Current Trends in Football- Hints on the Horizon

Now that the Superbowl is done, all the football fans and coaches like me will now have to suffer the long off-season. I'm especially pitiful during these times because football is what captures my interest and other than the Masters and US Open, very little other national sports news stirs much enthusiasm.

It was good to talk with Coach Fisher on the phone recently- he sounded extremely upbeat and free "I'm on vacation" and that made me happy for him. I mention him because I see his stepping down as further momentum to the fluidity and speed of change that football is experiencing now. Coaches are being replaced faster than tires at a Nascar race (shout out to former Briarwood LB Mark Miller) and the lack of consistency and stability is having impact on the game itself. With free agency, mobile head and assistant coaches, the game itself is taking on more of a universal language and style.

I wanted to blog a little about some trends in football- these can be found at all levels- and speculate a little about where the game is headed.

FACTORS OF FLUIDITY: The game is always changing- it is the nature of competition. Significant factors in this change right now is pace of play, pressure defenses, and diversity of spread offenses.

1) PACE OF PLAY: This game is racing. Current offensive trends is to be on the run and wear out an opponent. Defenses have responded by getting some of the biggest, fastest players the game has ever seen and have them moving and pressuring as well. The schemes being utilized at the high school level is astounding. When I first started coaching in 1991, most teams still used 3 to 5 basic formations, 2 or 3 motions, and handful of running and passing plays. Defenses had a base alignment, a few tweaks (slant, stunt,blitz) and 1 to 3 coverages.
Because of the rapid expanse of spread philosophies- it is not uncommon to see 10-15 basic offensive formations (with shifts and motions)- 25-50 base plays (run and pass)- and multiple defensive fronts, stunts, blitzes, and coverages- on the high school level!

On top of this- teams are going more no huddle- and moving fast.
Defenses are getting better a disguising their pre-snap looks to keep offenses guessing.

2) PRESSURE DEFENSES: Defenses have just gotten plain nasty in terms of the types of pressure game they are playing. The race is now between the weakest coverage match-up and the fastest pass rusher. Offensive lines and backs are having to sort out the protections on the fly and a mess up can get your QB knocked out. For a while, the greatest pressures were coming out of 4 down defenses- but lately what teams are bringing out of 3 down fronts will keep you up at night. The 3 down defenses (base 3-4 or 'old 50') have the ability to rush 3 and drop 8 or bring 8 and drop 3 or any combo in between.

3) DIVERSITY OF SPREAD OFFENSES- The term spread is generic and in some ways out of style. Most all teams (including the NFL) are using spread principles. The more specific breakdown is spread pass or spread run?- zone or power or option scheme running- is the Qb more of a run threat or pass threat? All gun or some under center? Play with the same personnel or do they utilize personnel groupings?

Based of the fast paced- scheme driven- and multiple options- where is this headed? And what questions are interesting to consider?

1) Will an NFL team go spread? This is such an interesting question to me. At what point will an NFL team take what the colleges are sending them in terms of Qb's? More and more college teams (and high schools) are going 100% shotgun and using more of an athletic QB than the traditional drop back guy. The trouble with the NFL going to spread is keeping a Qb healthy. Traditionally that is a BIG money position that is left somewhat unprotected in the spread stuff.

Another factor in this is the loss of the traditional Tight End. Football is producing less true tight ends (they all play AAU basketball as kids).

2) The ODD BALL team. As teams go crazy with scheme- there is still going to be that old school team that runs triple option or 2 tight end or 3 back power attack that will be hard to play in a 1 week turnaround. The tough thing in these systems is the pressure that comes with being different. An option team beats teams that they are not supposed to and win a lot- but they also turn the ball over at times and lose to a less talented team or players and fans lose interest because the style is slow. It is like being a stall team in basketball- you may get a W but lose style points in the process and no one sees you as the model that everyone wants to emulate- and the coaches get more specialized and less useful to the mainstream.


3) Less stability in the coaching ranks. The current trend of AD's is to replace a coach as soon as he cools off a little and get the hot commodity diminishes the development and innovation of the game. This instability makes assistant coaches more on the move and promotes a game that is more universal and less unique. Very few programs are going to have the patience for a coach to implement a unique system of language and technique. Very few programs are going to tolerate the lack of productivity as a system is being developed. In this current trend will there me more Boise States or less? How many coaches will end up like a Rich Rodriguez ? He was once the golden innovator of college offenses and now is generally regarded as a middle of the road coach. Eventually (though scheme matters) it will be a players game and not a coaches game- though this has always been more true than the general fan understands.

High School Trends- All of this flows down to high schools at some point- I do see high school football becoming marginalized in some areas of the country where the passion for the game has ebbed. Current trends for example in the State of Tennessee with fights over public/private and growth of club basketball/baseball/soccer and a smaller pool of eligible D1 football prospects and makes me concerned over the energy and growth of the game there. It is an ever growing divide of the haves and have nots- the Alcoa's/ large D2 schools/ and traditional programs will do well- but the average program without strong administrative and community support will not be sustainable. I was shocked to see how quickly it can happen (in my experience DCA, Ezell Harding, and Davidson Academy had fast falls and may not recover).

I do want to mention that as teaching credentials continue to get more cumbersome and PE type positions get fewer- the professional high school coach is getting more rare. There is not a lot of incentive for a young sharp coach to choose the high school career path and if he wants to change over at some point- the academic trends are not favorable. Less money and fewer positions will make it harder to hire quality coaches in the future- the game is getting more sophisticated and requires more time than ever to be competitive- but school administrators are less athletically minded and under more pressure to produce academically. It will be interesting to see what high school athletics looks like in 10 to 15 years- are we approaching the Euro-club team model?

My Personal development- I am excited to spend some time re-tooling in the coaching profession. I have the privilege to be connected with some great innovators in the game and will have the opportunity to study and assimilate a lot of different systems over the next few systems. My desire is to formulate a fast, diverse offense, that incorporates universal language and gleans the best parts of the current trends and styles. I also want to tweak a system that has maximum flexibility of run/pass and personnel groupings.

The current offense I have been using will be off the field for the first time in 15 years- it had a great run- we truly were spread before spread was cool. The offense was developed over a 5-10 year period beginning in 1994. It used parts of Homer Rice, Nebraska, Tennessee, Green Bay Packers, and Louisiana Tech. I loved it and will miss it- but I'm thankful to step away, let the dust settle, and spend some time in Tony Franklin and Gus Mahlzon's lingo for a little bit. I'm going to get updated on Coach Cutcliffe's offense next week and as always will be attending on-line clinics and watching a lot of film.

I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the schemes and development of football.

The team I am joining has most of its starters returning on a team that played in the 5A championship game in Alabama- I'm ready to get to work and have a lot of fun in the process!

Summarizing Sheen: What We Love- What We Hate- What We Fear

 This will be one of millions of blog posts about the latest exploits of Charlie Sheen and reactions to the recent interviews. Why do we watch? Why do we care?

I do not know Mr. Sheen and I have never seen one episode of "2 1/2 Men", so my comments are general to his persona.

What attracts us to Charlie Sheen is what I call the 'Admirable Qualities of the Existentialist". Charlie's passion for 'winning' and the fearless freedom that he promotes has drawn attention for individuals throughout the history of man. Mark Twain suggested the the 'average man is a coward' and Thoreau articulated that the 'mass of men live lives of quiet desperation'. It is the unique man, who cuts against the grain of culture, that has always sparked interest. The articulation of this can be found in literature, history, and film. Sheen represents a specialized type of rebel that is called 'the Hemingway Hero'- the man who fights and survives without purpose or virtue in sight.

Albert Camus captured this quality in his famous essay, The Myth of Sisyphus, as he imagined the Greek hero rolling that rock up the hill over and over... in defiance of the gods. See the quotes below:

At that subtle moment when man glances backward over his life, Sisyphus returning toward his rock, in that slight pivoting he contemplates that series of unrelated actions which become his fate, created by him, combined under his memory's eye and soon sealed by his death. Thus, convinced of the wholly human origin of all that is human, a blind man eager to see who knows that the night has no end, he is still on the go. The rock is still rolling.
I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one's burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy. 

I watched the new movie "The Adjustment Bureau" with my oldest daughter last night. Matt Damon's character has the same quality- "I will even take on heaven itself to establish my autonomy". (I will post more on this movie at another time.)

The reality is that these type of men stay in conflict and the froth of controversy generates energy- it is stressful and potentially harmful...but never boring.

Camus expresses this idea in his summary of existentialism: "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."


What I have appreciated about the thoughts of Camus and other 'rebels' is honesty and tenacity. The fight of these warriors is noteworthy. We admire the man who struggles against all odds, even if he dies in a blaze of glory.

The Hemingway hero has no hope at all and finds energy in the freedom to keep swinging. The glory is to fight like hell- even when victory is long gone.

I can learn from that. Can I  strive with energy even if it seems that defeat is inevitable? Can I learn to scorn the praise or approval of men and stand firm even if I am all alone in the pursuit? Am I willing to let it all hang out there or do I always play it safe?

But here is the danger- and this is what we hate. The Sheen attitude is ultimately a selfish attitude. I decide and I do- and I really don't care what YOU think. The problem with selfishness is that it creates a wake of brokenness behind it.  Selfish people see the worth of a human only in light of what it offers as a commodity of entertainment, protection, or pleasure.

And it all comes at a price- God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, he will also reap.

And finally, that is what we fear. Are we watching Charlie from a distance like a NASCAR fan expecting the collision at any moment? Will Sheen's end game be any different from James Dean or any host of celebrity collisions- death by addiction? disease? suicide? pick any possible tragedy and we see it connected by less than fractions of circumstances.

What is the ultimate tragedy in this? What makes me sad is how so many human beings have such a poor view of God that they reject the real of experience of how we were really meant to live. Just as Charlie is denigrated for being such a poor role model to youth, the church is equally, at times, a poor role model of the gospel.

It would take too long to develop this thought completely- but my guess is that a guy like Charlie would see my life as 'boring boundary obedience' and 'cowardly conformity'. What is the reality?

God's boundaries are not boring- it is where freedom actually flourishes.
Submission to the Creator is not conformity- it is in direct rebellion to the world's monotonous mold.
And instead of addiction and cynicism- the gospel unleashes love, forgiveness, and hope.
Instead of being ground down in rebellion and regret- living for the true King raises one in honor.
Living under the care of Christ puts our lives on a pace to enjoy all the world has to offer with minimal side effects. It is a pace that allows us to take it all in with gratitude. It allows us to taste without being consumed, and enjoy without being enslaved.

I talked on the phone today to a man who was told by his doctors he has only 6 months to a year to live. The phone call was so uplifting. This man is a fighter, he is a competitor- but he fights for the right things and in the right way. He is not shaking his fist at God- He thanks God everyday for another chance to shine the light and love of Jesus in a dark world. He spoke to me truthfully of anxiousness- but he also demonstrated a peace and power that inspires.

This man is more of the hero and rebel I admire. I would rather stand beside a man who stares down cancer with love and hope than envy  a man who boasts of his prowess with porn stars.

At the same time- it is OK for me to pray for Charlie- the door of grace and mercy is only a humble cry for help away. But it will take a miracle for that to happen to a man who puts his face against the rock, shakes his fist, and proclaims himself a 'winner'.

The TRUTH is that there is only one true winner- the only One who took down Satan and death in one solitary life. He came not to be served but to serve. Let us not be afraid to lose our lives to Him. Let us not be afraid to live our lives for Him. Let the adventure begin today....

Waves of Wonder or Bah Humbug?

"Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it -- every, every minute?" Emily, Our Town- by Thornton Wilder

I have a test for you- it will take some time- maybe a little money- but the assessment will be revealing.

Find a way to watch the documentary "America's Heart and Soul" - you can rent it for $2.00 and watch it at Amazon.com by clinking on this link to your left- or it is showing from time to time on your TV.

The test is this- does this movie stir something in you? Now, if it doesn't, I'm not throwing stones...

This is a beautiful video - a collection of short vignettes displaying a cornucopia of extravagant characters. Life is indeed stranger than fiction and people come in all flavors.

In the end- the movie seems to prove that heart passions and freedom creates narratives that are as unique as human fingerprints and paints a portrait of America as diverse and colorful as you can imagine.

The neat thing for me is that I see the glory of God in all of it- just as I always have in everything from nature shows to biography. What a world God has made and what a wonder is His crown jewel of creation...mankind.

As you watch it- watch for the gospel of God's grace- it flows right through the heartland- but you have to have spiritual eyes to see it. Also see the hunger people have for their heavenly father- and the great need for love we all have- and the great need to serve and be served.

Now, after I watched it- I went online and read the reviews. Have you ever noticed how people can see the same thing in such different lights? Some loved the documentary and some loathed it.

My concern is that we sometimes reject things based purely on cynicism. We are too sophisticated to appreciate or we just mock things- both are the two sides of the same coin of pride.

But how can you stay hard-hearted when you see the story of Dick Hoyt?

85 times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike.

I had seen it before on you-tube- but wow- what an inspiration!

Each individual human story gives us a chance to judge, criticize, or appreciate. My strong belief is that Christ wants us to do the latter. Standing strong in the gospel does not mean we have to be dead right- we don't have to kill people with the truth.

So- why don't you watch it and give me some feedback..... should we love America or mock it? I still have great hope- both for the gospel and for our American way of life. I am a big fan of people- I love seeing and hearing what makes them tick!

SUMMARIZING THE CALL

CALLING IS THE TRUTH THAT GOD CALLS US TO HIMSELF- EVERYTHING WE ARE, EVERYTHING WE DO IS LIVED OUT IN LIGHT OF THIS. THIS IS MY IDENTITY AND THE ONLY SATISFYING THING IN THE UNIVERSE.

 The following blog post is a note summary of the amazing book by Os Guinness: The Call- Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life

Other than my Bible reading, this has been one of the most important books I have ever read. Again, part of this is the fact that I was sent reeling after losing my job on Dec. 9. But to be honest, these last 9 weeks have been amazing and refreshing. I have never been more ready for a new assignment in my life. Of course I will mess up and make mistakes- but I have a deep confidence in what God wants me to do.

The problem these last few days is finally picking the PLACE OF SERVICE. I am so grateful to have options ( 3 of them)- and my family finished 7 days of prayer last night and I expect to 'answer a call' in just a few days. I have a high expectation that this will be a clear call.

The notes below are partially paraphrased- but it is the best of the best. What is missing are the dramatic stories and illustrations that Guinness uses- I HAVE BECOME A BIG FAN!

JAY'S NOTES FROM 'THE CALL':

Our life purpose comes from 2 streams: who we are created to be and who we are called to be- this is NO TIME FOR SLOGANS

Calling is something that extends beyond ourselves and encompasses being pursued by the Creator- NEVER FORGET THAT IT IS A DESTINATION AND A JOURNEY AND A RELATIONSHIP.

As a man, part of who I am is tied into what I do- what are my deep longings? To have a name- to long for home- to be loved and secure- calling is attached to those deep needs- a longing for what only the Father can provide.

Our primary calling is TO BE- this does not change- THE CALL

Our secondary calling is TO DO: the details and roads can and do change- A CALL

My call will be in alignment with my S.H.A.P.E.- my unique composite and fit (this is my input)

S.piritual giftings

H.eart desires

A.ptitudes

P.ersonality

E.xperiences

God NORMALLY calls us along the line of our giftedness, but the purpose of giftedness is stewardship and service- not selfishness

William Temple: “To make the choice of career or profession on selfish grounds, without a sense of calling is probably the greatest single sin any young person can commit, for it is the deliberate withdrawal from allegiance to God of the greatest part of time and strength.”

Cotton Mather: Choosing a job

1) A warrantable calling- not only aiming at our good, but the public good as well

2) Aligns with our gifts

3)A sense of God’s guiding us toward it

Callings are sometimes born out of crisis- a call to stand- instead of lying on the ground beaten and bruised, you need to see the crisis as an opportunity- this has always been true with people of faith

 There are competing voices coming at you- the devil is a master at the subtle slide and rationalization, his words tickle the ear and  temporarily soothe- 

WORDS are the deepest, fullest expression  in which God has disclosed Himself- so listening to HIM , trusting HIM, and obeying HIM means that we ‘let God be God’ and have His way with us. His calling has many dimensions- often taut and balanced: summons and invitation, law and grace, demand and offer. But don’t forget- I AM A SON

LET DAVID BE DAVID- LET MOSES BE MOSES- LET GOD BE GOD

Luther: “My conscience is captive to the WORD OF GOD. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to GO AGAINST CONSCIENCE is neither RIGHT nor SAFE. God help me. AMEN.”

A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before the AUDIENCE OF ONE.

God’s call is the key to igniting a passion for the deepest growth and highest heroism in life.

God’s call is personal- but not purely individual- it is a call to labor within the body.

Understanding calling is the realization that we are always on a road- it is a journey that will not have a destination in this life.

THE SHADOW SIDE OF CALLING- LANDMINES AND DANGER.

PRIDE: We can get so wrapped up in self importance- a sense of legacy or self-flattering ambition- a warped sense of destiny- that pride destroys the whole thing- this is a surgery and process that only God can accomplish. HELP

ENVY: Calling involves giftedness and desires and these always teeter on the edge of the cliff of envy.- we evaluate by comparison and competition and rejoice at the failings of others. Full blown envy is dejection plus disparagement plus destruction.. HELP

CONSUMPTION AND MATERIALISM: calling can lead to prosperity which can seduce us into living for things and pleasure. Eating the fruit of our labor and getting lost in the process.

Cotton Mather: “Religion brought forth prosperity and the daughter destroyed the mother.”

LAZINESS: Calling combats sloth- the noonday demon.

Dorothy Sayers: ‘the sin which believes in nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and only remains alive because there is nothing it would die for.”

FEW THINGS ARE MORE IGNOMINIOUS THAN FAILING  AT SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT WORTH DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

“Success” may flatter us on the outside as ‘significance’ eludes us from the inside.

Calling prevents us from settling for the comfortable, the mediocre, the banal, and the boring. God jerks us wide awake.

Calling combats secularization- the trend of religious ideas being marginalized

Calling combats privatization- Jesus is Lord of All- but world says keep it at home

Calling combats pluralism- we live a focused life- the world offers too many choices

CALLING IS A BREAKTHROUGH- IT HAS A BIG PICTURE VIEW OF THE PAST AND PRESENT- AND BECOMES A PRIME SOURCE FOR VISION AND DREAMS.

IN A CALLING- NOTHING IS TRIVIAL, ORDINARY, OR MUNDANE

CALLING IS A LIFE OF GRATITUDE- NOTHING IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED

CALLING HAS A COST: DISCIPLESHIP- often requiring suffering or rejection

CALLING HAS A 'TIMING'- Calling happens in God’s good time- our sense of timing is off pace- waiting for the time:

Then recognizing THE HOUR HAS COME AND YOU WERE MADE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

CALLING HAS A CHALLENGE: TO FINISH WELL- put the end mark on the ‘other side’ of the finish line- live past the point of life.

A Prayer for the Future Husbands of My Daughters on Valentine's Day

Father in Heaven,

You have given many wonderful things- but marriage is one of your amazing gifts. It is not easy- like many things of great value- the work and forgiveness and perseverance over time produces a deep and real reservoir of love and support.

And Lord, I worry at times about the future of healthy marriages in a land that seems to see less and less examples of good ones. I understand the skepticism and cynicism and suspicion for such a commitment.

So here is another area that I call out to You- Lord, prepare future men of God who will love my daughters with a love that only You can give.

Wash him in Your forgiveness and bathe him in Your Word. Allow him to go through a life that teaches him to value what You value. Teach him to learn how to stick with it when times get tough.

As all men are sinful Lord- allow his mistakes to train him to hate sin, love the sinner, and cling to the cross. I don't want a man of perfection for my daughter- a want a man who holds the good news of Your salvation like a pearl of great price.

Give him a picture of a healthy church and a loving family and a service oriented community and a mission minded ministry. Let his boyhood be amazing- fun- full of adventure- let him catch fish and stare at sunsets- and sleep with a smile on his face and with a smudge of hard playing mud on his cheek.

Teach him to laugh, teach him to be tender, teach him to have fun with a heart of gratitude and joy. Teach him to forgive, teach him to humble himself enough to ask for forgiveness.

Lord, also teach him to be tough- a leader- a wise man, able to discern when to stand and when to move. Teach him to pray. Give him vision of a family that is built on You.

If you bless them with children, help him to become a loving father and serving husband. Protect his health and provide the strength to stand against all kinds of dark attacks and temptations.

Lord, walk with this man in love and blessing. Let him pursue You- let him love You first, even more than my daughter. Let his pursuit of You inspire my daughter to seek You in a deeper and growing relationship.

So I pray today, Lord for a young man that You call out to- give him a special smile of your presence today- Let him feel the breeze of Your embrace. You see into the future- You are already there.

And prepare me to be a blessing to him as well. With a firm handshake and a welcoming smile- let him know from day one that I am there to support and pray and serve in any way that he desires. I want to present to him one day a beautiful girl who will love Jesus first and him second. And let their adventure be incredible!

In Jesus' name I ask these things.....
AMEN

Answering the Call- Daily Drudgery or Divine Discipleship?

I wasn't surprised when I read that "The Call" has turned out to be Os Guinness's best selling book- it is amazing! One day in the near future, I am going to start a small group study and my recommendation is that we do this book (my version has a study guide in the back).
Not intending to offend- but this book has inspired me in a way that "Purpose Driven Life" did not. My guess is that PDL by Rick Warren seems to be  'Me' focused and Guiness's book hits me as a more 'God focused' piece- and that may be entirely speculative and apologies to Warren if not true.

These last 9 weeks have been the most restful and refreshing times with the Lord I have ever had. I experienced deep pain and have had God meet me in a real way every single day since then. I did a study of Isaiah ( written 2700 years ago and had direct messages to me daily) and now I am studying Daniel.

I am reading the biography of Winston Churchhill and another book on the history of the CIA.

But this book, The Call, just stays with me all day- great points and stories. It is also a surprising book, it does not follow the 'Self-help step by step plan to future success and happiness'. It has been the finishing mold to heart preparation for our next deployment.

Our family is in the middle of a '7 days of prayer' in anticipation of selecting our next stage of ministry and work. This book has me excited about all of the options in front of me.

A specific example of this was the latest chapter- (Patches of Godlight CH. 22). It explores how calling allows the believer to do even difficult or small tasks with great energy and meaning. As I mentally rehearse my next jobs, there are parts of all of them that will be tough (all jobs have their thorns) and this chapter allowed me to use my imagination to walk through all of these with grace and success. I do know this- wherever I go next- I have never been more ready in my whole life to work with my heart and energy in freedom and fearlessness and compassion.
I could quote the entire chapter- but I wanted to paraphrase a hymn sung by George Herbert as an anthem for this next mission:

Teach me- my God and King

In all things- You to see,

and no mater what I do

I do it all for YOU!

A man may look at special things

and be so impressed

Until he goes out under Your sky

and ponders the wonder You make

So whatever You call me to

Nothing is trivial or mean

And I pray the phrase "For His Sake"

will ever grow brighter and clean.

A servant with this rule

Makes drudgery divine

I will even sweep rooms

If I know it is for You I do

So this is a famous touchstone

that turns even dust to gold

When God puts His name on a task

What He owns- cannot for less be told.

And finally, Oswald Chambers:

"We do not need the grace of God to stand crises....but it does require twenty-four hours in everyday as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple- to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus Christ- (we do not have to do exceptional things for God)- We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in the world's streets and among the world's people- and this is not learned in five minutes."

The best news of all- is that all of the options in front of me are more fun than drudgery- and more excitement than banality- I am so thankful for my choices. One of them came within 24 hours of my dismissal. Now comes the tricky part- which one of these does the Lord want me to do? I will be selecting soon......

The Darkness Before the Dawn- Fingertips of Waiting

I have a lot of things to flesh out this early morning- but I want to recommend the commentary on Isaiah by Ray Ortlund. I don't know if I could have made it through these last 8 weeks without this book. I'm writing this blog in such a way as to one day and look back on these times and reflect and remember. I don't know if I will ever remember the depth of my hurt or really appreciate how the Book of Isaiah, written over 2700 years ago, allowed the presence of God to minister to me with wave upon wave of healing medicine on a daily basis.

And I will say this one more time- I have read hundreds of commentaries in my 30 years of being a Christian- and this is the best Bible commentary ever written. Ray writes in such a way that God's Word just leaps off the page. So before I do into my self-absorbed pontification of life- let me tell you this tip. If you ever get to a point in your life where you are so beat down that you just want to escape and walk away from the game- get this book. Take your Bible and see what passage the chapter will be on. Pray, then read the Bible passage. Then take Ray's book and slowly read it- write notes in your Bible- I promise you this- you will encounter the Living Messiah in this process. An added help to me was including praise music in the background... every now and then I would stop, my heart racing, my mind absorbed- and hear beautiful music "I lift my eyes up.." or "You shall overcome this".. or "Beauty will rise" or "If my God is for us, what can stand against"... and found myself lifted up from the mire of pity and pain.

Ok- where am I? This is the dark time of the waiting game. I have hit the road the last 6 weeks- my travels have taken me to B'ham 3 or 4 times, Huntsville, Northern Kentucky, and Savannah, GA. I don't even want to know what my cell phone bill looks like or what the cost of gas and hotel stays will add up to. This, by the way, is part of 'waiting'- it is not passive- it is an ACTIVE openness. The thing that has been most amazing in this new job search is that technology has opened up the possibilities and speed of opportunities like I have never seen.

And now- here it is- Superbowl Sunday- and my guess is that the 'searching traveling' is done ( I do have 1 more small trip next week) and now there will be a final gathering of information of the offers. I am so thankful to have options. I hope my next big trip is to to go to the place where we have said "Yes".

I woke up at 5 this morning and began to pray and process. I do know in my heart there is still a deep hurt and a deep wish. God knows these things- and I had to pray that He would handle both of these with my hands open- He is the potter and I am the clay. I am fully prepared for Him to take away the wish knowing that it may not be forever, but even if it is- I am willing to be ruled by Him.

Part of the final decision is the fact that my family is such a huge piece - trying to find a job with one daughter going to college and needing to support a family- makes this a major shift for all of us. I do think my house will sell and we will move with an understanding that finances will play a large part of where/how we live, but we are ready to walk by faith. God has always taken care of us in this area and He will do it again.

And it is now waiting..... I don't know why the Lord does it this way- but part of His proceedings is to step back in the delay. He was so present in the first few days of the hurt and now that a decision time is drawing nigh- He steps away. He gets quiet. As they say, the night gets darkest right before the dawn- God did not bless Jacob until daybreak- Jesus will one day return and the city of man will be very dark. My guess is that the darker the night, the brighter the glory will shine.

The mental picture is that I have been hanging from a ledge and waiting. My fingertips are white and my grip is cramping- and the final pieces are coming in one little dew drop at a time.

Ever felt like this? It is no fun at all. It puts a lot of strain on everyone. But I will not let go. In the end actually the truth is that He will not let me go. And it makes me pray. I am completely dependent on Him now. All the behind the scenes conversations- the conversations by the decision makers-the push back- the doubt- the debate- the decision- and pulling the trigger is all in His hands. "The heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord".

And then there will be a point in the near future where I will, by faith, say "This is the way- let's GO". I wish it were tomorrow, but I am afraid it is still days away.......

I have had over 800 page views in the past 3 weeks so I know someone is checking in on me. I hope I haven't hurt myself by being so transparent about this process. My goal in writing this blog is for someone to see my heart and be encouraged to never doubt the goodness of God and the beauty of the gospel. What you are reading is the words of a sinner- saved only by God's grace- deserving nothing- but I been given it all. It is also good for me to be able to click and go back to where I have been in the past. But as of right now- I don't know where I am going. But I do know this- I am ready to work harder and better and smarter than at any other time of my life.

Here is how Ray said it this morning:

"God meets not the brilliant one, not the lucky one, but the one who is joyfully, humbly going along in the simple, ordinary path of obedience. That's where God can be found- not with a guru on a mountaintop, but right where you are, if you're willing. You don't need to run from your life; it's where God wants to meet you. You don't need to wait for ideal conditions. You just need to use the life you do have to remember God and His ways. Are God's ways your ways? Is He the center of your lifestyle? For all of us, that's an adjustment worth making."

Deep Distractions and Deceit- Why Following God's Call is Difficult

Still working through Os Guinness's book, The Call.  Each new chapter contains a greater challenge.

And as I approach a decision about what God has next for our family, I have been a little unsettled at how difficult the process really is. I spent a good part of last week grieving over the likelihood of selling a house and moving- but that is nothing compared to the next few weeks of wading through a maze of information and settling on a path of faith that will culminate in : this is God's will.....

The good news is that once we decide- it is settled. Kind of like getting married- say 'I do' and it is God's plan- work to make it work. Once you put the hand to the plow it is full steam ahead.

But up to that point.... it can almost be scary. And I am being very honest when I say that I need prayer because of some heart issues that I am discovering can be obstacles.

One thing I am struggling with, and I just have to be honest here, is a little distrust I have in light of recent experiences. The testimony of man is not a good one, and I do include myself in the profile.

Guinness has spent the last few chapters diving deep into the twisted black holes of the human heart. Pride, self-flattering ambition, moral cowardice, lackluster leadership- all of these things envelop all of us.

Sadly, even something like a 'call' can subtly turn into a warped sense of self-importance or abnormal absorption with a personal 'destiny'- like we are the heroes of our own stories.

God had to bring Jacob face-to-face with his uncle Laban to see how hurtful power and manipulation can be. Jacob, the master manipulator- had to see it in action as he worked 7 hard years only to end up with Leah when he really desired Rachel.

My 22 years in 'professional' ministry (19 as a teacher and 3 1/2  as a youth pastor) has allowed me to see the good, bad, and ugly of the church. In fact, Guinness, in this one book has told stories of people who symbolize a lot of what I have encountered as well. But none of this is effective unless I see these 'flaws' as a mirror into my heart. It is possible that my next assignment will be some type of administrative position- am I willing to be different? Am I sincerely desiring to act in a more upright way? Then I will have to begin now asking the God of grace to allow the deep heart changes that I will need to avoid the actions that I have witnessed that causes a lot of pain and suffering in a lot of people.

One of my favorite stories that could be 'so me' if I am not checked by Christ is the one that relays the work of Sir Stafford Cripps. Cripps was Winston Churchill's president of the Board of Trade during WWII. He was a type of 'Mr Perfect': vegetarian, health nut, very high moral standards- Cripps had been a cigar smoker but announced to the cabinet that he was giving up that pleasure for the war effort. Just after he made the announcement of his 'sacrifice' to a wartime rally Winston Churchill whispered to a colleague, "Too bad..... that was his last contact with humanity."

Cripps proved also to be an example of where Calvinism can create problems. I have been searching out my heart for weeks now about two deadly mis-uses of a strong sense of God's providence. The first one is that we often hide behind God's sovereignty. We look at a situation and see that it is 'not right' but we wring our hands and quote Romans 8:28. Guinness chastises the modern mega-church movement not for what it does good, but for the ferment of human pride that seeps below. The most diabolical pride is not the one that needs the applause of man, but one that doesn't care what people think at all. The practical outcome, according to Guinness, is a lack of genuine accountability for leaders. The worst type of leadership is one where leaders are surrounded by 'groupies' instead of tough-minded peers who have a true power to push-back.

The 2nd deadly mis-use of God's sovereignty is where Cripps example comes back in.  Guinness mentions that Cripps "sense of the providence of God had seeped across into his own sense of self-importance. His self-regard, we might say, was a trifle high." Don't we all fear this? Here I am writing a blog- isn't there some ego attached here? Isn't there a fine line I am cutting myself on?

The quote that stings the most is what Churchill said about his President of Trade. One day Cripps left the cabinet room and Churchill quipped: "There but for the grace of God goes God."

All of this just throws me to the ground and makes me so thankful for the gospel. The good news is that God loves me. But I sincerely want His Holy Spirit to lead me into a heart for others without a fear of others. I don't want moral perfection, I want roads to relationships. I don't want to point people to me- I want them to meet the God of grace and beauty. Only He can protect me from myself.

There are tiny twists of the human heart, so sick and desperately deceitful, that turn leadership into lordship and calling into self-flattering ambition. It can even happen corporately and nationally. There is a small subtle smidgen between mission and media-stars or American exceptional-ism to American exploitation.

So here I am praying- out of my pain and experience, out of my pride- out of a realization of my sinful ways- and asking God to shine a clear light through.... What do you want me to do? And the clock is ticking loud enough now to hear it........

The Convergence of Chaos- Waiting on the Dust to Settle

As I Wait, Listen, and Pray.....
Every now and then, the God of the Word, throws one out that totally spins my little brain.

Isaiah 48:14-15 (English Standard Version) 
¹⁴"Assemble, all of you, and listen!
  Who among them has declared these things? 
The LORD loves him;
he shall perform his purpose on Babylon,
and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 
¹⁵I, even I, have spoken and called him;
I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way.

When I read this I had to stop- and then I had to go back and search out other English translations of the Bible here. The majority of the translations use the term 'love' here though the NIV uses 'ally'.

Who is this 'him'? This is Cyrus- the chosen instrument of siege and destruction- founder of the Persian empire. Now there could be an obvious reason in that Cyrus freed the Israelites and anyone who does good to His children get loved and blessed- but there is something even deeper here.
It is  the mystery of God's sovereignty, I have never had a problem with language that denoted God using the choices of man to accomplish His purposes- but here is the language of relationship - "I love him and will see to it his prosperity". Things that make you go - hmmmmmm. There is much more I could go into here- including our natural propensity to 'domesticate God and elevate man' but for now I will just leave it as hmmmm.

Typical of me- I am reading about 4 books at one time and they all end-up flowing together.

In Os Guinness'- The Call- He makes a point out of the controversial novella, The Portage to San Cistobal of A.H. by Steiner ( a Jewish writer). I had not heard of this work before- but it is a scathing story of Nazi hunters finding Adolf Hitler hiding out in Brazil and the book allows Hitler to defend his actions. The scandal of this book is that Hitler justifies his regime by pointing to the mono-theistic, transcendental God of the Israelites and the implications of their faith and practice.

Critics were mixed on how to respond to such a work. Some praised Steiner for creative ingenuity and some were appalled.

Guinness uses this work to explore the idea of 'letting God be God' and how far removed we are from the concept of "God' and the ability to accept "authority'. I felt like Guinness was pressing two major points:
First, is that ideas, philosophy, and beliefs have consequences. As we make decisions- they ultimately flow out of what we believe and who we are- so we need to always be molded in these areas by TRUTH. We must stay in the Word and seek to reason by the Spirit. We do not need to fear in our straining at the details of theology. Yes, it has to be more than reason- but it is OK to search out these things and seek a God-honoring articulation of the system. And you know by now that I am biased. All the struggle will never produce anything close to the Westminster Confession of Faith- but no need to fear in our chewing on it and struggling to apply it to our current culture. I love this quote by the Rev.Art Azurdia:

"We must crush the spirit of this age under our feet that says,  'I don’t want to think, I want to feel'. You may say, 'Who can understand domain of theologians?' But theological lumber is something you cannot live without. It is not a philosophical conundrum for the intellectual elite. God’s sovereignty is a soft pillow for a weary head. It is comfort to a church under attack and Christians facing opposition, even martyrdom.”     

                                                                                               

Secondly, and this is crucial, we must be 'self-suspicious' in these decisions knowing that our hearts are deceitfully wicked. We can rationalize and choose solely based on our selfish desires and wrap them in words of light and beauty. How dangerous is this? How vulnerable am I to this? Look at the quote below from a review of Steiner's book.

“The organizer of Steiner's posse is careful to warn his agents by radio not to let their prisoner speak while they march him out of the jungle (A.H.). "When He made the Word, God made possible also its contrary," says Emmanuel Lieber,…"He created on the night side of language a speech for hell ... There shall come a man who ... will know the grammar of hell and teach it to others. He will know the sounds of madness and loathing and make them seem music’.”

Lawrence Malkin,Otto Friedrich -Teaching the Grammar of Hell- Review of The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H. (Steiner) Time Magazine 3/29/1982

Knowing that I will making a major decision in the next few weeks has put me on high alert to seeking God out. I will need supernatural intrusion to step in the right path. It will never be a perfectly marked road and there will be parts that will not match up like a piece of a puzzle.

I am asking my wife to join me in this and we must spend time reading the Word, praying, and even desire to have some fasting involved. It is an active pursuit- we must do our homework. At the same time- we need to ask that God will make it clear.

I have developed a 'decision grid' to help make the call- and will share it at some point.

The bottom line is that it will be a step of faith as well. A simple trust that we tried and now have to believe that God will be with us. It is hard changing ladders- but God has clearly spoken- there is another path that He has for us that will lead higher.

I am also open to the idea that I have to be working and God may throw me a curve ball even at this late stage. It always brings me back to Emerson. The quotes below are beautiful IF they are put in the right context of following Jesus as Lord. I see God's mysterious sovereignty differently. Some men hide behind 'God's will' and never really act. They see God working while they sit slow and still.

I want to see God's providence take place as I GO HARD. Yes, willing to wait on clarity. Yes, willing to submit and be joyful even if the way is hard. Yes, willing to go against the grain and possibly be misunderstood. It also means choosing when I am not trustworthy to choose. It means acting where I may not be 'qualified' to succeed. But there is something beautiful in the process. God does not call the 'qualified'; he equips the called.

All of this is chaos and it will converge (one day) on one big "Green!... Go!.... Who will I send?.... "
"Send me Lord, the foolish one who is willing to trust....."

From 'Self Reliance":

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. ...We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace...Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs...A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.

Ralph Waldo Emerson-  

And I hope I mean this when I say it: 'Not for me, not for me- but for God's name be the glory. Let the light He has given me shine before men so that they glorify Him. ' So easy to say. Impossible to do......without Him to do it.

New Thoughts on 'Answering the Call'

In this 'mini-sabbatical' I have been enjoying a very refreshing time, part of which has been re-evaluating my calling. It looks like we will be moving (not 100% sure, but likely) so I have been packing and purging in preparation for the probability.

I was going through some old files and stumbled on some handwritten notes from 2002 and the darkest underlined sentence was 'callings are subject to change'.

So, typical of me, I picked up a book to investigate this idea. I found a great one in "The Call" by Os Guinness. I have been perusing this one slowly, writing a lot of searching questions as I read and prayerfully meditating on the principles Guinness outlines.

Guinness repudiates my old notes in this sense- as Christians we operate within 'two' callings. Our primary calling is to follow Jesus Christ in a lifelong path of discipleship- building His kingdom wherever He leads. This calling NEVER changes.

Within this primary calling, however, comes a secondary calling of where, when, who...etc. These callings can change. God can and usually does change the assignment.

I have a quick side note to answering a call. Every time this 'jargon' comes up I can't help but think of former Briarwood Christian volleyball coach, Barry Walker. He used to tell a story about his girls 'sleepwalking' through a match one time. He turned out a lot of state championship teams during his tenure. Anyway, uncharacteristically, these girls were losing point after point after point. He was struggling with what to do when a parent in the stands yelled out , "GIRLS, THE PHONE IS RINGING- WILL ANYONE ANSWER THE PHONE?". He used to smile when he told the story as he recalled these girls being shaken out of their slumber and staging a huge comeback victory.

After six fairly predictable but good chapters- Guinness takes an abrupt turn in Ch 7 and revamps the idea of call by calling us to an awareness that it is  'Time to Take a Stand'. This is one of the more inspirational pieces I have ever read by Guinness. He starts by re-telling the Leonidas and his 300 man Spartan stand against the Persian King Xerxes. These warriors fought against impossible odds, eventually suffering betrayal, and defeat just beyond the famous Thermopylae (Hot Gates). At their last gasp efforts- out of armor- and literally biting and scratching until their dying breath- they sent out a famous epitaph: "Stranger, tell the Spartans that we behaved as they would wish us to- and are buried here." No surprise when you consider the training and cultural mindset 'Come back with your shield or ON IT".

Everyone loves a winner- we strive like crazy to win and fear like crazy to lose. But sometimes a heroic defeat inspires change. We understand the end of this story, it was the passionate last stand of the Spartans that finally rallied the Greek states to action and unity- culminating in ultimate victory.

Setbacks are just platforms for comebacks. Sacrifice can be more inspirational than leisure and comfort. The hard road means more in the long run. (I have no shame that in my last two seasons as a coach we ended with 'losing records 3-7 and 5-6 because I know we inspired many by the way we played and the loving bond we shared.)

What in the world does this story have to do with 'answering the call'? Guinness tells us that there has never been a more strategic time in human history to take a radical stand for our Savior. Christians never despair in crisis because they know that the very crisis itself presents the greatest opportunities.

Think of it this way: "Passerby, tell our Lord that we behaved the way as He would wish us to behave- and we are buried here." We stare in the face of pluralism, consumerism, secularism, rapidly changing communication technology and risk being swamped by the global rejection of absolute truth.

The primary call has not changed- the odds seem unlikely- but there has never been a more exciting time to be a bold witness for the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

And what if the tide does not turn? What if we are slowly relegated to the ruin of irrelevance and rejection? We have no need to despair.

I have been supremely inspired by an old hymn written by Frederick William Faber (he also wrote 'God of Our Fathers') in 1849 called Workman of God:

1. Workman of God! O lose not heart,
But learn what God is like;
And in the darkest battlefield
Thou shalt know where to strike.

2. For God is other than we think;
His ways are far above
The heights of reason, and are reached
Only by childlike love.

3. He hides Himself so wondrously,
As though there were no God;
He is least seen when all the powers
Of ill are most abroad.

4. Thrice blest is he to whom is giv’n
The instinct that can tell
That God is on the field, when He
Is most invisible.

5. Blest too is he who can divine
Where real right doth lie,
And dares to take the side that seems
Wrong to man’s blindfold eye.

6. Then learn to scorn the praise of men,
And learn to lose with God;
For Jesus won the world through shame,
And beckons thee His road.

7. God's glory is a wondrous thing,
Most strange in all its ways ;
And, of all things on earth, least like
What men agree to praise.

8. Muse on His justice, downcast soul,
Muse, and take better heart ;
Back with thine angel to the field,
And bravely do thy part.

9. For right is right, since God is God;
And right the day must win;
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin.

There is no shame in standing up for Christ and being wiped out in the stand. There is great adventure and satisfaction in answering the call to stand for right.

I used to teach the Sermon on the Mount to seniors as they began their last semester of high school. After one week on the Beatitudes (based on the latin 'Beatus' or 'blessed') I would have the students write a paraphrase of what Jesus is saying. I always started mine with a re-drafting of 'Blessed are the poor in spirit" with my version "Congratulations, you realize now what a loser you are" emphasizing that the beginning of spiritual progress is in admitting your own spiritual bankruptcy.

After a week of discussing this idea I put my introductory phrase on the board. One of my colleagues walked into the room at that moment and boldly proclaimed to the class, "I'm NOT a LOSER, I'm a WINNER" and walked right out. Each student looked at me for my reaction- I just said, "It won't take long for this truth to come to light. We are winners in Christ, but until we learn that we are losers without Him, we will never join Him. Paul said, 'I am crucified with Christ'. (my fellow worker) knows this...just walked in at the wrong time."

Bottom line for all of us is this: It is better to lose with Christ than to win without Him. Do you believe that? My prayer is that all of us will. The phone is ringing.. who is going to wake up and answer the call? It may be that foes may wear us down, it may be that we wear championship crowns. But we will in the end be one equal temper of heroic hearts.
We may be misunderstood, mistrusted, or mocked- but my dear brothers and sisters- there is great honor in responding to the call to stand! To do anything less is actually not living at all.

Let's Presuppose a Narrative Shall We?

 Hebrews 11:Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.
 ³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 

You are considering the 'story' you have been told your whole life. All around you is evidence that this story has a long history with humans. So you ask me to tell you why I believe it is no mere myth.

'Let's assume for the sake of the argument that the Creator does exist. He not only created all of the natural world- but He also supernaturally revealed, watched over, protected his written communication to mankind. This narrative is the creation, fall, redemption, and ultimate consummation of all things. The story is pieced together in a variety of ways- Nature itself is a piece- The history of Israel and their Sacred writings are a piece- The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the apex of the story- The God-breathed writings of eye-witnesses are another important part- sealed with martyrs blood. According to John Calvin- knowing yourself is a piece of this mystery- the shared deep inner life and complex outer life of human beings throughout history.

I want to mention another important part of this tale. There is such a vast difference between the Creator and the creature that He must reveal Himself in an accommodating way. This 'teaching technique' is NOT pretense for it does reveal truth and reality. But it is revealed truth in a way that can be understood. And the understanding takes place in time and history.

The grand story contains another plot development- this is where you and I come in- we show up in the story and find ourselves in a world gone wrong. How did that happen you ask? The Creator created a good world (without Him we wouldn't even really know what 'good' is)-  part of life's goodness was pure freedom. The capacity to love and have relationship is maximized in the power of choice. The King gave the subjects unbound freedom- not only the 'possibility of evil' but a 'probability' of evil because of the amazing talents and powers of these creatures.

Previous to the human story- there seems to have already been those who chose the 'NO' option:' I will do it my way'- the true character of the Creator requires consequences for violation of His nature. Notice He does not choose here- this is what He is.

This fateful rebellion also happened in the human realm. SO that all of creation bears the marks of a 'curse'. One result of this curse and rebellion is the emergence of three distinct enemies to the Kingdom of the Creator. The world ( the unified system of rebellion)- the flesh (the default mode of the rebel)- and the devil (a supernatural leader of a powerful army of rebels).

One more item in this story is a 'transferable disease' in the creature- a natural desire to rebel - which results in a separation from the Creator. Indeed, the core of this message is the Creator's actions to restore the divide.

The great character in this story is the Hero- the Creator/King/Father- giving up His begotten (not created) Son- who emptied Himself of His Royal Rule- becoming a creature Himself- living in perfect obedience in the face of enemies- and then paying the punishment of a rebel- fulfilling the shadows of the sacrificial system that has been practiced throughout human history- appeasing the wrath of the Creator by the shedding of blood and offering sacrificial worship.

The Creator accepts this great sacrifice as a substitute for rebellion. His wrath is satisfied in the blood of His Son. This King affirmed His acceptance by raising the son from the dead and bestowing on Him universal honor- salvation is in His name alone.

So there is now a way back to the King. Those who were once rebels may lay down their arms and come home. The creatures have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Son. The once sworn enemies are now not only cleared of their crimes but even adopted into the royal family. These sons are now heirs. The terms of this covenant? A willingness to be ruled and a trust in the Son's sacrifice.

Though many still refuse- they will get better and better at refusing Him- ultimately sealing their eternal state. The Creator Himself overcomes the rebellious spirit of some- allowing many to accept restoration. Their stories are strikingly similar "I once was a rebel determined for death but now I am a royal son and a high priest to my Father the King. What a gracious ruler He is."

Now here is where the story gets almost "Inception" here.

Though you have been exposed to the narrative, you come to point in your life where you begin to weigh whether this story is real or myth. How on earth can you validate a Creator who is seen only by the accommodating structures He has used? People tell you all kinds of things, but who is trustworthy? How can you know what path to choose? Is it important.

A huge problem is that IF the story is true then you are going to be infected with the problem of resistance. One friend whispers 'hogwash'- 'another man says 'trust'- your inner voices are pulled and there is a mighty battle being waged way down deep- so deep that we have to use a metaphor... the heart. Yes-I'm telling you that you should also regard yourself with a healthy suspicion.

This battle takes place over time- it is a fight for years- there is weariness and doubt and inconsistencies all around.

But once again you come to a quiet moment and ask the most dangerous question a man can ask- "What if I am wrong?"- "IF the story is true then I am deceived and cannot judge the validity of the message in a neutral way- I am biased- I don't evaluate evidence- I twist it- I rationalize it- What am I to do?"

Soon, though, the thoughts slip away and you notice something- you are stronger now in your doubts. You meet others who are stronger still. It is not long before you meet some who reject the story as myth and even mock the claims.

You see that there are staged debates where each side offers up their arguments and evidence- but no one is ever swayed. The loyalists celebrate their 'slam dunk win' and the 'rebels roll their eyes at the foolish faith of the 'believers".

Then you met me, and you somehow venture into this battle that now only feels like a routine of ideas in your 'heart'. It doesn't take long to see that I am a 'believer'. After a series of meaningless points and counter points, you ask me the deadly question: "Aren't you just biased and hiding behind your 'faith'."
My response just astounds you. "Of course I am biased. Of course I am living by faith. But you are too!"

This frustrates you:"I am not a person of faith- I have facts and science."

I respond again: "You are confident in your evidence. I am confident in my evidence. But do we really have proof as we discuss evidence? If we stop here, we both are left with probabilities."

Something strange begins to happen- you are opening yourself up just a little. You feel weak on the inside but would never show it on the outside. It is a quiet thought- He's right- we are both biased and I am putting some faith in my logical arguments and evidences.

Then the most dramatic question you have ever pondered comes screaming into your soul.

I say, 'Let's try something different- You know, we have spent all of this time arguing the King's narrative of why the things are the way they are and why we are here.
Tell me this- Let's remove the Creator completely out of the picture. Tell me your grand story. How did all of this get to be. How do we even have grounds to share our story. Where do the rules of logical analysis come from to evaluate the story? Where does the will to reject the story come from? Why does it even matter? Remember- no miracle allowed."

You know that there has to be a big bang in there somewhere- but other than that - you realize that you have a lot of fantastical statements you are about to make. And deep down you know that not even you will buy it.

You look at me and even have a sense of anger. You think I am an arrogant, foolish, prude. If I say I care for you- you won't believe it. And if you watch me long enough you will see my inconsistencies. But you also see that I really believe the message of grace.

Once more you consider the narrative- What if I am in rebellion to the living Creator/King? And you want to fight the cynic in you that says 'it just sounds to easy to be true."

I continue to pray for you. I know you can't win this battle- I am asking the real Father- the Creator- The King to shine His love deep down and open your eyes to His glorious love and truth. "Father- please do for him right now what you have done for me. I don't deserve your grace- please welcome this lost son home."

You attack again with questions: What about the hypocrites? I say look at the Son. What about injustice? I say look at the Son. What about those who never hear? I say "You have just heard- what are you going to do? Look at the Son."

And a little tear forms in your eye- you want to come home- it is too weary a fight and without hope. You want the despair and fear to leave. You want an embrace. It is no longer about an argument of ideas- it is now about the deepest thirst of your soul......

The Danger, Aim, and Quandry of Christian Scholarship

I guess you can tell that I think I found a 'home run' book in Right Reason and the Princeton Mind- An Unorthodox Proposal by Paul Kjoss Helseth. This one has pressed deep and has me mulling and 'amen'ing  more than I have in a while. The last such book to grab me in this area was John Frame's classic 'Doctrine of the Knowledge of God (DKG)'

I am growing more convinced that in order to keep a legitimate platform for the gospel in the academies, we must always demonstrate a valid epistemology. We need a cogent, articulate way to justify the norms of knowledge. I especially hope to hammer out a way to teach it to teens where they can confidently express a viable Christianity in the marketplace of ideas.  I am thoroughly convinced that this is where Christianity excels.

Time and time again, I am reminded that no one has ever done Christian scholarship better that the Princetonians who had a golden age of gospel proclamation, missionary zeal, and world class academic accomplishments from 1812-1929.
The latest chapter in "Right Reason" was a defense of B.B. Warfield's apologetic. But once again, I came away gleaning a side fruit of unexpected application.

Helseth does a wonderful job of showing the razor-thin danger zone of the connection and restraints of academic pursuits and the authority of Scripture. In the long run, not even Princeton survived the land-mine filled battlefield (with a lot of blame due to Woodrow Wilson I'm sad to say).

B.B. Warfield is lifted up as a model of academic zeal constrained by orthodox faith.

My favorite quote from this chapter is as follows:

Warfield argued that the believing academic has in his hands the norm of truth in the Word of God. This is the Ariadne clue by means of which he can thread his way through the labyrinths of the world's thought; this is the touchstone by the art of which he may choose the good and refuse the evil. So long as he clings to it he will build up the temple of truth, whence soever he quarries the stones. When he loses hold of it, however, he descends into the arena and takes his hap with other men; and going his own way, it is not strange that he is often found with his back turned to God. (B.B. Warfield- Heresy and Concession)

The reformed idea of all truth is God's truth should propel the Christian to seek out both the general and special revelation of God with eager excitement and passion. It should also make Christians slow to wring hands and despair when contrary views are propagated. The truth has no need to fear or hide from the truth. I believe that science does have a self correcting mechanism if honesty and integrity is enforced. The variable is time.

There is so much more to say about this: but under the authority of Scripture and the illumination of the Holy Spirit- regenerated believers should be the champions of knowledge- knowledge with a purpose- the beautiful and sweet glory of God.

Which "R" Word Do We Want?

Day 2 in a "Right Reason and the Princeton Mind- an Unorthodox Proposal by Paul Kjoss Helseth.

Though the intent of this book is to challenge the critics who have relegated the Princetonians to a 'rational' only theology, I'm finding it to be a summary statement on the nature of saving faith- the capability and limitations of the unbelieving mind- and philisophical foundations of apologetics.

Today's chapter used the writings of BB Warfield to advance the premise.

But it only continued to press me a little on finding subtle but crucial distinctives between historical, speculative, and saving faith.

Eventually, most of this will be put into application in my work with teens. But the fundamentals will not change if they are based on truth.

I would have to confess that many times, my faith is of a speculative or historical nature. I see it as a slight wandering into an area where I love ideas or concepts more than the presence of the Living God.

C.S. Lewis mentions this in his book, Miracles:
An impersonal God- well and good.
A subjective God of beauty, truth, and goodness inside our own heads- better still.
A formless, life surging force...a power we can tap- best of all.


But God himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps  approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband- that is quite another matter.....

There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling with religion suddenly  draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant to come to that! Worse still, supposing that He had found us?

This then is what we desire- we want to move beyond a historical or speculative faith into a saving faith. And the reality is this: it has to be a regenerative work of God's Spirit.

I thought it was interesting that Warfield saw value in the historical faith. He saw part of apologetics as staging the ground for saving faith. I see this in my work with students. I am not trying to argue them into the kingdom- I am actually demonstrating that my faith is reasonable. But mere reason will never produce saving faith just as writing/speaking about fatherhood serves as a substitute for the actual birth experience.

At some point- we ask that God intervene and pour out His Spirit on an individual and change their inclinations- a heart that responds in repentance and saving faith.

This is where I am the silliest- I prepare my chats- my words- my writings- my arguments- my analogies and stories- but how often do I pray? Have I ever fasted for it?

I end today with a sincere question- Do I want revival? It seems like a simple question. But I am not so sure. A.W. Tozer argued that a revival of the current Christianity would be a tragedy which would set the church back a hundred years.

So let me re-think this. What 'R' word do I want? Reformation? Renewal? Restitution? Revelation? Realization? Resolution?

No- let me start with regeneration. Lord, keep regenerating me- Holy Spirit empowered sight and hearing. Let this regeneration lead me to repentance. Let repentance lead me back to You! Then there will be reformation. Then there will be renewal. Then there may come revival. I will drink in deep refreshment!

Move our faith/ my faith off of the merely speculative or historical- I'm tired of 'holding to a form of godliness but denying the power' (2 Timothy 3:5).

Excited About a New Book- Surprised at an Unexpected Find

Been taking some time today to begin a new book, "Right Reason and the Princeton Mind- An Unorthodox Proposal" by Paul Kjoss Helseth. The premise is a defense against contemporary criticism of the Old Princetonians for compromising the reformed faith under the influence of Scottish Common Sense Realism.

Though I am enjoying the book immensely, a secondary surprise is that the book will afford an excellent summary to another research project in which I am currently engaged.

I have been praying through, journaling, and reading a lot about the effect of the enlightenment on current educational theories and looking at two ditches that the church has fallen into.

The first ditch is anti-intellectualism and doctrine disdain. This had been adequately documented by Mark Noll and others. The effect this has had on our culture is devastating. Never before has the church been so impotent in providing Biblical answers to contemporary questions. The church has even lost a clear, objective, articulate gospel message.

It sounds overly critical and harsh, but our retreat from doctrine has even conservative churches espousing a social gospel and an accommodating social posture in a world devoid of shame. A lot of Christian literature today is heavy on the heart and short on the head.

But I am also finding a deeper ditch on the other side of the road. This is one I am labeling "The Grace answer game". This is more subtle and deadly. This ditch is where we 'teach the answers' and find comfort when the church knows the right 'buzz words' and jargon. It doesn't unsettle us to find the Lord's charge "These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me." (Is. 29/Matt15). The book I am reading brings home foundational thoughts about the nature of saving faith. Both Charles Hodge and Archibald Alexander delineated between speculative faith, historical faith, and saving faith. I worry that we are finding a lot of speculative faith and historical faith in the marketplace- but less and less saving faith.

One side is all heart and no head. The other side is all head and no heart- both are in danger of missing the gospel message.

I will write more on this as I finish the study- but let me close with this. We all need to pay closer attention to the gospel and cry out to God for informational clarity and heart passion. I want to find God sweeter tomorrow than today. I want to see His beauty and know Him deeper. We have to have the Spirit to make us ache for righteousness and fight for justice. At the same time, we have to know the Word and rightly divide it for truth. We need to read, pray, and obey. Obedience that is not attached to the gospel- for we are saved by Christ and His grace alone. But an obedience that grows out of the relationship we have with the Father and the indwelling of His Spirit.

If we do not figure this out soon, I'm afraid we will all share the guilt of having 'the faith of the fathers ruined by the children'- This culture has never needed repentance and revival more than right now. It must start with me and my household. What say you?

The Waiting Game

This will be a quick and general update on where I am and what is happening. Sorry, no details yet.

On Dec 9, God allowed one of those  'knock you to the ground kicks to your teeth' that  left me in the dust. One day I will try to detail what I think happened- it is too soon to unravel now- and would require a lot of speculation at this point.

The bottom line is this- I woke up that Thursday morning with full confidence about where I will live, where I will work, and was routinely doing my daily tasks of getting better, teaching, and planning for the future. I went to bed on Thursday night not knowing anything about the next day, week, month, or year.

When life slaps you to the ground like that- there are a number of complex things going on- deep things. And it is not just about you- this effects an entire family and group of people- it impacts close friends- it creates a stir in the community.

My visual was of a big, red dragon that had just landed what he thought was a death blow and I was laying in the dust of debris- and he was bowed up and hovering over me, sneering, and challenging me - "What you going to do now? What you going to do now?"

The pain is real- the shame hangs like a banner- and the weariness and emptiness of life is so thick you taste it. The nights are lonely, even the sweetest wife a man has ever known eventually falls asleep- and all you have is the darkness there to accuse. I cried out for sleep and I yearned for mornings- but each tick of the clock was spent in despair.

Now the cool part- God shows up. He shows up in a real way. He shows up in a sincere way. But He does it His way. He is not there to rescue me from the immediate pain- He wants me to hurt for a little bit, He doesn't desert me, but He is no quick fixer on purpose.

The medicine is there - the comfort is there- the Spirit is there. But the purpose of the medicine is to allow the pain to go deep and settle for a bit. It has now been 39 days- and I am doing so much better- but the pain is still present- I just know how to live with it- I don't have to hide from it- and I no longer fear the nights- and I no longer fear the dreams- and I have very little fear of the future.

What helps? God does- but here are some of the details.

First, my family rushed to my side and hugged me and loved me and we embraced God's plan with confidence and courage. Part of the fruit of walking with Christ is that He gives us others. In my case it was my amazing wife and children. It was also genuine friends- God's on-earth ministers.

Second, was God's Word- I can't say enough of what a Spirit-breathed Word of comfort does to a wounded soul. God's Word has the right amount of anger, cries, pain, and promises for His people to successfully navigate these waters.

Third, the testimony of God's people. It wasn't long before I began to hear the stories. It seems like that between the ages of 30-50 God allows men especially to be kicked down by life- it may be cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, addiction, problem with children, joblessness- and the purposes of this is manifold. I heard great stories of how men would say' the best thing that ever happened to me' and I saw the sincerity in their eyes and heard the echo of pain in their voice. These were not men saying cliche's - these were men who saw my cracked heart and remembered. It wasn't "I told you so" it was "I know". And it all helped me.

I made a list of these men who rushed to me and supported me in words and deed. I will pray God's blessings for them for the rest of my life. I want to do the same for others in the future.

So, slowly, day by day- I got up. I exercised. I read the Word. I prayed. I listened to praise songs and good Christian music. I sent out my resume. I made phone calls. And Jesus never left me.

Going back to worship was also important, though we needed a new venue for a myriad of reasons. God allowed Brentwood Baptist to be there. The sermons were God directed and Spirit enforced. The ministry of the Word and music were fresh breeze in tattered sails.

Now the summary of all of this: through the music, sermons, Bible study, prayer, testimonies, I heard a clear and strong message from God....WAIT.

It was hammered home again today:

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 28-31

Ray Ortlund comments on this: "To wait for the Lord means to live in confident, eager suspense. It means to live with the tension of promises revealed but not yet fulfilled. This waiting is not killing time. It isn't sitting around, drumming your fingers. It is waiting on tip-toe, waiting with eager longing. It is forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead, and pressing on toward the goal (Philippians 3:13,14). It isn't erratic bursts of hyperactivity within a general pattern of boredom. It is steady, rugged progress, sustained by the conviction that the display of God's glory in Christ is yours."

So this is where I am. Learning how to sit still and wait yet remain in motion. A good friend gave me another visual... I am a running back and I have just received the hand-off- I am in slow motion and the line is blocking in front of me. I have to wait for the hole to open- but I have to be ready to hit that hole with all the explosion that I can muster.

My next post (in a few days?) will be about the decision grid I will be using to choose from the options I have before me. I am very grateful to have options.

When my enemy was hovering over me, baiting me, laughing at me, and accusing me "What are you going to do now?" I slowly stood up and replied, "I will trust my King. He is my Father and He loves me." And that dragon cursed and shrunk back in the darkness waiting on his next strike.

And so I wait.......God is good......