Author: Allan (Page 477 of 493)

A Kingdom of Priests

October 10, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

One of the things I tend to emphasize in my preaching and teaching is that we are all, every one of us, ordained ministers. We’re ordained at our baptisms to minister to each other and to our neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ. I love that imagery. I love the way it shapes us as a church family, sharing and meeting each other’s needs and having all things in common. We minister when we put the interests of others ahead of our own.

During last night’s congregational informational Small Groups meeting here at Legacy a different, but related, thought came to mind. We claim to be a Kingdom of Priests. We’re a priesthood of believers. But what does that mean? Does the priest image communicate to us a different concept than the image of Christians as ministers? Is it deeper? How is a priest different from a minister? Have I been using the wrong image to communicate the way we, as believers, are to act with one another and within the community?

I think the “priesthood of all believers,” which actually comes straight from Martin Luther and the Reformation, has probably been distorted by a lot of us. As a concept, I think we see this “priesthood” in terms of individuals functioning as our own priests. We assume — or even worse, insist — that, “I don’t need a priest. Jesus is my priest. It’s just him and me. I can do OK on my own.”

That distorts the true nature of the Biblical concept. “Kingdom of Priests” (Biblical term) and “Priesthood of all Believers” (Reformation term) means that we are all priests, not for ourselves, but for one another. The idea should be more like, “I need you for my priest. And while we’re at it, I’m available to you as your priest, too.”

Eugene Peterson puts it this way in his latest theological work, The Jesus Way:

“The priesthood of all believers is not an arrogant individualism that, at least in matters dealing with God, doesn’t need anyone. It is a confession of mutuality, a willingness to guide one another in following in the way of Jesus, to assist and encourage, to speak and act in Jesus’ name. In the community of the baptized, there is no one, absolutely no one, who is not involved in this priestly function of leading and being led.”

Oh, man, does that work well with what we’re trying to do here with Legacy Small Groups Church.

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***Legacy Construction Update***

The steel beams are going up. Two floors on the new youth and benevolence center are clearly established. It looks like this may be the quickest part of the construction process. Or it may just be that it’s the most visible.

Peace,

Allan

The Watershed Game?

October 9, 2007 / Allan / 3 Comments

OK. At the end of the game, as Nick Folk’s second 53-yard game winning field goal split the uprights, I was standing up in my living room, two feet away from my TV, laughing.

Laughing.

It was the craziest game I can remember watching. Ever. And regardless of what this game means to the Cowboys from here on out (more on that in a minute), there’s not a person who watched it who will ever forget it.

Tony Romo throws five interceptions and fumbles three times. And still wins the game. Four of his five picks were thrown right to the Bills defender without a Cowboys receiver in sight. Two of them were returned for Buffalo scores. Late in the fourth quarter, right after Terrence Newman had given Dallas some hope with his own interception deep in Bills territory, Romo responded by throwing his fifth pick, this one in the end zone. At that point, as I was visiting with a friend over the phone, our conversation turned to what this was doing to Romo long-term. Should a coach take him out of the game because every pass he makes is a disastrous one? What lasting damage is he doing to his own psyche and confidence and to the relationship he has with his 52 teammates? Should they pull him or keep giving him the chance to win it?

And as funny as I think it is when the Cowboys lose, I hated seeing Romo play the goat. He seems like such a great kid and he’s a genuine joy to watch. I hated that he was the one obviously giving the game away. But then Terrell Owens started dropping more balls. Roy Williams started missing more tackles. And it was clear that there was plenty of blame to go around. I can enjoy a Cowboys loss a lot more when T.O. is the one who drops the two-point conversion.

And look at how this thing was setting up to really implode. This loss to the Bills could have triggered the avalanche of despair that would drive Dallas straight to that 8-8 finish I’m hoping for. Owens was stomping on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. He was ripping his helmet off and cursing when he thought he was open and Romo didn’t get him the ball. They lose that game last night, go on to lose to the Patriots Sunday, and suddenly they’re 4-2 with a two-game losing streak and the finger-pointing begins. Doubt creeps in and sets up a tent. The bye week forces the media to create stories about the team, and they’d all be negative. The tough part of the division schedule is coming up and all the positivity is gone. Maybe they really were just playing lousy teams at the beginning. Maybe they’re not as good as everyone thought. Maybe Romo really is playing over his head. Maybe Phillips doesn’t know what he’s doing. Maybe.

But the Cowboys score 9 points in the final 20-seconds and win the game. When’s the last time you saw an onsides kick actually work? Hasn’t it been years?!? Do you realize that if Buffalo’s offense could have scored more than just three points they would have won? The Cowboys first lead of the game came with 0:00 on the clock.

And now this horrible nightmare of a game for everybody involved could turn into the very thing that propels this team to greatness over the next four or five years. Who can’t they beat? What can’t they do? Somebody joked with Jerry Wayne afterwards that he should have sent his contract proposal to Romo’s agent during the third quarter. And Jerry said, “he just went UP in value in my opinion.”

Of course he did!

The Cowboys gain more positive energy and confident vibe from last night’s miracle than they would have if they’d drummed the Bills by 17 like they were supposed to.

And what about the Bills and their fans? They live in that awful city (sorry, Bob Matuszak) with that horrible weather with all those factories and plants. The Bills and their hatred for all Dallas sports teams are all they have. And for 59:40 they completely control that football game. How do you get six takeaways in the NFL and lose? Come on. You gotta feel for those poor folks today.

And, (last thing on the game unless somebody else wants make an observation) the NFL probably won’t have to wait until this coming spring to change the rule on allowing a head coach to call a timeout a split-second before the ball is snapped on a game-winning field goal attempt. Just wait. Pretty soon some coach is going to pull that stunt and the opponent’s kicker is going to slice a 43-yarder into the benches. And then he’ll split the uprights on the second try and win the game.

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I can’t allow the Yankees to go away without another observation on A-Fraud. He’s #1 in the American League this season in RBIs, homeruns, and runs scored. Yet he goes 4-15 in the four game playoff series with the Indians with six strikeouts and a total of one RBI. I don’t have time this morning to look up his performance in the four games with runners in scoring position or how many runners he left on base against Cleveland. Somebody else look that up for us and let us know.

But it’s typical.

He’s a very good baseball player. I think anyone who uses the word “great” in reference to Rodriguez hasn’t done his homework.

Peace,

Allan

Happy Birthday, Stan!

October 8, 2007 / Allan / 5 Comments

There have been several of our assemblies together at Legacy in the past year or so that have inspired me and moved me and humbled me. None so like what happened yesterday morning.

Stan Stafford first came to Legacy seeking food through the benevolence program here about four months ago. He’s 99 years old, confined to a wheelchair, and just as pleasant and sharp as anybody you’d ever meet. That very first day Kenny Smith invited Stan to worship with us the following Sunday. And, sure enough, Stan showed up. He parked his wheelchair with the big orange flag on it three-quarters of the way back, next to the sound booth. And to my knowledge, he’s not missed a Sunday yet. He’s starving for the Gospel. He’s thirsty for the knowledge of our God and his love and grace. Alvin Jennings and Kenny have been studying and praying with Stan. Over the past four months we’ve all befriended Stan. We’ve shared with Stan. We’ve listened to Stan. And we’ve come to love Stan.

And yesterday morning, during the third verse of the invitation song, that wheelchair came flying down the aisle toward me with Kenny and Alvin close behind. 16 days shy of his 100th birthday, Stan wanted to experience the new birth of a new resurrection life in God through Jesus Christ! Alvin shared a few stories about their time together over the past four months and then Stan confessed Jesus as the Son of God and the Lord of his life.

But how in the world were we going to do this?

In order to enter our baptistry at Legacy, you have to walk up four steps and then back down three into the water. And while Stan, when he has to, can go short distances by shuffling his feet, there’s no way he’s going up and down stairs. I hurriedly introduced a new family to the congregation and then hustled back to see if I could help. But I wasn’t needed. Jesse Villareal, whose physical size and strength is only surpassed by the size of his compassionate heart, was already suiting up in a set of waders that were way too small for him. He recognized from his seat what needed to be done and had jumped up to help. And when they were ready, Jesse lifted Stan and carried him up and down the steps and into the water. Jesse’s about a foot taller and a hundred pounds bigger than Alvin (that’s probably much more a statement about Alvin’s size than Jesse’s). And it was quite a sight — both of them baptizing Stan. And then Jesse carried Stan back up out of the water after we all shared in his new birth in Christ.

I don’t have the words to describe the beauty of the scene. I’ve been thinking about it and talking about it for almost 24 hours now. And I still don’t know how to write about it. If you were there, you know. If you weren’t, I’m sorry. I’m incapeable of describing it. The beauty of this tall, strong, young man and this wise older preacher lovingly carrying a 99-year old babe in the faith into and out of the waters of baptism with a cheering, weeping, admiring throng of 600-plus new brothers and sisters was overwhelming to me.

Our God is so wonderful. And his Church is so marvelous. And his people, indwelled by his Spirit, are amazing.

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To all the people who still have Cheap Trick’s “Surrender” running through their heads, I’m posting a bunch of pictures from our weekend at Lake Texoma. Just click on each picture to get the full size. I don’t have any pics of Kevin Welch, the only man to ever wear cleats to a family campout. I didn’t get Tate’s tumble during the kickball game that resulted in a broken collarbone and separated shoulder, nor the wild out-of-control John Deere Mule that Shanna Byrnes drove onto the field during play that started the chain reaction that led to the broken bones. (I’m not accepting any responsibility for the accident. The only reason I missed the throw at first was because I was dodging Shanna!) I did get a pretty good shot of Jennifer Green running the bases while holding Parker, Larry Tolleson and his Jolly Roger, and all kinds of sweet, precious little kids.

Go Bills.

Allan

Be Joyful Always

October 5, 2007 / Allan / 2 Comments

Sunday morning at Legacy we wrap up a ten week series on Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians with what appear to be just random instructions and commands at the end of the book. We’ll look at how those imperatives do all come together to speak to our relationships and responsibilities within the church setting. But I want to focus on one of them today.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, right in the middle of Paul’s final exhortations, he writes, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It’s impossible, in the world we live in, to be happy all the time. But that’s not what Paul’s saying. What he’s saying is that the church’s joy comes from God’s activity in and with his people. And that is constant. In chapter 1 he says the joy comes from the Holy Spirit. In chapter 2 Paul says the church itself was a joy to him because of everything Christ was doing there in Thessalonica. Chapter 3 says the joy comes from being in the presence of God. What Paul has learned is to see the hand of God in whatever is happening to him or around him. God is working through and in the shipwrecks and beatings and stonings and prison sentences and pain.

God is working in and through everything that’s going on with me. Regardless of what the doctor says, despite the fact I don’t have a job, although my children are grieving me, even though my husband is leaving me, whatever. I am certain of my salvation from God in Christ. And it’s this stable and deep-rooted joy that enables us to cope with disappointments and see them in their true perspective. In any and all circumstances, God is at work among his people. And that gives us reason to rejoice, reason to give thanks, and that fulfills God’s will for his church.

And he says give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. You don’t thank God for the dirty dishes at the end of the day, not unless you’re some kind of sicko. You thank God for the food he gives you to dirty all those dishes. You don’t thank God for the car accident. You thank him that nobody was injured. You don’t thank God that Sue Godwin has cancer. You thank God for giving you the opportunities to serve her and her family in his name and for deeming you worthy to minister to them in his name.

Give thanks in all circumstances. Even in the awful reality of death in our number, in our church family, we give thanks. Thanks that death is not the last word. It’s not the final act. Thank you, Lord, that you have the last word and that you always write the final act. Thank you, God, that you give us resurrection and life.

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The four-day weekend is upon us. Carrie-Anne and the girls and I are heading up to Lake Texoma this morning with several other friends and their families until Saturday night. Sunday should be as busy as ever with three worship services amid the chaos that is Give Away Day set up. And we’re planning to spend Monday at the great State Fair of Texas.

Hook ’em!

Allan

Final Thoughts on the Creation Accounts

October 4, 2007 / Allan / 4 Comments

Despite all the differences between the two creation stories in Genesis, which cannot be ignored, there are a couple of things I’d like to point out that bring both accounts together and that should serve to form our theology and shape the way we live today.

First — and I wrote about this Tuesday — the two radically different pictures of our God presented in the two accounts are significant in that they form our idea of our God as both transcendent and immanent. He’s above all else as perfectly holy and “wholly other.” But he’s also very near, very close, to his creation. He’s our compassionate Father. We must have those two views of God. And we must keep those two views in balance.

Another thing that we absolutely cannot miss in the creation stories is that God’s creation is good. It’s all good. Every bit of it. The Lord our God declares it good five times over the course of creation and then sums it up by saying it’s all “very good.” And how we view that fundamental goodness of creation shapes the way we live in and with creation.

I’m not a tree-hugger. I’m not a vegetarian. I would never spend hundreds of dollars on vet bills. And I’m not at all concerned about global warming. But I do know that as God’s children and part of his perfect design we’d better be in the business of taking care of his creation.

Some Christians go out of their way to tell us that God is going to destroy this earth with fire and so we really don’t need to worry about taking care of it. They say it’s arrogant to believe that we could have any impact at all on the future — good or bad — of God’s earth. So don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter. Harmful emissions. Radiation. Litter. Destroying the forests. Polluting the seas. Who cares?

Wait a second.

God’s creation is good. Very good. And Scripture tells us in unambiguous terms that God’s work since the beginning of time right up until the present is focused on redeeming creation back to himself. All of creation. The earth groans. God’s redeeming it. He’s working to make it all perfect again. Someday it will be perfect again. Shouldn’t we be about our Father’s business? Everytime one of God’s children throws a candy wrapper out the window or pours his motor oil into the creek, he’s defiantly working against God’s plan.

I’m one of those who believes we may very well have jobs, or tasks, on the other side. Our service to God in Heaven, I think, may be in work he gives us to do. That’s another topic for another day. But we do know God’s instruction to man when he placed him on earth in the very beginning was to “work it and take care of it.” Why would that be different for us today?

Here’s the last thing. Notice there is nothing haphazard about God’s creation. He brings order out of chaos. He brings light out of darkness. He brings life out of the abyss. The chaos and waste, the “tohu and bohu,” (one of the few Hebrew phrases I know) of the empty and formless expanse produces goodness and perfection at the sound of the Father’s voice. And our same God who brought light and order out of chaos and darkness still does.

Whatever chaos and darkness you’re in right now is no match for the Creator of the universe. Disease, bankruptcy, issues with your children, divorce, depression — you name it. Our God still brings life out of the abyss. He’s never quit the creation business.

The word for create, “bara,” is only used of God in Scripture. It’s used in Isaiah when God’s children were in exile. God is said to be creating a new Israel out of nothing. The apostle Paul refers to God’s work in Christ as creating something new in us. All of creation is new when one puts on the Son in baptism.

God never stopped actively creating after the creation. And I wouldn’t put any limits on what he’s creating right now in your life and mine.

Peace,

Allan

Concerning Baseball and Church

October 3, 2007 / Allan / 2 Comments

I’m excited for the start of the Major League Baseball Division Series that begin today. And I have a couple of personal rooting interests. My good friend, Scott Franzke, is the play-by-play voice on the Philadelphia Phillies Radio Network and I’d really like to see them do well. Scott and I worked together at KRLD and TSN and the Rangers Radio Network for three years. And I appreciated so much his dedication to excellence and professionalism in the job he did for us there. When the Rangers canned Vince Cotroneo, another great guy, before the ’05 season, they passed on Scott for Victor Rojas. Bad call. Scott went on to the Phils where he and his wife Lori are doing great. Scott has an extremely laid back personality. He was also negative and cynical, in an understated hilarious sort of way. There was nobody who made me laugh harder at work than Scott. And nobody who worked harder at what he did. And he deserves every bit of the honor and prestige and excitement that’s coming his way as the Phillies begin the playoffs today at 2:00 agaisnt the Amazing Rockies.

My other personal rooting interest is with the Arizona Diamondbacks where Chad McDonald is the Assistant Director of Scouting. Chad’s wife, Julie, is the Children’s Minister at the North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington where Carrie-Anne and I were when we made the decision to go into the ministry. At the time, Chad was an area scout for the Angels. And when our small group got together at a park for a cookout, it seemed like Chad was always on the other side of the park working out some pro prospect from an area high school. He taught Whitney’s Sunday morning Bible School class at North Davis and was always giving her a hard time about her Rangers. But his sweet note to her on Angels stationery upon our departure for Marble Falls is still one of her prized possessions. Chad took the job with Arizona shortly after we left. And I’m rooting for the DBacks hard against the Cubs tonight.

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One quick thought on the Cowboys and their 4-0 start: do you realize that if they go 6-6 the rest of the way, they’ll wind up 10-6 and in the playoffs? If they go 7-5 in their last 12 games, they’ll be 11-5 and probably have home field advantage in the postseason. I’m blown away. Almost depressed.

There’s still hope for a monumental collapse. But I certainly can’t imagine any kind of 4-8 finish that would knock them out of the picture. I would also never openly wish for any kind of injury to occur to any of them. Although, I’m beginning to think that this team can overcome almost anything that could happen. I think Romo might be the only player that, were he to miss more than a couple of weeks, would adversely impact the Cowboys.

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With the bustle of activity around here that is Give Away Day, my mind is continually on our role, as individuals and as a church, in joining God in redeeming creation back to him. Some of our creation theology impacts this. And I want to write more about that tomorrow. In the meantime, check out this offering from Paul Hanson’s article, “The Identity and Purpose of the Church.”

“The Church is not some curious or pitiable relic of the past seeking to justify itself either by appeal to an archaic golden age or by attempts to appear more progressive and radical than the latest protest movement, but is an agent of reconciliation and healing basing its identity on its sense of being present where God is present in the world, and for the same purpose.”

Peace,

Allan

Author: Allan (Page 477 of 493)

A Kingdom of Priests

The Watershed Game?

Happy Birthday, Stan!

Be Joyful Always

Final Thoughts on the Creation Accounts

Concerning Baseball and Church

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