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The Role and Life of A Teacher
1. Paul writes at a time when the whole age was suffering from “the failure of nerve.” Men were longing for some defense against the “advancing chaos of the world.” We want to use Christ as they used religion as a means of making our world a better or safer place. We want to find something that will calm the volatility and uncertainty. In times of instability, then and now, people attach themselves to easy answers, sure things, strong leaders, institutions that promise security, heresies, novelties, cults, movements, extreme beliefs or no beliefs at all. This was the world the church was in when Paul is writing. People were unsure…
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Jacob Wrestles With God
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Less Philanthropy and More Charity
For some time now I have been wondering if philanthropy is one of those words that has either lost its traditional definition (love of mankind) or never should have been used to describe giving in the first place. In fact, I wonder if our use of “love of mankind” actually is possible or even desirable. Yes, there are numerous examples where giving springs from sincere feelings about the poor or a genuine desire to alleviate suffering, spread the Gospel, deliver health care, rescue young girls and boys from the bondage of trafficking, and restore dignity to people. No doubt these are good things – but are they really philanthropy? Are…
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Guest Blogger Bill Hendricks: What My Cat Has Taught Me About Philanthropy
Lickity’s name. After she arrived” ” we always wondered why the tip of her tail was perennially wet. We never could figure it out. Then one day I found her curled up on my daughter’s bed—and I heard a sucking sound. Yes” ” the kitten was sucking her tail! Just like a baby sucks its thumb. Great! Turns out the kitten had/has abandonment issues” so the vet said. Sucking her tail is her way of comforting calming and reassuring herself. For that reason ” we named her Lickity-Split (she’s also very fast). For 12 years I have observed this odd licking behavior. My theological conclusion: to every creature God has…
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Billy Graham
It’s not often I ask someone to pray for me before going into a museum or library. But this past week I did ask that of my brother-in-law because going into the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte N.C. was a test of my skeptical nature. Growing up in the middle of the post-WWII evangelical culture, I was exposed to some of the giants of that era: Bill Bright, Elton Trueblood, Billy Graham, Ray Stedman, and others. They were men and women of great faith and vision living in a time of extraordinary expansion of the parachurch movement, seminaries, megachurches, and global ministries. Sadly, many of us carried along in that stream were all…
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The Greatest Of These Is Love
1. The assignment this morning is the topic of mission and how each of us are missionaries – not just those who travel to foreign countries or are full-time. That’s true and I want to look at that from a little different angle. I want to look at our mission as defined by Christ. When Jesus ascends in Matthew’s gospel he leaves the disciples with what has been called The Great Commission. “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And…
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Why Doesn’t George Will Read My Blog?
Every week I ask myself why one of my favorite columnists, George Will, is not reading my blog. Maybe I should use words like “obfuscate” or “bloviating” or toss in more references to baseball? It’s pride. A growing family of reading friends cannot make up for my being so exiguous to George. For anyone writing a blog there are a number of analytical tools available to tell you how many people open click through and forward what you write. I’m not interested in that. I scroll through now to see who is reading – not how many. I want to know if the right people are taking the time to…
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Luke 24:1-35: The Walk to Emmaus…and Back to Jerusalem
There are several different appearances of Jesus after his resurrection with many different responses. Some are afraid at first and then overjoyed. Some, like the chief priests, assume the disciples will steal the body and try to fool the people into believing Jesus has been resurrected. Some, like the soldiers, welcome the opportunity to make extra money by being silent about what they saw. Some doubt and need more evidence. Some, like those in our text this morning, are sad and confused and leaving town. 1. They were so lost and headed in the wrong direction. They had been in the room when the women returned from the tomb and…
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There Will Be Blood
1. The first several chapters of Romans can be described as Paul’s use of four pronouns. In chapter 1:24 he is talking about “them” – the Gentiles. In Chapter 2:1 he is talking about “you” – the believing Jews. In Chapter 3:9 he addresses everyone – we have all sinned. In 3:25 he finally addresses “him” and the work of God in addressing the issues and problems of all the others. “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference…
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Five Challenges For Christian Philanthropy
Last night I was invited to talk about the challenges of Christian philanthropy to a group of Gathering participants and friends from around the Bay Area in California. As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog “Friends Not Trends ” I’ve pretty much stopped thinking about trends in giving but taking a few minutes to share what makes Christian giving challenging is different. There are many similarities that foundations and individual donors share with all givers. Structure, tax laws and governance – as well as basic giving disciplines – are common to all. However, there are some issues we address as Christians that are unique and important. Theology matters. For some,…
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Keller Tweets and IV Press
Growing up in the South there was a refrain we would sing not having any idea what it meant – but it was memorable: “My hope is built on nothing less than Scofield notes and Moody Press.” While simplistic, it was certainly a succinct way of defining our theology when accompanied by millennial charts and dispensations. Today we might be singing “My hope is built on nothing less than Keller tweets and IV Press.” Times have changed…but it took years. Last week I wrote about the powerful combination of dispensational theology and parachurch organizations that produced the historic surge of post-WWII American missions. A generation later, we are seeing a…
