emerging?

There's a lot of talk lately in the church about what has come to be known as the 'emergent' church... Being that I pastor a church a lot of that talk (especially questions) finds its way to me. To be honest, I don't care much for defining who we are as a church by what we're against, but at the same time, this trend towards liberalism in the church does concern me.

While teaching on Joshua 1, a pastor who I respect greatly once said, "As long as there has been a church, there have been those that have drifted to the left hand and the right." God of course told Joshua (1:7) "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go." There are in the church in every age the right leaning legalist and the leftist liberal. Please do not misunderstand, I am not speaking about political leanings, but rather moral/behavioral.

I confess, I did not fully recognize my own legalism - nor that of many of my friends - until I had lived and served in Germany. My Christian brothers and sisters in Germany had a liberty (with sincerity) in Christ that I had not really seen in the SoCal Calvary bubble. If it were for this refreshing insight alone, my time teaching in Germany would have been well spent.

Fast forward a few years and I find myself reading very unclear statements, or shall I say, unanswered questions from men like Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones and others... At face value many of their statements are not bad, and some of their questions may in fact be valid. But Richard Weaver's book "Ideas Have Consequences" comes to mind, and most certainly a liberal, watered-down, social justice oriented gospel (among other things) is the consequence of what these men are proposing.

To be sure, Emergent sounds very progressive and cutting edge, but from what I can tell it is the same old liberalism, just on a different day. Solomon was right, there truly is nothing new under the sun.

IT's A BOY!

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Jeremiah

Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

- Jeremiah 5:22, 23

I've been studying through Jeremiah the last few weeks and this morning as I read through chapter 5 these verses stood out.

It is so amazing how that all of God's creation... apart from man, obey the boundaries He has ordained. Even the seas obey, but we His people are so quick to go astray.

A wonderful and horrible things is committed in the land; the prophets prophecy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end thereof?

- Jeremiah 5:30, 31

That your joy may be full

I was just reading the devotional "Daily Light" for February 24th and I thought that I'd get back to my blog (at least for tonight).

"Daily Light" is unique among devotional books; each of the daily readings are compilations of scriptures with a similar theme, there is no commentary, so over the last 4 or 5 years it has become my favorite devotional. The reading for this morning was all about receiving from the Lord that which you ask for in prayer... funny how God's Living Word always seems to meet you right where you're at.

Andrea and I have been praying since September about buying a house. For almost a year now we have been taking care of my parents house while they have been living and working in Phoenix, but now that my dad's job has finished they are moving back and we... well, we are in need of a new place to live. As I'm sure many of you know, looking for a new place to live can be a bit stressful, especially when you weigh the southern California cost of living with your rather slim budget.

I was laying here in the dark, considering all that is going on and letting God know that I'm a little concerned about this situation, when that still small voice said, "Read today's devotion." Now I must be completely honest, my anxiety has not 100% abated, but the reminder from God's word is simple and good. John 16:24 says, "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

In Matthew 18 Jesus said, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." So, for those of you reading this I'm asking you to pray with my wife and I that God would open a door and make a way (where right now there certainly is not a way) for us to find a place to live. We would like to buy a home (the market seems almost right), and if it happens it will be a sure testimony that it is the LORD... because without Him, it is just impossible.

Quick Update...

Just a quick note to let anyone who reads this know that we are doing ok after the fires. They came within just about a mile of the house and then the winds changed pushing them a bit south towards Rancho Bernardo.

With seemingly everything burning in San Diego and something like 500,000 people evacuated (us included), myself and several of our other pastors were activated through the Red Cross to respond to the various shelters in our area. So most of the last week is a blur of activity, ministering to the practical needs of people affected by the fire.

Toward the end of last week I had the opportunity of visiting some of the burn affected areas in Rancho Santa Fe (a very high dollar area of SD County). Myself and a couple of other Chaplains were asked to train a team from a church in that area about how to minister to people in traumatic situations like these. After meeting with there ministry team we went around to several of the homes... the devastation truly is amazing.

As I was standing looking at what had been a multi-million dollar home, the Lord spoke to my heart about the impartiality of fire, it truly is no respecter of persons. You may be rich, you may be poor, perhaps you attend church, perhaps you do not... fire doesn't care, it just burns. God is not a respecter of persons, sobering thought...

What happens to expensive alloy wheels at over 1,700 degrees.

The windshield melted over the dash and steering wheel.