FEB. 27 - Wednesday in San Diego

Another exciting day! Here were the presentations of note...

CHARLES COLSON - yes he of Watergate fame, who after serving prison time became a great leader in Prison Fellowship ministry. His keynote address basically tied in with his latest book, titled The Faith. Incidentally, we received a complimentary copy of the book - in fact, at every session when we come in, there are 3-4 books or resources sitting on our chairs. Lots of good stuff.

Here is a Newsweek interview with Colson about his book.

Colson had challenging words for the church - suggesting that if our culture is sick, it is because the church is not healthy.

His book lays out 14 key truths that should hold us together as Christians, regardless of our background. He has a very optimistic view of the connection between Christianity and western civilization. One interesting quote: Christianity is the foundation for the very freedom people have to attack Christianity!

He carefully argued against some of the most outspoken criticisms of the tactics Christians have used.

I can't say I agree with everything Colson said, but I look forward to looking over his book in more detail.


BRENDA SALTER MCNEIL - Now we heard more of a sermon than a speech. She did a powerful presentation based on the story of the woman at the well found in John 4:7-26.

Dr. McNeil has her own firm that does consulting and leadership development, focusing on racial and ethnic reconciliation.

As she taught concerning the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus, she told the story of her own encounter with Jesus and her conversion:

Jesus has a way of showing up - coming when you least expect him. He understands us - that we are not bad people - we are thirsty people! He offers us what we don't even know what we were searching for!

I am saddened by how many people - even Christians - do not understand that Jesus died to reconcile us not only to God but to each other. Too many people think that reconciliation is an elective. They do not understand what it has to do with salvation.


Tomorrow will be my last day at the conference. It actually ends with one more session on Friday morning, but we are flying back on an overnight flight so I can be back for a commitment at home!

Oh...by the way...we did take a little free time this afternoon, and Betsy and I experienced the beauty of the Torrey Pines State Reserve, north of San Diego.

We also went to see the seals at the LaJolla beach in San Diego. We were totally amazed that we were able to see the birth of two seal pups right there before our very eyes. We had an overhead view and it was unbelievable.

Here is some information on the pup births this season. The two we saw were late afternoon today, and were named Campbell and Layla. (Two different moms.) Betsy got pictures. You can also see pictures on the link above.

FEB. 26 - Tuesday in San Diego

I'm not sure how many folks are here...at least 1000. The weather is wonderful. It is always a stimulating event. This is the National Pastor's Convention, sponsored by Zondervan, a large Christian resource company.

(REMEMBER - you can access links with "more info" by clicking whenever you see text in color like in the paragraph above.)

There are a lot of musicians, artists and comedians here - I will follow up later with more about them.

Here are the presentations I experienced on Tuesday:

ERWIN McMANUS - I have heard him before. He is lead pastor of Mosaic, a creative church in L.A. (in fact he prefers the title "cultural architect" to pastor!) Here are a few thoughts:

People are not looking for a new religion. What would motivate someone to do that? Not because we have a better argument than someone else. Only if they step into an environment of unconditional love.

People enter into our church environments, and it looks like we place our meaning on meaningless things. Sometimes it appears we have sacrificed our children (the next generation) for our traditions.


I also heard a seminar presented by four persons on "redefining power - finding our place in a global church." It focused on some of the disparities in power among various Christian groups in a global context. The same imbalanced systems of patron/client that we see in the world can also be found in the global church. Implications for global mission relationships were explored. The four presenters were:

ATHENA EVELYN GOROSPE - Old Testament studies professor at Asian Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines

MARK LABBERTON - senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California

D. ZAC NIRINGIYE - assistant bishop of the diocese of Kampala, Uganda, Africa

J. DANIEL SALINAS - general secretary of GBUP, a student ministry in Paraguay


JOHN RUCYAHANA is an Anglican bishop in the African country of Rwanda. He had several close calls with death during the ongoing genocide in his country. He founded an orphanage for children who became orpahs in the genocide and ministered in prisons to its perpetrators.

He focused primarily on giving an evangelistic message to pastors:

I am not talking about the historic, remote Jesus, but the Jesus who accepted me and touched my life. As we read in 2 Peter 1, we are "partakers of the divine nature."


LES & LESLIE PARROTT are a married couple who have a passion for strengthening marriage. Their vision - to reduce the divorce rate in our country. Every one percent point reduction in divorce and touch the lives of a million children!

They had a neat communication device they suggested for married couples - "sharing withholds." Information (positive or negative) that we have withheld from our spouse for whatever reason.

I need to run, but I will try to remember to post more about this process!

FEBRUARY 17 - Is It Still Worth Believing That We Should Be Concerned About the Poor?

PROVERBS 19:17. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.

MATTHEW 25:45. (words of Jesus) Just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.


Sunday's message talked about four ways to live out what we believe:

• Mercy - showing kindness through a specific action or donation

• Relationship - moving beyond an act of kindness to begin developing connections of community with the poor

• Justice - addressing poverty through changing systems (economic, political, global, etc.)

• Creative Thinking - thinking "outside the box," and taking advantage of new technologies to make a personal impact

This week's blog is primarily composed of links - it is not worth spending time discussing poverty, without finding ways to put our faith into practice. Here are some thought-provoking articles and sites. You don't have to agree with all of them. You probably won't agree with all of them.

The links referred to in the message, along with some others, are found at the bottom! Spend some time checking these out!


What the Bible has to say about the poor, by Mark Rosenfelder


Sixteen major "poverty traps," from a book by Stephen C. Smith (referred to in this Bible study outline)


Eight keys to escaping "poverty traps," from Smith's book (referred to in this Bible study outline)


Five things churches can do for - and with - people in poverty, by Bill Ehlig


Legislative priorities connected to reducing global poverty and hunger


WHAT THE UNITED METHODIST SOCIAL PRINCIPLES have to say about poverty:

In spite of general affluence in the industrialized nations, the majority of persons in the world live in poverty. In order to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, and other necessities, ways must be found to share more equitably the resources of the world.

Increasing technology, when accompanied by exploitative economic practices, impoverishes many persons and make poverty self-perpetuating. Therefore, we do not hold poor people morally responsible for their economic state.

To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, and humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs.

Since low wages are often a cause of poverty, employers should pay their employees a wage that does not require them to depend upon government subsidies such as food stamps or welfare for their livelihood.

- The United Methodist Book of Discipline, 2004, paragraph 163E

LINKS MENTIONED IN SUNDAY'S MESSAGE (along with a few others!)


CHURCH WORLD SERVICE - involved in hunger and development (CROP walks are a part of CWS)


HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - providing decent shelter


HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL - it began with the simple concept of giving a poor family an animal instead of a bag of food ("helping hungry families feed themselves")


THE SIMPLE WAY - developed by Shane Claiborne as a way to live together with the poor in intentional community


SIMPLE LIVING - living simply, so that others may simply live


PARTNERS IN MISSION - hands-on involvement through mission trips, etc.


UM-ARMY - summer hands-on mission experiences for senior high youth


GENERAL BOARD OF CHURCH & SOCIETY - focus on global poverty and hunger


THE PEACE PLAN - an exciting project started by Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life) on how to address five "giant problems" in the world today, one of which is extreme poverty


KIVA - you can make micro-loans to entrepreneurs around the world! Pick your project!

FEBRUARY 10 - Is It Still Worth Believing That There Is Value in Abstinence?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

What does the Bible say about drinking and/or abstaining from drinking of alcohol?? (Note that in Bible times it is likely that alcoholic beverages had a much lower alcohol content than some of the distilled liquors known in our time. Likewise, some have suggested that wine was sometimes used to help purify water for safety purposes.)

Bible references to drinking or abstaining can be divided into the following categories:

• Wine as part of daily life

(EXAMPLES: Gen. 14:18-20 Gen. 27:25-29 Deut. 14:22-27 Prov. 31:6-7 Eccl. 9:7 Eccl. 10:19 Amos 9:13-15 Matt. 11:19 Luke 5:29-35 John 2:1-10 1 Tim. 5:23)

• Wine as a gift of God

(EXAMPLES: Num. 18:12-13 Deut. 7:12-13 Deut. 11:13-14 Ps. 104:14-15 Prov. 3:9-10
Joel 2:18-19)

• Wine as a way to trick others

(EXAMPLES: Gen. 19:30-38 2 Sam. 11:12-13 2 Sam. 13:28-29 Amos 2:12 Hab. 2:15-16)

• Wine as a temptation or danger
  

(EXAMPLES: Gen. 9:20-27 1 Kings 16:8-10 Prov. 20:1 Prov. 21:17 Prov. 23:29-35 Prov. 31:4-5 Eccl. 2:1-11 Isa. 5:11-12 Isa. 28:7-8 Joel 3:1-3 Amos 6:3-6 Matt. 24:45-51)

• Drunkenness to be avoided (note that the Bible includes varied points of view on drinking but is always negative in condemnation of drunkenness)
  

(EXAMPLES: Deut. 21:18-21 Prov. 23:20-21 Eccl. 10:17 Isa. 28:1-3 Nahum 1:9-10 Luke 21:34 Rom. 13:12-14 1 Cor. 5:11 1 Cor. 6:9-10 1 Cor. 11:20-22 Gal. 5:19-21 Eph. 5:18 1 Thess. 5:7-8 1 Pet. 4:3)

• Abstaining from drink as a vow (permanent or temporary)

(EXAMPLES: Lev. 10:8-11 Num. 6:1-21 Judg. 13:2-14 Ezek. 44:21 Dan. 1:1-21 Dan. 10:1-3 Luke 1:13-17 1 Tim. 3:1-3 1 Tim. 3:8 Titus 1:7 Titus 2:1-3)

• Abstaining from drink as a positive influence

(EXAMPLE: Rom. 14:15-21)


This last passage bears some reflection. Paul was dealing with the issue of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Though he did not seem to think that anything was wrong with eating that meat as such, he does suggest that you keep in mind how your behavior affects other people. This would seem to apply very well to the decision we make regarding the drinking of alcohol. Read this passage with this in mind:

ROMANS 14:13-23 (niv). Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Certainly this goes quite a bit against the grain of our culture. We don't always like thinking about how our behavior affects other people. We just want to do what we are free to do, regardless. This is a high standard of Christian maturity - to consider the impact on other people and their faith.



WHAT DOES THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SAY?

For over 200 years this statement has been part of our "General Rules":

It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as...drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity.

Note that "spirituous liquors" may refer primarily to what we would call "hard liquor," and not necessarily to any alcoholic drink.

As time went by, Methodists became even stronger in opposition to drinking. Even as late as 1956, to serve on the Board of a church, it was expected that you abstain totally from alcoholic beverages.

At present, this is no longer a requirement, and it is the responsibility of the individual to make their own decision. The church, however, continues to affirm the value of total abstinence with this statement in the 2004 Book of Discipline:

We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for persons....We support, with regard to those who choose to consume alcoholic beverages, judicious use with deliberate and intentional restraint, with Scripture as a guide....We support the strict administration of laws regulating the sale and distribution of alcohol and controlled substances....We commit ourselves to assisting those who suffer from abuse or dependence, and their families, in finding freedom through Jesus Christ and in finding good opportunities for treatment, for ongoing counseling, and for reintegration into society.

In other words, the church lifts up the value of total abstinence from alcohol, but individuals are free to make their own choice between "total abstinence" and "restrained consumption."


ROBERT'S REFLECTIONS...

A few things I would add from my personal point of view:

• If you are under the age of 21, drinking (except at the family table) is against the law. Christians are called to respect and obey the laws of our land.
  

• No one ever became an alcoholic by abstaining from alcohol. My body makeup may be such that I might be predisposed to become an alcoholic, but my goal is never to find out whether that is the case.

• I happen to believe you cannot simply divide folks into responsible drinkers and problem drinkers. My experience tells me that people can move from one group into the other. Someone may be a very moderate drinker with no social problems at all, but when life gets a little crazy, their consumption may easily move them into the problem category. An abstainer will not face this issue.

• Would you rather live in an Austin County where the level of drinking was double what it is now, or whether the level of drinking was half of what it is now?

ANOTHER METHODIST POINT OF VIEW (The following article was found online in a newsletter article titled "Methodism 101" on the web site of the Christ Community UMC of Clayton, N.C.)

Should a Christian drink alcoholic beverages? Put another way, is it a sin to drink?

In Biblical times, beer and wine were both produced and consumed. Distilled alcohol (liquor), however, is not mentioned in the Bible, so it was probably unknown in those days. The Biblical witness concerning drinking is complicated, but if one takes into account the entire witness, a coherent and nuanced stance towards alcoholic beverages emerges, leading to several conclusions:

• While drinking itself is not considered a sin and is not forbidden, drunkenness can weaken a person and make it easier for them to sin.

• Abstinence is neither commanded nor forbidden.

• Drinking can become a divisive issue in a church, so the decision to drink should be made based on how it will impact others.

This Biblical position was also held by Methodism’s founder John Wesley. Wesley, like other Englishmen of his day, drank alcoholic beverages. But Wesley drank in moderation, and like the Apostle Paul, prohibited drunkenness. He also prohibited members of Methodist Societies from drinking, producing or selling “spirituous liquors” or distilled alcoholic beverages, which are much more potent than beer or wine. The exception was “in cases of extreme necessity.” In those days, liquor was thought to have some medicinal value (as today, when some use it as part of a cough remedy).

Over the years, this “drinking in moderation” position has become a “voluntary abstinence” position.

In the 1840 Book of Discipline, ministers are warned that they will lose their standing if they drink, make, or sell liquor (not wine or beer). In 1849, church members were included in that prohibition. By the late 1800s, both America and England were in the grip of a public alcohol problem. The “Temperance Movement” began within the Methodist Church, and by 1884, the Church stated that "We, therefore, regard voluntary total abstinence from all intoxicants as the true ground of personal temperance, and complete legal prohibition of the traffic in alcoholic drinks as the duty of civil government." Ten years later, the Church went a step further, declaring that making, selling, or buying liquor was “immoral,” i.e., a sin. The Discipline in 1939 stated: "Methodism has insisted that intoxicating liquor cannot be legalized without sin. Wine through the centuries has not ceased to be a mocker, traitorously destroying individuals and blighting society. Adequate relief can come only through total abstinence for the individual and effective prohibition by the State.”

The most recent Book of Discipline states, “We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for persons. We support abstinence from the use of any illegal drugs. Since the use of illegal drugs, as well as illegal and problematic use of alcohol, is a major factor in crime, disease, death, and family dysfunction, we support educational programs as well as other prevention strategies encouraging abstinence from illegal drug use and, with regard to those who choose to consume alcoholic beverages, judicious use with deliberate and intentional restraint, with Scripture as a guide.”

CONCLUSION: Given our culture’s longstanding problems with alcohol use and abuse, particularly the staggering statistics concerning underage drinking and the very real danger of drunk driving, any Methodist would do well to consider voluntary abstinence as the right decision concerning alcoholic beverages, even though scripture does not forbid drinking.


LINKS OF INTEREST:

This "wiki" article - Christianity and Alcohol - gives an interesting overview of various positions on drinking among Christians. Look especially toward the bottom of the article where it mentions moderationism, abstentionism and prohibitionism.

This article argues that there are seven biblical reasons that Christians should not drink.

FEBRUARY 3 - Is It Still Worth Believing That Human Nature Can Be Changed?

A frequently seen bumper sticker goes like this - "Christians Aren't Perfect...Just Forgiven."

That sounds really good at first - no pressure - no expectations - just get forgiven! However it leaves a big gap. It doesn't tell the whole truth.

Last week's message focused on the inescapable reality of sin - original sin - the human condition that affects ALL of us. Our faith teaches us we cannot save ourselves. Only God can get us out of this mess.

So we DO celebrate our forgiveness.

But it IS still worth believing that there is more to the story - that human nature can be changed!

We see a good example in the old song ROCK OF AGES.

Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

The "rock" in which we hide ourselves is Jesus.

Let the water and blood, from thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure.

What is the "double cure?" The song goes on to tell us

Be of sin the double cure: save from wrath, and make me pure.

Jesus came not only to save us from the penalty of sin, but also to work within us, to change us from the inside out. This is a huge part of old-fashioned Methodism, and we see the heart of this truth in so many Scriptures.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

“Sanctification” is the big word here. It goes hand in hand with “justification.”

Justification refers to what God does for us.

Sanctification refers to what God does in us.

Our friends in the Church of the Nazarene share roots with us in the Wesleyan tradition. You may find this article intriguing - How Entire Is Entire Sanctification?


1 PETER 1:15. As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct.

COLOSSIANS 3:9-10. You have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.


United Methodist doctrine has a lot to say about the work of God to transform the heart and life of a believer (from paragraph 103 of The Book of Discipline - "Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules"):


Sanctification is that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost, received through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood of atonement cleanseth from all sin; whereby we are not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but are washed from its pollution, saved from its power, and are enabled, through grace, to love God with all our hearts and to walk in his holy commandments blameless.



We believe sanctification is the work of God's grace through the Word and the Spirit, by which those who have been born again are cleansed from sin in their thoughts, words and acts, and are enabled to live in accordance with God's will, and to strive for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Entire sanctification is a state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every regenerate believer may obtain by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by loving one's neighbor as one's self. Through faith in Jesus Christ this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously, and should be sought earnestly by every child of God.


If you really want to dig deep, you will find much food for thought in these sermons of John Wesley:

• The Circumcision of the Heart

• On Sin in Believers