Life and Death, Heaven and Hell

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Psalm 116:15

 

 

"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live."

                                                                                                   Ezekiel 33:11

 







The past week or so has been a time of extreme contrast for me,  an emotional rollercoaster of joy, sadness, celebration, and grief.  It began Thursday night, December 12, as my wife Julie and I attended Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" concert at the Ryman Auditorium.  It has become a holiday tradition for us and it's always a tremendous blessing to celebrate in music and song the coming of Jesus into the world to save us from our sin.  I love listening to the recording, but it is much more powerful when heard live, particularly the songs  "So Long Moses" and "Behold the Lamb of God".

 

The next day I got the news that Bob Mowery, former pastor of Park Avenue Baptist Church, had gone to be with the Lord at the age of 87. "Brother Bob", as everyone called him, was my pastor for the first 21 years of my life, but his ministry and influence reached far beyond that time.  His memorial service was scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, which happened to also be the date of our 30th wedding anniversary.

 

The memorial service was a warm and sweet celebration of his life. I've never known anyone who exhibited more of what I would call a Christ-like life than Brother Bob.  The fruit and power of the Holy Spirit was evident in his preaching, his pastoring, his leadership, and his "private" life. His time in this world was certainly a testimony to how God can use a life for His glory in so many ways.  Although Brother Bob will be missed by family and by so many people who were affected by him, we can all rejoice for him, knowing that he is now in the presence of Jesus who he loved and served for so many years - a life lived humbly to the glory of God, a blessing and an exhortation to us all.

 

After the graveside service Julie and I stopped by our house and I surprised her with a poem I had written to her for our anniversary. I know all of you are totally shocked that I could write anything poetic, but I do occasionally have the ability to do that with some degree of effectiveness.  In that poem I reflected on the grace of God and His blessing in giving Julie to me.  Another emotional moment in a day already filled with a mixture of joy and grief.  We then got a phone call from our son Benjamin, who let us know that he had successfully defended the proposal for his doctoral dissertation. Another reason to celebrate.

 

And the day was not finished. We went to dinner at Maggiano's.  If you've ever been you know how awesome it is. If you've never been there, go.  When we got in the car to leave after dinner Julie got a text message. It informed us that a friend of ours had died that afternoon, totally unexpected at the age of 52.  We didn't even know he had recently been diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

 

The worst part is that as far as we know this friend was not a believer in  Jesus.  The remainder of our evening was spent mostly in a stunned silence. Earlier in the day we had celebrated, knowing that Brother Bob was now in the presence of God, free from this world, from sin, from sorrow. Just a few hours later, I was faced with the thought that a man I knew and cared for, someone I had hoped would somehow, someday come to faith in Jesus, was now suffering eternal torment.

 

If you are recoiling in horror or find that statement distasteful, I can understand your reaction. But how you and I feel doesn't change the truth of it. The Scriptures are clear. Funny how truth and theology can seem so clear until it affects us in some inconvenient way. This would be a good time to be a Universalist. My friend is forever separated from God. Nothing can change that. Over the next few days I began to process my thoughts and emotions about it , and I still am. 

So here are my thoughts at this point:

I find comfort in the fact that God loves my friend much more than I ever could, and that His grief is far beyond mine.  I know from reading the Bible that He is not rubbing His hands and laughing with delight when unbelieving people die.

The Scriptures have been even more precious to me this week. The promises seem surer, the instructions clearer, the exhortations more urgent, the rebukes more pointed, the comforts sweeter and deeper.  The Word has fed my soul as it has revealed more the heart of God to me.

What I do does matter. And what I don't do does matter. Prayer also matters.  I'll blog more about these subjects another day. Right now I'll simply say that many times God uses people to accomplish his purposes.  I've had to deal with guilty thoughts, wondering whether or not the outcome with my friend would be different if I had done or said certain things.  I know that God is the one who saves, and I'm not going to lay blame on myself, but I also want to be more intentional about living and speaking the gospel to those who are brought into my life. I'm both convicted and encouraged by the life testimony of Brother Bob in this area.

These days have drawn me closer to God.  Sometimes you need a wake up call.  And now I'm awake. 



 

 



Who is Bernie Carbo?

Bernie Carbo.  Do you know who he is?  Unless you were watching major league baseball in the 1970's or are a student of the game you probably have never heard his name.  Bernie Carbo played as an outfielder and designated hitter for six different teams from 1969 to 1980.  After his first full season with the Cincinnati Reds he was selected Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News in 1970. He slumped in the next two seasons and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, then in 1973 was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

In 1975 the Red Sox played Cincinnati in the World Series.  The Boston roster of course had some big names: Carl Yastrzemski,  Fred Lynn, Jim Rice,  Rico Petrocelli,  Luis Tiant. Game Six of that series is remembered for Carlton Fisk's incredible 12th inning home run at Fenway Park that gave Boston the victory and forced a seventh game.  It's regarded as one of the greatest moments in World Series history.  I watched it live on TV. If you've never seen it you can view it here.

What many people don't know and what many people who even saw the game have forgotten is that Bernie Carbo came in as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of that game and hit a three-run home run that tied the score at 6-6. Without that hit, Fisk would never have had the chance to become a hero.  So Carbo's greatest moment was overshadowed by a greater moment by a teammate. Carbo ended his career after 12 seasons,  having played 1010 games with a batting average of .264,  96 home runs, and 358 RBI in 2733 at bats.  Hardly impressive statistics for a major league baseball player - but he had a role to play, he played it, and his team benefited from it.

We who are believers in and followers of Jesus Christ each have a role to play in the Kingdom of God.  1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Ephesians 4:4-16 tell us the following about the Church:

We are the Body of Christ.
We are one body made up of many parts.
Each part is different and needed.
We each have different gifts and abilities.
We rejoice with each other.
We suffer with each other.
We should care for one another.
We should be unified.

You need the Church. The Church needs you.  You may be one who hits a home run few remember,  you may hit the home run that will be talked about for years, you may be a baserunner when a home run is hit, you may be in the dugout cheering on your teammate, but we are all contributors in some way.  Hebrews 10:23-25 says "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I'm Into Leather

Yes, I'm into leather. Bibles, that is. Don't worry, you'll never see me wearing leather pants.  There's something about the way a well-made leather Bible feels to the touch, the way it smells, the craftsmanship and beauty.  As a child I was enamored with two Bibles my father had but my favorite was a Cambridge New Testament with Psalms. Deluxe Morocco Leather, so smooth,  and I loved the stitching on the binding,  way the paper felt,  and how the print looked in the King James Version.   As much as I admired these Bibles I knew my dad used them all and I never felt like I should  ask him if I could have one of them. 

On December 9, 1969, a Tuesday night as I recall, my dad sat down with me on our living room sofa after supper and started asking me questions about sin, Jesus, and salvation.  I was nine years old and having grown up in a Bible preaching, evangelistic church I was beginning to more clearly see my need  of the gospel.  There was conviction of sin in my heart, but my young mind couldn't separate the act of faith from the action of "walking down the aisle",  and I remained paralyzed in the pew due to my fear of getting up and going down in front of all those people.  My dad took me to the third  chapter of the Gospel of John and explained to me what being born again was all about.  I repented and believed the gospel, and that Sunday walked down that aisle with a minimum of fear.  The next Sunday night I was baptized.   Not long after that on a Saturday my dad gave me his New Testament with an inscription to me inside and told me it was now mine.

I treasured that book and took good care of it, but as I became a teenager and moved on through high school my heart and mind moved away in rebellion from the words of the book.  God brought me to a place of repentance at 19 years old and the Bible came alive to me in brand new way.  You can read more about that here: God and a Gremlin . The New Testament that had been more of a trophy became my food and a tool for God to use to change me.  I began marking passages that spoke most clearly  to me or that I was memorizing.  Now the book was special to me for more than material reasons. 

I still have that New Testament, as evidenced by these pictures, and it's in great shape, a testimony to the quality of the materials and construction of it.  I grew up on the King James Version, and although I primarily read other translations now,  I still enjoy reading it from time to time.  Over the years I've come to understand that the contents of the book are much more important than the cover, but I have to say that a good leather cover is like icing on the cake.  My dad passed away when I was 31 and I now have his other Bibles. I have also have several leather Bibles of my own,  various versions, which I'm sure I'll soon blog about.  And maybe one day I'll get a Cambridge Bible, but this New Testament will always have a special place on my bookshelf and in my heart. 

Is it Worth Your Time?

I was comically reminded by someone today that several months ago I posted “I’m Back” on this blog and haven’t posted a single thing since.  Well, here I am. I confess I’m a fast reader but a slow writer, which makes it hard to crank out a blog quickly.  I have always physically written very neatly but slowly and don’t type much faster.  Probably a bigger factor is that I’m a perfectionist and I want everything to sound and read just so, resulting in too many re-reads and re-edits. I confess too that I’m somewhat intimidated after reading many well-written blogs.

I want to talk about how we approach Bible reading. There are any number of terms you can use to identify this discipline. Call it what you want, the questions are whether you are you doing it and if so, why?

First, are you reading the Bible? “I don’t have as much time as I’d like to do that” would probably be the overwhelming response to that question. I would ask you for one month to keep up with how you really use your time throughout the day.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15-16 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but was wise, making best use of the time, because the days are evil”. How much time to you spend on Twitter, Facebook, etc?  Television, Netflix, or the theater?  Recreation, shopping, traveling?  The list could go on. We make time for the things we really want to do. Admit it. Find the time, take the time to read the Scriptures.  Start with 5 minutes if that is all you can find today, but read them.  If you wait until you feel like you have an hour it will never happen.

Secondly, why do you read the Bible? The Scriptures are our spiritual food, the only words that will sustain and satisfy our souls. It is different from any other book you will ever read.  Hebrews 4:11-12 tells us that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “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 competent, equipped for every good work.”  Ephesians 6:17 speaks of “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  The Scriptures are given to us by God as a tool for the Holy Spirit to use to change us from the inside out.

I love to read. I read many things. I range from online sports reports to theology with a wide variety in between.  I read different things for different reasons.  I find myself at times neglecting the Word of God. If I got out of bed tomorrow morning and skipped breakfast I would be hungry by mid-morning and if I passed on lunch I would be miserable by afternoon. How long will I go at times without the nourishment of the Word?  How often do I try to satisfy my hunger with all the junk food that is quick and easy, forgoing the meditation and reflection on the truths that will feed me? Psalm 119:103 says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”  Psalm 19:7-10 says “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”  It is not amazing to think that the God who created the universe has spoken to us?  Is that not worthy of at least a few minutes of our time today?

I'm Back

I’m back.  I think.  Not only on Blogspot but now on Twitter as well!   I would say it was by popular demand but I’m not sure that’s an accurate description.  After a few folks began following a Twitter account I set up but never used, someone who shall remain unnamed posted on Facebook that I should be followed.  Since that post my number of followers has more than doubled…from 3 to 7.  Ah, the power of social media.  To clarify for those who may not know, I’m not on Facebook and never will be, for reasons both personal and professional.  But I do plan on blogging and tweeting (I can’t believe I just seriously used that word) on the rare occasions when I have something interesting or humorous to share.  I’ve set myself up, so go ahead and make your comments now on that last sentence.  I don’t have anything of substance to share today, but you’re welcome to read my old posts until I can come up with something new.  If you're wondering about the picture of the 1972 AMC Gremlin there's a post that explains. 

Who Knows Your Heart?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I’ve written a blog!  Life has been busy with milestones and changes.  Ben turned 21 and graduated from Belmont University, Stephen completed his first year at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, and Julie and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary. After working two jobs for nearly five years I left my position with the State of Tennessee to join the staff of Grace Community Church full-time as Director of Administration.  Life and work are still busy but hopefully I can time to find post more often. 

 

The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

Proverbs 14:11

 

I recently attended the funeral for the father of a friend of mine.  It seems for me the last few years have contained an unusually large number of deaths.  Some of the deceased I knew better than others, a few I really didn’t know at all, but each funeral brought to my mind others who had passed away throughout my life.  My dad went to be with the Lord in 1991, so I know some of what my friend was experiencing with the loss of his father. At the same time I realized that neither of us could fully understand all that had gone on in each of our hearts and minds.  “I know how you feel” can be sincerely spoken, but is never completely true.  

 We have friends and family who we would say we know pretty well. Some people are more open than others, but we can’t see all that’s inside them.  We think we know ourselves better than anyone, but the truth is that we don’t fully understand our own hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”.  Mark Sanford, Michael Jackson, Steven McNair, Sarah Palin, a serial killer in South Carolina; current news stories that demonstrate in various ways that we never know just what is in the heart of a another.

 There is only one who knows the deepest part of us. Jeremiah 17:10 says “ I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind”. God knows our highest joys and the deepest disappointments of life in a way that no one else can.  Yet sometimes He is the last to whom we come with our struggles. Some hold them in, even hiding them, not wanting others to see, while secretly longing for someone to share them with.  Others hold nothing back, openly sharing the most intimate details with anyone who seems to have the slightest interest and sometimes with those who show no interest at all. One builds walls and moves deeper into isolation. The other bares the soul as a relief valve for temporary comfort.  Neither find the healing they need.

 That’s not to say that we shouldn’t share our lives with each other.  Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ”.   We are to be a part of each other’s lives in a way that brings each of us honestly before God.  We can encourage and exhort each other through prayer and the Scriptures, asking the Spirit of God to bring change to our lives.  I heard a song the other day by the Indigo Girls that reminded me of how much we all need the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The lyrics were a perfect reflection of how our culture perceives life.

 I'm trying to tell you something about my life

Maybe give me insight between black and white

The best thing you've ever done for me

Is to help me take my life less seriously, it's only life after all

Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable

And lightness has a call that's hard to hear

I wrap my fear around me like a blanket

I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it, I'm crawling on your shore.

 

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine.

 

We go to the bible, we go through the workout

We read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout

There's more than one answer to these questions

pointing me in a crooked line

The less I seek my source for some definitive

The closer I am to fine

 

This is the cry of the world we live in. The cry of hearts that no one knows the joy or bitterness of. 

 There is truth to be found. In a person: Jesus Christ.  He knows our hearts like no one else. Not only does he know our hearts, he completely understands every emotion and experience of our lives.  Hebrews 4:11-16 says it best:  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hey Jude

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude v. 3


Hey Jude,
I’ve read you’re letter, and as the pastor of one of the most popular, fastest growing, and talked-about churches in the area I feel I should respond. I just gotta say that your message and approach aren’t going to work in our time and culture. Your “faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” is way out of style. I’ve learned by experience some things that work and I’d like to share them with you:

Convenience: We’ve learned to remove all the barriers that would keep anyone from being inconvenienced or uncomfortable when they come to our church. It’s all about you from the time you pull in the parking lot until you rush out the door to beat the lunch crowd. We tout ourselves as a place for people who hate church and the hypocrites who go there. We are real people, and real people always take the easy route. Our Saturday evening services are packed out every Fall, so no one has to make the choice between church and the Titans.

Coffee Bar: We started with one pot in the lobby and it didn’t take long to find out we needed more flavors. Things really took off when we had an outside vendor come in to sell name brand coffees. It’s enhanced the fellowship so much that sometimes we have a hard time getting folks out of the lobby and into the auditorium or small groups.

Great Music: Yes, it’s SHOWTIME and we’re proud to do it with excellence and plenty of volume. Doesn’t matter what genre of music you enjoy, we’ll hit them all on a rotating basis. Just sit back and listen to some of the most talented musicians and vocalists in town. We’ll even throw in a few non-Christian songs along the way so it doesn’t feel too much like a worship service. And if the music gets too loud for you we have ear plugs you can pick up on your way into the auditorium.

Technology: If it’s cutting edge, we’ve got it. You’ll never find us behind the times. We’re willing to spend whatever it takes to stay with the latest trends. Everything is on the big screen so you don’t miss a single detail. The videos and graphics we use are eye catching and attention grabbing, and always leave you wanting more.

Relevant Topics: Many churches do this, but we have it down to an art. You know, all truth is God’s truth, so we use whatever we can to keep things interesting and fresh. We don’t want anyone bored with the same old stuff. We’ve almost finished my sermon series “Big Brother: Learning to Live Together in God’s House”. The clips we used from the TV show really brought home some great points to us about love, acceptance, and harmony within the Body of Christ. I’m still studying for my next series: “South Park: Spiritually Shocking”. I’ve decided not to censor the language in the clips we’ll be showing; it adds to the power of the truths we can learn from those humorous little folks as they interact with each other and in the world around them.

Cool Leadership: We’re fortunate to have a staff here that is second to none, and I think I can say without reservation that they are the coolest bunch of people I’ve ever worked with. No one has any religious or theological hang-ups, we just love people and want to be part of seeing them living fulfilled and happy lives. As pastor I’ve learned what it means to be all things to all men. I can play whatever part is necessary to relate to whoever I need to at the time; the only role I won’t cast myself in is that of a typical church leader. I’ve found that people love a renegade who prevails and refuses to accept a mediocre life. And I have to confess that I’m getting really attached to my big loud bike and black leather jacket……. I just hope they never go out of style.

This letter is, of course, completely fictitious. Unfortunately the attitudes, ideas, and most of the examples are factual.

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude v. 17-25