This past Wednesday, I got to see God's answer to Islam.

At Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, I witnessed 34 new missionaries being commissioned by Southern Baptists to carry the fame and name of Jesus the Christ to the peoples of the world.

Though I did not keep a formal tally, I'm estimating well over half of those missionaries said they were headed to Muslim peoples in Central, East and Southeast Asia, as well as various Muslim nations of Africa.  Some of the missionaries were young couples with children.  Some were older.  Some were former businessmen and farmers. One even grew up as a Muslim in an Islamic nation, only to be driven from that country by war.  Upon landing in Europe, she met her future husband, who began sharing the gospel with her.  Jesus changed her life and now the two of them are headed back to her Muslim people to make His glory known and treasured!

This is God's answer to Islam: Men and women with the flame of Holy Spirit God in their hearts taking the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard.  The redeemed of God in Christ willing to go and give and do whatever their Sovereign Lord asks of them.  Christians.

Political solutions will come and go.  And we can debate those freely, at least for now, in America.  But one thing we who love Christ surely must agree on is that the ultimate answer to the worship of false gods, whatever those gods be called and where ever those gods be named, is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And this answer, this response, is the one we must crave and cry out to God for in desperation:

For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You . . . There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours.  All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name.  For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God (Psalm 86:5-10).

In honor of mothers and godly women everywhere . . . I offer up this second blog post in the series.

Samson was a man's man.  This dude took the jawbone of a donkey and slew one thousand Philistines with it.  Now, that's warrior ingenuity!  Trust me, men, nobody in the UFC today could even hope to last more than a minute in the octagon with Samson.

But, like so many manly champions, Samson's weakness was, you guessed it, women.

His first wife was a Philistine.  He arranged a large feast for her on the wedding day, and really liked how she looked. So far so good.  Keep it up, Sammy.

Then, Samson decided to put a riddle to the enemies of Israel, the Philistines.  The deal was, if they figured out the riddle Samson would give them thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes.  OK, this just got weird.  But, that was the deal.  But if they could not solve the riddle, they owed Sammy the linen fashion wear.

Well, the Philistines threatened to kill Samson's wife and family if she did not tell them the answer to the riddle.  So, she begged for a week and Samson finally gave up the goods.  But, here's where it gets really hilarious and sad.

When the Philistines solved the riddle, Samson said:

If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle (Judges 14:18).

Men, please, please never call your wife a heifer.  In fact, you should probably avoid any and all references to animals when speaking of your wife.  Just sayin'.

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24).

With Mother's Day on the near horizon, ladies dear to me are on my mind.  My wife is amazing.  She is my favorite mom and woman in the whole world.  I mean no offense at all to my own mother, whom I love and try to honor.  She brought me into this world!  But I also know that God says a man is to leave his father and mother and cling unto his wife (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:5).  So, I don't think my own mother would even expect me to say anything other than, "My wife is the best woman I know!"

All this pondering of inner and outer beauty in my wife has led me recently to hone in on some phrases in my daily Bible readings.  Coincidentally enough, my wife actually jokingly referred to one of these comments just this morning, as she had come across it in her daily readings, too.

These comments are what we might call, "Things not to say to your wife."

For my first example, I introduce you to one Elkanah.  He is not as well known as his wife, Hannah.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying Elkanah was ungodly.  He seems to be a god-fearing man.  He, along with Hannah, agreed to give up their son, Samuel, to the Lord's service (1 Sam 1).  So, he definitely got some things right, by God's grace.

But, he also got something very wrong.  When Hannah was grieving deeply over her inability to have children, Elkanah quipped, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad?  Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Uh, well, no, Mr. Insensitive.  

Men, do not say this, or anything like this, to your wives!  When she is hurting or grieving, the best thing you can say is probably nothing at all.  But O, how many times have I screwed this up myself?!  I'm amazed that my wife is still loving me and living with me, given how many times I have traveled the path of Elkanah.

Men, seek God's sensitivity training.  "A soft answer turns away wrath."  Or, "weep with those who weep."  How much better would Hannah have felt if Ogre Elkanah had simply wrapped his arms around her, cried with her, told her he was sorry, and offered to pray with her?

P.S.  For a hilarious take on this theme, check out Tim Hawkins' song.

Doctors take an oath to "do no harm."  Pastors can empathize.

We (Pastors) really do not relish the thought of hurting or harming anyone.  The truth of God in His Word sometimes does inflict wounds of conviction upon souls, but we pray for God's mercy to accompany such conviction to bring about repentance.  But what happens when a Pastor hurts one of the sheep in ways that could have or should have been prevented?

Well, a few days ago I had one of the most painful experiences of my ministry so far.  My heart literally still aches from it.  I do not expect to get over it quickly.  I am so disappointed in myself.  I hurt a brother.  Wounded him unnecessarily.  I said something from the pulpit many months ago that hurt him and made him feel humiliated.  The fact that I do not remember saying it does not change his hurt, nor excuse my thoughtlessness.  I am so sorry for my words.  I cannot retract them.  I can only ask for forgiveness.  From God.  From the hurt brother.  This I did when the brother confronted me.  But I will continue to do so for quite some time.  I need forgiveness.

As I've reflected and tried to recall the situation and sermon, I've come to conclude I was probably just trying to be funny by way of sarcasm.  I am 100% sure I meant no personal harm or humiliation to this man.  But God is teaching me through my brother that preachers need to use sarcasm with extreme caution.  Sarcasm does not land softly or humorously upon every listener.  God forgive me.  God please keep teaching me how to most effectively communicate the eternal truths of Your Word without needlessly hurting the sheep.  Without feeling like I must be funny.  Without any desire other than to see Your Holy Son Jesus magnified, dead sinners brought to life in Him, and saints farther conformed to Him.

For any preachers or Bible teachers out there reading this post, be warned.  Words matter.  Seek the Holy Spirit's bridle (James 3).

For any church members out there reading this post, please know that your pastors need the same Jesus, the same grace, the same forgiveness that you do.  We will fail from time to time.  Jesus never fails.  We will from time to time need you to love us enough to confront us.  We will need you to render "faithful wounds of a friend" (Prov 27:6).  We will need you to forgive us "just as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32).  Please do not harbor ill will or allow bitterness to grow in your heart simply because a pastor or preacher has (likely unintentionally) said something that hurt you.  Go seek reconciliation.  Give your pastor the opportunity to hear you, to discuss the matter, and most importantly, to repent if needed.

To the brother who finally took that courageous step with me, I want to say "Thank you."  I do not deserve to be your pastor.  I'm deeply grateful for your grace.  Giving me a second chance brings glory to our Savior who gives us those "second" chances each and every day.

"Let a righteous man smite and reprove me, it is a kindness to me; it is oil upon my head.  Do not let my head refuse it" (Psalm 141:5).      

 

 

This video was created from actual photographs NASA has taken of the sun over the last five years. Prepared to feel very small and give big praise to the Creator of all things. Our great God made the sun and continues to sustain it as He made and sustains us. To watch this video and not give praise to God is to deny the plain and clear truth. It is just another reminder that God, the maker of all things, is worthy of more praise than we could ever give. It is ludicrous to believe that just by accident, just coincidentally, this incredible star is just the right distance from Earth to sustain life. Countless explosions dance upon the sun's a massive surface because it was designed to do so by our sovereign Lord. I encourage you to watch this and then spend some time in prayer. Praise Him for His incredible creativity and perfect planning of the universe. Praise Him for Jesus who not only created all things and sustains all things, but humbled Himself to become a man, live a perfect life and die for sinners like us! Praise Him!

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(Psalm 19:1-6 ESV)

I was in a waiting room and began to read the March cover story of National Geographic (available here) when I came across the following two sentences,

“In this bewildering world we have to decide what to believe and how to act on that. In principle that’s what science is for.”

Immediately I came to a full stop. The first sentence had penetrated into the depths of the truly profound. Few questions are more important then deciding what to believe and how to act, but what is the answer that National Geographic gives… Science. Allegedly Science is the answer, science is the savior. The article went on to ask the question Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science? The assumption behind the whole article is that the scientific consensus is completely trustworthy and therefore truth. The author is astounded that anyone could doubt what he simply calls “Science.” He speaks as if Science is its own being. For the author Science has clearly replaced God and is it self the source of truth. For example, mocking the biblical account, the caption for the image above taken at the Creation Museum which shows a dinosaur with Adam and Eve, I read, “Science holds that Earth is 4.6 billion years old, that all life evolved from microbes, and that modern humans first appeared 200,000 years ago—65 million years after dinosaurs died out.” Really, as if all scientists agree. As if any scientist has actually proven any of those false claims. He goes on to write boldly that, “Evolution actually happened. Biology is incomprehensible without it.” Wow, apparently it’s been impossible to study life until Darwin gave us his theory. No, just because something is the scientific consensus does not mean it is true. Science doesn’t hold any opinions, but rather specific scientist hold particular views and many scientists disagree with one another.

Sheepishly he admits that, “Scientific results are always provisional, susceptible to being overturned by some future experiment or observation.” But then quickly the author assures the reader that, “Science will find the truth. It may get it wrong the first time and maybe the second time, but ultimately it will find the truth.” The producers of National Geographic are frustrated and quite honestly confused that everyone does not just simply trust without reservation the conclusions of fallible scientists who are continually revising their views.

I am so thankful that we have not been left to try and figure out what to believe and what to do without the divine revelation. God has spoken! He tells us what is true and what we are to do and to believe. In contrast to the imperfect word of man that is always in need of updating, we have been given the perfect and unchanging, infallible, inerrant, sufficient and authoritative Word of God. The Bible is completely trustworthy and in it we find the truth. The scripture does not eventually get to the truth after failed attempts. To the contrary it is only truth. It has no mistakes, no errors!

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5

Forever, O LORD, your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Psalm 119:89

The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;  the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

I am very thankful for Science in general and specifically the work of scientist, but the scientific consensus never can or ever will take the place of the Bible. God has spoken and in His Word we learn what to believe and how to act. So whether a stranger at Starbucks or a scientific newsmagazine mocks the teaching of the Bible, “Then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your Word.” Psalm 119:42

For more on why you can trust the Bible let me recommend Taking God at His Word.

I hardly recognize the country I served honorably as a United States Marine (1995-2000).  I hardly recognize the military of my beloved country, for that matter!  What in the world is going on?

A few weeks ago, Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana made some comments to reporters concerning their view of family and children.  These two designers are openly practicing the homosexual lifestyle and were once a couple.  Yet, they went on record supporting the traditional family (a dad and mom present in the home) as being best for children.  Gasp!  And they do not support gay couples adopting children.  Double gasp!!  Read more Here.

Where did they get such a notion?  Well, probably not from the Bible, but perhaps from some common sense backed by lots of sociological research.  Maybe they actually listened to some adults who were raised by gay couples who are now daring to speak out, as detailed Here.

But more shocking than Dolce & Gabbana's conservative views on family was the violent backlash among Hollywood elites, like Elton John.  The name-calling and hateful insults back and forth has been hard to watch, as I do not think either Dolce or Elton or any person should be treated so unkindly.

The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins summed up the debacle well in his "Washington Update" email: "When it comes right down to it, there's nothing more threatening to the homosexual political movement than homosexual people who tell the truth."  

Meanwhile, back in the Good Ole US of A, another couple seeking "gay marriage" in Ohio has decided to try and ruin a local business that dared to refuse to video their "wedding."  Rather than simply seek another business to meet their desires, this couple decided to go on CNN to kick-off their campaign to destroy a local businesswomen who has been nothing but respectful to them.  Read more Here.

And now in my home State of Indiana, a Freedom of Religion Law was passed that went no further than previous federal laws signed by former President Bill Clinton.  And our law is no different in essence than those of 19 other states.  But for reasons known only to sharks who love the scent of blood in the water, the backlash against Indiana has been huge.  Company's like Angie's List are trying to bully our State into cow-towing to their radical, leftist, intolerant agenda.  Even the NCAA is making threats, since the Final Four is in Indy later this week.

Well, since our institutions of higher learning caved long ago to the radical liberal agenda, and are indoctrinating our future leaders in that agenda, we really cannot be surprised, can we?  Anyone who honestly studies the history of the state educational systems over the past 100 years in this country should have no doubts how we got to this point in America.  Ethical relativism, the natural product of a Darwinian evolutionary worldview, has reigned supreme in the halls of elementary schools and high schools for decades now.  New Common Core Standards look like they'll only make matters worse in this area.  Read more Here.

Christian friends, you may be Republican, Democrat (yikes!), Independent, Whig, or Libertarian.  But if you take the time to peruse the articles I have linked in this blog post, you must surely agree that our beloved Nation is losing its moral foundations and sense of true tolerance.  The marketplace of free ideas in America today is becoming more like a shark infested pool.  Evangelical Christians - swim at your own risk!

Is that a drop of blood I see there in the water?

Well, we might not be literally bleeding yet.  But short of massive revival and spiritual awakening brought on by the Holy Spirit applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to hearts, do we seriously think the day of our bleeding is far behind?  What we need is not just conservative politicians.  We need gospel-driven politicians.  We need gospel-saturated homes.  We need Christ-exalting churches who do not love their own lives but count it joy to suffer shame for Jesus' name.  Persecution is upon us, O church of America.  It comes from without and within.  May we be granted grace to endure with love and respect for the enemies of the cross.  May we endure whatever comes our way with gospel-boldness.  And may God save many more souls in America in and through the bloody waters in which we may find ourselves soon swimming.

And may our blood, should it come to that, get no glory.  Like our martyred brothers and sisters around the globe, may our only boast be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14).

If you want help thinking more about these things (including politics and government) from a biblical worldview, here are sites that I highly recommend:

 

Narcissist.  Self-Centered.  Self-Adulating.  Self-Promoting.  Selfish.

Synonyms.  Surely none of these descriptions or character traits are what parents desire to see their children become. Yet, a new study reported in the LA Times says this is precisely what many parents are producing.  The article begins with these words,

"Parents who believe their kids are better, more special, and deserve more than other kids can pass that point of view on to their children, creating young narcissists who feel superior to others, and entitled to privileges." You can read the whole article here.

It's strikes me as amusing that the researchers seem to act as if they have hit upon an epiphany of sorts.  That parenting matters!  That parents deeply and significantly influence their children's character by their methods and modeling.  The study's findings were summarized some two-thousand years ago:

"A student is not above his teacher; but everyone after he has been fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40).

Or perhaps the ancient sage King Solomon summarized it a thousand years before Jesus took on flesh and walked the earth:

"Train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6).

It should not surprise us that non-Christian parents are raising self-centered children.  While I am not saying every single non-Christian parent is totally selfish, apart from the transforming grace of God in Christ, this is the natural tendency of every person.  So, selfish parents raise selfish kids.  And selfish parents give conception and birth to selfish kids.  The apple never falls far from the tree (coincidentally, the scientific study also concluded selfishness is genetic.  No surprises here for Bible believers, Psalm 51:5).

But it should shock us to see Christian parents also bringing up little narcissists.  And far too many Christian parents are doing so, if perhaps unwittingly.  Let me touch on a few ways we Christians may be raising narcissists, even if we do not mean to do so:

• Not meaning "no" when you say "no."  Children in the study admitted their manipulative tendencies!  They learn quickly that all of life is a negotiation to get my way if parents do not mean "no" by saying "no."
• Centering the entire daily and weekly schedule around a child.  Yes, when they are infants, it is all but necessary to give massive amounts of time and attention to the child's needs.  But this phase can and should end earlier than we like to admit.  A pre-K or kindergarten child who gets chauffeured around like a celebrity from one extra-curricular activity to another soon begins to think (or learn) that life really is centered on her.  Why are we so scared to hold our children out of sports or 4H or bands or any other of the hundreds of "fun" and stressful activities available?  A sport now and then is fine.  Revolving life or our home lives around it would seem to be quite unbiblical.
• Allowing children to dictate their own schedules and then pandering to it. This goes hand-in-hand with the aforementioned comment.  But it bears repeating.  If we make it our aim to ensure our children or teens get to do what they want or choose to do most of the time, then we should not be surprised when those young kids grow into adult narcissists.  A fun activity now and then is fine and even healthy.  But if we find our schedules being dominated by self-serving, non-eternal things, it's time for a change.
• Living our daily and weekly lives as a narcissist.  Some may interpret my comments above to mean that parents get to be selfish and decide everything about the schedule and revolve it around their wishes.  Oh contraire!  How often do our children see us doing things that "put us out?"  That inconvenience us?  That are hard and not necessarily "fun?"  We often say, "If Mommy ain't happy ain't nobody happy."  But if we truly live like that, our children are seeing right through it.  We're modeling selfishness.  Life revolves around Mom's happiness.  Or, if Dad comes home and expects to do nothing but watch TV and eat pretzels and have his beer refreshed by all his little servants, then our children are seeing a model of narcissism.
• By not making time to serve others.  This pains me.  I see so many Christian parents getting serious about doing home life according to the Shema.  And I am so thankful for a revival of Deuteronomy 6 homes and parenting!  But, what we are far too often neglecting is the second greatest commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:39).  We are so busy doing "home" that we forget there is a lonely widow needing a visit, a tired single mom needing a long uninterrupted bath, a young man needing mentored, a lost co-worker needing the gospel, a new church member needing a friend, a cancer patient needing a hug, a hungry child needing a meal, a missionary needing help, a grieving sister in Christ needing a shoulder to cry on.  Oh Christian church family, please hear me!  If you are too busy to find someone or someway to serve every week, then you are too busy.  This is the number one way to raise narcissists - neglect and reject servanthood!  Move your schedule around and go serve people as a whole family in Jesus' name and for His glory.
• If Jesus was right (and He was), then life really revolves around loving God and loving others.  How are we making sure to build that worldview into our kids?  And how are we Modeling it?  How will our children truly learn that life in Christ's kingdom is a life of selfless cross-carrying service?
• That brings me to a final way to raise a narcissist - get your Kingdom Theology all mixed up.  Some preachers are teaching Christian parents to make their homes or families a kingdom.  Well, Adam was to rule the creation on behalf of God.  But remember, he screwed it up!  And now, Adam wants to rule his dominion by dominating his domain!  He wants to rule his family as a King with a capital "K."  And Eve wants to dethrone Adam and wear the King's Crown (or pants, as it were).  This is Genesis 3 stuff.  How often we forget that trying to be kings is what got us into this mess in the first place!  The story-line of the Bible is that only One King and Kingdom endure forever.  All other so-called kings are to put a  small letter "k" before their titles.  Or, better yet, jettison all those noble titles and take up the mantle of Christ: "Do not be called Rabbi . . . do not be called leaders; for One is your leader, Christ.  But the greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt 23:8-11).  Our homes and little kingdoms must bow always and forever to King Jesus, who said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33).  It seems to me way too many well-meaning Christian parents have no real time for the Kingdom every week because they are too busy building their own kingdoms.  This is a sure fire way to raise Christian Narcissists.

God forgive us for our narcissism.  Remind us that it took the ultimate selfless sacrifice of Your Son Jesus to rescue us from our self-centeredness.  Make us servants.  Help us raise a new generation of servants who "prefer one another in honor" (Rom 12:10) and "esteem others more highly than themselves" (Phil 2:3).  Make us like Jesus, the One and Only King.  Help us revolve our lives and homes around King Jesus.  Amen.          

According to a recent study social networking may not make for healthy marriages.

A highlight from the study: Couples who don’t use social media sites at all reported being 11.4 percent happier with their marriage than heavy social media users. Heavy social media users were 32 percent more likely to think about leaving their spouse, compared with 16 percent for a nonuser.

Can I just tell you how not surprised I am?

As a Pastor, I hear complaints more and more often about what a spouse did or said on a social networking site.  Or, who a spouse "friended."  For all the "defenses" I so often hear Christians making regarding their Facebook time, I must admit the dangers appear to me to outweigh the good benefits.  Common sense tells me that "flirting" is far too easy on social networks.  Accountability is sadly lacking between spouses.  And it only takes one inappropriate comment to wound a spouse and deeply damage the trust which is foundational to healthy marriage.

The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; the tongue is among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell . . . no one can tame the tongue (James 3:6-8).

A Christian husband or wife who takes this Scripture seriously would have some major boundaries set and clear accountability in place.  Right?

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its lusts (Rom 13:14).

A Christian who takes this verse seriously would not "friend" old boyfriends or girlfriends, high school flings, or one-time stands, or the cute co-worker in the adjacent cubicle.  Right?  At least not without major accountability in place.

Can I just tell you how much I appreciate ladies in my church family who email me but make sure they copy their husbands?  Or, single ladies who email me and copy my wife?  This thrills my soul and brings God great glory!  These women inspire me to be more careful myself, to copy my wife or other pastors or husbands when I communicate digitally.  The church is awash in relational decay and trust between brothers and sisters in the same local congregations seems to be at an all time low.  May God help us think seriously and biblically on these things.

While we're on this subject, let me encourage the members of Corydon Baptist Church to prayerfully consider giving up something that has a significant hold on your life this month.  Call it the Protestant version of Lent if you want.  The concept itself is good, so long as we are being driven by God-fearing motives saturated in our continual need of Gospel Grace in Christ.  Why not have "digital free" days every week?  Screen-free days?  TV-less or movie-less days? A coffee-less day. Give up FB for a week.  Try it!  This is the only way you'll know just how strong a hold a habit has on you.  Give up something and spend the time you would have spent doing that thing in prayer or Bible reading or talking with your spouse eyeball-to-eyeball.

All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Cor 6:12).

For by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved (2 Peter 2:19).

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong historical era.

Now, my theology tells me I am wrong.  God in His sovereign providence had me born precisely when He so desired. His purposes for me are in the here and now . . . to glorify Him in 2015.  But even still, I cannot help wondering what it would be like to live in a community where nearly everything revolved around either time with immediate family, or time with church family.  Not too long ago, in the overall scheme of things, there were many towns in America where this was the case.

But not now.

We find ourselves in a time where the Church is not really the center of much of anything - except attacks from fringe minority groups bent on casting Christians as hate-mongers.  But not even among most church members is the Church an obvious top priority in life.  We are in an age where the Church is forced to "compete."

First, there's public and private schools which take up 8-10 hours a day, at least five days a week for many children. This is time they cannot be in any serious discipleship.  This is time they cannot be serving widows or the elderly. (Home-school families have a massive advantage here, but it is often shocking just how little time some home-school parents actually spend doing biblical discipleship or serving-the-church with their kids.)  Public school believers may be witnessing boldly in the school classroom (though this typically gets them in trouble and is not often the case), but for the most part, this "school time" is not available to the Church who may want to come alongside parents and equip these families for greater service in the kingdom of God.

And parents are often forced to revolve nearly everything around the school calendar or daily schedule.  The Church cannot expect parents to attend discipleship efforts on a weekday evening, unless you somehow squeeze it into the one hour window between supper, homework, and the early bedtime.

Add extra-curricular activities of every imaginable sort, and you now have next to no time remaining for any serious discipleship efforts to occur.  The Church has to compete with sports (games and never-ending practices).  Drama clubs.  Art clubs.  Co-ops.  Bands.  4H.  The YMCA.  Fitness mania.  Video games that are ridiculously addictive.  Candy Crush.  Texting.  You-tubing.  Face-booking.  I-MAX Movie theaters.  TV.  Theme parks.  Water parks.  Book clubs.  Math Bowls.  Restaurants.  Shopping and surfing and sleeping.

And I have not even mentioned the adults' 60-70 hour work week yet!

Well, what I am learning as a Pastor is that we, the Church, simply cannot compete.  We cannot.  We should not even be trying.  We should not cave in and just start offering the same things the world offers in hopes of attracting a few more beleaguered believers to our mid-week prayer services and small groups.  We will lose this competition every time.  Indeed, we are losing it week-after-week.  Trying to compete or convince Christians to come be discipled and learn how to disciple others is the most exhausting and depressing thing I have ever done.  Period.  I can easily see how and why a thousand pastors leave the ministry every month.  The only factor keeping me in this thing is the undying, unquenchable, flaming call of God on my life.

My Savior tells me that every person is driven by his or her heart (Mark 7).  We all do what we want to do.  We go to sports events rather than Bible studies because we want to.  What we spend the most time and money doing reveals our treasures and our hearts (Matt 6:21).  And the Church has never in and of itself possessed any ability to change someone's heart.  Only the Holy Spirit through the Gospel does this.  So, let's just stop trying to compete and keep preaching the Gospel and offering opportunities for eternally significant growth to those whose hearts are so moved. Let's pray for God to change hearts, beginning with our own!  Let's ask and expect to see God re-prioritizing lives for His glory in the Cross of Christ, starting in our own homes.

As for me, I am crying out to God more desperately every week to make Corydon Baptist Church an "old-fashioned" people.  Not a 20th century people.  Not a 19th century people.  No, I mean really old-fashioned:

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' doctrine and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

When this happens, I will not have to wonder just how few church members are actually going to show up to our monthly prayer gatherings or weekly Bible studies.  Instead, I'll have to start trying to figure out where to put all the on-fire, totally re-oriented believers in Jesus who just cannot get enough of this living, breathing, world-shaking thing we call "the Church."  O Lord God, please give me this "problem!"  The competition is wearing me thin and beating me up.