Sunday School

Those who know me know that I am a BIG fan of Sunday School.  My position is that sermons are NOT the best way to teach Scripture.

Why?

• No questions
• No engagement
• No interaction
• No responses

Sunday School can also be taught with these same issues, but... it doesn't have to be.  I enjoy teaching Sunday School, mostly because I learn Scripture best when tasked with teaching it.

Tomorrow ( Jan 12) we start a class for men on Godly Disciplines.  I teach the next two classes, then alternate with my friend, Phil R.  I anticipate a lot of interaction, and a lot of fun.  One of my most admired profs, Howard Hendricks, used to say,

"Maximum learning comes from maximal engagement."

So my goal is clear, to maximize engagement.

Tomorrow's topic is the introduction on men's need for discipline.  My personality takes to discipline easier than most.  My son Daniel has the same ability, even more pronounced.  My time in the USNA, and in the Navy was somewhat easy, because military discipline cam easily.

Which raises the question (no it doesn't "beg the question" as many say, that's a logical fallacy, and subject of some other blog), "Why does the military emphasize discipline?  Which raises the question, "Why do we modern Christians evidence so little discipline?"

And those two questions will likely lead to others. 

We will see...

Back in the Saddle Again

Last Wednesday, 8 Jan, UA started spring term classes.

Last Thursday, 9 Jan, started my spring term class, Measurement and Evaluation.

I have a typical UA exercise science class.  We have:

• 1 female softball player,
• 2 American  football players,
• 3 baseball players,
• I female track sprinter,
• 1 rugby player.

When they grow up ;), they hope to be:

1. M.D.
2. P.A.
3. O.T.
4. P.T.
5. Sports agent
6. American  Football coach
7. Personal trainer.

I am just getting to know them, and they me.  I showed up the first day wearing sunglasses and dreadlocks.  Wish I had a picture to show you.  I started with the "I love you" gag, and messed with them a good bit.  The idea is to try to entertain them enough, surprise them enough, and teach them enough that they will be somewhat enthusiastic about showing up at 0800 every Tues and Thurs for 65 minutes.  I hope to make it fun enough that I will be somewhat enthusiastic about showing up at 0800 every Tues and Thurs for 65 minutes.

As I have mentioned, I have been in a situation to retire from my job since 2005.  I haven't had a desire to quit teaching.  I think the public University is one of the best Christian mission fields on the planet and I am not anxious to leave.

So what's your mission field?

Pula!

In Botswana the word "pula" means rain, blessing and it is the word that is used for their currency.  In that desert country, rain is a blessing and does tie to wealth for all.  As we have mentioned, we were on water rationing most of our time there.  When we left BW in early December, local people were getting distressed about the low water levels in the reservoir that supplies our hometown of Gaborone, and the populous surrounding areas.  Having no water is pretty serious.  A simple molecule with 2 hydrogens and one oxygen is necessary for life.  Strange when you think about it!

Since arriving in central western Alabama we have had rain, rain rain.  I'd say we have gotten more rain in 25 days here than in 10.5 months in Botswana.  We may have gotten twice as much.  In fact it has been so cloudy that we have been a bit slower in getting over jet-lag.

In Genesis 2 we learn that G^d  had a better method than rain. 

⁵ And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
⁶ But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
⁷ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Rain is first used in a negative way:

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. Genesis 7:4

But G^d makes promises too.

¹² God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for ^[h]all successive generations; ¹³ I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. ¹⁴ It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, ¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”  Gen 9.

Rain, essential for life, yet once the cause of death for most of humanity!

But the reverse life and death  contrast is even more important.  

The Christ dies for mankind, yet it is essential that He die once that man may live forever.

Moody Weather

The weather in Botswana was interesting, but on average pretty hot.  Most days, around 1200-1400 it was close to 98F.  The good thing was that most days were cloudless.  We took that for granted.

We have now been home for four weeks and it has rained most days, and been cloudy all but about 3.5 days!!

Ah, sunshine.  Never realized how nice it is.  Now from early July until the 2nd week of September, the temperature is pretty high in Alabama too, just accompanied by the high humidity absent in BW.

But sunshine is the source of Vitamin D, necessary to health.  Perhaps even more importantly, Jesus is the LIGHT of the WORLD- which we would normally attribute to the sun.

Likewise, we Christians are the LIGHT of the WORLD.  Except we are a pretty weak light most of the time.

We are called to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves".  We need to use our wisdom and innocence to cast light, reflect light, to light the world.  We do this best by imitating Jesus.

So how are we doing?

Busy Holidays??

Ahh, the Christmas- New Year's holidays!

As Many of your know, we returned from Africa around noon on 3 December.  Since that date we have done the following:

• Unpacked.
• Got two stored vehicles cleaned and back up and running.
• Bought a new battery for one of these autos.
• replaced our microwave which had quit while we were away.
• Bought a new grill for holiday cooking.
• Repaired Brenda's reading lamp.
• Glued all sorts of things. 
• Cooked lots and lots of Christmas goodies and meals (Brenda, not me).
• Washed a lot of clothes and dishes (Brenda, not me).
• Drug out Christmas decorations (and there's a lot more of these than for most families).
• Set up Christmas decorations. 
• Bought Christmas gifts.
• Wrapped presents (many)
• Cleaned up a lot of debris in our large yard.
• Went deer hunting numerous times and harvested fresh venison for our guests.
• Picked up at airport (BHM= 60 miles away):  Andrew, Kelly R, David, Rie.
• Did a LOT of email.
• Wrote two freelance articles.
• Edited one academic and 2 freelance articles of others.
• Read 3 Christian books. 
• Planned a wedding.
• Conducted a wedding in our home.
• Renewed our wedding vows.
• Had many guests
• Got power supply replaced in office computer.
• Finished 12.5 hours of professional Consulting.
• Signed papers, searching for some older articles i published several years back.
• Prepared a dual communion and Africa report for our congregation.
• Prepared a sermon for our congregation.
  Delivered to airport (BHM= 60 miles away):  Andrew, David, Rie.
• Put away our Christmas decorations. 

Whew!  That's a lot of stuff!!   

But of all that stuff, how much of it has eternal benefits?  Sharing Christ does.  Encouraging one another spiritually does.  Fellowshipping and ministry does.

Which once again reminds me... "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"  Matt 16
And, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth."  Matt 6

New Year's slogan:  Think eternity, act temporally!

Family and Holidays

We have 5 children, lots of spouses of children and 4 grandkids.  They all came to our home this Christmas.  This meant:

1. Several trips to BHM airport.
2. Finding beds for all.
3. Preparing food for all.
4. Having a huge pile of Christmas presents.
5. Lots of entertaining conversation.

Last Christmas, someone broke out an old VHS tape of our kids in Houston 22 years ago.  We were shocked at the chaos of 5 children most all talking at once all the time!

The chaos is mostly gone, the residual chiefly coming from the grans.

Now we rejoice that:

1. All are healthy.
2. All get along in harmony.
3. The grans are cooperative and well-behaved.
4. All show love to one another.

We see the way G^d has provided so richly for us in so many ways.  Ps 133:1 tells us, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell in unity!"

For parents, this is a tremendous gift. We are tempted to take credit when children of all ages do well, and we blame ourselves when things don't go so well.  That's why I tell new parents to memorize Ps 127.  The first few verses remind the discerning reader that  we have only a small influence on our children.  Here's the Psalm:

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to^[a] those he loves.

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court.

So, rejoice, morn, but keep in mind those first verses.  Don't forget, our fulfillment is from G^d by design, so don't look for fulfillment in the worng places.

Now, if I can just do that!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas is a favorite time for a great many people around the world.  It is one of my family's favorites.

I know that is not necessarily true for many of my students, and some of my acquaintances.

Sometimes home is not an appealing place for some of my students.

Sometimes memories of Christmases past are not so pleasant.

Sometimes Christmas expectations are impossible to meet.

It may be a tough holiday for you, but keep in mind, this holiday is NOT really about:

• home
• family
• gifts
• Santa Claus
• food
• trees, lights, holly and mistletoe
• caroling
• or even chestnuts roasting on an open fire (though I am a big fan of chestnuts).

Nope, Christmas is about...

• The strange, unlikely, illogical arrival of G^d on this earth in the unlikely form of a helpless babe in a humble manger, in a humble village, to a humble family.
• The birth of the Savior of the world.
• The highest point in G^d's redemptive plan to redeem mankind from our sin, as well as that of our fathers, and forefathers.
• The joy we ought to have at the good news of G^d's extending His grace to us.
• The tremendous comfort we CAN experience as we comprehend the Riches Christ has gained for us.

Joy to the world, the L^rd is come... indeed.