On the Lordship of Jesus Christ

About 2 months after President Obama had been elected to office, I had the opportunity to give the Sunday Sermon at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Chicago. I had been encouraged by one of the pastors to preach from the Messianic Psalms if I ever had a "one-off" opportunity. Well, here is the link.

Living for Another Time

Jonathan Leeman who is the communications guy at 9Marks Ministries in D.C., recently posted on the 9Marks blog about preaching that leaves people longing for eternity. In the study I have been teaching through Hebrews 11, I have been struck with how 'other-worldly' great men and women of the faith lived. Leeman says:

"Christianity is not all about learning to live the Christian life as an American (or South African or Brazilian) in the 21st century. Rather, it's about being an alien wherever he places us, and we're going to find being an alien sort of looks similar no matter where he places us in time and space. Not only that, Christianity is about God's plan of bringing glory to himself through all of his people. "

Anthrodudes

I had the opportunity the last 5 weeks to teach a men's class at my church called "Anthropos" (Greek for man). We kind of kidded around about the modern equivalent to 'anthropos' being "dude." So, we struck a happy medium of "anthrodudes."
Anyway, we looked at men of faith in the New Testament book of Hebrews; particularly the 11th chapter. Here are some questions I posed at the beginning:

• Where does God call us as men to grab hold of ‘nothing’?
• What does it mean to “grow in faith”?
• How does faith affect our leadership?
• Do you lead your family in faith? Or is your wife always the one driving the direction of your family?
• Are you living in a state of extended adolescence?
• What are the areas of your life that are “unturned stones” that need redemption?

Here is the class outline:

a) Intro to Faith & Faith from the First Dudes (Hebrews 11:1-7)
b) Abraham: Man of ‘Other-Worldly’ Faith (Hebrews 11:8-22)
c) Moses: Man of ‘Non-Conformist’ Faith (Heb 11:23-31)
d) Women Warriors, Wussies & Cavemen: From Judges through Intertestamental History (Heb 11:32-40)
e) God’s Gym: Faith & Discipline (Hebrews 12:1-17)

The last one we didn't even get to. We barely touched on the 'wussies' section (yes, too pithy, I know even for my taste). I will tease out briefly some of the major points we covered in that class.

I'm grateful for Wesley, Jon, Andrew, Eric, Brandon, Joshua, Scott, and Kevin-- all who 'persevered' the class at some point perhaps 'not realizing the promise' the class was supposed to deliver.=+)

One List Chicago Didn't Make it on...

Apparently, according to Richard Florida, Chicago didn't make it onto the list of America's Most Literate Cities.

However, according to GQ, Chicago is the best restaurant city of the US. Shouldn't Zagat or some other service like it determine that? Really, what weight does GQ hold in determining this?

Ride for a Penny on the CTA

Since at least 1999, the CTA has encouraged New Year's Eve revellers to take advantage of the "Ride for a Penny" program. Every 12/31 from 8pm (I believe) and into the wee hours of the New year morning, party goers get a super discounted "rate" to decrease the amount of work for city, county and state cops and to cut down on highway/road injuries and fatalities. Chicago has a lot wrong with many of its systems and institutions (CTA included), but this, imo, is a good move. There is a sense of justice and common sense (and grace!) about this action. So, even if you're not the type to bring in the New Year to the point of drunken stupor, go out and take advantage of a cheap bus or train fare.

Speaking of the CTA, they are raising their rates for the upcoming year. Check out the new rates. While some may contend that this is unjust, greedy or crooked, we've got to remember that service institutions such as the CTA have to pay bills as well. As a Chicagoan who rides the CTA everyday and sees how poorly some its employees get treated sometimes, I'm fine w/ the fare hike even though I'd rather have save the money. I love riding the CTA (and so does my son, too), and I'm fine with giving to "Caesar" what he is due.

Showdown in the 'Hood

As great as it is to live in the Logan Square neighborhood, like any other community, it has it share of problems. For the first time since we have lived here, we heard gunshots not too far from our home. Apparently, the cops and a high-ranking gang banger got into it.
Every night, we pray with our kids for the safety our home and our neighborhood. I know that the Chicago Police don't have the shiniest history, but I am grateful for them that God has comissioned them to protect us. Though both a detective and the criminal were both hit, neither of them suffered loss of life (to my knowledge).

Shepherds After God's Heart

I was encouraged recently by Abraham Piper to thank God publicly for my pastor. While I know that I can thank God for one, I must extend that out to four shepherds who have watched for my soul over the years in various capacities.

This is quite the motley band of shepherds, I know...

Dr. Mark Minnick was my pastor from 1996 to 2001. He pastors Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC (yes, I was a Bob Jones student). This guy's pulpit rhetoric is a tour de force. He has mentored hundreds (if not thousands) of men from the pulpit on how to be a pulpiteer of the gospel. His rhetorical gifts are not to overshadow his sober, earnest Christian walk. When I think of a modern day example of someone for whom it means "to live is Christ", it's Mark Minnick. I had the special privilege to share several Lord's Day lunches with him and his family while in college and go on a English Reformation study tour with him in my grad school years while in Greenville. Minnick's second "love" is church history. Many of his sermon illustrations come from the history of the church. Minnick cared for my soul by preaching the beauty of the mystery of the gospel (listen to his long series on Romans and Ephesians).

Dr. Michael Barrett is an associate minister of Faith Free Presbyterian Church, President of and OT professor at Geneva Reformed Seminary (Greenville, SC). From 1994-2000, he was my esteemed professor of OT at BJU. OT Wisdom Books, Jeremiah/Ezekiel, OT Theology and other classes. Dr. Barrett was never formally my pastor, but he taught me the gospel. His passion for Christ in the OT and making sure his students got a grip on that was second to none. His fervor for Christ and loyalty to the Scriptures transcended "party lines". The gospel Barrett taught me helped loosen me from the bonds of a false understanding of the gospel. His teaching gave me solid footing for  my life. There is no debt I could pay Dr. Barrett except to carry on a legacy of being faithful to the Chief Shepherd. Thanks, Dr. Barrett. 

Though they would probably argue it, Minnick & Barrett, are two of the biggest reasons, providentially speaking, I am where I am today and think the way I do.

Dr. Dave Doran is the pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church (metro Detroit, MI) and the president of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary where I finished my M.Div. Dave Doran "inherited" this sheep at a transition time of life (2003-2007). I had recently finished a short-term mission in a theological college in Mexico. I was a new father, poor and hungry to write long papers. Doran is a plodder for the truth and as one of my friends dubbed him a "Bible lawyer". His intellect, ability to reason and articulate complex truths shaped me. I would say his reasoning abilities are nearly impeccable, but I know that would both make him uncomfortable and be untrue. Two of my clearest recollections how Doran shepherded me was when he invited me and several other seminarians in the church to a series of breakfast discussions applying his then Sunday sermon series on Biblical discernment. That series still pervades my thinking. The other memory (and more personal) is when Rachel and I had just experienced the stillbirth of our second child, Nicolas. Dave & Claudia were among the first to our hospital room. I still am moved to think that this great thinker and defender of the faith is so human as to embrace and comfort the sorrowing people of his church. To sum it up... relentless biblicism is how Dave Doran stamped my life.

Finally, Jon Dennis, now the newly appointed senior pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Chicago, is my pastor, boss and fellow elder. Yes, Jon is the only one of these four that doesn't have a "Dr." before his name, but he's working on it. We were led into Jon's fold in the middle of last year. I have never been able to get as close to a pastor as I have with Jon. So far, one of Jon's noted  contributions to my life is his shepherding instinct. He is only 9 years older than me but has been in gospel ministry since his early 20's. Working with and listening to him talk about his passion to reach Chicago and his love for those of Holy Trinity Church is an example of the apostolic sort. I am living in the exemplary ministry of a man who is careful with the sheep God has given him. Pastor Dennis is a man of God, and the more I see him live in and out of the church, the more I see how big shoulders God has built on him.  To borrow some Driscoll lingo (who would have ever seen the same last names of pastors in the same post?!), Jon is an "ox" and quite the "dude." I look forward to continued service with him.