TimSpivey.com

Halloween, part 2

This Friday is Halloween. As a parent, I look forward to it because our kids have so much fun. Anna is going to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and Olivia is going to be Little Red Riding Hood. When I was a kid...Halloween ruled for one reason...THE CANDY!!!. We would take our pillowcases and wander the neighborhood until they were full.

Christians have different perspectives on Halloween. Typically, they break into three groups: It's fine, lighten up; It's Satanic, avoid it; and celebrate...just don't do anything evil or creepy. I will confess that I am somewhat surprised by the passion some Christians feel on each side of the whole issue. Where are you?

Beliefnet.com has some great resources to help everyone sort through it. As for me and my house, we'll go trick-or-treating. However, I understand why some parents might be wary of it. 

Small Groups

Tonight, we had a great small group meeting. 

It wasn't great because the Dove flew through the room, or we all shared our deepest, darkest secrets. It was great because our fledgling group (now 3 weeks old), took the time to share our stories. We're all in our thirties, all have kids, are all Christians, and go to the same church. But, the similarities begin to wear thin at that point.

Some were raised in the church, some are recent converts. Some have gone through a divorce, some have wandered away from the Lord and recently returned. We have a pilot, 3 bankers, a financial manager, a minister, a pre-school operator, a copy-editor, and a personal trainer. If we all walked into a bar, it would make a great beginning to a bad joke. 

But, tonight was great, because we all simply shared our stories--of how we came to Christ, of what we like to do for fun...and anything else that was relevant. We also shared things that weren't remotely relevant...and that was OK, too.

And, it was great. It was great because of the profundity of sharing stories. They were all simple stories. But that was what made them great. 

I've been a part of some bad small groups, and some awesome groups as well. The difference has been relational chemistry in the group. Sometimes it's immediate. Sometimes it takes time. In some cases, it never comes.

Groups have been on my mind a lot lately...spawned by my attending the Sticky Church conference at North Coast Church in Vista. At times I've thought they were absolutely essential to healthy church ministry. Other times, I've seen them as an accessory of sorts. Right now, I'm definitely feeling the need to explore the subject again. I have a theory about why the importance of small groups may in fact vary from church to church, and season to season...but that's for another post.

Here's the question of the day... how important are small groups to you personally, and to the church?

At the Cross

One of the great blessings of my recent years in ministry has been getting to know and participate in serving with At the Cross in Mesquite, Texas. It's been awesome to see how God has used their ministry as an illustration of what can happen when Christians really view themselves as a sent people. They are celebrating the 1-year anniversary of their founding. Click here for a video profile of this outstanding, missional church.

Preaching Calendar

I, like many preachers I know, map out a preaching schedule way in advance. In years previous, I've always gotten away for some period of time to one of my favorite hiding spots for prayer, reflection, study, and planning. While I won't be going away this year, it's time to begin looking to the 2009 preaching calendar. 

I always attempt to feed the Body a well-rounded spiritual diet. I always preach from a major text--even when I preach a topical series. 

I typically preach an OT Text book, a NT text book, a series on Jesus, something on the family and stewardship. In addition, I always do something in the field of practical theology, and a series on the church. I try to match them up with the natural rhythms of the year. Obviously, there are  lots of ways to go with all of this, and that's what makes it so important and so....fun at the same time.

Any good ideas? I thought I might solicit some before the process began. Also, those of who plan ahead, I'd love to hear what your process is like.

ESV Study Bible Review

I've waited a long time now for the ESV Study Bible to come out. I finally have a copy and have toyed with it enough to say that it has lived up to the hype.

The best things about it are:

• This study bible sets a new standard for maps and diagrams...especially in-text maps. They are often 3-D, color, and placed in the text in such a way that they are extremely helpful.
• The articles on various aspects of theology, ethics, attributes of God, etc., are outstanding...on target and accessible to the average churchgoer.
• Each book introduction contains a section outlining how the book fits into the history of Salvation...and Scripture as a whole. I love this. I will help readers get the gist of the book, but also keep them from reading it in isolation.

  

There are many more things to commend the ESV Study Bible. If I could add some constructive feedback, it might be:

• The ESV Study Bible is fat. Not P. H. phat. FAT. This is a serious bible that will not fit easily into the ole' laptop case. While I understand that it is a STUDY bible that has lots of help, this one almost too big. I have the hardback now, and I anticipate leather will be thinner.
• I wish it had a bit more space in the margins for note-taking.  

  On the whole, it's a welcome contribution to the world of Study Bibles.

The Church and Politics

OK...a real short, highly complicated question.

How involved should the church be in politics? My hunch is that most will be in the middle of the continuum on this one, but, there will undoubtedly be some isolationists and some "high-involvement" folks out there.

Now, before you answer quickly...let me pose this question to isolationists:

Is there any conceivable circumstance in which it would be OK for the church to endorse a candidate or lobby for the passage or killing of a particular bill?

And, to you "high-involvement" folks, is it OK for any other group to do the same?

This question comes up every election year, and this year is no different. It's important for we Christians to think through it all. I know good Christians on all sides of this.

More Persecution

Check out this article from the NY Times. Seems like things are getting flaring up all over the world right now. Click here. The photo to the left is from the article...of a Christian walking around her burnt home.

33

33 is the largest positive integer that cannot be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers. It is also the smallest odd repdigit that's not prime (unless we consider 1-digit integers to also be repdigits).

It's also my age...as of today.

My 32nd year was not my favorite year, but it may turn out to be my best...because I learned a ton, endured a ton, and lived a ton. 32 was a dog year for me. And so, I give thanks for it. It was the year that the Lord hath made. So, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Now, I'm glad he hath madeth another year for me. May I honor him in all I do. This year should have some of the same stuff...God, family, church, ministry. It should also bring some cool new stuff... 2 new books coming out this year, finishing the DMin degree (hopefully), and completing my first full year at North County.

Good bye 32, hello 33.

P.S. How long before I look like this guy in the photo? I don't know...but I hope I'm still laughing like him...even if I only have three chiclets left, too.

Occasionally - A Prayer

Another wonderful prayer, from my old friend, Ray. The emphasis is on friend...not old.

Occasionally

Lord, most of all today I’m thankful

that you keep our hearts tender enough

to see our sins—at least occasionally.

Because if it were left up to us, Lord,

we would most likely go on forever deluding ourselves

 about our goodness and our badness.

We would much rather pay attention

to our struggles and conflicts

 than confess our sins.

And you know how much more fun it is for us to

describe

embroider

and proclaim

each other’s sins than to admit our own.

 

Were you watching and listening, Lord,

when we decided—

maybe thoughtlessly—

to rid our conversations

our teaching

our preaching

our worship

and our practice

of any thought or reference to

our sins?

Did you notice when we stopped

confessing our sins?  When we

stopped asking for your forgiveness?

And each other’s forgiveness?

 

Grant me, and each of us, Lord, the

grace to see ourselves in light

of your truth.  Deliver us from our daily

temptation to excuse ourselves from the

cleansing rituals of confession and repentance.

Deliver us, O Lord, from

spiritual make-believe.

Love us into light even when, mostly when

we would rather linger in the darkness.

Shine your bright, revealing, blinding

will on us so we may begin to see ourselves

as you see us.  Then, please, Lord, rescue us

from ourselves.  Have mercy on us, O Lord,

and forgive the sins we see and confess.

Persecution

I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget that persecution isn't just a thing of the past. It still happens. This story is making headlines in all the major newspapers. Being a Christian in Iraq must be something else. In those times when we think we have it tough in America...well... we don't.