C.S. Lewis on Worship

This is a great quote from C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory) on worship being the preview of all the things that our hearts long for:

The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely from this point of view the promise of glory becomes highly relevant to our deepest desire. For glory means good [rapport] with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last. . . . then our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy but the truest index of our real situation. . . . At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. . . . but all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.

The Privilege of Journeying to the World's End

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

We began Reconcile yesterday afternoon and I wanted to share a quick reflection with you based on a book I'm reading entitled CrossTalk.

I quickly forget in my own life what a privilege it is to be a "minister of reconciliation" and to be part of God's mission. A privilege!

One of my favorite books is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. Read the way King Caspian responds and encourages his weary sailors and friends as they debate the pros and cons of journeying to the World's End.

"Friends," he said, "I think you have not quite understood our purpose. You talk as if we had come to you with our hat in our hand, begging for shipmates. It isn't like that at all. We and our royal brother and sister and their kinsman and Sir Reepicheep, the good knight, and the Lord Drinian have an errand to the world's edge. It is our pleasure to choose from among such of you as are willing, those whom we deem worthy of so high an enterprise. We have not said that any any can come for the asking. That is why we shall now command the Lord Drinian and Master Rhince to consider carefully what men among you are the hardest in battle, the most skilled seamen, the purest in blood, the most loyal to our person, and the cleanest of life and manners; and to give their names to us in a schedule." He paused and went on in a quicker voice: "Aslan's mane!" he exclaimed. "Do you think that the privilege of seeing the last things is to be bought for a song?"

We are co-laborers with Jesus our King, and it is a privilege and honor to come alongside him and plead for the world to be reconciled to God! It shouldn't be a duty only, or something that we check off of our list each week. This is no onerous chore. This is a high and holy calling for children who have been adopted into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the grave!

This is a glorious task! Let us "press onward and outward, expressing our love for others in sacrificial ways."

(If you'd like to get plugged in to a Reconcile Team please contact Tim Shaw.)

The Revolution of Christmas

Here's one last Christmas quote this year. This one is from G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man:

Christmas for us in Christendom has become one thing, and in one sense even a simple thing. But like all the truths of that tradition, it is in another sense a very complex thing. Its unique not is the simultaneous striking of many notes; of humility, or gaiety, of gratitude, of mystical fear, but also of vigilance and drama. There is something defiant in it also; something that makes the abrupt bells at midnight sound like the great guns of a battle that has just been won.All this indescribable thing that we call the Christmas atmosphere only hangs in the air as something like a lingering fragrance or fading vapour from the exultant explosion of that one hour in the Judean hills nearly two thousand years ago. But the savour is still unmistakable, and it is something too subtle or too solitary to be covered by our use of the word peace. By the very nature of the story the rejoicings in the cavern were rejoicings in a fortress or an outlaw’s den; properly understood it is not unduly flippant to say they were rejoicings in a dug-out. It is not only true that such a subterranean chamber was a hiding-place from enemies; and that the enemies were already scouring the stony plain that lay above it like a sky.

There is in this buried divinity an idea of undermining the world; of shaking the towers and palaces from below; even as Herod the great king felt that earthquake under him and swayed with his swaying palace. This is perhaps the mightiest of the mysteries of the cave. Indeed the Church from its beginnings, and perhaps especially in its beginnings, was not so much a principality as a revolution against the prince of the world. It was in truth against a huge unconscious usurpation that it raised a revolt. Olympus still occupied the sky like a motionless cloud moulded into many mighty forms; philosophy still sat in the high places and even on the thrones of the kings, when Christ was born in the cave and Christianity in the catacombs.

Fall 2011 Reading List

Here are a few books recommended by some of our staff for Fall reading! Enjoy!

1. Eugene H. Peterson's book, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, will take its rightful place on my list of twenty must read books for any Christian, even though I don't agree with every point made in it. Peterson wants to make reading the Bible personal, relational, and transformational. Instead of someone being lord of the text, examining it as if in a laboratory or solely coming to it for information or with a desire to build a dogmatic belief system, he wants the reader of the Bible to submit their life to the transforming, power-filled, recreating, inspirational thoughts of Scripture. He wants us to read the Bible in everyday language and metaphors that helps us relate to, understand, enter into and live within God’s currently unfolding story.
   
2. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch's book, The Faith of Leap, is a convicting read dealing with the theology of risk and adventure in the church. This book is a corrective to the dull, adventureless, risk-free phenomenon that describes so much of contemporary Christianity. It explores the nature of adventure, risk, and courage and the implications for church, discipleship, spirituality, and leadership.
3. D.A. Carson's book, The God Who Is There, is an excellent introduction to the God of the Bible for both seekers, new believers and those who need to go back to some foundational principles. In this basic introduction to faith, D. A. Carson helps readers to know what they believe and why they believe it. A wonderful read!
4. Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle's book, Erasing Hell, addresses the deepest questions you have about eternal destiny. Like you, sometimes the authors just don't want to believe in hell. But they state up front, "We cannot afford to be wrong on this issue." This is not a book about who is saying what. It's a book about what God says. It's not a book about impersonal theological issues. It's a book about people who God loves. It's not a book about arguments, doctrine, or being right. It's a book about the character of God. 

The Resistance

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

So . . . the resistance. I was recently introduced to the music of Josh Garrels (you can get his amazing CD for free by visiting his website, by the way!) and he has a song entitled "The Resistance." Here are some of the lyrics: 

"Every mortal breath is meant to bring forth fire;
but only when when the fear of death gets consumed
On the funeral pier.
So let the flames rise higher
Let every man be considered a liar
If he doubts the goodness and faithfulness of God."

Reminds me a little of Hebrews 2:14-15!

Let's breathe fire. Resist complacency and laziness in our walk with God. Death has nothing on us because of Christ. Hold fast like an anchor in the storm.

I found the same themes of resistance and resurrection in a book I read recently, entitled "The Island of the World" by Michael O'Brien (definitely a must read!). It is the story of Josip Lasta and chronicles his sufferings in the former Yugoslavia. He knows first hand what resistance is like, particularly under the Communist Party, and as his life and faith fall apart, you can just feel the power of the Gospel and of forgiveness pulsing in his heart, aching to break out, until resurrection eventually bursts through every pore and his life is changed forever--despite the injustice and heartache he's experienced in his life. 

How are you living out the resistance? As a co-heir with Christ you are free from the slavery of death. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit and resurrection flows in your very blood. Are you breathing out fire in a world that is lost in darkness? Join the resistance and be a part of the movement of God.

Winter Reading List

We usually have a few books recommended here on the website (you have to be logged in to see it) during the year, but this winter everyone from the staff pitched in and we compiled a Winter Reading List. Here it is, put 'em on your 2011 reading list, and enjoy!

1. On Christian Liberty by Martin Luther. (Peter's pick) Easy to read, historically important, theologically significant, wonderfully concise; you can finish the book in an hour or two. This book is worth reading, especially given its historical significance and the fact that it succinctly summarizes Luther’s thoughts on justification. Why read about Luther’s thoughts from either his detractors or defenders, when you easily can read his translated works? Here, Luther sets forth the whole of the Christian life in two theses: "A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all." Some of his other more poignant thoughts of the book are as follows: "One thing, and only one thing, is necessary for Christian life, righteousness, and freedom. That one thing is the most holy Word of God, the gospel of Christ." And again, it is the "wedding ring of faith" which unites believers to Christ. "So let him who wishes to do good works begin not with the doing of works, but with believing, which makes the person good, for nothing makes a man good except faith, or evil except unbelief."
2. God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew. (Chuck's pick) As a boy he dreamed of being a spy undercover behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself undercover for God. Brother Andrew was his name and for decades his life story, recounted in God's Smuggler, has awed and inspired millions. The bestseller tells of the young Dutch factory worker's incredible efforts to transport Bibles across closed borders-and the miraculous ways in which God provided for him every step of the way.
3. Radical by David Platt. (Nathan's pick) It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU? In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus. Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment --a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.
4. True Sexual Morality by Daniel Heimbach and 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert Plummer (Matt's picks) * Daniel Heimbach examines the biblical teachings on sexual morality in True Sexual Morality as well as four counterfeit views that have crept into our "sexually revolutionized" society. He gives us an in-depth look at the moral relativism that has spread through our culture and opens our eyes to the effects that nonbiblical sexual choices have on individuals, the family, the church, and the culture. * In 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, New Testament Professor Dr. Robert L. Plummer tackles the major questions that persons ask about reading and undestanding the Bible. Questions include: Does the Bible contain error? Were the ancient manuscripts of the Bible transmitted accurately? What is the best English Bible translation? Is the Bible really all about Jesus? Do all the commands of the Bible apply today?
5. BONUS PICK: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

New Years and the Gift of Gab

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I'm making a New Year's Resolution. And it has to do with a gift that I was born with (I hope that doesn't sound too arrogant!). You might have heard of this particular gift: it's known as the gift of gab.

This gift manifested itself early. As a child, I could talk my way out of anything. There was once an incident in middle school where I ate some pop tarts that were not mine and somehow talked my way out of what would have been swift and just punishment. My mouth would run at 100 mph as I filibustered and did my best to deflect. I know I must have driven my parents completely mad, and it's probably why, even now, they still look at me and wonder how in the world a beautiful girl married me and I have four kids (technically, the fourth is still being fearfully and wonderfully knitted together!).

I remember in college, going to different spiritual retreats, where I was contemplating my future, and being asked, "What kind of gifts do you have?" or "How will the Lord use your gifts in His Kingdom?" All I could think of was that I had the gift of gab and that was about it.

Now, as I've grown I've matured in my thinking and know that God has blessed me in so many ways. He's allowed me to have experiences that have shaped my life and He's equipped me every step of the journey so far. So, I've been thinking lately, "What kind of legacy do I want to leave for my kids? What do I want them to remember about me?"

I definitely don't want to be remembered as a man who had the gift of gab! That would be depressing. Instead, my New Year's Resolution is to be known as a man who followed Christ radically. What if my kids remembered me as a Dad who followed Jesus with all of his heart, no matter how difficult! That would be awesome! So, how do I get there? Practially speaking, I love David Platt's Radical one year challenge (you can read more about it in his book, Radical):

1. Pray for the entire world during one year.
2. Read through the entire Word in one year.
3. Sacrifice my money for a specific purpose.
4. Give my time in another context.
5. Commit my life to a multiplying community.

So, that's my New Year's Resolution: to be a radical follower of Jesus!

Bonus New Year's Blog Feature: Here's a great song from Charlie Hall on the New Year!

Baptism and the Resurrection

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

This past Sunday we went to Jordan Lake and had our annual "Church at the Lake". It was loads of fun and a great time of celebration as we were able to witness twenty-one lives who have been forever changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Recently, I've been reading N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope, and he speaks powerfully on the subject of Baptism and it's meaning:

The important thing, then, is that in the simple but powerful act of plunging someone into the water in the name of the triune God, there is a real dying to the old creation and a real rising into the new--with all the dangerous privileges and responsibilities that then accompany the new life as it sets out in the as-yet-unredeemed world. Baptism is not magic, a conjuring trick with water. But neither is it simply a visual aid. It is one of the points, established by Jesus himself, where heaven and earth interlock, where new creation, resurrection life, appears within the midst of the old. The idea of associating baptism with Easter always was, and still is, a proper Christian instinct. Just as for many Christians the truth of Easter is something they glimpse occasionally rather than grasp and act on, so, for many, baptism remains in the background, out of sight, whereas it should be the foundational event for all serious Christian living, all dying to sin and coming alive with Christ.

What a perspective! Speaking as one who has grown up in the Church and participated in Church activities over the decades I can readily confess that it's far too easy for me to become jaded towards the Sacraments, and to just go through the motions. But if we saw Baptism as a time where heaven meets earth, as an overflow of the Resurrection, would that change how we, as the Body of Christ, view Baptism? Would it change us from being unengaged spectators to worshipers and celebrators of our Risen Lord?

The Skin Map

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

One of my favorite authors over the past twenty years has been Stephen Lawhead. He mainly writes historical fiction and has written everything from a series on King Arthur to a book on St. Patrick to his most recent trilogy on Robin Hood (my favorite all-time book by him though is called Byzantium). He's a believer and I've loved his depth of insight into the early days of Celtic Christianity. He has a new book releasing next week and if you like to read fiction you might want to give it a try! Check out the trailer for the book below:

Lost, Life of Pi and Narnia

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

So, a few (hopefully non-random) thoughts...

I'm a fan of Lost. It's been a brilliant (not perfect) six year body of work, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the journey. As I watched the finale this past weekend there was a lot about it that I loved; the imagery, the closure, and a few (very few!) answers. All along the way Lost has had some elements of spirituality and religious overtones mixed in as it explored the metaphysical and the series finale was no exception. Without giving anything away, I don't think the writers meant Lost to be a definitive guide to what happens to us in the afterlife. But the syncretism of Lost has always left a sour taste in my mouth and the finale didn't shy away from those themes in the slightest.

It actually reminded me of a book I read recently called Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The main character, Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, is an Indian boy who survives for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Pi was born Hindu, became a "Christian" at the age of 14, and then immediately after began to follow Islam as well. Here's Pi's reaction to his new-found faith in Jesus: "Then I raced down the hill on the left and raced up the hill on the right--to offer thanks to Lord Krishna for having put Jesus of Nazareth, whose humanity I found so compelling, in my way. . . Islam followed right behind, hardly a year later." On the boat, Pi would alternate praying to Jesus, various Hindu gods, as well as performing salah 5 times a day.

I don't remember when I was first introduced to the land of Narnia, but I must have read those books a hundred times over the years. They never get old! One of my favorite, and one of Narnia's most poignant scenes takes place at the beginning of The Silver Chair. I think it has a great deal to say about Lost and about Life of Pi. Here's how it goes down:

"If you're thirsty, you may drink." [the Lion said]
They were the first words she had heard since Scrubb had spoken to her on the edge of the cliff. For a second she stared here and there, wondering who had spoken. Then the voice said again, "If you are thirsty, come and drink," and of course she remembered what Scrubb had said about animals talking in that other world, and realized that it was the lion speaking. Anyway, she had seen its lips move this time, and the voice was not like a man's. It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in rather a different way.
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I--could I--would you mind going away while I do? said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

There is no other stream. There is no other way. In our current inclusive culture that's not a popular position, but it's Jesus' position and for it not to be popular doesn't make it any less true. Syncretism and trying to please everyone is always the easy way out, but Jesus was never about the easy way. "How narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life, and few find it," Jesus said. There's only one way to God and that's through Jesus. I still love Lost and Pi's journey was quite the story, but I'm going to go with the Lion of Judah on this one. There is no other stream.

Summer Reading List

We usually have a few books recommended here on the website (you have to be logged in to see it) during the year, but this summer everyone from the staff pitched in and we compiled a Summer Reading List. Here it is, and enjoy!

1. The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg. (Peter's pick) Witty, practical and deeply insightful book that calls us to experience the abundant life that Jesus provides for us. John's transparency and ability to laugh at himself, as he talks about the Christian life, is refreshing.
2. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. (Tim's pick) This is not a marriage manual to show three steps to better communication or five things to do to have a happier marriage. It is a book designed to show how to use the struggles, challenges and joys in marriage to draw closer to God and grow in Christian character; to become holy.
3. The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan. (Phil's pick) The emphasis of this book is one's soul being restored, which will happen only by restoring the Sabbath for your life. "Sabbath rest" is devoting time to reflect upon God and His work in both our own lives and the world. This is especially important in a fast-paced 21st century world!
4. Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead and Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears (Nathan's picks) I've got two picks; one fiction (Byzantium) and one non-fiction (Doctrine). "Byzantium" is the story of Aidan, a 10th century Irish monk, who is chosen to take a special book to Constantinople and his subsequent adventures along the way. "Doctrine" is an interesting and very practical guide to the major doctrines of the Bible. Very readable and clearly written!

Love Ain't Easy!

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I thought I'd add a few thoughts to the earlier post on love. Lately, I've been re-reading Leif Enger's Peace Like A River. I really can't recommend it enough. It's one of those rare books that as the pages turn and you approach the end you can't help but feel a little bittersweet; you don't want the end to come!

Well, here's the passage that struck me when I was thinking about this call we've been given by Jesus to love. It's from the point of view of Reuben Land, the narrator and a young boy. He says:

"I hadn't any comment to this, but felt myself opposite to the Lord in some way, which was worrisome."

Dad asked, "You remember what the Lord said about enemies?"

In fact I did remember some passages about enemies. Once, sick of whiners, the Lord caused the earth to crack open like an old bun and a crowd of them fell right in. And how about the prophet Elijah, slaughtering four hundred priests of Baal in one afternoon? Then there were the twisted fellows of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the time before that when God killed pretty much everyone in the world except Noah's family. The Old Testament, boy, it suited me.

"Love your enemies," Dad said. "Pray for those who persecute you."

He would pick those verses.

Alright, let me be honest here for a minute. I really can't think of any enemies in my life. I did take a pencil once and stand it up under my friend as he sat down in his chair with great velocity. Blood flowed, war was declared, but we're still friends. I did have several "scuffles" with another friend growing up, but we still care about each other. Oh, and there was that one instance when I fired a spudzooka over the dunes and knocked my Mother clear across the deck. But I wasn't disowned even then.

There are those who, however, occasionally might get on my nerves (as I'm sure I get on theirs). You know the kind of person; you're never on the same page, you just don't click, and generally you have an opposite personality type. There are also those who cut in front of you on the highway, cut in front of you in the line at Bojangles, and cut in front of you at the Doctor's office. Uh-oh, I'm sensing a theme here. In college there were those who would ask incredibly in depth questions of the professor right before the clock would measure the ending of the class. I would sit and stew and think evil thoughts.

They're not even my enemies and I'm called to love those people? Take it a step further, if they're followers of Jesus, they're called to love an egotistical miscreant like me?

No wonder the disciples told Jesus some of his teachings were hard for them to accept.

To love those who annoy you, mistreat you, irritate you, hate you and persecute you. To be loved by those whom I annoy, mistreat, and irritate. This is our call. To forgive those who do you wrong. To let it go. It ain't easy, but it is the Way of Jesus! And if I'm going to follow hard after the heart of God it's something I had best get used to!

100 Cupboards and Knowing Who We Are

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

I just finished reading the "100 Cupboards" series by N.D. Wilson and I really recommend them. He's a great writer and they're rich in imagery and imagination. If you like fantasy you'd definitely enjoy his story about a boy named Henry and his journey to save his family!

There's one passage in the third book, "The Chestnut King," where the main character, Henry, is filled with self-doubt, that reminded me of Paul's words in Ephesians. Here's the passage first:

"Who am I?" Henry asked. "I'm a boy with nightmares, a burned hand, a witch's blood in my face, and her voice in my head."

Henry's grandmother tipped up his chin and stared into his eyes. "You are Henry York Maccabee, seventh son of Mordecai Westmore, seventh son of Amram Iothric, in the line long faithful to the Old King, bone from my own bone, blood from my own blood. You are the pride of your father and the glory of your mother, a fire green and gold and a curse to darkness." She dropped her hand. "May you never need to be told again."

Just like Henry had to be reminded by his grandmother who he was I think we forget who we are in Christ Jesus as believers. But just listen to who Paul says we are in Jesus in the book of Ephesians:

• Made alive with the Messiah. (even though we were dead!)
• Raised up and seated with Christ in the heavens.
• Fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.
• We are being renewed in the spirit of our minds.
• Sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (He's the down payment!).
• Forgiven in Christ.
• Children of light!
• Blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
• Chosen!
• Adopted through Jesus Christ for himself.
• Redeemed!
• Christ's inheritance.

How awesome is that, but how quickly we forget! This is who we are. May we never have to be told again.