Atheist Penn Jillette (of Las Vegas’ Penn & Teller show) shares about being given a Bible.

Posted by Jarrod | Filed under Ministry

I originally posted this in December of 2008. Still today, a telling clip. I love this guy. For years I’ve been fascinated by his giftedness, his creative genius, his perspectives and views, his “what you see is what you get,” his outspokenness, his political incorrectness, and his passionate atheism. When I came across this video four years ago I was moved by what he shared. Still am. He’s one of those guys I’d love to just hang out with over coffee to learn more about him personally.

I shared about this clip with the Grace folks this past weekend. My question to all of us was if we truly believe what we believe how could we not be lovingly bold to share the gospel of Jesus with our lives AND our lips. Note Penn’s line: “How much do you have to hate someone to not tell them how to have eternal life…”

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Read more | Comments (4) | May 15th, 2012

Truth-telling. A response to Obama’s announcement…

Posted by admin2 | Filed under Ministry, Thoughts, marriage

I shared with our staff and church last week that it’s getting a little more lonely as a Truth-teller. And that was before President Obama’s official, public, endorsement of gay marriage. Now that Obama has officially evolved and landed on this issue, my statement is more true than ever. Although it’s not the most ground-breaking news from what I can tell, and at the same time knowing that posting this brings more attention (as small as it is) to the issue, I’ve chosen to do so after a couple of days praying about it. I agree with Justin Taylor’s comment, that “[a]nyone who thinks that a President’s simple statements on social issues doesn’t have a significant effect isn’t paying attention.”

So with that in mind, I am compelled as a Christian, Truth-teller, and pastor, to point you to some great resources on the subject.

This is a fantastic post on the issue–How to Win the Public on Homosexuality. Here’s a great excerpt to entice you, but the whole post is a must read:

“We’re fighting today over authority, yes, but it’s not straightforwardly biblical. Many gay-rights advocates have excused themselves behind a professed love of God’s Word. You won’t likely win a debate with them by citing Bible verses they’ve been trained to explain away. Rather, we’re losing a more fundamental struggle over the very definition of God. Straight or gay. . .we’re not satisfied with a God who calls us sinners. Who calls on us to deny ourselves. Who calls our gaze heavenward to receive his blessing: ‘For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace’ (Romans 6:14).”

Here is a tremendously helpful post by Justin Taylor with a treasure-trove of information—Some seminars on Homosexuality, Change, and the Gospel. You’ll find posted videos, teachings, writings, and so forth on the issue of homosexuality. It covers everything from street-level objections that homosexuality is sin, to how to engage and dialogue with homosexuals in a loving and gospel-centered way, to how parents can handle kids with gay partners coming to visit.

One resource he mentions that I find particularly interesting, and timely, is Professor Robert Gagnon’s book, The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. About the book, Taylor states, “If you’re looking for a good resource on thinking about [and confronting] the arguments for homosexuality—especially exegetical ones—the best authority to consult is [Gagnon's book]. [It] is the standard in the field.” This is a helpful book in light that some in the pro-homosexual movement are trying to make a case that homosexuality is not condemned in Scripture by introducing an interesting hermeneutic and interpretation.

Last year, I posted a blog on gay marriage entitled, “Grieving over Gay Marriage”. In that blog, I link to a post by Dr. John Piper entitled, “My Eyes Shed Streams of Tears—Thoughts on the New Calamity.” I recommend both to you.

I hope you find all of this helpful to inform, equip, and strengthen your hearts in love for Truth. Likewise, I pray it not only educates you, but fuels your hearts (with love and truth) to continue loving and embracing those deeply struggling and/or outright deceived in mind, heart, and desires regarding homosexual sin. Finally, I pray it educates you and motivates you to continue living, speaking, and defending the Truth even as we face the negative repercussions that Obama’s announcement will have for the definition and sanctity of Marriage & Family, Biblical Truth, and the freedom of speech and religion in the days/years/decades to come.

***Update below*** (2:50pm, 5/11/12)

I forgot to mention the following post that I wrote a year or two ago as well. It’s entitled, “Born This Way.”

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Read more | Comments (3) | May 11th, 2012

A scary ride with DAD (Repost)

Posted by Jarrod | Filed under Ministry, Personal, Thoughts

Titus and me in 2008

Titus’ face says it all. This pic wreaks of life. Could it be a pic of how you’ve felt as the economy has plummeted downward?  Or a pic of you right now at your breaking point?  Or facing the unknown in a decision you’re about to make?  Or facing uncertainty in a new job you just took? Or an emotional free-fall about a new relationship, lack of relationship, or the loss of a relationship in your life? Or the feeling that you are experiencing the worst… alone?  Or the despair that you’re on your way to hitting bottom with no-one to break your fall?

Take a good look at the picture again. Notice the firm and all encompassing embrace of the father’s arms. Notice the claw-like grip of the child’s hands. Notice the father’s joy of holding his child, experiencing the ride with him, and though the bottom awaits, daddy will not let go. When the bottom comes there may be some tears from the trauma of the experience, but then again, there might be relief, a smile of joy, and hysterical laughter. Either way, trust will be heightened. Faith will be deepened and more real than ever. The father was with the child through it all. Daddy never let go.  And He never will.

Trust Him child…

And hang on.

…

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Read more | Comments (14) | April 30th, 2012

Repost: God set down His saw…

Posted by admin2 | Filed under Feature blogs, Ministry


“ ‘Up you go!’ They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear, and can scarcely breathe.

But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being—the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father’s eye turns brown with rot.

His Father! He must face his Father like this!

From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.

‘Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped—murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten—fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk—you, who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp—buying politicians, practicing extortion, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves—relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, I loathe these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?’

The Father watches as his heart’s treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah’s stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.

‘Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!’

But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply. Two eternal hearts tear—their intimate friendship shaken to the depths.

The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The Rescue was accomplished.

God set down his saw.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief…. Isaiah 53:10

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

(Book excerpt taken from When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson-Tada

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Read more | Comments (6) | April 3rd, 2012

Repost: The Theology of Exhaustion

Posted by Jarrod | Filed under Ministry, Personal

It seems to be a badge of honor in work and ministry to be overwhelmingly busy… and especially tired. I confess I often think of it as a badge of honor for me.

I recently re-read the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel. Talk about exhausting work and a whirlwind of draining emotions.

*  He was constantly on the road. (1 Kgs. 17 & 18)

*  He never got to eat lunch (1 Kgs. 17:6)

*  He got up early… with not a Starbucks in sight. (1 Kgs. 17:9)

*  He was criticized, blamed, accused of wrong motives, and his ministry was questioned. (1 Kgs. 17:18)

*  He felt abandoned by God (1 Kgs. 17:20).

*  He exhausted himself serving, caring, giving of himself, and trying maintain his reputation as a man of God. (1 Kgs. 17:21-24)

*  God remained silent for long periods of time not giving him any direction (1 Kgs. 18:1a).

*  God led him to declare and do difficult and dangerous things (1 Kgs. 18:1b).

*  His partner in ministry didn’t trust him, lacked faith, and was negative, pessimistic, and discouraging
(1 Kgs. 18:9-14).

*  He was misunderstood and blamed for people’s problems (1 Kgs.18:17).

*  He had to risk his life to confront and call a leader to the carpet (1 Kgs. 18:17-19).

* He felt alone (1 Kgs.18:22).

*  He got burned out, lost heart, ran from his issues, and isolated himself (1 Kgs. 19:1-3).

* He finally slowed down long enough to reflect… and wanted God to kill him (1 Kgs. 19: 4-5).

*  He was depressed and wanted to give up (1 Kgs. 19:4).

*  He was overwhelmed, tired, hungry, and irrational (1 Kgs. 19:5).

Any of this connect with your life?

What was God’s prescription for Elijah’s exhaustion and discouragement? To eat a hot meal, drink a cool drink, and take a long nap (1 Kgs 19:5-7).  Not a snack and a 20 minute cat-nap. The angel had him eat and sleep for two days.

When I’m hungry and tired it affects me emotionally and spiritually. Hunger and fatigue tend to make me see my circumstances irrationally too. I get highly sensitive. I get cowardly. I blow things way out of proportion.  I get overwhelmed instead of trusting God.

You?

God’s prescription— Read more Scripture?  Pray more?  Maybe not.  Maybe it’s simply to eat a big meal and take a long nap.  And maybe to do that for an entire weekend (1 Kgs. 19:7).  Likewise, maybe you need to get outside, get some air, even sit under a tree for a while (1 Kgs 19:4).

And then what?

Back to work! (1 Kgs. 19:8).

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Read more | Comments (6) | March 19th, 2012

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