Strong Language

In my message on poverty this weekend (Justice, Pt. 4 - The Pursuit of Happiness) I closed with the story of Tony Campolo who, while speaking to an audience of ministers some years ago on the subject of the poor and needy, grew impatient with the ministers' obvious indifference. They were unmoved, completely turning a deaf ear to his cries for compassion. In closing he said, "Today, thirty thousand children starved to death and none of you give a damn." They were shocked and appalled that he would say such a thing. "What's worse," He continued, "is you're more concerned that I used the word 'damn' than you are the thirty thousand children that starved to death today!"

You've got to admit it's a very 'in your face' observation. I actually wrestled with whether or not to share it. I knew some would probably be offended by it, even though I was simply quoting what Campolo said. (Ironically, I used the word damn instead of the word he actually used because I knew the real word he used would have upset people even more.) I think the fact that I had such a hard time deciding whether or not to use the story makes it even more relevant. If I'm going to be honest I don't grapple internally like that about the plight of the suffering. Why? Why am I more concerned about offending people in a service than I am offending the Lord of the thousands of people starving around the world today? Something has to change in us. We must get close enough to God to feel His compassion for the suffering masses around us. Then and only then will we engage in the type of justice that makes a difference. Then and only then will we lift our voice to call others into action as well, using as strong a language as it requires!

Sushi Evangelist

I love Sushi.

This is a fairly recent discovery. My taste buds have changed drastically over the past ten years or so and stuff I never would have been interested in before, I now can't get enough of! Like sushi.

The whole experience is cool: You get to watch your meal being prepared, You check off what you want from the menu and turn in your order and then you're brought a hot towel to clean your hands with. There's the soy sauce, the Wasabi and the ginger. There's the huge variety of preparations and the beautiful presentations. You get to use chop sticks and once you get good at it you can impress your friends. I think that's part of the appeal, there's something about introducing your friends to sushi. You want everyone to experience it!

My favorite Sushi restaurant is Shinto Japanese Restaurant on Ambassador Caffery in Lafayette. The LSU Tiger Champion Roll and the Sunrise Roll are unbelievable! You've got to try them!

I know what you're thinking. I sound like a sushi evangelist!

I can't help myself. I love sushi!

John Calvin's Video Venue

I'm all for theology. I feel I have a firm grasp on what I believe the Bible teaches. But if I'm gonna be honest, that's where it ends for me. I don't try and wrap theology around every aspect of my life. Don't get me wrong, my theology touches everything I do - I'm just saying I don't attempt to analyze everything in life theologically. I'm cleaning my pool today. I don't have to have a theological approach to that! People who do drive me crazy!

I subscribe to a weekly blog called Monday Morning Insight. It weekly features snippets of information that pastors might find interesting. Today, they included a blog-excerpt from a guy who was arguing against the idea of pastors using video venues to expand their ministries. Now I have no problem with someone having an opinion about something. Lord knows I have my share of opinions. But this guy literally wrote about the 'theological and ecclesiological considerations' of having a video venue. Really? Are you serious? How can there be a theological position on this?

I guess what I really want to know is why people feel like they always have to be right and everyone else has to be wrong? Is it possible there is a number of ways of accomplishing the same thing and that the way I choose might be different than the way you choose but that's okay? Where I stand on the issue of eternal security or the deity of Christ must be established by a fundamental understanding of scripture. Whether I use a satellite feed to accomplish multi-site church ministry is a personal preference that I seriously doubt John Calvin would be that concerned with!

Keeping Sophie Clean

Most of you know we have a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Sophie. She's an inside dog and to keep her clean and smelling good, I take her weekly to be groomed at Critter's Day Spa in Scott, owned by our good friends Abby and Judy Lantier. This past Tuesday I brought her home all clean and smelling lovely. Wednesday morning I let her roam the yard while I fed the horses and she found a pile of varmint excrement and decided to take a roll. Without being too graphic, it was black, runny and stunk to high heaven! Why a dog enjoys rolling in something like that, I'll never understand but when she came running up to meet me so we could go back inside she was a MESS! I was angry with her. Not because I had to clean her up, but because she would do such a thing and because it prevented me from bringing her inside where she would lay at my feet while I read my Bible and enjoyed my coffee (Our little morning ritual).

As I bathed her, between gags I saw the spiritual application clearly. How many times has God cleaned me up only to have me go out and roll in the filth of sin and selfishness. I know this makes God angry with me. Not because He has to clean me up again, but because I would do such a thing, and prevent the intimate time with Him that He desires and I so desperately need.

To keep Sophie from returning to the Varmint poo, I took a shovel out there and buried it. My solution: Remove the temptation! I'm looking for a way to do the same with the stuff I have a tendency to roll in. Remove the temptation and bury the stuff that makes me unclean before God. If it works for Sophie, maybe it will work for me.