Nadia Africa Update

My daughter Nadia spent part of her summer in Africa. It was her first experience as a missionary.

See her update here. A few more pictures here.

Purdue Football

My expectations are high for the Boilermakers this fall. Being in Badger and Gopher country, I don't want to be too bold. But, check out what the Orlando Sentinel thinks. The only way to play in the Rose Bowl this year is to be in the title game. Let the hype continue. But then it does get back to "that's why they play the game."

Go Boilers!

Second Best Time of Year - Sportswise

Being a sports junky (no pun intended), this is one of my favorite times of the year. Second only to March Madness. Yesterday was the final game of the Little League World Series.

Baseball a sport I loved growing up. It is still my favorite sport to watch in person. Baseball is not a sport for TV. You can't see all the details on TV. I will not go into that now.

So, why do I like to watch these 11-12 yr olds. Is it their youthful enthusiasm for the game? Is it the emotions that they display on their shirt sleeves? Is it the intensity that they play with? Is it because now I spend some of my summer coaching young players in our local booster league? Etc. Or, is it just me living out my boyhood dreams? Probably all of the above.

There is such drama in the Series. I feel like I know the kids as if they are from my town. I begin to root for a certain team or maybe just a couple players. This year I was captivated by the 1st baseman from Hawaii's team. The shortest kid in the tournament this year. Wait a minute did I just say shortest player playing 1B. Anyone with any baseball knowledge knows this is not were you put your shortest kid. This kid had baseball instincts that major league players don't have. And he had facial expressions that - well lets just say made realize he was a kid.

I tell my family every year that we (I tell myself they love this also) need to plan a vacation to witness this in person. Brings back memories of my days in Lafayette, Indiana which was host to the Babe Ruth Colt World Series (15-16 yr olds). I doubt that I missed a game in my years in Lafayette.

And maybe that is the true answer as to why I watch. It brings to mind so many memories from my days as a player and my days as a coach and fan.

Media Reporting of War Casualties

I read this article by John Hindraker of Powerline today thanks to a post from Jolly Blogger. It is interesting perspective on how the media is depicting war (Iraq) casualties. It may give some insight as to why we the people of the United States are feeling this is a war we should not be in. Here is a part of the article:

The media's breathless tabulation of casualties in Iraq--now, over 1,800 deaths--is generally devoid of context. Here's some context: between 1983 and 1996, 18,006 American military personnel died accidentally in the service of their country. That death rate of 1,286 per year exceeds the rate of combat deaths in Iraq by a ratio of nearly two to one.

I present this not in an attempt to justify the war, rather to remind us that facts are just facts and must be put into context. Sometimes it is up to us to discover what the context is. Is the paragraph from the article in context? Should we be asking: what are the number of "accidental deaths" during this war period?

Can he be a Christian? - Brings up more tough questions for me.

In the news of yesterday, BTK serial killer Dennis Rader was sentenced for the murders he committed in Wichita, Kansas. Rader professes to be a Christian. When individuals like Mr. Rader make such statements my mind does wonder. Unlike some other serial killers who have professed to becoming a Christ follower after the crimes, Radar seems to profess that he was a Christian all along. The Wichita Eagle ran this article Can he be forgiven? which is a totally different question than what I would have asked.

My question would be: Would God allow one of his chosen to carry out such a heinous crime? Is this possible? The article I reference previously does have one sentence that asks a similar question to what I am: "And if Rader killed and committed other crimes believing he would always be forgiven, can he still be forgiven?". The way I read the article this is an editorial comment by the author Joe Rodriguez and was not posed to the clergy that were interviewed.

With the news reports yesterday of Dennis Rader's sentencing, these thoughts were forefront in my mind. So, do I think it is coincident that part of my Bible reading for today has this title (NIV) "The Soul Who Sins Will Die"? - - Not! The passage is Ezekiel 18

Those of you thinking that I have found an answer to my questions are wrong. I just have more questions. In quickly summarizing Ezekiel 18, basically he is saying that each individual is accountable for his own life. A summary verse might be: 30-32 "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and Live! Sounds good right? As Keith Jackson was famous to say "woo Nellie"; how does this square with Joshua 7 or Romans 5? That is, if Ezekiel's point about individual accountability is true, then how come all Israel suffered for Achan's sin? And how come all humanity is guilty for Adam's sin?

My question is not why evil in the world. See previous post.

I struggle for understanding.

Prophecy Not for Idolaters

Do you ever think how ironic it is that the Israelites continue to seek God's will even though they continue to practice idolatry? Is this because even though they are fascinated and allured by the idols they have set up in their hearts, deep down there is the realization that only a much greater God can provide real answers to life?

Ezekiel 14:1-11 gives an account of some elders of Israel seeking guidance from prophets. God asks them to repent of their idols:

1 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.'
6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!
7 " 'When any Israelite or any alien living in Israel separates himself from me and sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet to inquire of me, I the LORD will answer him myself. 8 I will set my face against that man and make him an example and a byword. I will cut him off from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 " 'And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the LORD have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "

Am I the same? There are times when I am not totally trusting in God's provision whatever that might be and it varies. I will trust my own ability to get the job done or accomplish the goal/task.

Does this hamper me from knowing God's will? I would answer myself and say that yes I am limiting myself by not fully relying on God.

Harry Potter and VBS in same sentence?

Saint John's Episcopal Church in Carlisle, PA is using Harry Potter tails in its Bible School. They claim to have doubled attendance.

Before I go any further, let me say I am neither a HP supporter or basher. I have never read any of the books and doubt that I ever will. Fantasy is not something I enjoy.

My contention here is the thought that we can take what is hip (dating myself with this language) with the kids and use it to reach them. Yes you have to go where the kids are but at the expense of trying to draw parallels from Harry Potter (substitute what ever trend) to the Bible. There in lies the problem. I once participated in a Bible Study many years back that actually used script from the Archie Bunker TV show to draw parallels. Let's just use the Bible to draw from.

Now some may say well all VBS is theme based and that is true. Again my problem is not with the theme. My issue is drawing parallels from the theme.

Will of God - What is meant by that?

This is a link (click on title) to a great post by Keith Plummer on the will of God. Some great insight into an area that we can easily put undo weight on Christ followers.

Also, Anyone challenged by the idea of men getting together to discuss "meaty" issues?

Faith of Daniel

I ask myself do I have the faith that Daniel had? The answer today is I don't think so. In the midst of reading of Jeremiah's problems with Jehoiakim, several captives are singled our for duty in the king's service. What an honor to be chosen for service under "normal" circumstances and therefore how much more when you are a captive. At least that is how I would think. Well Daniel is chosen to serve King Nebuchadnezzar. However, Daniel refuses all the benefits that come along with being chosen i.e. the royal food and wine. God honors him for his resolve. Daniel 1:8-16

I can't think of a time when I have ever taken a stance like Daniel did. I am more interested in the reward at hand. The instant gratification or pat on the back. Yes, to live in the moment of my glory. Why think of anyone else (which includes God)?

This seems to follow a benediction from worship service this weekend that seemed heavy at the time (for that matter it still is) . The benediction was something similar to this - live today as you would in the last day. The last day being the return of Jesus.

Oh, to have the faith of Daniel who did live that day in total glory to God.

How can a righteous God permit evil to exist at all?

Again the idea of reading in chronological order has helped me in further understanding Habakkuk. Toward the end of reading Jeremiah (Chapter 47), Habakkuk is inserted before finishing Jeremiah.

Jeremiah has been prophesying against Judah and its oppressor Babylonia. Jeremiah has been foretelling of the eventual conquest of Babylonia over Judah and the forth coming captivity. When a contemporary of Jeremiah, Habukkuk poses a profound theological question. The question is how can a righteous and holy God use a wicked nation like Babylonia to bring punishment against God's own people, rebellious and sinful though they may be? Are not the ruthless Babylonians merely acting on their own in great arrogance and with no thought whatever of achieving any divine purpose? And the question stretches beyond even the present conflicts to other related issues. How can a righteous God permit evil to exist at all?

Although God does not provide all the answers in his dialogue with Habakkuk, he does address the central question. His answer is that evil, wherever it is found, always bears within it the seeds of its own destruction. Judah's sins have condemned it to inevitable destruction. The particular agency by which it comes is of no consequence. But likewise, if the oppressors themselves are evil as the Babylonians are then they too will face their own destruction. Only in righteousness is there life; sin always brings death.

Daily Reading

I know the New Year seems like a long way off, but I recommend The Daily Bible In Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings published by Harvest House. In the past, I have used Daily Bibles were you read sections of Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. This book is like reading a novel. Scripture unfolds as a historical record of what happened.

I have struggled in years past reading through such books as Kings and Chronicles. In this book, they are given in context with what is happening at the time. For instance, in yesterdays reading which was primarily from Jeremiah there were sections of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles that spoke of events that happened surrounding Judah Babylonia's captive.

The historical perspective has made for greater understanding in reading.

Getting Started

After reading several blogs for sometime, I have decided to give it a try. My intent will be to mainly use this as a journal. I will post regarding issues that effect me or my family as well as Spirit revealed understanding of the Bible and how I am walking and struggling to be obedient.