Backpack Pfriends

Dr. Alex Torrez, Superintendent of PISD delivered a video message to PCC on Sunday, December 15. He said, “Sometimes we think of not having access to enough food as a problem in other communities, other countries, but not in our own backyard. Childhood hunger is real. It is a problem and it exists in PISD right now.”

I was surprised the first time I heard Dr. Torrez talk about children right here in our community that don’t have enough food. These children are fed at school 5-days-a-week, but on the week-ends they often go without. I cannot imagine walking home from school on a Friday afternoon as a 2^nd grader wondering if I’ll have anything to eat for the next two days. Dr. Torrez raised awareness of the problem and then offered a solution. PISD is partnering with local churches on a pilot program called Backpack Pfriends. The program distributes backpacks loaded with nutritious food for the week-end every Friday for at risk children. PCC is one of churches stepping up to partner with the school district for the pilot program.

 This year’s Christmas Eve offering will be given in total to fund the Backpack Pfriends project at Brookhollow Elementary School. The backpacks have already been donated, so 100% of our offering will go to providing the food to put in them. Our goal is to raise $9000 needed to support the program through the spring semester and fall. Would you set aside an offering for Christmas Eve that will be an on-going blessing to children in our community?

 This year’s Christmas Eve project also provides opportunities for us to help in a “hands-on” way. PCC will need volunteers to stuff the backpacks every week and hand them out. More details about volunteering to be part of the Backpack Pfriends program will be available in January. What a great opportunity for PCC to make a difference for Christ in our own backyard.

 The proverb contends, “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 (NIV)

Our desire is to honor God by sharing our food and the Bread of Life, who is Christ our Lord. We won’t be slipping gospel tracts into the backpacks, but we will pray for each family that receives them. We won’t give with strings attached; we’ll simply be a blessing and let the Spirit work.

What I Learned from Nonbelievers Part 2

At a recent Explore God Discussion group believers and nonbelievers had an honest & open discussion about God. The specific topic was: “Why does God allow pain & suffering?” Another thing I learned was that some nonbelievers are perfectly ok with the randomness of suffering. This surprised me as much as anything that was said in the group.

For those of us who believe in God pain and suffering can be confusing & difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand. But, suffering always leads believers to a conversation with God. It is a test of faith, not so much whether or not our faith will survive, but how deep it will go. At times that “conversation” feels rather one-sided. All believers recall times when God felt far away or non-existent. Nevertheless, our faith pushes us to continue seeking, crying out, waiting to hear back, and taking comfort in the promises of God’s Word. We find great solace in the gospel that promises the redemption of our suffering in the end, and God’s good and holy purpose accomplished in it now. The promises are truly comforting, but it’s conversation itself that I need when suffering and disappointment crashes down on me. It is the consolation of having someone who knows how I feel and what I fear and cares and gives me peace beyond understanding.

Nonbelievers appear to need no such conversation. They say, “Suffering just happens.” It’s the way the world works. It’s science. Molecules break down. Natural disasters occur. Is there anything more impersonal and uncaring as science? Chemical reactions and molecules and nature don’t care, can’t possibly care when we suffer. One nonbeliever made the case that it is more tenable to accept the randomness of suffering rather than the alternative, that there is a God so cruel as to cause suffering. I would agree with her premise, if I accepted her concept of God as the cruel cause of suffering.

We believe in the God of love and redemption, not a God of cruelty who takes delight in the suffering of the people he created. We can debate the character of God, whether he is a God of grace and truth who redeems all suffering or not. We can all express our opinions, but in the end he is a God of love or he isn’t. He exists or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t exist or he’s committed to sadistic cruelty, then what hope is there for us when we suffer… really suffer? On the other hand, there is the deepest hope in the God revealed in Christ our Lord. And it isn’t just about heaven or life after death, it’s the conversation now. It’s the presence of God, who in Christ knows suffering personally.

Many years of being a pastor has taught me that even though I cannot “fix” someone’s troubles or stop someone’s suffering there is something about simply showing up. There is something quiet powerful in being with the one hurting. Only God can be fully present and with us in the midst of our most intense suffering, the suffering that ends in death. If there is no God, the final moments of suffering will also be unbearably lonely. Every time I go to the Lord’s Table and eat the bread of Christ and drink from his cup I am reassured that he has been through the shadow of the valley and I will not pass through it alone.

 

What I Learned from Nonbelievers

Last night I enjoyed visiting one of PCC’s home groups. It was a group that began as one of our Explore God Discussion groups that decided to continue the discussion after the official Explore God initiative was over. After the children were fed and ushered upstairs with the babysitter the seven adults took our seats in the living room. Four were believers & PCC members, another described herself as “not a believer, but open”, another described herself as an atheist, & me, “the pastor”. It was a delightful group of genuine friends having an honest and open discussion about God.

I could trumpet my success in the debate, how I bobbed and weaved to avoid the brunt of their arguments, floated like butterfly and stung like a bee delivering irrefutable theology. Actually, it wasn’t like that at all. I didn’t go to win a debate, but have a conversation, to listen and learn, as much as to share my views of God and faith. As it turned out, the two nonbelievers weren’t intimidated in the least by my clergy credentials. They didn’t hold back in sharing their views or questioning mine. Here are some things I learned from nonbelievers last night.

Hateful Christians do incredible damage to the cause of Christ. It is one thing to recognize that this is true in a general way, it’s another to sit next to someone whose been deeply wounded by a hateful believer in her own family or in her own childhood church. In her book Angry Conversations with God, Susan Isaacs describes her tortured teen years and observes, “…if just one, just one Jesus person had made me feel loved at the time, it could have changed a lot. It could have changed everything.” If I had one wish for every child growing up in PCC it would be that he or she would experience grace and love when it’s most needed. That was my own experience as young person. The love and grace I received in my most vulnerable moment served to confirm and seal my faltering, unsteady faith in Christ.

I have yet to discover an argument that heals the wounds hateful Christians inflict on struggling, searching, questioning kids in the church. The very term “hateful Christian” should be an oxymoron. How can those of us who claim to follow Christ be hateful? I’m not talking about a moment of passion when we fly off the handle and say something we immediately deeply regret. I’m talking about willfully feeding the monster of hatred so that it grows into a consuming obsession. I’m talking about unapologetic, proud, cruel, unrepentant hatred toward a group or individual. This kind of hatred often causes questioning young people in the church to conclude, “This is the way it is with God. So, I’m done with God, Christ, Church, faith, all of it.” All the believers in our little circle were quick to point out, “We’re not all like that!” But that wasn’t enough; it’s never enough. Being part of a faith community means owning the sins of our brothers. So our only defense is confession, repentance, and a plea for forgiveness on behalf of our brothers. I’m not sure I got that message across last night, but hope & pray so.

There’s much more that I learned from nonbelievers last night. I’ll add more to this blog in the coming days and weeks.

I Love the Bible

Christians worship Jesus Christ, not the Bible. Our first love is Jesus, the one John meant when he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Some seem to think the Holy Trinity is the Father, Son, and Bible. The Bible is not God; it points to God. The Bible cannot save us or redeem us; only Jesus can do that. The Bible is our primary source, but not our only source, for learning about God and hearing and experiencing God. So, I love the Bible. If I were stranded on a dessert island with only one book I’d choose Lord of the Rings the Bible. I’ve memorized key passages of the Bible just in case I get stranded on that island without it.

It’s true, part of my love for the Bible stems from the fact that I grew up hearing its stories read to me by my parents and Sunday school teachers. My early childhood heroes included David, who slew a giant, Noah who built an ark, Samson who single handedly wiped out a few thousand evil Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, John the Baptist who ate grasshoppers, and of course, Jesus who out shined them all. They inspired me to dream of doing heroic things for God.

I remember how proud I was when my parents gave me my first black leather-bound KJV with my name embossed in gold letters on the front “Steven D Clem”. It felt like Mom and Dad were merely messengers delivering an incredible gift to me from God. Now I could read the word of God for myself. At the age of 8 or 9 I couldn’t understand much of it (it was a KJV), but I loved turning the pages and reading it out loud. I loved looking up the passages as the preacher called out his text on Sunday. I loved the Bible drills in children’s church. Bible drills were contests to see who could find the book, chapter, and verse first as they were called out by the teacher. Those Old Testament Minor Prophets were tough to find, but it felt good to find it first, win the race, jump up from my seat, and start reading, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) There is a sentimental element in my love for the Bible I cannot deny. But it’s more than that.

The Bible is the only book I can read over and over, day after day, and still have a sense of finding something new, or more to the point, hearing something new and fresh every time I open it. It is the only book that sings to me (Zeph. 3:17) and stings me (Is. 64:6) and satisfies my soul (Ps. 62:1). It is the only book that I never read alone… even when I am alone. It is filled with mystery and yet God’s will for me is unmistakable. It scares the you-know-what out of me as it confronts me with my sin and God’s righteous anger. And yet the love of God in Christ is communicated in the story of the cross so vividly I can almost hear the nails being driven in his hands and feet. So often the words of Jesus seem meant for me alone.

If there is one key to reading the Bible, as I think God intends us to read it, I think it would be with an attitude of faith seeking understanding. We should bring our questions, doubts, and prejudices to God as we read Bible. I’m for honest thinking and questioning as we read it. The New City Catechism asks, “How is the Word of God to be read and heard?” Answer: “With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.” My faith in Christ alone as my Redeemer, Savior, and Lord guides my reading and understanding of the Bible.

I won’t apologize for the Bible. Yes, there are some hard to understand stories, especially in the Old Testament; God seems very harsh at times. But this is the same God Jesus calls “my Father”. This is the same God who chooses to become one of us, suffer with us, and die for us. This is the God who loves and commands us to love one another. I love the Bible, not like I love a trophy or antique lamp. I love the Bible like I love a long, love letter that is brutally honest, but infinitely intimate and dripping with passion for me. This Sunday, October 13, 2013 I’m preaching on the topic, “Can we trust the Bible?” The bottom line for me has little to do with the typical issues of translation errors, who decided which books were to be included in the Bible, and historical and scientific errors in the Bible. The answer for me personally is, absolutely we can trust the Bible as a reliable document revealing God, like a passionate love letter revealing the heart of a lover.

If you miss the message this Sunday you can hear it online at http://www.pc-church.org/sermon-archives/explore-god/ .

What I Like about “Explore God”

The “Explore God” initiative is officially launched on September 8. There’s so much to like about the “Explore God” initiative that PCC is participating in this fall. I thought I’d share three elements I like best about the effort.

1. Equipping believers

I like the equipping element of “Explore God”. The training offered to believers in how to simply have a conversation about God is unique in that it doesn’t assume we’re all gospel salesmen commissioned to close deals for Jesus. It’s the kind of training that is useful in virtually everyone’s day-to-day life. It’s not about another church program, but becoming more aware of God working in you and through you at work, at home, wherever you are. If you missed this training check out the video @ http://vimeo.com/61399032

2. Welcoming doubters
I’ve always tried to be a pastor that welcomes people with doubts to PCC. I like the questions. I like the honesty. After all, we all have questions. This Sunday is the perfect Sunday to invite a friend who has doubts. The discussion groups that begin next week are designed for people with doubts and questions, so invite a friend to participate in a group with you.

3. Practicing unity

At last count over 350 churches are participating in Explore God. PCC is not alone in our mission to proclaim Christ, produce disciples, and praise God. While it is true that Christians find quite a lot to disagree about, the greater truth is that we all hold to the “main thing”. It’s a good thing for non-believers to see the kind of unity displayed among believers demonstrated in the Explore God initiative.

There is indeed a lot to like in the Explore God initiative. Keep praying that God works through it, through you and me, to reach many with the gospel.

More Questions??

Pflugerville Community Church is ramping up preparation for the Explore God initiative. “Explore God” is a unique, coordinated effort to engage the greater Austin area in spiritual conversation. 300+ churches have signed up to host a 7-week sermon series and discussion group series, aimed at giving Biblical insights into life's most challenging questions. In our “Explore God” training we talked about spiritual ice-breaker questions. Some suggested questions included, "What gets you through hard times?" and "How are you doing... I really want to know?" Here are 7 additional questions Andrew Wilson offers in his book, If God Then What? Wondering Aloud About Truth, Origins and Redemption. If you’re interested in how he develops his questions you can pick up a copy of his book at http://www.amazon.com/God-Then-What-Wondering-Redemption/dp/1844745694/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374789586&sr=1-5&keywords=Andrew+Wilson

So, here’s his questions which I think are quite good:

1. What’s wrong with the world? I cannot imagine anyone saying, ‘nothing’.
2. What’s the solution? This is a question that effectively asks, ‘what’s your gospel?’
3. How did we get here? Lots of people haven’t got much further than ‘the Big Bang and then evolution’. But why was there a Big Bang, do you think?
4. Why do you think? Does the fact that humans love thought, and poetry, and spirituality, suggest anything about the nature of ultimate reality?
5. What is possible? If God is possible then presumably ‘miracles’ are possible. Dead people rising again, for instance?
6. What happened on 9 April AD 30? I'm not sure how Wilson came up with that exact date, but I think it’s important to ask people what they make of the resurrection of Jesus.
7. So what? It’s good to ask what they think it might imply if Jesus was alive. Who knows? They might even ask you what you think it implies.

Before asking those questions it would be wise to first contemplate them yourself, and even do a bit of reading and research. Let’s keep praying for God to pour out his Spirit upon us as we look for those divine appointments, opportunities to have a conversation about God. Miss the two training sessions? You can watch the first video, “How to Have a Spiritual Conversation,” here: http://vimeo.com/61399032 and the second video “How to Use ExploreGod.com” here: http://vimeo.com/63711008.

PCC Welcomes Scouts

Five leaders of local Boy Scout Troop 4277 crowded around the church boardroom table to make their case. In response to BSA’s national policy change no longer denying membership to boys on the basis of sexual orientation, another local congregation withdrew sponsorship and the free use of their facilities. So a local Scout troop was suddenly without a home-base. By “suddenly” I mean the decision was sudden, the Scouts were graciously given till the end of the year to find another meeting place. The five men representing Troop 4277 were requesting that Pflugerville Community Church pick-up the sponsorship and host the troop and pack meetings.

The Scout leaders pointed out that Troop 4277 is one of the larger troops in the state, largely as a result of its excellent adult volunteer leadership. They emphasized that a number of boys from PCC have gone through the Scouting program and were part of Troop 4277. In fact, PCC has had three Eagle Scouts in that troop in the past, and one young man is currently working toward his Eagle. Several members of PCC are current leaders in BSA. The Scout leaders talked about the good work BSA does in the community and in molding young men into leaders. They made their case and eagerly awaited the church council’s decision.

At that June meeting the church council of Pflugerville Community Church approved the request from Boy Scout Troop 4277 and Pack 406 to meet in our facility. PCC is the new official sponsor of BSA Troop 4277. The decision was unanimous. A warm welcome was extended to the Troop leaders. It was not a difficult decision. I understand that some congregations feel the need to draw a “line-in-the-sand” regarding the biblical position on homosexuality. However, I do not agree that severing congregational ties to BSA is the place to draw that line.

BSA has not changed the purpose or goals of their organization. What they have done is to determine that a boy will not be excluded because sexual “orientation”. I asked myself, “If a young man or woman in our church’s student ministry expressed feelings of same-sex attraction would that student be excommunicated?” My immediate answer: “Absolutely not!” Attraction does not equal sin. Temptation does not equal sin. We all have attractions and desires that would become sinful if acted upon or harbored in our hearts. What better place than the church for young people to find the grace, mercy, and support needed in both finding their moral compass and living up to it? That moral compass for us is Christ and the law of Christ which is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.

PCC continues to stand on God’s Word alone for the values we hold dear. We will not change the definition of sin based on the popular views of our culture. However, the most basic of all biblical values is love God and your neighbor. Troop 4277 is planning to begin meetings at PCC in August. I am sure they will find a warm welcome.

Coming to a Church near you: Explore God!

PCC, along with over 270 churches in the Austin area, has signed on to the Explore God initiative. The goal of “Explore God” is to invite people to investigate questions about God in natural, non-threatening conversations. I love that goal! It’s not one of those “evangelistic crusade” campaigns that tries to turn believers into Jesus salesmen. In September, along with the other pastors, I’ll be preaching a 7-week series of messages on the “Explore God” theme that deals with the hard questions like: “Does life have a purpose?” “Is there a God?” “If God is good, why is there evil in the world?” All of our fall small groups will be using corresponding Explore God study material. Nobody is expected to win any debates or close any deals. The idea is to engage in honest conversation.

You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to talk about God, but there is one essential, central, life-changing truth in the Bible that you’ve got to know. We call it the gospel. The word “gospel” means “good news”, the kind of the good news that changes individual lives, entire communities, nations, and the world. It’s good news… there is a God and he has made your redemption possible and the restoration of all creation guaranteed. The gospel is the point of the Bible, what the OT points to and the NT openly proclaims. All the little stories add up to the big story, the main story, God’s story, the gospel. You could say it’s “the main thing”. It’s what 270+ churches in central TX have in common.

“The Main Thing” is the title of the summer sermon series I began on June 2. The purpose of the series is to root firmly in our minds what the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly about, and not about. I hope to rediscover together the practical, life-changing impact of the gospel. Our text will be the eight gospel sermons found in the New Testament book of Acts. What do these 8 sermons have in common? How is each unique? What do we learn from each about the impact of the gospel on our lives and how to share the gospel? On June 2 we began with the opening chapter, the introduction to Acts, what you might call “the sequel to the Jesus story”. This Sunday, June 9, we’ll get to the first gospel sermon preached by Peter at Pentecost.

In case you missed it, the homework given at the conclusion of the message last Sunday was: Read through the book of Acts again paying close attention to the sermons. What do you learn about the gospel? Pray for the Explore God initiative. Ask God for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.

Grace and Truth

Preaching is a delicate balance of grace and truth. Sometimes I miss that target. Sometimes what I say from the pulpit is just plain wrong. No preacher’s interpretation and proclamation of Scripture is flawless. Sometimes what I say is misunderstood. Sometimes truth gets tainted by my own bias. Sometimes my passion comes across as anger and/or judgment. I’ve said many times that the job of a preacher is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. By afflicting the comfortable I mean challenge to grow, to think deeper about God and faith and how we live that out. “Afflict the comfortable” also means preaching the gospel in a way that convicts people of sin, leading to confession, repentance, and spiritual renewal. It’s never my intent to heap guilt and shame on anyone just to make them feel very, very bad about themselves.

So I am disappointed, to say the least, that last Sunday’s (May 12) message came across to some as guilt-based, unfair, untimely, & offensive. Part of my preparation for the message that dealt with the tragedy of abortion included seeking out the counsel of two women I respect, my wife, who is a volunteer counselor at the Pflugerville Pregnancy Resource Center, and a woman that had told me she’d had an abortion many years ago. Obviously there is no way for me, a man, to know what it feels like to be a woman in the tragic situation of coping with an unwanted, untimely pregnancy. There is no way for me to comprehend what it’s like to feel trapped with the limited options available seeming equally catastrophic. So I took time to listen to a woman who’d been in that position and to a woman who counsels them.

I wanted to communicate my view that women who choose abortion are victims too. No woman wants to be in that situation. I want to be a church that welcomes all with love and grace and mercy, because we all need love and grace and mercy. I’m not sure why that failed to come through to some, but I deeply regret that it did not. PCC has supported pro-life in the most positive ways that we know how for the entire history of our church. That means providing financial support and volunteers to the Pflugerville Pregnancy Resource Center since its inception. This support has been open and uncompromising for 17+ years. On the other hand, we’re not into the politics of the issue. We do not campaign for pro-life candidates or any political candidates for any office period. I personally do NOT believe the answer is with Congress passing laws, courts striking down laws, or electing pro-life candidates. But we are for life; always have been, always will be. We will always be for the “least of these” and that includes both prenatal babies and their mothers.

Some may be right in saying that Mother’s Day was the wrong time for that message. I struggled with the timing. I even had a different message ready if I decided late in the week not to go forward with the original. In the end, I decided that it was part of the “Justice for All” series and that it fit. I felt like it was what the Spirit was leading me to do. That’s a subjective perspective. It was my decision and I won’t blame God for it, but I still feel that God was leading me. I’m not infallible; sometimes I miss God’s leading.

Christians differ on this issue. No one at PCC is required to sign anything supporting pro-life. No one will ever be asked to withdraw his or her membership from PCC over this issue. And for those offended by last Sunday’s message, I would like to have the opportunity to sit down face-to-face and talk. I feel certain that we agree on so much more than on what we disagree. It is not my goal or desire to change minds on the issue, but to make sure we understand our differences and what we stand united upon. So, if the message last Sunday challenged you, pushed you out of your comfort zone to think deeper and harder about your faith and how you live it out… good. I hope that happens every Sunday at PCC. If you were deeply offended and you’re angry with me about that message, whether it be the content or the timing I want to hear from you. I want to hear your story and better understand your perspective. I want to walk together in faith serving God together, even if we agree to disagree on some things. So call me. The church office phone is 512 251-0719.

Divine Guidance

Recently I received an email from a young man asking advice in determining God’s will for his life. He was looking for divine guidance regarding career and marriage and frankly, escaping what appeared to be a dead-end career-path in a location he believed to be detrimental to his spiritual life. Here’s how he put the question: “I would really appreciate your help in determining when God is trying to tell me something and when I’m simply hearing the normal voices in my head. How can a person claim to follow God if he cannot tell what God wants him to do?”

I thought it was a great question and was honored that he was interested in my thoughts on the subject of divine guidance. I began with a practical first step, “Seek godly advisors who love you and want God’s best for you, and that starts with your parents. Did you talk to your mom and dad about the direction you’re considering?” To which he replied, “I did. They said to call you.”

So I went on to my next piece of great wisdom: “God is more concerned with your character than your job. He is more interested in kind of husband you will be than the person you will marry. His primary directive is to love your neighbor wherever you live. You find this kind of clear direction in God’s Word.”

His response was, “Ok, but that still doesn’t tell me if the voices in my head telling me to move to a different state and look for a new career are from God or not.”

While I do indeed believe our character and remaining obedient to God in the basic commands to love Him and our neighbor are central to God’s will for us, I also believe He leads us in very specific ways as well. God didn’t call Abraham and then say, “Just wander in whatever direction you want as long as you have faith and love.” He said, “Leave your father’s house and go to the land I will show you.”

I asked that young man what he really wanted, what were the deepest desires of his heart? “I want to be good husband and father,” he replied, “and I want to leave this place.”

Those kinds of desires are from God. The desire to love, to serve, and to make the world a better place are from God. Desires that are essentially selfish are never from God. Desires that seem neither good nor bad are sometimes difficult to discern whether they come from our own hearts or from God. That’s where faith comes in. God may or may not be leading in a certain direction, but when we feel he is leading in a certain direction, after much prayer and seeking godly counsel, it’s time to take a step of faith. Why would we think that the God who requires faith to be saved would not require faith to follow his specific guidance? As the writer of Hebrews says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) (NIV) We can be certain of God’s love and presence when we are unsure of His specific direction. Faith requires taking a step when the way ahead is dark.

Do we hear God perfectly every time? No. But, the beautiful thing about God is that he is fully capable of bringing correction to our direction.

Sinai Revisited

Sandy on her Sinai Adventure

Exodus 24:13 (NIV)
Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.  

Yesterday’s message centered on that obscure verse in Exodus 24 that reveals Joshua accompanied Moses to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. On the way home after the service my wife, Sandy, said, “I could have added something to that sermon today. I know why Moses took Joshua with him to the top of the mountain.”

I was wondering if she had discovered something in the Exodus text that I had missed. She had certainly piqued my curiosity. “So, tell me why Moses took Joshua with him.”
Sandy proceeded to remind me of our own trek to the top of Sinai.

Early on Monday morning, March 12, 2007, and I mean really early, Sandy and I began our adventure of climbing Mount Sinai. Wake-up call came at 1:00am. After the short bus ride to the base of the mountain we were paired up with a camel and camel driver for the first two-thirds of the way up Sinai. I named my camel Chewbacca because he sounded exactly like the Wookie in Star Wars, no kidding. When my kneeling camel, and it was huge, made that loud angry Wookie growl just as I was getting on I wasn’t too sure about this mode of transportation up the mountain. There is no ski lift at Sinai, so I climbed on Chewy and held on for dear life. Chewy was feisty and fast. We passed 8 or 10 camels on the 8 foot wide path that zigzagged up the mountain. Sandy’s camel had a few problems.  She had the youngest camel driver, a 15 year-old Bedouin boy. She had to dismount after a short way so the young driver could tighten the cinch. Sandy’s camel fell far behind our group, but in the darkness no one knew. This was no little kiddie ride like you’d see at a zoo; this was an hour-and-a-half climb up a steep mountain path. The scariest part for me was when Chewbacca got close to the edge of the path allowing me, or perhaps forcing me, to peer down the sheer cliff beside the path. Chewy and the other camels were sure-footed and everyone made it to walking point two-thirds of the way up Sinai with Sandy arriving about 20 nervous minutes after everyone else.

 
There are literally 750 steps to the top from the place we dismounted the camels, and they are not easy steps. They were steps of varying height chiseled out of the stone face of the mountain often with the mountain wall on one side and a shear drop on the other. Sandy and started the long climb together. At about the half-way point her knees were hurting so bad she had to stop. I encouraged her to keep going, that we’d go slow and take plenty of rest stops. But it was no use; she was done. She told me to go on without her, and she’d wait at that spot till I returned. So went on to the top alone. That’s when she witnessed the reason Moses took Joshua with him up the mountain.
 
The place she had stopped had a large group of people that couldn’t go on. Enterprising young Bedouin boys were there as well, offering their services to the elderly and worn-out pilgrims who wanted to go on to the top. Some would hire two Bedouins, with one on each side to support and lift them to each succeeding step, they went on. Sandy passed on the opportunity to hire the human walking sticks, but she remembered watching others do so while listening to my sermon. “Moses was an old man when the people arrived at Sinai,” she said. “He needed Joshua to physically support him to get to the top of the mountain.”
 
She is probably right. And that leads me to a fifth thing Joshua must have learned about spiritual leadership as he assisted Moses to the crest of Sinai. Spiritual leaders are humble enough to admit they need help and rely on younger faithful learners along the way. Spiritual leadership is never a solo experience. I don’t mean they know how to delegate, although that’s true too. I mean they need help in leading… fresh ideas, different perspectives, challenging questions, and encouragement. This mentoring thing, you see, is a two-way street. That means listening to those we lead as well as instructing them and being grateful for the young Joshuas in our lives.

Churches in Kenya

The blessing of our Christmas Eve offering will soon be received by fellow believers in Kenya, Africa. Our goal was $10,000 to build 2 churches in a remote area of Kenya. One church would also serve as school for children and the other a seminary to train pastors. The total for the Christmas Eve offering (including a few late gifts) was $16,500! PCC will be able to fund 3 churches in Kenya for the Maasai people and provide some furnishings as well. Trudy Marshall, founder and director of Libraries of Love, leaves for Kenya on Jan 30 to see that the churches are built. The blessing of Christmas Eve 2012 will be felt by our brothers and sisters in Christ in Kenya for many years. Praise the Lord!

Check out the website of Real Life Ministries to learn more about the work in Kenya and to see pictures of the people our Christmas Eve offering will be helping. http://www.rlmkenya.com/

Les Mis

Sandy and I went to see the film version of the musical Les Miserables last Monday night. We’ve seen the stage production twice, the first time at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio, my favorite theater in the world. Victor Hugo’s novel is my #1 favorite novel of all time. Yes, even better than Lord of the Rings. I’ve read it twice, all 1,463 pages. The film version of the musical is stunning. It captures the spirit and passion of the novel. It is one of the best films I’ve ever seen.

Les Miserables is the story of the redemption of a hardened convict set in 19^th century France. Only two novels have reduced me to tears, and this is one. And yes, I was fighting back tears at the end of the film. Victor Hugo, a master story-teller, weaves the separate storylines of a number of characters into one grand tapestry of tragedy, betrayal, heroism, and redemption. I grow weary of the typical Hollywood revenge plots. I’m not inspired by so-called heroes that “save-the-day” by blowing away all the bad guys. I am inspired by the bishop that shows Jean Valjean the shocking grace of God. One of my favorite lines in the novel about the bishop is: “He did not study God; he was dazzled by Him.” I am inspired by the relentless determination of Valjean to serve God in response to his redemption.

This story inspires me, and makes me want to be a better pastor, a better human being. The film production of the musical succeeds in capturing the passion of the novel through the music. If Valjean’s song, “Who Am I?” and Fantine’s “I Dreamed a Dream” don’t move your heart you don’t have a heart. The story Victor Hugo told 150 years ago is essentially a retelling of the gospel. It’s the story of the glory of God revealed in the redemption of a wicked man and bursting forth out of tragedy. In the novel one of the last things Jean Valjean says is, “It is nothing to die; it is horrible not to live.”

In my opinion, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen this incredible film.

http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/

Reading 2012

I love to read. I must read. I read for the pure enjoyment of it and I read to learn and grow and be better prepared to preach. Here's my reading list for last year.

1.      Is Hell For Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven? By T. Keller, R. Mohler, J.I. Packer, & R. Yarbrough

2.      Spirituality According to Paul, Rodney Reeves

3.      Rebecca’s Revival, Creating Black Christianity in the Atlantic World, Jon Sensback

4.      Last Night in Twisted River, John Irving

5.      The Final Martyrs, Shusaku Endo

6.      Junia is not Alone, Scot McKnight

7.      Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë,

8.      The Kingdom and Cross, James Bryan Smith

9.      Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury

10.  Psalms, The Prayer Book of the Bible, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

11.  Sinning Like a Christian, William Willimon

12.  Glittering Vices, Rebecca DeYoung

13.  Bad Religion, How We Became A Nation of Heretics, Ross Douthat

14.  God is Red, Liao Yiwu

15.  The Years of Lyndon Johnson, The Passage of Power, Robert Caro

16.  The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

17.  The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness, Tim Keller

18.  Studies in Words, C.S. Lewis

19.  Veneer, Willard & Locy

20.  The Man Who Was Thursday, G.K. Chesterton

21.  The Princess and the Goblin, George MacDonald

22.  Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, Brant Pitre

23.  Exposing Myths About Christianity, Jeffrey Burton Russell

24.  Trusting the Shepherd – Insights from Psalm 23, Haddon Robinson

25.  Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens

26.  Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards

27.  The Last Christian on Earth, Os Guinness

28.  A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Phillip Keller

29.  One Nation Without God, David Aikman

30.  Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart, Ed Dobson

31.  The Complete Father Brown Mysteries, G.K. Chesterton

32.  God in the Manger, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

New City Catechism

Our call to worship this Sunday was Romans 14:7-8 (NIV)
For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

It’s the verse that goes with the first question of the New City Catechism (www.newcitycatechism.com). The New Year is a time to initiate new resolutions, efforts, & commitments. There are a number of new things PCC is initiating this year; none I am more excited about than introducing the New City Catechism. It’s not a program. It’s a bold new commitment I’d like us to make together… a commitment to work toward a deeper comprehension of the faith we claim… a commitment to the 2nd part of our purpose statement… “To produce growing disciples who serve Christ.” Growing disciples must know what they believe. I fear that we don’t know the gospel and foundational truths it is built upon very well. The NCC is a tool that will help us grow as disciples of Jesus Christ; it’s a tool we can use both at church and at home.

NCC is a free internet catechism comprised of 52 questions and answers, one for each week of the year divided into 3 parts:

PART 1 = God, creation and fall, law (20 questions);
PART 2 = Christ, redemption, grace (15 questions);
PART 3 = Spirit, restoration, growing in grace (17 questions)

Questions #1 and the answer: “What is our only hope in life and death?”

Answer: “That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus.”

The same questions are asked of both children and adults; the children's answer is always part of the adult answer. A Bible verse accompanies each question and answer. In addition, there is a short commentary & a prayer. Each Sunday this year our call to worship will introduce the next question & answer from the NCC and the corresponding Scripture.

The practice of catechesis takes truth deep into our hearts, so we find ourselves thinking biblically. When death intrudes upon your family as it inevitably will and your children wonder, you wonder: “What is our only hope in life and death?”

Don’t you want their thinking & yours to go to that glorious answer of the gospel: “We are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus.”

Is this a church or family thing? YES! We’ll introduce the Q & A for each week at church. Our SS teachers will be reinforcing the answers in SS class. But this is 1st and foremost a family spiritual education tool. Make this a regular part of your family.

Are we supposed to memorize the answers? YES! The discipline of memorization drives concepts deeper into the heart and holds us more accountable to master the material. Be creative with it. Make flashcards, quiz one another, and review in the car, at breakfast, at bedtime. The idea is to build a biblical mindset. Don’t get too legalistic about the memorizing. Do the best you can… 2014 will be our review year.

What if I don’t agree with the answer? If you or someone in the family questions the answer given, let that be the catalyst for discussion. Let the discussion push you back to the Bible for more information. Encourage the kids express their doubts and questions. But learn the answers given. I hope the process will stimulate family discussions about the faith.

Will learning the NCC guarantee that my children will remain committed Christians when they grow up? No. But, Princeton theologian Archibald Alexander said, it is like firewood in a fireplace. Without the fire—the Spirit of God—firewood will not in itself produce a warming flame. But without fuel there can be no fire either, and that is what catechetical instruction is.

My prayer is that everyone connected to Pflugerville Community Church will share this new resolution to learn the NCC. It will take perseverance and patience and some hard work, but at the end of 2013 we will have strengthened the foundation of our faith. Not sure if this is right for you and/or your family? Go to website and check it out for yourself. www.newcitycatechism.com

ONE Resolution

I decided to make one and only one New Year’s resolution this year. I have resolved to open God’s Word each day BEFORE I open my laptop. No longer will I put the sports news or the weather report or Face Book friend’s comments before the One I call Lord. I know, shocking that a pastor would take so long to recognize his little idols that displace Christ our Lord. So far I’m 100% in keeping this resolution in 2013!

Book Review: The Final Martyrs

Shusaku Endo is one of my favorite authors. He was a 20th-century Japanese author who wrote from the unusual perspective of being both Japanese and Catholic. My two favorite Endo novels are Silence and The Samuri (not the book the Tom Cruz movie was based on). Both are set in 18^th century Japan where Christians are a persecuted minority. Both novels are marked by intense inner-conflicts centered on the Christian faith. They are not pleasant little feel-good stories with happy endings. Endo forces his readers to wrestle with hard questions about faith and God. Not ready for his novel? Try The final Martyrs, Eleven short stories that are deeply spiritual. The title story is set during the 18th-century persecution of Christians in Japan. I have found Endo’s writing to be inspiring and disturbing. Sometimes my faith needs to be inspired and sometimes it needs to be disturbed.
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Martyrs-New-Directions-Paperbook/dp/0811218112/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356212964&sr=1-21&keywords=Endo