I embrace, with humility, my own fallen human nature and my proclivity to fall again and again into sin and stupidity. I would love it if I could live in relationship with people who truly, genuinely want to see and bring the best out in me.  I hope that I too can speak into and invest my life in people in such a way that I too draw out the best in others.  It was Paul’s metaphor of childbirth when he speaks of “Christ being formed in you” (Gal 4:19) that gave me a clearer picture of the maturation process we must go through.  “Forming” is a process, it is becoming.  Is Christ becoming more and more my form?

Having people in my life who love me past my fallen state and loves me through the forming process is my picture of accountability.  Let this poem I shared in my February 21, 2010 message give you a visual of for the power and beauty of an accountability relationship.

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me you bring out.

I love you for putting your hand in my heaped up heart

and passing over all the foolish weak things that you can’t help dimly see in there

And drawing out into the light all the beautiful things no one else looks quite far enough to find.

I love you because you are helping to make out of the lumber of my life  not a tavern but a temple;

out of the works of my everyday not a reproach but a song                           -Lori Croft

In this Journey, it is important to know, and identify key points, stops, items you need for the journey.  For example, when I was a bush missionary in Zambia, I had a full page check list of everything I might need for my adventurous trips (2 extra tires, plenty of water, food, light, etc).  I wouldn’t leave the house unless every item on the list was checked off.  What’s on your spiritual check list for your spiritual journey.

In January we launched the series discussing Worship as a means of exploring deeper who God in and bringing pleasure to Him with our life.  This month, Community.  No one needs to travel alone.  We were not built to travel through life alone and neither is God alone.  God, Himself, loves community.  Here are a couple of facts about God and community to help launch us on this journey…

1. God is communal in His very core and nature – Genesis 1:26, points to the Trinity of God, when He said let “us” make …

2. Man was made for community.  When God made Adam, everything was perfect, life was perfect.  It was a utopia life, yet when God made man he said it wasn’t good for him to be alone (Gen 2:18).   You know the rest of the story.  He then made woman.

3.  God manifest Himself fully when we are living and acting in community with others.  Jesus promised His anointed presence when we come in community around for His names sake (Matt 18:20).

Don’t be the classic American individualist suffering from individualism.  Run to community, live in community, value community.

I have told a number of people that “2009 will go down as my most difficult and challenging year of this decade.”  Moving back from Africa, starting GPC, dealing with the development and educational needs of our children, guiding a growing congregation all has it challenges, but each has it’s rewards.  This year has simply been tough…but it needed to be.  I needed a year of trials.  Why?  There are many reasons, but one reason is for sure…I have been sailing  “to close to the shore”.

I have been sailing “too close to the shore” personally and professionally.  I’ve been living in the safety of an established church, and not moving out; no longer thirsty. I haven’t been motivated to “run the race” as the Apostle Paul said to do.  I am praying a new prayer now.  Stuart Cearly shared with me.  When I read it  and was a reminder to me as to how I once prayed and how I must once again pray.  I am available God – lead me on…

I thought of a couple of more resources that I have read and can recommend for those who want to sharpen themselves a little more :

Powers of Evil: A Biblical Study of Satan and Demons is an older book that is now out of print, but if someone wanted a seminary level book on the practices and works of the demonic then this book is a must.  I found it very helpful from Genesis to Revelation as a systematic study of the topic.  You will have to pick it up used, because it is out of print.  When I read it I felt like I was in a seminary class being taught sound evangelical theology on the subject.

I am not much into non-fiction.  But there was one novel I read in college that to this day I still remember.  I read the first of three novels by Frank Peretti.  You can pick them up in a three set volume now for a decent price.  This Present Darkness, Pericing the Darkness and Prophet would all be worth reading, though I can only say I have read the first.

My final thoughts to any one who has journeyed with us through this series: Study the enemy, but seek the Lord.  Know your vulnerability, but increase your strengths.  Stop looking for victory and start living in the victory.

Beyond reading the Scriptures, becoming far more intentional in my prayer life, renewing my commitment to Scripture memory, I began to poor over some books on Spiritual Warfare.  God began to show me that Grace Point needed to hear what He was teaching me, thus The Adversary series was born.  I took a few months to sort through the materials as God taught me in my own battles how to live in victory.  I want to spend the rest of this blog highlighting some of the extra-biblical books I studied in preparation for the series.  If you find yourself in the heat of the battle and need to go further in your own study, consider some of these books great points of reference as you study the Scriptures.   I will list them in the order of impact to my life and study.

1st The Adversary, would be the best book I read on the topic.  The book is a practical guide with an exhaustive summary of most, if not all, the Scriptures that deal with Satan and his work.  It is not a book of sensational stories, but one of Biblical references.  The greatest contribution was being able to add to my arsenal a vast array of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

2nd Spirit Warriors,  is written by Stu Weber, a former Green Beret of the Vietnam war (turn pastor).  He visually compares and contrast the spiritual battles of life with the real life battles of an enlisted soldier.  Weber does an outstanding job of painting a mental image in your mind of what it means to battle withthe Devil.  The greatest contribution to me was Weber’s military background.  I felt I had a commander preparing me for battle.

3rd Spiritual Warfare, one of Jerry Rankin’s latest books.  Jerry is the President of the International Mission Board and infuses many stories from his own personal missionary journey and many stories from the over 5,000 missionaries he helped to provide strategy for world wide.   Sensationalism is not what Rankin went for with his stories, but he gave clear visuals to real life spiritual battle on the edges of darkness.  It is definitely a book worth reading to stir you to the reality of war and to cause you to bend your knees in supportive prayer for the untold thousands of Great Commission Christians serving in the heat of war.  This book caused me to see the battle as a global one.  There is a clear and present danger for many fellow believers that are seeking to push back the darkness.

4th The Invisible War, was a well organized book with great unit summaries that enabled me to get a good grasp of what I was going to read before I read it.  I think I retained more from Chip Ingram’s work than maybe the others simply due to that.  I think I would recommend this book to a novice on the topic to lay a very solid and basic foundation for moving forward in a study on Spiritual Warfare.

5th Essential of Spiritual Warfare,to say that it was fifth is not to say it was the worst, but I just didn’t get much from it after having read the others.  It seemed the most basic, but saying the same thing the other books said.  Researchers tell you when you start “hearing the echo” then you have done a thorough research.  Scott Moreau’s experience in East Africa as a missionary, and his teaching position at Wheaton college, along with the fact that I have read other works of his, I would feel very comfortable recommending his book to any follower of Christ.

You will find helpful instruction, principles and stories without a lot of sensationalism in all four of these books.  Obviously, it goes without saying, but important to say nonetheless, the Bible is your greatest weapon against the enemy.  It is your “sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6).  To read and meditate on these great writings listed above, but not saturating your spirit in the Word of God is a deceptive work of Satan.  Be ready for war: “Consider mine enemies, for they are many; and they hate me.”¹

1. Psalm 25:19, KJV

There are a lot of differing opinions of Bible translations that I can’t even begin to go into for the sake my space to write and focus of this blog.  A great resource that is both scholarly and yet readable for a greater understanding on the topic of translations of the Bible is Fee and Stuart’s book Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth.  They talk about the value of dynamic equilviant translations (e.g. NIV, NLT).  I dynamic equivalent attempt “to translate words, idioms and grammatical constructions of the original language in precise equivalents to the receptors language” ((Gordon Fee and Douglas Fee, Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth, 35)) .  The problem I have with a dynamic equivalent translation is  the they tend to translate ideas or intentions of the writer, which leaves a lot of room for subjective interpretation rather than a literal translation.  I prefer the more literal discipline of translation (NASB and ESV).  Fee and Stuart describe literal translations as an“attempt to translate by keeping a close as possible to the exact words and phrasing in the original language, yet still make sense in the receptors language” ((Ibid, 35)) .  Though at times literal translations can be disconnected from the reader because of the choppy word for word factor, I still prefer the idea that I am reading as close to the original language as is possible.   

Well…I am about to make the switch to the English Standard Version (ESV).  Due to the decreasing publication of the NASB, fewer and fewer book stores are selling them.  I have been on a hunt for a more literal translation that was still readable, but one also that would be available in bookstores or online.  It is quite clear that the NASB is fading from mainstream, but an outstanding translation has emerged that is quickly becoming taking it’s place.  The English Standard Version seems to have struck a healthy balance of loyalty to the text yet striving for readability to the same.  This is how one review critic the ESV…

It is a “evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) that corrects the non-Christian interpretations of the RSV in the Old Testament and improves the accuracy throughout with more literal renderings. It also updates the language somewhat. The makers of this version undertook the work with the idea that there was a need for an evangelical version that was more literal than the New International Version but more idiomatic than the New American Standard Bible.”  A more detailed brake down on the translation revision process, who was behind it, etc. can be read by clicking here.

In my teaching, I will continue to site other great translations that help to capture and release the beautiful text of the Scriptures from their original language, but I will be making the switch to the ESV as my primary text for a number of reasons.  The ESV is one of the top selling books on the market last year.  It has a wide variety of endorsements.  The likes of Piper, Mohler, Bock, Easley (former Greek Prof of mine), Driscoll, etc. have made the ESV their preferred translation. The Study Bible is one of the best in print (it comes with a free online Bible, when you buy the regular print model).  Another important reason I am making the switch, I will now be able to send new believers to any bookstore and point them to a translation of the Bible that is both reliable and readable.

I am in a season of life when I am going through an honest introspection and biblcial interpretation (must do both for balance) of what, why, how, and where is a church?  I want you to do some honest reflection and tell me “Why go to Church?”  Click on the comments button and tell the world.

1. David Olson, The American Church in Crisis, 28
2. George Barna. Revolution, 49

The reality is…it is a matter of life and death.  It is a matter of heaven or hell; a life with God or without God.  The absolute reason over 150 volunteers would do this is because they want every child to know and experience the love of Jesus up close and personal.

Every person on earth must come face to face and heart to heart with the realization of three things…

• They are a sinner in need of a savior (Rom 10:10; 3:23; Is 59:2)
• They can be saved (John 1:12; 1 Pet 3:18)
• How to be saved: How?   Repent  of our offensive action and attitudes(Acts 3:19; 26:20), Place our faith in Jesus (Act 4:12), and let Jesus call the shots in our life (Matt 7:21).

Sound too formulamatic?  Sound too much like you are losing control of your life?  It’s not a formula, it’s a relationship.  It’s not about our control, it’s about allowing the God of the universe to have His rightful place in our life and living His destiny for our life.

Besides teaching the kids how to ski, martial arts, rug making, archery, canoe, etc. and other such daily adventures.  The real adventure is teaching the kids how to go the way of Jesus.  One father looked back over his life as a parent with regret.  His children had grown older and had never developed a walk with God.  He summarized his parenting like this: “I spent too much time teaching my children how to walk instead of teaching them where to walk.” Let’s teach our children by our life and words where to walk not just how to walk.

IS GOD GREEN?

Does God really care what we do with the earth, it’s atmosphere, the plant life and wildlife? Some would equate the fight to go green and save turtle’s egg more valuable than saving a fetus of a mother? A panentheist, believes that God is in the trees, frogs, and dogs. Therefore, to save a tree from being cut down would be saving a piece of God. To believe everything Al Gore says about the environment a true assault and insult on reason and God. This is bad eco-theology.

Neither is the view that God isn’t interested in climate change, the sustainability of the forest, waters and wildlife a sound Biblical argument. For conservative Christians to debate so strongly for the literal creation of the earth as God’s amazing and miraculous work, but not be far more involved in the preservation of His miraculous work, it is duplicitous at best.

He, God, made this world and all that is in it for himself (Colo 1:16). He values all his creation and claims ownership to it all, man, land and the animals (Ps 50:10). He only gave us management rights to His creation (Gen 2:15). We need to understand that God lives in the praises of all His creation (Ps 19:1). God uses His creation as one of the tools to bring people into the saving knowledge of Himself (Rom 1:20). God greatly values all his creation.

Is God Green? You bet your sweet potato’s He is. Are you?

I understand your concern and it warrants a clear and thorough review. The observation is made that women are to be silent, not talk and should cover their heads (11:2-16). The prohibition for women to speak is given in the same letter with the command for women to keep their heads covered. To do one and not the other is disingenuous; to demand that women be silent because the Bible says to, but not cover our heads when the Bible says to do so is duplicitous. So how does one interpret this passage?

If we take this passage at face value, then women speaking in the church is wrong. Then also, we at GPC violate this passage anytime a woman speaks or we allow them into the church with their head uncovered. Under the strictest interpretation women would be forbidden to even ask questions (v.35). I certainly don’t adhere to this strict of interpretation.

One principle of interpretation, when you hold to such a high view of Scripture as I do, is that the Scripture will help interpret Scripture. In short, Scripture won’t compromise itself. It will be consistent. The interpreter must work for a harmony of the whole Bible.

I see women speaking throughout the Bible to men. Deborah was one of the great judges in Scripture (Judges). Mary, the mother of Jesus, practically TOLD Jesus to turn the water into wine. Mary Magdalene “preached” the first resurrection message in the Bible to Peter and John. In Acts 2:4 all those in the upper room, men and women, were filled with the spirit and all were proclaiming (preaching). Phillip, had 4 daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9) Even Paul in 1 Cor 11:5, the very book that “prohibits” women from speaking, is clearly implying that women will “pray” and “prophecy” in the church.

My CONCLUSION: women are permitted to speak truth to men formally or informally, but there are deeper more local issues in Corinth that Paul is dealing with in this passage.

So why the prohibition in 1 Corinthians? It is likely due to the decision and issues within the Corinthian church (drunkenness at the Lord’s Supper, abuse of spiritual gifts, maybe women being dominant in the church). They had a whole lot of issues going on. The context of the book seems to deal more with a church in trouble theologically, practically, and possibly culturally. Paul gave instructions and rebukes throughout both 1 and 2 Corinthians seeking to bring order to their worship (1 Cor 14:40). There were clearly modesty and cultural issues playing into the church. Thus, Paul told them to cover their head and not to talk. The question must be asked, was there some cultural faux pas going on in their culture where maybe the women were using their new found faith to buck the cultural ways? Paul brings them back to a culturally relevant conduct so as not to hinder the message? Were the women being assertive and immodest and that is why Paul brings them back to submission? A lot of questions are left unanswered.

A contemporary example of cultural faux pas, would be when we go to Mali, all women must wear dresses and men pants. It’s not a biblical requirement to wear dresses or pants as much as it would be a cultural thing if when we were in Mali I were to wear shorts. If I am delievering a important message, but the Malians can’t hear me because I am wearing shorts, my message is corrupt in their minds before I ever open my mouth.

My conclusion: Since women are speakers of truth throughout the Bible, I interpret this as more order and focused point of application specific to the church at Corinth due to their confused and disorderly ways. I can only take this liberty of interpretation because I am trying to keep the entire Bible congruent and harmonized. To say that women can’t speak truth to men in gatherings, leaves me with more explaining to do in MANY other before mentioned scenarios such as Deborah, Phillip’s four daughters, etc.

My prayer for Lori tonight as she prepares is: “Preach the Word” from the overflow of God’s Holy Spirit in you. Do it boldly, humbly, and authentically. Though I won’t be with you, I will be praying for you and know that God will use you.”