Yesterday the Texas State Board of Education members adopted new high school science textbooks. The new texts includes full coverage of evolution without the disclaimers that religious conservatives and critics of Darwin's theory had sought. Frankly, I am not surprised by the decision. It is just another example of a shift toward a more secular culture. A few years ago I had the opportunity to hear creationist Dr. Kenneth Ham. He might be the first speaker at a Lutheran educators conference that travels with a personal bodyguard, a result of numerous death threats. Yes, it is a cultural war that is being waged.
It's a reality that many teenagers who have grown up in the church are forsaking the faith many of their ancestors have held so precious. While there has always been some attrition during the college years, experts like Dr. Ham are quick to point out that now faith is being challenged during the high school years. Often the crucible is evolution. Students are being taught a theory that runs counter to the stories they were taught in Sunday school, and unfortunately they often do not have the resources to process the information. Perhaps that is the problem: We teach stories while the world teaches theories. Theories are generally tested propositions that can be used as principles to explain or predict. Hence, the theory of evolution contains principles that purportedly explain the origin of all living species, including mankind. Unfortunately, all to often we teach our children using picture books and when the moving on to the Genesis account. In this day and age that is not sufficient. It's not enough to simply teach that, "God created the heavens and the earth." Creation theory must also be taught. Our students must also be taught how to process information and defend their faith.
The secularization of our culture is a reality. It is no longer enough to just teach our children doctrine. The future of the church hinges on our ability to equip them to defend that faith as well.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Reflections on the Assassination of JFK, Part 2
In many ways the 50's and early 60's were my age of innocence. Granted, there were bullies at school and we lived in a small house that never seemed to have enough bedrooms, but overall I had very few cares. I was aware of the Cold War and the Soviet menace but it didn't seem to really effect me. I recall having air-raid drills at school in the early 50's but after the Korean War they suddenly came to an end. Probably just as well: I could never understand how crawling under my desk with my head covered was going to protect me should someone decide to bomb Detroit. Part of the sense of security was probably due to the fact that we had a president who seemed to be more of a national grandfather. President Eisenhower was a World War II hero. Like an aging relative: he had health issues. I remember being told a couple of time to pray for him because he had suffered a heart attack.
I recall the controversy that evolved around President Kennedy's election. Our nation had never had a Catholic president before and some conservatives warned that in times of crisis he might be more inclined to listen to the Pope than his advisers. After having had nothing but aging leaders, I found President Kennedy was a breath of fresh air. He was someone I could identify with. He was young and had a family. I remember being told by a teacher that JFK was proof that our country was ready for the kind of change youthful leadership would bring. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis could not dull that. Our dynamic young leader stood toe-to-toe with the Russian President, Nikita Khrushchev, and the Soviet leader blinked. Our Camelot was secure, at least for another year.
Camelot ended on November 22, 1963. The age of innocence was replaced by turmoil, uncertainty and violence. We were vulnerable as a nation. Within a short time we mourned the death of two more national leaders, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. We also faced the reality of the Viet Nam War, a conflict that hit close to home since I was of draft age. The peace of the 50's was replaced by violence in the street. My hometown of Detroit suffered the most from these conflicts and has never recovered. During the political conventions of 1968 I witnessed, via television, protesters my age being beaten in the streets of Chicago. Then came the drug culture, another dose of the reality that we live in an imperfect world. Even music was different after the tragic events of 11/22/63. The Beatles arrived a few months later, followed by the protest songs, featuring singers like Bob Dylan and Barry McGuire.
Through it all I continued to ponder the thought my dad had spoken the afternoon of the assassination. People turn to the church during times of crisis. Over the years my faith has gotten me through all the changes and transitions. I've come through personal crisis, like my wife's breast cancer and the sudden loss of my job. We have also weathered national crisis like 9/11. My hope remains in an Eternal Kingdom rather than an earthly Camelot.
I recall the controversy that evolved around President Kennedy's election. Our nation had never had a Catholic president before and some conservatives warned that in times of crisis he might be more inclined to listen to the Pope than his advisers. After having had nothing but aging leaders, I found President Kennedy was a breath of fresh air. He was someone I could identify with. He was young and had a family. I remember being told by a teacher that JFK was proof that our country was ready for the kind of change youthful leadership would bring. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis could not dull that. Our dynamic young leader stood toe-to-toe with the Russian President, Nikita Khrushchev, and the Soviet leader blinked. Our Camelot was secure, at least for another year.
Camelot ended on November 22, 1963. The age of innocence was replaced by turmoil, uncertainty and violence. We were vulnerable as a nation. Within a short time we mourned the death of two more national leaders, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. We also faced the reality of the Viet Nam War, a conflict that hit close to home since I was of draft age. The peace of the 50's was replaced by violence in the street. My hometown of Detroit suffered the most from these conflicts and has never recovered. During the political conventions of 1968 I witnessed, via television, protesters my age being beaten in the streets of Chicago. Then came the drug culture, another dose of the reality that we live in an imperfect world. Even music was different after the tragic events of 11/22/63. The Beatles arrived a few months later, followed by the protest songs, featuring singers like Bob Dylan and Barry McGuire.
Through it all I continued to ponder the thought my dad had spoken the afternoon of the assassination. People turn to the church during times of crisis. Over the years my faith has gotten me through all the changes and transitions. I've come through personal crisis, like my wife's breast cancer and the sudden loss of my job. We have also weathered national crisis like 9/11. My hope remains in an Eternal Kingdom rather than an earthly Camelot.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Reflecting on the JFK Assassination
As I write this, our nation is preparing to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. Since we now live in the Dallas area, that historic event is in the news on a daily basis. I often drive down Houston Street past the former Book Depository Building, which now holds the JFK Museum. I can't see the grassy knoll and not think about the events that took place there. There is a mark in the street at the spot where the presidential limousine was at the time the shot was fired.
I was a senior in high school on November 22, 1963. It was the seventh period and I was in a study hall in the school library. Miss Belk, our school counselor, came in and made the announcement. "The President is dead." My first memory is of how quiet the school hallway was as we went to clean out our lockers and head home for the weekend. After school activities were cancelled, so a couple of my friends asked if they could have rides home. A second impression is how different everything felt as we moved through the street. On some street corners people just stood stunned.
When I arrived home my dad was waiting in the driveway. His office had closed early and he had taken the bus home. His first words to me, "Church will be full on Sunday." I must have had a puzzled look. My dad had lived through World War II and knew that in a time of national crisis people turned to their faith.
I was a paperboy during my high school days. I delivered the morning paper, The Detroit Free Press. I woke up at five every morning and delivered over one hundred and fifty papers. The morning of November 23, 1963 is etched in my mind, for a number of reasons. I was still in shock, and on top of that the weather was eerie. Heavy storms had moved through the previous evening and the streets were littered with tree limbs and other debris. The clouds were heavy and ominous, almost like in a Hitchcock movie. In addition to my normal papers, an additional fifty copies of the morning edition had been left at our doorstep, with a note that I was to sell them on a street corner after I had completed my route. Within fifteen minutes of arriving at the corner of East Warren and Outer Drive, the papers were gone.
Our family stayed glued to the television over the next three days. It was like Walter Cronkite became part of our family. Along with the rest of the nation, we mourned. My parents were not democrats, but that did not stop us from grieving, especially as we saw the Presidents children. Even my favorite radio station, WXYZ, played somber music rather than the usual top forty hits. My father was correct: the church was full on Sunday. I can still picture chairs lining the aisle and in the narthex.
If you lived through the events of 11/22/63, I am sure you too have memories. I sincerely believe that it is important to share them with those who were not alive at that pivotal moment in our nations history. In my blog next week I will share why that event was pivotal for me and why I think it was a turning point for our nation as well.
Passing the torch does not just mean the legacy of faith, but our national heritage as well.
I was a senior in high school on November 22, 1963. It was the seventh period and I was in a study hall in the school library. Miss Belk, our school counselor, came in and made the announcement. "The President is dead." My first memory is of how quiet the school hallway was as we went to clean out our lockers and head home for the weekend. After school activities were cancelled, so a couple of my friends asked if they could have rides home. A second impression is how different everything felt as we moved through the street. On some street corners people just stood stunned.
When I arrived home my dad was waiting in the driveway. His office had closed early and he had taken the bus home. His first words to me, "Church will be full on Sunday." I must have had a puzzled look. My dad had lived through World War II and knew that in a time of national crisis people turned to their faith.
I was a paperboy during my high school days. I delivered the morning paper, The Detroit Free Press. I woke up at five every morning and delivered over one hundred and fifty papers. The morning of November 23, 1963 is etched in my mind, for a number of reasons. I was still in shock, and on top of that the weather was eerie. Heavy storms had moved through the previous evening and the streets were littered with tree limbs and other debris. The clouds were heavy and ominous, almost like in a Hitchcock movie. In addition to my normal papers, an additional fifty copies of the morning edition had been left at our doorstep, with a note that I was to sell them on a street corner after I had completed my route. Within fifteen minutes of arriving at the corner of East Warren and Outer Drive, the papers were gone.
Our family stayed glued to the television over the next three days. It was like Walter Cronkite became part of our family. Along with the rest of the nation, we mourned. My parents were not democrats, but that did not stop us from grieving, especially as we saw the Presidents children. Even my favorite radio station, WXYZ, played somber music rather than the usual top forty hits. My father was correct: the church was full on Sunday. I can still picture chairs lining the aisle and in the narthex.
If you lived through the events of 11/22/63, I am sure you too have memories. I sincerely believe that it is important to share them with those who were not alive at that pivotal moment in our nations history. In my blog next week I will share why that event was pivotal for me and why I think it was a turning point for our nation as well.
Passing the torch does not just mean the legacy of faith, but our national heritage as well.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Reformation 2013
Yesterday was Reformation Day. While the rest of the world celebrated Halloween, I reflected on the legacy of Martin Luther and his impact on both the church and my personal faith. I have always thought of reform as an ongoing process. Reforming the 16th Century church was an overwhelming challenge. Over centuries the church had become stagnant and lost focus. It took ninety-five thesis for Luther to identify the issues that he wished to debate. Today I would like to offer five issues that I would like to see addressed as we strive to reform today's church and to more effectively minister to a contemporary culture.
Loving people where they are at, and not where we want them to be. Jesus loved people where they were, and tried to lovingly move them to where He wanted them to be. Take Nicodemus for example. In John 3 Jesus accepts Nicodemus for who he is, a Pharisee. He gently directs the conversation to the point where Nicodemus begins to consider Jesus' perspective. In the end Nicodemus becomes an advocate for Jesus (John 7:50-52) and a follower (John 19:39). We can never make a difference in the lives of others if we don't have a relationship with them. Consider how different things would have turned out if Jesus said, "You are a Pharisee and I don't want to talk to someone like you."
Questions are OK: The church has gained a reputation as not being a place where you can ask questions concerning moral or ethical issues. Teens and young adult especially avoid asking question within a Christian setting, because they don't want to be labeled. We need to have a format where the issues of the day can be discussed. While we need to teach our children and youth God's plan and His desires for his people, we must also equip them to defend those beliefs. That happens through discussion.
Recognizing that Faith is Personal: The relationship that an individual has with God is very personal. The important thing is that such a relationship exists. We cannot expect every person to share the same traditions and practices that we do. The only imperative is that an individual recognizes Jesus Christ as their Savior and the only way to salvation.
Substance is more important than style: Twenty-five years ago David Luecke wrote the book Evangelical Style and Lutheran Substance. It was the first time I was challenged to think outside of my Lutheran context. I have come to realize it is theology that makes me a Lutheran Christian. The style of worship and the context might change but the basic truth that Jesus Christ died for my sins remains the same. I am still renewed daily by the waters of Baptism and through His body and blood.
Less generational ministry: As one who spent his career working with teens and young adults, this is a tough one to swallow. I have come to realize that compartmentalizing people into age appropriate ministry might not be the most effective way to nurture faith. We need to find a way to merge older adults into youth ministry. We need to be nurturing and supporting families, equipping parents to do what God intended them to do, teach their children the faith. Cross-generational ministry is the future of the church.
I continue to pray for the daily renewal of our church. I have no reason not to be optimistic. God is good.
Loving people where they are at, and not where we want them to be. Jesus loved people where they were, and tried to lovingly move them to where He wanted them to be. Take Nicodemus for example. In John 3 Jesus accepts Nicodemus for who he is, a Pharisee. He gently directs the conversation to the point where Nicodemus begins to consider Jesus' perspective. In the end Nicodemus becomes an advocate for Jesus (John 7:50-52) and a follower (John 19:39). We can never make a difference in the lives of others if we don't have a relationship with them. Consider how different things would have turned out if Jesus said, "You are a Pharisee and I don't want to talk to someone like you."
Questions are OK: The church has gained a reputation as not being a place where you can ask questions concerning moral or ethical issues. Teens and young adult especially avoid asking question within a Christian setting, because they don't want to be labeled. We need to have a format where the issues of the day can be discussed. While we need to teach our children and youth God's plan and His desires for his people, we must also equip them to defend those beliefs. That happens through discussion.
Recognizing that Faith is Personal: The relationship that an individual has with God is very personal. The important thing is that such a relationship exists. We cannot expect every person to share the same traditions and practices that we do. The only imperative is that an individual recognizes Jesus Christ as their Savior and the only way to salvation.
Substance is more important than style: Twenty-five years ago David Luecke wrote the book Evangelical Style and Lutheran Substance. It was the first time I was challenged to think outside of my Lutheran context. I have come to realize it is theology that makes me a Lutheran Christian. The style of worship and the context might change but the basic truth that Jesus Christ died for my sins remains the same. I am still renewed daily by the waters of Baptism and through His body and blood.
Less generational ministry: As one who spent his career working with teens and young adults, this is a tough one to swallow. I have come to realize that compartmentalizing people into age appropriate ministry might not be the most effective way to nurture faith. We need to find a way to merge older adults into youth ministry. We need to be nurturing and supporting families, equipping parents to do what God intended them to do, teach their children the faith. Cross-generational ministry is the future of the church.
I continue to pray for the daily renewal of our church. I have no reason not to be optimistic. God is good.
Monday, October 21, 2013
I Guess I Just Got with the Program
Earlier this year I had the honor of being involved in the ordination of my good friend, Doug Widger. If your not familiar with that rite, at one point other ministers present have the opportunity to lay hands on the new pastor and share an appropriate scripture. As I stood waiting my turn I noticed that I was the only one holding a Bible. The others were using various electronic devices to reference their verses. Some had smart phones, others were using a tablet, I-pad or electronic reader. If I needed a nudge to get with the program, God provided it. My Bible slipped from my hands and landed on the communion rail. At that point I vowed to join the electronic revolution. I soon added a scripture app to my I-phone. I also have a Bible available on my Kindle. I still marvel at the convenience. I no longer carry a Bible when I make my chaplain rounds. I just pull up an appropriate verse on my smart phone. Nobody has complained. I still believe it is God's inspired Word, even if the format has changed. During Bible study I continue to use my trusted Thompson's Chain Reference NIV Bible, but I also use my phone to pull up other translations and paraphrases. By the way, my Bible app also has two commentaries and a Bible dictionary. Talk about convenience.
Evidently, I am not alone. A report I read last week from The Barna Group indicated that over 70% of practicing Christians now read the Bible electronically. Obviously, millennials are leading the way. Even 35% of non-believing young adults read the Bible and seek information on spiritual issues electronically. Amazing the transition in such a short period of time. I will admit that initially I felt a little outside of my comfort zone, but I've gotten over it. By the way, times have changed in other ways. I wrote the first draft of this blog on my laptop, while awaiting my flight at DFW Airport. Even more amazing: I am posting while working at a Starbucks a thousand miles away from home in suburban Detroit. I could not have done that twenty years ago.
At times it is difficult for me as an adult to adjust to the pace of this modern electronic world, but then I think of what an wonderful gift it is. We are not only able to read the Bible in various ways, but also share the Gospel message via social media. Just think what Jesus could have done had he come in such a time as this. No wait: He put us in this world to do it for Him.
Evidently, I am not alone. A report I read last week from The Barna Group indicated that over 70% of practicing Christians now read the Bible electronically. Obviously, millennials are leading the way. Even 35% of non-believing young adults read the Bible and seek information on spiritual issues electronically. Amazing the transition in such a short period of time. I will admit that initially I felt a little outside of my comfort zone, but I've gotten over it. By the way, times have changed in other ways. I wrote the first draft of this blog on my laptop, while awaiting my flight at DFW Airport. Even more amazing: I am posting while working at a Starbucks a thousand miles away from home in suburban Detroit. I could not have done that twenty years ago.
At times it is difficult for me as an adult to adjust to the pace of this modern electronic world, but then I think of what an wonderful gift it is. We are not only able to read the Bible in various ways, but also share the Gospel message via social media. Just think what Jesus could have done had he come in such a time as this. No wait: He put us in this world to do it for Him.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Forgiving the Sins of our Youth, and Theirs
I made some pretty poor choices during my high school and college days. I don't plan on ever running for public office because, I don't want people checking into my past. It's probably a good thing I live in Texas, a thousand miles away from where I grew up. As far as I know, there are no witnesses to my to my teenage indiscretions in the general vicinity. Somewhere there are people who could provide some pretty sordid details. I have always felt it was some of those poor decisions and the consequences that have helped me identify with teens. My goal always has been to help kids make smart choices.
I thought about the sins of my youth last week when I read about Christy Deweese. Christy is the Dallas teacher who's job is in jeopardy because of a choice she made during her college years. Christy worked part-time as a model. In that role she was selected as Co-Ed of the Month by Playboy Magazine. She earned her degree and now is a Spanish teacher at Townview Middle School. When her Playboy spread became public, some called for her firing. Parents and students alike are coming to her defense saying she is a good teacher who cares about her students. Those calling for her firing point to the fact that the students have found pictures of Ms. Deweese on the Internet. You can imagine that they are the topic of conversation among the students, especially the boys.
OK, I would feel a little uncomfortable if one of her students was my son or grandson. I would prefer they learn Spanish and not human anatomy from her. Still, if she is a competent teacher I think we need to view this as a teachable moment for everyone involved. It's an opportunity to talk about how our decisions have consequences. It also should cause us to reflect on how we practice grace and forgiveness in our lives. I am not sure of the level of contrition when it comes to Christy Deweese, but I am aware of countless people who cross my path everyday who carry the burden of past mistakes. They continue to be haunted by the memories of past decisions and their negative consequences. My calling is to help them learn from their past, to heal and move forward. The past determines where we are today, but has no bearing on where the future might take them.
I thought about the sins of my youth last week when I read about Christy Deweese. Christy is the Dallas teacher who's job is in jeopardy because of a choice she made during her college years. Christy worked part-time as a model. In that role she was selected as Co-Ed of the Month by Playboy Magazine. She earned her degree and now is a Spanish teacher at Townview Middle School. When her Playboy spread became public, some called for her firing. Parents and students alike are coming to her defense saying she is a good teacher who cares about her students. Those calling for her firing point to the fact that the students have found pictures of Ms. Deweese on the Internet. You can imagine that they are the topic of conversation among the students, especially the boys.
OK, I would feel a little uncomfortable if one of her students was my son or grandson. I would prefer they learn Spanish and not human anatomy from her. Still, if she is a competent teacher I think we need to view this as a teachable moment for everyone involved. It's an opportunity to talk about how our decisions have consequences. It also should cause us to reflect on how we practice grace and forgiveness in our lives. I am not sure of the level of contrition when it comes to Christy Deweese, but I am aware of countless people who cross my path everyday who carry the burden of past mistakes. They continue to be haunted by the memories of past decisions and their negative consequences. My calling is to help them learn from their past, to heal and move forward. The past determines where we are today, but has no bearing on where the future might take them.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Millennials Show Little Interest in the News
It was a casual comment, but I soon realized the young cashier had no idea what I was talking about. She was clueless to what was happening in the news. I had little cash in my wallet and had handed her my credit card to pay for a relatively small purchase. I made a remark about promising not to run up a credit card debt. "I don't want to end up a trillion dollars in debt like the government," I continued. She seemed puzzled. "That is part of the reason the government is shutdown. It's not only about Obama Care," I continued. It was then I realize, she really was out of touch with what was going in the world outside her little sphere. Our national debt and the affordable health care act were not even on her radar.
She is part of a generation that pretty much ignores the news. Most millennials don't read newspapers. They don't watch the news on TV either. Diane Sawyer? Scott Pelley? Wolf Blitzer could be an outside linebacker in the NFL for all they know (that would be a pretty cool name for a sack leader). Those under the age of thirty tend to be a rather self-absorb generation. Unless the events of the world knock on their door, they hardly notice. In the midst of a government shutdown and budget crisis, life goes on inside their personal bubble.
Before writing this article I visited mashable.com, one of the more popular websites frequented by teens and young adults. The website offers an overview of culture and the news from a millennial perspective. There was no mention of the governmental shutdown on the homepage. I found "nation and world" on the menu and clicked it. The lead news story was on the FBI bust of the Silk Road online drug marketplace. Then I found it, a secondary story on how "The Shutdown Won't Stop NASA's Curiosity Rover." That was it.
I grew up reading the newspaper and watching television news. Walter Cronkite was one of my heroes. While in high school I got up at 5:00 AM every morning to deliver the Detroit Free Press. I still read two newspapers each day. I have several other national dailies delivered to my i-phone. I usually glance at those to gain additional insights.
It does bother me that we have a younger generation that seems to be disinterested when it comes to matter outside their personal world. I have decided that the best way to counteract their lack of interest is to be a more responsible citizen myself. When the opportunity arise, I will engage others in a conversation of the topics of the day. My hope is that somewhere along the line some young folks will join in, or at least realize that what happens outside their little world does effect them and the rest of us.
She is part of a generation that pretty much ignores the news. Most millennials don't read newspapers. They don't watch the news on TV either. Diane Sawyer? Scott Pelley? Wolf Blitzer could be an outside linebacker in the NFL for all they know (that would be a pretty cool name for a sack leader). Those under the age of thirty tend to be a rather self-absorb generation. Unless the events of the world knock on their door, they hardly notice. In the midst of a government shutdown and budget crisis, life goes on inside their personal bubble.
Before writing this article I visited mashable.com, one of the more popular websites frequented by teens and young adults. The website offers an overview of culture and the news from a millennial perspective. There was no mention of the governmental shutdown on the homepage. I found "nation and world" on the menu and clicked it. The lead news story was on the FBI bust of the Silk Road online drug marketplace. Then I found it, a secondary story on how "The Shutdown Won't Stop NASA's Curiosity Rover." That was it.
I grew up reading the newspaper and watching television news. Walter Cronkite was one of my heroes. While in high school I got up at 5:00 AM every morning to deliver the Detroit Free Press. I still read two newspapers each day. I have several other national dailies delivered to my i-phone. I usually glance at those to gain additional insights.
It does bother me that we have a younger generation that seems to be disinterested when it comes to matter outside their personal world. I have decided that the best way to counteract their lack of interest is to be a more responsible citizen myself. When the opportunity arise, I will engage others in a conversation of the topics of the day. My hope is that somewhere along the line some young folks will join in, or at least realize that what happens outside their little world does effect them and the rest of us.
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