington state’s new laws and NJ’s proposed law (probably to be vetoed by Gov. Christie), legalizing  gay marriage and Illinois where civil unions are now the law of that state, not to mention Utah and other places where polygamists are making pleas for their due marriage rights.  California tried to establish the definition of marriage with a simple ballot proposition.  The Proposition passed with Californian voters, but yesterday an Appeals Court “overturned” the will of the voters of California, and the issue is probably headed to the Supreme Court.  A State Constitutional Amendment for North Carolina establishes the traditional definition of marriage and it would take a three-fifths vote of both houses of the legislature, followed by a popular vote to overturn the law at that point.

Why does it matter?  After all, we are a largely secular society now.  Can’t we just let everyone call marriage whatever they want to call it.  That commonly heard refrain is disingenuous.  All cultures define, and in fact, have to define what constitutes the legal “contracts” of their society, and believers must not be intimidated with the usual intolerance of the “you are being intolerant” hate speech directed at us.  We have a right to vote our conscience as to the definition of marriage and we also have the obligation.  And our society and its entities have to define the boundaries in which we hire, compensate, benefit, and contract… and from a very practical standpoint, that also is what this Amendment is really about.

There is so much more to this than just trying to hold the line against the slippery slope of losing our cultural id.  If gay marriage can became the law of the land, and Mass. has demonstrated that it can, then why not polygamy, or adult child marriage or Sharia law concepts of marriage, and marriage rights , or lack thereof.  I know that sounds ridiculous and exaggerated for impact.  So did gay marriage just a few decades ago.  Also, make no mistake, if the traditional definition of marriage is upended, then the new concept of marriage whatever it is, can and will become a part of the curriculum in our schools, regardless of the beliefs of parents on the issue.  Non-profits and church affiliated entities will be forced to accept the new standard in regards to hiring law, funding practices, benefits, etc…

Don’t believe that could happen?  Check out a series of recent legal cases, including ones in which Catholic adoption agencies in Massachusetts and Illinois chose to stop doing business with the state instead of being forced to place children in same-sex homes.  You say you don’t believe the government would ever dare to stick its nose in issues of faith to such a degree… check out the current conflict with the Catholic Church and the Obama Administration, which has decided that they will define the new health care law in such a way that essentially forces some Catholic entities to provide insurance for their employees covering contraception.  Catholic Military Chaplains were muzzled by the Army last week, prohibiting them from addressing the contraception issue among their “flock.”  Hello Big Brother. (Since the blog posted now, the Obama Administration says they aren’t forcing the church affiliated entities to provide contraception coverage, they will force the insurer… but so far few seem to be biting on this new, smelly cheese).

Most who read my blog will care about this issue because we value the biblical model of marriage.  But even if that does not motivate you to go vote on May 8, if you live in NC and you believe we should have the right to define what our culture is, and what our institutions really mean, then I urge you to support the Defense of Marriage Amendment. The amendment is, oddly  enough, up for vote on May 8, 2012. (The May ballot date {primary election} was a compromise reached by the politicians to get the item on a ballot at all this year).   It is a good way for NC to make a statement that our institutions matter, and so does our freedom from over-reaching governmental interference.  (Later Note: On May 8, 2012, NC voted by a margin of 61%-39% to uphold the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.  To date, no children have been displaced, and nobody’s benefits have been ripped from them, and the sky has not fallen.  I am thankful that NC voted for truth, and not out of fear).

You shall know the truth,

J Beckett

 

 

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316

Posted on February 6, 2012 by J Beckett

316 is a great series of numbers, ask any Christian… and now you can ask Tim Tebow as well.

A few weeks ago Tebow led his Denver Broncos over the Pittsburg Steelers in the NFL’s most watched game of the season to that point. As he often does, Tebow wore scripture on his eyeblack…. John 3:16. Massive numbers of people Google searched John 3:16 during and just after the game. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association had purchased Google ads, and it turns out that was a great decision. They reported that about 8,000 people who searched for John 3:16 also clicked on their web site from the ad… and over the subsequent few days about 150 of those persons accepted Jesus Christ as Lord!

Isn’t it a good that in that Tebow didn’t wake up that morning so focused on football that he forgot to consider all the eyeballs that would be on him? Frankly, even if Tebow never wins another a game, and never learns to throw a spiral… he already goes down as the NFL’s most successful QB in all the stats that matter, in those record books the Bible calls the Book of Life.

(As a curious little aside, Tebow threw for 316 yards, and an avg of 31.6 yards per completion, and the overtime drew a 31.6 TV rating… just sayin’).

Keep Tebowing

And the truth shall set you free

J Beckett

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Are You “Tebowing?”

Posted on December 22, 2011 by J Beckett

A new word has made its way into our vocabulary…. and though its roots are in sports, I am amazed to see how Tebow-mania has swept across a pretty broad spectrum of the culture… and to see the act of “Tebowing” as the sometimes humorous, sometimes mocking, but for many the uncomfortable expression of Tebow mania. (Tebowing is the emulation of Tebow’s kneeling “prayer-like posture”).

It makes fodder for a pretty good conversation, even a necessary conversation, about how public displays of faith can create such discomfort and divisiveness in the culture, and how ultimately that’s okay. Seems like a great topic to weigh in on here in the midst of the Christmas Season… yes I used the “C” word, instead of the “H”(holiday) word… no doubt, this is a blatant case of linguistic “Tebow-ing.”  I just unashamedly threw Christ in your face by saying Christmas… and made you gaze upon the letters that spell the name, and consider the actual person of Jesus… whoops, just did it again.  That Tebow is dangerous I am telling you.

For those not indoctrinated,  Tebow is the current quarterback of the Denver Broncos. He is on a hot streak, having led a team considered “bad” to win seven of its last nine games and as of this writing they lead their division in the NFL.  Tebow’s success seems more due to determination and moxie than his currently unrefined skills.  But Tim Tebow is even better known for his boldness in proclaiming his faith during his days at the University of Florida and now in Denver. Tebow never fails to give God the glory, win or lose, and he does not keep it generic and PC… he always references his “Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

He also has made headlines speaking about his decision to remain sexually pure until marriage, and he made a very well-publicized video with his mom emphasizing the sanctity of life. (Tebow’s mother was advised to abort Tim because of serious medical complications she faced, and she was a missionary in a somewhat remote location at the time).

It is this very publicly lived faith that has placed Tebow in the crosshairs.  For Christian fans, Tebow can do no wrong, even if his passes do wobble. This blind allegiance has often burned Christians in the past when someone we place on a pedestal takes a big fall. Somehow it is hard to see that happening to Tebow… but a caution about idle worship is always a wise word.

But what has really grabbed my attention is how uncomfortable Tebow makes some people…. particularly two groups of people.  First, there is a group of cynical, secular people who are forced to cover and comment on Tebow’s exploits in his sports career because it is their job.  When Tebow boldly references his faith, sometimes the awkward factor registers a 10 on the awkward scale.  Then there is a second group… believers who share Tebow’s faith, but are intimidated by his boldness.  They wish he would just keep it to himself.

In fact, that is this culture’s answer to Christianity isn’t it?  If Christians could just keep it quiet, apparently the world would once again be a happy place.  The intolerance of the new definition of “tolerance” is a little ironic isn’t it? Other players have been seen “Tebowing” after touchdowns to mock Tebow, several coaches and commentators have been extra-critical of Tebow’s flaws, though he is basically still a rookie in experience level and has won anyway.  A recent national Jewish writer even insinuated that Tebow’s “religious displays” were dangerous and would lead to a rise in anti-semitism and a host of other hate crimes (go figure?), before his article was quickly pulled and disavowed by the publisher…  Then for emphasis, Saturday Night Live “thrilled” us with an irreverent Tebow and Jesus skit last week, just to make sure we all get the message: we don’t know how to handle a person who is both overtly evangelical Christian, and also wildly popular in sports.  Now for a moment imagine that Tebow were Muslim, or Buddhist, or pretty much anything else.  Does anyone really believe this level of disdain and condescension would be “tolerated?”

I suggest that it is okay for America to be made a little uncomfortable about faith now and then.  Years ago, while in Cairo, I took public transportation to a Church service. Crammed into a streetcar with about 50 Muslims, I am pretty sure every one of them spent the whole trip staring at the Bible I was carrying under my arm. I had not planned to cause a stir, just doing what I do when I head to church.  Is that really such a bad thing?  If Tebow makes the secular hear the name Jesus occasionally, and if he forces other less verbal believers to face their “Timidity” (pardon the pun), is that really such a bad thing?

I think I am going to stop writing now and spend a little time Tebowing!  Keep it up Tim…

You shall know the truth…

J Beckett

 

 

 

 

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Where is the Good Samaritan when you need him?

Posted on November 14, 2011 by J Beckett

Like most everyone else, I have been thinking about the situation unfolding around Penn State University.  If you have not been following it, Jerry Sandusky, a retired assistant coach, who still appeared to have full access to Penn State facilities to conduct his non-profit kids camps through a charity called the Second Mile, was spotted sexually abusing a child in the school shower facility.  This horrific discovery was followed up by a ridiculous parade of inaction, passing the buck, denial, and semantic games (like maybe it is just horse play for a man in his late 50′s to be fondling and touching a 10 year old child in the shower?!).   It is what did not happen that is the problem.   No one ever bothered to actually inform the police.

The fall-out from the lack of follow-up has caused the end of many careers, with more to come.  Most famous of all, Joe Paterno, college football’s elder statesman, and self-appointed conscience has been relieved of his duties, because of the media outcry over his lack of follow-up once Sandusky’s despicable behavior was known.  The students who rallied and rioted in Paterno’s defense didn’t take the time to think about how it must have made the alleged victim’s of Sandusky’s alleged depravity feel to see so much passion in defense of a football coach, and so little concern for the devastated lives of young alleged abuse victims.

As a pastor of a large institution it is a good reminder of how critically important it is to report any harm or injury or abuse that is made known to me.  Of course, that is a given.

But the part of this that has stirred me is a more basic gut response.  Where was the Good Samaritan in this story?  Sandusky was caught in earlier bad behavior, but town officials had decided not to press charges.  A big, strong (football player strong), 20 something year old assistant saw Sanduscky in the midst of an act of abuse, but instead of rushing to the aid of the child chose to leave… and a little later, called his father for advice.  The most respected coach in College Football told his school president about it a few days later but never followed up, in fact, Penn State players conitued to be funneled into the Second Mile Kids camp program of Sandusky up until recent days.   Coaches, administrators, law enforcement officials, all did nothing.   Then a few days ago, a judge releases Sandusky on ridiculously low bond and without monitoring, and it turns out the judge is a past participant in the Second Mile program as well…

Where was the Good Samaritan… the person who saw the victimized kids not as an inconvenience, or a career ruiner for a respected man, but as  helpless, vulnerable souls in desperate need of intervention?  When Jesus wanted to illustrate what it really means to love your neighbor… instead of teaching us in theological principle, he told the story of travelers who passed by a wounded and dying fellow traveler not wanting to be  bothered or soiled. Finally, a man arrived who truly saw the desperation and cared for the soul dying by the road.  He did more than show disgust or report it down the road, he went to the victim, treated his wounds, put him on his own “ride” and even paid for his hotel room during his recovery.

Just one Good Samaritan, anywhere along the way in Sandusky’s sick trail of “alleged” abuse could have saved who knows how many victims… so this question is not just theology or even morality… is the core of humanity itself.  Am I a Good Samaritan or not?  Will I protect those who are the most vulnerable in the culture?  Do I really know what it means to love my neighbor?

And You shall know the truth…

J Beckett

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A “time” for everything… even my Rangers

Posted on October 19, 2011 by J Beckett

I am experiencing that odd feeling you get sometimes when it seems like the world has turned upside down.   I moved to Texas in 1970 as a first grade kid.  The Texas Rangers baseball team came into existence in 1972 and I became a passionate fan, being a kid who absolutely loved everything about the game of baseball.

But my Texas Rangers never really loved me in return.  Season after season they played mediocre to poor baseball, decade after decade, only occasionally flirting with decent performance.  Of course, I have lived in North Carolina for 12 years now, but from a distance I am absolutely loving the Ranger’s new found success.  No World Series’ appearances for 38 years, and now two in a row.  The other day, as Nelson Cruz was unleashing his #BooMstick yet again on the Tigers, I even heard the baseball announcer refer to the Rangers as the new and burgeoning baseball dynasty in MLB.  Imagine that, the agonizingly hapless Rangers of the last four decades.

When I heard that comment, my mind immediately went to Ecclesiastes 3.  You know the familiar words, “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, and etc…”   Everyone who reads this little blog is in a “season” of some sort or another.  Maybe you are in a dry and barren season… unemployment or under-employment, relationship troubles, poor health.  I think Solomon’s wisdom is gently reminding you to be strong and hold on… things will turn.  If you are in a season of plenty, then enjoy every moment of it, but be wise and discerning, because just like the season of drought, the season of plenty is fleeting.

My favorite part of Ecclesiastes 3 has always been verse 11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time…”  Can the season of drought really be a beautiful thing?  Much like for the frustrated baseball fan… it is sometimes hard to figure out  how anything good comes from loss.  I think the key is the next phrase of verse 11, “He has also set eternity into the hearts of men…”  Among other things, I think that means that among all of his creation, God has uniquely given humanity the capacity to see beyond the moment, beyond the current “season” of life.  Something great is on the way… just around the corner in fact!  Don’t believe me?   Just check out my Rangers!

You Shall Know the Truth!

J Beckett

 

 

 

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Genius, Wealth and Too Short of a Life

Posted on October 7, 2011 by J Beckett

I was thinking about Steve Jobs of Apple today as I sit here typing on my MacBook Pro… (Yes that was a shameless laptop namedrop). Jobs was brilliant, a rare modern-day genius in my opinion, as he was able to combine tech savvy with an uncanny understanding of the culture and the consumer.

Jobs himself was an enigma. He had humble beginnings. The story as I understand it, is that he was given up for adoption by his college age unwed mother and the first family in line chose to pass on him, because he was not a girl. The Jobs’, his adoptive parents had no idea what they in for.

Jobs’ as the famous story goes was a college drop out who founded Apple in his garage with a college buddy. Some years later, after good but not world shattering success, Jobs was driven out of Apple leadership.

When he returned for his second stint as “CEO” everything changed, and the rest, as they say, is history.   The world enjoyed things like The Mac revolution, the iPod in all its varieties, Pixar (upon his death Jobs personally owned around 7% of Disney as I hear it due to his sell of Pixar back to Disney), The iPhone, iTunes, and iPad and well… we could go on and on.

Years ago Jobs’ was diagnosed with a rare form of Pancreatic Cancer. He made a brilliant speech to the graduating students of Stanford University, explaining how coming face to face with death had dramatically stripped him of pretense and pride and changed him… in some ways for the better.

I am told that at his death, Jobs’ was worth around $8.3 Billion.

The last week I have been feeling pretty miserable, physically. Some kind of change of season crud, or allergies… don’t really know. But I have a lousy, almost non-existent health plan, so I rarely go to the Dr. for such things… just try to wait and sweat them out. O yes, and I grumble about my lousy health plan… Then I heard about Steve Jobs’ death. He was only 56 and needless to say, did not have to worry about inadequate health coverage.

I suppose you could draw a lot of various conclusions from this little passing observation I am writing about today… but here is how it all struck me. We should all learn to face our mortality. It might change us for the better. Solomon spoke in Ecclesiastes 7:2 about it being better to go to a place of death (“house of mourning”), than a house of feasting. His point seems to be that since all of us must deal with death eventually, and we are all headed to a house of mourning sooner or later, we should embrace this little needed reality check… and the perspective it can bring us to face the truth of earthly life… it ends in death.

Our culture’s morbid fear of this taboo topic has not done us any favors. Job’s was right, as usual in what he told the folks at Stanford… Our impending death should focus, sober, and “inspire” us the way it did him!  But since we are rarely willing to face such thoughts until it is too late, do we lose out on a lot of good inspiration?  I am guessing yes.

It would also be worth noting that if $8.3 Billion could not buy Steve Jobs more than 56 years, maybe people like me should quit fretting over the limits of my health plan and learn the real lesson here. Every day I live is a gift from God. It is precious, and I had no right or privilege to this day, or this air I breath, or the ground I walk on… these were simply gifts that an unexplainably loving God chose to give me today.

Dear God, “Thank you for my life!”

And the truth shall set you free…

J Beckett

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Signs of the Apocolypse?

Posted on August 25, 2011 by J Beckett

Did you feel the earth shake?  How about a 5.8 or 5.9 earthquake rattling us from Maine to Georgia on Tuesday, August 23rd along the East Coast?  By any measure, this is a very rare occurrence for us East Coasters.   This week we are watching a major Cat 3 or Cat 4 hurricane called Irene  bear down on the outer banks of the Carolinas, the stock market is acting like the Cliffhanger at Six Flags, (that’s one of those crazy, violent, up and down amusement park rides), and the rebels appear to have pushed Qaddafi’s forces out of Tripoli, perhaps ending his three plus decade long grip on that country.  In other words to call the week unsettled would be a bit of an understatement.

Following the earthquake, looking at Twitter and also at some blog and comment posts attached to various stories about it, I did observe a common thread.   Many, many people have remarked, tongue in check in most cases, it appeared, that it was time to go to church on Sunday.   This response to unsettling events by our secular culture has always been curious to me.   Why is reconnecting with God a thought that passes through our mind in times of calamity, even if it is just a half-hearted thought or a Tweet thrown out there for giggles?

Of course we are coming up on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 soon.  We saw it play out in reality, not tongue in cheek, ten years ago didn’t we?  (By the way, I think you would enjoy a great little video from our friends the Skit Guys at http://skitguys.com “just go there and click on the ten years ago video”).     I personally attribute our thoughts and longing for God to a deep (at the level of our DNA type of deep), need in humanity to run to our creator in times of fright and uncertainty.  A parent easily understands this dynamic…   Any child, even the ones filled with wanderlust will urgently return to mom and dad’s side in crisis.  Our need to turn to God betrays our deepest core value… we are God’s workmanship, so when we are cracked, crushed, or just shaken, we return to our maker for safety and repair.

Having said all of that, I think such seasons of fear (earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorism, etc), create an amazing opportunity for authentic christianity, but too often we have dropped the ball.   At the very moment when frightened earthlings have looked to the skies for a Heavenly Father, we his ambassadors have had other agendas.

Instead of showing up on the scene full of grace and truth we have arrived like a dark cloud.   After 9-11 many Christians “leaders” were quick to point out that God probably did this to punish the nation for  _________  (fill in the blank with whatever the sin de jour most offended the person who was speaking).   Don’t get me wrong, America gives God plenty of reasons to judge, and if He chooses to use nut job terrorists as his instrument so be it.   But Biblically, prophetic words were usually received and delivered dynamically and with a broken heart (see Jeremiah), and they were usually directed at God’s people… not the non-believer.   Would it be so terrible to just give a terrified Father- seeker a hug and John 3:16?  When they come to know God, they will be more likely to hear and recognize His voice of warning.

Our second big mistake in times of turmoil is that many believers are as distraught as the non-believers.   This must be confusing to the world.  We claim to hold loosely onto this world and what it offers,  then we act just like those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13… you can tell this tendency of believers really troubled Paul).   If the believers are walking around like the sky is falling what does that say about faith… and about the God we say will never leave us or forsake us?

Many years ago William Barclay said, ”…a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than it’s connection with black clothes and long faces.”

Suppose all the turmoil in the world and in nature is actually a “sign” we should be aware of.  That would seem to fit with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…  Nation will rise against nation…  there will be famines and earthquakes in various places… all these are the beginning of birth pains.”

So if that describes our era… here is what we know for sure… by using the birth pains analogy Jesus was warning that these tumultuous events would only increase in intensity. So if that is the case, and this era will be marked by turmoil… how will we choose to carry the banner of Christ?   I suggest you get those arms ready, because a lot of your neighbors are going to need a hug… and the love and truth found in Jesus!

And the truth will set you free!

 

 

 

 

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Casey Anthony, science, and other unsatisfying “truths”

Posted on July 9, 2011 by J Beckett

Science was a favorite field of study for me as a kid.  I loved trying to figure out how things worked.  I especially loved looking into the microscope.  For me, every magnified glance just confirmed the greatness of God.  A God who has left no detail to chance and for whom nothing was too insignificant to place his divine design upon.  And then to realize that humanity is the centerpiece of that design… what a wondrous truth!

This week something played out in pop culture that brought “science” into the forefront.  On Wednesday a young woman in Florida was acquitted of killing her three year old.  I must confess that I did not closely follow the case or watch the trial.  I have gathered that three years ago Anthony’s three year old went missing.  Anthony did not report it, spent a month partying and getting tattoos and entering bikini contests at local bars.  When finally cornered by her parents she told numerous lies about what happened.  Six months later the badly decomposed body was found, obviously disposed of, in a roadside drainage area near the Anthony home.  Casey Anthony was charged with the crime.

So what does this have to do with science?  In the outrage and aftermath of the case, most every analyst, and the few jurors who have spoken out have all made it clear… science has let us down.   Apparently the jury was seeking the “CSI” effect.  We have become accustomed to seeing the “fictional” absolute science of Hollywood which is able to run multiple DNA tests, ballistics, larvae study, hair samples and somehow they can always tell us beyond a reasonable doubt what happened, even if they only possess a bone chip the size of a tooth pic.

Of course… that is the problem.  This is fiction.  The jurors in the Anthony trial discovered very quickly that opposing counsel could easily find scientists to say basically the opposite things of one another.  And in this case, even though they had a body, and numerous items of accompanying evidence found with the body, they were no where close to getting to the “beyond a reasonable doubt,” thresh hold.

Why am I spending time thinking about such things?  Why bother to write about it in a pastor’s blog?  Because I believe what happened this past week in the Anthony trial is very telling of deeper hypocrisy in our culture related to our silly over-confidence in science.  In my opinion common sense could have easily indicated to twelve men and women in Florida what transpired, and perhaps justice could have been served for a three year old innocent.  We have asked science to do things that in most cases it cannot.  We ask science to tell us who, how, and why “we are.”  And foolishly science took the bait even though science has no “body” it claims to have given us a “reliable” answer to the questions of our soul…  Are we really convinced?…  Beyond a reasonable doubt?

If twelve intelligent people with a body of evidence were this unconvinced… I wonder if we were too hasty to sell our soul to the inerrancy of science…  I suspect an entire generation which has been “hoodwinked” will one day look back and long for the days of common sense discernment… the days when science pointed us to God’s glory, not man’s independence from God.

I think we would all do a little better if we learned to re-cultivate our “common sense.”  Maybe if we do, we can get back to the awe and wonder of God that the microscope can incite.

And the truth shall set you free…

 

J Beckett

 

 

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Kids Stuff

Posted on June 29, 2011 by J Beckett

This week I am reflecting on Salem’s just completed Vacation Bible School… It was a pretty huge undertaking… involving around 700 people by the time all was said and done. It has me thinking about the bigger questions of ministry and how (and why) we plan and execute these type of projects.

Sometimes people ask me if it really is worth it to recruit that many workers and spend that much time and energy and money for five days of ministry with kids. And it is true that many families in our community tend to place their kids in every available VBS that churches conduct, so by the end of the summer you do run into kids with a serious case of VBS fatigue.

But for me it always comes down to the number “1.” What do I mean by that? The other day I ran into a friend and before I knew it we were in a random discussion of VBS. Out of the blue, he mentioned that he became a believer during a VBS when he was a kid. The conversation reminded me of dozens just like it I have had before. There is just something about putting kids in a daily Gospel centered environment that prepares them for salvation like nothing else.

So what about that “one” kid who defies the odds… The one who emerges from a broken home environment, a painful family situation, unbelieving parents, abuse, or poverty, (or privilege for that matter), and suddenly they find themselves in a VBS. Then towards the end of the week they hear the good news of salvation in Christ and reach out by faith for the promise of Jesus! As long as churches still believe that “one” kid is worth all the insanity of VBS there is still hope.

If you have chosen to hang in there with your AWANA ministry or your kids Sunday School class, or VBS or Kids choir, etc… may I just tell you straight out You are my hero. But more importantly you are the lifeline to that “one.” So thank you!  At Salem this week we had about “63″ instead of just “one” reach out for that hope in Jesus.  I hope we will still be just as willing and excited to carry on, even if it is just the “one.”

You Shall Know the Truth

J Beckett

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