A House Divided

Dr. James Dobson has a recent podcast discussing attacks against his character and his ministry over recent bills in the Colorado legislature. While I am no expert on these political issues, and encourage you (especially those of you who live and vote in Colorado) to look more carefully into these bills on your own, I wanted to note that these attacks are coming from other Christians. This was Dr. Dobson's response to these articles and web sites:

I'm used to getting beat up from the radicals from the {political} left. I deal with that because that goes with the territory. I really find it very difficult to be attacked in such an unfair way from conservatives who claim to follow the cause of Christ. That is very hurtful.

As believers we will always be attacked by the world. To take on the name of Christ is to "pick up our cross daily". This is not easy! Why then, do we as a church body so often slander and defame and beguile one another in this way?

I am not saying that we should let one another get away with anything for the sake of unity. We are responsible for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. But whether it is a pastor in a church, a young Christian believer or a leader and representative of the church such as Dr. Dobson, our response to a perceived wrong must still follow the Biblical model, not by writing slanderous and pretentious websites. This is the way of the world. Let us be in the world and not of it.

Tags:

• church

My Secret

With the pressure of 100+ unanswered messages in my inbox weighing down on me, I have decided to instead write a light-hearted update to relieve my e-guilt. Though most of you know of my major time-wasting TV addictions (those being baseball, football, volleyball, hockey and anything else with appropriate levels of competition), I have a subtler, more controversial love:

Scrubs. And now, thanks to my great friend Andy Engdahl, I now have hours of this hillarious comedy, along with commentaries and extras to enjoy. Lori and I love this show so much that it constitutes a large part of our daily interactions, quoting obscure references to each other. We know, this is not one of the most wholesome of shows, and we certainly would not recommend it for children, but something about its comedy, its script and its characters really rings true with us. I would go into more philosophical details here, but I am bound by my previous rule of "light-hearted update".

Recently Scrubs aired it's 100th episode. Thanks to Lori's parent's Tivo we were able to watch this episode (many times) and it is (in my opinion) one of the best three Scrubs episodes ever. This Wizard of Oz spoof is deserving of an Emmy award (of course, this opinion is coming from someone who recently confused the Grammy's with the Golden Globes - pop culture is admittedly not my stongest suit). Beautifully tied in to the flow and storyline of the sitcom were illusions and homages, both subtle and absurd, to the Victor Fleming classic.

So, there it is. My light-hearted update to all of you who are waiting with baited breath for responses to your emails. Thanks for your grace and patience!

Tags:

• TV

A Passage I Love

Jim, from missionary-blogs.com gave our little missionary "e-community" an assignment to write a short post on a scripture we love by Valentine's day. True to form (and to the chagrin of every teacher I ever had, and often my wife) I have put this off until the last possible day. But now, a passage I love:

Habakkuk 1:5 (New King James Version)

The LORD's Reply
5 " Look among the nations and watch -
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

I was originally going to write about one of my old favorites, but this verse (which I stumbled upon while browsing the FMI website) is such a powerful Word from God - and it is incredibly true today! As we have shared about the faith of the Akha people, those who have received it can hardly believe - as American Christians we are being challenged by the faith of the Akha! As I read stories of missionaries gone before, and as I see in film depictions of incredible devotion I think of how astounded those missionaries would be if they saw what missions looks like today.

A great work is being done. Look at the nations - the world has been made smaller! Though many would credit humanism, modernism, and the revolutions of man for this change, it is so apparent to me that God has worked a work in our days. And though the "days grow evil" and terror and hatred send fear throughout the earth, the good news of Christ - of His life, His Passion and His redemption - is able to spread far faster and wider than we have ever known.

Pray that the Lord of the harvest send out laborers into this great work.

Tags:

• missionaries
• devotional

I Still Need This

Relationships in Thailand have been developing, but there is nothing like the old friendships here in Denver which have strengthened me and sharpened me in my walk over the years. Spending time with my brothers has awoken me again to remember

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
NIV

So, to my brothers, thank you for always challenging me.

Tags:

• personal
• friends

Love is in the Air

As a particularly appropriate post for Valentines Day, I wanted to congratulate our friend Steven for his recent engagement to Erika. Way to go you guys, we are thrilled to see where God takes you two in ministry and in life.

Tags:

• friends

Oh, the Places You will Go!

Inspired by the harrison ford super bowl commercial and the innumberable similar blogs throughout the world which posted these lists I have compiled my very own

places i slept in 2005

salem, or
portland, or
bend, or
napa, ca
los angeles, ca
palmdale, ca
arvada, co
seattle, wa
taipei, tw (not overnight, but i was asleep)
krunthep (bangkok), th
chiang rai, th
doi mae salong, th
doi chang, th
chiang mai, th
fang, th
somewhere down south in thailand

Amazing. The people and places we saw over this last year were incredible. Of course I must recommend Thailand to anyone looking for a place to visit (or for a place to have a "vacation with a purpose"), but the time in each of these cities was wonderful.

Now, I'm off to add to my 2006 list...