Here is the YouTube video of the Father’s Day sermon I preached at our church. The sermon begins at timestamp 20:20.
Who Again? Conversations With People You've Never Heard Of. /
I finally got the Who Again? project off the ground with an introductory episode where I tell the story of how this idea originated. Next I was able to persuade someone to let me interview her for the second episode. Below are links to the Theogineer YouTube channel with the videos. Let me know what you think?
Dread No More /
Sometimes the picture is so clear.
I have been doing my daily readings this year from the American Literary Version as produced by Bibliotheca (bibliotheca.co). This version and its styling are designed to “invite the reader to a pure, literary experience” of the Bible. This edition is free from all chapter and verse divisions and has no section headers, cross-references, or other distractions. The font has been hand-crafted especially for this edition and the paper is made from limestone chalk rather than wood pulp… You get the picture - a bespoke rendering of the Holy Scriptures. I purchased the paper back edition (five volumes, including the Apocrypha) which was less expensive than the hardback edition. I wish now I had paid the extra money and gotten the hardbacks.
Without chapter and verse delineations, rather than reading a prescribed section of text I am reading for a set amount of time instead. I am still in the process of mentally shifting from what might be called a “sectional” reading to a more “continual” reading. One problem I’ve encountered in making this transition is keeping track of the phrases that strike me as important for deeper reflection and prayer. I am reading more volume at a time and so may come across several items of interest for further consideration. However, I have tended to not stop at the first prompting, but keep reading and then choose something for reflection nearer the end of my reading time. This may change; the year is young.
All the aside, a few weeks ago I came across two sections of text that, for me, form a clear picture of how I’ve been feeling about our country for the last several years.
“O my people, they who lead you cause you to err, and confuse the way of your paths.”
“You have heard the desire of the weak, O YHWH, / you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear, / to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, / that man who is of the earth may cause dread no more. ”
We have put too much trust in the leadership of men. We have become confused, following societal leaders as if they hold the consolation we seek. As believers in other times have done, in the weakness of our perplexity, we must seek after the Living God for our consolation though the society around us goes after worthless idols and false gods. God will hear. He has secured the heavenly future of those who trust in him. And the dread we may have of those who hold power on the earth will be abated.
A Thrill Of Hope /
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope - the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
The flip side of Christmas is the acknowledgement of sin and error. The great darkness that had lain on the world from the time of Eden was undone by the birth of God’s Son, who is the radiance of the God’s glory. Remove the awareness of sin and Christmas is no more than the bland sentiment of “be nice to one another”. But in the fertile soil of Christ’s grace and truth, “be nice to one another” is transformed into:
“Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease. ”
Christ-like love has a freeing effect on the recipient and seeks not surface niceness, but a true breaking of the bondage that constrains us and our neighbor.
A Righteous King, a Good Shepherd, and a Dwelling Place of God in the Spirit /
Through Nathan the prophet the LORD told David, “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Through Jeremiah the prophet the LORD told the people of Israel, when they were suffering under bad leaders, “Behold, the days are coming when I will set shepherds over them who will care for them… I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land… And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.”
Through Gabriel the angel the LORD told Mary, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son… And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.”
There are several things to note from these prophecies: first, God will establish his King to shepherd his people; second, this King will be known for his righteousness and justice and wisdom; and third, this King will build a house for God, not of rock and timber, but of people.
This King is Jesus, of course. And the house he is building for God is described by Paul, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Peter adds, “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Jesus, the Righteous King, is also the Good Shepherd who has laid down his life for his sheep. As the Psalmist says, “The LORD is my shepherd… he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”. And Mark tells us, “And Jesus , when he came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.”
So, we have a good, compassionate shepherd who, as our king, will lead us into righteousness and build us up into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. This is a great hope and comfort.
When It's Just Me, Myself, and I /
“Solitude enables you to make contact with yourself.”
How much time do you spend in solitude? Not merely being by yourself, but in a condition where your mind is engaged in thinking its own thoughts, not reacting to the thoughts of others? Watching TV, reading, listening to podcasts, etc., may be done while alone, but it’s not the same as solitude because your mind is engaged with stuff coming from the minds of other people. Solitude is a conversation with yourself that allows you to recoup from the digital sensory assault of modern life and attempt to make sense of the world and your place in it.
Sertillanges, quoted above from his book The Intellectual Life, goes on to say that solitude is “a necessity if you want to realize yourself - not to repeat like a parrot a few acquired formulas, but to be the prophet of the God within you who speaks a unique language to each man.” We each need solitude so that we can know ourselves enough to bring something of our true selves to others and not merely repeat what we’ve heard elsewhere.
Our technological age has made solitude something that has to be carved out from the incessant connectivity of cyberspace and carefully cultivated and guarded. You are there inside yourself somewhere, turn off the other voices and see what you have to say.
How To Speak /
“The Lord God has given Me
the tongue of the learned
that I should know how to speak
a word in season to him who is weary.”
What did Jesus say? “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Responsive Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the rest we have in Jesus, your Son. May we also, like him, speak a word in season to those who are weary, proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ to all who will believe. May our words be gracious and well-seasoned that we might know how we ought to speak to each person and give an answer for the hope that lies within us, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
From Last Week's Lectionary Readings /
But this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people… I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31)
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom. (Psalm 51)
…though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him… (Hebrews 5)
If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my Father will honor. (John 12)
Strengthened in Faith /
“[Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God... and therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness”... It shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
Heavenly Father, who promises salvation to all who will believe, strengthen our faith that we may cling to you for our righteousness and give glory to your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord who gave himself for us. Amen
For The Unjust /
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
Lord Jesus, thank you for taking our place and dying in our stead that we may live in the presence of God. Your life of righteousness was vindicated when your Father raised you from the dead and we are made alive with you. Help us to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called. Amen.
What Is Truth? /
“Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth.”
You know, I have the feeling I’m being lied to a lot these days. From misinformation and half-truths to outright deception and falsehoods, “shaping the narrative” has become synonymous with “bearing false witness”. However, while I may not always be able to sort truth from falsehood in the moment, I have a lodestone that will put me on the right path time and time again - God’s Word.
To sanctify something is to set it apart for special usage. Jesus is praying to his Father and asking him to set his people apart by means of the truth of his Word. As we abide in God’s truth, so we will not be abiding in the untruths of this world that we are told through so many means. In Christ we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness; therefore, let us walk in truth.
The Theogineer's Philosophy of Ministry /
The following statements summarize the approach to ministry taken at Theogineer.
The Word of God and The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Word of God is the formative element of the People of God
The message of the Word of God is the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the basis for understanding all of reality and the answer to human existence
The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is manifested in the world through local congregtions
The transforming work of the Gospel of Christ is exhibited through interpersonal relationships
The Role of the Theogineer
God requires that a Theogineer be found faithful
The Theogineer is to be faithful to the Word of God by striving to proclaim it accurately and passionately
The Theogineer is to be faithful to the congregation by being an example of godliness and integrity
The Theogineer is to be faithful to the calling of the congregation by fulfilling the responsibilities given
Who Acts For The One /
“For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has any eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.”
In the past I haven’t really had any sort of “theme verse” or any such thing that I’ve returned to during the year for comfort. However, right at the end of 2019, I read Isaiah 35:10 - And the ransomed of the Lord shall return / and come to Zion with singing; / everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; / they shall obtain gladness and joy, / and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. I was immediately drawn to this verse because 2019 had brought much anguish for some close friends. I sort of adopted this as my “go to” verse for 2020, reflecting on it myself and sharing it with others when appropriate. So as 2020 drew to a close, I kept my eyes open for another verse that might serve the same purpose.
While I can’t say that Isaiah 64:4-5 has struck me with as much force as Isaiah 35:10, I think it will serve as a touchstone for the year to come. These lines emphasize the relational aspect of God, how he dwells among his people through the Holy Spirit, and also reminds me how special that is. God meets with people and acts on their behalf… think Romans 8:31-39.
I am also reminded of my own ability to quench the Holy Spirit through my sin. In fact, the latter part of verse 5 says “You are indeed angry, for we have sinned— / In these ways we continue; / And we need to be saved.” Thank God that In Christ Jesus there is an eternal redemption available for all who will believe, for all who will call on Jesus for salvation.
I don’t know if 2021 will hold the same challenges as 2020 did, but I do know that it will contain some kind of challenge for, as Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. I do know that Jesus has promised to never leave us or forsake us. God will meet with and act for those who are his.
Dracula - A Christian Novel? /
Every few years I re-read Bram Stoker’s Dracula during the month of October. Why? Well, unlike the Hollywood depictions which romanticize or sexualize the story, or make Count Dracula out to be a sympathetic character (even a hero), Stoker’s story revolves around a group of friends who band together in the name of God to fight the hell-spawned, undead, fiend. The characters are devoted to one another and put aside personal concerns to pursue the welfare of the ones in danger from Count Dracula.
Far from a romantic figure, the Count is ruthless and evil, an undead corpse feeding off the living and cloaked in dark powers. The band of reluctant heroes, in contrast, must rely on the power of Christ and one another to overcome the evil that has set itself against them.
The story is interjected with prayers, religious symbols, and exhortations to faith. Take for example this admonition to courage from Dr. Van Helsing.
“Thus are we ministers of God’s own wish. That the world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise. And like them, if we fall, we fall in good cause.”
There’s enough action and drama to keep the story going, if at times the Victorian tone can be thick for modern readers. However, if you’re looking for treat and not a trick, consider reading Dracula for yourself.
What God Wants /
This is a true story, but the names have been changed to protect identity.
“I guess God just didn’t want them,” she said. My head snapped around. I was participating in a church community group and Julie had been talking about how her parents had both died unregenerate. “And you can’t argue with God,” she finished. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. But this is the practical outworking of the so-called Doctrines of Grace that the church she attends is steeped in. Julie fully understood the consequences of Unconditional Election – if you’re on the secret list, you go to heaven; if not, well then God obviously didn’t want you. Or at least he didn’t want you in heaven with him, but rather he wanted you in Hell providing ECTT - Eternally Conscious Tormented Testimony to his Sovereign justice (although Total Depravity kind of undermines justice, but that’s another discussion).
I glanced over to her husband, Deric, the leader of the group. I thought he might provide some gentle correction, in the way Calvinists do, and bypass this uncomfortable truth of Calvinism. Perhaps he would point out how it’s all Adam’s fault, not God’s. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, “But you were always a faithful witness to them.” Another double-take on my part. Perhaps he didn’t fully understand Unconditional Election or its corollary tenet, Total Inability. If Julie’s mom and dad were born into this world with ZERO ability to respond to God except negatively, and never could unless first regenerated, then they were doomed from all eternity unless they were one of the elect. No degree of witness faithfulness would have had any effect on them. I expect he understood this intellectually, but holistically, the Doctrines of Grace require more than a spoonful of sugar to go down.
What a heart-breaking experience to feel like you wanted salvation for your parents more than God wanted it for them.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Days Of Affliction /
“But when I hoped for good, evil came,
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
days of affliction come to meet me.”
Perhaps you feel like Job. You were going about your life with the expectation of good things, but evil came instead. Darkness has descended, bringing gut-churning worry and turmoil. And the evil thing you face hasn’t passed in a moment, but days, weeks, and even months of affliction have been yours.
How do we respond to such times? Perhaps our most appropriate response would be like the Psalmist’s:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
In the Midst Of Wolves /
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Perhaps you’ve noticed the unrest in our nation, the violence, the hatred. This might be a good opportunity for a reminder of how Jesus instructed his followers to interact with the surrounding world. Jesus said weird things like “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek” and even “do good to those who persecute you”. He went as far as to warn his followers that they would be hated, but then reminded them that he had been hated first. Knowing that his execution was near, he told the disciples, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” He was referring to his ability to avoid what he was about to face on the cross. But he stayed the course and tasted death for everyone. He left us an example, not of retaliation, but of redemption.
Which You Experience When? /
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our suffering, you will also share in our comfort.”
I have turned to these verses time and again for help in understanding why I sometimes have to go through painful experiences. Generally, I pray that God will deliver me from my afflictions, but these verses remind me that he “comforts us in all our affliction”. In turn, as I have been comforted by God, I am in a position to comfort others. But whence comes the comfort? That was the missing piece for me, for I imagined that comfort meant deliverance. Then I noticed a certain phrase while reading this passage again - “if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer”.
When do we experience God’s comfort in our affliction? When we patiently endure the suffering. How does that happen? How does that make sense? How is patient enduring better than quick deliverance? I have yet to fully digest this, but I suggest the following as a starting place.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… (2 Corinthians 4:17).
The kind of beings we are by nature needs to be changed, shaped, and fitted for life with God. Suffering with patient endurance the same sufferings as other believers, which in turn are a sharing in Christ’s sufferings, produces that needed change in us. Only if we consider “glory then” better than “ease now” will patient endurance be better than quick deliverance. If consider it so, we can be comforted by the assurance that whatever affliction comes our way, it is preparing us to experience a greater degree of Christ’s glory upon his return.
Self-Regulation /
“Most crises cannot by their very nature be resolved (that is, fixed); they must simply be managed until they work their way through. This is generally a process that cannot be willed, any more than one can make a bean grow by pulling on it. This, of course, puts a premium on self-regulation and the management of anxiety instead of frantically seeking the right solution.”
Self-control is a spiritual virtue that finds its strength in reliance on our heavenly Father’s provision for our future through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul said near the end of his life, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” However, this wasn’t an instantly settled condition for Paul because in another context he said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Never let a crisis go to waste. Always use it to learn contentment and reliance upon Jesus Christ.
Power Poison /
“Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If only no one were ever to acquire material power over others! But to the human being who has faith in some force that holds dominion over all of us, and who is therefore conscious of his own limitations, power is not necessarily fatal. For those, however, who are unaware of any higher sphere, it is a deadly poison. For them, there is no antidote.”