tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38064682024-03-07T03:58:04.589-05:00Humble BeginningsA man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning. That I do not think you understand yet. A life filled with meaning is worthy of rest. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here. Do you understand what I am saying?
-The Chosenblbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-86362746636969495812011-08-07T15:08:00.002-04:002011-08-07T15:14:07.895-04:00Wiser DevotionsRecently a dear friend kindly complimented a short article I wrote for Christ and Pop Culture asking <a href="http://www.christandpopculture.com/asides/on-the-other-hand-do-we-need-a-daily-devotion/">whether we need a daily quiet time</a>. She asked if I would flesh out my thoughts on ways to keep devotions fresh and beneficial. Here is the letter I wrote in reply.<br /><br /><br />The simple, central question we need to have about devotional time is this; What is devotional time for? The answer I keep coming back to, time and time again, is intimacy. Devotional time with God is for developing intimacy with him, for knowing him better, and for more closely aligning our hearts and our desires with his. Just like any relationship, the connection is built through time together, through experiences together, and through vulnerability with each other. Of course there are a whole host of reasons that intimacy with God has a different flavor and, in my experience, is more difficult. But the serious Christian mind can’t get around the absolute necessity of intimacy with God. Devotional time is all about helping us get that. And as such, the way we build our devotional time needs to be directed at achieving it.<br /> <br />Joshua Harris gave an excellent talk called Principle and Practice (you can find it online), in which he challenged his church with their tendency to wrongly lift up a PRACTICE (say, homeschooling your kids) as if it were biblical, when in fact it is not, rather than focusing on honoring the PRINCIPLE (such as loving your kids and overseeing their education and training). I think this is what happens with devotions, especially in conservative churches. As you say, it becomes a checklist- the practice of a certain type of quiet time becomes a matter of right and wrong, when in fact nothing in the Bible says this. And yet we see many things that devotions are trying to accomplish that ARE in Scripture; principles like the importance of knowing God’s word, closeness with God in prayer, and the pursuit of godly wisdom. <br /> <br />So whatever you do in devotions, whether my ideas are helpful or not, the MOST important thing is to design it in ways that help YOU grow in intimacy with God. If something is preventing that, change it! If some new idea seems to work especially well, incorporate it! My suggestions from here on out all have that goal in mind.<br /> <br />The Value of Structure<br /> <br />I don’t have to tell you that structure has value. I think it’s probably fair to say that you’re a more structured person than me as a general rule! But I think when it comes to devotions, we have the wrong idea about structure. For some reason we think that a)we have to follow certain structures even if they don’t work, and b) structure means doing something the same way every single time. My question to both those things is; why? If I was trying to grow in intimacy with my friend Bob by working out with him (the exact same way every time!), but it was resulting in boredom and zero healthy conversations (and weird muscle disparities), why would I keep doing it that way? <br /> <br />And yet the need for intimacy remains. So one big switch in my thinking was this: the best kind of devotional structure is structure in GOALS. That means that it is a good idea to set a devotional goal for myself, but a poor idea to assume I HAVE to do it a certain way every time. Instead, I want to focus on getting to that goal any way I can. And because we’re businesspeople, let’s say that our goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).<br /> <br />Example: The month of August is beginning, and I’m noticing that I have an especially ugly attitude toward people. Humanity has lost any redeeming or redeemable value in my mind, and I’m constantly angry at everyone. I want to fix this. I decide that in this case intimacy means seeing humanity the way God sees humanity. So then, my goal for August is, “To see improvement in my love for others by the end of the month, as measured by my day to day attitude toward people at work and at church.” The first thing I want to do is to pray about that; asking God to help me accomplish that goal, to open his wisdom in this area to me, etc.<br /> <br />Now, there are a lot of ways I can get there. I can begin by doing a study of Genesis… reading through it, reading commentaries on the parts that pertain to my goal, etc. I can also read passages from other parts of the Bible that apply. I can read a book on the topic. I can read articles (of which there are MILLIONS for free online). I can do some google searches to find art or movies that might help me think about this area more. I can chat with friends or mentors about my ideas or questions. Each day, I can find a new way of advancing my understanding of how God sees humanity and work to mirror that in my own life. And most importantly, I can spend time praying about each of these things… asking that God would help me take them to heart, that he would give me a sense of how he thinks about them, etc. This approach is powerful because, as science tells us, our brains are stimulated by newness and change. By doing things this way, we are consistent in pursuing a devotional goal, but we allow ourselves to use simple tricks of human psychology to help keep us engaged and excited by that pursuit.<br /> <br />So by the end of the month, I have vigorously addressed a particular area. The structure of the goal helped me and gave me direction and a plan, without limiting me by becoming rote or liturgy. It also kept me open to new or unexpected insights… because my reading and experience is all over the place, I am prepared to be taught things I didn’t expect. And because I’m still taking in a lot of information, I am learning more than just my topic; I am building my theological framework for how I think about all of the Christian life. And as I take all that in, God and I have something specific to talk about. J I think those are the values of structure.<br /> <br />Oh, and one quick side note. A constant question in my mind this week has been this; “how does this apply to our brothers and sisters who are illiterate or don’t have access to a Bible?” It bothers me that so many Christians say something is sin (i.e. failing to have a daily quiet time of reading Scripture) when there are people in the world who do not have that option. THAT is a huge indicator that someone is mixing up Principle with Practice. So a big thing I like about the structured goals approach is that it gives freedom to the illiterate or Bible-less brother who can find alternative ways of developing his intimacy with God and still be faithful.<br /> <br />The Value of Flexibility<br /> <br />One difficulty with scheduled devotions in general, and even the structured approach I’ve advocated above, is that there are certain moments when we experience extremes; specifically, either extreme inspiration in a particular area or extreme challenge. These extremes command a response from us, but we can easily feel a challenge if we assume that our devotional schedule cannot change and yet our interest lies elsewhere.<br /> <br />That is why I would advocate openness to flexibility. Essentially, this means allowing yourself tangents from your structured devotions. One allowable tangent is time-sensitive, God-oriented projects. Perhaps you are asked to teach a Sunday School class on the book of Acts, but you are in the midst of studying the Old Testament prophets. It is OK to set aside the prophets for a time and to focus your devotional time on your lesson! I’m always shocked by how many people think this is an evil thing. What could be bad about that one week delay while you do something else that is just as legitimate in developing your relationship with God?<br /> <br />Another allowable tangent, it seems to me, is response to extreme emotions and circumstances. Perhaps I’m having a good month and I decide to delve into the theological nuances of soteriology. But a week into it, my friend tells me his wife had an affair and they are getting a divorce. Because intimacy with God (rather than following a schedule) is our goal, this is a good opportunity to use devotional time to cry out in anguish, to work through sorrow, and to know God’s will for times of trial more intimately. One specific example of this for me was September 11, 2001. We were in college, and that experience drove me (and, I assume, millions of other people) to more closely consider sorrow and why God allows such spectacular pain. There is no reason that I needed to spend half an hour every day in the week after that event completing my assigned readings of Leviticus.<br /> <br />A final helpful tangent is moments of inspiration. Sometimes some little thing in a book, or a movie, or something someone says in a good conversation will set your mind ablaze with possibilities, and you’ll be inspired to know much more about God in that area. It’s perfectly ok to lay aside your scheduled plan for a while so that you can pursue intimacy in response to inspiration, and then come back to your structured purpose later.<br /> <br />A key point here is that this has to do with MINDSET… recognizing that certain things are ok, and knowing WHY they are ok, so that you are freed to pursue them without guilt.<br /> <br />The Value of Feedback<br /> <br />We all know consistency is difficult. I think it is both ok and even important to find pragmatic ways to help ourselves grow in consistency. One of the best ways of doing this is getting feedback. I think it is helpful to get feedback and insight, even constructive criticism, from a friend on things like what they think about the devotional goals we’ve chosen, how we’re pursuing them, and how successful we are in accomplishing them. This is true because it keeps us accountable, but also because they help us see things we may have missed. Like a good editor for an article you are writing, a wise Christian friend can help streamline your devotional approach and can keep an eye on whether you are doing it. This tends to motivate us, and it also helps us with the M (measurable) part of our SMART goal. After all, who can tell you better about whether you seem to be progressing than a friend who sees your life?<br /> <br />I think too many of us grew up with this idea that there HAS to be a purely personal, separate-from-everything aspect to your relationship with God. Ok, I can agree with that to a certain extent. But who says we can’t use community to help strengthen us in that pursuit? And in what way is our time with God degraded if someone else knows what we’re doing in it? For that reason, I think being very open with someone about our devotions… and even about our devotional STRATEGY beforehand… is a good way to help keep us on task and inspired. I also think it’s a really good idea that this person KNOW they fill this role. In other words, it gives them a way to help you build and maintain your spiritual life without committing huge amounts of time or effort. You can simply write down your devotional goal for a time period, check in with them periodically to let them know how it’s going and what you’re learning, and then ask them whether they are seeing fruit in that area of your life. This also allows you to be quicker to challenge each other, because instead of arguing about “enough” devotional time or “filling a checklist,” you can focus on questioning each other’s growth according to goals that the other person committed themselves to. And of course you can be in prayer for each other, asking God to speak to that person in a particular area and to reveal himself in ways that help them grow. <br /> <br />One final note here is that we tend to grow more from experiences we remember, and we remember things better when we articulate them to someone else. Most of the stories about my life that I remember well are crystalized because I told someone a story about them soon after. This is a great practice for charting our devotional journeys… tell friends so they stay locked in your mind! This helps us a lot later on when we face that issue again.<br /> <br />The Value of Self-Forgiveness<br /> <br />To say it honestly, Christians have a history of using guilt to, “inspire” good behavior. The problem is that this “inspiration” also inspires resentment and bitterness and frustration. But time and again, Scripture speaks of the Christian life as, “freeing.” That is, when Christ enters your life you are meant to feel more free to live life the way God intended than any non-Christian ever can.<br /> <br />To me, this means that I need to be quicker to self-forgive. When I fail, yes, it is usually due to laziness and selfishness. But the way to correct it isn’t to wallow in self-hatred. The way to correct it is to get back on the horse. So forgive yourself when you fail and, making use of an accountability partner, get back at it!<br /> <br />Conclusion<br /> <br />So, here’s the short version of what I’d recommend.<br /> <br />Stage 1: Pray, asking God to give you wisdom in organizing your devotional time. Next, set a devotional goal for yourself, and set a specific time period for pursuing that goal. Write down some ideas for how you plan to pursue that goal. Finally, ask a friend to look over your plan, giving feedback on the basis of their knowledge of you, things to think about, new ideas that might be worth adding, etc. Finalize a basic (but always flexible!) structure for the time period.<br /> <br />Stage 2: Pursue it! And have fun. Consume Scripture, read recommended books, google articles, find people who disagree on the topic, write out an essay about how you answer a particular question, watch a movie that pertains to your topic… give your mind plenty of time to work through all the possibilities and to stretch in new ways.<br /> <br />Stage 3: Find ways to keep track. Tell stories about your experiences. Keep a record of the things you learn. Blog! Find a way to measure your progress.<br /> <br />Stage 4: Always be flexible. Allow yourself time off to focus on teaching a class or leading a bible study. Let yourself pursue a new idea you’d never considered, or respond to a time of strong sorrow or intense joy. <br /> <br />Stage 5: Forgive yourself. You’ll be imperfect, you’ll fail, and you’ll display the same weakness that every other human in all of time has displayed. Get over it and come up with a new idea.<br /> <br /> <br />Whatever you do, let intimacy with God be your constant pursuit, your constant joy, and a goal that never wavers even when we do. I’m hopeful that mindset will produce better results in your heart and in mine than we’ll ever get from rote practices and dry schedules.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-56070877732035971792009-07-04T13:16:00.002-04:002009-07-04T13:21:10.426-04:00Dealing with Routine, Faithful with What is Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Mj2ETYCdOEtUnPskzIVjO2PiLLq9tMJca_mKp_3EKFr8wr1tQEK-xyoqIpcziQkCffTytozPkdYNQGIkmgLg_WflbfejI6Lah7qeIFcz9vCmcKWjf0Yz4iE9t_mXyD_7xTqyYQ/s1600-h/Slave+to+Routine"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Mj2ETYCdOEtUnPskzIVjO2PiLLq9tMJca_mKp_3EKFr8wr1tQEK-xyoqIpcziQkCffTytozPkdYNQGIkmgLg_WflbfejI6Lah7qeIFcz9vCmcKWjf0Yz4iE9t_mXyD_7xTqyYQ/s400/Slave+to+Routine" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354656237309025954" /></a><br />Something about routine has a numbing effect on me. The daily rhythms of preparing for work, commuting, clacking keyboards, schedules, watching movies and going to bed have a way of lulling me into a sort of tunnel vision, where I forget bits and pieces of who I meant to be.<br /><br />Still, it is nice to sit down at the old keyboard, fighting to make the emotions skipping around in my psyche translate clearly into written words. It gives shape to things I experience, and an object with shape is much easier to hold and process and use meaningfully.<br /><br />Samantha and I now live in a non-Seminary apartment complex called Village Manor. It is a place full of life- seminary students, people on welfare, refugees from foreign countries, international students… the list goes on. Here, we are trying to figure out the most constructive way to wait for what God would bring to us.<br /><br />Samantha is wonderfully active. She spends time with friends, teaches English to two Nepali refugee girls, participates in small groups and a reading group, and of course takes care of Isaiah. It is a joy to watch her flourish as a person. I like it when people call me up out of the blue, only to find out that they want to talk with my wife and not me!<br /><br />Speaking of joy, Isaiah is a thrill every day. He gets smarter and quicker all the time, which is sometimes wonderful and sometimes scary! I find that even his growing capacity for deceit and stubbornness is highly amusing. Isaiah likes to climb in my lap for about three seconds, and then he wants to climb onto other stuff. He likes to play with toys, but LOVES to play with adult stuff, especially cell phones. He enjoys pulling wires out of their sockets, and biting his stuffed animals on the nose. <br /><br />My favorite thing is when I wake up in the morning and start to walk down the hall; he hears the floorboards creak and starts to yell at/for me. “Da! Da Da! DADADADADADA!” As far as I can tell, this means, “Get over here right now and get me out of this crib!” It is fun to comply, even when it means changing a soggy diaper that smells of ammonia.<br /><br />My goal of late has been to become a pastor while I wait to become a pastor. People can be hard for me, and I do not think having official position will solve that struggle. So, I have been trying to use what free time I have to develop the skills to be a shepherd for those I love and whom God has given me a place of influence with. This might mean listening when a friend is frustrated, pursuing a wandering heart, counseling someone in a new situation, or leading a group of people toward new perspectives. I find that I am terribly uncertain of myself when doing these things, but it is always wonderful to see how clearly the Word speaks to all, allowing me to ignore my weakness and point to Certainty.<br /><br />It has also been a time of growing confidence for me. I find that I can be effective at work, consistent in relationships, and even sorta fun sometimes. Mind you, my struggles with a bleak outlook on life certainly have not gone away. But still, it is comforting that God keeps bringing challenges designed to show his ability to bring you along safely.<br /><br />So as I look forward to yet another stage of life not doing what I long to do, my hope is that Christ will continue to show himself strong in my weakness, that I will be prepared for whatever is next, and that I will be faithful with what is now.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-18951681138218705392009-03-09T13:02:00.002-04:002009-03-09T13:06:07.670-04:00People and Sadness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwRmdzTfSohACAw8kc8qhUl8TUEzv3ymLYZWlnMhH-3qN1UzBPiAzx5HjmDItjOdcN_gMwmh3C76N7ywu1bOKKz0Bp90DarD7Klw1a4_scEfBhyphenhyphenYqOQvWy2TTQSIyQ4nrMN7Aqg/s1600-h/lonely+people.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwRmdzTfSohACAw8kc8qhUl8TUEzv3ymLYZWlnMhH-3qN1UzBPiAzx5HjmDItjOdcN_gMwmh3C76N7ywu1bOKKz0Bp90DarD7Klw1a4_scEfBhyphenhyphenYqOQvWy2TTQSIyQ4nrMN7Aqg/s200/lonely+people.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311235398069899522" /></a><br />The other day my dad jokingly called me a, "road warrior." Between Christmas, New Years, new car, baby showers, and car problems, I've been on the road a lot. We were in Michigan this weekend, and I'm going back again next weekend. <br /><br />When I travel, I wonder a lot about the people I see along the way. The friendly old lady at McDonalds, the sour-looking gas station attendant who perked up and smiled when she saw Isaiah, the strong-looking white haired old farmer who wanted a coffee refill; all these people have stories (most of them much longer than mine) and backgrounds and things they think about or are frustrated with. It makes me sad that I cannot talk to them, or help them with their frustrations and hurts, or even make their day all that much better.<br /><br />I guess it highlights my preference for deep, thorough, complete ways of dealing with problems. I would much rather be a big help to one person than of passing help to ten, though it makes me sad that I cannot help the ten in a deep way too.<br /><br />I think, when we come to these sorts of realizations about ourselves, it is very hard to make wise use of them. Is it a problem I should fix? Is it unhealthy for me? Does it hurt me in a good way? Would it be better for me to try to change my characteristics or find ways to accept them?<br /><br />Though I do not know all the answers, I am deeply grateful that God designed the church to make use of every individual strengths and gift. And though it hurts me, I like the deep sadness that comes from seeing people who are hurting. It motivates me, deepens me, and hopefully causes me to better love those I can affect. When sadness moves us closer to Christ likeness, perhaps it is a sadness we need to be more comfortable with.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-11795539275199429472009-01-16T12:19:00.002-05:002009-01-16T12:39:45.557-05:00A Father's Gifts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIowvh2Id4PCu_CajYIHAjkxHc1Sv3YzkC7P3H0ocXMQ0MgUJeIozZ6Gw6XhEFSf3nhJiDJhXzseNyIAr6MhZwN5N9XCgC1cIMdZujTB7mwUBBXfc6KvNOuJqFXFMZoHwCj7tZXg/s1600-h/Daddy+Isaiah.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIowvh2Id4PCu_CajYIHAjkxHc1Sv3YzkC7P3H0ocXMQ0MgUJeIozZ6Gw6XhEFSf3nhJiDJhXzseNyIAr6MhZwN5N9XCgC1cIMdZujTB7mwUBBXfc6KvNOuJqFXFMZoHwCj7tZXg/s320/Daddy+Isaiah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291947592927961234" /></a><br />Sometimes I don't identify with Scripture passages, but sometimes I do. <br /><br /><em>Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:9-11</em><br /><br />I want so badly to do the best thing for Isaiah. He brings incredible joy to my life, but he also makes me ask the question, "which is best?" about 10 times per day. Should I let him stay up later or put him to bed even though he's not tired? Is it ok to for him to chew on the table or do I need to start teaching him not to bite large items of furniture? How forceful should I be in holding him down while changing his diaper to communicate obedience?<br /><br />God, in some sense, faces these decisions as our father every day. But unlike me (thank goodness) his actions toward us are perfect. He gives precisely what we need.<br /><br />As Isaiah develops and matures, he'll want things from me. He may want a tennis racquet or ballet shoes (to which I'll say yes and no, respectively). He may prefer kung fu or video games depending on which way he leans culturally (hopefully toward his mother!). He will ask for the keys to the car or money for a date. He may ask to go on a mission trip to a dangerous city or country.<br /><br />In all these things, my goal must be to give or withhold things on the basis of trying to best bless him toward a correct understanding of God, which is in his best interest. I must try to love him in a way that will bring glory to the Savior. One thing I hope Isaiah learns is that when he asks for things that are good for him, I will gladly give them. When he asks for things not in his best interest, I will withhold him. At least, that is my aim.<br /><br />God, who gives perfectly, never fails in this quest. When we ask for things that God knows are in our best interest, he is pleased to give them. When we ask for things not in our best interest, he withholds them.<br /><br />And when it is in our best interest to wait quietly, that is what he makes us do.<br /><br />I'm not sure when, if ever, I will understand living quietly. But this I know; trusting the father pays, because he perfectly gives and withholds life's blessings. And so I pray and I wait.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-71702507124618504232009-01-14T13:00:00.002-05:002009-01-14T13:01:32.776-05:00To live quietly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithe6hya4PzlrjQcRfMemTXipMgXKm1CGtDQWx0ubx5Z1kwObzL61o5bGGnJMNjNDMqG01zFRy0LvgRmgL1duBv5SXn41z_19AEP0cAmZgKqMMgSF3nItFjO32eEAzbuLW8Y1Vng/s1600-h/Quietness.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithe6hya4PzlrjQcRfMemTXipMgXKm1CGtDQWx0ubx5Z1kwObzL61o5bGGnJMNjNDMqG01zFRy0LvgRmgL1duBv5SXn41z_19AEP0cAmZgKqMMgSF3nItFjO32eEAzbuLW8Y1Vng/s320/Quietness.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291211059591926162" /></a><br />Sometimes I read a passage of Scripture and don't identify with it, and can hardly believe it is true. Here is an example.<br /><br /><em>But we urge you, brothers, to do this (love the brethren) more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.<br />1 Thessalonians 4:10-11</em><br /><br />My wife knows how to live quietly. She can invest in home and family to the point where she has to check herself and reinvest in outside things. She doesn't bother people, doesn't make a fool of herself, and to my knowledge has few if any enemies. <br /><br />I am quite the opposite. I toss my opinions around, argue hard for things that may or may not matter, and am impatient with a quiet life. I do like quietness, mind you; I love to read and spend hours thinking on my own. But on the whole, I prefer a list of challenges to the prospect of sameness any day of the week. When a problem arises, I want to solve it. When a group is presented with a challenge, I want to lead the charge. And when a people struggles with apathy, I want to call them back to faithfulness.<br /><br />But now, life is quiet. Feedback I get from others suggests that though I have the gifts to be a pastor, I am not steady or mature enough to be one yet. I can barely take school classes because of my work schedule. I cannot invest in the church with the same amount of time that others can. I am not leading anything, not solving any problem, not learning anything (except electric market structures in the state of Illinois). <br /><br />As a result, I am bored. I am embarrassed to have anyone look at my life. And I constantly wish I were elsewhere, despite knowing the problem of discontent is in the heart rather than the circumstance.<br /><br />I wish I understood better what God wants to do in me. And I wish I could offer my wife more certainty of our place and direction. But I cannot. And so I pray and I wait.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-1749018798480327842008-11-17T11:53:00.004-05:002008-11-17T12:11:02.080-05:00A Song and a Blessing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1lV9RINUcx_wYLJ8rs4n3X5Kk7Xin9Yzvhcg3isw-1diZnOOnHAPc3s_eHzluUZ8KzLulPKrTlaZCNB_Ek2CczxFiKzH8kU0QD7dOAIiFKY8lcuVwrKCfIbJIEkITwRTQhjL9A/s1600-h/Moses.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1lV9RINUcx_wYLJ8rs4n3X5Kk7Xin9Yzvhcg3isw-1diZnOOnHAPc3s_eHzluUZ8KzLulPKrTlaZCNB_Ek2CczxFiKzH8kU0QD7dOAIiFKY8lcuVwrKCfIbJIEkITwRTQhjL9A/s400/Moses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269674718584738802" /></a><br />I recently finished Deuteronomy. What a book! Moses recites God's Law to Israel, reminding them that success rides on obedience rather than strength of arms. He calls them to live obediently, rejecting the ways of the nations. He challenges them to love God only.<br /><br />Deuteronomy ends with Moses delivering a song and a blessing. The song celebrates the way God fights for his people, delivering them from enemies. It ends thusly:<br /><br /><em>"Rejoice with him, O heavens;<br />bow down to him, all gods,<br />for he avenges the blood of his children<br />and takes vengeance on his adversaries.<br />He repays thsoe who hate him<br />and cleanses his people's land."</em><br /><br />The blessing spreads hope for the ways God will bless individual tribes. It ends in a similar way;<br /><br /><em>"Happy are you, O Israel!<br />Who is like you,<br />a people saved by the Lord,<br />the shield of your help,<br />and the sword of your triumph!<br />Your enemies shall come,<br />fawning to you,<br />and you shall tread upon their backs."</em><br /><br />These two pieces remind Israel of the most important thing, just before they enter the Promised Land: God fights the battles. He is the Sovereign One, success depends on Him alone, and their hopes for peace and prosperity rest on their relationship to him. <br /><br />I love this thought, because it highlights truths that we can appreciate just as much today as the Israelites then. God fights our battles. We cannot look to worldly means for success, we can only live faithfully and trust God's direction for us. Our response to every challenge must be the same; faithfulness and obedience.<br /><br />It is also beautiful and sad to remember throughout that Moses knows some key things:<br /><br />1. He will not enter the Promised Land.<br />2. He will soon die.<br />3. Israel will fail to walk in obedience.<br /><br />And yet he delivers this powerful oration with joy and strength, knowing that God will use his faithfulness rightly to bless the world with the knowledge of the Master of the Universe.<br /><br />Deuteronomy is a powerful book for interacting with the character of God, and I've greatly enjoyed sitting under its teaching.<br /><br />Next up; Micah.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-23225758082949952642008-11-12T15:58:00.004-05:002008-11-12T17:09:42.739-05:00The Joy for Those Who Obey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh838BGEEAgxU-fLFdUUnxbWETykEu4obL-fQ2AMeOSIO1r-XvDVev5pom7TVhAQFIRoH-xsUTt5q9oHO5VehnfqohJa_juh-uMtoKHjHgVi-6FPqbwtsYzI5D8d-cID6qLaV6mDQ/s1600-h/Farm+Work.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh838BGEEAgxU-fLFdUUnxbWETykEu4obL-fQ2AMeOSIO1r-XvDVev5pom7TVhAQFIRoH-xsUTt5q9oHO5VehnfqohJa_juh-uMtoKHjHgVi-6FPqbwtsYzI5D8d-cID6qLaV6mDQ/s320/Farm+Work.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267884155115750690" /></a><br /><br />Deuteronomy 30 is the close of Moses' speech to the Israelites, which began in chapter 1. After the horrors of chapter 28 (see my last entry), it is full of welcome joy.<br /><br /><em>The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers...</em><br /><br />It is an excellent closing arguement, because it emphasizes the certainty of God's character and the importance of choosing wisely.<br /><br /><em>I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.</em><br /><br />What is interesting here is how Moses structures his speech as a call to action. "Do you desire blessing?" he seems to say. "Pursue it! Pursue it rightly, by repenting of sin and walking in obedience. Love God, love your neighbor. Enter joy by living in submission."<br /><br />Recent days reminded me of the challenge presented by the world's self-centeredness. An atheist friend of mine recommended a book (called The Alchemist) which tries to beautify one young man's pursuit of his life purpose- conveniently ignoring the way he forsakes all duty, relational connections, and responsibility for the sake of finding what he wants. It is attractive because your mind tells you that the path will fulfill your longings.<br /><br />After all, wouldn't it be nice to leave your spouse and family, leave your responsibilities, leave your problems? Do what you want, when you want? Never have to feel guilty?<br /><br />It does sound nice. It is also a lie.<br /><br />God calls us to something else entirely. He calls us to submission and sacrifice, to responsibility and suffering, to glorification of Him rather than of ourselves. And yet strangely, impossibly, and wonderfully- this path of suffering is the true path of joy and prosperity. What a God we serve.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHMSF4DwP94G18XL4ZowGtG2-D8dfYC8Cd7i2TLu2Qs95STRxNzmufJm1qJ-25NXAUPB_zA9-WzePgblbCU3Edg48c6PRfgi9c_PwZzV-2wSypb4q5r6hr6Njay5qy7FA9Kg7BQ/s1600-h/BenSamSunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHMSF4DwP94G18XL4ZowGtG2-D8dfYC8Cd7i2TLu2Qs95STRxNzmufJm1qJ-25NXAUPB_zA9-WzePgblbCU3Edg48c6PRfgi9c_PwZzV-2wSypb4q5r6hr6Njay5qy7FA9Kg7BQ/s400/BenSamSunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267883944909814146" /></a>blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-47285591059080549402008-11-10T13:19:00.007-05:002008-11-10T13:47:45.880-05:00The Horrors that Await Disobedience<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8kksEQ-3hQykRzvP3I8D9qQuFvxiDq5V9ZadiTCLjrEs7f5ynzZGpK2akfKPU1ZfzUlnBbS83-tRDRKf1Jv499hR3mD6Kx2ebQgDPm9WVTX3JdktPQj9m8n-v7XR0yInCD_mNg/s1600-h/Famine.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8kksEQ-3hQykRzvP3I8D9qQuFvxiDq5V9ZadiTCLjrEs7f5ynzZGpK2akfKPU1ZfzUlnBbS83-tRDRKf1Jv499hR3mD6Kx2ebQgDPm9WVTX3JdktPQj9m8n-v7XR0yInCD_mNg/s400/Famine.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101806337949442" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My latest Deuteronomy (Ch. 28) reading was a little disturbing. It is a clear example of the Old Testament reward/punishment structure for the nation of Israel in response to their obedience or disobedience. <br /><br />The simple, specific language (take note, all ye who would desire to be good writers!) is especially powerful. If you obey, it says, "<em>Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock</em>." Later it says, "<em>And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity</em>…"<br /><br />However, if they do NOT obey, the results are horrifying. "<em>The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish</em>." Not only that, but starvation will be so pervasive that, "<em>The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces, to her son and to her daughter, her afterbirth that comes out between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns</em>." It really does not get much worse than that.<br /><br />What do you think it felt like, to be among the people receiving this communication from the Lord? Would it not drive you to moralism, to fear, to shame? On one hand, I think our tendency is to gloss over passages like this. We prefer to talk about Jesus, about love, about joy. But are those things even possible without their antithesis? Could the Israelites hope for a Savior to come without a desperate fear of their inability to save themselves?<br /><br />One portion of faithfulness in the life of a Christian is meditating on all that we have been saved from. The driving, sickening fear of punishment is now a mild guilt; we learn to be dismayed at our sin, but do not feel the pits of hell advancing every time we make a mistake. We cry before God, but not in abject horror at the shrieking tortures awaiting those who fall into serious moral decay.<br /><br />Yes, our situation is somewhat different. God no longer ties earthly wealth to ethical adherence. But ultimately, our situation is the same. Our disobedience equals death and horror, and we only have one location in history to look to for salvation: the life, death, resurrection, and offer of salvation by Christ to all those who place their faith in him.<br /><br />It is good to read the Old Testament. It allows us to see our need not merely as individual sinners, but as humanity. And it ought to fill us with desire for the spread of the gospel, as the only hope of the nations.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyelXwSSkcZpYuVpNp-4UpDr6uVXsYy1rygWVGfPCHrO8dJCemh8inTJkjqRGAm_A2_jFT6ifx_0cuqJKOGX9KLliBwQsYzrWHj_head9nTc_cGTZvr6HwUKC3facZQbcPLyvlQ/s1600-h/Christ+on+Cross.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyelXwSSkcZpYuVpNp-4UpDr6uVXsYy1rygWVGfPCHrO8dJCemh8inTJkjqRGAm_A2_jFT6ifx_0cuqJKOGX9KLliBwQsYzrWHj_head9nTc_cGTZvr6HwUKC3facZQbcPLyvlQ/s400/Christ+on+Cross.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101632348939458" /></a>blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-38668350354794291832008-11-05T13:46:00.006-05:002008-11-05T14:27:09.973-05:00Where will the new Wilberforce come from?<em>William Wilberforce</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ryb9oIexKKYDNAVkuGtmPy7pC5a9bgXXgpgcpDGQbCAjKXUCiLlUzP2iEkIAeapVzbuW0go6gl0V9G9d2hLZdWCoAXnN2q84E2-TOS8qZVuQPL8T74fLztFcMoISTIaz6i5Hgg/s1600-h/Wilberforce.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265249025810363682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ryb9oIexKKYDNAVkuGtmPy7pC5a9bgXXgpgcpDGQbCAjKXUCiLlUzP2iEkIAeapVzbuW0go6gl0V9G9d2hLZdWCoAXnN2q84E2-TOS8qZVuQPL8T74fLztFcMoISTIaz6i5Hgg/s400/Wilberforce.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />Over at <a href="http://owenstrachan.com/2008/11/05/is-there-a-wilberforce-out-there/">Owen's blog</a>, he gives an excellent call for Christians to consider public service as an opportunity for displaying the gospel in the world, much the way William Wilberforce did in England. Let me say outright that I agree almost entirely with Owen in this. However, it brought to mind this question; why isn't this already happening? Lots of Christians are interested in politics, we have lots of money and plenty of people in the culture who lean our direction... where are the Wilberforces?<br /><br />My suggestion is that it may partly be a question of tactics. Here is my response (which I posted in the comments section) to Owen's call.<br /><br /><br />Owen,<br /><br />Thanks for this thoughtful article. It expresses well a great need and a helpful metaphor.<br /><br />However, I think there are two major things that go along with this call.<br /><br />First, the need for evangelicals to rethink how we educate young people in regards to politics. I think our paradigms are not well thought out, and as a result Christian interaction with politics tends toward the extremely simplistic and unhelpful. Christian teaching about politics tends to focus only on value issues, apologetics, and the like. We are taught to be so moralistic, as well as so vociferous in our denunciations of secular morality, that we have little opportunity to demonstrate the grace and hope that the gospel offers. How can we be excellent negotiators and policy makers when so much Christian thought is devoted to loud denunciations of the evils of the secular worldview? They simply stop listening to us.<br /><br />I saw this clearly, because for nearly seven years I was absolutely committed to being one of those Christians who would change the political sphere. I studied carefully, debated thoughtfully, took non-paying internships, was introduced to the right people, and so on. However, I soon saw that politics is dominated by secular characters. These people may claim faith, but generally are pragmatic to the core. When they think of Christians, they think of a voting block, but not serious thinkers about civic policy and direction. As a result, they have little reason to support Christian involvement in positions of real power and responsibility, because they do not think them capable of serious engagement with the issues. In fact, the reality is that they basically ignore us and placate us with pro-life votes.<br /><br />This leads to the other problem. Christian ethics are extremely hard to maintain in the ultra-pragmatic world of politics. Part of the reason that those Christians in politics seem to be “weak” ones is that you usually HAVE to be willing to sacrifice your principles for the sake of advancement to leadership and decision-making roles. Wilberforce had massive advantages in regards to his personal fortune, his location in society and history, the governmental structure, etc. Without those, it is an extremely rare Christian who can both advance politically and maintain his ethical stance consistently.<br /><br />In my own life, I saw how often (even at the lowest levels of party politics) I was required to compromise to gain notice and influence. Don’t want to steal the other candidate’s signs? You’ll never help run a campaign. Won’t accept money from pornography producers, sweat shop runners, unethical businessmen? We’ll run the guy who will. Won’t vote yes on the bill your party leader supports but you don’t? You won’t be supported by the party, won’t get a leadership position, and will be relegated to a meaningless committee. Won’t do a dirty backroom deal? You’ll never accomplish landmark legislation that will give your resume the credibility it needs to take the next step.<br /><br />One possible exception to these problems is the legal field. Christians have made some remarkable gains in legal practice and judgeships, often in alliance with conservative groups such as The Federalist Society. Advancement comes through consistency and high standards, which works in Christians’ favor. However, party politics is nigh-unto impossible to navigate without moral compromise, unless a person makes a name for himself outside of the party “system.”<br /><br />It is this last that is the key. Rather than support parties and hope that solid Christians can penetrate party structures (a rarity), I believe we can be much more effective on the local level. We can look for people with the will and character to make God-honoring decisions, and then strongly support them for jobs like county commissioner, mayor, or attorney general. After that, they have the opportunity to gain enough name recognition to run for Governor… and it’s the governors who are in the best position to run for executive office.<br /><br /><em>Bobby Jindal</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z6A0HlaUuVBqzPPtwqOxuBmC2qHwHCq3Gw5C-JVKz5yYN98CoNhWVAP3IYYyy0eWOpSggOaEXSYDjMuNKjt2jMu5J0LcQAJJj5f3hHpNNIpQNkQLJ0aPF1iAo7I77K_IzF9m5Q/s1600-h/bobby_jindal_1_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265249203385590658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z6A0HlaUuVBqzPPtwqOxuBmC2qHwHCq3Gw5C-JVKz5yYN98CoNhWVAP3IYYyy0eWOpSggOaEXSYDjMuNKjt2jMu5J0LcQAJJj5f3hHpNNIpQNkQLJ0aPF1iAo7I77K_IzF9m5Q/s400/bobby_jindal_1_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />So, there’s no one Senator I can think of whom I would feel entirely comfortable with running for President (this last election being Exhibit A). However, there are several governors who, if not perfect, exhibit signs of being our best hope for mature, thoughtful , and ethical leadership; Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee, etc. (Palin hasn’t really convinced me that she is willing to forego the party line).<br /><br />I guess what I’m saying is this… we Christians should probably focus less on supporting one party or making unholy alliances to focus on one issue, and focus more on using dollars and volunteerism to support individual candidates who show excellent moral character and an ability to create thoughtful and non-partisan policy. This, I think, will separate us from being characterized as a “voting block” and give far greater opportunity to use our civic engagement to point to the health and hope of the gospel.<br /><br /><em>Isaiah...Churchill?</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE41r07m_KfKchRXmfoxRiICxqhk5uGNLxUxYhN3NAC96-zVl-NxNbESjgQQ_8yGIuWYyYkEOmspx1P1DunzBaOX5II53U-zKunASr2asom08Tdu1Zx50wdWQ-9kOXlfV2qDmv0A/s1600-h/Isaiah-Churchill.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265256820005611810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE41r07m_KfKchRXmfoxRiICxqhk5uGNLxUxYhN3NAC96-zVl-NxNbESjgQQ_8yGIuWYyYkEOmspx1P1DunzBaOX5II53U-zKunASr2asom08Tdu1Zx50wdWQ-9kOXlfV2qDmv0A/s400/Isaiah-Churchill.jpg" border="0" /></a>blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-15738444836452132682008-11-04T23:25:00.003-05:002008-11-04T23:27:52.018-05:00Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRUrU1wj4RTvbON6cFCIGa8XWtxIhrqDbM8jCVyhmEEttCNa08KiLbbW7PUQ9Nllzo37v_TvVukhT95WVfTTMecNC3enQnKoPCSUNiHWakrhRnyVfOgnDdy5hIVEuSyrnJYOfjQ/s1600-h/Barack+Obama.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRUrU1wj4RTvbON6cFCIGa8XWtxIhrqDbM8jCVyhmEEttCNa08KiLbbW7PUQ9Nllzo37v_TvVukhT95WVfTTMecNC3enQnKoPCSUNiHWakrhRnyVfOgnDdy5hIVEuSyrnJYOfjQ/s400/Barack+Obama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265025439164459202" /></a><br />Whatever your party, this is a historic moment for our country.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-3527652876211223432008-11-04T12:17:00.004-05:002008-11-04T14:45:07.106-05:00A Wistful Vote<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNq7OTvkSu-R4tLPLstkli66M0e1Kvwd4MZxzFJu5yFBhVa-UxHuUtuAEZyAA6B3cVZDmNotySLa665l8bv8gUG16bzPF02i-a5WChnnUlsd4Vw5el09IfFCFxfKxBIiIynWhuA/s1600-h/County+Election.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNq7OTvkSu-R4tLPLstkli66M0e1Kvwd4MZxzFJu5yFBhVa-UxHuUtuAEZyAA6B3cVZDmNotySLa665l8bv8gUG16bzPF02i-a5WChnnUlsd4Vw5el09IfFCFxfKxBIiIynWhuA/s320/County+Election.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264858451823867970" /></a><br />Well, I voted. There are all kinds of good things about voting today.<br /><br />-I get to add my contribution to the political process.<br />-Lines were short.<br />-NO MORE POORLY WRITTEN POLITICAL ADS.<br />-No more abuse for my unorthodox political perspectives.<br />-One less thing for which to be called an argumentative person.<br />-It looks like almost all of my political predictions are going to come true (I thought Guiliani would do better, but otherwise I nailed most of them).<br /><br /><br />But that said, I did it with a bit of wistfulness. I voted for George W. Bush both times he ran, and am glad I did so. I will miss him. I think he was an excellent President in many respects.<br /><br />-I believe he sought to lead in a morally consistent way. He sought to limit stem cell research on embryos, but expanded AIDS relief in Africa. He did more to fight the sex slave trade than any other president, and chose excellent judges who do not view abortion as a right. His tenure was marked by thoughtfulness and character rather than responsiveness to opinion polls.<br /><br />-I believe he made courageous decisions, such as propping up an economy on the edge of disaster even though his own party was against it. He wanted the nation to be stable, and acted accordingly even though it seemed to go against his own party. He did so in spite of opinion polls.<br /><br />-I believe he understood his role as a figurehead in times of crisis. His ability to deliver hope and strength exactly when we neeeded it were remarkable. He helped the nation heal quickly after September 11, and carried out justice as best we understood it. He only delivered a few great speeches, but those were truly great. Rather than focus on himself and his ability to fix problems, he guided us to faith in something higher as the source of hope. And he did not give speeches designed to respond to opinion polls.<br /><br />-I think the justification for the Iraq war was badly communicated, but I think it was the strategically correct move and I believe our nation will reap the rewards (not primarily financial) for generations to come. I think Iraq and indeed the Middle East are significantly better off because President Bush saw a larger need for significant change in that region, and he followed through in a way that UN always has and likely always will be too weak to emulate. And he did not capitulate because of opinion polls.<br /><br />-I believe he truly cared about us. But he cared too much to try to give us everything we asked for, because George W. Bush is not beholden to opinion polls.<br /><br />I think these things make him a great man and president, as opposed to his predecessor, who DID build most of his actions around opinion polls.<br /><br />So today I cast my vote for Barack Obama, because I believe he will be better for the nation on the whole in executing the office of president and casting vision for the people. But I also heave a sigh, because I will miss that brief period when we had a President too stubborn to listen to anything but his own moral clarity.<br /><br />Thank you, Mr. President.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-18425123204398538862008-11-03T13:32:00.004-05:002008-11-03T13:37:50.714-05:00Economic Grapes of Wrath<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ag2U7Xk9sW_u19nLWT8KiJFWwC6hoSgUrqKwP3NKDGDkZrzYhhZ9UrDxmhNtNELgLmFcxEtdzVEWko_rJiz73W1TBbtvym7lBnWF_pafNjLqCAs43G2nsWE7YWK7KBG-7XSBvQ/s1600-h/Money.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ag2U7Xk9sW_u19nLWT8KiJFWwC6hoSgUrqKwP3NKDGDkZrzYhhZ9UrDxmhNtNELgLmFcxEtdzVEWko_rJiz73W1TBbtvym7lBnWF_pafNjLqCAs43G2nsWE7YWK7KBG-7XSBvQ/s320/Money.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264502168469017090" /></a><br /><em>(note: I also submitted this article at <a href="www.christandpopculture.com">Christ and Pop Culture</a>. Even so, my frustration on this point is personal enough that I thought I would post it here as well) </em><br /><br />I recently joined a book club, and our next book is, "The Grapes of Wrath," by John Steinbeck. Most interesting was the reason for choosing this particular book; the choosers felt, "it would be especially relevant to our time and situation." In other words, they felt the many parallels between our time and the events depicted in the book warranted close consideration.<br /><br />Of course, the title for the book comes from the Christian hymn "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory," which uses martial terms to depict God's harshly judgmental return before the coming of the new heavens and the new earth. As it says;<br /><br />Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:<br />He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;<br />He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:<br />His truth is marching on.<br /><br />In other words, the book depicts economic conditions so bad it is like being smashed in a winepress. Steinbeck carries the analogy forward to argue that its best result –or, "wine,"- is the way it forces workers to unite and organize. Still, his book depicts sad and crushing hardships during the late stages of the Great Depression. <br /><br />But are things really so dire? Our presidential election seems to suggest it is. The campaigns are dominated by discussion of economics, and people have been more willing than prior years to look to government for financial help (even making Obama immune to accusations of socialism, whether or not these are true). President Bush's approval ratings are through the floor, partially for an unpopular war but with a much stronger correlation to the condition of the economy.<br /><br />I, on the other hand, would tend to disagree for a couple of reasons. First, though government can be of help in times of crisis, it really does not control the economy. Our financial situation is governed by thousands of decisions by millions of different people, all of whom have their self-interest first and foremost in their hearts. To argue that our chief executive is the cause or the downfall of happy economic times is merely to find a scapegoat; any economist worth his salt will tell you that federal government impact on the economy is usually negligible at best.<br /><br />Second, I would disagree quite strongly with the core accusation that our economy is fundamentally, "bad." After all, our unemployment is at 6.1%, better than all but the most efficient (and usually resource-rich) countries worldwide (by comparison, during the Great Depression it reached 24%). Average income, even after adjustment for the buying power of money, is light-years ahead of any other time in history, American or otherwise. And those truly in some form of poverty have more options for recourse and support than any other civilization that has ever existed.<br /><br />As these thoughts were running through my mind, I came across a helpful article that compares our economic condition to that of the last twenty years. In it, the authors trash most objective measures of riches, and focus on how we FEEL about our money. In other words, they try to describe economic conditions by our emotional status rather than numbers that depict- well, economic conditions.<br /><br />Their case is startlingly valuable, because it highlights a basic problem for human happiness; we have no perspective. Though we live in the richest, healthiest, most robust, most diversified economy in world history, we are angry about its condition.<br /><br />The reason, I think, is a nice little mix of short memories, self-centeredness, and the influence of postmodern thought. Or, we forget things used to be worse, we desire the absolute best for ourselves, and we think the relative value of economic conditions is a matter of comparing them to the best we ever had.<br /><br />This is a childish way of thinking. If I defined the value of marriage by comparing it to the absolute best our relationship ever was, I would be unhappy all the time (or at least divorced in a very short amount of time). If I defined whether a meal is good by comparing it to the best meal I ever tasted, then a dinner at a four-start hotel would ruin my appetite for life. <br /><br />Christians, then, need to approach our time in this world very differently. Here are a few principles for responding to living conditions, economic or otherwise.<br /><br /><strong>Trust God's Providence</strong>. The Christian who believes God is in control has no real reason to fear or become incensed over the condition of the economy. God provides what is right and good, and our goal must be to respond with faithfulness to whatever he deems to be best.<br /><br /><strong>Practice Contentment</strong>. Jeremiah Burroughs, in "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," (highly recommended) points out that if our desires are larger than our possessions, we will always be unhappily straining to achieve our desires and ignoring the blessing of our possessions. However, if we learn to constrain our desires to meet our possessions (in other words, accept that God has given what we need), we will find contentment and joy in the present, rather than looking for it in the future.<br /><br /><strong>Hope in the Gospel, not Finances</strong>. We look forward not to a time of constant economic growth, or fulfillment of our wildest financial dreams, but to a place of perfect joy and peace. Money is a tool, but it is not a fountain of satisfaction. God, on the other hand, is. In times of economic downturn (relative though they may be), Christians have a special opportunity to show the world that our joy is different from theirs, that our hope is not conditioned on our portfolios, and that Jesus is the same whether we are getting richer or not.<br /><br />In these and other ways, Christians can reflect the image of God by laughing at days to come, because our Risen Savior is Ruler of All.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-47773743659156179192008-10-31T12:40:00.002-04:002008-10-31T12:59:15.928-04:00Happiness and Ethics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk_QDj6MTLZOF1Sdyd7FBiZaLS7iBJAwAkhTD3yR0dA6nNp0-r5Wa4bfcYXh3YHofk3iRsFuV1iovrCTh9YHC9YL-JTaaNgsTRE_yzxrl3r7zsQrf0PCdKvo5TThnUxRcG9e_1g/s1600-h/Calvin+and+Hobbes+Hilarity.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk_QDj6MTLZOF1Sdyd7FBiZaLS7iBJAwAkhTD3yR0dA6nNp0-r5Wa4bfcYXh3YHofk3iRsFuV1iovrCTh9YHC9YL-JTaaNgsTRE_yzxrl3r7zsQrf0PCdKvo5TThnUxRcG9e_1g/s320/Calvin+and+Hobbes+Hilarity.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263363595339878018" /></a><br />My readings from yesterday and today in Deuteronomy were both ethical in nature. God lays down laws for his people that go against what they might naturally think or feel or do. His desire is that they recognize His Truth, and in so doing alter their behavior accordingly.<br /><br />So, I began asking some co-workers questions about how they make ethical decisions. Their answers seemed to compete between two desires... the desire to be nice to people on the one hand, and the desire to be consistent with their atheistic world views on the other. The result was a sort of mish-mashed relativism, where they will say that PERSONALLY they would not, say, kill a pregnant woman to save a group of ten other people, but they also would not say that it is wrong for someone else to do so.<br /><br />At heart, they believe the key goal in life is to be happy, to be content with decisions, to enjoy life. Because they are young and educated and financially stable, this seems within grasp for them. And yet I feel they will struggle when the storms come with the question of whether their life has value and purpose.<br /><br />In Augustine's Confessions, he is using lies and rhetoric (before he became a Christian) to gain status and power in the world. While doing so, he comes across a drunk beggar in the street: <br /><br /><em>Sighing, I spoke to the friends around me of the many sorrows that flowed from such madness. I was dragging the burden of my unhappiness under the spur of ambition, and, by dragging it, increasing it at the same time. Despite all our efforts, we still aimed only to attain the very happiness that this beggar had reached before us-and there was a grim chance that we should never attain it! For what he had obtained through a few coins gotten by his begging, I was still scheming for by many a wretched and torturous turning, namely, the joy of a passing bliss. He had not gained true joy, but at the same time, with all my ambitions, I was seeking one that was even more untrue.</em><br /><br />This caused me to recall why Christian morality is and should be so entirely different from the world. Our message is that our base desires and strivings are essentially false. Though our natural instinct is to sacrifice only at the altar of self-worship through pleasure, it is not what is best or healthiest for our true joy.<br /><br />Instead, we must first recognize an Objective Truth outside of our contained little lives, and submit our moral choices to the guidelines that flow from that moral truth. For the Christian, this means submitting moral decisions to the prism of God's glory; we find true joy by responding to the good news with faith and repentence, by living to the glory of Him who has saved us, and by entering into His joy and rest when our time here is done.<br /><br />How much more consistent, how much more beautiful is this picture! The strivings of the world are but begging for coins to get drunk, but the life of the Christian is one of submission and obedience for the purpose of greatest joy in God's glorification.<br /><br />Keep these things in mind when you are tempted by the things of this world. Remember, as Steven Curtis Chapman sings, that your chains are gone.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-15589391080156974082008-10-27T12:47:00.004-04:002008-10-27T13:00:42.013-04:00On Leaving and the Purposes of God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYmgH95V0hJfecJoZegi5plFMSYiqUjB_1M4icb08guxESsIWFAWYAzcEU6TO7rb_ZMx4vU-cSt7TIOGqY6SeqYke3gmK7g4290P2H97ab0mKpSYLZzB6DDi1f7qibKAsvvWlWw/s1600-h/ship+in+port.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYmgH95V0hJfecJoZegi5plFMSYiqUjB_1M4icb08guxESsIWFAWYAzcEU6TO7rb_ZMx4vU-cSt7TIOGqY6SeqYke3gmK7g4290P2H97ab0mKpSYLZzB6DDi1f7qibKAsvvWlWw/s320/ship+in+port.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261879280258834274" /></a><br />Augustine, remembering his mother's fierce desire for him to stay in Carthage rather than move to Rome, because she feared he would never come to faith:<br /><br /><em>What was it, O Lord, that she was asking of You in such a flood of tears, but that you would not allow me to sail? Nevertheless, You, took Your own secret counsel and, noting the real point to her desire, didn't grant what she was asking in order to grant to her what she had always sought.<br /><br />The wind blew and filled our sails, and the shore dropped out of sight. Wild with grief, my mother was there the next morning, and filling Your ears with complaints and groans which You disregarded. At the very same time, You used my longings as the means to hasten me toward the fulfillment of all my longing, thus the earthly part of my mother's love was justly purged by the pain of sorrow. Still, like all mothers, though even more than others, she loved to have me with her. She had no idea what joy You were preparing for her through my departure.</em><br /><br />Classic Augustine; full of wisdom, full of truth.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-29912956988716955732008-10-22T12:13:00.005-04:002008-10-22T12:20:15.805-04:00And So We Worship the Stars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1YDGlyOWUwiLxDy-1xV3iGxqR0jwkJ0D1jjBBszQSfgQ20j-PU_fA9MNdNpGdClUcnJVz8VFW8khQs4CgIbDrlVacB5GZHK525jdYdJIPg4Um31jpEJtBnxIBWH9XtHsRTW5pg/s1600-h/Beautiful+Stars.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1YDGlyOWUwiLxDy-1xV3iGxqR0jwkJ0D1jjBBszQSfgQ20j-PU_fA9MNdNpGdClUcnJVz8VFW8khQs4CgIbDrlVacB5GZHK525jdYdJIPg4Um31jpEJtBnxIBWH9XtHsRTW5pg/s400/Beautiful+Stars.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260013499536229426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In Deuteronomy 17, God lays out a stiff penalty. If a person turns away from Him to, "worship the stars," or a variety of other false gods, they are to be stoned.<br /><br />This got me thinking about the ways in which we worship the stars. For instance, our culture has an incredible fascination with celebrity. I can hardly believe the importance people place on Katie Holmes hair, Britney Spears' domestic instability, Will Smith's upper body, or Alex Rodriguez's marriage.<br /><br />But there are other ways as well. I imagine myself worshiping the stars, and see myself looking in the great nothingness of the dark sky... with hope. Out there, bright points of light could be the seats of the gods, or holes in a black tapestry hinting at glory beyond. I am taken away from everyday frustration and into a world of possibility, where boredom flees and drudgery dies.<br /><br />When I imagine this heart condition, I see how it carries over to other activities I do even now. I am prone to placing great hope in the starry panorama of technology, where new ideas and solutions can create a happier and more efficient world. I keep close track of new ideas in math and urban design and storytelling and fuel efficiency hoping these things will make life more comfortable and joyful. I allow myself to mentally say, "If this one thing happened, life could be so much better." Rather than merely enjoy new ideas, I place hope for future joy in their hands. In so doing, I worship the stars.<br /><br />We as Christians must be very careful about the things that fascinate us. While we serve a God not seen, it is all too easy to take comfort in our physical interests. When these interests move from joys to hopes, we risk displacing the power found in God with the amusement found in hobbies.<br /><br />I still like to look at the stars. And I will continue enjoy using statistics and science to solve problems. But my prayer is that my life, considered as a whole, will display faith in my Creator rather than small-minded fascination with his creation.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-15420187071079426372008-10-22T01:27:00.002-04:002008-10-22T01:31:34.120-04:00A Father's Child<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzBIcqd4Aa19CDu3j4Nn3NtG_oQIM8AhN3yyt9v8k-_TupYLTjVfi-AEkg8bxiC7RYJlqjQhzHwdZNumMaXxw6JL3DG2ChGLHufYsHKjIuVJLBMoxCKljrA6TVoxqMzD1Cz9YdA/s1600-h/Isaiah+Begging.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzBIcqd4Aa19CDu3j4Nn3NtG_oQIM8AhN3yyt9v8k-_TupYLTjVfi-AEkg8bxiC7RYJlqjQhzHwdZNumMaXxw6JL3DG2ChGLHufYsHKjIuVJLBMoxCKljrA6TVoxqMzD1Cz9YdA/s320/Isaiah+Begging.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259846072975891682" /></a><br />Sometimes my little guy wants something. Usually it involves wanting to play, to eat, or to be changed. If none of those helps, he needs a nap. If it is not one of those four things, it means I am out of ideas and I have to use my special emergency word- “Honey?”<br /><br />As you can see, it is a dire circumstance because his begging face is irresistible. Also it immediately precedes crying, which is just painful. So when Isaiah wants something, if it is reasonable, I give it to him. If it is unreasonable (like not wanting to go to bed), I steel myself to ignore his pitiful cries for freedom.<br /><br />This is the simple metaphor used by Christ in Matthew 7 to encourage us to make requests of the Father. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find…or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?...If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”<br /><br />I tend to be comfortable with conflict and challenges- much more comfortable with those things, in fact, than I am with times of peace. Right now my little family is in a time of great peace, and I struggle with restlessness. I want to move on to new battles and challenges, to see lives changed and the Word proclaimed.<br /><br />On one hand, I need to learn trust and patience. My God is a father more faithful and loving than I could ever be to my own adorable son, how then can I fault the situation he has given us? Each day I am learning to find joy in peace and quiet, when much is at rest. God has placed us here, and I would be ungrateful to overlook the blessings of this time.<br /><br />At the same time, Christ encourages us to make use of our son ship. As a child of the King, I am to ask for good things with passion and confidence, knowing that God uses my pleading as part of his plan to open new directions and insights. It is as though by crying out, I take a snapshot of a moment in time, so that later I can look back at that snapshot and see how much I have changed; or, more accurately, God has changed me.<br /><br />So today I work to practice these things; trust and gratefulness for all that God gives, but also desperate pleading for new opportunities to proclaim His gospel to the world. These are the tasks he gives me as a child in my Father’s house. Hopefully without the pouty face.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-83449522791315024162008-10-16T13:05:00.003-04:002008-10-16T13:28:34.756-04:00The Bruce<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzWhSpoA2dmKduudCCxtTMV58yjCn82cqAXoxyRlcwbXFDFHZdw3ulqzBm_hlj8ygE7n33PsY78MIF-zR11JEwWv-iQqwOnmgzNfa8ns695ctTecXbYqJaelxae80kkdDFTA_cQ/s1600-h/KennedyDesk.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzWhSpoA2dmKduudCCxtTMV58yjCn82cqAXoxyRlcwbXFDFHZdw3ulqzBm_hlj8ygE7n33PsY78MIF-zR11JEwWv-iQqwOnmgzNfa8ns695ctTecXbYqJaelxae80kkdDFTA_cQ/s200/KennedyDesk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257804951753315634" /></a><br />I am reading a book called, "The Steps to the Empty Throne," the first of a historical novel trilogy about Robert the Bruce. In a poignant set of scenes, you see how the king of England is disrespectful and condescending to his people when they are in a humiliated position; and soon after, you see a young Robert treating his people in a similar situation with great dignity and respect. It is quite beautiful to see how he used his experiences (even negative ones) to drive his leadership.<br /><br />Today I filled out health insurance forms for a large part of my precious lunch period- half an hour I could have spent reading instead.<br /><br />However, I find more joy in it than I used to. When I write down, "Samantha Bartlett," as my wife and, "Isaiah Bartlett," as my son, I declare to the world that we are an interdependent family unit, a small community whose fates are inextricably tied together. I am no longer a smart-mouth kid trying to make my mark on the world- I am leader and representative of a small tribe. <br /><br />Our goals are simple. We are here to honor God in our stewardship of the life he has given us. We love each other deeply, look out for each other's interests, and drive each other nuts (that last one is for internal use only). We will fight when necessary, make alliances when possible, and try to love all consistently (well, Isaiah is a little lacking in this area, but we'll show him some leniency at this point). Our hope is that our presence in your life is a blessing, but we make no apologies when when our goals challenge your preferences.<br /><br />As our maturation continues and our identity evolves, our greatest purpose is faithfulness. <br /><br />Like the Bruce, I hope reflection on my experiences, positive and negative, will help me accept leadership of my small community, so we can together pursue the joys of scriptural faithfulness.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-1725720554611954022008-10-14T11:57:00.005-04:002008-10-14T12:32:59.074-04:00Why does God require physical locations?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhICB5ugTwgW2j4t5_PdvlYBHTbIIoYz2yDTOX9_2nRSjkZb0FA2QfUjvtfQak9vTcUtQ6dDDtl9DLyoUM2K1OvdJw2-xtxCvTlMtbYPkiGRBbkRB5x83nfLAzpA2iDPJicOWJw/s1600-h/Church.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhICB5ugTwgW2j4t5_PdvlYBHTbIIoYz2yDTOX9_2nRSjkZb0FA2QfUjvtfQak9vTcUtQ6dDDtl9DLyoUM2K1OvdJw2-xtxCvTlMtbYPkiGRBbkRB5x83nfLAzpA2iDPJicOWJw/s200/Church.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257048354976244626" /></a>Is it not interesting that even in Deuteronomy, God requires physical locations? In chapter 12, he requires ONLY making certain types of sacrifices in <em>specific </em>locations no less than seven times. He also commands destruction of physical idol worship locations- high places in mountians and hills, under green trees, and beside large pillars. <br /><br />Of course, Christians see this same impulse (if you can say God has impulses) in God's emphasis on the local church. We are called to gather in his name and to not give up meeting together, called to share what we have, called to use what gifts we have been given. Why?<br /><br />I think, at core, it could almost be called a pragmatism. God calls us to these things because he is glorified in his people, be they Jews in the OT or the redeemed in the NT (revealing my New Cov. leanings here). God's people are more able to bring glory to him through coming together, through the combinations and recombinations of their gifts and skills, and through mutual care and protection for each other on various fronts. Ephesians 4 makes it clear- our sharing of gifts makes us stronger.<br /><br />We are to be a city on a hill, but as is true of any city, we will only shine if each member participates and accepts responsibility as part of the body. <br /><br />At the same time, we recognize our severe dependence on the grace of God. Communities of faith, be they large or small, are entirely needy of God's favor for survival. Without it, and without faithful commitment to gospel ministry, they are no better than a bowling club losing members to the local gardening club.<br /><br />This is probably a piece of why I so enjoy smaller churches. In a church of 50-200 people, you can have true community. People bless each other with gifts, but are not lost in the cracks. They have the opportunity to be a light to the community without devolving into an attraction for the shallow. <br /><br />At the same time, they are small enough to see their need. They can pray, "O God Almighty, thy sea is so vast and my boat is so small!" and mean it. They can watch the destructive power of sin and know that, "Come Lord Jesus!" is the only hope. <br /><br />All this to say one thing; commit yourself to your local church. Make sacrifices to contribute. Be there as often as you can. Get to know the members, and fall in love with their quirks and failings (and do not hesitate to make light of your own!). You have no better opportunity to praise your maker than to join hands with fellow believers and display the hope of the gospel.<br /><br />God loves physical locations, I think, because they force us into the, "warts and wounds," of community, a place where frustration and boredom can run high, but where the friction burns away dross and highlights the beauty and purity of our Father's plan for the world. To that end, then, we must show up.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-36795802880346047922008-10-10T12:43:00.003-04:002008-10-10T17:29:14.713-04:00Discerning Life's Romance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVMeelz8ww3eX4GjNftQ1VjRFbW6BzUpFlseHkMbBPiY9he4ixne_rim4zvLALfn2_T9O2UsQU23p7fQWDpLI-DB-DZgreVHwWMQSSso5SExJF0_2fzyl2k3YnkRpNmS1ykrn1g/s1600-h/aragorn-and-arwen-2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVMeelz8ww3eX4GjNftQ1VjRFbW6BzUpFlseHkMbBPiY9he4ixne_rim4zvLALfn2_T9O2UsQU23p7fQWDpLI-DB-DZgreVHwWMQSSso5SExJF0_2fzyl2k3YnkRpNmS1ykrn1g/s320/aragorn-and-arwen-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255574322551936162" /></a><br />I long for a romantic life. I imagine travelling some mystical world, one that does not include high health care costs or excel spreadsheets. There I enjoy adventure and leisure, with problems that are immediate challenges rather than long term budget shortfalls. <br /><br />Of course, that place is mere fantasy. And yet, do we not all desire for life to have a romantic flavor, an epic feel, a powerful thematic storyline?<br /><br />I think this desire explains John Elderidge's popularity. Though theologically imprecise, he captures our internal wish to participate in a story larger than our lives and more poetic than balance sheets and alarm clocks.<br /><br />It's here that reading Deuteronomy and Augustine's Confessions simultaneously has been such a blessing. <br /><br />In Deuteronomy, Israel comes together to remember all that God has done for them. Their hearts are strengthened for the coming wars against Canaan (a land of people viewed as "sons of Anak" for their size, living in cities, "fortified up to heaven.") by the memory of all God had done for them, and by reminders of his promises. They are readied to enter this terrifiying land, but "Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you." (D. 9:3)<br /><br />In Confessions, Augustine celebrates God's action in his life, even referring to the joy of God making him miserable while he was in sin. He prays, "...I confess my shame to Your glory. Bear with me I pray, and give me the grace to retrace in my present memory the devious ways of my past errors and so be able to 'offer to God thanksgiving.'"<br /><br />In both cases, the people of God find comfort by remembering their past, and discerning the part that past played in the larger story of God's action in the world. Their participation held meaning because both ups and downs had roles in proclaiming God's glory to the world. <br /><br />From all this, I am reminded to remember. I am called to spend time appreciating (perhaps even articulating) God's action in my history, and to take joy in how he uses my life to glorify His name. <br /><br />So today, as I fight annoyance at the cost of healthcare or impediments to financial stability, I remember. I recall my wife and son, both brought to an undeserving man desperately needy of their stabilizing influence. I recall my varied job history, and the incredible frustration it brought... along with great preparation in a variety of areas. I recall years of embarassment at having a quick mind that cannot seem to settle down and master any one area- and yet I now see how it has prepared me for ministries that favor just such a mind. I recall anger at my many failures, and then appreciate their value for sanctification.<br /><br />Joy takes work, and today I celebrate the way God shows himself in our histories, allowing us to see the epic romance of participating in God's plan of glorification.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-73943770106129099362008-10-02T12:51:00.003-04:002008-10-02T13:05:28.833-04:00Conform to Obey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJTcuUbQoaixKhFwMWPIUEywgs_cVQU1ocMplZvqlLNae01YUJWGaBzyNwn5QTyXOKZlrkQ1AmfvV6sbgWvx-BOIKNLzGio2GivAGpU5y4Hs6Useb2cqSOyLIgd-coNCTl3yINg/s1600-h/Honeymoon+Beach.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJTcuUbQoaixKhFwMWPIUEywgs_cVQU1ocMplZvqlLNae01YUJWGaBzyNwn5QTyXOKZlrkQ1AmfvV6sbgWvx-BOIKNLzGio2GivAGpU5y4Hs6Useb2cqSOyLIgd-coNCTl3yINg/s200/Honeymoon+Beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252603457089313154" /></a><br />Today's reading from Deuteronomy was chapter 5, where the "younger" exodus generation recalls the bringing of the 10 commandments. The response of the people is wonderful- they are so overcome they cannot stand to remain in God's presence. They ask Moses to hear the word of the Lord for them, and commit themselves to hear and obey what Moses tells them from the Lord.<br /><br />This recalled to my mind how important obedience is. Quite a breakthrough, right? But obedience is more than simple action response to a command. Real obedience is a constant reshaping of life and character to correctly submit to God. One who truly fears him will accept his desires on his terms, rather than carrying out their version of what he "means." The Israelites here are a good example, because their fear of God leads them to change themselves to better submit.<br /><br />"<em>And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendents forever!</em>'"<br /><br />I hope that I am growing in my ability to see how I need to change my life to better submit to and obey God out of fear and reverence. If I want to be a minister of the Word, it is key that my life be constantly conforming to better obey.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-68154940592339510092008-09-30T12:45:00.002-04:002008-09-30T12:57:03.651-04:00Are you happy?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAxYMBCo9WWwmsPOYYzXa4b27PgkLqceKmyxC-fVqlLtPbvO5iWAYtB7nNgdtlpnTd9xfDbWRMyCgyLe4dXBLomSKQ2LU8nMm0Aw7wLPdwtpwruy1XIJ_sqeLfszLl_kYkzfIg/s1600-h/IMG_0030.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAxYMBCo9WWwmsPOYYzXa4b27PgkLqceKmyxC-fVqlLtPbvO5iWAYtB7nNgdtlpnTd9xfDbWRMyCgyLe4dXBLomSKQ2LU8nMm0Aw7wLPdwtpwruy1XIJ_sqeLfszLl_kYkzfIg/s320/IMG_0030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251859432162807890" /></a><br /><em>An atheist was once addressing a crowd of people in the open air. He was trying to persuade them that there was no God and no devil, no heaven, and no hell, no resurrection, no judgment, and no life to come. He advised them to throw away their Bibles, and not to pay attention to what preachers said. He recommended them to think as he did, and to be like him. He talked boldly. The crowd listened eagerly. It was "the blind leading the blind." Both were falling into the pit (Matthew 15:14).<br /><br />In the middle of his address a poor old woman suddenly pushed her way through the crowd, to the place where he was standing. She stood before him. She looked him full in the face. "Sir," she said, in a loud voice, "Are you happy?" The atheist looked scornfully at her, and gave her no answer. "Sir," she said again, "I ask you to answer my question. Are you happy? You want us to throw away our Bibles. You tell us not to believe what preachers say about Christ. You advise us to think as you do, and be like you. Now before we take your advice we have a right to know what good we will gain by it. Do your fine new ideas give you a lot of comfort? Do you yourself really feel happy?"<br /><br />The atheist stopped, and attempted to answer the old woman's question. He stammered, and shuffled, and fidgeted, and endeavored to explain his meaning. He tried hard to return to the subject. He said, he "had not come to preach about happiness." But it was of no use. The old woman stuck to her point. She insisted on her question being answered, and the crowd took her side. She pressed him hard with her inquiry, and would take no excuse. And at last the atheist was obliged to leave, and sneak off in the confusion. His conscience would not let him stay: he dared not say that he was happy.</em><br /><br />(taken from Practical Religion, by J.C. Ryle)<br /><br />I do not think this is a hard and fast <em>rule</em>, per se. There are people who seem very happy and content without being Christians, and a lot of Christians who are not happy or content.<br /><br />But even so, I am often struck by the stark difference between the empty life of self-service and the joyful life of submission and service to God. <br /><br />Recently, I realized I've almost entirely let go of apologetics. I used to be very much into the creation-evolution debates, arguments about reality, or technical discussions of Biblical accuracy. Those things are still good: I think it is wise for Christians to have a good understanding of them. But for as for me, my trust is in God because of the works he does; the way he has shaped and molded me through experience, the way his answers are always the healthier answers, and the way he speaks to me through my own prayers. <br /><br />Though I tend toward sorrow and struggles with depression, I still find my joy in the hope of the gospel and the glory of God. I believe relationships can be healed through the strength of the Spirit even when my strength wanes. I know my purpose is tied to my obedience and not my competance. And I am happy, because God is real and all he says and does is right.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-5081633569608239122008-09-23T13:00:00.002-04:002008-09-23T13:22:36.285-04:00Moses and me: Practicing Faith and Pragmatism<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEEWnlLn48b_U0be_IbEToPzo-DX6YsHEu_WXqGrIyLmhRSbixS5hhNAR-ZJ1H9m5j8yAsgSgXWjpldsaPCUpg6kAvEEVwAbMJThFxhoCxDw-3LKKidctZBl_8LpstN6R72-Gjg/s1600-h/IMG_0024.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEEWnlLn48b_U0be_IbEToPzo-DX6YsHEu_WXqGrIyLmhRSbixS5hhNAR-ZJ1H9m5j8yAsgSgXWjpldsaPCUpg6kAvEEVwAbMJThFxhoCxDw-3LKKidctZBl_8LpstN6R72-Gjg/s320/IMG_0024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249263469920138962" /></a><br /><br />I am too selective in my Scripture reading. My favorites include Psalms, Jeremiah, Habbakuk, Ephesians, Hebrews, and James. The Samuels, the Corinthians, and the Timothys are also nice. Revelation is just right out. <br /><br />I recently finished Colossians, which I quite enjoyed. However, it is very similar to Ephesians. So, I'm going to try something a bit new and go with Deuteronomy.<br /><br />Simply beginning with chapter 1, I saw that even Moses struggled with the problem of both trusting God and living pragmatically at the same time. God was very clear on several points; Israel would re-enter the land, they would do so at the end of the 40 year exilic period, and God would be with them. <br /><br />Even so, Moses spent much time in preparation. He organized a diverse and thorough leadership structure, so that the majority of problems could be handled locally and only the largest issues would hit his desk... or his camel, I suppose. Further, though he knew God had blessed this generation, he spent a lot of time (specifically, the length of the book of Deuteronomy) reminding them of the Law and exhorting them to obedience. (Hm... a diversified organizational structure and ethics training. Maybe Wall Street should read Deuteronomy too!)<br /><br />This interplay between "God WILL do it" and "we should honor his blessing with faithfulness" is a powerful though sometimes confusing one.<br /><br />On one hand, I need to continue to remind myself that God is a God of faithfulness. He knows his purposes for me, will bring things about in just the way I need, and will maintain sovereign care over my future.<br /><br />On the other, I still need to focus my mind on my job, shepherd the people I love (both prayerfully and pragmatically), fulfill my ministry obligations, and look for opportunities to build the kingdom. <br /><br />Moses knew the weakness of his people, and was careful to strengthen them with clear teaching and exhortation, as well as pragmatic structures to prepare them for the rigors ahead. I hope I can do the same to honor all God's blessings, trusting while doing so that his sovereign guidance steers the ship.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-24413282098091074322008-05-17T14:02:00.008-04:002008-12-11T16:56:46.986-05:00Fun notes and pictures.Ok, I have a series of more serious posts coming up, so I thought I'd throw a few fun things out there first. <br /><br />First of all, to satisfy Jamie and any other Isaiah fans out there, here are a couple pictures.<br /><br /><br />Dude, chill.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFEEgC8q7ErriyHYbWil2v3-Wm_Pok9HsVLrDGvehJd-Jx5XkzfFMTSaWf2x_AUTgWH_d_mUxQ40HKtHiVw4GWqHm242TG-QWi0eJDaOHuR4PxXQVi3xb11514U16hYDcRlXiTA/s1600-h/IMG_8614.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFEEgC8q7ErriyHYbWil2v3-Wm_Pok9HsVLrDGvehJd-Jx5XkzfFMTSaWf2x_AUTgWH_d_mUxQ40HKtHiVw4GWqHm242TG-QWi0eJDaOHuR4PxXQVi3xb11514U16hYDcRlXiTA/s400/IMG_8614.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201410807012989954" /></a><br /><br />Who are you people?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6Bmq2bPu3L6YPlyYX7Z_5En-IIGnyHTzd4CaYfWpgDMQCouq6aiZJT2ZLyJsp7ugpLZwxfuok2sXMBfH-AHBLXSIL-iRsxg4TldhWUrkSuI-53M8stczS3WNS31kxRf4vR6gJA/s1600-h/IMG_8618.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6Bmq2bPu3L6YPlyYX7Z_5En-IIGnyHTzd4CaYfWpgDMQCouq6aiZJT2ZLyJsp7ugpLZwxfuok2sXMBfH-AHBLXSIL-iRsxg4TldhWUrkSuI-53M8stczS3WNS31kxRf4vR6gJA/s400/IMG_8618.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201411111955667986" /></a><br /><br />Me and My Buddy<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5Wi41DK3wicQ3m-lAAD96VshBkvLIPkQJyQjPL8rjcxzZwAZ4TbFK_9d7t0JSgun1upObvmz4EHNUs2Nv1IyN28EleYw7iL5gxrMkAnqzYsAd14pMSk9sLYS9xeq35ZGyFuRSQ/s1600-h/IMG_8631.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5Wi41DK3wicQ3m-lAAD96VshBkvLIPkQJyQjPL8rjcxzZwAZ4TbFK_9d7t0JSgun1upObvmz4EHNUs2Nv1IyN28EleYw7iL5gxrMkAnqzYsAd14pMSk9sLYS9xeq35ZGyFuRSQ/s400/IMG_8631.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201411704661154850" /></a><br /><br />The End of a Long Day... or 2 hour period.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowEhV63eXiGJ5BJ8afAiG1aS3KA3elyfa0tgG1vFHP53pCwzcBnhvfdTIfaOTJYQJfrLRFuXqXRDTvSiKyCFU-QwwtjvuFzwhMR7QcnCvlQIsPB5bEeXX3txKAHDGLfS-nBe-2Q/s1600-h/IMG_8642.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowEhV63eXiGJ5BJ8afAiG1aS3KA3elyfa0tgG1vFHP53pCwzcBnhvfdTIfaOTJYQJfrLRFuXqXRDTvSiKyCFU-QwwtjvuFzwhMR7QcnCvlQIsPB5bEeXX3txKAHDGLfS-nBe-2Q/s400/IMG_8642.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201412387560954930" /></a><br /><br /><br />Second, <a href="http://www.youthfulconsiderations.blogspot.com/">Drew </a>complained that my last couple Moments of Beauty have featured Asians (Pavoratti and Al Pacino nonwithstanding). So, here is a decidedly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8xG08JNdmg">non-Asian Moment of Beauty</a> just for Drew. The singer is Eva Cassidy, and if you enjoy this song you'll likely enjoy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwTdqPkluY">this </a>and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-haKkFnT8">this </a>as well.<br /><br /><br />Finally, I definitely recommend that you see Prince Caspian. Here is a <a href="http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/prince-caspian-putting-away-the-fear-of-childishness/">helpful review</a> for your consideration!<br /><br /><br />Take care!blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-64465195282808501892008-05-05T16:11:00.016-04:002008-12-11T16:56:49.605-05:00Baby Isaiah Pics!Hey folks,<br /><br />Thanks again for your prayers and support. Here are some pictures from a crazy and wonderful weekend!<br /><br /><br />The Infamous, "Grumpy Old Man"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtk-P9J94aeuJb1dQMBGY72cdsIeNPx2PBVaIerXU89tnANng8nZb24-mX36lgAsnBzIKpthZkReYJ88mkqjiLcBehQwyP7utq1-JO1z-lhQ5liMVpNFxKPt3NxJDeMy3OjWT-Q/s1600-h/Grumpy+Old+Man.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196991592853749362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtk-P9J94aeuJb1dQMBGY72cdsIeNPx2PBVaIerXU89tnANng8nZb24-mX36lgAsnBzIKpthZkReYJ88mkqjiLcBehQwyP7utq1-JO1z-lhQ5liMVpNFxKPt3NxJDeMy3OjWT-Q/s400/Grumpy+Old+Man.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Isaiah Sees The Light<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypAealoIYAbnz5g-HZ4EaC3DuqtJdDyGH04kpeJvrPZBTwXUcLTlcVmrpReXpNQW6JFp5mg5lT7jaypkX4mlAUhSei2mvitNg38j5KoYMyMJXy4XUDYX_QHzxfiuf3Ah4uRD8pw/s1600-h/Isaiah+Sees+the+Light.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196992013760544386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypAealoIYAbnz5g-HZ4EaC3DuqtJdDyGH04kpeJvrPZBTwXUcLTlcVmrpReXpNQW6JFp5mg5lT7jaypkX4mlAUhSei2mvitNg38j5KoYMyMJXy4XUDYX_QHzxfiuf3Ah4uRD8pw/s400/Isaiah+Sees+the+Light.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mommy and Isaiah<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2lYC21DYipoE3IcuEuisbEO-cueKzY-tRCVEqVfUjbfhuFz35JRL6BcIkJNWNq8X2oc-5n6gUZT5aUTH8bLj5WQbitDoDuTF3z1zeIzGIFiwCTBmL_E_ZqDbWhzJOyPxmZwQTg/s1600-h/Mother+and+Child.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196992383127731858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2lYC21DYipoE3IcuEuisbEO-cueKzY-tRCVEqVfUjbfhuFz35JRL6BcIkJNWNq8X2oc-5n6gUZT5aUTH8bLj5WQbitDoDuTF3z1zeIzGIFiwCTBmL_E_ZqDbWhzJOyPxmZwQTg/s400/Mother+and+Child.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Daddy and bored Isaiah<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93ilFlYHdr4jIDPksnvAq9Ta-kZLqKDqtl0pMtqE4pJPNCKEK22To8P9MZH6eYPGn8_gd9IsORafmTaAelSffPH1NUlDRrMiQtgM2PLlFV09mZiua_CX9dlzxBcMun7tXOEtxyg/s1600-h/Daddy+and+Bored+Isaiah.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196993160516812450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93ilFlYHdr4jIDPksnvAq9Ta-kZLqKDqtl0pMtqE4pJPNCKEK22To8P9MZH6eYPGn8_gd9IsORafmTaAelSffPH1NUlDRrMiQtgM2PLlFV09mZiua_CX9dlzxBcMun7tXOEtxyg/s400/Daddy+and+Bored+Isaiah.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Funny Face<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGvXrJTpvrGIiZDkqsMeXkURtEHNAzq4NxX2YTYvAN9U7Umic1n-MDln_WIxQCV0Z5IkXGlQk6zGoGlTSQ9Bn_fhoy0llsjCnIXv4doW-WL9Sb7ShjoAjIrgVg-z39KVYh9z7pw/s1600-h/IMG_1659.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196993882071318194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGvXrJTpvrGIiZDkqsMeXkURtEHNAzq4NxX2YTYvAN9U7Umic1n-MDln_WIxQCV0Z5IkXGlQk6zGoGlTSQ9Bn_fhoy0llsjCnIXv4doW-WL9Sb7ShjoAjIrgVg-z39KVYh9z7pw/s400/IMG_1659.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sleeping... again.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtiEJPJ0lHO4-APeojAGGadw8OglEgRAHCB9grdJKXqTD3qV5D1zp5aEVlT3QqjSHPbUD-buMHHi2fYX3Lwfh9VPQfLzNwYhmscH7hgrLmQah-B_k11Qcj9OmxL1Tg4Z2IrG1Gw/s1600-h/IMG_1645.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196995359540068066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtiEJPJ0lHO4-APeojAGGadw8OglEgRAHCB9grdJKXqTD3qV5D1zp5aEVlT3QqjSHPbUD-buMHHi2fYX3Lwfh9VPQfLzNwYhmscH7hgrLmQah-B_k11Qcj9OmxL1Tg4Z2IrG1Gw/s400/IMG_1645.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Growing Family<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMbyBoWQEqGJW40JL4Lw8UWQkB_U6yBAu06S28i-wCSFTRfqwxm333C0BAdzyDUb8xsgfQfpbfZUTduJcD2-zg7t1v6jU48XwdMghJ4SEao2O8bmmScyTIO2xRdL5M89nhB7C6g/s1600-h/IMG_1675.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196996712454766354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMbyBoWQEqGJW40JL4Lw8UWQkB_U6yBAu06S28i-wCSFTRfqwxm333C0BAdzyDUb8xsgfQfpbfZUTduJcD2-zg7t1v6jU48XwdMghJ4SEao2O8bmmScyTIO2xRdL5M89nhB7C6g/s400/IMG_1675.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />If you want to see more, click on the "My Pictures" link on the sidebar.blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806468.post-27278823990380404712008-05-04T04:26:00.005-04:002008-05-04T04:46:12.614-04:00I'm a father!Hey Folks,<br /><br />I'm a Daddy! Samantha's water broke around 3:15 yesterday morning, and we went to the hospital. She was throwing up because of the contraction pains, so she had an epidural around 6:15. From there, it was just a matter of waiting until she was fully dilated.<br /><br />Isaiah was born at 1:13 on May 3... Derby Day! It was one of the ugliest and most beautiful things I've ever seen. He literally looks like a grumpy old man... the back half of his head is covered in hair, and the front half is bald! <br /><br />He was a pretty big kid for being a few days early- 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. We love him to pieces even though he's so funny looking. <br /><br />I've been trying all day to post pictures, until I finally realized the hospital doesn't seem to allow uploads. So, you'll just have to wait a day or two.<br /><br /><br />Throughout all this, God has been exceedingly kind. An easy pregnancy, my sister and wife delivering two days apart, getting a job. I can only pray that we lean on him in the good times in the same way we were forced to in the very hard times.<br /><br />Thanks for all your love and prayers,<br /><br />Ben<br /><br />Oh yes, and here it is... your <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF2O2_RBMuE">Moment of Beauty</a>. This is a special one that talks about three of my favorite things- children, classical music, and Sesame Street!blbartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999068808491306447noreply@blogger.com8