You Can Know God

Humor in the Bible

Big surprise that some of the folks with the watchdog blogs didn't find my confession video that funny. (I saw a bunch of incoming clicks on my blog stats). Apparently, I wasn't acting like a pastor when I created that video. That could be true - because too many pastors don't have a sense of humor.

The Bible actually contains a good bit of humor. Psalm 2:4 says that God laughs (a laugh out of a kind of sarcastic anger). In Exodus 14:11, the Israelites ask Moses, "was there a lack of graves in Egypt so that you had to bring us out to the Wilderness to die?" That's kind of funny. In the book of Judges, God sarcastically asks His people if the pagan gods will help their plight.

Elijah's response to the prophets of Baal is filled with sarcasm. Yell louder, he tells them, maybe your god is sleeping, or traveling, or maybe he's going to the bathrroom. (there you go fellas...there's bathroom humor in the Bible, so my video is not without precedent.)

There's humor, sarcasm, wordplays, funny names, and crazy situations throughout the Word of God. The Bible is obviously not a joke book, but it's okay to be a Christian and still have a sense of humor. In fact, Proverbs 17:22 says that a joyful heart is good medicine.  And if we can help people laugh in church, I think that's a good thing.  We should talk hard about sin, but it's not a sin to have some fun with God's people in God's house.

Sometimes, we need to get serious. And sometimes, we just need to lighten up and laugh.

Thoughts from Romans

Over the past month, I've been reading through the book of Romans. Here are some thoughts or verses that I jotted down in my Moleskine.

• God often says, "If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get."


• When you don't really know God, you don't really know how to be human.


• God will judge our secrets (2:16). That's pretty serious stuff.


• It's not what you hear; It's what you do that counts.


• Paul struggled with son. He knew he was dead to sin and it didn't control him. He knew that we always have a choice to sin.


• "It is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it."


• God is angry and patient. I understand this a little bit as a parent of three kids. But God is still such a paradox to me.


• I should be honest in self evaluation - don't think it's better than the truth.  Be realistic.


• All authority comes from God, even the authority that you disagree with. Romans 13.


• I will give an account for my life and ministry to God, not to some guy with a blog.


• You can tear apart the work of God with silly arguments. Romans 14:20. This reminds me of all those stupid Bible translation debates.


• Thinking about something can lead to participation. This is how people get into trouble sometimes. But it's also how people start hiding God's word in their heart.

The Story of God

Daughtry has a song that begins with this line... Open up the book you beat me with again. I wonder if that's what many people think when they are sitting in church and the preacher stands up to preach.  I wonder if they brace themselves for a beat down.  Or I wonder if they stay away because they just know they are going to get yelled at.

It's true.  The Bible contains principles, truth, instructions, corrections in righteousness and tells us how we should live.  But it's so much more than that.

• The Bible is a suspenseful drama, filled with good guys and bad guys in a struggle.


• The Bible is a love story of God pursuing his people across generations and across boundaries.


• The Bible is an epic tale of a Savior-hero who comes to rescue those that cannot save themselves.


• The Bible presents an intriguing tension between God's love for his people and God's hatred for anything unholy.

The Bible is a story.  A divine narrative.  When preachers stand up and beat people with the Book, they do a disservice to the truth.  We must lead and instruct people, but we must not miss the point that the Bible is more than a rule book...it's more than a to do and a to don't list.  It's the story of God.

Chainsaws in Church

This five minute video is a part of one of our recent messages. It's an illustration about the necessity to be a part of a journey group, and I hope it's worth five minutes of your time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PuXrBicYTA]

The Holy Spirit and Tongues

I don't think tongues is one of those issues that Christians will agree on.  I'm also not really sure if Jesus is coming back before the 1,000 years, or after it, or what the 3rd bowl in the book of Revelation really symbolizes.  But that's another story.

People have argued for years as to whether the gift is still in use. I'm certainly not smarter than all of them, but who am I to limit what God can and can't do? I think the Holy Spirit still leads, guides, directs, watches, protects, convicts of sin, and a host of other activities. We may never understand all the mysteries of the Spirit this side of heaven.

For me the biggest issue is order in the public worship service. In the Bible, Paul gives directions for how speaking in tongues in public is supposed to happen.   The spirit of 1 Corinthians 14, one of the chapters dealing with speaking in tongues, is maintaining order in a public gathering. We don't want to be confusing or scare off unchurched people. So, at OLC, we don't make a big deal about it. I am not one that think we should pursue that gift above any other gift or elevate it to something that must be necessary to follow Christ. Speaking in tongues is no the end-all of being a Christian.  So it doesn't go up there with grace, forgiveness, repentance, and those kind of things.  Speaking in Tongues is not going to be the focus of my teaching, or the focus of any of our public worship services. But I'm not going to judge or shut down something just because I'm scared of it either. God's pretty big.

Walk the Holy Land

From December 4-11, I'm going to take some people from our church on a tour of Israel. This trip is open to anyone who would like to go. I had the opportunity to go to Israel last year with a group from Westridge, and it was amazing. I would highly recommend going if you can.

This particular trip will take us to Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. We'll see Caeserea, the aquaducts that Herod build, the fields where David fought Goliath and so much more. It's $2100, which includes nice hotels, airfare, meals, and transportation on the ground. Tips and taxes are included too, so this is pretty much all inclusive. If you are interested in going, shoot me an e-mail and I'll send you more info. I promise you, it will be worth it.

Bible Reading Plan

On Sunday, I referenced a great 61-day Bible reading plan.  It's an overview of the entire Bible and a great place to start.  There's nothing like reading God's Word.  That's why we make Bibles available on Sunday mornings at Oak Leaf for those that didn't to bring one.  That's why we tell people that don't have one just to keep it.  That's why we put Scripture references on the screen.  That's why we teach that what God says is so much more important than anyone things.  Anyway, here's a link to the reading plan if you want to jump in.

Old Testament Prodigal

I’m preparing for a message on the prodigal son for the upcoming preview service at Oak Leaf.   I’m pumped about this message, because it is filled with grace and hope.  It’s a story of forgiveness and redemption, and something that I think people need to hear. 

I’m not fitting this into the message Sunday, but there’s a prodigal story in the Old Testament too...

A guy named Hezekiah was a good king of Judah.  When his son Manasseh became king, he turned againt the Lord and did evil (2 Chronicles 33:2).  Idolatry, sorcery, sacrificing his own sons to pagan gods…some pretty bad stuff.  The people were eventually captured by Babylon and Manasseh turned back to God.  God heard his cry and brought him back to Jerusalem.  God the loving father accepted Manasseh and welcomed him back with open arms.

This is God’s love at it’s best.