In our Wednesday morning Coffee Break group we are continuing to read Dr Gene Veith’s book God at Work We were talking about the process of going into vocation.

Dr Veith and I are both Lutheran both well informed in our theology, so when we talk about vocation, we are talking about that as much as any other part of our life. It is about what God is calling us to do and moving us to do. As always, we can make our own calls and so often wonder afterward why we didn’t follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and did follow our own shallow human understanding. Lutheran doctrine is not about what we do, what we chose, what we like, it is what God is leading us to do that matters. As Dr Veith points out “Instead of what job shall I choose”, the question becomes “what is God calling me to do?”

The word vocation comes from the Latin vocatio meaning “a call, summon”. There is nothing mystical about it, it’s a common Latin word, even though the sites I looked it up on continually refered to it in some Christian context. OK, but not in terms of a “call” to just ministry as being special, being mystical. If that is the context, it is acknowledging that no matter what the call, butcher, baker, Indian chief, that we should recognize our calling is from God. We like to think of what we “chose”, but, and this is the point of this group, God is interested in everything in our lives, in this case, what career He has chosen for you. So being called to any vocation should be in terms of what God is calling you to.

As an, essentially, third career person, I can say, without reservation, that I’ve felt the hand of God in all my “careers”. I went into the Coast Guard Reserve at 17, right out of high school, in what was a set of circumstances. The same with the day job. I really wouldn’t have chosen either one, it’s not what I was going to college for, but with the benefit of almost forty years hindsight, it’s clear that God was guiding these actions. How I became a Christian and then went into ministry is such another “set of circumstances”, that I can clearly see the hand of God.

I’m sure we can all agree that a lot of time we go into a career/vocation because we will make more money, or it’s what our parents or spouse wants, happens to be the thing that’s right at hand, on and on. I certainly spent a lot of time in prayer, study, meditation and journaling about going into the ministry.. I wasn’t a Christian when I was guided into my first vocations, but as I said, looking back God had to be moving in my life, I’m just not that smart.

Dr Veith writes, vocation isn’t always 9-5 50 weeks a year, you can be called to different things, for example in service to your church. One thing that always bugged me, just because I worked and was trained in finance, didn’t mean I was locked into being a bookkeeper/treasurer of church. Yes, that position usually does need a particular background/training, so yes, someone has to step up, but following the leading of a passion is important too, something that God is moving you into; small group leader, assisting in worship, music, programs, etc. 

Speaking as one who has done it, be open to God’s leading n the things you might think are non-negotiable. Fifteen years ago I would never have imagined picking up, moving to St Louis to study for a Masters of Divinity degree and then proceeding to York, Pa. Maybe God’s moving you somewhere you would have never imagined. It’s not something that’s necessarily easy (believe me seminary was a challenge, in a lot of respects), being called to an aging, inner city church is a continuous big push, but it is clear that God has me where He wants me. By my own leading, I can’t imagine that I would be where I am, or where I’ve been.

The Take Away is this, you may be feeling an urging from the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t have to be toward the church, going to some far off land as a missionary, struggling to survive in a new life style. God certainly calls people to vocations where they do make a lot of money and have influence. Look at Daniel and Joseph for example. Jesus says “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required…” (Luke 12:48 ESV) Watch what you wish for, you might get it. Often we are put in positions of reward and power in order to benefit the church or others in our lives. Whether that “given” is talent as a pastor, or Bill Gates, or an athlete or whatever, how does God want you to fill a position of great responsibility in the context of your relationship with Him?

Do some homework, sit down and really do some prayer. You may well be affirmed that you are where God wants you to be. If so, that’s great, it’s good to be affirmed that way. But in addition to your main vocation, where else is He calling you to? Maybe He is calling you to another vocation, how does your moving to something else glorify God?

What is God really putting on your heart? Where is He guiding you to? Sit down and do some journaling, pray and talk with your spouse, children, any other “stakeholder” in you life. It really helps me to put pen to paper and let the Holy Spirit guide my thoughts. In the words of Billy Joel I’m not suggesting “sold the house, bought a ticket to the west coast, now he’s doing standup in L.A.”, but on the other hand, don’t keep brushing off the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us He calls us to life and life more abundant. He’s going to make the best choice and we should all let Him.

I like referring to the Book of Isaiah as the “Fifth Gospel”, since it was written about 300 years before the birth, the incarnation of Jesus, it could be referred to as the “First Gospel”. Jesus is not referred to by Name, but clearly Isaiah is writing about the coming Messiah, Meshiach, the Savior of Israel. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem at the time when countries all around them were pushing in on Israel/Judah and God was not happy with Israel, which would result in Israel being conquered and many of the inhabitants exiled to Babylon.

Israel had been in its usual cycle. The people did what they wanted, they abused the trust and grace of God, followed whoever they felt was giving them the best deal, the creed was, as it is today “whatever works, whatever makes me happy, whatever I get the most out of”. If Yahweh isn’t going to give me a good deal, then there are other “gods” I can turn to. That’s pretty much the attitude today, what I “like”, what I want and anything else is unnecessary, no integrity, no faithfulness, no loyalty, whatever works for me and whatever the results, ehhh.

Clearly the Law is apparent here. Isaiah has been warning Judah, the center of which is Jerusalem, keep doing what you’re doing, keep ignoring Yahweh, He is the one who has put you there. He gave your ancestors the land, the buildings, the fields, the trees and crops that you have now, your food, all your wealth is from Him, not from these phoney “gods” you worship. You may think that other things can save you, but only Yahweh can, and He will through the promises He’s making through Isaiah. But now after repeated warnings, you are done, the Babylonians are going to sweep in, relocate everyone, and that’s it, or is it?

God disciplines His own, He tells us that. But He never leaves us without hope. As much as we may deserve it, He is the faithful Father and never deserts His children. Yes, they’re going away to Babylon for awhile, but in the meantime, He gives Israel something to cling to. The greatest hero of the Jewish people, King David was a great, very real, man, who did great things and had his failures, his sins too. He started as a shepherd, then became Israel’s greatest king. But Isaiah doesn’t specifically refer to David, he refers to the “stump of Jesse”, that the “axe of divine judgment would cut down the kingdom of David…” the Lutheran Study Bible notes. Isaiah is saying that there will be no more kings of Israel, at least not the way we think about kings. Referring to Jesse, Isaiah is saying that this will be a new David, the David who is the physical son of Jesse died hundreds of years ago. The new David, Jesus, will come. You can see why people in Jesus’ time didn’t enthusiastically buy into Jesus being the Messiah. It would be easy to read Isaiah and think that this is a military king like David. But, as Dr McGee points out, “Jesse was a farmer, a sheepherder who lived in a little out-of-the-way place called Bethlehem…by the time of Jesus, the line of David had sunk back to the level of a peasant … [David’s line was to one] raised in a carpenter’s shop.”[1] So the Jews of Jesus’ time might have been expecting another King like David, the one they got, infinitely greater than David, but born in the line of Jesse a humble farmer, a new David, raised in a carpenter’s shop. But this David will not only be a man after God’s own heart, as David was, Jesus is very much God, as much God as the Father, all-mighty Lord, through whom the universe was created.  

Yes, Yahweh is distinctly unhappy with Israel/Judah, they are adulterous, unfaithful to Him, they have simply rejected Him and made themselves all little “gods” much as we see today. Even though we don’t deserve it, whether we are openly dismissive or hostile to God, passively uninterested, He is still interested in us. He gives us the promise of a new future, new life, new world, as He does here in our reading. If we continue to dismiss it, we can’t blame God for what happens to us. The Holy Spirit keeps coming back over and over and if we keep rejecting Him, we have condemned ourselves. God doesn’t want anyone to die, be condemned, He does His part, but so many resist and reject Him, they’ve got no one to blame but themselves.

Yahweh gave Israel/Judah great promises and we can know these promises for ourselves. Yahweh promises what Dr McGee calls the “sevenfold spirit”. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon him, Him being Jesus, as I said as much God as the Father, infinitely mightier than David. All the qualities of the Father, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. This Messiah will know everything, same as the Father, of counsel and might, nothing is beyond His Creation or His strength. Not only is this how Isaiah describes the promised Messiah, but as Christians, we know that these things will be ours too, because we are in Jesus. Let’s be honest, we don’t deserve to be not only saved, but loved, showered with the amazing promises of God anymore then the Israelites of 2,300 years ago, we are sinful beings just as they were. But we are loved and generously provided for, God’s love is far above anything we can imagine and is eternal  and unlimited, even for those who are so deserving of punishment, in Jesus we are given great and eternal gifts and the promise of the perfect life in the new David. Not in this temporary world, but in the eternal reality of the resurrection in the New Jerusalem. But in the meantime since we are His, we called to be more like Him, we remember our baptism daily and as Paul tells us “to put off the old self … which is corrupt through deceitful desires and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4: 22-24) Our new self is of Jesus our Lord. A promise made by God through Isaiah 300 years before His birth. We take that same promise and know that in the Resurrection we will be all those things and in the presence of Jesus forever.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I am not some wild eye fundamentalist fanatic, I am a Boston Red Sox fanatic, but when it comes to creation/evolution, I guess it might cause a reader to wonder. This is a long discussion, but the more I read, study, the more ludicrous this whole notion of evolution is.

I often tell those who want to debate me, they have more faith then I do. I know that there is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, transcendant God, who is not subject to time and space and I have no problem believing that He created everything. Those who believe that the universe just blew up out of nothing with nothing to spark it or guide it, well that takes a lot of faith, to believe everything came from nothing. Those are the same people that like to think of themselves as oh so scientific and rational… Like I said, they have more faith than me. I know Who created all and Who sustains all.

The following is a very succinct description of same and I thought it was important to share. This is by Dr Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute, he has written some very good books on evolution and creation:

“Evolution is rightly dubbed ‘a fairy tale for grownups’, but I think it’s something much worse. i call it a cruel hoax! In fact, the arguments that support evolutionary theory are astonishingly weak. First, the fossil record is an embarrassment to evolutionists. No verifiable transitions from one kind to another have, as yet, been found. Darwin had an excuse. In his day, fossil finds were relatively scarce. Today, however, there is an abundance of fossils. Still, we have yet to find the projected wealth of transitions from kinds to other kinds.

Furthermore, in Darwin’s day, such enormously complex structures as a human egg were thought to be quite simple – for all practical purposes, little more than a microscopic blob of gelatin. Today, we know that a fertilized human egg is among the most organized complex structures in the universe. In an age of scientific enlightenment, it is incredible to think that people are willing to maintain that something so vastly complex and organized arose by chance. Lie an egg, the human eye or, for that matter, the earth is a masterpiece of precision and design that could not have come into existence by chance.

Finally, while chance is a blow to the theory of evolution,the laws of science are a bullet to its head. The basic laws of science – including the laws of effects and their causes, energy, conservation and entropy – undergird the creation model for origins and undermine the evolutionary hypothesis.

While we should fight for a person’s right to believe science fiction, we must resist evolving attempts to equate the ‘certainty’ of macroevolution (the evolution from one species to another species) with such scientific certainties as the law of gravity.”

(Hank Hanegraaff   Christian Research Institute Equip Volume 23, Number 4)

There is a God, He did create the universe, He did create man in His own image and He has revealed Himself to us in the Bible and through His Son Jesus Christ. That is the way it is, stop trying to cop out and misguide others, and face the fact of a Holy, loving God who created everything we need right here. Not only that, but He promises us an eternity in a very material world, in very material bodies, that will be perfect for eternity.

The New Jerusalem, the ultimate reality, only for those in Jesus.

Intelligent Design, The Heavens declare the glory of God.

King David, the memorable psalmist, wrote these words: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1 ESV) The more we understand how incredibly complicated we are, the world is, the universe is, the more we realize that this could not have come together by accident, this had to be designed and so of course there had to be a designer.
Alister McGrath is a an internationally known Christian apologist, in his book Mere Aplogetics  discusses Intelligent Design “ID” in terms of “fine-tuning”:

“In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the phenomenon of ‘fine-tuning’ in nature. The term ‘fine-tuning’ is often used to refer to the scientific realization that the values of certain fundamental cosmological constants and the character of certain initial conditions of the universe appear to have played a decisive role in bringing about the emergence of a particular kind of universe, one within which intelligent life can develop. Many recent  scientific studies have emphasized the significance of certain fundamental cosmological constants, the values of which, if varied even slightly, would have significant implications for the emergence of human existence…

…The existence of carbon-based life on earth depends upon a delicate balance of physical and cosmological forces and parameters. Were any of these quantities slightly altered, balance would have been destroyed and life would not have come into existence. Sir Martin Rees, Britain’s Astronomer Royal and President of the Royal Society, has argued that the emergence of human life in the aftermath of the big bang is governed by a mere six numbers, each of which is so precisely determined that a miniscule variation in any of of them would have made both our universe and human life, as we know them, impossible…

…Spitzer suggests we imagine all the parameters of the universe – such as the speed of light in a vacuum, the gravitational constant, electromagnetic coupling and the masses of the elementary particles – are represented by the settings of the dials of some kind of ‘cosmic control panel’. The findings of modern cosmology imply that if the settings of these dials were to be nudged even very slightly we would not be here to discuss their significance. For example, if gravity or the weak force (two of the known forces of nature) were to be varied in strength by one part in 10 [to the 40th], the expansion of the universe would either be too explosive for galaxies or the universe would have collapsed. If a certain combination of the constants of gravity, electromagnetism and the ratio of electron to proton mass were varied by about one part in 10 [to the 19th], no main sequence stars such as our own sun would be able to form. If a precise nuclear resonance of the carbon atom did not align with the resonance of beryllium and a colliding helium nucleus (yet without aligning with a corresponding resonance in oxygen and helium), then there would be almost no carbon, the basis of life as we know it. Most dramatically, leading mathematician Roger Penrose has calculated that the entropy of the universe is such that our universe seems to exist in an absurdly precise state compared to the available range of possible values. So what are the apologetic implications of this remarkable fine-tuning?

The phenomenon of fine-tuning is widely conceded; all debates concern its interpretation. Atheist cosmologist Fred Hoyle was one of those to first appreciate the importance of these observations and their obvious theistic implications. It is, he wrote, as if ‘a super intellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and … there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.’ Hoyle was an atheist, unsympathetic to the idea that God created the universe. Nevertheless, his comment points to the deep unease contemporary cosmology has created for those not willing to believe in God. Might the evidence be better explained by the idea of divine creation than by happenstance?” (pp 98-99)

Our world is just as finely tuned. If the earth were just slightly closer or further from the sun, or if the axis of the earth was tilted slightly one we or the other we could not survive. If the moon were slightly closer we would have out of control tides, slightly further the oceans would just be massive sewers. The list goes on and on from the cells in our body to the most massive celestial bodies. The chances of all these things coming together to support human life are so astronomical that no serious scientists could possibly accept that these things come together by accident and yet, there are “scientists” who do.

There is so much more that could be discussed on this subject, but one thing I would suggest is to never be intimidated by a “scientist”. Most “scientists” are simply not informed, and simply not interested in how all the elements come together to form our universe. Challenge them. Too many assume that any theological discussion is naive and yet it is apparent that most “scientists” are so narrow in their understanding of everything but their own field, that they really can’t intelligently discuss anything outside of their field.

I would be very interested to discuss further, please jump in, ask questions, challenge these views. I’m not an expert, but on the other hand, I think Christians have too long simply conceded this area and most serious scientists are now finding that what they see in the universe had to come together by an Intelligent Designer far above anything that we could understand, except by His own revelation. We Christians accept that the Bible is that Revelation. So let’s hear from you. May God richly bless you.

If a leper can be thankful….

Would anyone disagree with the following statement: “There is a serious lack of leaders, mentors.”

Having said that, why is that? What do we do or fail to do that, yes that’s right all of us, that has created that situation?

Phil Bell does a lot of youth ministry, he advises: “I have found teens don’t expect me to be their best friend. They don’t expect me to dress their age. I don’t need to act like them to be heard. They don’t want another buddy, they want someone to lead them. If we show them that we genuinely care for them and are willing to invest in their lives, they will give us their time and trust.” [Phil Bell Ministry in a Snapchat World Leadership Journal Fall 2013 p 40]

Everyone, not just youth, want leaders, not poll takers, not popularity contest winners, if they really think about it and look a little deeply, not “Sugar Daddies” either. The church has certainly suffered in that respect, let’s face it, it’s a lot better just to smile at someone and “buddy them”, instead of holding them accountable. As a pastor, dealing with someone who is making offerings to support the church, it’s easier to say “sure, we should worship that way”, instead of saying “no, we need to conduct worship in a God -honoring way,” vs enabling.

What we like, what makes us “happy”, who makes us “happy”, anything to be liked, but respect isn’t a real big concern today, what’s important to us is to avoid the slings and arrows. Pastoral ministry is difficult to navigate in that respect because of the “confessional” there are plenty of things that I just can’t talk about. I could just repeat a confidence or tell people what they want to hear (which I’m beginning to think most people think is the whole point of ministry), this would get me off the hook and I could go undented. It’s not about being “happy”, it’s about joy in the Lord, growing in the Lord. Jesus suffered for us, we are also called to suffer. No one said it would be pleasant, but doing what’s right usually has a price.

The church has been one of the biggest offenders. Too often the church has chosen to be the minister of the people, instead of a minister of Jesus. I have to guard the confessional scrupulously, which is becoming more difficult in terms of not just dealing with people in the parish, relatives, others who may or may not be concerned, but also with the law. The legal system today is becoming more concerned with lawyer-client privilege, then the much more time honored confessional. Time honored in terms of historical precedent and eternity. But to dial back, the point is, people often want what they want, what they need is leadership that is willing to stand up to the slings and arrows and be more concerned with doing what’s right, what’s necessary and not what’s popular.

If what Bell observes is true, then maybe the younger generation is leading us back to the need for honest, accountable, tough leadership and not the sappy kind of “kumbaya”, let’s all get along leadership of the past at least three generations. But let’s be clear about one thing, it’s one thing to disagree, it’s another to be disagreeable. In my younger days I was very active in local politics in what is my home town, Brockton, Ma. Brockton is a small city just outside of Boston. There was certainly a local aspect to the city’s politics, but there was a strong big city/Boston aspect. Without going into a lot of justification, I think I’m accurate in saying that in this environment, there was a “take no prisoners” attitude. It was a a no-holds barred. The rhetoric got heated and to an uninformed observer, they could easily think that it was personal. I could have taken a lot of it personal, but it was really more in terms of the Mafia code, “it’s not personal, it’s business”. Meaning, if we could accomplish our goals easier and not make it personal we would, but we see this as the only way to accomplish our ends. The ends were being elected, afterwards, and even during, there was still mutual respect. Not necessarily “like”, but there was respect. It wouldn’t be unusual to see political opponents verbally pound each other in staged debates or out “shakin’ babies and kissin’ hands” and after hours seen hanging together over beer or a snack.

There simply isn’t that today, it’s a question of “you agree with me, or you don’t like me, it’s personal”. Sorry, but I do have to hang this on the liberal end of the society, “you don’t like abortion, you don’t like divorce, you don’t like homosexuality”, well then you don’t like me, you’re a hateful human being and you are to be confronted and beaten down. Frankly that’s usually the attitude of someone who knows there position is untenable, even just false, a political agenda not based in good faith and integrity. That is they are just being defensive. But let’s face it, who wants to stick there head up in that environment? Who wants to take a leadership position? Who wants to be the one taken to task because they say that yea, Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Not an opinion, or a puff claim, but I am God, I am the only way. Who wants to go to kids who have been way too indoctrinated with the secular world’s view and calmly and authoritatively say “yea, Jesus is God, He is the only way”.

I’m not one of those who gets too caught up “youth being served”. We certainly are responsible to raise our youth to understand duty and integrity. Today that concept is treated as an anachronism, from another era. Today we call our children “buddy” and treat them that way. We are not our children’s buddy, I have friends who I love and respect, but my children are my children. I am going to do things for my children and hold my children responsible in a way that I wouldn’t do with my friends. I want my children to understand they are far more then my buddy, they are my children. That is a relationship that is deeper and more profound then any friendship. We see that in the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. This relationship of trust, love, suffering is the most profound that we can look to. Being a buddy can be a superficial relationship, Father and Son is a relationship that knew the only way to remedy our relationship with God was to make the sacrifice for our sin that could only be made by the Son, Jesus, the only one who could redeem us. Friendships can go very deep, but God, in the relationship of the Trinity, could be the only one who could make such a profound action as the atonement. Our relationship with our heavenly Father goes so much further then friendship, even when that relationship is completely one-way, entirely of God’s making.

No doubt God bears the slings and arrows, He endures, as His Son did on the Cross, the jeers and acrimony of man, really the outright open hostility of man and yet He continues to make a way to forgive us, pay for our sins and save us to life eternal in Him. Shouldn’t we take our cue from Him, the relationship that He maintains with us, His leadership, His responsibility so that we are saved? Can’t we stand up with integrity and courage and do what is right witnessing our faith to Him to those around us? Too often today our leaders, our pastors, even God is our buddy. Then we wonder why we feel the lack of leaders, of mentors, or people who will hold us accountable. Sometimes to be judgmental, but not to be abusive, to hold you accountable out of love, a genuine desire to see you do well, to succeed in life, to grow in Christian maturity. Why would anyone want that job, it’s difficult, it takes a lot of work, judgment, discernment and to do it in a way that is genuinely loving and when it could end up in rejection, animosity and hurt? That’s a high price to pay for what may end up as what we could see as a waste of time, failure on our part.

As I’m writing this, I’m getting an e-mail announcing that “youth are leaving the church in droves”. Hmmmm, wonder why? Is there anything in your church that someone who is kind of floundering around in life, that they would take seriously? What do we do as Christians, as a business person, as someone who has children or who can or should minister to the youth of their congregation? First off, suck it up. Get over your dignity, your pride, take a good hard look at yourself, is your general attitude about you? Or is it about serving God. PRAY – yea I know what a concept, what is God leading you to do? Jesus told us if we love Him we will obey Him. He told us to go and make disciples. He told us that the world would hate us, so do yourself, and everyone else, a big favor upfront and get over yourself. We have our mandate, we have direction and we’ve been warned, sure be careful out there, but get out there.

That doesn’t mean you act in an undignified manner, you don’t get goofy or try to “fit in”. Be yourself, ya, be vulnerable, be loving. Not enabling, not patronizing, but with the attitude toward the other person “hey I care for you, I want to get to know you better, no pressure, no pushiness, not even a sense of urgency, I just want to be there for you as a Christian man or woman.” Don’t expect anything right away, don’t expect to instantly fall together. Look for ways to serve, give advice with their best interests in mind. Let’s face it we all have our way, but what does that person really need. As a Christian “Servant Leadership” is almost cliche, but that’s what we do. We understand there will be mistakes, there will be sin, don’t over react, don’t get impatient, they’re not going to be any perfect then you are, or you were when you were their age, or in their position in the work world, or in the church. It might seem strange, you’re not in it to be a pal, you’re certainly not in it to enable, as much as possible to be Jesus to them, the  Mentor/Savior. Jesus loved the unlovable, He loved in that agape, self sacrificing, the “suffering servant”, but He did call sin, sin. That’s what people want today, even though they may not know it and it’s what we all need. Jesus did it for the disciples. The disciples and Paul did it for those they were given to disciple, and we no less are called to serve in the same way. Those around us want it and need it, and we need to serve the Kingdom, “go therefore and make disciples.” “Well done, good and faithful servant.”