Theology With A Tiger

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I’ve always loved reading Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes. In fact, I can attribute much of what I am today to two adults (my Mother and Father), one perpetually young kid (Calvin, named after John Calvin) and one insanely intelligent and good looking tiger (Hobbes, named after Thomas Hobbes). That might be scary to some of you, I know, but it is what it is. For those of you not familiar with the strip, Calvin is the dreamer and philosopher while Hobbes; his imaginary tiger (or is he?) plays the realist.

During one staff meeting a few years ago Rick (now at Explore Church) and I had this crazy idea that we would bring lots of random things to the meeting to try and stimulate our creativity. So we brought play dough, crayons and doodling paper, our X-Boxes and, yes, you guessed it—a couple of Calvin and Hobbes books. I don’t know how many good ideas came out of that hour or so, but it was one of my favorite staff meetings ever.

I remember reading one of the strips in which Calvin and Hobbes are lying in bed. In the first panel Calvin asks, “I wonder why man was put on the earth. What’s our purpose? Why are we here?” In the second panel Hobbes turns to him and says matter-of-factly, “Tiger food.” In the third he grins at Calvin, who is taking in his comment. And finally, in the last panel, Calvin lies awake, with a worried look on his face and one eye on his tiger, as Hobbes peacefully sleeps. Existential musings from a 7 year old. How could you not love that?

I mean, I’ve had a few teachers like Miss Wormwood in my life and growing up I remember a few Susie Derkins. In fact, without revealing names one time in Kindergarten I was wrestled to the ground by an uber-aggressive female First Grader where I found a kiss forcibly planted on my lips while I screamed and shouted in protest.

I also treated my babysitters poorly, as Calvin did Rosalyn. I can remember one night refusing to come out of the bathroom the whole time my parents were gone and other times tying my babysitters to a chair and pretending they were damsels in distress. I usually got them untied after an hour or so.*

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, my life would not be the same were it not for the exploits of Spaceman Spiff or for the wonderful carefree sport of Calvinball. As a future political science major I also conducted and interpreted polls on my Dad’s performance as a Father as I grew up, much to his chagrin. Sorry about that, Dad. Hopefully Aidan and Gavin won’t get any bright ideas.

And finally, if there was one thing I could change about my physical appearance I always wished my hair could have resembled Calvin’s amazing cut.

*In honor of the snow this week I’d also like to give a shout out to the whole Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons storyline. Brilliant.

The Holiness of God

Nathan Stam
Children's Pastor

I’ve been thinking a lot about the holiness of God lately. This past Sunday we sang a song in which one of the lines said: “No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne.” What does that mean? For much of my life I thought we wanted to stand before God’s throne and be in his presence. But it sounds like that might not be possible. In this life, at least. How do I reconcile that desire to be in the Presence of the Lord with verses that say things like:

But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live. (ex. 33:20)

The only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16)

No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son—the One who is at the Father's side—He has revealed Him. (jn 1:18)

You cannot see My face and live. Unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him.

There’s something mind-boggling and awe-inspiring about the holiness of God. It should inject a good dose of humility into our bones.

A.W. Tozer once described the holiness of God this way: “God is holy and He has made holiness the moral condition necessary to the health of His universe. Sin’s temporary presence in the world only accents this. Whatever is holy is healthy; evil is a moral sickness that must end ultimately in death. The formation of the language itself suggests this, the English word holy deriving from the Anglo-Saxon halig, hal, meaning, ‘well, whole.’”

So, how can we possibly know God? How can we, broken and sinful men and women, draw near to Him? Listen to what Tozer went on to add:

“Caught in this dilemma, what are we Christians to do? We must like Moses cover ourselves with faith and humility while we steal a quick look at the God whom no man can see and live. The broken and the contrite heart He will not despise. We must hide our unholiness in the wounds of Christ as Moses hid himself in the cleft of the rock while the glory of God passed by. We must take refuge from God in God. Above all we must believe that God sees us perfect in His Son while He disciplines and chastens and purges us that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

Here’s to hiding ourselves in the wounds of Christ. Have a HOLY New Year!

The Rest Of the Story…..

Dottie Stam
Minister of Music/Worship
dottie@apexbaptist.org

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“Whatever happened to Mary Ann?’...I was asked this question multiple times during the presentation of A Frontporch Christmas. Even when I explained that she was merely a fictional character the question still persisted. “Yes, I know you changed her name, but the real Mary Ann....what happened to her?”

The belief that somewhere in the far past there lurks a real Mary Ann is hard to overcome. However, there were several characters that were based on real people and events of the early 1900’s. My paternal grandfather’s name was Green Titus Mills and he served as the model for ’Preacher Green.’ He was pastor of Green Level Baptist Church for decades and while I never met him, the stories told about him have made him come alive in my mind. My mother’s family suffered along with others during the depression years and she remembers the terrible event of their only cow dying. That meant no milk or butter for a family of 5 children. Her family were not members at Green Level Baptist, but some how Preacher Mills got wind of their situation and showed up at their doorstep. He told my Grandmother that he had heard about the cow and he had $5.00 to give her to help buy a new cow. That $5.00 was like $500.00 now. My grandfather was not a wealthy man and had a large family of his own. That $5.00 was a huge amount to give, but he gave it anyway. My mother, a little girl at the time, was awed by the kindness of this gentle man and always remembered it. Probably had something to do with her later falling in love with his son.

I was told about the big boarding house that stood in downtown Apex and Aunt Fanny was sort of a composite of several of the generous, kind women that populated Apex in the early 1900’s. They mothered everyone and everyone’s business was theirs. But if you were ever in trouble, they were there to help.

Allious Yates was named after a wealthy gentleman of that time. I know nothing of his character, but he sort of morphed into the ‘Scrooge’ character of the play. I was never really sure what would change his heart and break his pride but it seemed that nothing is so convicting than to have the person you have fought with for years ask you to forgive them. Allious was an honest enough gentleman to recognize that the fault had been all his and with that recognition realize all that he had lost. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in a man that can change him and that was true in Allious’ case. The Lord was merciful in bringing Mary Ann and baby John into his life. I think he, like Scrooge, was truly changed. “I will not be the man that I once was,” Scrooge said, and so it was with Allious. And with his confession, the Lord blessed him.

The character of Joe Broadwell was inspired by a movie I had seen earlier in the year. It was about a WW I officer who had seen his company butchered in the Argonne offensive as they held their position against overwhelming odds. This officer received several medals but could never get over the horrors of war and later committed suicide. I wondered what could have healed him and restored him to a meaningful life. The story of Joe offers the only solution I know of for those wounded in spirit as well as body. “Just go to the cross,” Mary Ann tells Joe, and when he does, he finds that his sufferings are only a faint shadow of the sufferings of his Savior who knows, understands and heals. Joe finds health when he forgets himself and devotes his life to caring for others.

I loved Irene Batchelor. It seems that every community needs a woman ‘who can get things done.’ And where would we be without those visionary women who ignore the cost to themselves as they pursue a ‘greater cause.’ I certainly am grateful to those brave women who campaigned for the right for women to vote. It took energy, dedication and sacrifice on their part and I admire them. But most of all, I loved that Irene was as willing to put her energies in a cause for the Lord Jesus as she was in getting the vote. In fact, that is the greater cause. Politics can shape society, but only Jesus can save and change the heart of man. I think Irene knew that and perhaps she was in the play to represent the courageous women everywhere who persevere in doing right.

“But what about Mary Ann?”, I can hear you ask. Well, she is every woman who has ever suffered tragedy and grief. Being helpless and hopeless she seems to fall under life’s proverbial ‘crushing blow’ only to be rescued by the mercy of God evidenced in His people. But I know that answer is not the rest of the story so here it is.

Well, Allious did help Mary Ann and baby John. He found that true to his son’s letter, he admired Mary Ann’s spirit and helping her became a joy. He had lost his son but he gained a daughter and a grandson. I expect he would have been very protective and suspicious of any other man who would have desired to gain her affections had that man not been Joe Broadwell. Joe and Mary Ann remained friends for a long period of time and gradually that friendship just shifted into love. Mary Ann encouraged Joe to go to Med School and was his biggest supporter in the church. (Actually, this is a true story. A church in Richmond agreed to send my uncle to Med school if he would serve on the mission field. He served in China until the communists ran him out). They just got used to talking together and being married is a better way to do that. I think they were blessed their whole lives by a love that grew with them and remained thankful for the way the Lord worked in all things for good. Baby John grew up with a loving Father and granddad. He followed in his Father’s Jeff’s footsteps and served in WW II in Europe as a medic. Mary Ann and Joe had 4 children of their own, all of which delighted Granddad Allious who had adopted them as his own grandkids. As for Jim and Josie, Jim never did find a girl prettier than Josie, and Josie figured she could keep an eye on Jim better if they were married so several years later they were married by Preacher Green. Their first born child was a sweet girl named Elizabeth who later became baby John’s wife. Both John and Elizabeth felt the Lord was calling them to be missionaries and the church had the blessing of seeing them go to serve in the Far East. After a lifetime of service on foreign soil, John and Elizabeth retired back to their home town and enjoyed their grand kids. John turned out to be quite a good story teller having a great deal of practice with the grandkids and it was at his wife’s, Elizabeth, urging that he recounted the tale of A Frontporch Christmas so that everyone could see that with God nothing is impossible.

So there you have it...the rest of the story.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO EPILOGUE HERE!

(Thanks to Paul Allen for the photo)

Parental Influence

Peter Dubbelman
Family Life/Administrative Pastor

Of course, our careers are important. Your company may even suffer a setback in your absence. Yet, as valuable as we would like to think we are, we can easily be replaced at work. But nobody can take our place as a parent. Who else but you can love your children as they need to be loved?

Both George Washington and Abe Lincoln attributed their success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education they received from their mother. Yes, there are many people who have actually succeeded in life, from God’s point of view, without coming from a good family; however, usually these people had to learn things the hard way, often at a great cost to them and those around them.

A lot of people work for many reasons: self esteem; a need to be productive, a desire to make a mark on society, a need to provide for their family. None of these reasons are by themselves wrong; however, if they are done at the cost of impacting our children and consistently being there for them, things are out of priority.

Most of our jobs have short term impact; but, all of our children will affect this world for a long time to come, whether in a godly or ungodly way. Often which effect our children have on this world has a lot to do with whether we parent them properly.

The Ebenezer Project

Afterwards, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, "The LORD has helped us to this point." So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel's territory again. The LORD's hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel's life. The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. (1 Samuel 7:12-14)

The word Ebenezer is a Hebrew word, which means “Stone of Help.” The context is when the Israelites finally defeated the Philistines, and took back the Ark of the Covenant. To remember their victory, Samuel set up a marker-stone, naming it "Stone of Help.”

An Ebenezer is a reminder of God’s presence and divine aid in our lives. Spiritually and theologically speaking, an Ebenezer can be nearly anything that reminds us of God’s presence and help: those things which serve as reminders of God’s love both for us and for our families.

This Thanksgiving let’s give thanks to God for the wonderful Ebenezers that God has given us in our lives! We’ve got a special opportunity for you and your family to be involved in during our Thanksgiving Service on Sunday morning, November 23. This week we would like for you and your family to prepare your own Ebenezer to bring to the service on the 23rd. It can literally be a “stone of help” on which you could write family bible verses and passages that are meaningful to you or could it be something else that is symbolic of a way that God has delivered your family or shown himself faithful to you over the years. During the service this Sunday we will have a time for your family to bring your Ebenezer forward and for us as a congregation to give thanks to God together.

May each and every one of us always be blessed by the grace and peace of Jesus Christ through the Ebenezers that God has placed in our lives!

True or False

Tim Shaw
Education Pastor

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” Acts 17:24-26 (ESV)

On Paul’s second missionary journey he finds himself in the middle of downtown Athens. He spends time observing the people and his heart is broken over how blind and lost they are. Then in Acts 17:16-33 Paul teaches them who Christ is. I love the section in verses 24-26 where Paul teaches them about the character of God. Paul tells them that God is superior to His creation. He is over and above all that He has created and He needs nothing to support His existence. But at the same time He is intimately involved within His creation. It says that He gives life to all things that have life. Paul goes on to tell them that from one man, Adam, He has brought all people into the world and formed nations. He not only formed the nations, He determines how large or small that nation will be. He determines how long that nation will be in existence as well.

I think this passage is extremely relevant for us today. Especially having come through an election this week where we observed a major shift in our nation’s government, where the short-term and long-term effects are yet to be determined. But from Acts we see that God reigns whether the Republicans or Democrats have the majority voice in government. God is on the throne if there is prayer in schools or not. He is on the throne even if the definition of marriage is changed to adapt to the worldview of today.

I received this email which I found to be quite timely and it gives us some perspective. I want to share it with you. I do not know who wrote it. It is a True/False test that you don’t even have to study for. Good luck! Or better God Bless! Or even better God REIGNS!!!

True/False: Regardless of who won the election, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: Regardless of who won our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: Regardless of who won, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: Regardless of who won, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: Regardless of who won, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: Regardless of who won, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: Regardless of who won, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: Regardless of who won, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: Regardless of who won, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: Regardless of who won, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: Regardless of who won, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: Regardless of who won, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: Regardless of who won, we will still know that God is in control.

The answer my friend is “TRUE”. I pray that you will remember who you are and who He is.

Washed By The Water

Nathan Stam
Children/Commun. Pastor

Even when the rains fall
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

These lyrics come from a song called “Washed by the Water” by Needtobreathe. They are a great band out of South Carolina and their album “The Heat” is definitely worth checking out! It’s one of my favorites from this past year.

Haven’t we all experienced the rain falling in our lives? Sometimes it can be a sprinkle, or come in intermittent bursts. And sometimes it can be a flat-out deluge. Sometimes the water can rise up so fast that it sweeps us away before we even know what’s happened. Before we know it we’ve been carried so far away from where we were and pounded against the rocks so many times that it’s hard to know the right direction to move, much less how it is we are supposed to get back.

Storms are hard. Real hard. But you know what? As followers of Christ we’ve already gotten wet.

The writer of Hebrews says that since, as believers, we’ve already been washed by the water, we can draw near to God. And we’re encouraged to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess (despite the winds that buffet us and the troubles that assail). Why?

Because he who promised is faithful.

He is faithful to carry our sorrows, our hurts and our tears. He is faithful to resurrect our dead and stony hearts. He is faithful to keep us until the end. And he’ll never let us go—even when the water starts rising.

And we are not of those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life. Apex Baptist Church, hold unswervingly to God. Don’t fear the storm. Be encouraged. He who promised is faithful.