Let wonder replace worry

Holy Week: Tuesday Mood Swings

Yesterday I stopped by a church here in town for a meeting about some things we are planning for several youth groups in town this summer. As I was leaving, the custodian had the palm branches from Sunday piled up just outside the church. I'm not sure if he was saving them for Ash Wednesday next year or if he was throwing them in the trash.

I did take notice of how out of place the palm branches looked on the windy, rainy Monday we experienced yesterday. They actually made me look forward to summer.

It also made me thing about what comes next. What comes after the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday? It's not as glorious as one may think.

First Jesus curses a fig tree - which promptly dies. Then He gets royally ticked off at the temple, turning tables over and yelling at everyone.

Do these 2 versions of Jesus even go together? Can "blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord" one day break tables and curse trees the next?

Yes.

Because for Jesus to make the world right, He has to address what is wrong.

Yet, I still contemplate the vast difference between the Palm Sunday Jesus and the emotional yelling and tree cursing Jesus.

Maybe Jesus is not either - maybe He is neither. Maybe He is something unlike the world has ever seen. Maybe the events of the next few days will rock our very foundations and no part of this globe will ever again be the same.

Yeah, that's it.

But today, on Tuesday, we wait; feeling the tension rise and the not sure how to deal with our own uncertainty.

Bible in 90 Days

At the beginning of the year, Nicole joined with a group of women online to read the bible over the first 90 days of 2010.

During on casual conversation on New Years Day, she said "Why don't you do it with me?"

Without really thinking about it, I shrugged my shoulders and told her ok.

Now, 2 weeks into the new year, reading the bible has become such an important part of my day. Like many pastors, I am guilty of allowing my bible reading to, at times, consist of only preparing for lessons and studies.

I am using the 90 day reading plan on youversion.com

They have created an amazing community there, one I will continue using long after these 90 days are finished.

I invite you to join Nicole and me in reading the bible in 3 months.

It is amazing the number of people who have committed their life to following Jesus and living God's Word who have never even read it all the way through.

Let me know if you have any questions about the reading plan.

Now, I am off to finish up Deuteronomy.

John Piper at The Village Church

With less than 1 hour left in 2009, Nicole and Jax are sleeping away and the house is quiet. 

I love everything about John Piper. I've never met him or even heard him preach in person, but I never miss his video podcast. I also really like Matt Chandler. I started listening to him a couple of years ago after hearing Driscoll say great things about him.

Like many, I was shocked and saddened to learn about Matt Chandler's cancer. His response to his suffering alone makes me want to listen to everything he has to say.

So I was pretty excited when I heard that John Piper would be at The Village Church and this quiet New Years Eve has been my first opportunity to listen.

As I listened on my iPhone at 2x speed, Piper captured my attention with this paragraph. I slowed the speed down and listened 3 times. I find it especially appropriate on this New Years Eve:

I get really mad when I hear people say "He's just so heavenly mined that he is no earthly good." I want to say: "Nobody has ever been too heavenly minded!"

You can be of no earthly good, that is for sure. But it is not because you are too heavenly minded.

When you have this kind of hope 2 Peter says that you purify yourself as He is pure and you become dangerous, radical, holy, loving, self sacrificing, servants of the planet until He comes.

Because you have got nothing to lose.

Here's to being heavenly minded in 2010. (Twenty-Ten, Two Thousand Ten, Two Ten, Oh Ten, say it however you prefer, everyone will know what you mean!)

Happy New Year friends.

Inauguration

Calvin's Institutes begin with his prefatory address to King Francis. As I read through this a couple of weeks ago the theme I saw was Calvin trying to open the Kings' mind to hear his presentation of the Reformed Faith. In 1536 there had been so much slander against it that Calvin was concerned the King would not give it a fair reading. Through this you begin to get a glimpse of Calvin's grasp of Scripture and an introduction to the kind of biblical backing that he will provide for each doctrine that he discusses throughout the Institutes.

Leaving the theological world and entering the political- I was reminded of this preface as I watched the presidential inauguration this morning. Slander is very much alive today, as it was then. Both our outgoing and incoming Presidents have faced much slander. Many Americans who have placed too much of their trust in one politician or another have either gained or lost faith in their country today. This is unfortunate, for the virtue of the people of this nation far outshine the President- whomever it is.

I am proud of this country today. Not because of President Obama, but because of the reminder of the greatness of the infrastructure of our nation. The founding documents of the United States of America remain the greatest guiding hand for any nation in world history.

Barack Obama is a very smart man who has some very difficult challenges facing him. I'm sure I will disagree with many of the decisions he will make - and you will too. But watching the peaceful transfer of government power today only solidifies my belief that our nation is strong even in these turbulent times. Today I am in awe of the structure of our government.

John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion: A Year with the Institutes

 I've never been too big on New Year's resolutions. Not that I'm against them- I just strive to live the Christian story throughout the year. So for me New Years Day means Epiphany is approaching.

But this year is different. My New Year's resolutions for 2009 is to read through John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. This is a monumental work that stands among the greatest of Christian theology.

I'll not be doing it alone. Princeton Theological Seminary will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth by leading an online community though the Institutes in 2009.

I love reading Calvin- but life and ministry keep me from staying committed enough to making this a habit. Not to mention the fact I have never read the Institutes all the way though. Certain parts many times- but never all the way though. Even if you theologically don't fall in line with Calvin- I bet if you were to give this a try you will gain a deep respect for his faith and logic. It will also make you think a lot without being too heavy.

If you are interested in coming along on the journey- here are some links.

Calvin 09- Read the Institutes

Subscribe to daily audio readings in iTunes

Buy the Institutes on Amazon: Institutes of the Christian Religion (2 Volume Set)

Let me know if you'll be doing this as well. I'll blog from time to time about what I am thinking and learning. Feel free to ask me how its going throughout the year. The accountability will be good for me

Apple's iPod Hype and Youth Ministry

Apple release a new line of iPods this morning along with iTunes 8. I was really excited to see what they had in store for the Christmas season, but it was late afternoon before I had a chance to get online and check it out. My response to everything was pretty apathetic. The new iPods are pretty, but nothing that we have not seen before. The new iTunes is pretty cool, I’ll be using the Genius playlists I’m sure, but I’m not overly excited about it.

I’ve been thinking about how Apple has managed to create hype around every product they release- and how on days like today that works against them. Companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony release new products all the time and I’ve never just had to get online to check out any of their new or updated products.

Which leads me to think about ministry. Hype about the next big ministry event will always let someone down. Relationships based on acceptance, genuine interest, caring, and respect never will.

The hype is so much easier- the relationship so much more rewarding.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired?

Worn out?

Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

-Jesus of Nazareth

I forget how much I love Eugene Peterson's The Message. While writing bible studies tonight, I read this from Matthew and was blown away at how eloquently these verses are written. What an amazing lesson for society today. I think I might even read it at youth group on Wednesday.

I need to spend some more time reading, reflecting, sharing, and teaching from The Message.

Pictures from my week in Princeton

I had hash for the first time in the great Jersey Diner:

At the recommendation of the Food Network:

Princeton was beautiful this time of year. Just walking around downtown made me feel smarter.

Miller Chapel:

Perhaps my biggest complaint of the week. Why one of the finest theological schools in the world would still use such uncomfortable, outdated, counter-productive desks is a mystery to me. How in the world could these things encourage learning?

Tomorrow, pictures from Philadelphia- including the pew inside Christ Church that George Washington rented (that's right, they had to literally rent a seat at church) while serving as President.

Its Official

I am done with MySpace.

I am sick of the junk comments and the half clothed girls wanting to be my "friend." I have not deleted my profile yet, but I am planning on it.

So, I am going to be using Facebook exclusively from now on.

Do you Facebook? If so, let's be friends.

Romans: Lesson 1

My first lesson on Romans yesterday went really well. I think word will begin to spread about the new class and we will have new people showing up over the next few weeks.  I could tell that most people were not use to interactive studies. Preparing for next week will be easier since I have a better idea of what to expect.

Although the class went great and I am having fun leading it, I definitely prefer to teach teenagers.

This class does have huge potential though and I am excited to see what happens over the next few months.